The Crybaby Always Wants to Redeem the Villainess - Chapter 11

Gu Zhirou silently opened her mouth and accepted the candy Xiao Yi offered. She blinked, letting the tears in her eyes spill over.

Then she looked at Xiao Yi, puzzled. I’m not a child. Why is Ayi being so cautious?

Is Ayi trying to comfort me?

“Sister Xiao Yi…” Gu Zhirou called out weakly.

“Hmm?” Xiao Yi responded.

Gu Zhirou hesitated, then finally mustered the courage to ask tentatively, “You… you’re not a bad person, right?”

“Do you think I’m a bad person?” Xiao Yi asked, staring at Gu Zhirou, who was as blank as a sheet of paper. “If you do, then I am. If you don’t, then I’m not!”

Gu Zhirou immediately shook her head. “No… I think you’re really nice…”

“Then that settles it!” Xiao Yi clapped Gu Zhirou on the shoulder, declaring boldly, “Just think of me as your friend. Even if I bully others, I’ll never bully you.”

“I understand! Thank you, Sister Xiao Yi!” Gu Zhirou said, tears welling up again, but she dared not cry further, afraid of angering Xiao Yi.

I knew it! How could Ayi, who was so kind in my past life, possibly be a bad person in this one?

Xiao Yi reached out and gently patted Gu Zhirou’s head, smiling as she said, “Don’t cry anymore. If anything happens in the future, come find me. This Miss will protect you!”

Gu Zhirou immediately stopped crying and nodded obediently. “I understand.”

Seeing the young girl finally stop crying, Xiao Yi felt relieved and continued, “I remember your name is Gu Zhirou, right? How old are you?”

Gu Zhirou paused, then replied, “Fourteen.”

“Fourteen, huh?” Xiao Yi murmured thoughtfully to herself, then chuckled. “Fourteen—just the right age to become a young lady ready for marriage!”

Gu Zhirou’s cheeks flushed crimson. “Sister Xiao Yi, what nonsense are you spouting?!”

“Aiya, why are you blushing so much? I’m not wrong! Men should marry when they’re grown, and women should marry when they’re grown!” Xiao Yi teased Gu Zhirou with a mischievous grin.

Gu Zhirou’s face grew even redder under Xiao Yi’s teasing. She lowered her head shyly, avoiding Xiao Yi’s gaze.

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Yi relented. “Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. How about I call you Xiao Rou’er from now on?”

“Yes!” Gu Zhirou nodded eagerly, then stole a glance at Xiao Yi, afraid she might change her mind. “Sister Xiao Yi, how old are you this year?”

“Sixteen,” Xiao Yi replied casually.

“You’re two years older than me! Can Rou’er call you Elder Sister?” Gu Zhirou asked, though she already knew Xiao Yi’s age. She just wanted an excuse to talk to her.

“Of course, Xiao Rou’er can call me whatever she likes!” Gu Zhirou’s heart fluttered with joy as she sweetly called out, “Elder Sister, can Rou’er come visit you to play sometimes?”

“Absolutely!” Xiao Yi replied readily, delighted by the prospect.

Hearing Xiao Yi’s answer, Gu Zhirou happily hugged her arm and exclaimed, “Yay! That’s wonderful, Elder Sister! I’ll come see you whenever I have free time! You can’t refuse to see me!”

Xiao Yi nodded.

With Gu Zhirou clinging to her arm, the two chatted casually along the way.

After some time, they reached a government road on the outskirts of the city. Xiao Yi signaled the carriage to stop, and Gu Zhirou climbed out of her lap, asking, “Elder Sister, are we there yet?”

“Yes, we’ve arrived. I’ll go check around. You stay here in the carriage and wait for me!” Xiao Yi instructed before stepping down.

“Okay, Rou’er will listen to Elder Sister.”

After dismounting, Xiao Yi surveyed the surroundings, circling the area to confirm it was the bandits’ route.

Returning to the carriage, she lifted the curtain and addressed Gu Zhirou, who was sitting patiently inside, “Xiao Rou’er, come down now! We’ve arrived!”

“We’re here? Okay, I’ll be right out.”

Gu Zhirou slowly emerged from the carriage, and Xiao Yi reached out to help the little girl down.

Xiao Yi turned to the coachman and said, “You can go now.”

After the coachman left, the two girls walked into the small grove beside the official road.

“Elder Sister, where are we going now?” Gu Zhirou asked, looking around.

“We need to find a good spot to set up an ambush first, then prepare some traps and such,” Xiao Yi replied as they walked.

“Oh~”

“When will the bandits come?”

“Probably tonight.”

Gu Zhirou looked up at the sun, which was still high in the sky. How long until nightfall?

Xiao Yi noticed her expression and asked, “What’s wrong, Xiao Rou’er? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, no, let’s go now.”

Xiao Yi led the way, with Gu Zhirou stumbling behind. Seeing the girl’s unsteady steps, Xiao Yi said, “Give me your hand. I’ll hold it so you don’t fall.”

“Okay~ Thank you, Elder Sister,” Gu Zhirou said happily, reaching out her hand. Hand in hand, they walked deeper into the grove.

Xiao Yi found a suitable spot, settled Gu Zhirou down, and began setting up traps.

Gu Zhirou sat on a small rock, watching Xiao Yi work with practiced efficiency. Ayi is truly amazing, she thought to herself. It’s all my fault for being blind in my past life, falling for that scumbag and causing Ayi’s death!

After a flurry of activity, Xiao Yi returned to Gu Zhirou’s side. “Xiao Rou’er, are you tired?”

“Rou’er isn’t tired. Elder Sister must be exhausted. Look, you’re sweating all over your face,” Gu Zhirou said, taking out her handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Xiao Yi’s face.

Xiao Yi gazed at the beautiful young woman so close to her, blinking rapidly. A strange feeling stirred within her, and she quickly turned her head away, looking elsewhere.

Seeing Xiao Yi turn away, Gu Zhirou said with a hurt tone, “Elder Sister, why are you turning away? I can’t wipe this side of your face now.”

Xiao Yi looked at the girl’s tearful eyes and, suppressing the odd sensation, turned back.

Watching Rou’er wipe her face with such earnestness, her cherry lips pouting slightly because Xiao Yi wasn’t cooperating, Xiao Yi couldn’t help but swallow hard.

I’m no saint, she thought. I’m just a common person, and common people are greedy for wealth and lustful.

Even though it was female beauty, it was still so lovely, so alluring!

After wiping Xiao Yi’s face, Gu Zhirou moved on to wipe the sweat from her neck and behind her ears, her breath warm against Xiao Yi’s skin.

Xiao Yi’s face flushed crimson, her heart pounding. She felt on the verge of kissing the girl’s cheek when her stomach suddenly growled loudly, at the most inopportune moment!

Xiao Yi was mortified, but Gu Zhirou, seeing her burning red cheeks, said, “Elder Sister, are you hungry? It’s already noon, after all.”

“I’m not hungry, I’m fine,” Xiao Yi said, forcing herself to sound composed. She was so mortified she wanted to disappear. If there had been a mouse hole nearby, she would have crawled into it without hesitation.

The young girl hadn’t even mentioned being hungry, yet Xiao Yi’s stomach had betrayed her first. How embarrassing!

Gu Zhirou frowned, her expression skeptical. “Not hungry???”

Xiao Yi nodded, but her stomach chose that moment to rumble again. Gu Zhirou covered her mouth and burst into laughter. “Hahaha, Elder Sister, you say you’re not hungry, but your tummy is telling the truth! It’s saying it’s hungry!”

Xiao Yi… Damn it! Her stomach was showing her no mercy.

Xiao Yi stood up. “I’ll go look around for some fruit to tide us over.”

“Ah, why fruit?”

Xiao Yi scratched her head awkwardly. “Well, I can’t cook! Rou’er, you’ll have to make do with fruit for now. After we rob the bandits tonight, I’ll take you out for a proper meal!”

“Elder Sister, if you can get the ingredients, I’ll cook for you! I know how to cook!” Gu Zhirou stuck out her tongue playfully.

“Really????” Xiao Yi’s eyes widened with disbelief and delight. She wouldn’t have to starve after all!