Turns Out I’m the Villain They’re Supposed to Redeem? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 28

Returning to school was a few days after the start of the sophomore semester. Huo Yuwan had moved out of Li Xuzhi’s home. Although she had only stayed for two months, she had accumulated quite a few clothes, books, and other daily necessities.

Staring at two extra-large cardboard boxes now fully packed, Huo Yuwan found it strange, somehow, it felt like she had more stuff than after living in the school dormitory for a whole year.

Standing outside the guest room, Li Xuzhi watched her tall figure, lips pressed together with a hint of melancholy.

The internship had ended, and she no longer had a reason to keep Huo Yuwan staying there.

In the evening, Li Xuzhi drove Huo Yuwan back to school. Whether it was her imagination or not, Huo Yuwan couldn’t help feeling that Dr. Li’s mood seemed a bit low.

The car stopped at the dormitory building. As Huo Yuwan got out, she spotted Zhao Lan and another roommate, apparently just finishing dinner and strolling back to the dorm. She immediately grinned and waved enthusiastically.

“Sisters, come help me out!”

Just as she was worrying about having too much luggage, her roommates showed up, truly lifesavers and the best of friends.

In their dorm, whenever they needed to help each other out, they’d jokingly call each other “sister”, it was just a playful nickname.

Huo Yuwan called out cheerfully, busy coaxing her two roommates into helping carry the luggage, completely oblivious to the slight change in Li Xuzhi’s expression on the other side.

“Hello, Dr. Li.”

“Hello, Dr. Li.”

The two roommates greeted Li Xuzhi one after another. Since Huo Yuwan had frequently visited the campus clinic last semester for various reasons, their entire dorm had become quite familiar with Li Xuzhi.

With a faint smile and a slight nod, Li Xuzhi watched as the three of them each picked up a large cardboard box, ready to head upstairs. Softly, she said, “Thank you for your help. Let me treat everyone to bubble tea, room temperature or iced?”

Last semester, she had often treated the whole dorm to meals, so the two roommates didn’t refuse this time either. Happily, they replied in unison, “Iced, thank you, Dr. Li!”

Nodding, she turned to Huo Yuwan beside her.

“I’ll have room temperature.”

Beaming brightly, Huo Yuwan answered before Li Xuzhi could even ask.

“Alright. Be careful on the stairs. I’ll go buy the bubble tea.”

A smile flickered in her eyes as Li Xuzhi turned and headed toward a nearby drink shop.

The dorm was on the fourth floor. Huo Yuwan and her roommates paused to rest on each landing. Zhao Lan set her box down, hands on her hips as she caught her breath. Glaring at Huo Yuwan, who wasn’t even flushed or panting, she grumbled, “You only know how to cherish Dr. Li, making us sisters suffer and toil.”

The other roommate, also breathing heavily, nodded in agreement.

Though feeling a bit guilty inside, Huo Yuwan put on a bold front.

“What do you mean ‘cherish’? It’s mainly because Dr. Li’s hands hold a scalpel every day to save lives, they shouldn’t be doing such rough work.”

Zhao Lan snorted in disbelief, exchanging a look with the other roommate before retorting, “Keep being stubborn.”

…

The drink shop was right at the entrance of the cafeteria. Li Xuzhi bought two room-temperature and two iced bubble teas, then carried them back toward the dorm.

But she hadn’t gone far when an unwelcome voice called from behind.

“Xuzhi, long time no see.”

Qi Qiuyuan, who had just come out of the cafeteria, jogged up to her with a smile, greeting her.

Seeing her, Li Xuzhi’s brows furrowed slightly, her voice cold as she merely responded with a faint “Hmm.”

Qi Qiuyuan was dressed in a white short-sleeved athletic set, layered with a black shirt. Her neat, short hair was clearly styled, making her appear both handsome and carefree.

She paid no mind to Li Xuzhi’s aloofness, chuckling lightly as she said, “I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong. I’m just trying to pursue you, Sister Xuzhi. Why do you have to be so resistant?”

As she spoke, she kept inching closer to Li Xuzhi. Noticing the milk tea in her hand, Qi Qiuyuan’s eyes flickered briefly before she smiled and reached out to take it.

“Why did you buy so much? Let me help you, ”

Li Xuzhi sidestepped, pressing her lips together as she put distance between them. Her distaste for Qi Qiuyuan’s unrestrained advances only grew stronger.

“I made myself very clear last time. Please stop pestering me like this.”

Qi Qiuyuan’s expression froze momentarily. Having been called “pestering” for the first time in her life, the smile on her face gradually faded.

“You’re so gentle and kind to Huo Yuwan, but with me, it’s ‘pestering.’ Don’t you think you’re being a bit unfair, Sister Xuzhi?”

If it weren’t for her repeated advances, Li Xuzhi would have maintained her usual polite and distant demeanor.

Lowering her gaze, Li Xuzhi said calmly, “I already have someone I like. I hope you won’t bother me anymore.”

“I know, Huo Yuwan, right?”

Squinting slightly, Qi Qiuyuan let out a cold laugh.

“Will Uncle Li agree? I doubt it. From what I know, Huo Yuwan’s family has no background at all. Her parents are just ordinary workers at the bottom of society.”

She sneered and continued, “What does it matter if you like her? In the end, you’ll be just like me—having a relationship that goes nowhere, then returning to the ‘right path.'”

“That’s none of your business.”

Li Xuzhi’s expression wavered, her fingertips tightening slightly as she pressed her lips together.

“Why waste your effort? If you’re with me, after we get married, I won’t care who you like or who you want to be with. We’d both just be dealing with our families. Why not have an open marriage and help each other out?”

Qi Qiuyuan proposed, wearing a smile that suggested she was considering both their interests.

Frowning deeply, Li Xuzhi turned to look at her, her tone dripping with undisguised disgust.

“How can you even suggest something so degrading and disrespectful? Coming from a well-connected family, is this the upbringing you received?”

At her words, the smile finally vanished completely from Qi Qiuyuan’s face.

“And what about you? Do you dare to be with Huo Yuwan? Do you have the courage to bring her home to meet your parents? Does Huo Yuwan know that the gentle Dr. Li is actually a pitiful coward at home, too afraid to defy her father’s orders?”

Her gaze fixed intently on Li Xuzhi, Qi Qiuyuan’s words stirred a mix of anger and panic in Li Xuzhi’s heart, as if her deepest secrets had been exposed.

“As long as Uncle Li doesn’t agree, you’ll never be able to…”

“Stop it!”

Her fingertips turning white from the pressure, Li Xuzhi lowered her head and shouted to cut her off.

Not far away, Huo Yuwan and Wen Jinyuan, who were approaching, froze in their tracks. Whether their timing was fortunate or unfortunate, they had overheard the last few sentences.

Wen Jinyuan studied Huo Yuwan’s expression, unable to decipher what she was thinking.

She knew Huo Yuwan was returning to campus that evening, so after finishing her teaching duties in the afternoon, she deliberately stayed a bit longer at the school, hoping to subtly probe Huo Yuwan’s feelings about her niece.

If both of them had feelings for each other, Wen Jinyuan planned to gently hint to Huo Yuwan, encouraging her to put more effort into her studies over the next few years. She would also offer her assistance, striving to achieve some accomplishments before graduation so that Li’s father wouldn’t outright reject their relationship.

As Li Xuzhi’s relative, her heart naturally leaned more toward hoping for the best for her.

Wanting to explain on Li Xuzhi’s behalf, Wen Jinyuan said softly, “Xuzhi grew up with a somewhat distorted family education. Her father has a strong need for control and sometimes resorts to physical punishment without regard. That’s why she’s developed this timid, non-confrontational personality. Please don’t misunderstand her…”

Frowning deeply, Huo Yuwan strode toward the two of them with a dark expression.

“Huo Yuwan…”

Wen Jinyuan thought her persuasion had failed and sighed quietly with a furrowed brow.

To be fair, she actually had high hopes for this pair.

It was just that the Qi family’s child was too troublesome.

Qi Qiuyuan and Li Xuzhi were standing side by side, neither noticing the commotion nearby. Li Xuzhi had already broken down once at home because of her father’s words, and now, being threatened again, even her usually gentle and calm demeanor lost its composure.

Whenever Huo Yuwan was involved, she repeatedly lost control.

“Xuzhi-jie, don’t be so stubborn. Give up on her sooner rather than later.”

Seeing that Li Xuzhi was disturbed by his words, Qi Qiuyuan smirked triumphantly and stepped closer to her. Gazing at her pale, delicate face, he narrowed his eyes and inhaled silently as if intoxicated.

The sound of heavy footsteps gradually approached. Li Xuzhi glanced sideways and met Huo Yuwan’s grim expression as she walked toward her.

Her eyes instinctively flustered, she pressed her lips tightly together.

Did Yuwan hear? What would she think of her? Would she…

Clenching her teeth, Huo Yuwan threw a punch at Qi Qiuyuan’s face. Unprepared, he staggered and fell to the ground.

This punch was delivered with all her strength, even fiercer than the first time she had hit him in the neighborhood.

Gasps erupted from the surrounding students. Both of them were somewhat well-known at the school, and being strikingly beautiful girls, they instantly attracted a lot of attention.

“Yuwan…”

Li Xuzhi grabbed her wrist, her voice trembling uncontrollably, the corners of her eyes already turning red.

“Dr. Li, don’t be afraid.”

Huo Yuwan thought Li Xuzhi was frightened by Qi Qiuyuan, his nonsensical threats and actions that bordered on sexual harassment. She glared fiercely at Qi Qiuyuan, who was still sprawled on the ground, her gaze blazing.

Instinctively, she held Li Xuzhi’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “I’ll protect you. Don’t worry.”

The onlooking students understood, so he was harassing someone’s girlfriend, no wonder he got hit.

Some students who knew them hid in the crowd, secretly raising their phones to record the scene, their faces lit with the thrill of juicy gossip.

“Huo Yuwan!”

Qi Qiuyuan scrambled to his feet, his clothes covered in dust, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

At this moment, her gaze fixed on Huo Yuwan was so fierce it seemed she could devour her alive.

“You’re practically asking for death!” she spat through gritted teeth.

“Me, asking for death? You’re the one begging for a beating! If you’ve got the guts, fight back, I’ll take you on anytime.”

Huo Yuwan sneered back at her, subtly shifting to shield Li Xuzhi behind her while continuing her verbal assault.

“You think you’re justified in harassing others? Dr. Li has already clearly rejected you, yet you still cling shamelessly. What, is this some kind of Qi family tradition?”

With many onlookers around, Huo Yuwan avoided mentioning the earlier threats against Li Xuzhi, focusing solely on the harassment.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Qi Liang in the crowd. Remembering her own past entanglement with him, her anger flared even hotter.

Qi Liang, indirectly called out, ducked his head and averted his gaze from Huo Yuwan.

The memory of being thrown to the ground last time was still vivid, he didn’t dare provoke that fierce woman again.

Qi Qiuyuan, hearing this, was so enraged her chest heaved violently. But fearing the potential surveillance footage in Huo Yuwan’s possession, she could only swallow her fury, let out a cold snort, and left covering her mouth.

Once she was gone, the crowd of students quickly dispersed.

Li Xuzhi tightly grasped Huo Yuwan’s palm, her reddened eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thank you, Yuwan, I…”

Huo Yuwan sighed silently in her heart, squeezed Li Xuzhi’s hand gently, and pulled her into an embrace.