Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

squeezed its eyes shut, nearly fainting from shock. It had traversed so many worlds and guided so many hosts, but it had never seen such a crazy plot twist.

It was one thing for the male lead to get together with the villainess, but for the devoted second male lead to sabotage the female lead?!

This is insane! Is this really happening???

As much as 166 didn’t want to believe it, the faint aura of protagonist energy wafting from Joanna Kennedy couldn’t be faked.

was numb. ’I... I need to go ask my other system friends...’

Several days passed. Hearing Joanna Kennedy’s question, 166, who had been lying on the floor, immediately recalled the answer it had received. It stopped wagging its tail and shot up in anger. ’That evil system! It violated the system code! How dare it exploit protagonist energy!’

fumed. ’Is that something it’s even allowed to use?!’

’How could a system have such dirty thoughts? It’s a complete disgrace to the entire system world! If it wasn’t afraid of being discovered by the world’s consciousness, it would’ve reported them directly!’

A glint flashed in Joanna Kennedy’s eyes as she offered a suggestion. ”Have that system friend of yours report them for you...”

166’s little cat eyes lit up, then dimmed in disappointment. ’It can’t. Its host isn’t around, so it’s dependent on others right now. It’s in a really pitiful situation...’

’Is that so...’

Joanna Kennedy was a little disappointed that she couldn’t get rid of Charles Jennings’s system. She really hated the feeling of having a ”ticking time bomb” nearby.

As Joanna Kennedy pondered other solutions, a faint noise came from the living room. She subconsciously walked over and saw two dishes on the table: one was steamed leopard coral grouper, and the other was crispy sweet and sour pork.

Meanwhile, Simon Lockwood was still bringing out dishes—two soup-based ones, which he carried with perfect stability. The firm lines of muscle on his arms made Joanna Kennedy’s eyes go a little fuzzy.

Snapping back to reality, she immediately scampered over, looking up at him eagerly. ”Is there anything I can do?”

”Go wash your hands.” Simon Lockwood’s tone didn’t change.

”Okay.” Joanna Kennedy obediently ran to the kitchen, washed her hands carefully under the faucet, and then trotted back to the dining table. Holding out her two clean, fair hands, she said sweetly, ”Mr. Lockwood, I’m all done.”

Her deliberate attempt to be cute was, admittedly, very cute. Simon Lockwood didn’t hold back his praise. ”Yes, very good.”

The man’s voice was deep and pleasant, making Joanna Kennedy’s ears tingle slightly. She rubbed her ear and said quietly, ”I’ll go get the rice.”

Once all the food was on the table, Joanna Kennedy ate with gusto. She popped a piece of the crispy sweet and sour pork into her mouth, followed by a bite of fish. The tender fish was drizzled with just a bit of sauce, and the flavor was so exquisite that she completely forgot about her rice.

”Have some soup.” Simon Lockwood placed a bowl of soup in front of the girl, then pulled out a napkin and wiped a bit of sauce from the corner of her mouth.

Joanna Kennedy’s eyes never left the dishes. She gulped down the soup in a few mouthfuls, her eyes brightening. ”Is this old duck soup?”

”Mhm.” Simon Lockwood ladled her another small half-bowl. Drinking something warm was good for the stomach in this weather.

Joanna Kennedy’s appetite was fickle. When she was hungry, she felt like she could eat a whole cow, but when she actually started eating, she’d be full in no time. She leaned back, entering her carb coma.

Once full, she got bored. She propped her chin on her hand and watched Simon Lockwood eat. After a while, Joanna Kennedy came to a conclusion—’Good-looking people really do look good doing anything. Even just eating is a feast for the eyes.’

The girl’s gaze was direct and scorching. Simon Lockwood sat up a little straighter.

After dinner, Joanna Kennedy volunteered to do the dishes. Her version of ”doing the dishes” was putting them in the dishwasher, waiting a while, and then taking them out. See? Squeaky clean.

For her good behavior, Joanna Kennedy earned thirty minutes of mobile game time.

In the study, Simon Lockwood sat behind his black desk, handling work. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly at something he saw.

Joanna Kennedy was happily playing games, nestled behind a pile of books. When the sound of keyboard clicks stopped, she felt a bit disoriented. She looked up and saw Simon Lockwood’s expression had turned grim.

”What’s wrong?” Joanna Kennedy asked, puzzled.

Simon Lockwood pressed his lips together. ”It’s nothing...”

’Nothing, my foot. Your brow is furrowed that tightly.’ Joanna Kennedy didn’t believe him. She put down her phone and said, ”Tell me the truth.”

”Did something happen with Southland, or did Jack Warren jump ship?” Joanna Kennedy guessed with a straight face, her big, clear eyes wide.

Simon Lockwood: ”...”

”...Neither.”

Seeing the ”well, I’m relieved then” look on Joanna Kennedy’s face, Simon Lockwood felt a profound sense of helplessness. Then, remembering the message he had just read, his expression turned cold, and his tone became flat. ”The Valentine Group plans to move its headquarters to Aethelburg.”

Joanna Kennedy: ”?”

Simon Lockwood had a blank expression when he said this, but he clearly seemed displeased. Joanna Kennedy didn’t get it. After thinking it over, she asked quietly, ”Are you worried he’s going to compete with you for business?”

She even leaned in a little as she asked, looking quite serious. Simon Lockwood’s lips pressed into a tighter line. ”No.”

”Then why are you unhappy?” Joanna Kennedy was confused.

Meeting the man’s calm, dark eyes, something clicked in Joanna Kennedy’s mind. She finally got it and sighed in exasperation. ”You don’t seriously think he’s doing this for me, do you?”

Simon Lockwood didn’t answer, but he did look away.

Joanna Kennedy sighed helplessly. ”Simon, do you really think that’s possible? It’s his company, not some potted plant he can move whenever he feels like it. Your imagination is really something else.”

The Valentine Group is the biggest conglomerate in Marinus, and a hereditary one at that. As the undisputed heir, Liam Valentine is top-tier in both intelligence and business acumen.

A man like that would only make decisions that are in his company’s best interest. Besides, Aethelburg’s economy is undeniably stronger than Marinus’s, so relocating the company is perfectly justifiable.

Even she understood this logic, yet here was Simon Lockwood, stewing in jealousy—and so seriously, too.

”President Lockwood, how did you get so dense all of a sudden?” Joanna Kennedy teased him.

Simon Lockwood still didn’t speak, lowering his gaze.

”Simon, you’d probably make a great manga artist~” Joanna Kennedy joked with a laugh.

Simon Lockwood remained silent, but his expression had softened considerably. After a long moment, just as Joanna Kennedy was about to say something else, he spoke slowly, his tone flat. ”Your half-hour is up.”

Joanna Kennedy: ”...”

’Abusing his power to get even. This is definitely him abusing his power to get even.’

”This is all your fault for talking to me and wasting my time. Nope, you have to compensate me with another ten minutes.”

”No.”

”Seven minutes, then?” Joanna Kennedy haggled, gritting her teeth.

”No.”

”...”

In the study, the two began a debate over the phone issue—or rather, a one-sided lecture from Joanna Kennedy.

The study door was well soundproofed, so nothing could be heard outside. The balcony was quiet, and the cat bed was empty.

On the roadside outside the villa, a little white-furred cat sprinted nimbly. It came to a stop under a large sweet osmanthus tree.