Turns Out I’m the Villain They’re Supposed to Redeem? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 3

“Dr. Li?”

The girl’s sweet voice sounded from behind. Li Xuzhi’s gaze paused slightly, her lowered eyes unable to discern what she was thinking at that moment.

“Feeding the little fox?”

Huo Yuwan, acting as if they were already familiar, crouched down beside her, her fingertips gently stroking the white fox’s soft chin.

Li Xuzhi’s gentle, delicate gaze fell upon her.

“It seems you haven’t been eating lightly, so plump and soft.”

Huo Yuwan teased the little fox with a laugh, completely unaware of the momentary stiffness in the corner of the person beside her mouth upon hearing those words.

“Is it very fat?”

Li Xuzhi narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze resting on the white fox, making it involuntarily shiver.

“Huh? A little, but it feels very comfortable to touch.”

Still oblivious to the awkwardness, Huo Yuwan stroked the little fox’s smooth tail again.

Was this the familiarity of seeing one of her own kind? Lost in the joy of petting the fox, Huo Yuwan felt a bit lightheaded.

The human world was so much better. Back in her fox clan, as the esteemed Shao Siming, she couldn’t just take liberties like this with other foxes.

Pinching its ears and stroking its tail, Huo Yuwan didn’t notice that Li Xuzhi’s pretty face beside her was gradually flushing with a captivating blush.

“It seems you really like Xiao Mao.”

Her palm hanging at her side clenched weakly as Li Xuzhi shyly endured the rising, comfortable tingling sensation within her.

Without hesitation, Huo Yuwan nodded, then after a moment’s thought, decided to correct her.

Her voice tinged with hesitation, she spoke softly.

“Um, Dr. Li… it should be a fox, right…”

Li Xuzhi in front of her froze for a moment, then a faint smile spread across her delicate face.

“I know. Xiao Mao is the name I gave it.”

“Ah, I see.”

Realizing the truth, Huo Yuwan felt so awkward her eyes began to wander.

At the same time, a strange discomfort stirred within her.

Was it because Li Xuzhi disliked foxes and preferred cats, which was why she gave such a name to a perfectly good little white fox…

As a fox herself, Huo Yuwan felt a bit unhappy.

“When it was born, it was underdeveloped, its tail and fur were very sparse, much like a kitten’s. That’s why I gave it this name.”

“So that’s how it is.”

The slight discomfort she had felt moments earlier instantly dissipated with Li Xuzhi’s explanation.

Huo Yuwan cradled the little fox and lovingly stroked it, her gaze so full of pity it seemed almost tangible. The little white fox lay docilely in her arms.

“Has Xiao Mao always been raised by you, Dr. Li? I don’t think I’ve seen it at the school before.”

Remembering she had bought some dried fish at the supermarket before coming, Huo Yuwan asked while pulling it out from her pocket.

Li Xuzhi took the white fox from her arms and replied softly, “It was weak and stayed at the pet hospital before. I just brought it back a couple of days ago.”

Feeding the dried fish to the fox, Huo Yuwan smiled with motherly affection.

“Eat up. If it’s not enough, big sister will buy more for you.”

Perhaps because of Li Xuzhi’s earlier mention of malnutrition, Huo Yuwan no longer thought Xiao Mao was fat, she just wanted to feed it until it was plump and healthy.

The phone in her pocket vibrated with an incoming message. Li Xuzhi took it out and glanced at it, then frowned and sighed inwardly.

The message was from her mother again, earnestly persuading her to come home that evening.

“Perhaps… Yuwan, do you have time tonight? Could you help me take care of Xiao Mao?”

“Huh?”

Huo Yuwan was somewhat surprised by the words.

Partly because of Li Xuzhi’s sudden request, and partly because she had called Huo Yuwan by her name.

That soft, gentle voice made the tips of Huo Yuwan’s ears flush red without her even realizing it.

How had she never noticed before that her own name could sound so pleasing when spoken by someone else?

Taking care of the little fox wasn’t particularly difficult, but…

“I’m worried about disturbing my roommate,” Huo Yuwan said hesitantly.

With exams going on these two days, everyone was busy cramming for their studies. Bringing the little fox back to the dorm would likely cause some commotion.

“How about coming to my place instead?”

Li Xuzhi suggested gently.

“I have to go back to my parents’ house tonight and can’t take the kitten with me. Yuwan, could you take care of it for one night?”

“No problem.”

The little fox’s damp tongue licked Huo Yuwan’s palm, and she agreed without hesitation.

Whether it was because of the little fox’s affection or something else, she couldn’t say.

…

In the afternoon, she had two consecutive specialized course exams. Most of the content was rote memorization, and since Huo Yuwan had reviewed in advance, she finished quickly, handing in her papers early for both exams.

After the second exam, as she walked out of the classroom, Huo Yuwan declined her roommate’s invitation to have dinner together in the cafeteria and stood alone at the foot of the teaching building, waiting for Li Xuzhi.

They had agreed that Li Xuzhi would first take Huo Yuwan and the kitten home that evening.

“Hey, Huo Yuwan, have you given up on yourself?”

A mocking voice came from behind. She turned to see Qi Liang.

“Handing in your papers early for three exams in a row, don’t tell me you just turned in blank sheets?”

“What a useless pretty face.”

Qi Liang walked up to her, lowering his voice for the last remark so that no one else but Huo Yuwan could hear.

Other passing students, seeing how close the two were standing, assumed they were flirting and began to tease them with laughter.

Disgusted, Huo Yuwan pushed him away and brushed off her palms.

“Stop barking around me.”

She didn’t bother to lower her voice, so the teasing students nearby heard her clearly.

Qi Liang’s face instantly turned grim.

Not bothering with him any further, Huo Yuwan turned and walked away, deciding to wait for Li Xuzhi at the school hospital instead.

She hadn’t gone far when she saw the person she wanted to meet rounding the corner ahead, holding the little white fox as she approached.

Dr. Li was no longer wearing her white coat after work. Instead, she had on a light-colored floral maxi dress that reached her ankles, and her hair, no longer tied back, cascaded softly over her shoulders.

Her gentle and lovely appearance was no different from that of a college student.

The only thing that bothered Huo Yuwan was the person walking beside her.

Why was Qi Qiuyuan here?

Regardless, Huo Yuwan smiled and waved at Li Xuzhi.

…

“Um… are we still going to play soccer?”

Qi Liang’s roommate, eyeing his expression, scratched his head and asked.

They had originally planned to play some soccer to unwind after the evening exam, but given the situation, Qi Liang probably wasn’t in the mood.

Being publicly humiliated by a girl like that, knowing his petty nature, he was likely fuming.

Sure enough, Qi Liang shot him a cold glare.

His gaze lingered on Huo Yuwan’s retreating figure before he turned to his roommate’s bulging backpack.

“Get the ball out for me.”

How dare she embarrass him like that in public? He was going to teach Huo Yuwan a lesson she wouldn’t forget!

Li Xuzhi encountered Qi Qiuyuan just as she was about to get off work. Their families were old friends and neighbors.

Sure enough, Li’s mother had changed plans at the last minute, calling to say that the two families would have dinner together that evening and asking Li Xuzhi to drive Qi Qiuyuan home on her way.

Though frustrated and annoyed, since Qi Qiuyuan had already come to the school clinic to find her, Li Xuzhi had no choice but to agree.

As she walked along holding the little white fox, Qi Qiuyuan kept trying to make conversation beside her. Li Xuzhi responded with perfunctory nods and smiles. Perhaps sensing her mood, even the little white fox in her arms seemed listless.

When they spotted Huo Yuwan in front of the teaching building, the little white fox immediately perked up, squirming and leaping out of Li Xuzhi’s arms.

It dashed toward Huo Yuwan with its mouth open.

Huo Yuwan bent slightly, reaching out a hand, her smile as bright as a summer sun.

Just as the little fox drew near, it suddenly sped up, letting out a low growl from its throat.

Sensing something, Huo Yuwan turned to look behind her.

“Yuwan, watch out!”

Just as Li Xuzhi’s worried warning rang out, a soccer ball flew past Huo Yuwan, narrowly missing her.

“Careful!”

Seeing the ball about to hit them both, a flustered Qi Qiuyuan shoved Li Xuzhi aside.

Thump!

It was the sound of a backpack hitting the ground.

The moment Huo Yuwan saw the ball flying toward Li Xuzhi, she swiftly swung the backpack off her shoulder and hurled it at the ball.

The backpack landed on the ground, and the soccer ball, deflected by the impact, lost momentum and dropped into a flowerbed by the wall.

“Dr. Li, are you alright?”

Rushing worriedly to Li Xuzhi’s side, Huo Yuwan helped her up from the ground.

Shaking her head, Li Xuzhi glanced down at the scrape on her arm and replied softly, “It’s nothing, just a scratch.”

Frowning at the large red mark, Huo Yuwan turned and glared at Qi Liang in the crowd.

“Xuzhi-jie, sorry, I was just worried about you…” Qi Qiuyuan, who had gotten up from the ground, looked embarrassed. She hadn’t expected Huo Yuwan’s backpack to intercept the ball mid-flight.

“It’s alright,” Li Xuzhi replied gently.

“Qi Liang, come over here and apologize!” Qi Qiuyuan called out sharply.

Everyone had seen clearly that it was Qi Liang who kicked the ball.

Though reluctant, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he had no choice but to come over.

Ignoring Huo Yuwan, Qi Liang blushed and apologized to Li Xuzhi.

Her delicate brows slightly furrowed, Li Xuzhi spoke softly but firmly, “You should apologize to Yuwan as well.”

“She’s not even hurt!” Qi Liang retorted stubbornly.

Though he had indeed intended to aim the ball at Huo Yuwan, his poor skills had caused him to miss.

“Apologize,” Qi Qiuyuan demanded, taking Li Xuzhi’s stance into account.

“Sis!” Under Qi Qiuyuan’s stern gaze, Qi Liang finally gave in and reluctantly apologized to Huo Yuwan. “Sorry.”

Huo Yuwan let out a cold laugh and didn’t respond, merely bending down to take the backpack that the little white fox had retrieved for her.

“A-Liang didn’t mean it, Huo. Don’t take it to heart,” Qi Qiuyuan tried to smooth things over.

“Whether he meant it or not, he knows the truth,” Huo Yuwan’s words hung in the air, and the expressions of all three present shifted.

“What do you mean by that?” Qi Liang snapped first.

Earlier when he threw the ball, he had somewhat lost his rationality, but now that his senses had returned, he felt relieved that he had missed.

Otherwise, if Huo Yuwan reported it to the counselor, he wouldn’t be able to escape punishment for intentional harm.

“Classmate Huo, you can’t just say things carelessly.”

Qi Qiuyuan secretly glared at Qi Liang.

Based on her understanding of her cousin, it was quite possible he had done it on purpose.

“Just check the surveillance footage, and everything will be clear.”

Grasping Huo Yuwan’s wrist, Li Xuzhi’s brows were filled with anger.

“Sister Xuzhi, for the sake of our family elders, please don’t escalate this matter…”

Although she wasn’t sure when Li Xuzhi and Huo Yuwan had become so close, Qi Qiuyuan had no choice but to lower her stance and plead.

If the matter were brought into the open, even if it could be resolved, it would still be troublesome.

Qi Qiuyuan glared again at Qi Liang, who had caused the trouble.

Hearing this, Huo Yuwan already understood, the plotline the fox spirit had told her must have omitted a lot of important details.

It was clearly said that the female lead and the second female lead met because of an injury, but now it sounded like their families had long-standing connections…

The fox spirit, who had been playing dead in her mind for several days, trembled in fear.

“Lady Shao Siming, Ling’er really doesn’t know what’s going on, wuwuwu, please don’t be angry.”

“Just shut up.”

Huo Yuwan, already furious, snapped impatiently.

Qi Liang was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. He was the top student in his grade, if he received a disciplinary record, no amount of future honors could erase that one mistake.

“If you don’t want me to pursue this, then let Classmate Qi get hit by my ‘accidental’ throw as well.”

Huo Yuwan didn’t want to put Li Xuzhi in a difficult position. Moreover, she had a strange intuition.

Even if they checked the surveillance footage, there was an eighty percent chance the punishment wouldn’t fall on Qi Liang.