You Selfish Villain!

"You're quite the talker for your age, aren't you? Do you think I can't see through your little schemes?" The noblewoman's eyebrows slanted slightly, her tone carrying a hint of rebuke. "Sweet-talking those little girls is one thing, but it won't work on me."

Xu Xiaoyou simply stood with her head bowed, her eyes half-lidded as she listened to the scolding. Her lonely figure looked a bit dejected, like a kitten being scolded, evoking a sense of pity.

Seeing her like this, the noblewoman laughed softly again. "Look at you. You're just thinking about the investment, aren't you? Don't worry, I've seen plenty of ups and downs. A little setback is good for young people."

"If you can handle those matters smoothly, I'll provide an additional investment in you. I mean..."

The woman's folding fan tapped against Xu Xiaoyou's straight posture before slowly lifting, forcing the girl's chin up until her beautiful amber eyes met the lady's gaze.

"An investment in you, independent of that Starry Daughter."

"Your ballroom dancing is excellent—much better than those arrogant boys from the families. You've practiced quite a bit, haven't you? Even if you're like them, at least you're willing to put in the work."

"I'm leaving."

Watching the woman wave and walk away, a gentle smile appeared in Xu Xiaoyou's eyes before quickly fading into calm. She turned and headed toward a corner of the gala.

Approaching the wine cart, she found an array of drinks. Xu Xiaoyou picked up a champagne glass; the liquid inside was as striking as a ruby. Frost clung to the glass, and the scent of alcohol drifted through the cold mist.

She took a small sip. The rich aroma of fruitwood and aged barrels spread through her mouth, followed by a lingering trace of spiciness and bitter fragrance—much like the work she was doing right now.

She had to admit that pleasing these wealthy but spiritually empty middle-aged noblewomen was a taxing job and an art form. One had to read people, find the right remedy, and say the beautiful words they wanted to hear.

By the end of the gala, she had lingered in the scent of rouge and perfume, successfully convincing most of the investors. Only a few more meticulous ones chose to wait and see how the upcoming events unfolded before making a decision.

Just as she was taking a brief break, her communication curtain lit up. It was Tang Xin calling.

She calmly answered. There was silence on the other end for a moment before a slightly hoarse voice came through.

"Yuzu, where are you now?"

"The gala."

"Yuzu, I'm sorry..."

"What's wrong?"

"I messed up the concert. I'm sorry."

Just then, Xu Xiaoyou heard someone calling her softly. Looking up, she saw Amy, dressed in an evening gown, peeking from behind a corner.

She gestured for Amy to wait before comforting the girl on the line. "It's fine. As long as you tried your best."

The other side went quiet. Whether it was her imagination or not, she thought she heard a hoarse, trembling intake of breath.

"Right, I understand."

"There's another concert later, right? I'll be on stage."

On the other side of the curtain, Tang Xin had her thin arms wrapped tightly around her knees, holding a guitar taller than her head by half. She was curled up in the tiny dressing room, her head buried under her shoulders in her favorite dress. Outside, a staff member knocked gently on the door.

"Miss Tang? Are you alright?"

How she longed to hear words of encouragement from the girl—just one sentence would do. If the other person comforted her in that gentle voice and told her to get back on stage, she would find immense courage. No matter how many insults or criticisms rained down, she could face them with a calm heart.

Tang Xin tried to summon her courage. A thousand words rushed to her lips, but in the end, she couldn't say any of them.

She didn't want the other person to see her acting so weak and emotional. What did the harsh words of others matter? As long as she had a clear conscience, it was enough. She had clearly grown and transformed, so why did she still feel so sad, pained, and suffocated?

A crystalline teardrop hung from her chin. After a long moment, Tang Xin's lips moved slightly, a forced smile appearing. "I'm fine."

"I'm going on stage now, Yuzu. I'll sparkle so everyone can see me."

The busy signal of the communication curtain sounded as the girl's avatar froze.

Xu Xiaoyou hesitated for a moment but didn't dwell on it.

She walked over to Amy, who looked like a mysterious, noble black swan in her exquisite makeup and black evening gown.

Amy put her hands on her hips and looked up. "I've contacted the person you wanted me to reach."

"Good work, little Amy."

"Good work?! Aren't you going to check on Xin? Are these investors really that important?" Amy's eyebrows were nearly vertical as she spoke with resentment.

"She's much stronger than you think. This is nothing to her," Xu Xiaoyou said with a chuckle. "Believe it or not, if she thought she was dragging others down because of her own issues, she'd feel even worse."

"So you really do know everything?" Amy gasped. "You know she's hurting, and you know those words hurt her far more than any blade."

After spending half a month together, it was only at this moment that she seemed to truly see the girl before her. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words caught in her dry throat.

"Nothing is ever smooth sailing. People have to face setbacks before they can pick themselves up and become stronger," Xu Xiaoyou said.

Finally, Amy stared into Xu Xiaoyou's eyes, speaking one word at a time: "You selfish villain!"

"Thank you for the compliment."

Dark clouds gathered in the distance as thin threads of rain drifted down, carrying tiny ice crystals. Deep gray rain spots appeared on the concrete pavement, their numbers increasing rapidly. A pitter-patter of rain fell. In the hazy mist, the silhouettes of cars parked below the buildings, pedestrians with umbrellas, and the city's light and shadow became blurred.

People hurried past. Vibrantly colored umbrellas moved through the streets and alleys. Raindrops mixed with ice crystals hit the umbrella fabric with a dull thud.

A man's figure stood out sharply in the crowd. He carried no umbrella and was soaked to the bone as the rain intensified, yet his spirit seemed remarkably high.

Ducking under a station platform, Ince carefully took out his camera. He breathed a sigh of relief only after confirming the sensor wasn't damaged; his camera wasn't waterproof.

He had to admit he had miscalculated. The ratings for Moments of Disgust were much worse than he had imagined. Since the first episode, the viewership had continued to decline. There was almost no hope for the Black Lake crew or Station No. 23 to save themselves.

This also made him realize a fact: people only watched this kind of thing for a quick laugh. Once the novelty wore off, they didn't even have the desire to click on it again.

Looking up at the rain-soaked streets and the dark gray sky, he sighed softly. But as he thought about what he had to do next, Ince straightened his back once more.