Transmigrated as the Villain’s Cannon Fodder Ex-Husband - Chapter 4

Wang Baobao walked into the hospital ward carrying a large assortment of oranges, only to find his young master looking utterly dejected. A few stray strands of hair hung over Zhao Yisen’s forehead, partially veiling his eyes like two melancholy squid tentacles.

The plastic bags in the butler’s hands swayed with silent questioning. Wha, what on earth happened?

Zhao Yisen reached out and poked the four-legged stool next to the bed. “Old Wang, sit down.”

Once Wang Baobao was seated, Zhao Yisen stared off into space, recalling the scene from earlier. Judging by Gu Jia’s tone, this wedding was non-negotiable.

Truth be told, he wasn’t that resistant to it. After all, given the man’s face and physique, it wasn’t exactly a losing deal for him. Zhao Yisen let out a long sigh. He needed to gather some intelligence on this CEO from Old Wang first.

By the bedside, Wang Baobao waited a long time, receiving nothing but Zhao Yisen’s sighs. He grew increasingly anxious. This marriage was vital; President Gu was a rising star in the business world whom the Elder Master had decided to win over, and he was devoted to the Young Master. It was a win-win situation!

Finally, just as the butler was about to vibrate out of his skin with impatience, Zhao Yisen spoke.

“Tell me… how is the relationship between President Gu and me?”

Wang Baobao was taken aback. He lowered his gaze in thought. Speaking of their feelings, President Gu had spent an entire year pursuing the Young Master before winning him over. He was meticulous in every aspect of life and genuinely devoted; one certainly couldn’t call it a bad relationship.

But… Wang Baobao’s brow furrowed into the shape of the character “eight” . Ever since the Young Master’s memory was damaged, and following the incident with Zhao Jiahao at the engagement party, President Gu had indeed seemed different.

The old fox swallowed hard and probed: “What did President Gu say to you just now?”

“Well…” Zhao Yisen rubbed his neck and coughed twice. “He choked me”

“What?!” Wang Baobao jumped out of his chair, eyes wide.

“And said we’re registering our marriage tomorrow.”

“…” Wang Baobao sat back down steadily.

He cleared his throat, spread his arms in a dramatic reciting pose, and chanted: “President Gu’s love for you is as the mountains and the earth only when the world ends shall he part from you! In the heavens, he wishes to be two lovebirds flying wing to wing; on the earth, he wishes to be two trees with branches entwined! Even the Peach Blossom Pool, a thousand feet deep, cannot match the depth of President Gu’s love for you!”

A long silence fell over the ward. Wang Baobao peeked up guiltily, only to see his master with his head bowed in deep thought.

I see, Zhao Yisen thought after hearing the butler’s “poetry.”

He figured Gu Jia was probably jealous. This was, after all, an overbearing CEO novel; a CEO’s way of showing concern usually involved red eyes, pinning someone by the waist, or “kabedon.” But what was he jealous of?

As Zhao Yisen pondered, a knock sounded at the door. A young nurse entered carrying a bouquet of blue baby’s breath. “Hello, patient. Someone sent you a bouquet.”

The person on the bed had light purple eyes, thin double eyelids that were both innocent and seductive, and a tiny mole at the corner of his elongated eyes. One look was enough to make anyone forget to look away.

So handsome

The nurse’s face flushed red instantly. She lowered her head and, after a hesitant moment, couldn’t help but steal a few more glances.

Yi Sen’s proportions were perfect, his limbs slender and long. Even with his head tightly wrapped in bandages, which removed his hair’s framing effect, his superior bone structure was even more evident. His high nose bridge provided a striking impact, creating a smooth line from tip to chin. His lips were thin, radiating an effortless charm.

Faced with such extreme beauty, the nurse was momentarily speechless. It took her a while to remember her duty: “By the way… someone just pressed the call button. Is there something you need?”

Zhao Yisen finally remembered he needed help unwrapping the bandages. However, before he could open his mouth, someone else cut in.

“…I think he needs to wake up and see reality.”

A girl in white high heels and a Chanel-style suit snatched the bouquet from the nurse. She gave it a look of disdain and tossed it aside.

Zhao Yisen: ?

Why is this little girl being so sarcastic? Also… do we know each other?

The girl at the door was immaculately made up. The curve of her lips was strikingly similar to Zhao Yisen’s, possessing a dainty yet sharp beauty. She had long brown hair and an Hermès bag on her shoulder; clearly, she came from a wealthy background.

The next second, Wang Baobao leapt from his chair. “Miss! Why are you here?!”

Zhao Yisen: “…”

Yi Die. The original owner’s half-sister, barely sixteen and currently attending an elite international high school. Unlike Yi Sen, Yi Die had been the “pearl in the palm” of the Yi family since birth. The only one who could manage her was Yi Sen. This was because a younger Yi Die had been a total visual-fanatic, following him around like a shadow. However, after age ten, as Yi Sen’s relationship with the family soured, they had a massive argument and hadn’t seen each other since.

Glancing at her brother for the first time in six years, Yi Die let out a cold sneer. “Father told me to bring over the things the family no longer wants.”

As soon as she spoke, she folded her arms. Following her lead, her servants filed in, stacking various expensive supplements and tonics in the room. Yi Die watched for Yi Sen’s reaction, expecting him to fly into a rage or start cursing. Instead, he just looked at the items with curiosity.

“…” Damn it.

She clenched her fists, her manicured nails digging into her palms. She continued to provoke: “I heard you choked on wine and damaged your brain? Faking it, more like.”

A sweating Wang Baobao tried to mediate: “Miss, please don’t be like this”

Zhao Yisen remained silent. He stared at Yi Die, appearing to be in deep thought; his serious expression carried a unique charm. Yi Die’s ears turned red under his gaze, and she turned away, hands on her hips.

“W-why are you staring at me!”

Zhao Yisen’s gaze deepened. So, the original owner’s sister is a ‘Tsundere’.

Having watched plenty of anime, Zhao Yisen released his ultimate winning move—a sincere smile. “Seeing how much Xiao Die cares about her brother makes me very happy.”

First Blood.

Wang Baobao sucked in a sharp breath, making a sound like a cobra.

Hearing this, Yi Die’s face turned red all the way to her ears. “I… you…” She clenched her fists and shrieked with her eyes closed: “Yi Sen! That trick doesn’t work on me anymore! Don’t think I’ll cling to you like when we were kids! I know all about your dirty business abroad! You’re just a heartless, scumbag, lying playboy who falls for everyone you see!”

“Hmph!”

Yi Die stormed out with her servants. In the ward, Zhao Yisen wiped the metaphorical spit from his face, feeling a bit stunned by the insults. His brain buzzed for a few seconds.

…Liar? Scumbag? …Me?

Stiff-necked, Zhao Yisen turned to Wang Baobao.

Wang Baobao: “Well, that… Young Master, look, did President Gu drop a cufflink under your bed—”

The Gu Villa

Gu Jia stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, watching the trees that had been toppled by the typhoon. His assistant, wearing black-rimmed glasses, stepped forward. “President Gu, the hospital surveillance has been retrieved. The delivery man claims a Mr. Lu ordered the flowers, but didn’t give a full name.”

“A Mr. Lu…” Gu Jia whispered the words, a bone-chilling coldness in his eyes.

He could still vividly recall the documents his rival, Lu Ming, had handed him at Yi Sen’s funeral after the group went bankrupt. Assistant Jiang felt a cold draft beside him and immediately shut his mouth.

After a long pause, Gu Jia said softly, “Continue.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, Assistant Jiang flipped through a file. “This is the annual report for Lu Real Estate. No abnormalities found.”

He didn’t quite understand. While Lu Real Estate overlapped with them in some business areas, it was only a small-to-mid-sized company. Why was the President suddenly so concerned?

“They are currently developing a villa complex in the suburbs and have partnered with some of the city’s ‘Old Money.’ Our subsidiary is responsible for the raw materials. Do we need to do anything? However, it seems Master Yi also bought one of those villas…”

Assistant Jiang’s voice trailed off. Gu Jia only captured one keyword: Yi Sen.

The fire of anger in his heart began to burn. So, as far back as this, he and Lu Ming were already in the same boat. Gu Jia’s lips curled into a cold, dark arc.

Watching the President’s reaction in the reflection of the window, Jiang Mingze’s voice grew smaller. For some reason, he felt the President was different. If the previous Gu Jia was merely cold due to his high position, the current Gu Jia was.

After a long pause, Gu Jia’s chilling voice rang out: “Cut off all supplies. Delay them until their delivery deadline.”

Assistant Jiang’s pupils shook. “President Gu… this…”

Cutting off supplies would drive Lu Real Estate toward bankruptcy, but it would also cause a significant loss for the Gu Group. They would have to pay massive contract penalties and would inadvertently anger the scions of the elite families.

But Gu Jia turned around, his tone brooks no argument: “Is there anything else?”

“…”

Jiang Mingze opened his mouth and closed it again, bowing his head. Under Gu Jia’s gaze, he reported the last item: “Yesterday, the Miss of the Yi family went to the hospital, gave Master Yi a harsh scolding, and slammed the door as she left.”

“Oh?” A slight change finally entered the man’s voice. “What did she say? Let me hear it.”

Jiang Mingze coughed twice, pinched his throat, and tentatively held up a “delicate” finger in imitation: “…Yi Sen! You’re just a heartless, scumbag, lying playboy who falls for everyone you see!”

“…Mingze.”

Jiang Mingze lowered his head. “President Gu.”

“If you speak like that again, don’t bother coming in tomorrow.”

“…Yes, sir.”