The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 42 - Test
Chapter 42: Test
Ji Ling was locked in the dark room, almost on the verge of tears. Why was he so unlucky? The system happened to be offline, and he got captured again. Now, everything was a blur, and there wasn’t even anyone he could turn to for help.
What made it worse was that this time he had dragged Ning Yu into it as well. Thinking of how Ning Yu got hurt earlier while trying to save him, Ji Ling became even more anxious. He had no idea where Ning Yu had been taken or how he was doing now…
But no matter how much he worried, there was nothing he could do. For the first time, he hated how weak he was. In this interstellar world full of monsters, he was nothing more than a useless burden.
Ji Ling sat there in a daze for a while.
After some time, he realized he couldn’t just sit around like this. He felt his way to the door and pounded on the metal with all his might. “Hey! Is anyone there? Let me out!”
He shouted until his throat went hoarse, but the only response was the echo of his own voice in the room. Unwilling to give up, he pressed his ear against the door, but there wasn’t the slightest sound from outside.
Only an unsettling silence.
Frustrated, Ji Ling slammed his palm against the door again. His hand turned red, and his eyes reflected a mix of annoyance and helplessness. Just as he was about to give up… Suddenly, with a clunk, the metal door swung open unexpectedly.
Startled, Ji Ling stumbled back a step, raising his head to see the tall man in a silver mask standing before him. He froze, fear and wariness flickering in his eyes.
This scene felt so similar to the last time…
Back then, Jing Sui had barely managed to rescue him, and Ji Ling had sworn never to leave Emperor Star again. He really didn’t want to fall into the hands of this unpredictable, terrifying leader of the resistance once more. Even though this man had saved him in a previous life, Ji Ling wasn’t someone who enjoyed taking risks, and he couldn’t bring himself to fully trust such a dangerous enemy whose true face he didn’t even know.
Just because the man hadn’t killed him before didn’t mean he was safe or harmless.
Even though Ji Ling was terrified, the thought of Ning Yu, whose fate was unknown, gave him the courage to speak. He looked at the man and asked, “Where… where did you take Ning Yu?”
After a brief pause, he realized the man might not know who Ning Yu was, so he added, “The person who was with me!”
As soon as Ji Ling said this, the silver-masked man took a step forward. Ji Ling immediately tensed up and retreated another step, stubbornly gritting his teeth as he stared at the man.
Gabriel looked down at the boy, who was clearly terrified but still defiant in his gaze. In the depths of his dark eyes, an eerie glint seemed to flicker. After a moment, his raspy, mocking voice broke the silence. “Aren’t you worried about your own situation? You still have the energy to care about someone else?”
Ji Ling was momentarily stunned. He was right. Even though he was genuinely afraid of this man, he had instinctively believed that he wouldn’t harm him… Ji Ling couldn’t explain why he had such a strange, contradictory feeling. Perhaps it was because, in both this life and the previous one, this man hadn’t truly done anything to him?
So, after being captured, Ji Ling unconsciously ignored his own predicament and was more worried about the injured Ning Yu…
But in this situation, he didn’t have time to dwell on such details. Gabriel wasn’t part of his mission, wasn’t familiar with him, and didn’t know Jing Sui and the others. He was just a minor character from the original novel, barely mentioned at all… And in a life-or-death moment, who cares about all that trivial stuff?! People’s lives were at stake!
Ji Ling bit his lip and said, “I know I’m your target. He’s innocent, just a commoner. Please don’t hurt him.”
The boy’s sky-blue eyes were clear and pure, his beautiful and delicate face pale from fear. Even though he was terrified, he still pleaded for the safety of an innocent person…
Gabriel suddenly let out a low chuckle, lifting his hand to grasp the boy’s chin. His sharp gaze fixed on Ji Ling’s face, his hoarse voice laced with cruel amusement. “Even though he’s a commoner, he stooped so low as to cling to the nobility and become your lackey… A traitor like that doesn’t deserve to live.”
Ji Ling was stunned, a cold chill running through his body. He looked at the man in disbelief, unable to speak…
Is—Is he really going to kill him?
No way!
Ji Ling had thought Gabriel wouldn’t do anything to Ning Yu. Ning Yu, as a commoner hero, should have been their pride, right? Gabriel had always targeted the nobility and never harmed commoners, which was why Ji Ling had dared to ask, thinking Gabriel would surely agree…
But this terrifying man wanted Ning Yu dead without a second thought.
This answer was completely unexpected!
So, is the protagonist really going to die just like that? No, even if Ning Yu wasn’t the protagonist, Ji Ling couldn’t just stand by and watch him be killed!
Besides, if Ning Yu hadn’t saved him, none of this would have happened…
The man’s icy metal gloves, the coldness like a thousand tiny needles piercing his skin, gripped Ji Ling’s chin, making him shiver. Desperately, he gritted his teeth and said, “You… you can’t kill him! Things aren’t the way you think. He’s never clung to the nobility, and he’s definitely not my lackey. You’ve misunderstood!”
Gabriel gazed down at the boy’s anxious, pale face but responded with a slow, rasping laugh. “Oh? If that’s the case, then why did he save you earlier?”
Ji Ling answered without hesitation, “He saved me because he’s a good person! He’s a responsible soldier. Even though he despises someone like me, a dandy, he was still willing to save me…” His eyelashes fluttered slightly as he pleaded softly, “He really isn’t on my side. Please don’t hurt him.”
Gabriel stared deeply into the boy’s eyes, as if trying to discern whether he was telling the truth.
The boy’s blue eyes were so clear, and his response was without hesitation. He really believed what he was saying…
Ji Ling felt his entire body stiffen under Gabriel’s gaze. His hair stood on end as if something had suddenly shifted. That look… It felt like Gabriel was about to see right through him, as if he wanted to strip him bare and break him apart. Ji Ling wanted nothing more than to run away, but for Ning Yu’s sake, he didn’t dare move. Instead, he tried his best to convey his sincerity through his eyes.
Ning Yu is not a traitor!!!
After what felt like an eternity, Gabriel lowered his head slightly, moving closer to Ji Ling’s face. His cold fingers gently brushed over Ji Ling’s lips, and his voice was tinged with mockery and sarcasm. “Last time, you didn’t say that to me.”
Ji Ling froze.
Gabriel continued, “Last time, you told me you wished he would die. So now that I’m helping you kill him, shouldn’t you be happy?”
Ji Ling was on the verge of tears!
Oh no! He had been so worried about Ning Yu earlier that he had almost forgotten. The last time he was trying to escape from this terrifying man, he had used Ning Yu as an excuse, claiming that Ning Yu was Jing Sui’s true love and that he himself hated Ning Yu and wanted him dead…
If he had known this would happen, he would have kept his mouth shut and never said anything so careless.
But now, those words were like water that had already been spilled. There was no way to take them back. Ji Ling stared blankly at Gabriel, and after a moment, tears welled up in his eyes.
He was no longer the person he used to be!
After numerous encounters and maneuvering with the calculating and cunning bosses, Ji Ling's acting skills had significantly improved.
Ji Ling displayed a deadened look, letting out a bitter laugh. “What's there to be happy about? Even if I kill him, His Majesty will never truly love me, so what's the point…”
Tears seemed to well up in his eyes as he looked at the man in front of him, trying to hold them back, but they still fell uncontrollably down his pale cheeks. His voice was bitter and sorrowful. “The reason I targeted him before was merely to get His Majesty's attention. Saying I'd kill him was just out of anger... Now that I'm already engaged to Carlos, why would I keep going after someone irrelevant?”
After saying this, he felt the man tighten his grip on his chin, and his face paled. Inside, he was incredibly nervous, unsure if the other believed him or not.
Then, he heard the man let out a raspy, mocking laugh. “It seems you truly love the Emperor…”
Ji Ling's eyes reddened, as if overwhelmed with hatred born from love. He turned his gaze aside and said coldly, “I don't love him anymore.”
Gabriel's dark eyes were devoid of warmth. He looked at Ji Ling thoughtfully, his voice calm and indifferent. “Even so, in the eyes of nobles like you, he's just an insignificant commoner, not worth your pleading. So your reasoning doesn't convince me.”
Ji Ling thought to himself, This guy is impossible to deal with! He's pushing me into a corner! Suddenly, Ji Ling raised his head high with a proud, defiant expression. He pursed his lips and said, “But this 'insignificant commoner' risked his life to save me earlier. I won’t owe him that favor!”
This time, Gabriel didn't argue. He thought for a moment, then said, “You do have a point.”
A glimmer of hope appeared in Ji Ling's eyes. Had he finally convinced this man? But before he could feel relieved, Gabriel chuckled again, this time with a tone that carried cruel amusement. “Too bad I don't believe a word you're saying. After all, you're just a cunning little liar.”
Ji Ling's expression froze on his face, and after a long moment, it contorted into a mixture of anger, frustration, and fear.
So you never believed me, huh? Then why did you let me talk so much? Were you just toying with me? Also, what's with targeting me while hurting an innocent person? Killing the innocent is wrong!
Ji Ling was at a loss for words, unable to figure out what more to say, his eyes red with frustration. “I swear, I'm telling the truth!”
At that moment, Gabriel suddenly reached out and pulled him close.
Ji Ling didn't expect the man to act so suddenly. He stumbled into the man’s arms, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar scent, and immediately displayed a look of terror.
Gabriel’s fingers lightly brushed against Ji Ling’s neck. Leaning close to his ear, his raspy voice sounded like a blade scraping slowly across the stone, sending a chilling shiver down Ji Ling’s spine. “You're acting like Ning Yu is the one you really care about.”
Ji Ling’s body stiffened. Being this close, he could faintly smell the scent of blood on Gabriel.
Ji Ling stammered, his teeth chattering with fear. “Th-That's impossible… Why would I care about that lowly commoner? I just don't want to owe him anything…”
Gabriel listened to Ji Ling call the other a lowly commoner, but instead of getting angry, he responded slowly, “If that's the case, you should worry more about yourself. There's no way I'm letting him go.”
Ji Ling looked up at him. “Why? Your goal is me, so what difference does it make if you let him go?”
Gabriel laughed, looking at the boy in his arms with a tone that was both gentle and cruel as he revealed a merciless truth. “Don’t you get it yet? Letting him go would expose this location. From the moment he chose to help you instead of fleeing alone… he was never going to leave here.”
Ji Ling stared at the man in front of him, his blood running cold.
No… It can’t be…
But what could he do? What could he possibly do?
Was Ning Yu really going to die because of him?
Despair finally flickered in Ji Ling's eyes. This man was different from Jing Sui and Carlos. Though they were also deeply scheming and terrifying, because of the events from his past life, and his long-standing image of unrequited love, his identity and position had always led them to form certain fixed perceptions of him. Once those perceptions were formed, they were hard to break. Or perhaps, because they cared, they couldn’t see through the fog of deception…
Allowing Ji Ling to deceive them.
But this man was different.
He didn’t care about Ji Ling’s identity, didn’t care what kind of person he was, and there was no so-called love or guilt.
To him, Ji Ling was nothing more than a weak, deceitful, cowardly noble. He wouldn’t humor him, wouldn’t indulge him, wouldn’t believe his lies, and certainly wouldn’t be moved by his tears or pleas. Cold, ruthless, logical, and heartless.
Ji Ling felt a mix of fear and anxiety as tears welled up in his eyes.
This time, he really wanted to cry…
But just then, the man lifted his hand. The cold, gloved fingers gently wiped away his tears, and the cruel laughter softened into something almost tender. His dark eyes were unfathomable. “But since I’m in a good mood today, I’ll agree not to kill him for now.”
Ji Ling looked at him in disbelief, as if seeing a glimmer of hope in his despair. Gratitude filled his eyes. "Th-Thank you—"
The man raised his hand to press against Ji Ling's lips, silencing him.
Ji Ling was too scared to move.
The cold fingers brushed over his face. But this time, unlike the previous moments of teasing, there was a barely perceptible hint of tenderness in the touch, as the fingers moved over his eyes, the bridge of his nose, and his lips…
The man’s voice was laced with a meaningful tone as he said, “I agreed to your request. Now, what are you going to offer in return?”
Ji Ling froze for a moment, then quickly realized what Gabriel was implying. He’s bargaining with me! As long as he’s willing to negotiate, that’s a good thing! He hurriedly said, “Whatever you want, I’ll agree to it! My father is Grand Duke Ji Ting, and I’m Carlos’ fiancée, you—”
Gabriel interrupted him, saying, “I already told you what I wanted last time.”
Ji Ling:?
The man once again lifted his chin and looked deeply into his eyes, slowly enunciating each word, “The person both the emperor and Carlos desire must be quite the delicacy. If I were to enjoy you first, wouldn’t that make them furious?”
Ji Ling's face turned white. No way! You're the leader of the rebels, aren't you? How can you be so lust-driven?
His lips trembled as he struggled to speak, his expression stiff and awkward. “I-I'm just an ordinary noble. There are countless nobles like me on the Emperor Star, I’m really nothing special…”
Gabriel mocked. “Is that so? Then why do the Emperor and Carlos fight over you and not some other 'ordinary' noble?”
His fingers pressed harder, leaving a faint pink mark on Ji Ling’s pale cheek. As he stared into the boy’s shrinking pupils, a dark glint flickered in Gabriel’s eyes. His voice took on a sinister undertone. “I’m really curious to know what makes you different. Is it your face, or… your body?”
Ji Ling’s face went pale, then flushed red, then pale again. Fear and panic overwhelmed him. He hadn’t expected Gabriel to bring this up again. I thought he was just scaring me last time!
But now he realized Gabriel might be serious.
This… could really happen…
After all, these rebels harbored a deep hatred for the nobles, especially the high-ranking ones like him. If he fell into their hands, being violated and then killed… it made perfect sense.
Help ahhhhhh!
He had thought Gabriel wasn’t that kind of person ah!
Even though Ji Ling was absolutely terrified, he still tried to convince Gabriel to act with the bigger picture in mind, trembling as he spoke, “I’m really just an ordinary person, and honestly, I don’t taste that great. You won’t gain anything from doing this to me. It would be better to use me to threaten Carlos. He… he’ll definitely agree to your demands. He cares about me a lot…”
Gabriel chuckled. “You’re smart, but unfortunately for you, I’ve never needed anyone to tell me what I truly want.”
Ji Ling: ...
Gabriel lazily toyed with the soft lobe of the boy’s ear, his voice slow and relaxed. “So, all you need to do is answer me—do you agree, or do you not?”
Ji Ling’s expression turned despairing once again.
He… he really didn’t want to be raped by a man, especially not by this terrifying one. Who says boys don’t fear being raped?! He was scared to death! But he also didn’t want Ning Yu to die!
Why was he so unlucky?
Why did he have to face such a difficult choice?
Every day felt like a life-or-death question!
Gabriel watched the boy’s face twist with struggle and despair, his voice growing gentler as he twirled a lock of Ji Ling’s golden hair and smiled. “You’d better decide quickly. But even if you refuse, it’s no big deal. A mere commoner… if he dies, he dies, right?”
Although his tone seemed gentle, the raspy and eerie sound of his voice sent a chill down Ji Ling’s spine.
Ji Ling’s eyes flickered with turmoil, and his body trembled slightly. After a long pause, he rasped, “If… if I agree, you’ll promise not to kill him… right?”
Gabriel nodded. “Yes, you can trust my word.”
Ji Ling bit down hard, his lips drained of all color. This was the hardest decision he had ever faced. He really didn’t want to give in to fate…
Could he perhaps make one last desperate attempt? Maybe Gabriel was just bluffing again?
This guy seemed awful, yes, and terrifying…
But Ji Ling had an instinctive feeling that he wasn’t truly that kind of person...
There was no real need for Gabriel to kill Ning Yu.
Ji Ling’s lashes trembled as he held onto the smallest glimmer of hope, cautiously looking at him. “What if… I don’t agree?”
Would you really kill Ning Yu?
Upon hearing this, Gabriel laughed. This laugh was different from before—it seemed lighter, more relaxed, even a bit warm and calm. His black eyes showed a fleeting trace of gentle pity, as if he were watching a trapped prey futilely struggle in its final moments. He said, “Then I’ll kill him first and enjoy you afterward.”
Ji Ling: ???
The author has something to say:
Ding! Congratulations to player Ji Ling for unlocking a hidden plotline: Gabriel’s Game.
Ji Ling: ??? (Who am I, where am I, and what am I doing?)
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