The villain turns into the infatuated second male lead

The emotions in Qiu Yiyuan’s dark pupils flickered briefly, leaving only calm on his stern, proud face. Skillfully using the crutch, he walked to the sofa and casually glanced at the book cover, reading the large, flamboyant characters “Rebirth: Main God Space.” He remembered that the other day, Ling Su had read quite a few similar web novels.

In his subconscious, someone like Ling Su, a refined and gentle doctor, would likely prefer literature with beautiful prose or medical textbooks.

“Are you interested in this too?” Yin Zhiyi closed the book in his hand and looked up at him with a smile.

He sat down beside him, noticing Ling Su seemed interested in discussing the book as he handed it over. The words he was about to decline paused on his lips, and in a low, magnetic voice, he said, “I liked it a lot when I was a kid, read quite a few.”

“I thought someone like you would have received an elite education as a child, learning multiple languages and reading books on economics,” Yin Zhiyi’s smile deepened as he teased.

During Qiu Yiyuan’s stay here, he hadn’t revealed much about himself, nor had he asked Ling Su any overly intimate or private questions. He hadn’t yet found the right way to interact with him. Hearing Ling Su’s speculation now, he paused for a few seconds, “Why do you say that?”

“Well, isn’t that how it usually goes in TV dramas?” Yin Zhiyi rubbed his brow casually, answering offhandedly.

Xia Wanshi was quite interested in TV dramas and often shared her favorite shows with him. Ling Su, accommodating his beloved, watched them seriously, even when he found them exasperating, just to have something in common to talk about after the episodes ended.

Qiu Yiyuan’s mouth twitched at this, about to say something when his gaze fell on those slender, well-proportioned fingers. The way Ling Su rubbed his brow was identical to his foster brother, but unlike his brother, Ling Su had a small mole on the bridge of his nose.

Qiu Yiyuan’s eyes momentarily turned cold, but he quickly returned to normal. Steadying himself, he noted Ling Su’s healthy complexion, starkly different from his foster brother’s sickly pallor. He wondered if he was psychologically affected by his near-death experience, causing his mind to be so erratic.

“You mentioned TV dramas… I thought someone like you would have been serious about studying as a child,” he picked up on Ling Su’s playful tone and responded with a hint of mockery, raising his chin.

Yin Zhiyi found his somewhat childish retort amusing, pressing his index finger to his nose as he laughed softly. If it were Ling Su’s childhood, saying he was serious about studying wouldn’t be wrong. He always followed his parents’ arrangements, excelling in his studies, being gentle and considerate, and often being the model child other parents praised.

“Yes, that’s true. But as the saying goes, the more you are deprived of something, the more you want to compensate for it later in life.” Yin Zhiyi put down the thick book, his tone softening, “I’m compensating for my childhood.”

He spoke so earnestly that even he almost believed it if he weren’t aware that he was merely preparing for the next world crossing, uncertain of its usefulness. Unbeknownst to Qiu Yiyuan, his heart skipped a beat at the thought that the always gentle and harmless Ling Su might also have a lonely, desolate side.

Lowering his eyebrows, he asked casually, “If it was so exhausting, why not give up?”

“Because everyone liked that version of me. Being liked is a joyful thing, isn’t it?” Yin Zhiyi reflected on Ling Su’s memories, speaking calmly. Even Ling Su himself thought it was natural.

Being loved and recognized is indeed addictive.

“And you?” Yin Zhiyi leaned back on the sofa, lazily turning his face. He noticed the small mole on the protagonist’s left earlobe and felt an inexplicable urge to touch it.

“What?” Qiu Yiyuan was puzzled.

“Compared to me, you must have had a tougher time,”he shifted his gaze to the protagonist’s sharp, handsome features, his expression unintentionally softening, his voice slightly hoarse, “Living in the Qiu family must be tiring at times.”

“Tiring?” Qiu Yiyuan was momentarily stunned, unintentionally drawn to those gentle, captivating eyes, as if he was about to drown in them.

He hadn’t really considered this question. His path was determined from birth, destined to lead the Qiu family. Even when he was kidnapped as a child, with a gun to his head, the fear was something he had to endure as the heir. A happy childhood was out of the question; everyone believed this was how it should be. He had a better life than most and should be content.

But reflecting on over twenty years of his life, he realized that even his kindest mother had never asked him if he was tired.

His fingertips dug into his palm, the sharp pain pulling him out of those clear eyes. He thought it was probably because Ling Su’s eyes were too beautiful, causing him to lose composure.

He was used to Ling Su’s words, but the recent tone and demeanor seemed to be like a seductive charm, lingering in his heart. He smiled faintly, “Not as bad as you say.”

You’re almost at death’s door, homeless, yet you think you’re not suffering.

“Really?” Yin Zhiyi raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.

Having lived with the Qiu family for over a decade, he was well-versed in its intrigues. According to the novel, the protagonist developed a cold, proud but love-starved personality due to the dysfunctional family, with the antagonist playing a significant role. It wasn’t until meeting the heroine that Qiu Yiyuan found redemption in budding feelings.

But his worries would seem trivial to the common folk, as familial ties were weak, making it hard to notice such small things, and others would only envy him.

Qiu Yiyuan casually flipped through the novel, his dark eyes showing a trace of reminiscence, slowing his speech, “I remember my mom bought me a cat when I was little. She said she was too busy to accompany me, hoping the cat would make me happy.”

Around eight or nine years old, when Haiyue Group was expanding, he still remembered the little kitten, round and white like a snowball. It was one of the few warm memories of his childhood.

For the first time, he seriously cared for a small life, naming it “Xiao Jiu,” watching it grow from a tiny thing, rubbing affectionately against his trousers. That feeling of softness in his heart was so distant.

Yin Zhiyi glanced at the protagonist telling his story, surprised to see rare warmth in his eyes. He wondered if his current status was lower than a cat’s, considering the slow progress in becoming life-and-death friends with the protagonist.

Silently listening, he pondered how to effectively deepen their bond after hearing the protagonist’s childhood story. However, as the story continued, his clean, handsome face gradually showed a strange expression.

“When I was nine, the class monitor was sick and I took over his duties for the day. I never thought that coming home late would lead to such a thing…” Qiu Yiyuan’s eyes were cold, sarcastically saying, “I came home full of joy, only to see my foster brother holding Xiao Jiu, covered in blood… he killed Xiao Jiu.”

From then on, he understood what the servants said, that his foster brother would take everything from him because his foster brother’s parents sacrificed themselves to save his father. So, he had to surpass him in everything to ensure his father could legitimately take over Haiyue Group.

Yin Zhiyi’s clear eyes remained overly calm, as if one of the story’s protagonists wasn’t himself.

If someone could notice, they’d see the innate indifference stemming from a lack of concern, like a player acting in a game, unaffected by NPC words.
——————————
https://ko-fi.com/quarinnah