After setting her phone down, Sophia felt strangely happy.
This Alex Lin was different. He felt sincere, grounded, able to joke freely without putting on the airs of a rich young master. Talking to him felt natural, light. Almost like playful flirting between lovers.
Before she realized it, she was looking forward to their dinner tonight.
Meanwhile, Alex put his phone away, a faint smile on his lips.
My wife is pursuing me again.
Even after so many years of marriage in their previous life, they still had to go through courting all over again. It felt amusing and sweet.
Back then, she had always been the one to take the initiative. He had been more aloof, focused on strengthening himself and dealing with the protagonist. But with time and companionship, even a heart of stone softens. Eventually, they had stood together and faced the world.
But this life would be different.
This time, they would move toward each other.
Alex got up, washed, and prepared for the most important task of a villain.
What is the purpose of a villain?
To deal with the protagonist, of course.
Life without a protagonist to torment would be unbearably dull.
Arriving at the hospital, he bought a bouquet of white carnations and entered Ethan Chen's ward with a solemn expression.
He placed the flowers in front of the bandaged patient.
"My condolences."
Ethan stared silently.
Alex blinked."Ah, wait. Wrong line."He cleared his throat."What I meant to say: stay positive and do not be gloomy."
Ethan stared even harder.
Could he not be gloomy?
He woke up only to see his worst enemy standing at his bedside. Anyone would want to scream.
Alex continued cheerfully, "The doctor says it's only a few broken ribs. Nothing serious. You are young and will recover. In two months you will be up and walking again. It will not affect your life too much."
Ethan's face darkened.
Two months in bed?
By then Alex and Sophia could already be having a child.
This rebirth felt worse than the original timeline.Before, he suffered humiliation but no physical harm.Now he was bedridden right from the start.
I am the protagonist. Why is my fate so tragic?
Through gritted teeth, Ethan forced a polite reply."Thank you. I really… appreciate it."
"You are welcome. We pride ourselves on helping others here. Doing good is a habit." Alex grinned."I like seeing you unable to stand me yet unable to shake me off."
He stood. "It is getting late. I won't disturb your rest. I have to go accompany my girlfriend."
Ethan froze. "…Girlfriend?"
"The woman who came with me yesterday to bring you here," Alex said casually. "Beautiful, gentle, intelligent. A man cannot afford to miss a woman like that. I am going to dinner with her now."
Ethan felt his blood pressure spike.
Already another dinner?Even in the previous life it took days for them to reach this stage.At this rate, intimacy was only days away.
He could not let this continue. Otherwise, once again he would be wearing a green hat, and worse — placed there by the same man.
"Wait!" Ethan called desperately. "Wait a minute!"
Alex turned back with a pleasant expression. "Yes?"
Ethan forced a smile. "Can you help me contact my senior brother?"
"Senior brother?"
"He is very important to me. A close brother."
Alex raised an eyebrow slightly.He knew exactly who Ethan meant — Dr. Simon Zhao, in his thirties, highly skilled, respected, and previously a key supporter of the protagonist. He had introduced Ethan to Sophia's hospital in the past, helping build his legend.
But in this life, Alex had already ruined that path — getting Simon fired, and Ethan expelled from the medical field entirely.
This would be entertaining to watch again.
"Of course," Alex said calmly. "No problem."
Half an hour later, a scholarly-looking man in his thirties rushed into the room. His eyes widened with grief and shock as he saw Ethan lying bandaged like a mummy.
"Junior brother, how did this happen? Who did this to you?"