Failed to Run Away After Transmigrating as the Scummy Alpha's Wife of the Villain - Chapter 13

After everyone had cast their votes, Gu Ning took a permanent marker and began tallying the votes on the whiteboard.

 

 

For each slip he opened, he read the name aloud and added a tally mark behind the corresponding name on the board.

 

 

After reading several slips in succession, the tension among the group was palpable.

 

 

Though this was just a variety show game, the surface-level election for village chief was actually a popularity contest among the guests.

 

 

The one with the most votes would represent having the best rapport—the most beloved villager in Taoli Village, entitled to special privileges as chief.

 

 

But as Gu Ning continued reading, he suddenly noticed something odd: “Why is there a blank slip here?”

 

 

He unfolded it for everyone to see, puzzled. “The voting rules didn’t mention anything about blank abstentions. Did someone forget to write a name?”

 

 

His gaze swept across the room, but no one responded.

 

 

If it was intentional, it meant someone would rather abstain than vote for others. Such behavior could easily draw criticism, so whoever left the blank slip certainly wouldn’t admit to it.

 

 

Gu Ning cleared his throat lightly, set the slip aside, and picked up the next one.

 

 

But the next slip—had his own name written on it.

 

 

Chi Yuan frowned. “The cloaked figure said Gu Ning isn’t a candidate, so does that mean this vote is invalid too?”

 

 

With nine people, two invalid votes left only seven valid ones.

 

 

On the whiteboard, Momo and Chi Yuan each had two votes, while Jiang Wan and Jiang Ci had one each. Only one slip remained in the box.

 

 

Seeing the situation was beyond salvage, Jiang Wan was filled with resentment. Her earlier effort to write Gu Ning’s name and invalidate a vote had been in vain.

 

 

But it was too late to change the outcome through the system now. Even if the last vote was for her, Momo’s additional vote would still put her ahead.

 

 

This was completely different from her usual smooth sailing!

 

 

The Female Lead Ascendancy System sighed helplessly in her mind: Host, please focus on participating earnestly in the variety show. Your points have already gone bankrupt.

 

 

Jiang Wan fumed: It’s all the production team and director’s fault! What kind of terrible teaser did they edit? My screen time was just a few seconds, while all the hype went to Chi Yuan and Jiang Ci’s accidental kiss!

 

 

Jiang Wan: They kissed yesterday, and I had no idea! Judging by everyone else’s reactions, I was the only one who didn’t know!

 

 

The system rolled its eyes internally. Well, you’re the one who insisted on playing the pure, innocent, introverted good girl persona. Of course no one would gossip with you!

 

 

The system consoled her: The show has just started. There will be more opportunities.

 

 

Gu Ning opened the final slip—it wasn’t invalid. Relieved, he added another tally next to Jiang Ci’s name.

 

 

Gu Ning: “The final results are in. Momo, Teacher Jiang, and Sister Chi each received two votes. But Momo has the additional chief vote, putting her in the lead with three.”

 

 

Now, it all came down to the Red Team’s additional vote.

 

 

Gao Yaohui picked at the soft padding under the sofa chair, his emotions complicated as he stared at the blank space behind his name on the whiteboard.

 

 

Unconsciously, his gaze drifted toward Jiang Wan across the table, only to notice her deliberately averted eyes—a clear act of avoidance.

 

 

Momo turned to Chi Yuan curiously. “Who do you think the Red Team’s additional vote will go to?”

 

 

Chi Yuan glanced at Jiang Ci. “Probably Jiang Ci. She helped our team win a lot during the supermarket shopping and beach volleyball segments.”

 

 

Gu Meng chimed in: “Sister Chi’s explosive power is incredible too! She was unstoppable during the punching segment!”

 

 

 

Wang Wen remarked, “But without Jiang Ci’s leadership at the supermarket checkpoint earlier, we’d have been stuck for ages. We need someone smart as village chief so the rest of us can thrive.”

 

 

Straight facts, no argument there.

 

 

The television flickered back on, revealing the cloaked man now holding a nameplate bearing the logo of “Peach & Plum Village,” the show’s title.

 

 

“The voting results are in, with momo currently leading in votes. Now, I’ll announce the additional vote recipient for the Red Team. She demonstrated exceptional leadership during the supermarket procurement, guiding her team to victory. Then in the volleyball challenge, she strategically leveraged strengths and enhanced teamwork, showcasing her potential as village chief.”

 

 

“Congratulations, Jiang Ci, for earning the Red Team’s additional vote for village chief.”

 

 

Chi Yuan clapped enthusiastically, her grin wide. She never wanted the chief position anyway and had voted for Jiang Ci precisely because she recognized her ability to lead.

 

 

Jiang Wan offered insincere congratulations, her disdain for Jiang Ci evident in every glance. She blamed all her misfortunes on Jiang Ci—whenever they crossed paths, bad luck seemed to follow. Was it some kind of feng shui curse?

 

 

Next time she saved up enough points, she’d consult the system for a divination.

 

 

The cloaked figure announced, “The two tied candidates will undergo a one-day trial as village chief candidates. Based on their performance, a second round of voting will determine the final selection.”

 

 

“Give it your best, both of you.”

 

 

That evening, after her bath, Chi Yuan lay flat on the bed, watching Jiang Ci return from a phone call outside. Suddenly, she asked, “You’re tied with momo for the village chief vote—do you think you can win?”

 

 

Jiang Ci bent over her suitcase, rummaging through it. Her loose pink silk camisole nightgown draped carelessly over her frame, revealing delicate collarbones and the faint outline of her curves.

 

 

It took a while before Chi Yuan saw her fish out a tube of allergy ointment.

 

 

Chi Yuan sat up, took the tube, and pulled Jiang Ci to the edge of the bed. Jiang Ci didn’t resist, obediently sitting down.

 

 

Her jade-like arms, usually hidden under long sleeves and arm covers for the cameras, were now covered in dense red rashes.

 

 

Chi Yuan hadn’t realized how severe it was—earlier in the afternoon, it had only reached her forearms, but now it had spread to her upper arms. Frowning, her eyes filled with concern.

 

 

Jiang Ci casually deflected, “So, do you think my chances are good?”

 

 

As she applied the ointment, Chi Yuan analyzed, “Two people voted for momo tonight. My guess is Jiang Wan and Gao Yaohui—they’re teammates, after all.”

 

 

Jiang Ci chuckled softly and shook her head. “Wrong. Guess again.”

 

 

“Then… Zhao Zhenzhen and Gu Ning?”

 

 

Chi Yuan pouted stubbornly. “It’s an anonymous vote—how would you know who voted for whom?”

 

 

Jiang Ci tilted her head. “Wasn’t it obvious?”

 

 

Chi Yuan shook her head.

 

 

Instead of answering, Jiang Ci countered, “Then who do you think wrote the blank slip and the two invalid votes with Gu Ning’s name?”

 

 

Chi Yuan still shook her head.

 

 

“Momo is dead set on becoming village chief, and she secured the bonus vote. If she voted for anyone else, she’d just create competition for herself. So, the simplest solution was to abstain.”

 

 

Jiang Ci added, “The show never said abstaining wasn’t allowed. Plus, with anonymity, no one knows who skipped voting.”

 

 

Chi Yuan hesitated. “But… it could’ve been someone else.”

 

 

Jiang Ci asked pointedly, “Did you consider abstaining?”

 

 

 

Chi Yuan: “No, I don’t want to be village chief.”

 

 

“Today’s tasks are done. I observed that everyone’s energy and enthusiasm clearly aren’t as high as on the first day. Being village chief comes with privileges to set rules, but it also means having to lead from the front, and the tough jobs might fall on you.”

 

 

“Weighing the pros and cons, everyone makes their own choice.”

 

 

“When the voting results came out, Sister Zhenzhen and Wang Wen looked somewhat disappointed, but more than anything, they seemed relieved.”

 

 

Chi Yuan suddenly remembered—after voting, she’d heard Zhao Zhenzhen say the village chief position should go to the younger ones, she was simply too tired.

 

 

She must have been exhausted from today’s fruit-picking task.

 

 

As for Wang Wen… she hadn’t noticed anything particular about him…

 

 

Jiang Ci seemed to read Chi Yuan’s confusion and said, “Wang Wen is the type who wants to be involved in everything for fun. Running for village chief was probably just to join in the excitement. During today’s tasks, like Gu Meng, he didn’t show much desire to stand out, just cooperated actively.”

 

 

“So, the most likely one to abstain is Momo.”

 

 

“You just said the two votes for Momo were probably from Jiang Wan and Gao Yaohui. Then let me ask you, who cast that one vote for Jiang Wan?”

 

 

“It was…” Chi Yuan mentally went through everyone close to Jiang Wan but couldn’t pinpoint anyone. Originally, Momo voting for her was highly possible since they were roommates. But according to Jiang Ci’s analysis, if Momo abstained, she couldn’t have voted for Jiang Wan.

 

 

That left only—Wang Wen and Gao Yaohui?

 

 

When they met yesterday, both had been hovering around Jiang Wan. But judging by Wang Wen’s attitude today, he probably voted for Jiang Ci.

 

 

“It was Gao Yaohui.”

 

 

Jiang Ci snapped his fingers with a “you’ve got it” expression. “Bingo, that makes sense. And after voting, he seemed quite disappointed, kept staring at Jiang Wan.”

 

 

“So they agreed to vote for each other?” Chi Yuan felt she’d uncovered the key point. “But Jiang Wan broke the agreement. She voted for someone else, or rather… she didn’t vote at all, she abstained!”

 

 

That’s exactly what the female lead would do.

 

 

After applying the ointment, Chi Yuan put it away. Jiang Ci lay down beside her with a smile, signaling her to continue.

 

 

Chi Yuan: “Jiang Wan’s vote was from Gao Yaohui, yours were from me and Wang Wen. Momo and Jiang Wan abstained. That leaves the twins and Sister Zhenzhen.”

 

 

“Gu Meng was desperate to survive, so she must have voted for me. That means Momo’s two votes had to be from Gu Ling and Sister Zhenzhen.” Chi Yuan felt her logic was flawless this time.

 

 

“Wait, hold on,” Jiang Ci suddenly stopped her, narrowing his eyes. “You’re so sure I voted for you? That’s a bit overconfident.”

 

 

Chi Yuan froze, clearly not expecting this. Scratching her head, she said, “Well, who else would you vote for if not me?”

 

 

“Whoever performed best, of course.”

 

 

Chi Yuan leaned in with an innocent look. “Don’t you think I performed well?”

 

 

Jiang Ci simply pressed her back down. “Think it through more carefully.”

 

 

“You really didn’t vote for me?!” Chi Yuan’s voice was full of disbelief, as if this were some unspeakable tragedy.

 

 

Ignoring her, Jiang Ci turned off the bedside lamp.

 

 

In the darkness, he listened to the restless tossing and turning beside him, a slight smile playing on his lips.

 

 

Meanwhile, in the next room.

 

 

 

Jiang Wan lay on the small bed, closing her eyes in frustration as she recalled the various misfortunes of the past two days. She was so aggrieved that she even considered quitting the group. Not only had she missed out on the role with the most screen time as the village head, but she was now stuck doing manual labor here.

 

 

With all this free time, she might as well have taken on another acting gig.

 

 

Suddenly, she felt a tickling sensation on her face, as if a strand of hair had brushed against it.

 

 

When she opened her eyes—

 

 

“Ah—mmph!”