Chapter 516 - 345: How Did I Become the Villain? (Part 2)

Xue Rui had already made up his mind. Next year, he would build a joint laboratory for Lin Ruoxi. Once the issues with equipment and personnel were resolved, she could finally be free to do what she loved.

"Mm, mathematics and semiconductor materials... several professors at Jiao University like me. I did what you said and sold them on the big picture," Lin Ruoxi said softly.

"The only small problem is that the professors are all too enthusiastic. They all invited me to their homes for dinner, but I didn’t accept any of the invitations..."

Xue Rui stared at Lin Ruoxi, his eyes wide with shock. Those were fields that were completely alien to him.

"Huh?"

Xue Rui let out a soft sound of surprise. He had just noticed a hickey on Lin Ruoxi’s chest.

’Did I do that just now?’ Xue Rui thought, startled. He was sure he hadn’t.

He stared at the small hickey, lost in thought.

’Who could have given her a hickey?’

He couldn’t possibly suspect Lin Ruoxi, so his first thought was that it was a prank.

The girls around Lin Ruoxi...

’Muxue??’

Xue Rui thought to himself. After all, the two of them spent every day together. Muxue had even kept Lin Ruoxi with her as a form of "revenge."

’But why?’

Xue Rui looked at the hickey’s location—on her chest, just below her neck. It wouldn’t be visible unless her clothes were off.

’Who would Lin Ruoxi get undressed in front of?’

’Only him, of course...’

This meant Muxue had done it intentionally for him to see.

When Lin Ruoxi noticed Xue Rui’s gaze, she glanced down at the spot where Gu Muxue had made the mark. She gulped instinctively and hurriedly pulled on her clothes, explaining in a small voice, "Muxue did it..."

She chose to "tattle" immediately. She didn’t like Gu Muxue’s prank and didn’t want Xue Rui to have the slightest doubt about her.

Xue Rui smiled and nodded. He knew even without Lin Ruoxi saying anything. By explaining immediately, she was giving him an answer—a form of silent communication between them.

’What was the meaning behind giving Lin Ruoxi a hickey?’

Xue Rui couldn’t figure it out no matter how he thought about it. He decided to ask Gu Muxue himself.

But Muxue wouldn’t even talk to him... Looking at the panicking Lin Ruoxi, an idea formed in his mind.

Xue Rui asked doubtfully, "Xixi, what kind of girl does something like this?"

Lin Ruoxi was stunned. She explained, "It really was Muxue."

Xue Rui said nothing, only sighing to himself...

Lin Ruoxi’s breathing grew ragged. ’Doesn’t Xue Rui believe me?’

She knelt before Xue Rui, reached out to cup his face, and looked at him with tear-filled eyes, her voice trembling as she spoke:

"Rui, I belong only to you. Please, believe me, okay? I’ll never let you down."

A sudden wave of guilt washed over Xue Rui. The young woman’s reaction was too extreme. Her whole body was shaking, and the hand on his face was trembling uncontrollably.

Xue Rui hugged Lin Ruoxi and gently patted her back as he explained:

"Of course I believe you. I was sighing because I just can’t figure out why Muxue would do something like this. Give her a call. I need to ask her why she did it."

Lin Ruoxi nodded emphatically, wiped the tears from her face, and called Gu Muxue.

She didn’t want Xue Rui to have any doubts about her. She needed Gu Muxue to explain things to him, so even though she suspected he had other motives, she couldn’t worry about that now.

Besides... she had a faint feeling that Gu Muxue had already forgiven Xue Rui.

...

「Meanwhile, at Gu Muxue’s home.」

Gu Muxue was on her balcony, holding Xiaobu and basking in the sun. The light spilled across her soft, fair face, making her look like a serene and tranquil oil painting.

This was part of the routine Lin Ruoxi had planned for her, saying that getting more sun would help drive away the gloom in her heart.

Gu Muxue squinted, the autumn breeze brushing against her face. She instinctively turned to look at the lounge chair beside her, only to find it empty.

Lin Ruoxi had gone back to be with Xue Rui. She’d only been gone for a few hours, but Gu Muxue was already finding it strange to be alone...

"Lin Ruoxi, is this part of your plan, too?" Gu Muxue murmured.

’Sticking by my side every day, planning out every aspect of my life, and then suddenly leaving to make me feel uncomfortable?’

Gu Muxue once saw Xue Rui as her one and only. When she found out he was with Lin Ruoxi, she felt betrayed and was plunged into extreme pain and emptiness for a long time.

But now, even though she knew Lin Ruoxi was with Xue Rui, and that they would most likely sleep together tonight, she didn’t feel the same pain as before. It was as if her possessiveness over Xue Rui had weakened...

No, that wasn’t quite right. It was as if a desire to share had emerged...

’Why am I becoming like this? Did the medicine make me stupid?’

’Or has Lin Ruoxi made me foolish?’

Gu Muxue shook her head. She didn’t want to dwell on it.

She had given Lin Ruoxi a hickey before she left, thinking that Xue Rui would see it by evening. Then, Lin Ruoxi would surely call her, and Xue Rui would most likely be the one who ended up talking.

She wanted to talk to Xue Rui, but she didn’t want to be the one to initiate contact. It was the last shred of her pride.

Lin Ruoxi had stayed with her for half a month, and in that time, she’d found herself able to empathize with Xue Rui. She hadn’t been able to resist Lin Ruoxi’s gentleness, either. She had promised to drive Lin Ruoxi away, but now she regretted it...

Combined with Xue Rui’s earlier apology, she believed that he was sincere toward both her and Lin Ruoxi, just as she was toward him.

In fact, after beating up the "little bear" yesterday, most of her pent-up frustration had been released. Now, as long as she nodded, the boy she liked would come back into her life, and Lin Ruoxi would also stay by her side because of Xue Rui.

Although it felt a little strange, she suddenly felt a sliver of anticipation...

At this thought, Gu Muxue’s heart began to race. She subconsciously hugged Xiaobu, who was in her arms, a little tighter.

Xiaobu: "Meeow~"

"Are you thinking I’m pathetic?" Gu Muxue said, pinching Xiaobu’s ear.

Xiaobu: "Meeow~"

"I just don’t want to let that bastard have it so easy. Why should Lin Ruoxi have to do all the cooking and cleaning by herself?" Gu Muxue said, ruffling the fur on Xiaobu’s head.

Xiaobu: "Meeow~"

"You think I have a point too, don’t you?" Gu Muxue smiled and scratched Xiaobu’s chin, her charming eyes filled with amusement.

But the smile quickly faded. Of course, she knew she was only fooling herself.

But she was truly lost about the future, and suppressing her feelings would only make her condition worse.

’Right, this is for the sake of my recovery. It’s definitely not because I’m pathetic and still long for Xue Rui...’

"RING RING RING~"

Suddenly, the phone on the table next to her started ringing. It was a call from Lin Ruoxi.

Gu Muxue glanced at the time. It was almost noon. ’Is Lin Ruoxi calling to ask if I’ve eaten properly?’

She decisively answered the call, only to hear Lin Ruoxi’s anxious voice on the other end, tinged with the sound of tears:

"Muxue, quickly, explain to Xue Rui! That red mark, you’re the one who left it, right?"

Gu Muxue’s heart skipped a beat. ’Lin Ruoxi has only been back for a short while, how could Xue Rui have already made her cry like this?’

"Ruoxi, what did he do to you?" Gu Muxue asked coldly.

Xue Rui’s heart sank. Lin Ruoxi had put the call on speaker, so of course he heard the chill in Gu Muxue’s voice.

Xue Rui’s shock was beyond words.

’Wait, since when are you two on the same side?’

’How did I become the villain?’

Lin Ruoxi said anxiously, "Muxue, hurry up and say you did it."

Xue Rui almost choked on Lin Ruoxi’s words.

"Are you conspiring with her right in front of me?" Xue Rui said faintly.

Although he didn’t understand why Gu Muxue was defending Lin Ruoxi, he knew he had to play the villain now. It was the only way to get Gu Muxue to say a few words to him.

Gu Muxue gritted her teeth. "Xiaorui, you shut up! I did it. You knew, and you still bullied her?"

Gu Muxue didn’t believe Xue Rui’s nonsense for a second. With how sharp he was, he had probably guessed it was her from the very first glance.

"Muxue, I get it now. Xixi, I’m sorry," Xue Rui apologized hurriedly.

The corners of Xue Rui’s mouth couldn’t help but lift. Even though Gu Muxue hadn’t contacted him in so long and her first words were to scold him, hearing her voice filled him with a warm feeling.

"You don’t have to apologize to me. It’s my fault for not explaining clearly."

Lin Ruoxi let out a sigh of relief, the weight in her heart finally lifting. She could only feel truly at ease after Xue Rui heard Gu Muxue admit it herself.

"Muxue, thank you! Remember to eat well. You can hang up now," Lin Ruoxi said into the phone.

On the screen, the call timer ticked by, second after second, but on the other end of the line, Gu Muxue didn’t hang up...