Blame the Villain – Chapter 234

Villainous Singer (6)

Soon, Song Xuyi faced her first examination after arriving at Bilin Star [R: bǐ lín xīng, neighboring star].

As Bilin Star’s most prestigious major, the Robotics Research Department implemented a strict elimination system. Out of the eight-year program, only the top ten students would continue their studies at Bilin Star’s higher institutions, while the rest would be eliminated and transferred to other majors.

Currently, there were over a hundred students in the robotics program, meaning Song Xuyi’s chances of staying were less than one in ten.

Compared to the Bilin Starians who grew up influenced by what they constantly sees and hears in robotics and already possessed basic robotics knowledge, Song Xuyi’s disadvantage was glaringly obvious. Almost no one believed she would remain in the program.

Song Xuyi felt the pressure as well.

However, she understood that anxiety was useless. Even if she ultimately got eliminated, she wouldn’t regret giving it her twelve parts [maximum effort].

Song Xuyi began studying day and night, mastering theoretical knowledge thoroughly until she could recite it backwards [memorize perfectly]. But what worried her was the lack of opportunities for hands-on practice in assembly and disassembly. While the practical aspect was crucial in robot design and construction, Bilin Star students had enough money to purchase robot models for practice. Song Xuyi, however, was desperately poor, relying on Bilin Star’s financial aid even for food, and had no money to buy equipment.

Every half month, Song Xuyi had one chance to contact her family on Ruoshui Star, but she didn’t want to let Song Yi know about her difficulties. She didn’t know what the original person would have done, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak up: regardless of whether Song Yi would later become a Guardian, she didn’t want to be the one pushing him onto that path.

Whenever she contacted home, Song Xuyi would only report that everything was fine and she lacked nothing. Song Yi, swamped with work, never noticed her predicament. The conversations between father and daughter resembled more of a subordinate reporting to a superior than family members talking.

When the first examination ended, as Song Xuyi expected, she ranked among the top in theoretical tests but near the bottom in practical skills. Her overall ranking fell in the lower-middle range. Though she wasn’t eliminated, the situation remained far from optimistic.

Among Ruoshui Star people, this was already considered a good achievement. Several others who had enrolled in robotics with Song Xuyi were eliminated in the first round and had to choose different majors.

But Song Xuyi wasn’t satisfied with this.

She needed money to buy equipment and parts.

Song Xuyi decided to earn money herself.

After some thought, she began asking Luo Xi about part-time job opportunities.

However, Luo Xi was also focused on studying diligently, only concerned with having enough food and warmth. She didn’t know how Ruoshui Star people could earn money on Bilin Star, so Song Xuyi had to seek help elsewhere.

Surprisingly few Ruoshui Star people worked part-time jobs, since Bilin Star was already highly industrialized. After asking around, Song Xuyi finally found one reliable option: working as a mascot at a museum.

The Bilin Starians of this era were remarkably lazy and rarely went out. The museum manager didn’t offer high wages – Song Xuyi would need to work for about a month just to buy one simple robotics model kit.

But Song Xuyi was already satisfied. Compared to Ruoshui Star people who worked in mines day and night barely earning enough to eat, this job’s pay was considered generous. She planned to work hard, first paying back her debt to Lin Ruyu for the translator, then saving money for robotics model equipment.

However, as a mascot, Song Xuyi had to remove her glasses and wear extremely heavy armor costume. Since her body hadn’t undergone laser eye surgery, the blurry vision where she couldn’t distinguish between people and dogs beyond two meters made her feel insecure.

Though this body of Song Xuyi’s wasn’t as strikingly beautiful as Lin Ruyu’s, she was still considered a cute loli with a small palm-sized face and misty big eyes. Combined with cold mechanical elements, it created an extreme aesthetic contrast. After someone shared images on social media, Bilin Starians exclaimed how adorable she was, quickly sparking a trend of checking in the museum to take photos.

The first few days were manageable, but as the images spread, more and more people came to take photos. Song Xuyi could only bear the extremely heavy armor suit while forcing a smile for photos with Bilin Starians. Occasionally, some ill-mannered Bilin Starians would try to break through the security line to touch her, and she would even hear various messy and chaotic remarks…

As museum visitors increased, this job further compressed Song Xuyi’s rest time. Not wanting to fall behind in her studies, she could only work harder at night, getting less than four hours of rest per day.

The obvious consequence of such overexertion was the decline in Song Xuyi’s physical condition. One day, while putting on the armor suit in the break room, she was struck by intense chest pain. Song Xuyi experienced heart palpitations, dizziness, and her limbs turned cold as she collapsed to the ground.

But the supervisor began urging from outside. After resting for a few minutes, Song Xuyi could only force herself to stand up and send a voice message to Luo Xi, telling her she wasn’t feeling well and asking Luo Xi to pick her up after work…

Song Xuyi’s voice was very low and soft, like a kitten’s mewing, sounding utterly pitiful. Lin Ruyu, who had just woken up in another country with a time difference, heard Song Xuyi’s weak and pitiful voice…

Song Xuyi didn’t know if Luo Xi had heard the voice message, but the supervisor outside started urging again. Taking a deep breath, she could only support herself against the wall to stand up and return to her work position.

The noise was endless to the ears, and Song Xuyi lost track of time. Her chest felt like surging waves of blood, her head hurt as if being pricked by needles, sweat continuously rolled down her forehead, and her body felt foreign to her…

Amidst the noisy crowd, Song Xuyi heard the nauseating voice of a Bilin Star man.

“This cute Ruoshui Star girl, why do you make her stand here?” This man had been coming to watch Song Xuyi every day, his lewd gaze sickeningly uncomfortable. Now his voice seemed extremely close: “Such a weak race, she should be properly collected and displayed for viewing, oh, poor little thing…”

The man’s voice seemed to draw even closer, causing a commotion nearby.

With blurry shadows before her eyes, Song Xuyi couldn’t clearly see if the man had approached. She instinctively stepped back in fear, then heard screams around her, as if someone had walked in…

Song Xuyi froze, took another step back, her vision darkening. Her foot hit the edge of the display platform, and as she fell backward, she landed in a soft embrace—

Song Xuyi instinctively tried to break free, but in the chaotic environment, she heard a familiar voice from above: “It’s me—”

Lin Ruyu? How did she get here?

Song Xuyi was shocked, but unconsciously felt relieved. The taut string [tension] that had been building in her heart finally relaxed, her vision went dark, and she fell completely unconscious…

When Song Xuyi woke up again, she was back at Kelin Academy.

This planet showed extreme respect for privacy, providing single rooms for every student. Unlike Song Xuyi’s simple single room, this room was surprisingly large, as if an entire floor had been converted into one room. When Song Xuyi first woke up, she didn’t even realize where she was until she put on her glasses and saw the spire, the landmark of Kelin Academy, through the window. Only then did she understand she was still within the academy.

Then Song Xuyi’s attention was immediately captured by the room’s interior—this room was practically a robotics student’s heaven, with half the room filled with various small robot models!

Song Xuyi’s eyes widened, somewhat suspecting that her longing for models had caused hallucinations, when unexpectedly, a soft laugh came from nearby—

“Silly girl!”

Song Xuyi turned her head to see Lin Ruyu’s beautiful face at the doorway. Lin Ruyu came out from the small kitchen, bringing a cup of water to Song Xuyi, and kindly explained: “This is my room.”

Song Xuyi hadn’t expected Lin Ruyu to bring her to her room, and felt somewhat awkward. Under Lin Ruyu’s commanding gaze, she hurriedly drank the water Lin Ruyu handed her. Just as she was about to get out of bed, Lin Ruyu pressed down on her hand.

“You need more rest, and I have something to discuss with you.” As if knowing what Song Xuyi was thinking, Lin Ruyu continued: “I’ve already asked for leave from your teacher. I checked, and this class is about theoretical knowledge. Your teacher said that with your comprehension ability, you can catch up by reading later.”

Song Xuyi finally relaxed and lay back down. Just as she was about to express thanks, Lin Ruyu’s next words dropped like a heavy stone in her heart: “Oh, no need to thank me, I’ve already helped you quit your museum part-time job!”

?!

Song Xuyi’s eyes widened, not understanding why Lin Ruyu would overstep and make decisions for her. But being too shocked and naturally mild-mannered, she couldn’t voice her questions.

“Because your teacher scolded me,” seeming to notice Song Xuyi’s shock, Lin Ruyu sat beside her and pinched her cheek, explaining: “He probably thought we were close friends, saying that as your good friend, I shouldn’t only focus on your theoretical studies, since practical operation is the core of your major. He told me to supervise your practical work, or you’d be eliminated soon…”

Song Xuyi frowned, avoiding Lin Ruyu’s cheek-pinching: Lin Ruyu being scolded wasn’t a valid reason for helping her quit her job.

“He said some unpleasant things that made me angry…” This time it was Lin Ruyu who frowned. She rubbed her fingers, seeming somewhat reluctant, but finally lowered the fingers that had been pinching Song Xuyi’s cheek.

Song Xuyi guessed those words must have wounded Lin Ruyu’s pride, as these teachers always maintained their Bilin Star superiority complex, discriminating against Ruoshui Star students. Sure enough, as Song Xuyi expected, Lin Ruyu then gave her a deep look: “As Ruoshui Star people, I must prove to him that we’re not intellectually inferior.”

“You went to the museum to earn money, and I happen to not lack money.” Unable to pinch her cheeks, Lin Ruyu now focused on Song Xuyi’s hair. She played with it lazily, her manner and appearance like that of an extremely willful, spoiled young girl: “And since he looked down on me without reason, I naturally need to regain my dignity—”

“So I’ve decided to hire you to help me regain my dignity,” Lin Ruyu glanced sideways at Song Xuyi: “Don’t you still owe me money? And you need work, so why not accept my employment? I’ll pay you double what the museum paid. I plan to hire you to study well, all the way to the most advanced courses, and make those disgusting Bilin Starians look at us with new eyes!”

Song Xuyi’s eyes widened: she hadn’t expected this to be Lin Ruyu’s reason for helping her quit her job.

To Song Xuyi, this was like a pie falling from heaven, but she wasn’t dazed by it. She hadn’t forgotten that Lin Ruyu was the minor villain in the plot outline. Could she have other motives for doing this?

Song Xuyi’s doubts were all visible in her eyes, and Lin Ruyu naturally noticed.

Her eyes darkened slightly, but her smile deepened. She pointed toward the robot models in the room and continued: “Of course, I certainly have other conditions. I originally wanted to study robotics too, but I chose a different path. Robotics research became my hobby, one I can’t let go of, but the school teachers won’t tutor me. I want you to teach me after you’ve learned it. In return, you can use all the models in my room…”

All… the models?!

Song Xuyi followed Lin Ruyu’s finger to look at the models in the room, swallowing hard: those models were even more sophisticated than the ones in the school laboratory! Though she suspected Lin Ruyu still had ulterior motives, these models were a temptation Song Xuyi couldn’t resist.

“You really want to let me use these models?”

The happiness came too suddenly, and Song Xuyi couldn’t help but repeat herself, looking questioningly at Lin Ruyu.

Lin Ruyu’s face bore a slight smile, and Song Xuyi couldn’t quite describe the feeling. The Lin Ruyu before her seemed different from usual, the light in her eyes appearing brighter, her whole person strikingly captivating…

Song Xuyi didn’t dare meet Lin Ruyu’s gaze, only staring at the small red mole at the corner of her eye.

“Of course! My father taught me from childhood: never promise things I can’t deliver. Since I’ve made the offer, I’ll definitely follow through.” Lin Ruyu curved her lips.

Song Xuyi wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt Lin Ruyu’s expression looked extremely unhurried and ready, like a hunter waiting by a tree for rabbits [waiting for an opportunity]…

However, despite feeling somewhat uneasy, Lin Ruyu’s temptation was too great to refuse. With the system’s voice urging, “Accept it! This girl is only thirteen years old, surely you can outmaneuver such a young girl…” and facing Lin Ruyu’s curved eyes, Song Xuyi closed her eyes and nodded—

“I accept!”

---

The author has something to say:

Lin Ruyu (#^.^#): Seems like children aren’t so easy to deceive~

---

LP: Re-translated on January 16, 2025

---

---