The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 40

When Long Huaichang returned home, before she could even step into the elevator, she saw Nuo Yang emerge from the hallway. Nuo Yang immediately grabbed Long Huaichang’s hand, shot a fierce glare at the assistant standing nearby, and without looking back, pulled Long Huaichang toward their apartment.

The entire sequence was so fluid, as if rehearsed countless times, that the assistant who had escorted Long Huaichang out of the car with an umbrella was left standing there, stunned.

Mu Jiazhao slowly rolled down the car window, watching their retreating figures, and said to the assistant, “Get in. We’re heading back to the company.”

Nuo Yang held onto Long Huaichang’s hand the entire way, not letting go even after they entered the apartment. She huffed, “I thought you were never coming back.”

Long Huaichang looked at the woman who was so visibly worried for her, pressed her lips together, and couldn’t resist pulling her into an embrace.

“Xiao Huai…”

Nuo Yang felt Long Huaichang’s arms tighten around her waist, holding her close. She froze slightly, unsure what had come over Long Huaichang.

“Did they bully you?” Nuo Yang stroked Long Huaichang’s long black hair, comforting her. “Don’t be afraid. You’re home now.”

Long Huaichang nuzzled her nose against Nuo Yang’s smooth skin, breathing in her sweet scent, which instantly soothed her restless heart.

“I went to visit my father’s grave,” Long Huaichang murmured, her arms still wrapped around Nuo Yang. “For the first time in all these years, I paid my respects to him.”

“Ah…”

Nuo Yang didn’t know how to comfort her, so she simply hugged her back and whispered, “I’m sure he missed you too.”

Long Huaichang’s voice was calm as she continued, “That woman… she wants me to return to the Long family.”

“WHAT?!”

Nuo Yang exploded. “Why would she suddenly want you back? She must be up to no good!”

If Long Huaichang really went back with Mu Jiazhao, what would happen to her?

For the entire year since Nuo Yang had transmigrated into this world, Long Huaichang had been by her side. If she left, wouldn’t Nuo Yang be left all alone?

Besides, in the original novel, Long Huaichang had never mentioned returning to the Long family. Back then, when the female lead had asked how she reclaimed her family’s assets, Long Huaichang had skillfully dodged the question with a few vague words, leaving Nuo Yang completely in the dark.

Nuo Yang didn’t know if she had altered Long Huaichang’s fate, but all she wanted was for this girl, who had suffered so much, to live a peaceful life.

And if Long Huaichang really went back, all her efforts would be for nothing—decades of hard work, wiped out in a single night.

She refused!!!

Long Huaichang could sense Nuo Yang’s distress and found her stiff reaction amusing. She lifted her head to meet Nuo Yang’s gaze and said, “But I turned her down.”

Nuo Yang exhaled in relief, her entire body relaxing.

“Xiao Huai,” Nuo Yang said, staring into Long Huaichang’s dark eyes, “Promise me you’ll never do anything you don’t want to do.”

Otherwise, Nuo Yang would be heartbroken too.

Long Huaichang smiled, then rested her forehead against Nuo Yang’s, their breaths mingling—”I know, jiejie.”

Some people say sweet words, only to toss and turn all night, unable to sleep.

Nuo Yang hugged her pillow and rolled around on the bed several times. This was her second bout of insomnia—the first had been when she discovered she’d transmigrated and inherited 800 million in assets.

If Long Huaichang really went back with that woman, Nuo Yang could already picture herself utterly alone and helpless.

She’d been all by herself in her original world, and now that she’d finally gained a sister, was she about to lose her immediately?

At this thought, Nuo Yang’s nose stung, and she couldn’t hold back her tears.

Guazi, probably annoyed by Nuo Yang’s tossing and turning, got up from the bed and headed downstairs without a backward glance, then plopped right onto Long Huaichang’s chest.

Long Huaichang was still asleep at the time. She only felt a sudden weight on her chest, followed by a suffocating sensation, as if a massive boulder was pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe.

When she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Guazi’s rear end right in her face, sprawled on top of her and fast asleep.

Long Huaichang waved her hand to shoo the cat away. Guazi turned back with an indignant “meow” or two, clearly expressing its displeasure.

After that little ruckus, Long Huaichang wasn’t so sleepy anymore and decided to get up for some water.

As soon as she opened her bedroom door, she saw Nuo Yang clutching her pillow, crying as she made her way downstairs.

Long Huaichang: “…Sis?”

What in the world was going on?

Nuo Yang, startled by Long Huaichang in the middle of the night, looked at her with reddened eyes. Knowing she couldn’t avoid the situation, she whispered, “I just had a dream… that you were taken away by someone, and you said you didn’t know me…”

At the memory, Nuo Yang’s face crumpled with fresh distress.

Long Huaichang couldn’t help sighing. She stepped forward, picked up the blanket draped over the sofa, and wrapped it around Nuo Yang.

The white blanket bundled Nuo Yang into a ball, making her red eyes even more noticeable in the darkness—like a little rabbit’s.

Long Huaichang said softly, “Sis, I’m not going anywhere.”

Nuo Yang didn’t respond, just kept her flushed face turned away.

Glancing at the clock in the living room—already 1 a.m.—Long Huaichang knew they’d struggle to wake up tomorrow if they didn’t sleep soon.

But seeing Nuo Yang’s state, it didn’t seem like she’d fall asleep quickly. Long Huaichang murmured, “Are you thirsty, sis? Should I make you some warm milk?”

Nuo Yang sniffled, her voice still thick with tears. “I want something… adults drink.”

Long Huaichang: “Like what? Coffee will just keep you up even more.”

Nuo Yang: “…I don’t like coffee anyway. Fine, milk it is.”

The living room lights flickered on. Nuo Yang, cocooned in the blanket and hugging her pillow, curled into a ball on the sofa. The sound of milk heating in the kitchen made her yawn widely.

Long Huaichang didn’t boil the milk too much—just warmed it gently in hot water before pouring two cups. She handed one to Nuo Yang in the living room.

Nuo Yang reached out with a quiet “thanks” and cradled the milk as she drank.

It was rich and fragrant, just how Nuo Yang liked it—slightly sweet but not overpowering, more like a lightly flavored milk tea.

After finishing the cup, Nuo Yang’s earlier mood had completely dissipated. Watching Long Huaichang finish hers too, she said, “Just pretend nothing happened earlier.”

Long Huaichang shot her a glance. “You mean when sis was crying her eyes out?”

Nuo Yang flushed. “You know what I mean, so stop bringing it up!”

“Big sister looks adorable when she cries,” Long Huaichang said with a faint smile. “If I get the chance, I’d love to see it again.”

Nuo Yang was so angry she didn’t want to talk to her, turning to jump off the sofa when Long Huaichang suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“Big sister,” Long Huaichang said. “It’s late, we should go to bed.”

Nuo Yang looked at her in confusion. “If you want to sleep, just go ahead.”

What did she mean by ‘we should go to bed’?

For some reason, Long Huaichang’s ears turned slightly red. Nuo Yang tilted her head to look at her and asked, “What’s wrong, Xiao Huai?”

“Nothing,” Long Huaichang blinked, trying to shake off the thoughts in her head. “I want to sleep with you tonight.”

“Hmm…” Nuo Yang thought for a moment. It wasn’t like they hadn’t slept together before, so she nodded. “Alright, your room?”

“No,” Long Huaichang said, her ears reddening. “I want to go to your room tonight.”

Nuo Yang didn’t understand why Long Huaichang seemed so shy about going to her room, nor did she think much of it, so she agreed.

Early the next morning, Nuo Yang woke up according to her usual biological clock to find Long Huaichang lying beside her, fast asleep.

All night, Long Huaichang had insisted on holding Nuo Yang’s hand while they slept, saying she was afraid Nuo Yang would have nightmares again.

Though the position was a bit uncomfortable, Nuo Yang had indeed slept soundly through the night.

“Xiao Huai, wake up,” Nuo Yang reached out and nudged the still-sleeping Long Huaichang, whispering in her ear, “Little sleepyhead, the sun’s already up!”

Before Nuo Yang could finish, Long Huaichang suddenly opened her eyes, turning her head so their faces were almost touching.

For some reason, Nuo Yang’s heart skipped a beat.

Long Huaichang’s eyes were so dark, like pools of ink, deep and mesmerizing, pulling her in.

Nuo Yang opened her mouth to say something, but suddenly felt the world spin.

Long Huaichang pinned Nuo Yang beneath her, hands braced on either side of the bed, her black hair cascading like a waterfall onto Nuo Yang’s pillow.

“Big sister,” Long Huaichang seemed wide awake, her gaze clear with no trace of sleepiness. It was unclear whether she hadn’t slept all night or had woken up earlier.

Nuo Yang felt like she could barely breathe, her face flushing as she managed, “What?”

Long Huaichang was probably teasing her again. Seeing Nuo Yang’s flustered expression, she couldn’t help but laugh, slowly sitting up. “Good morning.”

Nuo Yang was furious with this little brat—always playing tricks on her!

“Why were you pretending to be asleep if you were already awake?” Nuo Yang sat up, glaring at her. “Hurry up and get ready!”

Long Huaichang pouted slightly, knowing she was at fault, but didn’t argue. She tied up her hair and got out of bed.

“Big sister, are you going to the company today?” Long Huaichang asked before leaving the room.

Nuo Yang, her face still red, clutched the blankets tightly around herself. “Yes, and I’m taking you there to do your homework!”

Long Huaichang chuckled as she closed the door behind her, humming a tune as she headed downstairs.

Just as she reached the first-floor landing, Long Huaichang faintly heard the urgent ringing of her phone from her room. She knew it was hers.

Pushing open the door, Long Huaichang picked up his phone and saw it was a call from Lu Jin.

“Hello?”

“Huaichang, did you go to the Long family’s private cemetery yesterday?”

The voice on the other end sounded urgent as Lu Jin said anxiously, “Why didn’t you tell us you were going? My father has been wanting to talk with you.”