The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 43

On their way back from the mall, Nuo Yang walked ahead, lost in thought.

She had initially wanted to return the money—after all, she couldn’t just accept gifts for no reason. But the store clerk absolutely refused to take it back, giving her the impression that accepting the money would get them fired the next day.

In the end, the money stayed with her, and Nuo Yang found it strange. How did Mu Jiazhao know she and Long Huaichang had gone shopping together?

Meanwhile, Long Huaichang, trailing behind with arms full of shopping bags, grew increasingly upset. Her gaze fixed on her sister’s contemplative back, a pang of unease settled in her chest.

Why… why wasn’t Nuo Yang talking to her anymore?

Was she angry?

Sure, Mu Jiazhao had mentioned wanting her to return, but she hadn’t agreed to it, right?

So why was Nuo Yang still ignoring her?

Could it be… she was considering sending her back?!

No way!!!

Long Huaichang’s brows furrowed. The person she had claimed as hers couldn’t just be tossed back like this!

Hadn’t Nuo Yang always said the Long family was full of terrible people? If she knew that, why was she even thinking about it? What was there to think about?!

Why wasn’t she talking to her?!

“Sister!”

The more she dwelled on it, the more aggrieved she felt. She stopped in her tracks, voice sharp with frustration. “Why aren’t you asking me anything?”

Nuo Yang turned back, startled. “What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly so upset?”

Long Huaichang huffed, gripping the bags tightly. “I’m not going back to the Long family, and you can’t make me leave!”

Nuo Yang: “???”

When had she ever said she wanted Long Huaichang to go back?!

She had just been wondering whether it was appropriate to expense these free items into the company’s accounts.

“I never said I wanted you to go back,” Nuo Yang said, confused. “The Long family is full of awful people—why would I send you back?”

Realizing the storm of thoughts she’d just conjured up, Long Huaichang’s face flushed red.

Damn this woman!

“I thought…” Her ears burned. “I thought you were going to kick me out.”

“Not at all.” Though Nuo Yang didn’t understand where this idea had come from, she still reassured her. “Next time, we just won’t come to this mall. How is this place even owned by the Long family? They should put their name on the building so people know.”

At Nuo Yang’s grumbling, Long Huaichang sidled closer, whining softly. “Sister, my hands hurt from carrying all these bags.”

“Hurting?” Nuo Yang’s expression softened as she examined the red marks left by the shopping bags on Long Huaichang’s fair palms. She sighed. “If only I knew how to drive—it’d make things so much easier when we go out.”

Long Huaichang blinked. “Sister, I can drive.”

Nuo Yang glanced at her. “I meant a car.”

“So, did I. I can ride motorcycles too. And fly helicopters.”

“…I meant real vehicles, not in games.”

Long Huaichang grinned. “I meant real ones too.”

Her motorcycle was still parked in the underground garage—she just hadn’t told Nuo Yang about it yet.

“But you’re not even an adult yet,” Nuo Yang said. “How do you know how to do all that?”

Long Huaichang explained, “My dad taught me how to drive. I learned motorcycles on my own. And the helicopter—I picked that up at a private airfield before.”

After all, Long Huaichang was still nobility~

Nuo Yang said enviously, “I’m so jealous that you can do everything. But since you’re not an adult yet, don’t drive on the road. If you get caught, I might not be able to bail you out.”

As she spoke, she took one of the bags from Long Huaichang’s hand and said, “Let me help carry some too. Let’s hurry home—I can’t stand being in this mall for another minute!”

In the following days, Long Huaichang stuck to Nuo Yang like a little shadow, following her everywhere as if afraid she might disappear the next second.

Whenever the company staff saw Nuo Yang carrying documents from one office to another, they couldn’t help but notice the beautiful, long-haired “little ghost” trailing two steps behind her. Chu Kexin and the others found it hard to stay composed.

In a small group chat that included everyone except Nuo Yang, the conversation was lively:

Magical Girl Sweetheart Squad:

Chu Kexin: What’s up with Little Huai? It’s been days—is she sick or something??

Cheng Bai: I want to know too. It’s not like Nuo Yang will go missing—why is she sticking so close?

Dada: Honestly, I’m more curious whether Little Huai has finished her homework.

Front Desk Girl: Little Huai just asked me for Nuo Yang’s attendance records. How would I have the boss’s records? She rolled her eyes at me and said I was slacking off. How unfair is that?!

Chu Kexin: Don’t worry, Front Desk Girl. That’s just how Little Huai is. Only Nuo Yang can make her smile—she’s cold to everyone else.

Front Desk Girl: Shaking with rage!

Cheng Bai: I think something’s off with Little Huai. She’s not even paying attention to Guazi anymore—that cat’s been running wild in the office lately.

Chu Kexin: Sister Cheng Bai, isn’t that because everyone spoils it? Last time, I saw Xiao Huang from the photography department letting it bite his hand while howling and saying it felt good. What a weirdo.

Everyone: Eww…

General Manager: Get back to work—the boss is coming into the office!

Instantly, everyone straightened up. Nuo Yang rushed in with another stack of documents, followed closely by Long Huaichang, who was leisurely carrying two cups of milk tea.

As everyone turned to look, Nuo Yang suddenly seemed to remember something and dashed back over.

“Tomorrow’s the holiday!” Nuo Yang announced. “Make sure all your work is sorted out. We’re having the annual party at the hotel downstairs tonight!”

Everyone chorused: “Got it~~~~”

Then Nuo Yang hurried into the meeting room with her documents, and Long Huaichang followed her inside.

Magical Girl Sweetheart Squad

Chu Kexin: What did Nuo Yang just take in there?

Front Desk Girl: The documents I printed for her.

Cheng Bai: What documents?

Front Desk Girl: Mu Jiazhao’s files and the Long family company’s records.

Chu Kexin smacked her forehead and exclaimed: Oh no—she’s planning a feature on the Long family!

Cheng Bai: Looks like we’ve got work to do. Nuo Yang must have noticed the recent turmoil in the Long family and decided to cover it more.

Chu Kexin: She usually seems a bit scatterbrained, but who knew she’d be so foresighted~

General Manager: That’s why she’s the boss.

Everyone: Ooooh~~~

———

Nuo Yang sipped the milk tea Long Huaichang had bought for her, flipping through the Long family’s documents one by one while Long Huaichang sat beside her, watching intently.

Big sister’s skin is so flawless—her soft, chubby cheeks are adorable.

Nuo Yang chewed on her boba pearls and flipped another page: “The Long family really is vast and powerful, almost comparable to a chaebol in this world.”

Long Huaichang gazed at Nuo Yang, her eyes lingering on her earlobes: “Sister’s ears are so round and clean. Why doesn’t she have her ears pierced? Then I could buy her pretty accessories in the future.”

Nuo Yang thought: “With so many assets, how can I prevent the Long family from taking Huaichang back?”

Long Huaichang mused: “Sister’s neck is so slender. I wonder how it would look with a necklace. I’ll go to the mall someday—gold might be too expensive, but silver should be affordable.”

Nuo Yang read on: “This Mu Jiazhao’s maternal family is also formidable. No wonder she and Long Aotian had a business marriage.”

Long Huaichang sighed inwardly: “Sister drinks milk tea every day but never gains weight. So envious…”

Nuo Yang clenched her fists: “I need to find a way to make the Long family give up on Huaichang!”

Long Huaichang smiled softly: “Sister is so adorable.”

Nuo Yang suddenly slapped the table and asked, “Xiao Huai, have you finished your homework?”

Long Huaichang propped her chin on one hand and nodded. “Yes.”

“How did it go?”

“Average. Not perfect, but scoring in the 90s shouldn’t be a problem.”

Nuo Yang’s expression darkened immediately, startling Long Huaichang. Getting over 90 in her second year of high school was already impressive—Shi Tian Gang and the others would’ve cried tears of joy!

“Xiao Huai, I need to tell you something.” Nuo Yang spoke earnestly. “I know you’re smart, but could you… fail a few subjects next semester?”

Long Huaichang: “…What?”

Nuo Yang explained, “If you fail, the Long family won’t be interested in you anymore. It’d be great if you could just be a pretty face.”

Long Huaichang chuckled and sighed. “Whether I fail or not, they wouldn’t care.”

All they cared about was that she was Long Aotian’s daughter. Only Nuo Yang would worry about her grades.

“Sister,” Long Huaichang changed the subject, tugging at Nuo Yang’s hand. “Your company’s annual party is tonight—can I come?”

“Of course!” Nuo Yang laughed. “There’s a lucky draw too. More people means lower odds of winning!”

“Sister,” Long Huaichang grinned. “I’ve always had good luck. Want to bet?”

Nuo Yang beamed. “That’d be perfect!”

Long Huaichang smiled without answering, her lips curving as she watched Nuo Yang. The greatest fortune in her life was probably meeting her.

The annual party that night was lively.

Since it was a small company, fifty-odd people booked a spacious private room, singing, dancing, and having a blast.

During the lucky draw, Long Huaichang inexplicably won second prize. Standing on stage clutching a big, silly plush toy, she looked somewhat resigned.

Nuo Yang didn’t drink, so she avoided the toasts and stuck to juice with Long Huaichang.

Hugging the plushie, Long Huaichang watched the cheerful crowd, unsure why they were so excited over just eating, singing, dancing, and winning prizes.

Still… she didn’t dislike this warmth.

After the party, the company would close for over half a month. Everyone left happily with their gifts, ready to travel home for the New Year the next day.

Standing by the roadside, Long Huaichang hugged the goofy plush and realized it had crossed eyes.

“Sis.” Long Huaichang put down the plush toy and said to Nuo Yang, who had just finished greeting her coworkers, “Let’s take a taxi home.”

“Mm.” Nuo Yang was also feeling tired, so she let Long Huaichang hail the cab while she yawned and sat down at the bus stop.

“Sis.”

Long Huaichang checked the driver’s route on her phone and asked Nuo Yang, “How should we celebrate the New Year?”

Nuo Yang rested her head on Long Huaichang’s shoulder and murmured sleepily, “Set off fireworks, eat dumplings, put up spring couplets, stay up late to set off firecrackers…”

Gradually, her voice grew softer until she fell completely silent, fast asleep against her shoulder.

Long Huaichang gently brushed aside the loose strands of hair at Nuo Yang’s temple and looked at her sleeping face, grumbling softly, “Stupid sis.”

She really didn’t understand a thing.