I Entered the Villains’ Den While Pretending to Be a Righteous Man - Chapter 9

A Dessert Café.

Pei Zhiheng and Li Jie sat facing each other, two banana chocolate parfaits resting on the table between them.

The shop’s décor was fresh and sweet, dominated by light cloud-purple and charming pastel pinks. The air carried a faint scent of freshly baked bread a special bread-scented fragrance the owner had sourced. It wasn’t cloying; instead, it teased the taste buds.

“When Bai Shuijin arrives later, be a bit more enthusiastic. Take the initiative to greet him and keep him charmed.”

“If Bai Shuijin tries to feed you, just open your mouth. Open it wide like a pig would and just swallow whatever he gives you. Close your eyes and eat; that’s all there is to it.”

Sitting opposite him, Pei Zhiheng’s expression grew darker with every word he heard. He had classic, well-defined features and a bright countenance, but he carried a certain “bad boy” charm. He wore a pullover hoodie, light blue jeans, and a pair of limited-edition sneakers.

His sour mood was evident from his face; he didn’t even seem willing to speak.

Li Jie looked at Pei Zhiheng’s ugly expression. “Don’t forget, we’re currently relying on Bai Shuijin to get the original documents from Wang Huanxiu.”

As the saying goes: To catch a wolf, you must be willing to sacrifice the child.

If Pei Zhiheng selling a bit of his charms could get Bai Shuijin to steal the original documents, it would be a guaranteed profit a literal gift from the heavens.

Li Jie continued to persuade Pei Zhiheng. He could guarantee that as long as Pei Zhiheng spoke, Bai Shuijin would bash his own head against a wall just to get the task done for him.

Everyone in their circle knew that this “bumpkin,” Bai Shuijin, loved Pei Zhiheng to a dither loving him so much he’d forget his own kin. If Pei Zhiheng so much as beckoned with a finger, Bai Shuijin would probably fight his own father to the death.

Ever since Bai Shuijin fell in love with Pei Zhiheng at first sight at a cocktail party, that one-sided flame had never gone out. He followed Pei Zhiheng around like a lost puppy every single day.

Pei Zhiheng, Li Jie, and Bai Shuijin were all twenty years old and attended the same university. Although Pei Zhiheng was the eldest son of a wealthy family, he lived in the dorms unless there were special circumstances, just to experience life. He didn’t use his family’s money or power to act special, and he didn’t ask for help starting his company which made Bai Shuijin absolutely obsessed with him.

Before he got married, Bai Shuijin had lived in the same dorm building as Pei Zhiheng. As luck would have it, they were in the same department with nearly identical schedules. This “seeing each other every day” provided Bai Shuijin with the perfect conditions to cling to Pei Zhiheng.

But that was all Bai Shuijin’s wishful thinking. While he was hopelessly devoted, Pei Zhiheng felt absolutely nothing for him in fact, he found him repulsive.

The first time he met Bai Shuijin, he found him unbearably vulgar. The boy was short-sighted, lacked worldly experience, and spoke and acted with utter crudeness. If it weren’t for the fact that their recent game project was approaching negotiations and Wang Huanxiu had suddenly intervened, Pei Zhiheng would never be sitting here.

“Don’t forget, Bai Shuijin married Wang Huanxiu specifically for your sake.”

“I didn’t ask him to marry him,” Pei Zhiheng warned with a look. “Stop trying to use that to blackmail me.”

He hated being coerced above all else.

Li Jie shrunk back slightly. While Bai Shuijin marrying Wang Huanxiu was indeed his own choice made for Pei Zhiheng’s sake, weren’t they the ones reaping the benefits? How could he be so lacking in tact?

A month ago, they had started contact with a game company and provided the best design proposal. However, just as they were finalizing things, Wang Huanxiu appeared out of nowhere. Although he hadn’t produced a proposal yet, Wang Huanxiu’s capability and financial backing were there; cooperating with him was far more attractive than working with a startup founded by university students.

But how could they hand over such a good project? They were counting on this project to double the company’s market value. The only way was to send someone into Wang Huanxiu’s company to scout for information.

Coincidentally, at that time, the Wang family patriarch was pressuring Wang Huanxiu to marry and start a family.

Li Jie felt this was a perfect opportunity. Normally, not even a fly could get into Wang Huanxiu’s company; if they missed this chance, there wouldn’t be another. The group discussed it with Bai Shuijin, and he agreed. They struck a deal: once he successfully married in, he would steal the original documents.

Bai Shuijin’s actions were blatant, bold, and thick-skinned. He went to the Wang family gates with great fanfare, claiming he wanted to marry Wang Huanxiu. Even after being kicked out by security, he shouted that he and Wang Huanxiu were already involved and demanded he marry him, even going as far as to Photoshop pictures of them together.

Every step was suffocatingly cringe-worthy. They thought Wang Huanxiu wouldn’t spare him a glance, but to their surprise, he actually married him.

However, after Bai Shuijin married Wang Huanxiu, there was no news about the documents, and he even hung up on their calls. They had only just managed to get in touch today.

“Just set aside your pride. He’ll be here soon. Don’t forget to coax him. If you give him a little sweetness, he’ll definitely listen to you.”

The more Pei Zhiheng thought about it, the more disgusted he felt he was practically nauseous. Coax Bai Shuijin? In your dreams.

Just then, the wind chimes at the café door rang.

The ethereal chime was accompanied by a soft, polite greeting.

“Hello, I’m looking for someone.”

A head of magnificent, semi-bundled rainbow-colored hair sparkled in the sunlight. The winter cold had turned the tip of his nose bright red, and a peach-blossom pink blush had surfaced on his cheeks, drifting faintly on his fair skin. Because of the cold, he had wrapped a scarf directly around his head, cradling his small chin and leaving his hair fluffy and disheveled. His eyes held a watery shimmer, and his tender red mouth opened and closed.

The café’s service staff were recruited based on their superior appearance if they didn’t have the face, they at least had the height. The waitresses were 1.75 meters tall and wore small heels, while the waiters were over 1.8 meters. The 1.76-meter Bai Shuijin stood at the door looking like a small collectible figurine, clutching a large plastic bag containing his twenty packs of spicy strips and milk.

Pei Zhiheng was tired of listening to Li Jie’s nagging; his mind had drifted as he watched the door.

He saw a “short winter melon” with a scarf wrapped around his head talking to the waitress. A moment later, the waitress gestured in his direction.

Pei Zhiheng frowned. Then, the “short winter melon” glanced over, and a small, dazed face crashed into Pei Zhiheng’s vision.

“…”

Pei Zhiheng froze, his eyes instinctively scanning the newcomer’s face. A tilted nose and cherry-red lips… the scarf on his head actually added a subtle, atmospheric charm the moment his face was revealed.

While he was looking at the stranger, the stranger was looking back at him.

Pei Zhiheng instinctively swallowed. His back, which had been leaning against the sofa booth, quietly straightened.

In the next second, the other person strode over clutching his belongings. Those deer-like eyes kept casting tentative glances his way, as if asking something as if urgently wanting an answer.

Pei Zhiheng’s hand at his side curled slightly. Looks like he’s coming to ask for my WeChat.

Pei Zhiheng had the looks, the family, and the money; he was a popular figure at school, and many people approached him for his contact info. Because of this, he was long used to the gazes of attention and expectation. Usually, he didn’t give out his WeChat because no one caught his eye, but at this moment, his knuckles brushed against the phone in his hoodie pocket.

His mood was decent today; if the boy asked, he could show some mercy and give it to him.

In a few short steps, the “scarf winter melon” reached their table.

The first thing out of his mouth was: “What did you want me for?”

Li Jie was baffled, his expression lost. “You’ve got the wrong table. We’re waiting for someone.”

“Yeah, and weren’t you waiting for me?”

Pei Zhiheng’s hand reaching for his phone paused. This voice. Bai Shuijin?

Li Jie sat there with eyes wide, staring at the person before him who looked nothing like the Bai Shuijin in his memory. “You’re Bai Shuijin?!”

Bai Shuijin placed the plastic bag of spicy strips and milk on the corner of the table. “That’s right, it’s me.”

He removed the scarf from his head. Due to static electricity, a few strands of hair stood up, making him look like a disheveled puppy.

Bai Shuijin looked at the two parfaits on the table with a bit of envy. He turned and beckoned to the waitress to order one for himself. He had never eaten a dessert like this before; today was another day for trying new things.

Bai Shuijin looked at the two of them, matching the faces to those in his memory. The one on the right named Li Jie was the protagonist’s best friend in the novel Business War Clouds, while the one on the left was the protagonist, Pei Zhiheng.

Looking at Li Jie’s bulging eyes, Bai Shuijin muttered, “Are your eyes sick?”

Li Jie: “?”

Bai Shuijin: “Otherwise, why are you staring like a ‘dumbstruck dog’?”

Li Jie: “…”

In the past, Bai Shuijin would never have dared to describe Li Jie that way. After all, he used to fawn over them to get into their circle and would only say flattering things.

Now, Li Jie couldn’t even express his dissatisfaction because he needed something from him. He clapped his hands and laughed, “You sure know how to use idioms.”

Bai Shuijin bowed his head shyly. About as ‘genuine’ as a pearl.

Seeing Bai Shuijin standing dazed, presumably thinking about which side to sit on, Li Jie assumed that although he seemed hesitant, he would obviously sit next to Pei Zhiheng. This act was just for show.

Pei Zhiheng thought the same. He moved inward as if with great reluctance, thinking he would let the boy sit next to him this time. However, in the next second, Bai Shuijin sat down on Li Jie’s side.

His movement to make space froze.

“…”

Soon, Bai Shuijin’s parfait arrived. He took off his coat and scarf, revealing a beige knit sweater. It wasn’t thick, and the loose collar beautifully accentuated the lines of his neck. His fingers holding the long spoon were lustrous.

The parfait was topped with a small mountain of fresh whipped cream, two chocolate sticks stuck in the side, fresh fruit around the rim, and a bright red strawberry on top.

Bai Shuijin licked his lips as he looked at the strawberry. Now this is a delicious treat.

Pei Zhiheng couldn’t stop staring at Bai Shuijin. Usually, the boy wore strange, heavy makeup and spoke vulgarly, but today he seemed like a completely different person as if marriage had transformed him.

Bai Shuijin used the long spoon to pick up the strawberry along with some cream.

Pei Zhiheng prepared himself. In the past, Bai Shuijin acted as if he had a feeding fetish, always wanting to feed him. He would offer Pei Zhiheng the first bite of everything. Pei Zhiheng found it disgusting and had never accepted.

But things were different now. He needed Bai Shuijin to steal the original documents from Wang Huanxiu.

Having given himself a logical reason and remembering Li Jie’s advice that if Bai Shuijin offered food, he should “open up like a pig” Pei Zhiheng opened his mouth.

In the next second, Bai Shuijin shoved the strawberry into his own mouth and began to chew.

Pei Zhiheng: “…”

Seeing Pei Zhiheng with his mouth wide open, Bai Shuijin thought: ? What is he doing? Why is his mouth open so wide?