Having Played the Villain for Ten Years, I Came Back - Chapter 16

Wen Linyu took a leave of absence from school. He didn’t return; after just one day, he had reached his breaking point.

He had long since mastered the curriculum. He had only attended classes initially because he had no specific goals and simply wanted a normal life. But now, “normal” was clearly off the table.

Linyu, who planned to return only for exams, was unaware that strange rumors had already begun to swirl in his absence whispers that he had been targeted by something supernatural.

Given that four students who had crossed him were now hospitalized and his roommates had witnessed “impossible” things, combined with his sudden personality shift, the rumors gained massive traction.

In a school, ghost stories were common, but this particular tale reached the ears of the Wu family and Wen Hongbo’s couple.

Wu Shuhao’s fever had finally broken, but no matter how many prestigious Masters they hired, they couldn’t retrieve his missing soul. Though he had been discharged, he was now prone to extreme fits of rage, frequently turning violent against his own family.

In just a few days, the Wu parents seemed to have aged years. They were a mess of grief, anger, and hatred—grieving for their son’s future, angry that he had gone to such a place, and hating Wen Linyu for not being the one to suffer. In their minds, if Linyu had been with their son, the ghosts would have surely taken the “disposable” one instead!

Looking for an outlet for their mounting negativity and wanting to know exactly what happened that night, the Wu couple began calling Wen Linyu to demand a meeting.

The phone rang, but no one answered. This continued through several attempts.

He actually dares to ignore our calls? the Wu parents thought. The brat has grown some wings! Just wait until we find him; he’s going to pay for this!

Meanwhile, Wen Hongbo and Lin Wanxiu were also trying to call him, met with the same silence. They had received the butler’s report that Linyu had suddenly moved out and planned to travel far away. A long trip? How can we allow that!

With their health failing, the thought of Linyu fleeing made them paranoid. Did he know something? Moreover, the men they sent two nights ago had collapsed before even reaching his door, blocked by some unknown force.

They were certain Linyu was trying to escape. They were frantic, but they took comfort in the fact that, as his parents, finding him wouldn’t be truly difficult.

Wen Linyu wasn’t ignoring them out of spite—though he did need more people for his “get rich quick” plan—he was simply busy.

In a small town over a hundred kilometers from City A, inside the bathroom of a modest inn, the glass door was covered in steam and messy, wet palm prints.

Wen Linyu bit his lip in frustration, his hands forced against the glass for support.

“Good boy. Now the other leg.” Gu Chi was covered in soap suds, his eyes sparkling with a light that bordered on pure mischief.

He reached out to lift Linyu’s other calf. Wen Linyu closed his eyes, prepared to submit, but couldn’t help stealing a glance downward.

Gu Chi was half-kneeling before him with his sleeves rolled up, his clothes and trousers soaked by the hot water. He had decided on a whim to bathe Linyu and had forbidden the boy from helping.

The angle was… extremely compromising.

At that moment, Gu Chi looked up at him.

Wen Linyu instinctively kicked out. Gu Chi could have easily dodged such a clumsy strike, but instead, he took the hit and used the momentum to seize Linyu’s ankle.

“Let go!” Wen Linyu snapped, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Gu Chi didn’t let go. Instead, he gripped it tighter and leaned in with a mix of curiosity and desire.

Wen Linyu froze. Realizing what Gu Chi intended, he began to struggle. “You. let me go!”

But the hands holding his ankle were like iron. The moment the words left his mouth, a warm sensation pressed against his skin. Linyu’s face turned bright red as he snarled, “Filthy!”

Gu Chi only offered a confused blink in response. ?

How is kissing his foot ‘filthy’?

People kiss and rub cat paws all the time, even burying their faces in a cat’s belly. Why isn’t that called filthy?

Besides, his disciple’s feet were very white, soft, and smelled quite nice.

In truth, Gu Chi had only thought of bathing Wen Linyu because he had been bored on the road and watched a few videos of people washing their pets. He thought the cats and dogs were average, but he loved the lazy, pampered expressions they made afterward.

He wanted to see that same expression on Wen Linyu’s face, so he tried it.

The result wasn’t what he expected, but the sight of his “disciple-cat” flaring up in shame was just as adorable.

In the past, people called Gu Chi ruthless and unpredictable. Now that Wen Linyu kept calling him a “pervert,” he realized he actually was one.

If anyone else had dared to kick him, they’d be dead a hundred times over. But when Linyu did it, he only found it charming.

The Great Villain accepted his new character setting with joy. He was even considering whether he should actually turn Linyu into a cat for a few days—not completely, just with the ears and a tail.

“Oh my! Why are you rewarding him?!” Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out in Wen Linyu’s mind.

“System?!” Linyu was startled, then cried out in surprise and joy.

“Hehe, it’s me!” 998 had received its settlement bonus and was now incredibly wealthy. It was currently on a “vacation” and could have gone anywhere, but after some thought, it had hopped over to Wen Linyu’s world.

After ten years of being a slave, it wanted to see the Great Demon Lord’s downfall with its own eyes!

One look, and it was delighted. This arrogant Demon Lord actually hadn’t told Linyu that he was the one who had taught him for ten years, and he was even playing the “forced obsession” trope.

Although 998’s view was full of censored mosaics, it was a veteran System. It could tell that Wen Linyu had just kicked Gu Chi. To the current Gu Chi, that wasn’t a beating—it was a treat!

Tsk, tsk. The Demon Lord’s pathetic behavior really should be recorded and shared with all his subordinates.

The System began munching on cyber-seeds while chatting with Linyu.

With 998’s presence, Linyu’s mood improved. As for the bath, Gu Chi was actually just bathing him; aside from that sudden kiss, he hadn’t done anything else.

Linyu didn’t care to wonder why the man was holding back; he had more important questions for the System.

“System.  is Teacher doing okay?” Linyu asked directly.

998’s feathered face lit up with amusement. It glanced at Gu Chi, who was staring at Linyu like a total creep, and giggled. “Him? Oh, he’s doing just fine!”

“I see. That’s good.” Linyu smiled softly, then asked hesitantly, “Did… did Teacher ever mention me?”

998 couldn’t handle Linyu’s soft tone. It felt like its circuits were melting. It truly didn’t have the heart to say no. “Yes, yes. He… he misses you very much too.”

Wen Linyu didn’t doubt the answer for a second. His eyes looked like flowers coming into bloom. “Really?”

Watching Linyu’s eyes light up, 998 felt a pang of guilt. I’m supposed to be getting revenge on the Demon Lord, so why is the host the one suffering?!

Gu Chi sensed Linyu’s improved mood. He was currently helping Linyu into a bathrobe, assuming his bathing skills had finally won the boy over. His voice was laced with a rare smile: “What, do you like it when I wash you? That happy?”

After all, Wen Linyu was the first person Gu Chi had ever served personally.

However, the moment he spoke, the smile on Linyu’s face vanished, replaced by a wall of ice.

The System’s seed-munching slowed down, its beady eyes shining. It felt like Linyu was about to say, “Who do you think you are? You’re not worthy.” Ooh, yes, give it to him! So satisfying!

Look at that! The Demon Lord can’t act smug anymore, hahahaha!

The System immediately abandoned the idea of telling the truth, bursting into a fit of internal laughter.

Linyu didn’t say those words, but his eyes said them for him. Gu Chi’s smile faded, and he let out a frustrated “Tsk.”

He took back what he said about Linyu being cute no matter what. Looking at him with such disgust wasn’t cute at all.

Linyu stopped talking to Gu Chi. His goal in coming to this small town was to find a quiet place to cultivate so he could one day escape. But now, Option Two had appeared.

Linyu asked 998: “System, why did Gu Chi come here? Can you send him back?”

If I send him back, you’ll be the one crying once you find out who he is, baby. The System put down its seeds. Being the only one who knew the truth was a lonely burden.

It made up an excuse: “I can’t beat him, so I can’t force him back.” It wasn’t entirely a lie; it was the truth.

Wen Linyu went silent but didn’t give up. He asked, “Then, can you help me find techniques to increase my cultivation quickly?”

“Uh…” 998 understood what he wanted. It advised, “Honey, you could cultivate for eight hundred years and still not beat him. It’s useless.” “But—”

998 revealed a devious smile. “But you can play him!”

“Look, he’s interested in you. Pretend to be obedient, and once he’s hopelessly in love with you, dump him ruthlessly! Hohohoho…”

The thought was intoxicating!

Wen Linyu: “…”

He rejected the proposal. Even though the System insisted Gu Chi was a villain and deserved to be messed with, Linyu still didn’t want to toy with someone’s feelings.

Hearing the rejection, the System’s heart melted again. Waaaaah, my host. After ten years as a villain, his essence hasn’t changed.

Gu Chi, what did you ever do to deserve him!

Even though the System hadn’t offered any useful advice, Linyu was still happy it was there. At least he had a friend to talk to.

“By the way, System, I left in such a hurry I didn’t thank you for the cultivation reward. Thank you for that,” Linyu said.

998 froze, its seeds forgotten. “Huh? That wasn’t me.”

It had been in such a rush to escape that it had forgotten to pay Linyu his salary. Feeling guilty, it immediately opened the System Shop with a flap of its wings. “Host, I actually came here to pay you! Come, come, pick whatever you like!”

Wen Linyu was still processing 998’s answer.

If the cultivation wasn’t from the System… then who?

Teacher? No, Teacher only taught him. Could it be… Gu Chi?

Snapping back to reality, Linyu saw the shop the System had opened:

Jade Skin & Translucent Bones.

 Bedroom Eyes.

Soul-Seducing Charm.

 A Night of Spring Dreams.

Body Fluid Growth Tonic.

 Ultimate Ecstasy…

What are these things? Is this System even legitimate?!

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