I Don't Want to Be the Villainess Anymore - Chapter 23

Rong Xi glanced at Qin Yuzhen. “I think we…”

“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me—the exam hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already thinking of giving up?” Qin Yuzhen said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, her expression feigning shock, making one itch to punch her.

Rong Xi: “…”

“How could I? Do I seem like that kind of person?” Rong Xi retorted, though she had indeed been thinking exactly that. But with Qin Yuzhen putting it that way, there was no way she could admit her earlier thoughts.

“Good, you scared me. I thought my little sister was someone who couldn’t handle losing,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“How do you know it’ll definitely be me who loses?”

Qin Yuzhen blinked. “Then do your best. If you work hard, it’s not like there’s no hope at all.”

Liang Xuzhou leaned against the wall, listening to their conversation while watching Rong Xi, lost in thought.

“Why are you staring at me?”

“I thought you’d punch her. Who knew you’d hold back,” Liang Xuzhou said.

“Fighting isn’t allowed at school,” Rong Xi said very seriously.

Qin Yuzhen scoffed. “Fighting? You and me?”

Rong Xi turned and walked away, afraid she wouldn’t be able to control her hands.

“Zhenzhen.” Gu Su walked in through the back door carrying a bag. “I made some desserts for you.”

Qin Yuzhen took it. “Thanks. But we get out at ten. Did you stay up late?”

“No, I just woke up a little earlier. It was a lot of work, so you have to eat it all,” Gu Su said, covering her mouth as she yawned, looking a little embarrassed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll savor every bite. But next time, don’t go out of your way to make them. Sleeping in class isn’t good,” Qin Yuzhen said, pulling out the contents of the bag.

Inside were pudding, nougat, chocolates, and a slice of mousse cake.

Qin Yuzhen popped a chocolate into her mouth, her face lighting up. “So good! You’re amazing.”

“That’s great,” Gu Su said. “I told you my skills are top-notch. I can make lots of other desserts too. I’ll make them for you next time I have the chance.”

“That’s too much trouble.”

“I can make them on weekends. It’s relaxing for me. If you like them, I’m happy too,” Gu Su said, checking the time. “Make sure you eat them all. Class is about to start. I should go.”

“Okay, bye.” Qin Yuzhen waved with a smile.

Liang Xuzhou, standing nearby, gave a look of disdain. Qin Yuzhen put the desserts away and looked up to see Rong Xi staring at her. Rong Xi seemed to huff before turning away.

“Sleeping in class isn’t good,” Liang Xuzhou said in a mocking tone. “Does she know you sleep through class every day?”

“I suddenly miss the days when you slept all day—quiet, with fewer words, and less annoying,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“And whose fault is it that I can’t sleep now?”

“Yours, obviously,” Qin Yuzhen said, looking at Liang Xuzhou with feigned shock. “You’re not blaming me, are you?”

Liang Xuzhou slumped onto his desk, cursing himself for not learning his lesson. He decided to reduce how often he spoke to Qin Yuzhen. After all, once the monthly exams were over, they’d be changing seats anyway.

Just thinking about being free of Qin Yuzhen made him want to set off a 66-round firecracker celebration right then and there.

High school monthly exams usually require assigned seating in random classrooms. Qin Yuzhen received her exam room and seat number a day in advance—a very convenient arrangement, as she was assigned to take the test in her own classroom.

“Where’s your exam?” Pei Jingyue turned around and glanced at the slip of paper in Qin Yuzhen’s hand. “Lucky you. I have to go all the way up to the fifth floor.”

“My luck has never been too bad,” Qin Yuzhen replied.

Rong Xi also walked over, and the envy in her eyes was unmistakable when she saw Qin Yuzhen’s slip. “I’m taking the test in the international class’s classroom. So annoying.”

Qin Yuzhen could only say that the plot was truly powerful. As expected, Rong Xi would likely be sitting at the male lead’s desk for the exam.

“The downfall of an exam begins with the assigned seat,” Qin Yuzhen remarked.

Rong Xi narrowed her eyes. “I’ve prepared very seriously this time. Nothing you say will shake me.”

“Oh, really? Then why are you trembling?”

“I’m not trembling out of fear—it’s excitement at the thought of watching you fail miserably!” Rong Xi retorted, lifting her chin before turning and walking away.

Qin Yuzhen chuckled.

“By that logic, doesn’t that mean I’ll rank first this time?” Liang Xuzhou, sitting nearby, handed over his slip—he was assigned to take the test at his own seat.

Qin Yuzhen could only say his luck was impressive.

“For you, the downfall of an exam starts with your hideous handwriting,” Qin Yuzhen said, glancing at Liang Xuzhou. “And aren’t you usually ranked fourth from the bottom?”

“A pillar of the class naturally holds everyone up from below,” Liang Xuzhou replied.

In truth, Liang Xuzhou’s grades weren’t bad—after all, this was an advanced class, and his overall ranking in the grade was still near the top.

“Your skin’s gotten thicker,” Qin Yuzhen remarked.

She didn’t particularly like exams, but the bet with Rong Xi added a bit of fun to this one.

For the senior year, every exam followed the strict format of the college entrance exams: two proctors, signal jammers, metal detectors at the door, and even scratch paper provided by the school. The only difference was that students didn’t have to clear out their desks—though the desks still had to be turned around.

“System, what kind of plot can even happen here? If the two of them walk fast enough, they might not even bump into each other,” Qin Yuzhen mused.

“The plot will definitely make sure they meet. This is about the male and female leads—it has nothing to do with you, so don’t worry about it,” the system replied.

Qin Yuzhen smirked. “Based on my experience, he won’t remain the male lead for long.”

System: “……”

Qin Yuzhen only brought a pencil case. Her seat could be considered prime real estate—directly facing the podium, with the proctor sitting right in front of her. She rested her chin on her hand and crossed her legs.

“Host, you look more like a proctor than the actual proctor in front of you.”

“Plenty of people cross their legs—why single me out?” Qin Yuzhen retorted.

“Maybe it’s just that your aura is especially…” The system struggled to find the right word.

The first exam was Chinese. Qin Yuzhen’s pace seemed unhurried, but in reality, she was moving quickly. The system watched curiously—it still couldn’t figure out how she managed to write without a single typo.

The proctor stood nearby, observing Qin Yuzhen as she worked.

Qin Yuzhen was genuinely bored. She used one font for the answers in the front and switched to another for the essay at the back. The essay topic was about cultural heritage. After some thought, she ended up writing it in classical Chinese.

System: “…”

The teacher nearby: “???”

When it was time to collect the papers, the teacher gave Qin Yuzhen a look of astonishment.

Unfazed by praise or blame, Qin Yuzhen calmly packed her things and returned to her seat.

“Why did that teacher look at you like you were some kind of monkey?” Liang Xuzhou asked.

“If your eyes are bothering you, go get them checked. That was clearly a look of admiration,” Qin Yuzhen scoffed lightly.

Students who had been taking exams in other classrooms began trickling back.

“Rong Xi just fell down the stairs.”

“Huh?”

“Apparently, she was pushed.”

“She’s already been taken to the infirmary.”

“There was so much bl00d—it was terrifying.”

“Who pushed her?”

“Too many people around—no one saw.”

“No idea why anyone would push her.”

…

Qin Yuzhen: “…”

Is the plot really this intense? Qin Yuzhen frowned but didn’t dwell on it. She packed her things and headed straight for the door. The math teacher, who had just entered, caught only a glimpse of her retreating figure.

“Host, what are you doing?” the system asked.

“My little sister is hurt. As her elder sister, how can I not go check on her?” Qin Yuzhen quickened her pace.

“This is clearly meant to be alone time for the male and female leads. Why are you interfering?” The system sighed. “Host, why do you always have to butt in?”

Ignoring it, Qin Yuzhen pushed open the infirmary door and immediately heard Rong Xi’s muffled cries of pain. She hurried over and examined the wound—a nasty gash on her leg, her rolled-up pants soaked in bl00d, her knee scraped raw.

The system could practically feel the dark aura emanating from Qin Yuzhen.

“Why are you here?” Rong Xi looked up at her, pale-faced, her voice trembling slightly. “Isn’t it class time now?”

Qin Yuzhen ignored her and glanced at Ye Yunshen sitting nearby. “Thanks, but you can go now. I’ll take it from here.”

Ye Yunshen met her gaze. “Since I was the one who brought her here, I should see this through.”

“Family is here now,” Qin Yuzhen said flatly.

Ye Yunshen didn’t budge. Rong Xi whimpered in pain again.

“Let’s take her to the hospital,” Qin Yuzhen suggested.

“Yes, she should go. She’ll need a tetanus shot too. I’ve only done basic first aid here,” the school doctor said. With privileged young ladies like these, it was better to send them to the hospital sooner rather than later.

“I don’t think the hospital is necessary,” Rong Xi murmured.

“With a wound this long and this much bl00d loss, are you joking?” Qin Yuzhen’s expression darkened.

“But… I still want to take the exam,” Rong Xi bit her lip. This version of Qin Yuzhen frightened her.

“It’s only past nine now. The afternoon exam starts at two—there’s plenty of time. I’ve already called the driver,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“Why are you being so harsh? She’s already in pain,” Ye Yunshen interjected, displeased.

“She’s my sister. And who are you to her?” Qin Yuzhen shot him a cold look. She was already in a foul mood, and his opposition only made it worse.

Qin Yuzhen’s phone buzzed—the driver had arrived outside the infirmary.

Ye Yunshen stood up, intending to carry Rong Xi on his back, but Qin Yuzhen was quicker. She bent down and scooped Rong Xi up in her arms instead.

Rong Xi froze for a moment before instinctively leaning into Qin Yuzhen and wrapping her arms around her neck.

“That little girl is quite strong,” the doctor in the infirmary remarked with admiration.

“Thank you,” Qin Yuzhen said with a smile before swiftly carrying Rong Xi out of the infirmary.

Rong Xi could barely feel her leg anymore from the pain. She glanced up at Qin Yuzhen, her intuition telling her that Qin Yuzhen was furious—though she couldn’t quite grasp why. Qin Yuzhen’s hold was steady, without the slightest jostle, which, surprisingly, made Rong Xi feel rather comfortable.

The two got into the car, with Ye Yunshen stubbornly forcing his way in as well, taking the passenger seat.

Since he was from the Ye family, the driver couldn’t very well kick him out.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s that serious,” Rong Xi said, stealing a glance at Qin Yuzhen in an attempt to reassure her.

“Tell me, which part of this leg looks like it isn’t serious?” Qin Yuzhen asked.

Rong Xi opened her mouth, then after a pause, replied, “At least… it’s still there?”

Qin Yuzhen was successfully infuriated into laughter.