Villain: Without morals, you can’t be manipulated!

Chapter 29: Falling Into Collusion With a Villain

“Hey, Lan Yuxi, why the long face?”

Despite facing the risk of expulsion, Qi Lin was still smiling nonchalantly, exuding his usual carefree demeanor. He even reached out to touch Lan Yuxi’s cold, delicate hand.

Luckily, the office was empty, or he might have earned an additional charge for harassing a female classmate.

“Get away from me! I hate you so much!”

“I regret being in the same class as you the most. If you hadn’t transferred here, none of this would’ve happened!”

Lan Yuxi pushed his hand away and tearfully vented her frustration. When she rejected his touch, Qi Lin casually lit a cigarette and put it between his lips.

Smoking in the office—this guy had nerves of steel.

“What’s so wrong about me? Yeah, I’m lazy and unmotivated, but you cheated on an exam. How are you any better than me? You used to be so high and mighty, but now we’re both bad students. Do you still think you’re better than me?”

With a smirk, Qi Lin spoke with biting sarcasm, aiming to break Lan Yuxi’s pride. Sure enough, her teary face froze, and her sobbing stopped. She was struck by his words.

Not long ago, she had been an outstanding student—bright, talented, and adored by everyone. It was natural for her to look down on someone like Qi Lin.

But now?

She had cheated on an exam and even provided answers for Qi Lin to copy. Was she really any more moral than him? She was a bad student now, too.

Her parents would be disappointed in her. Her teachers would no longer trust her. Her classmates would whisper about her behind her back. The thought of all this filled Lan Yuxi with despair, even stirring dark, fleeting thoughts.

She had always been the golden child, excelling in school and basking in praise and admiration. Having grown up in comfort, she had no tolerance for pressure—something Qi Lin had accurately identified as her weakness.

“Boohoo…”

Lan Yuxi broke down completely, squatting and burying her face in her knees, crying uncontrollably.

“You don’t want to be expelled, don’t want to face strange looks from others, don’t want to disappoint your parents, and don’t want to lose your teacher’s trust, right?”

“What if I told you I have a way to help you clean your slate and pull you out of this mess? What would you say?”

Qi Lin’s devilish voice whispered persuasively in her ear.

Lan Yuxi’s sobbing slowed, but she didn’t lift her head.

“There’s no way… The evidence is clear. The school will surely issue a public notice soon. How could you possibly help me ‘clean my slate’…”

Her voice was tinged with shame.

She hated Qi Lin to the core. Being around him, even the phrase ‘clean my slate’ sounded sullied. Had she really fallen so far as to collude with a villain?

“You might not be able to clear your name, but I can. It’s just an answer sheet, right? I’ll tell the homeroom teacher that I made you copy it for me and that you didn’t know what it was for. You never used it. You’re just an innocent victim.”

“I don’t care about my reputation. I’m just a lazy rich kid—people are bound to think the worst of me anyway. But you’re the class monitor and a model student. Everyone will believe you’re innocent.”

Qi Lin laid out his plan with a smirk. As he finished speaking, hope flickered in Lan Yuxi’s tear-filled eyes. His plan seemed perfect. If Qi Lin was willing to take the blame, she might actually escape the consequences… No, not escape, but clear her name.

Despite her relief, Lan Yuxi remained cautious. She looked at Qi Lin suspiciously, her delicate face tinged with doubt.

“Why would you be so kind and take the blame for me? There must be some condition you haven’t mentioned yet.”

Qi Lin chuckled. In just half a day, this girl had come to understand him well. He didn’t respond verbally but instead pointed to his lips with a sly grin.

“My condition is this. If you agree, I’ll take the blame when the teacher returns.”

Whoosh!

Lan Yuxi’s face instantly turned red. This morning, Qi Lin had kissed her, and her lips were still swollen. Now he wanted to kiss her again. Was he some reincarnation of the infamous Tian Boguang?

“You… you wish!”

Lan Yuxi was a girl with a thin skin, and her immediate reaction was to angrily reject him.

“Don’t be so quick to refuse. Think about your father. If news of your cheating reaches his colleagues, how will he maintain his reputation at work?”

Qi Lin crossed his arms, leisurely playing on her fears. His words struck a nerve, and Lan Yuxi’s face turned pale.

Her father was a strict and upright man who valued his reputation above all else. If he found out about her mistake, it would be devastating.

“You’re such a scoundrel!”

Lan Yuxi finally gave in, still crying as she reluctantly moved closer to Qi Lin.