The Crybaby Always Wants to Redeem the Villainess - Chapter 2

Gu Zhirou watched the commotion in the crowd below, her heart leaping with excitement. Could it be Ayi has returned?

She sprang to her feet and hurried down from the tavern, rushing to the street to see for herself. Her maids trailed behind, calling after her in a panic.

Pushing her way through the crowd, Gu Zhirou finally reached the front and gazed at Ayi, who was approaching on horseback, her excitement bubbling over.

In the next instant, someone shoved her, sending her tumbling beneath the horse’s hooves. She watched in horror as the horse’s hoof descended toward her…

“Miss!” the maids screamed in unison.

Xiao Yi froze when she saw someone fall beneath her horse’s hooves. With a swift maneuver, she leaned sideways, scooped Gu Zhirou off the ground with one arm, and pulled her into her arms. Then, with a smooth turn, she settled back firmly in the saddle.

Gu Zhirou felt the world spin around her. She cautiously lifted her head and saw the person she had longed to see day and night—Ayi!

Clinging tightly to Xiao Yi’s waist, Gu Zhirou thought, Thank goodness we’re both alive. I still have a chance to change our fate. Tears streamed down her face as she thought this.

When Xiao Yi felt the young woman’s arms tighten around her waist, her entire body tensed. But then she reasoned, Maybe she’s never ridden a horse before and is just scared, and relaxed, letting Gu Zhirou cling to her.

Suddenly, Xiao Yi felt something cold and wet on her arm. It wasn’t raining, so why was it so cold and wet? Looking down, she saw Gu Zhirou’s pale, tear-streaked face, her eyes brimming with tears, like a pear blossom drenched in rain.

Xiao Yi froze, immediately stopping the horse. What did I even do? Why is this girl crying so hard?

I thought I was saving her. Why is she crying?

She spoke cautiously, yet with a hint of arrogance, “Why are you crying? You’re not dead yet, are you? Are you mourning yourself in advance?”

Gu Zhirou sniffled at this.

Waaah, why is Ayi being so mean? How could she say I’m mourning myself? I’m just touched! She sobbed even harder, ignoring all of Xiao Yi’s questions and simply crying.

The crowd watched in disbelief as the notorious bully snatched the precious pearl of the Grand Tutor’s Estate.

“Poor Miss Gu is so frail and sickly,” one bystander remarked. “That damned bully! She just arrived and already has her eyes on Miss Gu. She’s utterly heartless!”

A young man added with a sigh, “Exactly! What will that bully do to Miss Gu?”

“Look, look! Who knows what she’s done to Miss Gu? Look how Miss Gu is crying her eyes out! Aiyo, this sight is enough to break anyone’s heart!” another bystander chimed in.

“Exactly! Exactly! She has no sense of tenderness or compassion!”

A burly man nearby chimed in, “Bullshit! If she had any tenderness or compassion, she wouldn’t be called the Female Tyrant!”

The crowd watched Miss Gu, trembling in the Female Tyrant’s arms, sobbing pitifully and gasping for breath. They longed to give the Xiao Tyrant a thorough thrashing. How could she be so crude?

Xiao Ju and her three companions rushed forward to pull Gu Zhirou away, but a single glare from Xiao Yi froze them in their tracks. They could only plead weakly,

“M-Miss Xiao, our young lady is delicate and prone to illness. Please spare her! Whatever the Grand Tutor’s Estate has, we’ll give it to you!” The four women knelt in unison, begging Xiao Yi to release Gu Zhirou.

“Tch, the Grand Tutor’s Estate? What’s so special about that? Anything your estate has, the General’s Estate has too. And anything your estate doesn’t have, we have that too. I just like your young lady. So what?”

Xiao Yi lowered her head, a wicked smile playing on her lips, and tilted Gu Zhirou’s chin. So this crybaby in my arms is from the Grand Tutor’s Estate, huh?

The crowd… They’d seen arrogance before, but never anything like this!

I’ve seen shameless people before, but never anyone as utterly shameless as her!

Miss Gu is a girl, and still underage! How dare she just declare she’s taken a fancy to her? Utterly shameless!

Disgusting!

I heard this female bully preys on both men and women, but I never thought it was actually true!

Ah, poor Miss Gu!

Xiao Yi watched the crowd, each person glaring at her as if they wanted to tear her limb from limb.

A satisfied smile curled her lips. It seemed her reputation as a villain was truly beyond redemption!

Well then, she thought, I might as well go all the way!

Xiao Yi hooked her index finger under Gu Zhirou’s chin, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “Little crybaby,” she teased, “are you planning to cling to me forever?”

Gu Zhirou completely ignored Xiao Yi’s words. Being near Ayi gave her an inexplicable sense of security, and she had no intention of leaving so soon!

In her past life, Ayi had been like an older sister, always protecting her whenever trouble arose, even secretly resolving her problems behind the scenes.

Seeing Gu Zhirou’s stubborn silence, Xiao Yi spoke again, “Little crybaby, if you don’t let go, I’ll just kidnap you!”

Xiao Yi felt utterly powerless.

Fine, I gave her a chance. If this little girl refuses to let go, it’s not my fault.

“You’re the one who won’t release me,” Xiao Yi said, ignoring the crowd’s reactions. She spurred her horse forward, carrying Gu Zhirou toward the General’s Estate.

The terrified maids, their faces ashen, hurried back to the Grand Tutor’s Estate, sobbing. We’re doomed! We failed to protect Miss Gu and let that bully kidnap her!

The crowd erupted in curses and jeers once more.

Meanwhile, at the Grand Tutor’s Estate, Grand Tutor Gu heard that his precious daughter had been abducted by that detestable female tyrant from the Xiao family. Enraged, he smashed his teacup against the floor.

“How could Xiao Hengyi raise such a useless daughter? And if having a useless daughter wasn’t bad enough, she dares to harm my precious girl! This is beyond tolerance! I will personally teach that arrogant brat a lesson she’ll never forget!”

Grand Tutor Gu trembled with fury as he stormed out of the estate, leading his guards in a grand procession toward the General’s Estate.

In a cool pavilion within the General’s Estate, Xiao Yi leaned against a pillar, rubbing her temples in frustration as she watched the little girl before her. The girl’s eyes were red and swollen from crying, resembling walnuts.

How can this girl cry so much? She’s been sobbing the entire way here!

No matter what Xiao Yi asked or said, the girl remained silent, responding only with tears. And the louder Xiao Yi’s voice became, the more fiercely the girl cried!

Damn it! When has Xiao Yi ever felt so helpless?

She couldn’t scold her, couldn’t even look at her, couldn’t speak to her, let alone strike her. Even a glance from Xiao Yi would send the girl into a prolonged fit of tears!

Just then, servants arrived with several plates of pastries. Xiao Yi, feeling hungry, quickly grabbed a piece and brought it to her mouth. But as she did, she noticed the little girl blinking at the pastry in her hand, swallowing hard as she watched.

Xiao Yi… She hadn’t even done anything, had she? Why did she feel so guilty?

Forcing her mouth shut, Xiao Yi glanced at the pastry, then at the girl, who was staring so intently at the treat she seemed about to bore a hole through it.

Slowly, Xiao Yi extended her hand, speaking softly, “Uh, you know, do you want some?”