Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

"S-s-she..."

Joanna Kennedy was so furious she was sputtering. Damn it, how could Simon Lockwood have been bullied right under her nose?

The moment she thought about Susan Lee touching Simon Lockwood, Joanna couldn’t control her temper. "Where did she lean on you?!"

Simon Lockwood didn’t speak.

Joanna went straight to roughly patting him down, checking him over from head to toe. Her nose twitched, and she caught a faint, cloying scent of rose. She became instantly livid. "She leans on you and you just let her?!"

Joanna’s eyes were red with anger. "Simon Lockwood, since when were you so obedient?!"

"I dodged," Simon Lockwood explained in a low voice.

Joanna’s expression didn’t soften in the slightest. In fact, it grew even more intense. "I’m going to tear her apart," she said, almost through gritted teeth.

’Marketing herself as "Little Jojo" was one thing, but daring to make a move on Simon Lockwood? She must be so addicted to this cosplay that she thinks she can snatch whatever she wants.’

Several ways to deal with Susan Lee flashed through Joanna’s mind. She was determined to make the woman give up completely and never dare to have designs on Simon Lockwood again. A gentle squeeze on her fingers barely brought her back to her senses.

"We’re filming a show right now." Simon Lockwood’s black windbreaker was a little disheveled from her manhandling, but he didn’t seem to mind at all, keeping his eyes lowered. "I don’t want to put you in a difficult position."

"Difficult position? What difficult position?" Joanna glared. "Simon Lockwood, don’t you pretend to be all considerate with me."

Simon Lockwood: "..." ’She’s gotten smarter.’

His little scheme exposed, Simon Lockwood only paused for a moment before lowering his gaze even further. "Isn’t it common to ’ship’ people as a couple on these shows? Why are you so angry?"

"I’m not even angry," Simon Lockwood said.

"???" Joanna was so angry her insides hurt. "You’re angry? What could you possibly have to be angry about?!"

"Henry Hughes," Simon Lockwood said, his voice clear.

Joanna: "..."

Joanna was at a loss. "I already told you, he doesn’t like me, and I’m not trying to ’ship’ us as a couple! He’s just... he’s just..." She deflated. "Simon Lockwood, what are you getting at?"

As if he’d been waiting for this exact opportunity, Simon Lockwood raised his eyes, his tone serious. "Susan Lee doesn’t like me either, but you get angry when she gets close to me. Therefore, I also have the right to be angry."

Simon Lockwood: "Joanna Kennedy, you can’t have such double standards."

"..."

’The logic was sound. A perfect, closed loop.’

’Joanna finally realized Simon Lockwood had deliberately led her into a trap. If she asked him not to be angry about Henry Hughes, then she couldn’t be angry about Susan Lee.’

"...A top student, indeed. As expected of a scholar."

’Joanna felt like applauding him. The man had a thousand schemes, and he used every single one on her.’

Simon Lockwood had her completely figured out, brazenly using Susan Lee as an accelerant. Joanna knew she should be angry, but she just felt a sense of resignation. "So what do you want me to do? Ignore Henry Hughes?"

Joanna said, "If I actually do that, I’ll probably get flamed by netizens and end up trending on social media after the show airs."

Simon Lockwood replied, dead serious, "You can interact with him. But no contact in private."

Joanna: "..." ’We barely have any contact as it is.’

She really didn’t know what had gotten into Simon Lockwood to make him pull a stunt like this. After the whole sidetrack, Joanna almost forgot what she’d meant to talk about.

"I saw Jasper Sinclair last night." Joanna’s expression was serious, but Simon Lockwood didn’t react to the name. His gaze was fixed on the red tip of her nose, and his voice deepened. "You’re not wearing a thermal layer under your clothes?"

Joanna: "..." ’What the hell?’

Joanna was completely stunned, a bit dazed. When she finally processed it, her voice lacked conviction. "I-I am."

Simon Lockwood’s voice grew even deeper. "Come here. Let me see."

’See what? See my ass! If he looks, he’ll know I’m not wearing one! He wants to control the heavens and the earth, and now he wants to control what I wear and eat!’

Both guilty and embarrassed, Joanna snapped, "Why do you care whether I’m wearing a thermal layer! I’m talking to you about something important!"

Joanna, thinking Simon Lockwood hadn’t heard and afraid he’d keep harping on the "thermal layer," quickly repeated what she’d said about seeing Jasper Sinclair. Unexpectedly, Simon just frowned and said, "I know," before continuing, "Come here. Let me see."

"You—you knew Jasper Sinclair was here?!" Joanna asked hurriedly. "Did he come looking for you? Did he threaten you?"

Simon Lockwood: "Joanna Kennedy, have I or have I not told you to wear a thermal layer?"

Joanna: "The team arrangements—that was his doing, wasn’t it?!"

Simon Lockwood: "Go back to your room and put one on right now."

Furious, Joanna kicked him in the shin. "Simon Lockwood, are you even listening to me!"

"..."

’All he cares about is thermal layers, thermal layers! Does he not see what’s happening? If the world were ending tomorrow, would Simon Lockwood still be trying to check if she was wearing a thermal layer?!’

A windbreaker, still warm with his body heat, was thrown over her head, wrapping her up tightly. She glared at him and said deliberately, "It stinks!"

The windbreaker only carried his familiar, pleasant, clean scent; the rose perfume had long since faded. Simon Lockwood didn’t argue with her about whether it stank or not. He bent down, pulled the zipper all the way to the top, his voice still low. "I am listening. We’ll talk about it back in the room."

"While I’m wearing your jacket?"

"Everyone else has gone downstairs to eat."

"Well, I don’t want to go back with you, then," Joanna said, deliberately difficult. Seeing that Simon Lockwood was about to "lecture" her again, she turned on her heel and walked off.

After walking for a bit and not seeing him follow, Joanna ducked her head, nuzzling into the collar of the windbreaker. She could still feel the warmth of his body on it. She couldn’t help the small smile that curved her lips, a soft, happy expression touching the corners of her eyes.

She walked with a light step toward the elevator to go downstairs, not noticing the figure that emerged from around the corner. It was Sophia, who had been looking for her.

...

Sophia never would have imagined that Joanna Kennedy and Julius had *that* kind of relationship. ’Not that it’s any of my business,’ she thought. ’I’m just here for the money. All I have to do is film the show and get paid.’

She resolved to keep her mouth shut, but when she saw Susan Lee and Cheryl Chaney also heading for the elevator, she couldn’t help but call out to stop them.

"Susan, Cheryl, want to go check the third floor again?" Sophia wasn’t a good liar, and she grew even more nervous under their stares. "I-I have a feeling tonight’s shoot won’t be simple. Maybe we can find a clue on the third floor."

’The day’s shoot is already over, so why is she so eager to keep working?’ Susan Yates found it annoying. She was about to refuse when she remembered the man’s bone-chilling glare in the restroom, and her expression twisted.

’That Julius guy is completely cold and aloof; he’s not interested in me at all. For the rest of this show, I’ll have to rely on these two idiots, Sophia and Cheryl.’

’I’d better stay on good terms with them.’ With that thought, Susan Lee said, "Sure, I can go with you guys."

The three of them chatted as they walked toward the third floor. Cheryl Chaney suddenly said, "Should we get Jojo?"

"We’re all girls; it wouldn’t look right to leave her out." As she spoke, Cheryl Chaney was about to call Jojo, but Sophia stopped her. "Let’s not."

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