Villain Strategy Rules [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 19

Chaoyao spoke sincerely, and Wen Zhixu believed her. After all, she was both the female lead and the antagonist of this world—it made sense that she might eventually act on her whims. Besides, Wen Zhixu wasn’t one to compromise.

She poked Chaoyao’s palm with her fingertip. “Then let’s go now—somewhere with just the two of us?”

Song Nuan owned a house in a remote, secluded area—her favorite place to stay. A few days ago, anticipating the worst-case scenario, Wen Zhixu had stocked it with plenty of food in case they needed to hide.

Host, the corruption level has reached 40%—it finally moved! The female lead has been infected!

“Huh?” Wen Zhixu was startled by the sudden mechanical voice.

Host… I have some bad news. I glimpsed the ending ahead of time—it’s still the same as before.

What? Wen Zhixu’s eyes widened. She had already brought Chaoyao into the light, the corruption level had started dropping, and she was beginning to break free from the darkness—how could the ending remain unchanged?

Wen Zhixu began to wonder—was the problem with her? Could she not leave? And what about those romance novels she’d read—how did the protagonists manage to leave afterward? Did they really just walk away? It was heartbreaking.

Song Chaoyao, annoyed that the two kept whispering, raised his voice. “What exactly are you two talking about?”

Chaoyao grabbed Wen Zhixu’s hand and, ignoring Song Chaoyao’s shouts, turned and ran—past the garden, past the gates, through the crowd—until they reached the car. “Are we running away? Let’s go somewhere secluded to watch the sunrise. Since its New Year’s, there’ll be no one else there.”

The wind tousled her hair, strands of black silk dancing freely—this was the first time the girl had chosen to escape.

Wen Zhixu’s chest tightened. “Alright—just the two of us.”

They clasped each other’s hands, fueling each other’s courage, then drove down the empty road. As for tomorrow’s gathering or future blind dates—who cared?

The secluded villa at the edge was Song Nuan’s only private property. She had decorated it beautifully—white gauze curtains fluttered in the breeze, drifting through the living room.

The first floor, bright and airy with its kitchen and living room, felt like something out of a fairy tale. Song Nuan’s bedroom was meticulously arranged, facing the sunrise, with a balcony overflowing with flowers and plants—though Wen Zhixu hadn’t visited in so long that some of them drooped lifelessly.

The moment she stepped inside, Wen Zhixu watered them again. She had only just remembered this house—she hadn’t tended to it in ages, and the plants were nearly withered.

Outside the window stretched a lush green canopy. Few people lived here—mostly elderly residents who had chosen this quiet, comfortable place to retire. Song Nuan’s favorite pastime had been lounging on the balcony swing with a book, basking in the sunlight.

Wen Zhixu: “Let’s stay here. The house isn’t under my name—it belongs to my mom’s best friend. My family won’t find us. As for the orphanage… I believe you’ll eventually save those children.”

She trusted that Chaoyao would rescue them the right way—not through crime, as she had in her past life.

And Wen Zhixu had no intention of going home—not with the forced blind dates and the kneeling. Today, she had exposed Song Chaoyao’s actions. Though her father had remained outwardly calm, she was certain that once everyone left, he wouldn’t let Song Chaoyao off easily.

Likewise, if she were to meet those relatives again, they wouldn’t let her off easily either. After all, her aunt was the favored one in the family, and by doing this, the first person she’d offended would be her aunt.

“Song… Teacher,” Chaoyao suddenly stammered, “what should I call you from now on?”

This was a question she’d wanted to ask for a long time, but Wen Zhixu had said they weren’t in a hurry to be together until after the exams were over.

“Student Chaoyao…” A smile suddenly curved Wen Zhixu’s lips, her eyes crinkling into crescents, “Just call me Teacher Song. After all… you’ve just turned eighteen, and there are many things I’ll need to teach you. I don’t mind accompanying you as you grow, but you mustn’t forget me in the future, okay?”

Chaoyao grew nervous instantly. “I won’t! I definitely won’t, please believe me!”

“Alright, I believe you.” Wen Zhixu pinched Chaoyao’s cheek. “Didn’t you say you wanted to watch the sunrise? And according to New Year’s traditions, we’re supposed to stay up all night tonight—we can’t sleep.”

At the orphanage, after the New Year’s Eve dinner, they were usually left to their own devices. Though the director would prepare new clothes for them during the New Year, things like staying up all night weren’t enforced. Even if babies cried, no one would pay them any attention. So some children, having accidentally come into contact with bad influences, had no one to guide them and ended up going astray. Even after starting school, they were ostracized by teachers and other students.

Later, for the sake of reputation, more teachers were hired, and the children gradually got back on the right track.

Chaoyao chuckled softly. “Then today will be my first time staying up all night, and coincidentally… the person keeping me company is someone I like.”

Hehehe, someone I like. Wen Zhixu felt happy every time she heard Chaoyao confess her feelings. It made her think of their first meeting, when Chaoyao had been as cold as if they were enemies. Wait—no, they had been enemies. Back then, Chaoyao’s favorability toward her had been in the negatives.

“Do you really like me that much?” Wen Zhixu tilted her head and asked.

Chaoyao’s face flushed red, and she glanced around before murmuring, “Mhm…”

Wen Zhixu twirled in a circle beside Chaoyao, then asked with a smile, “Then why didn’t you like me at first?”

“What?” Chaoyao visibly panicked.

But Wen Zhixu found her reaction amusing. Served her right for being so cold and distant at the beginning.

Host, won’t this lower her favorability?

“Do you machines even understand emotions? From now on, just watch how we interact properly. Don’t keep popping in and out randomly.”

Understood, Host.

“Oh right, you said that once I succeed and you upgrade, you can exchange some useful things for me. Was that true?”

Yes, but not in this world, because you don’t have any points yet.

“…”

Chaoyao, as if steeling herself, took a deep breath. “When I first met you, I knew you were Song Chaoyao’s sister, so I didn’t try to understand you properly. My emotions took over my rationality, and that’s why I didn’t like you…”

Wen Zhixu pressed, “And now?”

Chaoyao: “You’re different from her. You’re good—you genuinely care about us. You’re the first good person I’ve ever met.”

“But are you sure… you can tell the difference between romantic love and the affection you’d feel for a good friend?” Wen Zhixu suddenly turned serious.

“Yes!” Chaoyao said. “Teacher Yang Yue is someone I like as a good friend. When I’m with her, my heart doesn’t race, and I don’t have any other thoughts.”

“But it’s different with you. I… I want to sleep with you.”

“…You’re too…”

“Too audacious,” Wen Zhixu said with a blush. Chaoyao had just turned eighteen—how could she be even bolder than her?

Though Wen Zhixu had imagined scenes of being with Chaoyao, they were just fantasies. She still cared about the girl’s growth.

Wen Zhixu changed the subject. “Didn’t you want to watch the sunrise? Let’s watch a movie on the balcony tonight and stay up until dawn. It’ll be like keeping vigil for the New Year.”

Outside, the sky was dark. Song Nuan had probably thought the same when decorating—summer night breezes, solitude in a room filled with the fragrance of flowers… So she had designed the balcony as a sunroom, with windows that could open to turn it into an open-air space or close to become a glass-enclosed room.

They chose a TV series instead of a movie—films were too short. Winter sunrises didn’t come until at least five or six in the morning, and watching indoors risked accidentally falling asleep. Now, reclining on the lounge chairs, they simply let time pass.

The lounger was spacious, and since both of them were slim, they could snuggle together under a blanket, warm and cozy.

Wen Zhixu was talkative. The past few days had been so hectic that life had lost much of its joy. Now that she had decided to make mistakes, she might as well indulge freely.

“Have you thought about where you’d like to settle after graduating from university?” Wen Zhixu suddenly asked.

After a moment of thought, Chaoyao replied, “Before, you wanted me to go to your alma mater. But now I’m reconsidering. Would you be willing to leave this place? If you are, we could go far away.”

Wen Zhixu: “Of course I’m willing.”

But… had things changed before the ending, leading to failure?

“006, can you find out why Chaoyao still met her original ending? So much that influenced her has changed, and her corruption value has dropped significantly. Why is the outcome still the same?”

Can’t find out. It’s up to fate now.

“Put in some effort.”

I can’t help much in this first world. But I do know it’s related to your sister. Not entirely, but she has some influence.

Song Chaoyao? Wen Zhixu had never taken her seriously—just a stepping stone to a solution. Now it seemed there were other hidden secrets between them.

Wen Zhixu didn’t want to speculate. She asked directly, “Is there some other grudge between you and Song Chaoyao?”

Chaoyao’s expression shifted before she answered, “No. She’s just… a little crazy.”

Wen Zhixu leaned in, her warm breath brushing against Chaoyao’s neck. Suddenly, firecrackers sounded in the distance, startling Wen Zhixu into shrinking back, pressing them even closer together.

Wen Zhixu carried a faint scent of honeydew, which Chaoyao loved. Sometimes, Chaoyao would bury her face in Wen Zhixu’s chest like a kitten, inhaling her owner’s scent.

“You… smell so good.”

Wen Zhixu pretended to sniff herself. She adored this brand of shower gel—fragrant and long-lasting, not to mention Chaoyao’s fondness for it.

“Really? Then tomorrow, let’s shower together. I’ll let you use it too, so you’ll smell just like me.”

“Why not now?” Chaoyao asked.

“Now… I didn’t bring any…”

This was Wen Zhixu’s favorite scent, but not Song Nuan’s. When she arrived, she had replaced all the toiletries with her own. Tomorrow, she’d have to go buy more at the store.

Chaoyao sounded disappointed. “Oh.”

“Song Chao said you’re supposed to go back tomorrow. Are you going?”

“Only an idiot would go back.” Wen Zhixu’s features twisted in amusement, as if he’d heard a joke. “If I go back, do you think I could return? Anyway, they won’t find us here. Wouldn’t it be nice for us to spend a few days alone together?”

Chaoyao: “Yes!”