“What?! Everyone Except Me Is a Villain (GL) - Chapter 25
Updated on March 22, 2025
Zhen Xier felt even more wronged. If she had a choice, she would have preferred to be born into an ordinary family one where she didn’t have to constantly fear being discovered as a member of the infamous Zhen family, where she didn’t have to worry about being kidnapped or hunted for revenge. But that wasn’t something she could decide. She carried Zhen Batian’s bl00d, and her life had been mapped out from the moment she was born.
That powerless feeling often made her think that being alive was a mistake. Yet if she ever had to die… she would make sure to drag down the people who controlled her life to hell with her.
A flash of cold resolve glimmered in her gentle, beautiful eyes then disappeared just as quickly, replaced by the usual fragile helplessness. She was still trying to think of a way out of this mess when a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Mr. Wu, I’m sorry! I forgot to give you this medical certificate.”
Zhen Xier looked up and saw that it wasn’t one of her admirers or lackeys, but Ms. Dong, the teacher who had been forced to become their homeroom adviser.
The glamorous façade of this so-called noble academy was a lie. The students often joked that it was a man-eating school, a place where people simply vanished without a trace. But Zhen Xier knew better that those students weren’t disappearing for no reason. They were taken away by unspeakable means, fates unknown. Dead, perhaps. Or worse, living through something far crueler than death.
That was why no one, neither teacher nor student, dared to truly connect with others.
Zhen Xier never imagined that in this cold, predatory environment, the only person who seemed to genuinely care for her would be Ms. Dong.
The PE teacher was still skeptical until he saw the medical certificate. After comparing the photo with the pale girl before him, he looked startled and a little lost. Clearly, he hadn’t expected her condition to be that bad. His sudden pity cut into Zhen Xier like a blade, leaving her feeling exposed and humiliated.
For the first time since Jin Buning’s arrival, she felt that being weak was shameful.
“You can go rest,” the PE teacher finally said.
“Thank you, sir.”
Zhen Xier didn’t want to die young, so she obediently went to sit in the shade of a nearby tree. Her eyes, heavy with melancholy, looked as though they belonged in a painting.
Ms. Dong followed her over, worried that Zhen Xier might faint again. “I’m so sorry, Xier. I got so busy that I completely forgot about this certificate.” She sighed, clearly relieved she’d remembered in time thanks to someone’s reminder. Otherwise, she might’ve lost her job.
Zhen Xier smiled politely, noticing how frazzled her teacher looked. A small warmth bloomed in her chest. “It’s alright, teacher. I know it’s your first time being a homeroom adviser you must be swamped.”
Indeed, Ms. Dong had been chosen as a homeroom teacher precisely because she was kind and easy to handle. Zhen Xier had needed someone pliable, someone she could subtly manipulate, and Ms. Dong had been the perfect candidate.
Yet now, seeing the woman genuinely worried for her made Zhen Xier’s affection for her deepen slightly. Ms. Dong, completely unaware that she’d been handpicked as a pawn, went on chatting, even mentioning the person who’d reminded her about the PE situation.
“If it weren’t for classmate Jin Ning asking me about the new PE teacher, I would’ve forgotten we switched instructors this year. You might’ve had to run laps otherwise.” Ms. Dong chuckled. “Honestly, Jin Ning’s not as bad as people say she even seems quite considerate.”
But as soon as she mentioned Jin Ning’s name, Zhen Xier’s polite smile froze.
The teacher’s heart skipped a beat. She lowered her voice, cautiously asking, “Did… did Jin Ning bully you?”
Zhen Xier’s lashes trembled. “No,” she replied softly. “She just… surprises me a lot, that’s all.”
Her smile returned, bright and flawless, but behind it, confusion brewed. Somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Jin Ning had done it on purpose. It was as if that girl knew everything about her, as if she could see straight through her life.
Zhen Xier’s gaze drifted toward the field. Most of the students were exhausted, gasping for breath after the run. Only Jin Ning stood firm, face unflushed, breathing steady like a pine tree standing proud in a storm.
Jin Ning might not be the most beautiful girl around, but her aura was unlike anyone else’, impossible to ignore.
For the first time, Zhen Xier found herself looking at her seriously. But when she sensed Jin Ning might look back, she quickly ducked her head, pretending to check her phone instead. The reflection of her own face on the glowing screen made her feel strangely flustered.
Maybe Dad just told her to take care of me, she thought, forcing herself to dismiss any other possibilities.
After all, what other reason could there be? Beauty aside, she didn’t think she had anything that could attract someone like Jin Ning.
System Message:
Zhen Xier’s favorability toward the host -10.
Current favorability: -100.
Meanwhile, Jin Ning clenched her jaw in frustration when she heard the system’s voice. Her teeth itched with irritation.
Why was it that other people could coax villains into falling for them, but she only made them hate her more? Clearly, she wasn’t cut out to be anyone’s lackey.
Thankfully, the early-stage missions of this “special event” were simple. By lunchtime, she’d already collected ten memory fragments enough to redeem the most basic sword-controlling technique.
She opened the “Love App” store interface, pretending to scroll on her phone like everyone else.
Dozens of colorful icons appeared on the screen everything priced at a hundred fragments or more, except for a few beginner skills. Among them, Sword Control was by far the most practical.
First, it could help her escape when in danger.
Second, it could double as an offensive skill.
Third… well, she was broke.
Expressionless, Jin Ning hit the Purchase button.
A blast of cheesy background music exploded in her head, nearly making her dizzy. Trust this damn app to turn even a serious upgrade into something so tacky.
When the noise faded, she opened her skill menu and saw the new glowing icon: Basic Sword Control.
Skill Description:
- Allows limited flight using Sword Control.
- Can manipulate similar-sized objects as weapons.
The description was vague and disappointing, but Jin Ning resisted the urge to test it immediately too many people around. Her eyes wandered instead and landed on Zhen Xier again. The girl was surrounded by admirers, her fake smile flawless as ever, fooling everyone.
Jin Ning snorted softly and fished a bottle of water from her bag or so it looked. In truth, she’d just purchased an ice-cold one from the system store. The deduction notice even came with a fake transaction ID. Perfectly realistic.
Earlier, she’d thought the Love App was the most shameless program ever invented. Now, she had to admit it might just be her new favorite.
Still, as she browsed Zhen Xier’s list of “special missions,” her expression darkened.
The tasks started normal then turned obscenely suggestive.
“Feed Zhen Xier mouth-to-mouth while sitting on her lap.”
Jin Ning’s face twitched. Who on earth wrote this filth?! Who makes a ‘loyal follower’ app that requires seduction missions?!
Sure, one mission could net her a hundred fragments, but wasn’t this basically exploitation? She couldn’t cross that line.
Then she thought of another villain Xu Yixin, the money-obsessed heiress. Maybe the missions with her would be more… wholesome.
Opening Xu Yixin’s mission list, she nearly burst out laughing.
With Xu Yixin:
• Earn 10,000 yuan together: +10 fragments
• Borrow 10,000 yuan from her: +100 fragments
• Convince her that the host is more important than money: +10,000 fragments
So this “friend’s” missions were all about cash. Not a trace of romance.
Figures, Jin Ning thought dryly. Someone like Xu Yixin would rather marry a gold bar than a person.
Her thoughts grew heavier. Who was behind all this? Who designed these missions? Why her? Was it really because she’d “died 138 times”?
And what did the creators gain from her “conquering” these villains?
A chill ran down her spine.
Freedom that was all she wanted. Yet every new mission felt like another invisible leash tightening around her neck.
No. She refused to live by their script again. She’d find a way to break free.
Jin Ning took a deep swig of cold water, letting the icy burn wash away her frustration. Her gaze landed once more on Zhen Xier. This time, she decided to target only the non-romantic missions drain every fragment she could without crossing any blurry lines.
With that, she stood up and headed toward the campus convenience shop.
“Oh, back again?” the shop lady asked curiously.
Strangely enough, even though Jin Ning had never been there before, the woman seemed to remember her probably the system at work again.
“I’m buying water for a friend,” she said casually.
“Ah, not that one, it’s not chilled.”
“I know,” Jin Ning replied smoothly. “She can’t drink cold stuff. And she only drinks this expensive brand.”
She smiled faintly. If she was spending fragments on overpriced “divine water,” she’d better get some favorability out of it.
After all, maybe she wasn’t good at being a sycophant, but she could definitely play the part of a thoughtful sidekick.