Transmigrating Into A Sadistic Novel And Becoming A Master Of Painting Rosy Pictures - Chapter 40

As Ji Xiaoxue spoke, the system in Bian Yingning’s mind announced:

[Congratulations, host! The female lead’s blackening value has been cleared to zero.]

The female lead had come to apologize; Bian Yingning didn’t really hold a grudge. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it. Go rest.”

Zero was good, zero was great; otherwise, she’d have to worry.

Bian Yingning was about to leave when someone tugged at her clothes.

Ji Xiaoxue looked at her with bright eyes. “Then, Senior… if you’re not angry, can we have milk tea together? I can pay…

Everyone says the new milk tea shop is delicious. Senior likes milk tea, right? Want to try it?”

Bian Yingning sighed. She hadn’t realized her fondness for milk tea was so obvious.

Fine, it’s just milk tea.

“Okay, let’s go.” Let’s use tea instead of alcohol to erase past grievances.

“Mm!” Ji Xiaoxue’s joy was evident as she followed Bian Yingning towards the school’s commercial street.

Behind them, Shang Qinghui, who should have taken a different route, hesitated at the crossroads before following them.

This milk tea shop must be really good; even at this hour, there was a long queue.

Bian Yingning yawned. “People aren’t worried about gaining weight at this hour.”

“Are you worried about gaining weight, Senior?” Ji Xiaoxue asked.

“Of course! Who isn’t worried about gaining weight?”

Ji Xiaoxue touched her face. “But I can’t gain weight. My classmates say I’m too skinny. I’d look better with more weight.”

Bian Yingning: …

Maybe she shouldn’t drink this milk tea after all.

Standing together, chatting, they looked very close and harmonious to outsiders.

Shang Qinghui stood a little further back, watching them for a long time, until Bian Yingning and Ji Xiaoxue noticed her.

Ji Xiaoxue’s expression became unnatural when she saw Shang Qinghui. She still remembered Shang Qinghui saying that her relationship with Bian Yingning was something she couldn’t compare to.

“Are you here for milk tea too?” Bian Yingning greeted her from afar.

Shang Qinghui approached, glancing at Ji Xiaoxue before turning to Bian Yingning. “I wanted to ask, since you’re having milk tea, do you still want the lotus root cakes?”

“Yes,” Bian Yingning hadn’t expected this question, thinking she was here for milk tea or with friends. “The cakes are cakes, and the milk tea is milk tea. They’re not mutually exclusive.”

“Okay, I’ll bring them to your house later.” Shang Qinghui left.

Ji Xiaoxue pursed her lips after hearing this.

They’re meeting again tonight?

It would be eleven or twelve o’clock by the time she delivers them to Senior’s house… Their relationship is something she can’t interfere with.

Feeling bitter, she maintained a sweet smile. “Senior, which one do you want?”

“Which one is better?”

“That one… is pretty good, and…”

She tried to let go of her possessiveness. Senior wasn’t hers, and it didn’t mean she could be her only friend.

Occasionally hanging out with her was enough.

…Right?

…

“Thank you, Senior.”

Ji Xiaoxue looked satisfied with her milk tea. Bian Yingning didn’t leave immediately, walking her to the dorm.

“Don’t mention it. Cheers.”

She had also done wrong. Girls’ feelings are fickle, but girls don’t have bad intentions. Their anger will pass.

“Okay.” Ji Xiaoxue clinked her cup with Bian Yingning’s. “Senior, we’ll still be friends, right?”

Bian Yingning sipped her milk tea. “You’ve always been my friend, and my junior sister whom I need to protect.”

Ji Xiaoxue blushed. “Thank you, Senior. Did you see the news? It’s good you picked me up that night. Otherwise… I might have been the victim.”

Thinking of the news about the victim’s death, Ji Xiaoxue felt uneasy.

“I did. Be careful. I can arrange a driver to pick you up.” Although it only happened once in the original story, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“No, no. I won’t take the bus that far. I’ll just arrange a driver. Senior has already helped me a lot. I can’t trouble you further.”

“It’s fine. My driver is available… But why did you take such a far tutoring job? It’s tiring.” The pay difference isn’t that much.

Ji Xiaoxue was startled. “This tutoring job… wasn’t it arranged by you, Senior?”

Bian Yingning was even more surprised. “Me? No, I didn’t… Why would you think it was me?”

She would have given a bank card if she had arranged it.

“No… wasn’t it you?”

But Shang Qinghui had asked her how she got the tutoring job, hinting at something.

Besides Bian Yingning, she couldn’t think of anyone else who would be so kind and have the resources to arrange a job for her.

“No.” Bian Yingning patted Ji Xiaoxue’s head. “Don’t overthink it. You got it because of your excellence, not because someone helped you.”

No, it wasn’t because of her own efforts.

Shang Qinghui’s words echoed in her ears.

“Okay, get some rest. Don’t think about it,” Bian Yingning comforted her.

Ji Xiaoxue nodded, realizing they were already at her dorm.

They parted ways. Bian Yingning got into her driver’s car at the dorm entrance.

Bian Yingning touched her chin. Why did the female lead say that? Her expression seemed to show she was quite shocked that I didn’t arrange the tutoring job?

Not me… then who?

It couldn’t be Nangong Jin. A typical male lead wouldn’t let someone he liked work outside; he’d keep her as a caged bird.

She couldn’t figure it out.

…

Bian’s father was often away, traveling to oversee businesses. They had many businesses; it was impossible to visit each one daily.

He wasn’t home tonight.

Only Bian’s mother was home, but she had gone to play mahjong.

Bian Yingning was yawning uncontrollably, tears welling up.

She went to her room without seeing Hua Cancan. She noticed a light in the dressing room. Opening the door, she startled Hua Cancan, who was changing clothes.

“Oh my god!”

Hua Cancan was only in her underwear, holding a nightgown, quickly covering her chest.

Bian Yingning was startled awake.

They stared at each other.

Bian Yingning looked down at Hua Cancan’s hand, chuckling. “What are you afraid of? It’s just me and the housekeeper here.

I’m female, the housekeeper is female, and you’re female. Even the mosquito in the bathroom is probably female. What do you have to hide?”

Hua Cancan didn’t speak, glaring at Bian Yingning, her hand still covering herself.

Bian Yingning rolled her eyes. “Seriously, there’s no need to cover up so much. There’s nothing…”

Before she could finish, Hua Cancan lowered her hand, revealing her breasts, and lunged at Bian Yingning.

Bian Yingning’s voice trailed off.

Hua Cancan slowly searched through the neckline of her nightgown, preparing to put it on, humming and laughing, “I was just afraid you’d feel inferior.”

Bian Yingning, who never felt small or inadequate, looked down at Hua Cancan, then at herself, who seemed tiny in comparison.

…Damn it.

…

“The lotus root cakes?” Hua Cancan asked, coming out of the dressing room to see Bian Yingning sprawled on the bed like a dead fish.

“On the way.”

“On the way?”

“Not here yet. Wait a bit.”

“Who did you ask to buy them?” Hua Cancan sat down at Bian Yingning’s vanity, starting to use her skincare products.

“My debtor.”

Hua Cancan glanced at her through the mirror. “You’re really lazy.”

“What do you mean lazy? This is called ‘strategic retreat.’ Getting others to do your work is what a capitalist should do.”

Hua Cancan: …You’re very clear about your identity.

“Besides, don’t give me that ‘you’re the only one who buys them for me’ nonsense. I spoil you.”

…

Bian Yingning was half asleep when her phone buzzed.

She picked it up. Shang Qinghui had messaged her.

“I’m at your door. Come get them.”

Bian Yingning tossed her phone aside. Hua Cancan, sitting on the window seat playing a game, said, “Go get your lotus root cakes!”

Bian Yingning turned over and went back to sleep.

Hua Cancan, seeing that Bian Yingning hadn’t even showered, suspected she’d been working construction. She looked exhausted.

Putting on her shoes, Hua Cancan went to get the cakes.

She also wanted to see who Bian Yingning’s debtor was.

At the door, she saw a pink Porsche convertible parked nearby. She frowned; the car looked familiar.

Then she saw Shang Qinghui getting out of the car.

Shang Qinghui was also surprised, then looked her up and down.

Her hair looked freshly washed, a bit frizzy. She was wearing a navy blue dress; Shang Qinghui remembered seeing Bian Yingning wear it when she and her mother came to thank the Bian family.

Her slippers were also very casual. Clearly, Hua Cancan was staying at Bian Yingning’s place.

Shang Qinghui felt a surge of anger. “Where’s Bian Yingning?”

“She’s asleep.” Hua Cancan blew on her nails. “Did you buy the cakes? Are they still warm? Cold ones are oily and not tasty.”

Shang Qinghui’s cute face turned cold.

She felt apologetic towards Bian Yingning and was willing to help her, but that didn’t mean Hua Cancan could boss her around!

“You ordered these cakes?”

Hua Cancan looked innocent despite her smug expression.

“Yes, Bian Yingning bought them for me. What’s the problem?”

Shang Qinghui laughed angrily, nodding. “Good. Very good. Excellent!”

Earlier, Bian Yingning was texting with someone in class with a smile. The person must have been Hua Cancan.

It was funny. She’d deliberately gone to Bian Yingning and Ji Xiaoxue to mention the cakes, making Ji Xiaoxue think her relationship with Bian Yingning was closer.

But then she learned the cakes were for someone else.

And that person was Hua Cancan, someone she didn’t get along with.

Looking at Hua Cancan’s smug face, she must be thrilled.

Having someone buy milk tea for her and lotus root cakes for someone else.

Bian Yingning was still superior. A simple order of lotus root cakes was enough to humiliate her.

Shang Qinghui shoved the bag of cakes into Hua Cancan’s arms. “Enjoy,” she said through gritted teeth.

Hua Cancan smiled seductively. “Thanks for the errand. Want one while it’s hot?”

The answer was the roaring sports car speeding away.

Hua Cancan felt her bad mood, caused by Hua Jiangrong, lift. It was incredibly refreshing.

It seemed her happiness depended on others’ misery.

Hua Cancan had only planned to eat three but ate four because she was so happy.

Zhuo Yi cleaned a room for Hua Cancan next to Bian Yingning’s. After eating, she covered Bian Yingning with a blanket from head to toe, then went to bed.

Bian Yingning woke up hot in the middle of the night, confused. She must have thought she was a pupa.

After showering, she checked her phone—it was only 2 am.

Shang Qinghui’s message was still there.

Huh, she’d unblocked me.

Considering herself polite, Bian Yingning replied, “Thanks!”

Why was there a red exclamation mark? Could she only message me, but not vice versa?

…She was tired of saying “absurd.”

…

The next day, Ji Xiaoxue was still thinking about the tutoring job. She asked the classmate who introduced it.

“Oh, that? I don’t know. Wang Yu asked me to ask you if you were interested,” the classmate said casually. “Maybe she thought you were suitable because you’re a diligent student.”

Ji Xiaoxue looked at Wang Yu, Shang Qinghui’s friend. They were whispering.

Wang Yu?

…

That evening, Wang Yu and Shang Qinghui got manicures. Wang Yu watched the manicurist while talking to Shang Qinghui. “My third aunt said Ji Xiaoxue doesn’t want to tutor her son anymore and asked me to find out why.”

Shang Qinghui looked up, a hint of irony in her eyes. “Pride, I guess.”

Wang Yu looked at her thoughtfully.

Recently, her aunt wanted her to find a tutor from their university for her son. Haicheng University was prestigious; its students were highly capable.

This was difficult for Wang Yu. She knew capable students, but they wouldn’t tutor. When she mentioned it, Shang Qinghui said, “Just ask the students receiving financial aid if they’re interested.”

She gestured towards Ji Xiaoxue. “That one looks like a simpleton.”

Wang Yu immediately asked Ji Xiaoxue.

After Ji Xiaoxue tutored a few times, before Wang Yu could ask her aunt about Ji Xiaoxue’s performance, her aunt called her mother to praise her.

She said Ji Xiaoxue was honest, capable, and patient. Her cousin’s math score had improved by twenty points after the recent monthly exam.

“You and Ji Xiaoxue have some kind of conflict?” Wang Yu asked tentatively.

Shang Qinghui looked down at her phone. “She’s not worthy.”

Wang Yu: …It seems the conflict is serious?

…

After Shang Qinghui and Nangong Jin had a falling out, he was angry for a while, especially since Ji Xiaoxue was also unyielding, everything contrary to his expectations.

Nangong Jin couldn’t figure out what went wrong.

Friday arrived. He was opening an aquarium in one of his malls and planned a large party to network.

As soon as he posted the announcement, the Bian family announced their five-star hotel’s tenth-anniversary celebration—on the same day.

Everyone knew the Bian family held more sway than the Nangong family. Nangong Jin anticipated a poorly attended party.

Nangong Jin smashed his office in anger.

Bian Yingning, the Bian family—Damn it.

He canceled his party, claiming he was attending the Bian family’s celebration, trying to create the impression that the Bian family was so powerful he didn’t dare hold his party on the same day.

Bian Yingning, upon hearing this, rubbed her temples. “If he comes, I can’t stop him.”

So sad.

Nangong Jin canceled his party yesterday, but Duanmu Zhengjie told him on Monday that she was unavailable on Friday. When Nangong Jin arrived at the Bian family hotel, he saw her entering with Duanmu Zhenghao.

The three of them faced each other. Duanmu Zhengjie showed no embarrassment. She smiled faintly and greeted Nangong Jin. “Mr. Nangong, what a coincidence.”

“It is a coincidence.” Nangong Jin’s face visibly darkened but suppressed his anger.

Smart people wouldn’t question why she claimed to be unavailable.

Nangong Jin even comforted himself that her presence at the Bian family’s celebration meant he could still see her.

“Mr. Nangong, you didn’t bring a date?”

“Thinking I’d see Miss Duanmu, I didn’t bring a date,” Nangong Jin said what he considered a tender line.

Duanmu Zhenghao raised an eyebrow. “Sorry, Mr. Nangong, you should have booked my sister earlier. She has a date tonight.”

“Zhenghao.” Duanmu Zhengjie lightly scolded Duanmu Zhenghao, then nodded slightly to Nangong Jin, apologizing, before walking past him with Duanmu Zhenghao.

Nangong Jin radiated an icy aura.

Ji Xiaoxue, Shang Qinghui, even Duanmu Zhengjie—these women, who should have been deeply in love with him, had changed and were cold towards him.

…

Shang Qinghui and Shang Qingfeng arrived when most people were there.

They were seated at their assigned table. The Bian family’s celebration was different from what they expected; it was like a banquet.

Hundreds of round tables were in the hall. On the stage were four stoves, and below them were several seats decorated with white silk—and a judges’ table?

Shang Qingfeng leaned towards Shang Qinghui. “Is this… a cooking competition?”

Shang Qinghui: …What about the celebration?

Before she could figure it out, her father was respectfully invited to sit on the judges’ table.

Then Bian’s father, several Bian family executives, and two elderly people were also invited.

“Dad, your seat is on the top, to the left of Mr. Bian. Don’t dawdle.”

Hua Cancan’s voice suddenly rang out. Shang Qinghui turned to see Hua Cancan, in a festive red fishtail dress, urging her father to hurry.

After seeing her father seated, she sat next to Shang Qinghui.

Seeing Shang Qinghui looking at her, Hua Cancan pointed to her name card. “What? This is my seat.”

Shang Qinghui responded by changing seats with Shang Qingfeng.

Hua Cancan rolled her eyes.

These seats were arranged by Bian’s mother. If Bian Yingning had arranged them, she would have asked for preferential treatment.

As if anyone wanted to sit with her.

The Nangong family’s patriarch had recently passed away, and there was internal strife. Only Nangong Jin was truly in charge, but he hadn’t fully consolidated his power. Compared to Bian’s father, he was a junior, so he wasn’t on the stage.

He was at the same table as Shang Qinghui and the others.

Soon, Duanmu Zhengjie and Duanmu Zhenghao arrived.

The Duanmu family was influential. Shang Qinghui and Hua Cancan put aside their petty grievances and greeted them respectfully.

The only person who seemed uncomfortable at the table was Nangong Jin.

Shang Qinghui didn’t even glance at him.

“Miss Hua, do you know how the celebration is arranged?” Shang Qingfeng clinked glasses with Hua Cancan and asked softly.

Shang Qinghui and Hua Cancan had a minor conflict, but Shang Qingfeng didn’t hold it against her family.

“It’s called a celebration, but it’s mainly about appreciating the dishes from their restaurants over the past ten years, deciding which ones to keep and which ones to improve… Basically, it’s a food show.

First, their head chefs will cook for us. Those who don’t want to try the food can go next door; there’s a dance floor there.”

Hua Cancan thought it was brilliant—getting the upper echelon of the social circle to be judges. Only the Bian family could come up with this.

Their main clientele was also from this circle. If they were satisfied, their business would thrive.

This was a win-win situation—promoting their food and improving it simultaneously.

“I see. Where’s Miss Bian?” Shang Qingfeng looked around but couldn’t find Bian Yingning.

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