Become the Sickly Villain in the Novel - Chapter 36

The time for fun lasted only one day.

The next day, Li Yan reluctantly went to work. Due to his absence yesterday afternoon, he was sure to be working overtime today.

Wrapping up unfinished work wasn’t an easy task.

Indeed, people shouldn’t indulge themselves.

A moment of pleasure always comes with a price.

Still, he enjoyed spending time with his brother yesterday.

Not long after he left, Li Nuo also got up. His part-time job this month didn’t allow for any days off; he had to go every day.

In the afternoon, close to the end of his shift, Li Nuo unexpectedly saw the store owner walk into the café.

“Sister Yun,” he greeted her.

Yun Jin, however, looked him over carefully, circling him twice and clicking her tongue in amazement.

Then, she waved him over to step out from behind the counter.

Su Xing, standing nearby, gave him a little shove. “Go on, when the boss calls you, you’d better go, or she might dock your pay.”

Li Nuo came over with a cup of coffee.

“I heard that guy’s been coming by to see you the last few days?”

He was taken aback. “Who?”

“Mo Chuan. He saw your photo on my phone and was stunned.”

Li Nuo understood. No wonder Mo Chuan had mentioned hearing about me from Sister Yun.

“Yes, Director Mo has been coming by the past couple of days. Director Qin came by yesterday too.”

“Director Qin?” Yun Jin’s face showed a thoughtful expression. Among the people surnamed Qin who would appear with Mo Chuan…

“Director Qin Xu, do you know him, Sister Yun?”

Yun Jin nearly spat out her coffee. The image of a cold, ruthless face and piercing gaze flashed through her mind.

She shuddered slightly as if to shake off some eerie chill.

So it really was Qin Xu, she thought, understanding dawning on her.

But why would Qin Xu come to my café?

To see Mo Chuan?

Or maybe…

She lifted her gaze, looking at the young man seated across from her. His face was still as strikingly handsome, gentle, and soft as ever. Even though he had been working for hours and a hint of fatigue appeared between his brows, he remained incredibly attractive.

“Do you know Qin Xu?” Yun Jin asked curiously.

“In a way, we’ve met a few times,” Li Nuo replied cautiously.

This character wasn’t mentioned in the novel, so he didn’t know what relationship she had with Qin Xu. Even if she was his boss, it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

Seeing his hesitant expression, Yun Jin couldn’t help but laugh. “Relax, I have no desire to get involved with Qin Xu. That guy is definitely not my type, and he’s scary, don’t you think? Those eyes…”

Saying this, she glanced at Li Nuo several more times. Wasn’t one Mo Chuan enough? Qin Xu had gotten involved too?

That cold-faced god of death, Qin Xu?

She didn’t know whether to say he was charming or just unlucky.

Li Nuo had no idea what Yun Jin was thinking. He nodded seriously, acknowledging the sentiment.

Although he wasn’t afraid of him now, he still found Qin Xu’s gaze unsettling.

It made him wonder how someone like Qin Xu could tolerate Mo Chuan’s frivolous nature.

“Anyway, I don’t know how you got to know those two, but be careful,” Yun Jin said, setting down her cup. “Don’t mind me for saying this, but I have a feeling you’ll regret it someday.”

“Regret it?”

“It’s obvious that you’ve caught his attention,” Yun Jin leaned in and said, “Although Mo Chuan seems gentle, I’ve never seen him take romance seriously—not in high school, not even now.”

After Yun Jin said this, she straightened up, looking at Li Nuo, who in turn had a strange expression and blinked at her.

“What’s with the flirty look? I like your face, but not your age,” Yun Jin said, puzzled.

“Uh—” Li Nuo’s gaze was on her, but not focused; it was on something behind her.

A shiver went down Yun Jin’s spine as she felt a pair of eyes staring at her from behind.

She turned around cautiously to see Mo Chuan, holding a bouquet of flowers, casting her a deadly glare.

It seemed he had overheard what she had just said.

Yun Jin’s expression turned awkward. Although she didn’t think she was wrong, she had still badmouthed him behind his back.

More importantly, she’d been caught in the act.

And this person had even helped her out a few days ago.

“Ahem, um… I, uh…” Yun Jin quickly stood up, “I’m going to the restroom, you two talk.”

Better to excuse herself.

Mo Chuan watched her swiftly retreating figure, narrowed his eyes, and thought he’d deal with her later for daring to damage his image in front of Li Nuo.

He strode over to Li Nuo, handing him the bouquet. “The one from yesterday withered from being left in the car too long. This one’s fresh.”

After a moment, Li Nuo took the bouquet. “Are you planning to bring me flowers every time you come?”

He was joking, but Mo Chuan nodded. “How did you guess? I do plan on bringing you flowers every time.”

“Huh?”

“Do you know?” Mo Chuan looked at him with burning eyes. “I like a cloud. I don’t necessarily need to capture it. But if I like a flower, I will absolutely pluck it.”

Li Nuo frowned. “That sounds almost like a curse. Geez, you’re actually kind of scary.”

“But what Sister Yun said is correct, isn’t it?” He changed the subject, reminding Mo Chuan that he didn’t want to be the object of his interest. “You have a strange taste in hobbies. I’d appreciate it if you kept it off me.”

Who knew what internal debate this guy had gone through last night, but he seemed… unusually bold today.

Mo Chuan didn’t respond but checked his watch. “Your shift’s over. Come on, I’ll take you home.”

Li Nuo glanced at the time; it was already three o’clock.

“I just want to go back and rest today. Yesterday was already exhausting, although I had fun,” he said first, signaling that he didn’t want to chat with Mo Chuan or go anywhere else today.

“I said I’d just drive you home.” Mo Chuan smiled, patting him on the head. “Don’t worry.”

Li Nuo set the flowers down. “Let me grab my things.”

He went to the employee room, while Mo Chuan sat down and motioned to Yun Jin, who had been hiding and watching them instead of going to the restroom.

With an awkward smile, Yun Jin sat down, apologizing immediately. “Sorry. I don’t think I said anything wrong, but I apologize for talking behind your back.”

Mo Chuan chuckled. “Yun Jin, you haven’t changed, huh? Still badmouthing me, even though I helped you out recently.”

“Because you’ve always been like this, whether in the past or now, I wasn’t wrong in what I said. Do you still remember how many hearts you broke in high school?” Yun Jin said seriously, “I don’t want that kid to be hurt, because he seems very innocent.”

“Innocent…” Mo Chuan pondered; Maybe Li Nuo still is pretty innocent.

“You’d better mind your own business. I don’t need you meddling between me and Li Nuo,” Mo Chuan said dismissively.

“Hmph. Did Qin Xu also show up yesterday?” Yun Jin asked with curiosity.

Mo Chuan’s brow twitched slightly. “If you’re so curious, ask him yourself.”

Yun Jin chuckled sheepishly, opting to keep quiet.

Their brief conversation ended as Li Nuo returned.

Mo Chuan stood, handing the bouquet back to him and attempting to take the bag Li Nuo was holding.

Li Nuo shook his head. “I’ll carry it myself.”

Mo Chuan didn’t insist and walked over to open the door, waiting for him to step out.

Li Nuo bid Yun Jin farewell and left.

Watching the two walk away, with Mo Chuan’s hand intentionally or unintentionally shielding Li Nuo, Yun Jin smiled with keen interest. It seemed like he wasn’t just fooling around?

Yet Li Nuo didn’t seem to have any interest in Mo Chuan.

She remembered meeting her best friend a few days ago, who was still complaining about how Mo Chuan had mercilessly rejected her in high school.

Yun Jin thought to herself that maybe she would soon see this young master humbled.

Elsewhere, as they reached the car, Li Nuo watched as Mo Chuan opened the passenger door for him, causing his mouth to twitch slightly. Yesterday was one thing, but today he was still doing it.

“Do you treat everyone by your side like this?” Li Nuo asked curiously after getting into the car.

Gentle and thoughtful—no wonder people kept coming back.

During a red light, Mo Chuan stopped the car, turned to Li Nuo’s mildly curious look, and said reluctantly, “I’ve only acknowledged dating one person, back in college.”

“You seem pretty experienced,” Li Nuo said absently as he played with his phone.

Mo Chuan fell silent for a moment. After the light turned green and the car started moving, he finally spoke with difficulty: “I’ve never held anyone.”

The voice was soft, but Li Nuo still heard him clearly.

He looked at Mo Chuan in astonishment. The “holding” he referred to was probably meant in “that” sense.

Wait, that isn’t the point.

The point is that Mo Chuan was over thirty, with so many men and women around him, yet hadn’t done anything like that?

Unable to resist, Li Nuo glanced down at his lower body.

Noticing his gaze, Mo Chuan reached out with his right hand during a driving pause and gave Li Nuo’s head a hard knock.

“My body is perfectly fine,” he said sternly, then added teasingly, “Unless, of course, you’d like to try for yourself.”

Li Nuo turned his head with a scoff. “No thanks, I’m not interested.”

“But I heard that if you’re still a virgin at thirty, you turn into a wizard,” he asked Mo Chuan with a cheeky grin. “Are you? A wizard?”

Mo Chuan replied in exasperation, “If I were, then Qin Xu definitely would be, too.”

“Pfft,” Li Nuo burst out laughing. “Haha! One comment and you’ve exposed someone else. But honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were Director Qin.”

“Hmph. Am I really that surprising?” Mo Chuan replied, slightly offended.

Li Nuo glanced at him in genuine surprise. “Well, what do you expect? If I told anyone, they’d be shocked.”

Mo Chuan was momentarily left speechless.

Li Nuo studied him closely and noticed that even the tips of Mo Chuan’s ears were slightly red. It seemed that saying these things made him a little embarrassed.

This was truly unexpected; he looked every bit the playboy, but he was unexpectedly pure.

The novel didn’t mention this at all.

Although the original novel was marked as adult-themed, the parts Li Nuo had read completely omitted any content of this aspect.

It was only upon meeting him in person that he realized this.

“Could this be what they mean by, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’?” Li Nuo muttered to himself.

“…I’m glad you’re getting to know me better—just wish it wasn’t in this area,” Mo Chuan sighed.

While they were talking, they arrived at Li Nuo’s home.

He got out of the car, carrying the flowers.

Watching him stand outside, looking bright and eye-catching, Mo Chuan’s expression softened. “I’ll come see you again in a few days.”

Li Nuo frowned. “Don’t you have to work? Is your position that relaxed?”

“Mm-hmm, because I have a very capable secretary.”

Li Nuo shook his head. “I really sympathize with that secretary.”

Mo Chuan waved goodbye. “I’m off. Get some rest.”

Li Nuo watched the car drive off before turning to head back to his house.