Ah! The Villains I Forced to Turn Evil Can Read My Mind-Chapter 321
Xiao Xie froze in place, staring at the door.
The door swung open.
A handsome young man strode in first, holding a golf club with a playful grin as he glanced back. "Sis, you lost today. You promised you’d go out with me if I won—no backing out now."
Another man with fox-like eyes smiled faintly. "Yuejue, you’re still a kid."
Lou Yuejue’s smile stiffened. He shot him an exasperated look. "I’m not a kid anymore, Dad. I’m already an adult, and I’ve even been the head of the family before. You can’t keep treating me like you did when you were alive."
Lou Tingsi smirked. "Not while I’m around."
Lou Yuejue huffed and turned to the girl. "Sis, tell him! He’s always restricting me like I’m still a teenager. I’m a grown man now—I deserve some freedom!"
A platinum-haired youth shoved Lou Yuejue aside. "Stop being so clingy! Our Chuchu doesn’t want to deal with your nonsense."
Lou Yuejue raised a teasing brow. "Pei Buxian, you’re just nervous, aren’t you? Nervous because when you died, I was still a kid, but now I’m an adult, standing on equal footing with you. You feel threatened."
Pei Buxian’s eyes widened. "Threatened?! What’s between Chuchu and me can’t be replaced by a sly brat like you! We’ve been through thick and thin together!"
Qiao Chuchu: "..."
Pei Mu and Pei Ci pushed Lou Yuejue away. "Yeah, who do you think you are, swaggering around in front of us seniors?"
Pei Youchuan slung an arm around Qiao Chuchu’s shoulders, pressing his cheek against hers. "No matter what, Chuchu’s bond with us Peis runs the deepest, right, Chuchu?"
Qiao Chuchu: "..."
Pei Fengnong lifted his chin proudly. "Obviously. Chuchu foresaw each of our deaths—our connection is etched in blood."
Pei Che nudged Pei Youchuan aside. "Hands off." He took Qiao Chuchu’s hand. "Come on, let’s wash up."
Qiao Chuchu: "? Aren’t you also being handsy?"
Pei Yuan grabbed her other hand. "Right, wash up and then have some fruit."
The butler chimed in promptly, "The fruit platter is ready, ladies and gentlemen."
Shen Zhuoyan studied Qiao Chuchu’s expression. "Why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"
At that, everyone tensed, eyes locked on her.
Ying Chen poked her cheek. "You’re not running a fever, are you?"
Weisheng Lin crouched in front of her. "Hop on! I’ll carry you to your room!"
Weisheng Wenzhan felt her forehead. "No fever. Maybe heatstroke?"
Weisheng Biehe fretted, "Go rest, Chuchu. You need it."
Lin Shen shooed them aside. "Chuchu, want some congee? I can make it for you."
Weisheng Huailing tugged her sleeve. "Sis, are you okay?!"
Shi Yu wheeled out his chair. "Here! Take a seat!"
They all blinked at him. "You’re fully recovered—why the wheelchair?"
Shi Yu deadpanned, "Habit."
Everyone: "..."
Weisheng Yucan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the chaos.
Lin Qing stifled a laugh. "She’s not sick—she’s just fed up with all of you buzzing around her nonstop."
Weisheng Yucan nodded. "Let them bicker. I’m changing and meeting my darlings."
Lin Qing checked her phone. "Same. Got a date tonight."
Surrounded by the crowd, Qiao Chuchu suddenly regretted everything.
[I should’ve only brought Yucan-jie and Lin Qing-jie back. The rest are so noisy.]
Weisheng Yucan and Lin Qing exchanged grins and high-fived. "Yes! We’re not annoying!"
The others perked up. "? What was that?"
Pei Youchuan pinched Qiao Chuchu’s cheek. "You’d really leave us out?!"
She winced and backtracked. "Just kidding! Just kidding!"
[I keep forgetting they can hear my thoughts! Ugh!]
Pei Buxian pouted. "Your thoughts betray you! And now you’re rejecting me!"
Lou Tingsi smiled serenely. "Chuchu, we need to talk."
Weisheng Lin beamed. "Time for a mental reset."
Shi Yu volunteered, "I can play the guqin to soothe your soul."
Ying Chen raised his hand. "I’ll use my height to dominate her!"
Weisheng Huailing also raised his hand. "I’ll use my body to dominate her!"
Everyone: "?"
Pei Yuan’s face darkened. "Throw him out."
Pei Mu and Pei Ci hoisted Weisheng Huailing up and marched off!
Huailing flailed. "Sis, I can! I really can!!"
Qiao Chuchu: "...Sis cannot."
Shen Zhuoyan circled around, earnest. "Chuchu, let’s reminisce about the old days so you don’t get tired of us."
She groaned. "No reminiscing. I’m going to shower."
Shi Yu smiled. "Then I’ll play the guqin while you bathe."
Pei Che: "? Throw him out."
Pei Youchuan and Pei Fengnong hauled Shi Yu away like a sack of potatoes.
Weisheng Biehe said mildly, "Mind your language, everyone. Keep it PG."
Ying Chen shrugged. "Yeah, say whatever you want in private, but tone it down in front of us, okay?"
Qiao Chuchu covered her ears. "Please, just stop. You’re all so quiet around outsiders—why so chatty with me?!"
Weisheng Wenzhan adjusted his glasses. "I don’t talk much."
Qiao Chuchu: "...For you, this is talking much."
Lou Yuejue sidled up to her. "Sis, a bet’s a bet. You’re going on a date with me—no tagalongs."
Lou Tingsi smacked the back of his head!
Lou Yuejue yelped. "Ow!"
Qiao Chuchu almost clutched her own head, but her gaze landed on Xie Lele and froze.
Xie Lele stood there, wide-eyed and bewildered, as if she’d stumbled into another world.
Only one thing felt familiar—this young lady.
Xie Lele shyly nodded. "Hello, miss."
Qiao Chuchu stepped closer, studying her face in disbelief. "What’s your name?"
Xie Lele answered, "Xie Lele. I’m here to apply as a kitchen assistant. You can call me Little Xie!"
Little Xie?
Qiao Chuchu’s eyes reddened, her smile trembling. "Little Xie... what a lovely name."
Xie Lele tilted her head, confused.
Qiao Chuchu extended a hand. "I’m Qiao Chuchu. I think we’re fated. How about being deputy butler? The employers are a handful, so the pay’s good—¥80,000 a month. Deal?"
Xie Lele gasped. "Eighty thousand?!"
Qiao Chuchu tilted her head. “You don’t want to?”
“No, no, no! I do! I really do!” Little Xie grabbed her hands, shaking them excitedly. “Thank you for choosing me, Miss!”
The old butler was right!
The young lady really is so easy to talk to!
Qiao Chuchu withdrew her hands, gave her a long look, then turned and went upstairs.
Pei Yuan’s eyes gleamed as he stepped in front of Qiao Chuchu. “How about we go to the art exhibition later? You’re finally on summer break, and we all want to make time to spend with you.”
The others perked up at this, watching her with hopeful yet nervous expressions.
Qiao Chuchu’s face instantly brightened. “Sure! I’ll go change!”
They exhaled in relief, their expressions softening as they hurried after her. “We’ll wait for you in your room!”
Qiao Chuchu paused. “Can’t I have a moment alone?”
They answered in unison: “No!”
Listening to the sound of the group heading upstairs, Little Xie felt an inexplicable warmth in her chest.
It was as if everything had fallen back into place, as if the world was aligning in the best possible way.
The old butler called out to her. “Come sign the contract. The young lady has taken a liking to you, so from now on, you’ll be the assistant housekeeper here.”
But then Qiao Chuchu’s voice drifted down from upstairs. “Little Xie, come help me pick an outfit!”
A chorus of deep voices protested: “Can’t we help you choose?!”
Qiao Chuchu scoffed. “You guys have no taste! Ugh, why are you all so clingy?!”
“Too bad!”
Downstairs, Little Xie glanced at the old butler. “I’ll go see the young lady first.”
The butler nodded.
Little Xie happily dashed upstairs. “Coming!~”
