Traveling Through the Book and Becoming a Cub Among the Villains - Chapter 2

Ye Qingxi opened his eyes and saw a white ceiling in front of him.

He was a bit confused, not understanding what the current situation was now.

Wasn’t he already dead?

 

He remembered it clearly. The green light turned on, and he stepped forward. The surrounding cars had all stopped, obeying the traffic rules—until one car suddenly rushed out and hit him.

But now, he had opened his eyes again.

Could it be that he didn’t die? Had he been brought back to life?

 

Ye Qingxi felt a deep, helpless sorrow at the thought.

In this world, those who wish to live often cannot, while those who long for death find it forever out of reach.

 

But it was truly rare—this time, his parents weren’t by his bedside, crying and scolding him the moment he woke up.

Of course, it was only a matter of time, Ye Qingxi thought they were probably busy right now, but once they were done, they would surely come to lecture him about how irresponsible he was.

 

Especially since this time, the accident was so severe, and his injuries so serious.

The rescue must have cost a fortune—all of this, just because he insisted on going out to buy a cake himself.

 

His parents would definitely say, “We told you to let Xiao Wang go, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look at what happened. If you had just let Xiao Wang go, none of this would have happened.”

Ye Qingxi was already used to it. At first, he would feel hurt and blame himself, reflecting on his actions. But later, he realized he had done nothing wrong. So, he started arguing back, trying to make his parents understand that they shouldn’t speak to him that way.

But soon, he realized it was useless. His parents would only think he was going through a rebellious phase, that he was disobedient, immature, and incapable of understanding their good intentions.

After that, Ye Qingxi stopped arguing back. He just kept the pain to himself.

 

But all of that, every bit of it, disappeared the moment he picked up a knife, sliced his wrist, and was brought back to life again.

He no longer felt hurt by anything his parents said or did. Instead, all he felt was a deep, nauseating disgust—so strong that he wanted to vomit, yet nothing would come out.

 

Ye Qingxi let out a sigh. He had no idea what day it was, or how many days had passed since his birthday. If there was anything he had felt even the slightest attachment to before his death, it was his fans.

If he died, they would surely be sad—especially those fans who had traveled from far away just to attend his birthday event.

 

But sadness was only temporary, Ye Qingxi thought. New idols and actors debuted every day. There would always be someone new to admire, someone new to chase.

Sooner or later, they would move on from his death and find someone else to support.

 

And that was good.

The living didn’t need to mourn the dead forever.

And fans—especially not them.

 

Ye Qingxi lifted the blanket, intending to get up and go to the bathroom.

But the moment he did, he froze.

 

Something was wrong.

Ye Qingxi stared at the hand resting atop the blanket.

This wasn’t his hand.

 

His hands were supposed to be long, fair, and slender—so beautiful that they could rival those of professional hand models.

With these hands, he played the piano, wielded a sword, tied ribbons, and mastered video games. He knew them better than anything.

Even if he ignored everything else, he was still an eighteen-year-old. His hands should belong to a teenager, not these small, soft, and chubby hands that looked like they belonged to a three- or five-year-old child.

 

Ye Qingxi lifted his hands, turning them over and examining them closely.

No matter how many times he looked, something was undeniably wrong.

He quickly lifted the blanket, ready to get out of bed.

 

However, the moment the blanket was pulled away, he saw his legs—short, clad in cartoon-themed denim pants.

And beneath them, his feet, snugly wrapped in socks decorated with little blue bears.

 

Ye Qingxi, “……”

 

Ye Qingxi looked down at the floor.

There was only one pair of shoes—a pair of tiny, white shoes fastened with Velcro straps.

 

Ah, this…

 

Slowly, he slid his feet, clad in blue bear-patterned socks, into the Velcro-fastened shoes.

 

Perfect fit. Not too big, not too small—just right and incredibly comfortable.

 

Ah, this this…

 

He… had shrunk?!

Was this reincarnation?

Or had he shrunk like Conan?!

 

Ye Qingxi quickly dashed toward the door.

He twisted the doorknob and rushed out, only to realize that the room he had just been in was actually a hospital’s companion room.

At that moment, the real patient’s room came into view—larger, more luxurious. And on the hospital bed lay an elderly man, his hair completely white.

 

Ye Qingxi curiously walked closer. The man had his eyes closed, an oxygen mask covering his face.

He didn’t recognize the man.

 

Then why was he in this patient’s companion room?

Ye Qingxi was confused, but that wasn’t the most pressing issue right now. What he needed most was a mirror.

 

Ye Qingxi rushed into the bathroom, stood on his tiptoes, and finally saw himself in the mirror.

It was a face he both recognized and yet felt somewhat unfamiliar with—his childhood face.

 

How young was he? Probably 4 or 5 years old.

Had he been reborn?

 

Ye Qingxi touched his face in confusion, his fingertips tracing over his skin.

 

Then, he noticed something was wrong.

On the right side of his forehead, near his hairline, there should have been a mole—one he had since birth, one that had always been there.

But now, on this face in the mirror…

It was gone.

 

This isn’t my face, Ye Qingxi thought.

 

Although the face looked like him, it wasn’t him. Then… who was he?

 

Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside the door.

Ye Qingxi, filled with curiosity, walked to the door and pressed his ear against it, listening intently.

However, he heard nothing.

 

Why weren’t they speaking? Ye Qingxi wondered in confusion.

Just as he was thinking about it, a heavy sigh came from outside the door—deep, weary, carrying an indescribable weight.

In an instant, the footsteps grew closer and closer.

 

Ye Qingxi quickly pulled open the door, stepping out before the person could reach it.

What he saw was a handsome man with a strong presence.

His features were sharp and well-defined, his aura commanding.

Although his hair was dyed black, a few silver strands were still visible, peeking through.

 

At that moment, the man stared at him intently, his gaze unwavering.

When he saw Ye Qingxi, the worry in his eyes gradually faded.

 

“Awake?” His voice carried a hint of unnatural gentleness—

Like someone who wasn’t used to speaking softly, forcing his tone to be a little warmer, afraid of scaring the child in front of him.

Ye Qingxi nodded. “Mm.”

“Do you still remember what your grandfather told you this morning?”

Ye Qingxi was momentarily stunned.

 

He tried hard to recall, but nothing came to mind—as if this brain’s memories hadn’t fully connected with him yet.

Seeing his silence, the man—Mu Feng—assumed he was just a child who didn’t like to talk.

The man tried to make himself look gentler. “Your grandfather said that from today on, I am your grandfather now. So, from now on, you’ll be living with me. Do you remember?”

Of course, Ye Qingxi didn’t remember.

But the man in front of him didn’t seem easy to deal with, so he obediently nodded along.

“Good boy.” Mu Feng gently ruffled his hair. “Let’s go home now.”

 

Ye Qingxi glanced at the elderly man lying on the hospital bed.

So… that was this body’s “grandfather”?

Mu Feng followed his gaze, his eyes landing on the once strong, now frail and aging old friend he had known in his youth.

He let out another silent sigh in his heart.

 

“Tomorrow, I’ll bring you back to see your grandfather. For now, let’s listen to him, okay?”

Ye Qingxi glanced at Mu Feng before slowly walking to the hospital bed.

After all, he had long lost the will to live. Life held no meaning for him anymore. If anything, he’d rather give his life to someone who still had something to hold onto, to someone who truly wanted to live.

He wasn’t really a child—he could see the truth. This elderly man was at the end of his life.

 

He was dying.

 

And so, with his final moments approaching, he had entrusted his grandson to someone he trusted.

Ye Qingxi found it tragically pitiful.

 

Reaching out, he placed his small hand over the old man’s dry, withered fingers.

If he could… he would willingly give his life to him instead.

But unfortunately, miracles don’t happen. The old man on the bed showed no signs of getting better.

 

Ye Qingxi let out a sigh in his heart.

He knew he had no right to refuse.

Right now, he was just a child, and the man standing beside him—the one who looked difficult to deal with—wasn’t his real grandfather. He was merely a guardian, entrusted with his care by this body’s true grandfather. So, whether Ye Qingxi was willing or not didn’t matter.

This man wasn’t here to ask for his opinion—he was here to fulfill a duty.

 

Sometimes, asking is just a formality. It was never meant to give you a choice.

Ye Qingxi turned to look at the imposing man beside him, his dark eyes calm.

 

Then, he nodded lightly and said in a soft voice, “Mm.”

Mu Feng let out a silent breath of relief.

Good thing Ye Qingxi agreed. Otherwise, Mu Feng figured he’d have to call his assistant to help persuade the kid—after all, he was really bad at coaxing children.

 

“Alright, let’s go.”

With that, Mu Feng picked Ye Qingxi up and started walking toward the door.

Ye Qingxi, “???”

Wait, what?

Why am I suddenly being carried?!

…Forget it.

He gave up struggling almost immediately.

It’s not like getting carried would kill him.

Might as well just go with it.

 

Of course, if getting carried would actually kill him, Ye Qingxi figured he’d immediately spread his arms wide and urge Mu Feng to hold him tighter.

After leaving the hospital, Ye Qingxi was placed into a car.

 

Mu Feng’s assistant was in the driver’s seat, while Mu Feng sat in the back with Ye Qingxi. Without much thought, he casually picked up the tablet resting on the seat and started going through messages and emails people had sent him.

Seeing that Mu Feng wasn’t paying attention to him, Ye Qingxi leaned against the window and gazed outside.

Maybe this body was just too young because, before long, Ye Qingxi drowsily fell asleep again.

 

And it was during this sleep that Ye Qingxi finally realized something shocking—he had indeed died.

But after death, he had transmigrated into a novel, becoming a five-year-old child who shared his exact name.

However, this “Ye Qingxi” is not the main character, nor the villain, but the supporting role. There are only two sentences in the full text, that is一 [No one knew if it was because Mu Shaowu was gay and destined never to have his own children, but his father, Mu Feng, brought back a child named Ye Qingxi to be his son. The child was fair-skinned and adorable, but he was too quiet and didn’t have much of a relationship with Mu Shaowu.]

 

In just these two sentences, the fate of the Mu family was sealed—death and destruction awaited them. The so-called adopted son of Mu Shaowu, “Ye Qingxi,” never appeared again in the story, his fate unknown.

Yes, death and injury befell them all. Whether it was Mu Shaowu or the formidable Mu family patriarch, Mu Feng, standing beside Ye Qingxi now, neither of them had a good ending. They were all villains—every single one of them. In fact, their entire family played the role of antagonists at different points in the story, serving various purposes and degrees of villainy.

 

In the novel, the protagonist, He Yao, entered the entertainment industry to pursue his dreams. However, not long after stepping into the industry, he encountered the top celebrity, Mu Shaowu.

Mu Shaowu was born into a wealthy family and possessed an exceptionally beautiful face. Though his acting skills were merely average, he was constantly surrounded by controversy, making him a hot topic in the industry. He had many anti-fans, but his fanbase was even larger. Wherever he went, he effortlessly drew in all the attention and traffic.

 

He Yao encountered Mu Shaowu three times, and each time, Mu Shaowu obstructed his career. He Yao grew to hate Mu Shaowu, so he relentlessly climbed higher in the industry. Eventually, he reached the pinnacle of the entertainment world, successfully overthrowing Mu Shaowu and becoming the new top star. Meanwhile, Mu Shaowu fell from grace, his reputation was ruined, and he was forced to withdraw from the industry in disgrace.

 

Apart from He Yao’s main storyline, the novel also followed two subplots involving his younger brother and sister. In one subplot, He Yao’s younger brother was bullied by Mu Shaowu’s younger brother, Mu Shaoyan. In the other, He Yao’s younger sister had the person she liked stolen by Mu Shaowu’s younger sister, Mu Shaoting.

However, evil could never triumph over good. After experiencing numerous setbacks, Mu Shaoyan jumped from the top floor. Though he survived, he was left completely paralyzed, spending the rest of his life confined to a hospital bed.

Mu Shaoting, on the other hand, swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills and died completely heartbroken on a rainy night.

Seeing his younger siblings destroyed because of He Yao, Mu Shaowu’s older brother, Mu Zheng, launched a relentless campaign of revenge against He Yao, becoming the most formidable and difficult antagonist in the entire novel.

 

But He Yao’s journey in the entertainment industry didn’t just bring him success—it also brought him love.

So, Qiu Lu, who deeply loved He Yao, successfully defeated Mu Zheng in the final battle, crushing the Mu family and reducing them from a prestigious aristocratic family to a laughingstock.

But the story didn’t end there. Qiu Lu’s parents strongly opposed his relationship with He Yao, and his eldest brother was even preparing to fight Qiu Lu for power.

 

What could be done in this situation?

Of course, this was the perfect time for Mu Feng, the ruthless old villain, to make his grand entrance.

Mu Feng truly lived up to his reputation as the final boss villain—once he made a move, it was a big one.

 

He personally crafted a knife, carefully honed its edge, and then brought it with him to Qiu Lu’s home. Although the Mu family had fallen from grace, their former glory still carried weight. Because of this, the Qiu family parents allowed him through the door.

 

Mu Feng struck the moment he stepped through the door, aiming his blade directly at He Yao. Qiu Lu reacted instinctively, throwing himself in front of He Yao to take the blow.

And from that moment on, chaos erupted. In the struggle, Qiu Lu’s parents and elder brother were unintentionally killed by Mu Feng’s blade.

 

As the police broke down the door, Mu Feng, without hesitation, turned the knife on himself.

 

Screams. Curses. The sounds of struggle. The chilling noise of a blade slicing through flesh. Calls to the police. The wail of an ambulance.

And finally, the piercing sirens of a police car.

 

This shocking murder case further tarnished the already infamous reputation of the Mu family.

As a result, Mu Shaoyan was abused to death in the hospital.

Mu Shaowu, seeking justice for his younger brother, got into a physical altercation that was recorded and spread online. What followed was an overwhelming wave of cyberbullying.

Some even took it a step further—one person threw sulfuric acid at his face, claiming it was to “rid society of evil.”

 

As for Qiu Lu, the protagonist, though he was stabbed, the wound wasn’t fatal. Once he recovered, he returned home with He Yao.

With his parents—who opposed his relationship—gone, and his brother—who competed with him for power—eliminated, Qiu Lu naturally rose to the highest position.

He and He Yao then held a grand wedding.

 

On the other side, Mu Zheng divorced his wife and lived alone in a run-down rental apartment, taking care of his disfigured and mentally unstable younger brother.

At the end of the story, He Yao accidentally came across Mu Shaowu—now a broken man—frantically trying to sign autographs for people, only to scare them away.

In the middle of the crowd, Mu Shaowu was cursed at and humiliated.

 

Watching this, He Yao couldn’t help but recall their very first encounter. With a sigh, he mused at how times had changed—who would have thought that the once-glorious Mu Shaowu would end up like this?

To this, the villains had received their just deserts, the protagonists had their perfect ending, and the book came to a close.

 

Ye Qingxi, “…”

 

Ye Qingxi couldn’t even be bothered to complain.

 

He just didn’t get it, was the entertainment industry really so small that it could only accommodate a single top star? Why did it have to be a scenario where one must fall for the other to rise?

And watching a former top star end up disfigured, insane, desperately trying to sign autographs but getting cursed at instead—was that supposed to be satisfying?

 

Having experienced the ups and downs of the industry firsthand—rising to the peak of fame, crashing to the bottom, being trampled by thousands, then clawing his way back up to the top purely through talent—Ye Qingxi didn’t find it satisfying at all!

Not only was it unsatisfying, but it was also painful and unbearably dark.

Rather than living in such humiliation—mad, disfigured, and mocked by the world—it would have been better for him to just die.

 

However, if in the end, only Mu Zheng and Mu Shaowu survived, didn’t that mean that “Ye Qingxi” was actually dead too?

 

Great. Ye Qingxi nodded.

 

Good news: He got hit by a car and died.

Bad news: He transmigrated into a book and came back to life.

New good news: He ended up among the villains, so before long, the plot would take him down, and he would die again.

 

Ye Qingxi felt at peace.

That meant he just had to wait for the plot to kill him. Since the protagonist’s rise to the top happened quickly—about three years—it wouldn’t be too long before he could say goodbye to this world.

 

Satisfied, Ye Qingxi closed his eyes again and continued to sleep.

 

 

Author’s Note:

Xiao Xi: Lying flat, peacefully waiting for death.

Xiao Xi turns to look at Grandpa Mu beside him: Very criminal, very arrest-worthy.

Grandpa Mu: Kindly smiling.jpg

Jack-of-all-trades assistant Xiao Li, who is driving: It’s over, Chairman Mu is thinking about stabbing someone again.