“What?! Everyone Except Me Is a Villain (GL) - Chapter 24

“What are you staring at?”

The girl being watched flinched, losing all her arrogance from the day before. In just one night, a not-so-small family had mysteriously vanished from Paradise City, all because of one offhand remark from Jin Buning. Rumor had it that a certain male student had disappeared that same night, and though his frantic parents searched the entire city, they found nothing.

Jin Buning didn’t know any of this, but seeing the girl’s fear, she could roughly guess what had happened. It looked like it was her doing, yet in truth, none of this really had much to do with her. Whether it was bullying, hiring hitmen, or settling scores, these were all feuds among villains she was merely the unfortunate bystander caught in their crossfire.

She sighed inwardly and couldn’t be bothered to make things difficult for a girl already marked as cannon fodder. Without a word, she walked into the classroom.

Inside, Zhen Xier the real daughter of the Zhen family was already there, staring at a delicate little cake on her desk, looking hesitant. A few boys nearby were watching eagerly, as if waiting for her to take a bite.

When she noticed Jin Buning, Zhen Xier’s eyes lit up like she’d just seen a savior.

“Ningning, you haven’t had breakfast yet, right?” she said sweetly, her smile as warm and angelic as ever the kind that could soothe even the most broken soul. But to Jin Buning, that smile carried the flick of a devil’s tail.

Because of her health, Zhen Xier couldn’t eat just anything from outside, yet those lovesick boys were too blinded by infatuation to notice. Jin Buning frowned slightly. She knew she shouldn’t interfere being seen helping Zhen Xier would only make her reputation worse, and within a year, she’d be trampled worse than a stray dog.

“This cake is from XX Bakery. You’d have to wait in line forever to get one! You’ve probably never tasted it, right, Ningning?”

When Jin Buning didn’t react to her smile, Zhen Xier switched tactics to mockery. With anyone else she might’ve held back, but this was Jin Buning the girl who’d lived her life in her place. Zhen Batian had dumped all the family’s expectations and pressure onto Jin Buning, leaving her too busy to enjoy any luxuries, much less fancy desserts.

Zhen Xier was sure her plan would work.

But Jin Buning simply nodded. “You’re right. I’ve never eaten anything this cheap before.”

Then she calmly sat down, ignoring the stunned expression on Zhen Xier’s face.

The silence that followed felt endless. Zhen Xier wanted to feel victorious, yet somehow she also felt like she’d lost. Others would have already fallen into her rhythm long before now, but this fake daughter seemed immune to everything, like a stubborn antique that wouldn’t break no matter how hard you hit it.

Fuming, Zhen Xier glanced toward the boys who’d brought the cake. She’d already told them she couldn’t eat ordinary food, yet they kept bringing her things maybe they just wanted to kill her early with their affection.

Still, she couldn’t lose her temper. A goddess had to be kind, gentle, and considerate even when exposed as an imposter, people still had to see her as a poor little victim, not the tainted daughter of the Zhen family’s disgrace.

Dark thoughts stirred in her mind, and the only person she dared vent them on was Jin Buning.

“Ningning, ah, open your mouth.”

Zhen Xier’s smile returned, bright and warm, as she lifted a spoonful of cake toward Jin Buning.

Jin Buning froze for a second. Zhen Xier’s expression was encouraging, as if daring her to refuse. For a moment, Jin Buning hesitated… then suddenly reached out and caught Zhen Xier’s hand.

Her hand was slightly larger, her palm warm Zhen Xier felt as though she’d been burned. She stared in disbelief. How could this counterfeit, this imposter, dare to touch her so casually? Wasn’t she supposed to cower and flatter like in every cliché novel?

But Jin Buning’s gaze held only a quiet helplessness, as if she were being forced into this. Yet it wasn’t Zhen Xier’s charm forcing her it was something else entirely. That realization made Zhen Xier even more irritated… and strangely intrigued.

What was going through this girl’s head that she would actually eat the cake?

“If you want me to finish it, you’ll have to keep feeding me,” Jin Buning said evenly.

Zhen Xier was so stunned she nearly threw the spoon at her. Unfortunately, her arms were weak as alway, and when she did throw it, it simply clattered uselessly to the floor.

Jin Buning caught it midair, placed it gently back into Zhen Xier’s hand, and smiled faintly. “Go on. Keep feeding me.”

Her tone was calm but oddly urgent, as if she needed to complete some unseen task. Zhen Xier, confused but entranced, fed her another bite before realizing how strange the situation was.

She tried to pull away but her strength was pitiful, laughably so. People often joked she had the strength of a baby, and usually, she wore that fragility like a crown. Weak, yes, but in control.

Not this time. Her body refused to obey.

“Do you still remember who you are?” Zhen Xier finally snapped, grasping at her old sense of superiority. “You’re supposed to listen to me. You’re my little pet. And when the time comes, I’ll be generous enough to let you stay by my side.”

Jin Buning looked at her in mild confusion, then said softly, “I’m Zhen Ning the young lady who can destroy an entire family with a single sentence.”

There was a faint trace of mockery in her voice, a reminder that she knew exactly what Zhen Xier had done to build her own reputation.

For once, Zhen Xier was speechless. Her mind filled with every curse she’d never dared to say aloud.

“This cake really isn’t bad,” Jin Buning continued, smiling as she offered the spoon to Zhen Xier.

But as the sweet scent wafted toward her, Zhen Xier nearly gagged. Her face went pale, her body trembling as she felt her control slipping. She was about to fake a fainting spell let Zhen Batian punish this unruly “dog.”

Yet before she could, Jin Buning reached out and supported her with one hand.

“Wait, you’re not actually going to faint, are you?” she said, loud enough for the whole class to hear.

Zhen Xier’s bl00d boiled. Her trademark “frail beauty” act suddenly felt humiliating. Worse, Jin Buning’s feigned concern her gentle hand on her back made her want to crawl out of her skin.

No, this isn’t how it’s supposed to go!

“I’m fine,” she forced out, voice trembling. “Just didn’t sleep well last night.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Jin Buning let her go and asked a few more polite questions, all with that perfect, infuriating smile.

That was when Zhen Xier realized Jin Buning was using her own tricks against her. Every tactic, every façade, turned back perfectly.

The surrounding students soon gathered around, fussing over Zhen Xier while Jin Buning continued eating cake as if nothing had happened.

Shameless! Zhen Xier cursed silently, smiling sweetly all the while.

But the nightmare didn’t end there. After that morning, Jin Buning wouldn’t leave her alone borrowing erasers, asking for notes, insisting they go to the restroom together as if they were the best of friends.

By noon, Zhen Xier felt like her soul had been drained. Wherever she went, Jin Buning followed, her gaze unwavering, like a haunting shadow. Zhen Xier regretted ever provoking her and resolved to settle things during gym class.

Except.

“All right! Everyone, run one lap to warm up!” barked the new PE teacher, a retired soldier infamous for single-handedly taking down dozens of enemies overseas. Even at this prestigious academy, his nickname was the God of Slaughter.

“Move it!” he shouted again.

No one dared protest. The last PE teacher had been bullied into depression, so the school board under Bai Li Ruobing’s recommendation had hired this war hero to restore order.

Zhen Xier figured it was only natural. People feared the strong and stepped on the weak nothing wrong with that, as long as her own special treatment remained intact.

But then.

“You! Why are you just standing there? Start running!” the teacher barked, glaring straight at her.

For once, her beauty and delicate airs did nothing to help.

“Sir, I… I’m not feeling well,” she said softly.

He snorted. “Then all the more reason to exercise. You’re so fragile, I could snap your bones with a finger.”

Her pitiful act fell flat completely useless on a man who’d seen real battle.

And for the first time, Zhen Xier realized… she was completely out of her depth.