I Entered the Villains’ Den While Pretending to Be a Righteous Man - Chapter 15

A flicker of awkwardness flashed in Wang Huanxiu’s eyes, but he quickly regained his calm and sat there with an air of immense authority.

His expression remained cold; even though the person lying on the hospital bed was his legal spouse, there was not a trace of pity in his eyes. After all, when they married, Wang Huanxiu’s intention hadn’t been love, but rather a way to silence the family Patriarch.

He had no strong opinions on Bai Shuijin, nor any particular fondness for him. He knew the boy was close to the Pei family, but since marrying him had served to appease the old man, Bai Shuijin could be credited with a certain level of utility.

As long as the boy didn’t cause trouble, Wang Huanxiu wouldn’t do anything to him. He was fine with keeping him well-fed and providing an allowance treating him essentially like an employee with a paycheck, except their relationship was bound by a legal marriage certificate.

That had been Wang Huanxiu’s initial thought, but he hadn’t expected Bai Shuijin to be this exhausting. Every day since entering the Wang household, the boy had found new ways to cling to him.

Husband-Bro, Husband-Bro. He had never heard that form of address so many times in his entire life.

“Husband-Bro,” Bai Shuijin whimpered from the bed.

There it was again.

Wang Huanxiu’s voice was sharp. “You’re sick and you still have so much to say.” He sounded annoyed.

Being sick made Bai Shuijin a bit sensitive; hearing the man scold him, he pouted. “I just like talking to you.” He placed two fingers on the back of Wang Huanxiu’s well-defined hand. “Husband-Bro, do you not like talking to me?”

Wang Huanxiu looked down at the index finger and thumb resting on his skin, seemingly ready to pinch him at any moment. “…”

Bai Shuijin’s fingers felt the temperature of the man’s hand. Perhaps because he had just rushed in from outside, he still carried the winter chill, and the back of his hand was cold. The winter nights were freezing, and the wind bit at the face like a blade.

“Husband-Bro, your hand is so cold. Let me warm it up for you.”

Wang Huanxiu looked at the boy’s “drained-of-all-vitality” appearance. “Do you even have the strength to lift your backside?”

Clearly not. Bai Shuijin blinked. “Then you tuck it in yourself.”

Just then, an elderly voice drifted over from behind the neighboring curtain. “Simply scandalous.”

Bai Shuijin: “…” Wang Huanxiu: “…”

Bai Shuijin rubbed his nose awkwardly; it seemed the old lady wasn’t asleep after all. He truly didn’t have the strength to lift his hips to warm his Husband-Bro’s hand he didn’t even want to move a finger. Just placing his fingers on Wang Huanxiu’s hand a moment ago had exhausted him so much he’d taken three deep mental breaths.

“Then just put it on your own abs to warm it up.”

“…”

Wang Huanxiu had a great physique; although Shuijin couldn’t recall the specific details right now, the general impression was deeply etched in his mind. Putting the hand on the man’s own abs was much more convenient than putting it under Shuijin’s own backside especially since Wang Huanxiu’s left hand was in a splint.

Bai Shuijin had been bored to death lying in the ward alone earlier. His phone was on the nightstand, but he didn’t want to move even an inch to reach for it. Now that Wang Huanxiu was here, he wanted to chat. “Husband-Bro, when are you going back?”

It was nine in the evening neither early nor late, but a time when normal people should be enjoying their free time at home. The hospital was a distance from the house; if he left now, he’d be home by ten, just in time for a shower and bed.

“Husband-Bro, maybe you should head back.” After all, the man had to work the next day.

Wang Huanxiu didn’t even look up. “Go back for what?”

“To rest and sleep,” Bai Shuijin muttered. “It’s not like you like talking to me anyway.”

He certainly knows how to hold a grudge, Wang Huanxiu thought. Acting like a little loser, but he’s a pro at being a domestic tyrant.

But as soon as he said it, Bai Shuijin regretted it. Although he felt close to and reliant on Wang Huanxiu in this world, it was only because they spent the most time together. It didn’t change the fact that Wang Huanxiu was an unpredictable “Big Villain.” In the novel, the man had committed plenty of crimes like having Shuijin sliced up to feed sharks. He was cruel and ruthless.

If he talked to Wang Huanxiu like that, would the man be unhappy? Would he keep a tally in his head? But then he felt his Husband-Bro wasn’t that petty.

Forget it, just in case, I should say something nice.

“Husband-Bro, I only talk to you because I like you. That’s why I want to chat.”

“Is that so?”

Bai Shuijin nodded. Wang Huanxiu let out a mental sneer, clearly not believing a word. This mouth of Bai Shuijin’s could say anything.

He likes me? Yet he wore lipstick to go see Pei Zhiheng yesterday.

His gaze instinctively drifted to Bai Shuijin’s lips. His brow furrowed slightly as he noticed the boy’s mouth was just as red and moist as it had been the day before. Did he put on lipstick for a trip to the emergency room?

Wang Huanxiu: “You put on lipstick for the hospital?”

Bai Shuijin was confused. “Lipstick? What lipstick?”

“On your mouth.”

“I didn’t.” Bai Shuijin puckered his lips, trying to see them himself. “I didn’t put any on.”

Wang Huanxiu’s expression didn’t change. “Your mouth is very red.”

Bai Shuijin remembered that before coming to the hospital, he’d stuffed a pack of spicy strips into his mouth to try and settle his stomach. “It’s because I ate spicy strips before I came.” At the mention of the snack, his appetite seemed to revive slightly.

“Spicy strips?”

“Yeah. I bought them yesterday. I ate some yesterday and today; there are nine packs left. Husband-Bro, if you want some, I can give you a pack.”

“…” He had zero interest in junk food.

Wang Huanxiu was silent for a moment. So, Bai Shuijin hadn’t put on lipstick to see Pei Zhiheng—he’d just been eating spicy strips.

By 9:30 PM, Bai Shuijin began urging Wang Huanxiu to go home and rest; it was one of the rare times he wasn’t being vexing. Wang Huanxiu didn’t intend to stay much longer either and stood up. Looking at the man’s height, which was pushing 1.9 meters, Bai Shuijin’s eyes filled with envy.

“Husband-Bro, remember to come see me early tomorrow.” “Husband-Bro, when you come to see me, I don’t feel as sick.”

Bai Shuijin lay on the bed looking pitiful, like a puppy with damp fur. His eyes were full of expectant “starry” light. Wang Huanxiu glanced at him but said nothing.

“Husband-Bro…”

Wang Huanxiu felt a headache coming on. If he didn’t agree, the boy would keep calling him forever. In my previous life, I must have been a vine on a cliffside how can he be this clingy?

“I know.”

After Wang Huanxiu left, Bai Shuijin gradually became drowsy. His eyelids grew heavy, and he fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up again, the IV needle had been removed, leaving only a white adhesive bandage on his hand. He sat up to stretch and found that while he didn’t feel as sick, he still had very little strength.

The curtains on both sides had been pulled back. An old man lay on his left, and the old lady was on his right. Seeing him wake, the lady initiated a conversation. “The child is awake.”

Bai Shuijin nodded and, like her, tucked a pillow behind his back to sit up. “Good morning.” He had just woken up, so his hair was a mess. Combined with his youth, it was easy for people to feel kindly toward him.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen such a handsome young man. While you were sleeping, I couldn’t stop looking at you.”

The old man on the right cast a hostile glance his way. Bai Shuijin: “…”

The old lady continued to marvel, “Your skin is so good, like mutton-fat jade.”

Mutton-fat jade smooth and lustrous. Bai Shuijin rubbed his head bashfully. The elderly sure know how to pamper people and say the right things. My heart is practically floating!

Being bored in the ward, Bai Shuijin spent some time chatting with the elderly couple. True to his word, Wang Huanxiu arrived a bit early to see him. Bai Shuijin’s eyes lit up. “Husband-Bro, you’re here!”

It was only ten in the morning. Bai Shuijin was delighted, patting the side of his bed for the man to sit. “You’re here so early.”

“I just didn’t have any work.”

Wang Huanxiu sat in the chair and placed a thermal container on the nightstand. Mama Li had given it to him as he was leaving, saying she’d brewed some porridge for Shuijin. Since it was ten o’clock, it was a fine time for a meal. Bai Shuijin unscrewed the lid, ready to “inhale” the food. As he opened it, he didn’t forget to talk to Wang Huanxiu.

“Husband-Bro, did you know? My face is like mutton-fat jade.”

“Oh.” Wang Huanxiu sat there with his arms crossed, clearly uninterested.

Smelling the fragrance of the minced meat porridge, Bai Shuijin set up his small over-bed table and began to eat. While others brought the porridge to their mouths, Bai Shuijin practically moved his head to chase the bowl.

“…”

Watching Bai Shuijin, whose face looked like it was about to fall into the bowl, Wang Huanxiu reached out and lifted him up by the scruff of his neck.

Bai Shuijin blinked innocently.

Wang Huanxiu: “The ‘mutton-fat jade’ is falling into the bowl.”

Bai Shuijin looked bashful. While he was eating, the elderly couple’s daughter arrived, carrying a small, round watermelon. Even though it wasn’t cut yet, the sight of it evoked the refreshing scent of summer fruit. Bai Shuijin’s gaze was instantly captured; he was eating from his own bowl while staring at theirs.

The old man saw his daughter had brought a watermelon and asked, “Why’d you buy a watermelon? Do you even know how to pick one?”

The daughter lifted the bag proudly. “Of course I do. I specifically picked the ripest one.”

The old man prepared to show off his skills. “Let me knock on it.”

“You still don’t trust me.” The daughter handed it over, and the old man rapped on the rind.

Thump, thump—

Daughter: “Is it raw or ripe?” Old Man (smiling): “Ripe.”

The daughter tilted her chin up arrogantly. “Told you so.” “When did my daughter learn how to buy watermelons? How impressive.”

Watching the happy scene, a sliver of envy appeared in Bai Shuijin’s eyes. This is what family looks like.

Thump, thump—

His own head was suddenly rapped twice without warning. Seeing Bai Shuijin staring at the others, his porridge suspended mid-air, Wang Huanxiu had curled his fingers and rapped on the boy’s noggin.

Bai Shuijin turned to look at him. “Is it raw or ripe?”

Wang Huanxiu: “Empty.”

“…”

I really want to eat you up like this porridge until you’re in pieces.

Wang Huanxiu saw Bai Shuijin staring at the watermelon and knew he was craving it, though he hadn’t realized he was that desperate. “If you want to eat some, I’ll have someone buy one in a bit.”

Hearing this, the old man said enthusiastically, “Why buy one? We’ll share a piece with him.”

Wang Huanxiu: “No need.”

“Why be so polite? Here, have some.”

“You eat it yourself; one piece won’t be enough for him.”

Bai Shuijin: “…” He’s slandering me.

But not long after, a watermelon was delivered. Looking at the tray of sliced pink fruit, Bai Shuijin squinted happily. “Husband-Bro, you’re so good. I like you the most.”

Wang Huanxiu acted as if he hadn’t heard. It’s just a watermelon; what is there to ‘like’? Bai Shuijin is just used to sweet-talking.

The old lady nearby also spoke up for Shuijin. “Sir, don’t disbelieve him. As someone who’s been married for decades, I can tell you he truly likes you.”

Wang Huanxiu cast a glance at Bai Shuijin. The boy nodded emphatically. “Truly!”

However, right at that moment, Bai Shuijin’s phone on the nightstand began to ring. A loud, booming ringtone filled the ward, echoing over the heads of both Bai Shuijin and the old lady:

“I like Pei Zhiheng the most! Pei Zhiheng likes me the most! I kiss Pei Zhiheng eight hundred times a day!”

Bai Shuijin: “…” Old Lady: “…”