the villain s redemption
"You're too small."
"I never said you'll wear my clothes." She gave him a look before slowly taking off her coat. "This should fit you perfectly." He nodded in response.
"What about you?"
"You'll have to hug me." If not, she really will freeze to death.
"Are you— Are you suggesting that we pretend to be lovers again?" he frowned. "Are you perhaps addicted to pretending as my lover?"
"You know what?" Li Yue snatched back her coat. "I'll just leave you here. I'm hungry. I'll just leave by myself!" She tried to open the cubicle door but was abruptly halted. "Let me go! Or I'll scream!" She could feel the heat starting to rise to her neck. This man… This man is making her really angry. "Let me go or I will… punch your pretty face!"
"...You think I'm pretty?"
Li Yue widened her eyes in disbelief. Is this man trying to anger her to death?
...
When Li Yue and Mo Li got out of the computer shop, it was already three-thirty in the morning. Both were silent, facing away from each other as they started walking.
"Give me my coat." Li Yue said. In response, the other took the coat off him and handed it to her. She quickly wore it and made sure that she was warm enough before she started walking towards her apartment, ignoring the man who was following her like a lost puppy. "Stop following me." She tried to sound angry. She failed.
Memories of what happened earlier caused her cheeks to redden. The fact that it was dark enough to cover her scarlet face made her heave a sigh in relief.
"I can't go home."
"So?"
"Well… I want to stay at your place."
Li Yue halted her steps. "No."
"I will pay—"
"The answer is still no."
"But— "
"Find a hotel."
"People will recognize me."
"That's no longer part of my concern." She maintained a stern expression. "You are not going to sleep in my apartment."
"Why? I thought you needed money? I can pay you a huge sum."
She turned towards him. "Huge? Exactly how huge is… huge?"
"A hundred thousand Yuan. That's even more expensive than hotels in this area."
"Make it two hundred." She said cheekily. Her previously stern expression was nowhere to be found
"That's — Alright." He nodded in defeat "But you have to let me eat your food."
"You haven't had dinner yet?"
"No." He lowered his head and walked to her side. After a few seconds of pondering, Li Yue joined him. It seems that the current situation would help her spend more time with the villain.
'Is this allowed?'
'As long as you don't kill him.' The robotic voice responded. Li Yue nodded. Of course, she won't kill him. Why would she kill the person helping her survive in this unfamiliar world?
After a few minutes of turning through several corners, the two finally arrived at her two-bedroom apartment. "You sure are lucky. There's no one around at this hour. If not, many would have recognized you." She said as she walked into her apartment. "It's not big but I'm alone… so…" she shrugged.
"You have a two-bedroom apartment?"
"Yes."
"Then that's good." He said as he sat on the couch, exhaustion apparent on his face. "I'm hungry." He uttered.
This almost made Li Yue burst with rage. However, the thought of two hundred thousand Yuan soothed her nerves. With a smile, she said, "You can cook your own food. I only have cupped noodles and some convenience store dishes. You just have to heat them. You do know how to use the oven, right?" he nodded in response.
"Then… good." Li Yue straight away went to her room and got him a pillow and a small blanket that surely won't be enough to fit his tall frame. "This is all I have. Like I said… I am poor." That, and the fact she was not planning to stay in this place for a long time. There is no need for her to spend money on things that she cannot bring abroad.
Li Yue did not wait for him to say a word in response. She promptly went to the kitchen which was only a few feet away from the small couch and started heating some water for her noodles.
"You eat noodles at home too?"
"I don't have much of a choice." She said. "I can't cook good stuff. At best just some boiled eggs."
"Oh." She heard his steps coming closer to her and opened another cup of noodles. Standing next to her, Mo Li stared at the cheap electric kettle in front of them.
"This place is okay." Mo Li added. "It's dusty, but at least it's spacious."
Li Yue didn't retort. Of course it's dusty. She didn't have the time to clean. She already has her hands full looking for ways to save money for education abroad. She pursed her lips. "Not everyone is as lucky as you are."
"I am not lucky." He answered in a cold tone. Li Yue nodded in understanding.
'Hey, robot, is there a way to know the backstory of each villain?'
'You can pay using points.' The robotic voice answered. 'Sadly, you don't have any points.'
Li Yue rolled her eyes. A villain who ruined other people's lives without batting an eyelid would surely have some interesting backstory, or they wouldn't have become that twisted, no?
The sound from the electric kettle woke her up from her stupor. She promptly poured some hot water in her cup before pouring some for Mo Li.
"Can I stay here again?"
Li Yue almost dropped her cup noodles when she heard his words. "Are you crazy?" she asked. "I am a woman… with dignity! I can't live with a man!"
"But we've already kissed." He retorted cheekily. "Twice."
"That's only because we were acting."
"Still… a kiss is a kiss."
"No." She said. Turning her back on him, she said, "No. You are not allowed to stay here again. After tonight, you will leave, and we shall never bring this up again."
"You're just worried about what people think about us, right?" he asked, almost innocently. She eyed him, frowning at his puppy eyes.
"Yes." She nodded in affirmation.
"Then… why don't we pretend to be couples?"