The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 64 - Just Ask
Chapter 64: Just Ask
Ji Ling met Ning Yu’s sharp gaze, and his expression finally froze. The chilling sensation of being seen through almost entirely made him sober up in an instant.
Ning Yu was testing him.
Back when he was captured by ‘Gabriel’ and spent those days at the base, he had already become completely transparent in Ning Yu’s eyes.
Ning Yu had clearly seen through his pretense long ago. He knew Ji Ling wasn’t as he appeared on the surface, yet he still deliberately said those words, just to force Ji Ling to admit it himself—that he wasn’t the arrogant, domineering, cunning, and cruel noble Ning Yu described. If he could be honest and sincere, then Ning Yu would naturally treat his true self with equal sincerity.
He wanted to know Ji Ling’s secret.
But that was precisely the answer Ji Ling couldn’t reveal, the question he couldn’t answer.
Ning Yu stared into Ji Ling’s eyes, his voice slow and clear, his gaze deep and probing. “You’re afraid of me knowing that you don’t dislike me. You’re afraid of me knowing that you were willing to save me. You only show kindness toward me when you’re covering it up… Why is that?”
What is troubling you? What is it that you truly want?
If you’re willing to speak, in exchange, I will also tell you my true feelings and face everything with you.
Ji Ling met Ning Yu’s dark eyes. In that gentle gaze, there was encouragement, curiosity, and confusion. It seemed warm and reliable, just like… the person he had once thought Ning Yu was.
But in the end, they weren’t the same, were they?
The Ning Yu he had imagined was as bright and pure as the moon after the rain, righteous and brave, always living under the sunlight, untouched by even the slightest shadow of darkness… But the Ning Yu before him now had a heart deeper than anyone else’s, like someone who had walked out of the ruins after a raging fire. He still had his own principles, but he wasn’t the kind of person Ji Ling had imagined.
Ji Ling took a deep breath, his expression gradually turning indifferent. He said, “You’re right. I was the one who wronged you first, so there’s no need for you to feel any guilt toward me.”
Ning Yu’s eyes dimmed, a flash of disappointment passing through them.
Ji Ling raised an eyebrow with a smile, looking fearless, and continued, “Since I’ve fallen into the hands of the rebel leader, you can do whatever you want with me. After all, I’m a valuable high-ranking noble, am I not?”
It’s not like you haven’t used me before.
He stared provocatively at Ning Yu, daring him—Come on, let’s hurt each other.
You bastard, you tricked me so miserably, wasted so much of my emotions, and now you think you can get my true thoughts with just a few words? Keep dreaming!
Ning Yu gazed at Ji Ling, looking at the bright and fiery determination in the young man's eyes, full of anger yet unwavering. After a moment, he sighed softly. “As long as you’re happy.”
With that, he turned and left.
Ji Ling watched Ning Yu’s retreating figure, lifted his chin, and snorted coldly. Weren’t you the one who insisted on reasoning with me according to your character setting? Now that I’m playing along, you’re not happy anymore?
Who can’t roleplay? Come on, let’s get the script ready for a noble-rebel love-hate (crossed out) war drama!
The system was silent for a moment before saying: [I think… he might not have meant it that way…]
Ji Ling chuckled coldly: [Of course, I know he didn’t mean it that way, and I know he won’t actually hurt me. But what, am I supposed to just tell him my real identity and mission? I remember you said before that revealing my identity has an extremely high mortality rate, and it’s against the rules, right?]
System: […]
Ji Ling: [Besides, I’m someone who’s going back home. Why would I need to form deep connections with the people here?]
System: […]
Ji Ling: [Even if I told him my goal, could he even help me? If he could, then maybe I’d consider it. :)]
The system immediately shut up.
Suddenly, Ji Ling remembered the conditions for completing his mission: Ning Yu and Jing Sui must fall in love and have a happy ending.
Hmm, the host really does think things through. Some things truly don’t need to be said. No need at all.
After snapping back at Ning Yu, Ji Ling finally felt a little relieved. He thought angrily—It’s all your fault, you bastard, making it impossible for me to complete my mission and go home! If you really wanted to help me, you should just fall in love with Jing Sui properly. Now that things have turned out like this, you still have the nerve to ask me why? You’re going to drive me crazy!
Don’t ask again. If you ask again, I’ll make you and Jing Sui get married on the spot!
………………
Ji Ling stomped upstairs in a huff.
Ning Yu’s house was a simple two-story building, sparsely furnished, clearly a place he rarely stayed in.
After all, this guy was either running around everywhere or pretending to be the people’s idol on the Emperor Star. How could he have time to come back here often? Rather than calling it a home, it was more like a temporary stopover.
Ji Ling didn’t hold back. He casually picked a room that looked nice, tidied it up a bit, and moved in.
He had been full of anger, ready to clash with Ning Yu. Ning Yu had seen through his reluctance to harm others, and with his previous slip-ups, Ji Ling had dared to be this aggressive, pressing forward step by step. But hadn’t he also seen that Ning Yu had no intention of hurting him? This guy, besides being good at arguing, couldn’t really do anything to him… As for that forced kiss before, well, that was because he had misjudged people and was threatened by him. Now, he definitely wouldn’t let that happen again!
It was all because he had been too shocked and lost his composure, letting this guy take the initiative and catch him off guard. But that didn’t mean he was afraid!
If you have the guts, use words instead of force.
Ji Ling felt like he had fully entered battle mode, but—Ning Yu didn’t show up anymore!
This feeling was like finally coming up with the perfect comeback after losing an argument, only for the person who won the argument to disappear! Not even giving you a chance for a rematch!
Despicable, absolutely despicable!
Although Ji Ling was angry, there was nothing he could do. He certainly wasn't going to seek out Ning Yu just to argue—it wasn’t like he had nothing better to do.
Since he wasn’t showing up, Ji Ling decided to just put it out of sight, out of mind.
Even though he hadn't seen Ning Yu, Ji Ling had met plenty of new friends here—like Aunt Zola, who had warmly invited him to stay at her house at the beginning, the boy next door, A Man, and Uncle Hank from across the street…
Everyone believed Ji Ling was Ning Yu’s savior and treated him with great kindness.
A Man was a die-hard fan of Ning Yu and was especially grateful to Ji Ling. According to him, Ning Yu had gone out on some business but was worried that Ji Ling might feel lost in this unfamiliar place. So, he had specifically asked A Man to take care of him.
One morning, Ji Ling woke up, rubbed his eyes, and stepped outside, only to see a black-haired, black-eyed boy approaching with a bamboo basket on his back. He grinned and said, “Brother Bai, you’re up! Let’s go stroll around town today?”
Ji Ling smiled at him and nodded. “Okay.”
After spending a few days together, Ji Ling and the lively, enthusiastic A Man had become good friends. A Man was two years younger than him, so he called him “Brother Bai.”
The two strolled around as they walked.
Many people along the way recognized them, and Ji Ling had practically become a local celebrity.
When A Man went to buy vegetables, the vendor lady immediately threw in a few extra blue flower fruits for Ji Ling and smiled, “You’re the one who saved Ning Yu, right? Saving Ning Yu means saving all of us! Thank you! These are for you, and from now on, you’ll get a 50% discount whenever you shop here!”
Ji Ling: “...Thank you.”
Then, when they reached an old man selling barbecue on the street corner, he also grinned at Ji Ling, his face wrinkled with laughter. “Hey, isn’t this the kid who saved Xiao Ning? Come, come, come—have some barbecue on the house! Don’t be shy!”
As he spoke, he handed over a big plate of skewers.
Ji Ling: “...Thank you.”
This sort of thing had happened multiple times over the past few days. At first, Ji Ling had been flattered and a little uneasy, but by now, he had grown somewhat numb to it. But… he had never actually saved Ning Yu even once! Ning Yu had always been faking it; he never needed saving in the first place. :）
His title as a ‘lifesaver’ was completely undeserved!
And yet, he couldn't say anything about it, which left him with complicated feelings.
A Man, meanwhile, was happily enjoying the free food that came along with Ji Ling’s reputation. As he ate, he reassured Ji Ling, “Brother Bai, don’t be shy. Saving Brother Ning Yu is the same as saving all of us. It’s only right for everyone to thank you!”
Ji Ling: “…”
He really didn’t deserve this!
But what could he say? Looking at the delicious grilled fish in front of him, he could only sit down and eat.
With the fish in his mouth, Ji Ling chewed absentmindedly. Over the past few days, he had heard a lot about Ning Yu—some stories were almost mythical, while others were much more down-to-earth. The people here all admired Ning Yu, believing him to be gentle, approachable, strong, intelligent, and reliable. He had repelled enemies time and time again, protecting them. Though he was just one person, he was practically the spiritual symbol of the Rebel.
And here, not a single person described Ning Yu as ruthless. It was as if he were a flawless, perfect hero.
Ji Ling found this a bit puzzling.
The public idol version of Ning Yu was indeed impeccable, but when it came to Gabriel…
Ji Ling thought for a moment before cautiously asking A Man, “I grew up outside, so I don’t know much about him. People always say Lord Gabriel is ruthless, a cold-blooded killer who slaughters without hesitation…”
A Man wasn’t the least bit offended and didn’t think Ji Ling’s words were inappropriate at all. Instead, he laughed and said, “It’s normal for you to misunderstand—those nobles go out of their way to smear Brother Ning Yu’s reputation. That’s why so many people get the wrong idea about him. But how could Brother Ning Yu possibly kill indiscriminately? The nobles he’s killed all deserved it. Every single one of them had the blood of innocent people on their hands. They were our enemies… Otherwise, he wouldn’t have killed them, even if they were nobles.”
He paused before adding, “We do hate the nobles. Some people wish they could kill them all… But Brother Ning Yu isn’t like that. He says that not all nobles are bad, and if we want to coexist, we have to let go of hatred because hatred blinds people and leads only to destruction. He also says that killing is never the goal—it’s just a means to an end.”
Ji Ling was silent for a moment before saying, “He’s right.”
A Man smiled brightly, admiration shining in his eyes. “Yes! Brother Ning Yu is always right! He’s the person I admire most!”
Ji Ling couldn’t help but smile. Then, he asked, “Is Ning Yu his real name? I really didn’t expect the idol Ning Yu and Gabriel to be the same person—it’s honestly shocking.”
A Man chuckled. “It should be. We’re all used to calling him Ning Yu. ‘Gabriel’ is just a codename. If you put on the mask, anyone can be Gabriel.”
Ji Ling nodded. That was actually a very clever approach. Ning Yu had chosen to wear a mask not just to hide his face—there were plenty of ways to change one’s appearance—but because…
If one day he died, someone else could put on the mask and continue carrying the hope he had created.
To the people here, Gabriel was more of a symbol, a spiritual pillar, an indestructible beacon of hope… Ning Yu was his true self.
But this Ning Yu was somewhat different from the Ning Yu Ji Ling knew. If one had to describe it, he was more like a fusion of both Ning Yu and Gabriel.
Suddenly, Ji Ling remembered something and curiously asked, “Are his eyes black or green?”
Aman replied, “Black.”
Ji Ling inwardly scoffed. So, all this time, you've been wearing colored contacts? What a refined young man!
The two wandered around the city for an entire day. By the time they returned home, it was already nighttime. Aman unpacked the items from his bamboo basket, giving a large portion to Ji Ling. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and grinned. “Oh, right, we're heading out tonight. Do you want to come along?”
Ji Ling asked in confusion, “Heading out?”
A Man nodded. “Our base is underground, but resources are scarce down there. We regularly send out teams to scavenge supplies and purchase goods from outside. It's our turn today. If you want to take a look around, you can come with us. It'll be safer that way.”
Ji Ling's eyes flickered slightly before he nodded. “Alright.”
A Man said, “Great, we'll meet up in ten minutes.”
Ji Ling went home to prepare, changing into more practical clothes and shoes. A few minutes later, he stepped out and happened to run into A Man, who had come to fetch him.
A Man led him to the meeting point at the end of the street. There were about a dozen people gathered, both men and women. The leader seemed to be an Evolutionary. When the others saw Ji Ling, they were all very friendly, greeting him with smiles instead of questioning him suspiciously. They chatted casually among themselves as they waited.
Once everyone had arrived, they set off together. The group entered an old metal passageway, winding through damp corridors where stagnant water pooled on the ground and rats scurried about, squeaking. It seemed to be an abandoned sewer system. After about half an hour of walking, the air grew humid, carrying a distinct outdoor scent.
The team leader pushed open a half-closed iron panel ahead and grinned. “Everyone, move freely. We'll meet back here in two hours.”
The group immediately scattered.
A Man turned to Ji Ling and said, “You're new here and unfamiliar with the area. Just stick with me—this place is complicated, and you might get lost.”
Ji Ling nodded in agreement and followed A Man closely.
At first, he was a bit worried that people might be wary of him, questioning or even suspecting him. But from start to finish, no one interrogated him or tried to conceal their routes in and out of the base. They had left so easily…
Ji Ling was momentarily dazed. As he continued walking, he gradually took in his surroundings, his expression turning to one of shock.
This… this place was nothing but ruins!
Noticing Ji Ling’s astonishment, a fleeting trace of sorrow flashed through A Man’s eyes. He pointed toward a distant, indistinct heap of blackened rubble and smiled faintly. “That used to be my home.”
Ji Ling stared at him in a daze.
A Man, however, remained composed, as if he had long since grown used to such things. He explained, “This place was once a bustling little city. Five years ago, a new governor arrived—supposedly from the Emperor Star, likely from some noble family, though I’m not sure. Anyway, he did a lot of terrible things here, and resentment built up among the people. One day, they couldn't take it anymore and revolted, killing him. That enraged the nobles on the Emperor Star. With a single order from his family, this entire place was razed to the ground. I survived only because I happened to be out of the city that day.”
A Man smiled. “Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Brother Ning Yu found us. He led the survivors and built our underground base. The Imperial army probably never expected anyone to still be living beneath this wasteland. But then again, they don’t care about small, struggling ants like us.”
Ji Ling fell silent, his mood sinking.
A Man looked at him and chuckled carefreely. “It’s alright. It’s been a long time now.”
Ji Ling forced a weak smile. “En.”
A Man moved nimbly through the ruins, hopping across broken terrain. As he ran, he called back, “Be careful, the ground here is tricky to walk on.”
To avoid drawing the Imperial Army’s attention, they hadn’t rebuilt on the surface. Instead, they had moved entirely underground, leaving the exterior looking like a desolate wasteland. But even without caretakers, resilient greenery still thrived. Wild grass sprouted from the cracks in the ruins, bursting with unyielding life.
A Man skillfully navigated through a collapsed structure that must have once been a residence. He lifted a half-covered lid, revealing a small hidden plot of land where fruits and vegetables were growing. He turned to Ji Ling with a smile. “Brother Bai, give me a hand. If we harvest these today, they'll last us quite a while.”
Ji Ling hurried over, rolling up his sleeves to help.
Before long, they had filled their baskets. A Man carefully replaced the lid and brushed away their footprints with a tree branch to avoid leaving any traces.
By the time they returned to their entry point, others had already started gathering. Everyone had a good haul: various supplies, ingredients that could only be found outside, fabrics, and other essentials.
Following the same route, they made their way back to the base. The team leader smiled and said, “Good work, everyone. You’ve all done well. Dismissed!”
Ji Ling and A Man separated from the rest and headed home.
On the way, A Man noticed Ji Ling’s somber expression. He hesitated before speaking with a hint of nervousness. “Hey, don’t be sad. We’re actually doing pretty well now. At least we have a new home and new friends—no longer wandering and homeless. If Brother Ning Yu hadn’t been here, I’d probably be dead by now. So really, it's fine.”
Ji Ling murmured, “Is that so…”
A Mman scratched his head. Remembering that Ning Yu had mentioned Ji Ling was also homeless, he assumed today’s events had stirred up painful memories. Sincerely, he said, “From now on, we’re family. So don’t be sad anymore!”
Ji Ling could only nod. Just as A Man was about to leave, Ji Ling suddenly remembered something and asked, “Ning Yu… was he the same way?”
A Man was briefly stunned before realizing Ji Ling was asking whether Ning Yu had also become a Rebel fighter because of a similar fate. He thought for a moment before answering, “I’m not really sure. No one knows much about his past. He has no family, no home… so I suppose he might be.”
He chuckled and said nonchalantly, “There are plenty of people here without a past. After all, none of us have particularly happy stories. There's no need to talk about them. No matter what happened before, we all have to look forward.”
Ji Ling nodded and said softly, “You're right.”
A Man said, “So don’t overthink it. Just settle down here. I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”
Ji Ling watched A Man’s departing figure before silently turning around.
………………
Another ten days passed.
Ji Ling had become completely familiar with the place and had gone outside with A Man several more times. He also learned the routes beyond the base. Occasionally, he helped A Man with work. Aunt Zola was very fond of him and often invited him over for meals. She thought he was a poor child who had lost his parents and treated him with extra kindness, though Ji Ling didn’t know how to explain the truth.
That evening, Ji Ling finished dinner at Aunt Zola’s house as usual. He paused for a moment before turning in the opposite direction instead of heading home.
He walked through the winding underground tunnels, climbed up a bit, and pushed open the cover to step outside.
The ruins were especially silent at night. It seemed to have rained recently, and the fresh scent of damp earth lingered in the air.
Ji Ling took a deep breath of the cool night air. Compared to the slightly stifling underground base, he still preferred being outside, even if this place was just a pile of ruins...
Lately, he often came out alone at night to clear his head. Even if others saw him, they never asked questions. No one knew his true identity, nor did anyone guard or suspect him. He could leave quietly like this or even betray them, and no one would notice...
Ji Ling smiled bitterly. So this is how much you trust me? Trusting a noble who always provoked you?
He wandered aimlessly along the muddy road.
Broken walls and debris were all he could see. Ji Ling sighed. As long as one stepped beyond the Emperor Star, they would always see the crueler side of the world.
To him, this world was just a game. But to the people here, it was reality. And compared to the corrupt, depraved nobles of the Emperor Star, the people here… felt much more real to Ji Ling. They were ordinary, kind, and simple. They had both strengths and flaws and lived honest, unpretentious lives.
But their lives were far from easy.
In this world, there were always things that needed someone to stand up for them.
Even if it came at a terrible cost.
Ji Ling felt he had no right to judge Ning Yu’s ideals. Whether his methods were right or wrong, whether his hands were stained with blood—those were not things Ji Ling could control. In the end, even if he was being used, it didn’t really matter.
If there was anything that truly angered him, it wasn’t Ning Yu’s rebellion. It was the way he had staged that ridiculous ‘hero saving the beauty’ act, shamelessly using his own life to force Ji Ling’s hand, making him suffer humiliation. That was completely unnecessary and had nothing to do with justice. It was just personal revenge!
He was clearly taking the chance to get back at him!
To think Ji Ling had once believed he wasn’t the type to hold grudges. Turns out, he was incredibly petty—seizing the first opportunity to tease and humiliate him.
Did he find it amusing? Did he enjoy watching Ji Ling forced to endure the advances of a so-called ‘stranger’ just to save him?
That bastard!
It didn’t matter what others thought of him—Ji Ling had already seen through his rotten side!
Ji Ling angrily kicked a stone, took a deep breath, and decided to head back.
But just as he rounded a large tree, he suddenly spotted someone sitting atop a ruined rooftop in the distance. He jumped in surprise, then took a closer look—only to realize it was Ning Yu!
Ning Yu sat there in silence, gazing at the sky. The moon hung alone in the night sky, though Ji Ling couldn’t understand what was so interesting about it. At the sound of his movement, Ning Yu turned his head toward him. His dark eyes, shrouded in the night, carried a cool, enigmatic depth that seemed to pull people in.
Ji Ling said nothing and turned on his heel to leave.
He was still mad at him—he didn’t want to see this bastard at all!
But he had only taken two steps when he suddenly heard the rush of wind. In the blink of an eye, Ning Yu leaped down and landed right in front of him, blocking his way. His tall, lean figure cast a shadow under the moonlight, making his features look even more striking and profound than usual.
His dark eyes held a gentle look, yet there was also a hint of something unreadable, an emotion shrouded in complexity.
Ji Ling glared at him coldly. “Move! You’re in my way!”
Ning Yu’s lips curled slightly, as if he found Ji Ling’s reaction amusing. But instead of stepping aside, he took a step closer and said with a faint smile, “It’s been days since we last met, and you have nothing at all to say to me? Looks like you really don’t care about me anymore.”
Ji Ling thought, Of course not! Why would I care about you? Do you even need anyone’s concern? I must have been blind to ever worry about you before!
Ning Yu lowered his gaze and studied the boy’s cold expression, which was filled with frustration and exasperation rather than resentment or bitterness. But the warmth and concern that had once been there were gone. It seemed Ji Ling was truly furious this time…
Ning Yu could understand why.
Before testing him, he hadn’t been certain if he could get the answer he wanted. But now, he knew he had failed.
The boy was far more stubborn and determined than he had expected. He had his own convictions and wouldn’t yield easily.
Deception and manipulation weren’t things that could be erased with a few words.
Not everything in this world could be controlled. At least… not this. Not this person.
But before that game began, before he tested and pried, Ning Yu didn’t realize just how much he would come to care about this boy. Nor did he know where this would ultimately lead.
Ning Yu pressed his lips together. His voice was quiet, carrying a faint sigh as he asked, “Do you regret saving me?”
The author has something to say:
Ji Ling: Right now, I regret it. I regret it very much.
Ning Yu: ……
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