Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

The stunning beauty’s tone was haughty, yet it wasn’t off-putting.

It was an innate confidence, a capital she was born with; she wasn’t deliberately looking down on others.

Joanna Kennedy just showed a hint of surprise, then gave a polite laugh. "Is that so? Hahahaha."

Not a trace of surprise could be heard in her voice.

Heidi: "..."

Heidi clearly hadn’t expected the Celestria girl before her to react this way. She was waiting for the girl to be shocked, then start asking her, "How do you know him?"

That way, she could seize the initiative!

’Why isn’t she following the script? This isn’t how I imagined it at all!’

"You!" Heidi said, annoyed. "Aren’t you going to ask me how I know?!"

"Oh." Joanna Kennedy feigned a look of sudden realization, asking with a smile, "How *do* you know, Miss Heidi?"

"Hmph..." The stunning beauty’s expression turned proud again. "I’ve seen the video of you on the red carpet for your movie."

"You’re quite pretty," Heidi said haughtily. "But still a little lacking compared to me."

Joanna Kennedy hadn’t expected that to be the reason, and she certainly hadn’t expected the stunning beauty to be so unpredictable.

’Hmm... I guess that counts as a compliment, in a way.’

Joanna Kennedy’s impression of this "love rival" improved, and a little more warmth entered her smile. "Thank you."

Dresland dining etiquette doesn’t include a "no talking" rule, so for the entire meal, Heidi’s voice was practically the only one heard.

Heidi seemed very curious about how she and Simon Lockwood had met and fallen in love, asking questions non-stop throughout the meal.

Joanna Kennedy was getting a headache from all the questions. She didn’t know what to say. That she had coerced a young Simon Lockwood into being her boyfriend? Then dumped him? And finally gotten back together after meeting again?

It sounded like a fabricated story, and it made her seem like a terrible person.

The girl’s troubled expression didn’t escape Simon Lockwood’s notice. He pursed his lips and spoke coolly, "I pursued her. For a long time. She said yes. That’s all."

"Any more questions, Miss Heidi?" The man’s tone was polite yet distant, but for some reason, it carried an immense pressure.

Heidi was stunned by his words, her mouth hanging wide open. Beside her, Kenley Kim, who had been taking a sip of water, choked and burst into a fit of coughing.

’Simon Lockwood... that was Simon Lockwood talking, right? Good God, how did he pursue a girl with that frigid face of his? And for a long time?!’

’Unbelievable. This is practically a ghost story.’

A strange silence fell over the table.

Sometime during the meal, Joanna Kennedy went to the restroom. After washing her hands, she turned around and nearly bumped into the girl’s soft body, which gave her a fright.

Heidi stood before her, half a head taller, her arms crossed as she looked down and brazenly sized her up.

’Okay, the stunning beauty type is certainly striking and easy on the eyes, but! That’s no reason to suddenly stand right behind me!’

Joanna Kennedy furrowed her brow under the scrutiny, just about to ask what was the matter.

Heidi finished her assessment, and a somewhat satisfied voice said, "Alright, I can accept losing to you. It’s not a disgrace."

Joanna Kennedy: "..." ’Never would have expected that.’

’Should I say thank you?’

Heidi automatically ignored her complicated expression and complained indignantly, "You have no idea how hard Lockwood is to pursue. He refuses any gift you give him. When you talk to him, it’s like he can’t even hear you. If it weren’t for you, I’d be convinced he doesn’t even like women!"

Joanna Kennedy’s mouth twitched. She wondered what Simon Lockwood would think if he heard this. For some reason, she was a little excited to find out.

"Mmm... He is pretty hard to get," Joanna Kennedy said after a two-second pause, speaking with a sense of shared experience.

Heidi’s eyes lit up. Some of the stunning beauty’s aura dissipated, replaced by the strange vibe of a comedienne. "Right? Right?! I knew it wasn’t a problem with my charm!"

"But how would you know he’s hard to get?" Heidi asked suspiciously. "Didn’t he pursue you?"

"Er..."

"It seems you’re even harder to get than he is!" Heidi concluded on her own.

’A woman Lockwood had to pursue for so long must be especially hard to win over.’ Heidi suddenly patted her chest and added with absurd relief, "Good thing I didn’t pursue you..."

Joanna Kennedy: "..."

Joanna Kennedy: "???!!!"

’What language is she even speaking? Why can’t I understand what she’s saying? Aren’t Dreslanders supposed to be meticulous and orderly?!’

After they left the restaurant, she still hadn’t recovered from the shock of Heidi’s words. Simon Lockwood went to get the car, and she waited for him.

A tall, blond, blue-eyed man approached from behind. Sensing a shadow fall over her, Joanna Kennedy looked up and saw Kenley’s handsome, sharply-featured face.

"Heidi doesn’t have any ill intentions. If she said anything unpleasant, please don’t take it to heart, Miss Kennedy. I apologize on her behalf."

"...Just call me Joanna Kennedy."

"Of course. As you wish, Miss Kennedy."

Joanna Kennedy: "..." ’A polite smile is a sign of my good upbringing.’

"Miss Heidi is very sweet and innocent. I won’t speak ill of her in front of Simon Lockwood, so please rest assured, Mr. Kenley."

Kenley Kim let out a sigh of relief. Seeing the black Bugatti pull up, he quickened his pace and said, "The side effects of S-class psychoactive drugs are severe. As Lockwood’s friend, I’m very happy that you were able to persuade him to stop taking that medication, and I sincerely hope he gets better."

"I look forward to receiving your wedding invitation, my friends from far-away Celestria," Kenley Kim said with sincerity.

Joanna Kennedy took a deep breath and promised earnestly, "Thank you. You will."

The black Bugatti stopped beside them, and they both tacitly ended their conversation.

Joanna Kennedy got in the car. Just as she closed the door, the man leaned over. A faint scent of tobacco wafted from his black sweater.

"You smoked?" Joanna Kennedy asked subconsciously.

Simon Lockwood’s hand paused as he was buckling the girl’s seatbelt. His tone was almost imperceptibly tense. "Is the smell that obvious?"

’I stood in the wind for quite a while. I thought the smell would be gone.’

Joanna Kennedy just huffed and didn’t answer.

In truth, it was very faint, mixed with the clean scent of soap from his body, making it almost unnoticeable.

If he hadn’t been leaning so close, Joanna Kennedy wouldn’t have noticed. But she still wrinkled her nose. "Simon Lockwood, it smells awful."

"..."

The man pursed his lips, quickened his pace buckling the seatbelt, then lowered his own window halfway. His tone was level. "Is that better?"

"It’s so-so," Joanna Kennedy said deliberately.

In silence, the man lowered the window a little more.

The car wasn’t going too fast. The cool night breeze drifted in through the half-open window, feeling pleasant against her skin. Joanna Kennedy couldn’t help but close her eyes.

Amid the soft whisper of the wind, Simon Lockwood heard the girl’s voice.

"Simon Lockwood, you’re not allowed to smoke anymore. It’s bad for you..."

The girl’s delicate voice mingled with the night wind, passing through the fabric of his clothes and blowing into his heart. It stirred something gently, wrapping itself around his heartstrings.

As Simon Lockwood felt that strange, momentary sensation, a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes.