The Villain's Start

Yunzhou City.

Villa No. [-].

In the bathroom of one of the villas, Shen Yingnian stared at his handsome reflection – sharp eyebrows, starry eyes – and his eyes widened in astonishment. A flood of memories surged through his mind, confirming his suspicions: he had transmigrated.

Reborn as someone else!

In his previous life, he was Shen Ying, a mere letter away from his current identity. He was the chairman of a large listed group… the driver.

His affable nature and tact had earned him the favor of the chairman's family, especially the chairman's wife and daughter, who praised his exceptional driving skills.

But even the most seasoned driver can have an accident.

While driving to a mountaintop villa to pick someone up for the chairman, his brakes failed, sending him plummeting off a cliff to his death.

Fortunately, fate had granted him a second chance, reincarnating him as a tall, rich, and handsome man.

However, this enviable identity came with a catch…

The memories flooding his mind led him to a terrifying conclusion: he had transmigrated into the world of a novel!

In his previous life, while waiting in the car, he often read novels to pass the time. One of them was a short novel called "The Peerless Immortal King of the City."

And much of the information in his new memories perfectly matched the details of that novel!

Shen Yingnian was the villain!

"Damn it!" he cursed.

In so many transmigration novels, the protagonist is either reborn as an underdog to rise up and slap their enemies in the face, or they return to the past.

Why did he have to be reborn as the novel's villain?!

Sure, he was now rich and handsome, but as the villain, he was destined to be cannon fodder, a stepping stone for the protagonist's growth and eventual triumph.

No matter how powerful his background, he couldn't escape the protagonist's wrath.

For Shen Yingnian, this was a tragic twist of fate.

"Yingnian, Yingnian…" he muttered, "I bet the author designed this villain to die young!"

He grumbled in frustration.

He had enjoyed the novel when he read it, identifying with the protagonist. But now, as the villain on the opposite side, he was panicking.

"Ugh… so hot…"

A moan reached his ears, interrupting his thoughts.

Startled, Shen Yingnian opened the bathroom door and followed the sound to the bedroom. The sight before him made him freeze.

A beautiful young woman lay on the large bed. She was everything a novel heroine should be – oval face, delicate eyebrows, cherry lips, and long legs.

However, she was unconscious, her face flushed and glistening.

Even a veteran driver like Shen Yingnian felt a stir of desire.

According to the original owner's memories, this woman was named Nie Ruoyun, a name that sounded like it belonged to a novel's heroine.

In fact, she was one of the heroines of "The Peerless Immortal King of the City."

In the novel, Shen Yingnian had always lusted after Nie Ruoyun, but she always rejected him, even repulsed by his advances.

The original Shen Yingnian was a classic "licking dog," always chasing after her affections.

But a desperate dog is a dangerous dog.

In this particular episode, Shen Yingnian had drugged Nie Ruoyun and brought her to his villa, intending to force himself upon her.

However, the original Shen Yingnian, weakened by his excessive lifestyle, had overdosed on enhancement pills and died, allowing Shen Yingnian's soul to take over.

Now, staring at the completely helpless Nie Ruoyun, Shen Yingnian couldn't help but swallow hard.

The drugs were taking effect, and he felt a powerful urge to possess her.

But a sliver of sanity warned him of the danger.

"Beauty is a trap," he thought, "Don't even think about it!"

Shen Yingnian fought back his desires, took a deep breath, and frowned.

He knew the villain's fate: he couldn't have what he wanted, let alone get away with it.

"The protagonist should be here any minute," he realized. "He'll take out my bodyguards, break in, beat me up, and then… to save the drugged Nie Ruoyun, he'll… well, you know… It's so cliché! I do all the work, and he gets the reward!"

Looking at the tempting Nie Ruoyun, Shen Yingnian felt a mix of sadness and indignation.

It was entertaining to read such a plot, but now that he was the villain, he was determined to change the script.

As a villain, he felt he still had a chance.

But how?

The protagonist was overpowered, skilled in martial arts and mystical arts. His wealth was nothing compared to the protagonist's abilities.

If brute force wouldn't work, there was only one option… run!

But Shen Yingnian was reluctant to leave Nie Ruoyun to her fate.

As he struggled with his decision, a commotion erupted outside the villa!

"Stop!"

"Who are you?"

"What!"

Shen Yingnian's heart skipped a beat.

Too late to run! The protagonist had arrived!

Hearing his bodyguards' screams, Shen Yingnian paced anxiously.

What to do? He was trapped!

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for activating the Sign-in System!"

The sudden notification startled him, then filled him with joy!

Finally! A system! A necessary tool for any transmigrator!

Information about the Sign-in System flooded his mind.

As the name suggested, he could gain rewards by signing in at specific locations.

Repeated sign-ins were possible, but unique locations offered better rewards.

Generally, he could only sign in once a day, but special locations allowed for three sign-ins.

Without hesitation, Shen Yingnian said, "System, sign in!"

"Ding! Villa sign-in successful!"

"Congratulations to the host! This sign-in has triggered a lucky novice bonus, granting you three rewards!"