Villain Strategy Rules [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 8

When Wen Zhixu found Yang Yue, she was on the phone outside the cinema. The moment she spotted Wen Zhixu, she was first shocked, then covered her mouth, said something, and hung up.

“Teacher Song?” Yang Yue approached. “Didn’t you take leave? Why are you here too? The movie’s already started—why haven’t you gone in?”

Wen Zhixu explained, “I came out with Chaoyao, but she had something to attend to, so I came over. Besides, we’ve both already seen this movie, so I didn’t go in.”

On weekends, Wen Zhixu occasionally hung out with the two of them. Watching movies was a regular activity, and she was very familiar with the area—she was just putting on an act.

Yang Yue said, “I see. Teacher Zhang is inside with the kids right now. Do you want to go in together later? It’s too stuffy in there—I just stepped out to take a call and get some air.”

“Ugh,” Wen Zhixu sighed. “I took leave, and now I still have to babysit?”

“Hahaha,” Yang Yue laughed. “Well, it’s not like you have anything else to do.”

“Who says I don’t? Chaoyao should be back soon—just don’t know what she’s up to.”

Yang Yue: “Her school is nearby. Maybe she went to see a friend?”

A friend? Not likely. An enemy, more like.

She wasn’t sure what Song Chaoyao’s relationship with her was. Honestly, Wen Zhixu thought Song Chaoyao was the bigger problem. From the memories she’d pieced together, Song Chaoyao had been raised by nannies since childhood and was thoroughly spoiled. Back then, Wen Zhixu was only a few years old. She’d known the moment Song Chaoyao and the others arrived that her mother would leave, so she’d resented them and mostly kept to herself.

Dinglingling—her phone suddenly rang. Suspicious, Wen Zhixu answered.

“Hello? Who is this?”

“Hello, are you Ms. Song Nuan? This is Nanchun Police Station. Your younger sister got into a fight and is currently at the station. We’d like you to come as soon as possible.”

“What?” Wen Zhixu was stunned. “You mean my sister… Song Chaoyao?”

The person on the other end seemed just as confused by her question. “Yes, Song Chaoyao. Your younger sister.”

“…”

So, when it’s convenient, I’m her sister, but otherwise, we’re strangers?

“Alright, alright. Thank you, Officer. I’ll head over right away.”

After hanging up, Wen Zhixu waved her phone. “My sister got into a fight. I have to go bail her out.”

“Huh?” Yang Yue was baffled. “You have a sister? Didn’t you say your family struggled to raise just you on their farm? How do you have a sister now? Anyway, hurry up. If you’re not back by 10 p.m., you won’t be able to return. If your sister has nowhere to stay, you can bring her back to the dorm.”

Wen Zhixu felt a little awkward. She’d made up those family circumstances before, and now it seemed the truth might come out. She didn’t explain and just navigated to the police station, wondering the whole way what she should say when she got there. Who had Song Chaoyao even fought with?

Before she arrived, another call came in.

“Hello? Who is this?”

A long silence followed before the voice on the other end spoke.

“Teacher Song… I’m at Nanchun Police Station. I might… need you to come.”

Wen Zhixu’s eyes widened. She checked the caller ID—Chaoyao’s name was saved there. Then she asked,

“Who did you fight with?”

Another pause.

“Song Chaoyao.”

Alright, alright, so it turns out they got into a fight. Fine, but why call her over? Does she have to mediate between them and make them reconcile with themselves?

The police station wasn’t far, so Wen Zhixu didn’t take a taxi. When she arrived, Chaoyao and Song Chaoyao were both squatting in a corner, while the two other girls involved were nowhere to be seen. Song Chaoyao looked defiant, while Chaoyao just seemed annoyed.

One thing they had in common was their messy hair and the red marks on their faces. But upon closer inspection, Chaoyao seemed to have fared slightly better—her injuries weren’t as bad as Song Chaoyao’s.

“Officer, I’m Chaoyao’s teacher… and also Song Chaoyao’s sister. I’m here to handle their fight.”

Wen Zhixu felt a little embarrassed saying this. What was even happening? It was the first time she’d seen two people she cared about fight and then have to step in as the mediator.

The female officer in charge also looked surprised before explaining, “Well, these two were bold enough to fight right near the police station. We got a report from a citizen and brought them in.”

“This kind of behavior is unacceptable, especially since they’re both still students. We called their guardian to get a better understanding of the situation. But…”

The officer hesitated. She already knew Chaoyao was an orphan, so her teacher was effectively her guardian. But Song Chaoyao was Song Nuan’s younger sister—this was definitely a first.

“Understood, understood. I’ll make sure to discipline them properly later,” Wen Zhixu quickly bowed in apology. “We won’t avoid punishment or scolding. They made a mistake, and we’ll face it.”

After some thought, the officer said, “They’ll need to write a self-criticism and a pledge. Take them back and educate them properly—we don’t want a repeat of this.”

“Of course, we’ll follow through.” Wen Zhixu then gestured toward the two in the corner, signaling for them to come over and apologize. But even after she straightened up, they remained rooted in place like stubborn stones.

“Come here and apologize, both of you!” Wen Zhixu called out.

Chaoyao finally moved, walking straight to Wen Zhixu’s right side. Song Chaoyao, however, still looked defiant, her messy hair untouched, glaring daggers at Chaoyao.

Wen Zhixu pinched the bridge of her nose, then crouched in front of Song Chaoyao. “You chose to call me instead of your parents, which means you don’t want them to know—and that you acknowledge me as your sister. If you don’t cooperate, I won’t hesitate to send you back to face the family discipline.”

The Song family was influential, and while they indulged their children in some ways, something as disgraceful as being dragged to the police station would never be overlooked.

At that, Song Chaoyao’s expression shifted, a flicker of panic crossing her face. Reluctantly, she stood up and moved to Wen Zhixu’s left side, where they both apologized to the officer.

The officer added, “They refused to say anything when they came in—who started it, why they fought, nothing. As their guardian, you’ll need to look into this further.”

Wen Zhixu sighed. She was still practically a kid herself—high schoolers getting hauled into a police station was something she’d never imagined. She asked, “Which one of you threw the first punch?”

Neither answered, but Wen Zhixu instinctively suspected Chaoyao, since she had stepped away from her earlier, and Song Chaoyao’s injuries looked worse. Still, she dropped the question, just wanting to take Chaoyao home as soon as possible.

The female officer didn’t give them too hard a time, just handing them some paper and pens before leading them into a room where both had to write self-criticism statements and pledges.

The small room only had the three of them, each sitting on one side. Wen Zhixu walked over to Chaoyao and asked, “You threw the first punch, didn’t you?”

Chaoyao’s lips twitched slightly before she nodded.

Wen Zhixu pressed, “Why?”

Just as Chaoyao was about to speak, Song Chao cut in, “What’s it to you? Stay out of our business.”

Interrupted abruptly, Wen Zhixu’s mood soured. She retorted coldly, “Focus on writing your self-criticism. From now on, I won’t care about your affairs, and don’t come looking for me again. It’s not like you’re short on money—hiring someone else shouldn’t be hard for you, right?”

The sting from the slap Song Chao had given her still lingered faintly. A kid like Song Chao ought to stay with her parents—only they could keep her in line.

Chaoyao then spoke up, “She slapped you.”

“What?” Wen Zhixu’s eyes widened. “Was it because of me?”

Chaoyao frowned slightly, wanting to evade the question, but Wen Zhixu kept staring at her. Finally, she admitted, “There was already some bad bl00d between us.”

“I knew it!” Wen Zhixu exclaimed.

Chaoyao: “…”

Wen Zhixu added, “But I’m still reporting the fight to the director. You’re not getting off scot-free.”

Chaoyao said nothing, silently continuing to write her self-criticism. Bored, Wen Zhixu leaned closer to peek at her handwriting and found it strikingly reflective of her personality—elegant yet with a firm, decisive stroke. Despite being written with a ballpoint pen, the flourishes at the end carried a hint of brushwork.

Under the scrutiny, Chaoyao grew self-conscious. “What are you doing…?”

Wen Zhixu didn’t hold back. “Watching you write. Your handwriting’s beautiful.”

Thud! Across from them, Song Chao slammed her pen down with such force that the cap shattered, sending a small fragment whizzing past Wen Zhixu’s hair.

Song Chao snapped, “Is this a public space for your chit-chat?!”

Wen Zhixu shot back, “The combined volume of everything we’ve said still doesn’t match your one outburst.”

Song Chao clenched the pen tightly, hatred burning inside her—she despised Song Nuan.

Ignoring her, Wen Zhixu continued chatting idly with Chaoyao. To her, Song Chao was just a passerby. She wouldn’t direct Song Nuan’s resentment at her, but she wouldn’t go against Song Nuan’s stance either.

By the time they finished their self-criticism, the last bus had already left. The orphanage wasn’t exactly far, but it wasn’t close either—about an hour’s walk. Neither of them opted for a taxi, choosing instead to walk back.

The weather was growing colder, and the streets were nearly deserted at this hour. The two walked along a tree-lined path, the surroundings bleak and quiet.

Chaoyao suddenly broke the silence. “Why don’t you like your sister?”

Wen Zhixu kicked a pebble at her feet, sending it skittering down the path before it plopped into a nearby pond with a soft plink.

“I think… given our circumstances, it’d be hard for us to get along.”

Half-sisters, with mothers who were undoubtedly enemies—how could their daughters possibly have a good relationship? Especially when Song Chao had never liked Song Nuan, and Song Nuan outright loathed Song Chao.

“I’m sorry,” Chaoyao said abruptly.

Wen Zhixu blinked. “For what?”

After a long silence, Chaoyao said, “You’re different from her. You’re a good person.”

Wen Zhixu’s heart trembled slightly at these words. He then asked, “Who else do you think is a good person?”

Another pause followed.

“No one else…”

Wen Zhixu smiled and said, “Well then, I’m honored to be the first person you consider good.”

“Let’s hope I can keep up the good work in the future!”