Turns Out I’m the Villain They’re Supposed to Redeem? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 31.1

After Liu Jing left, Father Li signalled for Huo Yuwan to follow him to his office.

As if certain she wouldn’t, or didn’t dare, refuse, he turned and walked ahead without waiting for a response. Huo Yuwan pressed her lips together in silent frustration, then glanced at her phone. It was almost time for Li Xuzhi to get off work.

Catching up in a few quick strides, Huo Yuwan spoke calmly, “If you have something to say, Director Li, let’s talk here. I have plans later.”

Her tone was even and straightforward, but to Father Li’s ears, it sounded like the arrogance of a college student who hadn’t even graduated, acting as if she were busier than him, the hospital director.

Pausing mid-step, Father Li’s expression remained neutral as he glanced at Huo Yuwan. “What, you can’t bear to keep her waiting even a little longer?”

Had this been a normal father speaking in a teasing tone, Huo Yuwan might have found the scene warm and endearing. But it wasn’t.

The faint mockery in his voice made her instinctively want to frown.

She didn’t respond, simply standing there with an air of detachment.

Father Li seemed entirely unfazed by Huo Yuwan’s attitude. In just a short while, he had already discerned how deeply Huo Yuwan cared for his daughter.

The hospital lobby bustled with people, each hurrying on their way. The two stood near a wall, where medical staff and patients’ family members occasionally greeted Father Li.

When interacting with others, his voice was gentle, and he took the initiative to inquire about patients’ treatment progress, recalling nearly every patient’s condition with clarity.

But once they were alone again, his words to Huo Yuwan felt cold and jarring.

“If you care about her so much, I assume you’ve thought about your future together. Have you considered marriage?”

Meeting his gaze steadily, Huo Yuwan replied calmly, “I have.”

A slow smile spread across Father Li’s face, clearly pleased with her answer.

“Responsible. Good.”

“But words alone aren’t enough.”

Huo Yuwan remained silent.

“I know you’re talented. Even as an intern at a law firm before graduation, you’ve made quite a name for yourself. But have you considered how long it will take after you graduate? Starting as a novice lawyer with a fresh license, climbing the ladder step by step, how many years will that take?”

“Though I’m not deeply familiar with the legal profession, all industries share similarities. Only by reaching the top can you attain wealth, status, connections, and resources.”

“You must have realized this while working alongside your mentor.”

Her expression unchanged, Huo Yuwan smiled faintly as if in agreement. “You’re right.”

Her reaction nearly made Father Li feel as though he were talking to a brick wall.

Taking a breath, he continued with earnest persuasion. Truthfully, if he hadn’t just seen Huo Yuwan’s familiarity with Mrs. Li, he wouldn’t be wasting time beating around the bush like this.

“You’re still young, with plenty of time to strive. But what about Xuzhi? Will you make her wait indefinitely?”

“Or do you plan to marry her while you’re still struggling, letting the daughter I’ve carefully nurtured for over twenty years endure hardship with you?”

Pressing her lips together, Huo Yuwan had to admit he knew exactly how to strike where it hurt most.

“Since I’m with Dr. Li, of course, I’ve made detailed plans for my future.”

…

Li Xuzhi only saw Huo Yuwan’s message after getting off work. She changed out of her white coat and left the office, only to run into Huo Yuwan smiling as she walked toward her after just a few steps.

“Sis.”

Effortlessly taking the bag from Li Xuzhi’s hand, Huo Yuwan beamed and held her hand.

The unusually intimate form of address warmed Li Xuzhi’s cheeks, her lowered eyes brimming with tenderness.

“I got a spot at a hotpot place nearby. It’s so cold today, how about we go for hotpot, sis?”

Huo Yuwan seemed to have no trouble calling her “sis” over and over, and perhaps noticing Li Xuzhi’s shyness, she deliberately lowered her head, eyes curved into crescents, to meet Li Xuzhi’s gaze.

“Okay.”

Nodding, Li Xuzhi smiled and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Huo Yuwan’s ear.

Although the New Year was approaching, doctors still had very few days off. After their meal, Huo Yuwan drove home. Since Li Xuzhi had to get up early for work the next day, Huo Yuwan held back on suggesting more date activities, even though she had plenty in mind.

After their evening showers, both ended up in the living room. The kitten was already fast asleep in its corner bed. Huo Yuwan turned the TV volume down low and, seeing Li Xuzhi approach, looked up and pulled her down to sit beside her.

“Have you packed your luggage yet?”

Huo Yuwan was heading home tomorrow. Though they had only just gotten together, Li Xuzhi was already feeling greedy, she didn’t want to part with Huo Yuwan now.

But with New Year’s Eve just a couple of days away, she couldn’t let herself be unreasonable.

Eyelids lowered, she leaned her head on Huo Yuwan’s shoulder, hiding the thoughts in her heart.

“All packed. I’ll drop you off at work tomorrow morning, then head to the high-speed rail station.”

Huo Yuwan had bought a ticket for 10 a.m., so even with the trip to and from the hospital, there was plenty of time.

“Mhm.”

Li Xuzhi responded softly and said nothing more, only unconsciously rubbing Huo Yuwan’s fingertips, a telltale sign of her reluctance to part.

Huo Yuwan clasped her slender, pale fingers and whispered soothingly, “I bought a return ticket for the fifth day of the New Year. I’ll be back soon, sis.”

Out of a month-and-a-half-long winter break, she was only spending five days at home. When Huo Yuwan’s mother found out during their video call earlier that day, she had complained endlessly.

She thought Huo Yuwan had to continue her internship at the law firm, so her complaints were directed solely at the firm’s boss, grumbling about how even a big law firm didn’t give a full seven days off for the New Year.

Huo Yuwan held back a laugh and didn’t respond. She hadn’t yet told them about her relationship, planning to break the news in person once she got home.

Hearing this, Li Xuzhi looked up at her, her eyes shining with surprise and emotion.

“Then I’ll pick you up on the fifth, and we can go on a date, okay? I have a few days of annual leave I can use.”

Dr. Li, who usually had pitifully few days off, was even willing to use her limited annual leave for a date. How could Huo Yuwan refuse under her gentle, watery gaze?

“Sure, whatever you say, sis.”

The two leaned against each other, quietly watching a comedy show on TV. When Huo Yuwan noticed it was almost 11 p.m., she gently turned off the TV with the remote and glanced sideways at Li Xuzhi, who had already succumbed to drowsiness, her eyes lightly closed as she rested on Huo Yuwan’s shoulder.

A soft, silent smile curved her lips as she slowly moved her arms, intending to carry the person back to the bedroom.

“Mmm…”

Just as she turned sideways and lifted her, Li Xuzhi in her arms slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze was still hazy with lingering sleep, and her gentle, dewy eyes made Huo Yuwan freeze unconsciously.

“Big sister, I’ll carry you back…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Li Xuzhi pressed the back of her head, pulling her closer.

“Come a little closer.”

The person in her arms spoke softly.

Obediently bending down, Huo Yuwan blinked and leaned in even closer.

But Li Xuzhi still seemed unsatisfied, her palm gently pressing Huo Yuwan’s head closer, so close that their breaths intertwined, so close that Huo Yuwan only needed to lower her gaze slightly to see the fair, delicate skin before her.

Huo Yuwan’s heartbeat began to spiral out of control again, and she instinctively closed her eyes.

Do not look at what is improper. Do not look at what is improper. Her face flushed crimson as she silently repeated the mantra to herself.

Li Xuzhi gently stroked the side of her face, her fingertips tracing Huo Yuwan’s lips before she tilted her head up and captured them.

Her tongue traced the contours of Huo Yuwan’s lips, kissing and teasing with an intimate tenderness.

Huo Yuwan’s hands trembled, and the two of them, tangled together, unexpectedly tumbled back onto the sofa.

The bright living room lights made her eyelashes flutter uncontrollably, and Huo Yuwan instinctively responded.

Their tongues lightly touched.

The atmosphere grew increasingly heated, and Li Xuzhi’s eyes reddened at the corners as she wrapped her arms tightly around Huo Yuwan’s neck, deepening the scorching kiss.

As their lips and tongues intertwined, Huo Yuwan thought she tasted a sweet flavor spreading in her mouth, wondering hazily if it was just her imagination.

After a while, Li Xuzhi pulled back, breathing heavily.

She rested her head on Huo Yuwan’s shoulder, and when she looked up after catching her breath, Huo Yuwan still wore a dazed, bewildered expression.

“Did that feel good?”

Li Xuzhi asked with a soft laugh.

“Good, good.”

Huo Yuwan’s face flushed so red she nearly choked on her own saliva, her gaze involuntarily drifting to Li Xuzhi’s flushed, moist lips after the kiss.

Realizing this, she guiltily averted her eyes and tightened her arms, carrying Li Xuzhi toward the master bedroom.

Her steps hurried and unsteady, she tucked Li Xuzhi into the blankets and was about to turn and leave when Li Xuzhi grabbed the hem of her clothes to stop her.

Lying on her side, Li Xuzhi gazed softly at Huo Yuwan and said,

“If you want, we can continue…”

Her legs went weak, and Huo Yuwan nearly stumbled to the floor.

“No, no, no… Big sister, you should rest well. Goodnight.”

Her voice trembling, Huo Yuwan steadied herself on the edge of the bed, tucked Li Xuzhi in, and then staggered out of the room under Li Xuzhi’s amused gaze.

In just a few steps, she returned to her own room, collapsing onto the bed to calm her racing heart.

“Are you unwilling, or are you just inexperienced?”

The fox spirit asked, seeing through her but not spelling it out.

“There are tutorials online. You could look them up.”

“Ahhh, shut up! I don’t want to hear it!”

Huo Yuwan flipped over and buried her head under the blankets, screaming internally.

“…”

Half a minute later, a hand slipped out from under the covers, fumbling around the bed until it found the phone on the nightstand, then quickly retracted back under the blankets.

The next morning, Huo Yuwan woke up with dark circles under her eyes like a panda.

Seeing this, Li Xuzhi looked concerned. “Did you not sleep well last night?”

Huo Yuwan’s heart began to pound erratically again. She discreetly took a sip of soy milk from the table to hide her fluster.

“Well, um, I was reading for a bit last night and lost track of time.”

As she said this, her eyes darted around nervously, but luckily the cup in her hand concealed it from Li Xuzhi.

During breakfast, Huo Yuwan’s mind was a jumbled mess.

She had spent the entire previous night searching for information. The educational videos she tried to watch were blocked by the website, so she had to resort to text and images instead. But whether she was looking in the wrong direction or not, after a whole night of reading, she still felt utterly confused.

After breakfast, Huo Yuwan drove Li Xuzhi to the hospital. She focused intently on the road, completely unaware that Li Xuzhi had been watching her the entire way.

When they arrived at the hospital, just before getting out of the car, Li Xuzhi crooked a finger toward Huo Yuwan in the driver’s seat.

“What’s up?”

Curious, she obediently leaned closer.

Li Xuzhi smiled at her docile expression, reached out to gently touch the faint dark circles under her eyes, then slowly leaned in close to her ear, her voice soft and alluring.

“You don’t need to look things up online, I can teach you.”

With her ears tinged red, she turned slightly and kissed Huo Yuwan’s cheek before lowering her gaze, smiling, and pushing the car door open to leave. As a doctor, she knew human anatomy best.

Watching her retreating figure, Huo Yuwan felt as if her entire body had burst into flames on the spot.

She buried her face in the steering wheel, overwhelmed with a mix of shyness and embarrassment, wishing she could just disappear into a crack in the ground.