Why Do All the Villains Look at Me Like This? - Chapter 85

The next morning, Meng Xuexiao woke to a commotion outside. He had been about to stretch out and linger in bed a little longer when memories of the previous night flooded his mind. He jolted upright, nearly tripping over the chair beneath him.

Although he had asked Shen Zekai for help yesterday, and Shen Zekai had kindly agreed, how could he truly let Shen Zekai bear such a dangerous task alone?

So, last night, Meng Xuexiao had quietly moved a chair to the dormitory entrance, intending to sleep there. This way, he could rush out at the first sign of trouble, or at the very least, find a way to contact the Alliance Military Academy teachers.

This morning’s events seemed to confirm the wisdom of his decision.

He scrambled out in a panic, his movements a little too hasty. A clump of hair, flattened from sleep, drooped down, covering most of one eye.

But Meng Xuexiao had no time to worry about that now.

The moment Meng Xuexiao opened the dormitory door, he blinked, his eyes struggling to adjust to the sudden change in lighting.

The corridor was poorly lit, its dimness starkly contrasting with the warm sunlight inside. The abrupt shift to darkness made his vision blur for a long moment.

Combined with the strand of hair hanging over his eye, Meng Xuexiao could barely see anything. Yet he could still make out three dark, motionless figures standing rigidly upright.

Who else could it be but Raven and the others?

As if sensing his arrival, the three of them turned toward him in unison, their movements surprisingly synchronized and… almost obedient?

They looked like three large dogs, heads bowed, eagerly awaiting their master’s return.

Seeing this scene, Meng Xuexiao couldn’t help but be astonished. But the evidence was right before his eyes. He could only conclude that the trio had reached some kind of consensus last night, at least putting an end to their open and covert conflicts.

What was that saying again?

Between the strong, there are no eternal enemies, only perpetual interests. Continuing this desperate struggle would only exhaust both sides, benefiting no one.

Meng Xuexiao understood this perfectly, let alone these three.

He didn’t care to investigate the reasons for their peaceful coexistence, knowing only that if they could maintain this truce, it would be ideal.

After all… he didn’t want to carry around three ticking time bombs.

Since Shen Zekai, Yao Huai, and Raven were maintaining a calm facade, the source of the earlier commotion must be…

Meng Xuexiao’s gaze shifted, finally settling on a young man standing opposite the trio.

Could he be the one who caused the disturbance?

Meng Xuexiao studied the young man more closely.

If he remembered correctly, the man’s name was Si Jue, a student under Shen Zekai. Meng Xuexiao had even crossed paths with him a few times during his own school days.

Si Jue was generally known for his honest and generous nature, but for some reason, his lips were now pale.

Meng Xuexiao recognized the other person, who in turn recognized him. The man quickly rubbed his hands together and hurried over.

“I heard you were back! Brother Shen specifically instructed me to re-enroll you. I’m here now to get your opinion on it.”

“Ah…?”

Meng Xuexiao was somewhat bewildered by the young man’s words. Shen Zekai had clearly told him earlier that since he had just returned after so long, he should rest for a few days before considering whether to attend classes.

However, Meng Xuexiao didn’t call him out on it.

Sometimes plans just can’t keep up with reality. Just as he hadn’t expected Raven, Yao Huai, and Shen Zekai to get along peacefully this morning.

Shen Zekai wasn’t an unreliable person. If he had decided to do this, he must have his reasons. Meng Xuexiao certainly wouldn’t undermine him now.

So, Meng Xuexiao ultimately nodded.

Seeing him nod, Si Jue suddenly seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He grabbed Meng Xuexiao’s hand and began pulling him out of the dormitory, turning back to call out to Shen Zekai among the three men, “Alright, Brother Shen, I’ll take him to check out the facilities first!”

Si Jue spoke rapidly, clearly eager to leave. As they reached the far end of the corridor, he broke into a jog. Meng Xuexiao stumbled, instinctively glancing back at Shen Zekai, who stood with Raven and Yao Huai.

Shen Zekai’s eyes curved slightly, radiating a warm, sunny aura as he gave Meng Xuexiao a slight nod.

Was this… a signal for him to follow Si Jue?

A beam of sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating half of Shen Zekai’s face. The young man’s features were bathed in golden light, his posture ramrod straight, projecting an even stronger sense of reliability.

Even Meng Xuexiao had to admit that his initial approach to Shen Zekai, his desire to become friends, had stemmed from this very reliability.

If that’s the case, then I’ll go…

Maybe Shen Zekai is trying to get me out of the way?

After all, if Shen Zekai, Raven, and Yao Huai had truly reached an agreement last night, they must have urgent matters to discuss.

Meng Xuexiao turned his head forward, focusing on the path ahead and striving to keep pace with Si Jue’s hurried steps.

Unbeknownst to Meng Xuexiao, Raven lunged forward the instant he turned his head.

Shen Zekai, however, extended his arm, blocking Raven’s path.

Seeing the sudden obstruction, Raven couldn’t help but sneer, “What’s this? Played the hero for too long? Acted so much you’ve forgotten who you really are?”

Though they had remained peaceful last night, it wasn’t due to any agreement.

For the first half of the night, the three of them had been lost in their own thoughts, completely ignoring each other. As the night wore on, they gradually recovered and grew increasingly hostile, on the verge of a violent confrontation.

At that moment, the energy surrounding them overturned the potted plants hanging on the corridor walls. Ceramic pots shattered on the floor, but none of them spared the wreckage a glance.

Until—a muffled groan came from the bedroom shared by Shen Zekai and Meng Xuexiao, just a few steps away.

Time seemed to freeze. For reasons unknown, all three of them simultaneously withdrew their hands and leaned toward the bedroom to investigate the source of the sound.

They knew there was only one person in the dormitory: Meng Xuexiao.

As they stood outside, Meng Xuexiao was asleep in his chair, already restless. The sound of the ceramic flowerpot shattering startled him. The young man’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as he shifted in his sleep, his heel bumping against the chair in his drowsy state.

The impact must have stung. Meng Xuexiao, his head tilted against the chair back, blinked rapidly, his eyes threatening to open.

Fortunately, Raven, as a seasoned mercenary, possessed both excellent interference mitigation skills and lightning-fast reflexes. The dormitory door slid open silently. He swiftly plucked a feather from the tip of his wing and gently laid it across Meng Xuexiao’s eyes.

The layered feather, like a blindfold, encircled the young man’s face. Each jet-black fiber pressed snugly against his pale skin, the feather’s tip brushing against Meng Xuexiao’s soft pink lips.

Almost instantly, the young man’s breathing softened again. He crossed his hands over his abdomen, settling into a relaxed sleeping posture.

The young man had finally drifted back to sleep.

Raven and Shen Zekai couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

But in the next moment, a figure moved into place, completely blocking the light source between the dormitory and the corridor. Raven and Shen Zekai’s gazes immediately snapped toward the figure, clearly unwilling to have the hard-won tranquility suddenly shattered.

The sound of wheelchair wheels rolling echoed as Yao Huai, who had previously seemed to remain aloof from the situation, stopped beside Meng Xuexiao.

For a moment, it was unclear whether Shen Zekai and Raven, who had arrived first, were closer to Meng Xuexiao, or whether Yao Huai, the latecomer, had gained the advantage.

Then, the Silver-Haired Man reached out toward the finally sleeping Meng Xuexiao.

Raven and Shen Zekai reacted like birds whose tails had been stepped on, but with their formidable self-control, they only managed to hiss—

“What are you doing?”

“Are you crazy?!”

Yao Huai’s icy fingers finally wrapped around Meng Xuexiao’s waist, lifting him slightly. The boy’s loose clothing immediately tightened against his slender waist, instantly reducing its bulk by nearly half.

Staring at the suddenly empty fabric, Yao Huai gently shifted the person in his arms.

Such a slender waist… No wonder he’s so light.

Then, he turned toward the bed.

Raven and Shen Zekai finally realized what Yao Huai was planning: to place Meng Xuexiao on the bed.

Shen Zekai narrowed his eyes involuntarily.

He had actually been considering doing the same thing himself, but he never expected Yao Huai, the one who seemed the most indifferent among them, to make the first move.

This was precisely the downside of having too many people involved.

However, Yao Huai failed to lift Meng Xuexiao completely.

For some reason, the young man, who had only just slipped back into unconsciousness, showed faint signs of stirring again.

Yao Huai’s grip loosened, and he had no choice but to gently lower Meng Xuexiao back into his original position.

Raven immediately let out a mocking laugh, “A pointless gesture.”

Shen Zekai’s irritation at being preempted by Yao Huai seemed to dissipate somewhat, “Superfluous.”

Yao Huai remained the calmest among them, turning away indifferently. Then—

In the next instant, all the glass on the floor shattered, sending shards flying inward with a violent gust of wind. Several bloody cuts instantly appeared on Raven’s face.

The physical capabilities of a 2S-ranked individual were no joke. Not even bullets could leave a mark on their skin. Yet, at that moment, their flesh had been undeniably sliced open.

Only Shen Zekai and Raven knew that if they had been a fraction of a second slower, their heads would have been severed.

Simultaneously, Shen Zekai and Raven moved, their gazes instantly shifting to the deeply sleeping Meng Xuexiao.

But this time, the young man remained sound asleep, as if he had heard nothing. Even the shards of glass that had just been sent flying lost all momentum three to five meters from him, falling to the ground like petals.

Shen Zekai snorted, slowly wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand, and began activating his 2S-Class physique to heal the wounds.

The raw, pink flesh gradually knit back together, but crimson blood continued to flow down his handsome hand—the same hand that usually held student files with gentle warmth.

This was the sight that greeted Si Jue, who had rushed over in a panic.

Ever since Shen Zekai became the student representative, Si Jue had always seen him as the most composed person in the entire Military Academy. Moreover, after Shen Zekai was promoted to 2S-Class, he had never appeared so disheveled again.

Si Jue instinctively covered his mouth, which drew the cold gazes of the other two men to him.

Finally overwhelmed, Si Jue let out an uncontrollable scream.

Even as Si Jue followed Meng Xuexiao to the classroom, bathed in the gradually rising sunlight, his legs still trembled uncontrollably. At that moment, he felt as if his own voice no longer belonged to him.

“So… who exactly were those two people?”

Now that the dust had settled, he could only ask Meng Xuexiao, who had been present at the scene.

Si Jue’s voice was so faint that Meng Xuexiao initially couldn’t hear him clearly. It wasn’t until later that he understood what Si Jue was asking.

“Uh… they’re two… friends from the neighboring dormitory.”

Meng Xuexiao could only offer this explanation. After all, Raven and Yao Huai’s danger levels were far too high; the more Si Jue knew, the more trouble it would bring him.

Besides, the three of them seemed to be getting along peacefully now. Surely there was no harm in putting it this way?

Friends?

Si Jue stared in disbelief.

What kind of friends could cause such chaos in a dormitory at the Federation Military Academy?!

He instinctively assumed Meng Xuexiao was joking and forced a wry smile, “Those ‘friends’ of yours certainly have quite the knack for causing trouble. I bet the students on your floor didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.”

It wasn’t just Si Jue who had been terrified by the shattered glass and Shen Zekai’s disheveled state. He just happened to be standing in the hallway at the time, while the other students had locked themselves in their dorm rooms, too afraid to even open their doors.

Si Jue had even seen blood seeping under the doors of a few dorm rooms, likely from glass cuts.

Unfortunately, Meng Xuexiao genuinely didn’t understand what Si Jue was implying.

By the time he rushed out in response to the commotion, the situation had already settled. Shen Zekai’s facial injuries had healed completely; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to stand so conspicuously, smiling at Meng Xuexiao.

But Meng Xuexiao wasn’t foolish. Si Jue’s tone clearly wasn’t a lie. Yet when the young man rolled his eyes and carefully tried to recall the previous night’s events, he couldn’t remember a thing.

Normally, he would occasionally wake up in the middle of the night, but last night he hadn’t stirred once.

In a way, he had actually… slept quite well?

However, the fact that everything seemed perfectly normal was precisely the biggest problem.

Meng Xuexiao considered himself to have lived in the Empire for a long time. While he wouldn’t claim to be exceptionally vigilant, he at least knew better than to sleep too soundly at night.

If something had truly happened to him last night, how could he have remained unconscious the entire time?

The thought sent Meng Xuexiao’s heart racing.

He turned his gaze to the person beside him.

At that moment, he was truly grateful to be in the classroom, surrounded by students coming and going. Surely someone nearby lived in a dormitory close to his.

He didn’t know what had happened last night, but he could simply ask someone.

Soon, Meng Xuexiao found someone.

The classmate looked unwell, even worse than Si Jue beside him. He must have been injured, as his leg was wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage, and he was leaning on a crutch.

Meng Xuexiao immediately approached him.

Si Jue’s expression changed abruptly.

He reached out to stop Meng Xuexiao, but he was too late, his hand grasping only air.

Last night, Raven, Shen Zekai, Yao Huai, and the others had stood right in front of Meng Xuexiao’s dormitory door. Anyone could see the connection between them. Naturally, these people would blame Meng Xuexiao for the fright and injuries they had suffered last night.

If Meng Xuexiao approached them directly now, wouldn’t he be asking for trouble?

Sure enough, when Meng Xuexiao approached, the student’s expression turned strange, immediately putting Meng Xuexiao on guard. He took a small step back.

But the next moment, the student flashed a somewhat ingratiating smile, pulling Meng Xuexiao closer with feigned concern. “Last night? Nothing happened last night! We all slept soundly!”

Si Jue, who had been poised to rush forward and shove the student away from Meng Xuexiao, froze in place, utterly stunned.

Meng Xuexiao was equally incredulous.

Even if nothing had actually happened last night, he had rarely heard anyone speak to him in such a tone during his time in the Federal Army.

His only thought at that moment was, Is this person still half-asleep and mistaking me for someone else?

Bypassing the student, Meng Xuexiao quickly found a second student near his dormitory.

“Nothing happened last night!”

Another identical response, dripping with sycophantic flattery, almost a carbon copy of the previous student’s reply.

If Meng Xuexiao hadn’t been acutely aware of his own capabilities, he might have actually believed he’d returned from his brief absence to suddenly become a 2S-Class powerhouse.

Left with no other option, Meng Xuexiao turned to Si Jue for help. Since Si Jue had let out a startled cry that morning, he must know something.

When he looked at Si Jue, his eyes were filled with urgency, “I genuinely don’t know what’s going on. If you know anything—”

“Nothing happened last night!” Si Jue replied flatly.

Meng Xuexiao froze in place, stunned. That wasn’t what Si Jue had said earlier…

But Si Jue quickly added, “I was mistaken earlier.”

Having accompanied Meng Xuexiao on his fruitless inquiries, Si Jue understood perfectly well what was happening. This situation was clearly orchestrated by Shen Zekai well in advance.

This must be why Shen Zekai had asked him to distract Meng Xuexiao earlier.

That’s right. When Si Jue had taken Meng Xuexiao away, it was because he’d seen Shen Zekai’s urgent hand signal and hastily fabricated an excuse.

Shen Zekai had anticipated that Meng Xuexiao might face harassment from students on his floor due to the previous night’s incident, so he had taken thorough precautions to prevent them from disturbing Meng Xuexiao.

This… this is incredibly meticulous, Si Jue thought.

Having followed Shen Zekai for years, Si Jue knew the man had always enjoyed a good reputation among the students for his warmth and generosity. But even so, this level of attentiveness seemed excessive.

Almost as soon as Si Jue had this thought, a voice as gentle as a spring breeze called out, “Found you.”

Meng Xuexiao recognized Shen Zekai’s voice.

When Meng Xuexiao turned around, he indeed saw Shen Zekai’s figure. However, after a quick scan, he couldn’t spot Raven or Yao Huai.

Why aren’t they here? Weren’t the three of them always together before?

Shen Zekai strode over in a few steps, smiling as he inserted himself between Meng Xuexiao and Si Jue, naturally taking Si Jue’s place beside Meng Xuexiao.

Si Jue’s eyebrow twitched. With keen awareness, he retreated several steps, quickly making an excuse to leave. As he departed, he also cleared out a wave of oblivious students who had been trying to approach.

As soon as Si Jue disappeared, the surrounding students vanished as well, leaving Meng Xuexiao’s attention to naturally focus entirely on Shen Zekai.

Before Meng Xuexiao could speak, Shen Zekai, as if sensing his thoughts, gently explained, “I’ve already taken care of those two.”

He leaned slightly toward Meng Xuexiao, his hand brushing against the tips of Meng Xuexiao’s fingers, whether intentionally or not.

“You probably wouldn’t want two ticking time bombs lingering around you, would you?”

Shen Zekai’s words were remarkably considerate, each syllable perfectly capturing Meng Xuexiao’s recent anxieties and fears.

“Really taken care of?” Meng Xuexiao’s eyes widened involuntarily. “How did you manage that?”

His original goal had simply been to live an ordinary life as a student. Raven, Yao Huai, and the others… they were too much for him. They seemed to belong to a different world entirely.

Shen Zekai’s lips curved into a warm smile, “We had a frank discussion.”

Meng Xuexiao immediately understood his meaning.

So that’s why Raven, Shen Zekai, and Yao Huai had suddenly seemed to reach a consensus this morning? It must have been about this.

It’s good to talk it out. It’s good to talk it out.

Meng Xuexiao felt his entire body relax, as if he had finally shed a heavy burden.

Shen Zekai seemed to relax as well, leaning his shoulder gently against Meng Xuexiao’s. “Everything’s in the past now.”

Just then, the class bell rang at the Federation Military Academy. The long, resonant chime, combined with the warm sunlight and the two young men leaning together, created a scene as beautiful as an oil painting.

“Go on,” Shen Zekai whispered in Meng Xuexiao’s ear. “It’s time to get everything back on track.”

“I’ve already spoken with the school and your teachers. Just pick up where you left off, continuing with the unfinished lessons.”

“Mm,” Meng Xuexiao nodded slightly.

All the unpleasant memories seemed to vanish in that moment, replaced by the new, rightful course of Meng Xuexiao’s life.

Shen Zekai and Meng Xuexiao parted at the classroom door. As the teacher entered, Meng Xuexiao’s figure gradually disappeared among the other students.

Shen Zekai slowly lowered his gaze, the smile on his lips unchanged, but the warmth in his eyes had vanished without a trace.

He had finally managed to remove Raven and Yao Huai from Meng Xuexiao’s world.

It hadn’t been easy. After all, one was a fragment formed earlier than him, and the other was the unshakeable Main Body. In terms of raw power, Shen Zekai held little advantage.

So he had resorted to provoking the Main Body, goading it into anger and, consequently, action—just as he had done yesterday by smashing the glass and attacking them.

Then he would play his trump card: using the people he had dealt with, those who might have caused trouble for Meng Xuexiao, to tell the Main Body and Raven, “Your meddling in the academy is disrupting Meng Xuexiao’s life.”

These two had only appeared at the Federation Military Academy because of Meng Xuexiao’s wish. If they were now interfering with his life, what reason did they have to remain?

If they truly cared for Meng Xuexiao, they would have to back down, no matter the form.

After intercepting Raven at the dormitory building, Shen Zekai had begun his wait. As expected, both the Main Body and Raven fell into his trap.

Raven fought him, but it was a minor setback. The Main Body, however, vanished without a trace.

Everything unfolded exactly as Shen Zekai had predicted.

After all, the Main Body had been enthroned since birth. Being so powerful and occupying such a lofty position, He was often oblivious to details and prone to overlooking them.

This was precisely how Shen Zekai, the “insignificant figure” whom the Main Body had always dismissed, had managed to gain the upper hand.

A hint of mockery flickered in Shen Zekai’s eyes.

Even though the Main Body reigned supreme, invincible, and capable of annihilating worlds with a mere flick of his fingers, in the end, hadn’t he been defeated by Shen Zekai?

Gradually, the teacher’s lecture began to echo from Meng Xuexiao’s classroom. Though Shen Zekai had heard these lessons countless times, he couldn’t help but turn his gaze toward the room, searching for Meng Xuexiao’s figure among the students.

Then he heard the teacher announce, “Today, the Federation Military Academy welcomes a new student. His name is Yao Huai.”

At the mention of this name, Shen Zekai’s pupils constricted sharply.

The rhythmic whir of wheelchair wheels grew louder as the Silver-Haired Man appeared on the podium.

He stood even higher and closer than the teacher. His silver-gray, mercury-like eyes settled on Meng Xuexiao, who was seated among the students.

Shen Zekai acknowledged that his divine status had made him too aloof, causing him to overlook crucial details and nearly disrupt Meng Xuexiao’s life.

He accepted responsibility for this mistake.

Therefore, he resolved to fully immerse himself in Meng Xuexiao’s life, living as an ordinary person.