Saving the Pitiful Villain (GL) - Chapter 24

The next day, Yun Wu woke up to find her breakfast had changed; a portion of steamed minced meat and egg custard had been added.

The minced meat was mixed with yam and topped with a thick layer of green vegetables. It was steamed to a clear, bright color and looked very appetizing.

Recalling that Jiang Shangxue had told her to eat more meat last night, a slight confusion appeared in Yun Wu’s eyes.

Auntie Chen saw her standing there blankly and, assuming she was shy, explained:

“Madam told me you’re too thin and need to eat more meat to nourish yourself. Hurry and try it; it’s delicious.”

Auntie Chen had a direct personality and a hearty laugh. Her manner and tone when urging her to eat were like a doting grandmother talking to her own grandson.

Yun Wu managed to suppress her surprise and nodded obediently. “I understand. Thank you, Auntie Chen.”

“That’s good,” Auntie Chen replied. Seeing Yun Wu begin to eat, she couldn’t hide her happiness. The little girl is so beautiful. Everyone likes her.

After breakfast, Yun Wu returned to her room and put on the blue jacket.

Jiang Shangxue’s bedroom door was tightly closed. She didn’t seem to be awake yet.

Yun Wu withdrew her gaze. As if suddenly realizing something, she walked to the kitchen door. Auntie Chen was busy inside.

She deliberately lowered her voice. “Auntie Chen, Auntie Jiang is drinking Chinese medicine. Is she sick?”

The little girl looked timid and very well-behaved.

Auntie Chen put down a bowl, wiped her hands, and since it wasn’t a secret, she didn’t hide anything.

“Yes, a stomach ailment. It seems quite serious. Bosses of big companies usually have some kind of health problem.”

Auntie Chen didn’t know Jiang Shangxue’s exact identity, only that she managed a very large company, one with assets of many billions.

After a thought, Auntie Chen continued, “The stomach ailment is neither big nor small. She just needs good recuperation. But watching Madam, tsk.”

With that, Auntie Chen shook her head and continued tidying the kitchen, murmuring an observation.

“I’ve found Madam’s lunch untouched and cold several times. I don’t know why she has so many meetings all day.”

“Thank you, Auntie Chen.”

A subtle emotion rippled beneath Yun Wu’s ribs. Following it, tiny bubbles emerged one after another from the deepest, unreachable part of her inner self, slowly rising, and then pop! they burst.

Splashes of gentle, fog-like moisture settled over her.

Jiang Shangxue was meticulous enough to send her an umbrella in the heavy rain, yet she neglected her own serious stomach ailment, forgetting to eat because of work?

The fluctuation in Yun Wu’s eyes lingered for a long time.

After arriving at the book bar, Yun Wu sat blankly in her seat for a long time.

She felt somewhat distracted and irritated.

She channeled her feelings into furiously practicing questions, her speed increasing until late at night. A thick stack of finished papers lay on Yun Wu’s desk.

The sight was alarming! Ye Mei shivered and cursed that Yun Wu was inhuman. Then, adhering to the principle of “out of sight, out of mind,” she moved to a different seat, avoiding sitting next to Yun Wu to prevent her confidence from being crushed.

It didn’t rain tonight, but the wind was still strong, making the leaves rustle loudly.

The shadow of the tree canopy under the streetlamp was large and menacing. Yun Wu stood at the book bar door for a moment before walking toward the East Villa community.

It didn’t rain tonight.

Jiang Shangxue didn’t come to pick her up tonight either.

The bus had long stopped running at this hour, but Mu Ye Book Bar was not far from the East Villa community; it was about a twenty-minute walk.

Yun Wu rubbed her shoulder and quickened her pace.

Although the distance wasn’t far, Yun Wu felt like she was walking slowly. It took her a long time to arrive.

She reached home. The lights in the living room were off; it was pitch black.

Yun Wu fumbled for the light switch. She first looked at the clock on the wall and was surprised to find that only twelve minutes had passed. Then, she unexpectedly saw Jiang Shangxue lying on the living room sofa, with a neat stack of sorted documents on the coffee table.

Covered with a thin blanket, Jiang Shangxue’s hair looked a bit messy. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep, apparently having just been woken up by the noise.

Her voice was low and hoarse with a lazy tone. “It’s late. Wash up and rest early.”

In the cool, white light, Yun Wu clearly saw the bloodshot lines in Jiang Shangxue’s eyes and her overly pale complexion.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, but the gaze she directed at Yun Wu was consistently soft.

It was like the clear mountain breeze that follows the sun—comforting.

Yun Wu’s eyes suddenly deepened. She softly hummed in acknowledgment, looking as if she wanted to say something but held back.

The moment before stepping into her bedroom, Yun Wu stopped as if gathering her courage, turning around. “Auntie Jiang, you should rest too.”

The girl’s eyes were clear. The lamplight flowed over her profile like water, making her look exquisite and touching, conveying the innocent concern of a young person.

Jiang Shangxue was stunned for a moment, then slowly broke into a vibrant smile. “Okay, I know.”

The group’s affairs were genuinely exhausting and required constant, real-time follow-up. Coupled with the fierce onset of her stomach ailment, it had been a severe strain on Jiang Shangxue.

It was time to pause and rest properly.

Only after Yun Wu had washed up and returned to her bedroom did Jiang Shangxue return to hers.

Yun Wu quietly listened to the movement outside, only closing her eyes and preparing to sleep after hearing the sound of the door closing next door.

On Monday, East Villa High School’s twelfth grade agreed to hold a unified weekly meeting, led by the class president of each class.

The class president of Class Two was Zhao Changming. He stood on the podium as usual, outlining the schedule for the upcoming exams.

When his gaze lingered on Yun Wu, he paused.

Zhao Changming had always known that Yun Wu’s aura was very appealing—cool, reserved, and strangely tempting.

Before, Yun Wu always walked with her head down, constantly wearing that dull school uniform.

No matter how good-looking she was, if her attire was plain, she would still blend in with the background in the beauty-filled East Villa.

But Yun Wu wasn’t wearing her school uniform today. The simple blue jacket made a world of difference.

Zhao Changming felt an urgent desire. He knew Yun Wu’s family was struggling, but despite her poor background, she was overly proud.

To deal with someone like her, the best way was to induce or allow some low-life to insult and trample her, and then, when she was isolated and helpless, offer a little pity and care. She would definitely cling to him like a dog, begging for his charity.

Zhao Changming thought this as a matter of course, completely forgetting the cold shoulder he had received from Yun Wu before.

Xu Chacha followed Zhao Changming’s gaze to Yun Wu. She was also stunned, and the uncomfortable feeling in her heart suddenly surged.

Xu Chacha was also wearing a lake-blue top, the latest seasonal item from CHIRE, with tulle and fine diamonds adorning the hem, making it sparkly and eye-catching.

Her hair was meticulously styled, done by a professional stylist.

But Zhao Changming was looking at Yun Wu. Xu Chacha knew clearly that Zhao Changming had never looked at her with that kind of gaze.

Xu Chacha gritted her teeth, furious, but still had to maintain her debutante image. She could only sulk in her seat.

Yun Wu completely ignored Zhao Changming’s gaze. Except when she intended to deal with him, Yun Wu considered Zhao Changming a walking piece of rotten meat, constantly emanating a foul stench, to be avoided at all costs.

She couldn’t let him affect her review schedule.

Next Tuesday was the twentieth large joint diagnostic exam. Yun Wu wanted to use it to test the effectiveness of her review. If the results were acceptable, she would devote herself entirely to preparing for the Nanda independent admissions exam.

Yun Wu could ignore him, but Ye Mei couldn’t. Her dislike for Zhao Changming and Xu Chacha was long-standing.

Turning sideways, Ye Mei semi-squatted, propping one knee on the chair, blocking Zhao Changming’s view of Yun Wu. Then, she slammed the table.

In an instant, the classroom became completely silent.

But the silence lasted only two seconds before Ye Mei’s loud, crude shouting began.

“Zhao Changming! Why are your shifty, disgusting eyes staring at your daddy?! Looking like a dung beetle eating poop, are you fit to gaze upon your daddy?”

To sound more educated, Ye Mei deliberately used a literary word, guanzhan (to gaze upon, usually for magnificent things).

Zhao Changming hadn’t expected Ye Mei to publicly confront him. No matter how he responded, it would look undignified and frustrating.

Suppressing his rage, Zhao Changming’s voice trembled. Just then, Fang Wenli walked into the classroom. Seeing Zhao Changming and Ye Mei confronting each other, she instinctively wanted to turn around and leave.

She couldn’t afford to offend either of them.

But since she had already entered, she had to bite the bullet and ask, “What happened?”

Zhao Changming was too angry to speak. Ye Mei answered in one breath.

“Teacher Fang, Zhao Changming desperately wants to acknowledge me as his daddy. How can I possibly acknowledge him as such a filial son? So we got into an argument.”

Ye Mei said this without blushing or skipping a beat. Someone in the class couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Feeling awkward, the student weakly tried to find a way out by saying, “I mean, Ye Mei used the wrong word. Guanzhan is a noun, describing the impression an object or person’s appearance gives.”

“Ye Mei!” Zhao Changming roared, furious, losing control of his saliva and spraying Fang Wenli’s face.

Ye Mei instinctively wanted to say, Why are you calling your daddy?

Yun Wu pulled her back on the side. “Enough. If you keep going, Teacher Fang definitely won’t side with you.”

Ye Mei was smart. Knowing Yun Wu was right, she quickly retreated, sat down, and ignored everyone.

Fang Wenli seized the opportunity to chuckle awkwardly, wiped the spit off her face, and told Zhao Changming to return to his seat. Then, acting as if nothing had happened, she continued with the lesson.

The commotion ended just like that.

Only Zhao Changming was utterly frustrated, his face green. His expression didn’t improve even when school ended.

After school, Yun Wu went to the book bar to listen to the lecture with Ye Mei as usual.

This time, Ye Mei didn’t demand a thank-you gift. Yun Wu gave her one proactively: three stocks that would surge in price within the next three years.

Having had one successful experience already, Ye Mei swiftly folded the paper and put it away.

She had initially been half-skeptical, but after giving the paper to her old man, the two decided that it was better to believe than not. Just after they sold the stocks Yun Wu told them to sell, the news of those stocks crashing came out.

This time, Ye Mei understood. Yun Wu was literally a god of wealth and needed to be worshipped.

Her eyes darting around, Ye Mei took advantage of the teacher’s break and leaned toward Yun Wu.

“Yun Wu, seriously, did Auntie Jiang teach you all these tricks? Is she really your auntie? Why don’t I have such a great auntie?”

Her words grew increasingly sour. Ye Mei said jealously, “I feel like she treats you better than my mom treats me. A mother who is both gentle and capable—I have no hope for that this lifetime.”

The speaker was careless, but the listener took it to heart.

Yun Wu’s heart leaped. She didn’t speak. Her pen tip lingered on the white paper for a long time, bleeding out an ugly ink stain.

Looking at the ink stain, Yun Wu’s eyes were dark and unreadable. She tore off the entire page, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can.

She took a deep breath, calmed herself, and continued practicing questions.

At ten past ten, Yun Wu arrived home.

The living room light was on tonight. Jiang Shangxue was sitting on the sofa looking at documents. Seeing Yun Wu return, she smiled and motioned for her to drink the soup Auntie Chen had made before showering.

It felt strange, yet Yun Wu couldn’t pinpoint why.

The next few days were the same. No matter how late Yun Wu returned, Jiang Shangxue would wait for her in the living room. Only after watching her finish the soup would she return to her bedroom to rest.

She was clearly waiting for her.

Just like a mother waiting for her daughter to come home.

If she came home early, Jiang Shangxue would return to her bedroom earlier to rest.

Remembering Jiang Shangxue’s abnormally pale face that night, Yun Wu deliberately started coming home earlier.

The lecturer used to finish at eight-thirty. Yun Wu would stay to practice questions until ten before leaving. These days, Yun Wu left immediately after the lecture finished.

This prompted Ye Mei to ask her daily if something was wrong and why she was going home so early.

Yun Wu only smiled helplessly and didn’t elaborate.

She figured Ye Mei would stop bothering her when she got bored of arguing by herself.

Until one evening, Jiang Shangxue appeared at the Mu Ye Book Bar entrance at half-past eight. The book bar was still busy at that time, and many people entering and leaving glanced at Jiang Shangxue intentionally or unintentionally.

She wore a light green, short-sleeved qipao. Her elegant curves were fully displayed. She wore light makeup and had her hair pinned up. Her eyes, dense as black jade, were like the deep sea, with no visible end. In the light, they shimmered with a mesmerizing water-like quality. Her every gesture was soft and graceful.

Yet, she made no one feel an inclination toward flippancy.

A beauty like a flower separated by clouds.

Yun Wu was stunned for a long time until Jiang Shangxue walked over and gently pinched her ear, bringing her back to attention.

“Aun… Auntie Jiang.”

“I was free tonight, so I came to pick you up.”

Yun Wu subtly tilted her head back. Her breath was filled with the pleasant scent of lily-of-the-valley from Jiang Shangxue.

Jiang Shangxue looked very healthy tonight. Yun Wu subconsciously pursed her lips.

The lingering warmth on her earlobe made Yun Wu’s cheeks feel warm. As the two walked side-by-side on the street, Yun Wu deliberately increased the distance between them.

The pair, one big and one small, were very attractive to the eye.

They drew many onlookers along the way. A few street photographers even approached to strike up a conversation, but Jiang Shangxue politely declined them all.

Seeing the photographers look at Jiang Shangxue with regret, Yun Wu felt inexplicably sullen and annoyed.

Her already expressionless face became colder without realizing it.

Jiang Shangxue noticed Yun Wu’s subtle movement to pull away from the start. Assuming she was shy, she didn’t say anything.

But then, the child’s expression grew colder and colder. She seemed rather unhappy.

The little one seems a bit off tonight.

Jiang Shangxue racked her brain, wondering what she had done along the way to upset her.

The two walked in silence until they reached the square in front of the community. The cotton candy food cart was still there. Jiang Shangxue stopped, and Yun Wu stopped with her.

Gazing at Yun Wu for a while, Jiang Shangxue asked with a half-smile, “Do you want cotton candy again?”

Her tone was like coaxing a child.

Yun Wu frowned, saying nothing, but not refusing either.

Knowing she was likely being stubborn, Jiang Shangxue smiled nonchalantly, took Yun Wu’s hand, and walked toward the food cart.

Yun Wu had been very sullen and expressionless before. This was the first time she had shown such obvious anger. Jiang Shangxue decided she needed to be properly coaxed.

They reached the food cart, and Jiang Shangxue looked around but found no little yellow duck.

Jiang Shangxue turned to ask Yun Wu, “There’s no little yellow duck. Is a little yellow chick okay?”

Yun Wu’s eyelids fluttered. She didn’t answer. Instead, she walked to the front and reached out for a pair of swans that were “kissing.”

The beaks of the two swans were connected.

Children’s minds are unpredictable. Jiang Shangxue paid, thinking this time she might be happier.

But Yun Wu still maintained a poker face.

Sighing lightly with resignation, Jiang Shangxue took her hand and continued walking. However, this time they didn’t go straight back to the East Villa community but turned into a large supermarket to buy groceries.

“Auntie Chen went back to her hometown for a vacation. I’ll be in charge of cooking for the next few days. Tell me if there’s anything you want to eat.”

A faint light shone in Jiang Shangxue’s eyes, and her smile was soft.

Yun Wu seemed determined to remain silent, keeping her eyes lowered and refusing to look at Jiang Shangxue.

Just then, a cool breeze blew over, carrying fine dust. Jiang Shangxue was triggered to sneeze.

Yun Wu’s fingers twitched, and then she took off her jacket and draped it over Jiang Shangxue.

The jacket was oversized, easily enveloping Jiang Shangxue.

Jiang Shangxue was briefly stunned, completely unexpected by Yun Wu’s action. She turned sideways to look at Yun Wu.

The little girl had beautiful eyes, clear and dark. In the dim light of the streetlamp, they were as deep as a hidden pool, both clear and mesmerizing.

The jacket still held the warmth of Yun Wu’s body.

The current temperature wasn’t cold at all, but Jiang Shangxue said nothing, instead smiling and gently rubbing Yun Wu’s head.

For the rest of the journey, no one else came to talk to them. Yun Wu’s mood visibly improved.

Although her expression was still flat, her overall demeanor softened considerably.

Jiang Shangxue attributed this to her emotions being quick to come and quick to go.

They had been interacting for a while now. Jiang Shangxue comforted herself, It’s perfectly normal for Yun Wu to willingly approach me now. No need to make a fuss.

Halfway there, Yun Wu carefully split the cotton candy in half. Since there were already two wooden sticks, Yun Wu took one swan, and Jiang Shangxue took the other.

This time, Yun Wu was willing to eat it. It was fluffy and sweet.

A child’s emotions were infectious. Seeing Yun Wu a little happier, Jiang Shangxue, who didn’t usually like sweets, also took a bite of the cotton candy.

The atmosphere became incredibly harmonious. It truly felt like a close mother and daughter until they bought the groceries and returned home, the sweet taste of the cotton candy still lingering in their mouths.

Jiang Shangxue sorted the vegetables into the refrigerator. Then, remembering that the bright yellow jacket Yun Wu had worn earlier hadn’t been washed, she went into Yun Wu’s bedroom and took it out.

The pocket was bulging. She didn’t know what was inside. Jiang Shangxue took out the opaque bag and handed it to Yun Wu.

It was the bag Ye Mei had previously stuffed into Yun Wu’s pocket.

Yun Wu’s hands were full of the clothes she had just collected. She didn’t manage to hold the bag steady, and the contents spilled out.

Two boxes. One was medical finger cots, and the other was also finger cots.

But the latter was clearly printed with three large rows of words and a very explicit sample image.

【Granular stimulation, continuous friction, irresistible pleasure】

Yun Wu clearly saw it, and Jiang Shangxue clearly saw it too.

Yun Wu’s mind buzzed, experiencing a momentary blankness.