I Don't Want to Be the Villainess Anymore - Chapter 21

“Sorry, sister, I didn’t mean to.” Rong Xi immediately stepped away after treading on Qin Yuzhen’s shoe, turning back with an apologetic tone that was so obviously sarcastic it didn’t even require thought.

Qin Yuzhen glanced down at the black mark on her sneakers, then looked up at Rong Xi. “You’re getting bolder by the day.”

“Not at all, I really didn’t do it on purpose. Sister, why won’t you believe me?”

“You go ahead and buy what you need. I’m going to the restroom.”

“Let me come with you.”

“No need.” Qin Yuzhen refused firmly.

Rong Xi watched Qin Yuzhen’s retreating figure, half-expecting her to just abandon her there.

In truth, Qin Yuzhen only wanted to avoid Rong Xi. Once out of sight, she used an item card to clean the dirt off her shoe.

“Zhenzhen!”

Just as Qin Yuzhen was about to head back to find Rong Xi, she spotted Gu Su running toward her, arms laden with shopping bags.

“What a coincidence! Are you here alone?” Gu Su glanced at Qin Yuzhen, then around her.

“Rong Xi is with me. She went to the dessert shop.”

Gu Su feigned hurt, her voice dripping with exaggerated sorrow. “Why did you only invite Rong Xi and not me? I’m all by myself, so lonely.”

“Do you want some dessert?” Qin Yuzhen asked.

Gu Su nodded eagerly, sidling up to Qin Yuzhen. “I do, but everyone inside is in pairs. I’ve been too embarrassed to go in alone.”

“Then let’s go. I’ll carry a couple of your bags.”

“Zhenzhen, you’re the best.” Without hesitation, Gu Su handed over two bags and looped her arm through Qin Yuzhen’s. “I want to check out that store first.”

She gave Qin Yuzhen’s arm a playful shake. “We can go after a quick look, okay?”

“But Rong Xi is waiting at the dessert shop.”

“It’ll be super fast, I promise. I won’t keep Rong Xi waiting.”

Despite her assurances, browsing a jewelry store was anything but quick.

The dessert shop was packed, and Rong Xi had to wait ten minutes just to get a seat. She settled in, glancing outside, instinctively reaching for her phone to ask Qin Yuzhen what was taking so long. But after a brief pause, she scoffed, closed the call screen, and started ordering instead.

By the time Qin Yuzhen finally arrived, weighed down by shopping bags, Rong Xi had already finished one of her desserts. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed someone trailing behind Qin Yuzhen.

“Rong Xi, I ran into Zhenzhen while shopping and tagged along. You don’t mind, do you?” Gu Su asked, though she was already sitting down before waiting for an answer.

Rong Xi stared at Qin Yuzhen.

“Sorry for the wait. I couldn’t resist checking out K’s new collection, so I made Zhenzhen come with me,” Gu Su continued.

Rong Xi fought the urge to fling her sago pudding in Gu Su’s face, forcing a polite smile instead. “It wasn’t long.”

“Good. Zhenzhen, go ahead and order. My treat.” Gu Su pulled out her phone and leaned closer to Qin Yuzhen.

Rong Xi tightened her grip on her spoon, silently eating her dessert without another word.

Qin Yuzhen skimmed the menu and casually picked a couple of items.

“Zhenzhen, next time you go out, call me to come with you. Since you live with Rongxi, and I’m not far from you either,” Gu Su said.

Rongxi looked up at Gu Su.

“I’m super patient. Wherever you want to go, I’ll accompany you,” Gu Su added.

Rongxi chuckled.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing,” Rongxi propped her chin on her hand. “I just remembered that time in our first year of high school when we went on a picnic. We asked you to watch the fire, but you ran off, and it went out.”

Gu Su defended herself, “I had to go to the bathroom back then—what else could I do?”

“Besides, how can you compare accompanying Zhenzhen shopping to watching a fire? Rongxi, do you think shopping with Zhenzhen is boring?” Gu Su asked.

Rongxi thought she had the upper hand, but then—

“Of course not. I was just saying you lack patience,” Rongxi replied. “When Qin Yuzhen paints, it takes her two or three hours per piece. Could you stand by and wait that long?”

Qin Yuzhen kept her head down, quietly eating the small cake in front of her, tuning out their bickering. After all, neither of them would ask for her opinion anyway.

“Wow, Zhenzhen, you can paint? That’s amazing!”

Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rongxi before smiling at Gu Su beside her. “It’s alright.”

“Zhenzhen, if there’s a chance, teach me how to paint! I really admire people who are good at it.” Gu Su looked at Qin Yuzhen with eager anticipation.

Qin Yuzhen shot another glance at Rongxi. “Let Rongxi teach you. She’s better than me—I just doodle casually.”

Gu Su nearly blurted out, “Who wants her to teach me?” but managed to hold back.

“I don’t have the patience. I won’t teach,” Rongxi said before Gu Su could respond.

Gu Su was surprised—since when had Rongxi become so blunt? She used to hold back. Today, it was like she’d swallowed gunpowder.

Rongxi found the freedom to speak her mind incredibly satisfying, and it left her feeling light and refreshed. She noticed that her directness seemed to leave Gu Su at a loss for words.

Qin Yuzhen lowered her head and continued eating her cake, staying out of the fray.

After the three finished their desserts and left the shop, Rongxi checked the time. “It’s so late. Maybe we should call it a night—we have school tomorrow.”

Gu Su gazed reluctantly at Qin Yuzhen. “Then I’ll see you at school tomorrow. In a few days, I’ll bring you some desserts I made myself. My skills are top-notch—just as good as the shop’s!”

“Alright.”

“Promise me—if they’re good, you have to praise me.”

“Mm.” Qin Yuzhen nodded.

“Then I’ll be off.” Gu Su waved at Qin Yuzhen and got into the car that had been waiting at the door.

Rongxi watched expressionlessly as Gu Su left, then turned to Qin Yuzhen. “What’s so cute about her anyway?”

“You ran into someone and didn’t come back for ages without telling me. I thought something had happened to you.”

“It’s so unfair! And knowing I was waiting for you, you just went shopping with someone else?”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I thought you’d abandoned me and left alone!” Hands on her hips, Rongxi finally let out all the frustration that had built up after Gu Su’s departure.

Qin Yuzhen glanced at the chattering Rongxi and patted her pocket.

Rong Xi noticed Qin Yuzhen taking something out of her pocket, and then felt a slight weight on her hair. She took it down and saw it was a cherry-shaped hair clip—small and utterly adorable. The cherry was made of deep-sea pearls, and the leaf was crafted from jade, perfectly reflecting Qin Yuzhen’s taste in accessories.

“Hmph, you think giving me a little trinket will make me forgive you?” Rong Xi clipped it back into her hair, secretly delighted but refusing to admit it.

“I never thought I did anything wrong, so I don’t need your forgiveness. If you don’t like it, give it back,” Qin Yuzhen said leisurely as she walked ahead.

Rong Xi immediately quickened her pace to catch up.

“How could I possibly leave you alone here?” Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rong Xi again. “And you said you were worried something might happen to me. So worried that you ordered five desserts and happily finished one to celebrate?”

Rong Xi: “…”

“I wasn’t celebrating! I angrily ate one out of frustration!” Rong Xi insisted.

“I thought at least one of those five desserts was for me. Who knew you’d eat them all yourself? Clearly, you weren’t thinking of me at all,” Qin Yuzhen continued. “See? I still remembered to buy something for you.”

“Rong Xi, you’ve become so bad—now you’re even twisting things around to blame me.” Qin Yuzhen sighed.

Rong Xi: ???

“Who’s the one twisting things here?”

“You, obviously. Or is it me?” Qin Yuzhen said with absolute confidence.

Rong Xi refused to engage further.

On their way back, they took a taxi. Throughout the ride, Rong Xi couldn’t resist touching the hair clip several times.

Qin Yuzhen noticed but didn’t tease her about it.

When they arrived at the neighborhood entrance, they got out of the car and walked inside together.

Just then, Qin Yuzhen spotted the male lead, Ye Yunshen, coming out of the gate alone. He clearly saw them too, gave a brief greeting, and left without further interaction.

The system sighed inwardly. If not for Qin Yuzhen’s interference, Ye Yunshen would never have greeted Rong Xi so casually.

Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rong Xi, whose expression remained unchanged, showing no particular reaction.

Noticing Qin Yuzhen’s gaze, Rong Xi looked up and explained, “That’s Ye Yunshen, the youngest son of the Ye family. He lives in another villa area not far from here. The Ye and Rong families have good relations—we played together as kids, but now we’re practically strangers.”

“Not interested,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“Then why were you staring at me?”

“Just curious why you keep running into people who know you everywhere we go.”

“You’re the same! Even at the mall, you bumped into an acquaintance.”

“You knew them too, so they’re acquaintances of both of us,” Qin Yuzhen emphasized.

Rong Xi: “…”

“I’d rather not have such acquaintances,” Rong Xi muttered.

Qin Yuzhen found her reaction amusing.

“Zhenzhen, in a few days, I’ll bring you some homemade desserts I made. If they taste good, you have to praise me, okay?” Rong Xi said in a deliberately sweet voice.

Qin Yuzhen listened to her exaggerated tone. “You don’t need to fake that voice—it’s already effective. And she never talked like that.”

“Yes, she did!”

“No, she didn’t.”

“Then your hearing must be bad,” Rong Xi retorted.

Qin Yuzhen gave Rong Xi a look. “It’s only been a few days, and you’ve already revealed your true colors.”

“What true colors?”

“The true colors of bullying me.”

Rong Xi’s expression twisted slightly. “I never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth.”

“There are a lot of things you never thought of.”

The two bickered all the way until they got home. Though Rong Xi couldn’t win against Qin Yuzhen in arguments, she wasn’t particularly angry either. For her, trading barbs with Qin Yuzhen had become a daily routine—and besides, it was good practice for sharpening her wit.

She believed that if she kept at it, even if she couldn’t outwit Qin Yuzhen, she’d at least be able to get under Gu Su’s skin.

Back in her room, Rong Xi took off the hair clip and admired it for a moment before carefully placing it in the jewelry section of her walk-in closet. She decided she’d wear it to school every day from now on, just to flaunt it in front of Gu Su.

She knew Qin Yuzhen definitely hadn’t bought anything for Gu Su—otherwise, she would’ve mentioned it while they were eating dessert. That woman could never keep things to herself.

Rong Xi couldn’t help but chuckle. She could already picture the look on Gu Su’s face when she saw the clip.

She had never looked forward to school so much before.

The next morning at breakfast, Qin Yuzhen immediately noticed the clip in Rong Xi’s hair. “You really like it, huh?”

“It’s alright,” Rong Xi said.

“Seems like you really like it,” Qin Yuzhen teased.

Rong Xi didn’t argue, tacitly admitting it. Who wouldn’t love a beautiful hair clip that could also piss off their rival?

“Are you having lunch with Gu Su again today?” Rong Xi asked.

Qin Yuzhen knew exactly what she was getting at the moment the question left her lips. “If you want to eat with her, you can invite her yourself.”

Last week, out of the ten meals they had at school, six were shared with Gu Su.

Rong Xi: “…”

“Sometimes, I can’t help but feel like you act way too immature for your age. But then again, you really are still young—not even an adult yet.”

Rong Xi shot Qin Yuzhen a glance. “I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t argue with you.”

“Even if you weren’t, what could you possibly argue about?”

“I could step on your foot.”

“Immature.”

When they arrived at school and got out of the car, Rong Xi glanced around, disappointed not to spot Gu Su anywhere.

Her face fell slightly.

Qin Yuzhen had been watching her expression the whole time. “Kids will always be kids.”

“Yeah, and you bully a kid every day. Shame on you, old lady.”

“I’m not an adult yet either.”

“Shameless,” the system chimed in.

“Don’t copy Rong Xi’s way of talking.”

“That’s my own thought. I didn’t copy her.”

“A lifeless system doesn’t have thoughts,” Qin Yuzhen scoffed.

The system took a deep breath, silently hoping Rong Xi would accidentally step on Qin Yuzhen’s foot again. But alas, that wish remained nothing more than a pipe dream.

“Oh, by the way, we have another monthly exam next week,” Rong Xi said, glancing around before her eyes landed on the honor roll displayed on the first floor.

Qin Yuzhen: “…”

“Okay,” Qin Yuzhen replied flatly.

“You’re not going to leave, right…?”

“No.” Qin Yuzhen skimmed the honor roll—Rong Xi had ranked third in the grade last time.

“I didn’t do well last time,” Rong Xi said, also looking up at the board.

Passersby who recognized Rong Xi overheard her words, their expressions shifting subtly at her remark.

“I think you might get beaten for saying that while standing here,” Qin Yuzhen said, hands in her pockets. “You really need to work hard—who knows, maybe you’ll drop to fourth this time.”

Rong Xi turned to look at Qin Yuzhen. “What do you mean? You think you can outscore me this time?”

“Probably.”

“So confident?”

“Haven’t you known that all along?”

“What if you don’t?” Rong Xi felt her chance for revenge had come.

“If I don’t outscore you, I won’t sass you anymore. From then on, I’ll always speak to you nicely,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“No, not that. If you don’t outscore me, you have to make ‘Silver-Inlaid Bean Sprouts’ for me—with a hundred sprouts,” Rong Xi countered.

Qin Yuzhen laughed. “Fine. But if you don’t outscore me, then you have to talk in the same tone you used yesterday when mimicking Gu Shi—for a whole month.”

Rong Xi: “???”

“I think I’m getting the short end of the stick here.”

“I don’t think so. Do you think just anyone can get me into the kitchen?” Qin Yuzhen retorted.

Rong Xi shot her an exasperated look. “As you wish, princess.”

The two entered the classroom. Though Rong Xi was confident in herself, the sight of Qin Yuzhen’s unwavering self-assurance—along with her impressive painting and badminton skills—made her buckle down. Between classes, she rushed to the teachers’ office to ask about problems she didn’t understand.

Qin Yuzhen observed all of Rong Xi’s actions.

She tapped her desk and glanced at a few girls lingering by the doorway. “Have those girls been hanging around our classroom a lot lately?”

“Yeah,” Liang Xuzhou replied, staring at Qin Yuzhen. “And whose fault is that?”

Ever since that day, crowds had been gathering outside their classroom just to catch a glimpse of him—the so-called “top dog.”

Liang Xuzhou wasn’t bad-looking, but as a background character next to the protagonists, he’d never gotten much attention. Now, thanks to Rong Xi’s protagonist aura and Qin Yuzhen’s villainess aura, he’d somehow gained the status of a proper secondary male lead. As a result, more and more people were noticing him.

Last time, when he shoved his books into his desk as usual, he accidentally crushed a secretly placed cupcake inside—cream oozed out of the box, covering his hand and the entire drawer.

Now, he had to carefully inspect his desk before putting anything inside to avoid a repeat.

“You’re the one who caused this, yet you’re trying to pin it on me.”

“You’re the ‘top dog,’ aren’t you?” Qin Yuzhen said. “What’s wrong with shouldering a little blame?”

“Because of you, I can’t even nap in class anymore.” The teachers had started paying attention to him and loved calling on him to answer questions. It was torture. All Liang Xuzhou wanted was to live his lazy, uneventful life in peace.

He was exhausted.

The girls at the door still hadn’t left. When the bell rang, one of them darted in and tossed an envelope onto Liang Xuzhou’s desk.

Qin Yuzhen glanced at it—the girl was quite pretty.

“Open it.”

Liang Xuzhou smirked, unfolded it, and skimmed the contents. He’d expected a love letter or something…

He handed it over, and Qin Yuzhen hesitated before taking it.

The girl’s handwriting was delicate and refined, matching the elegance of her appearance.

Sorry, I really feel bad about this and didn’t want to disturb you, but I have no other choice. A few days ago, I was cornered by some troublemakers from outside the school. They said they wanted to meet you and demanded I bring you to them. They also threatened me not to report it to the teachers—apparently, their families have a lot of influence in City A, but my parents are just ordinary office workers. I’ve been struggling over whether to tell you or not. After a few days passed without them bothering me, I thought the matter was over. But yesterday, they came back and said if I didn’t bring you, they’d cause trouble for my parents. I really have no way out.

At the end, the girl left her name, class, and contact information. Her name was Cong Mian, a sophomore in her second year of high school.

Qin Yuzhen: …

“What kind of plot is this?” Qin Yuzhen didn’t recall this part when she read the story before.

“Oh, Host, your actions have triggered a side plot,” the system said, already resigned. After all, this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

“Why the hell are they looking for me?” Liang Xuzhou was visibly annoyed.

“There are rumors going around that you’re the toughest fighter in this area,” Qin Yuzhen said. This poor girl really had the worst luck.

Qin Yuzhen glanced at Liang Xuzhou. “Are you going?”

“Can I just send my family’s people instead?”

Qin Yuzhen: …

Honestly, this was the first time she’d encountered a male character like this.

Most male characters had some kind of hero complex, but Liang Xuzhou… Now she understood why she had clashed with him from the start—he had the same slacker energy as her.

“I think that’s fine, but I’m worried they might take it out on that junior,” Qin Yuzhen said.

Liang Xuzhou shot her a look. “Are you going? Honestly, if you go, you wouldn’t be scared, right?”

“Not scared. Given your level, I could probably take on a dozen of them by myself,” Qin Yuzhen said, resting her chin on her hand.

Before Liang Xuzhou could laugh at her, Qin Yuzhen continued, “Call me ‘boss,’ and I’ll consider going with you.”

Liang Xuzhou: ???

“Isn’t this whole mess your fault?”

“Yep, so call me boss,” Qin Yuzhen said. “I have thick skin, so don’t bother glaring at me—it won’t work.”

Liang Xuzhou let out an exasperated laugh. “No way. Then I’ll just go by myself. Worst case, I’ll bring a few bodyguards.”

“But wouldn’t that expose the truth?” Liang Xuzhou suddenly realized. “If you don’t come with me, I’ll just tell everyone it was you who beat them up—nothing to do with me.”

There was no reason for him to be afraid of Qin Yuzhen anyway. It wasn’t like she’d actually beat him up.

The system’s smug laughter echoed in Qin Yuzhen’s ears. Based on her usual principles, she only verbally “bullied” ordinary people and never laid a hand on those who didn’t provoke her or do anything wrong.

Qin Yuzhen stared at Liang Xuzhou. “Hmph.”

Even though he told himself not to be scared, Liang Xuzhou instinctively shrank back. “Then I’ll contact her.”

“Sure.” Qin Yuzhen propped her chin on her hand and glanced at Rong Xi before tapping the table. “But we get out of school at 10 p.m. every day. Won’t we have to arrange a separate time?”

“Starting November, we’ll have classes on Saturdays too. We’ll be out by 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.” Liang Xuzhou pulled out his phone.

Beside her, Qin Yuzhen fell into a long silence. Sensing something was off, Liang Xuzhou glanced up at her.

“Who said that?”

“The parents’ group chat.”

Qin Yuzhen’s tears nearly spilled over, while the system’s laughter grew even more unrestrained.

Liang Xuzhou took in Qin Yuzhen’s aggrieved expression and continued, “I heard next semester might have half a month of classes before a single day off.”

“Just shut up,” Qin Yuzhen snapped, glaring at Liang Xuzhou.

Liang Xuzhou sent a friend request, but the recipient was in class and didn’t check their phone, so there was no immediate reply. It wasn’t until after class that the request was finally accepted.

Troublesome Scapegoat: Sorry, really, truly sorry..

Qin Yuzhen read the nickname and shot a sidelong glance at Liang Xuzhou, who avoided her gaze.

Liang Xuzhou: It’s none of your business. Did they say anything else? When are you supposed to meet?

Troublesome Scapegoat: They said as soon as possible, but didn’t specify a time.

Liang Xuzhou: Any ID info?

Troublesome Scapegoat: Judging by their uniforms, they’re from No. 3 High School. There are usually five of them when they come to see me. The leader is tall and burly. Maybe we should just call the police.

Liang Xuzhou: Do you have their contact info?

Troublesome Scapegoat: They didn’t give me any. No location either—just told me to pass on the message.

Qin Yuzhen glanced at the conversation. No time, no place—what kind of meeting was this? Before, she had foolishly waited for the girl to run over and notify her. Though they hadn’t met, she already felt like those guys must not be the sharpest tools in the shed. And why bother having someone relay the message when they could just wait at the entrance themselves? Did they think it made them look more impressive?

Troublesome Scapegoat: But I usually run into them near Lakeside Park. Maybe that’s the meeting spot.

Liang Xuzhou: If you see them again, just give them my contact info directly.

Troublesome Scapegoat: Got it.

“Are those guys a few screws loose?” Liang Xuzhou voiced the same thought.

“I think so too.” Qin Yuzhen agreed.

At lunchtime, Rong Xi finally ran into Gu Su in the cafeteria, just as she’d hoped. The two exchanged glances, and Gu Su’s gaze lingered on Rong Xi’s hair.

Rong Xi gave Gu Su a faint smile, her eyes betraying a hint of smugness upon closer inspection.

But Gu Su quickly looked away. “I’m eating with someone else today, so I won’t join you guys.”

“Okay.”

After Gu Su left, Rong Xi stared at her retreating figure, feeling like the situation was playing out very differently from what she’d imagined. A lump of frustration lodged in her throat, neither rising nor falling.

“She definitely wouldn’t bring it up herself,” Qin Yuzhen said, watching Rong Xi’s aggrieved expression. “And honestly, it’s just a hair clip.”

“You don’t get it.” Rong Xi waved her hand dismissively. “Whatever, as long as she saw it.”

“I heard we’ll have classes on Saturdays in November too?”

“Yeah.” Rong Xi nodded. “That’s normal—we’re seniors now.”

Qin Yuzhen sighed.

“Do you really hate school that much?” Rong Xi couldn’t understand.

“You don’t get it.” Hearing the same lessons once or twice was fine, but hearing them over a dozen times? Even if a stunning beauty were lecturing her, she’d still be fed up—let alone middle-aged, balding, overweight men.

It wasn’t that she hated school—she was just thoroughly sick of it.

“I know school is a wonderful thing,” Qin Yuzhen said, waving her hand. “Let’s not talk about it anymore.”

Rong Xi felt like Qin Yuzhen’s eyes had seen through the vicissitudes of life.

Qin Yuzhen took a sip of her soup and noticed a girl not far away. She raised an eyebrow—it was Cong Mian. The girl had an exceptionally gentle, water-like demeanor, the kind who seemed like she’d never lose her temper. She was very thin, with pale skin and faintly colored lips, though her hair was jet black.

“Who are you looking at?” Rong Xi asked.

“No one.” Qin Yuzhen averted her gaze.

Rong Xi glanced in the direction Qin Yuzhen had been staring and gave her a look. “You were secretly checking out a girl.”

Qin Yuzhen: “…”

“Excuse me, I was looking openly, not secretly,” Qin Yuzhen said. “In a little while, I might even get to know her.”

“What are you up to?”

“It’s a secret. I won’t tell you.” Qin Yuzhen smiled mischievously.

Rong Xi stared at Qin Yuzhen and let out a soft huff.

At ten in the evening, Qin Yuzhen and Rong Xi left the school gate together. Qin Yuzhen glanced in a certain direction.

“What’s wrong?” Rong Xi asked.

“I have something to take care of. Why don’t you head back first?”

“Huh?” Rong Xi frowned. “It’s ten o’clock. What could you possibly have to do?”

“Then wait for me in the car. I’ll be back in about twenty minutes,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“I’m coming with you,” Rong Xi insisted.

Qin Yuzhen took off her backpack and shoved it into Rong Xi’s arms. “Go back first. Be good.”

Rong Xi froze at the word “good,” and in that moment of hesitation, Qin Yuzhen darted into the crowd. Liang Xuzhou, who had just left the school, caught sight of Qin Yuzhen’s figure and glanced at Rong Xi before ultimately following Qin Yuzhen.

“Check where Cong Mian is,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“She’s nearby, and there are probably others with her. Host, how did you even spot her?”

Qin Yuzhen had merely glanced into the distance earlier and happened to catch sight of that familiar silhouette. Her memory was excellent, especially when the subject to remember was a beautiful person.

Following the system’s directions, Qin Yuzhen sped through a narrow alley. She moved so quickly that Liang Xuzhou, struggling to keep up, was left panting behind her.

“Qin Yuzhen!” Liang Xuzhou finally called out.

Qin Yuzhen paused, allowing Liang Xuzhou to catch up.

“Why are you following me?”

“When I came over the fence, I saw a few tall guys with that girl—what’s her name again?” Liang Xuzhou said.

“Cong Mian,” Qin Yuzhen corrected.

“Is that really the point here?” Liang Xuzhou said, exasperated.

“Something about this feels off,” Qin Yuzhen said as they walked forward together. “Cong Mian probably lied.”

“Huh?”

“Sophomores get out half an hour earlier than us. Normally, they should’ve gone home by now. What’s she doing here? And Lakeheart Garden—that’s where troublemakers usually hang out. Suddenly showing up at our school gate, right when seniors are leaving, and only taking Cong Mian without bothering with the person they supposedly wanted to fight… Their target was her from the start.” Qin Yuzhen quickened her pace.

“No idea what she’s planning.”

After passing through the alley, they arrived at Lakeheart Garden.

“I didn’t even know this path existed,” Liang Xuzhou said, surprised.

“Yeah.” Qin Yuzhen checked the time.

“How do we find them?”

“This way.”

Liang Xuzhou wondered how Qin Yuzhen could be so certain, but after walking about thirty meters, they indeed heard voices.

“You go to a prestigious academy. How can you not have money?”

“I got in on a scholarship, and it all went to tuition. I really don’t have any money,” Cong Mian said.

“My demands aren’t high. If you won’t pay, just lure that Rong Xi from your school out here. If you refuse… well… you’re not bad-looking yourself. Not much worse than Rong Xi.”

Qin Yuzhen frowned slightly. How did this involve Rong Xi?

“I’ve already talked to her… Just set a time, and I’ll bring her out,” Cong Mian said.

Qin Yuzhen had a rough idea of what Cong Mian was trying to do.

“Rong Xi is the young lady of the Rong family,” Cong Mian said. “Bullying her won’t end well for you.”

“Just bring her out here. This has nothing to do with you.”

Qin Yuzhen glanced at the three faces before her. “System, what’s their background?”

“Ordinary street thugs, average family background.”

“Tsk, someone’s clearly behind this. Check what Zhao the Cannon Fodder is up to.” Qin Yuzhen didn’t even want to bother thinking—the only person she’d crossed so far was Zhao the Cannon Fodder, and he had a thing for Rong Xi.

“Got it, let me see.”

Cong Mian took two steps back. “Just tell me when you want her.”

“Tsk, are you playing us?” One of them grabbed Cong Mian’s arm. “Listen, don’t try anything funny. I’m not afraid of the Rong family, and I’m certainly not afraid of you. Your mom works as an accountant at XX Company, right?”

Cong Mian trembled slightly. “I—I wouldn’t dare.”

“First, you said you didn’t know Rong Xi, and now you can just bring her out whenever?!”

Qin Yuzhen scanned the ground, then disdainfully picked up a stone from the mud and hurled it at the guy’s hand. She had originally aimed for his head, but given her strength, that might’ve been fatal.

“Ahh!” The man screamed, immediately letting go. “Who the hell—?!”

Qin Yuzhen stepped out from behind the tree, with Liang Xuzhou following behind. The system helpfully played a dramatic boss entrance BGM in her head.

Cong Mian stared at them in shock.

“Junior, step aside for a bit,” Qin Yuzhen said gently.

Cong Mian bit her lip and quickly moved behind them. She glanced between Qin Yuzhen and Liang Xuzhou, a terrifying thought forming in her mind.

“What do you want with Rong Xi? Tell me—I’m close with her,” Qin Yuzhen said. “If it’s something good, I can bring her here right now.”

“Who the hell are you? Mind your own damn business! F*ck, stop acting tough!” The guy clutched his hand. “Don’t think I won’t hit you just because you’re a girl. Kneel and apologize to me right now, and maybe I’ll let you off easy.”

Qin Yuzhen smiled.

What followed could only be described as brutal.

Liang Xuzhou silently moved to stand beside Cong Mian. The two exchanged a glance.

“I’m just the scapegoat here.”

Cong Mian: “…”

Liang Xuzhou had initially thought Qin Yuzhen was joking when she claimed she could take on over a dozen people by herself. But watching her now, effortlessly handling the situation, it seemed she really could fight off even more if needed.

Qin Yuzhen stepped on the face of the guy who had been the loudest earlier, pulling out a tissue to wipe the dust off her hands. “Still want to be my grandpa?”

“N-no! You’re my grandpa! You’re my grandpa!” the man cried.

“What did you want with Rong Xi? Who sent you?” Qin Yuzhen asked.

The man hesitated for two seconds.

“Zhao?”

He flinched.

“Tsk. Tell him to come at me if he’s got a problem, not Rong Xi. I can gift him another six months in the hospital,” Qin Yuzhen said in a low voice.

Though Liang Xuzhou and Cong Mian couldn’t hear her, the man’s terrified expression said it all.

“And don’t bother this junior again, got it? Keep your grudges between us—don’t drag in bystanders.” Qin Yuzhen lifted her foot and took out her phone, sending Rong Xi a message.

As the three of them walked out together, Cong Mian turned back to look several times.

“Are they okay?”

“The surveillance cameras were broken,” Qin Yuzhen said.

Cong Mian froze for a moment. “Dead?”

Qin Yuzhen glanced at Cong Mian’s expression.

“But the cameras outside weren’t broken…” Cong Mian continued.

“Junior, do I look like the kind of person who breaks laws and disrupts order?” Qin Yuzhen asked.

Cong Mian didn’t answer, just kept looking at Qin Yuzhen.

“I was acting bravely for justice—self-defense.”

Cong Mian nodded. “Mm.”

Liang Xuzhou noticed that ever since this junior found out he was just a scapegoat, she hadn’t looked at him even once.

“You could’ve told Rong Xi about this directly. No need to be afraid,” Qin Yuzhen said.

Cong Mian pressed her lips together. “She… doesn’t seem like someone easy to approach.”

“Huh?” Qin Yuzhen blinked, then laughed.

“Qin Yuzhen! What were you doing running off to the central garden? You said twenty minutes, but it’s been thirty!” Rong Xi got out of the car, only then noticing the two other people standing nearby.

She fell silent for two seconds.

This was what they called social suicide.

Liang Xuzhou remained calm. After witnessing Qin Yuzhen’s antics, Rong Xi’s contrast was nothing.

“Junior, do you have someone picking you up? If not, we can take you back,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“Ah? Wouldn’t that be too much trouble?”

“It’s fine. This time, it’s partly our fault for involving you. And it’s so late—I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting you go back alone,” Qin Yuzhen said.

Rong Xi listened to Qin Yuzhen’s gentle voice: Here we go again! Here we go again! Here we go again!

“Thank you, Senior,” Cong Mian smiled at Qin Yuzhen, then gave Rong Xi an apologetic look. “Sorry for the trouble, Senior.”

“You don’t need us to take you back, right?” Qin Yuzhen glanced at Liang Xuzhou, her voice instantly losing some of its gentleness.

“No need,” Liang Xuzhou said, already resigned. He felt like whether he tagged along or not made no difference—well, actually, it did, since he still had to take the blame.

The three girls got into the car, Qin Yuzhen sitting in the middle, Cong Mian and Rong Xi on either side. Cong Mian sat close to the door, leaving plenty of space for Qin Yuzhen.

“So what exactly—”