The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 24

Recently, a rather big topic had been circulating around No.3 High School—Long Huaichang was actually dating a girl from the neighboring class!

Long Huaichang had always been a hot topic before. After all, she was easy to get along with, fierce in fights, and most importantly, stunningly beautiful. For the hormone-driven teenagers, Long Huaichang was practically their dream lover!

Now, this dream lover was rumored to be with a girl who had once jumped off a building. Naturally, gossip was inevitable.

During lunch break, on a small stone bench by the playground.

Shi Tian said indignantly, “Sister Long, why aren’t you explaining anything?”

Now, both their class and others were talking about Long Huaichang and Jiang Li being together, even though it wasn’t true at all. Jiang Li was a weird girl with a strange temper, and as Long Huaichang’s top subordinate, Shi Tian couldn’t stand her.

But Long Huaichang didn’t seem to care.

“Gossip won’t make me lose a piece of flesh,” Long Huaichang said, crossing her legs and leaning against the tree behind her. “Besides, she prepares lunch for me every day. It’s normal for people to misunderstand.”

Shi Tian sat opposite her, looking disgusted. “Our school cafeteria is terrible, but to stoop so low for a meal is just…”

Long Huaichang shot him a glance. “Who are you calling shameless?”

“…I meant those gossipers! Talking nonsense with no filter!”

“Hmph.”

But…

“Sister Long,” Shi Tian frowned and asked, “what exactly do you think of Jiang Li? If you don’t like her, don’t get so close. I think she might actually have feelings for you…”

Long Huaichang was silent for a long moment before replying, “Is that so?”

But Long Huaichang didn’t want to like anyone right now. Maybe the upheavals at home had made her reluctant to express her emotions. She sought warmth in companionship but didn’t want to open her heart.

Whether Jiang Li liked her or not, Long Huaichang didn’t know. But she knew she didn’t like Jiang Li.

Shi Tian was about to say more when he noticed Jiang Li approaching from the school building with a lunchbox, so he wisely shut his mouth.

“The weather is nice today. Eating under the shade must be pleasant, right?” Jiang Li smiled as she placed the lunchbox in front of Long Huaichang. “Today, I made eel rice. It looked delicious in the drama, so I tried making it.”

Long Huaichang didn’t refuse. After taking a bite, she praised, “It’s really good.”

Jiang Li beamed at the compliment.

Long Huaichang bit her chopsticks and looked at Jiang Li. “Did anyone bully you today?”

“No,” Jiang Li replied softly. “Ever since they heard I was your girlfriend, they’ve been very polite.”

“That’s good.”

Jiang Li gazed at Long Huaichang and said slowly, “Thank you.”

Long Huaichang replied, “I should thank you for not scolding me.”

Jiang Li’s deep eyes lingered on Long Huaichang as she smiled. “If it were true, I think I’d be happy too.”

“Is that so?” Long Huaichang smiled faintly. “That would just cause you trouble. Better not.”

The afternoon breeze brushed the stray hairs on Long Huaichang’s forehead, blurring her vision slightly. For a moment, the girl in front of her seemed to be smiling with a hint of… sadness.

Today, unusually, Long Huaichang finished dinner early and went back to her room to do homework.

Nuo Yang peeked at Long Huaichang sitting at the desk working on practice test papers, sighing at how much academic pressure kids these days faced.

“Xiao Huai,” Nuo Yang asked, “Want me to brew you some coffee?”

Long Huaichang shook her head. “No need, coffee’s too bitter.”

Nuo Yang chuckled. “Then I’ll get you some milk tea instead.”

With Long Huaichang’s agreement, Nuo Yang quickly fetched the drinks she had bought earlier from the fridge and brought them into the room.

Long Huaichang set down her pen, turning to Nuo Yang with a hesitant expression.

“What’s wrong? Why so hesitant?” Nuo Yang took a sip of her own drink, sitting on Long Huaichang’s bed and swinging her legs as she observed the girl’s conflicted look. “Did you do something wrong?”

Otherwise, why would she look like this?

Long Huaichang pursed her lips around the straw before speaking. “Sis, if I do well on my midterms, will there be a reward?”

Nuo Yang blinked in surprise. “You have midterms coming up?”

No wonder the tutor had been visiting more frequently lately. Had it really reached that time already?

“Well, what do you want?” Nuo Yang wasn’t stingy—if Long Huaichang scored well, she wouldn’t mind making the girl happy.

“Haven’t decided yet.” Long Huaichang took a satisfied sip of her milk tea. “I’ll tell you when I figure it out.”

—

Nuo Yang had recently gained quite a reputation at the company.

Everyone knew what kind of person Long Yingjun was—his sheer wealth alone could suffocate people under its weight. Yet Nuo Yang had dared to confront him head-on, leaving even the notoriously sharp-tongued Chu Duidui in awe!

“Xiao Nuo,” Cheng Bai slid over with some documents, grinning brightly. “What’s our little editor Nuo planning to write for today’s post? I’ll help gather materials!”

Nuo Yang sighed. “Cheng Bai-jie, you’ve been acting weird lately. What are you scheming now?”

“Knew you’d see right through me~” Cheng Bai leaned in. “Chu Kexin hasn’t written a post in two weeks. She’s been wandering around the office doing nothing—even the plants at the front desk are nearly stripped bare by her.”

Nuo Yang laughed. “Want me to switch with Chu Kexin?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Chu Kexin popped up out of nowhere, nodding vigorously as she leaned on the desk. “I’ve been holding back for ages! I already know exactly who to roast—let me handle today’s post, okay?”

Seeing the two were amenable, Cheng Bai turned to Chu Kexin. “This time, no roasting, or the boss will dock your pay again.”

Chu Kexin pouted, plopping down sulkily. “Come on, our fans love it when I go off on people! The harsher I am, the more clicks we get!”

Cheng Bai rapped her knuckles lightly on Chu Kexin’s head. “And how much has that cost you in fines?”

Chu Kexin just shrugged, unfazed.

“Let me be straight with you both,” Cheng Bai said seriously. “You know our company is just a branch, right? Rumor has it that headquarters is tightening budgets due to some issues. The general manager’s been chewed out at HQ multiple times over it.”

“Why’s HQ’s budget cuts our boss’s problem?” Chu Kexin frowned. “Shouldn’t our boss be the one yelling at HQ?”

“Do you think everyone is like you?” Cheng Bai said. “Business isn’t doing well these days, so both of you need to write with extra courtesy recently, understand?”

“Got it~”

Cheng Bai turned to Nuo Yang and said, “Nuo Yang, let Chu Kexin do the writing today. I’m afraid if she doesn’t write for half a month, the result will be a complete mess. You can just assist her today.”

“Okay.” Nuo Yang nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something. “Sister Cheng Bai, what do high school students like these days? I want to get a gift for Xiao Huai.”

Hearing that Nuo Yang wanted to give her little follower a gift, everyone became interested.

“High schoolers have their own opinions now, you should ask her directly.”

“But for girls, isn’t it just jewelry, accessories, and pretty dresses? Just pick something nice.”

“Exactly! My little sister loves reading manga and playing games. When she turned 18, I bought her a game console, and she was thrilled all day.”

Listening to the others in the editorial department, Nuo Yang thought about it but really couldn’t figure out what Long Huaichang might like.

But if she wanted to give a gift, she’d have to wait until the midterm exam results came out.

Recently, tutor Lu Jin had been coming frequently to tutor Long Huaichang, always leaving after 9 pm. Nuo Yang occasionally asked if he wanted to stay overnight, but Lu Jin said he had a car and didn’t need to.

This left Nuo Yang completely puzzled.

A college student tutoring to make ends meet could afford a chauffeur??

Though it might also be his boyfriend.

Time passed quickly, and soon the midterm results were released.

On the day the papers were handed back, Long Huaichang returned home early. When Nuo Yang got back, she saw a table full of delicious dishes.

Nuo Yang: “…”

Such an elaborate spread—she must have failed the exams.

Long Huaichang helped Nuo Yang with her bag and coat, smiling brightly. “Sister, look at the meal I made today. You’ll definitely like it~”

Nuo Yang: “Ah, okay…”

So enthusiastic—did she fail every subject???

Long Huaichang guided her to the dining table and served her a sweet and sour shrimp, her dark, sparkling eyes blinking eagerly. “Try it, sister. I made it myself.”

Nuo Yang: “…”

All my favorite dishes—is she getting expelled???

After taking a bite, Nuo Yang felt it was necessary to have a talk. She cleared her throat and asked, “How did you do on your exams today?”

The atmosphere at the table instantly froze.

Nuo Yang felt a little giddy inside—finally, she wasn’t the one being questioned!!!

Long Huaichang pursed her lips and slowly said, “I did okay… It’s just…”

Just what??

“It’s just…” Long Huaichang said softly, “The teacher wants someone to attend a parent-teacher meeting next Friday.”

Nuo Yang was stunned for a moment before finally processing the words. “A parent-teacher meeting???”