Transmigrated as the Villain and Driven Crazy by the Vengeful Male Lead - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Countdown. You have dreamed of the male lead for three consecutive days.

Lu Shuyao finally understood the phrase “scared he won’t come, but even more scared of what he’ll do when he does.”

If Su Cheyue returned, he would surely dig three feet into the ground to find Lu Shuyao first. After all, it was Lu Shuyao who pushed him; there was no washing that clean.

He couldn’t just sit and wait for death. Before Su Cheyue made his comeback, he had to prepare on two fronts:

First, work hard to lower the “Hatred Value” to a safe level. He needed to quickly gather intel on Su Cheyue’s likes and use his talent for shameless flattery to look after the man’s every need—responding to every request, sacrificing his dignity, and begging for mercy.

Second, quickly recover his lost cultivation. If the Hatred Value didn’t drop, he at least needed enough strength to flee and hide until the very end.

With thirty-two days left, Lu Shuyao began practicing diligently.

He already held the sword Zhanquan, but he was more interested in the long whip Su Cheyue had given the original character early in the story: Duanyou (Sorrow-Breaker).

In The Coming Desire, the original Lu Shuyao appeared early alongside Lu Qingsong. The book, from Su Cheyue’s perspective, described their first meeting. The youth wore purple robes, possessing an extraordinary, delicate beauty—soft-spoken and seemingly frail enough to evoke pity. Su Cheyue never imagined such a youth would later harm him.

Sect Leader Lu had asked Su Cheyue to stay in Luzhou longer so the two could bond before the wedding, and hoped Su would teach Shuyao some skills. While Shuyao usually used a sword, Su Cheyue observed that he was “soft on the outside but firm within,” hiding inner turmoil like ripples suppressed beneath a calm surface. He concluded that Shuyao was better suited for a whip than a sword. A whip allowed for flexibility—to strike or withdraw, to hide or reveal at will.

Lu Shuyao had always been captivated by this description. Unfortunately, the original character blackened and tossed the whip into a corner. Now, finding joy in misery, Lu Shuyao finally saw it.

Duanyou lay coiled in three sections. Made of spirit-wood silk from the Heavenly Mountains, it glowed purple as Lu Shuyao approached, matching his attire. With a reach of his hand, it spiraled up his wrist and merged into his spiritual veins, leaving only a tiny “head” peeking out, awaiting orders.

Good whip!

But… Lu Shuyao stared at the purple tip. What was the incantation again?

The Lu Sect was located at Qifeng Ferry. Lu Shuyao strolled to the training grounds where disciples were practicing. He tried to guess a mantra, but as soon as he raised his hand—Snap!—purple light flashed, and the whip lunged out! Though the light was faint and the speed slow, the wind from the whip shattered a wooden post in front of him.

Awesome! Who needs a mantra?! Lu Shuyao laughed, startling a nearby disciple. “Senior Brother?” (This wasn’t how the Senior Brother usually laughed!)

Lu Shuyao smiled. “Hmm?”

“Are… are you okay?”

“What’s wrong?” Lu Shuyao realized he was breaking character. He retracted the whip. “Oh, nothing. Just a small breakthrough. Carry on.”

As he left, he realized something. “By the way, what’s the incantation for ‘Levitation’ again?” The disciple’s jaw dropped.

…

Twenty-seven days left. Lu Shuyao began frequenting the kitchens. The author of The Coming Desire was a foodie, so his characters didn’t practice “Inedia” (fasting); they ate.

The original Shuyao never touched housework, but this Lu Shuyao was different. He spent half a day in the kitchen and brought a bowl of steaming cassava pudding to his aunt. “Aunt, try this?”

Lu Qingcheng took a bite and frowned. “So sweet!”

“Too sweet?” Lu Shuyao tasted it. “It’s fine. Isn’t it said Su Cheyue likes sweets?”

“Who?”

“Young Master Su. He stayed here a while; you should know his tastes.”

Lu Qingcheng stared. “Are you trying to spite me?”

“Spite you? Why?”

“Su Cheyue’s life is uncertain. I’m working on the divorce, and Big Brother is starting to sway. We’re just waiting for the Su family…”

Lu Shuyao didn’t care about the divorce plot; he just added more sugar to the pudding to study the Hatred Value.

…

Twenty days left. News came from the Su family. The sect was in mourning for their second young master. The implication was clear: the divorce talk was to be put on hold. Lu Qingsong and Lu Qingcheng had a rare, massive argument over it.

…

Ten days left. Lu Shuyao requested to go to the Baoshan Sect in Yangshuo to study.

“Why go there?” Lu Qingsong asked.

“I’ve hit a wall here,” Lu Shuyao lied. “A change of environment might help.” The truth was, he needed to be ready for Su Cheyue’s return.

Lu Qingsong was reluctant, but Lu Shuyao was firm. Looking at his adopted son, Lu Qingsong realized the boy had grown into a tall, handsome man. Since returning from the Ghost Purgatory, he had changed—no longer gloomy, his eyes were now clear and bright like the springs of Luzhou.

“Are you… still thinking of the Second Young Master’s kindness?” Qingsong asked.

Lu Qingsong then revealed a history not detailed in the book: Twenty years ago, Su Cheyue’s father had saved Lu Shuyao’s life from a Snow Demon. Eleven years ago, Su Cheyue’s older brother saved the Lu Sect from water monsters. And a month ago, Su Cheyue risked everything to save Lu Qingcheng.

“The Lu family owes the Su family too much!” Qingsong sighed.

“He’ll come back,” Lu Shuyao whispered.

“How do you know?”

“I just… believe it.”

…

Six days left. Lu Shuyao was packing, looking half-dead from stress. Even the system chimed in: [You’re too nervous. You’ve dreamed of the male lead for three days straight.]

The dream was always the same: The Abyssal Ghost Purgatory. The smell of “rain-washed green pears”—Su Cheyue’s scent.

In the dream, Su Cheyue stood in the black mist, a slender figure in white. “Junior nephew, don’t come closer. Don’t look up, it’s an illusion.” He had used his sleeve to shield Shuyao’s eyes. He was a true gentleman, even calling his fiancée “Lady Lu.”

Then the dream would shift to Su Cheyue fighting thousands of ghosts, his white robes and black hair flying amidst the blood-mist. He was breathtaking. He had looked down at Shuyao with a face described as “unrivaled beauty.”

But then the dream would turn dark: Su Cheyue, expressionless, looking down at him and slitting his throat so he couldn’t even beg for mercy. Or his parents from his old world saying, “Don’t come back, nobody needs you.”

“There’s a movie called 33 Days of a Broken Heart,” Lu Shuyao told the system. “My version is 33 Days of Waiting for Death.”

…

Countdown: One day left.

Night fell. Lu Shuyao was about to sleep when someone knocked. It was Lu Qingcheng.

“Aunt? Why are you here?”

She smiled shyly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”

We see each other every day at the training ground! Lu Shuyao thought.

Suddenly—”What the—?!!”

Lu Qingcheng threw herself into his arms. “A-Yao, I missed you.”

She stroked his hair. “I missed how you used to wear it down… Once the divorce is finalized, I can stay here. We can be together forever.”

Lu Shuyao felt like he’d been doused in boiling water. He wasn’t experienced, but even a block of wood would understand this. Lu Qingcheng was only two or three years older than him.

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks: The original character and Lu Qingcheng weren’t just aunt and nephew—they were secret lovers!

Is this in the original plot?! This is forbidden territory! Author, you’re killing me!

“What’s wrong?” Lu Qingcheng asked, seeing him frozen.

“Passed… passed so much time… our plan succeeded. Su Cheyue won’t come back,” she whispered.

Lu Shuyao gasped. So that was it!

No wonder Su Cheyue insisted on marrying her later, then turned them against each other and made her kill Shuyao. It wasn’t just revenge; it was “killing the heart.” They had conspired together to kill him!

Lu Shuyao stared at her, but his mind was on Su Cheyue. The “blackened” male lead was becoming much scarier—and more compelling.

Lu Qingcheng leaned in again, her voice soft. “The divorce is a certainty. Tonight…”

Her hand moved downward.

Crap!!

“Aunt!” Lu Shuyao, unable to overpower her, started babbling. “I’m weak from the Ghost Purgatory! My body is hollow! I… I take forever in the bathroom now, I can’t—”

He realized he was locked in place by her spiritual energy. “I know,” she whispered. “So, let me…”

To hell with this! Am I going to lose my innocence to my aunt?! No!!

“Miss! Miss!”

The spiritual pressure vanished. Lu Shuyao gasped for air. A maid ran in, out of breath.

“The Su family… an urgent report!”

Lu Qingcheng turned excitedly. “Did they agree to the divorce?”

The maid brought a chill from the night air. It was past midnight.

Countdown: Zero.

“Miss… the Su family says… the Second Young Master, Su Cheyue… is back.”