This Is What a Villain Is Like

"It’s wonderful that you’ve returned safely, Junior Sister Chu Chan."

Although Zhao Dieyi felt slightly ill at ease, she maintained her usual dignified expression and offered a faint smile.

"Thanks to you, Senior Sister, I’m doing very well now," Chu Chan responded, also offering a slight smile.

As for Chen Ning hiding behind Zhao Dieyi, Chu Chan acted as if she didn’t see her at all, paying her no mind.

’I’ve achieved my goal. From now on, I’m sure no one in the Inner Sect of the Jasper Pool Sect will dare to look down on or bully me again.’

’As for the grudge between her and Chen Ning, she would have plenty of time and opportunity to slowly get her revenge later.’

’She certainly didn’t want to leave Jiang Lan with the impression that she was arrogant because she had his favor.’

For some reason, Zhao Dieyi felt that the Chu Chan before her now had undergone a complete transformation compared to the person she used to be.

Previously, when Chu Chan faced her, she had always been polite but also very reserved and cautious, terrified of saying a single wrong word.

But now, she dared to meet her gaze directly, maintaining a calm and unhurried expression.

’Did she really change so much in just one night?’

"Junior Sister Chu Chan, did you come to see me for a particular reason?" Zhao Dieyi asked, making no mention of what had happened at the Drunken Immortal Residence yesterday.

Chu Chan smiled. "Actually, I came for two reasons. First, to let you, Senior Sister, know that I’m safe. I figured that all my senior and junior sisters must have been worried about my predicament and safety, so I rushed back to put your minds at ease."

Zhao Dieyi couldn’t tell if her words were sincere or meant as veiled sarcasm.

She felt a bit uneasy, but she didn’t say anything further.

"And second, I wanted to find Senior Sister Chen Ning to say thank you. If Senior Sister Chen Ning hadn’t recommended me to Young Master Jiang yesterday, I never would have been worthy of meeting him."

"Young Master Jiang treats me very well, and I’m very grateful to him. But of course, I can’t forget the great favor Senior Sister Chen Ning did for me, so I came especially to find her and give my thanks."

"Unfortunately, Senior Sister Chen Ning wasn’t in her cave abode..."

As she said this, she even managed a small, regretful-looking smile. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Only then did she look past Zhao Dieyi to Chen Ning, her face breaking into an impeccable smile of gratitude.

Chen Ning looked extremely ill at ease. For some reason, she felt that Chu Chan’s smile was filled with a chill that made her shiver involuntarily.

"You’re joking, Junior Sister Chu Chan. Seeing you safe and sound, and so well-liked by Young Master Jiang, we all breathed a sigh of relief. We’re happy for you."

"It was just a small thing, you don’t have to pay it so much mind." Chen Ning forced a smile, but it looked quite strained.

By now, Zhao Dieyi also understood that Chu Chan was using this as a pretext for veiled sarcasm; she clearly still harbored resentment and dissatisfaction over yesterday’s events.

She felt a pang of guilt, but it wasn’t a good time to say anything more.

’What’s done is done. Saying more would be pointless.’

"Since you two Senior Sisters still have things to discuss, I won’t disturb you any longer."

Seeing that Zhao Dieyi had fallen silent, Chu Chan knew she had accomplished her goal. She smiled faintly, no longer lingering, and turned to leave.

"Senior Sister Zhao, look at that Chu Chan! She caught the eye of that rich heir, and now she’s so arrogant she thinks she owns the place..."

"She doesn’t even show you any respect now! She deliberately said all that in such a high-and-mighty tone, just to mock us."

Once Chu Chan was gone, Chen Ning finally felt herself relax. No longer hiding her overflowing malice and hostility, she spoke urgently to the silent Zhao Dieyi.

However, Zhao Dieyi ignored her, staring thoughtfully at Chu Chan’s departing back.

’I don’t believe Jiang Lan came to Anyang City without a reason. Yesterday, I was afraid he’d set his sights on me, which is why I left the Drunken Immortal Residence early and did my best to avoid him.’

’For Chu Chan to come here so brazenly today and say those things... could she be acting on a signal from Jiang Lan?’

’Is that why she’s acting so fearlessly?’

’Grandfather told me to avoid contact with Jiang Lan as much as possible, saying he’s not as simple as he seems...’

’Chu Chan showing up just now... could she have been trying to provoke me on purpose, to give Jiang Lan a legitimate pretext to stand up for her and come after me?’

Zhao Dieyi’s heart sank.

’Even if Jiang Lan has no cultivation to speak of, he’s surrounded by a sea of experts. In my current state, I’m no match for them.’

’Once Ling Zhuyun arrives, I’ll return to the Sect and go into closed-door cultivation.’

Zhao Dieyi paid Chen Ning no more mind, turning and walking back into her cave abode.

She completely ignored Chen Ning’s attempts to sow discord. Speaking up for her at the Drunken Immortal Residence had already been going above and beyond; there was no way she was going to provoke Jiang Lan on Chen Ning’s account.

’This won’t do. That woman Chu Chan has flown up the branch and become a Phoenix now. She will definitely find a way to get her revenge on me.’

’I have to send word for my family to send people here.’

’Or... I could strike first. That Chu Chan has a simple-minded little brother at Zixia Temple. Does she really think she has no vulnerabilities for me to exploit?’

Chen Ning’s face paled as she watched Zhao Dieyi ignore her, but it quickly darkened into a sinister expression. Her delicate hands clenched into tight fists.

She had never been the soft-hearted or merciful type. The enmity between her and Chu Chan was now set in stone; there was no way the other woman would let her go.

’Chu Chan has only just managed to latch onto Jiang Lan’s coattails, and she’s already this audacious.’

’If she’s given more time, won’t she end up trampling me—and my entire family—underfoot?’

The conflict between them was fundamentally irreconcilable. During their years in the Jasper Pool Sect, she had bullied Chu Chan more than a few times.

Worse, she had deliberately slandered and framed Chu Chan, pinning all sorts of fabricated crimes on her, slinging mud at her name.