I Don't Want to Be the Villainess Anymore - Chapter 3

Rong Xi’s skin was very delicate. Qin Yuzhen didn’t feel like she had used much force, yet a red mark was already left on the other’s cheek.

“Go out, I need to rest.”

“Oh, okay.” Rong Xi nodded. As soon as she stepped out, Qin Yuzhen closed the door behind her and locked it.

Rong Xi pursed her lips and returned to her room, pulling a diary out from the drawer.

October 3rd, Wednesday, Sunny

Today, the real young miss of the Rong family returned. She was very different from what I had imagined. She seemed like a natural-born lady—her demeanor and the way she spoke all showed that she was an extremely proud and confident person.

Her words were sharp, and she always twisted my meaning, but I really didn’t have any ill intentions. I know my place—I understand how awkward my position is in this household now. If she truly dislikes me, I’ll move out.

Still, she’s very beautiful, and her skin is flawless. I wonder how she takes care of it. I’m curious.

Rong Xi touched her chin, closed the diary, stretched, and put it back into the drawer.

Meanwhile, Qin Yuzhen was still wandering around her room. A phone and a bank card were placed by the bedside. She glanced at them, pocketed the bank card, and turned on the phone to save her biological parents’ contact information.

“Host, are you going to call them and let them know?”

“Yeah.” Qin Yuzhen nodded. It was only right to make the call.

The moment she dialed, the other side picked up.

“Mom,” Qin Yuzhen called out.

“Zhenzhen!” The woman on the other end burst into tears, then seemed to cover her mouth, trying to suppress her sobs. “Are they treating you well? How is it over there?”

“It’s alright.”

“Will they be unhappy if you contact us like this?”

Qin Yuzhen frowned slightly. “What does our contact have to do with them?”

“Zhenzhen, you should call us less from now on. If others find out you used to live in a place like ours, they’ll definitely look down on you…” Qin Yuzhen’s mother spoke haltingly.

Qin Yuzhen was silent for a moment. “They won’t.”

Qin Yuzhen’s parents rambled on for a long time. By the time she hung up, half an hour had passed—it was as if they wanted to say everything they could in one go.

“Host, the Rong family probably told them not to contact you.”

“Mhm.” Qin Yuzhen grabbed her pajamas and headed into the bathroom.

“Host, don’t be upset.”

“Why would I be upset?”

The system fell silent.

After her shower, Qin Yuzhen went straight to bed. She hadn’t been sleeping well lately—the bed there had been far too uncomfortable.

She slept until eight in the evening.

When she went downstairs, she saw Rong Xi sitting alone on the sofa.

“You’re awake.”

“Yeah.” Qin Yuzhen nodded, brushing her hair back.

“Let’s eat. Mom went out, and Dad isn’t back yet. It’s just the two of us tonight.” Rong Xi said, glancing at Qin Yuzhen as if trying to gauge whether she was upset.

But Qin Yuzhen’s expression remained unchanged.

“The real daughter comes back, and they can’t even share a meal with her? That’s too much,” the system complained. “No wonder the original host went crazy.”

Qin Yuzhen and Rong Xi sat down at the dining table.

“You don’t have to wait for me to eat together.” Qin Yuzhen leaned back in her chair, looking at Rong Xi.

“I don’t like eating alone,” Rong Xi said softly.

The servants brought out the dishes one by one. Qin Yuzhen glanced over the table—there was a variety of flavors.

“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I had them prepare a bit of everything. If there’s anything you prefer, just let the kitchen know—they’ll make it for you,” Rong Xi said, glancing at Qin Yuzhen and then at the people gathered around the table. “You can all leave now. Just my sister and I will be fine here.”

Qin Yuzhen looked up at the word “sister.” It rolled off Rong Xi’s tongue much more smoothly now.

Once everyone had left, Qin Yuzhen took a bite of food and remarked casually, “I like stuffed silver sprouts. I’d like them even more if they were made by my dear little sister.”

“Host! You really are embodying the role of the villainess now.”

Rong Xi stared at Qin Yuzhen in shock. She knew what “stuffed silver sprouts” were—a notoriously tedious dish that required stuffing meat into bean sprouts.

“I was joking,” Qin Yuzhen said, glancing at Rong Xi.

Rong Xi: “…”

“If you like it, I can try making it.”

“No need.” Qin Yuzhen took a sip of soup. “Just stop talking and eat.”

Rong Xi studied Qin Yuzhen again. Her table manners were impeccable, every movement graceful and refined—nothing like what one would expect from an ordinary upbringing.

She had originally planned to chat with Qin Yuzhen that evening to bridge the distance between them, but now she had completely given up on the idea.

After dinner, the two went their separate ways, each retreating to their own rooms.

The next day, when Qin Yuzhen stepped out, she noticed that Rong Xi—who, according to the script, should have taken two days off—had gone to school instead. As for Rong Xi’s parents, they hadn’t even come home the night before.

The house felt even quieter now.

“Host, look what you’ve done. You scared the poor girl so much she ran off,” the system teased.

“I didn’t do anything,” Qin Yuzhen retorted, sitting on the garden swing with her legs crossed.

“So, you’re the so-called distant relative?”

Qin Yuzhen looked up at the child standing nearby, about four feet tall, and raised an eyebrow. “And you are?”

The child strode toward her, clearly trying to mimic the swagger of a big shot, but only managing about thirty percent of the effect. The result was more comical than intimidating.

“My name is Rong Yao!” The boy lifted his chin slightly and eyed Qin Yuzhen. “They say you’re the illegitimate child of my uncle.”

“Do you even know what an illegitimate child is?”

“Of course I do! It’s a child born to another woman outside the family.”

“Well, I’m not one.”

Rong Yao narrowed his eyes. “I don’t care if you are or not. Just know this—you’d better not bully Xi Xi-jie!”

Qin Yuzhen chuckled. “Oh? And what if I do?”

“Then I’ll hit you!”

“Hit me?” Qin Yuzhen stood up, grabbed Rong Yao by the collar, and lifted him off the ground. “Hmm? What did you say? Say it again.”

Rong Yao froze, eyes wide, legs dangling in the air. Then, taking in Qin Yuzhen’s terrifying expression, he burst into tears.

System: “…”

“If you keep crying, I’ll throw you out,” Qin Yuzhen growled in a low voice.

Rong Yao took a deep breath, holding it in forcefully. He looked at Qin Yuzhen with tears welling up in his eyes, his face flushed red, appearing utterly pitiful.

Qin Yuzhen set him down on the ground and released her grip, looking down at him imperiously. “I didn’t bully her, and I’m not an illegitimate child. Got it?”

Rong Yao nodded.

Qin Yuzhen had initially thought this kid had some nerve, but who knew he’d be so timid?

“Who did you come here with today?”

“I came by myself.” Rong Yao stood straight in front of Qin Yuzhen, head lowered. “I live in that house over there.”

Qin Yuzhen nodded. “When Rong Xi gets back today, I’m telling her you bullied me.”

“That’s a lie! You’re the one who bullied me!” Rong Yao shouted, his voice instantly rising to a high pitch.

“Did I hit you?”

Rong Yao opened his mouth but hesitated. “No…” Though she had grabbed him, she hadn’t actually hit him.

“Then who was the one who said they’d hit me? Who was the one threatening me?”

“Me…”

“So, who bullied whom?” Qin Yuzhen snorted coldly.

Rong Yao frowned, saying nothing. He sensed something was off but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“Host, why are you teasing even a little kid?”

“I’m bored. Rong Xi isn’t here,” Qin Yuzhen yawned. “How old are you?”

“Five.”

“Not in school?” Qin Yuzhen clapped her hands twice when Rong Yao didn’t answer. “Skipping school at such a young age—what a bad influence.”

“I’m not a bad influence!” Rong Yao pouted.

“Then why aren’t you in school?”

“You’re not in school either!” Rong Yao retorted.

“I’m starting tomorrow. The paperwork isn’t done yet today.”

Rong Yao shot her a glance. “Probably because no school wants you.”

The system laughed. This kid had potential.

“Whether any school wants me or not, you’re still skipping class. You’re the one not behaving.” Qin Yuzhen sat back down on the swing.

Rong Yao pressed his lips together and tried to climb onto the swing, but Qin Yuzhen stretched her legs out, blocking his way. He grew even more aggrieved, on the verge of tears again, but this time he held them back. “Today’s a parent activity day. My mom and dad aren’t going, so I’m not going either. I’m not skipping school! And kindergarten didn’t even open until nine this morning.”

“How tragic.”

Rong Yao looked up at Qin Yuzhen, his eyes full of accusation.

“Say something nice, and I’ll take you.”

Rong Yao stayed silent, eyeing Qin Yuzhen with blatant distrust.

“I’m amazing, you know.”

Rong Yao glanced at her, suddenly a little bashful. “Then… what do you want me to say?”

He paused, then emphasized, “Just so you know, don’t get cocky. The only reason I’d even consider you is because my parents are busy.”

“That doesn’t sound nice. Forget it, I’m going back to sleep. Bye.” Qin Yuzhen stood up to leave.

Rong Yao immediately scrambled after her, grabbing her and plopping onto the ground. “You’re so pretty. You’re the prettiest. You’re the most beautiful person in the whole world.”

Qin Yuzhen looked down at him, then pulled out her phone. “Here, say it again.”

Rong Yao stared at her in disbelief. “You can’t record that!”

“Why not? Come on, one more time.”

Rong Yao bit his lip, wearing an expression of grim determination. “You’re so beautiful, the most beautiful, the most stunning person in the world.” A true man knows when to bend and when to stand firm.

“Got it.” Qin Yuzhen chuckled, saving the video. “Let’s go.”

Rong Yao stood up, dusting himself off before trailing behind Qin Yuzhen. She walked so fast that he had to jog to keep up.

Qin Yuzhen lowered her head and sent a message to Rong Xi.

Qin Yuzhen: Little sis, Rong Yao wants me to take him to kindergarten. Wanna come?

She attached the video along with the message.

Rong Xi: “…”

She had barely escaped the devil’s clutches, only for her cousin to fall right into them. After watching the video several times, she finally got up and went to ask her teacher for leave to go home.

Seeing the three words “I’m coming” from Rong Xi, Qin Yuzhen curled her lips into a smirk.

“See? The female lead is back in the game.”