Wen xueqing eyes flew open. The pain wracking her body was receding like a tide, but the frantic beating of her heart told her she had just died a painful death. The scene before her was entirely different from the rental room where she died.
The decor was simple yet exuded an understated luxury. The crystal chandelier was dazzlingly bright, its massive crystals cut into countless brilliant facets.
Well, Heaven's craftsmanship is top-notch, huh?
Before she could even process it all, a flood of memories that didn't belong to her rushed in.
After mulling it over for three minutes, she finally had a realization.
Holy shit!
Wasn't this the universally adored protagonist novel she'd been reading to kill time before she died?
And it seemed she had transmigrated into the body of a death-seeking cannon fodder who had recklessly tried to seduce the main top.
The original owner of this body was an orphan who had lived with her aunt's family since she was a child. After graduating from a third-rate university, she entered the entertainment industry because of her decent looks.
By a stroke of luck, she ended up in the same film crew as Gu yen, the love interest of the universally adored female, Zhou yunyi. She then fell madly in love with a Gu yen. The outcome was that one of the universally adored protagonist's fanboys paid her greedy aunt's family three million to trick the original owner into marrying the story universally loathed character, Hou yuancheng.
On the very day she was married off, the original owner had thrown a fit, insulting the universally loathed Hou yuancheng by calling him a vicious old man.
But who was Hou yuancheng?
Although the story was nearing its end and the main characters had already defeated him, he was once a legend in the business world. He had single-handedly founded a chip company in college that became famous both at home and abroad, more than decoupling the Zhou family's market value in just two years.
He was ruthless, indifferent, and put profits above all else. If it weren't for the fact that he, as the adopted son of the Zhou family, had become an enemy of the universally adored protagonist, the legitimate daughter Zhou yunyi, and had stabbed her at her birthday banquet, he wouldn't have had everything confiscated by the Zhou family and been sent away to this suburban villa.
Although Hou yuancheng, who suffered from a severe stomach condition, was physically weak, a man with eight hundred schemes up his sleeve could easily dispose of a dramatic cannon fodder.
The original owner, with her foul mouth and bottomless capacity for courting death, had successfully gotten herself killed off within a month of moving in.
To make matters worse, Wen xueqing's current timeline was the day after she had been married off.
Wen xueqing shivered. This was no place to linger. If not now, when would she run? She had just been given a new life and absolutely couldn't cash in her chips this early!
She threw off the covers and sat up with a sudden jolt. As her feet hit the floor and she tried to stand, her mind went blank. A wave of dizziness robbed her of all her strength.
Thud!
A sharp pain shot through her knees, as her knees hit the ground.
At that moment, a hurried knock sounded at the door. Wen xueqing subconsciously called out, "Come in."
The door slowly opened to reveal an elegant-looking uncle in a well-tailored suit with gray hair. This must be Uncle Hou, the last remaining servant and butler of the villa. However, his expression was incredibly complicated.
Wen xueqing felt her knees throb even more painfully!
"Um, are you all right, Ms.Wen?" Uncle Hou looked like he wanted to help her up, but he only moved his left foot before retracting it.
Hmph! Men are all talk and no action! Wen xueqing's glare at that moment could rival that of a bitter old woman who had lived for eighty years.
But still…
"Why does he look so scared of me?
Wen xueqing carefully replayed the events of the previous day in his mind.
Right.
She had been tricked into coming here yesterday. When she found out she was married to Zhou yunyi's universally loathed brother, she had immediately thrown a tantrum, crying and screaming for a divorce while hurling a torrent of insults at Hou yuancheng.
But no matter how much the original owner had kicked up a fuss yesterday, the target of her insults never appeared in the living room. That showed just how high-level her opponent was.
Wen xueqing felt the legs she had just managed to prop herself up on about to give way again. It's one thing to offend a gentleman, but offending a villain is a whole other story! If she ran away now, would she be secretly targeted?
A shiver ran down Wen xueqing's spine. After all, she had met an early, regrettable end precisely because she had offended a villain!
Before Wen xueqing could come up with an excuse, the man across from her sighed.
"Ms. Wen, I understand how you feel. It must be frustrating to be married to the current master with only one million a month in pocket money. If you can't stand it, I will persuade the master to divorce you. I just ask that you please refrain from shouting like that at night. The master's health is poor, and he had just managed to fall asleep at that time."
"…How much?" For the first time, Wen xueqing doubted her own hearing. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were filled with disbelief and shock.
Although Uncle Hou found it strange, he maintained his professionalism. "One—"
"You want me to leave my beloved husband?" Wen xueqing's eyes quickly reddened. Back in her film academy days, her crying scenes were considered textbook examples.
She was crying, but it wasn't a loud wail. Her eyes turned, and even the tip of her nose was tinged with pink. Glistening tears welled up, finally landing on her long lower lashes, turning her eyes a misty gray. Her pink, curly hair no longer looked so unconventional; instead, it added a touch of youthfulness, making her look even more pitiful.
Even the experienced Uncle Yan felt a pang in his heart. If Wen xueqing hadn't thrown a tantrum the moment she walked in the door yesterday and said so many awful things, he almost would have believed she was genuinely in love with the master!
"Um, Ms. Wen, didn't you just say yesterday…"
"I'm shy around strangers,"Wen xueqing quickly added.
Uncle Hou's expression was extremely complex. He felt as if Wen xueqing was taking his intelligence and grinding it into the dirt.
Being so shy around strangers that you call your marriage partner a fucking idiot seemed a bit far-fetched. But one million a month for getting married!. Based on her earning potential after leaving the entertainment industry, she could earn a lifetime's worth of money in just two and a half months!
Why would she get a divorce? So what if her partner had an unpredictable temper?
What boss out in the working world is ever pleasant to you and provides every meal? The key was that you couldn't get this kind of treatment even with scoldings and overtime. Here, she was a wife; out there, she'd have to be a grandchild!
Her still-sluggish brain began to spin rapidly. Based on the original owner's persona, what was the most plausible reason for her to say?
As the atmosphere grew tense, Wen xueqing slowly said, "I… I saw a show called 'Mom Teaches You How to Love.' It said you have to use the a whip and a candy approach with your partner. That way, they'll treat you like it's your first love. And the host also said that men like it a little spicy." After saying this, Wen xueqing was so embarrassed she had to lower her head.
Before the wave of shame could pass, she caught a glimpse of a pair of gray house slippers appearing at the doorway.
Looking up, she saw a man in well-tailored casual suit pants and a white V-neck long-sleeved shirt. His collarbones were deep, and his skin was so fair it seemed to glow.
A small mole on his neck added a touch of beauty. His jawline was sharp, and his pale, thin lips were pressed into a straight line. His eyes were deep and his gaze sharp, exuding an unfathomable aura.
He just looked extremely thin, and his face had a sickly pallor, his whole presence radiating a heavy sense of detachment.
The sickliness alone erased much of his stern aura, but still…
Damn! Are all universally loathed characters this ridiculously hot these days?"
Wen xueqing's heart skipped a beat. He was so damn handsome! The novel had mentioned that all the servants had resigned because of Hou yuancheng's terrible personality.
Wait, that wasn't the point. Her million-a-month salary depended on this moment!
Uncle Hou, who had just been shocked speechless by Wen xueqing, saw Hou yuancheng and walked towards him as if he'd seen his savior.
"Master, I was just discussing the matter of divorce with Ms. Wen, but—"
Wen xueqing clasped her hands and stepped forward, her eyes full of affection and a hint of red at the corners, looking exactly like a young girl experiencing her first love. She opened her mouth and said,
"Hubby, you're here~"
The two men opposite her fell into a strange silence.
Suddenly, Hou yuancheng covered his mouth and started coughing, an unhealthy flush appearing on his pale face.
"Master, why did you come out without a jacket?" Uncle Hou's tone was reproachful, momentarily forgetting everything else.
Hou yuancheng averted his gaze and said in a low, indifferent voice, "I won't die." He said it as if he wasn't talking about his own body.
Just as he finished speaking, before Uncle Hou could go to Hou yuancheng's room to get a coat, a fluffy brown cardigan was draped over Hou yuancheng's shoulders.
Hou yuancheng looked down. A fluffy pink head was right at the tip of his nose, and there was a faint, pleasant scent.
Yan Shengping was about 190 centimeters tall. For Lin Ganzhi, who was 175 centimeters stood on her tiptoes the act of draping the cardigan over him took considerable effort. The pain in her knee hurt like a bitch.
But that didn't matter. As an outstanding employee, one must shield the boss from the wind and rain, offer popsicles in the summer, and provide sweaters in the winter!
Hou yuancheng paused for only a second before quickly taking a step back. "Wen xueqing, what are you plotting?" His tone was filled with not just distance, but also disgust.
Wen xueqing rubbed her hands together. "Bringing you warmth." She looked up, her round almond eyes shining, determined to out-sparkle the large crystal beads in the room!
A crack appeared in Hou yuancheng's icy expression. He parted his lips. "There's no need for such hypocrisy!"
His words were sharp and direct, leaving Wen xueqing with no face at all.
With that, Hou yuancheng yanked the cardigan from his shoulders. The soft texture made him hesitate for a mere second before he gripped the edge of the garment tightly, his long finger bones turning pale. Then, he flung the cardigan away with force.
Wen xueqing instinctively closed her eyes, praying that her boss would go easy on her when he threw it. She hadn't eaten for a day and a night; her legs were already jelly!
But the expected pain never came. When Wen xueqing opened her eyes, all she saw was Hou yuancheng's retreating back. The cardigan lay quietly on the decorative sofa by the door.
Wen xueqing stared at the cardigan on the sofa, stunned. Did he just not have the heart to throw it at me?
Was this really the universally loathed character with eight hundred schemes up his sleeve from the book?
Uncle Hou looked at the cardigan with a complicated expression. It seemed the master was serious about driving Wen xueqing away.
After being humiliated like this, the proud Wen xueqing would surely leave without a second thought. He decided not to go out for groceries later and just send the young lady home first. After all, it was hard to get a taxi in the suburbs.
"Ms. Wen," Uncle Hou began in a comforting tone.
Wen xueqing blinked. The redness on her nose hadn't faded, but a pink blush was creeping up her cheeks.
She said in a soft voice, "He cares about me."
Uncle Hou froze on the spot. "Um, Ms.Wen, I don't think that's what the master meant."
"Uncle Hou, you're being too formal. I'm already married to Yuancheng . You can just call me Xueqing." Wen xueqing quickly integrated herself into the family.
She mentally recited a short story she had learned in school, "The Chameleon." Education was great; you could apply what you learned on the spot.
Uncle Hou frowned.
Based on the principle that since the master hadn't verbally kicked her out, he, as a servant, shouldn't meddle. Uncle Hou silently accepted the fact that Wen xueqing would be staying for the time being.
Perhaps the girl was just having trouble adjusting, which was why she was so temperamental. Looking at him today, wasn't she much more well-behaved?
The ever-optimistic Uncle Hou ended up leading Wen xueqing downstairs to the dining room, introducing the purpose of each room along the way.
The villa wasn't large. There were three rooms upstairs, with a hollowed-out railing in the middle that allowed a direct view of the first floor. A U-shaped staircase on both sides made the small villa feel much more spacious.
Wen xueqing room was in the middle. Uncle Hou pointed to the innermost room and said, "That's the master's bedroom. The outermost one is his study. The master usually spends his days reading in the study."
Wen xueqing followed Uncle Hou like a little chick, nodding as her walked. She understood Uncle Hou's unspoken meaning: if you need to see the boss, go to the study.
"My room is on the inner side of the first floor. If you need anything at night, Xueqing, you can find me there."
They walked all the way downstairs. The first floor was paved with marble, with a color scheme dominated by gray and white. The villa's main door was wide open, revealing a small lawn outside, enclosed by a fence. In the distance, one could see a cluster of low-rise villas, each separated by a large distance. She really had been banished to the suburbs.
But wasn't this the retirement life Wen xueqing had always dreamed of.
A grin spread across Wen xueqing's face, and she almost laughed out loud.
On the dining table on the first floor, four dishes and a soup were already laid out. Wen xueqing's eyes immediately lit up, having not eaten such a sumptuous meal in a long time.
Braised pork ribs, pickled fish, salt-baked shrimp, blanched bok choy, cumin beef.
Wen xueqing reached up to wipe the drool from the corner of her mouth, but her eyes couldn't help but turn red.
This time, the tears were real.
In her past life, she had died of stomach cancer. She had no family, no friends, and had even been stripped of her job. She could only lie in a cold, damp basement, unable to afford the five or six thousand yuan-a-bottle medication, just waiting to die.
She had wanted one last good meal, but her mouth had long lost its sense of taste. The poorly soundproofed room constantly echoed with the quarrels of the neighbors across the way and the crying of their children, keeping her awake all night. During the day, it was the clanging of machinery from a nearby construction site.
After three months of torment, she hadn't felt a single shred of warmth until the moment she died.
"Xueqing, why are you crying?" Uncle Hou was startled by Wen xueqing. How could this kid, who was just bouncing with excitement a moment ago, suddenly burst into tears? He quickly pulled out a tissue.
Wen xueqing took it with red eyes and a thank you. She held the tissue to her nose and blew loudly, the sound echoing through the empty living room.
"It's been a long time since I've felt at home. I'm sorry you had to see that, Uncle Hou."
Wen xueqing's forced, brave smile made Uncle Hou's heart ache. This child, he had heard, was raised by her aunt after her parents passed away when she was young. She was a pitiful one, too.
"Don't be polite, Xueqing. Go on and eat." Uncle Hou quickly busied himself, his actions now carrying more sincerity than they had upstairs.
Wen xueqing immediately sat down. Her nine years of compulsory education had trained her to blink her eyes and wait patiently to begin eating.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes.
Uncle Hou found it strange. "Xueqing, why aren't you eating?"
Wen xueqing was even more confused. "Isn't my husband coming down to eat?"
She looked at Uncle Yan with hopeful eyes, resembling a little wife eagerly anticipating a life with Hou yuancheng.
Uncle Hou sighed,"The master hasn't come down for a meal since we moved here. I've been trying to persuade him for two or three months. He even eats only once a day."
Wen xueqing froze. Her top, who suffered from a severe stomach condition, was also an unparalleled drama queen? Wasn't this just a blatant attempt to shorten her work contract?
This was absolutely intolerable!!