Pretending to Be a Scumbag A, But Being Targeted by a Paranoid O - Chapter 4

“Ready, Host?” the System asked.

Yun Shu took several deep breaths outside the door, but she still lacked the courage to push it open.

She desperately wished she could smoothly act out the script in her mind. QAQ

But for Yun Shu, it was still too difficult.

“Host, since you’ve made up your mind, just do it!” the System encouraged her.

Hearing its words, Yun Shu’s gaze hardened.

Yes, that’s right. This is it.

She had to bravely take the first step!

Yun Shu mustered all her courage and opened the door. She had intended to calmly meet Xie Tang’s gaze, but the moment their eyes met, she suddenly lost her nerve.

The contract in Yun Shu’s hand nearly slipped from her grasp.

Xie Tang’s gaze was no different from how she would look at a dead person.

Yun Shu instinctively swallowed hard and blurted out her rehearsed line: “C-can we… talk?”

Xie Tang stared at her, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Yun Shu for a moment. Just when Yun Shu thought she had been seen through, Xie Tang let out a cold laugh, her voice devoid of any warmth. “What is there to talk about between us?”

Yun Shu forced herself to sit calmly in the chair opposite Xie Tang’s desk, handing her one of the contracts.

Xie Tang first glanced up at her before lowering her gaze to open the contract.

As Xie Tang reviewed the document, Yun Shu maintained a seemingly cold and detached demeanor, but she barely dared to breathe.

Once Xie Tang finished reading, she slowly asked, “Your motive?”

Everything had unfolded exactly as Yun Shu had anticipated since entering the room.

But her nerves had gotten the better of her, and she momentarily forgot the carefully rehearsed answer she had prepared.

Meanwhile, Xie Tang’s intensely probing gaze swept over her, as if trying to see through her very essence.

Yun Shu forced herself to sound composed as she said, “Because I dislike uncultured women.”

The moment those words left her lips, both Xie Tang and the System fell silent.

Feeling a pang of unease, Yun Shu quickly asked the System, “Tongtong, did I say the wrong thing? QAQ”

After a few seconds of silence, the System replied, Host, have you forgotten? Xie Tang is a top student at Capital University.

“I didn’t forget that!” Yun Shu protested.

System: The original host’s grades are now so poor that she’s facing expulsion from Capital University.

Yun Shu: “……”

I completely forgot about that.

The System couldn’t bear to see her slightly bewildered expression and gently reassured her: But the original host’s persona is that of an arrogant narcissist. You haven’t broken character, so relax.

Seeing that no one had responded for so long, Yun Shu decided to be more assertive: “You…” Will you agree or not?

But as soon as she uttered a single word, Xie Tang’s gaze fell upon her face. Yun Shu’s carefully gathered courage suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon, her entire demeanor softening. She instinctively lowered her voice and asked, “Do you agree?”

The System blared incessant, piercing alarms in her mind: “OOC! OOC!”

Yun Shu’s head throbbed from the System’s frantic warnings. She knew the original host would never be this timid.

Just as Yun Shu was about to say something, Xie Tang surprisingly replied with a calm, “Alright.”

Yun Shu froze, forgetting even how to blink.

Xie Tang looked at her calmly and said, “I agree.”

Having achieved her goal, Yun Shu felt a surge of joy. Remembering her assigned persona, she tilted her chin slightly, adopting a commanding tone. “Then… then sign it.”

The contract stipulated that Xie Tang must spend every Saturday with Yun Shu, leaving her free to pursue her own interests for the rest of the week.

Xie Tang’s eerie silence in response to this demand made Yun Shu’s heart pound.

Did I say something wrong?

Yun Shu’s mind raced. Tongtong, is this Out of Character?

The System pondered. …Probably not?

The tone was domineering enough, right?

A moment later, the System chirped triumphantly: Congratulations, Host! The protagonist’s Blackening Value has decreased to 75%!

Yun Shu secretly exhaled in relief. She knew this plan would work.

If she kept Xie Tang by her side constantly, she might discover Yun Shu’s true nature within days.

After signing the contract, Xie Tang’s voice remained flat. “May I leave now?”

Yun Shu’s heart tightened at her tone.

Recalling the domineering CEOs from the novels she’d read, Yun Shu tilted her chin slightly, her beautiful eyes glancing at Xie Tang. She feigned arrogance, asking, “Do you expect me to drive you home?”

Xie Tang observed Yun Shu’s every reaction. Her voice remained calm as she replied, “Of course not.”

She extended her hand, revealing her slender, pale palm. “Return my phone.”

A flicker of shock crossed Yun Shu’s face.

After imprisoning Xie Tang, the original owner had confiscated her phone, secretly had its password cracked, and covertly scrutinized all her contacts and chat logs multiple times. Upon discovering that several people were pursuing Xie Tang, she had smashed the phone in a fit of jealousy.

So how could Yun Shu possibly return Xie Tang’s phone now?

Clearing her throat, she continued mimicking the original owner’s oily demeanor. “That old phone of yours is worthless. As my woman, using such a dated device is an embarrassment to me. I’ll buy you a new one and have it delivered to your school tomorrow.”

After Yun Shu finished speaking, she felt her attack lacked impact. She suddenly sneered, “You must be thrilled that I’m driving you home tonight.”

Xie Tang met her gaze calmly, making Yun Shu feel uneasy.

System: …Something feels off, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It doesn’t seem entirely Out of Character, though.

In this world, the plot unfolds based on the characters’ established personalities as portrayed by the author. Subtle interactions like these rely entirely on the Host’s own interpretation and performance.

After delivering her lines, Yun Shu turned away coldly. “Let’s go.”

Xie Tang remained rooted to the spot, her expression neutral as she glanced down at the knee-length white gauze dress she was wearing.

Yun Shu had never allowed her to wear such things before.

Yet today, the woman seemed to have completely overlooked this.

Xie Mian’s gaze locked onto Yun Shu’s retreating figure, a sudden surge of curiosity and coldness rising within her.

A second personality?

Yun Shu strolled leisurely ahead, with Xie Tang following at a short distance.

It wasn’t until they reached the car parked in the courtyard that Yun Shu suddenly remembered the problem she had been ignoring: she didn’t know how to drive.

Xie Tang noticed that the woman who had been feigning composure just moments ago now seemed visibly restless.

Yun Shu quickly came up with an excuse, clearing her throat. “The car’s out of gas. I’ll condescend to call a taxi to take you.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Xie Tang’s gaze seemed off.

Yun Shu’s heart skipped a beat, and she began to stammer, “Wh-what’s wrong?”

Xie Tang’s voice was calm. “Your car is electric. It doesn’t need gas.”

After delivering this line, she began scrutinizing Yun Shu’s expression.

If this had been the old Yun Shu, she would have scowled and cursed, perhaps even slapped her.

But the woman before her did none of those things.

Her expression froze for a moment before she let out a cold laugh and a heavy hmph, as if desperate to make her anger obvious.

Yet her next words were just five: “Too many cars, forgot.”

As soon as she said this and opened her phone, she realized another problem: Xie Tang was currently on leave from school. Where was she going?

“The hospital where Grandma Xie is?” Yun Shu cleared her throat. “Address.”

Xie Tang gave the name of a residential complex, then turned her gaze to Yun Shu.

She noticed Yun Shu struggling to type the complex’s name, even switching from the 9-key to the 26-key keyboard.

Yun Shu, her face icy, finally managed to type the name correctly by sheer luck.

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness! I almost got caught! QAQ

It was the season transitioning from summer to autumn. The night wind carried a sharp chill, and while Yun Shu was dressed appropriately, Xie Tang was not.

Her thin dress, combined with her frail health, made her cough involuntarily when the evening breeze blew.

The next moment, a warmth settled on her shoulders, accompanied by the familiar scent of mugwort.

She instinctively recoiled, pushing the jacket off her shoulders before realizing what she had done.

Glancing sideways at Yun Shu, she saw the other woman freeze for a moment before silently crouching down to pick up the jacket and carefully brush off the dust.

The face that usually radiated arrogance and dominance now inexplicably wore an expression of profound grievance.

After finishing, Yun Shu remembered to deliver her line to maintain her character. With a tense expression, she feigned a fierce tone and said, “You don’t know what’s good for you.”

But her voice sounded more aggrieved than menacing.

Xie Tang’s confusion suddenly swelled in her heart. What could have caused such a drastic change in Yun Shu in such a short time?

Just then, the taxi arrived.

Yun Shu instinctively walked over and opened the door for Xie Tang to get in first. At the same moment, the System’s shrill warning blared in her mind:

Host! Maintain your character! The original Yun Shu was arrogant, conceited, and utterly lacking in manners. She would never open a door for Xie Tang!

Realizing her mistake, Yun Shu immediately ducked into the car, leaving Xie Tang with only a cold, indifferent back view.

Xie Tang hadn’t said a word throughout, her gaze fixed on Yun Shu.

Only after Xie Tang settled into the car did she notice Yun Shu had taken the left window seat.

In the past, Yun Shu would have ignored her protests and draped an arm around her shoulder or waist. But now… Xie Tang glanced at the canyon-wide gap between them, her eyes darkening.

Yun Shu, equally unsure how to handle being alone with Xie Tang, could only maintain her tense facade, clinging to her character.

But Xie Tang had no intention of letting her off the hook. She had always possessed keen insight and formidable practical skills.

Her beautiful eyes flickered for a moment before she subtly shifted closer to Yun Shu.

Yun Shu: !!!

In her mind, she frantically pleaded with the System:

“Tongtong, Tongtong, save me!”

“Why is she suddenly getting so close?! TT”

Shouldn’t Xie Tang hate me? Why is she making a move now?

The System rapidly scanned the book, its mechanical voice tinged with panic: The book doesn’t mention this!

Sensing the Alpha’s tense posture and barely suppressed breathing beside her, Xie Tang’s lips curved into a faint smile.

Looks like she’s still quite innocent.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Tang murmured close to Yun Shu’s ear, her voice soft as a whisper. “Didn’t you ask me to stay by your side at all times?”

She watched as the person before her ears flushed crimson, a hint of panic flickering across her face.

Yun Shu’s nostrils were now filled with Xie Tang’s scent.

The Omega’s peach-scented pheromones flooded her senses like they were free for the taking. Xie Tang’s arm brushed against hers, barely there yet utterly overwhelming. Yun Shu was on the verge of collapse—she had never been this close to anyone before, let alone Xie Tang.

Just then, Yun Shu noticed something changing within her body—an overwhelming surge she couldn’t suppress.

Terrified that Xie Tang would notice something amiss, she nearly burst into tears but forced herself to maintain a cold facade. “Could you move further away from me? I prefer reserved women.”

Unfortunately, her words carried no weight.

In such situations, Yun Shu instinctively revealed her true nature: docile, obedient, and even when provoked, she merely glared with rabbit-like red eyes.

At that moment, Xie Tang became utterly certain: the person before her was definitely not Yun Shu.