Chapter 9: A Day in the Life of a Successful Villain

“Not like this, right?”
Lu Chengwen was nearly losing his mind. “I haven’t done anything, nor do I plan to do anything bad. Why would the protagonist come after me? Writing a story requires some brains, doesn’t it? The antagonist hasn’t done anything wrong—why is the male lead picking a fight with me?”

System: “Oh, I’m sorry. Aren’t you planning to do something to Leng Qingqiu?”

“I have defective medicine worth over six hundred million waiting overnight for destruction in my pharmaceutical factory. What could I possibly do to her? When would I have the time?”

System: “Oh, over there… let me see… that’s Xu Xuejiao… So you’re planning to take action against both female leads at the same time? Hmm, understood. You want to increase the difficulty of the male lead Long Aotian’s rescue mission. Got it! By the way, that’s a clever move!”

“Get lost! I’m not planning to mess with anyone. I’m just going to destroy the medicine! Defective medicine!”

System: “I see. But that kind of plot is not very interesting. We’re hoping you’ll be more proactive, have some less-than-good intentions toward the female leads. That way, the male lead’s story can unfold more naturally.”

“Listen here!” Lu Chengwen tried to keep calm and reason with the system. “Long Aotian can start his story or not, but I am absolutely done moving. I have no interest in any female lead—none at all. Tomorrow, I’ll settle things with both of them once and for all. No dragging it out!”

“Settle things? You just used the word ‘settle.’ I understand now! You plan to act against both major female leads tomorrow, and it’s going to be ruthless, wicked, utterly heartless, and inhuman, right?”

Lu Chengwen almost cried:

“Please, just leave me alone! I’ve died six times already, and each time was a disaster. Can’t you let me survive a little longer? I won’t touch either of those women. By the way, can you stop them from constantly circling around me? I’m not the protagonist! Their leisure time should be with the male lead Long Aotian… you know, all the flirting… all the eye candy stuff… The story’s already collapsing on day one, and you’re partly responsible for that!”

“Host, you’re mistaken. Actually, everyone and everything here is happening for real. We’re here only as overseers and observers. Our only role is to assist with your story progression, ability upgrades, and limited external communication. What the male and female leads do, where they go, and who they get close to—we can neither control nor are interested in controlling.”

Lu Chengwen abruptly calmed down and began to analyze.

“Real? All of it real? So… I must have done something that caused them to deliberately get involved with me… But no, I haven’t done anything!”

“I wanted to cancel the engagement with Leng Qingqiu, but she refused and came looking for me at night.”

“As for Xu Xuejiao… Long Aotian was going to make a move, but I stopped him. Could she have found out? No, she shouldn’t know. In the pharmaceutical factory… she seems pretty sure I’m going to destroy the unqualified medicine…”

System interrupted: “By the way, surviving the first day will earn you the Day One Gift Pack!”

“Day One Gift Pack, full of great stuff and benefits! It will help you on your self-destructive path, allowing you to fully engage in conflict with the male lead. Before you get crushed, enjoy the ultimate thrill and die without regrets, smiling in the afterlife!”

Lu Chengwen shook his head. “You’re a real jerk.”

…

After settling Leng Qingqiu in a clean guest room to sleep, he called Zhao Gang and rushed to the pharmaceutical factory.

If I’m going to die, so be it.

If the King of Hell wants me dead by midnight, the system surely won’t let me last past dawn.

But according to the system’s hints, this is a… real world?

The system is a higher intelligence entity that exists above this world? They don’t interfere with or forcibly change the world’s logic and operation—is that what it means?

No matter what, I’ll get through today first. The advertisement for the Day One Gift Pack sounded pretty good—it got me fired up, even if it does seem like they want me dead. But only by claiming it can I earn the right to live.

Long Aotian, I’m coming for you!

You want to kill me?

I refuse to believe it—I’ve done nothing wrong, and I’ll kneel before you if I have to. How dare you kill me?

…

Everything went smoothly.

Under multiple supervisors, batches of finished medicine were fed into the crusher and turned into waste, then recycled as scrap by a third party.

Lu Chengwen supervised the entire process.

Xu Xuejiao also stayed up late, overseeing everything carefully.

She was meticulous, leaving no detail unchecked. Naturally, other relevant officials were equally diligent.

Everyone was tense and fully aware of the stakes.

Watching the last batch of medicine become worthless scrap, Lu Chengwen’s lips curved into a calm smile.

—

“Whew, I guess I did something good after all?”

Lu Chengwen thought bitterly:

“No matter what, with this batch destroyed, no one will get hurt. If I’m going to die in this world tomorrow, at least today I did something meaningful.”

“Worth it!”

Not far away, Xu Xuejiao looked at Lu Chengwen’s profile, utterly shocked by his words.

Is this guy going to die?

Is he suddenly turning into a good person because he’s about to die?

Impossible. He’s Lu Chengwen. His family has a professional private medical team monitoring their health. If something serious had happened, that team wouldn’t be so quiet.

What’s really going on?

Still, he does look kind of like a melancholy prince when he’s sentimental.

“Director Xu.”

“Huh?” Xu Xuejiao turned quickly.

An engineer nodded with satisfaction: “It’s all done.”

“Got it.”

The pharmaceutical supervision bureau’s leader went over to shake Lu Chengwen’s hand.

“Mr. Lu, I know making this decision requires immense courage and moral strength. No one knows what storm the Ninth Pharmaceutical Factory will face tomorrow. But as a pharmaceutical professional, I want to express the deepest respect and gratitude from all of us for your choice.”

Lu Chengwen smiled: “It’s not as serious as you think. At worst, the factory closes, and the media trashes me like dog poop.”

The leader laughed and patted Lu Chengwen on the shoulder: “Alright, we’re done here. Contact us if you need anything.”

“Thank you all for your hard work.”

Dawn was approaching.

A glow was slowly rising on the distant horizon.

Lu Chengwen was exhausted.

On his first day in this world, he had avoided two direct confrontations with the protagonist Long Aotian; met twice with each of the two major female leads, maintaining distance and trying to sever their ties as much as possible.

Though not entirely successful, he was still alive and intact—that was good news.

People who had worked overtime were leaving to start their cars and go home to rest.

Lu Chengwen tiredly approached his car when Director Zhang came over.

“Mr. Lu.”

“Oh, Director Zhang, I’m so tired. Can we talk tomorrow?”

Director Zhang forced a smile: “Just one thing.”

Lu Chengwen was annoyed. He really didn’t want to deal with anyone right now.

“Alright, alright, just say it. I’m exhausted.”

“Thank you.” Director Zhang bowed deeply, then straightened, eyes moist, smiling with relief: “I’ll resign tomorrow. Don’t worry.”

Director Zhang turned to leave, but Lu Chengwen stopped him: “Wait. Why resign?”

“I…”

Lu Chengwen understood. This time, he had caused the company a loss of several hundred million, so Director Zhang was resigning.

Lu Chengwen smiled: “Director Zhang, you’re the anchor of our Ninth Factory. If it weren’t for you, I dare not imagine the consequences of today’s batch. You can’t resign. If you leave, who will warn me and correct my mistakes next time? Even if you dislike me and think I’m no good, you must have some feelings for the Ninth Factory. Those patients who need truly effective medicine rely on you to safeguard their interests.”

Director Zhang couldn’t believe such words were coming from Lu Chengwen’s mouth.

He was shocked and deeply moved.

—

“Mr. Lu, I sincerely apologize for the misunderstandings I had before. Today’s event opened my eyes. From now on…”

“Enough, enough,” Lu Chengwen interrupted. “Director Zhang, I’m too tired to accept your apologies or thanks. Rest well and we’ll continue work tomorrow. I had a terrible day.”

“Oh, alright then. Get some rest.”

Lu Chengwen exhaled deeply, and Zhao Gang gave a thumbs-up: “Boss, you nailed it! That was Oscar-worthy acting.”

Lu Chengwen expressionless: “Really?”

“Absolutely! Even old Zhang almost cried!”

“Shut up and drive.”

“Yes, sir!”

Just then, a familiar voice sounded nearby: “Chengwen, you’re leaving already?”

Lu Chengwen was opening his car door and looked back. Xu Xuejiao stood not far off, having watched his entire exchange with Director Zhang.

“Quite good at winning hearts, huh,” Xu Xuejiao said. “Now Director Zhang will probably admire you to the ends of the earth.”

Lu Chengwen rested his forehead against the car frame and took five seconds to calm down, then looked up: “Whatever you want to do, we’ll talk tomorrow. I’m not doing anything else today. If you’ve got the guts, have Long Aotian come kill me right now!”

“Why do you keep mentioning that guy?” Xu Xuejiao yawned. “It’s almost daylight. Buy me breakfast.”

Lu Chengwen watched her shake her head and said calmly, “Tomorrow, after the press conference, either you transfer all your shares to me, or I transfer all mine to you. From then on, we never see each other again. Agreed?”

Xu Xuejiao had no idea what on earth was wrong with him or what she had done to offend him.

Why is he so annoying?

She felt hurt.

All her life, boys who liked to play with her were lined up like a convoy, all praising her as a goddess, smart and beautiful.

Why does this guy look at me like I’m a pile of dog poop?

Xu Xuejiao was unhappy: “Why are you suddenly so annoying?”

Lu Chengwen opened the car door: “Don’t know, doesn’t matter. Goodbye.”

Without another word, he got in and closed his eyes to rest. “Zhao Gang, go home.”

Watching Lu Chengwen’s car drive away, Xu Xuejiao felt utterly wronged.

This deadbeat definitely has issues!

He used to always promise to be my doctor when we were kids. How can he treat me like this now?

If you want to stay far away, I’ll cling to you even more! You’re so annoying!

Lu Chengwen returned home, threw his coat on the floor, and collapsed flat, instantly asleep.

The sun was high in the sky.

Lu Chengwen finally showed signs of waking. His arm moved unconsciously, falling onto a soft, plush mound.

Hmm?

He grabbed it twice—quite soft.

What is this?

He opened his eyes.

I’m dead.