What to Do, I've Been Targeted by the Villain Again [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 8

After arriving at the pet hospital, Xu Sangning took the initiative to carry the cat carrier inside.

Ji Xiaohei was very well-behaved. When the nurse picked him up, he only let out a couple of uneasy meows before timidly curling up in her arms, staying completely still.

“He really is like a little angel,” Xu Sangning remarked, gazing at Ji Xiaohei with admiration.

“If you like cats so much, why didn’t you ever get one before?” Ji Ying asked softly, noticing the longing in Xu Sangning’s eyes.

Because nothing from these small worlds could be taken with her.

And she always had to leave midway. If she got a cat, she’d have to take responsibility for it—how could she just abandon it halfway?

“Will you take care of him until he passes away naturally?” Xu Sangning suddenly realized that Ji Ying was also a task-taker. She didn’t know how Ji Ying’s mission differed from hers or whether she would leave midway.

“Of course,” Ji Ying replied, hands in her pockets. “Do I look like the irresponsible type?”

“That’s good.” Xu Sangning nodded.

Ji Xiaohei was indeed very docile. No matter how much he was petted or handled, he didn’t resist. It was as if he knew that after this ordeal, a life of luxury awaited him.

The examination results came back quickly—Ji Xiaohei was perfectly healthy. After getting a vaccine booster, he was ready to go home.

Since there was still some time before lunch, the two stopped by a pet supply store and bought a pile of items. Aside from daily necessities, they picked out all sorts of toys, eyeing three different large cat trees alone. They practically wanted to buy every type of toy available for Ji Xiaohei.

Ji Ying called her assistant to bring over a van to transport everything back, along with Xiaohei, so she and Xu Sangning could go for lunch together.

Watching Ji Ying’s assistant take Ji Xiaohei away, Xu Sangning belatedly realized something.

“What do you want for lunch?”

Xu Sangning turned her head to meet Ji Ying’s smiling eyes.

This person… she really was doing it on purpose. No one could match her level of scheming.

“Hot pot,” Xu Sangning said, smoothing her hair. “But wait, don’t you dislike strong-smelling food?”

“Who said that? I love it. Whatever you like, I like.” Ji Ying took Xu Sangning’s hand, holding it firmly. “Let’s go.”

Xu Sangning playfully tried to shake her hand free, but Ji Ying only tightened her grip, not letting her succeed, and even swung their hands lightly in response.

Narrowing her eyes, Xu Sangning stared at the back of Ji Ying’s head, feeling as if even the back of her skull radiated smugness—though she couldn’t be sure if it was just her imagination.

Xu Sangning picked the hot pot restaurant. By the time they arrived, the entrance was already packed with people waiting. She had queued online on the way, but they still had about an hour to go.

Just as Xu Sangning was about to sit down, she noticed Ji Ying talking to someone. Eventually, Ji Ying stopped in front of a young couple, scanned their QR code with her phone, and the couple happily handed over their queue ticket to her.

“Let’s go,” Ji Ying said, waving the ticket. “It’s our turn now.”

“How much did you pay?” Xu Sangning asked.

“A thousand.”

Xu Sangning shot Ji Ying a glance and sighed in mock disappointment. “I was hoping to see if you had the patience to wait in line with me.”

“Should we grab another ticket then?” Ji Ying asked.

“They might think we’re crazy,” Xu Sangning said as she stood up and walked into the hot pot restaurant with Ji Ying.

Ji Ying followed behind Xu Sangning. “Then let’s come back to queue after visiting the temple next week.”

“No, next week has its own plans,” Xu Sangning declined politely.

“How about tomorrow, then? Weren’t you supposed to come see me tomorrow?”

Xu Sangning paused mid-step. She had almost forgotten her request to stop Ji Ying from attending the school anniversary.

This woman remembered things way too clearly.

The two chose a corner table to sit. Ji Ying handed the tablet to Xu Sangning, letting her order.

As Xu Sangning browsed the menu, she occasionally glanced at Ji Ying out of the corner of her eye. Ji Ying unhurriedly rinsed their bowls and chopsticks with hot water, then neatly arranged the tableware. Even such an ordinary, everyday action looked effortlessly graceful.

“Shall we get the dipping sauces?” Ji Ying asked.

“Let’s go.” Xu Sangning stood up.

The two went to the sauce station together. Xu Sangning kept observing Ji Ying’s movements—she expertly mixed a bowl of sauce and even picked up a few slices of orange.

Clearly not her first time eating hot pot at a place like this. And the order in which she chose the condiments was exactly the same as Xu Sangning’s.

Xu Sangning narrowed her eyes, staring at Ji Ying’s profile for three seconds before Ji Ying turned her head and flashed her a smile.

Xu Sangning: “…”

Though this woman seemed perfectly normal, she was getting bolder by the minute.

They returned to their table to find the broth already served, along with several dishes.

Xu Sangning was about to start cooking the food, but Ji Ying beat her to it, more eager than even the nearby waiter.

“Want to go shopping this afternoon?” Ji Ying poured Xu Sangning a glass of juice.

Xu Sangning was just about to refuse when Ji Ying said wistfully, “It’s been so long since I last went shopping. You know… I don’t have any friends…”

Xu Sangning swallowed her initial response.

Did Ji Ying actually enjoy shopping? No. Every month, her clothes were delivered to her doorstep, and her tailored women’s suits were all custom-made—no need to step foot in a store.

In Ji Ying’s eyes, shopping was a colossal waste of time. Xu Sangning had invited her out countless times before, only to be rejected every single time.

This character arc was so out of character even the original author would struggle to recognize it.

Besides, Ji Ying definitely knew what her own persona was supposed to be.

“Fine,” Xu Sangning agreed. “I’d be so happy to go shopping with you, Sister Ji Ying.”

She forced a smile, her tone dripping with insincerity.

After finishing their hot pot, Ji Ying drove Xu Sangning downtown.

It had been a while since Xu Sangning last went shopping too. Ji Ying had called ahead, and the mall had arranged fitting models matching their heights, weights, and body types, along with several shoe-testing models.

Rather than shopping for herself, Ji Ying was more interested in buying clothes for Xu Sangning. While her own fitting model stood idly by, Xu Sangning’s model had already tried on countless outfits, beads of sweat forming at her temples.

Ji Ying waved her hand—she bought everything.

“Why so much?” Xu Sangning protested.

“Because they look good, and I have too much money to spend,” Ji Ying replied, casually picking out two more pieces.

Xu Sangning took a deep breath and swallowed her words. Meanwhile, the sales assistant beside them was grinning from ear to ear—if only big spenders like this came every day.

“Your sister treats you so well,” the assistant remarked admiringly.

“I’m not her sister,” Ji Ying retorted, lifting her head.

Xu Sangning glanced at Ji Ying before looking away, unsure of what she meant—though it was true, they weren’t sisters.

The sales assistant froze for a second, her gaze lingering on Ji Ying and Xu Sangning for a moment longer, confusion flickering in her eyes.

She knew both Xu Sangning and Ji Ying and was aware they weren’t biological sisters. She had only referred to them as such because she’d heard Xu Sangning call Ji Ying “Sister Ji Ying.” When Ji Ying denied it, she initially thought Ji Ying disliked Xu Sangning. But judging by their expressions and the fact that Ji Ying had just splurged on her, that clearly wasn’t the case.

The sales assistant waited, but Ji Ying didn’t elaborate. Something about the situation felt off.

After a long pause, she told herself that perhaps Ji Ying was just being meticulous.

After leaving the store, Xu Sangning remained silent.

Ji Ying studied her expression. “Are you angry?”

“About what?”

“Because I said you’re not my sister?”

Xu Sangning looked sorrowful. “Is having me as a sister that embarrassing? If that’s the case, maybe we should spend less time together from now on. That way, no one will mistake me for your sister.”

She sighed again, lowering her head as if deeply hurt.

“Because I don’t want to be your sister.”

Xu Sangning looked up. Before she could say something even more unbearable, Ji Ying continued, “And I don’t want to be your sister-in-law either.”

Xu Sangning stared at Ji Ying in silence.

Truthfully, Xu Sangning wasn’t a fool. She had traveled through countless worlds, seen too many people and things—she understood what Ji Ying meant the moment she spoke. But she didn’t want to understand.

And she couldn’t understand.

No one could stop her from getting that promotion and raise!

No one.

“Then let’s just be good friends,” Xu Sangning said with a bright smile, as if flipping a switch. “I also think my brother isn’t good enough for you.”

Ji Ying didn’t miss the cold glint in Xu Sangning’s eyes the moment she spoke. For a split second, Xu Sangning had revealed her true self before quickly retreating back into her carefully crafted persona.

Ji Ying didn’t mind.

She had known it wouldn’t be this easy.

Xu Sangning didn’t remember her, and Ji Ying was well aware that, in Xu Sangning’s eyes, she was nothing more than an annoying nuisance. The fact that Xu Sangning hadn’t actively tried to make trouble for her was already a mercy. But there was no helping it—knowing Xu Sangning’s personality, if Ji Ying didn’t take the initiative, there would never be a story between them.

“Mm,” Ji Ying nodded.

That evening, the two still had dinner out before returning to their place near the campus.

Without waiting for an invitation, Xu Sangning followed Ji Ying upstairs.

Ji Ying watched her standing by the elevator doors and sighed softly.

If only I were a cat—winning Xu Sangning’s affection would be so much easier.

Once they stepped out of the elevator, Xu Sangning bid Ji Ying a quick farewell and used the passcode Ji Ying had given her earlier to unlock the door.

The cat tree and other feline accessories had already been assembled, and Ji Ying had set aside an empty room for Ji Xiaohei.

Opening the door, Xu Sangning immediately spotted the little black cat curled up on the lowest level of the massive cat tree. Compared to the towering structure, Xiaohei looked tiny—the contrast making the kitten, with its head drooping over the edge of its little nest, even more adorable.

It blinked at the two standing in the doorway before scrambling out of its nest on short legs. It circled Xu Sangning once, sniffing and nuzzling around her.

“Not shy at all,” Xu Sangning said as she reached out to pick up Ji Xiaohei, stroking its head. “So adorable.”

“Would you like some water?”

“Plain water, thank you.” Xu Sangning sat on the sofa with Xiaohei in her arms, taking several photos of it with her phone.

Ji Ying placed the water on the table, trying several times to speak but finding no good opportunity to start.

Ji Ying: Miscalculation.