“What?! Everyone Except Me Is a Villain (GL) - Chapter 26

Meanwhile…

“Xier, what’s going on between you and that Zhen Ning?”

Although she was the center of the conversation, Zhen Xier looked completely out of it. It wasn’t until someone beside her brought up the topic that she responded with a faint hum. Summer break had just ended, and September’s heat still lingered oppressively. For someone like Zhen Xier, delicate, pampered, and prone to every minor discomfort these days felt unbearable.

Especially today, she’d spent the whole time being wary of Jin Buning and hadn’t even found someone to buy her favorite “fairy water.”

The thought made her feel even thirstier. She wanted to pick a random “lucky volunteer” to get it for her, but she couldn’t help worrying someone might tamper with it. Usually, this sort of thing was done by her most trusted follower from the neighboring class. But now, during PE class, all her lackeys were goody-two-shoes who wouldn’t dare sneak off.

“Xier?”

The girl next to her, seeing how pale and droopy she looked, softened her voice out of concern. She reached out to steady her, but Zhen Xier instinctively drew back only to find there was nowhere left to retreat. Her frail body made even the smallest movement awkward, like she was nothing but a fragile porcelain doll. Disgusted with her own weakness, she was about to let the girl touch her when.

“Can’t you tell she’s not feeling well?”

That voice familiar yet distant made Zhen Xier’s heart skip. She turned and saw Jin Buning glaring coldly at the girl who had tried to touch her. For some reason whether it was from the heat or something else her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.

The girl flinched under Jin Buning’s sharp gaze but still bristled with hostility.

“Did I not make myself clear? She’s not feeling well. What, you all have to crowd her and steal the air she’s breathing?” Jin Buning snapped, like an angry cat with its fur standing on end.

She was seventeen too, but somehow she carried herself like someone much older, stern, self-assured, almost parental, like an aunt catching you sneaking snacks.

“S-sorry…”

The crowd quickly backed off, finally realizing Zhen Xier wasn’t pretending. They stepped back several meters before remembering the supposed “danger” wasn’t her condition but Jin Buning herself the infamous daughter of the Zhen family.

But it was too late. Jin Buning had already taken a seat right beside her.

“What do we do? Should we call the teacher?”

“What’s the point? You want to get beaten up, too? We should call security!”

Their whispered panic carried easily through the air, but Jin Buning didn’t even flinch. She was used to being misunderstood. With a calm expression, she handed over a bottle of fairy water.

“Here. Drink.”

Zhen Xier stared at it in disbelief. That bran, one hundred yuan a bottle was nothing more than overpriced mineral water with a slightly sweeter taste. The school store didn’t even stock it until she’d demanded it. To avoid looking pretentious, she usually had her followers buy it quietly from the neighboring class.

And yet, Jin Buning had somehow picked exactly the one she liked.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Jin Buning said with a hint of exasperation. “It’s the most expensive thing I could find in the store. Think of it as repayment for that cupcake I stole from you this morning.”

Her explanation didn’t sound very convincing even though she could tell it seemed too considerate, almost suspiciously so.

But Zhen Xier’s expression softened a little, though hesitation still lingered.

“What are you hesitating for? Afraid I poisoned it?”

Jin Buning sighed. To reassure her, she twisted open the cap and took a sip herself like a loyal servant testing a drink for their lady.

Only after seeing her did Zhen Xier tentatively reach for the bottle. Jin Buning, knowing all her quirks, even wiped the rim with a tissue first. But that gesture, oddly enough, made Zhen Xier frown.

“Drink again.”

Jin Buning blinked, but obediently took another sip.

Only then did Zhen Xier relax, accepting the bottle and taking delicate sips. She didn’t seem to mind sharing the drink; her real concern was whatever hidden motives might be behind it.

After a few gulps, her complexion brightened, and her whole demeanor softened.

System Notification: Zhen Xier’s favorability toward the host +50. Current favorability: -50.

Such a big jump. Jin Buning almost laughed. Zhen Xier was clearly the easiest of the five villains to handle.

“Thanks,” Zhen Xier muttered after a long pause. The word came out stiff, like she’d been forced to swallow her pride to say it—even if her manners wouldn’t let her stay silent.

“Well, you are the young lady after all.”

Jin Buning’s voice was gentle, not mocking.

Zhen Xier frowned slightly, clearly unhappy with that answer. She took another sip of water to hide her irritation.

From afar, their classmates still hovered nervously. Even when Jin Buning stood to leave, no one dared call security.

“So these are your loyal friends, huh?” Jin Buning scoffed softly. “Next time, look for someone who’d actually die for you.”

The remark stung. Zhen Xier didn’t quite understand it, but she couldn’t help snapping back.

“And you would?”

“Of course not. I’m terrified of dying,” Jin Buning admitted with a grin. “But I’d still like to live a little better. So, Miss Zhen, I’ll try my best to treat you well this year.”

Zhen Xier fell silent. Maybe she’d realized their situations weren’t so different after all both caged birds, both pretending their wings weren’t clipped. Still, pride wouldn’t let her admit defeat.

“No need to rush your answer,” Jin Buning added lightly. “We’ll just coexist peacefully for now. And if you ever need me, I’ll be there.”

“You?”

“Yeah. I’ll do anything for my freedom.”

Jin Buning smiled again, sincere, yet distant. She had no intention of manipulating Zhen Xier’s emotions through the ridiculous “Love App,” but cooperation? That she could manage.

Zhen Xier didn’t respond, still weighing the worth of that promise. Jin Buning didn’t push her. She simply stood and walked away, giving the little princess her space.

——

“Alright, class dismissed!”

The fourth period ended without incident. Zhen Xier left, surrounded by her usual crowd, as if she never lacked company. But to Jin Buning, those people were nothing but shallow orbiter,s more props than friends.

She turned to leave, only to catch the PE teacher’s sharp gaze. The woman wore an earpiece and had the bearing of a soldier tall, composed, eyes like a hawk.

“Zhen Ning?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“I need someone to help move equipment. Come with me.”

She said it so stiffly that it was obviously an excuse.

“Alright, teacher.”

Jin Buning didn’t question it and followed, checking the woman’s profile on her internal screen.

Name: Wu Shengnan
Age: 40
Occupation: Instructor / Teacher
Strength: 90
Intelligence: 50
Charm: 50
Overall Rating: B-Class Character
Favorability toward Host: -100
Affiliation: Baili Ruobing (100%)

Seeing that last line, Jin Buning understood everything.

So this was her doing.

Any retired officer of Wu Shengnan’s caliber should have had a proper position, not be teaching gym at a noble academy. The Love App’s real-time stats didn’t lie this woman was still active-duty, just temporarily planted here.

As they walked farther, well past the direction of the equipment room Jin Buning pretended not to notice. When they finally neared the chairman’s office, Wu Shengnan sighed.

“You really trust people that easily?” she asked, sounding almost motherly in her frustration.

“That depends on the person,” Jin Buning replied smoothly. “I heard you were personally invited here by Lord Baili. So, I trust your character.”

“Lord Baili?”

Wu Shengnan blinked, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter. “Hah! Someone actually calls her that!”

Her laughter was so loud that it echoed down the corridor and from behind the office door, a faint noise stirred.