Turns Out I’m the Villain They’re Supposed to Redeem? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 51

“Wanting to be a mother isn’t out of the question.”

Just as Huo Yuwan was about to say she had only asked casually, she suddenly heard Li Xuzhi’s voice.

“Where are you calling from?”

For a moment, Huo Yuwan was confused. After pausing briefly, she stammered, “Th-the office.”

There seemed to be a moment of silence on Li Xuzhi’s end.

“It’s Dean Zhou’s office, isn’t it? He’s an upright man who acts fairly and wouldn’t use special means to get me back to the city. If it’s through proper channels, then it must be a special approval granted under conditions where I can contribute to the country.”

“Are you joining the research institute?”

Her tone was calm but carried a hint of something else.

There was only one reason Dean Zhou would be willing to help her: Huo Yuwan’s performance in the competition was outstanding enough to catch his attention, outstanding enough for him to bend some principles for talent.

“Mmm… In two years. Dean Zhou said if I study well, he’ll recommend me for a position at the research institute.”

“Sis, you know it’s always been my dream to enter the research institute. If I can help you because of it, that’s even more what I want.”

Unconsciously tightening her grip on the phone cord, Li Xuzhi pressed her lips together, feeling a stinging ache in her eyes.

“But I’m not trying to force you to come to Nanyu. I just hope… I hope you can live a better life.”

Huo Yuwan stood by the desk, her heart filled with sorrow and compassion for Li Xuzhi.

If her family hadn’t gone through those changes, if her father hadn’t fallen seriously ill and passed away, Li Xuzhi’s life would have been completely different.

Huo Yuwan didn’t want to dwell on why, in the original storyline, Li Xuzhi had willingly stayed in the countryside, living a life of tending to her husband and children. Whether it was because her heart had grown numb or for some other reason, she didn’t want to think about it.

There was nothing wrong with the countryside, but for someone like Li Xuzhi, who suffered from asthma, living in a rural area in an era with underdeveloped medical resources was a burden.

She couldn’t guarantee she’d be by Li Xuzhi’s side every moment before the mountain flowers bloomed. If her symptoms worsened, they might not even make it to the hospital in time.

If there was a chance to choose a better way of life, Huo Yuwan wanted her to live more comfortably.

“Is that all? You want me to return to Nanyu because you want me to have a better life?”

After a moment of silence, Li Xuzhi’s tone softened slightly.

Hearing this, Huo Yuwan knew she had likely agreed. She relaxed, then scratched her head, a little embarrassed.

“Actually, there’s another reason…”

“I’ll be studying and working in Nanyu in the future, so… I don’t want to be apart from you.”

She felt that the “slowly boiling a frog” approach couldn’t go on for too long. It was time to subtly reveal some of her feelings.

In a place Huo Yuwan couldn’t see, Li Xuzhi nodded ambiguously.

“Not wanting to be apart from me… does that mean you rely on me?”

For the first time, Huo Yuwan sensed that Li Xuzhi was determined to get to the bottom of this.

But this was a good thing for her. The more detailed Li Xuzhi’s questions, the more she could see her sincerity.

“Yes, I rely on you, Sis. I really rely on you.”

She smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, still unaware of the gravity of the situation.

“Oh…”

Just as Huo Yuwan was about to sneak in another wave of sweet nothings, Li Xuzhi’s next words nearly shattered her composure.

“You… aren’t trying to seek maternal love from me, are you?”

“What?!”

Huo Yuwan’s heart nearly stopped from shock, wondering if she had misheard.

Her astonishment was written all over her face. Seeing this, Li Xuzhi shook her head, feeling there was no need to press further.

“Never mind, I must have been mistaken.”

Perhaps because Huo Yuwan had been too good to her, Li Xuzhi’s thoughts had wandered. She considered the age gap between them and Huo Yuwan’s family background before snapping back to reality. Rubbing her temples, she felt rather foolish.

Even after the call ended, Huo Yuwan’s heart was still racing. She never imagined that her affection and care for Li Xuzhi would lead to such an absurd misunderstanding.

Do I really seem like someone lacking maternal love?

Running her fingers through her hair, she slowly calmed her breathing.

After bidding farewell to Dean Zhou, Huo Yuwan left the school with Yang Nanjun. It was already late at night, and the streets were empty. They walked one behind the other until Yang Nanjun suddenly stopped. Lost in her thoughts, Huo Yuwan almost bumped into him before halting and looking up in confusion.

Surprisingly, Yang Nanjun didn’t mock her for her distracted state. Instead, he stepped aside and gestured for her to look at two elderly people standing under a streetlight not far away, supporting each other.

“They insisted on waiting here for you today, worried that meeting before the competition might distract you,” Yang Nanjun explained calmly, leaning against a nearby utility pole.

Huo Yuwan had considered the possibility of meeting her grandparents, whom she hadn’t seen in over a decade, but seeing them in person still stirred emotions within her.

As the elderly couple held her hands and showered her with affectionate questions on their way home, Huo Yuwan was uncharacteristically obedient, answering their caring inquiries earnestly.

Their gazes carried a hint of indescribable sorrow. Huo Yuwan knew that her mother’s early passing had been a heavy blow to them, so she did her best to comfort them, recalling fragments of her childhood memories with her mother to share.

After spending the night at her grandparents’ home, Huo Yuwan returned to Nanyu University the next morning for the award ceremony before packing her bag to head back.

They had tickets for 11 a.m. that day. Earlier, Huo Yuwan had told her grandparents that she would be returning to Nanyu to study in the near future. Overjoyed, they immediately insisted that she stay with them from then on.

The Yang family lived in a spacious courtyard house near the city wall, with two main sections. Apart from the room where the elderly couple lived, the other rooms were empty. With Yang Nanjun away and their daughters long married, they were thrilled to finally have their granddaughter with them and refused to let her live elsewhere.

Huo Yuwan didn’t want to disappoint them, but she wasn’t alone, she had Li Xuzhi with her. After some thought, she decided it would be better to wait until they had bought a house before making any decisions.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Grandpa Yang heard that his granddaughter wanted to buy a house, he immediately offered to handle the matter. Feeling that they had neglected Huo Yuwan for many years, the elderly couple thought gifting her a house would be the perfect welcome present.

Huo Yuwan silently glanced at Yang Nanjun, who had been listening the entire time without any change in expression, and thought to herself, no wonder the scene felt so familiar. Last time, hadn’t Yang Nanjun also casually gifted her a large bicycle as a meeting present?

Wow, it turns out this lavish generosity runs in the family.

Determined not to give Huo Yuwan any chance to refuse, Old Master Yang grabbed his cane and went out to ask his old friends about housing. Having worked hard all his life, he had savings and connections, and as a native of Nanyu, finding a suitable house was far easier for him than for Huo Yuwan.

The old lady accompanied the two to the bus station, bought a full bag of fruits and snacks for Huo Yuwan, and stuffed a wad of cash into her hands. She urged Huo Yuwan to pack her things as soon as she returned home, assuring her that she and the old man would be waiting for her to come back.

As for Yang Nanjun, she simply told him to behave himself, continue his re-education, and study hard. If he happened to meet a girl he liked and wanted to marry, he should take responsibility. Once the policy allowing educated youth to return to the cities was announced, he could bring his wife and children back.

She spoke with such sincerity, as if Yang Nanjun had already married and started a family out there.

Huo Yuwan couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh quietly at the sight of Yang Nanjun’s impatient yet helpless expression as his mother lectured him.

It wasn’t until they entered the station and the old lady’s figure disappeared into the crowd of well-wishers that Huo Yuwan looked down at the stuffed bag in her arms and smiled.

“Go back by yourself. Be careful on the way,” Yang Nanjun, who was sitting across from her, suddenly stood up and said.

“What?” Huo Yuwan blinked, momentarily confused. She watched as Yang Nanjun slung his bag over his shoulder again.

“You’re not going back?” she instinctively pressed.

A rare smile appeared on Yang Nanjun’s face as he bent down and ruffled Huo Yuwan’s hair.

“I don’t want to waste any more time in the countryside. From now on, I’ll leave the care of the old folks to you.”

He hadn’t slept all night. Lying on his long-unfamiliar bed at home, Yang Nanjun had spent the entire time thinking about his future path.

In his mind, there was only one road ahead of him: stay in the countryside and wait for the policy to change so he could return to the city and resume his studies.

Like Li Xuzhi, he could also have the chance to return to the city early. With Old Master Yang’s status and influence, it would only take a word. But what would that accomplish? It was still the same path, just a matter of timing.

And that wasn’t what Yang Nanjun wanted.

Hearing the implication in his words, Huo Yuwan exclaimed in surprise, “You’re not staying in Nanyu? Then where are you going?”

If he stayed in Nanyu, Old Master Yang could at least help him with the aftermath. But if he ran off recklessly and got caught as an example, it would be trouble.

Seeing the concern in her eyes, Yang Nanjun felt that he hadn’t doted on this niece of his for nothing.

Leaning down slightly, he cheerfully revealed a bit of his plan to her.

“To Hong Kong.”

“Wait!” Huo Yuwan frantically grabbed his sleeve. For mainlanders these days, getting to Hong Kong through legitimate means was nearly impossible. Judging by Yang Nanjun’s demeanor, he didn’t seem like the type to take the conventional route. Could it be… illegal border crossing?

Raising an eyebrow with a smile, Yang Nanjun nodded.

“Don’t worry, my second sister lives over there. Once I reach her place, I can get legal status.”

As the train’s departure whistle sounded, Yang Nanjun swung his bag over his shoulder and swiftly climbed out through the window.

Huo Yuwan still wanted to persuade him, if he got caught crossing the border, it would be disastrous, but the train had already begun moving slowly. Yang Nanjun stood on the platform, smiling and waving at her.

“Work hard! I look forward to seeing your name in the newspapers someday.”

Yang Nanjun called out to her in a clear voice, then turned and walked away with his bag, his demeanor carefree.

“Be careful! I’ll come find you over there when I get the chance!”

Huo Yuwan leaned out the window, shouting after his retreating figure, hoping he would make it safely to Hong Kong.

The train gradually picked up speed, soon leaving the platform behind.

Yang Nanjun, who had already moved away from the crowd, must have heard her. Without turning back, he waved his hand in response.

…

On the train.

As the conductor announced the upcoming stop, many passengers began gathering their luggage in preparation to disembark. Huo Yuwan stretched lazily and moved closer to the window to take in the scenery outside.

The carriage was unusually noisy, filled with the chatter of men, women, and children. Outside, the landscape flashed by, a blend of buildings and vegetation that created a unique charm.

Rubbing her neck, Huo Yuwan turned to sit back down.

A shadowy figure darted past her seat near her handbag. Not expecting to encounter a pickpocket, Huo Yuwan narrowed her eyes and immediately seized the person’s wrist.

The man in the seat behind hadn’t anticipated being caught. He didn’t dare look back, struggling fiercely to break free.

But who would have thought a young girl who looked so delicate would be so strong? No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake her off.

Huo Yuwan snatched the thin blade he had been holding between two fingers, then pulled the man’s hand, preparing to stand and call for the conductor.

“Little sister, don’t shout. I haven’t stolen anything yet. Let me go, please.”

Her seat was near the window, and the man’s seat was directly behind hers, facing the opposite direction. He had tried to strike while she was distracted by the view, never expecting to be caught red-handed.

At that moment, people were moving about the carriage, and no one noticed their corner. The man softened his tone, not wanting the situation to escalate. In those days, thieves who were caught faced public condemnation, labeled as bad elements, subjected to criticism and beatings, and their families would suffer as well.

He had used this trick over a dozen times and had always succeeded. Who would have thought he’d be tripped up by a young girl?

The man could only plead desperately, hoping Huo Yuwan would give him a chance.

Hearing this, Huo Yuwan remained silent, first checking her handbag. There was no way she would let a thief go, she had to make sure nothing was missing.

But this check only made her angrier.

The new bag Li Xuzhi had given her just two days ago now had a large slash across it.

The man used the curtain to hide his captured hand, then turned and apologized earnestly, “I’ll pay for the bag. Spare me this once, I promise I’ll reform from now on.”

As he spoke, he urgently pulled money from his pocket. “I recognize this bag, it sells for 120 at the department store. How about I give you 150?”

He shoved the money into Huo Yuwan’s hand, then tried to move his immobilized right hand. “Let me go, and I swear I’ll turn over a new leaf.”

Upon hearing the price of the bag, Huo Yuwan’s anger became even more unbearable.

Li Xuzhi’s monthly salary at the city middle school was fifty yuan, and it had been even lower when she worked in the village. This bag must have taken her who knows how long to save up for, and now it had been slashed by this thief!

“Conductor! There’s a thief here, he stole from me!”

Without another word, Huo Yuwan grabbed the man and stood up, shouting loudly toward the blue-uniformed conductor who was approaching.

“Hey, you!”

The man panicked and tried to break free. He had thought the young girl would be easy to fool, especially since he had even given her an extra thirty yuan, almost a month’s wages for an ordinary family. Who would have thought Huo Yuwan would still report him?

Instantly, everyone around turned to stare at the man, who wished he could bury his head in the ground. They pointed at him with contemptuous expressions. After hearing Huo Yuwan’s account of what happened, the conductor immediately called over the plainclothes police officer from the neighboring carriage.

The officer took out the man’s ID card to register it. Standing nearby, clutching her bag, Huo Yuwan inadvertently glanced at it and saw the name “Yu Yang.”

Frowning, Huo Yuwan looked curiously at the man’s registered address.

He was from the same county as her, but that wasn’t what caught Huo Yuwan’s attention. What struck her was that the name Yu Yang had appeared in the original storyline as a supporting character with significant screen time.

After the college entrance examination system was reinstated, the male lead, Sun Xuedong, was admitted to university as he wished. There, he met Yu Yang, a fellow student from the same hometown.

The two shared similar interests and, during their university years, decided to start a business together. With foresight, Yu Yang suggested entering the real estate industry. Sun Xuedong, who was majoring in architecture at the time, naturally agreed wholeheartedly. The initial startup funds were fronted by Yu Yang, while Sun Xuedong contributed with his technical expertise. Later, riding the wave of the times, the two indeed made a fortune and became respected entrepreneurs in the industry.

Considering this, the name matched, the hometown matched, and the age matched…

Huo Yuwan stared speechlessly at the young man being escorted away. She had reason to suspect that Yu Yang’s startup funds in the original storyline had been acquired through such dishonorable means.

…

The conductor did not make Huo Yuwan return the 150 yuan that had been forced upon her. Since her bag had been slashed, it was considered compensation she rightfully deserved.

Clutching the crumpled bills, Huo Yuwan let out a frustrated sigh.

By the time she got off the train, it was 5:30 in the afternoon, still before school let out. Huo Yuwan hugged her bag and hailed a small three-wheeled vehicle to head home.

As expected, Li Xuzhi had not returned yet. Only the fox spirit, hearing the commotion, was waiting for her by the door.

“Master, why do you seem unhappy? Did you not place well in the competition?”

The fox spirit tilted its head, puzzled as it watched Huo Yuwan slump onto the sofa with a gloomy expression.

“No, I took first place in the competition. It’s just that on the way back, I ran into a thief who slashed the bag my sister gave me.”

Huo Yuwan regretfully traced the cut, wondering if a leather repair shop could fix it.

Understanding dawned on the fox spirit, and it wagged its tail, suggesting, “Why not try using magic? Restore it to its original state.”

A flash of white light later, the prominent slash mark vanished without a trace.

The fox spirit grinned triumphantly.

Huo Yuwan was stunned for a moment, then it hit her. Right, why hadn’t she thought of that?

Having grown so accustomed to being human, Huo Yuwan rarely resorted to unconventional methods unless faced with danger.

With her handbag restored to its original state, Huo Yuwan’s foul mood vanished entirely. She promptly packed her belongings and headed into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

When Li Xuzhi returned that evening, Huo Yuwan was reminded of that awkward phone call.

Staring at Li Xuzhi, who was quietly eating across from her, Huo Yuwan suddenly set her chopsticks down on her bowl, cleared her throat, and spoke with feigned seriousness.

“How old are you again, sis?”

She asked, pretending not to know.

Li Xuzhi, whose expression remained cool and composed even under such an unwavering gaze, glanced up at her.

“Twenty-three.”

Deliberately mimicking Li Xuzhi’s tone from that night, Huo Yuwan drew out an “Ohhh” in response.

Li Xuzhi could easily see through her intentional teasing but remained calm, watching her quirky retaliation unfold.

After all, she had been the one to misspeak that day. Letting Huo Yuwan have her moment of verbal victory wasn’t a big deal. Li Xuzhi indulged the thought.

“We’re seven years apart. Looking at it another way, that’s quite a gap, no wonder you had that kind of idea.”

Hearing this, Li Xuzhi silently watched her without a word, though a vague, inexplicable discomfort stirred within her.

Huo Yuwan noticed the subtle displeasure beneath her calm facade and smiled faintly.

“If you want to act like my mom, sis, I wouldn’t mind. After all, that’s even closer than being sisters.”

“That way, it’d be more reasonable for me to cling to you for the rest of my life without ever leaving, right?”

As she spoke slowly, she propped an elbow on the table, knelt on the chair with one knee, and leaned in close, staring directly into Li Xuzhi’s eyes.

Though Huo Yuwan’s voice still carried a hint of laughter, Li Xuzhi inexplicably detected a trace of stubbornness in her gaze.