I Don't Want to Be the Villainess Anymore - Chapter 8

Rong Xi stared expressionlessly at Qin Yuzhen.

“Then… Rong Xi, you can go have lunch with Minmin and the others. I’ll keep Zhenzhen company.” Gu Si once again linked arms with Qin Yuzhen. Their intimate posture made them look completely unlike people who had just met.

Rong Xi took a deep breath and forced a gentle smile: “Let’s eat together. I can’t find them right now anyway.”

“Okay, I don’t mind at all, as long as you don’t.” Gu Si nodded.

“Why would I mind?” Rong Xi maintained her smile.

Qin Yuzhen noticed the undercurrents between Rong Xi and Gu Si, but as a smart person, the best course of action was to pretend not to see anything.

The school cafeteria was quite upscale with three floors offering a wide variety of dishes. Besides set meals, there were options like claypot dishes, mini hotpots, and rice noodles at reasonable prices.

As they entered the cafeteria, just as Rong Xi was about to introduce the options to Qin Yuzhen, Gu Si cut in first.

“Zhenzhen, do you like spicy food? If you do, you should try the school’s claypot dishes. Our special chili sauce is amazing – so fragrant in the claypot. It’s my favorite dish here.” Gu Si glanced toward the claypot window while speaking, then looked at Qin Yuzhen expectantly.

The system could only remark that this girl was truly skilled – no one could resist that look. Rong Xi didn’t stand a chance.

“Then let’s have claypot.”

“Host, you’re as spineless as ever,” the system teased.

“I do eat spicy food, and if the claypot is good, what’s wrong with trying it?” Qin Yuzhen replied.

Beside them, Rong Xi pressed her lips together.

“What will you have?” Qin Yuzhen turned to ask Rong Xi.

“I’ll have claypot too.” Rong Xi walked slightly behind Qin Yuzhen, watching the two of them. She couldn’t understand why someone as sharp as Qin Yuzhen could get along so well with this random girl who clearly had ulterior motives.

Their turn came quickly. Though Qin Yuzhen said she didn’t need treating, Gu Si insisted on paying: “It’s fine, you can treat me next time. It’s not like this will be our only meal together.”

Rong Xi looked at Gu Si, wondering how many more meals this person expected to share.

“Zhenzhen, you’re new here and don’t know many people. Rong Xi will be eating with her friends next time, so I’ll keep you company then.” Gu Si carried her tray while glancing at Rong Xi. “Eating alone is so lonely.”

Rong Xi: …

“You’re in the arts stream and she’s in science – that’s not convenient. Besides, I never said I wouldn’t eat with her.” Though Rong Xi kept smiling, Qin Yuzhen could detect a hint of gritted teeth in her expression.

Ignoring Rong Xi, Gu Si gave Qin Yuzhen a pitiful look: “Zhenzhen, don’t you want to eat with me?”

“Jiejie…” Rong Xi called out softly.

Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rong Xi, barely suppressing a laugh: “Let’s find seats first.”

Gu Si quickly claimed the spot beside Qin Yuzhen, forcing Rong Xi to sit across from them.

“Zhenzhen, let’s have set meals for dinner.”

Just as Qin Yuzhen was about to speak, she felt someone nudge her under the table. Looking up, she saw Rong Xi staring at her with pleading eyes. Meanwhile, Gu Su beside her leaned in abruptly, forcibly diverting Qin Yuzhen’s attention. The two of them suddenly got very close: “Zhenzhen, do you want some chicken drumsticks? The ones at our school are especially delicious.”

“I’ll go buy some. I want to see what else they have too.”

“Then I’ll come with you,” Gu Su said, about to put down her chopsticks.

“No need, you stay and eat.” Qin Yuzhen flashed a reassuring smile before getting up and leaving.

“Host, you left those two together—aren’t you afraid they’ll start fighting?”

“How could they possibly fight?” Qin Yuzhen shoved her hands into her pockets.

The system muttered a few complaints. “What do you think Gu Su’s motive is? It can’t just be because you helped her once that she’s clinging to you like this. You’re not the female lead.”

“What does her motive have to do with me? She’s pretty and speaks nicely—that’s enough. And even if she does have some ulterior motive, do you really think I’d be afraid of her?” Qin Yuzhen chuckled softly as she took her place at the end of the line.

Back at the table, the two girls exchanged glances.

“Gu Su, are you out of your mind?”

“What’s wrong, Rong Xi? Why are you suddenly insulting me?”

“There’s no one else around—why are you pretending?” Rong Xi gritted her teeth. “Let me tell you, Qin Yuzhen isn’t someone you can just charm so easily.” Gu Su raised an eyebrow. “Charm? I just want to be friends with her. You can’t be upset just because she likes me more than you.”

“Hah, she’s even better at pretending than you are. For all you know, she might be completely annoyed by you right now.”

“Who cares? As long as she acts like she likes me, that’s enough.” Gu Su smirked, lowering her voice. “She doesn’t even pretend to like you.”

Qin Yuzhen returned with three bags of chicken drumsticks and spotted Rong Xi glaring at Gu Su from a distance—they really did seem on the verge of a fight. She placed the drumsticks next to Gu Su and Rong Xi.

“Zhenzhen, you bought so many! Eating all this will definitely make me gain weight,” Gu Su said, feigning distress as she picked one up with her chopsticks. She took a bite and immediately put on an exaggerated expression of bliss. “It’s so delicious—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside.”

“You’re not fat, and even if you gained a little, you’d still be cute.”

Gu Su tilted her head and grinned at Qin Yuzhen before pouting. “Actually, I’ve already gained a bit. I used to have abs, but now it’s just a soft tummy.” As she spoke, she patted her stomach.

Rong Xi stared at Gu Su, fighting the urge to dump her claypot meal on the girl’s head. She muttered under her breath, “So fake.”

“Hmm? Rong Xi, what did you say?” Gu Su turned to look at her.

“Nothing.” Rong Xi glanced at Qin Yuzhen and went back to eating her claypot.

“It must be because I’ve been talking to Zhenzhen and ignoring you. I’m sorry, Rong Xi. Please don’t be mad, okay?” Gu Su said with an earnest expression.

Rong Xi sighed inwardly and looked up at Gu Su. “I’m not mad.”

She then glanced at Qin Yuzhen, only to find the girl hiding a smirk behind her chicken drumstick—clearly enjoying the show.

“I’m glad you’re not upset. Zhenzhen, can I have your contact info after we go back to the classroom? I’d love to hang out with you sometime,” Gu Su said.

“No need to go back to the classroom, just tell me now. I can remember it.”

Gu Su was taken aback. “Wow, your memory is that good?”

“Actually, it’s not particularly great, but I can definitely remember your contact details,” Qin Yuzhen said, looking at Gu Su.

Plop. Rong Xi’s chicken wing fell into her bowl, but no one paid her any attention.

“Then I’ll give you my Q/Q number. I’ll be waiting for you to add me when we get back. If you forget, I’ll be upset,” Gu Su recited a string of numbers.

“I won’t let you be upset.”

Rong Xi wiped her mouth. “I’m done eating. I’ll head out first. You two can keep talking.”

“Wait for me,” Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rong Xi.

Rong Xi had already stood up but sat back down upon hearing Qin Yuzhen’s words, staring blankly at the remaining chicken wing. By the time Qin Yuzhen and Gu Su finished eating, the afternoon self-study session was about to start.

“Why did you ask me to wait for you? Don’t you have Gu Su to keep you company?” As soon as Gu Su left them, Rong Xi couldn’t help but speak up.

“I was afraid you’d feel lonely walking back to the classroom alone.”

Rong Xi rolled her eyes at the air.

“You’re getting angry for no reason,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“Hmph.”

“Little sister, it’s only been three days, and you’re already dissatisfied with your big sister?”

Rong Xi frowned at Qin Yuzhen. “I’m not.”

“Rong Xi.”

“Yeah?”

“Our relationship isn’t at the point where just because you don’t like someone, I have to dislike them too,” Qin Yuzhen said. “We’ve only known each other for three days—no, not even three full days yet.”

Rong Xi paused mid-step, her face paling slightly as if she had thought of something. “I’m sorry.”

“So… I suggest you work on building a good relationship with me. That way, when you two fight, I can help you,” Qin Yuzhen looked at Rong Xi.

Rong Xi: I’ll never be able to guess what Qin Yuzhen is going to say next.

“Who needs your help?” Rong Xi relaxed, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“Oh, so you’re refusing to build a good relationship with me?” Qin Yuzhen sighed dramatically. “I see. You’ve never truly accepted me as your sister. Fine.”

Rong Xi: ???

She wanted to say more, but they had already reached the classroom. The math teacher was standing at the podium, making it an unsuitable moment for further conversation. Besides, Qin Yuzhen had already swiftly entered the room and taken her seat.