Chapter 3

“…”

An awkward silence lasted for several seconds.

“I’m done putting up with this!”

Ruan Xin tossed Ye Muyan’s books into the bicycle basket, climbed off the bike, dusted herself off, and turned to leave.

“Uncle Wang won’t come here.”

She had only taken a few steps when Ye Muyan’s leisurely voice drifted over from behind her.

Ruan Xin paused and considered the situation.

She had just offended that group of delinquent girls. If she took the bus home alone, something might happen to her. Then she felt around in her pockets…

Right. She had no money.

Ye Muyan didn’t look at her and merely said, “If you’re not coming, you can walk home by yourself.”

“…”

Ruan Xin took a few steps backward. In the end, she had no choice [Read on BaiLianTales]but to eat her words and silently climb onto the back of Ye Muyan’s bicycle.

She leaned forward, intending to hold on to Ye Muyan so she wouldn’t fall, but the instant she touched her, Ye Muyan abruptly warned, “Don’t touch me!”

Ruan Xin nearly jumped in fright, but she obediently withdrew her hands.

She could understand Ye Muyan’s reaction. If Ruan Xin hated someone, forget about letting that person touch her—it would already be merciful if she didn’t beat them to death.

Ye Muyan’s lips moved, but she ultimately swallowed what she had been about to say.

She took a deep breath and suppressed the hatred in her heart. It wasn’t that she found Ruan Xin repulsive.

She was simply ticklish…

“You’ve finally stopped pretending?” Ye Muyan asked tentatively as they rode.

“Pretending?”

Ruan Xin reacted quickly and immediately understood what she meant.

After her rebirth, Ye Muyan knew exactly what kind of person the original Ruan Xin was. She had confronted her about it more than once during this period, but the original character had stubbornly played dumb.

And she continued pretending for more than ten years.

That was precisely what led to her tragic fate.

In the original novel, Ruan Xin tried and failed to seduce both the male lead and the supporting male characters. Her true nature was exposed, and her reputation was completely destroyed. After fighting until she had nothing left, she finally suffered a mental breakdown and slit her own throat.

As a transmigrator, Ruan Xin certainly wasn’t stupid enough to repeat the same mistakes.

Besides, this was a perfect opportunity. If she laid her cards on the table now, Ye Muyan would be less likely to suspect that she had transmigrated or been reborn.

“Yes. This is the real me.”

Imitating the original character, Ruan Xin giggled and admitted it without hesitation.

“Fine. Since you know what kind of person I am, why do you still let me get so close to you?”

Hearing those words from Ruan Xin herself left Ye Muyan with complicated feelings. She realized that Ruan Xin was terrifying. They were both still young, yet this girl’s heart already seemed steeped in poison, dark beyond belief.

“Why?” Ye Muyan asked.

She had wanted to know the answer even as she lay dying in her previous life.

“Well…”

Ruan Xin fell silent.

Ye Muyan said nothing further, waiting to hear her explanation.

Could there be some hidden reason she couldn’t speak about?

No. There wasn’t.

Ruan Xin thought for a long time, then ultimately decided to act mysterious.

After preparing herself, she spoke in a deliberately profound tone.

“Ye Muyan, one day… you’ll learn the truth behind this secret.”

If she had spoken those words in her original voice, she probably would have sounded inscrutable and mysterious, perfectly establishing herself as a shadowy villain.

But she was currently only thirteen years old. Coming from a child, those strangely mature words filled Ye Muyan with an inexplicable sense of sorrow and even a hint of…

Resentment?

Why?

Ye Muyan’s expression became solemn. She realized that she didn’t understand Ruan Xin at all. Perhaps once that soft façade was peeled away, the person she had seen today… was the real Ruan Xin.

It seemed she would have to investigate thoroughly when she had the time.

As Ye Muyan pondered this, a faint rustling came from behind her. Ruan Xin was eating a piece of candy.

“Want one?”

“No.”

Ye Muyan refused without the slightest hesitation.

Ruan Xin still took out another piece and stuffed it into her pocket. In a childish voice, she said, “I don’t like owing people anything. Consider this candy my repayment for that slap. If that isn’t enough, I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”

Ye Muyan laughed and exposed her mercilessly. “Treat me to a meal? Do you have any money? Your allowance is strictly limited.”

Ruan Xin fell silent. “Umm…”

“You don’t have to do this.” Ye Muyan’s smile faded, her expression becoming indifferent once more. “You were the one who spoke up for me first today. I don’t want to owe you either.”

“Fine. That works.”

Ruan Xin acted as though she didn’t care, but she still couldn’t resist mocking her.

“Why have you started wearing glasses lately? Don’t tell me you became nearsighted from playing too many games.”

Ye Muyan didn’t become angry. Instead, she smiled and asked, “Xin, do you see that over there?”

Ruan Xin looked in the direction she indicated. “It’s a pile of garbage.”

“You’re being awfully noisy. Do you want me to stop the bike and throw you into it?”

Ruan Xin immediately shut her mouth.

The rest of the journey passed in silence. Although the two of them were riding the same bicycle, they found each other unbearably annoying.

After being rebuffed several times, Ruan Xin abandoned the idea of becoming friends with the female lead. Ye Muyan, meanwhile, remained troubled by this other side of her younger sister.

Ye Muyan suddenly asked, “If you hate me, why did you stand up for me?”

Playing dumb, Ruan Xin replied, “Did I ever say I hated you?”

Ye Muyan understood even less now, but she still said, “You looked like a screaming kettle when you were cursing at her.”

Ruan Xin refused to back down. “That’s nothing compared to you. You looked like an electric fan when you were slapping people.”

After she spoke, they both burst out laughing while inwardly calling each other an idiot.

“Ye Muyan.”

Ruan Xin coughed and suppressed her laughter.

“If you have something to say, just say it.”

“Since you asked me a question, I’ll ask you one too. Do you… hate me that much?”

Ye Muyan’s hands stiffened on the handlebars.

“That’s a question you should ask yourself.”

Of course.

The original character had hurt the female lead terribly. First, she became involved with Ye Muyan’s boyfriend. Later, she conspired with outsiders to frame her.

Worst of all, even as Ye Muyan lay dying, Ruan Xin had stabbed her heart one final time.

How could Ye Muyan possibly claim she didn’t hate her?

Ruan Xin crunched the hard candy between her teeth, and a rich apple flavor spread through her mouth. Her thoughts wandered as she chewed it as though she were grinding shards of glass.

Perhaps she and Ye Muyan were destined never to become friends.

With that thought, Ruan Xin hardened her resolve.

“Fine. It doesn’t matter if you hate me. There are still certain things I’m going to do.”

For example, kick every man out of Ye Muyan’s life.

“Do you think I’ll be afraid?” Ye Muyan asked, feeling strangely relieved.

She wasn’t afraid of an enemy who confronted her openly. What she feared were Ruan Xin’s hidden schemes and attacks from the shadows. Yet the more openly Ruan Xin behaved, the more curious Ye Muyan became.

Why was this girl so obsessed with destroying her?

Had Ye Muyan treated her badly?

No. She believed she had already shown more than enough mercy.

Before her rebirth, she had regarded Ruan Xin as her only family. Whether she was struggling or basking in glory, she had always wanted to share everything with her younger sister.

But what had Ruan Xin done in return?

“We’re here.”

Ye Muyan braked and stopped the bicycle, her attitude unfriendly.

“Has your butt grown roots? Get off.”

Ruan Xin sniffed. Although her head felt slightly dizzy, she quickly climbed down.

Still, being chased off so easily left her feeling dissatisfied. She prided herself on having an unbreakable backbone. How could she allow the female lead to suppress her so effortlessly?

There were so many novels about supporting characters transmigrating into books these days. Who would ultimately become the true protagonist had yet to be decided…

Without realizing it, Ruan Xin was influenced by the original character, and her eyes abruptly turned cold.

“Ye Muyan.”

She raised her chin slightly, turned around, and shoved her hands into the pockets of her school uniform.

“Speak.” Ye Muyan parked the bicycle.

Ruan Xin swaggered toward her as though she owned the place.

Bang!

With tremendous force, she lifted one leg and planted her foot against the wall beside Ye Muyan, trapping her there.

Hehehe. Bet you didn’t see that coming!

So what if she was shorter than the female lead?

So what if her head happened to be level with Ye Muyan’s chest?!

So what if the foot she had slammed against the wall hurt a little?!

None of that could suppress her towering six-foot-three aura!

Delighted with herself, Ruan Xin raised her head and said coldly, “You’ve been awfully arrogant lately—ah!”

“Aaaaaah! Who told you that you could put your foot on the wall?!”

Before she could finish, a middle-aged woman let out a furious shriek like a pig being slaughtered.

Ruan Xin’s entire body jolted in fright. She pitched forward, and her face collided with Ye Muyan.

Ye Muyan grabbed her foolish little head and said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Aunt Tang.”

What the…?

Was that the female lead’s voice?

Ruan Xin’s large, round eyes widened. She couldn’t believe that the bright, energetic voice beside her ear had come from Ye Muyan.

“Oh, it’s Little Ye.” Aunt Tang’s expression changed instantly. Her entire face brightened, and a warm smile deepened the wrinkles around her eyes. “Oh, it’s nothing serious!”

Ye Muyan looked troubled and hesitated before saying, “Well, my younger sister… her brain is a little… Mm… She’s a little slow.”

As she spoke, she tapped Ruan Xin’s head several times, her voice so gentle and sweet that it made Ruan Xin’s skin crawl.

“Be good, Xinxin~ You need to apologize to Auntie.”

Female lead, just kill me now!

Goosebumps erupted all over Ruan Xin’s body. She turned around stiffly and faced Aunt Tang with an awkward expression.

“I’m sorry…”

Aunt Tang looked at her and thought, Well, this child does look rather foolish. Could there really be something wrong with her head?

She immediately offered Ye Muyan some earnest advice.

“Little Ye, you shouldn’t keep hitting your sister on the head either.”

“I understand, Aunt Tang.”

Ye Muyan was still smiling. Her hand continued rubbing Ruan Xin’s head from time to time, and before long, her hair resembled a bird’s nest.

“Let’s go. Uncle Wang is here.”

The moment Aunt Tang left, Ye Muyan’s expression changed as quickly as a performer switching masks in Sichuan opera.

Ruan Xin glared at her, seething inwardly.

That hateful female lead!

Calling her stupid was bad enough, but Ye Muyan had even knocked her on the head! Not even her mother or her older sister had ever done that!

Ye Muyan ignored her. Carrying her books, she went upstairs alone.

When she reached her door, she glanced downstairs again. Only after the car had driven away did she take out her key and unlock the door.

After entering and changing her shoes, Ye Muyan tossed her books and glasses aside before finding a fresh set of clothes in her room.

Once she had showered, she sat beside the window and stared absently at the building opposite hers.

She had been monitoring the activity there throughout this period.

An extraordinary person lived in that building. That person had currently fallen on hard times, and if Ye Muyan extended a helping hand now, she believed she could gain another trump card.

She could no longer afford to behave as recklessly as she had before.

Ye Muyan tightened her grip on the necklace and contemplated her plans.

Recently, she had earned a considerable amount of money by gambling on raw jade stones and hunting for valuable items. That money could also be put to good use…

Returning to her senses, she stood and pulled the candy from the pocket of her school trousers.

Did Ruan Xin think a single piece of candy was enough to dismiss her?

A trace of mockery flashed through Ye Muyan’s eyes. She held the candy over the trash can. All she had to do was loosen her fingers, and it would fall inside.

But she couldn’t bring herself to let go.

Whenever she hesitated, she remembered the first time she had met Ruan Xin.

Ruan Xin had only been about five years old then. She had seemed somewhat afraid of Ye Muyan and behaved with great caution.

“Come here.”

Ye Muyan had beckoned to her.

Ruan Xin had immediately smiled.

That smile had been so innocent and pure that Ye Muyan still remembered it clearly.

After that, Ruan Xin would tug on her clothes every day after school and tell her how well-behaved she had been in kindergarten.

They weren’t biological sisters, but Ye Muyan had believed they were closer than sisters related by blood.

So why?

Why could Ruan Xin heartlessly stand by and watch her die?

“Sister is the best person in the entire world!”

“You’re going to die soon, aren’t you, Sister?”

“Ye Muyan, one day… you’ll learn the truth behind this secret.”

All three voices echoed in her ears at once.

Ye Muyan silently peeled away the wrapper. Her pale brown eyes appeared calm, giving no indication of what she might be planning.

The candy was strawberry-flavored.

It tasted sour at first, then gradually became sweet. Ye Muyan slowly crunched the strawberry candy, the faint curve of her lips hovering somewhere between a smile and a smirk.

She had to admit, the candy was quite delicious.