The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 35

The final day of exams at No.3 High School meant complete freedom after the last afternoon test.

After two days of rest post-exams, they would return to collect their report cards, officially marking the start of winter break!

Long Huaichang wasn’t concerned about her exam results—she felt she had done her best and was satisfied with her performance.

Similarly confident, Shi Tian had regained his usual energy and immediately dragged Long Huaichang to an internet café for gaming.

“Winter break starts now. My parents are taking me back to our hometown,” Shi Tian said while grabbing snacks at the convenience store. “We’re leaving next week, and then it’s just endless visits to relatives—getting grilled about my exam scores again.”

And then the usual questions: How’s school? Can you rank in the top ten? Listening to them brag about their own kids getting into international programs or prestigious universities.

Just thinking about it was exhausting!

Listening to Shi Tian’s rambling complaints, Long Huaichang realized these were problems she’d never experience.

After all, she had no family.

Shi Tian seemed to notice her silence and abruptly stopped himself. “Sis Long, just ignore my whining, okay?”

“It’s fine.” Long Huaichang wasn’t one to dwell on things. She grabbed a bottle of sparkling water from the shelf and tossed it to him. “Go pay.”

Shi Tian: “…Got it!”

As they stepped out of the store, Shi Tian glanced around and asked, “Sis Long, where’s Jiang Li?”

“No idea.” Long Huaichang twisted open her water and took a sip.

Shi Tian chattered on, “Jiang Li seems way better than when we first met. Last time I was stuck in the teachers’ office for detention, I overheard them saying she even stopped taking meds…”

Long Huaichang frowned at his gossipy nature, about to tell him to shut up, when her gaze suddenly locked onto a black van parked across the street.

The same van as yesterday, sitting in the exact same spot—as if it had never left.

Unaware of her reaction, Shi Tian kept talking until he noticed her pause. “Sis Long? What’s wrong?”

Before he could finish, a woman stepped out of the van—the same woman from yesterday.

She approached them, and Shi Tian’s eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight of her ample chest.

“Young Miss,” the woman smiled. “Madam is waiting for you in the car.”

Shi Tian muttered under his breath, “Madam?”

Wait—wasn’t Long Huaichang’s mom dead?!

Who the hell was this “Madam”?

Unless…!!!

Shi Tian’s jaw dropped, looking like he was about to swallow his own fist in shock!!!

Could it be… Mu Jiazhao—the head of the Long family?!

Holy hell, the legal wife was here to see the illegitimate daughter?!

Ignoring Shi Tian’s stunned expression, the two women faced each other in silence.

When Long Huaichang didn’t respond, the woman continued, “Madam wishes to discuss something with you—a matter concerning the entire Long family. She hopes you won’t refuse.”

“I have no interest in the Long family’s affairs.”

“But Madam said… you are still a child of the Long family.”

Long Huaichang frowned and sneered, “What brings this sudden change of heart today, actually acknowledging me as a child of the Long family?”

The woman remained unfazed by Long Huaichang’s demeanor, smiling faintly as she replied, “Young miss, I know the Long family has caused you much suffering. But think carefully—Madam has never done anything to you.”

Long Huaichang fell silent.

The woman continued, “While the rest of the Long family mocked and belittled you out of fear you’d claim the inheritance, Madam never uttered a word against you. Despite being the one most deeply wronged, she has always shown you kindness. You shouldn’t treat her this way.”

Long Huaichang remained quiet.

It was true—if anyone in the Long family had been indifferent toward her, it was probably the original wife.

Though Long Huaichang despised the Long family, she couldn’t deny the bl00d running through her veins.

“I understand,” Long Huaichang finally relented, turning to Shi Tian. “You go back first. I have matters to attend to.”

“Long Jie…”

Shi Tian could only watch helplessly as Long Huaichang boarded the RV, utterly at a loss. As a mere high school sophomore, he’d never encountered anything like this.

Thwack!

Jiang Li suddenly appeared from behind, tapping Shi Tian’s back with a rolled-up workbook. “What are you doing, little Shi Tian?” she asked with a grin.

Following his gaze to the departing black RV, she remarked, “Thinking of buying a car?”

“Buy what car!” Shi Tian exclaimed anxiously. “Long Jie’s been taken away!”

Jiang Li blinked. “Taken away?”

Did she get in trouble?

Shi Tian struggled to explain the complicated situation. “It’s hard to explain quickly, but she’s definitely in trouble.”

“Trouble?”

Jiang Li blinked again. “If she’s in trouble, we should find her sister.”

“I don’t have her sister’s number.”

“If you don’t know it, surely the homeroom teacher does?”

“…Jiang Li, you’re a fucking genius!”

“???”

———

Inside the RV.

The leather sofa molded perfectly to the body’s contours, almost swallowing its occupant.

Long Huaichang studied the familiar yet unfamiliar woman before her without speaking.

Mu Jiazhao examined the girl closely. There was no denying she’d grown into a striking beauty, inheriting her mother’s looks but with a more commanding presence.

“Your eyes resemble your mother’s,” Mu Jiazhao remarked quietly. “Seeing you brings her to mind.”

“My apologies,” Long Huaichang offered insincerely. “Did Madam come all this way just for small talk?”

“Of course not.”

Mu Jiazhao sighed deeply. “Actually, I came to invite you to a Long family funeral.”

Long Huaichang stared at her in confusion. Her father had been dead for over a year—whose funeral could this be?

Without explaining, Mu Jiazhao handed her a newspaper. “Since this concerns internal family matters, the coverage isn’t complete.”

The bold headline leaped out at Long Huaichang: Long Family Private Jet Explodes Midair, Crashes into Sea—Search Efforts Underway

An explosion? A crash?

Mu Jiazhao spoke softly, “Your cousin, Long Yingjun, was on that plane.”

Long Huai’s eyes widened in shock.

“You know your brother got into some trouble and couldn’t stay in the country anymore,” Mu Jiazhao sighed. “So, he decided to flee abroad, but who would have thought the plane would crash? It’s been days now—he’s most likely gone for good.”

Long Huaichang held the newspaper, struggling to believe it.

Long Yingjun had been swaggering around in front of her just days ago. That arrogant face of his still occasionally crossed her mind. Though he was despicable, hearing about his death so suddenly felt unreal.

“The old lady fainted when she heard the news,” Mu Jiazhao said. “The funeral is scheduled for next week. I’ll have my assistant inform you of the exact time and location, and we’ll pick you up from your place.”

Long Huaichang finally spoke up. “Do I have to go?”

“Of course,” Mu Jiazhao replied. “Even though your position is awkward, you’re still a child of the Long family. Aside from the two newborns, you’re the only grandchild left under the old lady’s care.”

“After she woke up in the hospital, she told me she wants to bring you back,” Mu Jiazhao said earnestly. “You must miss your grandmother, don’t you?”

In truth, Long Huaichang wanted nothing to do with that old woman. Most of the people who had harassed her in the past had done so under the old lady’s orders, so she held no affection for her.

Seeing Long Huai’s indifference, Mu Jiazhao didn’t push too hard. “I have a lot to deal with lately, so I might not be able to visit often. Here.”

She placed a card on Long Huai’s lap. “This has the old lady’s address and my number. If you change your mind, you can contact me anytime.”

Long Huaichang remained silent.

Mu Jiazhao smiled. “Xiao Huai, I know you’ve suffered a lot these past few years. But if you come back now, none of those who bullied you before will dare to mistreat you again.”

Long Huaichang didn’t agree to anything before getting out of the car. Mu Jiazhao wasn’t in a hurry either, simply telling her to prepare for the funeral next week.

Mu Jiazhao dropped her off right at her doorstep. As Long Huaichang watched the car drive away, she wasn’t sure what she was feeling—only that her grip on the newspaper tightened.

When Nuo Yang received the call from the school, she initially thought something had happened to Long Huai. Hearing that she had been picked up by someone from the Long family startled her.

“Xiao Nuo,” Cheng Bai said, watching Nuo Yang hastily gather her things to leave. “Didn’t you say your stomach was bothering you today? Take it easy, alright?”

Nuo Yang was indeed in pain—probably from the overly spicy hotpot she’d eaten the night before. Her stomach burned as if on fire. But the moment she heard Long Huaichang had been taken by the Long family, she couldn’t care less. She immediately hailed a cab and called Long Huai.

She had expected Long Huaichang not to answer, but the call connected after just two rings.

“Xiao Huai?”

Nuo Yang sounded puzzled. “Weren’t you… taken away?”

Long Huaichang was already back home, lying on the sofa and staring at the hole in the ceiling. “Yeah,” she replied slowly. “She brought me back.”

“Brought you back?” Nuo Yang was baffled. “Since when is she so kind?”

Nuo Yang had been terrified, half-expecting the woman to silence Long Huaichang for good.

Long Huaichang held his phone in a daze, and after a long while, he finally said, “Sister, can you come back? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“Mm, I’m on my way back,” Nuo Yang gave her home address to the driver and said, “Wait for me at home, I’ll be there soon.”