Unexpected Comfort and a Villainess’s Dilemma

Bai Muxue, having cranked the air conditioning to its maximum setting, draped a blanket she had painstakingly retrieved from the storage compartment over Shen Jingyi’s head.

“Alright, quickly wipe the water from your hair; it’s completely soaked.”

“…?”

Shen Jingyi froze, her mind having already braced itself for a very different outcome, utterly unprepared for this turn of events.

Her long hair clung to her ears as her bright eyes, peeking out from beneath the blanket, fixed on Bai Muxue with a hint of surprise.

Bai Muxue let out an exasperated chuckle.

“What are you staring blankly for? Wipe yourself dry.”

Without her transformation, Shen Jingyi was merely a frail, ordinary girl.

After battling a monster that morning and then rushing over immediately after work, if she were to remain cloaked in that wet dress for the entire journey, Bai Muxue wouldn’t even need to attend her own funeral… she might as well attend someone else’s instead.

Moreover, seeing a certain someone so drenched yet utterly unconcerned sent Bai Muxue’s blood pressure soaring, stirring up memories of a particular troublesome little girl from the past.

When Shen Jingyi remained unresponsive, Bai Muxue simply leaned in closer and began to gently dry her sodden hair herself.

“Oh, how can you go on like this? If you wait for your hair to air dry, I guarantee you’ll catch a cold.

You youngsters always rely too much on your good health…”

As she continued to dry Shen Jingyi’s hair, Bai Muxue unconsciously slipped into her old habit of incessant nagging.

“Ah…”

Suddenly, she sharply realized that her incessant, mother-hen-like chattering was entirely at odds with the public image of the notorious, mischievous eldest daughter of the Bai family.

‘Ah, no, no, this won’t do.

I’m a villainess young lady, not a thoughtful older sister.

Remember your persona, Bai Muxue, remember your persona!’

The young woman repeatedly reminded herself of this inwardly, and in an attempt to salvage her image, her movements abruptly grew rougher.

After vigorously rubbing the blanket over Shen Jingyi’s head a few times, she released her grip and declared loudly, feigning an impatient tone.

“Ugh, this is such a bother! Wipe it yourself!”

Shen Jingyi held the blanket in place as her thoroughly soaked long dress was set aside.

Having dried herself, she watched Bai Muxue adjust the air conditioning buttons.

A surge of warm air soon enveloped the interior, making the car feel instantly cozy.

‘That was terrifying… Shen Jingyi surely didn’t notice anything amiss, did she…’

Feeling a pang of guilt, Bai Muxue secretly glanced at Shen Jingyi, dreading that she might have noticed something unusual.

Fortunately, Shen Jingyi said little, merely sitting wrapped in the blanket, utterly silent.

Every now and then, she would cast a sidelong glance at Bai Muxue, only to quickly avert her gaze the moment their eyes met, her thoughts remaining a mystery.

‘No, this won’t do.

I must maintain my villainess persona.

If Shen Jingyi develops any unnecessary misunderstandings, where will I get my negative emotion points?’

With this thought, Bai Muxue cleared her throat twice, then, with a touch of awkwardness, initiated the conversation.

“Aren’t you going to ask what we’re doing?”

“What are we doing?”

Shen Jingyi unconsciously echoed the question.

They had supposedly been heading to someone’s funeral, yet there was no driver in the car, only herself and Bai Muxue… She couldn’t fathom what schemes the eldest Miss Bai was concocting.

Especially since… she had just briefly entertained the thought that Bai Muxue intended to engage in *that kind of activity* with her in the car.

At this thought, a faint blush crept across Shen Jingyi’s somewhat pale, delicate face, and she bashfully turned her head away.

Indeed, while she had no idea what had transpired between Bai Muxue and the girl from earlier, judging by the girl’s tear-reddened eyes and Bai Muxue’s pallid complexion, it certainly hadn’t been a pleasant experience… They ought to be in no mood for *such things*.

‘Ugh, considering the infamous reputation of the Bai family’s eldest daughter, it wouldn’t be entirely impossible for her to vent her foul mood on me, would it?’

Yet, she hadn’t actually done anything excessive to her… Not only had she refrained, but she had even…

Recalling Bai Muxue’s surprisingly tender actions from moments ago, the young woman found herself momentarily lost in a swirl of vexation.

Naturally, Bai Muxue was oblivious to Shen Jingyi’s inner turmoil.

She merely let out a soft huff and spoke.

“Hmph, we should be hurrying to the funeral right now… but looking at Teacher Shen’s clothes, they’re quite unwearable, aren’t they?”

From behind the seat, she produced a stack of boxes and thrust them all toward Shen Jingyi.

“Here, take these.

Pick one you like and change into it.”

Shen Jingyi, bewildered, instinctively accepted the boxes.

Each was uniformly hot-stamped with black and gold, and even lined with soft velvet.

Inside, a complete assortment of clothing awaited: from tops and skirts to socks, and even the most intimate undergarments, everything was meticulously provided.

Consider, for instance, the white floral pleated skirt: its fabric felt soft and comfortable, the stitching smooth and understated.

Even in her days as the eldest daughter of the Shen family, Shen Jingyi had worn many such garments; a single touch confirmed the exquisite quality of the material, its price undoubtedly astronomical.

She turned to Bai Muxue, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

“…Are these for me?”

“What else? Do you think I’m just lending them to you?” Bai Muxue chuckled softly.

While, according to their agreement, she was only obligated to settle the gambling debts Shen Jingyi’s mother had incurred, seeing this young girl, despite her meager circumstances, still striving to maintain a basic level of dignity, Bai Muxue couldn’t help but feel a genuine twinge of compunction.

After all, she had deliberately tormented Shen Jingyi for her own motives, and simply offering her money would surely be rejected.

This, Bai Muxue realized, was the most acceptable form of compensation she could offer.

She had initially intended to find some casual excuse to give these to her later, but the present moment proved to be perfectly opportune.

‘Heh heh, I must admit, shopping at the mall with a retinue of people attending to your every need, not even having to glance at the prices, and simply snapping your fingers for someone to come and package your purchases—that feeling is truly magnificent!’

Noticing Shen Jingyi’s slightly astonished gaze, the somewhat smug Bai Muxue was startled.

She quickly crossed her arms, turned her head away, and hastily added as if to compensate.

“Hey, I’m telling you, don’t get the wrong idea!

These weren’t specifically bought for you!

They’re just cheap, roadside stall clothes; wearing them out would only tarnish *this young lady’s* reputation!”

Shen Jingyi, a beautiful, exemplary student, possessed remarkably high self-esteem despite her current impoverished circumstances.

This was evident in how, even though her clothes were inexpensive, they were always immaculately organized.

Even in poverty, Shen Jingyi diligently strived to uphold her public image.

‘Hmm! By exposing her shortcomings right in front of her like this, she’s bound to feel humiliated, right?

Come on, obediently contribute some negative emotion points to me!’

However, Shen Jingyi said nothing.

She merely cast a complex glance at Bai Muxue before burying her face in the pleated skirt she held in her hands.

‘Eh, what’s happening?

Why isn’t she saying anything…’

Bai Muxue, who had been on the verge of calling the driver to come pick them up and bring two hot coffees, suddenly froze.

****

“Ugh, why is there such a traffic jam outside… What on earth is going on…”

Inside the convenience store, the young cashier gazed out at the gridlocked road, murmuring to herself amidst the clamor of honking horns.

Suddenly, a familiar silver-grey luxury car entered her field of vision.

The young woman’s eyes abruptly widened.

Disregarding the heavy downpour, she rushed to the doorway and peered into the car.

—There, in the back seat of the car, sat her senior, who had always maintained a certain distance from others.

She was now dressed in an elegant, light-colored long dress, delicately sipping coffee from a cup.

Nestled closely beside her was a girl, outwardly youthful yet exquisitely pretty and charming.

A seemingly expensive necklace adorned her neck, and her ink-dark pupils reflected fragmented glints of light, while a faint, gentle smile graced her features.

She looked… surprisingly gentle.