After the Villain Coaxed Me

High school student Song Zide accidentally transmigrates into a power-fantasy cultivation novel. With neither power nor connections, he’s confident that, since he knows the plot, he can crush the novel’s chosen one. But he fails the imperial exams twice. With barely any travel money left and an empty pocket, he has no choice but to set aside his transmigrator’s pride. He makes a living selling calligraphy and paintings beside a tavern, while sneering at the spoiled young men who come to drink and cursing them as cannon fodder from the book. He also has his eye on someone. Xie Zhijin is his complete opposite. He comes from a wealthy family, passed the imperial exams with top honors, and is handsome and talented. Matchmakers flock to his door, and even the spoiled young men scramble to curry favor with him. Beside him, Song Zide looks utterly wretched, and it makes his teeth itch with resentment. But Song Zide has also found something he can use against him. His title of top scholar was won through cheating and favoritism. With this leverage, Song Zide looks forward even more to everyone seeing Xie Zhijin for who he really is. One day, Xie Zhijin gets drunk, and Song Zide finally has the chance to approach him. He murmurs smugly, “I know your secret.” He expects to see panic and fear on Xie Zhijin’s face, a face that never changes even when Mount Tai collapses before him. He doesn’t notice Xie Zhijin’s gaze, dark and viscous as ink, fixed on his face without ever moving away. * Song Zide’s threat seems to work. Xie Zhijin curries favor with him, openly and behind the scenes, treats him like an honored guest, and even invites him to a brothel to broaden his horizons. Fine wine and pretty faces, music and song all night long... have nothing to do with him. He becomes the music and song, pinned down and made to sing all night. * The next day, someone opens the door to their private room. Silks and brocades frame Song Zide’s snow-white skin, covered in little love bites and teeth marks. Xie Zhijin is fully dressed and perfectly composed. “Song, my fellow examinee, is openly visiting a brothel not a breach of public morals?” Song Zide is speechless with terror. Xie Zhijin leans closer and gently rubs a fingertip over one of the marks. Looking at Song Zide, who is scared out of his wits, a rare smile appears at the corner of his mouth. “Be good, and I won’t spread the word.” * Only later does Song Zide learn that Xie Zhijin’s courtesy name is Zhijin, and his given name is Lingshi. He is the greatest villain in the book Song Zide transmigrated into. #Transmigrated into a book, but might as well not have# #Help, I transmigrated into a book but forgot to bring my brain and provoked the villain. What now?# [Impoverished, bookish young fool of a shou with a bitter, world-weary air × benevolent-looking, hypocritical villain gong] *The characters are not perfect. Theme: Things must rot from within before worms appear; people must first humiliate themselves before others humiliate them