Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

The experts had yet to arrive. To prevent anyone from going up the mountain to sabotage the mineral deposits, night patrols were arranged at its base. The snow was coming down heavily, so people took turns heading back to eat and bundle up.

During a shift change, one of the men looked up. The shadows of the trees crisscrossed on the mountainside, and a dark figure seemed to flit past. Before he could get a closer look, it vanished. Only the snow continued to fall...

The patrolman shivered, sighing to himself. ’Tonight’s going to be rough. It’s freezing.’

*

The black canopy of a slightly tilted umbrella shielded them from the wind and snow. The tall, handsome man lowered his head. In that moment, he was a devout captive, voluntarily surrendering his very lifeblood.

The dim yellow glow of a streetlamp cast down on them. The striking lines of the man’s profile were enough to make one’s heart race and cheeks flush. Within their little bubble, the sounds of the wind and snow were muted.

An inexplicable ache bloomed in Joanna Kennedy’s chest, like a mug of hot cocoa spilling over—so warm and sweet that it verged on bittersweet...

She unfolded the scarf and rose onto her tiptoes to wrap it around the man’s neck. Perhaps because she had knitted it in such a hurry, it wasn’t quite long enough.

Noticing a few loose stitches in the middle, she flushed. Her eyes met the man’s deep, dark gaze, and she quickly looped the scarf around again to hide the flaw, stammering in a transparent attempt to cover up, ”This looks better.”

The fluffy, dark gray, and slightly lopsided scarf somehow lent a touch of warmth to the man’s refined, cool face, creating an expression one could easily get lost in.

Simon Lockwood murmured softly, ”Mm.”

His gaze was locked on the girl’s eyes, his expression intent. ”It’s beautiful...”

............

Before Joanna Kennedy could process it, the man gently pulled her into his arms. ”Joanna Kennedy, you’re beautiful...”

His familiar warmth and scent, along with his soft, slow voice, washed over her completely. Joanna Kennedy instinctively snuggled deeper into his embrace, a little embarrassed. ”I didn’t have enough time. I’ll knit you a much nicer one next time.”

The phrase ”next time” sounded as sweet as ”I love you,” filling him with a joyful warmth. He was already looking forward to it.

Simon Lockwood bent slightly, burying his face in the crook of her neck and nuzzling her gently. After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice a bit hoarse. ”Okay...”

*

The abnormal weather in Oakhaven was affecting the surrounding cities. A cold wind whipped through Aethelburg, and the sky was a heavy, starless black.

Pedestrians on the street clutched their clothes tighter and hurried home. Under the glow of the city’s neon lights, they looked like tiny black dots moving about when seen from above.

Anna Yates calmly retracted her gaze. The wind from the wide-open French doors stirred her light brown, curly hair. Without turning around, she spoke, her voice cold. ”Just go. I won’t believe a word you say, and I certainly won’t agree to your demands.”

The room was unlit; only the petite silhouette of someone sitting on the living room sofa was faintly visible. As if she had already anticipated this answer, the figure sighed softly. ”But why not...?”

The petite figure stood, revealing a pretty young woman’s face. Valentine crinkled her nose, her expression innocent. ”Miss NPC, don’t you want Joanna Kennedy to stay alive?”

The question was posed with an air of bewilderment—innocent, yet cruel. The color drained from Anna Yates’s face instantly.

Valentine acted as if she hadn’t noticed. Her expression remained naive, now tinged with a simple confusion. ”I thought you were her friend. That’s why I came to tell you.”

”Never mind. Just pretend I was never here.” Valentine’s tone was laced with undisguised disappointment.

The door opened and then closed, plunging the dim room back into silence. The cold wind made the muscles in her face go numb. After what felt like an eternity, Anna Yates’s fingers, hanging loosely at her side, slowly curled into a tight fist.

A night of wind and snow had left the entire town of Oakhaven blanketed in white, like a small, snow-swept kingdom.

Inside the hotel, the air conditioner was still running, emitting a steady, rhythmic WHOOSH.

It was no match for real heating, though. Joanna Kennedy curled up, pressing herself tightly against the source of warmth. The movement caused her nightgown to ride high up her legs.

The skin-to-skin contact was so hot it was almost startling, and she instinctively tried to pull away. But before she could move, a firm hand gripped the soft flesh of her thigh.

The large, warm, dry hand was restless, its touch spreading like wildfire. The intensity was so fierce it felt as though it might melt her completely.

Joanna Kennedy’s eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes, which felt a little dry. She gave a weak push with her hand, her voice a tiny whisper. ”No more...”

”Simon Lockwood, I’m so hungry...”

The girl’s voice was soft, with a pleading tone. Her eyelids were thin, red, and swollen, giving her a pitiful look. For a second, Simon Lockwood didn’t check the strength in his grip.

Joanna Kennedy let out a pained grunt, huffing, ”Simon Lockwood!”

Her voice, a mixture of anger and grievance, overlapped with her cries from the night before. Simon Lockwood’s Adam’s apple bobbed sharply. He almost lost control of his strength again, and, as if to suppress the urge, he nipped her neck, his voice husky. ”Mmm, I’m here...”

Joanna Kennedy, caught completely off guard by the bite: ”...”

Joanna Kennedy was furious. She shoved the man away and tried to sit up, but she moved too quickly and nearly fell back down. A strong hand wrapped around her waist, steadying her.

”Stop messing around.” Simon Lockwood frowned, pulling the blanket higher. ”You’re being so reckless. What if you catch a cold?”

Joanna Kennedy: ”...”

’Listen to those considerate words, look at that worried expression, a perfect model of a good boyfriend... my ass!’

Joanna Kennedy’s anger flared, her face flushing red. ”So why weren’t you worried about me catching a cold last night? I kept saying I wanted to sleep, I wanted to sleep, and you’d agree while continuing to drag me into... boo hoo hoo...”

A hand suddenly covered her mouth. Joanna Kennedy’s eyes flew wide in disbelief.

Simon Lockwood’s ears were red. He frowned, his voice tight and serious. ”Joanie, don’t say things like that.”

Joanna Kennedy: ”???”

Joanna Kennedy: ”!!!”

’So he gets to commit arson, but I’m not even allowed to light a battery-powered candle?!’

First thing in the morning, and Joanna Kennedy had nearly passed out from pure rage. She took several deep breaths, telling herself not to get angry. ’Anger is the devil.’

For breakfast, he’d bought beef and pepper soup, fried dough sticks, and tea-leaf eggs from a shop next to the hotel.

Joanna Kennedy tore into a fried dough stick with a vengeance. Simon Lockwood frowned slightly. ”Eat nicely.”

Joanna Kennedy: ”...”

Halfway through her meal, her phone rang. Joanna Kennedy wiped her hands and picked it up. It was a text from Anna Yates.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she read the message.

Anna Yates: [Jo, you’re in Oakhaven, right? I heard it’s snowing there. Wait for me, I’m coming to see you.]

After that message, Anna Yates immediately sent her location sharing link.

Joanna Kennedy tapped it and saw that Anna Yates was already on the road, heading steadily toward Oakhaven.

”Anna is coming to see me, so I can’t go with you to the site today,” Joanna Kennedy told Simon Lockwood.

Simon Lockwood’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly, but his expression remained neutral. He gave his usual instruction: ”Don’t wander off.”