A Delicate Beauty Holding a Villain’s Script - Chapter 38

“Miss Gleipnir, we have arrived at Deli Town.”

The brain, still in a light slumber, had not yet fully powered on. Amidst the muddle, a human voice drifted from not far away, falling straight into his eardrums and shattering his fragmented dreams.

His thick, slightly upturned eyelashes trembled as if startled, like butterflies landing on eyelids. A moment later, his thin eyelids lifted, revealing a pair of clear, bright eyes like autumn waters.

the owner of those eyes blinked, extinguishing the tiny glimmers of moisture within them, and slowly surveyed his surroundings.

This was a four-horse carriage. Its interior was draped in smooth, beautiful silk, and the gold-inlaid, jewel-encrusted windows were covered by a curtain of white crepe that swayed lightly with the carriage’s motion. Those outsides could not see in, yet through that light gauze, they could catch a hazy glimpse of the delicate guest within, imbuing the scene with an elegant, poetic quality.

The carriage body was spacious and comfortable, with four exquisitely carved wheels, and the golden sculpted skirts at the horses’ tails were dazzling. The horses were robust, their nostrils puffing out mist; as they ran, their manes flew, and their eyes revealed lively colors.

Coming to his senses, the person lifted the gauze and looked out. What met his eyes was an endless, greyish plain. Dark clouds hung low on the horizon, merging with the skyline at the end of his vision.

The rumbling sound of the carriage slid past his ears like a ribbon as it traveled along the dirt road. The wheels occasionally crushed puddles, shattering the reflections of the fallen autumn grass by the roadside.

Li Rangnian lay back lazily, tilting his head against the cushion, feeling drowsy. In the next second, he sat up in shock: “What?! Miss what?”

Only then did he realize he was wearing women’s clothing again, A typical medieval Western European aristocratic style, renowned for its luxury, extravagance, and exquisite details. The gorgeously embroidered gown was floor-length with layered fabric, partially exposing his soft chest. The corset clung tightly to his body, outlining his undulating curves and cinching his waist into a slender “handful,” making the wide, fluffy skirt spread out like a bouquet.

His long hair reached his waist, requiring little decoration; only two strands of hair at the back were interwoven, with a vibrant rose clipped to the side. Two pieces of black gauze veiled the upper half of his face.

A black silk ribbon was tied across his brow, from which hung a blue, shimmering gemstone. His unadorned face displayed a natural, God-given beauty, making his features appear even more delicate and three-dimensional, while his deep black pupils reflected an enchanting light.

Gloves made of high-quality leather wrapped his pristine, jade-like hands black and white interwoven, a strong color contrast that struck the eye. The sleeves were extremely short, revealing snow-white arms that were well-proportioned, bringing to mind beautiful descriptions like lilies.

Perhaps because of the previous world, Li Rangnian was accustomed to wearing women’s clothes. He reached under his skirt with some difficulty, then let out a sigh of relief. “Fortunately, the ‘equipment’ is still there.”

[……] Looking at the host, who remained aesthetically pleasing even while performing such an action, 051 swallowed its electronic saliva and said dutifully, [Host, I am now beginning to transmit the new plot.]

As it turned out, the space Li Rangnian occupied now was not real; it was a game world. In the real world, a certain game software had mysteriously appeared on people’s phones. From that day on, these people were given the identity of “players” and were required to periodically enter virtual game worlds to clear levels.

So-called “clearing” meant players entered a “dungeon,” played an assigned role, advanced the plot, and found clues to escape. Many uncontrollable factors would appear during the process: horror legends, man-eating zombies, bizarre ghosts, and killers who delighted in slaughter… These things were collectively known as “Specters.” Constrained by the game rules, they watched the players with predatory intent.

Players, as the disadvantaged party, could obtain talents and items during the process. These two types of skills could also be exchanged using game coins earned from successful clears to combat the Specters.

As the game spread, more and more people became players, and they soon established a new order in the game world; guilds appeared at this time. Furthermore, since game coins could be exchanged for real-world currency, clearing levels became a means of seeking exorbitant profits. Countless players schemed, cheated, and betrayed one another for profit; the drama of burning bridges had been played to death.

The Protagonist Bottom (Shou), Bai Jin, entered the game world due to an accident. Because he was bold yet cautious, intelligent and kind, he hacked through thorns and brambles, soon setting clearing records and becoming an undisputed tycoon.

Bai Jin’s “Saint” aura shone upon everyone, and it also moved the heart of the script’s boss, the Protagonist Top (Gong), Yue Zhihan. In one performance after another, the dark and crazed boss fell in love with the pure and beautiful Protagonist Bottom, eventually choosing to destroy the game world and release him back to reality.

The Protagonist Bottom also founded a guild, attracting many players; the most outstanding among them became his loyal partners in the later stages.

The Villain, Li Rangnian, was one of the players who joined the guild. On the surface, he acted like a brother to the Protagonist Bottom, but in reality, he was selfish, sought profit, and was terrified of death. Every time the guild went on a mission, he would make excuses; inside dungeons, he lived a cowardly existence, dragging his teammates down.

The world Li Rangnian was in now was the first dungeon the Villain and the Protagonist Bottom experienced together: 【The Rose Funeral】.

“What should I do, System? I’ve never been in an infinite-flow world.” The beauty bit his lip, his expression helpless.

051 landed in his soft palm: [Don’t worry, Host. Just stay close to the Protagonist Bottom and you’ll be fine until the grand finale.]

Though called a “town,” they hadn’t seen a single house along the way. After an unknown amount of time, the unchanging scenery began to shift. Outside the carriage was no longer a deserted plain; a continuous, dense, and straight birch forest appeared.

The air was filled with the unique scent of birch trees. The trees and the ground were covered in crystal-clear frost, and every living thing shivered in the cold wind.

The dirt road turned into a smooth stone path paved with rounded pebbles, stretching far into the distance, where a silent, magnificent manor appeared before his eyes.

The carriage driver who had spoken earlier raised his whip; the afterimage exploded with a crack in mid-air. The horses galloped forward even more valiantly.

Before long, the carriage stopped at the manor’s main gate. The driver was the first to disembark, bowing deeply and respectfully: “Miss Gleipnir, please disembark.”

The black-haired, black-eyed Eastern beauty reached out a delicate, jade-like hand to lift the magnificent curtain, while the other hand held up the fluffy skirt. Those jade feet beneath the skirt tapped lightly on the step, and he descended to the ground with a posture as light as a bird.

“Thank you, Mr. Carriage Driver.” The beauty held the edges of the skirt with both hands, curtsied slightly, bowed his head, and performed a standard thank-you gesture.

“No, please do not do that.” The bowing driver looked up, revealing a typical Western face with wrinkles weathered by time. He murmured, not daring to look at him, then climbed back onto the carriage, tugged the reins, turned around, and left.

Li Rangnian stood in place, surveying the manor. Grey walls protected the buildings, with countless dead vines entwined upon them, crisscrossing like poisonous snakes baring their fangs. The iron gate before him towered high, its iron bars tipped with sharp points; a crow perched atop one, its red eyes staring unblinkingly at the person below.

A rusted padlock hung on the gate before him; Li Rangnian touched it lightly and found it was not locked.

Should I go in… Just as he was thinking, the rumbling of wheels and the whinnying of horses came from behind. He turned his head and saw several carriages approaching from a distance.

[The Protagonist Bottom and the others are here!] 051 reported in real-time.

The carriages the others rode in were far inferior to Li Rangnian’s; the interiors lacked soft, comfortable cushions, having only hard wooden boards. Some players were pale and exhausted as they disembarked, clearly having suffered through the bumpy ride.

Among these people, Li Rangnian spotted the Protagonist Bottom at a glance. His clothing was based on black and white, with tight, wide sleeves, and he wore a white lace square scarf and shirt underneath. His gorgeously embroidered black coat was knee-length, with only a few buttons of the single-breasted row fastened. A pure black belt cinched his waist, revealing a sense of casual ease.

Crimson cross-patterned knight boots reached above his knees, matching well with his black trousers and outlining the smooth lines of his legs.

The Protagonist Bottom’s appearance unexpectedly suited Li Rangnian’s aesthetic. His brow ridges were high, his nose was straight, and his eyes were deep. His profile was as sharp as a sculpture, and his natural “smiling lips” softened that coldness, making him look mysteriously approachable.

At this moment, he had just stepped down from the carriage and was looking down, unhurriedly putting on white gloves. His movements looked elegant and proper, like an aristocratic young master who had traveled through time.

The other was also very keen; sensing Li Rangnian’s inconspicuous gaze, he suddenly looked up. His light brown pupils shrank into vertical slits, like a large predatory animal.

Upon catching sight of the beauty’s hazy, enchanting face, even the Protagonist Bottom—who was used to great storms—was momentarily stunned. His gaze surveyed this “delicate flower” without any specific intent, followed by a praise in his heart: Truly beautiful.

The beauty, just by standing there, gave off an aesthetic of a “fragile willow in the wind.” The black veil obscured part of his face, but the features glimpsed through it were enchanting and lovely.

His lips were crimson, his skin was as white as snow, and the blooming skirt made his body appear exceptionally well-proportioned and slender. He had everything he should. Especially that thin section of waist—one simply could not look away.

The crowd was clearly stunned by his beauty as well. After a collective moment of silence, someone spoke up: “Cough, that… how about we introduce ourselves?”

The speaker was a young man, also in aristocratic male attire, with a sunny and cheerful appearance. He was the first to approach, reaching out a hand to Li Rangnian with a smile that revealed small canine teeth: “Hello, my name is Lin Zhousheng.”

“My name is Li Rangnian.” The beauty returned the handshake. The temperature of the other’s palm was very high and had thin calluses; the contact felt like an electric current, causing Li Rangnian to subconsciously curl his fingers, his fingertips accidentally brushing against the back of the other’s hand.

Lin Zhousheng naturally felt that slight itch. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on their joined hands, the emotions in his eyes unclear.

“…My apologies.” Li Rangnian immediately let go and withdrew his hand; predictably, his delicate palm had already been rubbed red.

The other replied with a smile: “It’s quite alright.” In reality, he was still savoring that delicate texture, while acting as if nothing had happened on the surface.

The others also introduced themselves, and finally, it was the Protagonist Bottom’s turn. He scanned the surroundings, quickly memorizing everyone’s face and name, pausing for half a second longer on the beauty specifically, before giving a slight smile: “I am Bai Jin. Please take care of me.”

This is currently the early stage of the plot; the Protagonist Bottom has not yet become a tycoon. The Villain needs to constantly curry favor during the clearing process, successfully clinging to the Protagonist Bottom’s “thigh,” thereby gaining the opportunity to join the guild he would found later.

Caw— Just as everyone was becoming familiar with one another, the padlock fell to the ground with a crisp sound. The crow was also startled into flight, its eerie cry echoing for a long time.

The players followed the sound and saw a middle-aged man standing at the gate at an unknown time. He had blue eyes, blonde hair, and wore a well-tailored tuxedo with a beautiful bow tie at his chest.

He was like a shadow, appearing silently at the gate with a smile on his face, his voice hoarse: “Honored guests who have traveled from afar, I welcome you on behalf of the Duke. I thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend the Duke’s wedding. Now, guests, please come inside.”

Having spoken, the Butler bowed, his arm pointing toward the manor entrance.

The players looked at one another and entered the manor quietly. Once inside, they found the path lined with roses; though it was frosty outside, the flowers here were blooming perfectly, looking vivid and succulent.

Pushing open the heavy doors, golden light poured across the floor instantly, filling the room with golden splendor. There was a dazzling crystal chandelier on the ceiling, and in the dining room sat a long mahogany table decorated with many lit red candles, their light and shadows interlacing. Niches were carved into the walls, decorated with wall lamps.

In the living room, the fireplace burned brightly, the flames flickering, making it as warm as spring. The spiral staircase was covered with a hand-knitted carpet with a magnificent pattern; it rose in a spiral, and looking up, there were as many as dozens of rooms on each floor.

Portraits from different eras hung on the walls of the hallway, depicting the successive masters of this manor. Meanwhile, the walls on the ground floor were carved with exquisite reliefs.

The aroma of food floated in the air, enticing the hunger in the guests’ stomachs.

“Guests, please dine first. It would be quite impolite to have you tour the manor on an empty stomach.” The Butler led the players through the living room to the dining room. Standing by the table, he turned back to signal them to sit.

There were ten players in total. This mahogany table was very long, with eleven seats; except for the master’s seat at the very front, the other seats were symmetrically distributed.

The mahogany chairs emitted a woody fragrance. The table was also draped with a magnificent tablecloth, and a lamp was placed before each person’s seat, the candles burning silently with red candle tears rolling down.

Food was piled on pristine plates common dishes found on Western tables—and the knives and forks reflected cold light under the illumination.

Li Rangnian stole a glance; the food at each seat was different. Some had sandwiches and coffee, while others had desserts and fruit wine… it was a dazzling array.

The other players noticed this too, and their expressions changed, not daring to sit down easily.

It was at this moment that a blue projection appeared before everyone’s eyes, displaying the respective identities the players were to play line by line.

This was a prompt from the game; others could not see anyone else’s content.

【Li Rangnian, playing Miss Gleipnir, an actress invited to attend the Duke’s wedding. 】

An actress? Li Rangnian looked up to observe the crowd and found their gazes were focused on the air; it seemed everyone was checking their identities.