After Transmigrating into a Novel with My Boyfriend, He Turned Out to Be a Native Villain-Chapter 5: The Mysterious Neighbor of the Haunted House

[The loving couple had always lived frugally. After years of hard work, they finally bought this incredibly cheap villa so their three children could have a suitable home. However, being in the outskirts and abandoned for years, the villa had long since become desolate. On their first night, the children started noticing that something was off...]

"Daddy, when will we get there?"

The youngest girl clutched her stuffed toy, her face full of anticipation as she leaned over the driver’s seat to look at the man in front. "I can't wait to see our new home!"

The man chuckled at her words. "Little Ge can’t wait anymore, huh?"

He had deep-set features, a bone structure typical of Western ancestry, but upon closer look, there were hints of Asian traits as well. Simply put, he was the kind of mixed-race person who was instantly recognizable.

The woman in the passenger seat turned around as well. She also had distinct mixed-race features—light brown eyes paired with chestnut-colored hair—giving her a particularly gentle appearance. "We’re almost there. When we arrive, you have to be good, Little Ge."

[Here we go! Wow! Is this a Western script today? Oh my god, Xixi looks stunning! Such an elegant Asian beauty, sobs!]

[Agreed! And she’s exuding such motherly warmth! Totally different from before—no wonder she’s a high-rated actress!]

[The guy next to her should be Hou Liang, right? He looks a bit different, but I can still recognize him. Haha, he’s so unlike his usual self!]

[If they’re both here, does that mean Bo Jingmo is too? Oh god, is he playing a ghost again?!]

That single comment completely shifted the tone of the live chat.

[Most likely. Alright, everyone, time to prepare our bad reviews for Bo Jingmo again.]

[Why do y’all always have such a problem with Bo Jingmo? His ghost roles are amazing, okay? So what if he’s a bit ruthless? He’s playing a ghost! What do you expect him to do?]

Despite the constant complaints, Bo Jingmo still had his loyal fanbase, mainly due to his looks. Otherwise, the system would have already deemed him an "unqualified actor" and kicked him out.

But the more his fans defended him, the more some people disliked him.

[Oh, please. All Bo Jingmo ever does in a scene is kill people—there’s no acting required. And it’s not like we’re lacking these kinds of scenes.]

[Exactly. That ‘serious actor’ act of his doesn’t work anymore. You guys just like him because he’s good-looking.]

[And? What’s wrong with that? Are you better looking than him?]

Someone finally stepped in to change the topic.

[Stop arguing. I checked other performances of this script—it's a haunted house story where a couple moves in with their kids and weird things start happening. There is a big boss, probably Bo Jingmo, but he appears much later. So don’t worry if you’re here for the romance—you’ll get plenty of it first.]

While they were talking, the car had already arrived at the villa.

It was an open-style villa, surrounded by ivy-covered walls, overgrown grass, and an old well covered with a slab. The outer walls of the villa were streaked with patches of green, showing clear signs of abandonment over the years.

Standing at the entrance was Elia, or rather, Jiang Xi, holding her youngest daughter, Joeger, by the hand.

Looking up at the towering yet dilapidated building, Joeger scrunched her nose and hugged her doll tighter. "Mommy, this place looks so old."

Beside her, the second daughter, Joeci, let out a mocking laugh, chewing her gum lazily. "Weren’t you excited just a second ago? And now you’re complaining?"

"Joeci, don’t talk to your sister like that."

Jiang Xi crouched down and gently patted Joeger’s hair. "Little Ge, the inside of this house is really beautiful. Let’s clean it up together and decorate it however we like, okay?"

Joeger chirped happily, "Okay!"

Hou Liang and their eldest daughter, Jodie, had just finished unloading some luggage from the car. Hearing Jiang Xi’s words, Hou Liang put down the bags and pointed toward the lake behind them.

"Little Ge, look! There’s a beautiful lake over there. How about I take you to see it later?"

The moment he spoke, Joeger’s eyes lit up. "Really?!"

Children were easily fascinated by new things. She tugged on Jiang Xi’s sleeve excitedly. "Mommy! I want to see it!"

"Mommy and Daddy need to clean up the house. Why don’t you let your sisters take you instead?"

Jiang Xi turned to Joeci and Jodie with a smile. "You two take your sister to look around, okay? But don’t go too far."

Joeci scoffed and walked off without responding, heading straight toward the lake.

Jodie, on the other hand, held her sister’s hand and nodded obediently. "Okay, Mommy. We’ll just take a quick look."

[That second daughter is totally the troublemaker type. I think I already know where this is going.]

[Agreed, but please don’t spoil anything!]

[Jiang Xi is so gentle, sobs.]

As the children left, Jiang Xi and Hou Liang entered the villa.

The moment the door opened, it let out a heavy, grating creak. Sunlight poured in, making the dust particles in the air visible. Jiang Xi took a step back, covering her nose as she glanced around the room.

All the furniture was covered in white sheets, and the floor was layered with dust. Cleaning up such a big place wouldn’t be easy.

Now that the NPC daughters were gone, Jiang Xi could finally drop her act a little.

She glanced at Hou Liang and smiled helplessly. "I didn’t think we’d have to do manual labor even in the script."

Hou Liang ruffled her hair. "It’s fine, I’ll help you."

[This is so sweet, I’m dying. They really make the best on-screen couple.]

[Thinking about how Bo Jingmo treated Jiang Xi in the last script and then seeing this... Bo Jingmo, you can stay a ghost forever.]

[LMAO, y’all are ruthless. If Bo Jingmo dies and becomes an NPC, does that mean he’ll be a forever-single ghost?]

[I can't stop laughing at that. Now I kinda want Bo Jingmo to show up just to see him working for the system. Otherwise, let’s just give him all bad reviews this round.]

Audience preferences were fickle.

One second, they might be giving someone five-star ratings, and the next, they could turn on them over a single scene. A few comments alone could easily determine an actor’s fate.

Jiang Xi naturally thought of Bo Jingmo too.

Frowning slightly, she walked deeper into the house and pulled a white cloth off a couch.

Beneath the dust, the couch was still in pristine condition, barely used at all.

She ran a finger through the dust. "This villa definitely has something wrong with it… but I don’t know how to trigger the plot. If Bo Jingmo is in this, he’s probably playing the ghost again."

The dust from the cloth billowed toward the doorway. Hou Liang waved a hand in front of his face, clearing the air. "It’s fine. Let’s just see what the NPCs do. As long as we stay in character, we’ll be fine."

They had no prior script—only their character settings. Every scene relied on the NPCs to drive the plot forward.

Jiang Xi pursed her lips and sighed lightly. "Alright."

She was playing a gentle, devoted mother, which meant abandoning her children was out of the question. If there were ghosts, she had to protect them.

That also meant this plotline was dangerous for her.

Sensing her nervousness, Hou Liang draped an arm around her shoulders. "Don’t worry, I’m here."

Trying to lighten the mood, he grinned. "Besides, I have the ‘loving husband’ setting. I’ll take the hits first."

[OMG, I’m shipping them again!]

[Hou Liang gives off such a sense of security. Way better than you-know-who.]

[Way better than you-know-who +2]

[Way better than you-know-who +3]

[Way better than you-know-who +1000086]

The two of them put away their emotions and prepared to properly clean the villa. But before they could get started, a sharp scream suddenly came from outside.

Listening closely, they realized it was their eldest daughter’s voice, faintly shouting something—

"Joeger!"

Hearing that name, Jiang Xi and Hou Liang exchanged glances before instantly dashing out of the house.

Meanwhile, over by the lake and the surrounding woods, Jodie watched in horror as Joeger continued walking toward the water. She frantically tugged at the rope tied around her ankle, but the rough hemp fibers only tightened, digging painfully into her skin and rendering her immobile.

The rope burned against her flesh, but Jodie didn’t care. She could only cry out desperately at her sister’s retreating figure.

"Joeger! Stop! Don’t go near there! No!"

Her helpless screams echoed through the silent woods. "Dad! Mom! Come save Joeger!! Mom!!"

She watched in despair as Joeger stepped into the lake, the water creeping up her small legs. Jodie’s face turned deathly pale, her expression filled with panic as she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"No! Joeger! Stop!!"

She was trying to snap her sister out of whatever trance she was in.

But Joeger didn’t stop.

Jodie could only watch as the water rose higher.

Suddenly, a figure in green rushed out from nowhere, moving at an incredible speed. In an instant, they dashed into the lake, wrapped an arm around Joeger’s waist, and pulled her out of the water.

Jodie’s tense heart finally settled, though her breath remained shaky, still lingering in the aftermath of her fear.

She looked warily at the figure who had appeared so suddenly.

To be precise—

—It was a woman.

Jodie narrowed her eyes, trying to get a better look. All she could make out was a head of long, golden hair.

And at that moment, the woman was carrying her little sister toward her.

As the distance closed, Jodie’s breath hitched, her mouth slightly agape, her gaze filled with awe.

She forgot about her sister’s condition entirely, staring blankly at the approaching woman.

The dappled sunlight fell through the trees, casting golden spots across the woman’s figure. Her softly curled golden hair cascaded over her chest, gleaming with a silky luster. Her skin was as flawless as porcelain, her red lips and blue eyes forming a striking contrast, her features stunningly exquisite—an intoxicating mix of beauty and regality, like a goddess from Western mythology.

Her gaze was calm and indifferent, with slightly upturned eyes carrying an air of aloof superiority. The dark green gown she wore only accentuated her noble aura.

The hem of her dress had been soaked by the lake, darkening the fabric a shade deeper. Droplets of water dripped rhythmically from the edges.

Jodie couldn’t help but swallow. This kind of beauty… she had never seen before. It was utterly bewitching.

And it wasn’t just Jodie. The live chat exploded the moment the woman appeared.

[Holy sht, holy sht, holy sh*t, WHO IS THIS?! Which NPC is this gorgeous?!]

[Excuse me?! Why did no one tell me this script had such a stunning lady?! Oh, we’re eating GOOD today!]

[Sister!! I’m obsessed!! Do you want to be an NPC in my house?! Sobs, so beautiful!!]

[I was feeling meh about this plot, but now I’m watching frame by frame.]

[LMAO, the other NPC is totally dumbstruck. Girl, your sister is unconscious, focus!!]

Some of the more observant viewers started asking questions.

[Wait a second, I’ve seen others play this script before. This NPC is supposed to be their neighbor, but she wasn’t supposed to appear this early? Normally, Xi Xi and the others rescue an NPC instead.]

[That’s normal, though. They probably triggered a hidden storyline. These usually score really high—Xi Xi is totally the luck goddess!]

[Even if it’s a hidden story, why does this neighbor look so much better than in other versions? It’s weird. It’s supposed to be the same face.]

[Who cares?! With a face like this, I’m sold. I’m rating this script five stars just for her!]

[Agreed! Please let her show up more!]

"Sis, the live chat is all praising you!" The system perched on Yu Li’s shoulder, eagerly relaying the comments.

Normally, the actors couldn’t see the chat, but the system had full access.

Yu Li didn’t respond. She merely crouched down and gently set the little girl on the ground.

Lowering herself to meet Jodie’s gaze, her lips curved into a soft smile.

"Beautiful little lady, did you just move in today?"

Her voice was so gentle and alluring, like a noble goddess descending to greet mere mortals.

Jodie instinctively nodded, completely entranced. But when her eyes fell on her unconscious sister, panic quickly returned to her face.

"Joeger!"

She looked helplessly at the woman before her. She didn’t know why, but this person gave her an unexplainable sense of security—like nothing could go wrong under her care.

The woman chuckled softly, reaching out to smooth Joeger’s hair, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. Her movements were careful and tender.

"Don’t worry," she reassured, her voice soothing, "your sister is just very tired and fell asleep."

Jodie let out a deep sigh of relief.

She hesitated, just about to ask for the woman’s identity, when she suddenly heard the voices of her parents calling from the woods.

"Jodie! Joeger!"

The familiar voices made Jodie’s eyes well up with tears. She turned and waved eagerly.

"Dad! Mom! I’m here!"

Jiang Xi and Hou Liang followed the sound, arriving at the scene—only to be met with a shocking sight.

Their eldest daughter sat collapsed on the ground, her face pale, while their youngest lay unconscious beside her.

And next to them, kneeling gracefully, was a stranger—a woman with golden hair.

Her back was to them as she gently caressed their youngest daughter’s face, her long hair cascading over her shoulder, obscuring her features.

Jiang Xi and Hou Liang exchanged a wary glance, both reading the same unease in each other’s eyes.

Jiang Xi, staying in character as a loving mother, rushed forward the moment she saw her youngest daughter. Tears welled in her eyes as she scooped Joeger into her arms, her voice trembling.

"Little Ge!!"

With this movement, she finally caught a full view of the woman who had been facing away from them.

The moment Jiang Xi saw her face, she froze.

She even forgot she was acting.

Because the woman before her was too beautiful.

Jiang Xi had seen countless NPCs before, but never one with this level of beauty and presence.

[Hahaha, even Xi Xi is stunned! See? I told you this wasn’t just any ordinary beauty!]

[First time seeing Xi Xi almost break character, lol. Screenshot time!]

[Y’all, I’m too busy screenshotting the gorgeous lady to even bother with Xi Xi’s reaction.]

[Oh sh*t, you reminded me!! Can we rewind?!]

[Who got the entrance shot? I’ll buy it!!]

[Me too!!]

[Me three!!]

The chat descended into chaos. The system was completely dumbfounded.

How did the topic shift so fast?!

Seeing Jiang Xi staring at her, Yu Li withdrew her hand and stood up, smiling politely.

"There’s no need to worry," she said gently. "Your daughter is only unconscious."

Jiang Xi snapped back to reality, adjusting her hold on Joeger. Her face quickly returned to an appropriate level of caution.

"Who are you?! Why are you here?"

Jodie immediately tugged at her mother’s sleeve. "Mom, she saved Joeger!"

Hou Liang also approached. He, too, was momentarily stunned by Yu Li’s beauty, but quickly composed himself.

Noticing Jodie’s tied-up ankle, he pulled a pocket knife from his coat. "Stay still, Daddy will cut this off for you."

Jiang Xi, though slightly reassured, remained vigilant.

Scanning the area, she turned back to Jodie. "Where’s Joeci? What exactly happened?"

At that question, Jodie finally started recounting everything that had just transpired.

Originally, they were just exploring the small woods by the lake when Joeci wandered off somewhere and never came back. After searching for her unsuccessfully, Jodie decided to take Joeger back. But just as they were about to leave, she accidentally stepped on a hidden trap—her foot was instantly caught in a loop of rope, tightening around her ankle and refusing to budge no matter how hard she tried.

Jodie wanted Joeger to run back and call for help, but Joeger suddenly seemed to lose all awareness. Her eyes went blank, and she started walking toward the lake in a daze, completely unresponsive no matter how much Jodie shouted for her.

With Hou Liang’s support, Jodie managed to stand up. She turned to look at Yu Li on the other side and explained, "And then this... sister appeared and pulled Joeger out of the lake."

Hearing Jodie call her "sister," Yu Li raised an eyebrow slightly and gave her a small smile.

Jodie’s face instantly flushed red. She lowered her head, pressing her lips together, and said nothing.

After understanding the situation, Jiang Xi immediately turned to Yu Li with an apologetic smile. "I’m sorry. I was just too worried about my daughter."

Yu Li replied calmly, "I understand."

Hou Liang bent down and picked up the rope from the ground. Examining it closely, he frowned. "This kind of trap is usually used to catch large animals. Why would it be here?"

At that moment, Yu Li, who had been leaning lazily against a tree trunk, casually raised a hand. Tilting her head slightly, she smiled. "My apologies—that trap belongs to me."

The group immediately turned their gazes toward her, eyes filled with confusion and surprise.

Straightening up, Yu Li pointed toward the not-so-distant villa.

She tucked a stray strand of golden hair behind her ear, the sunlight illuminating her porcelain-like skin, making it look even more delicate and translucent. Her icy blue eyes, clear and pure, held a hint of lazy amusement.

"This is our first time meeting, so please forgive my late introduction. I’m your neighbor. You can call me Filia."

Jiang Xi quickly reached out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Filia. I’m Elia, and this is my husband, Giovini."

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

She then turned to Jodie. "This is our eldest daughter, Jodie. And the one I’m holding is our youngest, Joeger."

Jodie looked up and greeted her as well. "Hello, Filia-sister."

The woman before her looked at most twenty-five years old. Since she was eighteen herself, it made sense to call her "sister."

Yu Li shook her hand briefly out of politeness, but at Jodie’s words, she couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Lifting her gaze, she met Jodie’s eyes.

"Darling," she said with a hint of amusement, "you really shouldn’t be calling me ‘sister.’"

Seeing Jodie’s stunned expression, Yu Li sighed lightly and spoke in an almost wistful tone.

"After all, I’m already thirty-five."

Or more accurately, this body was already thirty-five.