The Self-Cultivation of a Villain

Fyren Zhang looked down in deep thought, pondering the solution.

Chloe was even more confused.

What the hell is going on with this guy... I'm already... I'm going crazy here!

He was actually trying to think of how to help me? How to help cure my mom!

And it's like he can see things before they happen!

What the hell is going on? Is this guy just imagining things?

Fyren Zhang thought for half a day and decided to stay put for now.

[As long as he doesn't act, then Otto Long, as the protagonist, should get a chance to get close to Chloe. Once the two of them connect, they can talk about her mom's condition or something.]

[Right! Exactly!

[Then even if I don't do those horrible things to Chloe, Otto Long will help cure her mom's illness, and when that time comes, I'll just ask him to take Chloe away.]]

[I'm still a fucking genius!]

Thinking this, Fyren Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Chloe:

"Chloe..."

"Ah? Oh... Lu... Fyren."

"Don't be nervous, uh... I... was just... before it... Hi. This is quite embarrassing..."

Chloe thought to herself, what the hell?

Why does it seem like this guy is more nervous than me? This isn't the Zhang family's usual style!

What's wrong with him today? Why is he so unsettling?

Fyren Zhang kept remembering what he had done before. He felt guilty and ashamed, his face turning red as he stuttered slightly:

Chloe hurriedly said: "Fyren, did I do something wrong? If so, you can just scold me."

"Ah? No no no no..."

Fyren Zhang quickly said, "You're an excellent secretary, in every aspect, in every way. It's me... Hi, I'll be honest."

Fyren Zhang continued, "I was an asshole in the past, and I wasn't kind to you at all, so please don't get angry—no! Maybe you should be angry, that would be better for everyone. I'm trying to ask for your forgiveness... Also no, you'd better not forgive me, or the plot will fall apart."

Fyren Zhang thought to himself that this still wasn't coming out right.

"Anyway, it's fine for you to hate me, and you should."

Chloe quickly forced a smile, "Fyren must be joking, how could I hate you? I'm grateful for the job opportunity and for all your care over the years."

[That's nonsense. It'd be a miracle if you're not secretly wishing I'd get hit by a car.]

Fyren Zhang laughed bitterly, "Anyway, I know you have your own struggles in life—otherwise, you would've quit working for me long ago…"

Now, neither Chloe nor Fyren Zhang believed a word the other said.

Chloe quickly and nervously replied, "I'm completely loyal to you, Fyren. I would never even think of betraying you."

Fyren Zhang was utterly depressed.

She was part of Otto Long's harem—someone he couldn't offend, but also couldn't get too close to.

"In that case, starting today, you're on leave."

Chloe froze, then immediately pleaded, "Fyren, Fyren, I was wrong! Please, please don't fire me! I—I really need this job!"

Chloe was so anxious she nearly burst into tears. Fyren Zhang quickly added, "You'll get double your salary, but you won't have to do anything. How's that?"

"Fyren, I'm begging you, don't do this… I'll work even harder in the future—"

"No, listen to me. I said you'll get paid without working, and you won't even have to see me. Double salary—just take it!"

Chloe dropped to her knees, clutching the hem of Fyren Zhang's coat, sobbing. "Fyren, my mother's illness is serious… I can't afford to lose this job. I'll do my best, I swear—please don't fire me…"

[How is this still not working?!]

Fyren Zhang hadn't expected things to be this difficult.

Just then, Xena Xu pushed the door open. Zaring stood at the doorway with an apologetic expression, as if to say he couldn't stop her.

Fyren Zhang and Xena Xu locked eyes.

The moment Xena Xu saw the scene before her, her face darkened instantly.

As expected, a dog can't change its nature.

Fyren Zhang was at it again—workplace PUA, bullying a pretty female employee.

And to think he'd gone this far.

"Fyren, what a pleasure!"

Though Xena Xu was smiling, the sweetness in her expression was laced with a razor-sharp edge.

At that moment, Fyren Zhang's brain sparked with a brilliant strategic idea!

[Perfect timing!]

[I used you to get rid of Eliza Leng—now I'll use Chloe to get rid of you!]

[Yes! Exactly!]

[If you impulsively take her away in a fit of anger, Otto Long will have to come to you when he needs to save her. That'll save me the trouble!]

Both women were baffled.

What the hell?!

Xena Xu frowned deeply. What nonsense is this bastard scheming now?

So he deliberately flirted with me over the phone while Eliza Leng was sitting right beside him?

Hasn't he been courting Eliza Leng? Isn't their engagement ceremony coming up next month?

Why did he use me to get rid of Eliza Leng?

And now he wants to use this secretary to get rid of me!

Xena Xu felt the mysteries in Fyren Zhang's head were growing more and more perplexing.

Chloe was equally confused.

Being able to hear her boss's inner monologue made her feel both weird and terrified.

But I can't figure it out... he... actually wants to help me?

Why?

Fyren Zhang took a deep breath, his heart swelling with ambition.

[Fyren Zhang, the time to test your acting skills has come. If you perform well today, you can handle two women at once and make Xena Xu take Chloe away.]

[Not only do I have to act convincingly, but I also need to secure at least $100,000 a month for Chloe—her mom needs treatment and medicine.]

Next, I'll show you how to be a real villain!

Fyren Zhang steeled himself, leaning back in his chair like a pompous aristocrat.

Crossing his legs, he used his high-end Italian Oxford leather shoes to nudge Chloe's chin, tilting his head as he spoke with deliberate sleaziness:

"Women are nothing but playthings to me."

He shot Xena Xu a confident glance: "To work under me, one must fulfill all my... demands."

"Oh, really?"

Xena Xu was like fate's chosen counter to Fyren Zhang.

Since she could hear his inner thoughts, of course she wouldn't obediently follow his script.

Instead, she grew even more excited to see how this villain would force himself to stick to his plan while pretending to be cruel.

You want to bully her so I'll step in as the hero?

Heh, if this were yesterday, things might have gone exactly as you planned.

I'd have thought you were the lowest of the low, absolute scum. But today... sorry, sis has already seen through your heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys.

Xena Xu cooed, "Wow, Fyren is so domineering! Xena loves it!"

Fyren Zhang's brain short-circuited.

What the hell is wrong with all the heroines in this novel?!

What game are you all playing?!

Why won't any of you follow the damn script?!

Gritting his teeth, Fyren Zhang doubled down on his act. He leaned closer to Chloe—who was still kneeling in confusion—flashed a wicked grin, and pinched her chin:

"Tonight, come to my private villa. We have... so, so much work to discuss. Hee hee hee... and we'll need to communicate... very openly. No barriers, no hindrances... just pure, unfiltered exchange. Hee hee hee... you know what I mean?"

Chloe's brain completely short-circuited.

Yet somehow, she found herself nodding like a ghost.

Xena Xu hemmed and hawed, "Then Fyren, you must give it your all!"

Fyren Zhang looked back at Xena Xu, "I'll have my way with her tonight."

"Uh-huh, yes yes yes." Xena Xu nodded deeply in agreement.

[Yes your big-headed yes!]

[Big sister, you're supposed to... you're supposed to have a sense of justice! Shouldn't you scold me and then demand to ransom her?]

[You're making this... my performance can't reach a proper conclusion like this! Am I still acting or not?]

Xena Xu was barely containing her laughter.

Keep acting, keep acting. I love this - it's brilliant.

Chloe struggled to regain her senses.

What the hell is this man doing? Trying to force Xena to ransom me?

Fyren Zhang stood up, thought for a moment, and continued his performance. He pointed at Xena Xu proudly:

"Xena, do you know why she defies me yet still begs to work for me?"

Xena Xu: "I don't know yet."

"It's because her mom is sick! The medical bills cost about a million dollars a year! So hahaha! No matter what I do to her, she has to endure it! She has to obey! She wouldn't dare disobey me even slightly, much less make me angry! She can't defy me!"

Xena Xu: "Uh-huh, I see. Awesome, awesome."

Fyren Zhang resisted the urge to spit blood and continued, "That's human weakness! I'm the best at exploiting people's weaknesses to bully them. Right?"

Xena Xu nodded vigorously, "Yes it is, yes it is."

Fyren Zhang's expression twitched.

"But!" Fyren Zhang said, "If someone appeared offering the same salary I give her - just about a hundred thousand a month - it would save her from this misery."

Xena Xu: "Oh I see!"

Fyren Zhang said triumphantly, "Xena, where might this person be, do you think?"

Xena Xu looked very confused, very naive, and very innocent, "I don't know oh."

Fyren Zhang thought to himself:

[Are you deliberately trying to piss me off?]

"Is it possible that person is you!" Fyren Zhang was mad with impatience. He pointed dramatically at Xena Xu and declared domineeringly, "It's you! By giving her $120,000 every month, you could save her from misery and give her a new life! From then on, she wouldn't need to suffer under this black-hearted boss anymore! She could embark on a normal life path, living happily with her mom ever after!"

Xena Xu pointed at herself, "Me?"

Then shook her head, "Not interested."

Fyren Zhang felt the heroine of this novel was truly... not playing her role properly at all!

How can you heroines be like this? How are you supposed to win readers' hearts?

This heroine is toxic, right!

Fyren Zhang grabbed Xena Xu's shoulders: "Look at her, isn't she pitiful?"

"Pitiful."

"Is she miserable?"

"Miserable."

"Then will you save her?"

"Not interested."

Fyren Zhang grew desperate: "Xena Xu, how can you not be interested in saving someone? You're a healer, Xena Xu! When patients have headaches or fevers, your heart aches as if you're suffering yourself! You want to save the whole world! You want to make this world a better place! That was your original purpose in studying medicine! Now there's a suffering person right before your eyes, how can you not want to save her? Give me an answer!"

Fyren Zhang shouted.

This heroine was too infuriating!

"I demand a perfect explanation from you!"

Xena Xu thought for a moment, "It's too expensive. Spending millions in annual salary plus hundreds of thousands in bonuses just to look at thighs and touch asses - that's something only you would do."

Fyren Zhang was shocked.

It's about the money?!