I Turned Out to Be the Paranoid Villain's White Moonlight - Chapter 6

People often say that after a strike from the whip, you must follow it with a piece of candy.

Reflecting on Zhan Yao’s recent behavior, Xu Yingxi uncharacteristically introspected. She felt she had indeed been too harsh lately, which had caused the girl to harbor resentment. In her eyes, Zhan Yao was like a cute, weak white rabbit—quiet, submissive, and obedient. Xu Yingxi had enjoyed that docility, squandering Zhan Yao’s understanding and tolerance without a second thought. Over time, she had inadvertently ignored a key fact: even a rabbit will bite when cornered.

To keep the rabbit from escaping her control, Xu Yingxi realized she needed to restrain herself. She would put away the whip and replace it with a deceptive piece of candy.

So, before leaving this morning, she meticulously picked out a bouquet for Zhan Yao and put on the dress the girl liked most. She arrived at the café on time and placed the flowers on the table.

A moment later, someone arrived.

Xu Yingxi curled her lips and looked up at the person sitting across from her. “You’re her—”

She froze. The person in front of her wasn’t Zhan Yao, but a greasy-looking man.

“Whoa, you look different after just one night.” While she was sizing him up, the man was doing the same to her. After seeing Zhan Yao at the fair the previous night, her pure and beautiful image had been burned into his mind. He had gone to great lengths to ask around for her contact info just to see her again.

Seeing her today, he felt she looked different from his memory. However, he figured it was because of the makeup; as they say online, makeup is basically a face transplant for women, so looking different wasn’t strange.

“I can tell you really like me.” The man raised an eyebrow and struck what he thought was a cool pose. “You even got all dressed up just to see me.”

“But I don’t like women who wear makeup, and I don’t like ones who dress this provocatively,” he continued. “If you’re going to be with me, I hope you’ll fix these bad habits.”

“What?” Xu Yingxi frowned. The man sounded like he was speaking an alien language. She couldn’t understand a word. “Who are you? This seat is taken. Get lost.”

Get lost? She dares tell me to get lost?

This little girl has quite a temper.

“What are you acting for?” The man got annoyed. “You’re already here, why play hard to get?”

“You even bought flowers.” The man reached out and grabbed the bouquet off the table. “Look at these. They’re for me, right? This flashy color really suits my vibe.”

“You must really be into me, huh?” The man leaned in, winking and grinning at Xu Yingxi. “Is your heart fluttering? Go on, call me ‘big brother’~”

The word “punchable” was practically written across his face.

On this summer morning, the breeze carried the scent of sunlight, but as the man’s unkempt face crowded into her vision, her senses were hijacked by the foul odor coming off him. Xu Yingxi had never been in such close proximity to someone like this. Before she could even speak, she let out a dry heave from the stench.

When she looked up again, her face had turned green.

“…”

According to Jiang Yi, the man was eventually dragged away by Xu Yingxi’s assistant.

“It’s the first time I realized Xu Yingxi’s germophobia was that severe,” Jiang Yi said, laughing. The show had been delightful. “You have no idea. After the guy left, Xu Yingxi stayed in the restroom for ages. When she finally came out, she’d even thrown away her coat. Her face was the color of dirt.”

“Served her right!” Ding Xiaoxiao chimed in. “It’s karma for how she treated Yaoyao.”

“Yaoyao, do you feel satisfied?” Jiang Yi asked.

“Very,” Zhan Yao nodded. As long as Xu Yingxi was miserable, she was happy.

Disgusting her while entertaining the masses—Amen. Let’s light a candle for the dog-scum who ‘willingly’ sacrificed herself for others.

The morning passed quickly. At noon, Zhan Yao received two messages. One was from Xu Yingxi, who had clearly figured out the cause and was furiously telling her to “just you wait.”

The other was from Yu Wanqiao, telling her she was free this afternoon and would accompany her to submit her dorm move-out application.

Honestly, it wasn’t necessary. Zhan Yao could handle such a small thing herself.

They were currently juniors; once they became seniors, they would start internships. The duration varied by major, but for Zhan Yao’s finance major, it was usually a year. To adapt to life off-campus early, many students applied to move out at this time. Since signing the contract, Zhan Yao had written her application and planned to see her counselor that afternoon.

She didn’t expect Yu Wanqiao to come. Was the “loving wives” performance starting already?

Zhan Yao didn’t bother overthinking it. She simply replied to both.

To Xu Yingxi: [Get lost.]

To Yu Wanqiao: [Okay.]

Later, the two met in front of the dormitory.

Yu Wanqiao looked like she had just finished handling business. She was still in a beautifully tailored women’s suit that accentuated her waist and legs. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

Zhan Yao looked up and noticed she wasn’t alone; two assistants followed her—a man and a woman. Both were attractive, but they paled in comparison to Yu Wanqiao.

Noticing her, Yu Wanqiao greeted her: “Yaoyao, good afternoon.”

Zhan Yao nodded. “Good afternoon.”

Yu Wanqiao’s lips curled slightly as she stepped forward and took the small bag from Zhan Yao’s hand. “Let me carry that for you.”

Not only did she come, she was carrying her bag. Zhan Yao wasn’t sure what her game was, but after glancing at the two assistants, she decided to play along. “Sure, thank you.”

“Actually, you didn’t have to come specifically to accompany me,” she added.

“It’s fine,” Yu Wanqiao replied. “It’s only right.”

“Besides, I wanted to see your school and see your living environment for myself.”

This statement made Zhan Yao pause. She couldn’t believe those words came from Yu Wanqiao’s mouth. This woman had two faces. So, the acting begins, right?

Since she had signed the contract and was taking the money, it was only right to cooperate when Yu Wanqiao needed it. Zhan Yao wasn’t one to break a promise, so she instantly shifted her tone and expression.

“Is that so?” she said, reaching out to loop her arm through Yu Wanqiao’s. Looking moved and happy, she spoke softly: “Wanqiao, you’re so sweet~”

That tone made the System’s virtual hair stand on end.

How’s my acting? Does it look convincing? Zhan Yao asked in her head.

“Convincing…” The System was silent for a moment. “It’s perfect. Just perfect.”

Satisfied, Zhan Yao continued walking arm-in-arm with Yu Wanqiao, looking like a picture of domestic bliss.

The move-out application went exceptionally smoothly.

Before leaving, Zhan Yao remembered the “performance” and hooked her arm through Yu Wanqiao’s again. She wasn’t short, but she was significantly shorter than Yu Wanqiao; holding this pose for a long time was tiring.

Yu Wanqiao seemingly noticed. “Actually, there’s no need to go this far.”

“How about we…” She started to reach out toward Zhan Yao.

But Zhan Yao was a step faster. Catching the words “no need,” she let out a long sigh of relief and briskly let go. “Should’ve said so earlier.”

She looked exactly like a heartless “scumbag” woman who moves on the second she’s done.

“…”

Yu Wanqiao paused and pulled her hand back.

The weather today was a bit too hot. After walking a few steps from the building, a thin layer of sweat appeared on Zhan Yao’s forehead. In contrast, Yu Wanqiao looked unchanged, as if she were insensitive to the temperature.

“Do you want an iced coffee?” Zhan Yao asked politely. “There’s a shop nearby, I’ll go buy some.”

“No need.” Yu Wanqiao looked at her, pulled a tissue from her pocket, and carefully wiped the sweat from Zhan Yao’s forehead. “I’ll go.”

“Alright.” Zhan Yao nodded. She didn’t feel like moving much anyway.

The summer cicadas were noisy, and the two assistants were too quiet. Bored, Zhan Yao sat on a bench to space out while Yu Wanqiao was gone.

Suddenly, she heard someone calling her name from a distance: “Yaoyao! Yaoyao!”

Zhan Yao looked up and saw a middle-aged couple. Drawing on the original host’s memory, she quickly recognized them: these were the favor-the-son-over-the-daughter parents from the original book.

Since starting university, Zhan Yao rarely went home even though they lived nearby, and this couple never missed her. They hadn’t visited in years. This sudden appearance definitely had a motive.

Immediately, the face of Xu Yingxi flashed in Zhan Yao’s mind. That woman was fast; she’d found a way to disgust her already.

While she was thinking, the two approached.

“Yaoyao,” her father started. “How have you been? We heard you’ve been in a bad mood lately, so your mother and I rushed over to see you.”

Her mother chimed in: “Yes, yes!”

“Oh, thank you for the concern.” Zhan Yao nodded slightly, then paused. “But… who are you people?”

The parents were stunned.

“Y-Yaoyao, what are you saying?” Her mother reacted first. “Is this some joke you learned at school? How could you not remember your own parents?”

“Oh~” Zhan Yao acted as if it just clicked. “So it’s Mom and Dad. Look at my memory; it’s been so long I almost forgot what you looked like.”

“I have to say, Dad, how did you get so much darker? And Mom, you look so much older.”

The couple laughed awkwardly. “Haha, haha.”

“So?” Zhan Yao asked, dropping the act. “What are you here for?”

“We actually need a little help,” her father said quickly. “You know things have been hard at home lately. I don’t have much work, and your mother is about to retire. Plus, your brother’s schooling costs money. We’re drowning.”

“We heard you recently started dating a nice young lady. Your mother and I thought about it and had no choice but to ask you—could you be kind enough to have her help our family?”

So this was Xu Yingxi’s little scheme.

She knew Zhan Yao’s family background. The original Zhan Yao was soft-hearted and valued family; even though her parents gave her no love, she couldn’t bear to let them suffer and helped whenever she could. Xu Yingxi knew this and brought them out to manipulate her.

Unfortunately for her, the current Zhan Yao was no longer the same person. She had evolved.

“I see.” Zhan Yao nodded sympathetically. “You really have it hard.”

“But sorry, I can’t help you.”

“Can’t help?” Her mother was stunned. “What are you saying? How can you not help?”

“Don’t you know the eldest Miss of the Xu family? Don’t try to hide it, we know! It wasn’t easy for us to raise you all these years. Now that you’ve made it, do you want to kick us away? Do you have no conscience—”

Before she could finish, Zhan Yao heard footsteps behind her. The gait was steady and purposeful, heading straight for her.

Sensing it was Yu Wanqiao, she instantly dropped her previous expression and put on a weak, pitiful, and helpless act. Before the woman in front of her could finish, Zhan Yao cut her off, clutching her arm.

“I told you I don’t know you! If you won’t listen, fine, but how can you hit me?”

“It hurts so much.” She turned back toward the woman behind her, squeezing out a few “crocodile tears.”

“I’m being bullied.”

“Wanqiao… aren’t you going to do something?”