I Entered the Villains’ Den While Pretending to Be a Righteous Man - Chapter 8

Leaving the hospital, light snow began to fall from the black sky, the white ice crystals vanishing the instant they touched the ground. Inside the hospital grounds, rows of streetlights illuminated the swirling snowflakes clearly.

Bai Shuijin pursed his lips and rubbed his nose awkwardly. With the sudden snowfall, it seemed even the Heavens felt that Wang Huanxiu had been wronged.

In his hand, Bai Shuijin carried a plastic bag containing spare splints, bandages, and some wound medicine for Wang Huanxiu. As the two stepped out of the hospital, the driver, who had been waiting outside, pulled the car to the curb and got out to open the door for them.

Bai Shuijin thanked him and ducked into the car. By then, Wang Huanxiu had already taken his seat on the other side. Separated by the center console, the man had his eyes closed, resting his mind the moment he entered the vehicle.

The interior was dim, the lights turned off, and Bai Shuijin’s guilt amplified infinitely within the confined space.

“Hubby-Bro.”

He sat there, looking like a little mouse wrapped in a thick quilt due to his petite frame and slender build under his down jacket. He had once dreamed that if he ate well, he would surely grow past 180cm, but in this life, he was still stuck at 176cm. Nothing truly belonged to him except for that height four centimeters short of his goal which followed him everywhere.

Because of the rush to leave the house when Wang Huanxiu got injured, Bai Shuijin had simply thrown a down jacket over his pajamas. He was still wearing white cotton home slippers, and his feet, clad in white socks, shifted restlessly inside them.

Wang Huanxiu didn’t open his eyes. “What is it?” His voice was cold and indifferent.

Bai Shuijin’s voice was muffled. “Will you still watch TV with me in the future?”

Even at a time like this, Bai Shuijin was still preoccupied with his “broken” television.

Wang Huanxiu didn’t speak. Silence was the only thing between them, accompanied by the rhythmic swaying of the windshield wipers.

However, the more the other party remained silent, the more Bai Shuijin’s heart suffered, as if he had been tossed into a giant pot of water, watching helplessly as someone added wood to the fire beneath it.

Bai Shuijin clutched his head; his thoughts were beginning to spiral. “Hubby-Bro, will you still keep me company?” he asked again, refusing to give up, his head drooping. “I don’t want to watch TV alone.”

His rainbow-colored hair seemed to lose its luster instantly.

Wang Huanxiu frowned. Persistent.

The pitiful, pleading voice made the driver’s ears twitch. No wonder the boss hadn’t touched a single hair on this “short winter melon” even after having his finger broken. Who could bear to? Just a few sentences of self-reproach and all the anger vanished. Was it possible the boss’s pinky finger was at fault? It broke far too easily.

Wang Huanxiu opened his eyes, looked into the darkness of the car, and then shifted his gaze to Bai Shuijin. “Then don’t watch.”

“I’ll be bored if I don’t. I still want to watch with you.” Bai Shuijin’s gaze drifted toward Wang Huanxiu’s lap.

Wang Huanxiu: “…” It would probably hurt more to slap my own thigh.

Having been reborn, the first thing Bai Shuijin wanted to experience in a normal person’s life was watching TV to his heart’s content. Not only were the programs interesting, but there were handsome men on screen. While phones were more convenient, watching on a big screen via casting was far more satisfying. He wasn’t willing to cancel the one activity that bridged the friendly gap between them. This pain was second only to his 176cm height.

Wang Huanxiu ignored him and closed his eyes to rest again. His pinky finger, fixed with a splint, was wrapped in a thick layer of bandages.

Bai Shuijin stared at that finger. Wang Huanxiu had very beautiful hands long bones and distinct, clean joints. Now, the pinky was bundled up, looking completely out of place with the other fingers. Although Wang Huanxiu hadn’t uttered a single cry of pain from the house to the hospital, he must be feeling terrible. If he shouted it out, he might feel better.

The reason Wang Huanxiu didn’t scream was likely due to his persona as a “wicked and domineering CEO.” Generally, CEOs don’t easily complain about pain or fatigue; that would be seen as “breaking character.” They usually endure in silence; even if ten tons of cement were crushing them, they would simply give a cold, wicked smirk and say, “Is that all?”

Not to mention Wang Huanxiu was the “dark-hearted” villain type. But wouldn’t bottling it up make it hurt more?

“Hubby-Bro, aren’t you going to scream?”

Wang Huanxiu remained motionless. Ever since Bai Shuijin arrived, there had been no peace. Conversations at dinner, TV after dinner, then the hospital trip, and now talking in the car. He didn’t want to speak, so he simply played dead.

The next second, his eyelid was peeled open. “Hubby-Bro, are you asleep?”

Wang Huanxiu: “…” Enough.

He straightened up from the backrest, his broad shoulders instantly putting pressure on Bai Shuijin, who scrambled back into his seat.

“Are you not wearing a seatbelt?”

Reminded, Bai Shuijin realized his mistake and hurriedly grabbed the belt to his left. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t wear it.”

Bai Shuijin turned to look at him, confused. Wasn’t road safety all about wearing seatbelts?

Wang Huanxiu gave a slow, light chuckle. “If there’s an accident, your neck will snap and you’ll die instantly. You won’t have to suffer.”

Bai Shuijin: “…” Bad man! He’s definitely threatening me!

He obediently buckled his seatbelt and touched his neck. “I’ll definitely wear it next time. I don’t want to die; I can’t bear to leave you, Hubby-Bro.”

Wang Huanxiu snorted and said nothing more. Seeing that the man was willing to acknowledge him, Bai Shuijin didn’t hold a grudge over the scare. After all, the man was only talking tough, while he was the one who actually broke his finger.

He whispered to Wang Huanxiu, “Hubby-Bro, your hand must hurt a lot. Just shout it out, I’ll pretend I can’t hear.” He covered his ears and blinked his eyes pleadingly. Crying out when it hurts is the most normal way to vent.

At that moment, as if infected by Bai Shuijin’s thoughtfulness, the driver raised the privacy partition, isolating the back from the front. The driver muttered to himself, “Sir, go ahead and shout. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear either.”

Wang Huanxiu’s voice drifted from the back: “I can hear you.”

Driver: “…”

Upon arriving home, Wang Huanxiu didn’t give Bai Shuijin another glance and went straight to the third floor. Bai Shuijin wanted to keep up, but his legs weren’t as long as Wang Huanxiu’s, and he was left behind in just a few steps.

Bai Shuijin: “…” Damn it. In his next life, he would definitely grow to 180cm.

The next day, Wang Huanxiu woke up for work as usual. The driver took the insulated bag from Auntie Li. Compared to yesterday’s “Love Bento,” today there was an extra “Love Soup.” Auntie Li rarely added soup to lunches; soup is best when it first comes out of the pot, and the taste fades even with an insulated container. Unless it was a creamy sweet soup, lunch bentos were usually dry.

One look at the pink, tender insulated bag and lunch box, and one knew exactly who made it. It didn’t matter if there was soup or not; in Wang Huanxiu’s eyes, it was all poison.

“Don’t let him do this anymore.”

Auntie Li had never been particularly brave. Working for such a wealthy and powerful family made her even more cautious. But Bai Shuijin was also a master of the house, and she didn’t want to offend either side. She asked hesitantly, “What if Young Master Bai insists on doing it?”

The aura of “Dark Cuisine” was still fresh in his memory. Wang Huanxiu’s face darkened. “Then let him taste it himself.”

He turned and left for the company. Upon reaching the top floor, Wang Huanxiu stepped out of the elevator carrying the pink bag. The general assistant and secretary stood up to go over today’s workflow, but immediately noticed his injured left hand!

The boss’s hand was injured?

“Boss, what happened to your hand? Are you okay?” As a subordinate, the assistant showed the highest level of corporate concern (and flattery).

Wang Huanxiu dropped a cold line: “Injured at home.”

The secretary and assistant exchanged a glance. That noon, the company’s private gossip group had a new buzz. This group was started by fresh graduates who didn’t yet know the bitterness of work. They used to share life stories and jokes. Then, once they passed their probation and became official employees well, they became as quiet as the dead.

But since Wang Huanxiu got married, this group, which usually didn’t see a single bubble for days, suddenly boiled over. Even though Wang Huanxiu’s marriage had nothing to do with the employees, gossip about the top boss was always tastier than anyone else’s.

Word was Wang Huanxiu had married a “painted face.” When the news of the wedding was published, even though capitalists don’t deserve empathy, seeing a “painted face” standing next to Wang Huanxiu’s handsome face caused a collective heart pang. The group expressed their pity.

“From now on, all the boss’s sins are forgiven.” “At this moment, the phrase ‘a fine cabbage being rooted by a pig’ has a concrete manifestation.” “Why doesn’t the boss smile? Is he naturally unhappy?” “It would be hard to smile at that.”

However, after Wang Huanxiu held a video conference that evening, everyone in the group was stunned.

“The boss can still hold a video meeting after ‘seven times in one night’!” “He’s still wearing Concubine Jin’s bellyband during the meeting!” “Maybe the boss never dealt with ‘common’ things growing up, so he married one to see what it’s like.” “If he liked ‘common,’ he should have said so earlier! I’d have let my brother go try!” “Don’t pity him. He loves it.”

On the second and third days, the group remained feverish.

“The boss ate at the cafeteria on his second day of marriage! He usually brings lunch, so that means the bento didn’t fill him up!” “Clearly, marriage is a physical labor; the boss was so tired he went to the cafeteria for two meals.” “Third day and he’s still in the cafeteria! His appetite is growing.” “After eating at the cafeteria, the little wife pretended to be a ‘concerned caller’ to the company to check on him.” “The little wife is draining the boss.” “The boss is nourishing himself overnight.”

And today, there was a new topic.

“The boss and his little wife played a game and broke his hand!” “As expected of the boss, he plays kinky.” “Playing ‘play’ is too hard on the body. So… what kind of play was it?” “The HR manager wants to know what kind of play it was.” “The Marketing manager wants to know.” “The Planning manager wants to know.” “You in HR! Don’t let me find out who you are!!”

The HR employee who was giggling at their phone instantly retracted their grin. Crap, is the manager in the group too? Indeed, gossip is human nature.

Bai Shuijin had woken up early to make soup, then went back to bed for a nap. When he woke up again, the sun was high. He checked his phone it was already 11 AM. He gave a satisfied smile. Perfect timing for lunch.

He went to the bathroom, washed his face, and looked at himself in the mirror. In his previous life, he had never dyed his hair; it was always natural black. Looking at his multi-colored hair now, he thought it looked quite good. He gave a shy chuckle. Because he had just woken up, a patch of hair on top was sticking up. He patted it down with a slap. Flattened.

He flew out of the bathroom in his slippers to have lunch. He had a new activity today: spending with the gold card Wang Huanxiu gave him.

Lunch was like a whirlwind devouring cloud. Looking at the clean plates, the servants thought: Another normal performance today.

After lunch, Bai Shuijin dressed neatly to go out. Although it was winter, he didn’t ignore his outfit’s coordination. He actually loved fashion, but his previous life’s conditions didn’t allow for it; otherwise, he would have dressed up like a little peacock for class every day. He spent a long time in front of the mirror. His hair was trendy, so the clothes had to match. He chose a light camel coat over a beige knit sweater, baggy jeans, and a scarf.

He admired himself in the mirror for a while before leaving. Breathing in the cold air, the gold card was exceptionally bright in the sunlight. With money in hand, he wouldn’t be polite. He walked out of the villa area, boarded a bus, and arrived at a sacred and solemn building. He strode forward, then took a sharp right turn into the small shop at the school entrance.

“Boss, spicy strips. Twenty packs.”

What a crazy and luxurious purchase. Bai Shuijin didn’t even dare look at his own face right now. As the shopkeeper packed the spicy strips into a bag, he walked over to the refrigerator. The fridge was taller than his 176cm.

Bai Shuijin: Bad review!

He looked at the various types of milk, especially the ones in pretty boxes. He licked his lips. In primary school, the class organized a breakfast milk subscription. Only one child in the class didn’t subscribe: him. Because he had no money and no family, having grown up in an orphanage. Even now, he remembered the milk boxes that looked like little houses and the envious looks he gave his classmates.

After he started working, he had bought milk, but life didn’t give him the chance for luxury. He never seemed to reward himself, only buying the cheap bags for a couple of bucks. He was actually grateful to Wang Huanxiu, so he hoped they could get along. If he were still the penny-pinching Bai Shuijin, he might still choose the bagged milk, but sorry, bagged milk he had “rice” now. He wanted the boxed ones. He’d drink the bags next time.

Bai Shuijin expectantly and carefully picked up a box of milk original flavor, with blue and white packaging, just like the little houses from his childhood.

Shopping over, Bai Shuijin prepared to head home with his bag of spicy strips and milk, bubbles of happiness following him. Just as he was debating whether to take the bus or the subway, a dense vibration came from his coat pocket. The phone was ringing.

Bai Shuijin checked the number; it looked familiar. This number had called him before, but he had hung up. Was it not a scam call but someone he knew? He pressed answer.

“Hello.”

“Why didn’t you pick up before?” The voice on the other end was noisy and piercing. “Forget it. Hurry up and come meet us.”

Meet? Who was it? “Just like that?”

“I’ll send you the address. Come now.” Fearing Bai Shuijin wouldn’t come, Li Jie added, “Pei Zhiheng is here too.”

Thump… The call ended.

Pei Zhiheng? Bai Shuijin stood on the street, bewildered. Wasn’t that the protagonist? Since the caller was with Pei Zhiheng, they must be part of the protagonist’s group.

Soon, the location was sent to him. It was a dessert cafe not far from where he was. He looked at the bag in his hand, his gaze falling on the box of milk.

Little S-o milk, Daddy has business to handle. When I’m done and we get home, I’ll use a big straw to drink you down hard.