When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 35

Volume Two: Those Years When I Was the School Bully

A Hug

Wen Nuan returned home, planning to take a shower. Looking in the mirror, she saw her shoulder was already swollen, and lifting her arm brought a dull ache.

After a simple wash-up, she heard the System’s announcement.

【Female lead’s Blackening Value has decreased. Current Blackening Value is 8.5!】 the System reported excitedly.

Wen Nuan’s eyes lit up, and she smiled. “Looks like the male lead is somewhat useful after all.”

The System nodded: 【He is the male lead, after all. The choice of the Heavenly Dao¹ can’t be wrong.】

“What about the previous life then?”

The System went silent for a moment: 【…Host, are you planning to take leave tomorrow?】

“….”

That was a really awkward change of subject.

“Yeah, taking leave. Resting at home for two days.”

Her arm would probably be even more swollen tomorrow. She’d go to the hospital for an anti-inflammatory shot.

Lu Yi stayed with Song Ci until past ten at night. After she finished her IV drip, he sent her home.

Neither of them spoke a word the entire way.

Lu Yi safely delivered Song Ci downstairs. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard Song Ci say, “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Rest early, take care of yourself.” Lu Yi smiled.

Song Ci looked at him. “Did you tell Zhao Wennuan that I like her?”

Lu Yi paused. “Things were too urgent just now, I just blurted it out. I’m sorry.”

“You only… told Zhao Wennuan just now?” Song Ci blinked.

Lu Yi nodded. “Uh-huh, I assume you also know Zhao Wennuan came with me to save you. In that critical moment, I wasn’t paying attention and just said it.”

Song Ci lowered her eyes. “It’s fine. Thank you for taking me back.”

“Okay, you rest early too. I’ll head off then.” Lu Yi waved his hand and turned to leave.

Song Ci watched Lu Yi’s disappearing back, her gaze gradually deepening.

The next day at school, Yu Zitong was publicly criticized by the school for the malicious act of bullying a classmate. Yu Zitong also paid a heavy price for this; Third Experimental High School would expel Yu Zitong as punishment, setting an example for the entire student body to serve as a warning.

Song Ci looked towards the Class 10 lineup but didn’t see Yu Zitong’s figure.

During the lunch break, she overheard students eating behind her discussing how Yu Zitong had been beaten up in the girls’ restroom the previous night. She was covered in injuries and was immediately sent to the hospital after being discovered.

In the afternoon, Song Ci asked her homeroom teacher, Li Qinlan², for leave, saying she had suffered severe emotional trauma and wanted to rest for the afternoon.

Li Qinlan naturally agreed readily, telling Song Ci to go home and rest well. After all, she was counting on Song Ci to compete for Ningjiang City’s top science scholar³ in this year’s Gaokao⁴.

Song Ci took a taxi to the city center hospital. Lu Yi had helped her find out; the Class 10 students said Yu Zitong had been sent to the city center hospital.

She walked to the information desk and asked a nurse for Yu Zitong’s room number, using the reason of being a classmate visiting.

2nd floor, Room 2102.

Song Ci peered through the door window; there were other people in the room.

She sat on a nearby bench for a while, waiting until the people inside had all left.

Song Ci stood up, pushed the door open, and walked in.

Yu Zitong thought her father had returned and turned her head. “Dad, can you stop being so annoying… Song Ci?!”

“What are you doing here?” Yu Zitong trembled all over in fright. She looked behind Song Ci, panicked. “Zhao Wennuan didn’t come with you too, did she?”

“I’ve already withdrawn from school, what more do you want? Why do you keep pushing relentlessly? Do you have to beat me to death before you’ll stop?” Yu Zitong cried out.

Song Ci’s gaze froze. “You’re saying Zhao Wennuan gave you all these injuries?”

Yu Zitong choked back sobs. “Song Ci, stop shedding crocodile tears⁵! If I hadn’t locked you on the rooftop, would Zhao Wennuan have hit me?”

Song Ci looked at Yu Zitong’s injuries. “She hit you because you locked me on the rooftop?”

“What else? I don’t dare provoke her. Besides you, who else could make her that angry?” Thinking of Zhao Wennuan last night, Yu Zitong’s body trembled with fear. “She’s terrifying! She wanted to kill me, she wanted to kill me!”

“She even threatened me, saying if anything happened to you, she’d kill me, and make it so my parents and brother couldn’t survive⁶ in Ningjiang City!” Yu Zitong shrieked hoarsely. “Zhao Wennuan is a devil, an evil spirit, she’s completely lawless!”

Song Ci blinked, her gaze softening, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “Is that so?”

Seeing the smile on her lips, Yu Zitong frowned deeply. “Song Ci, are you freaking doing this on purpose?! Deliberately spreading rumors that you and Zhao Wennuan had a falling out, deliberately letting others bully you, just to provoke Zhao Wennuan and have that lunatic retaliate against us!?”

Song Ci lowered her eyes, letting out a short laugh. “Yu Zitong, seems like you… really need a beating to see things clearly, huh?”

Yu Zitong stared at Song Ci in horror, her lips trembling, unable to make a sound.

Song Ci’s expression was gentle as she smiled. “Actually, it wasn’t fake. Zhao Wennuan and I really did have a falling out. But it was one-sided; I was the one who demanded the split because I don’t want to be friends with Zhao Wennuan.”

“You… what do you mean?” Yu Zitong’s hand clutching the blanket trembled.

“I never considered Zhao Wennuan my friend because I like her.” Song Ci walked up to Yu Zitong, pinching her chin, her eyes showing regret. “But she doesn’t like me back, so I could only think of some ways to make her like me.”

Yu Zitong’s eyes widened.

“I endured your bullying, your childishness, and your putting on airs⁷, because I wanted to see how Zhao Wennuan truly felt about me.” Song Ci gave a knowing smile. “Speaking of which, I should thank you. If you hadn’t locked me up, I still wouldn’t be sure about Zhao Wennuan’s feelings for me.”

Yu Zitong looked pained, shaking off Song Ci’s hand. “Zhao Wennuan could never like a viper-hearted⁸, scheming⁹ b%tch like you?!”

“Mm, I know she doesn’t like me.” Song Ci pulled a wet wipe from the bedside table, casually wiping her fingertips. “So what? As long as she continues to feel pity and heartache for me, I will definitely get her.”

“Classmate¹⁰ Yu Zitong, you must take good care of your health,” Song Ci’s expression changed, no longer mocking or sarcastic, but adopting a sincere and gentle attitude.

Yu Zitong was startled by her change in expression, cursing in panic, “Song Ci, are you freaking crazy?!”

“Yu Zitong! How can you speak to your classmate like that?” Yu Zitong’s father, hearing his daughter curse at a classmate like this, scolded angrily.

Yu Zitong looked back and saw her parents had returned, which was why Song Ci had instantly changed her expression.

She… she was the one who was truly terrifying, making chills run down one’s spine.

Song Ci smiled gently. “It’s alright, Uncle¹¹. Zitong is just upset, that’s why she’s like this. I’m fine.”

The young girl was pretty, her eyes clear and bright like washed gems, making people feel fondness and protectiveness towards her.

Yu Zitong’s father patted Song Ci’s hair, then looked at Yu Zitong sternly. “Zitong, apologize to your classmate immediately!”

Yu Zitong’s mouth fell open, her face full of disbelief, breathing heavily. “You want me to apologize to her? Impossible!”

Song Ci shook her head considerately. “Uncle, I’m really fine. I was just worried about Zitong today and came to see her. Now that I have, I should probably leave.”

“Yu Zitong, apologize now!” Yu Zitong’s father’s eyes widened. “If you don’t apologize today, see if I don’t beat you to death?!”

Yu Zitong felt extremely wronged, tears welling up in her eyes. She gritted her teeth and said, “Classmate Song Ci, I was wrong today. I’m sorry.”

Song Ci looked at the tears falling from Yu Zitong’s eyes and smiled gently. “Mm, it’s alright. I believe Zitong didn’t mean it either, right?”

Yu Zitong clenched her fists, forcing out each word, “…Right.”

Standing next to her father, Song Ci’s cold eyes were filled with chilling mockery and ruthlessness.

Yu Zitong’s father walked Song Ci to the door. “Classmate, thank you for coming to see Zitong. Be careful on your way back.”

“Uh-huh, thank you, Uncle.” Song Ci smiled.

The moment she turned to leave, Song Ci’s smile vanished, leaving no trace of happiness or pleasure.

Song Ci raised her hand and dusted the spot where Yu Zitong’s father had touched her.

It felt a bit dirty.

Wen Nuan got some anti-inflammatory shots and medicine from the doctor.

Seeing the IV bag was half empty, she pushed the drip stand towards the pharmacy to pick up her medication, planning to have the nurse remove the needle right after.

Perhaps her posture was too intimidating; the person originally queuing in front of her very politely let her go first.

Maybe they were afraid she’d suddenly have an episode and startle them.

To this, Wen Nuan expressed her thanks extremely shamelessly, then collected her medicine from the window.

While waiting for the nurse to get her medicine, Wen Nuan suddenly felt the scene was somewhat familiar.

Wasn’t this the same scenario as when she first met You Jiayi?

She missed her so much.

“Your medicine, please take it.” The nurse handed over the bagged medicine.

Wen Nuan took it. “Thank you.”

Pushing the drip stand, she turned around and saw Song Ci standing not far away.

The two looked at each other calmly.

The System nodded: 【This time it’s completely similar, even the first meeting scene is the same. It would be even more perfect if your medicine fell on the floor now for the female lead to pick up for you.】

Just then, someone hurried past Wen Nuan, bumping the medicine bag out of her hand. The medicine scattered all over the floor.

The System cheered: 【Whoa, perfect!】

Wen Nuan: “…..”

Honestly, did you deliberately arrange for that person just now?

Wen Nuan watched as Song Ci walked over, crouched down, and picked up her medicine one by one.

She stood up, holding the medicine bag in her left hand and steadying Wen Nuan’s IV stand with her right. “Let’s go?”

Wen Nuan paused. “Go where?”

Song Ci looked up at the finished IV drip. “Get the needle removed.”

Wen Nuan glanced at the fluid that had already run down into the tube, snapping back to reality. “Oh, I can go by myself.”

The subtext: Mind your own business.¹²

“It’s on the way.” Song Ci pushed the stand towards the infusion room.

On the way?

Helpless as the stand was pushed away, Wen Nuan could only follow. “What are you going to the infusion room for?”

Song Ci said lightly, “Getting a nutritional IV.”

“Why?”

Song Ci tilted her head to look over. “Didn’t you say I was too thin and needed some nourishment?”

Wen Nuan was speechless.

Song Ci led Wen Nuan to an infusion spot. “I’ll go get the nurse.”

Wen Nuan nodded. “Thank you.”

The nurse arrived quickly and expertly removed the needle. Wen Nuan pressed down on the adhesive tape, watching Song Ci walk back over, empty-handed.

“Where’s your drip?”

Didn’t she say she was getting a nutritional IV?

Song Ci replied without batting an eye, “Forgot to get the prescription slip. The nurse wouldn’t administer it.”

Wen Nuan: “….”

How could you forget something like that!?

Female lead, are you kidding me?!

【I suspect the female lead deliberately brought you over here, and the whole nutritional IV thing was just an excuse. What do you think?】 the System speculated.

Wen Nuan: “….”

I think you have way too much free time!

System: 【….】

Why resort to cursing?

Song Ci looked at Wen Nuan’s swollen arm. “How did you do that?”

Wen Nuan made a ‘tsk’ sound. “Fell off the bed, hit my arm.”

“Oh.” Song Ci’s expression was faint. “Then you should be more careful.”

Wen Nuan: “….”

Why does that sound completely devoid of concern, and instead feel kind of like schadenfreude¹³?!

Female lead, are you mocking me!?

“Let’s go.” Song Ci took Wen Nuan’s medicine.

Wen Nuan froze. “Go where?”

“Take you home.”

“No need, I can manage myself.” Wen Nuan reached out. “Give me the medicine.”

Song Ci looked at her. “Back then, I remember saying the same thing. What did you do at that time?”

Wen Nuan’s mind stalled, then spun rapidly, recalling an incident from their first year of high school.

Song Ci had been sick. After finishing her IV drip at the hospital, Wen Nuan wanted to take her home. Song Ci coldly refused, wanting to go back by herself. Wen Nuan had then picked Song Ci up, carried her out of the hospital, and taken a taxi back to her place.

Song Ci put the medicine bag in her backpack, swung her arm slightly, and glanced at Wen Nuan. “Although I’m thinner and a bit shorter than you, carrying you shouldn’t be a problem.”

“….”

Carry her!?

With Song Ci’s skinny arms and legs, she might break them trying.

Wen Nuan waved her hand dismissively. “No need. Let’s go.”

If she wants to escort me, fine. It’s no loss to me.

Song Ci looked at Wen Nuan’s flustered and exasperated¹⁴ back and smiled silently.

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The author has something to say:

Female lead: Give it a try, maybe I really can carry you?

Wen Nuan: Come on, let’s try it on the bed?

System excitedly: Fight! Fight!

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LP: ‘Carrying’ and ‘hugging’ are the same in Chinese, just depends on the context. In this case, ‘carrying’ is the more appropriate translation. I’ll leave the title as is though.

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