Chapter 1#
Killing the villain, now is the perfect time.#
Late at night, the streetlights cast a cold white glow. The prosperous city had shed its daytime hustle and bustle, gradually sinking into silence.
Yet, just one door away inside “Fantasy,” it was another world entirely.
This was an old street; the outer courtyard walls remained in their original state, but the interior had been completely gutted and renovated. The screen wall had been turned into a wine cabinet clustered with postmodern designs, and the bar counter was made of German-imported Blue Gold Sand marble. The entire bar exuded a sense of low-key luxury, the kind that whispered of a “hermit hiding in the city.” Those who came and went were either rich or noble, while even more young men and women came here seeking “excitement.”
The lighting was dim, with only a few strands of ambiguous colored lights swirling around, grazing the profiles of embracing couples and heightening the heated atmosphere.
Alcohol magnified the heart’s desires, and the deafening music masked ear-reddening intimacies. Under a small patch of cold light, two women and a man sat in a circle, staring unblinkingly at the fluid movements of the man behind the bar, occasionally letting out small, supportive “wows.”
The young man behind the bar kept his eyes lowered, ignoring the scorching gazes around him. Even though he was being low-key enough, that exceptionally superior face and physique still brought him no small amount of trouble.
The man had a slender build. His slightly long hair fell past his neck, only vaguely revealing a few hints of cold, white skin. He bowed his head slightly, his features hidden in the shadows. His sleeves were casually rolled up a few turns, exposing lean and powerful forearms, the lines of his muscles faintly undulating with his movements.
Qin Mu skillfully poured the ice-blue liquid into a glass, the fluid shimmering under the cold white light.
The man’s fingers were long and slender, gleaming with a polished luster under the bar’s dim lighting. He held the glass, but before he could move, a soft, fair hand gently rested on the back of his.
Qin Mu lazily lifted his eyelids and glanced at the woman opposite him.
The woman wore a red slip dress, her seductive figure leaning forward slightly. Loose, voluminous waves draped over her shoulders. Her fingertips rubbed back and forth across the back of his hand with feigned nonchalance. Seeing him look up, she smiled, her eyes showing no hint of evasion; instead, they carried a trace of “must-have” determination.
Her red lips parted slightly as she leaned closer. “Hey handsome, how old are you?”
The corners of Qin Mu’s mouth curled into an arc. His “peach blossom” eyes were full of affection; he looked at everyone with an air of gentle devotion. He leaned forward slightly, his back arching into a smooth curve, muscles hidden beneath his white shirt looking poised to strike.
“Twenty-five.”
The woman’s eyes lit up. She tilted her head, leaning close to his ear, while her other hand held out a white card.
“I think I’m a little drunk… can you take me back to my hotel?”
The room card lay quietly on the counter. The adult world favored subtlety; the woman said no more, but her fingers, which had been lightly tapping, slowly slid down, the range of her stroking quietly expanding.
Qin Mu flashed an inscrutable smile, though the interest in his eyes gradually cooled. He straightened up, withdrew his hand without mercy, and steadily picked up the glass.
He left the woman stunned in place with only a single sentence: “I sell my craft, not my body.”
Then, he walked away with ease.
His tall figure vanished into the darkness within a few breaths.
Qin Mu turned onto the second floor, picked a spot at random, and sat down. His posture was relaxed, legs crossed, as he took a sip of the ice-blue drink.
The view from here was excellent. With just a slight downward glance, he could take in the movements of everyone on the first floor.
His gaze suddenly stopped. His fingertips tapped lightly against his knee, following a thin silhouette with leisurely interest.
A black vest cinched an excessively narrow waist, and white shirt sleeves were rolled to the elbows, revealing a section of forearm that was blindingly white in the dim light.
Even though the person was wearing the same ordinary waiter’s uniform, they somehow looked better in it. The frame was somewhat thin, but with a narrow waist and long legs, the mere sight of their back was enough to be alluring.
The person seemed to sense a gaze and suddenly turned their head.
A beam of light swept across his face, passing over in just a second.
It was this single second that allowed Qin Mu to see his face clearly.
Frays of hair swept across his brow, his nose was straight, and his lip color was very pale. Most striking were those eyes—the dark, bright pupils shone startlingly in the gloom, like a venomous snake poised to strike, cold and clammy.
Yet, in the next instant, they reverted to their original fragile and innocent appearance.
As if everything had just been Qin Mu’s eyes playing tricks on him.
Interesting.
Qin Mu tilted his head back, his Adam’s apple bobbing a few times as the crisp alcohol slid down his throat. The empty glass was placed casually on the table, the sharp clink quickly swallowed by the heat of the bar.
His gaze remained locked on that silhouette. Qin Mu lazily propped up his chin, his other hand tracing a virtual circle in the air, framing that person exactly within it. He whispered with a light chuckle:
“Caught you.”
The moment he saw Jian Yunchen, a mechanical voice suddenly rang out in his mind:
[Ding! Binding successful!]
[Target detected: The villain of this book, “Jian Yunchen.” Opening plot ending selection. Please make your choice within 5 seconds.]
An ice-blue transparent screen leaped out before his eyes.
Three options popped up in front of him:
[A. Kill him. (Success rate: Extremely low)]
[B. Reform him. (Success rate: Extremely high, default option)]
[C. Fall in love with him. (Host’s top choice, System recommended)]
[Penalty for mission failure: Soul erasure.]
Qin Mu looked down at the line “Soul erasure” and suddenly laughed.
The “Qin Mu” of this world had died in an accident three days ago, and this Qin Mu had taken advantage of the opening. This place wasn’t much different from his original world; the only difference, perhaps, was that this was a book.
A novel.
But then again, there was no real difference, because it wasn’t until the moment of his death that Qin Mu realized the world he had lived in for most of his life was also just a book.
And he had been the big villain of that book.
The protagonist’s power couldn’t suppress him. The world had restarted several times, only to collapse unexpectedly under his interference.
Qin Mu tossed a mint into his mouth. Soon, the cool air mixed with a hint of sweetness diluted the lingering bitterness in his throat.
On the brink of death, he had been picked up by System 77.
They made a deal: as long as Qin Mu could complete the tasks in this world and bring the story back on track, he would get a chance to live again.
He would never have to be suppressed by that so-called “protagonist halo” again.
Nor would he have to carry the status of a “villain” and do those wicked things against his will.
Qin Mu naturally nodded. A chance to live again—there was no downside for him anyway.
However, there was one thing 77 might have gotten wrong.
He had never been suppressed by the protagonist’s halo, let alone acted against his will.
Every single thing he did was something he wanted to do.
For example, right now—
Qin Mu lowered his eyes and spoke calmly: “I choose A.”
77: ……
Right now, the villain hadn’t even begun to turn villainous yet; he still had a youthful, green appearance.
Qin Mu had no sense of propriety or shame, only the thought of taking someone’s life while they were down.
Killing the villain—now is the perfect time.