After Ten Years as a Villain, I Returned 24

Chapter 24

The expert woke with a start, about to curse whoever had disturbed his sleep, then froze, his eyes widening at the dark figure looming over him.

“Who are you?! You’re trespassing! I’m calling the police!” He fumbled for his phone, a flicker of relief quickly extinguished as he found himself, in the next instant, in a dark, empty space.

He landed hard on his backside.

Ouch!

“Heh, a scammer calling the police?” A cold voice echoed through the darkness, a faint light illuminating the space.

The expert gulped, his eyes widening in terror.

The seemingly boundless darkness stretched endlessly beyond the small circle of light. Where the hell was he?

And… scammer?

A thought struck him. Was this the idiot who had paid him a fortune for relationship advice?

Holy shit! He’s serious?!

“It was just a bit of harmless deception, wasn’t it? No need to go this far!” The expert’s intestines churned with regret. He should have given him the correct advice from the start! Now he might not live to spend his earnings!

“No need? You’re the first to dare deceive me.” Gu Chi sneered, raising his hand.

The aura of death washed over the expert. He immediately groveled, his mind racing: “Wait, wait! I can redeem myself! Please give me a chance! This time, I promise, no more deception!”

“If it doesn’t work, you can kill me then!”

Gu Chi’s killing intent receded slightly. The offer was reasonable. The man had already sworn an oath, his life in his hands. If he proved useful, delaying his demise wasn’t a problem.

A minute later, the expert, wiping the sweat from his brow, breathed a sigh of relief. He vowed to abandon his deceitful ways! If I even have a future…

He forced himself to ignore the unsettling surroundings, focusing on his client’s demands.

The idiot—no, the esteemed client’s request was simple: a sweet and lasting relationship with his apprentice.

His previous inexperience and misguided advice had nearly backfired.

“And the current situation is…?” he asked cautiously.

Gu Chi’s expression softened as he mentioned Wen Linyu: “He’s not very angry.”

Of course he’s not, the expert thought. I know he deliberately seduced you, and you— He stopped himself, cold sweat trickling down his back again. If this demon knew what he had missed, he would be dead.

He wiped his sweat and asked what Gu Chi wanted most right now.

Gu Chi wasn’t sure. If he had to choose: “I want Wen Linyu to give me a gift. And I want him to pay more attention to me.”

He was still sulking about Wen Xi taking the little bird Wen Linyu had made. He hadn’t received anything!

The expert nodded: “That’s easy.”

Gu Chi looked at him expectantly. The expert, under pressure, continued: “Directly asking isn’t the best approach. Of course, he would likely comply, but it lacks… finesse. And since you’re still in the ‘atonement’ phase, asking for a gift isn’t appropriate. Instead, you should give him a gift.”

“It doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant, it’s the thought that counts. As for attention… if you’ll pardon my boldness!”

The expert hesitantly looked at Gu Chi’s physique. He was undeniably handsome, with sharp features and a model-like figure. Attracting attention wouldn’t be a problem.

“Novelty,” the expert concluded.

The next morning, Wen Linyu woke to a delicate, unfamiliar floral scent. He opened his eyes to see a sprig of light purple flowers on his bedside table. These weren’t ordinary flowers, but a type of spiritual plant with auspicious symbolism.

They were called Star Fortune Flowers, symbolizing good luck. They bloomed only once a year, under the brightest stars. Most were black, inconspicuous in the night, but the purple variety was rare, emitting a faint starlight in dim light, and never wilting. Their subtle fragrance brought good fortune, living up to their name.

In Gu Chi’s world, many cultivators crafted them into accessories, essential for talisman creation and artifact refining.

Wen Linyu had seen many such accessories and artifacts during his ten years there, but this was the first time he had seen the actual flower. His cultivation path didn’t require such items.

The purple flowers bloomed in full splendor, not a single petal falling even after being picked. The petals were tiny, each one shaped like a star upon closer inspection.

Wen Linyu’s eyes reflected the starlight, a smile curving his lips.

A gift of good fortune first thing in the morning?

After admiring the flowers for a while, he got up. After washing up, he searched the entire villa, finding an antique vase that perfectly complemented the flowers.

The butler watched, speechless. That vase was one of Mr. Wen’s most prized possessions, acquired for ninety million, only displayed on special occasions. And now it was being used for… these unknown flowers?!

But Mr. Wen wasn’t home, and he didn’t dare to object.

Wen Linyu returned to his room with the vase. Gu Chi wasn’t there.

They hadn’t slept together last night. Gu Chi had claimed he wasn’t worthy of sharing Wen Linyu’s bed during his “atonement” period.

Wen Linyu hadn’t protested.

Seduction was a subtle art, winning the heart was the ultimate goal.

He had been too insecure before. It seemed his place in his teacher’s heart was more significant than he had thought.

Gu Chi hadn’t gone to another room in the villa. As he had told the butler, he didn’t need a separate room. His interspatial ring was vast, containing everything he needed. A bed was merely a place to rest, and with his cultivation level, sleep wasn’t even necessary.

Wen Linyu placed the vase on the table and turned to see Gu Chi appear.

He stared, momentarily captivated.

Gu Chi’s attire was different today. His wardrobe consisted entirely of dark grays and blacks, his usual style reflecting his villainous persona, a statement of power and danger.

But today, he was dressed casually, his clothes lighter in color, even his eyes seemed softer. This was a Gu Chi he had never seen before.

Gu Chi tugged at his collar, slightly self-conscious: “What? Is it strange?”

Wen Linyu shook his head: “No, it looks good.”

Gu Chi’s lips curved into a smile. Sparing that scammer’s life seemed to have been a good decision.

They went downstairs for breakfast. Just as they sat down, they heard a car pull up outside.

Someone was back.

Wen Linyu waited. It was Wen Cheng. He looked even worse than before, his face ashen, as if his life force had been drained, his cheeks and hands gaunt, his legs still confined to the wheelchair.

He looked exhausted, as if he hadn’t slept all night. Seeing Wen Linyu and Gu Chi having breakfast, he couldn’t help but say: “Brother, you still have an appetite?”

Wen Linyu took another bite of food, looking at him, his expression questioning why he wouldn’t.

Wen Cheng faltered. His parents had treated Wen Linyu so poorly. Their misfortune shouldn’t concern him. He might even be celebrating. But… “Wen Xi isn’t doing well either.”

Wen Linyu’s hand paused.

Gu Chi said: “You’re dying, and she’s dying too.”

Wen Cheng was startled, then glared at Gu Chi: “What are you talking about? It’s just an illness, it’s not that serious!”

Gu Chi scoffed, ignoring him.

Wen Linyu slowly asked: “Don’t you find it… too coincidental that you and Wen Xi share birthdays with them?”

“And your legs, why are they suddenly like this? When Wen Hongbo’s leg was injured, yours were fine. Now his leg is healed, and you’re the one crippled.”

Wen Cheng felt a jolt, his body breaking out in a cold sweat.

He recalled visiting Wen Hongbo in the hospital. His father had praised him, saying adopting him was the best decision he had ever made, that he was far superior to his own biological son, and that he would leave him a substantial inheritance.

He had been touched, then he had heard Wen Hongbo lamenting his deteriorating leg, fearing his days were numbered.

On a whim, Wen Cheng had said: “I wish I could bear this burden for you, Father.”

Wen Hongbo had smiled then, a smile that now seemed strangely sinister. After that, Wen Hongbo’s condition had improved, while his own had worsened.

The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became.

Wen Xi’s situation was eerily similar. She had returned to visit Lin Wanshow in the hospital, and just like him, Lin Wanshow had recovered, while Wen Xi fell ill.

They had dismissed it as a coincidence. Now, it seemed too much of a coincidence.

He didn’t want to believe it, but Wen Linyu’s basement room, and all the strange occurrences recently, made him question everything.

Had he been brought into this family with ulterior motives from the start?

Wen Cheng felt like his world was collapsing. He cared about this family, he truly saw them as his parents. To learn that he had been used all along… how could he accept that?

Wen Linyu didn’t elaborate, nor did he offer any comfort.

Whether he helped them or not was their decision.

After breakfast, Wen Linyu had things to do. He hadn’t visited the address he had obtained from the Wu family yet. He needed to know who was behind all this.