Chapter 4: Chapter 3
She didn’t know if Simon Lockwood would have any regrets, but Joanna Kennedy sure did.
’After so many years of acting, I’ve never had to say such a narcissistic line. It’s so embarrassing...’
In the Kennedy family villa, she was sprawled out on her massive bed, motionless as if she were dead. Limply, she said, ’166, this is no job for a human. Why on earth did you pick me?’
huffed twice. Perhaps afraid she’d go on strike, it didn’t say "I don’t know" this time. ’The original owner of this body died with too much resentment, causing the plot to collapse. To reshape the story and achieve a perfect ending, we needed someone to replace this character. Since you look identical to the original owner, you were naturally chosen.’
’So that’s how it is,’ Joanna thought. ’No wonder I transmigrated with my own body, not just my soul.’
*
The next morning, Joanna Kennedy was woken up by the system.
’Get up! There’s an important plot point to get through today! Hurry, hurry, hurry!’
’So annoying.’
Joanna Kennedy’s pretty little face scrunched up. She missed the days when she could wake up naturally.
’Do all high schoolers get up this early? No wonder they fall asleep in class.’
Sticking to her character’s persona, Joanna Kennedy made a high-profile arrival, stepping out of a luxury car at the school gate and attracting a wave of envious, jealous, and hateful stares.
She yawned, walking forward in a daze. After a few steps, she was stopped.
"Excuse me, where’s your school uniform?" The girl was half a head shorter than her, wearing a student discipline monitor badge around her neck. Her hair was in a neat, high ponytail, and her voice was gentle.
Joanna Kennedy squinted at her, looking spoiled and pretty. In reality, she was just too out of it to process what was happening. The system frantically reminded her, ’Follow the plot! Provoke and bully the female lead!’
’...’
Joanna snapped into character. She crossed her arms, her enchanting almond eyes filled with disdain. She instantly got into the role. "Are you blind? Can’t you see I’m not wearing one?"
Seeing Serena Sutton’s hurt yet pretending-to-be-strong, innocent-flower look, 166 exclaimed, ’Beautifully done!’
Serena Sutton had clearly never met someone so unreasonable. She was stunned for a few seconds before taking a deep breath to suppress her indignation. She stood her ground. "Not wearing it will get you a demerit."
’These rich girls are always so obnoxious.’
’So what if they’re beautiful? Pretty on the outside, rotten on the inside.’
Joanna Kennedy didn’t miss the disgust in her eyes and made her own tone even nastier. "Go ahead and give me one. Who’s stopping you?"
As she spoke, she reached for the demerit list. "My name is Joanna Kennedy. You want me to write it down for you?"
"Miss Kennedy, don’t go too far!" Serena Sutton recoiled in panic. Her pitiful, wronged expression made even Joanna feel like she was being wicked beyond measure.
Before her fingers could touch the list, her wrist was grabbed in a tight grip. The force was immense. Joanna cried out in pain and tried to pull her hand back, but couldn’t. She glared over.
"Simon, I’m fine. You can let her go now." A small crowd had gathered. Seeing Simon Lockwood step in to help, Serena Sutton was both happy and worried.
She subconsciously reached out to pull at the hand Simon Lockwood had clamped on Joanna. Coincidence or not, he let go before she could even touch him.
The pain brought tears to Joanna’s eyes. She blew lightly on her reddened wrist.
’Damn it, what the hell is wrong with this Simon Lockwood? He’s so strong! I thought my wrist was going to snap!’
Serena Sutton was also startled by the large red mark. Afraid the rich girl would cause trouble for Simon Lockwood, she quickly said, "Miss Kennedy, you’re... I’ll go with you to the nurse’s office to get some ointment."
Unexpectedly, Joanna Kennedy was completely ungrateful. Her slightly red eyes widened as she snapped, "None of your business!"
"You!"
Simon Lockwood stepped in front of Serena Sutton, his gaze piercing the furious girl. "I’ll go with you."
"Simon, you don’t have to do this for me..."
"Fine. I want you to carry me on your back!"
Simon Lockwood’s brow furrowed. He was about to refuse, but then his gaze fell on the reddish corners of Joanna Kennedy’s eyes and her wide, glaring stare.
’Her tears haven’t even dried, and she’s already making things difficult.’
"Are you sure?"
’Of course not! Dude, I was just saying that!’
’Can’t break character, no matter what. That’s an actor’s discipline.’ Joanna stiffened her neck and glared at him, steeling herself. "What, you’re not willing?"
’He could be so forceful for Serena Sutton’s sake, but he’s this reluctant to just walk me to the nurse’s office.’
"Heh."
With a cold sneer, Simon Lockwood closed the distance. Ignoring Serena Sutton’s protests from behind him, he grabbed Joanna’s arm and started walking.
Joanna was stunned. She was dragged several meters before she started to struggle. "Simon Lockwood! Where are you taking me?!"
Simon Lockwood’s pace didn’t falter. He said coldly, "Aren’t we going to the nurse’s office?"
’This doesn’t look like he’s taking me to the nurse’s office. It looks more like he’s taking me somewhere to murder me and bury the body.’
’Can’t show weakness.’
Joanna swallowed hard and said fiercely, "Didn’t I tell you to carry me?!"
Simon Lockwood ignored her.
"Did you hear what I said?!"
Still, Simon Lockwood said nothing.
Joanna got annoyed. "Simon Lockwood, are you deaf or mute? I told you to—"
She was suddenly shoved away. Meeting the boy’s frosty gaze, Joanna’s face paled, and her voice died in her throat.
Simon Lockwood’s face was dark. His stare made Joanna’s skin crawl.
For a rare moment, she felt a little guilty, but she still had to maintain her arrogant and domineering persona. "Well, it’s your fault for ignoring me..."
’It was a genuine slip of the tongue. I didn’t mean to rub salt in his wound.’
’This guy is so two-faced. He’s not going to kill me to vent his anger, is he?’
Joanna glanced around and saw that they were alone, which made her panic. When Simon Lockwood moved, she immediately scrambled backward to get away.
Simon Lockwood didn’t even look at her. His voice was ice-cold. "Follow me."
Joanna: "?" ’What does he mean?’
After she stood there stunned for two seconds, Simon Lockwood was already some distance away. She frowned but followed him anyway.
When they got to the nurse’s office, the school nurse prescribed an ointment to reduce the swelling. Only then did Joanna’s brain, which had been offline, finally reboot.
"That’ll be 36 yuan. It’s nothing serious, just apply the ointment a few times and it’ll be fine. A little lover’s quarrel?" the nurse gossiped. Then, in a more serious tone, she added, "But you can’t be so rough with your girlfriend when you fight. Girls have delicate skin, you can’t use so much force..."
Simon Lockwood pulled a few crumpled bills from his uniform pants—ones and fives. Hearing the nurse’s words, his brow furrowed, and his expression clearly showed he wanted nothing to do with Joanna. "She’s not."
Joanna was instantly displeased. She took out her phone, scanned the QR code to pay for the ointment, and then lifted her chin, saying pointedly, "So slow. Don’t pretend you can pay if you don’t have the money."
The nurse, who had seen her as a delicate little girl, now gave her a complicated look.
Joanna ignored all that. She was waiting to see Simon Lockwood get embarrassed, but his expression didn’t change at all. With his usual cool and distant face, he smoothly put the money back in his pocket.
’So he’s thick-skinned, too.’
’He’s probably thrilled he didn’t have to waste 36 yuan on me!’
’Damn it! What’s the big deal about spending 36 yuan on me?! Does he have to be such a cheapskate?!’
’He has to be...’ 166’s voice echoed faintly. ’That’s the male lead’s food money for two days.’
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy is in that phase of life where his appetite is big enough to eat his parents out of house and home.
Simon Lockwood’s parents are both dead, and he lives alone. Even though the school waived his tuition, he still has to pay for miscellaneous fees himself.
He has to work to support his studies and cover his daily expenses all by himself. For meals, he always chooses cheap and filling options like steamed buns. But since he has a large appetite, he still needs nearly 20 yuan a day.
So 36 yuan is, in fact, almost two days’ worth of food money for him.
