Why Do All the Villains Look at Me Like This? - Chapter 18

“Don’t come any closer—just stay right there!” Meng Xuexiao blurted the words out almost instinctively.

The moment the man moved, his nerves were pulled taut. Even the bait the other had just tossed out was shoved aside in his mind. Chu Sinian’s expression was magnified in his mind, every trace of calculation and gentle coaxing on that face reminded him of a spider carefully guiding its prey into its web.

Meng Xuexiao’s body was sounding the alarm at full volume, Danger! Danger! Danger! Run! Run!

But his brain cruelly reminded him that the man before him was a 2S-level monster. An existence so far beyond his own that the gap was wider than between a human and a paramecium. If he turned and ran now, not only would he fail to escape, but he might even trigger the other’s predatory instinct… just like how one shouldn’t turn their back on a vicious dog.

Suddenly, Meng Xuexiao recalled news reports of dog attacks. His mind conjured the image of a savage, lunging beast, fangs bared and slobber flying from its jaws.

“…Don’t come any closer?”

Chu Sinian’s eyes were a light amber, often praised as honey-like—like someone who had been soaked in gentleness since birth. But at this moment, his pupils clearly dilated—shocked and confused. Though his main field of study was medicine, at his core, Chu Sinian was a businessman, one who monopolized pharmaceutical supplies across the entire Federation. Those who had been lured and deceived by his “gentleness” and calculated charm weren’t limited to just students and teachers at the school, there were also countless adversaries at negotiation tables.

He had never failed.

For the sake of smoothly executing his next plan, he had even made an exception and decided to offer Meng Xuexiao some benefits.

But right now, at this very moment, Meng Xuexiao was… rejecting him? Disgusted by him? Telling him, Don’t come any closer?!

Chu Sinian’s always-precise mind seemed to short-circuit for a second, like a screw getting stuck in a finely-tuned machine. With a businessman’s meticulous nature, Chu Sinian rested his chin on his hand and carefully replayed every word he’d just said to Meng Xuexiao in his head, chewing over them one by one.

In the end, he concluded, perhaps he hadn’t made the seriousness of the matter clear enough.

Chu Sinian assumed that Meng Xuexiao’s fear likely came from an animal’s instinctive reaction to a predator, but that kind of instinct lacked any actual evidence or justification.

The man subtly sniffed his own wrist, confirming that there was no lingering scent of blood from past prey.

Right now, all he needed to do was prove that Wu Zian was a more immediate and pressing danger. Then Meng Xuexiao would naturally redirect his fear and anxiety onto Wu Zian instead, and the tension between them would ease.
Though this approach resembled what ordinary people called “winning by comparison to something worse”… as long as it worked, that was all that mattered. Businessmen cared most about results.

With this PLAN B in place, that familiar, gentle smile reappeared on Chu Sinian’s lips, warm and composed, “You’ve just entered school, so you might not be too familiar with Wu Zian. He’s one of the most outstanding students at the Federation Military Academy, his talent and strength are no less than that of Shen Zekai, whom you know.”

Chu Sinian was indeed an eloquent speaker, and his phrasing was impeccable. With just the right embellishments, he painted a vivid and exaggerated picture of Wu Zian as the Academy’s infamous troublemaker. If Meng Xuexiao hadn’t already heard about Wu Zian from Shen Zekai, and read the original novel, he might have believed that Wu Zian was an even more terrifying villain than Chu Sinian.

But Chu Sinian truly was a man full of scheming and deceit, spinning lies without batting an eye.

Meng Xuexiao, inwardly trembling, mentally raised Chu Sinian’s danger level another notch.

But… why was Chu Sinian choosing this moment to go in-depth about Wu Zian…? Even if Wu Zian was the one who tampered with his grades, at this moment it didn’t feel nearly as important. When it came to sheer terror, Wu Zian wasn’t even in the same league as Chu Sinian.

Unless… Chu Sinian wasn’t planning to kill him yet?

Meng Xuexiao forced his tense brain to start functioning again. Then he slowly looked up, stiffly meeting Chu Sinian’s gaze.

They say the eyes are the window to the soul, the place most prone to revealing emotion. If there were any part of Chu Sinian that might betray his true intentions, it could only be his eyes. When their gazes met, Chu Sinian’s lips curved slightly higher, and within his eyes… there was a hint of excitement and… anticipation? Meng Xuexiao wasn’t sure if he was imagining things. What had originally been just a brave, fleeting glance somehow stretched into a full minute.

Chu Sinian could barely contain his satisfaction. If a plan fails again and again, then he’s no longer Chu Sinian.

That tiny flash of satisfaction—Meng Xuexiao caught it clearly.

He’d still had lingering doubts, but that fleeting slip of emotion crushed any last hope he was holding onto.

Even if this man wasn’t planning to kill him, he was clearly scheming something else, and this whole “Wu Zian” topic was likely just another trap. Otherwise, why would Chu Sinian act like he was analyzing the situation and looking out for him? But Chu Sinian’s eager anticipation was met with silence, which made him furrow his brows slightly, then he laid out another bargaining chip.

Businessmen were good at this. Methodically laying out one chip after another, testing limits step by step, trading the smallest cost for the biggest reward.

“I don’t know how you got on Wu Zian’s bad side, but now that you’ve corrected your grades, his plan has failed. He won’t stop here. I’m afraid this failure will make him lose his cool, turn extreme, and come for you directly.”

There was concern in his eyes, “But this is considered a conflict between students. As long as it doesn’t involve a threat to life, the school’s staff typically won’t intervene.”

Chu Sinian knew that if he wanted Meng Xuexiao to stop fearing him, there had to be a gradual process, and this matter would be the biggest push toward that goal.

“Of course, if you ask me, I’ll…”

He subconsciously licked his lips, but to Meng Xuexiao, it was as if he was once again seeing that vicious, drooling guard dog on screen.

Even if Chu Sinian wasn’t attacking him now, he would eventually rip him apart in some other way.

“Sorry, I’d like to interrupt you for a moment!” Meng Xuexiao felt he couldn’t stall any longer. The more he delayed, the fewer chances he had left. In the end, he’d become a puppet at the mercy of the other’s hands, only to be crushed in the palm. No matter the situation, being interrupted mid-sentence usually stirred annoyance, but instead, Chu Sinian felt a flicker of gratification. He even gave the boy an encouraging look. As if watching a little sparrow attempt flight for the first time.

The first step of his “gentle approach” plan had succeeded. Meng Xuexiao looked so eager. This boy must be terrified. For an F-rank student, Wu Zian was indeed an insurmountable wall. Driven into a corner, Meng Xuexiao could only turn to him for help.

How pitiful… and how adorable.

That look of encouragement did give Meng Xuexiao a strange sort of courage. Even if it wasn’t genuine encouragement, he had to treat it that way to muster up his nerve. Because he had no way out anymore.

Meng Xuexiao forced out a smile and deliberately raised his voice, “I think it’s about time, I still have homework to do tonight!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Meng Xuexiao cursed inwardly. Even he could hear the slight tremor in his voice at the end. But once words are spoken, they can’t be taken back.

“Going back to do homework?”

Chu Sinian’s voice suddenly sank, like someone who had been seated early, eagerly awaiting a meal, only to have the table flipped just as the food arrived, “Do you think a reason like that could convince me?”

Meng Xuexiao lowered his gaze. Chu Sinian was hypocritical, skilled in deception, he had tricked more prey than Meng Xuexiao had eaten grains of salt. Meng Xuexiao knew he wasn’t capable of fooling him. But the intended audience of his words had never been Chu Sinian.

He pricked up his ears, anxiously listening for any sound in the surroundings.

Then, he heard a shout, “These little brats nowadays really have no manners. They’ve only been helping for a short while and already can’t take the hardship? Hiding in some corner like this, clearly trying to slack off!”

It was the voice of another medical staff member! Meng Xuexiao’s eyes lit up instantly.

He and Chu Sinian were standing in a relatively secluded spot, and with the recent influx of patients, medical staff had been rushing about without noticing them—until now. The accusation that Meng Xuexiao was slacking had clearly stirred their collective displeasure.

A very stern-looking medical staff member immediately walked over and grabbed Meng Xuexiao by the collar, with such force that it nearly lifted the boy off the ground, “Hey, weren’t you in a hurry to leave? Have you finished your work? If not, then work overtime and finish it!”

After scolding Meng Xuexiao, he awkwardly turned toward Chu Sinian.

“Apologies, Dr. Chu. This brat snuck away from his post and shamelessly wasted your time. I’m really sorry. I’ll take him away right now!”

If it wouldn’t have been too obvious, Meng Xuexiao would have nodded frantically right then and there. He didn’t care where they took him, anywhere was better than staying beside this dangerous man Chu Sinian. But in the next second, Chu Sinian’s brows furrowed. Meng Xuexiao sensed that the man’s mood was even worse than before.

The carefully laid plan had been completely disrupted, and for the first time, Chu Sinian showed open impatience in front of others, “I still have something to discuss with this student.”

“Uh, well…” The medical staffer holding Meng Xuexiao looked embarrassed. Meng Xuexiao felt like he’d be pushed right back toward Chu Sinian at any moment.

He immediately clung to the staffer’s sturdy arm like a drowning man grabbing his last piece of driftwood, “Yes, yes! I didn’t even want to come to the medical wing in the first place. I was forced here by the teacher. This job wasn’t supposed to be mine!”

The medical staff member looked at Meng Xuexiao as if he were about to breathe fire. Did this punk really think they were desperate for someone like him to help out?

He had originally been leaning toward pushing the boy back to Chu Sinian, but now, he yanked him protectively back. He couldn’t help but turn his gaze to Chu Sinian, waiting for the doctor to make a decision.

Dr. Chu had surely seen it, too, what kind of person this little brat really was! Were they seriously going to let someone like this throw tantrums and shirk responsibility in the treatment wing?

The surrounding medical staff shared the same sentiment, all but itching to shout aloud to Chu Sinian, “Dr. Chu, please see this clearly!”

But Chu Sinian only pressed his lips together, standing there motionless. He had noticed the fleeting glint of cunning in Meng Xuexiao’s eyes, a glint full of reckless desperation, when the boy had shouted those inflammatory words to provoke resentment.

The boy knew that if he directly sought help from other medical staff, he’d inevitably be returned right back into Chu Sinian’s hands. Because Chu Sinian’s authority in the treatment wing was no illusion. So instead, Meng Xuexiao had chosen the opposite approach.

Chu Sinian had always been a favored child of fate. Even if acquiring something was occasionally roundabout, it would still ultimately land in his grasp, just as he’d planned. Even if it meant sacrificing his own reputation. But now, for the first time, he felt a kind of bewilderment.

Meng Xuexiao was still very afraid of him. In fact… it seemed like he was even more afraid now. This was completely contrary to his plan.

Chu Sinian stared blankly at the ground. The treatment room floor was tiled, with ceiling lights above. The harsh glare bouncing off the tiles was enough to sting the eyes, but Chu Sinian showed no reaction, as if he were numb.

It wasn’t until a medical staffer cautiously called out to him, “…Dr. Chu? Are you all right? Are you feeling unwell?”

“…..”

Chu Sinian’s fingers tightened, then finally loosened as if all the strength had drained from his body. He waved his hand weakly, “…Let him go.”

“Ah…?” The surrounding medical staff were now all showing expressions of confusion.

Dr. Chu meant, he wasn’t going to keep Meng Xuexiao for a talk, and he didn’t need him to stay behind for chores in the treatment wing either…?

“Dr. Chu, you…” one of the medical staff couldn’t help but speak up, eyes full of frustration. They were worried Dr. Chu had been tricked by Meng Xuexiao!

“You’re misunderstanding,” Chu Sinian paused, then said, “Meng Xuexiao was just helping me handle something earlier. He wasn’t slacking off. I saw potential in him and chatted with him for a bit.”

“But…” Even with Chu Sinian saying this, the explanation was difficult for the medical staff to fully believe—especially after how provocatively Meng Xuexiao had acted.

“This was my fault,” Chu Sinian added, “During our conversation, I touched on something sensitive… I upset him.”

“I… I see.”

Chu Sinian’s longstanding authority and credibility among the medical staff was absolute. Since he had said so, naturally they believed him.

The medical worker who had been holding Meng Xuexiao immediately let him go, expression apologetic, “S-sorry about that.”

Meng Xuexiao’s clothes were left a little disheveled from being grabbed, but he didn’t mind and said nothing. He glanced at Chu Sinian once more, but this time, the other party avoided his gaze. Like a general who had raised the white flag on the battlefield.

Chu Sinian probably wouldn’t pursue him further—at least, not today.

Meng Xuexiao slowly shifted his gaze to the large door leading out of the treatment room. Once he was certain Chu Sinian wouldn’t follow, and the other medical staff wouldn’t stop him, the boy quickened his pace and walked out.

His steps were hurried.

He didn’t look back.