The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 11

Long Huaichang sat crouched on the ground, drenched and looking at Nuo Yang with tear-streaked cheeks.

Nuo Yang had never known that some people could cry without making a sound. Long Huaichang wept in complete silence, as if the entire world had abandoned her…

“Meow—”

Just then, a small, soaked orange head suddenly poked out from Long Huaichang’s arms, startling Nuo Yang.

How had this girl even managed to pick up a cat in the middle of a cemetery?

It must have been a kitten barely a month old, now shivering from the rain, its weak mews almost inaudible.

Without a second thought for her own soaked state, Nuo Yang pulled a towel and spare clothes from her backpack, draping them over Long Huaichang’s shoulders before hailing a taxi by the roadside.

The cemetery was pitch-black, and the taxi driver, seeing two drenched girls, nearly mistook them for ghosts, too terrified to speak the entire ride.

By the time they got home, it was already past 10 p.m. The rain had lightened but still fell steadily.

Noticing the kitten in Long Huaichang’s arms was barely clinging to life, Nuo Yang rushed it to the pet clinic at the entrance of their neighborhood before taking Long Huaichang back to shower.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Long Huaichang remained silent. She didn’t say a word to Nuo Yang, nor did she explain what had happened to her that day.

That night, Long Huaichang slept restlessly, tossing and turning as if trapped in nightmares.

She dreamed of pushing open a door and seeing the silhouette of her mother hanging from a noose.

She dreamed of standing before a gravestone, drenched and freezing.

She dreamed of the Long family—strangers with cold faces—calling her a bastard and cursing her to a wretched death.

Until… she dreamed of Nuo Yang.

In the dream, Nuo Yang held her hand, wiping the sweat from her forehead over and over until Long Huaichang finally fell into a deep sleep, comforted by her touch.

Watching Long Huaichang drift off again, Nuo Yang couldn’t resist touching her forehead—just as she suspected, the fever had returned.

Fearful that something might happen, Nuo Yang barely slept the rest of the night. When she heard movement downstairs, she went to check and found Long Huaichang burning up in bed, nearly scaring her to death.

Nuo Yang stayed by her side all night, and the fever-reducing patches she bought from downstairs helped slightly. By morning, Long Huaichang’s high fever had subsided somewhat.

Looking at Long Huaichang’s flushed face, Nuo Yang realized this was the second time she had cared for her like this.

The first time had been when they were still strangers. Now, months had passed in the blink of an eye.

The next day, Nuo Yang took time off work. Long Huaichang remained as quiet as ever, as if the two had returned to square one.

Nuo Yang didn’t ask what had happened, and Long Huaichang didn’t offer an explanation. Silence hung heavily between them.

On the third day, Nuo Yang received a call. She initially thought it was from her workplace, but upon answering, she realized it was the pet clinic downstairs.

“Miss Nuo, your cat has been with us for three days now. Would you like to come and check on it?”

Only then did Nuo Yang remember—Long Huaichang had been cradling a cat when they returned from the cemetery.

“Oh, I’m on my way now.” Nuo Yang hung up the phone and peeked at Long Huaichang , who was resting with her eyes closed on the bed. “Xiao Huai, I’m going downstairs for a bit. Stay home and don’t wander off, okay?”

The only response was Long Huaichang’s quiet breathing.

Unbothered, Nuo Yang put on her shoes and headed downstairs, leaving the residential complex to visit the pet hospital.

As soon as she entered, the place erupted with the sounds of cats and dogs, making Nuo Yang feel slightly awkward.

The veterinarian spotted Nuo Yang and greeted her, motioning for her to come over.

“Look, this is the kitten you brought in three days ago,” the doctor said, pointing to the tiny creature in the cage. “She’s pulled through and has quite the appetite now. She’ll definitely grow into a chubby little thing.”

Nuo Yang looked over and saw a palm-sized orange kitten. Upon noticing someone approaching, the kitten lifted its head from the food can, gave a soft “meow,” then went back to eating.

“Is this really the one I brought in?” Nuo Yang said with surprise. “How did she get so big in just a few days?”

She remembered how tiny the kitten had been when she carried it in her hand that day. Now, its belly was round and fluffy, clearly having grown significantly.

“Small animals like kittens and puppies grow like weeds,” the doctor explained. “They can shoot up in just a few days. This one’s actually a bit slower, probably due to malnutrition early on. Just feed her well, and she’ll catch up.”

Nuo Yang nodded. She had no prior experience with pets, but this little creature was too adorable to resist, so she decided to adopt it.

After purchasing some canned food, milk treats, a litter box, and other supplies, she carried the cage back home.

When she entered the apartment, she found Long Huaichang standing on the balcony, though Nuo Yang had no idea when she’d gotten out of bed.

“Why are you up?” Nuo Yang set down the cage and supplies, asking, “What are you looking at out there?”

Long Huaichang glanced back at her and murmured, “Nothing.”

She had gotten up shortly after Nuo Yang left. Having spent days lying in bed with no energy, she’d had plenty of time to think things through.

From the balcony, Long Huaichang could see the entire residential complex.

Unconsciously, she noticed that there were a few unfamiliar faces among the security guards, some cars downstairs hadn’t moved in ages, and several apartments in the opposite building always had their curtains drawn—she had no idea who lived there.

It wasn’t paranoia. Long Huaichang now felt that the Long family’s spies were lurking in every corner around her.

And the Long family was certainly capable of such surveillance.

Nuo Yang hurried over and pulled her away from the balcony, worried she might do something rash. After all, they lived on a high floor, and even with the safety net, the height was terrifying.

“Look,” Nuo Yang led her to the sofa and brought over the cat cage, saying to Long Huaichang, “This is the cat you found.”

Long Huaichang stared at the little orange creature and asked, “I found it?”

“Yeah, you picked it up at the cemetery. I brought it back when I came to get you.”

“…”

Long Huaichang thought for a moment. She had been too distraught at the time and couldn’t remember any of it.

Nuo Yang opened the cat carrier slightly, and the little kitten peeked out cautiously. It tentatively stepped on Nuo Yang’s fingers with its tiny paws, the white mittens pressing against her fingertips, cool to the touch.

Perhaps sensing no danger, the kitten climbed onto Nuo Yang’s hand and let out a soft meow.

Long Huaichang seemed captivated by the little creature’s adorable appearance—after all, what sixteen- or seventeen-year-old wouldn’t love small animals? Her gaze immediately fixed on it.

The kitten wasn’t afraid of people either. It crouched on Nuo Yang’s hand, licking its paws, and when it realized these humans didn’t mean it any harm, it slowly inched its way down before hopping off the sofa and disappearing under the table.

Nuo Yang knew it was just adjusting to the new environment, so she didn’t try to grab it. Instead, she set up the cat carrier, bed, and litter box, figuring the kitten would come out on its own when hungry.

“You just got better, so you shouldn’t be moving around too much. Go back to your room and rest for a while.”

After arranging everything, Nuo Yang turned to Long Huaichang and asked, “What do you want for lunch? I can order takeout for you.”

Long Huaichang shook her head. “I don’t feel like eating anything.”

“But you have to eat something. You’ve barely eaten in three days.”

“I’m not hungry.”

Long Huaichang looked at Nuo Yang and said softly, “Sister, can you sit with me for a while?”

Such a simple request was something Nuo Yang naturally wouldn’t refuse. She sat down beside Long Huaichang , their shoulders close together.

Long Huaichang’s body was still a little cold, and when she leaned in, Nuo Yang felt a slight chill. Her cheeks flushed as she murmured, “You should wear more layers.”

“Mhm.” Long Huaichang tilted her head and rested it on Nuo Yang’s shoulder, whispering, “Thank you.”

Nuo Yang was puzzled. “What for?”

Long Huaichang replied quietly, “For staying with me.”

If the whole world held malice toward Long Huaichang, then Nuo Yang was the only one who remained gentle.

Long Huaichang closed her eyes, breathing in Nuo Yang’s scent—a faint grassy fragrance, the lingering trace of their home’s shower gel.

She loved this scent, and right now, she was utterly lost in it.

Feeling Long Huaichang’s movement, Nuo Yang adjusted her posture and wrapped an arm around her, gently patting her back. “Are you sleepy?”

Long Huaichang shook her head, then slid her arms around Nuo Yang’s slender waist, burying her face against her neck.

Her breath, like wisps of smoke, tickled Nuo Yang’s skin.

Their body heat mingled, making the air between them feel thick and warm.

Eventually, Long Huaichang drifted off to sleep. Instead of moving her to the bedroom, Nuo Yang fetched a pillow and a blanket, letting her rest on the couch.

While Long Huaichang slept in the living room, Nuo Yang went to her room to tidy up. The small space, unventilated for three days, carried a faint mustiness. Nuo Yang gave it a quick clean, organizing the cluttered mess on the desk.

Then, she spotted Long Huaichang’s ID card—a photo taken when she was fourteen, her face still soft with youth, almost childlike.

Nuo Yang studied it with amusement. People always said ID photos were the least flattering, but Long Huaichang was so naturally beautiful that even her ID shot looked like a professional portrait.

Her soft, bright eyes, small and high-bridged nose, and the distinctive baby fat on her cheeks made Long Huaichang appear less fierce and much more adorable.

So, Long Huaichang was actually this cute as a child?

After glancing at the photos, Nuo Yang’s gaze fell on the birthdate at the bottom row. Staring at the string of numbers, it suddenly dawned on him—Long Huaichang’s birthday was early next month, less than a week away.