Why Do All the Villains Look at Me Like This? - Chapter 15

Because he’d spent some time with the Academic Affairs teacher, Meng Xuexiao arrived at the dormitory quite late, but through the crack in the door, he saw a light glowing inside. It was just a thin strip of light, but it was warm in color, making even the temperature in the hallway seem to rise a little. The chill clinging to Meng Xuexiao’s body also seemed to fade slightly. When she was alive, the caretaker auntie had always liked to leave all the lights in the house on. No matter how late Meng Xuexiao returned from evening classes, he could always see light seeping through the door crack.

Every time he walked through the door, he would grumble as he went around turning off light after light, “Why are you keeping so many lights on? It’s such a waste of electricity!”

Even though the caretaker auntie worked multiple jobs, her income was still very limited. Meng Xuexiao had long since developed a frugal nature, saving wherever he could. After all, they didn’t need that much light. Whenever he said that, the caretaker auntie would always shake her head helplessly. She always timed things, so she’d be by the door when his evening classes ended, and she’d heard him say those same words countless times.

But she never changed.

She was always busy, worked long hours, and her eyesight had deteriorated quickly. By now, even when standing right by the door, she could no longer clearly make out Meng Xuexiao’s figure, she couldn’t quickly recognize her boy anymore.

She had smiled and said, “Keeping the lights on is a good thing. Even if I can’t find you, when you see the lights on in our home, you’ll still be able to find your way back.”

Back then, Meng Xuexiao had laughed and cried at the same time, thinking the caretaker auntie was just worrying over nothing, “How could I possibly forget the way home?”

But it wasn’t until she passed away, until he left his original world and came here that he finally began to understand. This must be what it feels like to have someone waiting for you at home. The happiness of knowing someone is there.

In a daze, Meng Xuexiao pushed the door open. The light inside the room was even brighter than what he’d seen from outside. All he could make out was a figure with their back to him. For a moment, it felt like time had rewound several years. It was as if the caretaker auntie was right there at the door waiting for him and had even prepared a full table of food.

Meng Xuexiao felt a sting at the corners of his eyes. His vision blurred. He sniffled and held his breath. As if he’d heard the door open, the figure slowly turned around, it was Shen Zekai. Meng Xuexiao froze. After his initial surprise, realization slowly dawned. He bit his lip hard, trying to forcibly peel himself away from those memories of the past.

Shen Zekai looked pleasantly surprised to see him and shook the form in his hand, “I heard you helped me with this registration form. That must’ve been tough. It can’t be easy for a new student to handle something like this, right?”

Just as he finished speaking, he noticed the faint redness at the corners of Meng Xuexiao’s eyes. His expression shifted to one of worry, “You… are you okay…?”

Meng Xuexiao tried his best to smile, “I’m fine, really. My eyes just felt a little uncomfortable earlier… probably because the wind outside was too strong.”

“Oh, oh—then hurry up and come in!” Shen Zekai grabbed Meng Xuexiao’s wrist and pulled him into the warm room, closing the door behind them. Then, he looked at the boy a bit uncertainly, “Do you… feel a little better now?”

The way he hesitated and second-guessed himself, anyone who didn’t know better might’ve thought he was making a major life decision.

Meng Xuexiao couldn’t help but laugh, the tears that were threatening to fall seemed to have been gently evaporated by the warmth in the room, “Much better now.”

Then he picked up where Shen Zekai had left off, “Filling out the forms wasn’t that hard. You’ve been taking care of me ever since I enrolled. If there’s anything else I can help with, just let me know.”

God, how could anyone be this well-behaved?

If Shen Zekai hadn’t seen what Meng Xuexiao went through during the kidnapping or witnessed the intense confrontation with Xu Gao not long ago, he really would’ve taken this boy for just a sweet, ordinary, obedient little underclassman.

No wonder the Enforcer insists on sticking so closely to him. Thinking of that…

Shen Zekai’s expression stiffened slightly. He instinctively glanced around the room, paying particular attention to anything connected to the network. Dear god. Don’t tell me the Enforcer is hiding somewhere in a corner right now, silently reenacting “The Enforcer is watching you”!

Thinking about how the other always showed up so perfectly on time, Shen Zekai found it very likely.

No—if the Enforcer thought he was bullying the junior, that’d be a disaster!

“N-no, don’t worry about things like this! It’s stuff student reps like me are supposed to take care of!”

“Oh, right.” As if something had just occurred to him, Shen Zekai reached into a nearby tote bag and pulled out several boxes of pastries.

The treats were delicately made, even shaped like little mechas. The armor patterns were drawn with icing, seriously adorable. The moment Shen Zekai saw them, he immediately thought of Meng Xuexiao.

“I came across these while I was out handling some errands today and grabbed a few on impulse. This box is for you!”

Wait… there’s actually food?

Meng Xuexiao blinked very slowly, unsure for a moment whether he was still in the real world or trapped in the lingering warmth of the fantasy he’d just had about the caretaker auntie. He pinched the back of his hand hard, a sharp reminder to stay grounded.

What’s gone is gone, never coming back. And he wasn’t some helpless little fledgling waiting to be protected anymore. He couldn’t keep accepting things from Shen Zekai. The other had already helped him so much… how could he continue racking up favors like this?

However…

The box of pastries in front of him gave off a strong cheesy aroma. Meng Xuexiao felt his stomach contract, followed by a soft “gurgle.” He immediately grew embarrassed, his fingers curling up as he clutched at his clothes, leaving behind a few crisscrossing wrinkles.

He slowly moved one hand to his stomach and began to wonder, if he pressed down hard enough, would it stop growling?

Seeing Meng Xuexiao’s actions, Shen Zekai’s smile grew even brighter.

He really was… incredibly adorable! Just like a stray cat in school, stomach growling from hunger, yet still pretending to be fine, flipping over and pressing its belly tightly against the ground to hide the sound.

Even knowing Meng Xuexiao had deep ties with the Enforcer, it still made people want to take the risk and offer him food!

“Just take it as… a thank-you gift for helping with the form!”

Meng Xuexiao hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he still accepted the treat.

After the incident with the scented sachet, Shen Zekai had spent some time thinking about the right way to get along with Meng Xuexiao. If he gave things outright, this boy—who clearly hated owing favors—probably wouldn’t accept it. So this time, he deliberately used the phrase “thank-you gift.”

Sure enough, Meng Xuexiao eventually accepted it.

The pastries were delicious, lightly sweet without being cloying. After a few bites, the hollow ache in Meng Xuexiao’s stomach finally eased, and the discomfort began to fade. An irresistible wave of drowsiness soon washed over him.

Half-reclining on the bed, his eyes half-open, Meng Xuexiao stared at the ceiling light, his gaze hazy. He really had been worn out today, first running around all morning handling the registration forms, then getting caught up in the cheating incident and dealing with the discipline office teacher for quite some time.

Fortunately, it had all turned out okay. None of it had been in vain.

He yawned, burrowed deeper into the blanket, and stopped moving altogether.

Seeing that part of his shoulder was still exposed, Shen Zekai reached over and gently tucked the blanket around him. From a distance, it hadn’t been obvious, but up close, Meng Xuexiao’s face was noticeably pale, his breathing shallow and light. His slightly long black hair trailed down to his neck like a piece of delicate silk—pull it just a little, and it looked like it might fall apart completely.

Shen Zekai’s movements paused. Remembering how dazed Meng Xuexiao had looked when he came in, he still couldn’t shake a sense of unease, “You’re sure… nothing happened to you today?”

“I’m fine. Everything’s good.”

Meng Xuexiao rolled over, turning his back to Shen Zekai. His voice was calm and unhurried, remarkably convincing.

When he bumped into Shen Zekai back in the dorm, the other looked travel-worn and exhausted. Upperclassmen already had heavy academic loads, and on top of that, Shen Zekai also served as the student representative—he was no doubt busy to the point of barely having time to breathe.

Since the trouble he was facing now wasn’t exactly life-threatening, he figured he shouldn’t bother him any further.