Chapter 13

Bai Yu stared at her fingers. Again.

Although the wound was not as severe as the first day, it still took unusually long to heal for a magic-user. At first, she thought that the magic in her body would automatically heal the wound, but that might turn out to be wrong...The reason why the wound did not heal might be because she could not use magic.

This Bai Yu did not know how to use magic! She already got to have the body of a perfect villainess, then why did fate not give her the ability that came with it as well?! Not to mention the incomplete memory. Ugh!

The secondary villainess Xu Peipei’s visit changed Bai Yu’s hitherto leisurely life. Because she was mocked that her wound was slow to heal, now she had to find a way to wield magic.

She would not let herself become an incompetent woman and lose her title!

Bai Yu started by studying the basics from books, telling her curious maid the excuse that she wanted to review her knowledge. She also announced that she needed privacy in order to rest and recover, effectually stopping clans of merchants from trying to suck up to her. Instead, they had to turn to push their own children who had magic to study the multiplication table at the institute.

The magic cultivation institute was opened to the children of nobles or rich merchants starting from thirteen to eighteen. Noblemen here did not have any interest in martial arts as they view that the court and the world of martial artists should be separated like how pond water did not mingle with water in canals*. Only a few would study both magic and martial arts, and one of those few was Ouyang Mingxian, whose ability was more notable than the Taizi Ouyang Yongxian.

.....

As for the noblewomen, they rarely took their study seriously, as tradition dictated that women had the duty in taking care of their family and governing over matters within the household. Thus, most of them only studied up to a level that would not be an embarrassment, which would usually be the level that magic was used as a performance, like Bai Yu’s guqin ability, for example. Bai Yu had already finished the course for women aged fifteen so there was no need for her to attend classes at the institute anymore, though she still could go if she wanted to study further in other subjects. It could be said that Bai Yu was a woman who had higher education in magic than other men or women.

It would surely be strange if she, who did not know how to wield magic at the same level as the former Bai Yu, went to study magic there, so the current Bai Yu could only stay at home and study from the books by herself. Although studying magic was a completely new experience for her, she could understand the content somewhat. Her main problem was that no matter how much she studied, her practical ability remained zero. Not even a glimpse of her red magic appeared.

“Miss, Wei Wang came to see you.”

“Wei Wang?” The secondary male lead?

“Yes, miss. This time the Empress Dowager ordered Wei Wang to be the one who brings royal doctor Mu to treat you.”

“Help me get dressed.”

Bai Yu let her maid take care of changing into a dress that would be more appropriate for meeting an esteemed guest. Meanwhile, she tried to recall her memory about Wei Wang. The results were...hazy memories and a blurry face.

When she thought about what she knew from the series, she could remember that Wei Wang was the kindhearted love interest who was willing to do anything for the heroine, even though she only saw him as an older brother. As a gentle, good-natured person and an absolute gentleman, he was the definition of the secondary male lead formula...which the heroine never chose.

She would like to see if this world’s Wei Wang was the same as in the series or not. If he was, then that would be complicated for her...since in her former life, he was exactly her ‘type’.

And it was this kind of man...who made her past self so madly in love for full nine years.

“Miss.”

“Hm?”

“Normally, Empress Dowager would send Qin Wang for her errands. But why is it Wei Wang who came today?”

“Maybe he had his royal matter to attend to?” The royal matter that involved Bai Hua at the ancestral temple, of course.

“Aren’t you sad, miss?”

“I’m OK.”

“OK?”

“OK means I’m fine.”

“What language is that, miss?”

“A language from a faraway universe.”

“Miss please teach me too!”

“OK”

“Huh?”

“It can also mean ‘Alright’.”

“OK, miss”

What a smart puppy!

—————–

“Blessings to Wei Wang.”

“No need to be so formal.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Bai Yu wore a white dress with a red plum blossoms embroidery pattern. Today’s clothing not only brought out her refined beauty but also her allure. She curtsied to the man while keeping her head slightly lowered according to the manner that one should not freely look at the face of royals or those in higher ranks than them.

“How’s Miss Bai’s wound?” The gentleness in his voice made Bai Yu’s heart race. She already had an old weakness of falling for men like this, and now that she was facing Wei Wang who was known for his kindness, she could not help being affected by him. To make the matter worse, he also had that voice...so similar to the man she had loved.

“It’s much better, Your Highness.” Bai Yu replied. She lifted her head, attempting to sneak a glance at Wei Wang’s appearance in this world, but then inadvertently met his eyes...her little heart suddenly pounded.

It...it can’t be!

“Benwang brings royal doctor Mu here to treat Miss Bai’s wound...” His tone was soft and warm, and when paired with his brown irises, he looked even more gentle. “...Apologies for the sudden visit.”

‘Ouyang Wenrou’ smiled wider as he saw Bai Yu went quiet rather than saying thanks. He was surprised that she took one look at him and turned silent, unlike her usual impeccable manner.

“I hope Miss Bai does not take offense.” That same voice still carried the same tone, like he did not mind her rudeness at all.

You are always like this ‘Wenrou’

No matter when...

You are always gentle and smiling to me, no matter what horrible things I did!

/////

“Pleasure working with you. I’m Li Wenrou.”

“I’m Yoknapha. My Chinese is not very good, please excuse me.”

“Xiao Yu”

“Yes?”

“I can’t pronounce your Thai name very well. Can I call you with your Chinese name instead?”

“Of course. But if I don’t respond then you can just nudge me. I’m still not used to that name.”

“Haha.”

...

“Wenrou, I was chosen for a role in your country’s TV series. It’s called ‘This Life, the villainess will win against all odds’.”

“Congratulations Xiao Yu. I guess I’ll have to treat you to something.”

“Aren’t you going to ask what role I got?”

“Xiao Yu’s incredible, no matter which role.”

“Especially the villainess role?”

“An international villainess. It suits you very well, doesn’t it?”

“Thank you, Mr. Angelic.”

...

“Wenrou, you meanie! Why didn’t you tell me you’re the series’ main lead?”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“I guess I’ll have to introduce myself again.”

“This time I’ll be able to call you Xiao Yu without having to nudge, right?”

“Obviously! It’s my Chinese name now. Everyone in your country calls me that.”

“You have to thank me.”

“Right, right, Thank you, Mr. Angelic!”

...

“It’s snowing. Let me take you home.”

“It’s fine. My manager is coming.”

“Don’t be stubborn, Yu-er.”

“Huh? What did you call me?”

“Heh.”

“Hey! Don’t just pat my head as you please. My hair’s going to be a mess, it’ll be bad for my image.”

“Are you concerned about your image or your heart?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

.....

“You’re imagining things now!”

“The international villainess’s interview column. About her ideal man...”

“Wenrou! Stop talking!”

“Come back with me, then I won’t talk about it again.”

“You’re blackmailing me.”

“But now that I think about it...”

“Huh?”

“Now that I think about it, your description of an ideal man is exactly me, Yu-er.”

“No!”

...

“Why’re you calling me at a time like this?”

“I’m calling to tell you a fairy tale.”

“I’m not a child, Wenrou.”

“I heard that you couldn’t act in that scene, so I called to help steady your nerves.”

“And where’s Mr. Male Lead’s fairy tale.”

“Once upon a time, there was a little turtle who got lost and was separated from mommy turtle. The little turtle walked until it met a hare, whom it asked of mommy turtle’s whereabouts. The hare answered: ‘Let me kiss you and I’ll tell’. The little turtle let the hare kissed it once, then continued on the path that the hare told it...”

“...”

“...The little turtle walked and walked until it met the tiger. Again, it asked the tiger about the mommy turtle. The tiger said: ‘Let me kiss you and I’ll tell’. The little turtle agreed, then continued again on the path that the tiger told him until it met the lion...”

“...”

“Do you want to know what happened to the little turtle?”

“Yes.”

“Let me kiss you and I’ll tell”

“Are you flirting with me?”

“I think so.”

“A grownup trying to flirt using a fairy tale like a kid.”

“If it’s successful, I don’t mind.”

...

“After we finish shooting, let’s go find something to eat.”

“Aren’t you afraid of the paparazzi?”

“You’re angry with me, baby?”

“You have to be seen with the heroine to generate buzz for the series. If it’s me instead then the plan will be messed up.”

“That was the series’ heroine. You’re the only heroine in my heart.”

“I’m going to tell you now that I’m not an angel like them.”

“You can be what you want. But I’ll be the angel for you.”

Chu

...

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* Pond water does not mingle with water in canals: Everyone has their own path and they don’t interfere with each other’s way of life