Blame the Villain – Chapter 111

Villainous Stand-in (9)

What is going on?

Why can’t I suddenly get out of the dream?

Song Xuyi tried to call the system in her mind: but got no response…

Song Xuyi recalled the events before she fell unconscious: she lost consciousness after being hit by Zhang Cai’s car…

Could it be that because her real-life self is still in a coma, she is stuck in the dream?

Then… how long will this dream continue?

……

Song Xuyi pressed her lips together, countless thoughts flashed through her mind, while the young version of Old Master Song had already stridden up to Li Yuqing—

Old Master Song looked at Li Yuqing with an extremely sorrowful and apologetic gaze, holding her hand and continuously apologizing: “Yuqing, I didn’t mean to leave you there. Just your Li family… hey, you also know that we businessmen believe in fortune-telling, and the master said that in a few days would be the auspicious day for you to enter our Song family. So I rented a place for you to rest outside first. I didn’t expect those two security guards to be so audacious…”

The people nearby expressed their understanding, even though everyone was outraged that a little girl like Li Yuqing was almost violated by beasts, they also knew that businessmen like the Song family are superstitious about feng shui. Old Master Song’s actions were understandable.

And the victim herself did not show any resistance towards Old Master Song. When Li Yuqing saw him, she even cried pitifully with a sense of grievance and dependence, calling out, “Grandpa Song.”

At first, Old Master Song was taken aback by Li Yuqing’s reaction. However, no matter what, her closeness to him at that moment dispelled the rumors that he had been harsh to her. Old Master Song was very pleased with Li Yuqing’s ‘understanding of the bigger picture’ and put on a kind expression, holding her hand and repeatedly apologizing. He assured her that he would fire those audacious security guards and promised to bring her into the Song family’s mansion as soon as possible.

……

Thus, under Song Xuyi’s witness, Li Yuqing and Old Master Song got along extremely well. Li Yuqing fully created the image of an orphan girl who, after her family’s decline, desperately catered to her former enemies to regain her past wealth. If not seen with her own eyes, Song Xuyi could hardly believe that a child in her teens could have such acting skills.

……

From beginning to end, Li Yuqing’s gaze never looked in Song Xuyi’s direction. Only when she was being led out of the police station by Old Master Song did Li Yuqing turn her head to glance in Song Xuyi’s direction.

Meeting Li Yuqing’s gaze, Song Xuyi yawned, smiled at Li Yuqing, stood up, and followed behind the group.

Li Yuqing turned her head back.

She slightly pursed her lips, her face still expressionless, but her back was noticeably straighter.

The group once again returned to the room from which Li Yuqing had escaped.

The two men Song Xuyi had seen the previous night were no longer in their original place, replaced by two elderly women.

“These two have worked in our Song family for many years. In the next few days, you can learn some of our Song family’s rules from them.” Old Master Song made an effort to maintain appearances, instructing the two elderly women in detail about Li Yuqing’s food, clothing, housing, and transportation. Finally, he showed concern for Li Yuqing’s education, proposing a plan to send her to study arts, dance, and culinary skills. Li Yuqing listened quietly without any objections, which greatly pleased Old Master Song. He then leisurely left the room.

After Old Master Song left, the two elderly women began organizing ‘lessons’ for Li Yuqing, talking about the glorious history of the Song family in the business world and the family’s structure. Although they said a lot, Song Xuyi extracted a common core from all their words: Old Master Song is the king of the Song family, and everything in the Song family must cater to his preferences.

The two elderly women spoke of extremely tedious things, and their words even sounded very noisy, yet Li Yuqing kept listening with a smile on her face, showing no impatience at all.

When the elderly women finished their lecture and asked Li Yuqing to repeat what she had learned, Li Yuqing recited all the key points without missing a word.

The elderly women did not expect Li Yuqing to remember so much at once. They exchanged glances and then, on the pretext of training her household skills, asked Li Yuqing to clean all the furniture in the room.

Li Yuqing nodded, brought in a basin of water from outside, and started to wipe.

The furniture was very dusty, with many years of spots and wormholes. Li Yuqing cleaned very slowly, yet the two elderly women continued to criticize her: “Miss Li, don’t mind me for being talkative, but if you are to do something, you must do it well. Mr. Song dislikes people who give up halfway…”

Under the ‘urging’ of the two elderly women, Li Yuqing spent the entire afternoon cleaning the furniture in the house and only stopped when it was almost time for dinner.

Because she hadn’t eaten all day, Li Yuqing ate a bit faster, which led to another lecture from the elderly women: “Miss Li, you can’t eat so fast. Didn’t your parents teach you that?”

Li Yuqing was momentarily stunned and had to slow down, taking small bites. Just as she finished half a bowl, the rice in her hand was taken away by the two elderly women again—

“Miss Li, you need to moderate your carbohydrate intake. For women like us, appearance and figure are the most important weapons…”

Time and time again, even Song Xuyi felt a bit suffocated, yet the expression on Li Yuqing’s face remained almost unchanged. She didn’t seem the least bit impatient and obediently sat by the side.

Song Xuyi couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion: No wonder Li Yuqing would ultimately become the villain in the story. Just the resilience she shows now is beyond ordinary.

However, given Li Yuqing’s current circumstances, this was already the most appropriate way to act.

……

Finally, it was evening.

After Li Yuqing finished her bath and was ordered by the two elderly women to finish washing the clothes, it was finally time for Li Yuqing to rest.

Song Xuyi deliberately lagged behind by two steps, staying outside the door to listen to the two elderly women making a phone call to Old Master Song. Listening to their comments like, “Miss Li is probably scared out of her wits, eager to return to her former affluent life, so she almost completely accepts our difficulties and is very obedient…” Song Xuyi then entered Li Yuqing’s room.

Even with the lights off, under the light seeping in from outside the window, it was still possible to see Li Yuqing lying on the bed with her eyes open.

Song Xuyi approached the bedside and clearly noticed that Li Yuqing’s gaze was fixed on her face.

Song Xuyi relayed the contents of the phone call she heard outside and tugged at the corner of Li Yuqing’s quilt, “You should go to sleep quickly, tomorrow you’ll probably have to deal with their difficulties again…”

However, before Song Xuyi could finish her sentence, a trembling hand reached out from under the quilt and grabbed the hem of Song Xuyi’s clothes.

“Can you… can you sleep with me tonight?”

Even in the dim light, Song Xuyi could still sense the expectation in Li Yuqing’s eyes as she looked at her.

Song Xuyi instinctively wanted to refuse.

She originally intended to sit on the chair and doze off for the night, while considering various issues about this dream: For the past half day, Song Xuyi had been testing this strange dream and found that she could only linger around Li Yuqing. Once she went a little further, it felt like an invisible force would pull her back…

And this dream seemed far too realistic. In a daze, Song Xuyi even had a feeling—as if these events had truly happened before.

Seeing Song Xuyi’s silent refusal, Li Yuqing’s body stiffened and she let go of Song Xuyi’s clothes.

“I’m sorry, I was being too much.” The young girl’s voice sounded calm and steady, but if you listened carefully, there was a slight tremble in her tone. “Fairies always protect the kind and pure-hearted. Someone like me, who is so young yet already full of schemes, opportunistic, and destined to fall into hell, naturally doesn’t deserve the favor of a fairy…”

Song Xuyi did not expect Li Yuqing to think this way.

Recalling the moment when she woke up in the morning and met Li Yuqing’s gaze, Song Xuyi suddenly understood everything: Li Yuqing was delighted that she was still here, right?

Putting herself in Li Yuqing’s shoes, Song Xuyi could actually understand her mindset: She was probably the only somewhat familiar person left in Li Yuqing’s entire world, so Li Yuqing placed her hopes for this world on her.

Even though she behaved perfectly in front of others during the day, Li Yuqing was, after all, a teenager. Everything she was doing now went against the traditional moral values she had learned, so it was imaginable what kind of psychological pressure Li Yuqing was facing in this process…

“You are not a bad child!” Song Xuyi sighed, laying down beside Li Yuqing. Although Li Yuqing had her back to Song Xuyi, she could feel Li Yuqing’s slightly trembling body and hear her suppressed sobs…

Who would have thought that the future formidable villain would be a little crybaby?

“Few children have your strong ability to handle situations, and few children are as sensible and beautiful as you…” Feeling her heart soften, Song Xuyi fully utilized her experience in soothing others and began to effortlessly praise the young girl’s strengths. Sure enough, the young girl’s tense body gradually relaxed.

“In any case, I am a fairy. If I say you are not a bad child, then you are not…” Just as Song Xuyi intended to end with this statement, Li Yuqing suddenly turned her head and burrowed into Song Xuyi’s embrace…

Instinctively, Song Xuyi wanted to push her away, but feeling the young girl’s trembling body, she hesitated for a moment. In the end, she lowered her hands and gently patted the young girl’s shoulder…

As expected, just like those people said on the phone, Li Yuqing faced a lot of difficulties again the next day.

The third day, the fourth day…

The pain Li Yuqing endured during the day would be secretly cried out at night, and she increasingly relied on Song Xuyi.

Song Xuyi also began to gradually get used to this life of accompanying and comforting her.

After a week, news came from the Song family that Li Yuqing was to move into the Song household.

Two elderly women helped Li Yuqing pack her luggage. Li Yuqing did not have much luggage and quickly finished packing, ready to depart. One of the elderly women glanced at the portrait of Old Master Li in the center of the room.

“Miss Li, you also know that your grandfather and Mr. Song were longtime rivals. If you take this photograph to the Song household…”

Li Yuqing pursed her lips.

The elderly woman seemed to want to say something more, but Li Yuqing interrupted her: “Throw it away!”

She looked at the smiling portrait of Old Master Li in the frame, as if also looking at her once happy and perfect past. Facing everyone’s gaze, she bit her lower lip and repeated once again: “Throw it away…”

LP: Re-translated on July 11, 2024

… Isn’t it common sense to comfort a crying child? Why even think of rejecting her, after knowing she’s currently suffering, Song Xuyi?