After Transmigrating into a Book, I Was Bent by the Villainess (GL) - Chapter 5

Since Xia Chuci’s sprained ankle incident from falling down the stairs, Zhao Wenyang’s care for her had reached an unparalleled, meticulous level.

As the Student Union President, who also had to juggle academics and working to earn money, Zhao Wenyang still managed to find time to ask after her, offer warmth, and help with her studies.

Xia Chuci sincerely felt that having a childhood friend who worried more than her own mother made her happiness index soar.

However, thinking back, she always wondered why the original Xia Chuci didn’t fall in love with such a gentle and considerate childhood friend when she read the book. It seemed somewhat ungrateful.

Only after interacting with Zhao Wenyang for a while did she understand the reason.

His relationship with her wasn’t like dating a girlfriend; it was more like raising a daughter. It would be a miracle if this kind of interaction produced any love hormones.

Zhao Wenyang put down his book and instructed her: “Remember to pack your change of clothes tonight and set your alarm. The school bus leaves at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

Xia Chuci feigned impatience, slumping onto her desk in frustration, and complained coyly: “Oh, I know. You’ve said it eight hundred times. How could I forget? If your mouth isn’t tired, my ears are already calloused. Please spare me.”

The school had partnered with a fishery company to select seven students from Xia Chuci’s college to visit the company for an exchange and learning experience. They would tour the company headquarters during the day and camp overnight on an island to observe fishing boat operations firsthand.

Zhao Wenyang reached out and rubbed her head, smiling helplessly: “The little girl has grown up, her wings are hard, and she’s starting to find me annoying.”

In this moment, in this setting, Xia Chuci really wanted to call him Dad, truly!

“Dad” Zhao persevered: “I’ll wait for you at the school gate at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. I have something to give you.”

Xia Chuci asked curiously: “What is it?”

Zhao Wenyang explained: “You’ll be spending the night on the island this time. It’s best to bring some emergency supplies. I won’t be by your side, and if anything unexpected happens, these things can help in an emergency.”

He’s so thoughtful. But couldn’t you wish me some good luck, really!

He seemed to think of something. After much hesitation, he finally spoke: “Su Yiming is also on this trip. She was harsh to you before, and there’s no guarantee she won’t try to make trouble for you again this time. You must remember to stick with your classmates, don’t wander off alone, and always be vigilant.”

Su Yiming was truly tragic. She hadn’t done anything bad so far, yet she was being blamed for everything. Actually, the major villainess was still very innocent before she blackened.

Xia Chuci initially wanted to say that it was a society governed by law and a time of peace, so what danger could there be?

But the words were barely out before the System slapped her down:

【Beginner Task issued. Location: Chushi Island. Task: Arrest the Perpetrator.】

A floating prompt box immediately popped up, displaying the mission summary, with two options below: “Accept” on the left and “Reject” on the right.

If I reject, can I change the mission?

Arresting a perpetrator is too violent. With her small arms and legs, she decided against it. It wouldn’t be worth it if she accidentally got a work-related injury.

Xia Chuci stared at the “Reject” option for a while, but the System didn’t react at all.

She was about to ask if she had chosen the wrong method when she accidentally glanced at “Accept,” and the option instantly turned green.

The System then sounded a “Ding”:

【Task successfully received. Please prepare yourself. We wish you triumphant success!】

Xia Chuci: “……”

If I can’t reject it freely, why give me an option in the first place!

Xia Chuci snapped back to attention and reassured Zhao Wenyang: “Don’t worry, I understand. I promise I’ll come back completely unharmed.”

It turned out that Zhao Wenyang’s earnest and repeated instructions were absolutely necessary, because she really did wake up late.

Xia Chuci rushed as fast as she could, finally sprinting to the assembly point at the school gate at 7:55 a.m.

She gave Zhao Wenyang an awkward smile, clasped her hands together, and apologized innocently and sincerely: “I’m sorry, I was wrong.”

Zhao Wenyang didn’t scold her. Instead, he shoved a shoulder bag into her hand and urged her onto the bus: “Be careful. Contact me anytime if anything happens.”

The driver was also hurrying her, as the bus was about to depart, so Xia Chuci didn’t say much more. She waved at him and quickly found a seat.

“Grumble~” Xia Chuci hadn’t managed to eat breakfast, so she started rummaging through the shoulder bag Zhao Wenyang had given her.

“Dad” Zhao was indeed “Dad” Zhao. The shoulder bag contained not only some emergency medical supplies but also bread, sandwiches, and milk. She wouldn’t starve even without a proper meal.

Moreover, he must have anticipated that she wouldn’t have time for breakfast, as there were several hot steamed buns inside.

Xia Chuci wolfed down one bun. Just as she took a bite of the second one, the girl sleeping next to her suddenly snatched off her eye mask, glared at her fiercely, and shouted: “Don’t you have any manners? Eating a bun on the bus!”

Xia Chuci was startled and quite embarrassed. She quickly chewed a few times, swallowed, and apologized quietly.

The shout just now drew the attention of the other students. A few individuals began to whisper amongst themselves, but they only discussed it quietly in private, not daring to offend the person publicly.

Seeing Xia Chuci’s wilted, pitiful look, the girl, Jiaoshini, became even angrier. She spoke without mercy: “Who are you trying to look pathetic for? You think that delicate, pretentious look of yours…”

“Enough, Jiaoshini. She has already apologized. What more do you want?” Su Yiming interrupted Jiaoshini’s overbearing scolding.

Oh my, the major villainess actually spoke up for her. Xia Chuci was pleasantly surprised.

Jiaoshini was not to be outdone and clapped mockingly: “Oh, look who it is. It’s Miss Su. How great of you to defend the woman who seduced your own fiancé! I’m so moved, I could cry. If you’re not one of the Top Ten People Who Moved the Nation, I won’t watch!”

Hearing this, Xia Chuci thought, Darn it, she really hit a sore spot. If Su Yiming hadn’t pulled her back, she might have smeared the bun in her hand onto that mouth that sorely needed a lesson.

Su Yiming smiled instead of getting angry and retorted sarcastically: “I wouldn’t dare. How could I compare to Miss Jiao? Your glorious deeds of wiping out mistresses all over the world are truly admirable.”

I was moved for nothing just now. So, these two were enemies. Su Yiming didn’t intend to stick up for her; she simply disliked Jiaoshini as a person.

“You… fine, very well. Just you wait! Hmph!” Jiaoshini turned to look out the window, refusing to speak again.

Xia Chuci guessed that she was probably sending curses to Su Yiming’s eighteenth generation of ancestors. The major villainess was truly extraordinary; she was silent until she struck, and when she struck, she went straight for the kill.

Su Yiming glanced at her, then shifted her gaze to the half-eaten bun. Xia Chuci quickly stuffed it into her mouth, finishing off the troublesome buns in a few big bites.

Perhaps amused by her silly look, Su Yiming’s proud, icy face showed signs of thawing. A smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. Although faint, the careful Xia Chuci still caught it.

Since her love rival had shown goodwill, she naturally had to reciprocate. Xia Chuci returned an appreciative smile and offered a sandwich ingratiatingly.

Su Yiming was momentarily stunned, then shook her head, looked out the car window, and ignored her.

System: 【Beep—Warning…】

Xia Chuci: “Stop! I didn’t go OOC. Warning about what?”

System: 【The female lead and the major villainess are in an antagonistic relationship. That action just now entirely constitutes OOC behavior.】

Xia Chuci: “You saw the situation just now. Su Yiming helped in front of everyone. As a good girl who knows how to repay kindness, it’s completely normal for the female lead to express gratitude to her benefactor. Therefore, my actions fully comply with the female lead’s character setting. The warning is invalid.”

System: 【……】

Rules are rigid, but people are flexible.

During this time, Xia Chuci discovered that the System’s rules were not without loopholes. Where there are loopholes, there is room for negotiation.

The transmigration developer probably never expected that a player user would dare to bargain with the System, hence the lack of corresponding counter-settings.

The System was momentarily bluffed by her. Xia Chuci couldn’t help but inwardly gloat, almost holding back her laughter to the point of internal injury.

Upon arriving at the company, everyone was arranged to attend a lecture. Afterward, the company arranged boats and safety officers for the students to go out to sea for a hands-on observation experience.

In fact, the students weren’t required to actually fish. Since they hadn’t received professional training, the company and the school were worried about safety incidents. So, they only needed to tour the equipment on the boat, look at the sea, and observe the fishermen’s operations.

Lunch was naturally eaten on the boat: seafood bento boxes.

The students were starving, so they immediately started to feast once they received their lunch boxes. Only Su Yiming hadn’t touched her chopsticks.

Jiaoshini finally found an opportunity to spite her and said sarcastically: “Miss Su, why aren’t you eating? Are you finding the bento box too crude, unfit for your golden mouth?”

Xia Chuci felt that Jiaoshini was truly insidious. Saying this in front of the company employees—if Su Yiming didn’t eat, it would confirm that she found the company’s meal objectionable, leading outsiders to think the school’s students were spoiled and unable to endure hardship.

Even if Su Yiming said she was allergic to seafood now, people would think she was just making excuses, putting her in an impossible position, trapped between two difficult choices.

To protect the school’s reputation, Su Yiming had no choice but to eat.

Xia Chuci turned to look, and sure enough, she saw Su Yiming picking up her chopsticks, ready to start eating.

With lightning speed, Xia Chuci snatched the bento box away and, ignoring Su Yiming’s stunned expression, quickly shoveled two bites of rice into her mouth.

Xia Chuci ignored the surprised looks around her and said indistinctly: “I haven’t eaten enough. You can let me have yours.”

Immediately afterward, she took out the sandwich that she hadn’t managed to give earlier from her shoulder bag, pushed it into Su Yiming’s hand, and said: “I don’t like sandwiches. I’ll trouble you to deal with this.”

After speaking, she didn’t forget to freely offer a knowing, sympathetic smile.

But soon, Xia Chuci couldn’t smile anymore.

System: 【Beep—OOC Warning. Reader Satisfaction -100. Current Satisfaction: 50】

Before Xia Chuci could utter her rebuttal (crossed out), the System didn’t give her a chance, stating firmly and triumphantly: 【OOC is OOC】

Xia Chuci: “……”

The numbers are wrong. The last OOC only deducted 50, so why the direct 100 this time?

Are you counting the morning one now? Or are you raising the price to retaliate against me?

System kindly reminded: 【Please be advised! Any further OOC behavior will result in a negative Reader Satisfaction value.】