Turns Out I’m the Villain They’re Supposed to Redeem? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 30

When Huo Yuwan returned to her apartment, the moment she stepped inside, she was greeted by the rich aroma of home-cooked food. She instinctively moved closer and found the dining table laden with dishes, each one her favorite.

“Dr. Li, is today a special occasion?”

She scratched her head, puzzled, and looked toward Li Xuzhi, who had just emerged from the bedroom. Li Xuzhi was dressed in a comfortable cotton nightgown, draped with a long, light-colored cardigan, exuding a calm and gentle aura.

Gazing at Li Xuzhi’s delicate features, Huo Yuwan couldn’t help but avert her eyes, her thoughts drifting uncontrollably.

“Next Wednesday is your birthday. I have a surgery scheduled that day and can’t take time off, so I wanted to celebrate with you today instead.”

Huo Yuwan was going home for the Lunar New Year the day after tomorrow, so Li Xuzhi had seized this rare day off from the hospital to prepare everything.

Huo Yuwan was momentarily stunned, then broke into a radiant smile. “Thank you, Dr. Li. I’m really happy that you went to all this trouble for me.”

She truly meant it. If Li Xuzhi hadn’t mentioned it, Huo Yuwan would have almost forgotten her own birthday was just around the corner. Lately, she had been shuttling between the prison and the law firm, gathering evidence, and hadn’t given it a second thought.

And…

She couldn’t resist stealing another glance at Li Xuzhi, who was smiling gently at her, and felt her cheeks grow warm. Perhaps it was because she was slowly becoming aware of her own feelings, but even the slightest kindness from Li Xuzhi made her blush.

Especially at moments like this, when she felt so cherished…

“Master, you’re so innocent,” the fox spirit suddenly chimed in.

“???”

Huo Yuwan choked back a retort and rolled her eyes inwardly, choosing to ignore it.

“I’m happy to be able to celebrate your birthday with you too,” Li Xuzhi said softly, lifting her gaze to meet Huo Yuwan’s.

She didn’t dare hope for more, feeling that moments like these were already enough to satisfy her. If possible, she wished she could celebrate every one of Huo Yuwan’s birthdays from now on, but Li Xuzhi didn’t have the courage to dwell on that thought.

After dinner, Li Xuzhi stood up, and Huo Yuwan watched as she brought out a somewhat peculiarly shaped cake from the kitchen.

“I… spent the whole afternoon baking it. This is the only cake base that turned out halfway decent,” Li Xuzhi explained softly, biting her lip as warmth spread across her cheeks.

“A limited edition made by Dr. Li herself? I’ll make sure to finish every last bite,” Huo Yuwan said, suppressing a smile as she solemnly placed the cake on the table. “Shall I make a wish now?”

Her gaze was sincere. Li Xuzhi looked into her bright eyes under the soft light and nodded. “I’ll turn off the lights.”

The room plunged into darkness, with only the faint flicker of the candle on the cake casting a gentle glow.

May Dr. Li be happy every day.

Huo Yuwan never made wishes, she always achieved what she wanted through her own efforts. But perhaps it was the atmosphere or the spirit of the occasion, the moment she closed her eyes, the only person who came to mind was Li Xuzhi.

“I’ve made my wish…”

Just as Huo Yuwan was about to open her eyes, a soft voice sounded beside her.

“Wait.”

Li Xuzhi whispered, stopping her, and slowly moved closer to Huo Yuwan’s side.

Her palm hesitated, then grasped the corner of her clothes, gradually tightening its grip. Li Xuzhi closed her eyes with determination, rose on her tiptoes, and kissed her.

Huo Yuwan only felt the familiar scent of cherry blossoms wash over her in an instant, followed by a soft, slightly cool sensation pressing against her lips.

Her eyes widened abruptly. Huo Yuwan saw Li Xuzhi’s trembling eyelashes, their warm breaths intertwining, making her heartbeat lose all composure. Her cheeks, along with her entire body, seemed to radiate heat.

She inopportunely recalled the lingering dream she had once had.

It was no longer a dream, Dr. Li was truly kissing her.

Realizing this, Huo Yuwan’s heart pounded like a drum. She wanted to do something, but her mind was already in chaos, and even her limbs seemed frozen in place, unresponsive.

She appeared utterly stunned, with no reaction at all.

Her fingertips slowly released the corner of the clothes, and Li Xuzhi soon pulled away.

Her eyelashes lowered, and in the dim candlelight, it was hard to see the bitterness and moisture in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Yuwan, I…” Her voice trembled with a hint of tears. Realizing this, Huo Yuwan panicked, flustered and unsure.

“Why are you crying?”

Frantically wiping the tear stains from her cheeks, Huo Yuwan ignored her own burning face, bent down to meet her gaze, her eyes filled with a tenderness and concern she hadn’t even realized herself.

“Did I upset you somewhere? Dr. Li…”

If the tail hidden behind her were visible, it would surely be drooping low, anxiously sweeping back and forth.

“Yuwan,” Li Xuzhi’s fingertips pressed into her palm hard enough to leave red marks. She looked at Huo Yuwan, feeling only guilt and sorrow. “I’m sorry, I lost control of myself. I shouldn’t have…”

A sudden spark of inspiration struck Huo Yuwan. She reached out and gently cupped Li Xuzhi’s face, her voice carrying a soft laugh. “Don’t apologize, Dr. Li. I like you.”

Li Xuzhi froze instantly, her delicate face still marked with tears, looking dazed and disbelieving. “You…”

Her voice still trembling, a mist quickly clouded her eyes again. Li Xuzhi bit her lip, still unable to believe what she was hearing as she stared at Huo Yuwan.

Meeting her damp gaze, Huo Yuwan paused, then, suppressing her still-flushed ears, leaned in and quickly kissed her lips.

“Now… now do you believe me?”

Knowing the worries and concerns in Li Xuzhi’s heart, Huo Yuwan caught a flicker of surprise and irrepressible joy in her eyes and reached out to embrace her.

Blushing deeply, she held her tightly and whispered, “Since you kissed me, Dr. Li, you have to take responsibility.”

“I… I will take responsibility.”

Still feeling a bit dizzy, Li Xuzhi clutched the fabric of Huo Yuwan’s back, her voice nervous and shy but unable to hide a trace of delight.

…

The next day, Huo Yuwan didn’t have to go to the law firm, but she still woke up early to buy breakfast downstairs. After Li Xuzhi got up and washed, Huo Yuwan took the initiative to hold her hand and lead her to the dining table.

In those few short steps, her heartbeat raced out of control. Only when she let go and sat down did she realize her palm was sweaty.

Chiding herself for being too nervous, Huo Yuwan peeled an egg and placed it on Li Xuzhi’s plate. “Eat well. I’ll take you to work later.”

Her eyes and brows curved gently with a smile as Li Xuzhi looked up at her, her voice carrying a soft, amused tone. “Are you planning to call me Dr. Li forever?”

Being gazed at like that, Huo Yuwan unconsciously straightened her posture even more. At the question, she blinked, a hint of uncertainty coloring her cheeks as she replied, “Then… what would you like me to call you?”

Lowering her gaze in thought, she touched her earlobe, which was also starting to feel warm. “How about… um… calling you ‘sister’?”

Last night, she had dreamed again, a dream where she was clinging to Li Xuzhi, acting coquettish. Her voice in the dream was so soft that even Huo Yuwan herself couldn’t bear to listen. All she remembered was calling out “sister” over and over.

As a result, Huo Yuwan had woken up in the morning and lay staring at the ceiling for a long while, lost in thought about why she’d had such a dream.

While she was still pondering, she noticed Li Xuzhi slowly leaning closer from across the table. Li Xuzhi chuckled softly, then leaned in near Huo Yuwan’s ear, her hair brushing against the back of Huo Yuwan’s hand.

“Then from now on, don’t call anyone else ‘sister,'” she whispered. “I’d get jealous.”

Huo Yuwan nodded, her face flushed, clearly recalling what she had done before.

“I won’t call anyone else that ever again.”

…

Winter nights arrived earlier, and the occasional falling snowflakes were gradually affecting the traffic. Cars moved slowly along the streets, while neon lights flickered in a vibrant dance, signaling the approaching end of the year.

Huo Yuwan had arrived early at the hospital to pick Li Xuzhi up after work. Just as she entered the building, she was recognized and waved over by a middle-aged woman approaching her.

“Aunt Liu, I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

Slightly taken aback, Huo Yuwan stepped forward politely to greet her.

Last month, Liu Jing had entrusted Wen Jinyuan with a lawsuit, appealing for a divorce on behalf of her nearly eighty-year-old mother. During that time, at Wen Jinyuan’s request, Huo Yuwan had also helped organize evidence and analyze stronger angles for the case. In fact, she had largely managed the overall direction of the case in its early stages.

“I’m here to visit a friend. Are you feeling unwell? Why are you at the hospital alone?” Liu Jing asked, studying her with concern.

Although Huo Yuwan hadn’t been the one to win the lawsuit for her, Liu Jing could tell that Wen Jinyuan trusted this student deeply, and Huo Yuwan had indeed performed well.

Originally, Liu Jing had only sought Wen Jinyuan’s help for added security, having one of Kaicheng’s top lawyers handle an elderly divorce case felt like overkill, and she knew it. So, she hadn’t minded Wen Jinyuan delegating the preliminary tasks, as long as the final outcome was favorable.

The two stood chatting in the lobby. At the question, Huo Yuwan smiled a little sheepishly. “I’m here to pick up my girlfriend after work.”

“You have a girlfriend already? Last time, I was thinking of introducing you to some younger relatives around your age. If your teacher hadn’t stopped me, it might have worked out.”

She spoke with a touch of regret. A top student from Kaicheng University, pretty, and most importantly, someone she’d taken a liking to, Liu Jing had genuinely considered setting her up with someone from her family.

“Who is your girlfriend? A doctor or a nurse?”

“She’s…”

“Mrs. Li, long time no see.”

Li Xuzhi’s father, who had just returned from an out-of-town conference, hurried into the lobby. When he noticed the middle-aged woman standing with Huo Yuwan, he quickly stepped forward with a smile to greet her.

Interrupted, Huo Yuwan smiled faintly and pressed her lips together, standing to the side as Liu Jing and Li Xuzhi’s father exchanged pleasantries.

Mrs. Li, a social title used externally alongside her husband’s surname, was actually named Liu Jing, the wife of the Education Department Director in Kaicheng City.

Their exchange of pleasantries was brief. Noticing that Father Li’s gaze had settled on her, Huo Yuwan smiled and greeted him.

“Director Li.”

“Hmm, you’re here quite early today.”

From a distance, Father Li had already observed Huo Yuwan chatting and laughing with Mrs. Li. He had been mulling things over, and after nearly a year of frequently running into Huo Yuwan at the hospital, this was the first time he spoke to her in a gentle tone.

“Director Li, you know Yuwan?”

Liu Jing, standing nearby, seemed a bit surprised.

She was aware that Huo Yuwan’s mentor, Wen Jinyuan, was related to Director Li as his wife’s younger sister, but she hadn’t expected that connection to extend to introducing his student as well.

“My daughter’s friend…”

“My girlfriend happens to be Director Li’s daughter.”

They both responded at the same time, but Father Li’s words were clearly overpowered and cut off by Huo Yuwan’s tone.

He had no idea when the two of them had actually gotten together. Father Li narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at her.

As if oblivious to his intense, scrutinizing gaze, Huo Yuwan simply smiled warmly at Liu Jing and replied, her tone carrying a hint of unconscious pride.

“My girlfriend is Dr. Li Xuzhi from the cardiothoracic surgery department.”