I Don't Want to Be the Villainess Anymore - Chapter 99
“No rush,” Qin Yuzhen looked at Rong Xi. “Every new thing needs a first example.”
“True,” Rong Xi nodded.
Qin Yuzhen and Rong Xi arrived at their destination. This time, the escape room theme was chosen by Rong Xi—not scary at all, but with a difficulty rating of seven stars and a sci-fi setting.
“This is a newly opened venue. I heard it’s really fun. Look, the tickets are the most expensive too—200 yuan per person,” Rong Xi said. “Let’s just play as a pair this time. I don’t want to team up with strangers again.”
“Sure,” Qin Yuzhen didn’t mind, though she thought the lack of horror might make it less exciting.
Some people wanted to join their session, but Rong Xi, recalling their last experience, firmly refused. Mostly, she just wanted to spend time alone with Qin Yuzhen. Their opportunities to be together were already scarce.
“This time, don’t solve things too quickly. Let me figure things out on my own. Only step in if I’m really stuck.”
“It won’t be that hard anyway. Your IQ is higher than most people’s—it shouldn’t stump you,” Qin Yuzhen said.
Rong Xi lightly smacked Qin Yuzhen’s arm. “Be a little more humble.”
“Okay.”
As it turned out, it really wasn’t difficult—far easier than Rong Xi had imagined.
“It’s a bit too simple,” Rong Xi sighed. “I thought it would take longer.”
“If you want to play escape rooms, I have other ways to make that happen. No need to come out for it,” Qin Yuzhen said.
“What do you mean?” Rong Xi was curious.
Qin Yuzhen leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I have a full VR gaming setup.”
Rong Xi’s eyes widened. “You’ve already developed it?”
“No, it was made in another world. I brought it back as a keepsake,” Qin Yuzhen said.
Rong Xi’s eyes lit up, and she grabbed Qin Yuzhen’s arm. “I want to try it!”
“Then hurry up and solve the puzzles so we can go to my place,” Qin Yuzhen said.
Rong Xi nodded eagerly.
The four people Rong Xi had rejected earlier thought they’d have to wait at least two hours. To their surprise, Qin Yuzhen and Rong Xi emerged after just forty minutes.
“That fast?”
“Yeah,” Rong Xi nodded. “It wasn’t very hard.”
“Huh?” The group had just finished their college entrance exams too. One of them pulled out their phone and glanced at Rong Xi and Qin Yuzhen. “No wonder. Let’s go, let’s go. They said this year’s exams weren’t hard either.”
They gave the two another look before walking off indifferently. One of them even wiped away a tear.
Qin Yuzhen: “…”
Rong Xi didn’t pay them any attention—her mind was entirely occupied by the idea of Qin Yuzhen’s VR setup.
“Let’s eat first before heading back.”
“Okay,” Rong Xi sighed. “We could just order takeout, though.”
“No,” Qin Yuzhen refused. “I’ve been eating either cafeteria food or takeout every day. I’m about to lose it.”
“Once I start university, I think I can move in with you. If the campus is close enough, I could even cook for you,” Rong Xi said.
“What kind of leisurely major would you need for that?” Qin Yuzhen asked. “We could just hire a housekeeper.”
“True,” Rong Xi nodded.
The restaurants were packed with post-exam crowds—groups of students and families celebrating. The lines were ridiculously long.
But there was always a way. Qin Yuzhen spent 2,000 yuan to buy a spot from someone whose number was about to be called. The person walked away, looking at her like she was insane.
“We could actually go somewhere else to eat.”
“But didn’t you want this? You’ve been glancing this way quite a few times,” Qin Yuzhen said.
Rong Xi smiled, a little embarrassed. “It just feels too expensive.”
“It’s fine. I can afford this.”
Their number was called quickly, and they were seated at a corner table. It seemed some people had recognized Qin Yuzhen, as glances kept drifting their way.
Qin Yuzhen used a prop card, allowing the two of them to enjoy their meal in peace. Though they had ordered a table full of dishes, they finished everything without leaving much behind.
“I feel like I’ve never eaten this much before. I’ve always had a big appetite, but today was just too much,” Rong Xi remarked, casting several glances at the empty plates as they left.
“Mhm, seems like you’re about to gain weight,” Qin Yuzhen nodded in agreement.
Rong Xi shot her a look. “I suspect you had something to do with this.”
“Isn’t it nice to be able to eat everything you crave?” Qin Yuzhen chuckled.
“It is nice,” Rong Xi sighed in relief. “But will I really gain weight?”
“Of course not.”
“That’s good. Let’s go, let’s go home.”
“So eager? Don’t you want to walk around a bit more?”
“Qin Yuzhen, I’m warning you—stop teasing me,” Rong Xi said, dragging Qin Yuzhen out. Unfortunately, whether it was the subway or the streets outside, the crowds were overwhelming—rush hour made a quick return nearly impossible.
Rong Xi looked slightly disappointed.
“Anywhere can be fun,” Qin Yuzhen said. “I booked a hotel room. The college entrance exams are over, and I have my ID on me. Perfect timing.”
“True,” Rong Xi’s eyes lit up.
Who would’ve thought that her first trip to a hotel after turning eighteen would be to play games?
Once they arrived at the hotel, Qin Yuzhen took out the device. Rong Xi had expected something bulky, but it turned out to be just a helmet. “Do I just put this on?”
“Yeah, then find a comfortable spot to lie down. There’s a tutorial once you connect—you’ll figure it out,” Qin Yuzhen explained.
“Okay.” Excited, Rong Xi put on the helmet.
“Aren’t you worried something might go wrong?”
“You wouldn’t harm me, so why should I be afraid?” Rong Xi laughed. “Aren’t you joining me?”
“There’s only one. You go ahead—I’ll take a shower first.”
“Alright.”
Qin Yuzhen waited for Rong Xi to say something more, but after that single “alright,” there was nothing. A glance at the console showed Rong Xi had already entered the game.
Watching Rong Xi lying on the bed, Qin Yuzhen began to wonder if she should keep her away from games in the future.
It had been ages since Rong Xi last played a game. As the first person in this world to experience a full-dive VR game, she was thrilled.
It felt so real—she marveled at the initial interface for a long time. There were many game genres to choose from, but after some thought, she picked an escape room. Then, impulsively, she selected the highest difficulty level.
Only after seeing the “horror” warning did she realize what she’d done… The doll in the selection screen had looked so cute…
Meanwhile, Qin Yuzhen reclined in the bathtub, sipping red wine, unhurried and relaxed.
In the game, Rong Xi was drenched in cold sweat, her face pale. She could quit, but the thought of giving up just like that made her feel awful. The difficulty level was indeed several notches higher than the previous game she had played. It took her half an hour just to get past the first level, and the environment was even creepier.
Why hadn’t Qin Yuzhen noticed something was off with her yet?
Had she left…?
Qin Yuzhen had been in the shower for an hour. When she stepped out, she saw Rong Xi clenching her fists. Frowning, she glanced at the control panel and noticed the game Rong Xi had chosen. She was momentarily speechless.
That game was something she had created to mess with Ji Changyin—each level was more disgusting than the last.
For the sake of Rong Xi’s mental and physical well-being, Qin Yuzhen forcibly pulled her out of the game.
Rong Xi let out a sigh of relief as she felt her consciousness return to her body. “I thought you’d left.”
“If you were scared, why didn’t you just quit?” Qin Yuzhen asked, exasperated.
“I wanted to tough it out,” Rong Xi said, shooting her a glance.
“With such a timid heart, yet you picked the scariest game,” Qin Yuzhen remarked, eyeing her.
“I didn’t realize it at the time… The option showed a cute, pink doll,” Rong Xi defended herself.
“Dolls are classic horror game tropes,” Qin Yuzhen said. “Want to try another one?”
“No more.” Rong Xi set the helmet aside. “If I scream inside the game, will my real body scream too?”
“No. Who’d hear you screaming in your head?”
Rong Xi glanced at Qin Yuzhen and leaned against her. “I want to take a shower, but I’m scared to go alone.”
“Little sister, what exactly are you implying?”
“I’m not implying anything! I’m genuinely scared! Whose idea was it to set the first level in a hotel bathroom?!” Rong Xi glared at her.
“How did you know I designed that game?”
“The scene prompt said: ‘Room 9999 of the hotel owned by the world’s greatest slacker.'” Rong Xi deadpanned. “The name was so ridiculously long and shocking that I remembered it. Isn’t your Weibo handle ‘Slacker’?”
Qin Yuzhen: “…”
She had completely forgotten about the name she’d chosen.
“I don’t recall ever doing something like that,” Qin Yuzhen said, maintaining a straight face despite the embarrassment.
Rong Xi didn’t respond, just kept staring at her.
“It was right after you and Ji Changyin got into a fight in the mission hall,” the system chimed in.
“Thanks, but I didn’t need that reminder,” Qin Yuzhen gritted out.
“Are you going back tonight?”
“No, I already sent a message saying I’m staying,” Rong Xi said. “I’m going to shower. You come in and sit with your back to me.”
Qin Yuzhen: “???”
“Little sister, you’re getting awfully comfortable bossing me around.”
“Yes, I am, big sister.”
On their way to the hotel, they had picked up some sleepwear and clothes for the next day. Qin Yuzhen had chosen a white silk nightgown, while Rong Xi had opted for a childish-looking pajama set covered in little cats and dogs.
Qin Yuzhen dragged a chair over and sat with her back to Rong Xi.
Rong Xi glanced at her several times. “Don’t turn around.”
“Got it.”
“Don’t you dare turn around.”
“Little sister, the more you emphasize it, the more I might think you actually want me to turn around,” Qin Yuzhen teased.
Rong Xi chose to stay silent.
Qin Yuzhen leaned back in her chair, listening to the sound of water behind her: “You can soak for a while.”
“No, I’ll just rinse off quickly and come out. It’s so hot in here—you must be uncomfortable.”
“Definitely uncomfortable,” Qin Yuzhen replied.
Rong Xi frowned. “Then maybe you should go out. Just leave the door open.”
“It’s not the heat that’s making me uncomfortable… it’s something else,” Qin Yuzhen said.
Rong Xi: “…”
For some reason, she felt Qin Yuzhen wasn’t being entirely proper.