Volume 1 Chapter 14: The Villain’s Mood Shift

Another crisis averted.

Ning Chu had successfully ruined tonight’s potential “three-way bar scene,” keeping Wen Yang firmly in his virgin status. His mood was actually pretty good.

But the punishment he’d been expecting from the world’s “plot correction system” never came. Clearly, those seductive vixens hadn’t fully given up on Wen Yang yet.

This incident also made one thing painfully clear:

Short-form smutty webnovels like this one had barely any continuity between story arcs.

Otherwise, if Ning Chu had already destroyed the story’s opening arc, then later events involving Wen Yang shouldn’t be happening at all.

“Wait, but the twin sisters were from the fourth story arc… What about the second and third ones?”

“The timeline’s all jumbled, isn’t it?”

As soon as he got back to the dorm, Ning Chu pulled out his phone and opened his own webnovel, quickly flipping back through the twin sisters’ arc.

“Ugh, this is annoying. If I can’t predict the plot order anymore, I’m screwed.”

He had originally assumed the storylines would happen in order—but now, it seemed like they were all over the place.

“Mumbling to yourself again?” Wen Yang walked over behind him and said, “Send me your home address, your parents’ occupations and phone numbers, and your ID number. I need it for the forms.”

“Sure.”

Ever since Wen Yang caught him reading the novel in the middle of the night, Ning Chu had switched to reading it on his phone. With such a small screen, even reading in broad daylight wouldn’t get him caught easily.

“Shaoqing, I need that stuff from you too,” Wen Yang called out to Zhang Shaoqing as he walked over.

But Zhang Shaoqing didn’t respond. Wen Yang waited a bit, then reached out and nudged his shoulder, glancing at the computer screen.

“You’re not even gaming, why are you ignoring me?”

“Got it. Quit bothering me,” Zhang Shaoqing snapped back with a scowl.

Wen Yang scratched his head, confused.

“Fine, just don’t forget to send it.”

He didn’t think too much of it—but Ning Chu did.

He turned around slowly, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Zhang Shaoqing.

That guy had gone out to take a phone call earlier, and came back full of negative energy. Now he was stone-faced and snapping at his roommates for no reason. Clearly, something had happened.

Wen Yang and Wang Jie were both minding their own business, and maybe they thought it was just a bad mood—but Ning Chu was really paying attention.

While pretending to play on the computer, he kept sneaking glances at Zhang Shaoqing, his face full of concern.

‘Did the girl he liked end up with another guy? Or maybe something bad happened with his family?’

Ning Chu felt uneasy. He was especially worried that something small might push Zhang Shaoqing over the edge—causing him to turn into the story’s dark, deranged villain.

Drugging, hypnosis, coercion, confinement, BDSM... he went full dark route in the novel, breaking every legal and moral boundary in the book.

Dude didn’t act like a person anymore.

If Zhang Shaoqing really did blacken… Ning Chu would have no choice but to run for his life!

Suddenly, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor snapped him back. He turned just in time to see Zhang Shaoqing stepping out onto the balcony and lighting a cigarette.

This is a good opportunity.

Quickly adjusting his expression and mood, Ning Chu put on a warm and friendly smile and cheerfully followed him out.

“Shaoqing~”

Zhang Shaoqing lowered his head and only rolled his eyes up to look at him.

“Get lost.”

“......”

That froze Ning Chu on the spot. His smile stiffened.

“You’re usually such a social guy. Now you’re acting more closed-off than I ever was,” he grumbled, stomping off toward the bathroom, muttering, “And you used to say I was the moody one who flipped between shy and loud.”

He stepped into the bathroom—still no response from Zhang Shaoqing.

So, Ning Chu turned around again, forced another “concerned friend” face, and tried to approach once more.

“C’mon, talk to me. What happened?”

“Oh? So you can get a laugh out of it?” Zhang Shaoqing sneered.

His tone was sharp, defensive, and hostile.

“Well, not really...”

Ning Chu felt his act starting to crack. He had never been good at comforting people—and right now he was just getting burned for trying to care.

Zhang Shaoqing let out a long sigh, turning his head as he leaned on the balcony railing, gazing down at the small garden below the dorm building.

He smoked silently, his face expressionless.

But before long, the faint scent of something clean and soft drifted over—That baby-faced boy had come to stand beside him, mirroring his pose and staring out at the same view.

“… …”

“I’ll keep you company. I don’t have anything better to do anyway.”

“No need.”

Ning Chu lowered his head, playing with his fingernails as he sighed softly.

“Every time I try to game with you guys, you complain I suck. Playing solo’s boring too.”

“Might as well come out for some fresh air while I wait for lights-out. After that, I’ll shower and sleep.”

Zhang Shaoqing gave him a sideways glance, then pulled a cigarette from his pocket and handed it over.

Ning Chu hesitated for a second, then reached out to take it.

“Forget it.” Zhang Shaoqing yanked it back and shoved it back into his pocket.

“What’s a kid like you doing smoking anyway?”

“Tch~”

The summer night breeze was rare and refreshing—not like the daytime heat that felt like steam from a hotpot.

The two of them leaned side-by-side against the railing, enjoying the cool air and a moment of peaceful silence.

Originally, Ning Chu just wanted to spend some time with Zhang Shaoqing—He figured that if this future villain ever lost his mind, maybe he’d remember this kindness and spare him.

But the quiet summer evening stirred up unexpected emotions…

He started remembering his past life again.

Still, things weren’t all bad.

He’d had no parents, no girlfriend, and was five hundred yuan in debt on Huabei.

If you thought about it, this world was an upgrade.

He didn’t know how long they stood like that until Zhang Shaoqing finally broke the silence:

“…Your stomach still hurting?”

“Yeah. A bit. But nothing serious.”

“We’re not going back to that Sichuan place again.”

“… …”

“You act all delicate. Like a girl.”

“The hell did you just say?!”

That one really hit a nerve. Ning Chu snapped and cursed.

If Zhang Shaoqing weren’t such a special case, he wouldn’t even bother trying to play therapist right now.

But right then, a voice called out from inside the dorm:

“Ning Chu! Shaoqing! I bought skewers and beer—come eat and drink!”

“…Now that’s what a real man sounds like.”

Zhang Shaoqing chuckled, turning to head back into the room.

“I don’t even drink…” Ning Chu grumbled behind him.

Plus, now that he knew the story arcs weren’t unfolding in proper order, what if a plotline involving him suddenly triggered?

If he got drunk and accidentally became the meat in a man-sandwich, what then?!

“Stop standing there like a dope.”

“Every word out of your mouth is annoying,” Ning Chu muttered, shooting a glare at Zhang Shaoqing’s back.

Even though he still hadn’t figured out why Zhang Shaoqing’s mood had tanked earlier, it didn’t seem like anything too major.

If it had been serious, he wouldn’t have bounced back this quickly.

Back inside the dorm, Ning Chu saw that the table was already covered with grilled skewers and spicy crawfish.

Wang Jie and Wen Yang had already dug in with gloves on, and Zhang Shaoqing darted forward and snatched the last grilled chicken drumstick.

“Hey! Save some for me!”

“No rush—you don’t drink, so just nibble a bit,” Wang Jie said, laughing.

“I’m drinking cola!” Ning Chu hurried over, peering around the table, searching for his favorite skewers.

“—Where are the gloves? We out?”

“Scoot over! Make room!”