“What?! Everyone Except Me Is a Villain (GL) - Chapter 14

The scene shifted back to Jin Bu Ning, who hadn’t stopped moving since she left. It wasn’t that Xu Yixin’s earlier behavior had scared her; rather, she’d heard a warning Zheng Si had noticed them on the upper floor.

When she’d first entered her third year of high school, Jin Bu Ning hadn’t even known this “neighborly older sister.” It wasn’t until she went to the Zhen family’s old estate that she learned who Zheng Si was. Jin knew Zheng was an accomplished interior designer, but she’d never imagined the depth of her family’s roots so deep that just thinking about it made her skin crawl.

After all, rumors had circulated for years that the buildings at Paradise High School ate people. And Jin herself had once been hunted there. Ironically, she had never seen her pursuer’s face. She’d spent her final days in a desperate cat-and-mouse chase through the twisting school halls until death finally caught up with her.

Back then, she had thought she’d found hope when she stumbled into an underground labyrinth beneath the school. But what waited below was no refuge it was a death trap. The maze was massive, the air thick and cold, and it soon became clear that whoever designed it enjoyed the suffering it caused. The people trapped inside were merely lab rats to them.

Jin had once suspected many of the villains might have created that labyrinth for amusement. But she never expected the mastermind to be the one she’d considered the least dangerous Zheng Si. Looking back, it made a cruel sort of sense. After all, no one becomes a villain without reason.

Now, walking down a familiar corridor, Jin reached the place where the flowerpot had fallen that morning. The safety barrier had somehow been lifted again—as if daring her to toss something over just to see if the hidden mechanism would trigger once more.

She ignored it. Instead, she took a detour toward her classroom, carefully avoiding every possible “death flag,” until she finally made it back to Class Three, Grade Twelve.

The classroom was already half full. Her seat, as usual, was surrounded by people fawning over Zhen Xier. Someone was even sitting in Jin’s chair. The moment that person noticed her standing in the doorway, they leapt up as if they’d seen a ghost. Conversations around them quieted instantly. Clearly, the lunchtime incident had spread through the whole school. Everyone had learned how terrifying Jin Bu Ning could be.

“I heard they already called the parents in.”

“Typical of the Zhen family, so quick to act. One tiny incident, and they bankrupt someone’s family overnight.”

The whispers dripped with sarcasm, but no one dared say a word to her face. Jin was long used to that kind of fear. Still, something about the rumors unsettled her. She’d planned to report what happened to Zhen Batian that evening. But if the rumors were tru,e who had acted in her name?

Her gaze met Zhen Xier’s. The girl’s smile was sweet, her eyes full of feigned concern, as if silently asking, Are you all right?

Jin didn’t fall for it. After their brief interactions, she already understood the truth Zhen Xier must have whispered something to the Zhen family, leading to that other student’s sudden downfall. Even if Zhen Xier were to regain her “true heiress” identity later, Jin knew she would still be the target of her revenge.

Jin sighed inwardly and glanced at the countdown clock in her mind. It had been seven hours since the mission began. Today was only the first day of the semester, and classes would end at 4:30 p.m. meaning she still had a few peaceful hours left before the nightmare resumed.

“Xier, you’re so quiet today. Everyone’s waiting for your opinion!”

“Sorry,” Zhen Xier replied with a sweet smile. “I was just thinking about my little kitten at home.”

The smile on her friends’ faces faltered for a second before they laughed again, not catching the sharpness behind her words.

“No, really,” Zhen Xier continued, voice syrupy but eyes cold. “I was just thinking it’s time to trim her claws so she doesn’t accidentally scratch someone.”

The others giggled, taking it as a joke. But Jin understood perfectly. She looked down at her neatly trimmed nails and bit back a sigh. Somehow, she’d managed to offend Zhen Xier again, and now even before class started, the girl was tossing veiled threats her way.

Jin pretended not to hear, turning her attention to her textbook, trying to recall whatever knowledge she could still use.

——

By the time the second afternoon class ended, homeroom teacher Ms. Dong finally remembered something important: the class committee still hadn’t been assigned for the year.

“Since most of you were together last year,” she said casually, scanning the room, “let’s just keep the same roles as before.”

The class erupted in groans. No one wanted extra responsibilities during their crucial final year. Ms. Dong ignored their complaints. She was known for her detached attitude.

“Teacher, but Xiao Mei isn’t here anymore,” one student pointed out.

The room went quiet. Too quiet. It was as if even mentioning that name broke some unspoken rule. Ms. Dong’s face went pale, though she quickly forced a smile.

“Ah—right. I forgot. Xiao Mei transferred schools,” she said lightly, brushing off the tension. “So, who wants to take her place as the library committee member?”

No one answered. Everyone averted their gaze, as if that particular position carried some curse.

“Well then, we’ll use the usual method,” Ms. Dong sighed, turning on the projector. A number wheel appeared on the screen.

“When you say stop, I’ll stop the wheel. Whoever’s student number it lands on will take the position. Fair enough?”

No one objected. The wheel spun, ticking faster and faster until it stopped on the number 38.

For a second, Jin thought she saw Zhen Xier stiffen beside her. Ms. Dong, oblivious, looked at the roster. But the moment her eyes fell on the name beside 38, her face darkened again.

“Ahem. Since Xiao Mei’s number is now vacant,” Ms. Dong said finally, “Zhen Ning will take over as number 38 and serve as our new library monitor.”

Silence. Heavy, uneasy silence. Everyone stared at Jin like she’d just accepted a cursed relic.

Zhen Xier’s hand shot out, grabbing Jin’s sleeve, an unspoken warning to refuse.

But Jin gently pulled her arm free and replied calmly, “I accept, Teacher.”

That simple answer broke the tension a little, though Zhen Xier’s expression twisted in disbelief, like she couldn’t decide whether Jin was brave or just plain stupid.

What she didn’t know was that, in Jin’s first life, it had been Zhen Xier who tricked her into taking the exact same role. But that experience had actually been one of Jin’s few peaceful moments before everything fell apart. So this time, she accepted it without hesitation.

Ms. Dong gave her an odd look but said nothing more, quickly dismissing the class.

When the bell rang, the other students lingered longer than usual, glancing at Jin with a mix of curiosity and fear. Jin ignored them, quietly packing her bag.

“Xier, want to go home together?”

It was one of Zhen Xier’s friends from the next class.

Zhen Xier smiled politely. “Wait for me outside.”

The two friends exchanged a puzzled look but obeyed, waiting by the door. Unlike this morning, their attitudes toward Jin were far colder now as though something had changed while they weren’t looking.

Jin didn’t care. Her mind was busy calculating how to survive the next twenty-four hours. Nightfall meant danger.

Maybe I should cause a scen,e make Zhen Batian come pick me up?

Or… maybe I should cry and cling to Zhen Xier instead?

The possibilities flickered through her head, but each felt more absurd than the last. By the time she’d made up her mind, the classroom had emptied out completely.

The quiet made her uneasy. She took out her phone and called her driver.

“…What? The car broke down?”

The bad news made her stomach drop. The driver apologized profusely, explaining that a tire had burst.

Jin forced a calm tone. “It’s fine. I’ll find another ride.”

The driver sounded surprised. “You already found someone to pick you up, Miss?”

She paused, eyes scanning the darkening window outside. “No,” she said lightly. “I’ll just call the police and ask for a ride home.”