The commotion at the door grew louder. The man in glasses stood up. “I’ll go check what’s happening.” He glanced at Yu Zao before leaving through a small side door.

The middle-aged man was quite perceptive. He noticed that Quan Lushen seemed interested in the young, attractive boy he had never heard of anyone being close to Quan Lushen.

Quan Lushen was notoriously difficult to please, and it was nearly impossible to cater to his tastes. The middle-aged man pulled his son up and said, “Mr. Quan, I’m feeling a bit dizzy. I need to rest for a while. I recently bought a painting at the auction, and I heard you appreciate fine art as well. It’s in the study. I hope you will do me the honor of viewing it.”

The sound of fighting continued outside, but no one in the private room seemed to care.

Quan Lushen glanced at his assistant, who immediately understood and began to dismiss the group of people.

Yu Zao was about to follow the crowd out when a calm voice called out, “You, stay.”

Yu Zao’s heart sank.

0926: “It’s Jiang Cai and the others outside. They’ve started fighting.”

What good would that do? He was still stuck here.

Feeling dejected, Yu Zao lowered his head, trying to minimize his presence. “Why does Quan Lushen want me to stay? He’s not going to kill me, is he?”

“Then my Viciousness index will be stuck at 15! Is this how my rookie level ends? My future levels will be doomed!”

0926: “…” At a moment like this, Yu Zao wasn’t worried about his safety but about his final score. 0926 couldn’t help but comment, “You sure have a strong sense of ambition.”

Of course! Who doesn’t want to do better if they can?

Any hope Yu Zao had left was quickly replaced by regret. He couldn’t believe he had thought about cozying up to the villain. Looking back now, it seemed like a total fantasy.

As expected, a minor character like him couldn’t possibly handle a major villain like Quan Lushen.

The study was tastefully decorated, with a small wardrobe and a resting room off to the side. After sitting down, Quan Lushen’s assistant brought in the artwork that the middle-aged man had mentioned. The auction house’s code was visible in the corner.

Quan Lushen whispered something to his assistant, who suddenly glanced at Yu Zao, making him shiver in fear. His heart felt like it was in his throat.

Yu Zao was scared but more than that, he was exhausted.

He had been standing for a long time and wanted to sit down.

He sneaked a glance at Quan Lushen, who was still talking business, discussing things Yu Zao didn’t understand and wasn’t interested in.

Being ignored for so long, Yu Zao started to feel irritated but couldn’t express it. His legs ached, so he slowly inched toward a seat.

He didn’t dare make it obvious and moved gradually, taking a step, then glancing back to check if Quan Lushen had noticed. After repeating this several times, he was close to the seat.

Just as he was about to sit down unnoticed, Quan Lushen suddenly looked over. Startled, Yu Zao immediately stood straight, butt hovering over the chair, looking back cautiously and nervously.

Quan Lushen: “…”

“You can sit.”

Why act so pitiful?

Yu Zao shook his head. “I won’t sit.”

He stood there with his beautiful, tear-filled eyes fixed on Quan Lushen. He wore a fitted uniform that highlighted his slender waist. His knees were together, and his pale legs trembled slightly in fear, making his already exposed thighs shake.

Though he was terrified, he tried to act tough.

There was a certain false bravado about him.

Quan Lushen: “Sit. I don’t have time to bully you.”

“Can I really sit?”

Seizing the opportunity, Yu Zao’s long eyelashes fluttered as he tilted his pale face upward, pushing his luck. “I’m also a bit thirsty. I want some water.”

“Cold water, but not too much ice.”

Yu Zao was genuinely thirsty. He was so used to bossing around Chu Xi that he forgot the person in front of him was a ruthless villain, not someone who would tolerate his demands. He quickly corrected himself, his voice growing weaker. “I… I’m not that thirsty.”

This kid was amusing.

One moment, he tried to fade into the background, and the next, he instinctively started giving orders, revealing his spoiled nature. But his courage quickly faltered; one look from Quan Lushen made him retract in fear, speaking meekly.

Quan Lushen glanced at his assistant.

The assistant left the study, returning shortly with a stack of documents. After placing the papers on the desk, he brought a bottle of mineral water. The bottle was cool to the touch, its surface covered in condensation. He poured the water into a crystal glass with ice cubes, presenting it politely. “Sir, your water.”

Yu Zao drank delicately, holding the glass with his pale hands and taking small sips. His behavior was refined, and the tips of his hair bounced slightly with each sip.

Suddenly, Quan Lushen stood up and reached toward Yu Zao. Caught off guard, Yu Zao didn’t have time to react before his second shirt button was pulled off.

A glimpse of snow-white skin came into view. Quan Lushen stared for a moment, then rubbed the button between his fingers. “Did you know?”

Yu Zao: “Know what?”

“This room is equipped with a special signal jammer. No electronic devices, including listening devices or hidden cameras, can function here.” With a mocking smile, Quan Lushen tossed the button with the embedded micro-camera into the trash. “Are those your ‘friends’ outside? How pitiful, having friends like that.”

He didn’t need any explanation. Quan Lushen could already piece together most of what had happened.

These rich second-generation kids had it too easy and liked to seek out excitement. Yu Zao was likely tricked into coming here and became their scapegoat.

Yu Zao felt very uncomfortable.

Quan Lushen spoke with extreme arrogance and condescension, carrying the air of superiority typical of the elite. It was as if everything was under his control—utterly unbearable.

“You like money, don’t you?”

That arrogant tone again. Yu Zao responded firmly, though his voice was soft due to his timid nature, “Who doesn’t like money?”

“Yu Zao, 20 years old. Chu Xi is pursuing you. You’ve posted countless photos of yourself on social media platforms, engaging with people and liking expensive luxury items. I assume you love money. Of course, no one hates money. I admire your materialism and hope you stick to it.”

“I need you to accept Chu Xi’s pursuit and play the role of a perfect lover—gentle, caring, and fulfilling all his romantic fantasies. Then, you will ruthlessly abandon him.”

Quan Lushen’s expression softened slightly, making him seem less aggressive, but his words were still incredibly cruel. “I want to crush him. Even if it leads to something tragic, it doesn’t matter. If he commits suicide because of you, I’ll take care of it.”

Yu Zao: O.o??

What was happening?

Did Quan Lushen really believe that Chu Xi was chasing after him? In reality, it was nothing like that… Yu Zao had been blackmailing Chu Xi with non-existent photos, forcing him to serve him.

Yu Zao was a bit devious, but he had some conscience left—manipulating someone’s emotions like that was not something he could do!

Quan Lushen: “One million.”

Yu Zao: O.O!!?

How much?! One million!

“If he falls into despair and becomes a wreck—one million. If something tragic happens…” Quan Lushen added nonchalantly, “I’ll add a zero.”

Alright… Yu Zao had a conscience, but not much. The temptation was too great, and faced with such an astronomical figure, his once timid and hesitant expression brightened in an instant.

Most surprising of all, just entertaining the idea of agreeing with Quan Lushen’s plan raised his “Viciousness index” by 3! If he actually signed the contract, how much would it increase?

[At least 20,] 0926, the system, paused, [Maybe even 40.]

After having 0926 review the contract, Yu Zao didn’t hesitate to sign his name. As he did, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind: [Malice Index: 65/100 (+50)]

He had passed the threshold!

Indeed, following the villain’s lead was the way to go.

Yu Zao’s face was filled with joy, his lips curling into an uncontrollable smile. Beneath his rosy, plump lips, two perfectly symmetrical little tiger teeth peeked out. Dimples subtly appeared under his flushed cheeks, which were bright from his excitement.

Quan Lushen quietly watched Yu Zao for a moment, then looked away.

With his goal achieved, he no longer had any reason to linger. After exchanging contact information, he was about to leave, but as he brushed past Yu Zao, the latter suddenly extended his hand.

Quan Lushen quickly avoided the touch, casting a cold glance at Yu Zao. Embarrassed, Yu Zao explained, “I wasn’t… I just wanted to ask, when will I get the money?”

His question was timid, and as he spoke, his lips moved gently, revealing a glimpse of his pink tongue. His fingers fidgeted nervously with the hem of his shirt, his soft, pale fingertips pressing into the fabric.

The way he looked—expectant yet slightly innocent—made Quan Lushen frown slightly.

His assistant stepped in to explain, “By midnight tonight, the one-million deposit will be transferred. Mr. Quan is very busy. If you have any issues later, feel free to contact me.”

Yu Zao noticed that Quan Lushen seemed to glance at him but ultimately walked away.

Once inside the car, the assistant briefed Quan Lushen on the day’s work: “The situation with the young master of the Chi family isn’t too difficult to handle. Although he was involved in a fight, he hasn’t done anything else. In fact, he acted in self-defense… The only challenge lies in the people he encountered and the media coverage, but it’s manageable.”

“Chairman Quan and Madam seem to be considering revising their will, though there hasn’t been any concrete action—just inquiries with a lawyer. An hour ago, Madam called Young Master Chu, asking him to come home for dinner, but he refused. They may ask you to persuade him.”

Quan Lushen sat with his eyes closed, appearing to rest, but the assistant knew he wasn’t asleep.

“Send him another two million.”

“What?”

The assistant was startled, then said, “Understood. So, a total of three million? But that’s not in line with the contract.”

Quan Lushen: “The extra two million will come from me. Make sure he does a good job—I don’t want to be disappointed.”

Assistant: “Understood.”

Quan Lushen opened his eyes and gazed at the bustling city outside the window.

As night fell, neon lights lit up the streets of Jingzhou, casting a glow over the bustling crowds and towering skyscrapers, making the city seem like one giant money-making machine.

Money really does make the world go round, doesn’t it?

Some people are willing to do anything for money, even sell themselves.

Quan Lushen could still remember how Yu Zao, despite being terrified, pretended not to be. He widened his eyes as if trying to appear brave, much like a cat arching its back to seem bigger when facing a threat. It was a useless effort, meant only to deceive himself.

He was timid but a little foolish too. Say a few vague words, and he’d forget his fear, even starting to make demands.

Greedy, money-loving, and cunning. He had no hesitation signing the contract and then anxiously asked when the payment would be made, as if worried he’d back out.

He was full of flaws.

But still, he had that face…

---

A notification popped up on Yu Zao’s phone—3 million had been deposited.

Seeing the shocking amount, Yu Zao jumped out of the chair, his long lashes lifted, his face glowing with excitement, almost breathless from joy.

Yu Zao: “Villains are so rich!”

0927: “Well, he is the heir of a top conglomerate.”

“He seems to have a grudge against Chu Xi.”

0926 remained silent, making Yu Zao suspect that it was a plot detail he wasn’t allowed to know. Being a minor character, he had limited access to the storyline, leaving him to figure out the details on his own.

But Yu Zao didn’t care.

He hummed a little tune, pleased with himself: “The villain isn’t so smart after all.”

Even a supervillain like Quan Lushen couldn’t have expected to be outwitted, could he?

The relationship between Chu Xi and Yu Zao wasn’t that close anyway. Chu Xi’s obedient and caring behavior was just something he forced out of him. Quan Lushen, who hated Chu Xi, hadn’t done his research properly.

Love him? Chu Xi probably hated him.

Anyway, Yu Zao had already gathered enough Viciousness points. It was only a matter of time before he completed his task, and when the final calculation was done, even if he didn’t fully meet the contract’s demands, what could Quan Lushen do? He couldn’t chase him into another world.

Yu Zao grinned at his own cleverness. He was so smart!

There was no one else in the room, so Yu Zao sat cross-legged, hugging his knees and resting his cheek on his arm. His legs were curled up, with his heels on the soft, carpeted chair. His toes, illuminated by the light, looked smooth and translucent, like freshly washed seashells, glowing with a pearly sheen.

“I bet they’re either swapped heirs or one is a legitimate child while the other’s illegitimate… Quan Lushen must want to destroy Chu Xi because he’s afraid he’ll steal his inheritance. Am I right?”

0926: “They’re full-blooded brothers.”

Oh. Well, Yu Zao had guessed wrong, but it didn’t matter.

Yu Zao, feeling relaxed, even muttered that Quan Lushen wasn’t very smart—just giving away so much money, easily being played. This big villain wasn’t nearly as capable as he would be.

0926: “…”

Yu Zao conveniently forgot how he nearly wet himself when Quan Lushen suddenly lashed out at him earlier.

Yu Zao protested: “I didn’t almost wet myself!”

Then, somewhat embarrassed, added, “Though, I do kinda need to use the bathroom now…”

When things were tense, he hadn’t felt anything, but now that he was relaxed, the urge to go hit him.

Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Startled, he turned around quickly, causing the young man who had just arrived to pause for a moment.

[This is the second major villain of the story, Chi Xingge. The only son of the Chi family, with a life of excessive privilege, he particularly enjoys creating trouble and disruption for excitement.]

Yu Zao: “…”

This villain seemed pretty annoying.

“Scared?”

Chi Xingge stood with one hand in his pocket, his sharp jawline accentuating his already fierce features.

“With such a small amount of courage, how dare you work with someone like Quan Lushen?”

Yu Zao remained in his curled-up position, glancing over. Chi Xingge leaned over, bending down as he said, “Aren’t you afraid he’ll kill you?”

Because of his curled-up position, Yu Zao’s outfit revealed a lot of his pale skin, his legs gleaming white, like freshly poured milk.

He looked over slowly, his slightly upturned eyes filled with confusion. His cheek, resting on his arm, was slightly red from the pressure, making him resemble a sleepy rabbit warming itself by the fire, suddenly startled, with a pink nose.

His phone screen was still on, and Chi Xingge caught a glimpse of the 3 million deposit notification, raising an eyebrow. Quite generous, giving away 3 million just like that.

Chi Xingge scoffed: “I hate show-offs.”

Yu Zao: “…”

Sure, Quan Lushen was arrogant, but you’re not much better… Not that Yu Zao dared to say this out loud, so he just kept it to himself.

“Hey, say something. Do I seem that scary?”

Yu Zao pressed his lips together, staying silent. Chi Xingge didn’t mind and leaned in even closer. “Wouldn’t you like to step on Quan Lushen and make him lick your feet?”

Yu Zao: “…No, I don’t.”

“Why not? Don’t you think it’d be thrilling?” Just imagining it, Chi Xingge was already excited. “He made you seduce Chu Xi… Oh, maybe you don’t know this, but Chu Xi and Quan Lushen are actually brothers. Imagine this—using your looks to tear them apart and then—”

“Brothers fighting over you, two men who once looked down on you now desperate to please you. Even spitting on them would make them kneel for more.”

“Wow, you’re truly wicked.”

Yu Zao: “…”

Who’s the wicked one here?!

Chi Xingge truly lived up to his role as a villain. He wasn’t just bad like Quan Lushen; he was a perverted, over-imaginative villain.

“Why not team up with me?” Chi Xingge suggested. “Whatever he’s offering you, I’ll double it.”

His tone became more malicious.

“Let’s pit the brothers against each other, treat them like dogs.”