Su Qianzhan was bound to the Villain System.
The System told him, "A villain is someone who does whatever they want without restraint, vows to contend against the whole world, and swears to punch a hole through the heavens. Then all they have to do is wait for the protagonist to kill them."
The System was running out of energy and needed to sleep. It told Su Qianzhan that if he made enough trouble, he would be off the job in no time.
Su Qianzhan was straightforward. He understood this to mean that if other people told him not to do something, he should do it anyway, and that the only person who could kill him in the end was the protagonist. He nodded to show he understood.
1
The new emperor ascended the throne and purged the court.
Officials filled the Golden Hall, kneeling and petitioning His Majesty to punish the former ministers. Xie Zhen, once the capital's foremost talent, held his back straight as the Imperial Guards forcibly bent him down. His fate seemed sealed.
Su Qianzhan looked around and saw that everyone agreed. This was the perfect time to play the villain. He immediately rose to his feet and petitioned the emperor to withdraw his decree.
In an instant, the whole court fell silent. Everyone stared at him in shock, including the once-famous Young Master Xie.
2
Xie Zhen was taken back to the Princess Royal's residence as her male favorite, earning the resentment of the capital's noble ladies and handsome young men.
Su Qianzhan, however, treated him with courtesy in private and never crossed the line.
Later, everyone advised him that Xie Zhen was too scheming to be a good male favorite, that he would never flatter or fawn over him, and that he should give up while he still could.
Su Qianzhan was a villain, so he had to take their words in reverse. After hesitating for a moment, he returned to the Princess Royal's residence, pinned the refined and noble Young Master Xie onto the bed, and apologized. "It might hurt a little. Bear with it."
The next day, the one who couldn't get up was Su Qianzhan.
He felt very guilty, thinking he hadn't done a good job of carrying out the System's instructions.
3
Su Qianzhan waited and waited. Even after the new emperor died and his father ascended the throne, bringing him wealth and glory, the protagonist who was supposed to kill him still didn't appear.
When the System came back and saw Su Qianzhan with a beauty in his arms, The Outcast, second only to the emperor and above all others, it nearly crashed from fright.
The protagonist who had endured countless hardships and once threatened to destroy the world now wore a smile. With one arm around Su Qianzhan's waist, he guided Su Qianzhan's hand with the other as they practiced Young Master Xie's calligraphy: "If you don't learn it properly, you'll have to make up for it tonight."
Su Qianzhan wore a pained expression as he tried to bargain softly with him. "Could we do it just a little less... just once less?"
Theme: Give sincerity to receive sincerity. True affection exists in this world.