Reincarnated as the Villain's Sister
Chapter 79: Family

Chapter 79: Family

He didn’t know when his hatred stopped making sense.

He hated her—Lu Qingyan—for being able to smile so easily. For accepting everything, everyone, even the ones who left, as if abandonment was just another normal part of life.

He hated how she didn’t cry at the airport.

He hated how she never clung to anyone’s leg and begged.

He hated how she made it look so damn easy—being left behind.

And he hated the whole damn family for moving on like it meant nothing. For adjusting so smoothly to new walls, new beds, new guardians.

He hated how they could carve out a different life while he was still standing in the rubble of the old one, bleeding from wounds no one remembered inflicting.

He still remembered the way Lu Jing had squatted to his level and patted his head that day. A smile was on his face, but it looked more painful than kind.

"You’ll live with Dad from now on."

It was said gently, but he could hear it. The subtle lift of relief in his tone. As if unloading a burden. As if saying, Finally.

Back then, he said nothing. Just nodded. But he noticed how fast Lu Jing walked away afterward, how he didn’t look back.

He thought of that one time—the first time Lu Jing was supposed to attend a parent-teacher meeting.

He had said with a shrug that it didn’t matter, that he’d just sign the paper himself. But the truth was, he had reserved a seat.

He had waited by the school gate in his too-big uniform and scuffed shoes, pretending to scroll through his phone while glancing up at every adult who passed.

He watched as other kids ran up to their parents, tugging on sleeves, showing off perfect scores or asking for snacks. Laughter filled the air, warm and whole.

But he just stood there, invisible in a crowd of joy. Drowned in it.

Only later did he find out.

Lu Jing had gone to the wrong school.

He didn’t even remember where he studied.

It was only later that he found out Lu Jing had actually remembered his school incorrectly.

And when he apologized, he did it with that same professional smile he wore for his business partners. Then he handed him the newest tablet, wrapped in sleek packaging.

"Dad remembered wrong."

Like that would fix it.

Then he recalled how during the new year, he only received two cold and detached automated messages notifying him that money was transferred into his account.

Outside the window, fireworks exploded, lighting up other people’s smiles. He sat on the couch, alone, the TV playing the Spring Festival Gala.

He tried to laugh at the skits, at the actors in gaudy outfits pretending everything was fine.

But the laughter caught in his throat. He picked up the remote and hurled it, then the glass on the table, then whatever else he could find.

Everything shattered.

Even then, no one came.

No one noticed.

On such a desolate and lonely night, perhaps only by venting on the dance floor, or going racing in the mountains, or going partying with this group of scoundrels, will there be a false sense of excitement and liveliness.

It was the only time he didn’t feel like he was rotting.

Because no matter how awful he did in class—even when he turned in blank exams—he was still accepted into the best school. Because his last name was Lu.

No matter how defiant, how foul-mouthed or violent he was, the teachers didn’t dare touch him.

No matter how many terrible things people whispered about him, Lu Jing would only chuckle, shake his head like it was all too beneath him, and go back to reading his documents.

In these moments where the haziness and pain were woven together, a sunny and brilliant afternoon suddenly appeared before his eyes.

It was all meaningless.

Everything was hollow.

Then, in the fog of his own memories, a flash of sunlight intruded—a memory he didn’t want, yet it arrived anyway.

A small girl tugging his sleeve with chubby hands, struggling to keep up.

She fell.

She cried.

"Big brother, don’t go!"

She clung to his jeans with scraped knees and wet eyes, and he, foolishly, had stayed. Just a bit longer.

He had told himself he hated her.

Lu Qingyan, the good girl in everyone’s eyes. Obedient. Well-behaved. A perfect daughter in Ivy’s eyes.

He hated her—

Didn’t he?

Lu Mingxuan quietly leaned against the wall as he looked at his dark surroundings.

His mind felt incredibly dizzy and the sense of self-loathing that appeared made him nauseous.

He even covered his mouth and retched a few times.

He suddenly felt that the loneliness was like a tide building over and was about to swallow him whole.

Did she also spend countless nights like this?

Did she also stay alone in an empty and desolate house, feeling like she was about to suffocate.

Maybe she was also very scared, maybe she...

Maybe she was the same as him where, for so long, they only had themselves.

The way he treated her, how was it any different from Ivy or Lu Jing?

In fact, he was even more vile, more hateful.

"Lu Mingxuan, you’re truly a f*cking bastard."

Yeah, he really was a bastard after all.

He clearly hated such a person, yet he became such a person.

How ironic.

Lu Mingxuan stared at his reddish knuckles as the smell of alcohol permeated from his body into the surrounding air.

A WeChat notification sound came from his phone and a flash of brightness appeared in the darkness.

He sluggishly fumbled for his phone in the dark.

Then he slowly opened his eyes and saw that familiar pink icon.

Yanyan Wants to Get Rich Quick: I still have something to do, so I’ll leave first.

Lu Mingxuan blinked and stared at the indifferent words, then noticed the WeChat username that had been changed.

An extremely uncomfortable emotion appeared in his heart.

At this moment, a hint of liquor courage appeared as he picked up the phone and pressed the voice recording button with great strength.