“What?! Everyone Except Me Is a Villain (GL) - Chapter 29

The next second, the familiar system chime rang in Ning’s mind.

Information: Warning, warning—hostility from Zheng Si detected!

The instant she heard it, Jin Buning immediately took a defensive stance. But Zheng Si moved with startling speed, her paintbrush spun in her hand and shot toward Ning like a weapon. Ning barely dodged in time, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike. That heavy, suffocating pressure she’d felt before returned, and up close, Zheng Si looked utterly emotionless, like a killing machine.

“Miss Zheng, please relax. I just want to get to the truth.” Ning quickly realized her earlier behavior might have offended Zheng Si, triggering her alternate personality, the one now attacking her.

But even though the situation was obviously inappropriate, Zheng Si only glanced coldly at the painting, sneering. “Truth? Don’t flatter yourself. You think someone like you could just happen to appear in my work? Be serious.”

The chill in her tone cut sharper than the brush had. Ning, already in the wrong for peeking, could only bite back her words, momentarily speechless.

After a few seconds of silence, she steadied herself and said softly, “Neither of us handled this well. Why don’t we just let this go?”

Her tone was conciliatory, but Zheng Si clearly wasn’t ready to move on. Her eyes lingered on Ning with visible irritation, yet after a brief pause, her expression softened. “Fine. Let’s drop it. But don’t let me see you again.”

Her gaze seemed to pierce straight through Ning, carrying a hint of disappointment, almost like she was scolding her for not living up to expectations.

Ning figured the main personality must have stepped in to stop things otherwise, this torment would have gone on all afternoon. Relieved, she exhaled, thanked Zheng Si, and quickly made her exit.

Zheng Si, however, stayed where she was, watching Ning’s retreating figure. “You’re really letting her go? Didn’t you just say you liked her figure?” she muttered mockingly to herself.

It was hard to tell what the main personality’s aesthetic was supposed to be, murmuring endlessly about “perfect proportions,” “ideal curves,” and “a body built for modeling.” And yet, after all that talk, she’d just let Ning walk away unharmed.

“Well, I couldn’t just ask a total stranger to pose for me,” Zheng Si’s voice changed slightly, softe. This was clearly the main personality speaking. “Besides, didn’t you just warn her to stay away from me?”

It was the same voice, but the difference between the two personalities was like night and day the eyes, the tone, even the way she breathed.

Looking a bit frustrated, Zheng Si crouched down to pick up her sketchpad. When her eyes fell on the drawing of Ning, her face suddenly flushed. She coughed awkwardly. “And you said she wasn’t pretty. Look at this, how could anyone not call that beautiful?”

The alter ego didn’t reply, as if everything that had just happened was an act. Zheng Si sighed, placed the sketch aside, and occasionally glanced at it again each time, her expression unconsciously softened, as if the drawing itself gave her motivation to keep working.

Meanwhile, Ning, who had nearly been skewered a moment ago, felt more exasperated than anything. She hadn’t lost to any of the other four villains, yet she’d almost died at Zheng Si’s hands. Maybe she’d underestimated her because she’d seemed like the “easiest” one to handle, and that carelessness had nearly cost her life.

The more she thought about it, the worse she felt. She could have approached Zheng Si in a gentler way, but now, thanks to her earlier blunder, the main personality’s affection had dropped from 50 to 10. Her rashness had made Zheng Si see her in a completely different light. Judging from how things went, they probably wouldn’t even speak for a long time, if ever again.

Annoyance clouded her mind, but she didn’t dare wander off alone anymore. She went straight back to the classroom.

It was already one in the afternoon. A few students had returned. Zhen Xier was, as usual, surrounded by admirers, everyone treating her like a star. Ning’s seat had been taken again, but before she could say anything, the person occupying it immediately got up and scurried away. Even Zhen Xier’s little entourage lowered their voices, as if afraid to provoke her.

The classroom was still noisy, but somehow, Ning felt a strange sense of safety amid the chaos. She lay her head down, trying to catch a quick nap. After all, once afternoon classes ended, that’s when the real danger would begin.

It was Tuesday. Four classes this afternoon. As she followed along with the lessons, Ning finally started to feel what being a real third-year student was like. Between fending off five villains and worrying about her future, she had her hands full.

But when she looked at her study materials, a wave of despair washed over her. Forget being a “top student” at this rate, anyone in class could step on her academically.

Her gaze drifted to her biggest academic rival, Zhen Xier, who appeared to be focused on studying… except she wasn’t. She was scrolling on her phone under the desk. For Ning, that was rare to see, maybe she’d just never paid this much attention to Zhen Xier before.

Zhen Xier’s lips curved faintly, like something on her phone had made her genuinely happy. That soft smile was disarming; if she just didn’t talk, Ning could admit she was stunning.

Still, curiosity sparked again. Who could make her smile like that?

Was it the male lead she’d eventually kill?
Dr. Ma, perhaps?
Or some new “butterfly effect” variable brought on by Ning’s interference?

Zhen Xier’s smile deepened until she almost laughed aloud. She quickly looked away, forcing herself to think of something sad to calm down. But when she finally noticed Ning watching her, her smile froze and vanished instantly.

[Why are you staring at me?]

They hadn’t exchanged contact info both of their phones were monitored, and every message was visible to Zhen Batian. So Zhen Xier scribbled the question in her notebook and slid it toward Ning.

[You just looked so happy. I was curious what made you smile.]

Ning replied casually, passing the notebook back. It was the first time they’d communicated since morning. Maybe because Zhen Xier now knew Ning meant no harm, her aura of the “poisonous rich girl” seemed a little less intense, but she still wasn’t exactly friendly.

[Mind your own business.]

Zhen Xier wrote bluntly and handed the notebook back. But then, for some reason, she looked at Ning again, and whatever she’d been holding back burst out she couldn’t stop laughing.

Instantly, the math teacher’s gaze snapped toward her.

“Unbelievable! You can’t even keep quiet in class? Your grades are already abysmal, and you still dare distract others!”

The teacher’s sharp voice sliced through the room, waking up every drowsy student. They perked up instantly, thrilled to see the new transfer student getting scolded.

“Zhen Ning! I’m talking to you, stand up!” the teacher barked. She didn’t seem to care that the girl bore the powerful Zhen surname, which left the class stunned.

“Oh, by the way,” Zhen Xier murmured, “that student who caused trouble yesterday? He’s one of her favorites.”

And just like that, Ning understood. The teacher’s rage wasn’t only about her poor math skills. It was also because of that boy she’d beaten up yesterday.

She pictured his swollen face and sighed inwardly. So even that was connected. It felt like every event in this world was a chain reaction, dragging her straight into the center of trouble.

The teacher, clearly fueled by gossip, continued scolding Ning mercilessly. No curse words, but every sentence was nastier than any insult.

Ning’s thoughts drifted. She didn’t bother defending herself until Zhen Xier subtly slid her phone toward her. On the screen was a forum thread full of gossip: accusations that Ning had faked her top exam scores at Ocean High. Someone had even compared handwriting samples, claiming her math paper had been forged. Others piled on, calling her a fraud.

“Zhen Ning! Are you even listening?!”

The teacher’s shout snapped her out of it. Ning looked up so quickly that for a moment, the cold, dangerous glint in her eyes slipped through. She caught herself and smiled sweetly instead. “Sorry, teacher. I was nervous yesterday, that’s why my score was so low.”

The teacher stared at her, seemingly taken aback by her calmness. Ning’s handwriting might’ve changed, but after 138 lifetimes, it was no wonder. She wasn’t the same naive girl she once was.

“Fine,” the teacher finally said after a pause. “If your midterm results don’t improve, I’ll recommend transferring you to another class.”

Her tone had softened perhaps she realized who she was dealing with and decided to de-escalate.

Ning nodded obediently. Inside, though, she was seething. Who’s behind this smear campaign? Whoever it was, she’d prove her worth soon enough. When that time came, all these so-called villains would be begging for her help.

The thought steadied her mood. She focused on her textbook again.

System message: Zhen Xier’s affection for host +10. Current affection: -30.

Ning blinked. Huh? I didn’t even do anything…

She turned her head slightly. Zhen Xier, startled, quickly averted her gaze. The tips of her pale ears flushed pink.

Ning shivered involuntarily. Oh, right aside from being a frail, manipulative “green tea,” Zhen Xier was also a hopeless love-brain.