Blame the Villain – Chapter 2
by Little PandaThe Villainous Film Empress (2)
A little rich girl bent on saving the world X A paranoid, dark, and vengeful Film Empress
To prevent any more accidents, Song Xuyi locked her door the moment she returned to the Song Family Estate and began to receive the body’s memories.
Perhaps because the original host was the only girl of her generation in the Song family, she was doted on in every possible way. Unlike her two older brothers, who were lectured day in and day out about inheriting the family business, her parents’ expectations for her were much more relaxed. They had named her Song Xuyi, which meant “to permit all wishes,” hoping she would grow up happy and carefree.
Raised with such indulgence and surrounded by the flattery of others, the original host’s character had inevitably gone astray. What was now just a bit of willfulness would later develop into unbridled recklessness. Because of her mad obsession with the villain Zhao Qingyu, upon learning that Song Jun liked Zhao Qingyu, the original host decided to make Zhao Qingyu marry into the Song family and become her nominal saosao. She began to find fault with the female lead, Sun Wan, at every turn, becoming the direct cause of Sun Wan’s eventual heartbreak and her decision to run away while pregnant1…
Fortunately, things hadn’t reached that point yet.
After receiving the body’s memories, Song Xuyi sighed with complicated feelings.
She picked up some makeup remover and first wiped away the chaotic mess on her face that looked like ghost-drawn talismans2, revealing the original host’s lovely and delicate features. Next, she pulled out some textbooks. Seeing the colorful portraits of Zhao Qingyu of all sizes tucked inside, and recalling the memories of the original host frantically cheering for Zhao Qingyu, a headache bloomed in Song Xuyi’s temples. After a moment’s hesitation, she grabbed a random box and stuffed the portraits inside.
“Aren’t you afraid of breaking character?” the System popped up again.
Song Xuyi remembered a certain scene from the original host’s memories. Her eyelashes trembled as she shook her head. “They won’t suspect a thing.”
Ever since becoming infatuated with Zhao Qingyu, who was competing in a talent show three months ago, the original host had already done a slew of unbelievable things.
For instance, she had used her father’s name to make all employees of Song Corporation vote for Zhao Qingyu, secretly flown the family helicopter to the competition venue to cheer for her, and emptied her allowance to hire a water army3 for Zhao Qingyu. She even forced her family’s company to develop the cheating glasses all because of a casual word of encouragement from Zhao Qingyu: “Xuyi should study hard and get into a good university.”
The original host’s various crazy antics eventually became so extreme that even her doting parents couldn’t stand it anymore. For the first time in her life, they restricted her allowance and assigned a driver and bodyguards to watch her closely.
Therefore, given the Song family’s bottomless indulgence of her, Song Xuyi didn’t think her current behavior would make them suspect anything was amiss.
And what happened next proved her guess correct.
Before long, the old butler knocked on her door to call her down for dinner. When he saw Song Xuyi without her messy makeup, he showed no suspicion, just as she had predicted. Instead, his eyes filled with admiration. “Miss, you look as beautiful as Madam did when she was young…”
“Really?” Song Xuyi blinked and curved her lips into a smile. “I hope I’m as beautiful as mama is now in thirty years.”
The smile on the old butler’s face froze for a second before he quickly rearranged it. But he lowered his head and said no more, silently leading Song Xuyi downstairs.
Song Corporation was working on a major project with a foreign partner, so Father and Mother Song were abroad. Her two older brothers were also busy with their own careers. Song Xuyi was the only one at the dinner table.
She was in no mood to enjoy the fine food and quickly finished her meal before returning to her room.
Her own past was a complete blank. All she could rely on was the System and a plot summary. After clarifying her situation, Song Xuyi quickly laid out her future plans: she would prevent as much contact as possible between the male lead, Song Jun, and the villain, Zhao Qingyu. At the same time, she would figure out why Zhao Qingyu was hostile toward Song Jun and find a way to resolve her hatred.
After all, in the story, Zhao Qingyu didn’t even like Song Jun and had repeatedly rejected his advances. It was impossible that she later targeted his company out of a love-turned-to-hate scenario. There had to be another reason.
After discussing the plan with the System, Song Xuyi blocked it and got into bed, ready to sleep.
She had thought she would toss and turn, unable to fall asleep. But to her surprise, she quickly fell into a dream.
The dream was a chaotic jumble. Song Xuyi dreamt of her eighteen-year-old self.
At eighteen, she only had her grandmother. Even though her grandmother had Alzheimer’s4 and a severe heart condition and could no longer recognize the granddaughter right in front of her, she still remembered that her granddaughter’s favorite food was the sweet and sour pork ribs she made by hand.
[Image: Sweet and sour pork ribs]
In the dream, Song Xuyi couldn’t afford her grandmother’s high medical bills. She tried to borrow money from all her relatives but was met with closed doors5 everywhere. Fortunately, heaven never seals off all paths. Song Xuyi was scouted by a talent agency. She took on all sorts of training and performances arranged by the agency while struggling to continue her studies.
The high-intensity work and training, her grandmother’s worsening condition… shuttling between the hospital, the company, and school, Song Xuyi’s grades kept dropping, from the top five in her class to the top ten, and then to the top twenty…
Even in a dream, Song Xuyi could feel the sorrow and suffocation her past self had experienced.
At the very end of the dream, the scene suddenly changed, and a crying face appeared—it was the original host, wearing unsuitable heavy makeup. But her expression was not the arrogant one described in the plot. She was sobbing, her eyes filled with sadness as she looked at Song Xuyi. “You can understand me, right? You have to help me…”
Song Xuyi sighed and gave a gentle nod.
Ring ring!
The alarm clock blared, but everything in the dream remained vividly clear. Song Xuyi opened her eyes, the corners still damp with unshed tears. The piercing sunlight shone through the window screen, and in that instant, something that had been lingering in her heart dissipated, melting into the dancing sunbeams.
—The original host’s consciousness had, in that moment, completely left this body.
The old butler’s knock came from outside the door. “Miss, it’s time to get up.”
Song Xuyi wiped her tears, stood before the mirror, and glanced at the small red birthmark on her wrist. She looked away, put on her school uniform, and went downstairs.
“Chen yeye,” Song Xuyi said after quietly finishing her breakfast. She had made up her mind. She pursed her lips, looked up at the old butler standing beside her, and spoke softly, “Could you please hire some private tutors for me as soon as possible?”
“I want to study hard. In the future… I want to be a doctor.”
This was not only the dream of the eighteen-year-old Song Xuyi, but also a wish the original host had hidden in her heart, one she no longer dared to remember.
The old butler was stunned for a moment.
Then, just as always, he smiled indulgently. “Of course. I will inform the Master and Madam right away.”
“When she was little, Miss always used to clamor about wanting to be a doctor. It’s been a long time since she’s said that!”
…
After that, Song Xuyi began a period of intense studying.
She had transmigrated right at the time of the second mock exam6, with three months left until the Gaokao7. The knowledge base in this world was similar to her own, perhaps even simpler. Song Xuyi knew the original host’s foundation was poor, so she studied almost day and night. Her rapid progress made her tutors click their tongues in amazement, but her family was even more shocked. They had assumed this was just another one of her fleeting interests, but they never expected her to be serious this time, to the point where she seemed like a completely different person.
At the same time, Father and Mother Song’s big overseas project was finalized. Song Xuyi took the opportunity to recommend Song Jun as the project’s overseas executor.
Song Jun was a member of the Song family in name only; he actually had no blood relation to them. His great-grandfather had been an orphan who happened to save the Song family head of that time and was thus adopted by the family, taking their surname. After so many generations, Song Jun’s family had grown more distant from the main family branch. Later in the original plot, Song Jun would become so angry with the original host for interfering in his relationship with Sun Wan that he would leave the Song family altogether.
The Song Jun in the plot summary was extremely capable, so he was naturally qualified for the job. Besides, the medical care abroad was better, which would make it more convenient for him to get treatment for his grandmother.
And the female lead, Sun Wan, happened to be studying abroad in the very country Song Jun was heading to. Given Sun Wan’s feelings for him, there was no doubt the two of them would develop something…
Although they were a bit puzzled by Song Xuyi’s sudden recommendation, after investigating Song Jun’s resume and learning of his abilities, the Song family followed her suggestion and gave him the project.
This trip abroad would keep Song Jun out of the country for at least two years, so he naturally wouldn’t have any more interactions with the villain Zhao Qingyu, who was rapidly rising to fame in the entertainment industry.
Things went just as Song Xuyi had predicted. Though he didn’t know why this highly coveted project had landed in his lap, Song Jun accepted it and took his grandmother abroad.
Hearing the news of Song Jun’s departure, Song Xuyi breathed a sigh of relief. She then threw herself wholeheartedly into her studies, day and night. As for the villain Zhao Qingyu, being the most dazzling contestant, she had defeated her rivals with an overwhelming number of votes and successfully secured the lead role in the movie. She was now on a closed film set.
In any case, Zhao Qingyu couldn’t get to Song Jun now. Besides, every time Song Xuyi thought about her performance in front of Zhao Qingyu that day, her heart trembled with fear. So, while she continued to vote for Zhao Qingyu, she herself never appeared before her again.
This intense state of study continued until the Gaokao ended.
This time, Song Xuyi was no longer desperate as she had been in her dream. She achieved an unexpectedly high score on the Gaokao, meeting the admission threshold for a famous local medical school.
Father and Mother Song’s hearts ached for their daughter’s hard work. Seeing her excellent results, they ignored her protests and insisted on throwing a grand university acceptance banquet, wishing the whole world could know that the Song family’s good-for-nothing little daughter had turned over a new leaf and achieved a great score.
Song Xuyi was held upstairs by her mother for half a day to get styled.
Looking at the fair-skinned, slender-waisted girl with bright eyes and pearly teeth in the mirror, Mother Song, known as the “Iron Lady” of the business world, was stunned for a moment before she unexpectedly began to wipe away tears. “My Xuyi has become a young lady all of a sudden. mama really wishes you would never grow up…”
Song Xuyi pursed her lips, not knowing how to comfort her. Fortunately, the old butler knocked on the door just then. “Madam, Miss, the guests have all arrived!”
Song Xuyi let out a breath of relief, helped her mother dry her tears, and the two went downstairs together.
The main hall was a lively scene of clinking glasses and celebration8. Song Xuyi forced a smile, dealing with the guests’ congratulations, whether sincere or feigned. Feeling extremely out of place in such a setting, she was about to find an excuse to slip away after a round of toasts when Father Song suddenly walked over, looking mysterious, and pulled her toward the entrance.
“Xuyi, baba has a surprise for you…”
Song Xuyi’s heart skipped a beat. A sense of foreboding washed over her, and she subconsciously looked toward the courtyard—parked behind a row of luxury cars was an inconspicuous MPV9.
As if to confirm her suspicions, the System, which had been silent for a long time, popped up with a tone of amazement. “Your father is truly a strange man to think this is a surprise…”
In the hazy glow of the streetlights, the car door slid open, and a graceful figure stepped out. The person looked over, her skin whiter than snow, her dark hair a stark contrast to her red lips. She smiled faintly at Song Xuyi, a moment of beauty so stunning it outshone the bright moon behind her…
“Long time no see, Xuyi.”
The author has something to say:
Papa Song ^^: Surprised? Unexpected?
Song Xuyi: ……T_T
Footnotes
- Literally 'running with the ball' (dài qiú pǎo), this is a popular trope in Chinese romance fiction where the female lead, upon discovering she is pregnant, runs away from the male lead without telling him.
- Literally 'ghost-drawn talismans' (guǐ huà fú), this is an idiom for messy, illegible scribbles or drawings. It's used here to describe the original host's terrible makeup skills.
- 'Water army' (shuǐjūn) is a term for internet trolls or ghostwriters paid to flood websites with comments, either to praise a celebrity or to attack their rivals.
- Āzīhāimò zhèng is the Chinese transliteration of Alzheimer's disease.
- Literally 'to eat closed-door soup' (chī bì mén gēng), this is an idiom for being refused entry or shut out by someone you are trying to visit or ask for help.
- The èr mó kǎoshì, or second mock exam, is one of several standardized practice tests students in China take to prepare for the Gaokao, the national college entrance exam.
- The Gaokao (gāokǎo) is China's notoriously difficult national college entrance examination. A student's score is the single most important factor in determining their university admission and future career prospects.
- The idiom gōng chóu jiāo cuò, literally 'goblets and wine-tallies crisscrossing,' describes a bustling and festive banquet atmosphere.
- A bǎomǔ chē, literally 'nanny van,' is a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). In East Asia, these large, comfortable vans are commonly used by celebrities as their personal transport.
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