I Really Am a Scumbag Bottom [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 2

After settling Chi Zhao into bed, Li Yihan stood up and headed for the door.

He was dressed in a navy-black suit shirt, his deep blue sapphire cufflinks reflecting the shimmering rays of the setting sun. His attire was impeccable; it seemed he had been just about to head out.

Striding to the door, he met an elderly man dressed as a butler. He spoke a few low words to the man before turning back.

“I’ve asked Uncle Zhang to call for a doctor,” Li Yihan said, standing by the bed. His calm gaze fell upon Chi Zhao. “Where exactly do you feel unwell?”

【Qi Yuan spent all of last night partying with his college friends and crashed the moment he got home. Just say you drank too much; he won’t suspect a thing.】

Following the System’s prompt, Chi Zhao silently pulled the blanket up a bit higher. “I drank a lot yesterday. My head is really spinning right now.”

Li Yihan didn’t pay much attention to Qi Yuan’s personal life, but he knew what he needed to know. Ever since Qi Yuan moved in, he had been using his allowance to frequent bars and clubs, constantly carousing with so-called “seniors” from his university—doing nothing but drinking and indulging in messy social circles.

Li Yihan’s brows furrowed. The momentary softness he’d shown vanished, replaced by a stern tone. “Qi Yuan, I told you a week ago that we were attending the Zhengde Group’s charity gala tonight. Did you forget, or did you simply not care?”

Chi Zhao’s eyes widened slightly as he stared back with an expression of pure innocence. Li Yihan’s temple throbbed; the way the boy looked at him made it feel as though he were the one doing the slandering.

Li Yihan cautioned himself not to be fooled by Qi Yuan’s facade of simplicity. After a pause, he spoke again. “I didn’t interfere with your life before because you are an adult. However, your lack of self-control is now affecting me. I must set a rule.”

“You are not to go drinking with those university friends anymore. You may attend normal class gatherings, but if I catch you at another party with those fair-weather friends of yours, I will cut off your allowance for a month.”

Li Yihan had been a bachelor since taking over the family. Forget raising a child—he’d barely even spent time around them. This was his first time disciplining someone, and he wasn’t sure if he was being too harsh.

Though he appeared composed, he was secretly observing Qi Yuan’s reaction.

Chi Zhao blinked and nodded obediently. “I understand. Thank you, Mr. Li.”

Nominally, Qi Yuan was Li Yihan’s foster son, but there was zero intimacy between them. Qi Yuan had only lived there for a month and had met Li Yihan less than ten times. Li Yihan addressed him by name, while Qi Yuan addressed him formally as “Mr. Li.”

Li Yihan raised an eyebrow. He had never seen Qi Yuan this compliant. Something felt different today.

Stirred by this sudden display of docility, Li Yihan stopped standing distantly by the bedside and instead sat down on the edge of the mattress. “Is your head still spinning?”

Chi Zhao checked his physical state. It still hurt a little, but the world had stopped tilting. He gave a small, faint smile. “Much better. Thank you.”

Li Yihan didn’t understand why he was being thanked again. “For what?”

“For bringing me out of the bathroom instead of leaving me there,” Chi Zhao answered honestly.

Li Yihan hadn’t just “brought” him out; he had carried him. Despite being 175cm tall (approx. 5’9″), the boy was incredibly light; Li Yihan had lifted him in a princess carry with ease. Since this was a student he had sponsored for years, there was at least some sentiment involved. Li Yihan’s expression softened. “You’re too thin. Eat more from now on.”

Chi Zhao nodded, indicating he’d taken the advice to heart. Suddenly, the System’s voice rang in his mind.

【Host, what are you doing? What’s the point of just nodding? The atmosphere is perfect—seduce him already!】

Chi Zhao was baffled. “How am I supposed to seduce him?”

As the saying goes: Too much is as bad as too little. The original Qi Yuan managed to snare Li Yihan through sophisticated manipulation and a slow-burn presence, but that wouldn’t work for Chi Zhao. Chi Zhao was a nerd whose daily thoughts were consumed by scholarships and certifications. He was too “pure.” Asking him to act coy or suggestive toward a man wouldn’t just be out of character—it would likely be a disaster.

Fortunately, the System had a different strategy for Chi Zhao.

【I’ll teach you! Just remember three principles, and I guarantee you’ll have Li Yihan wrapped around your finger within a year. First: Always be in his line of sight. Second: Always let him feel your kindness. Third: Make absolutely sure he knows you like him.】

And that’s enough to seduce someone? He wasn’t sure he believed it.

Chi Zhao wanted to ask more, but Li Yihan was looking at him with confusion. “Qi Yuan?”

While talking to the System, Chi Zhao had been looking down as if lost in thought. Li Yihan’s call snapped him back to reality. He looked up dazed, clearly not having realized why he was being called.

Li Yihan’s brow furrowed again. “What is it? Are you still feeling unwell?”

Chi Zhao startled and shook his head quickly. “No, I, I just.”

Thinking of the System’s advice, he had a sudden spark of inspiration. He looked at Li Yihan with utmost sincerity. “Mr. Li, I won’t go to those parties anymore. I’ll study hard and won’t cause you any more trouble.”

Li Yihan’s expression didn’t change much. He gave a faint, barely audible “mhm” to acknowledge the statement. Chi Zhao lowered his head and murmured, “So, could you come home more often in the future?”

Because his head was down, he didn’t see Li Yihan’s expression. The older man froze for a split second before a look of realization gradually washed over his features.

So that’s it.

Li Yihan was a busy man with multiple residences. He returned to this house less than thirty times a year. The only reason Qi Yuan had seen him ten times this past month was because Li Yihan had to handle family matters and introduce Qi Yuan to the public.

In reality, he had spent less than three days here in total. Qi Yuan lived in this massive house alone with almost no one to talk to. Li Yihan felt he finally understood why the boy went out to mingle with “messy” crowds.

Before, Qi Yuan lived at school with roommates and friends. Now, he was bound to this house by a contract. It was only natural for a “kid” to feel lonely.

A flicker of guilt touched Li Yihan’s heart. He pursed his lips and nodded. “I’ll try. Qi Yuan, if you need anything in the future, just tell me like you did just now. I’m often too busy and tend to neglect those around me. I apologize; I hope you can be patient with me.”

When a handsome man does something, he can do no wrong—especially when he’s saying such heartwarming things.

Chi Zhao was instantly moved. Shortly after, the doctor arrived. After an examination, the doctor concluded it was just a severe hangover. A dose of sobering medicine, a light meal, and a good night’s sleep would fix him right up.

Li Yihan stayed to listen to the instructions, ordered the servants to prepare a light dinner, and reminded Chi Zhao to sleep early before turning to leave.

Click. The door closed. Chi Zhao kicked off the covers and crept toward the door, pressing his ear against the wood to listen.

Uncle Zhang: “Sir, Assistant Zhao is waiting downstairs.”

It was early autumn, and the weather was still a bit warm. Li Yihan unbuttoned his collar and said calmly, “I’m staying tonight. Tell him to go back.”

Uncle Zhang’s voice was tinged with surprise. “Sir? You’re staying?”

“Why? Do you want me to leave?”

Uncle Zhang laughed quickly. “Of course not! If you stay, Young Master Qi Yuan will be very happy.”

Chi Zhao couldn’t hear the rest. He stood up straight and let out a melancholy sigh. “Li Yihan really is a good person.”

The System chimed in coldly.

【Good people rarely get good endings. Try to keep an open mind.】

Chi Zhao nodded in deep agreement. “You’re right. Look at me—I was a great person, and I died in the prime of my youth.”

System: “…”

Truly good people don’t brag about being good people.

While Chi Zhao was busy marveling at Li Yihan’s kindness, the System didn’t dare make a sound. If Li Yihan were truly that good, his method of revenge wouldn’t involve breaking legs and blinding eyes to let someone rot. There are a thousand ways to take revenge—a quick kill would have sufficed. But Li Yihan chose none of those; he chose the most cruel and sadistic path.

This only proved that he was never a “kind” soul to begin with. He simply hadn’t shown that side of himself because no one had provoked him yet. Now that someone had, his brutal nature was bound to emerge.

Chi Zhao was a bit of a coward, so the System didn’t want to scare him further. It kept its thoughts to itself and simply gave a professional reminder.

【From now on, you must seduce him at every opportunity. In the original plot, Li Yihan accepted Qi Yuan when the boy was twenty. Qi Yuan is currently eighteen, so you have two years. You’ll get together at twenty, but within two months, Qi Yuan will lose interest and start cheating. At twenty-one—his senior year—he’ll get involved with Li Yihan’s rival. Two years after that, at twenty-three, Qi Yuan finally ‘pursued death’ successfully.】

【Which means this mission will only take five years to complete. Good luck, I have high hopes for you!】

Five years sounded quite short indeed.

Chi Zhao balled his fists. “Alright! I’ll work hard to seduce him!”