Reborn As A Doomsday Villainess
Chapter 54: Grandpa Gu made the best sausage rolls

Chapter 54: Grandpa Gu made the best sausage rolls

Qingran leaned back slightly, arms crossed as she watched Anya reminisce. "You still play often?"

Anya huffed, rolling her eyes. "Not as much as I used to, but I haven’t completely lost my touch." She smirked. "Don’t think you’ll get an easy win just because it’s been a while."

Qingran’s lips quirked slightly. "We’ll see."

[Host, are you planning to humiliate her on the court?] Lingquan’s voice echoed in her mind, a mix of amusement and curiosity.

Qingran shot the cat a side glance. "I’ll take it easy on her."

[How merciful.]

Anya stretched, pushing off the couch. "Alright, I’ll go make some calls and see what I can do about your list. You’re hanging around till we head to the court, right?"

Qingran nodded. "Yeah, I’ll stay."

Anya grinned. "Good. Try not to look so intense all the time, Qingqing. You’ll scare the neighbors."

Qingran only shrugged, but the teasing lilt in Anya’s voice was familiar, grounding in a way she hadn’t realized she needed.

As Anya moved to her bedroom to make her calls, Qingran let her gaze drift around the apartment. It was neat, well-lived in, and held traces of Anya’s personality everywhere—mismatched mugs on the kitchen counter, scattered notebooks filled with ideas she never finished, and a stack of old basketball magazines by the TV.

It was comforting.

But comfort was only temporary.

She exhaled, fingers tapping idly against her knee.

[You’re getting attached again,] Lingquan murmured.

Qingran scoffed quietly "How could I not? We’re friends after all, I should have looked for her earlier and not when I needed something from her..."

[All the same. After all it’s only been 10 days since you’re rebirth. The human brain can only remember so much]

Qingran’s fingers stilled against her knee, her gaze darkening slightly. Ten days. It felt longer. Like she had been running on borrowed time since the moment she opened her eyes again.

[You’re doing what you can,] Lingquan said, watching her closely. [Regret won’t change what’s already happened.]

"I know," she murmured, but the weight in her chest didn’t ease.

Anya’s voice drifted from the other room, low and serious as she spoke on the phone. Qingran couldn’t make out the words, but she knew Anya was doing her best to pull strings for her.

It wasn’t fair.

She clenched her fists, inhaling slowly through her nose. She had promised herself she wouldn’t drag Anya too deep into this. But there was only so much she could do alone.

After a while, Anya reappeared, stretching her arms over her head. "Alright, I made some calls. It won’t be easy, but I’ll have an answer for you by tomorrow."

Qingran met her gaze. "Thanks, An’er."

Anya rolled her eyes. "Don’t get all soft on me now."

"I won’t." Qingran smirked slightly, the heaviness in her chest easing just a fraction.

Anya plopped back down on the couch. "So, what’s next? You wanna sit here in silence until it’s game time, or should I dig up our old playlists and really make you suffer?"

Qingran arched a brow. "You still have those?"

"Oh, absolutely." Anya grinned, reaching for her phone. "Hope you’re ready for the most chaotic mix of early 2000s and questionable taste."

"I’ve forgotten about those..haha, you’re making me feel old.."

"You are old, lucky you, you don’t get nagged by your parents to get married.."

"Well perks of being an orphan I suppose.."

".."

"Qingqing....i"

"It’s okay, my grandpa would have nagged if he were here.."

"Yeah! Grandpa Gu made the best sausage rolls.."

Qingran chuckled, those were good times, she couldn’t believe it’s been 10 years since her grandpa died.

"Ouuu I like this song."

Anya’s playlist was just as bad as Qingran remembered—blaring pop anthems, emo rock ballads, and a few painfully offbeat remixes that made her question her friend’s sanity.

Qingran sat back, listening as Anya hummed along, completely unbothered by how terrible some of the transitions were.

"You’re not even going to complain?" Anya asked, raising an eyebrow.

Qingran smirked. "I’m enduring."

Anya cackled. "Oh, you missed me."

[Host, I suggest we leave. Immediately.] Lingquan flopped onto his side, paws covering his ears.

Qingran ignored him, her gaze flicking to the clock. They still had a few hours before heading to the court. Time she could use to map out her next steps.

"An’er," she said suddenly. "Are you planning to stay here long-term?"

Anya blinked at her. "Uh, yeah? Why?"

Qingran hesitated. She couldn’t outright tell Anya what was coming—not yet. But she had to plant the idea, get her thinking about the possibility that things wouldn’t stay the same.

"...No reason. Just wondering if you had a backup plan in case you needed to move."

Anya frowned slightly, studying her. "Qingqing, what’s up with you? You’ve been acting different since you came back."

Qingran held her gaze, debating what to say. Anya was sharp. She had to give her something.

"Just... thinking ahead," she finally said. "Things change fast. I’d rather you be prepared."

Anya’s expression softened a little. "You worry too much."

Qingran didn’t answer.

[She’s not wrong,] Lingquan murmured. [But she’s also not ready to hear the truth.]

No, she wasn’t. And Qingran wasn’t ready to tell her. Not yet.

Anya sighed, stretching out on the couch. "Fine, I’ll humor you. If I had to leave, I guess I’d crash at my uncle’s place. He’s got a house out in the suburbs, pretty quiet."

That wasn’t going to be safe when everything collapsed. Qingran made a mental note.

"Good to know," she said.

Anya narrowed her eyes. "You’re really acting weird."

Qingran only shrugged. "Better safe than sorry."

Anya hummed, unconvinced, but she let it go.

The next few hours passed in a strange mix of ease and tension. They talked, played a few casual rounds of a card game, and endured more of Anya’s disastrous playlist.

Eventually, the time came.

Anya stretched, grinning. "Alright, Qingqing. Ready to get your ass handed to you?"

Qingran smirked. "You sure you won’t regret this?"

Anya grabbed her basketball from the corner, spinning it on her fingertip. "Not a chance."

Lingquan flicked his tail. [I’m taking bets. Anyone want to bet against Host? No? Thought so.]