Chapter 2: Fiancee?
He hadn't expected life to hand him such a perfect start, only for it to top that with a system. How was anyone else supposed to compete with that?
"System?" he asked inwardly.
A reply came instantly.
"I'm your system guide. You can call me Xiaoxi~"
Her voice was crisp and sweet, with a playful lilt that made it easy for Ling Yun to imagine a lively young girl bouncing through his thoughts.
"Congratulations on activating the Villain System. Before we begin, please choose how you want me to address you~"
Villain system?
Ling Yun's brow twitched.
He hadn't expected a system like this. The word "villain" usually didn't bode well. In dramas and novels, even if the villain wasn't cannon fodder, they never made it past the final chapter unscathed.
They always ended up crushed under the protagonist's heel.
He thought of his own background—his mysterious lineage, his powerful maternal family, and those elegant, dangerous women who shaped the elite circles of the empire. With all that in mind, the corners of his mouth twitched.
Before his thoughts could spiral further, Xiaoxi's voice cut in again, soft and sweet.
"Still there?"
"I'm here," he muttered, rubbing his temples. His mind churned through the implications, then settled into a calm decision. "Call me… big brother. I'm the youngest at home. Let me enjoy the illusion of having a little sister for once."
"Hehe~ big brother~"
That one word scattered the last of the clutter in his mind like wind chasing away fog.
Right. With a background like his, and now a system to back him up, so what if some so-called Protagonist wanted to change fate?
He didn't believe in miracles. He believed in control.
Why should some rags-to-riches orphan be able to overturn a legacy built over four generations? That kind of story might work in fiction, but in his world, there were consequences.
Not that he'd ever say such things aloud. Even the man he respected most once clawed his way up from the dirt, step by step to dominate the world.
"Because this is big brother's first time activating the system," Xiaoxi chimed cheerfully, "you've been awarded a special starter talent—Insight!"
"This ability lets you view detailed information about others, helping you spot Protagonists and Heroines in the crowd. You'll even be able to see their upcoming fortuitous encounters."
"So… I really am the villain?" Ling Yun leaned back on the couch, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
For twenty years, he thought the world revolved around him. Now he knew better.
"That's right~ But don't worry. With me here, big brother will have no problem cleaning up those pesky Protagonists!"
Xiaoxi's tone shifted slightly, a hint of gravity lacing her words. "Your world is full of Protagonists blessed by fate. They're like parasites, feeding off the world's fortune."
"If left unchecked, they'll consume everything until even the heavens collapse. It's your duty as the Villain to stop them."
"You can intercept their opportunities, steal their treasures, or even take away their women—whatever it takes to weaken their luck. Once their fortune hits zero, they'll lose their Protagonist status, and you'll earn special rewards."
Ling Yun crossed his legs, resting an arm on the back of the sofa. Through the open kitchen door, he could see Ye Hui's shapely figure moving around. Then he closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.
"What if I just kill them?"
"That works too~ When a Protagonist dies, they're automatically stripped of their status. But the reward depends on how much fortune they had left. The higher their luck at the time of death, the smaller the reward."
"I see."
For those who kept their heads down, he might let them live a little longer—for sport. But if any clown thought to step over him, he wouldn't hesitate to crush them outright.
Let the reward be small. His satisfaction would be worth far more.
"And big brother~ there are hidden easter eggs in the system. Trigger one and you'll get bonus rewards, so keep your eyes open!"
"How do I find these Protagonists?"
"Hehe, don't worry about that. As the Villain, fate will draw them and their Heroines will come right to your door. You'll know when the time comes~ Anyway, I won't bother you for now. Just call if you need Xiaoxi. I'll always be here!"
Just then, the kitchen door slid open.
Ye Hui walked out carrying a tray.
"Young master Ling, dinner's ready."
"Mhm."
He rose from the couch, his gaze lingering on her curves as she moved. Even the maid outfit she wore couldn't hide her flawless figure. On a whim, he activated Insight.
[Name: Ye Hui]
[Stats: 169, C☆]
[Affection: 93/100]
[Combat Power: 6 (average adult male = 10)]
[Special Trait – Eternal Heart (Purple): Once she gives her heart to someone, she'll never change. Increases that person's luck while they're together.]
[Fate Value: 1000]
Ling Yun blinked.
His mother hired her as domestic help. Yet she was a Heroine.
Ling Yun narrowed his eyes slightly, studying the numbers floating in his mind. That fate value which was 1000 wasn't low. Combined with a purple-tier talent like "Eternal Heart," it left no doubt in his mind.
His mother had hired a Heroine as their live-in housekeeper.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Could this be one of those stories where the dragon returns to find his wife and daughter working as maids, only to go berserk and bathe the imperial capital in blood?
He glanced at Ye Hui again. No ring on her finger. Not married. So how would that kind of storyline even work?
Maybe he was overthinking it.
He looked back at her stat line. The "169" was obviously her height. The "C"... well, some things didn't need to be spelled out. As for the star symbol next to it, and the affection meter—those he wasn't entirely sure about.
Almost like she could sense his confusion, Xiaoxi chimed in again, her voice playful.
"If someone's affection is over 90, it means they've fallen hard for you~ But if it's below 50, big brother, be careful—they probably don't think too highly of you. And if it drops below zero… that means they truly hate you. Don't take that lightly!"
"As for talent ranks, they go from White, to Blue, then Purple, Gold, and finally Red. The higher the rank, the rarer the trait!"
Ling Yun nodded absently as he took the chopsticks Ye Hui handed him. She sat down across from him, her expression calm but her posture polite.
She didn't start eating until he did.
He picked up a slice of meat and placed it into his bowl. Only then did Ye Hui begin to move, selecting a modest portion of vegetables from her side of the table, not once reaching across to his.
Her every motion was reserved, careful, almost too careful.
Ling Yun's thoughts stirred.
With a Heroine sitting right in front of him, why would he play it passive?
That wasn't his style.
"Hey, Sister Hui," he said, his voice casual.
"Hmm?" she paused, lowering her chopsticks.
He tilted his head and smiled. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Huh?" Her eyes widened. "Why… why do you ask that all of a sudden?"
The persona she usually wore in front of his mother returned in full force. She gripped the hem of her maid skirt and avoided his gaze, head tilted slightly as though trying to hide the blush creeping into her cheeks.
"I was just curious. If you don't want to say, it's fine…"
"I've never dated anyone," she said quietly, almost under her breath. "Not once."
"I figured." He didn't say the rest of what was on his mind, but the smile that played at the corners of his mouth told her enough.
Seeing his pleased expression, Ye Hui felt a strange flutter rise in her chest. She wanted to ask what he meant, but she didn't dare. She didn't want him to think she was some scheming woman trying to latch onto the son of a powerful family.
She didn't even know what kind of family the Bai clan was. She just thought he came from money—nothing more.
But somehow, they always got along. For over half a year, their relationship had been friendly and warm, yet always stopped short of crossing that line.
Today, though, something about Ling Yun felt different. He wasn't just being friendly. His gaze lingered more. His questions were bolder.
And his presence—there was something heavier about it, like the aura of someone who suddenly stepped into a role they were always meant to play.
If only her own home could be this peaceful...
The thought soured her mood and her smile faded, and a shadow crossed her eyes.
Ling Yun noticed immediately.
"What's wrong, Sister Hui?" He leaned forward slightly and, without thinking too much about it, reached out and gently held her hand.
She jolted slightly, her eyes flicking down to where their fingers touched. The warmth of his hand flooded her skin, and she froze—not in rejection, but in surprise.
She tried to pull back, twice, but he didn't let go. And somehow… she stopped trying.
"Young master Ling, I…" she hesitated, her voice soft, uncertain. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you. I just don't know if I should."
"Tell me." His voice was low, but steady.
Her affection rating was over 90, and he could feel it now—in the way her fingers trembled faintly in his grasp, in the way her lashes dipped shyly toward her plate.
He was no fool. With a girl like this by his side every day, someone beautiful and diligent, how could he not feel something?
And now, holding her soft hand, he could feel it even more clearly.
"I actually have… a fiancee."