When the Villain Falls Madly in Love with Herself - Chapter 12

Back in her room, Jiang Le had just finished washing up and lying down when her phone started buzzing frantically, as if it were about to explode. It was Li Yan.

When Jiang Le opened the chat, the screen was filled with messages Li Yan had sent and then retracted, leaving only a single, solitary message standing alone.

Hurry up and reply! It’s urgent!

Jiang Le calmly replied  North North Back Back, duh.

Instantly, Li Yan’s barrage of complaints flooded in like a tidal wave. After being forced to relive a secret she already knew by heart, Jiang Le’s gaze lingered on the soul-searching question in the chat

So, what do you think of her?

Jiang Le’s clever little brain whirred at high speed, her CPU nearly overheating. Finally, she cautiously typed a reply

Did you misspell something?

Huh? Li Yan blinked her wide eyes at the screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard, a flurry of question marks filling the chat No! Tell me! Are we a good match? Does she like me? If not, why did she stuff my backpack with gold bars? Why does she feed me every day? Why does she always drag me to the bathroom? Why…

A barrage of whys pounded Jiang Le’s head into a dizzying haze, making her almost forget what the word even meant.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally connected the name Chen Ting with the short-haired girl from her memories—the one who always carried a bag of snacks, treated Li Yan with fiery enthusiasm, and regarded Jiang Le with icy indifference.

Jiang Le She’s a girl.

Li Yan ????

???????

The phone screen instantly flooded with massive question marks. Li Yan clutched her phone, her face etched with disbelief, as if Jiang Le had missed the most earth-shattering news headline in history.

Jiang Le Should I know her?

Li Yan Chen Ting! Chen! Ting! Shouldn’t you know her? We were in the same class in the first year of high school! She even sat next to you!

Li Yan Frustrated emoji

Li Yan was heartbroken. She deeply felt that Jiang Le needed to get her brain checked at the hospital. Being face-blind was one thing, but now her memory was failing too.

That brief month of camaraderie before the first-year classes were divided into humanities and sciences had long faded into a hazy blur in Jiang Le’s memory, which was focused solely on devouring books.

Li Yan Forget it, forget it. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained.

Jiang Le You’re all girls.

Jiang Le typed this blandly.

Li Yan Tell me something I don’t know.

Jiang Le fell into deep thought. I’ve never received a love letter from a girl.

Li Yan Heh, should I give you a Best Straight Girl award?

Jiang Le Stop using these tired jokes.

Li Yan As if the jokes you usually make are so original and clever?

Li Yan Eye-roll emoji

Jiang Le Is that how you’re supposed to use it?

…… Li Yan slammed her phone onto the bed, closed her eyes to rest, and refused to waste any more time arguing with Jiang Le.

There was no reasoning with this person.

Jiang Le, still lying on the bed, sank into deep thought. It was clear that this bookworm, who prided herself on knowing everything from astronomy to geography, had stumbled upon a blind spot in her knowledge.

She lowered her head and typed a few more words on her phone How can you two be together?

With a ding, Li Yan sat up abruptly, glanced at the screen, and replied with a mix of disappointment and exasperation Why not? You’re more old-fashioned than my mom! Even she understands the concept of freedom in love. I can’t be bothered to explain.

Jiang Le tried to salvage the conversation Is there some special etiquette or rules for love?

Li Yan Heh, etiquette? Etiquette of timing and circumstance, etiquette of destiny, etiquette of fate. Definitely not etiquette of selfless sacrifice for human reproduction.

It sounded like mockery, but also… not. Her phrasing was perfectly normal, perfectly reasonable. Jiang Le puffed out her cheeks, having almost convinced herself.

Li Yan Mocking emoji

Jiang Le froze. Fine, she was mocking her.

It seemed Jiang Le was simply born without that particular string in her heart.

Jiang Congyue had no biological children, making Jiang Le a randomly chosen lucky heir. Whether it was fate or destiny, since she had been given such privilege, her only duty was to study diligently and ensure the Jiang Family’s legacy continued.

Everything else was irrelevant.

Based on her precise analysis of Chen Ting’s behavior, Jiang Le concluded and warned  She likes you. But she’s the daughter of a bank president. If you get together, the obstacles will be immense.

Li Yan’s heart sank. Her parents were open-minded, but what about Chen Ting’s?

But don’t worry,  Jiang Le typed calmly.

Depressed puppy emoji. Do you have a plan?  Li Yan asked.

My family is richer than Chen Ting’s,  Jiang Le replied.

Li Yan’s eyes widened, and she nearly dropped her phone. The sheer audacity! The blunt logic! The arrogant confidence!

And she fucking loved it!

This was the first time Li Yan had heard Jiang Le use the phrase my family. Knowing Jiang Le was adopted, Li Yan usually avoided the topic to spare her feelings.

Why was Jiang Le suddenly bringing it up now?

After a few more exchanges, they agreed rest up tonight, and wake up early tomorrow to make things happen!

The next morning, Jiang Le’s alarm blared, and she sprang out of bed with the agility of a rabbit.

Today was a crucial day, and she couldn’t afford to slack off!

After a quick wash, she slung her bag over her shoulder and hurried downstairs. Jiang Congyue greeted her and urged her to force down a few bites of breakfast.

Have fun, Jiang Congyue said, setting down her cup with a faint smile.

Jiang Le frowned, swiftly snatched away her coffee, and called out, Aunt He, replace that with warm milk! She turned back, scolding, Don’t drink this anymore, got it?

Alright, alright, alright, Jiang Congyue said, raising her hands in mock surrender, her eyebrows lifting in amusement.

Watching Jiang Congyue’s playful, childlike antics, Jiang Le sighed helplessly and shrugged. I’m leaving now.

Bye-bye Jiang Congyue called out with a laugh, blowing her a kiss through the air.

Li Yan’s chartered car pulled up precisely on time. She leaned halfway out the window, waving. Jiang Le, hurry up!

But a moment later, she was yanked back into her seat by a forceful hand. Li Yan frowned, then saw Chen Ting’s icy gaze and immediately switched to a smile. What’s with the yanking?

Chen Ting spoke, his voice flat, It’s dangerous. Besides, she’ll get in even if you don’t wave.

Hey, I think you’re being way too harsh on Jiang Le! Li Yan pouted, grumbling.

Jiang Le dashed onto the bus, her eyes immediately meeting Chen Ting’s icy glare. She raised an eyebrow and returned a defiant smirk.

When Li Yan shifted in his seat to look over, the two girls seamlessly averted their gazes, acting as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Le, sit here with me! Li Yan, you move up front, a girl in the back seat nudged Li Yan, glaring at him with a you’re so clueless look.

What a waste of a perfect opportunity! Why would you come sit in the back?

Before Li Yan could react, Jiang Le had already settled into the seat opposite Chen Ting with practiced ease. Li Yan could only slink back to his original spot.

Jiang Le glanced sideways. The veins on the back of Chen Ting’s hand, gripping her water bottle, were taut with tension. She then turned to look at Li Yan, who was still grinning foolishly, and shook her head with a wry smile.

Only an idiot like Li Yan could miss Chen Ting’s murderous glare.

With four girls and two boys on board, the lively banter of Li Yan and Xiao Lexin kept the mood light throughout the journey. The group laughed and joked all the way to their destination.

As they disembarked, the two boys gallantly shouldered most of the heavy equipment.

Chen Ting! What do you want to eat? I brought tons of… Li Yan, like a happy puppy, clung to Chen Ting’s side, counting off the treasures in his backpack on his fingers.

Before Li Yan could even sling her backpack over her shoulder, Chen Ting had already reached out and effortlessly lifted it, her movements as smooth as if she were handling her own belongings.

Hey! Chen Ting, you grabbed the wrong one! That’s my bag! Li Yan shouted, snatching it back and quickly slinging it over her shoulder, like a protective little animal guarding its food.

Chen Ting’s hand froze in mid-air, her fingertips curling slightly. …

Jiang Le, who had witnessed the entire exchange, couldn’t help but let out a short, cold laugh. Hopeless, she thought, watching the two of them. For a moment, she couldn’t decide whose romantic path was more fraught with obstacles.

The group crested a small hill, and the landscape suddenly opened up before them. A flat meadow stretched out, with a clear stream gurgling nearby.

This is it! Xiao Kexin announced with a smile.

As if granted a pardon, the group rushed to the stream, cupping the cool water to splash on their faces, washing away the heat from their long trek. A mountain breeze swept through, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, and everyone let out a collective sigh of contentment.

Refreshing! someone shouted, and the group erupted into laughter.

With Xiao Kexin leading the way, she assigned tasks, and the others were so excited they practically fought over who got to do what.

However, to create a private moment for Li Yan and Chen Ting, the group subtly sent them to wash vegetables by the stream while the rest paired off to handle other tasks, their intentions unspoken but understood by all.

Two boys were responsible for setting up the tent, while Jiang Le and another girl sorted the luggage and set up the barbecue grill.

Hey, Jiang Le, look! The girl who had asked to switch seats earlier pointed to the pair by the stream and whispered, Look at those two.

Jiang Le glanced over. The two figures were standing close together by the stream, bathed in sunlight, playfully bumping and nudging each other in a childish shoving match, seemingly never tiring of their game.

Hey! Are you two going to be washing vegetables until the end of time? One of the boys setting up the tent called out with a teasing grin.

Li Yan turned around, her cheeks flushed, and glared at him playfully. The group erupted in good-natured laughter.

Jiang Le watched them with fascination. The teenagers’ hearts were as pure as the mountain breeze, their faces lighting up with radiant smiles over the smallest things.

The thoughts she heard in their minds mirrored their smiles—full of genuine kindness.

A sudden thought flashed through her mind Was it really necessary for them to gather six people? Or was someone trying to make her experience this kind of lively camaraderie that she had always kept at arm’s length?

Her gaze settled on Li Yan, who was splashing water and laughing with the others. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

She shouldn’t let the thorns from a narrow-minded place wound her and cause her to shut out all flowers with thorns. Their fragrance was so intoxicating.

The group spent a lively afternoon playing, eating, and drinking, each secretly gathering their energy for the big event that evening.

As dusk deepened, stars began to dot the inky blue sky one by one.

Excitedly, everyone refreshed their meteor shower forecasts on their phones, holding their breath in anticipation.

But Jiang Le felt as if her limbs were weighed down with lead, all her strength drained away. A piercing tinnitus shrieked in her ears, and her head throbbed as if pierced by countless needles. Waves of nausea surged through her.

Forcing down her discomfort, unwilling to ruin the mood, she quietly retreated to the tent’s edge, squatted down, and swallowed a few spare heatstroke pills. Feeling slightly better, she took a deep breath and rejoined the group.

Hey! Jiang Le, where did you go? Come on, come on! Li Yan, who had been sneaking around on the other side, grabbed her arm excitedly, nearly pulling her off balance.

The news says it’s about to start! What do we do? What do we do? I’m so nervous! Li Yan’s palms were drenched in sweat.

Jiang Le’s mind still felt hazy, her face pale. She managed a weak, reassuring smile. Stay calm. You… you’ll definitely succeed.

Ah! Look! Quick, make a wish! someone shouted.

A dazzling streak of light tore through the deep night sky, leaving a long, silvery trail that instantly lit up everyone’s eyes.

Chen Ting! I love you! Be with me! Li Yan, clutching a large bouquet of flowers she had secretly hidden, charged toward Chen Ting like a small cannonball as Chen Ting stood with her eyes closed, devoutly making a wish.

Chen Ting’s eyes snapped open, her pupils reflecting starlight and the blur of Li Yan’s approaching figure.

In the next instant, with almost fierce determination, she flung her arms wide and pulled the lunging Li Yan into a tight embrace. Her scalding breath brushed against Li Yan’s earlobe as she whispered with a barely perceptible tremor, My wish… came true.

Together! Together!

Amidst the crowd’s waving hands and jubilant shouts, Jiang Le’s raised hand trembled, her vision blurring as the surrounding sounds gradually faded away.

Jiang Le!

Someone screamed in alarm, followed by the heavy thud of a body collapsing to the ground.