Villain Boss Chapter 205
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 205: Sounding Him Out
Having known each other for some time, Jiang Ran didn't want them to suffer the same fate again.
In the original novel, when Huo Lingyin and Luo Rui first met, Huo Lingyin got into a fight with Luo Rui because she was teasing Xie Chengzhi.
Although they eventually returned to Beichen base together, Luo Rui despised Huo Lingyin’s character and behavior, and the conflict between the two became increasingly apparent.
Because Huo Lingyin was estranged from the Huo family and had a poor relationship with her siblings, Huo Sichan and Huo Lingge, Luo Rui helped Huo Lingge take control of the Huo family after Huo Sichan's death.
Later, rumors circulated that Huo Sichan was poisoned by Huo Lingyin. Huo Lingge, following Luo Rui's advice, arranged for the superhuman team to eliminate Huo Lingyin's first team.
The night before Luo Rui left Beichen base, the superhumans who were pursuing Huo Lingyin brought back Huo Heng's head.
Huo Lingyin fell off a cliff and disappeared without a trace.
Huo Lingge held Huo Heng’s head and cried her heart out.
In fact, at that time, Beichen base had almost fallen into Luo Rui's hands. Although Huo Lingge was in power, she was just a puppet in Luo Rui's hands, and forced to act against her own will.
In the end, after Luo Rui gained control of Xiling base, she received a message from Beichen base.
On a dark and windy night, Huo Lingyin broke into the Huo family's old mansion, killed her younger sister in bed, burned the mansion down, and then disappeared again.
……
The feud between the Huo sisters ended with Huo Heng's death and Huo Lingyin killing her own sister.
“This ending could’ve been avoided.” Jiang Ran stroked her cowlick and recalled the plot—many details had become blurred with the passage of time, but the only thing that left a deep impression on her was Huo Lingyin’s hysteric screams when she burned the mansion down.
"If the Huo sisters didn't have so much animosity, they wouldn't have given others an opportunity to exploit them." More importantly, if the Huo sisters had a deep bond, Luo Rui would have lost the opportunity to control Huo Lingge.
"Si Xu." After finishing the story, Jiang Ran hugged Si Xu's arm and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. "What are you thinking about? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Si Xu pursed his lips and looked at her, his expression conflicted. "What’s the point of keeping quiet?"
"Huh?" What? Why did he mean? Didn't she already tell him?
"If they truly had deep feelings for each other, why didn't they say so? If Huo Heng really liked Huo Lingyin, why didn't he say so?"
In his mind, this behavior could no longer be described as either clever or foolish.
"I don’t understand."
"Oh." Was this already an incomprehensible and bizarre act to him? Jiang Ran chuckled.
"It's a complete waste of time." Because it contradicted his own understanding so much, Si Xu couldn't help but add a comment.
Jiang Ran laughed so hard that her shoulders trembled slightly.
If you wanted something, just reach out for it—not everyone in this world could do that.
Not everyone could openly express who they liked or disliked.
"Well, humans are complex creatures. They like to hide their feelings, and they lack a sense of security when too many secrets are exposed," Jiang Ran said. "Not everyone can be like you, openly expressing their joy, anger, love, and hate."
"But they are companions and family." Si Xu knew well that one should practice forbearance and composure when facing enemies or strangers. "You see, concealing one’s feelings can easily lead to tragedy."
"Yes, indeed." Jiang Ran didn’t deny his words. "However, that’s just how someone with a tsundere personality is."
"This isn't about having a tsundere personality, it's just being plain stupid."
Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what 'tsundere' is?"
"...Gu Yunqing once said that he likes tsundere and emotionless people, and that he used to hide a lot of discs under his bed in the laboratory."
"..." Jiang Ran's lips twitched, and she gave an objective evaluation, "In some aspects, Captain Gu can really be considered your teacher."
"Jiang Ran, don't change the subject." Si Xu was still dwelling on the previous question. "Why can't they talk it out?"
"There are too many misunderstandings, so it's hard to express goodwill." Jiang Ran said uncertainly, "...probably."
"Oh, that’s easy to fix." Si Xu asked her, "Are you sure Huo Heng likes Huo Lingyin?"
"Oh…" She was uncertain. "When Huo Lingyin was in trouble, only Huo Heng stayed by her side. In the end, to protect her and help her escape safely, he chose to lure away the superhumans who were chasing them, and he lost his life as a result."
"..."
"If a man goes to such lengths for a woman, he probably likes her, right?"
Hearing this, Si Xu opened the door, pulled Jiang Ran out of the vehicle, and like a child preparing to play a prank, his charming eyes were full of humor. "Let's go prove it."
"Prove it?" Prove what? Prove that Huo Heng liked Huo Lingyin?
Jiang Ran passively followed Si Xu into the courtyard.
……
The balcony glass was shattered by the attacking zombies, and a gust of wind whistled into the room at night.
Huo Lingyin wrapped herself tightly in the blanket and, relying on her superpower intuition, sensed that something was subtly wrong in the room. She opened her eyes slightly and was startled by the girl standing at the foot of the bed.
"Jiang Ran!" Upon recognizing the figure, Huo Lingyin nearly exploded in anger. "What exactly do you want? Can't a person get any sleep..."
"Shh..." Jiang Ran gestured for her to be quiet. "Come with me."
Huo Lingyin threw a fit. "I'm not going anywhere with you!"
"Si Xu went to have a heart-to-heart talk with Huo Heng. I'm going to eavesdrop. Are you sure you really don't want to come along?" Jiang Ran said, walking directly out of the room.
Si Xu went to find Huo Heng?
Worried that something might happen to the two of them, Huo Lingyin quickly put on her coat and went out with Jiang Ran.
After going downstairs, Deputy Captain Huo was stopped in a corner of the backyard by Si Xu, who had a thuggish expression on his face.
"Is Huo Lingyin your girlfriend?" the "rogue" asked.
Huo Heng looked puzzled. "No." He frowned. "Didn't Miss Jiang say that the captain's true love is Lingge?"
"You believe that kind of joke?" The "rogue" said calmly. "If Huo Lingyin isn't your girlfriend, I’ll take her back to Xiling base—my lab just happens to need a girl like her."
Huo Heng was even more confused. "You’re taking her back to the lab? For what kind of experiment?"
"Virus experiment," the "rogue" made up a lie. "It's rare to encounter a female superhuman with such a high level of psychic ability. It’d be a waste to let her get away."
Huo Heng slowly frowned. "Mr Si, Lingyin is the captain of our first team. She won’t go to Xiling with you."
"That's not necessarily true." The "rogue" was quite narcissistic. "Doesn't she quite like my looks?"
Huo Heng pursed his lips. "..."
"Actually, if we're talking about test subjects, Huo Lingyin doesn't quite meet my requirements—she's slept with so many men, most of whom are superhumans, so she's not exactly clean, and her body might even be contaminated with viruses..."
"Mr Si, please watch your words." Hearing Si Xu disparage Huo Lingyin, Huo Heng’s brows furrowed, and he interrupted Si Xu as if issuing a warning, "Since she doesn’t meet your requirements, you don’t need to be so fixated on her."
"Hey, I heard from Jiang Ran that Huo Lingyin forced you to do this and that with her?" Si Xu asked in surprise, "She forced you, so why are you still defending her?"
"Si Xu!" Huo Heng's eyes were filled with clearly visible anger.
"Or, I can help you kill Huo Lingyin and make you the captain of the first team. How about that?"
"Shut up!" Huo Heng’s anger slowly turned his fair face red.
"I also heard that you and Huo Lingge are childhood sweethearts —which is perfect. If Huo Lingyin is killed, you'll become the captain, and you can go back and marry Huo Lingge. It's killing two birds with one stone."
"I’ll not marry Lingge. I treat her like a younger sister!" Huo Heng corrected Si Xu's words and said coldly, "Also, as long as I’m here, I won’t let you take the captain away—Mr Si, you'd better give up this unrealistic idea as soon as possible."
Si Xu suddenly realized, "You're so angry. It seems you really like Huo Lingyin?" He said disdainfully, "What kind of taste do you have? That kind of woman..."
"I don’t allow you to talk about her like that!"
Driven to irrationality by Si Xu’s sarcastic expression and words, Huo Heng punched him in the face.
