The Anti-Villain Redemption Mission - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Xie Zheng and I entered the Xie Family home, both of us still sporting red marks on our faces.

Grandpa Xie was waiting for us. Having heard he had a new granddaughter-in-law, he was eager to meet me.

Xie Zheng’s Stepmother was with him, sitting quietly to one side with her eyes downcast, looking quite submissive.

I was dressed very simply, and I thought I’d be looked down upon. Instead, the old man seemed to appreciate a pauper like me. “Look at that. Where do you find such simple and unpretentious kids these days?”

Old man, open your eyes and look at the world. Every pauper in this world is just as simple and unpretentious as I am.

“Eh? Why are there red marks on your faces?” Grandpa Xie suddenly asked.

I smiled and touched my cheek. “We usually like to mess around. I’m sorry you have to see us like this, Grandpa.”

Hearing this, Xie Zheng’s Stepmother turned pale. She slowly stood up. “Dad, I’m not feeling well. I’ll head back now.”

“Go on, go on. Always sickly and listless,” the old man said with a frown of impatience, clearly not very fond of her.

Before she left, she glanced at the Great Philanthropist. Her gaze held a hint of resentment before she quickly withdrew it, but I caught it nonetheless.

Previously, I had thought this was some plot where a stepmother hires a hitman to kill her stepson. I didn’t expect it to be a scene straight out of ‘Thunderstorm’.

Unfortunately for her, while the mistress had feelings, the man did not; Xie Zheng never spared her a single glance.

I chatted with the old man for a while until he grew tired. Xie Zheng helped him to rest, and the Butler led me to our room.

As soon as I stepped inside, I froze.

The black curtains were drawn tight, the carpet was black, the bed was black, and even the wardrobe was black. This was very unfriendly to someone like me who prefers hot pink bedsheets.

I turned to the Butler and asked from the bottom of my heart, “This looks like hell. It’s so dark. Can I not stay here?”

“Are you not staying with the Young Master? The Madam said you two have a good relationship, so she deliberately didn’t prepare a guest room.”

I smiled and shook my head. “Our relationship isn’t that great. Could I trouble you to…”

Before I could finish, Xie Zheng walked up from behind and interrupted me. “Uncle Zhao, she’s staying with me. You can head back.”

With that, the Young Master gave me a slight smile. “Baby, don’t make jokes like that in the future, or people will think we’re scammers.”

Under his thumb, I had no choice but to swallow my pride. Reluctantly, I walked into the room that was so dark I could barely see a person.

The door closed firmly. Xie Zheng turned on the lights, but that didn’t stop my face from being full of resentment. “You didn’t say we’d be staying together before we came.”

“Aren’t you going to make me fall in love with you?” Xie Zheng walked past me, slowly taking off his watch. He spoke with a casual air. “Living together day and night, maybe you’ll succeed.”

I didn’t think this psychopath would fall in love with me, nor did I think I had that kind of charm.

But since I was already here, I just had to make the best of it.

“Then are you sleeping in the same bed as me?” I asked the most crucial question.

The Young Master sat down calmly, took a glass from the liquor cabinet, and produced a bottle of wine that looked extremely expensive. He poured himself a glass. “You can sleep on the floor or the sofa, but I definitely won’t be sleeping on the floor or the sofa.”

I immediately sneered. “Fine, then we sleep together. Don’t regret it if I snore, grind my teeth, and fart at night.”

“Mhm.” Xie Zheng was as calm as could be. He slowly added, “Just don’t be scared if I sleepwalk in the middle of the night.”

A worthy opponent indeed.

The wine on the table looked expensive, so I angrily poured myself a glass.

This wine must be incredibly pricey. It would be a waste not to drink it!

It was my first time drinking foreign liquor, so I downed it in one go.

Xie Zheng glanced at me but said nothing.

“What kind of crap wine is this? It’s so bitter. Bitter and spicy.” I choked, taking a long time to recover.

After a moment, my chest felt hot and my consciousness grew a bit hazy.

I sat down next to Xie Zheng and stared at his face, the words I wanted to say slipping my mind.

After a while, I finally remembered. I reached out, cupping his face, and cried out in surprise, “I remember! I wanted to tell you-you’re actually quite well-endowed!”

Xie Zheng slapped my hands away, his ears turning beet red. “What nonsense are you talking about?!”

I took the opportunity to urge him, “Look at you! You’re rich, good-looking, highly educated, and your… physical assets are very impressive. What’s there to be so depressed about?”

I thought about my own messed-up life, which was a complete joke compared to others, and sighed. “I can’t even imagine what you have to worry about.”

I suddenly remembered the Great Philanthropist’s future. “Whatever you do, don’t tell me you’re suffering from unrequited love. Your dad’s gonna kick the bucket sooner or later anyway, so your best days are still ahead of you.”

Xie Zheng finally snapped out of it and shoved me away.

I flopped lightly onto the sofa.

Fine. Wherever I fall is where I’ll sleep for a bit.

“Don’t you dare sleep.” Xie Zheng patted my cheek. “Tell me, what else do you know?”

I suddenly felt so wronged. Sleeping was practically my only joy. Between working and studying, I never got enough sleep before, so why can’t I sleep now?

Feeling utterly miserable, I asked him, “Why can’t I sleep? I haven’t had a good night’s rest in forever.”

Xie Zheng frowned, his voice softening slightly. “Tell me everything, then I’ll let you sleep.”

“What did the System tell you?”

I thought about it. “He said you’ll destroy the world in the future and no one can stop you. He also said you’re petty and vengeful, cold-blooded and ruthless. He told me to love you, to fill your heart with love and sunshine. He told me to be good to you and to be your redemption.”

“Anything else?”

I closed my eyes again, intending to sleep. “No more.”

Xie Zheng picked me up, forcing me to stay awake. “Did anyone tell you to assassinate me? Is the System a code name? Where is he?”

This guy is way too suspicious.

“No.” I was forced to open my eyes. “The System is just the System. He’s crashed now and isn’t contacting me anymore. How should I know?”

I leaned against his shoulder, unable to help myself from complaining. “Do you have a Paranoid Delusion? Do you think the whole world is your enemy? In this world, I’m the only one obligated to be good to you, and yet you don’t even cherish it.”

Xie Zheng stopped talking.

I was drowsy, but I felt something was off.

Why was I answering everything he asked?

Is this what they call the truth coming out after drinking?

Whatever, time to sleep.

I had a terrifying dream.

I dreamed I was being squeezed to death by a giant python.

The large black python was thick and powerful, coiling itself around my entire body.

It didn’t eat me; it just waited for me to slowly suffocate to death.

*No, no!*

This death-like feeling of suffocation felt incredibly real.

I kept reaching out, struggling desperately to break free.

“Help! Don’t eat me!” At the critical moment, I finally screamed. One of my hands broke free, and I delivered a sharp slap right to the python’s big head.

A crisp smack echoed in my ears.

My palm felt slightly warm.

I slowly opened my eyes, looking dazed.

Xie Zheng was holding me in his arms in an extremely intimate position. His head was buried in my hair, as if he were smelling me.

“What are you doing?” I was speechless.

His expression didn’t change, nor did he try to explain himself as he slowly let go.

There was a clear red handprint on Xie Zheng’s fair face.

Just as I was about to ask if he was trying to murder me, the Butler knocked on the door. “The Master wants to see both of you.”

***

Yes, he had a Paranoid Delusion.

He had this problem since he was a child. Even after a period of treatment, he still constantly felt like someone was out to get him.

After Qiao Lan fell asleep in his arms, Xie Zheng thought it over but still didn’t let go.

She had a comforting scent; as long as he held her, he felt safe.

At first, he only wanted to hold her for a little while.

He didn’t know how it had evolved into such a tight grip.

When the slap landed, Xie Zheng was briefly stunned. He looked down.

Their eyes met, and Xie Zheng suddenly thought she looked quite cute. Her eyes were bright, like a puppy’s.

He wanted to laugh, but he held it back.

Because if Qiao Lan knew what he was thinking, she would definitely jump up and hit him on the head.

She was feisty, acting as if she weren’t afraid of anything.

Qiao Lan walked ahead of him. Even though she had never been here or met his father, she carried herself with confidence, as if she could solve any problem.

Xie Zheng followed closely behind her.