The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 21

Although it wasn’t her first time writing an article, it was Nuo Yang’s debut writing for the main account. Today’s piece about the nearly 100-billion-yuan inheritance distribution of the Long family had truly taxed her brain.

Originally scheduled for morning publication, the article went through several revisions after Cheng Bai’s review before finally being posted after 3 PM.

Nuo Yang felt she might not be cut out for headline articles—just one day in and she already felt mentally blocked.

After work, she bought some cooked food, vegetables, and fruits at the market before heading home.

Just as she reached the neighborhood entrance, she spotted a white BMW parked in a space.

The car’s owner immediately stepped out upon seeing Nuo Yang return, one hand resting on the roof while the other waved enthusiastically: “Little Nuo~”

“Attorney Chen?” Nuo Yang was surprised and hurried over. “What brings you to my place?”

Attorney Chen smiled with crescent-shaped eyes: “I came to deliver your money. Here—this is your quarterly dividend statement. I made a special trip to bring it to you.”

Hearing “dividend,” Nuo Yang took the document. It showed the returns from the assets she’d entrusted to their firm for management, distributed quarterly—exactly three months’ worth.

“Thank you for going out of your way,” Nuo Yang beamed at the nearly 8-million-yuan dividend, inviting: “Come inside for a visit. I bought some groceries and fruits—we can eat together.”

“No, no,” Attorney Chen quickly declined with a pained expression. “There’s a Long family member in your home—I wouldn’t dare.”

The recent uproar about the Long family’s hundred-billion asset division had been the talk of legal circles, and as a lawyer, Attorney Chen was well-informed.

Nuo Yang pouted: “It’s been almost half a year—why are you still like this?”

Attorney Chen chuckled: “Can’t help it. The Longs have a terrible reputation in our circles—every one of them is bad news. If you get devoured someday, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Long Huaichang isn’t that kind of person,” Nuo Yang said helplessly. She knew Attorney Chen’s prejudice against the Longs made her view all family members as inherently wicked, hence the constant warnings.

But Nuo Yang also knew Huaichang’s gentle nature, so she merely listened to these remarks, hoping a shared meal might someday clear the misunderstanding.

Not one to hold grudges, Attorney Chen looked at Nuo Yang seriously: “Your great-grandmother funded my university education—without her, I’d be married with children in my mountain hometown by now. I know you care deeply for Huaichang, but my words aren’t baseless.”

What others didn’t know about the Longs, lawyers like her understood perfectly.

Tax evasion was small potatoes—legal violations were commonplace.

Even murder and arson weren’t beyond them.

How could Attorney Chen possibly view them favorably?

Seeing her unwillingness to hear counterarguments, Nuo Yang changed tack. Since Attorney Chen genuinely couldn’t stay for dinner, she pressed a bag of lychees into her hands for the road.

No sooner had Lawyer Chen left than Nuo Yang spotted Long Huaichang walking home with her schoolbag at the street corner not far away.

Nuo Yang waved, but Long Huaichang seemed completely oblivious, her face still lost in thought.

It wasn’t until they were face to face that Long Huaichang noticed Nuo Yang standing there with hands on hips, clearly displeased.

“What’s wrong? Why are walking with your head down like that?” Nuo Yang said unhappily. “What if you bump into a telephone pole?”

This made Long Huaichang chuckle. “Where would you even find telephone poles these days?”

“Running into people isn’t good either,” Nuo Yang complained. “What were you thinking about that you didn’t even see me?”

Long Huaichang looked at Nuo Yang, hesitating to speak.

She wasn’t sure whether to tell Nuo Yang about Long Yingjun coming to find her at the school gate—after all, this was the Long family’s business and didn’t really concern Nuo Yang.

But how could a teenager’s worries stay hidden? Nuo Yang could tell at a glance she was keeping something back.

Pursing her lips, Long Huaichang finally said, “That person… came to school to see me.”

Only then did Nuo Yang learn that Long Yingjun had visited Long Huaichang that day, saying arrogant things about the inheritance being already divided and warning her not to entertain any other ideas.

This made Nuo Yang realize why the Long family had run those uncharacteristic ads on such a massive scale—not just to announce the new head of the company, but also to intimidate Long Huaichang into giving up any thoughts of contesting the inheritance.

When Nuo Yang finished preparing dinner, she found Long Huaichang still sitting on the sofa staring blankly at the TV, lost in thought.

Since the original story rarely mentioned how Long Huaichang reclaimed the family assets after being expelled from school, Nuo Yang wasn’t sure whether she still wanted to fight for them now.

“Xiao Huai,” Nuo Yang sat down beside her and asked, “Are you… really not interested in that inheritance at all?”

Long Huaichang turned her dark eyes to Nuo Yang. “It was never mine—not before, and not in the future.”

Delighted by this answer, Nuo Yang patted Long Huaichang’s delicate hands and declared, “Well said! If that narcissist shows up at your school again, just kick him out! Who needs billions in inheritance anyway? Your big sister can take care of you!”

The bold words made Long Huaichang’s lips curve upward. She realized that no matter how upset she felt, everything became beautiful again when she returned to Nuo Yang’s side.

Perhaps Nuo Yang was the miracle that had descended into her life.

But…

“Sister,” Long Huaichang’s smile faded as she looked troubled. “I keep wondering… does everyone really hate me? Why else would they keep pushing me like this?”

Nuo Yang reassured her, “That’s not true at all! I like you very much!”

“Really?” Long Huaichang bit her lip.

“Mm!” Nuo Yang nodded emphatically.

Long Huaichang blinked her shining dark eyes and said softly, “Sister… could you sleep with me tonight? I’m afraid I’ll dream about my mother again if I’m alone.”

Nuo Yang: “…That might not be appropriate?”

Long Huaichang: “Lately I keep dreaming of my mother hanging in the living room, trying to take me away. I’m scared.”

Nuo Yang: “…”

“Stop talking, what you’re saying is too terrifying!!!”

Don’t forget this house is still a haunted one!!!!!

Nuo Yang instantly got goosebumps, feeling like the air conditioning was blowing particularly chilly and bone-piercing wind. At this point, forget about Long Huaichang —she didn’t even dare to sleep alone.

“O-okay then!” Nuo Yang said nervously. “I’ll reluctantly keep you company tonight!”

—

10:30 PM.

After her shower, Nuo Yang walked downstairs while drying her hair, pausing briefly in the living room before heading to Long Huaichang’s room.

“Have you finished your homework?”

Nuo Yang opened the door and saw Long Huaichang fiddling with her phone at the desk, prompting her to ask curiously.

Long Huaichang looked up with a smile. “All done, sis.”

The crisp way she said “sis” pleased Nuo Yang immensely. She sat on Long Huaichang’s bed and said, “Since you’re done, you should go to sleep. Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

Long Huaichang nodded. “You take the inside, sis. I’ll sleep on the outside.”

Nuo Yang agreed but then lowered her head, eyeing the 1.2-meter single bed skeptically. “Can two people really fit on this?”

“We can squeeze in.”

“Why not come sleep upstairs with me? There’s a double bed there.”

“But I’m particular about my bed.”

“Wasn’t this bed newly bought when we moved in together? You never mentioned being particular about beds back then.”

Long Huaichang blinked. “Because I didn’t know if you’d be nice to me. What if you turned out like the wicked stepmothers and stepsisters in fairy tales? I’d rather lose sleep than risk it.”

Nuo Yang pouted. “Do I look that evil?”

Long Huaichang leaned in with a grin. “Not at all—you’re the cutest!”

With a mix of coaxing and teasing, Nuo Yang eventually dropped the matter of whether Long Huaichang was truly particular about beds. Instead, she said, “I don’t sleep very soundly. If you’re uncomfortable, you can always go sleep on the couch in the living room.”

Long Huaichang nodded in agreement.

Night fell.

Long Huaichang remained restless. Despite Nuo Yang’s reassurances, every time she closed her eyes, she saw the faces of Long Ying Jun and Mu Jia Zhao.

Troubled thoughts made sleep elusive. She opened her eyes and gazed at Nuo Yang, who was already fast asleep.

If only she could sleep as peacefully as Nuo Yang every night…

Her hand emerged from under the blanket, and she gently brushed Nuo Yang’s cheek with her fingertips. The soft touch and familiar scent that slowly filled her nose brought her a sense of comfort.

Long Huaichang watched Nuo Yang’s sleeping face for a long while before withdrawing her hand.

If only she could freeze time in this moment…