The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 77 - Art Exhibition
Chapter 77: Art Exhibition
Jing Sui stared fixedly at the sketchbook on the ground. Even though it was only a half-finished piece, barely a rough draft, the scene depicted in the drawing was one he could never forget in his lifetime.
He had once taken the boy there and solemnly pledged his love to him.
It was the first time he had ever been so honest about his feelings for someone.
The first time he had ever told someone—he loved him.
But the boy hadn’t believed him, and in the end, he had still left.
As for everything that happened afterward… Jing Sui didn’t want to remember. He closed his eyes in pain before looking up at the young man standing before him.
In that moment, all the doubts in his heart completely disappeared.
So, it really is you. And… you remember everything.
Why did you draw Xianyun Star? Could it be that, deep down, even just a little, you still care about me? That you haven’t truly let go of me?
A reckless hope rose uncontrollably in Jing Sui’s heart, yet he knew he shouldn’t indulge in it.
He had countless questions he wanted to ask, even the urge to reveal his true identity—to stop holding back, to stop avoiding—but in the end, he slowly calmed himself down. He couldn’t ignore the many things that didn’t add up. Things shouldn’t be this simple.
Acting on impulse would only make things worse.
If Ji Ling had come to this world at the same time as him in that car accident, there should have been an adjustment period. And with the boy’s emotional and gentle nature, it was impossible for him to easily forget his family from the previous world. He wouldn’t have accepted his new identity and relatives so naturally after such a traumatic experience.
When someone arrives in a different world, no matter how well they disguise themselves, there must be a period of acceptance. Ji Ling wasn’t someone with deep schemes or a calculating mind—he couldn’t have hidden any cracks that flawlessly.
Yet the reality was that he truly seemed to belong to this world. His interactions and emotions with Yang Wei weren’t fake; he genuinely treated her as his mother and was accustomed to his current life. The brightness in his eyes, his happiness—it wasn’t an act.
That was why, even though Jing Sui had sensed their similarities, he still remained doubtful and didn’t dare acknowledge him.
Ji Ling seemed like someone who was always meant to be in this world. In fact, right now, he appeared more real and natural, while the boy in the previous world—so excessively kind—had seemed almost out of place. It was the dandy act that had been his true disguise.
Jing Sui had considered many possibilities. Maybe Ji Ling had forgotten everything. Maybe he only remembered the memories of this world. Maybe he had arrived in this world long before him—long enough that he had completely assimilated into it…
But of all the possibilities, he had never considered this one. That Ji Ling remembered everything from that world so clearly—yet could remain completely indifferent.
Why?
And what exactly is this world?
Ji Ling looked at Jing Sui in confusion and waved a hand in front of him. “Mr. Fu? What’s wrong?”
Jing Sui took a deep breath, bent down, picked up the sketchbook, and looked at Ji Ling with a complicated expression. His voice was hoarse as he said, “You draw very well.”
Ji Ling was momentarily startled. Could Mr. Fu have been so engrossed in his drawing? But it was just a rough draft… it wasn’t that good, was it?
Feeling a little embarrassed, he modestly said, “You’re flattering me.”
Jing Sui was silent for a moment, suppressing the pain and longing in his eyes before speaking slowly. “The scenery here is beautiful, but… why didn’t you draw any people?”
Ji Ling met his deep gaze, which seemed to hold an indescribable sorrow, and for some reason, it made him think of Jing Sui again… Why didn’t he draw people? Ji Ling pondered for a moment, then averted his eyes and said, “I… just didn’t think of it.”
Really? You just didn’t think of it?
That’s not the real answer.
You’re lying to me.
Jing Sui stared at the boy for a long time before letting out a low, hoarse chuckle. In a seemingly casual tone, he asked, “How did you come up with this? It’s very imaginative.”
Ji Ling smiled sheepishly. “I got the inspiration from a novel.”
He paused for a moment, not wanting to elaborate further—afraid that Mr. Fu would keep asking which novel it was. Mr. Fu looked like such a serious and proper CEO! How could he tell him it was a danmei novel? That would be way too embarrassing!
Thankfully, Mr. Fu didn’t ask any more questions.
Ji Ling blinked and said, “Mr. Fu, I should get going now.” That was his way of hinting that he wanted his sketchbook back!
Jing Sui’s Adam’s apple moved as he forced himself to swallow back the words that were pressing against his chest. He raised his hand and returned the sketchbook to Ji Ling, then closed his eyes briefly and said, “Alright.”
He needed time—to process everything he had learned today.
He couldn’t let his emotions control him and act rashly.
He couldn’t scare the boy.
Ji Ling felt like there was something strange about the man, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He gave an awkward smile, then turned and walked away.
………………
As it was nearing the end of the workday, Shen Zhuoming arrived at the CEO’s office to deliver a proposal from the planning department. As soon as he entered, he saw his boss sitting at the desk, seemingly reviewing documents—but something felt off. His gaze swept across the desk and landed on a cup of coffee, untouched and completely cold. Finally, he realized what was wrong.
Shen Zhuoming cautiously stepped forward. “President Fu?”
Jing Sui lifted his head, his eyes dark as an abyss, and said flatly, “Leave the documents here and go out.”
Shen Zhuoming felt that his boss seemed to be in a bad mood, but he didn’t dare to ask any questions. He quickly placed the documents down and left. After closing the door, he revealed a puzzled expression—what was wrong with the boss this time? He looked like he had lost his soul.
Jing Sui closed his eyes.
The past slowly replayed in his mind. Just thinking about it once felt like being torn apart piece by piece, but he still recalled everything bit by bit, refusing to overlook any detail—everything that had happened after coming to this world, every moment he had encountered Ji Ling…
He was trying to find the clues he had missed.
There was something extremely important that he had overlooked, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t figure it out.
‘How did you come up with this drawing?’
‘A novel inspired me.’
That brief exchange suddenly flashed through Jing Sui’s mind like a white bolt of lightning streaking across a pitch-black sky.
At the time, he had thought Ji Ling was just making an excuse, unwilling to mention their world in front of a stranger, so he used a novel as a cover. But… why didn’t he use another excuse? Like saying it was from a dream?
Why, of all things, did he specifically say it was a novel?
A seemingly insignificant detail might be the key to everything—the only path to the truth.
Jing Sui slowly opened his eyes, pulled up a search engine on his computer, and hovered his fingers over the keyboard for a long, long time before finally typing two characters: Jing Sui.
Then, he hit Enter.
Without warning, an entire page of information appeared before him, with nothing hidden.
Jing Sui’s pupils slowly contracted. His fingers trembled slightly as his expression tensed. Finally, he clicked on the first link.
A novel page appeared on the screen.
Ten hours later.
Jing Sui leaned back in his chair in exhaustion, raising a hand to cover his eyes, concealing the absurdity and sorrow within them. His thin lips parted slightly, and a mocking chuckle slipped out. The laughter grew louder and louder until it became unrestrained, uncontrollable.
He had always prided himself on being calm and rational.
As the empire’s crown prince from birth, he had been taught etiquette and composure. After becoming emperor, he never revealed joy or anger, even in moments of extreme fury or agony. He never lost his composure in front of others, nor did he allow his emotions to be seen. Even when he was alone, he seemed to have forgotten what indulgence felt like. He had never laughed like this before.
But at this moment, he found it utterly ridiculous.
And he couldn’t stop laughing.
His throat felt as if it had been scraped with a blade—hoarse and aching. Every breath, every laugh, violently pulled at his chest, spreading pain through his entire body. The laughter lasted a long, long time before finally fading.
Outside, it was already deep into the night. The office building was empty.
Inside the office, the silence was so profound that even a pin drop could be heard.
Moonlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The skyscrapers outside flickered with scattered lights, both real and illusory.
At last, he understood where that sense of incongruity had come from.
And he finally understood why Ji Ling could face everything so calmly.He
Jing Sui did not dare to hope that Ji Ling, like himself, had come from that fictional world, because if that were the case, Ji Ling wouldn’t have said, ‘A novel inspired me.’ That sentence clearly signified one undeniable fact—he knew this novel existed.
He wasn’t the original ‘Ji Ling’ but rather the Ji Ling of this world.
A Ji Ling who had read this novel.
He had always belonged to this world, and Yang Wei was truly his mother. That was why his behavior felt so natural—why he could remember everything so clearly yet pretend not to.
To him, everyone from that world, including Jing Sui himself, was nothing more than characters in a novel.
A fictional existence.
Now that Jing Sui thought back carefully, the small glimpses of kindness and gentleness he had noticed in Ji Ling were, in fact, Ji Ling’s true nature. Because he wasn’t the original ‘Ji Ling,’ the arrogant dandy, but rather this world's Ji Ling. He wasn’t accustomed to doing malicious things or hurting others. He had a soft and compassionate heart—but his acting skills weren’t good enough…That explained why Jing Sui had unknowingly been drawn to his genuine self.
Because according to the novel’s storyline—he was never supposed to fall in love with him.
The boy was so kind and gentle, possessing every trait that attracted him. But Ji Ling did not love him.
Since he knew the novel and all its plotlines, there was no way Carlos had deceived or manipulated him. That meant everything was an act—just an excuse to escape from him.
He had watched him fall, knowing everything like an omniscient god… and then cruelly walked away.
Everything had been a lie.
He had never loved him.
Jing Sui clutched at the fabric of his chest with deathly force, his fingers digging in tightly. His pale lips were pressed together, drained of all color, as sorrow, pain, and mockery filled his eyes.
To you, I am nothing more than a ridiculous character from a novel—someone you desperately wanted to avoid.
That’s why… there is no place for me in your drawings.
So from beginning to end, I was the deluded one.
………………
Ji Ling remained completely unaware. He had no idea that a casual remark had completely exposed his identity.
He had been busy lately. After finalizing his ideas, Ji Ling immersed himself in preparing his pieces for the exhibition. He painted several works, including scenes from Celestial Starcloud, Emperor Star, and Blue Ocean Star.
The vivid, fantastical images engraved in his mind gradually took shape on paper. Through artistic refinement, they transformed into breathtakingly beautiful paintings.
Wang Yixin and the others glanced at Ji Ling’s paintings, then at their own, and felt an overwhelming urge to throw theirs straight into the trash. It was undeniable—some people were simply born with talent, and no amount of effort could bridge the gap.
That said, they didn’t feel jealous of Ji Ling.
After all, not every art student was driven by ambition, right? Some were just here to scrape by!
Ji Ling stayed up late every night, fully devoted to his creations. He left early and returned late. After a month of hard work, he finally completed all his pieces.
The exhibition, hosted by the Academy of Fine Arts, was scheduled for Saturday.
Ning Kehan woke them up before six in the morning, rallying them to help. The students bustled about enthusiastically—some set up display stands, some bought water, and others moved chairs...
Ji Ling rolled up his sleeves and got to work in high spirits. This was his first serious university event, and he would be showcasing his work to others, which filled him with excitement.
Passing students paused curiously, adding to the fresh and lively atmosphere.
………………
In an apartment near the school.
Wen Yan checked his phone. One minute, two minutes… four o’clock sharp.
He stood up, walked to the door, and was about to put on his shoes and leave when he suddenly heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. He stopped in his tracks.
The door opened from the outside, and a woman walked in, wearing a black, form-fitting, off-shoulder gown with alluring makeup. She didn’t appear young, but she was well-maintained, exuding a mature charm. Her eyes still held a captivating allure.
But at this moment, her gaze toward Wen Yan was filled with mockery and disdain. She gave him a cold glance and said, “Where do you think you’re going?”
Wen Yan replied flatly, “School.”
Han Yun’s suppressed anger flared instantly at his indifferent attitude. She snapped, “School? Didn’t I tell you to stay home today? You’re supposed to meet Miss Zhou for a marriage interview later! Did you forget? What kind of attitude is this?”
Wen Yan’s long, narrow phoenix eyes lifted slightly, and a faint smirk played on his thin lips. His tone remained indifferent. “I didn’t forget. That’s why I planned to leave early—to avoid running into you.”
Han Yun stared at him in disbelief, her fingers trembling as she pointed at him. “You… what did you just say?”
Wen Yan looked at her lazily and smiled. “Do you need me to repeat it?”
Han Yun’s face turned pale with fury. She scolded, “Do you have any idea how hard I worked to secure this opportunity for you? And you’re just throwing it away? I’ve spent every day worrying about your future, yet you don’t even care! Don’t you realize that if you can marry Miss Zhou, the old man will finally acknowledge you? Your father won’t ignore you anymore! I heard that your dear big brother is also eyeing Miss Zhou! Of course, you can’t compare to your brother. You lack his abilities and tactics, and your personality is weak. But who’s to say Miss Zhou wouldn’t prefer someone like you? After all, not all women like domineering men. If you flatter her and yield to her, there’s still a chance—”
Wen Yan quietly listened to her relentless speech, his eyes growing colder.
Yu Wenyan was an illegitimate child, born to a scheming mistress. Since childhood, he had been treated as a tool for his mother’s ambitions to marry into wealth. At school, he had the image of a charismatic, humorous heartthrob, beloved as the campus prince. But in reality, he was weak-willed and spineless, his every move controlled by his mother. At his core, he was nothing more than a pitiful joke.
Han Yun had initially hoped that her son could help her secure a place in the Yu family. But Old Master Yu was no fool and never gave them a chance to step into the family’s inner circle. Later, Han Yun pinned her hopes on Wen Yan proving himself, gaining recognition within the Yu family. However, compared to his elder brother, Yu Wensen, Wen Yan lacked both capability and cunning. Now, even with graduation approaching, he remained a marginalized figure—completely excluded from the family's business and power structure.
Over time, Han Yun gave up on that dream and instead set her sights on arranging a high-status marriage for her son. Only then could their mother-son status rise accordingly.
Despite his popularity at school, Wen Yan had never dated. His future marriage was meant to serve as a transaction, and as an illegitimate son with no backing, a tangled romantic history would only be a liability.
Though he resented this kind of life, he had long been conditioned to obey through years of his mother’s beatings and scoldings. He had numbly gone along with it.
As a despised illegitimate son—without the power to change his fate, without the courage to seize control—he was merely a pawn in the hands of a greedy woman. He was constantly scolded by his father, humiliated by his brother, and utterly powerless. His life was hardly worth mentioning.
But not long ago, Yu Wenyan had attended a gathering hosted by Yu Wensen, where he had been forced into drinking heavily by his brother’s friends. When he woke up… he was no longer the same person.
Wen Yan absentmindedly recalled the events.
Han Yun had been lecturing him earnestly for ages, only to realize that he hadn’t been listening at all. Instead, he looked lost in thought. Her anger surged again—how had she ended up with such a useless son? Not only had he failed to help her secure a place in the Yu family, but he also lacked the drive to fight for his own interests. Because of him, the two of them had become laughingstocks in the Yu family! Completely useless!
“Go change your clothes. We’re meeting Miss Zhou.” Han Yun suppressed her fury and ordered him.
Wen Yan lifted his eyes. “Sorry, I have class.”
Han Yun finally exploded! Though her son was a disappointment in every way, at least he had been obedient before. But now, he dared to openly defy her! Unacceptable! Without thinking, she raised her hand to slap him.
But before she could land the blow, her wrist was caught by an icy hand. The fingers were like frozen steel, tightening slowly, sending a sharp pain up her arm. Her face paled, and a chill crept through her veins.
Han Yun stared in shock, meeting a pair of pitch-black eyes devoid of warmth. In those narrow eyes glinted a cold, menacing gleam—like a venomous snake poised to strike. A shiver ran down her spine.
This… this wasn’t possible…
How could this child have such terrifying eyes?
Wen Yan looked at the frightened woman, and slowly, a mocking smile curled on his lips.
Foolish, vile, greedy, cowardly… A human woman, embodying nearly all the worst traits of humanity. No matter how many millennia passed, no matter how much the world evolved, no matter how long lifespans became, no matter how rapidly the universe advanced… Human nature remained the same. It had never changed.
Utterly repulsive.
Yet, in this wretched woman, he saw a glimpse of his former self.
A self who had once pursued wealth and power at any cost—greedy, ruthless, and selfish.
In the past, he might have cared. He would have crushed every obstacle in his path without hesitation, trampling those who scorned him, making them suffer in despair, forcing them to fear him.
He had spent nearly a lifetime just to stand high enough to look down on everything.
But now, he only found it laughable.
Even if he had everything, he couldn’t keep the one person he truly wanted. Even with power, he couldn’t change anything. So what was the point of fighting again?
He was tired of the game of power.
There was no one in this world worth protecting at all.
It was meaningless.
Han Yun’s body stiffened in terror. She stammered, “W-what… what do you think you’re doing…?”
Wen Yan's smile was cold and indifferent, with a hint of cruelty in his eyes, yet his voice was gentle. “I just want to ask you not to bother me anymore, okay?”
Otherwise, if I get angry, I might not tolerate you anymore.
Han Yun stared at the young man. He had her son's face, yet he felt like a stranger—cold and terrifying, as if a demon had taken over his body. The way he looked at her was as if she were an insignificant ant, something that could be crushed at any moment if she continued to overstep her bounds.
Who… is he?
Wen Yan released his grip, withdrew his gaze indifferently, and walked past the woman.
Slowly making his way downstairs, he squinted slightly as he looked up. The warm, gentle sunlight fell upon him, causing him to curl his lips into a faint smile.
See? I’ve really changed a lot.
I can live like an ordinary person now, trying to respect other people's lives. Even though I dislike her, I didn't silence that noisy woman forever.
Wen Yan thought of a certain boy’s every frown and smile, his eyes turning soft. But moments later, that tenderness was deeply buried once more, not to be easily shown before others.
He walked slowly toward the school, strolling down the tree-lined path.
Students passed by in twos and threes, exuding the youthful energy of campus life. Though he had been in this world for some time, Wen Yan still didn't quite fit in. There were no others like him here. But that didn’t matter—he was good at pretending to be one of them.
As for his heart, it had never been understood, nor did it need to be.
The only one who had ever made him want to bare his soul and offer it up with devotion… was gone.
“Hey, the Academy of Fine Arts is holding an exhibition up ahead. Let’s check it out!”
“Sure! There are lots of pretty girls in the Academy of Fine Arts.”
“You, man… seriously?”
“Over there, over there! There are so many amazing pieces this time. The new students are really impressive.”
Scattered conversations drifted into his ears.
Holding a book in one hand, Wen Yan continued walking forward with an expression of indifference.
None of it interested him in the slightest. The art exhibition ahead bustled with excitement, but as he passed by, he only spared it a casual glance.
That one glance—through the gaps in the crowd.
And there, placed in the most prominent position—A breathtaking starry sky.
Wen Yan’s footsteps halted. The book in his hand slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
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