Having Played the Villain for Ten Years, I Came Back - Chapter 22

Wen Linyu lay in bed—though, of course, he wasn’t asleep. He was utterly perplexed. Why had Teacher pushed him away?

Is he no longer interested in me? But he was clearly burning up. wasn’t he uncomfortable?

Thinking back, Teacher had been acting strange since the morning. Making him breakfast, waiting for him to come home, and not following him like a shadow when he went out.

Unless he had suddenly lost his mind—which was impossible what could be the reason?

Wen Linyu sat up, leaning against the headboard, and looked toward the other side of the bed. It was empty. After pushing him away, Gu Chi had fled the room so quickly it almost felt like a retreat in panic.

That behavior didn’t look like disgust or boredom. On the contrary, it looked like extreme self-restraint.

Linyu sat up straight. Looking at it from this angle, Teacher’s behavior all day had been that of a “gentle, virtuous, and considerate” partner who knew his boundaries—even if his execution was a bit clumsy.

Linyu’s heart skipped a beat with a spark of joy. Did Teacher do all of this for me?

But he quickly calmed himself. What if it was just another one of Teacher’s whims? Though, given the man’s personality, it seemed unlikely for him to have such a “hobby.”

As for other possibilities, Linyu couldn’t be certain. After refining his strategy in his mind, he lay back down and eventually fell asleep.

Gu Chi, meanwhile, didn’t return all night.

In reality, he hadn’t gone far. He had simply retreated into his spatial storage bag and submerged himself in the Cold Ice Spring. He didn’t know what had gotten into Wen Linyu today, but the mere memory of that scene made his blood boil as if he’d been poisoned. And the only antidote was to devour his little disciple whole.

His subconscious felt that such a “devouring” thought was dangerous; he didn’t want to hurt Wen Linyu. Coupled with the expert’s advice, he had chosen to leave.

The Cold Ice Spring was effective. After several hours, Gu Chi finally regained his composure.

Then, his brow furrowed. Recalling Wen Linyu’s eyes from earlier, they hadn’t held the initial disgust. He had a sudden, nagging feeling that he had been tricked and that he had missed out on something big.

Gu Chi pulled out his phone and messaged the expert. Once again, there was a fee.

Gu Chi paid promptly, but as the expert offered a staged, polite smile and thank you, Gu Chi added: “Promise me that everything you say is the truth. Otherwise, your life is mine.”

Behind the screen, the “expert” sneered silently. What an idiot, he thought. It’s just a verbal promise, isn’t it? He used a voice changer to disguise his voice as a gentle woman and gave Gu Chi a solemn promise.

Only after hearing this did Gu Chi continue discussing his progress with Linyu.

The expert was actually quite surprised. Based on the situation, the “idiot’s” disciple was clearly the one initiating the seduction. He couldn’t help but wonder—was the disciple fishing from the start? Did he already know who this “idiot” was, and the whole “coercion” act was just foreplay and roleplay? Only his client was stupid enough to believe it and feel guilty.

But the expert certainly wouldn’t say that. If he did, wouldn’t it contradict his original analysis?

So, the expert brushed Gu Chi off with a random excuse.

Gu Chi stared at the messages, falling into deep thought. Did Ayu only initiate things because he’s afraid of me? That doesn’t seem right.

He hadn’t sensed any fear from his little disciple.

Half-believing the expert, Gu Chi tucked his phone away. He had stayed out all night; surely the boy wouldn’t be angry, would he?

When Gu Chi returned, Wen Linyu was getting dressed. His clothes weren’t fully on yet, and Gu Chi caught a glimpse of his waist slowly being covered by fabric. With just that one look, Gu Chi felt that the Cold Ice Spring’s effects had been remarkably poor.

Reason told him to look away, but his body and heart disagreed. A voice in his ear seemed to coax him: It can’t be helped. It happened too fast, I didn’t have time to react. I’m just looking, and I’m standing so far away—it’s definitely fine.

Wen Linyu finished dressing and turned to see Gu Chi standing by the bed, his gaze still lingering on Linyu’s waist. Linyu lowered his eyes, a faint, imperceptible smile touching his lips. On the surface, he showed no reaction, simply looking away to pick out a watch.

Noticing Linyu moving, Gu Chi snapped back to reality. Before Linyu could ask, he took the initiative to explain: “I went out last night to handle some business.”

Wen Linyu adjusted his watch and gave a faint, “Oh.”

Gu Chi felt this reaction wasn’t right, so he added: “I didn’t go anywhere strange. Don’t be angry.”

Linyu looked up in surprise. This was unexpected—he hadn’t thought Teacher would explain himself or fear a misunderstanding.

Wen Linyu was genuinely happy, to the point where he couldn’t even maintain his poker face.

Seeing his softened expression, Gu Chi also breathed a sigh of relief. If this were the past, he would never have believed that he’d one day be explaining his whereabouts to anyone, let alone doing so simply because he was afraid the other person might be angry at his sudden absence.

Once they were both ready, Linyu and Gu Chi headed downstairs.

There was a stranger at the breakfast table today. Lin Wanxiu announced that this was a teacher she had hired for Wen Linyu.

A teacher?

At that word, both Wen Linyu and Gu Chi’s gazes locked onto the new arrival.

Linyu, who had been in a good mood, immediately turned icy. Gu Chi’s expression was far more intense—his gaze was practically murderous.

The new “teacher,” who had planned to act arrogant to intimidate the boy, suddenly felt a cold sweat break out on his back. He gave a stiff smile and introduced himself, but in his heart, he was already planning his escape.

He wasn’t actually an etiquette teacher; he was a disciple of the Occult Master, hired by the Wens specifically to deal with a “problem.”

But no one had told him the problem was this big and that there were two of them!

Lin Wanxiu’s heart skipped a beat. Why is the Master’s disciple making that face? Is Wen Linyu that difficult to handle?

This was not good news for them. The moment Lin Wanxiu thought of being dragged into that room by Linyu, she felt as if cold, grey, deathly hands were squeezing her throat. She shivered, not daring to remember more.

No, I must eliminate this nightmare!

However, the moment her gaze landed on Wen Linyu, her eyes suddenly felt a sharp, piercing pain. Lin Wanxiu let out a agonizing shriek, clutching her face. The pain was intense, thick, and oily—filled with a thousand years of malice and darkness, wrapping around her and swallowing her whole.

Incoherent whispers and curses rang in her ears. Countless people seemed to be talking; she couldn’t hear them—no, she could hear them.

Why don’t you just die? You’re a waste! Disgusting! You deserve to live in a filthy place like that.

It wasn’t anyone else’s voice; it was her own!

Lin Wanxiu was terrified, screaming as she fell from her chair, wailing about the pain in her eyes and ears. This sudden outburst startled everyone at the table, except for Wen Linyu and Gu Chi.

Gu Chi’s expression was even more terrifying than before. He looked at the suffering Lin Wanxiu as if looking at a corpse.

He heard it. He heard every bit of malice and every curse this woman held toward Wen Linyu. Her face was as loathsome as his own biological mother’s.

He despised such people, so he had unceremoniously returned that malice a hundredfold.

He was furious, but he also felt a deep ache for his disciple. Forgetting the expert’s advice, he instinctively reached out and took Wen Linyu’s hand.

The large palm was dry and warm, radiating a sense of absolute security. It was the polar opposite of the dark life Linyu had once lived and exactly what he longed for most. Linyu’s cold features softened slightly. He felt nothing for his so-called “blood relatives.” Just as Teacher had taught him: if someone wrongs you, pay them back a thousand times over.

If he was in pain, none of them deserved to live well. Forgiveness? That was a grand word that did not belong to a villain.

Gu Chi didn’t deliver a fatal blow, but the backlash of her own malice was enough to make Lin Wanxiu wish she were dead.

Lin Wanxiu was rushed to the hospital, accompanied by her husband and her other children. Thus, in the massive villa, only Wen Linyu, Gu Chi, and the new “etiquette teacher” remained.

This fake teacher was now paralyzed with terror.

Help! Who would dare stay?!

Anyone else can have this job!

“I only have one teacher, and you—” Wen Linyu looked at the Master’s disciple.

The man immediately fell to his knees, sliding toward them. “No, no, no! I’m not worthy! I’m not worthy! You’re my teacher! I’m just a little piece of trash who knows nothing! I-I-I’m just passing through, please let me go!”

In the end, Wen Linyu let the “trash” go. This once again triggered Gu Chi’s disapproval. He blurted out:

“Why are you still so soft-hearted? How many times do I have to teach you before you listen?”

Wen Linyu: “…”

He said it so naturally… am I supposed to keep pretending for him, or what?

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