The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 73 - Meet Again
Chapter 73: Meet Again
Ji Ling was utterly confused. Weren’t these two just acting like they had seen this happen a million times and weren’t interested in the drama? Why were they now looking so shocked?
The girl stared blankly at Wen Yan before tears welled up in her eyes. She angrily said, “If you don’t like me, just say so! Why use such an excuse?” Then, she turned and ran off crying.
Wang Yixin and Zheng Lin were completely dumbfounded by what had just happened. In fact, most of the people around had the same expression.
However, Wen Yan seemed completely unaware of the impact of his words. His expression remained unchanged as he ignored the stunned gazes around him and walked out of the cafeteria, still holding the gift the girl had given him.
It wasn’t until Wen Yan disappeared from sight that the cafeteria erupted in murmurs and discussions.
Wang Yixin nudged Zheng Lin with his elbow. “Hey, do you think Senior Yu was telling the truth? Or was he just using that as an excuse to reject her?”
Zheng Lin hesitated. “If he was just making up an excuse, isn’t that too much? Even if it wasn’t true at first, once the rumor spreads, it’ll become reality…”
Ji Ling finally understood why they were so shocked and asked, “So he’s not actually gay?”
Wang Yixin fell into deep thought. “I don’t know if he’s gay or not, but at least until today, no one thought he was.” Senior Yu had never dated anyone at school, but he was famous for being gentle and patient with girls. He had never been involved in any rumors with men either. Handsome, talented, and with a spotless reputation—sure, he might be a bit of a walking ‘central heater’ (flirting with everyone without realizing it), but that didn’t stop him from being extremely popular.
As long as he remained single, all the girls still had hope!
If they had known he was gay, why would they keep confessing to him?!
Zheng Lin rubbed his chin. “Or maybe he’s been deeply closeted all along? If he really likes men, it would explain why he’s resisted all these beautiful girls for four years without ever giving in.” Putting himself in that position… how could anyone refuse such temptation?!
Wang Yixin mused, “You actually have a point…”
Zheng Lin added, “But there’s also a chance he just got tired of rejecting people and decided to use this as a foolproof excuse. After today, I doubt any girl will confess to him again…”
Wang Yixin smirked. “If he really is gay, do you think he’s the top or the bottom?”
Zheng Lin’s eyes lit up. “He looks so good, definitely the bottom, right? Hehehe.”
Ji Ling: “……”
Weren’t these two just rationally analyzing the situation a second ago? How did they switch to discussing positions in the blink of an eye? Clearly, he shouldn’t have expected any moral integrity from modern college students.
………………
Wen Yan walked out of the school gates, still carrying the gift. Along the way, classmates greeted him, and he responded with a warm smile.
He didn’t live on campus but had rented a small apartment across the street. As soon as he entered the stairwell, seeing no one around, he casually tossed the gift into a trash bin.
Ding. The elevator arrived at the first floor, and the metallic doors slid open.
Wen Yan stepped inside, taking the elevator up to the 18th floor. He pulled out his key, unlocked the door, changed into indoor slippers, walked into the living room, and pulled back the curtains. Narrowing his eyes, he gazed at the dark and gloomy sky outside.
His black eyes held no warmth—only a deep, hidden mockery and self-deprecation.
It had been ten days since he woke up in this world.
But that fact stirred no emotions within him.
Reborn… yet once again, he had watched the boy die before his eyes.
This time, even more helplessly, even more desperately… He had given everything he had, but the result still hadn’t changed. In the end, he still couldn’t keep the person he loved.
At that moment, he began to question the meaning of his existence.
He had clawed his way up, done whatever it took, and stained his hands with blood in pursuit of wealth and power. He had succeeded—rising above the nobility despite his humble origins. By all accounts, he should have felt satisfied. But none of it ever filled the emptiness inside him. He was like a ghost lingering in the shadows, forever unable to stand in the sunlight. No matter how much he gained, it could never conceal the darkness within him. No amount of success could make the nobility truly respect or acknowledge him.
Only one person… A noble by birth, yet he never cared about Wen Yan’s origins. Never cared about his past mistakes. Always treated him as an equal, offering him kindness and warmth without reservation… But Wen Yan still couldn’t protect him.
So, what was the point of living?
Wen Yan had asked himself that question countless times.
For him, there had only ever been one reason.
Without that person, the world had lost all meaning. But in the end, he had still lived on.
Because the boy’s last command to him was to keep living.
He had been worried about him…
Thinking of that, Wen Yan’s eyes softened, the pain and tenderness mingling in his gaze.
I swore I would never betray you. I gave you my loyalty, my life, my everything… So, I will obey your last command. I will live well. That way, you will be happy, won’t you?
I’ll make sure you see that I’m doing just fine.
From that day on, Wen Yan left Emperor Star. He abandoned the empire’s power struggles—the very battles he had once sacrificed everything to win.
For a while, he drifted aimlessly through the universe. Eventually, he arrived at Beifeng Star, in Luan Shui City. And there, he returned to the small house they had once lived in together.
This planet was once on the brink of destruction, but Ji Ling protected it at the cost of his own life. He truly cared about everything here—the people, his friends.
The young man was different from him. From beginning to end, he had only ever cared about the young man and no one else. To him, apart from the young man, all other lives were meaningless and disposable.
But this time, he wanted to protect what the young man wanted to protect.
To safeguard the people he wanted to protect.
To try—to care about the lives of others. To try—to live like a normal person.
Wen Yan lived in seclusion for many years. Over time, Beifeng Star transformed from a remote and underdeveloped planet into one of the most prosperous and stable planets in the Mohr Star System. The people there lived in peace and prosperity, praising the powerful figure who guarded the planet in the shadows.
People believed he was compassionate and kind.
Even though they didn’t know his identity, they never hesitated to express their gratitude.
Wen Yan had never imagined that someone as selfish, cold, and heartless as himself could one day receive genuine gratitude and respect from others.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t as powerful as they thought. The people here had never seen the true powerhouses of the universe.
This place was merely a tiny speck in the vast universe…
Here, he could protect countless people like a god, but on Emperor Star, in the presence of real powerhouses, he hadn’t even been able to protect the one he loved most.
He was nothing more than a weakling.
A pitiful, insignificant existence in the face of fate, no different from an ant.
Rebirth meant nothing to him.
Living on was merely a promise he had made to his beloved.
He spent years fulfilling that promise, and when he thought it was finally over… He woke up once again.
In this primitive, peaceful, small, and fragile ancient Earth—inside the body of a cowardly, drunken human.
It was laughable, but Wen Yan calmly accepted it.
Not everyone had the right or freedom to choose death. Since that was the case, he chose to accept fate’s arrangements.
There was no need for meaningless resistance anymore.
………………
Ji Ling lived an ordinary yet happy college life, spending his days attending classes and sketching.
Wang Yixin and Zheng Lin eagerly awaited Miss Ning’s invitation to Ji Ling and repeatedly reminded him not to forget his good brothers if he ever got invited.
Chen Ming had skipped class that day and wasn’t around, but when he later found out about the incident, he gave Ji Ling a thumbs-up in admiration and eagerly volunteered to serve him, insisting that he must be included next time.
Ah, the restless days of college youth…
Ji Ling admired his reflection in the mirror. He had always known that he was fairly good-looking, but he never expected that being the most handsome guy in his department would come with so many perks. Back in high school, it had never felt like such a big deal.
Sure, he was decent-looking now, but if he still had his appearance from the interstellar world, wouldn’t that be insane? He’d probably be drowning in admirers every single day!
Hmm… suddenly, he kind of understood why they liked him so much. Those lunatics were all just extreme face-con fanatics!
Thinking of it that way, it made sense. Sigh, the world of face-cons was just irrational.
So, being ‘just decent’ was the way to go!
Aside from attending classes, Ji Ling spent his free time sketching the breathtaking landscapes he had seen in the other world.
He gradually started to look at everything more calmly. There was no need to deliberately avoid it—after all, he would never meet those people again, right? He could just treat it as an interesting memory of another world.
That magnificent, grand world had given him so much inspiration.
If he didn’t dwell on the bad memories, there were still many beautiful things worth remembering…
A week passed quickly, and by Friday afternoon, Wang Yixin asked Ji Ling, “We’re gaming tonight. You in?”
Ji Ling shook his head. “I’m going home.”
Zheng Lin sighed enviously. “Local students have it good. You can go home every weekend.”
Chen Ming chuckled. “What, you wanna go home too?”
Zheng Lin: “…No, I don’t.”
He was still enjoying his newfound college freedom. Who would be so eager to rush back home? He wasn’t a kid still clinging to his parents! Even gaming at home came with constant nagging—he’d rather not deal with that.
Not going back. Absolutely not.
Then the three of them turned to watch Ji Ling happily pack his things and sling his bag over his shoulder, ready to head home. In unison, they sighed, “…Xiao Ling is still just a kid.”
Ji Ling’s mouth twitched. “…”
You guys have no idea how wonderful it is to have a home. Do you even know what it means to be far from home? To be all alone? You’re so spoiled. I’ve died once, okay? I have the unyielding soul of someone who would do anything to return home!
Besides, I’ve only been back for a few months. Of course, I still miss home…
You just don’t understand me.
Ignoring them, Ji Ling called his mother as he stepped outside. His father was away on a business trip this weekend, so he figured he should give her a heads-up to avoid coming home to an empty house.
After a while, Yang Wei finally picked up. Her voice was low as she asked, “What is it, Xiao Ling?”
Ji Ling immediately realized, “You’re in a meeting?”
Yang Wei: “Yes.”
Ji Ling said, “I'm heading home, Mom. When will you be back?”
Yang Wei thought for a moment and said, “The meeting will probably last a few more hours... How about this? Come to my office and wait for me. I'll take you out for dinner after work.”
Ji Ling smiled and said, “Alright.”
After hanging up, he hailed a taxi and headed straight for Yang Wei's company.
Ji Ling had been there a few times before, so he was familiar with the place. The receptionist also recognized him and greeted him with a smile. “Xiao Ling, you're here! I heard you got injured before. Are you feeling better?”
Ji Ling politely replied, “Much better.”
The receptionist smiled. “That's good. You're here to see Sister Yang, right? You can go up on your own.”
Ji Ling took the elevator upstairs. At this hour, many employees had already left, and only a few offices were still lit, occupied by those working overtime.
Remembering that his mom was in a meeting, he decided not to disturb her and planned to wait on a bench in the hallway.
But first, a quick trip to the restroom…
Humming a tune, Ji Ling strolled over, did his business, and washed his hands. As he walked out, he was distracted and accidentally bumped into someone. Looking up, he was momentarily stunned.
The man was tall and well-proportioned, with striking features and deep, chiseled contours. He wore a crisp gray suit, with even his collar neatly fastened, exuding an air of meticulous precision. He had an aloof and restrained demeanor, as if nothing in the world could ruffle him.
For some reason, Ji Ling felt slightly uncomfortable under the man’s gaze, as if something intense and deeply repressed lay behind it. Feeling a bit nervous, he quickly apologized, “Sorry…”
Jing Sui stood still, his fingers curling slightly.
The boy before him had fair skin, dark and clear eyes, and soft black hair that fell lightly over his forehead. His smile was warm and clean. He wore a simple round-neck T-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers, with one hand casually gripping the strap of his backpack. His bright, expressive eyes held a mix of unease and curiosity as he looked at him.
Jing Sui hadn’t expected to see him again so suddenly.
His expression grew heavy, and because he was trying to suppress his emotions, he appeared somewhat stiff. After a long pause, he spoke in a hoarse voice, “It's fine.”
Ji Ling smiled apologetically and was about to walk past him when, at the moment they brushed shoulders, a firm hand suddenly grabbed his wrist. The man's palm was hot, and his fingertips exerted a firm grip.
Ji Ling froze, confused, and turned back to meet a pair of deep, complex black eyes.
Jing Sui pressed his lips together tightly and slowly asked, “Who are you here to see?”
Ji Ling, baffled by his serious tone—almost as if he were interrogating a corporate spy—quickly explained, “I'm here to see Yang Wei. She's my mom.”
As he was wondering if he somehow looked suspicious...
The man spoke again, his voice slightly hoarse. “You're Ji Ling?”
Ji Ling stared blankly. This person knew him?
Jing Sui looked at the boy's bewildered eyes, suppressing the turmoil in his chest. Taking a deep breath, he tried to keep his voice calm and gentle. “I heard Yang Wei's son was recently injured in a car accident. His name is Ji Ling. So... you're Ji Ling?”
Ji Ling suddenly understood. Oh, so it was because of that! It seemed his injury had made him somewhat famous. Relaxing, he nodded. “Yes, I am.”
Jing Sui subtly released his grip, fell silent for a few seconds, then said in a hoarse voice, “Yang Wei is still in a meeting. You can wait in my office until she's done.”
Ji Ling glanced at him curiously. Just a moment ago, this man had looked so intense and intimidating, his gaze sharp and unsettling. But now, he was inviting him to rest in his office? That was quite the mood shift!
But—this was probably because of his identity.
Ji Ling had always been well-liked by uncles, aunts, older brothers, and sisters. Thinking of Jing Sui as just another of his mom’s caring colleagues, he no longer found the invitation odd.
The bench in the hallway was hard and cold, and the air conditioning draft made it chilly. Ji Ling was tempted to accept, but since he didn’t actually know this man, he hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, “Would I be disturbing you?”
Jing Sui looked into the boy’s eyes, which gleamed with curiosity and caution, and a faint smile touched his lips. “No.”
Ji Ling instantly beamed. “Thank you!”
Jing Sui’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he turned his face away and said, “Follow me.”
Ji Ling followed him upstairs to an office at the end of the hallway.
Wow! The office was huge and luxurious. At the front, there was a lounge area with polished wooden floors and a plush carpet. The workspace was in the back, furnished with a sofa and bookshelves. The decor was understated yet exuded a sense of quiet opulence—anyone could tell it was extraordinary.
Looking around at this office, which was completely different from his mom’s, Ji Ling finally realized that this man’s status was anything but ordinary. He was at least a vice president, right?
Uh-oh. He had agreed to come in way too quickly. Would that be inappropriate?
Ji Ling suddenly felt a little uneasy, nervously trailing behind the man. He discreetly glanced at the desk and quickly scanned the nameplate: Fu Jingshen.
Ji Ling: …
Oh crap. His legs were starting to feel weak.
No wonder this man gave off such an imposing aura—he was exuding full-on CEO pressure! Ji Xiaoling was now having second thoughts. He did not want to be resting in his mom’s boss’s office. That was way too nerve-wracking!
As he was figuring out an excuse to leave, Jing Sui turned back around and nodded at him. “You can sit there and rest.”
Ji Ling glanced at the leather sofa beside him and wondered if leaving now would seem too deliberate. Would it be better to pretend to sit for a while and then find an excuse to slip away?
He obediently said, “Okay.”
Then, he walked over to sit down properly, more well-behaved than when facing a teacher.
Jing Sui lowered his gaze and withdrew his eyes. Though the boy hadn't said anything, it was clear he had realized his identity. His posture alone revealed his unease and nervousness—just like the boy who once called him “Brother Jing Sui,” naively drawing close, saying he liked him, yet deep down was still wary of his identity and afraid of him…
Even though he never wanted the boy to fear him.
Jing Sui raised a hand and lightly tugged at his tie. His chest felt heavy, making it hard to breathe, but he had no one to confide in. After a moment, he walked to the side, intending to pour the boy something to drink. However, seeing that the office only had coffee, he called Shen Zhuoming in.
The moment Shen Zhuoming entered, he saw Ji Ling sitting in the chair and asked in surprise, “Xiao Ling, what are you doing here?”
Ji Ling had met Shen Zhuoming a few times before and greeted politely, “Hello, Brother Shen, I'm here to see my mom.”
Shen Zhuoming thought, So that's why. But, kid, how did you end up in President Fu's office? You can't just wander around like this! What if you offend him? He was about to tell Ji Ling to come to his office instead when he suddenly met his boss's cold gaze. His expression stiffened, and his tongue tied up in fear.
Jing Sui looked at him indifferently and said, “Go buy a milk tea.” He paused midway and then turned to Ji Ling with a gentle expression. “Do you want more sugar or less?”
Ji Ling: “…More sugar.”
Jing Sui's gaze was warm and complicated. This kid liked sweet things too. He looked back at Shen Zhuoming. “Did you hear that clearly?”
Shen Zhuoming: “……”
He walked out of the CEO's office in a daze. Thinking back to what had just happened, he felt like he was dreaming. Had he lost his mind? His cold, ruthless, and unapproachable workaholic boss had just gently asked a kid if he wanted his milk tea with more or less sugar—and then ordered him, the esteemed assistant to the president, to go buy it?!
Wait a minute, since when has his boss been so gentle with anyone?
This was terrifying!!!
Shen Zhuoming was sure he was losing it, but he didn't dare disobey. He sprinted to buy Ji Ling's milk tea at top speed and then respectfully delivered it to Jing Sui's office, not daring to utter a single extra word. With his years of experience as an assistant, his instincts told him that if he wanted to survive, he should keep his mouth shut!
Ji Ling sat on the soft sofa, cradling the warm milk tea, his eyes slightly dazed. He glanced at the drink, then stole a peek at the man behind the desk.
Ever since this man had given orders to Shen Zhuoming, he had been focused on his work, never sparing Ji Ling another glance, making Ji Ling feel less on edge.
Seeing that the man wasn't paying attention to him, Ji Ling's gaze grew bolder.
This person… doesn't seem so scary after all.
He suddenly recalled that the last time he was in the hospital, it was this Mr. Fu who specifically told Brother Shen to give his mother time off so she could stay with him. Back then, he'd thought Mr. Fu must be a good person, and now that he'd interacted with him, it turned out to be true!
Other than his initially intimidating expression, Mr. Fu had been nothing but gentle since learning his identity.
A CEO who wasn't strict but was instead so kind and considerate… that was really rare! If someone told him this man helped elderly ladies cross the street, Ji Ling wouldn't even doubt it!
He looked like such a decent and well-mannered person.
Suddenly, Ji Ling didn't feel afraid or nervous at all anymore.
His posture relaxed, and he sank into the sofa, pulling out his phone to watch a show. Drinking milk tea while sitting in the perfectly air-conditioned room was simply the best…
Jing Sui stared down at the documents on his desk, his fingers tightly gripping the edge of the paper. He was using all his strength to restrain himself from looking up—so the boy wouldn’t feel the urge to flee.
He had to pretend he didn’t care.
The document was filled with dense text, yet he didn’t absorb a single word. Like a machine, he turned a page every few minutes, but his ears were keenly attuned to every movement in the room. He could hear the boy shifting his position on the sofa, the occasional soft laugh when he saw something amusing…
Even without looking, he could picture the boy sitting there—relaxed and comfortable, like a content little cat.
The more time they spent together, the more undeniable the similarities became.
Even though their appearances were different, their voices were different, and their identities were different… that indescribable sense of familiarity kept crashing over Jing Sui like waves, again and again, pounding at his heart.
Making it nearly impossible to suppress the delusions growing within him.
In the last life, he had been reborn. And the boy… had also been reborn. This time, he had come to this world. Then was it possible… that the boy had arrived in this world first?
Was it possible that he was right in front of him?
Jing Sui closed his eyes and slowly exhaled. After a long time, when he heard no further movement, he finally lifted his head—only to see the boy slumped on the sofa, his phone slipping from his grasp, sound asleep.
Jing Sui slowly stood up, stretching his stiff body, and walked toward the sofa, staring directly at the boy’s face.
He wanted to get closer to him, but he knew he couldn’t. If he did, he would only scare the boy away.
This child seemed slow on the surface, but in truth, he was sensitive. He was guarded against anyone who approached him. One had to be extremely, extremely careful not to let him notice any intent—otherwise, he would escape…
Jing Sui gazed at him with deep longing. The boy’s eyelashes trembled slightly, his pale skin glowing under the light like a pearl. His delicate nose moved faintly with each breath, and his soft pink lips were slightly parted as he let out steady, quiet breaths…
So, is it you?
If you also came to this world, do you still remember everything?
He wanted to ask so many things, yet he couldn’t utter a single word. Now that he was truly face-to-face with him, he found himself as cowardly as ever, unable to even ask a simple question… He never thought he could hesitate like this.
Afraid he wouldn’t get the answer he wanted.
Afraid he would once again have to watch helplessly as the boy left him.
After all, the boy had hated him so much…
A long silence passed. Then, Jing Sui leaned down, lowering his head beside the boy’s face, concealing the sorrow in his eyes as he softly murmured— “Xiao Ling…”
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