Saving the Pitiful Villain (GL) - Chapter 4

Jiang Shangxue belatedly realized that, according to the current plot, the original Jiang Shangxue had never interacted closely with Yun Wu.

She’d forced Yun Wu to sleep in the garden, forbidding her from entering the house. They’d only seen each other from afar across the flowerbed, so it was no wonder Yun Wu didn’t recognize her.

Jiang Shangxue let this convenient misunderstanding slide.

The street bustled with people passing by, some pausing to glance at them. The chatter of pedestrians and the honking of cars blended into a noisy hum.

Yun Wu was still in her wet clothes, the jacket Jiang Shangxue had draped over her now stained with wine.

Yun Wu’s gaze fell on the stain, and she pressed her lips together. “Aunt Jiang, I’ll return the jacket after I wash it.”

Her head hung low, her lashes fluttering, appearing somewhat docile from Jiang Shangxue’s perspective.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Shangxue replied, “Alright, leave it at the Dongshu Community guardroom after it’s cleaned. It’s getting late, though. I’ll take you home.”

Her tone and demeanor were as if they were truly meeting for the first time.

Giving Yun Wu no chance to refuse, Jiang Shangxue began walking slowly.

Yun Wu hesitated, then followed.

Her eyes locked on Jiang Shangxue’s slender back, and she let out a soft, puzzled laugh.

Jiang Shangxue had taken the bait she’d dangled.

Not recognize her? What a joke.

Waiting at the school gate, following her in the car, and then rescuing her at Magpie Bridge—was she setting the stage for some mother-daughter charade?

What was her game?

Had Yun Yuandao’s other will been discovered early?

Or did Jiang Shangxue have a thing for women? The thought sent a wave of icy disgust through Yun Wu’s eyes.

Repulsive.

Jiang Shangxue walked ahead, texting the driver, Xiao Wang.

[Jiang Shangxue: Xiao Wang, you’re off early today. Leave the car keys in the car.]

[Jiang Shangxue: Also, contact Uncle Li to prepare a modest apartment in Dongshu Community as soon as possible.]

[Xiao Wang: Got it, Madam.]

After sending the messages, Jiang Shangxue glanced back occasionally, seeing the girl obediently trailing behind. Her lips curved slightly.

In the book, Yun Wu was surrounded by malice. Starting with Magpie Bridge, Jiang Shangxue wanted her to slowly feel kindness. At her age, she should be confidently chasing dreams and beauty, not living the tragic life scripted for her.

Back in the car, Jiang Shangxue noticed Yun Wu sitting cautiously by the door, as if trying not to leave any trace in the expensive vehicle.

Jiang Shangxue’s eyes flickered, recalling a line from the script about Yun Wu: “She faced a hostile world with self-imposed isolation, stubbornly clinging to her fragile pride.”

Raising the window, Jiang Shangxue looked ahead and casually asked for her address.

“Beifeng District, Jiayuan,” Yun Wu replied, her voice hoarse.

Jiang Shangxue offered a bottle of water, but Yun Wu declined.

“Thank you, I’m fine.”

Jiang Shangxue didn’t push, setting the bottle down calmly and shifting gears. “It’s good for a girl to be cautious. Buckle your seatbelt.”

She didn’t mind Yun Wu’s refusal.

Skyscrapers flashed by the window, giving way to old, rundown apartment buildings.

The car slowed to a stop, and Yun Wu got out, holding the jacket.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice clear and pleasant, like a stream flowing through a ravine.

It matched her appearance—likable and charming.

Jiang Shangxue looked up, smiling at Yun Wu outside the car, gesturing for her to go.

Yun Wu nodded, turned, and walked toward the familiar old building, the sound of the car starting behind her.

When the sound faded, she stopped and looked back, catching the faint glow of taillights.

In her past life, Jiang Shangxue would’ve splashed water in her face by now, shrieking that she was an ungrateful wretch.

What had gone wrong this time?

Standing under the streetlamp, Yun Wu’s shadow stretched long, her face contemplative.

Suddenly, laughter and chatter from a nearby apartment broke her thoughts.

She smirked, a mix of scorn and self-mockery, and continued walking, pulling out an outdated phone with buttons and a small, lit screen.

Stepping into the dim, chaotic shadows, she dialed a number.

Her demeanor transformed entirely. The unease she’d shown before Jiang Shangxue vanished, replaced by the cold, ruthless air of someone who’d once held power—mysterious and dangerous.

The person on the other end, hearing the recording, changed their tone instantly.

After arranging a time and place, Yun Wu hung up without a flicker of emotion and entered the dark, dilapidated hallway.

The first floor’s voice-activated light was broken, and she fumbled to unlock her door.

This was a resettlement area, out of place amid the city’s gleaming towers, like a festering sore in the urban sprawl.

Just like her—an ant meant to scrape by in the shadows.

Staring at the dust particles floating in the dim light, Yun Wu felt sleep creeping in.

Seeing Jiang Shangxue for the first time since her rebirth, she was far calmer and more restrained than she’d expected.

She even had the composure to play along with her act.

Surprisingly, Yun Wu slept soundly that night.

Jiang Shangxue, however, didn’t get home until midnight. Exhausted, she fell asleep only to be woken by her 7 a.m. biological clock.

Unable to hide her fatigue, she went downstairs for breakfast. Feeling empty-handed, she blurted, “Where’s the newspaper?”

“Huh?” The maid, Wu Ma, looked confused. “Madam, what newspaper?”

“The business paper.”

Wu Ma hurriedly fetched it, puzzled. Madam was up unusually early and now wanted to read the business paper?

Could she even understand it?

Questions swirled in Wu Ma’s mind, but it wasn’t her concern. She only knew Madam had a fierce temper and would torment the staff over the slightest displeasure.

With that thought, Wu Ma quickened her pace, fearing she’d upset Jiang Shangxue if she was too slow.

Seeing Wu Ma’s nervous demeanor, Jiang Shangxue shook her head inwardly.

Recalling last night, she asked as she took the newspaper, “How much is Wu Wu’s monthly allowance?”

A parent asking about their child’s allowance seemed normal.

But this was the Madam who seemed hellbent on ruining Miss Yun.

Wu Ma hesitated, then said vaguely, “You ordered we give her nothing.”

Not a cent.

Jiang Shangxue paused mid-sip of her porridge, the air growing still.

After a moment, she asked, “How much is the rent for an apartment in Dongshu Community?”

The Yun mansion was in Dongshu District, so Wu Ma knew this. “The cheapest is around 4,500 a month, I think.”

Jiang Shangxue considered this.

“Give her 3,000 a month from now on. Deliver it today, and make up the 6,000 owed from before.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Wu Ma replied, her unease growing. Had Madam had a change of heart?

Jiang Shangxue finished breakfast and prepared to head to the company. As CEO with significant shares, she had to go eventually—better to take the initiative.

Meanwhile, Yun Wu quietly appeared outside a shady internet café.

Not far from Dongshu High School, it looked upscale from the outside, about a thirty-minute bus ride away.

Yun Wu entered the nearly empty café and headed to the second floor. Pushing open a door, she found a dozen thuggish-looking people seated around a table—colorful buzzcuts, sleeveless shirts, and identical Peppa Pig tattoos on their left arms, with shiny silver chains dangling from their necks.

They were waiting for her.

A green-haired thug eyed Yun Wu skeptically. “Boss, this is the one you mentioned? She looks like a scrawny chick. Can she handle it?”

“Hey, little girl, you’re pretty, but I’m warning you: Peppa Pig on our arms, we’re legit gangsters. Lie to us, and you won’t walk out that door.”

It almost rhymed.

His garish style couldn’t mask the menace in his face.

Before he could finish, the group’s leader, seated in the center, flicked his forehead hard.

“Shut up. We’re in a lawful society, and the Peppa Gang follows the law.”

Ye Mei, chewing gum with her legs propped on the table, sat with wild confidence. She squinted at Yun Wu. “Where’s the stuff?”

Yun Wu calmly opened her hand, revealing a recorder. She pressed play, and Zhao Rongrong’s arrogant voice filled the room.

“In all of A City, who doesn’t give my dad face? I personally handled the Beifeng District deal. Sanlin Company’s already trapped, unable to repay the bridge loan. That mortgaged land is as good as ours…”

Ye Jianwei, Sanlin Company’s CEO, had risen through retail and became a notorious nouveau riche, buying up land everywhere. In Yun Wu’s past life, Sanlin went bankrupt when it couldn’t repay a bridge loan, Ye Jianwei jumped to his death, and his only daughter, Ye Mei, vanished.

Until that fire—the one Yun Wu had set to kill Zhao Changming and Xu Chacha—Ye Mei had saved her from the flames.

Ye Mei, a tomboy with striking features, looked good even in her tacky, non-mainstream style. She was Dongshu High’s infamous academic failure.

After hearing the recording, Ye Mei sat up straight, studying Yun Wu. “How’d you know I was in trouble recently, and why help a thug like me?”

Yun Wu stood out at Dongshu High, where wealth abounded. Ye Mei had seen her a few times at school—a loner with a memorable face.

She never imagined the person on the phone would be Yun Wu.

Facing Ye Mei’s scrutiny, Yun Wu stood tall, unfazed. “I need money.”

Then she added, “Send the recording and a whistleblower letter to A City’s procuratorate and commerce bureau, and a copy to the municipal secretary. Leave no trace of real information.”

This recording would stop Zhao Rongrong from securing the Beifeng land as she had in Yun Wu’s past life, preventing her cousin Zhao Changming from using it to connect with a high-ranking official.

Zhao Changming’s business and political path wouldn’t be smooth this time.

Ye Mei signaled for the money. A thick envelope, likely containing 10,000 yuan, was exchanged for the recorder. Yun Wu tucked it into her bag, gave Ye Mei a fleeting glance, and left.

The other thugs, intimidated by Yun Wu’s presence, couldn’t help but blurt out after she left, “Boss, what if the recording’s fake? Even if it’s real, what if we get caught and face retaliation?”

Ye Mei glared at the speaker. “You know nothing. This is legal whistleblowing, protecting our rights.”

She recognized Zhao Rongrong’s voice instantly—unmistakably genuine.

Picking up the recorder, Ye Mei walked to the window, watching Yun Wu’s retreating figure. “Interesting,” she murmured.

At the school gate, Yun Wu spotted Uncle Li waiting by the guardroom.

Seeing her, he approached with a broad smile. “Miss, Madam sent me to deliver your allowance.”

He handed her a small leather bag containing 9,000 yuan. It wasn’t much for a wealthy family’s child, but Yun Wu’s situation was unique.

Though Uncle Li disliked Jiang Shangxue, his professional demeanor overrode his pity.

Exactly 9,000 yuan, as Jiang Shangxue had ordered.

Yun Wu nodded coldly, took the bag, and walked into the school without a word.

Uncle Li rubbed his hands awkwardly, calling after her, “Miss, maybe Madam’s had a change of heart. Try getting closer to her.”

Jiang Shangxue, a change of heart?

What new trick was this?

Yun Wu scoffed. Was Jiang Shangxue addicted to playing the good mom, thinking she could abuse her, then toss out some charity to win her over?

Like in her past life, when she’d foolishly given her all for the slightest kindness.

How pathetic.

But this life would be different.