Arc. 1.6 

The Wicked Child of the Stepmother

[Ding!! The male protagonist’s hatred level toward the Host has increased to 70%.]

Nian Zhen jolted awake to the system’s alert. Once he processed what he’d just heard, he was instantly wide awake, all traces of sleepiness gone.

The male protagonist’s hatred toward him had surged by 20%!!

Oh my god— what kind of shady stunt did that scoundrel father, Xia Heng, pull on to the male lead? How did Xia Yanjing's hatred level spike so drastically?

Nian Zhen hurried to shower, brush his teeth, and get dressed. Lucky for him, it was Saturday—he could enjoy today’s drama from the front row.

The handprint on his face hadn’t faded yet and was actually a bit more swollen today. White lotus Meng Zhenzhen had fair, delicate skin, and the handprint appeared particularly menacing. By now, it was a little after 8 a.m., and Xia Heng and Du Yao were having breakfast together, with no sign of Xia Yanjing.

Nian Zhen walked in unhurriedly. Xia Heng glanced up to see his face and was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting his injury to be this noticeable.

“Zhenzhen, you’re just in time. Come, sit down and have some breakfast. I’ve asked Assistant Hu to call the doctor.”

What a loving father, showing more care for his stepson than his own son.

[Ding!! The male protagonist’s hatred level toward the Host has increased to 75%.]

Nian Zhen felt a chill, sensing Xia Yanjing’s gaze piercing him from somewhere unseen.

“…Thank you, Uncle.”

“Zhenzhen, my dear boy, how are you feeling?”

Du Yao set down her utensils with tears in her eyes as she reached out to hold Nian Zhen’s hand with exaggerated concern.

How creepy!!

Inwardly, Nian Zhen wanted to fling her hand away, but he had to continue their grateful mother-son act.

Adopting a pitiful tone, he said,

“I’m fine, Mother. Just a bit sore, but the medicine helped a lot.”

Du Yao nodded as if reluctant to believe her son but said nothing further. She guided Nian Zhen to sit down, speaking with gentle warmth.

“Good, I’m glad. I had the chef make all your favorites today, Zhenzhen. Eat up so you’ll heal quickly.”

At least she knows how to act like a caring mother now. Nian Zhen silently forgave her for touching his face, simply because she had ordered plenty of food for him.

Chairman Xia tended to Du Yao with complete devotion, while Nian Zhen focused on eating, his heart feeling only cold indifference.

Poor Xia Yanjing, with a father like Chairman Xia. And Meng Zhenzhen as well. With the protagonist's hatred level surging so high, it was clear his anger must be boiling over. Perhaps the person who would face the consequences wasn’t the male lead but himself.

Though he had countless thoughts running through his mind, Nian Zhen didn’t let it stop him from eating. The best part about living with the Xia family, apart from the comfort, was undoubtedly the gourmet food.

After finishing breakfast, Nian Zhen received a check-up from the doctor, who carefully treated his bruised face. The rich truly do live differently. A doctor handling a minor bruise? Normally, a nurse would take care of this. There was no need for a doctor's expertise for such trivial matters.

Initially, he had anticipated some dramatic fallout, but the male protagonist had missing and Xia Heng completely silent on the matter. Since it wasn’t in the white lotus playbook to ask, he returned to his room with a large bag of snacks, a gift from the housekeeper who felt sorry for him.

Once inside, Nian Zhen locked the door. It was the weekend, after all. As someone cast as the victim of bullying, holing up in his room wasn’t unusual. Finally, he could relax with his hidden stash of novels and all the snacks he could eat. What a perfect day...

Thud…

The snack bag tumbled to the floor as Nian Zhen turned and saw a menacing, dark figure sitting in the middle of the room, on his soft and cozy bed.

It was Xia Yanjing!!

The male protagonist was here for revenge.

Nian Zhen immediately considered the worst-case scenario. His brain screamed for him to bolt. But just as he turned to flee, his collar was grabbed from behind, and before Nian Zhen knew it, Xia Yanjing had pinned him against the wall.

The distance between them was minimal. Nian Zhen was so stunned that he didn't even dare to breathe heavily. Xia Yanjing, taller and much more imposing, leaned down with a harsh, penetrating stare. The sheer intensity of his presence left Nian Zhen trembling, legs weak, unable to say a single word.

This... this is too terrifying.

“So, I’m bullying you now, am I?”

This was the first sentence Xia Yan Jing said to him. Danger seeped into Nian Zhen’s mind. His thoughts were in chaos, torn between keeping up his white lotus Meng Zhenzhen act or reverting to his true self. But with fear seizing him like this, his mind was utterly blank.

Blame it on Xia Yanjing’s overpowering aura.

Xia Yanjing’s hand slid over the back of Nian Zhen’s neck, sending shivers across his entire body. In that moment, Nian Zhen felt like a tiny creature caught under the claws of a predator. If Xia Yanjing decided to snap his neck, it seemed all too possible.

“Meng Zhenzhen… you’ve made me very angry.”

I know!! I know, big brother. If you weren’t angry, someone like you, who detests physical contact, wouldn’t be acting like you’re about to snap my neck.

Wasn’t the male protagonist supposed to never harm Meng Zhenzhen? Then what’s this?

[But the male protagonist really has never hurt anyone, Host.]

Nian Zhen protested to the system in his mind. The Host and the system seemed to have forgotten that this male protagonist wasn’t the original one from the novel, but a version fused with a shard of the Death God’s soul.

And naturally, a Death God isn’t exactly a kind figure…

They say that wicked people fear neither death, heaven, nor hell. They care nothing for karma or punishment. But there is one thing that even the wicked fear… someone more wicked than themselves!!

And Nian Zhen was now in just such a situation.

“B…Brother…Brother.” Nian Zhen managed to stammer, his voice barely a whisper, not daring to look Xia Yanjing in the eye.

Xia Yanjing tilted Nian Zhen’s chin up, examining the mark—a handprint—on his face. In comparison to the male protagonist, Nian Zhen had a smaller, softer face, and the warm, tender skin under Xia Yanjing’s fingertips held a certain vulnerability. His wide, light brown eyes were brimming with unshed tears, radiating both fear and confusion. His body trembled slightly, and his lips parted, as if trying to speak but too afraid to make a sound. The anger in Xia Yanjing’s gaze eased noticeably.

It was clear that, aside from his little schemes, Meng Zhenzhen couldn’t truly harm him…

He was just like a helpless rabbit trying to bite a tiger.

At that moment, Nian Zhen noticed a mark on Xia Yanjing’s own face, similar to his own, only fresher.

So that villain father, Xia Heng, really struck him. No wonder the protagonist is so furious.

Nian Zhen wasn’t surprised. From childhood until now, although Xia Heng had been indifferent to Xia Yanjing, he had never physically harmed him. Now, to strike his own son over the new wife and her stepson, who had nothing to do with the conflict, even the thought was infuriating.

Finally, Xia Yanjing released him, and Nian Zhen tried, with great effort, to slip back into his role as the innocent white lotus.

A gentle touch landed on his head. Nian Zhen looked up to see Xia Yanjing patting him with surprising tenderness.

It was as if the rage and intimidation from just moments before were nothing more than an illusion.

“Be good. You call me ‘big brother,’ so as a younger brother… you should listen to your older brother, shouldn’t you?”

There was no anger, no iciness in his tone. The words sounded so ordinary that Nian Zhen found himself nodding automatically.

Xia Yanjing looked pleased, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

“Good. As your big brother, I’ll take very good care of you.”

Xia Yanjing left, and it was a long moment before Nian Zhen could collect himself.

What does he mean, he’ll ‘take good care of me’? I haven’t forgotten that 75% hatred level.

It was clear Xia Yanjing was about to retaliate, and this was only the first stage of warning. System, what’s the male protagonist’s current darkness level?

[Zero percent, Host.]

Nian Zhen felt that the path ahead was treacherous indeed. The protagonist didn’t even have any darkness in his heart yet, and Nian Zhen was already so terrified that he couldn’t think straight.

Wait, how did Xia Yanjing even get into my room?

[Grandfather Xia gave the male protagonist a master key to every room in the mansion, Host.]

No wonder. After all, this massive mansion will go to the male protagonist eventually. If that was the case, he could access every room easily...

Nian Zhen knew he’d have to rethink his approach to provoking the male protagonist. Direct confrontation was out; he’d have to incite others to act. If he tried anything now, in his current fury, Xia Yanjing would no doubt strike back against him directly. Before the protagonist’s darkness could even manifest, this little white lotus would be eliminated. That woman Du hadn’t even begun to show her true colors as the evil stepmother, so Nian Zhen had keep a low profile for now.

Who would’ve thought that challenging the male protagonist head-on would raise his hatred so quickly? He still had plenty of schemes that he now had to shelve.

Nian Zhen wiped away his tears, reminiscing about his past life as a superstar villain. Why do I have to go through all this trouble, scheming and plotting evil like this now?

His slender fingers reached for a bag of snacks. Tearing it open, he grabbed a handful of original-flavored potato chips and shoved them into his mouth. The satisfying crunch with each bite echoed, and for a brief moment, Nian Zhen felt a bit better.

Oh well. At least this world has a lot of delicious food.