The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 48

An Zhong’s words stunned everyone present, especially Nuo Yang, who had just inserted the USB drive.

Long Huaichang’s father??

Hadn’t he been dead for over a year? Why bring him up now??

Long Huaichang was clearly taken aback as well, staring uncertainly at the middle-aged man before her. “You mean… my dad?”

“Yes,” Mr. An Zhong nodded. He walked over to Nuo Yang and asked her to adjust the equipment before turning back to Long Huaichang. “No one has watched this video since it was left with me—not even me. Mr. Long said it could only be viewed after you came of age.”

An Zhong could still vaguely recall the scene from years ago when that man had come to him. It felt almost like yesterday.

The projector slowly whirred to life as everyone fixed their eyes on the screen, where the image gradually sharpened.

Seated at a grand desk, sitting upright with solemn dignity, was Long Huaichang’s long-deceased father. He glanced at the screen to confirm the recording was running before speaking slowly. “Huaichang, my dear daughter, if you’re seeing this video, it means I’m already dead. If Mr. An has followed my instructions, today should be your coming-of-age birthday. Happy birthday.”

Long Huaichang’s face turned deathly pale as she stared at the man in the video without uttering a word.

Long Aotian continued, “Next, I have two things to tell you—one of which is naturally your birthday gift.”

“I was neither a good husband, nor a good father, nor a good son. In my life, there was little I truly cared about. You and I are very much alike, so I believe you’ll understand me.” Long Aotian spoke calmly. “I failed your mother. If she’s by your side now, I’d like to apologize to her.”

Nuo Yang studied the man on screen—his expression was sincere, yet he had no idea that Long Huaichang’s mother had passed away long ago.

Though only a little over a year had passed, so much had changed—things even he likely never anticipated.

“I’ve prepared a coming-of-age gift for you—an entertainment complex by the lake in this city.” Long Aotian offered a faint smile to the camera. “It includes the five-star Rose Manor Hotel, Candy Casino, Ocean World, Sky Adventure City, and the surrounding land, totaling billions in value. It has already been separated from the Long family’s assets. From today onward, you are its owner.”

“Mr. An from An Zhong Law Firm will serve as your lawyer to assist with the transfer procedures. He’s an old friend of mine, and I trust he’ll be able to help you.”

“As for the other matter…”

Long Aotian interlaced his fingers and took a deep breath. “As I said at the beginning, if you’re watching this, it means I’m dead—something I anticipated, though not something I could accept. Every six months, I underwent the world’s most comprehensive physical examinations. My body showed no signs of illness—no risk of sudden death or fatal disease.”

“Huaichang,” he said firmly, “If I died of illness, then you must reinvestigate the cause. If it was an accident…”

His gaze hardened as he addressed everyone present. “Then I demand you reopen the investigation into my death.”

The video stopped playing, leaving an empty screen that felt unusually oppressive. No one in the room spoke a word.

Nuo Yang glanced back and saw the grave expressions on everyone’s faces. The information in that video was overwhelming, and even now, she hadn’t fully processed it.

Long Aotian truly lived up to his reputation as the wealthiest man—giving his daughter a private bank and a five-star hotel as an adult gift. Compared to her own gifts of a car and an apartment, it seemed… well, not entirely incompatible?

She had provided stability, while her father had given her the means to thrive. Thinking about it this way, Nuo Yang realized her gifts weren’t so bad after all.

She just couldn’t compare to these tycoons. What could she expect? She was just a minor heiress.

An Zhong looked at Long Huaichang and said, “Three years ago, Mr. Long approached me and asked me to safeguard this for him. He also requested that I assist you in certain matters after your 18th birthday. That’s why, all these years, I’ve forbidden my team from taking any cases related to the Long family—just in case you had other needs in the future.”

Looking back, his decision to sever all legal ties with the Long family had been wise.

“How much did my father pay you?” Long Huaichang asked in a low voice. “Otherwise, why would you hold onto it for so long?”

An Zhong pressed his lips together briefly before answering, “Until you came of age, all profits from the private bank served as my commission.”

Long Huaichang smirked. “So if you hadn’t come today, it would’ve stayed yours forever?”

An Zhong returned a calm smile. “Some things that don’t belong to you will never sit right, no matter how long you keep them.”

“I see.” Long Huaichang pursed her lips. “You can all leave now.”

An Zhong hesitated. “Miss Long, your father’s words just now—”

“He died in an accident,” Long Huaichang cut in. “The police confirmed it. There’s no need to reopen the case.”

An Zhong pressed, “Do you really believe that? Two deaths in the Long family within a year—I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

“Whether it is or not, I don’t care to find out,” Long Huaichang said coldly. “Take your people and go.”

Though the atmosphere was tense, An Zhong and his team didn’t argue. After exchanging a brief farewell with Nuo Yang, they left.

Nuo Yang had been about to ask if they were taking the USB drive, but Lawyer Chen pulled her aside and whispered, “We’ve made a copy of the video. You can keep this one.”

“Alright.”

“Xiao Nuo,” Lawyer Chen murmured even quieter, “try to talk to Long Huaichang more these next few days. Our boss said he’ll be visiting often.”

Nuo Yang frowned. She had just fought with Long Huaichang—wouldn’t it be awkward to comfort her now?

But then she thought about the video. Long Huaichang must be under immense pressure.

Still, Nuo Yang couldn’t help but wonder—why reopen the investigation? Did he not trust his own wife?

Though she didn’t fully understand, Nuo Yang walked over to Long Huaichang anyway, peering at her cautiously before whispering, “Xiao Huai… are you okay?”

Long Huaichang’s dark eyes slowly turned to her. “Are they all gone?”

“Yeah, they left.”

Seeing how distant Long Huaichang looked, Nuo Yang set aside her earlier grievances and pulled her onto the couch. “If you’re upset, you can talk about it. I know what your father left you is… a lot to handle.”

If it was too much to bear, she could always leave it with Nuo Yang for safekeeping.

Long Huaichang sighed, looking up at the two holes in the ceiling before saying quietly, “I think I always feel unhappy whenever I encounter anything related to the Long family.”

Nuo Yang nodded. She had noticed too—every interaction between Long Huaichang and the Long family inevitably led to bitter resentment.

“Xiao Huai,” Nuo Yang patted the spot beside her and said, “If you’re unhappy, we can move. I have money—we can buy a house anywhere.”

A faint smile tugged at Long Huaichang’s lips as she leaned toward Nuo Yang.

Instinctively, Nuo Yang recoiled slightly, flustered by the sudden proximity. Though Long Huaichang was already eighteen, in Nuo Yang’s mind, she was still that child crying in the rain—so she hadn’t been prepared for this.

The scent of Long Huaichang enveloped her—warm, with a hint of something ambiguous.

“You—”

“Jiejie.”

Long Huaichang wrapped her arms around Nuo Yang’s waist, resting her head against Nuo Yang’s shoulder, pressing her chest tightly against her.

The unmistakable softness made Nuo Yang’s face burn instantly. She tried to push her away, but Long Huaichang only held her tighter, their breaths growing uneven.

“Don’t move, jiejie,” Long Huaichang murmured, gripping her waist as she looked up. “Just let me hold you.”

Nuo Yang’s ears turned red. “Holding is fine, but can you stop moving around…?”

Especially those hands—why did they keep wandering along her waist?!

Long Huaichang chuckled lowly, obediently keeping her hands still as she whispered, “Jiejie, I really like you so much…”

So much that she wanted to stay together forever, free from all those troubles.

Why did those people and problems keep chasing her, no matter how hard she tried to push them away?

Like an inescapable nightmare, or an endless fog.

Suffocating her.

Nuo Yang stayed silent, her ears still flushed. All she could feel was the heat radiating from Long Huaichang—and the warmth filling the room.

“Jiejie, I really, really like you.”

Long Huaichang repeated the words, tilting her head up as if to kiss her. But seeing Nuo Yang’s tightly shut eyes, she hesitated, pressing only the lightest peck to the corner of her lips instead.

Even though she was clearly terrified, she still refused to let go.

Long Huaichang rested her forehead against Nuo Yang’s, watching through stray strands of hair as she cautiously opened her eyes. The sight warmed her heart.

Just a little longer.

Until Nuo Yang could truly accept her. Until she loved her back.

Long Huaichang was certain that day wouldn’t be far away…