I Don't Want to Be the Villainess Anymore - Chapter 32

Rong Xi was just joking, after all, a full set of “Five-Year Simulation, Three-Year College Entrance Exam” books clearly wasn’t something she would give as a gift.

“What do you think the junior would like?” Rong Xi asked.

Qin Yuzhen thought for a moment: “Not sure. Last time, I had someone carve a seal for me, but I don’t know when it’ll arrive. If it comes in time, I could paint something for her.”

“Sis, you’re so good to the junior,” Rong Xi remarked.

Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rong Xi: “Little sister, am I not good to you?”

“Who knows?” Rong Xi mimicked Qin Yuzhen’s usual indifferent tone.

“Ungrateful,” Qin Yuzhen wiped her mouth and leaned back in her chair, waiting for Rong Xi to finish eating before leaving.

In the afternoon, the seal Qin Yuzhen had ordered arrived. However, she was too lazy to paint in the end and instead wrote a birthday essay.

“Sis,” Rong Xi knocked and entered while Qin Yuzhen was admiring her own calligraphy. “What are you writing?”

“A birthday essay. Too lazy to paint.”

“Sis, you wrote an entire essay just for the junior?” Rong Xi moved closer.

“Isn’t it all just clichés?” Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rong Xi.

“Your handwriting is so beautiful,” Rong Xi sighed. “I got the junior a fountain pen and a bracelet, each around a thousand yuan. That should be fine, right? I feel like if it’s too expensive, she won’t accept it.”

“Mm,” Qin Yuzhen nodded.

“When it’s my birthday, will you write one for me too?” Rong Xi asked.

“We’ll see when the time comes.”

Rong Xi huffed lightly: “Sis, you’re so good to the junior.”

Qin Yuzhen: “…”

“I’ll write one for you,” Qin Yuzhen rubbed her temples.

Rong Xi smiled: “Great! Then it has to be longer than the junior’s, right?”

“Mm.”

“Sis, you’re the best.”

Qin Yuzhen took a deep breath, feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

On Monday, Qin Yuzhen and Rong Xi entered the school gate together. Gu Su happened to be getting out of her family’s car and hesitated before walking over to them.

“Gu Su, good morning!”

Gu Su’s lips twitched slightly: “Good morning.”

“Do you think the way I talk sounds bad? Why are you frowning?” Rong Xi pressed on.

“No, it’s just a bit unfamiliar,” Gu Su glanced at Qin Yuzhen, wondering how she could stand it. She knew her own voice and tone were a bit cutesy, but compared to Rong Xi, it was nothing.

“It’s fine, you’ll get used to it,” Rong Xi’s smile grew even brighter.

Qin Yuzhen watched Rong Xi’s expression—everything she was thinking was written all over her face.

“Zhenzhen, want to hang out on Sunday?”

“Sorry, sis is going to a junior’s birthday party with me,” Rong Xi cut in before Qin Yuzhen could answer.

Gu Su: “…”

“Alright,” Gu Su looked a little disappointed. “Then how about the Sunday after next?”

“I can’t promise anything right now. Who knows if something else will come up? If nothing does, then sure, we can go out,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“Great! I hope nothing comes up,” Gu Su clasped her hands together. “Rong Xi, you’ll be studying, so you won’t tag along, right?”

“Wherever sis goes, I go,” Rong Xi blinked. “Don’t you welcome me?”

Gu Su: “…”

Qin Yuzhen chuckled softly.

“Zhenzhen, it’s settled then. I’m heading to class now—our teacher wants us there by 6:40, and I’m almost late.”

“Alright.” Qin Yuzhen nodded, watching Gu Su leave. “You’re getting worse and worse.”

“Does sister miss Gu Su?”

“Not really,” Qin Yuzhen replied.

The flag-raising ceremony was scheduled after the second class. Zhao the Cannon Fodder was already waiting below the platform, clutching a thousand-word apology draft he had written himself. When he saw Qin Yuzhen approaching with the rest of the students, he instinctively shuddered.

“Host, Zhao the Cannon Fodder.”

“Hmm.” Qin Yuzhen glanced in his direction. Their eyes met, and she flashed him a sinister smile. Zhao’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

He had tried to convince himself that it was all just a hallucination, but that smile brought back memories of that early morning.

“Sister, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Qin Yuzhen stuffed her hands into her pockets. “Just saw someone, that’s all.”

Once the ceremony ended, Zhao tremblingly climbed onto the platform.

“Hello everyone, I’m Zhao Yi from the senior class. Not long ago, I blocked Qin Yuzhen out of malice…” His voice quivered with emotion, every word dripping with forced sincerity.

“I truly recognize my mistake now and promise never to harm anyone again.”

“I hope Qin Yuzhen can forgive me.”

“Why does he seem so terrified?” Rong Xi whispered into Qin Yuzhen’s ear.

“Probably because he realized how wrong he was,” Qin Yuzhen replied.

Rong Xi frowned, sensing there was more to the story. But if Qin Yuzhen wasn’t going to explain, there was nothing she could do.

Liang Xuzhou watched Zhao on stage, wondering just how badly he must have been beaten to be this scared. Qin Yuzhen really was a devil.

Cong Mian’s admiration for Qin Yuzhen grew even stronger. As expected of her senior—utterly formidable.

As Zhao descended the steps, he nearly tripped and fell. Luckily, a teacher nearby caught him, or he might have ended up hospitalized again.

Qin Yuzhen scoffed.

Zhao had originally planned to apologize to her in person, but Qin Yuzhen had already left the field with Rong Xi. He didn’t dare seek her out in the classroom—his courage had already waned. In the end, he could only slink away from school in defeat.

“Sister, there’s a sports meet in November. Are you participating?” Rong Xi rested her chin on the desk, gazing at Qin Yuzhen. She was certain Qin Yuzhen could win multiple events.

“No.” Qin Yuzhen shook her head. “Too exhausting.”

“Hmph, sister, you have no sense of collective honor.”

“You do? Then you join.”

“But I run too slowly—I’d just drag the class down.” Rong Xi sighed. “I really want to see sister giving her all on the track.”

“You think reverse psychology works on me?” Qin Yuzhen retorted irritably. She’d much rather nap in the classroom than waste energy running around the field.

“Sister, please? Sister~” Rong Xi tugged at Qin Yuzhen’s arm. “Sister, you’re so amazing—it’d be such a waste not to compete. I want to cheer for you from the sidelines!”

“Sister, sister~”

Qin Yuzhen’s face remained expressionless, but she felt an overwhelming headache. This was definitely not good.

“Sis, I’m the class monitor and need to register athletes for the sports meet. If even you don’t participate, I won’t be able to find anyone else.”

“Sis~ please say yes.”

Liang Xuzhou, sitting in the second row, thought to himself, Well, well, well, curious to see if Qin Yuzhen would agree.

Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rong Xi and pinched her cheek. “How did your face get so thick in just one short month?”

“It’s all thanks to you, sis.”

The system laughed uproariously, while Liang Xuzhou in the back stifled his giggles.

The wicked shall be tormented by the wicked.

“Sis, so you’re agreeing, right? Then please register.” Rong Xi handed the sign-up sheet to Qin Yuzhen.

Qin Yuzhen felt utterly drained.

“One person can sign up for three events. Sis, how about the 800-meter, 400-meter, and 400-meter relay?” Rong Xi asked, though she had already written Qin Yuzhen’s name down. “Oh, group events don’t count toward the individual limit.”

“So, sis, how about adding jump rope and shot put?”

Qin Yuzhen: “…”

Liang Xuzhou wanted to applaud.

The system marveled—this little sister was truly impressive, managing to sign up the laziest person for five events.

“Liang Xuzhou, how about the 3,000-meter run?” Rong Xi turned to look at him.

Liang Xuzhou: ???

Liang Xuzhou: What does this have to do with poor little me?

“The class leader can’t just sit back and do nothing. You said yourself last time that you’d carry the class,” Qin Yuzhen added, turning her head.

Liang Xuzhou: “…”

“So, 3,000-meter, high jump, plus the 400-meter, then relay and jump rope?” Rong Xi scribbled as she spoke.

“Rong Xi, I haven’t agreed yet. Why are you acting just like Qin Yuzhen now?”

“If you don’t say no, doesn’t that mean yes?” Rong Xi asked, then moved on to coaxing other classmates before Liang Xuzhou could protest.

Liang Xuzhou slapped his thigh. “Change the 3,000-meter to 1,000-meter.”

“No.” Rong Xi refused. “I have OCD. I can’t stand erasures on this sheet.”

Liang Xuzhou: “…”

“Control your little sister,” Liang Xuzhou said wearily.

“Can’t be controlled,” Qin Yuzhen replied, twirling her pen.

“You’re useless,” Liang Xuzhou muttered.

“Want to spar?” Qin Yuzhen shot him a glance.

Liang Xuzhou shut his mouth. She clearly wasn’t in a good mood—if she decided to take it out on him…

After making her rounds, Rong Xi’s sign-up sheet was already full. After all, the least popular events—the 800-meter and 3,000-meter—were already taken. She looked at the completed sheet with satisfaction.

“Feels good,” Rong Xi said, stretching.

Qin Yuzhen glanced at her. “Remember, you have to cheer for me—using the same whiny voice you just used.”

Rong Xi: “…”

“Little sister, your sis signed up for five events and even gave up napping for you. You can’t refuse such a simple request, can you?” Qin Yuzhen pressed.

“Sis, the field will be packed, and shouting like that won’t carry far.”

“No worries, my hearing’s sharp. As long as you try your best, I’ll hear you,” Qin Yuzhen said with a smile.

Rong Xi pouted. Clearly, taking advantage of Qin Yuzhen wasn’t so easy.

“Fine,” Rong Xi sighed.

Qin Yuzhen crossed her legs and was just about to speak when she felt her phone vibrate. She glanced at it—Huo Yaoxu had forwarded a post to her.

The title read, “Guess Who Will Top the Six-City Joint Exam.”

Huo Yaoxu: Sis, you’re not even an option in the poll.