The Protagonist and the Villain Both Kissed Me [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 41

Inside the seemingly peaceful cafeteria of the Institute, a farce was unfolding.

As one of the protagonists of the spectacle, Su Xi’s brow was slightly furrowed. He held a meal tray in his hands, the food barely touched but still emitting wisps of heat. Standing before him was “The Loudspeaker” a man with decent features but eyes filled with calculation.

The Loudspeaker, flanked by a few companions, blocked Su Xi’s path, determined to wring an answer out of him. In an Institute with such a strict management system, how could such a scene occur?

For a rare moment, Su Xi was genuinely angry. Seeing that the man had no intention of moving, Su Xi’s eyes lowered, his voice turning sharp. “Move.”

“Group Leader Su, don’t be angry. We’re just here to chat. It’s lunch break, after all—what’s the rush?” The Loudspeaker gave a sheepish smile and reached out, attempting to take Su Xi’s tray and place it back on the table.

In the bright, empty cafeteria, there were many onlookers, but few stepped forward to speak. Some, growing bored, even began to fan the flames of the conflict. Su Xi had no intention of coddling these people. He felt more than ever that there were too many “parasites” within the Institute. He looked up at The Loudspeaker and said, enunciating each word: “Do you think I have a good temper, which is why you’re only coming to bother me?”

He was clearly being sarcastic. In the Institute, everyone knew he had a peculiar personality; his temper was anything but “good.”

The Loudspeaker grinned, missing the undertone entirely, thinking Su Xi was giving him a graceful way out. “Of course, Group Leader Su has the best temper of them all.”

Su Xi let out a cold laugh. He set the tray down on the table and cast a glance at the surrounding crowd. “In that case, in my capacity as Leader of Group Two, I am informing you: your future work location has been changed to the second basement level.”

B2 was the most revolting place in the entire Institute. The experimental subjects housed there were common and lacked significant destructive power, but they were biologically repulsive. Despite daily cleaning, the floor was perpetually covered in slime, saliva, and an overwhelming stench, resembling a dark waste disposal site.

Occasionally, researchers who made mistakes were sent there for brief periods of reflection.

But Su Xi’s meaning was clear: unless The Loudspeaker resigned, he would be working there indefinitely.

“Wait… Group Leader Su! Su Xi, wait!”

The Loudspeaker hadn’t expected such a move. By the time he regained his senses and tried to rush forward, Su Xi had already left the cafeteria.

Walking through the quiet corridors, Su Xi bypassed several rooms and stood at the far end of the fourth floor. He pushed open a window, letting in a blast of bone-chilling wind. It made him feel slightly lightheaded, yet he remained there, gazing out at the frozen landscape.

“Host, are you alright?” As expected, System 1368 spoke up with concern.

Su Xi let out an indifferent chuckle. “I’m fine.”

The way the test subjects had treated him recently made the System feel an immense sense of pity for Su Xi. But it had forgotten: in a treacherous society, someone possessing only beauty is destined for ruin. A person who can manipulate others and make profit-driven businessmen offer up treasures willingly cannot be as simple as they appear.

“Then why are you standing in the wind?” The System was puzzled.

Su Xi rubbed his nose, which was flushed red from the cold. He lowered his lashes and murmured to himself, “The Salvation Value is only at 50. It’s too low.”

From his vantage point, he could see the room where Mephisto was housed. The silver-white door was tightly shut, yet even from this distance, he felt he could smell the salty brine of the ocean.

Everything that happened the previous night felt like a bizarre dream.

He closed the window and walked forward. After his identity was verified, he immediately saw Mephisto swimming in the tank. Meeting those intensely emerald eyes, Su Xi hesitated for a moment before looking away.

“Come out. Let’s talk,” he initiated. After all, Mephisto not only understood him but was quite adept at teasing him.

Mephisto, who had been quiet, tilted his head as if contemplating the request. After a long moment, his head emerged from the water. Su Xi maintained a safe distance from the edge. The merman’s smooth, golden hair spread across the surface of the water, making him look innocent, harmless, and strangely endearing.

But Su Xi knew the creature’s true nature and wouldn’t be easily swayed. He blinked, fished the pearl necklace out of his pocket, and tossed it into the pool. “Take it back. And don’t do what you did yesterday again. I don’t like it.”

Don’t like it? Mephisto didn’t quite grasp what Su Xi meant, but he understood the rejection.

A flash of irritation crossed the merman’s eyes. Before he could speak, Su Xi walked over and knelt down. He reached out to stroke Mephisto’s head, his expression tender and his voice soft. “Let’s go back to how things were before, okay?”

As he spoke, he leaned down and pressed a fleeting kiss just below the merman’s lips. He blinked and continued, “Mephisto, I only like you when you’re good. If you act like you did yesterday… it hurts.”

The sound of splashing water echoed in the room as Mephisto leaned against the edge. He nuzzled against Su Xi’s warm palm, acting as if the events of the previous night had never happened. He caught Su Xi’s hand but did not pull him into the water.

“I will,” Mephisto replied softly.

Su Xi watched the Salvation Value in the corner of his eye begin to climb, his lips curling with satisfaction. If possible, why not try to domesticate Mephisto?

If he succeeded, he would surely be able to leave safely when the blizzard arrived in three days.

Naturally, the topics discussed in the meeting soon spread throughout the Institute, sparking widespread conversation. Su Xi’s suggestion of evacuation was met with disdain by many. Director Xu clearly shared that sentiment; the Fuguang Institute had been rooted in this land for a long time and was highly valued by the government. The cost of relocation was too high.

“Have they come to draw your blood today?” Su Xi stood up and walked to the console.

The glowing screen flickered with streams of data. A virtual 3D image of Mephisto rotated in the center, surrounded by various physiological readings. Every line was green, indicating normal status.

“Only you,” Mephisto said enigmatically.

Su Xi understood the implication. He looked down at the console covered in buttons. His fingers hovered over several yellow ones. These were linked to control devices hidden in the pool, tranquilizer needles, electric shock spheres, tools that could be vital in an emergency.

Mephisto’s Salvation Value had only reached 65. He was much harder to “farm” than Duan Cheng from the previous world. Duan Cheng at least hadn’t harbored open hostility, making that relationship easier to shift. But turning the tide between a merman test subject and his human researcher was a different challenge entirely.

Su Xi had specifically looked up relevant literature, gaining some useful insights.

Day One: He bought various novelties and gifts beautiful jewelry, from striking red gemstones to shimmering diamonds. But Mephisto seemed indifferent, and the Salvation Value only rose by two points.

Day Two: While the merman was resting, Su Xi carefully selected a vast array of fresh seafood. The cart he pushed in was piled high with delicacies, yet Mephisto only picked out a few small shrimp.

By the side of the pool, Mephisto used his sharp claws to peel the shells with methodical precision, picking out the translucent meat. Soon, a pile of empty shells sat by the water’s edge.

“…”

Su Xi’s gaze was complicated. Seeing the merman eat reminded him of the previous bloody scene. Mephisto was not only a picky eater but seemed to have certain dark hobbies like dissecting live prey.

Perhaps his gaze was too direct, as Mephisto looked up as if sensing it. He raised his hand, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “Want some?”

“No, thank you.” Su Xi declined immediately. He couldn’t stomach the idea of raw seafood, even something as “normal” as shrimp.

He spent the afternoon at the console, pretending to work while keeping a close eye on Mephisto. To his frustration, the Salvation Value didn’t move an inch.

Near evening, he was summoned to the infirmary. The white gauze curtains swayed in the breeze, and the room was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant mixed with a faint herbal scent. He followed the sound of voices.

Leaning against a bed was a man in blue-and-white hospital scrubs. He looked familiar—it was The Loudspeaker, the man he had sent to B2. He was covered in wounds, with thick bandages wrapped around his forehead, looking utterly wretched.

“Su Xi, you’re here.” The duty doctor, Dr. Li, was a gentle woman.

Su Xi gave a slight nod. He walked to the bedside and asked softly, “Director Xu told me to come. Is there something wrong? He…”

Dr. Li signed a clipboard, then led Su Xi out of the room. Her face was blank until they entered her private office. She pulled the curtains and locked the door before turning around with a solemn expression.

“He encountered A001 on the second basement level,” she said succinctly.

“A001? Isn’t it kept on the second floor?” Su Xi’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

A001 was a subject he had read about classified only as A-rank but handled exclusively by the Deputy Director. It was a mysterious entity that he hadn’t had the chance to see during his time here.

“A001 is only A-rank because it lacks physical offensive power. However, it possesses incredibly strong mental abilities. That’s why it’s under special management,” Dr. Li whispered, glancing at the door as if afraid someone might burst in.

Su Xi was slightly confused but understood the gist: A001 could control others to harm people like The Loudspeaker. But what was the motive?

He was lost in thought, not even noticing when Dr. Li stepped closer to him.

“The matter the Director asked you to investigate… how is it going?” As a simple duty doctor, Dr. Li seemed to know far too much.

It felt as though she had been sent specifically to question him. Su Xi wasn’t a fool; he saw through it but didn’t show curiosity. He gave a vague answer: “It’s getting there.”

“And what is the reason?” Dr. Li’s voice was filled with urgency, as if she were desperate for the answer.

Su Xi simply pressed his lips together and said calmly, “I will report my findings directly to the Director.”