Volume 1 Chapter 8: The Villainous Young Lady Tries Hard to Keep Up Her Image
Bai Muxue turned the air conditioner to the highest setting and placed the blanket she had finally pulled out of the storage compartment over Shen Jingyi’s head.
“There. Hurry and dry your hair properly. You’re completely soaked.”
“...?”
Shen Jingyi froze.
She had already prepared herself mentally for something else, but she had never expected this outcome.
Her wet long hair stuck to the sides of her face. From under the blanket, her clear eyes looked out in surprise as she stared at Bai Muxue.
Bai Muxue smiled impatiently.
“What are you staring at? Dry yourself.”
If she did not transform, Shen Jingyi was only an ordinary, delicate girl.
She had fought a monster in the morning, then rushed to work, and after work hurried here again.
If she stayed wrapped in that wet dress the whole way, Bai Muxue would not need to attend her own funeral anymore...
She might need to attend someone else’s funeral instead.
And seeing someone sit there soaked without caring at all made Bai Muxue think of a certain troublesome girl from before.
When Shen Jingyi did not move, Bai Muxue simply leaned closer and began drying her wet hair herself.
“Sigh, how can this be okay? If you wait for your hair to dry naturally, you’ll definitely catch a cold. You young people always think your bodies are strong enough...”
As she dried Shen Jingyi’s hair, Bai Muxue unconsciously slipped into her old habit of talking too much.
“Ah...”
Suddenly, she realized she sounded like a worried mother.
That was completely different from the public image of the cruel and arrogant Miss Bai.
No, no, no.
I’m supposed to be a villainous young lady, not a caring older sister. Stay in character, Bai Muxue, stay in character!
She reminded herself again and again.
Trying to fix the situation, her movements became rougher. She rubbed Shen Jingyi’s head a few more times with the blanket, then let go and loudly said in an impatient tone,
“Ah, so troublesome! Dry it yourself!”
Shen Jingyi held the blanket in place.
Her soaked dress had been set aside.
She dried herself while Bai Muxue adjusted the air conditioner. Warm air soon filled the car, making it much more comfortable inside.
That was close...
Shen Jingyi probably did not notice anything strange, right...?
Bai Muxue secretly glanced at her, feeling a little guilty.
Fortunately, Shen Jingyi said nothing.
She simply sat wrapped in the blanket, silent, occasionally glancing at Bai Muxue.
Whenever their eyes met, she quickly looked away again.
Who knew what she was thinking.
No, I need to keep my villain image.
If Shen Jingyi gets the wrong idea, where will I get negative emotions from?
Thinking this, Bai Muxue coughed lightly and awkwardly started a conversation.
“Aren’t you going to ask what we’re doing?”
“What are we doing?”
Shen Jingyi repeated the question without thinking.
They were supposedly going to a funeral.
But there was no driver in the car now.
Only her and Bai Muxue were there.
She had no idea what Miss Bai was planning.
Especially since...
Just now, Shen Jingyi had thought Bai Muxue wanted to do that kind of thing in the car.
Thinking of this, a faint blush quietly appeared again on her pale face, and she turned her head away in embarrassment.
Still, judging from the red eyes of the girl earlier, and Bai Muxue’s pale face just now, whatever had happened between them could not have been pleasant.
She probably would not be in the mood for such things.
Then again...
With Miss Bai’s terrible reputation, taking out a bad mood on someone else did not seem impossible either.
But she really had not done anything excessive.
Not only had she not done so, she had even...
Thinking of Bai Muxue’s gentle actions just now, Shen Jingyi became troubled once again.
Of course, Bai Muxue had no idea what Shen Jingyi was worrying about.
She gave a small snort and said,
“Hmph. We should have gone to the funeral already... but looking at your clothes, you can’t wear them like that anymore, right?”
She took a stack of boxes from behind the seat and pushed them all into Shen Jingyi’s hands.
“Here. Pick one you like and change into it.”
Shen Jingyi did not understand what was happening, but she accepted the boxes by instinct.
The boxes were all elegant black with gold markings, lined with soft velvet inside.
And inside them were all kinds of clothes. Tops, skirts, socks, and even underclothes.
Everything was prepared.
For example, there was a white pleated skirt with small flower patterns.
The fabric felt soft and comfortable, and the stitching was smooth and neat.
Back when Shen Jingyi had still been the young miss of the Shen family, she had worn many clothes like this.
With one touch, she could tell the material was excellent.
The price must be shocking.
She looked at Bai Muxue in surprise.
“...You’re giving these to me?”
“Then what else? You think I’m lending them to you?” Bai Muxue laughed softly.
According to their agreement, Bai Muxue only needed to help pay off the gambling debts owed by Shen Jingyi’s mother.
But seeing this young girl living such a hard life while still trying to keep at least a little dignity made Bai Muxue feel bad.
After all, she was bullying Shen Jingyi for her own reasons.
If she gave her money directly, Shen Jingyi would definitely refuse.
This was the best way Bai Muxue could think of to make up for it.
Originally, she had planned to find some excuse to give them later.
Now the chance had come naturally.
Honestly, shopping in a mall with a group of people following behind you, never needing to check prices, and only needing to snap your fingers for someone to pack everything up, that feeling was amazing.
When Bai Muxue noticed Shen Jingyi’s surprised look, she panicked inside.
She quickly crossed her arms, turned her head away, and tried to explain.
“Hey, don’t misunderstand! I didn’t buy these specially for you! Those cheap clothes you wear would embarrass me if you went out beside me!”
Shen Jingyi was a beautiful top student.
Even though her family was poor now, she still had strong pride.
Her clothes were inexpensive, but always neat and carefully arranged.
Even in poverty, Shen Jingyi tried her best to maintain her image in front of others.
Yes!
If I point out her weakness right in front of her, she’ll definitely feel embarrassed!
Come on, give me some negative emotions!
But Shen Jingyi said nothing.
She only looked at Bai Muxue with a complicated expression, then lowered her head into the pleated skirt she held in both hands.
Huh?
What is this?
Why didn’t she say anything...?
Bai Muxue, who had been about to call the driver and ask her to bring two hot coffees, froze.
……………………
“Uh, why is there a traffic jam outside...? What’s going on...?”
Inside the convenience store, the girl at the register looked out at the completely blocked road and muttered while listening to the loud car horns.
Suddenly, a familiar silver luxury car entered her sight.
Her eyes widened at once.
Even though it was still raining heavily, she quickly ran to the door and looked toward the car.
In the back seat, her senior, who usually kept distance from everyone, was sitting quietly there.
She was wearing an elegant light-colored dress and holding a cup of coffee, drinking it in small sips.
Sitting very close beside her was a young-looking but pretty girl.
A necklace that looked expensive hung around her neck.
Tiny lights reflected in her dark eyes, and a faint smile rested on her face.
She actually looked... rather gentle.