Why Be a Villain? Isn't a Shut-in Girl More Appealing? - Chapter 13:

Chapter 13: Making Lunch for Song Wanci

Xu Linxiu looked back toward the center of the plaza.

Qin Feng’s eyes were growing brighter under Huan Xisha’s relentless assault. Though he was clearly on the defensive, he was gradually starting to hold his own, even showing faint signs of matching her evenly.

Suddenly, Xu Linxiu felt a tug at his sleeve. He lowered his head and looked down.

Seeing it was Song Wanci, he asked curiously, “What is it?”

“He’s about to break through,” Song Wanci said slowly, enunciating each word. Perhaps because she rarely spoke, her pace was very deliberate.

Xu Linxiu blinked, pleasantly surprised by how much more she was saying to him now. He gently patted her hand and comforted her, “Don’t worry. Even if he breaks through, he still won’t be a match for Huan Xisha.”

And just as Xu Linxiu predicted, Qin Feng broke through two cultivation levels in a row, reaching 3rd stage Spirit Condensation Realm.

But he was still being completely overpowered by Huan Xisha. The only difference was that his injuries were now appearing less frequently.

“Brother Qin! You got this!” An Youxi suddenly appeared at the edge of the arena, cupping her hands around her mouth and cheering loudly for Qin Feng.

Her voice stood out harshly in the otherwise quiet field.

Xu Linxiu watched with interest as An Youxi enthusiastically cheered for Qin Feng. What kind of expression would she have when Qin Feng inevitably lost?

Finally, Qin Feng ran out of spiritual energy under Huan Xisha’s sustained attacks and admitted defeat, ending the one-sided match.

“Hehe, Wanci! Qin Feng got beaten up by Huan Xisha… aren’t you happy?” Xu Linxiu grinned like a child, turning to Song Wanci, almost seeking praise.

Song Wanci turned her head and looked at him blankly, expressionless.

Xu Linxiu started feeling awkward under her gaze. Just as he was about to change the topic, Song Wanci subtly nodded.

“Hmph.” Xu Linxiu folded his arms proudly and then looked down at Qin Feng’s defeated face, and at An Youxi beside him who kept trying to comfort him.

But the mocking comments from the surrounding disciples and the pain of his injuries made Qin Feng irritable and frustrated.

Hearing An Youxi’s continuous nagging only made him angrier.

“Get lost!” Qin Feng suddenly roared at An Youxi and shoved her aside before quickly walking away.

An Youxi froze in place, still in the same position she had been holding Qin Feng. Her mind went blank.

Brother Qin… yelled at me?

Tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Her pale face, paired with her red, misty eyes, made her look pitifully fragile.

Some of the disciples nearby couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

“That Qin Feng… even lashed out at the girl who’s always believed in him. Would he only be happy if no one stayed by his side?”

“Sigh… he wasn’t like this when I first joined the sect. He helped carry my luggage and even stood up for me when other peak disciples tried to pick on me.”

“Yeah… when I had no spirit stones, he was the one who lent me some. What happened to him?”

Everyone started discussing and murmuring around An Youxi.

Ouyang Qing and Xu Guoan had already left after the match ended.

Hearing the chatter below, Xu Linxiu clenched his teeth, his hand gripping the tree trunk tightly.

Whether those things they said were true or not didn’t matter.

Even if they were, he wouldn’t feel guilty. After all, one of them was the villain, and the other was the child of destiny.

What Xu Linxiu didn’t expect was that Qin Feng yelling at An Youxi somehow improved his reputation?

Why?

Because people pitied An Youxi?

[Because he’s the protagonist. Because he has the will of Heaven backing him.]

Xu Linxiu’s grip on the trunk tightened until a piece of bark cracked and broke off.

“What’s wrong?” Song Wanci looked at him in confusion. Her expressive peach blossom eyes now held only Xu Linxiu’s reflection.

“It’s nothing…” Xu Linxiu activated a trace of spiritual energy. The broken bark instantly crumbled to dust and disappeared into the air.

“It just annoys me. Qin Feng yelled at An Youxi, and somehow, now everyone thinks better of him because she cried.”

Xu Linxiu sat back down and turned to Song Wanci, explaining seriously.

Song Wanci nodded, then looked toward An Youxi, who was still sobbing not far away.

“It’s alright… You don’t have to get upset over people like them. Whether he lives well or poorly has nothing to do with us either way,” Song Wanci said softly, gently pulling Xu Linxiu’s hand into hers.

Xu Linxiu turned to her again, stunned.

From what Xu Linxiu had learned in his previous investigation, Song Wanci only ever spoke a word or two to Elder Yun Yan—and never more than ten words in one go.

What was happening today?

“You’re right, that makes sense. But… I want to ask you something.”

As he spoke, Xu Linxiu turned to look at the girl sitting beside him.

“Other than Elder Yun, you’ve never spoken to anyone else. So… why are you willing to talk to me?”

Song Wanci remained silent, her peach blossom eyes gazing directly into Xu Linxiu’s.

Then, suddenly, Xu Linxiu felt her fingers tracing something in his palm.

“I don’t know,” Song Wanci wrote in his hand.

Xu Linxiu twitched the corners of his mouth… All he asked was why she was willing to talk to him, and her response was to stop talking again and write it in his hand?

“We’ve been here a while. You hungry? Want to try my cooking?” Xu Linxiu crossed his arms, humming smugly.

Song Wanci didn’t answer. She simply sat upright, quietly watching him.

Xu Linxiu chuckled and grabbed her hand. “If you don’t answer, I’ll take that as a yes!”

The next moment, both of their figures vanished from the tree.

In the backyard of Xu Linxiu’s cave residence, Song Wanci sat politely on a chair.

Xu Linxiu got to work starting a fire to cook.

“Wanci, can you handle a bit of spice?” he asked as he cooked.

Song Wanci nodded, resting her chin in her hands, her peach blossom eyes locked on the pot in Xu Linxiu’s hands.

She was genuinely curious. A guy who couldn’t even crack sunflower seeds properly… could actually cook?

Xu Linxiu noticed her staring and thought she was hungry, so he sped up a little.

Before long, dish after steaming homemade meal was placed neatly on the table.

“Try it.” Xu Linxiu filled two bowls of rice, one for himself and one for Song Wanci, and looked at her eagerly.

He looked just like a kid waiting to be praised.

Song Wanci picked up a piece of tofu, placed it into her bowl, and under Xu Linxiu’s hopeful gaze, slowly brought it to her mouth and tasted it carefully.