Saving the Pitiful Villain (GL) - Chapter 30

The two were pressed tightly together.

Yun Wu didn’t speak for a long time. With the soft touch against her chest, she instinctively wanted to retreat, but she was afraid Jiang Shangxue hadn’t abandoned the idea of applying medicine for her.

She remained stiff, afraid to move. Her breathing gradually deepened and quickened.

“Wu Wu, what is it?” Jiang Shangxue patiently asked her again.

Her chin rested on Jiang Shangxue’s shoulder. She subconsciously buried her head deeper. Her nostrils were filled with the pleasant, faint fragrance. Yun Wu’s heart was beating very fast.

After calming down for a while, she finally said, “It’s really not because my backside hurts.”

Her voice was tiny, trembling, and upon closer listening, one could detect a hint of embarrassment and frustration.

Jiang Shangxue found it amusing. Her neck tingled from Yun Wu rubbing against it. She leaned back slightly, and the small, fluffy head followed her movement.

Jiang Shangxue helplessly placed her hand on Yun Wu’s shoulder to hold her back.

“Then are you still being stubborn with me? Angry that I hurt you?”

“No, I’m not.”

Cautiously lifting her head, Yun Wu’s heart trembled under Jiang Shangxue’s calm, focused gaze. She blinked rapidly.

Jiang Shangxue’s eyebrows were long and slender, the arch gentle, showing no sharpness. Her warm, placid eyes looked at her with tenderness and concentration.

With patience, with tolerance.

Yun Wu’s fingers curled in her sweaty palm. A sour feeling suddenly crept up her throat.

If only Jiang Shangxue were really her mother. How wonderful that would be.

Jiang Shangxue looked down at her. Their upper bodies were perfectly pressed together. If she lowered her head slightly, she felt as if she might brush against Yun Wu’s lips.

Their breaths gradually merged, the heat scorching.

Applying force with the hand on Yun Wu’s shoulder, Jiang Shangxue gently pushed her back slightly.

Seeing the hazy moisture starting to pool in her eyes again, Jiang Shangxue affectionately pinched her cheek. “Why aren’t you speaking?”

It was a gentle coaxing.

Her lips pressed into a straight line, the suppressed sense of grievance in Yun Wu’s heart immediately dissipated.

When someone coaxes you, the feeling of being wronged is unstoppable.

Her heart felt warm. Yun Wu lowered her gaze again, lightly pressing her forehead against Jiang Shangxue’s shoulder, her voice barely audible.

“Auntie Jiang, I overheard you. Are you planning to adopt the children from the relatives’ family?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Yun Wu regretted them.

Her body tensed up completely. Her pounding heart seemed to swallow all her other senses.

The intense expectation mixed with nervousness made every second of time feel like torture.

Jiang Shangxue didn’t answer. She quietly lowered her gaze, which held a hint of scrutiny.

The girl’s body was slightly arched. Her long, flowing hair completely obscured her face.

Jiang Shangxue raised her hand and brushed her hair aside. Her fingertip touched a damp moisture. She looked down and saw a thin layer of sweat covering Yun Wu’s neck, wetting a few stray hairs that clung to her pale skin.

Taking the handkerchief to wipe her, Yun Wu restrained herself from trembling. She softly groaned, “Auntie Jiang.”

“Mhm,” Noticing the redness spreading across Yun Wu’s cheeks and ear tips, Jiang Shangxue suddenly recalled the first time she met Yun Wu at East Villa High School.

At that time, Yun Wu was enveloped in a suffocating depression, like dead wood in winter, defensively resisting everyone’s approach—it broke her heart.

Now, she showed more emotion and was more vibrant, but the cautious way she asked the question still hurt Jiang Shangxue.

Along with the heartache, there was a touch of exasperation.

It’s probably the child’s possessiveness acting up, but she’s so afraid I’ll notice.

Afraid I’ll get angry? Afraid I’ll think she’s not well-behaved?

Jiang Shangxue cupped Yun Wu’s jaw with her hand and gently lifted her chin. Her gaze grew complex.

The smile on Jiang Shangxue’s face was very faint, and her brows were slightly furrowed. Yun Wu was flustered and at a loss.

After a long silence, the panic and shame overwhelmed her. Yun Wu’s throat moved slightly, swallowing becoming increasingly difficult.

That’s right. She is just the most insignificant child in the Yun family.

What right does she have to question Jiang Shangxue’s private decisions?

Did I make her unhappy?

In her state of anxiety and confusion, Yun Wu pulled her chin away from Jiang Shangxue’s hand. Then, she released her embrace, awkwardly standing up and backing away under Jiang Shangxue’s gaze.

She abruptly changed the subject in a stiff manner. “Auntie Jiang, it’s the end of the month. I’m giving you next month’s rent.”

The contract Ye Mei had signed was a deposit of one month and rent of one month. After saying this, Yun Wu didn’t look at Jiang Shangxue. She quickly walked to the desk and retrieved the money.

It was all cash. Jiang Shangxue took it and counted it. There were five thousand.

Without waiting for Jiang Shangxue to ask, Yun Wu quickly explained, “Excluding the rent, there’s also money for meals at home and various household supplies. I know it’s not enough. I will make up the rest later.”

Jiang Shangxue frowned, watching Yun Wu for a moment. Hearing her explanation, she realized Yun Wu had been keeping track of all the details of their shared life during this time and was using money to clearly demarcate her portion.

Along with the sense of helplessness, Jiang Shangxue also felt a little upset.

Staring at the girl, Jiang Shangxue’s eyes were inscrutable.

Seeing that she still wasn’t speaking, Yun Wu proactively said, “I’ll get a part-time job after the Gaokao is over. I’ll make up the missing money as soon as possible.”

The more sincerely the girl spoke, the more the faint anger in Jiang Shangxue’s heart threatened to spread.

She stood up, took out two thousand, and placed the remaining three thousand on the desk.

Then, she turned and said, “Two thousand is enough for the rent and the medicine for your finger. Also, children shouldn’t be so burdened by things.”

Yun Wu felt inexplicably guilty under her gaze. Her heart, which had just barely calmed down, started beating violently again.

Jiang Shangxue avoided answering her question.

The uncomfortable feeling morphed into deep shame, dragging her down.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door.

“Madam, Wu Wu, it’s time for dinner.”

Jiang Shangxue’s gaze lingered on Yun Wu’s face for a moment, then she turned on her heel and strode away.

The enticing smell of food immediately wafted in as the door opened.

Yun Wu’s gaze fell on the empty carpet. She realized with a start that the ruler she had thrown onto the carpet last night was gone.

Her face immediately burned hotter.

During dinner, Yun Wu kept her head down, not daring to look up at Jiang Shangxue.

She could feel a searing gaze constantly fixed on her.

Auntie Chen lived in the same building and usually went home to eat after preparing the meal. Jiang Shangxue called out to her.

“Auntie Chen, I will be away from home for the next few days. I’ll have to trouble you to look after Wu Wu.”

“Yes, Madam.”

As soon as Auntie Chen left, the living room suddenly fell silent.

Yun Wu felt very uneasy. She couldn’t help but wonder, Is Jiang Shangxue going back to the Yun Mansion to take care of the other children for the next few days?

Will her attitude toward me change when she returns?

Yun Wu’s mind was a mess. Jiang Shangxue saw her still lost in thought and listless. She reached out and poked her forehead.

“Focus on your food.”

“Oh.”

When both of them finished eating, Yun Wu proactively cleared the dishes and brought them to the kitchen. Jiang Shangxue watched her quietly. As Yun Wu prepared to return to her bedroom, Jiang Shangxue beckoned to her.

“Come and sit down. Sit closer.”

The sofa was very soft. The moment Yun Wu sat down, she involuntarily leaned toward the side.

Jiang Shangxue turned sideways, facing her, and smiled faintly.

“While I’m away these few days, you must be good and rest on time. Starting tomorrow, a specialized tutor for the Nanzhou University independent admissions exam will come to the apartment. I’ll ask Auntie Chen to stay with you during the evening tutoring sessions.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, considerate and thorough.

Yun Wu opened her mouth. After a long hesitation, she finally managed to say, “Auntie Jiang, thank you.”

She looked up, her gaze softly meeting Jiang Shangxue’s.

Suddenly, the greedy longing in her heart surged like intertwined thorns, growing and branching out, making her desire for more.

She looked docile. Jiang Shangxue rubbed the top of Yun Wu’s head and said,

“The company’s affairs are somewhat complicated. I estimate I’ll have to go back for three days.”

She paused, then gently patted the back of Yun Wu’s hand to soothe her before continuing.

“I am not planning to adopt the other children.”

The answer was so abrupt that surprise filled Yun Wu’s eyes, which then softened into the sweet, light joy of cotton candy.

She had been traversing a dense forest, surrounded by thick fog, with no light, no direction.

Suddenly, a ray of sunlight shone through, and her vision became instantly clear.

Jiang Shangxue was not planning to adopt the other children.

Yun Wu controlled the continuous surge of delight, looking at Jiang Shangxue and involuntarily calling out, “Auntie Jiang.”

Jiang Shangxue nodded with a faint smile. Sensing Yun Wu’s obvious happiness, her eyes softened further, showing a touch of doting affection.

She scrutinized Yun Wu’s expression again, finding her somewhat adorable. She really was jealous.

She’s still just a child at heart.

The feathery touch on the back of her hand was light and soft, yet it could easily stir up one’s emotions.

Yun Wu deliberately turned her head, trying to restrain herself from losing control of her composure.

For a moment, she wanted to abandon all her past life’s grievances and immerse herself in this gentle, affectionate moment.

Yun Wu’s eyes subtly moved. Jiang Shangxue’s slender, pale neck came into view—soft and fragile—making her want to lean over and bite it, leaving her unique mark.

A mark belonging only to her.

Yun Wu stared blankly, her throat moving. She looked completely spaced out.

Jiang Shangxue found her strange and called out, “Wu Wu.”

Suddenly snapping back to reality, Yun Wu abruptly took a large breath. She clearly recalled the thought she just had. Yun Wu’s face instantly flushed red, overcome with panic.

When she met Jiang Shangxue’s concerned gaze, she quickly looked away, her cheeks blushing fiercely.

She stammered, “Auntie Jiang, I just remembered I have a test paper I haven’t finished. I’m going back to my room now, and I’ll go to sleep on time tonight.”

“Alright. Go ahead.”

Jiang Shangxue’s tone was hesitant. She felt something was wrong but couldn’t place it.

She decided that Yun Wu was simply a child who overthought things and didn’t delve deeper.

Returning to the room and closing the door, Yun Wu leaned her back against the door, her gaze slightly unfocused, an annoyed expression on her face.

What was I just thinking? Why would I have a thought like that?

Her heart thumped violently beneath her ribs, unable to stop.

Yun Wu looked down at her empty palm, which was covered in sweat. She quickly took out the handkerchief to wipe it.

The handkerchief was the one Jiang Shangxue had given her this morning.

Pressing her hand against her left ribs, Yun Wu’s eyes were confused and perplexed. The fierce, savage, and overwhelming possessiveness she felt for Jiang Shangxue in the living room was so real, so intensely tempting her to do something.

Yun Wu didn’t understand why this was happening.

She stood frozen behind the door until her legs felt numb, then she finally walked toward the bed.

Her thoughts were chaotic and restless. She couldn’t calm down. Yun Wu didn’t practice questions. She lay down on the bed early.

Tossing and turning until five in the morning, Yun Wu still had no trace of sleepiness.

She simply sat up, staring blankly at the dark ceiling. After sitting for a while, Yun Wu suddenly thought of something.

Swallowing, Yun Wu cautiously got out of bed. She didn’t wear slippers, walking barefoot on the floor, making no sound at all.

She gently opened the door, then walked to Jiang Shangxue’s bedroom door.

After standing still for a long time, Yun Wu finally reached out and pressed the handle down slowly. The door wasn’t locked.

The curtain hadn’t been drawn. Moonlight streamed in. Yun Wu could clearly see the rising and falling silhouette on the bed.

It was already early summer, but Jiang Shangxue was still wearing long-sleeved, long-pants pajamas, buttoned up tightly. Her sleeping posture was good.

The edge of the thin blanket was held down by her hand, draped over her abdomen. The moonlight spread a soft glow around her. She looked beautiful, delicate like an oil painting.

Yun Wu held her breath and walked closer, using the moonlight to trace Jiang Shangxue’s face, meticulously outlining her features.

That strange feeling surged up again, but it seemed less intense than before.

Yun Wu frowned. She walked even closer, so nervous she could barely breathe.

But the urge to find out more kept driving her forward.

Yun Wu didn’t notice that the gap in the door behind her was widening, and a cool breeze was flowing in from the living room.

The faint coolness came and went. Jiang Shangxue was a light sleeper. Yun Wu didn’t notice her fingers twitching slightly.

Jiang Shangxue was trapped in an inexplicable dream. On a vast grassland, the grass was lush. The dense greenery spread out like waves. There were no people and no animals in sight.

In the distance were continuous, rolling snow mountains. Although the sun was strong overhead, she occasionally felt a chilling coldness that seeped into her bones.

Coupled with a spine-tingling feeling of being watched from the shadows.

Jiang Shangxue struggled in her dream. Her consciousness suddenly cleared.

She opened her eyes. A dark figure was standing by the bed.