“What?! Everyone Except Me Is a Villain (GL) - Chapter 22

Xu Yixin watched with curiosity, half-expecting that Jin Buning had finally fallen head over heels for her and was about to offer her something nice. But when Jin Buning walked over, what she handed her was… a crisp, new hundred-paradise-dollar bill.

“Mm. Go have your waist checked.”

Xu Yixin stared wide-eyed at her. She was starting to think this fake heiress really had something wrong with her head. First, she claimed to like women, then shamelessly touched her, and now she was acting completely oblivious to any sort of romantic cue. And honestly, in Paradise City, a hospital registration alone started at several hundred this measly hundred looked downright stingy.

“Thank you, Miss Jin.”

Even though she had a thousand complaints in her heart, Xu Yixin kept them buried. She wanted to build up the tension between them, not waste her earlier sacrifice. Yet, Jin Buning’s mood seemed to have dropped ever since touching her waist, interest gone just like that.

What was stranger still was that if Jin Buning really liked women, why did she change clothes right in front of her, without a hint of shyness?

Xu Yixin’s mind was tangled with questions, yet she couldn’t help but be drawn to the view before her. Jin Buning’s figure was lean and well-proportioned, with natural curves of muscle that enhanced her femininity an enviable silhouette. Still, something seemed off… Xu Yixin felt that Jin Buning suddenly looked taller than before.

Once she put on her new school uniform, Jin Buning sighed lightly. “Seven o’clock already.”

Xu Yixin blinked, unsure what that was supposed to mean. But remembering that today was Jin Buning’s first day at the university, she decided to change the topic.

“Is Miss worried about being late for school? It’s quite a distance from here to the high school.” Xu Yixin said gently, adopting her best “caring big sister” tone the same strategy she used for every fish in her pond. After all, her principle in life was simple: never waste a single opportunity.

“Mm. How did you know which school I go to?”

Jin Buning’s gaze sharpened in an instant, and Xu Yixin’s heart skipped. She’d let her guard down too much. Even if this was just a “little girl,” she was still the Zhen family’s fake heiress there was no way she was completely naive.

I heard about you a long time ago,  Xu Yixin lied smoothly, forcing a shy little smile to sell her affection. If this were Zhen Wangzi instead, he’d probably be blushing already and ready to forget his so-called goddess Pei Fuliu to become another fish in Xu Yixin’s pond. But Jin Buning’s face didn’t flicker with emotion, she only looked down at her clothes and muttered something odd again.

“Ah, my clothes feel smaller.”

It was then that Xu Yixin noticed that the uniform indeed seemed short on her. When she stood closer to compare heights, she realized that Jin Buning now stood a full 1.7 meters tall, completely different from the 1.65 meters her investigation had shown.

“My apologies, Miss Jin. I didn’t gather the information properly.”

“Maybe I just had a growth spurt overnight.”

Jin Buning’s tone was oddly whimsical, and there was something unexplainably bright in her voice she sounded almost happy. Xu Yixin, who prided herself on reading people, suddenly found herself completely at a loss.

Still, she consoled herself. At least I’ve left an impression on her.
Though the more she thought about Jin Buning’s strangeness, the more she felt her future might be… rather troublesome.

System Notice: Xu Yixin’s favorability toward the host is -10. Current favorability: -20.

As Xu Yixin’s thoughts rippled through her mind, the system transmitted the data to Jin Buning. But even after hearing the notification, Jin Buning’s mood remained high. It was 7:15 a.m., now fifteen minutes ago she’d completed her 24-hour limited-time mission.

Her stats had updated: her stamina rose from 50 to 60.

According to the system, values 0–10 were child-level strength, 11–40 normal female, and 50–80 typical male. Anything above 80 was the result of professional training. The special forces soldier she saw yesterday was likely in that range. Meaning, by completing missions, she could actually grow stronger.

That thought alone made her see even Xu Yixin in a softer light her delicate features no longer looked like those of a scheming seductress. Jin Buning walked with a spring in her step, already forgetting yesterday’s suffering, silently praying for more love app missions to boost her stats faster.

The good mood lasted until breakfast.

When she saw Pei Fuliu sitting at the dining table, Jin Buning instantly straightened up, careful not to reveal her sudden height increase.

The table was as quiet as always. But this time, the salad that used to fill her now only made her seventy percent full. Just as her stamina grew, so did her energy needs.

Pei Fuliu murmured something to Aunt Liu, which made Jin Buning’s heart tighten. She worried Pei Fuliu might notice her physical changes and turn her into a research subject.

Luckily, Zhen Wangzi’s arrival broke the silence. He ate hurriedly, clearly eager to rush somewhere.

“What’s the hurry?” Pei Fuliu asked.

“College freshmen orientation. I’m going to help out,” Zhen Wangzi said with excitement. But really, freshman year was boring for him most of the pretty girls either had boyfriends or liked other girls.

“That’s good. Meet more people,” Pei Fuliu replied calmly.

Her tone deflated him instantly. Still fishing for her attention, he blurted, “I heard this year’s top scorer is really pretty. Sister Liu, do you think she’s prettier than you?”

He really had a death wish. Jin Buning almost choked on her water. No woman enjoyed being compared to another especially when the other was praised for her looks. Zhen Wangzi, however, was clearly the type of straight man who still thought teasing like a toddler would earn affection.

Jin Buning mourned for him in silence. She wanted to glance at Pei Fuliu’s reaction but didn’t dare, so she only peeked from the corner of her eye and accidentally locked eyes with someone else.

Across the room, disguised as a maid, was none other than the “top scorer” they’d just mentioned, Xu Yixin. She smiled brightly, utterly shameless, as if she weren’t the one sneaking around in disguise.

Jin Buning quickly looked away, only to realize Pei Fuliu was now staring at her.
Nothing had happened between them, yet somehow Jin Buning felt like she’d stumbled into a love triangle.

Meanwhile, Zhen Wangzi kept running his mouth, comparing Pei Fuliu and Xu Yixin like it was the most natural thing in the world. Only now did Jin Buning learn that Pei Fuliu had also been a top scorer back in her day. Zhen Wangzi seemed to know a lot about her, but Pei Fuliu clearly had zero interest in him.

Just as Jin Buning thought Pei Fuliu’s favorability must have dropped to -999, Zhen Wangzi suddenly added, “But no matter what, Sister Pei, you’ll always be the most beautiful woman in my heart.”

He’d gone from suicidal to simping in one breath.

Sensing the cue, Jin Buning decided it was time to show her loyalty. “I think so too. Mrs. Pei is the most beautiful woman in the world.”

A beat of silence.

And then.

System Notice: Pei Fuliu’s favorability toward Jin Buning -20. Current favorability: -10.
System Notice: Xu Yixin’s favorability toward Jin Buning -20. Current favorability: -40.

Apparently, her first attempt at being a bootlicker had completely backfired.

Zhen Wangzi looked gleeful at her blunder, forgetting entirely that his own awkward flirting had started it all. Jin Buning’s face burned in embarrassment; she reached for her phone to change the subject, but Pei Fuliu’s calm voice stopped her.

“I changed your driver.”

Jin Buning froze. The last driver had been excellent at spyin. Why switch now?

“He’s a Sanda champion. He can protect you,” Pei Fuliu added, tone measured but meaningful, as if offering both warning and favor.

Jin Buning could only meet her gaze and thank her sincerely. “Thank you, Mrs. Pei.”

Pei Fuliu’s eyelids fluttered slightly, her expression flickering with something hidden but too fast for Jin Buning to read. Still, with her favorability at -40, it clearly wasn’t affection.

Jin Buning chose not to think too hard. She wasn’t brave enough to. After a polite farewell, she left the house.

Outside, she met her new driver, a woman in a tailored black suit, short ponytail, and dark sunglasses. Her face was plain, but her aura was sharp and commanding, the kind that made Jin Buning instinctively straighten her posture. She almost felt like this woman could kill someone with a look.

“Driver-sister, what should I call you?”

“You can call me Number Nine.”

The woman’s tone was cool and precise, every movement efficient and disciplined. That innate professionalism made Jin Buning wonder what she’d done to deserve this level of surveillance.

Number Nine climbed into the driver’s seat without another word, waiting silently for Jin Buning to get in. Clearly, she wasn’t used to playing chauffeur. Jin Buning sighed and opened the passenger door herself.

Just then, a black car rolled by. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw who was driving her neighbor, Zheng Si dressed entirely in black, exuding an aura like a crime boss.

Number Nine instantly tensed, one arm protectively shifting in front of Jin Buning while glaring at Zheng Si.

Their presences clashed like two predators sizing each other up.

But Jin Buning knew Zheng Si wouldn’t hurt a fl,y literally. The woman wore prayer beads on her wrist, clearly someone with deep faith.

So when Zheng Si blinked in confusion at the sudden hostility, looking genuinely startled by the strange turn of events, Jin Buning couldn’t help but think.

Why does my life suddenly feel like an action movie I didn’t sign up for?