The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 80 - Buy A Painting
Chapter 80: Buy A Painting
Ji Xiaoling was deeply troubled. He had always been a good kid, studying hard and making progress every day. He had never been involved in any kind of romance!
Yet, the moment he entered university, he found himself caught in an emotional whirlpool—being pursued by his classmate’s uncle, no less, and even getting caught red-handed by a senior he respected. His life had suddenly turned into a melodramatic soap opera! The pace of it all felt like forcefully pulling up seedlings to make them grow faster. He was utterly embarrassed, wishing he could just cast an invisibility spell and escape this awkward situation.
Ning Yu was abruptly pushed away by Ji Ling, but he simply turned his head calmly to the side, locking eyes with Wen Yan. His gaze sharpened slightly.
Wen Yan had learned from Wang Yixin that Ji Ling should be here, so he had come to find him after class. However, he hadn’t expected to witness Ji Ling being held in another man’s arms. His eyes instantly darkened with cold hostility as he stared icily at Ning Yu.
The atmosphere became tense.
Ji Ling stood there awkwardly. Though he wanted to play ostrich and bury his head in the sand, after thinking for a long time, he finally forced himself to speak, his face burning as he tried to defuse the situation. He first glanced at Ning Yu and introduced, “This is Senior Yu Wenyan. He’s probably here to talk to me about something…”
“Yu… Wenyan.” Ning Yu slowly spoke, enunciating each syllable clearly, his gaze shifting slightly as he looked at Wen Yan.
Ji Ling, however, didn’t notice anything strange. He still assumed it was just a coincidence that they had the same name—after all, it was a common one. Not wanting to be rude to his senior, he then turned to Wen Yan and explained, “This is Ning Yue, Brother Ning. He, um… just happened to have something to discuss with me today…”
Wen Yan’s pupils contracted slightly, and a cold smirk curled at his lips.
Their gazes locked.
Though neither spoke, in an instant, they recognized each other’s identities.
Ji Ling, unaware that they had both traveled here from another world, had never suspected anything beyond mere resemblance. But for them, it was different… From the start, they had realized that if one person could arrive in this world, then why not others?
And in this world, coincidences rarely happened without reason.
The moment Ji Ling finished his introductions, he inexplicably felt that the tension between the two had only grown stronger. Did his explanation make things worse? Saying ‘something to discuss’ or ‘just happened to have something’ really did sound a bit vague and suspicious… But how else was he supposed to explain it? Should he just outright say that Ning Yue was pursuing him? That would sound even more shocking! He didn’t even know if he was straight or not!
Why did he have to deal with such difficult decisions? Baby Ji’s head was about to explode!
He just wanted to escape.
Nervously, he said, “I-I should head back to my dorm…”
Wen Yan masked the cold glint in his eyes and spoke to Ji Ling with a gentle voice. “I came to find you to discuss the game character settings. Do you have time now?”
It was only seven o’clock—saying he had no time would sound too fake. Ji Ling began racking his brain for an excuse…
But before he could speak—
Ning Yu smiled slightly, raising a brow. “Oh? I have some understanding of games as well. Which company’s game is it? Maybe I can offer some advice.”
Wen Yan looked at him, his gaze cold and indifferent, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Ning Yu didn’t back down. “How do you know it’s not necessary?”
Ji Ling: “……”
Was it just his imagination, or did it feel like the two of them were about to start a fight?
Wait a minute, why wasn’t anyone asking if he even wanted to be involved?!
Why did it suddenly feel like he was back in the interstellar world, struggling to survive between two forces? This had to be his imagination!
No way, absolutely not! He wasn’t getting involved!
Ji Ling forced out a dry laugh. “I just remembered, Zheng Lin said he needed to see me tonight. Senior Yu, I’ll talk to you about the game next time… Brother Ning, goodbye! I’m heading back now.”
With that, he turned and left without looking back!
He had to escape in one go—any hesitation and he’d be doomed!
Modern society was great. At least here, he didn’t have to stick to a predetermined role. He could just walk away whenever he wanted.
Wen Yan watched Ji Ling’s retreating figure, his eyes dimming for a brief moment, but he didn’t stop him.
Ning Yu didn’t either. Instead, he watched as Wen Yan’s expression gradually cooled, his façade slipping away. Back then, he had followed the boy to Beifeng Star’s Luanshui City, risking exposure because he couldn’t bear to see him forced by Jing Sui and Carlos. He had worried that if Wen Yan took the boy away, he would come to harm.
That time, he had been prepared to take Ji Ling away.
No matter the cost.
But once he arrived, he realized things weren’t as he had imagined. Wen Yan hadn’t harmed the boy. At that time, faced with Wen Yan’s warning and threats, he had chosen to leave. He had believed that Ji Ling would be safer and happier by Wen Yan’s side. Wen Yan could offer him the stability that he himself could not.
He hadn’t left because he feared Wen Yan—he had left because the boy had chosen to stay.
Wen Yan had seen through him, understood his reluctance to disturb Ji Ling’s peaceful life, and had used that weakness to force him away.
But in this world, there were no more constraints. No rebels or nobles, no battles fought on the edge of a blade, no bloodstained struggles. There was nothing to hold him back.
Ning Yu’s lips curled slightly, and he spoke clearly, “This time, I won’t back down.”
Wen Yan let out a mocking smile, but his gaze was dark and unwavering. “I know. But—I won’t back down either.”
In that world, the gap in their statuses had held him back. He had known he wasn’t strong enough to claim Ji Ling for himself, so he hadn’t dared to have improper thoughts. He had been content to stay by his side silently. But this time…Ji Ling was no longer an untouchable noble, and he was no longer a lowly servant. He was simply Ji Ling’s senior. And this time, he had the confidence and ability to protect the one he loved.
The two men stared coldly at each other.
Though neither spoke again, they both understood—neither of them would back down.
………………
As Ning Yu walked out, he paused and sent a message. Not long after, Ning Kehan came out of her dormitory.
She looked at Ning Yu’s somewhat somber expression with confusion and asked nervously, “Uncle, did you need something from me?”
Ning Yu raised an eyebrow. “I met with Ji Ling today.”
Ning Kehan: “......”
Ning Yu: “He explained to me that he and you are simply classmates, nothing more.”
Ning Kehan: “…” Arrow to the heart!!!
Ning Yu chuckled softly. “Seems like he’s really afraid I’ll misunderstand and think he likes you.”
Ning Kehan felt that this man was truly too much. Not only was he stealing away her crush, but he even came to flaunt it in front of her? Where was his sense of responsibility as an elder? How did she end up with an uncle like this? She must have committed some terrible sins in her past life!
She let out a dry laugh. “Is that so?”
Ning Yu nodded. “Yes, and then I confessed to him and told him I was going to pursue him.”
Ning Kehan: “!”
Ning Yu sighed. “But he’s too naïve. He probably has a skewed understanding of himself. If I don’t take the initiative, I’m afraid he’ll never realize it. So, I need your help.”
Ning Kehan sneered. “What help could I possibly give? It’s not like he likes me anyway. Hah.”
Ning Yu: “You may not be very reliable, but as his classmate, you should still be of some use, right?”
Ning Kehan: You’re asking for my help while insulting me? Is this how you make a request?!
Ning Yu said casually, “By the way, that new sports car you’ve been eyeing for a while—the one big brother refused to buy for you. I was originally planning to buy it for you…”
Ning Kehan: “Uncle’s matters are my matters! Whatever you need, just say the word. I’ll do whatever it takes!”
Ning Yu nodded with a smile. “Good girl.”
Ning Kehan forced out a flattering grin.
………………
Ji Ling returned to his dorm that night and had a nightmare.
In his dream, although he had returned to the real world, those people had all followed him here. After learning the truth about the novel, they all turned dark, believing him to be a liar who had toyed with their emotions. One after another, driven by love-turned-hatred, they tormented him over and over again.
He desperately tried to escape, but he couldn’t wake up. The men all watched him with icy smiles.
Ji Xiaoling hugged his knees, trembling in the middle of their encirclement.
But they were ruthless and cruel!
The next morning, Zheng Lin banged on his bed. “Get up, it’s time for class!”
Ji Ling suddenly jolted awake from his nightmare, drenched in cold sweat. Too scary, too scary… How could he have such a dream?!
He clumsily scrambled out of bed, grabbed a steamed bun from the cafeteria, and rushed to class while eating. But even during the lecture, he was absent-minded, his thoughts involuntarily drifting back to that other world.
Ji Ling pulled out his phone and checked his email again.
He remembered that he had once sent a message to the system, but there was still no response—it was like tossing a stone into the ocean.
More than two months had passed. Instead of completely forgetting that world, he found himself thinking about it more and more. Ning Yue, Senior Yu Wenyan, and Mr. Fu… The people around him all inexplicably reminded him of those he had met in that other world.
Things he had tried so hard to forget came rushing back, one after another.
Why was this happening?
It wasn’t like he liked them…
Back in that world, he had seen their love as a burden, an obstacle to completing his mission. He had never wanted their love—he had only wanted to go home, doing everything he could to escape and avoid them.
He had never considered accepting their feelings, no matter how much they had done for him. He had always seen himself as just a passerby in that world, and them as mere mission objectives—his emotions had been nothing but dead weight.
Now that he had finally returned home and could start over, why was he constantly thinking about them instead? Had he fallen into the same curse of only realizing what he had lost after it was gone?
No way.
Ji Ling shuddered at the thought. He actually felt like one of those scumbags who only regretted losing love after the fact—like a heartless jerk who never cherished feelings until it was too late. But… he was a good kid! No one ever said he had to accept someone’s love just because they loved him…
So why couldn’t he stop thinking about them?! Why did they haunt him like ghosts?!
What was wrong with him? QAQ
………………
With so much on his mind, Ji Ling had been dazed and distracted lately. Wang Yixin asked curiously, “What’s up with you? You’ve been spacing out all the time.”
Ji Ling couldn’t possibly admit that he was struggling with such embarrassing and ridiculous thoughts. Instead, he put on a mysterious expression and said cryptically, “I’m brainstorming my new novel.”
Wang Yixin immediately looked at him with admiration! A true genius! Look at him—thinking about his work even while eating, walking, and attending class! And what about himself? He was only focused on winning a few more rounds in the game… He felt so ashamed that he quickly played a few more matches to calm himself down.
A few days later, some good news finally lifted Ji Ling’s spirits a little.
Professor Qi told Ji Ling that one of his paintings, which had been on display at the gallery, had caught the eye of an anonymous collector and had been purchased. The professor asked Ji Ling to send over his bank account details so the payment could be transferred. Then, as usual, he offered some words of encouragement, telling Ji Ling to keep up the hard work—he had high hopes for him.
Professor Qi deeply appreciated young people with talent and was more than willing to support them.
Ji Ling thanked him profusely, and before long, he received his first payment for selling a painting. He was beyond excited! He never imagined that someone would actually be willing to buy his artwork.
Although, in the interstellar world, Young Master Ji lived a life of extreme extravagance, spending money like water and enjoying the most luxurious lifestyle in the entire universe, it had always felt surreal and detached. Now that he was back in the real world, this was the first time he had earned money on his own. Though it wasn’t a large sum, it held extraordinary significance. Overjoyed, Ji Ling treated his roommates to a meal.
Happiness should be shared with friends!
………………
It was another weekend. After an all-night gaming session, Wang Yixin and the others were sleeping soundly when suddenly, the counselor’s call came in, instructing all students of the Art Academy to immediately gather in the small auditorium for a meeting.
The group groggily rubbed their eyes, got up in a daze, and headed to the auditorium. Along the way, they ran into fellow students who were all asking the same question—what was going on?
But no one seemed to have an answer.
Ji Ling and his friends sat in the back row. Before long, Ning Kehan arrived and took a seat in front of Ji Ling.
Zheng Lin asked, “Miss Ning, do you know what this meeting is about?”
Ning Kehan replied, “It seems someone has donated an art museum to the school.”
Wang Yixin immediately perked up with excitement. “Donated an art museum? That must’ve cost a fortune! Who's the tycoon behind it?”
Ning Kehan chuckled. “I’m not entirely sure either.”
Chen Ming yawned. “So what if someone donated a museum? Why do we have to have a meeting about it? The academy leadership is so obsessed with formalities.” He was still disgruntled about being forced out of bed.
Ning Kehan simply smiled.
As the meeting began, everyone fell silent. Running on little sleep, Ji Ling and his friends had no interest in paying attention to the reports. They slumped over the desks in the back row, dozing off. The dean’s droning voice buzzed in their ears like a monotonous lullaby.
Who knew how much time had passed when Ning Kehan suddenly tapped Ji Ling on the head, waking him up in a daze.
Seeing his bewildered expression, Ning Kehan sighed. She doubted he was a match for her little uncle. But then again, she was a Ning family member too—should she really be siding with an outsider? Besides, this was the first time her uncle had taken a serious interest in someone. Since he was willing to pursue and care for someone, she didn’t really have a reason to stop him… Her only concern was—if her uncle actually succeeded in wooing Ji Ling, what would that mean for the family hierarchy?
Would that make Ji Ling her uncle’s partner? Would she have to call a classmate ‘Aunt’? Miss Ning had mixed feelings. She sighed gloomily and walked out, deep in thought.
Ji Ling watched her go, confused.
She hadn’t contacted him lately… Could it be that Ning Yue had spoken to her about what he said? Was she heartbroken?
Ji Ling was suddenly overcome with guilt, self-reproach, and worry.
Rejecting a girl made him feel a little guilty.
As Ji Ling and his roommates were the last to leave the classroom, preparing to go back to sleep, Dean Liu called out to him from a distance. “Ji Ling, come here for a moment.”
Ji Ling looked around, then hesitantly pointed at himself.
Dean Liu smiled kindly. “Yes, you.”
Ji Ling: “…”
He thought he had been caught sleeping during the meeting and nervously walked over, only to realize that a tall foreign man was standing beside the dean.
The man had brown hair and brown eyes, with a deep, refined, and handsome face. He was dressed in a vintage-style, handcrafted velvet suit that fit his long and perfectly proportioned body like a glove. He looked like a noble straight out of a movie—more dazzling than any celebrity, exuding a unique, composed charm refined over time.
Ji Ling didn’t dare to stare for too long. He cautiously asked, “Dean, what do you need from me?”
Dean Liu smiled warmly and said, “This is Mr. Field. He’s very interested in our school and would like to take a tour. Could you show him around?”
Ji Ling's eyes widened in confusion.
He wasn’t stupid. Even with only an hour of sleep, he could guess that this man must be the reason for today's meeting—the wealthy donor who had forced them all out of bed to attend. If such an important figure wanted a tour of the school, shouldn’t the school leadership accompany him? Why ask him?
He blinked and hesitantly asked, “Just me?”
Noticing Ji Ling’s nervousness, Dean Liu chuckled. “Yes.” He had actually offered to personally accompany Mr. Field, but the man declined, saying he disliked grand receptions and formality. Instead, he had casually pointed at Ji Ling, who had been getting up to leave.
Since it was such a small request, Dean Liu certainly wouldn’t refuse a major benefactor. After all, plenty of wealthy people preferred to keep a low profile. Besides, having a student show him around wasn’t a big deal.
Seeing no way out of it, Ji Ling sighed inwardly and said, “Alright.”
Then he looked up at the tall man beside him and smiled obediently. “Mr. Field, please follow me.”
Carlos gazed at the young man, his deep eyes unreadable.
From the moment he arrived, he had been paying attention to the boy. In the past few days, he had uncovered many things.
The findings were beyond his expectations, delaying his original plans.
Initially, his investigation was simply to learn more about Ji Ling’s current life before meeting him. However, as he dug deeper, an astonishing truth surfaced without warning.
Ji Ling had told many people that the inspiration for his paintings came from a novel, but he had refused to reveal its content.
Carlos had initially dismissed this as just an excuse. But when his assistant's thorough research presented him with the evidence… he discovered that such a novel really did exist—one that featured him as the main character.
A cheap, uninspired novel posted on a small website.
It was absurd, but everything written in the book was exactly the same as the events that happened in his first life.
Carlos’s first reaction was to find the author of the novel. However, to his surprise, even with all his money and connections, he couldn’t gather any information about the author. It was as if the author was a ghost on the other side of the internet, with nothing to be found. What shocked him even more was that, aside from him, several other forces were also investigating the author.
It seemed that he wasn’t the only one who had come to this world.
At first, when he learned the truth, even someone as calm and calculated as Carlos felt a brief moment of confusion. But he quickly regained his composure.
The identity of the author was shrouded in mystery. No one knew who they truly were, and no one could even be sure that the author existed at all… But Carlos never doubted his own existence. He believed his world was real, and who could say what the future would be like if humanity kept advancing? Couldn’t the world the author described actually be a future reality, rather than just a fantasy?
No one knew.
And he didn’t care.
Whether he was from another space or the future, he existed here and now. Everything that happened in that world was real.
And his arrival here, the discovery of the truth—perhaps it was God’s will.
Although Ji Ling felt a little nervous, he wasn’t completely at a loss when facing Mr. Field. After all, he had seen his fair share of things—he had met emperors and dukes, so why would he be afraid of just a rich man? As he walked, he introduced the school’s buildings. He could feel the man’s gaze on him, but he didn’t turn back.
Carlos followed slowly beside the young man, walking along the tree-lined path, his gaze fixated on Ji Ling’s profile.
The boy’s side profile was clean and graceful, his skin fair, his lashes long. His voice was crisp and melodious, full of vitality.
Carlos thought, So this is what you truly look like.
He had once believed that Ji Ling had died and come to this world like himself. However, after discovering the book, he changed his mind. Ji Ling did come back after death, but he must have originally belonged to this world. This world seemed to better fit his personality and the way he handled things.
This could also explain why Ji Ling felt so out of place with the ‘original’ Ji Ling, and the things he had done that he shouldn’t have. The mysteries surrounding him, the qualities that attracted Carlos… At first, Carlos thought he had overlooked them. But now he realized that these things were never present in the original Ji Ling, and that’s why he hadn’t noticed them.
It was because of his arrival that he began to notice these things.
If his world was truly a book, then Ji Ling was the only variable, the unexpected element that had entered his world.
Carlos’s gaze softened, his lips slightly pressed together. If Ji Ling really came from this world, it would mean that he didn’t actually have feelings for Jing Sui. Perhaps, for reasons Carlos didn’t yet know, Ji Ling had to play that role. But he had never been so heartless toward Carlos.
Even though I hurt you so much, when you left, you were still willing to risk your life to save me, showing compassion toward me.
You’re as kind and soft-hearted as I thought you were.
You are still the person I loved.
And I’m glad you’re safe.
Now, I know you don’t belong to anyone. So, do I finally have a chance to earn your favor?
Carlos’s mind raced, but when he finally saw the boy with his own eyes, his heart was unwavering. Whether the world he came from was real or just an illusion didn’t matter anymore. What mattered now was to grasp the present.
For him now, everything else felt insignificant. He just wanted to seize the only person he desired.
Carlos’s gaze lingered on Ji Ling, his eyes tender. He suddenly spoke, his voice calm, “I didn’t expect it to be you.”
Ji Ling froze, looking at him in confusion.
Carlos smiled faintly. “I bought a painting before. The artist was Ji Ling, a student at this school. I didn’t expect it to be you.”
Ji Ling was stunned. “So it was you.”
So it was this man who bought his painting?
Carlos nodded with a smile. “I really like your painting. If you paint more in the future, feel free to contact me. I’d be happy to buy all of them.”
Ji Ling was delighted that someone was willing to buy his paintings. It was a confirmation of his work. However, when Carlos suddenly said this in person, saying he’d buy all his future works, Ji Ling became a little embarrassed.
He had thought that someone would buy his paintings for decorating a living room or by an ordinary person, not someone as important as this…
He felt so nervous.
For a big shot like this, shouldn’t he be collecting works from well-known artists? Did his painting really appeal to him?
Ji Ling humbly said, “Well, actually, I think my painting is quite ordinary…”
“No need to belittle yourself.” Carlos’s deep eyes met Ji Ling’s, his voice low and soothing. “To those who truly appreciate it, your painting is incomparable…”
Ji Ling’s face turned red. “Th-thank you.”
Carlos’s lips parted slightly, and he spoke each word clearly. “…In my eyes, it’s priceless.”
Ji Ling gazed into his tender eyes, listening to the deep, magnetic words. Suddenly, his face flushed. Priceless? Wasn’t that a bit too much of a compliment? This uncle of mine, if others didn’t know, they might think this was a confession!
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