The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 29

The rain came swiftly.

An autumn shower brought a chill with it. Though the rain wasn’t heavy, the droplets felt bitingly cold against the skin.

Nuo Yang had initially wanted to scold Long Huaichang a little, but the words died on her lips, leaving only resignation. The two of them huddled close under the umbrella, arms pressed together.

Long Huaichang loved this kind of proximity. She tilted the umbrella slightly toward Nuo Yang and leaned in, then—after receiving a questioning glance—said sweetly, “Sis, I’m a little cold.”

At first, Nuo Yang didn’t believe her, but when Long Huaichang offered her hand, Nuo Yang realized just how icy her fingers were.

“Who told you to dress so lightly?” Nuo Yang chided, gripping her hand helplessly. “Didn’t I tell you to bring an extra jacket this morning?”

Long Huaichang pursed her lips and chuckled. “Wearing a coat over my school uniform doesn’t look good.”

“It’s just a uniform. Who cares how it looks?”

“But it makes me look chubby.”

“Mm…”

Nuo Yang didn’t quite understand the logic of refusing a jacket just because it made one appear heavier, but then she remembered her own stubborn refusal to wear thermal leggings in winter back in the day—perhaps it wasn’t so different.

“Fine,” Nuo Yang relented, leaning closer. “I’ll let it slide today, but you have to remember to wear a jacket tomorrow.”

Since the rain showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, Nuo Yang decided they might as well eat out. Going home now would only leave them drenched and freezing.

There was a commercial pedestrian street near their school, and Nuo Yang picked a decent-looking restaurant to duck into.

After ordering, Long Huaichang hugged her cola and asked, “Sis, who are you meeting on Friday?”

Nuo Yang recalled mentioning her Friday plans before.

“Just some colleagues from work,” she said, taking a sip of milk tea. “It’s a company-wide dinner. You’ll have to eat out and go home by yourself that day.”

Long Huaichang pouted, her eyes brimming with discontent. “Do they allow plus-ones at company dinners?”

Nuo Yang shot her a look.

Long Huaichang pressed on, “Friday afternoon is just self-study for me. Can’t I come along?”

Nuo Yang took another sip of tea, considering it.

Since she was footing the bill, bringing Long Huaichang wouldn’t be an issue. But she didn’t want the girl to find out she had bought the company—afraid it might burden her.

Completely unaware, Long Huaichang mistook her hesitation for reluctance and muttered unhappily, “Am I being a bother again?”

Nuo Yang blinked. “No? I was just thinking about how to introduce you.”

Long Huaichang’s eyes instantly brightened, her barely contained glee clashing with her attempt at composure. “Just introduce me as usual. How else would you introduce me?”

The truth was, Nuo Yang wasn’t worried about their sisterly relationship. The problem was that the company had once run a sensational feature on Long Huaichang as the “illegitimate daughter,” even dragging in so-called experts to speculate why she hadn’t fought for inheritance.

If her colleagues realized that very “illegitimate daughter” was right beside her, Nuo Yang feared the fallout would be explosive.

“If you really want to go with me, that’s fine,” Nuo Yang said. “But we’ll need to set some ground rules—there are certain things you can’t ask about or mention. Is that okay?”

For such a simple request, Long Huaichang was more than willing to agree, and she immediately accepted.

Once everything was settled, Friday quietly arrived.

There hadn’t been any major news lately, and since the restaurant was just across the street from the office, everyone had packed up their things by 3 p.m., eagerly waiting for the dinner outing.

Nuo Yang wasn’t too concerned about punctuality—timing was flexible anyway. Many colleagues had skipped lunch in anticipation of the evening meal and were itching to head to the restaurant.

She wasn’t sure if Long Huaichang actually had self-study in the afternoon, but the girl had called around 1 p.m. to say she was already on her way. Nuo Yang told her to go straight to the restaurant.

When everyone was ready, Nuo Yang finally joined her coworkers as they headed downstairs.

In one of the two large private rooms reserved on the second floor sat a girl wearing a black sun hat and a blue-and-white school uniform. She was scrolling through her phone when the group entered, only looking up at the sound of movement.

Her jet-black hair and porcelain skin made Long Huaichang appear even more aloof than usual today.

Perhaps because there were too many strangers, she merely offered Nuo Yang a faint smile before retreating behind an expressionless mask.

Cheng Bai and a few others huddled together, watching as Long Huaichang sipped her juice and returned to her phone. “Has Little Huai grown taller since we last saw her?” one whispered.

Chu Kexin nodded around a mouthful of fruit. “Seems like it.”

They’d met Long Huaichang six months ago at the entrance to Punk Night. Back then, Nuo Yang was still an intern editor who’d dragged her sister along, claiming there was no one at home to watch her. Since Long Huaichang was underage, they’d left her waiting at a nearby KFC with a burger, never interacting much.

Several designers nearby also turned to look.

One let out a soft “Huh?” before asking, “Why does that girl look so familiar? I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere…”

Chu Kexin nodded. “Right? I thought the same thing when I first saw her.”

“Maybe she’s a celebrity?”

“Not quite. She reminds me more of—”

Before they could finish, Nuo Yang pulled up a chair beside them, setting her glass down with a sigh. “The managers’ table is drinking me under the table. I had to escape over here!”

Originally seated with the supervisors, Nuo Yang—ever the slacker at heart—had found corporate socializing unbearable and made her getaway.

“What were you guys talking about?” Nuo Yang asked curiously. “Something about a celebrity?”

“Not a celebrity—your sister,” one designer said. “Nuo, have we met your sister before? Several of us think she looks familiar.”

Nuo Yang’s heart sank.

Oh no, oh no, oh no. The company had once worked with some paparazzi photos of Long Huaichang for editing and design projects. Could that be why she seemed familiar now??

If the company found out she was raising the illegitimate daughter of the Long family, things would definitely take a turn for the worse!

“No way,” Nuo Yang laughed nervously. “This should be Xiao Huai’s first time meeting you all.”

“Not really.”

Chu Kexin cracked a sunflower seed and said, “It’s my second time~”

Nuo Yang: “…Hahaha.”

Damn, this brat nearly scared her to death!

Since she was the new boss’s sister, everyone tactfully changed the subject, sensing it might be inappropriate to pry further. Nuo Yang let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Long Huaichang, sitting at the opposite table, hadn’t heard their conversation—though her gaze had never left her sister from the very beginning.

Why?

Why were all these men and women so close to her sister?

For some reason, Huaichang felt a growing displeasure. Nuo Yang was being way too friendly with these colleagues. And what was up with them? Why were they constantly seeking her out to chat? Their general manager was right over there—why weren’t they bothering him instead?

Could it be… so many people had a thing for her sister???

The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. Huaichang poured herself another drink, sipping it while glaring in Nuo Yang’s direction.

Perhaps sensing the intensity of Huaichang’s stare, Nuo Yang glanced up and met her eyes before quietly making her way over.

“What’s wrong?” Nuo Yang asked, sitting beside her with a puzzled look. “Why do you look so upset?”

She looked like someone had just swindled her out of a fortune.

“Big sis, can I sit with you?” Huaichang blinked, putting on a small, pleading act. “I don’t like being in unfamiliar places without you.”

Her words carried a hint of jealousy, but Nuo Yang didn’t pick up on it at all. She sighed helplessly. “I told you you wouldn’t like this kind of place, but you insisted on coming.”

Huaichang pressed her lips together. Good thing she had come—otherwise, who knew how cozy these fifty-plus people would’ve gotten with her sister?

With childish stubbornness, Huaichang simply didn’t want anyone else getting too close to Nuo Yang.

Maybe it was because Nuo Yang was naturally soft-hearted, or maybe Huaichang knew she couldn’t bear to see her upset. Either way, with a mix of coaxing and manipulation, she kept Nuo Yang glued to her side—no amount of calling could pull her away.

The dinner lasted until past six in the evening. Those with families or children left early, and a dozen or so single young adults who lived farther away also took off. The remaining seven or eight people immediately dragged Nuo Yang off for round two.

Huaichang stared at Nuo Yang. Nuo Yang stared back.

Nuo Yang: “Xiao Huai, maybe you should head home first?”

Huaichang huffed. “Where are you going that you can’t take me?”

Chu Kexin sidled up, slinging an arm around Nuo Yang’s shoulders. “We’re hitting the club to pick up girls. Wanna come, Xiao Huai?”

The moment those words left her mouth, Nuo Yang noticed Huaichang’s expression darken. Since when had this kid learned to scowl like that?

Huaichang’s face twisted with displeasure as she muttered, “A nightclub? You’re going to a nightclub?”

“Yep,” Chu Kexin grinned. “Wanna tag along? Your sister’s treating!”

Huaichang fixed her gaze on Nuo Yang. “Is she telling the truth?”

You’re seriously going to a nightclub with a whole group of people???

Nuo Yang felt awkward. She had just agreed to everyone’s request at the dinner table, but if Huaichang tagged along, they’d probably have to pick a different venue.

“Which club are you going to?”

Seeing that they indeed had plans, Long Huaichang asked, “I can wait for you outside.”

“No need to wait, you should head home first,” Nuo Yang told Long Huaichang. “We’re going to Punk Night to have some more fun and probably won’t be back until very late.”

Long Huaichang’s expression darkened further.

Punk Night?

And staying out late?

Would they even come home at all???

That girl over there had kissed Nuo Yang last time—was she going back just to watch the dancing again?

With a hint of jealousy, Long Huaichang muttered to herself: This lustful sister of mine!