After Unbinding the Simp System, I'm Targeted by the Villain - Chapter 24

Duan Huaijin carried Yu Chucheng directly to the car.

All along the way, people cast curious glances toward them. However, because Yu Chucheng’s face was covered and he was too sleepy to open his eyes, he had no idea he was being princess-carried in broad daylight. In short, he slept quite peacefully.

Ji Zhou wasn’t familiar with Duan Huaijin and didn’t feel comfortable leaving Yu Chucheng alone with him. After a moment of hesitation, he finally decided to sit in the passenger seat rather than squeezing into the back row with them.

Inside the car, the driver sensed the heavy atmosphere. Seeing Yu Chucheng leaning bonelessly into a stranger’s arms via the rearview mirror, he kept his head down and mind on his business. He didn’t say a word, though he did sneak a message to the Eldest Young Master while waiting at a red light.

Yu Chucheng found a comfortable spot in the crook of Duan Huaijin’s neck. Smelling the reassuring pheromones on the other man, his breathing gradually became even.

This time, he was truly out cold.

Duan Huaijin didn’t move, letting him lean there, though his gaze involuntarily fell upon Yu Chucheng’s face. The way Yu Chucheng looked while leaning motionlessly against someone was very different from his usual self—a bit obedient, and a bit soft.

Duan Huaijin stared for a long time. Memories of his past life flipped through his mind like slides. Amidst the countless struggles and conflicts, one specific moment suddenly lit up. Duan Huaijin retrieved that fragment of memory and finally remembered that in his previous life, the first time he met Yu Chucheng was also at night.

Back then, he had already reached out toward Hao Jia—the person by Zhang Hanzhou’s side. To scout the other party’s background, he had intentionally manufactured a coincidence to appear at the same dinner party as Hao Jia.

During the meal, he had scrutinized Hao Jia numerous times and intentionally or unintentionally steered the conversation. However, Hao Jia wasn’t what he had imagined; instead, he was taciturn and spoke with a sense of cautiousness, as if terrified of offending someone.

At the time, Duan Huaijin felt it was boring. It was like preparing for a major competition only to find that the prize wasn’t some rare treasure, but just a common, unremarkable object.

After the dinner, Hao Jia went downstairs as if granted a general amnesty, and Duan Huaijin followed at a short distance. He assumed the person coming to pick up Hao Jia was Zhang Hanzhou, and he was prepared to meet him face-to-face to enjoy the “surprise” on the other man’s face.

As it turned out, the person who came wasn’t Zhang Hanzhou, but a rather lean youth.

It was late autumn then. The youth was originally standing with his back to the door, hands tucked into his overcoat pockets for warmth. He only turned around when he heard footsteps behind him.

In that instant, Duan Huaijin saw the youth’s exquisitely carved features from a distance, and the way his eyes curved slightly the moment he saw Hao Jia. Those beautiful eyes were like sparkling stars in the night sky.

Only later did Duan Huaijin learn that this person was the Young Master of the Yu family, Yu Chucheng, and heard about his “licking dog” exploits.

They hadn’t said a word to each other then; Yu Chucheng hadn’t even noticed him. It was a trivial, insignificant matter. The reason he remembered it for so long was that the first glance was stunning enough that he recognized him instantly after being reborn, without needing a second look.

Duan Huaijin retracted his thoughts and let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

His phone vibrated twice.

Xin: 【I’ll investigate according to what you said, but why did you go to all that trouble to get into the Zhang house only to run off halfway? What the hell were you trying to do there? I’m warning you, whatever you’re up to has nothing to do with me, and don’t you dare tell anyone I’m the one who brought you.】

Duan Huaijin glanced at it and switched off his phone.

The front gates of the Fengshan Villa opened, and the car slowly drove in.

Duan Huaijin had just stepped out of the car carrying Yu Chucheng when his path was blocked by Yu Jingchen.

Yu Jingchen’s features bore a resemblance to Yu Chucheng’s, but his brow was steadier and his gaze sharper. Dressed in a formal suit with his hair slicked back, his aura was entirely different—carrying the majesty of someone in a position of power.

The moment he saw Duan Huaijin, his Alpha instincts told him: This is the guy who bit my brother.

Yu Jingchen’s face was dark. Seeing Yu Chucheng curled up in Duan Huaijin’s arms like a cat, a flash of worry crossed his eyes, followed by a deep frown. When he took Yu Chucheng from Duan Huaijin’s arms, his voice was thick with suppressed fury: “Stay away from my brother.”

Duan Huaijin silently looked up at Yu Jingchen. Yu Jingchen’s concern for Yu Chucheng was genuine, and it was only natural for him to be unwelcoming.

Ji Zhou thought to himself: I’m dead, I’m dead. He had intended to help Yu Chucheng hide this from his brother, but Brother Chen actually happened to be home today.

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense and Yu Jingchen looking ready to lash out at Duan Huaijin, Ji Zhou hurriedly stepped forward. “Brother Chen, don’t be angry yet. There was an accident at the banquet today. If he hadn’t helped, things could have gone very wrong.”

Yu Jingchen was able to take over the massive family business at such a young age not just because he was smart, but because he could suppress his rage to get the facts. “What accident?”

Ji Zhou told him everything—starting from Qi Rui picking a fight to Yu Chucheng jumping into the water to save someone and nearly being kicked back down.

“Then, for some reason, Yu Chucheng’s pheromones went out of control. Duan Huaijin helped him with a suppressant shot, and then we brought him back.” Ji Zhou deliberately glossed over the specifics.

But Yu Jingchen was no fool; he could smell the S-Rank Alpha pheromones radiating all over Yu Chucheng.

Hearing that his brother had been slandered and nearly had an accident in the water, the ferocity in Yu Jingchen’s eyes deepened, and his jaw tightened.

Just then, Yu Chucheng’s eyelashes fluttered. Using the last of his willpower, he reached out to tug at Yu Jingchen’s sleeve. “Brother… don’t make things hard for him.”

There was no need to ask who “him” referred to.

The frown on Yu Jingchen’s brow relaxed slightly. “I’ve already called the doctor over. Go to sleep for now.”

Yu Chucheng would have loved to just close his eyes and go back to sleep, but he was terrified that if Yu Jingchen got angry and offended the villain, the family would end up on a grudge list. Thus, he forced his eyelids open.

Yu Jingchen had no choice. He let out a sigh and looked at Duan Huaijin. “One thing at a time. Thank you for helping Chucheng today. You can come to me if you ever need anything in the future, but…” Yu Jingchen paused, his tone growing heavier, “if I ever find out you’ve done something to hurt Chucheng, don’t expect to ever make it in Kyoto again.”

When Yu Jingchen was serious, he was terrifying. Even Ji Zhou didn’t dare breathe loudly. He stole a glance at Duan Huaijin to see his reaction, only to see Duan Huaijin standing tall with his back straight, meeting Yu Jingchen’s gaze with absolute composure.

Ji Zhou’s eyes widened, silently respecting Duan Huaijin as a real man.

However, in the next second—

Duan Huaijin: “Don’t worry. I said I would take responsibility.”

Yu Chucheng (dazed but understood): “…”

Yu Jingchen (anger not gone but decided to let him go): “…”

Ji Zhou (trembling for fear of the fallout): “!!!”