[Congratulations, Host, for successfully completing the hidden side mission: Meng Wange’s Loyalty Oath (Mistakenly Triggered).]
[By insulting Meng Wange’s dignity, you have successfully increased her resentment and hatred toward you. Current Disgust Level: 70 (She will show no mercy when the time comes).]
[Villainess Acting Proficiency: Exceptional]
[To make Meng Wange feel hatred, resentment, and deep suspicion before the welcoming banquet is a near-impossible task. You’ve done brilliantly!]
[Your reward will be issued after the series of tasks is completed.]
***
Clearly, the system was very pleased with her performance—not only did it add an extra line of praise, but it even ended with an exclamation mark.
However, Su Wanli felt nothing but despair.
‘Are you kidding me? It hasn’t even been an hour since I transmigrated, and all I did was ask Meng Wange for something and request her help with my makeup! How is that insulting her dignity!?’
Well…
She had kicked the door open, dragged Meng Wange into her room without explanation, hinted that she should take off her clothes, then insulted her body for “dirtying her eyes.”
Looking back, even Su Wanli wanted to slap herself.
‘Damn it. How did I manage to mess up this badly in just a few dozen minutes? Am I naturally repulsive or something?’
[Host’s natural talent as a villainess is currently unmatched. Please be proud of yourself.]
‘Proud your ass! And didn’t you see how I totally lost the upper hand in the last part? Meng Wange completely crushed my villain act! I was too scared to even talk by the end!’
Su Wanli grumbled inwardly, furious.
[It’s all right. Most of your actions were designed to highlight the heroine’s brilliance. That is the true purpose of a villainess. Thanks to your earlier performance, her retaliation shone even brighter. So during such scenes, we will not deduct any villain points.]
‘So basically, the camera was focused on her and didn’t have time to film my humiliation? Damn you…’
Su Wanli’s lips twitched.
Just as she was about to mentally curse out the system some more, Meng Wange—who had somehow, without a word, opened one of the drawers—pulled out a whole set of unfamiliar makeup tools.
She pulled out the chair, placed one hand behind her back and the other gently across her chest, then bowed gracefully to Su Wanli and gestured politely.
A flawless smile played on her lips.
Her elegant chestnut hair and white blouse made her look just like a real knight.
If she added a ribbon tie, she could have passed for someone inviting a princess onto her royal carriage.
“Please, Miss Su. The banquet will begin in about twenty minutes. We’ll have plenty of time after the makeup is done. And if you’d prefer a cup of tea, I can tell Uncle Su that I was curious about the estate and you simply showed me around.”
Her tone was perfect.
Her plan covered every detail.
If Su Wanli didn’t already know that Meng Wange’s disgust level had reached 70, she might’ve been genuinely touched by the girl’s demeanor.
But right now, all she could do was silently pray that Meng Wange was mentally stable enough not to stab her during the makeover.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snatch your mother’s keepsake or say those awful things. I was just… swept up by some higher-dimensional force.’
Hands clasped in prayer inside her mind, Su Wanli deliberately kept her expression cold and sat in front of the vanity mirror with a huff.
“Ahem. Get started then. You talked such a good game—if I’m even slightly dissatisfied, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Meng Wange didn’t reply.
She simply smiled and picked up an elegant white comb, then lightly tapped Su Wanli’s shoulder from behind.
“Don’t worry, Miss Su. This won’t take long. Now, please close your eyes.”
Truthfully, Su Wanli didn’t even know what she’d look like after putting on makeup, but she had already made up her mind.
The moment she opened her eyes, she was going to criticize Meng Wange’s work no matter what.
After all, maintaining her villainess persona was the priority—and if she needed an excuse to insult someone, she’d never run out of reasons.
Excuses were already prepared.
—”This makeup is so heavy I can’t even recognize myself.”
—”This is so light—what’s the point of putting it on?”
—”You’re making me look seductive—who am I supposed to be seducing?”
—”You gave me such a plain look—are you trying to outshine me?”
Now all that was left… was to wait for Meng Wange to finish her work.
***
“Miss Su, don’t be nervous. Just relax.”
As Meng Wange spoke, a slender finger brushed lightly across Su Wanli’s brow.
That was… a girl’s hand.
Soft and delicate, it felt like a flower petal gliding across the surface of water as it touched her cheek.
But instead of relaxing, Su Wanli—who had very little experience with physical contact—froze up even more.
Her face stiffened under the touch.
Meng Wange merely shrugged and said nothing, gently gathering up Su Wanli’s long, silky black hair and combing it with soft, slow strokes.
The comb gliding along her scalp felt like a massage, and it lulled Su Wanli into a sleepy daze.
‘Are all girls this gentle… this soft? Do they all speak so softly?’
Two quick bursts of setting spray left a cool mist on her skin.
Just as she started to blink back to alertness, warm fingers pressed gently on her face, their subtle warmth pulling her back into a hazy calm.
***
“Miss Su?”
“…Miss Su.”
‘Wait—no! Meng Wange hates me. Her hostility level is at seventy! How could I possibly think she’s gentle and kind?!’
‘If she got the perfect chance, Meng Wange wouldn’t hesitate to take me out!’
Su Wanli’s eyes flew open, and she shot upright in her chair, startled.
Right in front of her, those elegant hands were moving in again—and her instincts kicked in.
She smacked them away.
***
Meng Wange silently withdrew her hand, calmly wiped her fingers on her sleeve, and offered Su Wanli a faint smile.
“You’re awake, Miss Su. I was just about to ask if I should wake you up early so you could see the results.”
She glanced at the white watch on her wrist and paused for a moment in thought.
“At this point, there’s probably not enough time to make major adjustments. Or… would you prefer to go with my earlier suggestion? Tell Uncle Su that I took you on a tour of the estate?”
‘Wait, it’s done already? But I only… dozed off for like two or three minutes, didn’t I?’
Su Wanli blinked in confusion, turning toward the mirror.
Reflected in the glass was a black-haired girl with long lashes curled upward, the tips dusted with a fine shimmer.
Every blink made them flutter like butterfly wings.
The eyeliner at the corners of her eyes lifted just slightly, softening her sharp, haughty look into something playful and bright.
Her brows were shaped into clean, elegant arches.
While the changes weren’t drastic, the difference in overall impression was staggering.
If the girl in the mirror before had been a languid and careless young heiress, the girl now looked like a lively, spirited high school student with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
“What do you think, Miss Su? Are you satisfied?”
There was a teasing note in Meng Wange’s voice.
“You… this, I…”
‘Don’t just stare—say something! Say the lines! But this makeup is just… too…’
Before Su Wanli could figure out what to say, Meng Wange’s fingers gently tucked a few loose strands behind her ear.
“Today may be a welcome banquet prepared by your father for me,” she whispered, leaning in close until her lips brushed Su Wanli’s ear, “but the look I created for you is that of a girl who dreams of the future and is ready to change.”
“So… are you satisfied?”