The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 53

In the teachers’ office, the elderly homeroom teacher was nearing retirement and no longer disciplined students. He handed Long Huaichang and the others over to the grade director with the air of someone enjoying their twilight years at school.

The grade director didn’t mince words either. One glance at the three students before him was enough to make his bl00d boil.

“The diagnostic exam was meant to assess your academic progress over the past two years,” the grade director barked. “Just look at the nonsense you wrote!”

The three stood in a row, expressionless and silent.

“Shi Tian, you want to open a mahjong parlor? Is that supposed to be a dream??”

“And Jiang Li, your dream is to become a playboy? Is having your arms around multiple women really that enjoyable?”

“Especially you, Long Huaichang,” the grade director scolded. “You wrote that your dream is to be with your sister. It sounds heartwarming, but the content is anything but. Is there nothing in your heads besides romance and getting rich???”

Shi Tian shrugged nonchalantly. “I think the only worthwhile dream in life is making money. What else is there?”

The grade director fumed. “You’re a boy! Can’t you at least try to be more like Jiang Li??”

Jiang Li: “???”

After being berated for about half an hour, the three were finally dismissed.

Shi Tian rubbed his head sheepishly and sighed. “The grade director takes things way too seriously. It’s not that big a deal. Why get so worked up?”

The other two remained silent.

Noticing Long Huaichang hadn’t responded, Shi Tian cautiously asked, “Long-jie, the teacher said your essay was about wanting to be with your sister?”

Long Huaichang glanced at him but didn’t deny it.

Jiang Li looked up, her heart inexplicably tightening as she forced a smile. “Huaichang… you like your sister?”

Though phrased as a question, they all knew the answer was obvious.

Long Huaichang gave a soft “Mm” and said, “If possible, I really do want to be with her.”

The other two weren’t outsiders. Shi Tian pondered for a long while but still couldn’t make sense of it. Jiang Li exhaled deeply and said to Long Huaichang, “What should we eat for lunch? I don’t feel like the cafeteria. Let’s sneak out.”

Shi Tian gave her a puzzled look. “Aren’t you the model student? Since when did you start slacking off?”

Jiang Li casually slung an arm around Long Huaichang’s shoulders and grinned. “Just wanted to bond with you guys more. Quit overthinking it. We got scolded today—let’s go to the gym and blow off some steam.”

“What’s fun about the gym? No one has P.E. right now.”

“Exactly! That’s why it’s fun—the whole place will be ours.”

“Good point! Long-jie, let’s go!”

Long Huaichang glanced at them. Not wanting to ruin the mood, she nodded. Besides, she wasn’t in the mood for class either.

———

ICU Ward, Municipal Hospital.

This was the third time Old Madam Long had been hospitalized. The swarm of reporters lurking around had dwindled—most now just snapped a few photos or recorded a quick interview at the entrance before leaving.

The prevailing rumor was that the old lady wouldn’t survive the year. Everyone was speculating whether her inheritance would end up in Mu Jiazhao’s hands.

If that were the case, then Mu Jiazhao would become the sole heir to the entire Long family fortune.

“Chairwoman.”

The assistant walked in carrying a takeout bag and, seeing Mu Jiazhao lost in thought on the lounge chair, softly interrupted, “I’ve brought your late-night snack. I didn’t dare add too much spice—see if it suits your taste.”

Mu Jiazhao glanced up at her and motioned with her chin for the assistant to set it aside.

The assistant crouched on a nearby chair, unwrapped the packaging, arranged the chopsticks and spoon, and handed them to Mu Jiazhao.

“Chairwoman, where is everyone else? Why are you alone here?”

Mu Jiazhao held the bowl of shredded chicken noodles and replied indifferently, “They’ve all left.”

Just half an hour ago, the emergency room had been crowded with people. How had they all vanished so quickly, without even a single reporter remaining?

As if recalling something, Mu Jiazhao said to the assistant, “The critical condition notice has been signed. Take it to the doctor.”

The assistant glanced at it and accepted the document. “Understood.”

These days, the old lady had been receiving critical condition notices daily—enough to stack into a pile.

Her medical and treatment expenses amounted to millions each day, all spent on the best life-sustaining drugs, lest she pass with the slightest exertion.

When the assistant returned after delivering the notice, she reported, “Chairwoman, the doctor said the old lady’s condition has stabilized somewhat, but she still needs observation.”

“Let them observe, then.” Mu Jiazhao set aside the barely touched noodles, closed her eyes, and said, “I’d like to rest for a while. Has the driver arrived?”

“It’s too late—I didn’t notify him. I’ll drive you home, Chairwoman.”

“Fine.”

Sitting in her car, Mu Jiazhao watched the fleeting neon lights outside the window, blinking slowly.

Even in such a dire state, the Long family matriarch stubbornly refused to relinquish her 20% shares and assets to Mu Jiazhao, fueling her frustration.

Mu Jiazhao knew the old woman didn’t have long to live. Keeping her alive now was only to pressure her into drafting a will in Mu Jiazhao’s favor.

If Mu Jiazhao could secure those assets, the old lady’s survival would no longer matter. But… how could she make that obstinate woman relent?

No matter how well Mu Jiazhao treated her, the old woman always regarded her with disdain—an infuriating deadlock.

Time was running out. She needed to claim the old lady’s fortune as soon as possible.

After a long silence, Mu Jiazhao finally spoke. “How has that little girl been lately?”

The assistant knew exactly whom she meant. “The young miss is the same as always—school, home, walks. No contact with any suspicious individuals.”

Mu Jiazhao sounded doubtful. “Really?”

“Yes,” the assistant nodded. “That time at the casino… it was probably just a coincidence, them going out together.”

“I hope so.”

Mu Jiazhao was certain their encounter hadn’t been accidental. To this day, she still didn’t know who owned that casino, the surrounding land, or its affiliated facilities—an unusual gap in her knowledge.

The business world was vast, but the elite circle was small. As the local tycoon, Mu Jiazhao should have known.

Unless… it belonged to a family more powerful than the Longs.

Mu Jiazhao couldn’t fathom it. If someone could conceal their identity while being staggeringly wealthy…

The ‘sister’ by Long Huaichang’s side might be the most likely candidate.

Even Long Ying Jun couldn’t uncover her identity—she was definitely no ordinary figure.

“Get in touch with Long Huaichang some other day,” Mu Jiazhao said lazily. “I need to talk to her.”

“Huh?” The assistant was stunned. “After the mess at the New Year’s Eve dinner, you still want to meet her?”

Though several months had passed, she could still vaguely recall the chaos at the dining table that day—the Long family members turning purple with rage, glaring at Long Huaichang as if they wanted to devour her.

Despite her young age, Long Huaichang had a way of tearing into people without a single vulgar word, leaving them so humiliated they could vomit up yesterday’s meal. The assistant couldn’t help but feel both admiration and fear toward her.

She wouldn’t dare interact with someone like that.

Mu Jiazhao, however, seemed unfazed, listening to Long Huaichang’s verbal lashing of the Long family without a word—almost as if she were enjoying the show.

“Regardless, I still need to meet her,” Mu Jiazhao said, resting her head on one hand and closing her eyes. “And that sister of hers—I’m quite interested in her too.”

Seeing that Mu Jiazhao was about to nap, the assistant didn’t dare say more, quietly driving in silence.

She couldn’t fathom what Mu Jiazhao was after. That little girl was clearly not someone to be trifled with. Truly, people die for money as birds die for food…

In the following days, the internet was flooded with discussions about the Long family matriarch’s repeated brushes with death, speculating on who would inherit the family’s remaining wealth if she didn’t survive the year.

Chu Kexin’s headlines continued to rack up over 100K clicks, and she was absolutely thrilled, happily munching on fried chicken with her company bonus.

Cheng Bai sipped her milk tea and sighed. “Aren’t you afraid of gaining weight, eating fried chicken every day?”

Chu Kexin gnawed on a drumstick. “Of course, I am! But how can I resist when delicious food is right in front of me? I have to devour every last bit!”

As she spoke, she peeled off the crispy, golden breading, letting the aroma of fried chicken fill the office. “Smell that? That’s the scent of money~”

The entire office rolled their eyes. Cheng Bai sighed. “Couldn’t you have just ordered regular fried chicken? Why go for the gold-dusted one? Aren’t you afraid of heavy metal poisoning?”

“Even if I get poisoned, I’d happily drown in golden fried chicken!”

“…I give up.”

Cheng Bai figured this girl was downright obsessed—spending 1,000 yuan on gold-flaked fried chicken, not even worried about stomach trouble.

She turned her gaze to Nuo Yang, who was staring out the window in a daze, then tiptoed over with her milk tea.

“Hey, Nuo, what’s up?”

Cheng Bai studied Nuo Yang’s lips curiously. “Did you put on lipstick today? Your lips look so red… and a bit swollen?”

Nuo Yang shuddered, avoiding her gaze and covering her mouth. “N-no, must be from staying up late last night. Probably just puffiness.”

Cheng Bai frowned. “Does puffiness only affect lips?”

Nuo Yang’s ears burned red. How could she possibly admit that Long Huaichang had bitten her right before she left the house??

That would be beyond embarrassing.

Luckily, Cheng Bai didn’t press further, smiling instead. “Nuo, remember that sister I mentioned before? The one who just came back from studying abroad?”

Nuo Yang seemed to recall and nodded, saying, “I remember, what about her?”

“She was scrolling through my social media and saw you,” Cheng Bai blinked and continued, “She asked for your contact info. So… should I give it to her or not?”