My Villainous Persona Collapses as My Family Reads My Mind - chapter 11

Backstage of the school auditorium.

This place is usually deserted, and it has become the base of Zhou Kai and his gang of troublemakers.

After Meng Zhiyi was brought here by them, images of the original host being disciplined in this very spot flashed through her mind.

She tilted her head and looked at the girl with yellow-dyed hair walking behind Zhou Kai.

In her memory, this girl was the one who led the charge in teaching the original host a lesson.

Meng Zhiyi lowered her gaze, a cold glint flickering in her eyes as she quietly calculated who she should start with when it came time to teach them a lesson.

“Did I or did I not tell you to be polite to Song Wei and stop causing her trouble?”

Zhou Kai, walking in front, stopped and spoke in a cold, menacing tone.

While he spoke, the others had already surrounded Meng Zhiyi, malicious smiles plastered on their faces.

Meng Zhiyi raised her brows slightly, her eyes sweeping over them with indifference as she replied, “You did say that. So what?”

“???” Zhou Kai’s eyes widened slightly, momentarily at a loss for words as he stared at her.

“You actually dare ask me ‘so what’? Meng Zhiyi, was last time’s lesson too mild, making you forget my warning?”

Zhou Kai’s face darkened. He had just arrived at school and heard that Meng Zhiyi had publicly humiliated Song Wei. After hurriedly calling her, he heard the girl on the other end sobbing and aggrieved, which instantly ignited his anger.

He immediately started asking around for Meng Zhiyi’s whereabouts.

He thought that after last time’s warning, Meng Zhiyi would be somewhat wary. Yet now, the girl before him looked completely fearless, even carrying a hint of hostility.

Meng Zhiyi sneered, her gaze filled with contempt as she mocked Zhou Kai, “Oh, so you want to play the knight in shining armor for Song Wei?”

“But from what I hear, Zhou Kai, you’re nothing but a loyal lapdog. If you really had guts, why not just win her over yourself?”

“Ah, almost forgot-Song Wei prefers being the third wheel, doesn’t she? She’s obsessed with clinging to my fiancé, so how could she ever notice you?”

Meng Zhiyi laughed arrogantly, her words deliberately meant to provoke Zhou Kai.

Sure enough, at the mention of ‘third wheel,’ Zhou Kai’s expression grew even uglier, his hand at his side clenching tightly.

He gritted his teeth and said, “Who are you calling a third wheel?”

“Looks like you’re not just slow-witted, but deaf too.” Meng Zhiyi lifted her chin and continued in the same tone, “Everyone in Capital City knows I’m engaged to Shen Que, but Song Wei knowingly pursues him anyway. If that’s not being a third wheel, what is?”

“Shut up! You’re not allowed to talk about Weiwei like that!” Zhou Kai roared, his fist already swinging toward Meng Zhiyi.

Just as the punch was about to land on her face, a cold voice rang out.

“Zhou Kai, try laying a finger on her and see what happens.”

Shen Que’s tall figure appeared, backlit by the light.

Zhou Kai’s fist froze in midair, veins bulging on his forehead. When he turned to look at Shen Que, his eyes were filled with resentment and stubbornness.

Meng Zhiyi blinked, a little surprised to see Shen Que here.

As he approached, the people surrounding Meng Zhiyi instinctively backed away.

Shen Que walked straight up to Meng Zhiyi, his gaze unconsciously scanning her to make sure she was unharmed.

Meng Zhiyi pressed her lips together, grumbling inwardly.

[So annoying, why did he come over?]

[I was just about to teach these people a lesson, and now I have to keep up my act.]

Hearing her inner voice, Shen Que relaxed.

But, listening to Meng Zhiyi’s extremely disdainful tone, Shen Que couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.

Worried she’d be bullied, he’d rushed over without even drying his hair, and instead of thanks, he was met with annoyance.

Zhou Kai hadn’t expected Shen Que to show up either. He withdrew his hand, staring intently at Shen Que.

In that moment, Meng Zhiyi’s thoughts raced, and then she darted behind Shen Que, clutching his shirt at the waist with both hands.

“Waaah, Brother Shen Que, you finally came! If you’d been any later, you’d be collecting my corpse.”

“Zhou Kai was sent by Song Wei to teach me a lesson. Now you see what she’s really like-a two-faced person. She pretends to be a Little White Flower in front of you, but behind your back, she gets people to gang up on me.”

Meng Zhiyi’s mouth rattled off like a machine gun, her mind equally restless.

[Nice, another chance to badmouth Song Wei in front of Shen Que.]
[I’ve worked so hard already, Shen Que, can’t you just hate me a little!]

Shen Que listened in silence to Meng Zhiyi’s endless chatter, not interrupting her at all.

It was Zhou Kai who, upon hearing Meng Zhiyi slander Song Wei, immediately retorted, “Stop talking nonsense. It’s me who doesn’t like you, it has nothing to do with Song Wei.”

Meng Zhiyi hid behind Shen Que, poked her head out, and repeated Zhou Kai’s words in a sly tone: “It has nothing to do with Song Wei~ Oh, oh, oh, so devoted! I’m honestly impressed. Haven’t you heard? A simp who keeps fawning only ends up with nothing.”

“What are you so proud of? After all you’ve done, has Song Wei ever even looked at you?”

[Truly a clueless simp. If he knew Song Wei would use him as a shield in the future, causing the Zhou Family to go bankrupt and land him in prison, would he still be so loyal, like a dog?]

At these words, Shen Que raised his eyebrows ever so slightly, looking thoughtfully at the girl behind him.

Zhou Kai, infuriated by Meng Zhiyi’s words, lost his temper and, ignoring Shen Que’s presence, raised his fist to strike.

Shen Que’s gaze darkened. He reached out and clamped Zhou Kai’s wrist, his dark eyes fixed on him.

Born into the top echelons of the Beijing elite circle, Shen Que carried an innate aura of authority; even without saying a word, he radiated a strong sense of pressure.

Meeting Shen Que’s gaze, Zhou Kai’s bluster immediately vanished, as if doused in cold water, replaced by a hint of unease from deep within.

He tried to pull his hand back, only to find Shen Que’s grip was too strong to break free.

Meng Zhiyi, still hiding behind Shen Que, couldn’t see his expression, but she could clearly feel the chill radiating from him.

“Shen Que, you’ve known Song Wei since childhood. Don’t you know what kind of person she is? Are you just going to let Meng Zhiyi slander her like this?” Zhou Kai demanded angrily.

“What does that have to do with me?” Shen Que flung Zhou Kai’s hand away, his voice indifferent.

Zhou Kai held his aching wrist, fuming, “Song Wei likes you – can’t you see that? If you had any sense of responsibility as a man, you’d break off your engagement with this woman and not let Song Wei’s sincere heart be trampled.”

[A classic case of moral coercion. I let my guard down. I should’ve said that to Shen Que myself.]

[Noted in my little book, next time for sure!]

Just as Meng Zhiyi finished her thought, a warm hand grabbed her wrist.

Then she heard Shen Que say, “Mind your own business. Don’t let me see you bothering Meng Zhiyi again.”

With that, Shen Que led Meng Zhiyi out of the hall, leaving Zhou Kai and the others looking at each other in astonishment.

It was the first time they had seen Shen Que stand up for Meng Zhiyi.

Zhou Kai watched the two leave, then turned around in anger and kicked over a nearby table, gritting his teeth. “Spread the word – anyone who brings me photos or videos of Meng Zhiyi being bullied can come to me for a reward.”

*

Outside the hall, Meng Zhiyi let Shen Que lead her away obediently on the surface, but inwardly, she was ready to fight back.

[So annoying. He obviously doesn’t like me, so why interfere? I was about to give those people a good lesson.]

[And why won’t he let go of my hand? Can he let go already? I’m starving.]

[This damned persona, I really don’t want to keep it up for even a minute longer.]

Suddenly, Shen Que stopped walking.

Meng Zhiyi instantly stopped her internal complaints and blinked up at him.

A moment later, Shen Que let go of her hand: “Stay away from Zhou Kai. That includes Song Wei.”

At these words, Meng Zhiyi lowered her gaze, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly, and she complained inwardly:

[This is the second time today that Shen Que has told me not to mess with Song Wei. Seems like he really cares.]

[But so what?]

[Whether I can retire, whether I can get my thirty billion, all depends on Song Wei.]

Shen Que listened silently to Meng Zhiyi’s inner grumbling, and when he heard “thirty billion,” he raised his eyebrows a bit, his eyes growing more intriguing.

So Meng Zhiyi was working so hard to make everyone hate her – just for the money???

As Shen Que was still surprised by his guess, the girl before him spoke in a deeply aggrieved tone:

“Do you really like her that much? Enough to let your real fiancée become a laughingstock for everyone?”