The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 81 - Have an Outing
Chapter 81: Have an Outing
Ji Ling stared blankly at Carlos. How was he supposed to respond to that?
Carlos watched the boy’s bewildered and bashful expression, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. Dropping his usual domineering facade and revealing his true self—he was even more adorable than Carlos had imagined.
Carlos smiled and spoke. “I own a few galleries under my name as well. I wonder if I have the honor of exhibiting your work? If you’re willing to become a contracted artist at my gallery, I would be even happier. Your art deserves to be seen by the world.”
Ji Ling’s face flushed red as he stammered, “I, I…”
He tried to say something for half a day, but no words came out. Though he was often flattered by Wang Yixin and the others, who shamelessly exaggerated his skills, Ji Ling knew better than to believe it. He was self-aware and never let it get to his head. If he considered himself a genius just because of a little recognition, that would be truly shortsighted. The world was full of talented people. He was just a freshman in college, living an ordinary student life—how could he ever have dreamed of soaring to such heights overnight?
And now, a bigshot was suddenly showing him such goodwill and even inviting him to become a contracted artist for a gallery…
It felt even more unreal than a dream.
Ji Ling was in a daze.
He was sure he had returned to the real world, right?!
Carlos didn’t rush him for an answer. Instead, he smiled slightly. “It’s okay. My invitation will always be open to you.”
Ji Ling hesitated for a long time before finally uttering two words: “Thank you…”
So this was what it felt like to be overwhelmed by kindness!
Carlos’ lips curled slightly, his gaze darkening a little. As much as he wanted to reveal his identity, he ultimately chose not to.
That would only make the boy flee from him again, just like in the previous life.
Fate had brought him to this world and given him the chance to meet his beloved again with a fresh start. He considered himself lucky. Although the boy had been willing to risk his life to save him before, that wasn’t love—it was just because he was naturally soft-hearted and kind. No matter how indifferent he acted, he could never truly be unmoved by affection. That was just how he was…
That was why he had once forgiven Wen Yan and even stood up for him.
And now that Carlos had a chance to start over, he would never make the same mistakes again. He would carefully and patiently draw his beloved into his gentle trap.
I want you to fall in love with me and stay by my side willingly.
For some reason, Ji Ling felt like this Mr. Field’s gaze was… rather intense.
He lowered his head and continued walking ahead, leading Mr. Field around the campus.
What should he do? He was so nervous!
This man, like Carlos, had an overwhelming presence. He hadn’t been nervous before, but after receiving such an unexpected show of goodwill, he suddenly was…
Along the way, Ji Ling ran into a few classmates, who all curiously eyed the man beside him. Ji Ling introduced him, “This is Mr. Field. Dean Liu asked me to show him around the school.”
Carlos was polite and patient toward the students, even smiling and greeting them. This surprised Ji Ling—he had expected the man to be more impatient. Mr. Field seemed to have quite a good temper…
He couldn’t help but wonder—if Carlos had come to this world, what would he be like?
Probably… a lot like this.
Refined, elegant, and gentlemanly.
But also… probably not quite like this.
Beneath his refined manners was coldness, beneath his gentleness was ruthlessness. His elegance was a mask—his true nature was that of a bloodthirsty beast that simply preferred to hide its fangs.
Ah, what was he thinking about? He was overthinking again!
There was no way someone in the real world could have such an extreme case of a villain’s desire to rule the world!
Ji Ling had unknowingly led Carlos around most of the campus. An hour had passed, and he was starting to feel a little tired. But since Mr. Field hadn’t said anything, he couldn’t just abandon his guest, especially since this was a task assigned by the dean. His eyes darted around before landing on a café ahead. He asked, “Are you tired? Would you like to sit down and rest for a bit?”
Carlos looked into his eyes and asked with concern, “Are you tired?”
Ji Ling blinked. “I… I’m fine… I was just worried you might be tired.” Did he see through my reluctance and politeness? I’m actually tired, but I was just too embarrassed to say it!
Carlos gazed at the boy’s bright eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile. His deep, mellow voice carried a hint of amusement. “Alright, let’s take a seat then.”
Ji Ling: Yes!
The two of them entered the café. Ji Ling eagerly stepped forward to pay, buying Mr. Field a coffee while he chose a strawberry milkshake for himself. They sat by the window, and Ji Ling busied himself with stirring his drink, glancing around but avoiding the man’s gaze—trying to look as well-behaved as possible while avoiding eye contact.
Carlos noticed his little movements. He was like a wary little rabbit—harmless yet sensitive. A soft warmth spread through Carlos’ heart. It had been a long time since he had felt this way. He had once believed his heart could never be stirred again.
Although he wanted to spend more time with the boy, he couldn’t bear to make him uncomfortable.
After a moment, Carlos lightly tapped his fingers on the table and said gently, “If you have other things to do, you can go. I don’t mind.”
Ji Ling looked up in surprise.
Carlos smiled. “I’ve already taken up so much of your time—I’d feel bad keeping you any longer.”
Ji Ling had been hoping Mr. Field would take the initiative to end the tour, but now that the man was being so considerate and understanding, he actually felt guilty. He hesitated for a moment before saying softly, “It’s… it’s fine.”
Now he felt bad.
Mr. Field must have noticed his impatience.
Ji Ling could be a little willful at times, but only toward people he was close to. He wouldn’t behave that way toward a stranger.
Carlos’ deep brown eyes were gentle as he smiled. “It’s alright. I can find my way back on my own—I won’t get lost.” He looked at Ji Ling with a teasing glint in his eyes and an elegant smile. “But before we part, I have a small request. May I have your contact information?”
Ji Ling froze.
Carlos said, “I won’t disturb you; I just want to stay in touch. If you create new works in the future, I still hope you’ll consider me. I promise your work won’t go unnoticed.”
Ji Ling didn’t overthink it, simply feeling that this uncle was quite persistent. But since he was an art student, making more connections could only be beneficial. Though he was initially shocked, he was actually very happy that someone appreciated his work. So, he curved his eyes into a smile and said, “I will.”
The two exchanged contact information, and then Ji Ling got up to leave.
If he went back now, he could still catch some extra sleep!
Carlos remained seated, calmly watching the boy walk away. It was only after a long while that he finally stood up and left—his coffee untouched.
The entire reason he had gone to all this trouble today was just to meet the boy.
Carlos stepped out of the café. The sunlight outside was a bit harsh, making him squint slightly. Just then, a tall foreign man approached.
Carlos’s expression remained indifferent as he said flatly, “And you are?”
Brandon stared coldly at Carlos. Back when he first saw Ji Ling’s paintings in the gallery, it hadn’t taken long for him to track down the school and, in the process, stumble upon the novel. Initially, the revelation had been difficult to accept, shaking his entire worldview. He had even asked a friend to investigate the novel’s author… but the investigation led nowhere. Eventually, he had come to terms with reality. No matter what had happened, it was now part of his life, and suffering wouldn’t change anything.
What hurt him the most, however, was realizing that—whether in the novel or Ji Ling’s life—he had always been just a minor character.
He knew he shouldn’t interfere with Ji Ling’s life, but Carlos was not the kind of person to back off easily. Once he set his sights on something, he would never give up. Brandon couldn’t stay indifferent, not when he remembered how Carlos had hurt and taken from Ji Ling in their past life. And as expected, Carlos had come.
Brandon said coldly, “You shouldn’t have come looking for him.”
Carlos paused for a moment, his eyes flashing as he quickly realized something. He raised an eyebrow and let out a soft chuckle. “Brandon?”
Brandon didn’t deny it. He simply stared at Carlos with a stern expression. “If you hurt him again, I won’t stand by and watch. And in this world, you’d better restrain yourself.”
Hearing this, Carlos laughed. “Of course, I won’t hurt him. He is my wife and my love... But you?” His gaze suddenly turned icy, and a smirk appeared on his lips. “What right do you have to meddle in my affairs?”
………………
Ji Ling happily went back to take a nap, only to have another nightmare.
This time, he dreamt about Carlos—his obsessive, ruthless love was terrifying. And the worst part? Ji Ling had seen his size before! Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine. Too scary, way too scary…
Thankfully, Mr. Field was not Carlos!
Even though Ji Ling kept reminding himself every day: They are not the same people. They are not the same people. They are not the same people…
His subconscious refused to listen. He kept dreaming about them. After a while, the constant nightmares left dark circles under his eyes, and he was feeling more and more troubled.
Every one of those people had been powerful and dangerous figures. He had only dared to act that way because he could return home—wasn’t that also a form of deception? If they ever found out the truth, wouldn’t he die a miserable death?
Ji Ling shuddered.
Wang Yixin, mistaking his exhaustion for overwork, sighed and said, “Don’t push yourself too hard. Save your hair while you can, okay?”
Ji Ling let out a dry laugh.
Ignoring Wang Yixin and the others, he secretly sent another message to the system, explaining his distress. But, as always, there was no response.
A few more days passed.
That day, Yang Wei called her son. “Sweetheart, what have you been up to? You haven’t come home in a while.”
“Sorry, Mom. School has been really busy lately,” Ji Ling replied.
Yang Wei chuckled. “That’s okay. I just wanted to ask if you’re free this weekend.”
“Is something going on?” Ji Ling asked.
Yang Wei explained, “The company is organizing a business trip to Dubai, and employees can bring family members. It’s a three-day trip, so you can treat it like a vacation. If you’re free, I thought it’d be nice to take you along for a break.”
Ji Ling thought for a moment and said, “Sure!”
He figured he had been overthinking things lately. Going on a trip with his mother might be a good way to clear his mind. And what great company benefits! Mr. Fu was such a considerate boss.
To make sure he was ready for the trip, Ji Ling went home right after class on Friday.
His father had been on business trips recently, but he happened to be home this time. Upon hearing that his wife and son were going on vacation, he was very supportive. Since he had work and couldn’t join them, he personally drove them to the company early the next morning and reluctantly said goodbye before heading back.
The business trip included many mid-level employees, so they all gathered together to prepare for departure. Since the company was covering all expenses, quite a few people had brought family members, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
Ji Ling quickly got to know the children of some of his mom’s colleagues, including a few his own age.
Some people had driven themselves, but others opted to take the company’s shuttle to the airport.
While waiting in line to board, Ji Ling got distracted and accidentally bumped into the person in front of him. Looking up, he realized it was Mr. Fu. He immediately smiled and greeted him in a clear, cheerful voice, “Long time no see.”
Jing Sui had deliberately lagged behind. As soon as he stopped, the distracted boy unknowingly ran right into him. His dark eyes flickered with a complex emotion as he stared at Ji Ling.
So… you still came.
I know the truth now. I know you never truly loved me.
All those words of affection, all those expressions of love… they were all lies. But there’s one thing I still don’t understand—why did you lie to me?
Ji Ling, noticing that Jing Sui didn’t react and seemed to be staring at him strangely, asked in confusion, “Mr. Fu, are you okay?”
Jing Sui clenched his hand at his side, his Adam’s apple bobbing. After a long moment, he looked away, suppressing the pain in his eyes. He stepped aside and said coolly, “It’s nothing.”
Ji Ling glanced at him suspiciously but eventually just scratched his head, smiled, and walked past.
Jing Sui stood there, watching the boy’s retreating figure.
After a long time, a self-mocking smile appeared on his lips.
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