I Don't Want to Be the Villainess Anymore - Chapter 13

After finishing her diary, Rong Xi felt a wave of relief wash over her.

A knock sounded at the door. Quickly, Rong Xi stuffed the diary into her drawer and called out, “Come in.”

Her mother stepped inside.

Qin Yuzhen stood not far away, watching as Rong’s mother entered Rong Xi’s room. The door hadn’t been fully closed, leaving a slight gap.

According to the plot, Qin Yuzhen was supposed to overhear Rong’s mother confiding her grievances to Rong Xi, which would then send the original host spiraling into madness.

Curious about what the two would say, Qin Yuzhen took a few steps forward.

“Xi Xi, she hasn’t been bullying you, has she?”

“No,” Rong Xi replied. “How could my sister bully me?”

“Someone called me today and said you cried at school because she bullied you.” Rong’s mother took Rong Xi’s hand. “If she’s mistreating you, tell me. In my heart, you’re my real daughter.”

Rong Xi froze for a moment. “She really hasn’t bullied me. Who’s spreading these lies? I cried because I lost to her in badminton—it was my own fault for being a sore loser. She even went easy on me, and I still lost… After all the time I’ve spent practicing, I can’t even beat someone who doesn’t train at all.”

“Xi Xi, you’re just too kind. That girl… after all these years outside, she’s grown twisted. She won’t even call me ‘Mom.’ She probably still resents us. Who knows if she’ll take her unhappiness out on you?” Rong’s mother continued.

Qin Yuzhen: “…”

No wonder the original host went mad. What kind of nonsense was this?

“That’s not true!” Rong Xi grew anxious. “Mom, she just came back—it’s normal if she can’t call you ‘Mom’ yet. Don’t overthink it. She’s suffered so much outside. She’s hurting. Right now, we should be caring for her, not doubting her.”

“Host, from the original host’s perspective, Rong Xi’s words would definitely sound like white lotus rhetoric,” the system remarked.

“True.” After all, in the original script, the host and Rong Xi had barely interacted. Without understanding Rong Xi’s character, hearing this out of the blue would naturally make the host suspect Rong Xi of sowing discord.

“We’ve already brought her home, given her money, and are taking her shopping for clothes tomorrow. We’ve tried talking to her nicely, but she won’t even change her surname. What more does she want?” Rong’s mother pressed on.

“But you still won’t acknowledge her publicly. As your biological daughter, she can’t even call you ‘Mom’ or ‘Dad’ in front of others. That must be so painful for her.” Rong Xi was on the verge of tears.

“We’ve already explained the reasons to her.” In Rong’s mother’s eyes, once an explanation was given, acceptance was the only option—no alternatives existed.

Qin Yuzhen almost laughed. Hands in her pockets, she turned and walked away. “Even the most melodramatic soap operas don’t get this ridiculous.”

“Rong Xi will probably blame herself,” the system said.

“That girl’s personality…” Qin Yuzhen didn’t finish, but the system could infer the rest.

After seeing her mother out, Rong Xi felt utterly drained. She glanced toward Qin Yuzhen’s room in the distance, took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and went downstairs to wash a plate of fruit before heading back up.

When the knock came, Qin Yuzhen wasn’t surprised. She opened the door to find Rong Xi standing there, eyes still red.

“You’ve been crying?”

“No, why would I cry? I just rubbed my eyes.” Rong Xi handed her the fruit plate.

“Poisoned?” Qin Yuzhen glanced at the fruit platter but didn’t take it.

Rong Xi frowned slightly. “How could it be poisoned? I was just being nice and washed some fruit for you. If you don’t want it, fine, I’ll eat it myself.”

“Alright, come in and put it on my desk.” Qin Yuzhen stepped aside.

Rong Xi looked at Qin Yuzhen and muttered under her breath, “What, are you a princess or something? So demanding.”

“I actually am a princess,” Qin Yuzhen said with a smile, sitting down on the sofa and tilting her chin up slightly. “Does it not suit me?”

Rong Xi picked up a cherry and suddenly didn’t feel like giving her the fruit anymore.

“Wasn’t that for me?” Qin Yuzhen stared at Rong Xi’s hand.

Rong Xi popped the cherry into her mouth and sat down as well. “Um…”

“Hmm?”

“I want to talk to you.”

“About what?” Qin Yuzhen leaned back on the sofa, watching Rong Xi.

Seeing Qin Yuzhen’s serious expression, Rong Xi suddenly lost her nerve. “It’s just… I, uh… you…”

“Never mind, don’t say it.” Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rong Xi. “Your position is awkward—you’re not suited to be the family mediator. So just stay out of certain things.”

Rong Xi froze, staring at Qin Yuzhen before shuddering slightly. “You heard?”

“Yep.”

Rong Xi fell silent and lowered her head. “I think she has the wrong idea about you.”

“So, you think I haven’t taken my anger out on you?”

“I don’t think you’re angry at all. You’re just…” naturally mean and enjoy teasing me.

Of course, Rong Xi didn’t dare say the second half out loud.

“I think some things should be clarified. Long-standing misunderstandings aren’t good for anyone.”

Rong Xi clenched her hands. “I think I should move out, but given the current situation, I don’t know how to bring it up. If I say it, she’ll definitely overthink it even more.”

“So just pretend you don’t see it. It’s simple—why force everyone to get along like one big happy family?”

“I think family should be like that.”

“Your world is too pure,” Qin Yuzhen remarked.

“It’s not too pure. I just want things to be better.” Rong Xi paused for a few seconds. “Though I guess thinking this way is a bit selfish. If you really don’t like it, then fine, things can stay as they are. It’s not like feelings can be forced anyway.”

Qin Yuzhen looked at Rong Xi, grabbed a handful of cherries, and stuffed them into Rong Xi’s hands. “Go to bed. If you’re bored, do some extra homework.”

Rong Xi: “…”

“Seventeen-year-olds are so naive.”

“You’re only seventeen too,” Rong Xi said, cradling the cherries.

“But I’m not as naive as you. If I didn’t know you were a sweet, clueless optimist, I’d think you were trying to provoke or show off to me just now. Your ‘mediation’ would’ve backfired completely.” Qin Yuzhen took a sip of water.

Rong Xi thought back to what she’d said and realized, upon reflection, that it did come off a bit wrong.

“That’s why I told you to focus on homework, turn a blind eye, and talk less.”

Rong Xi wasn’t sure how she’d ended up being lectured by Qin Yuzhen.

“If you want to keep being close to them, go ahead. I have no objections.” Qin Yuzhen crossed her legs. “Anything else?”

“No,” Rong Xi said flatly.

“You can leave now.” Qin Yuzhen offered a kind smile and gestured toward the door.

Rong Xi walked out, still holding the cherries.

“Host, your temper has improved quite a bit.”

“Mainly because of the fruit.” Qin Yuzhen glanced at the remaining half-plate of fruit. “Ah, I gave away too much.”

System: “…”