The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 69 - Source of Calamity
Chapter 69: Source of Calamity
Ji Ling returned to the duke’s residence alone, without a sound. When the guards at the entrance saw him, their mouths dropped open in shock. Stammering, one of them said, “Y-Young Master, you’re back…”
Ji Ling nodded.
The guard was overwhelmed with excitement and immediately rushed inside to report. Before long, Grand Duke Ji Ting and Madam Marina came rushing out. Though it hadn’t been that long since he last saw them, they both looked noticeably more haggard.
Ji Ling stood there silently as Madam Marina pulled him into a tight embrace. He lowered his eyes, unsure of what to say.
He could feel their concern, but none of this truly belonged to him. Their son—the real Ji Ling—had long since died. The one standing here now was merely a mission executor from another world, and one day, he, too, would leave.
Yet, he had no way to tell them the truth, nor did he have the heart to do so.
After a long pause, Ji Ling softly said, “I’m back.”
Madam Marina choked up. “It’s good you’re back… It’s good you’re back.”
Grand Duke Ji Ting asked solemnly, “Did His Majesty bring you back?”
Ji Ling replied, “Yes.”
Seeing Ji Ling’s subdued demeanor, the two didn’t have the heart to press him for details. They could only watch helplessly as their child’s lonely figure disappeared into the distance, their hearts aching.
………………
Ji Ling returned to his courtyard, but Wen Yan was nowhere to be seen, waiting respectfully as usual. He used to find this cunning and ruthless villain insufferable, but now, his absence felt… strange. Unfamiliar.
Ji Ling: [System, do you think Wen Yan escaped?]
System: [Not sure. It was chaotic at the time—maybe he escaped, maybe he didn’t.]
Ji Ling paused for a moment before silently pushing open the door and stepping inside.
Even though he had been gone for a long time, the room remained spotless, clearly cleaned every day as if always awaiting its owner’s return. A delicate vase on the table held fresh flowers.
He wondered… was his family back on Earth also waiting for him like this?
Ji Ling exhaled softly and opened his communicator, finally checking the internet after so long.
The sheer flood of news almost made his eyes blur.
Ning Yu’s true identity as Gabriel had been exposed, and he was now a wanted fugitive across the entire empire. A massive bounty was offered for any information leading to Gabriel’s capture. People were in shock—how could the flawless, inspirational commoner idol, the empire’s rising hero, turn out to be the ruthless leader of the Rebel?
Jing Sui had launched a surprise attack on the Sosa System, disrupting Carlos’ wedding. In response, Carlos openly declared war on Jing Sui. The empire was engulfed in flames of war as conservative factions, and Jing Sui’s reformists completely broke ties. Even the once-neutral noble families were being forced to take sides, and battles were raging across the stars.
Grand Duke Ji Ting had chosen to support Jing Sui.
And then… there was news about Ji Ling himself. Though seemingly overshadowed by the greater events, his presence was woven throughout them all.
Some claimed Ning Yu had exposed himself for Ji Ling. Others believed Carlos declared war on Jing Sui because of Ji Ling. Some even insisted that Jing Sui’s attack on Sosa was all for Ji Ling. Though there was no concrete evidence, the rumors spread wildly. Ji Ling had become a sensation across the entire interstellar realm. He wasn’t just Carlos’ nominal spouse—he had been kidnapped from his wedding by Gabriel. Wen Yan had forsaken his position as Speaker and everything else for him. Even the cold-faced Marshal Brandon had broken his usual impartiality to defend him. And His Majesty… still wanted to make him empress.
At this point, he was practically the most notorious male beauty who brings ruin to nations!
As a well-known imperial dandy and a so-called C- Level ‘waste,’ Ji Ling’s name was now tied to the most powerful figures in the empire. He trended in hot news time and time again. Everyone wanted to know more about him, to dig up his past, to scrutinize every little detail. Some were even planning to create films and literature inspired by his story—the legendary rise and fall of a calamitous beauty… Meanwhile, countless civilians caught in the war cursed and condemned him, blaming him for everything. In their eyes, he was the cause of all this destruction. They hurled insults, wished for his death, and judged him with the utmost malice.
Ji Ling read through all of this, expressionless, before calmly closing the network. He vented to the system: [What the hell did I do? Why does it feel like I’ve somehow brought disaster upon the whole empire?]
The system let out a dry laugh: [They don’t know the truth—they’re just making things up. Don’t take it to heart.]
But this time, Ji Ling didn’t just laugh it off. Instead, he said flatly: [In the previous life, there was no war at this point in time.]
In his past life, Jing Sui had been planning for a long time. He had conspired with Brandon to assassinate Carlos. The struggle had still been brutal, life-or-death, but even up until his own death, an all-out war had never erupted.
Ji Ling never thought so highly of himself that he believed he had changed everything. He had always tried his best to follow the original script and avoid altering the plot… but these reborn individuals had still managed to throw the entire world into chaos.
So many things that never happened in the previous life were happening now—Ning Yu’s exposure, this war.
Sometimes, events unfold due to countless factors. Even if he didn’t want to admit it… was he also part of the reason for all this?
His chest felt tight, as if a heavy weight was pressing down on it, filling him with unease.
Just last year, he had only just turned eighteen. He was supposed to be preparing for university. He had never even had to shoulder real responsibilities—his parents had always sheltered him. Yet in this world, his every move determined life and death for others. No matter how many times he told himself it was all fake, just a game…
Why did something fake feel so painfully real?
…………
Ji Ling remained at home, living quietly, undisturbed.
He no longer bothered to keep up the act.
Disguising himself as someone completely different and forcing himself to do things against his will was an exhausting task. But when he first arrived in this world, he was cautious, afraid of making mistakes—like a lonely child lost in an unfamiliar land, terrified that a single misstep would lead to irreversible consequences. Helpless, confused, and yet unable to confide in anyone.
Even when he wanted to help others, he had to hide behind the mask of an arrogant and ruthless dandy, fearing that someone might see through him.
But after his rebirth, he gradually realized…
Even if he didn’t put that much effort into his disguise, even if he stopped deliberately acting vicious, or even indulged in reckless behavior from time to time… no one ever doubted him or reprimanded him. He had done so many things that contradicted his persona, yet everyone accepted it as natural, as if this was who he truly was, and that the arrogant, cruel façade had been the real pretense all along.
This left Ji Ling bewildered for a time. Did these people love his disguise, or did they love the real person underneath it?
In their eyes, who was he, truly?
………………
Although Ji Ling neither left his home nor responded to any messages, the news of his return inevitably spread.
His Majesty had personally led an expedition to rescue Ji Ling from Gabriel’s hands!
The center of all the gossip had finally returned to the Emperor Star. The nobles of the Emperor Star were bursting with curiosity, eager to know Ji Ling’s attitude about everything that had happened. The outside world was engulfed in war, and the common people were suffering, but the Imperial Star, decadent and indulgent, remained unaffected. Here, the music and dancing never ceased—no one worried about their safety. Even if the sky were to collapse, what did it have to do with them?
Compared to the ongoing war, they were far more interested in Ji Ling, the very person who had incited the conflict between Jing Sui and Grand Duke Carlos.
A few days later, Ji Ling received his first visitors.
Deng Dong, Lodz, and a few other dandies who had once been on good terms with Ji Ling came to visit him.
Ji Ling could have refused, but after a brief moment of thought, he let them in. He received them in his garden and ordered the servants to bring fine food and wine to entertain his friends.
System: [I thought you didn’t like these kinds of social gatherings.]
Ji Ling: [You don’t understand. This is called ‘solving a problem once and for all.’]
System: [?]
As everyone sat in the garden, chatting and laughing, they carefully observed Ji Ling’s expression, itching with curiosity but unsure of how to bring up the topic.
Ji Ling, however, was in no hurry. He acted as if he hadn’t noticed their intentions, lounging lazily in his seat, appearing completely at ease.
Deng Dong gazed at the golden-haired boy in the chair. The sunlight illuminated his delicate and fair face, his eyelashes and hair seeming to glisten with a golden glow. His posture was languid, looking both the same as before and yet somehow different.
Deng Dong, never one for subtlety, couldn’t resist his curiosity and was the first to speak. “Young Master Ji, did you really marry Grand Duke Carlos?”
The conversation abruptly halted. Deng Dong’s words seemed to break the seal, and suddenly, the questions poured out.
Everyone asked about their curiosity.
“Young Master Ji, is Ning Yu really Gabriel? Did he… did he torture you after capturing you? I heard Gabriel despises nobles the most…”
“Young Master Ji, did Lord Wen Yan not return with you?”
“Young Master Ji, what do you think about Grand Duke Carlos going to war for you?”
“Good thing you’re safe. Those filthy commoners are truly despicable. Young Master Ji, don’t worry—His Majesty will eventually wipe out the rebels to avenge you!”
Ji Ling raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Is that so?”
The noble who had spoken was momentarily stunned, looking at Ji Ling in confusion, unable to immediately grasp what he was referring to.
Ji Ling spoke calmly, “It’s true that Gabriel captured me, but he didn’t torture me, nor does he hate nobles as much as you think. Everything he did was to fight for the rights of the common people. The rebels aren’t as disgraceful as you imagine either. If His Majesty is a wise ruler, he won’t exterminate them completely.”
Everyone stared at Ji Ling in a daze, as if they were in a dream. What had they just heard?
Ji Ling wasn’t cursing in anger—he was actually speaking up for Gabriel and those filthy commoners?
Was this still the arrogant and domineering noble they knew? Had he been brainwashed after being captured?! What exactly had happened to him?!
The atmosphere grew tense and awkward.
Lodz, trying to ease the awkwardness, let out a forced laugh and changed the subject. “By the way, I heard His Majesty personally rescued you. It seems he truly cares about you!”
Ji Ling said, “Does he?” He smiled faintly. “I’ve been back for days, yet he hasn’t come to see me once.”
Lodz was taken aback.
They looked at Ji Ling’s calm, slightly despondent expression—he seemed indifferent to everything.
Had His Majesty really not visited him? Would he really be able to hold back from seeing Ji Ling after making such a grand effort to bring him back?
Deng Dong hesitated and said, “Maybe… His Majesty is just too busy?”
Ji Ling let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I don’t know if he’s busy or not. After all, he hasn’t contacted me either.”
The room fell silent again. Everyone exchanged complex and uncertain looks. Ji Ling hadn’t met with His Majesty, nor had they even spoken?
How could that be possible?
Wasn’t His Majesty infatuated with Ji Ling? Hadn’t he once fought Grand Duke Carlos over him? And now, he had even declared war outright.
Ji Ling lowered his gaze, his fingers lightly tapping on the armrest of the chair as he curled his lips. “How can a person's heart remain unchanged forever?”
The room fell silent again.
Moments later, everyone awkwardly got up and said, “Young Master Ji, you're right. I… I just remembered I have something to do later, so I'll take my leave first.”
They had all originally come to curry favor with Ji Ling, thinking he might become the Empress now that he had returned. But who would have thought that His Majesty was no longer interested in him? Given His Majesty's cold attitude, Ji Ling was clearly out of favor. Who knew what had happened while those filthy rebels captured him? Either he was brainwashed, or he was… played with. Maybe even worse… His Majesty must have discovered something, which was why he lost interest in him.
With His Majesty's status, he could have anyone he wanted. Why would he need to remain fixated on Ji Ling? Losing favor was only natural.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. It was surprising that His Majesty even liked Ji Ling in the first place. It was always unexpected. Now it seemed he was merely toying with him on a whim…
Ji Ling watched indifferently as they left one by one, curling his lips into a mocking smile. He was very professional at self-deprecation!
When he turned back and saw that Deng Dong and Lodz were still lingering behind, he smiled and asked, “You're not leaving?”
Lodz hesitated for a moment before saying, “Well, even if His Majesty doesn't like you anymore, it doesn't really matter…”
Deng Dong added, “At worst, it'll just be like before.”
For the first time, Ji Ling showed a hint of surprise. He had never really considered them as true friends before; they were just people he associated with when needed for the storyline. He never really connected with these reckless, lawless dandies. Yet, at this moment, he found that true friendships were revealed in adversity. This unexpected turn of events was actually quite a pleasant surprise.
Ji Ling paused, then curved his eyes in a smile. “Mm.”
After seeing his guests off, he slowly returned to his room and said with a smile to the system: [See? Now no one will bother me for a while.]
System: […]
Those people only cared about Ji Ling when he was influential, not when he had been abandoned by His Majesty. Soon, word would spread, and this would save him a lot of trouble. As for the unpleasant rumors that would undoubtedly follow, Ji Ling didn’t care. After all, this wasn’t his world.
Rather than being roasted over the fire, he preferred this kind of ease.
Being placed on a pedestal only attracted attention—envy, jealousy, resentment, constant scrutiny…
But once he fell into the mud, people would step on him a few times, and then they’d quickly forget about him.
Ji Ling spent the next few days leisurely. Checking the online discussions, he saw countless people claiming that he had fallen from favor, mocking and ridiculing him. There were even despicable rumors saying he had been defiled by commoners and abandoned by His Majesty. Some posts were filled with obscene insults.
Originally, Ji Ling thought this would continue for a while until the hype died down. But to his surprise, the discussions about him soon disappeared.
The internet gradually grew quiet. Fewer and fewer people talked about Ji Ling, as if someone was secretly controlling the narrative, deliberately erasing all discussions. Eventually, Ji Ling seemed to become a forbidden topic.
Ji Ling spoke meaningfully to the system: [I thought someone had really let go…]
System: [What?]
Ji Ling sighed, closing his eyes as if to sleep.
Although he was rather dense in some aspects and had no romantic experience, he wasn’t completely oblivious. Some things weren’t hard to understand—he just didn’t want to acknowledge them or think too deeply about them.
As for whether Jing Sui had ever truly liked him… At first, Ji Ling found it hard to believe. But later…? Perhaps, he just didn’t want to believe it.
Since it was a love that he was destined to never return, what was the point of acknowledging it?
………………
A few more days passed. That night, Ji Ling lay on the rooftop, gazing at the stars.
Suddenly, he heard the system’s excited voice in his mind: [The results are in!]
Ji Ling asked: [What results?]
The system eagerly explained: [Your transmigration into this unfinished novel was a mistake by the Time-Space Administration. You were sent here without proper verification of whether this world contained anomalies. The committee deeply apologizes for the unexpected troubles you’ve faced. As compensation, they have approved your request—you can return home immediately!]
Ji Ling’s usually calm face finally showed a trace of shock: [Go home… directly?]
The system said firmly: [Yes.]
Ji Ling remained expressionless: [You never told me I could go home directly before. You only said you’d apply to change my mission.]
The system hesitated awkwardly before explaining: [My first application was indeed to change your mission. But at the same time, I submitted a request for compensation… I wasn’t sure if it would be approved, and the chances were slim, so I didn’t want to get your hopes up.]
Ji Ling blinked slowly. He had finally gotten the answer he had been dreaming of. Yet, perhaps because he had waited too long, he didn’t feel as excited as he had imagined. Instead, his eyes felt slightly sore.
He took a deep breath and asked: [What do I need to do to leave?]
The system replied: [It’s simple. You just need to die, and I will take you back to your world.]
Ji Ling murmured: [That’s all it takes…]
System: [Yes.]
The system was truly happy for its host. It knew how much Ji Ling had wanted to go home. But then, unexpectedly, Ji Ling asked: [If I die, what will happen to this world?]
The system was a bit surprised but still answered: [Since this is an abnormal world, it will be temporarily placed on hold. The committee will decide later whether to reset and restart it, seal it away, or assign a new host for another mission. There are many possibilities… But none of that concerns you anymore. You don’t need to worry about anything.]
That’s right. He was leaving.
None of this would have anything to do with him anymore…
Ji Ling sat up from the rooftop and jumped down into his room. He opened a drawer and took out a small fruit knife. He extended his wrist and aligned the blade against it. The sharp edge pressed against his fair skin, revealing faint blue veins beneath…
His right hand clenched tightly around the knife handle, his fingers turning white from the force.
There was no need to overthink it. No need to hesitate. Just one slice, and he could go home…
It was supposed to be such a simple thing. It was what he had longed for.
So why was he hesitating now?
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