Do Villains Have to Be Heartthrobs Too? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 5

He had an extraordinarily pure face.

Yun Zhixue was puzzled: “Selfie? Carefully prepared?”

The System encouraged him: “Yes! Just like the original host used to do. Wear the prettiest dress, apply the most delicate makeup, strike the most alluring pose, take a photo, and send it to him! Then, say something ambiguous, such as, ‘Brother Qi Qian, do I look pretty?’ or ‘Did you miss me?'”

Yun Zhixue imagined the scene, and his cheeks slowly turned pink.

He asked in a low voice: “Is this really necessary?” He found this even more difficult than poking someone’s chest or kicking their shins during the day.

“It is mandatory!” the System said firmly. “This is the key to maintaining the persona. Besides, this task is simple. You do not have to face him, you will not get hit, and you just need to send a photo and say a few words. Xiao Xue, think about the soufflé! Think about all the delicious food and comfortable days ahead! For the sake of the KPI, go for it!”

Mentioning the soufflé made Yun Zhixue purse his lips. The temptation of delicious food was enormous, and the System was right; at least this task would not result in any pain.

Yun Zhixue hesitated again: “But I do not know how to apply makeup. What should I do?”

The System took full responsibility: “That is simple! I will guide you, and you will follow. Such a trivial matter as makeup is nothing. Now, walk over to the vanity, sit on the stool, and take the round brown bottle from the second shelf on the left. That is the tone-up cream. Squeeze a little out and spread it evenly on your face.”

Following the System’s instructions, Yun Zhixue walked to the vanity. Looking at the unfamiliar cosmetics, he felt a bit helpless, but fortunately, the System was very detailed. He picked up the tone-up cream, twisted off the cap, and squeezed out a bit of the cream.

As instructed, he applied a small amount to the left side of his face and slowly began to blend it in.

Yun Zhixue’s complexion was a translucent white—snow-white skin. Under the lights, it even had a delicate, pearlescent shimmer. But once he applied the tone-up cream, it looked like a layer of grayish-white plaster. The more the System looked at it, the more wrong it seemed.

Why is it not having the desired effect?

The System cried out: “Xiao Xue, go to the bathroom, squeeze a dollop from that pink bottle, then wipe this off. Let me do some more research on how to apply makeup.” It muttered to itself inwardly, Makeup is really a discipline in itself; it is so troublesome.

Yun Zhixue looked in the mirror. He could not tell the difference and thought it looked fine. He did not understand why the System was making such a fuss, but as he was obedient when it came to things he did not understand, he just did as he was told.

After the System wandered through the vast knowledge of the internet, it felt it had achieved mastery.

Just as it was about to make a grand entrance, it saw the host sitting cross-legged on the bed, his head bobbing up and down. With every nod, his long hair swayed. He was struggling to keep his eyes open, but then he let out a yawn, his eyes moistening and his eyelashes damp with tears, like a butterfly with wet wings. He was clearly exhausted.

Looking at him from the side, with his chubby cheeks and long, long eyelashes, he looked exactly like an exhausted baby.

The System was suddenly jolted awake!

It remembered Article 378 of the Employee Handbook: Some hosts are masters of deception, not even sparing their own Systems! Do not underestimate these tiny humans. Some possess an incredibly pure face while harboring cunning schemes deep inside! I, the seasoned ‘Cannon Fodder Counterattack System No. 666,’ must not drop my guard!

“Host, stay focused! The task is not finished yet!” the System shouted in Yun Zhixue’s mind, coldly changing the way it addressed him.

Yun Zhixue was startled. He rubbed his eyes in confusion, his voice slurred with sleepiness: “System, I want to sleep.”

“No! The photo! Send the photo to Qi Qian!” the System said ruthlessly. “Think about the penalty for task failure! Think about days without soufflés! Without delicious food!”

Thinking of that fluffy, sweet taste, Yun Zhixue mustered a bit of energy for the sake of the soufflé and the food. He wobbled off the bed and walked to the vanity according to the System’s directions.

Then, opening his eyes hazily, he listened to the System, picked up a lipstick, dabbed a bit on his soft, pink lips, and pressed them together to blend.

Watching its host press his lips together—making the beautiful cupid’s bow look round and plump, appearing sweet and tempting—the System felt a sense of, I knew it.

It knew this host had a stunningly pure face, big eyes, curled lashes, and tender lips, and was obedient and cute. He must be trying to curry favor with the System to take a shortcut.

Fortunately, it was a modern-day master detective System; it saw through this tiny human’s malicious intent at a glance and would definitely not let him succeed.

Yun Zhixue did not know the System had labeled him a scheming person trying to take a shortcut; he only knew the System had suddenly stopped talking.

He asked in confusion: “System, what now? How do I take the photo?”

The System was internally pleased by the sweet, innocent behavior of this tiny human, but then it grew furious again.

This tiny human is indeed cunning.

“Ahem,” it cleared its non-existent throat. “The effect is not bad. Come now, find a place with good light and lean against the headboard. Yes, just like that. Move your hair to one side to expose your neck and shoulders. Your eyes! Your eyes need to be hazy, with a touch of seduction!”

Yun Zhixue tried hard to understand “hazy” and “seduction.” He blinked in confusion, then tried to narrow his eyes slightly, his lips subconsciously pursed. He just ended up looking even more exhausted.

“Forget it,” the System gave up on instructing his expression. “This is fine too; the point is the dress. Now, pick up the phone—it is on the nightstand—and take a selfie! Remember to include your face, but focus on the pink nightdress and how you look right now!”

Yun Zhixue picked up the original host’s phone—a latest-model smartphone embedded with tiny diamonds, which matched the original host’s aesthetic. He clumsily opened the camera, switched to the front lens, and adjusted the angle according to the System’s instructions.

Click, click. He took several shots.

“Pick the best one!” the System urged.

Yun Zhixue looked down at the photos. He checked them and felt they were not particularly great. The clothes were nice, and he looked fine, but his expression was a bit strange. However, since the System said it was okay, then it must be.

“Alright, now open WeChat and find Qi Qian’s chat window!” the System continued to issue commands.

Yun Zhixue opened WeChat. The original host had many contacts, but only one was pinned—Qi Qian. The profile picture was pure black, and the nickname was “Brother Qi Qian (Heart),” followed by a red heart emoji.

Opening the chat history, it was almost entirely a one-sided bombardment from the original host: selfies from various angles, some even more explicit, and all sorts of affected, dramatic texts. Qi Qian’s replies were few and far between, extremely concise and cold, usually things like “Get lost,” “Disgusting,” or “Send another one and I will block you.”

The latest message was from three days ago. The original host had sent a photo in a maid outfit, and Qi Qian had replied with one word: “Ugly.”

Looking at the word “Ugly,” Yun Zhixue subconsciously pursed his lips. Although he knew it was not meant for him, he still felt a little unhappy. His old companions always said he looked good in everything—actually, super good.

He felt a tiny bit of resentment: This person has no taste.

“Ignore the history!” the System interrupted his thoughts. “Send the photo you just took! And add the caption. Let me see, just send, ‘Brother Qi Qian, do you like the new nightdress I bought? Do you like it?'”

The System watched its yawning host.

“Or you can just copy and paste a block of text in front of it.”

Yun Zhixue followed the instructions. He selected the photo where he was leaning against the headboard with sleepy eyes and pasted the text. His finger hovered over the send button, but he could not bring himself to press it.

He felt that this was not very good. It felt like disturbing someone’s rest. Besides, Brother Qi Qian really seemed to hate receiving these kinds of photos.

“Host! Send it quickly! You can sleep as soon as you send it!” The System was anxious. Its points, its KPI, its skin packages.

Facing the System’s urging, Yun Zhixue muttered to himself that this was work—just part of the job. He closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and pressed send.

Almost the moment the message showed “Delivered,” Yun Zhixue quickly shoved the phone under his pillow as if it were a hot potato. He pulled the blanket tightly around himself, leaving only half his head and his big eyes exposed, waiting anxiously.

“System, is that enough?” he asked in a low voice.

“Yes! Sent successfully! Task half-finished! Now wait for his reply, or even if he does not reply, it is fine. As long as he sees it, the ‘disgust value’ should theoretically increase!” The System sighed in relief. “You sleep first, Host. I will call you if there is a reaction.”

The System thought to itself that the host had been doing a great job and was so obedient. If the task failed, it could only be blamed on that Qi Qian guy.

Yun Zhixue nodded, shrinking into the blankets. Wearing that thin nightdress was a bit cold, and the warmth under the blanket made his sleepiness surge again. He nuzzled into the soft pillow and soon fell fast asleep, his long eyelashes casting quiet shadows beneath his eyelids.

On the other side of the city, Qi Qian had just finished an overseas video conference. He rubbed his aching temples and took a sip of the cold black coffee beside him. The bitter liquid slid down his throat, clearing the fog in his brain caused by the long hours of work.

He picked up his private phone. The screen lit up with a few work notifications and irrelevant social media pushes. He swiped them away and was about to put it down when a small red “1” appeared on the WeChat icon.

It was from the contact he had set to “Do Not Disturb” but had forgotten to permanently block or delete—Yun Zhixue.

Qi Qian’s brows furrowed instantly, a flash of undisguised annoyance crossing his dark eyes. It was him again, like a lingering ghost.

He could almost imagine the nauseating image that would appear when he opened it: a face covered in thick makeup, a garish dress, and pretentious words. Just thinking about that androgynous look made a wave of physiological nausea rise in him.

He was about to swipe it away and pretend he had not seen it. But his fingertip hovered in mid-air. Somehow, the conversation he had overheard by chance in the evening replayed in his mind. That clean, soft, sweet voice with a hint of grievance was completely different from the affected, pretentious tone he remembered from Yun Zhixue.

Is he faking it? Or has he come up with a new trick?

Qi Qian’s gaze was cold, and his lips curled into a mocking arc. He wanted to see what new games were being played this time.

He opened the unread message.

The first thing that caught his eyes was a photo.

Qi Qian’s gaze froze.

The heavy makeup and exaggerated clothing he expected were not there. In the photo, the young man was wearing a pale pink silk nightdress, quietly leaning against the headboard. The warm yellow light of the bedroom enveloped him in a soft halo.

His skin was a clean, porcelain white. The collar was slightly open, revealing clear collarbones and a beautiful, fragile neckline. His dark hair was soft, and his eyes were hazy, as if he were extremely tired. The corners of his eyes and his cheeks were flushed a faint pink, and his lips were moist, full, and crimson—especially that full cupid’s bow.

It was pink, moist, and looked almost as if it had been bitten.

There was no deliberate posing, no uncomfortable, pretentious ornamentation. Because of the angle and the light, the photo exuded an undefended, almost purely soft quality.

It looked like a cat that had been washed until it smelled good, laying itself out waiting to be petted.

Qi Qian stared at the photo for a full ten seconds. The disgust and nausea he had anticipated did not surface. Instead, he felt an extremely strange sense of being stunned.

This is Yun Zhixue. He is too pure.

Then, he noticed the caption below.

“Brother Qi Qian, I cannot sleep. I miss you.”

Just one sentence. Changed his tactics, switched to playing hard to get.

However, Qi Qian found himself keeping the photo against his better judgment. After keeping it, he deleted and restored it several times before finally deciding to keep it.

This definitely is not because I have other thoughts, he convinced himself. It is just that everyone appreciates beauty.

Yes, that must be it. Qi Qian successfully persuaded himself.

Sunlight spilled into the courtyard, dancing over the layered flowerbeds, entering the room, and landing on Yun Zhixue’s clusters of eyelashes, casting shadows. Yun Zhixue frowned and turned over.

Then, a knock on the door sounded.

“Xiao Xue, get up. Time to wash up and eat.”

Yun Zhiqiu knocked and said. Although they were brothers, because Xiao Xue liked men and liked wearing dresses, even as a brother, there were boundaries to observe.

Yun Zhixue was dazed, thinking he was still in his original world. He did not understand why his friend was waking him up so early—did he want a morning kiss? His voice was a bit slurred.

“Come in.”

Yun Zhiqiu did not hear him; the room was soundproof, and it was just a mumble in his sleep.

He checked the time. It was 7:47. By the time he was done washing up, it would be almost 8:00. They would have to eat breakfast on the road. He cautiously pushed the door open.

Unlocked?

The original host had a habit of locking the door, but Yun Zhixue did not. His working hours were very free or, one could say, he worked year-round, as his companions sometimes came back late from work.

They would often come into Yun Zhixue’s room after showering to get a goodnight kiss. Most of the time, Yun Zhixue was sleeping soundly and did not even know where he had been kissed; he would only blush subconsciously, a faint red spreading across his body, along with some rustling sounds.

Yun Zhiqiu pushed the door open and saw Xiao Xue lying on his side on the bed—a small bundle. He walked in to wake him up and saw that Xiao Xue’s cheeks were bunched up from lying on his side, his lips slightly parted, his eyelashes drooping obediently, his sleeping face as tranquil as a little angel’s. Yun Zhiqiu’s heart instantly softened, and he could not bear to wake him up.

But he still leaned over and gently patted his brother’s shoulder, his voice very soft: “Xiao Xue, get up. You are going to be late.”

Yun Zhixue groaned from the touch and mumbled vaguely: “I know, I know.”

Then, he climbed up in a daze, gave a morning kiss, and rolled himself back into the quilt, mumbling:

“Is that enough? Go to work already.”

Yun Zhiqiu froze instantly. He had accidentally seen Xiao Xue’s snow-white skin, and what made his heart jump even more was…

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