After Backstabbing The Villain, The System Allowed Me To Enter The Book Again - Chapter 8
Shen Huaixin called Fang Xiao Zheng and the others, heading together to the music room to practice.
Her twin-tailed companion asked, “Xin-jie, why did you sign up for the arts performance? You’ve never been interested in this kind of thing before.”
Shen Huaixin paused for a moment. “Just… wanted to try. No special reason.”
As they approached the music classroom, they saw a few students already inside. Su Zihan stood on the slightly elevated stage, holding a script and reading lines, while Qi Yi stood a little farther away, reciting lines in response. Other classmates stood nearby, watching their rehearsal.
“Romeo and Juliet,” Shen Huaixin murmured to herself.
She realized this was indeed a logically consistent world. The book did mention that Su Zihan and Qi Yi’s performance of Romeo and Juliet in the arts performance was extremely popular, winning the hearts of many boys and girls, and even spawning some shipper fans. That episode was a minor climax before the apocalypse, though it didn’t mention the rehearsal process. Seeing it firsthand, she felt as though some gaps in the story were being filled.
The book likely only recorded the tip of the iceberg. The living, breathing characters—and her friends behind her—each had their own joys, sorrows, and, ultimately, farewells.
Even the people left blank in the story didn’t have blank lives. Shen Huaixin suddenly felt a stronger sense of reality about her mission.
“Xin-jie, the classroom’s taken. What should we do?” asked her doll-faced companion.
“Oh, of course…”
Before Shen Huaixin could finish, Fang Xiao Zheng naturally jumped in: “Of course we drive them out! Isn’t that what we always do?”
Shen Huaixin was momentarily speechless.
Fang Maowei nodded in agreement, rolling up her sleeves and ready to act, waiting for Shen Huaixin’s command.
Shen Huaixin quickly waved them off. “I’m a law-abiding citizen. I won’t forcibly seize someone else’s space in broad daylight. How about this—we’ll find another place. No need to argue with the commoners.”
Her words barely fell when she noticed the shocked expressions of the other three, especially Fang Xiao Zheng, who blurted out, “Xin-jie, you’re…?”
[System: Yellow Card Warning!]
The system had appeared!
Shen Huaixin pushed open the music room door. The previously lively classroom fell silent; everyone turned to look at her. Seeing the infamous rich girl, they instinctively showed respect and wariness.
As the loyal follower, Fang Xiao Zheng stepped forward, loudly declaring, “We’ve claimed this classroom!”
Su Zihan frowned, while the others whispered amongst themselves, showing dissatisfaction. Qi Yi even stepped forward, blocking Su Zihan, his face expressionless as he stared at Shen Huaixin.
“Will you let us, or not?” Shen Huaixin’s mind raced—she couldn’t get shocked—she stood firm against his increasingly unfriendly gaze.
“No,” Qi Yi said coldly.
Su Zihan tugged on Qi Yi’s sleeve, looking up at Shen Huaixin, trying to ease the tension. “Shen Huaixin, there should be some order. We’ve already applied for this classroom, and all the props are here. We only need it for one noon. If you’re not in a hurry, you can use it after our rehearsal.”
“Ha, did I hear that right?” Fang Xiao Zheng crossed her arms, finally shaking off the exhaustion of the past few days. “You’re telling me how Xin-jie should act?”
Seeing the tension in the room, Shen Huaixin couldn’t bear it. She stretched out her hand, placing it in front of the twin tails as they tried to step forward. Everyone froze, staring at her, wondering what she would do next.
“It’s fine. I’m not some demon. You can have the classroom,” Shen Huaixin said with a faint smile. Her gaze swept over everyone present; her tone was gentle, yet carried an implicit threat. “I hope you all perform safely and deliver a perfect show for your classmates and teachers.”
The students exchanged glances, each reading retreat in the others’ eyes. The little delinquent’s attempt to seize the classroom had failed—and now she was threatening personal safety. Better not mess with her.
The doll-faced companion pressed her lips together, leaning close to Shen Huaixin’s ear. “Xin-jie, let’s just find another classroom. There’s one upstairs, very close. Not worth making a fuss over a little thing.”
This was exactly what Shen Huaixin wanted to hear. She nodded, having successfully finished her “mischief,” then turned to wave at the “victims.” “Enjoy your rehearsal,” she said sincerely, hoping not to influence them. She was still eager to see the budding romance between the leads.
Qi Yi’s cold voice rang in the classroom: “Thanks for your kind words. We’ll ensure a smooth performance.”
The clear, cool voice of the youth reverberated, calming anxious hearts. Once Shen Huaixin left and closed the door, the atmosphere eased. The boys and girls began chatting again, their rehearsal spirit gone, discussing the incident instead.
“Did we offend her?”
“It’s fine. The Qi family’s influence isn’t weaker than the Shen family. Let’s just rehearse well.”
“Isn’t Shen Huaixin fond of Qi Yi? She even gave him a keycard, which he rejected. Why oppose him this time?”
“Love turns to hate, probably.”
Outside the music room, Fang Xiao Zheng caught up to Shen Huaixin. “Xin-jie, brilliant strategy! Anything you need me to do?”
Shen Huaixin kept a straight face, brainstorming what “strategy” she could claim.
The doll-faced one looked between Fang Xiao Zheng and Shen Huaixin, then scratched her head. “What does that mean?”
“Don’t you get it?” The twin tails shook her head in disbelief. “Xin-jie just made them rehearse hard, but they won’t be able to perform! No one will outshine us in the show!”
“Yes, and that Qi Yi… so ungrateful!”
The doll-faced one froze, intimidated. “Not perform? Xin-jie, you mean…” She gestured across her neck, mimicking a throat-slitting motion.
Shen Huaixin, forcibly pulled into this explanation, could only cough, deciding to ride it out for now. “You’ll understand later.”
Before that, she took out her phone and snapped a photo of their hard rehearsal. Pretending Su Zihan had new material, she wondered if Shen Chumo would feel jealousy seeing Qi Yi.
The three “mischief squad” members clearly treated this photo as a critical clue, looking at Shen Huaixin with admiration, as if to say, “Our leader is amazing!” Shen Huaixin felt slightly embarrassed and tempered her arrogance: “Next, let’s rehearse somewhere else.”
They moved to another empty classroom. As it was their first rehearsal, their singing was scattered. Unexpectedly, Shen Huaixin sang remarkably well… more than well—her voice was clear and gentle, like a mountain spring, like a gentle breeze, calming restless hearts. According to the doll-faced one, it even seemed as if her skin shimmered with glitter, a natural special effect.
They could easily follow her lead and perform spectacularly on stage.
After rehearsal, Fang Xiao Zheng tugged at Shen Huaixin’s sleeve. “Xin-jie, I feel like you’ve changed.”
“Changed how?”
“Can’t explain…”
Shen Huaixin smiled. “Then which version of me would you rather be friends with?”
“…” Fang Xiao Zheng thought for a moment. “You never used the word ‘friend’ before.”
Shen Huaixin patted her shoulder and walked out of the classroom.
Back home, Shen Chumo wasn’t waiting in the living room, perhaps disappointed with his sister this time. Shen Huaixin sighed, feeling slightly relieved. The warmth of this world didn’t belong to an outsider; some distance was fine.
Her phone vibrated.
Shen Chumo: “School was hard today.”
The timing was uncanny, as if he knew Su Zihan had returned home. Shen Huaixin felt her impersonation of Su Zihan was brilliant and sent him the photo from outside the music room.
Shen Huaixin: “Rehearsing for the arts performance.”
Shen Chumo: “What are they rehearsing?”
His wording felt strange—technically it should have been “you all” instead of “they,” but it didn’t matter. Su Zihan could just show her face; the important thing was to make him take the bait.
Shen Huaixin: “Romeo and Juliet. A touching love story.”
Shen Chumo: “I don’t know it. Are you participating?”
Shen Huaixin was delighted. Perfectly aligned with Su Zihan: “Yes, we’re rehearsing seriously. I’ll invite you when the time comes, okay?”
Shen Chumo: “Okay.”
Shen Huaixin: “If you’re interested in Romeo and Juliet, you could read the original work.”
Shen Chumo: “Mm.”
With the deception complete, Shen Huaixin reclined on her princess bed, only emerging at dinner. Accustomed to a pampered life, she worried about adjusting back to her original work routine.
Her concern quickly dissipated as she thought of the upcoming reward, filling her with hope.
Shen Chumo emerged from the kitchen, apron off, with a slightly ashy nose but bright eyes. Shen Huaixin worried he might have burned the kitchen, but soon noticed something more important—Shen Chumo was no longer limping.
Previously, his walk was awkward, slightly off balance. Now, he moved straight and steady, carrying a plate of braised carp with natural ease.
Shen Huaixin realized his limp was merely due to uncoordinated limbs—he hadn’t adapted to a human body yet. Thanks to the etiquette teacher and his own effort, he had rapidly reached his goal.
He wouldn’t be bullied anymore.
Thinking of the book’s events where Shen Chumo was targeted by bullies, she quietly relaxed. In the story, he was blocked in an alley and beaten, creating his first feelings of resentment. The black contamination spread invisibly within the bullies, leaving irreversible consequences.
Later, the female lead appeared, treated his wounds, and called 120 (no phone). By the time she returned, the bullies were gone. Shen Chumo remembered her kindness from that moment.
Rather than letting him be hurt and then healed, it was better to prevent the harm entirely. Even if treated afterward, scars remain. Why leave marks on Shen Chumo’s heart?
Shen Chumo’s progress was rapid. In a short time—half a month or maybe just a few days—he could be indistinguishable from a normal teenager. Shen Huaixin watched him sit at the table, serving his mother and father. Under the elegant crystal chandelier, warm light reflected softly, the family enjoyed harmony, and the kitchen still carried traces of home-cooked meals.
Watching this, Shen Huaixin lowered her head, poking at her rice with chopsticks. Each grain was glossy and fragrant. She tasted a bite, inexplicably feeling a slight dryness in her mouth.