The Vicious Cannon Fodder Despised by Everyone Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral - Chapter 2

“Boss.”

The last part of the word was hastily swallowed back into Lin Zhiyu’s throat, the half-formed syllable dissipating in the wind.

He had spent so much time placating his previous bosses that the word had become a verbal tic. In his momentary excitement, his mind had slipped, and he had accidentally treated Mu Sui like another unfortunate employer.

However, this new boss was far more generous, and he was incredibly handsome.

He stole a glance at Mu Sui, who remained in his wheelchair. The man’s expression had not changed; he simply stared back coldly.

If not for his troubled legs, Mu Sui’s looks and family background would make him a top-tier catch in any circle. People would likely line up from here to France just to date him.

Unfortunately, most of the men Lin Zhiyu knew were “carnivores.” While they appreciated a handsome face, Lin Zhiyu’s gaze quickly swept over Mu Sui’s legs, and he thought to himself: A life of total abstinence is simply out of the question.

A few seconds later, Mu Sui’s eyes narrowed and his brow arched slightly. It was unclear whether he was admiring an unexpected toy or found interest in this ignorant, eccentric creature.

“It seems your interest in the three hundred thousand is much greater than your interest in me,” Mu Sui remarked flatly.

Although this was the truth, Lin Zhiyu forced a flattering smile and explained, “How could that be? How could you compare to three hundred thousand? No, money cannot compare to you. You are simply the greatest gift Heaven has ever given me.”

After saying this, Lin Zhiyu shuddered, feeling absolutely revolted by his own cheesy lines.

Mu Sui’s brow twitched imperceptibly again. The moonlight caught the corner of his mouth, casting a shadow that looked like a faint, almost invisible smile.

Lin Zhiyu assumed he was overthinking it, but he breathed a private sigh of relief. He told himself that as long as he did not act out like the original character, he should be able to survive under this tycoon’s thumb.

Just as he was planning how to live a peaceful, lazy life, the wheelchair rolled slowly forward.

An aggressive scent of wood and light spice washed over him. Mu Sui lowered his eyelids, his heavy gaze forcing Lin Zhiyu to lean back instinctively.

Mu Sui’s fingertips tapped the armrest in a steady, unhurried rhythm, as if he wanted to see every single one of Lin Zhiyu’s reactions clearly. He leaned down slightly, his gaze calm yet deep, hiding both mockery and scrutiny.

“Are you afraid of me?” Mu Sui asked. “It seems that passionate confession just now was nothing more than talk.”

Lin Zhiyu froze, his heart skipping a beat.

Scenes of the original Lin Zhiyu’s tragic end flashed through his mind, but he felt an odd sensation. Why did Mu Sui seem to be in high spirits? Had the original book failed to mention this villain’s “special interests”?

Before he could decide how to respond, Mu Sui continued, “How long do you plan on sitting there?”

Hearing this, Lin Zhiyu quickly reached out and used the armrest of the wheelchair to push himself up.

“Sorry, I just didn’t react in time,” he said sincerely.

Anyone would be a bit dazed waking up to a stranger shouting at them, let alone someone who had just transmigrated into another world.

His fingertips brushed against the armrest, feeling the intense cold for a moment. As he stood firm and prepared to let go, Mu Sui’s cold gaze swept over the spot he had touched. Whether it was disgust or something else, Lin Zhiyu felt his palm sting as if pricked by needles.

The original story had not mentioned anything about Mu Sui having a germophobia.

Mu Sui ignored Lin Zhiyu’s internal turmoil and said calmly, “Go to the study in a moment. I will have my assistant give you the agreement.”

The word “study” immediately brought to mind the Mu family estate: carved redwood doors, traditional courtyards, a grand main house, and a private chef. If he could lounge in a place like that for a year, his life would truly be complete.

“In the future, speak of Yunji less in front of me. It would be best if you did not mention your ‘sincerity’ toward him anywhere else,” Mu Sui warned coldly.

Lin Zhiyu quickly promised, “Of course. I no longer have any thoughts about Mu Yunji.”

Mu Sui glanced at him and let out a short, mocking laugh. “You had better mean that.”

With those words, the wheelchair turned slowly and vanished into the shadows at the end of the pebble path. Lin Zhiyu stood there, watching the man’s silhouette disappear while he rubbed his fingertips.

Once he signed that agreement, this stable “job” would be official.

The original novel had never explained why Mu Sui was willing to marry this despised fake young master. Lin Zhiyu had always suspected it was just a mindless plot point used to create conflict. However, looking at Mu Sui’s current attitude, he seemed to view the marriage as nothing more than a minor business transaction.

He had no interest in “Lin Zhiyu” as a person. This meant that as long as Lin Zhiyu did not cause trouble, Mu Sui would not pay him much attention. Perhaps he could even have a private bedroom to live out his days in peace.

Thinking of his previously cramped rental, a satisfied smile spread across Lin Zhiyu’s face.

However, the “study” Mu Sui referred to was not at the estate. Lin Zhiyu struggled to find his way through the maze-like gardens, and before he could even step into the main house, Mu Sui’s assistant drove him directly to a downtown apartment.

His dream of a grand estate was instantly shattered. He stood in the spacious, minimalist study as moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting shadows on the floor. The bookshelves were neatly filled with data and documents, and a hidden track was built into the wall. Although this luxury penthouse was in a location he could never afford, the loss of the grand estate left him feeling dejected.

The assistant seemingly read his mind and explained flatly, “For physical reasons, it is not convenient for President Mu to live at the estate.”

Lin Zhiyu nodded in understanding. The old house was not conducive to wheelchair access, so it made sense for Mu Sui to move out. Still, he thought to himself: We are only partners in name. I could have stayed at the estate alone for a year.

He sighed and carefully reviewed the agreement. Drawing on his limited experience with contracts, he ensured there were no loopholes before signing his name.

Despite his regret over the estate, the bed in Mu Sui’s apartment was incredibly soft. Compared to the hard wooden boards in his old rental, this was paradise. Lin Zhiyu collapsed into bed and fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of a beautiful, effortless future.

The next morning, he was jolted awake by a barrage of phone calls.

Lin Zhiyu bleary-eyed, looked at the flashing caller ID. It was 8:30 AM, and he yawned, cursing whoever was disturbing his rest. Then he saw the contact name: “Xu the Flayer.”

The original owner’s personality was the opposite of his, but their logic for giving nicknames was identical. Lin Zhiyu had used the same name for his own former boss.

“Hello? Lin Zhiyu, where are you?” The voice on the other end was urgent and angry. “There is a live broadcast this afternoon. You must be at the office by eleven.”

It was likely his manager.

Lin Zhiyu said wearily, “I am sorry, Brother Xu. I have some things to do today. Please cancel it for me, and all future schedules as well.”

Before he could finish, Xu Dongdong interrupted, “You have things to do? I do not care what you have to do. You must be at the company by eleven!”

The voice nearly pierced Lin Zhiyu’s eardrums. He instinctively winced. The original owner was a young master of the Lin family; did his manager always treat him this way?

“I quit,” Lin Zhiyu said coldly. If he could not fire his boss in his own world, surely he could fire a manager here. He wanted freedom, not more chains. “I am not doing this anymore. I will come to the office this afternoon to process my resignation.”

Xu Dongdong let out a disdainful laugh. “The penalty for missing this afternoon’s broadcast is fifty thousand.”

Lin Zhiyu felt a sharp pang in his chest.

“And if you want to quit entirely, I suggest you take a good look at your contract. The cancellation fee,” Xu Dongdong said airily, “is nearly eight million. Think it over.”

Eight million?! That is plain robbery!

The air caught in Lin Zhiyu’s throat. His beautiful dreams from the night before were crushed by reality. Eight million was a mountain that flattened his hopes for freedom. He gripped the phone tightly, his palms sweating.

He had transmigrated into a book, but why did he have the debt-ridden debt-trap script?

“I…”

“Think it over. I will be waiting for you at the company. Zhiyu, eight million might be pocket change for the Lin family, but I hope you will not be so impulsive.” Xu Dongdong’s tone suddenly softened, but it felt like a needle hidden in silk.

This “slap followed by a sweet” routine was one Lin Zhiyu had endured many times with his old boss. Before he could respond, Xu Dongdong hung up.

Lin Zhiyu dragged himself out of bed and wandered into the bathroom. The house was cold, and even the sunlight felt chilly. He splashed water on his face, but as his vision cleared, he saw a sallow, sickly face in the mirror.

He was startled by his own reflection. His vibrant pink hair looked garish under the warm light, making his pale face look even more exhausted, as if he had worked overtime for a week straight.

“He is an entertainer, yet he looks more overworked than I do,” Lin Zhiyu muttered. He leaned closer to the mirror. After a minute, he realized the problem was not his features, but the pink hair making his skin look dull. No wonder the original owner used the whitest foundation possible.

Lin Zhiyu had never liked this loud hairstyle. Looking at the tacky reflection that did not fit his aesthetic at all, his dissatisfaction reached its peak. He searched for a budget-friendly barbershop on his phone and immediately called a car.

However, because Mu Sui’s apartment was in the CBD, the shops within three kilometers were too expensive. By the time he realized the taxi fare was almost as much as the haircut, it was too late.

His heart bled as he paid the fare. When he saw that the original owner’s bank balance was only three digits, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. They said celebrities made millions a day; why did this guy have less savings than he did?

A sudden surge of grief and indignation made it hard to breathe. The eight-million-dollar penalty, the empty bank account, the strange world, and the original owner’s tragic fate.

Lin Zhiyu took a deep breath. He would take it one step at a time.

With a look of total despair, he pushed open the door to the barbershop. While praying that Mu Sui’s payments would not be as delayed as his former boss’s, he said lifelessly to the stylist, “Cut it, and dye this thing black.”

“The color you have now is quite good. Are you sure you want black? It might fade later,” the stylist confirmed.

“Just dye it.”

The stylist stood behind him, playing with the ends of his hair. Suddenly, he let out a surprised sound. He leaned in close, staring at Lin Zhiyu’s face in the mirror. “Are you… Lin Zhiyu?”

Lin Zhiyu did not expect the original owner to be this recognizable. He turned his head away and denied it. “I am not.” Given the original owner’s reputation, being recognized was probably not a good thing.

“Haha, what a coincidence! My ex-girlfriend broke up with me because of you!”

Lin Zhiyu was confused. I already said I am not him! And is that really something to be happy about?