After Backstabbing The Villain, The System Allowed Me To Enter The Book Again - Chapter 9

“Xin-jie, I’ll serve you the soup.”

Shen Chumo stood up, holding a porcelain ladle full of soup, ready to receive the bowl Shen Huaixin handed him. As the bowl paused between them, Chumo’s gaze lingered on her smooth, delicate wrist, then moved over her shoulder toward her face. She still had the same familiar pretty face as always, yet her expression carried a hint of unfamiliarity—she didn’t quite look like herself.

“How did you know I like my rice soaked in soup?”

“Because you always eat it that way,” Chumo replied without hesitation.

Huaixin smiled, relaxing her grip, letting him take the bowl. The rice she ate back home in the countryside wasn’t as fragrant; it looked dull on the surface and was often hard, so she was used to softening it with warm soup.

“Thank you…”

[System: Yellow card warning!]

Huaixin coughed and swallowed the second word back awkwardly. Mrs. Shen watched the siblings’ interaction, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter, her face full of maternal satisfaction.

After the meal, Huaixin opened her food delivery app and ordered two bubble teas—one unsweetened, the other fully sweet, with pudding, pearls, coconut jelly, and sago. She liked watching the “villain transform into a hamster” scene—cute and entertaining.

Next came the patient wait for delivery. Huaixin suddenly remembered she was wealthy now and sent a red envelope to the delivery worker, hoping to motivate him to push forward courageously against the odds. In reality, she just wanted him to arrive faster.

After playing on her phone for a while, she looked up and saw Chumo observing her. Maintaining her persona, she gave him a sharp look.

Caught, he quickly withdrew his gaze, unsure where to place his hands, then finally rested them on the sofa, glancing back like a startled fawn.

Having figured out Chumo’s psychology, Huaixin increasingly felt he was just a child—a newly human-shaped being, innocent and naive, handing over his wholehearted trust, unable to read the dangers of the world.

This was dangerous; too easy to get hurt. If she didn’t protect him, a bad person could deceive him in a heartbeat, leading to a “villain origin story” and potentially a world-ending conclusion.

“What are you looking at? Don’t know how to use a phone?” Huaixin rolled her eyes at him.

“Oh.”

Chumo seemed to agree with her advice, pulling out his phone from his pocket, holding it with both hands, slowly tapping the screen—was he… texting? Before Huaixin could dwell on it, a message arrived.

Chumo: What are you doing?

The phone vibrated, making Huaixin jump, guiltily silencing it while glancing around to ensure he didn’t notice anything.

Huaixin: Nothing. By the way, for the third problem I sent you yesterday, you wrote the answer, but I still don’t quite understand one step. Can you explain it to me? Voice message is fine.

Chumo: Okay.

He got up, glanced at the sneaky Huaixin, and walked back to his bedroom with the phone.

Huaixin watched the slim, steady figure of the boy and confirmed that his actions were now completely natural, showing no abnormality. Mrs. Shen sat beside Huaixin, stroking her hand:

“Xin Xin, you’ve noticed Chumo’s leg has improved, right?”

“Yes, thanks to the etiquette teacher you hired,” Huaixin nodded.

“Actually, it’s thanks to you,” Mrs. Shen patted Huaixin’s hand with gentle firmness, exuding unspoken love. “Because of your reminder, I had the etiquette teacher give him extra rehabilitation training, bringing him back to this point. Poor child, I can’t imagine how much suffering he endured at that criminal hideout… I didn’t even dare ask to avoid upsetting him.”

Huaixin, also wary of revealing anything to her mother, nodded repeatedly in agreement. “Don’t ask. Kids who’ve been through that can easily get PTSD.”

“What about the criminal hideout now?”

Mr. Shen, having just finished a work call, sat on the sofa and took over: “It’s been raided early on. The police are verifying details, but it’ll take some time to sort all the clues and give the victims’ families a proper explanation.”

“They kidnapped a lot of children?” Huaixin asked.

“Many,” Mr. Shen’s face was grave. “They were forced to beg, work, and even sold to rural areas.”

He opened his mouth to say more but saw Mrs. Shen’s eyes reddening, so he changed course: “Alright… enough. The important thing is that Chumo is back. Now we can make up for him, and of course, you too, Xin Xin.”

Huaixin silently hoped they’d never discover Chumo was an imposter—she felt even more anxious than he did.

“Dad, this is your promise—no favoritism,” she said, looking at her mother as well.

Mrs. Shen held Huaixin’s hand and placed Mr. Shen’s slightly rough hand on top, solemnly promising: “If Chumo gets something, you get the same. I’ll also buy our precious daughter pretty clothes, jewelry, bags, cosmetics… everything. You just have to be happy.”

“….”

Huaixin nodded at the fine lines at her mother’s eyes, then turned away, blinking hard. Mrs. Shen wiped her eyes and said:

“Don’t worry. As long as you don’t agree, we won’t hold a press conference. Mama knows you’ve grown up recently, so don’t fear. A new family member has joined; we’ll adapt slowly.”

Huaixin raised her eyebrows and nodded.

While they chatted, the delivery arrived. Huaixin picked it up and handed the fully sweet bubble tea to her mother: “Mom, please give this to my brother, and… can we say this cup is from me?”

Mrs. Shen smiled: “Of course, but why do you always act like you don’t care about him? I think you actually do.”

“I don’t care! It’s not healthy, might make him fat. And fully sweet—let it rot him. Plus, he loves sweet things anyway,” Huaixin replied.

Mrs. Shen laughed, “See, you give him tea, he gives you soup-soaked rice. Their tastes just so happen to match. Isn’t it amazing?”

Huaixin had no retort, so she silently looked around, careful not to trigger an OOC warning.

“One month later is your brother’s birthday. We plan to hold a party with friends and family,” Mrs. Shen said, glancing at Chumo’s bedroom. “Xin Xin, keep it a secret.”

Huaixin replied, “I don’t care.”

“Just giving a heads-up so gifts aren’t missed,” Mrs. Shen explained.

“….”

In the original story, the birthday party wasn’t mentioned. Huaixin didn’t know; back then, since they knew Chumo was an imposter, the parents would never have celebrated him. Now, due to butterfly effects, they genuinely dote on him.

Chumo immersed himself in his studies in his bedroom, similar in size to Huaixin’s. Compared to her princess-like decor, his room was simpler, featuring neutral tones like light wood and high-end gray, modern and minimalistic—a perfect fit for him.

Initially, Mrs. Shen wanted to add more furniture, but he politely declined. Even unnecessary decorations felt redundant.

His favorite was the desk, adjusted to his height, paired with an ergonomic chair ensuring long study sessions wouldn’t tire him. He wanted to start school soon and catch up with the curriculum, plus he’d promised his sister to watch her show, giving him extra motivation.

Three knocks on the door signaled his mother’s arrival. Chumo smiled slightly, opening the door. Seeing the sweet bubble tea, his eyes lit up, and he thanked her.

She smiled without words, patted his shoulder, and reminded him to take care, not to overexert, and balance work with rest.

Closing the door, Chumo popped in a straw—now a pro at using it—and took a sip eagerly. The first bite of toppings filled his mouth, his cheeks puffing out like pockets holding hidden treasure.

Wait—that wasn’t from his mother. She preferred healthier drinks, maybe red bean if anything. He didn’t like red bean but accepted her thoughtfulness happily.

Chewing thoughtfully, he remembered what Huaixin had said. Could this be… her fulfilling a promise?

What he had forgotten she had kept in mind. Though tea wasn’t expensive, for her it was meaningful.

The dislike and scorn he had imagined from his sister in his dream were false, as was calling him a monster.

His phone vibrated. He looked at the screen and saw a message from Huaixin:

Good friend: Thanks for the explanation; it was very helpful. P.S. You have a nice voice.

Chumo: No need to thank me. If there’s anything else you don’t understand, or if you need hands-on teaching, we can do a voice call.

Good friend: Haha, no need.

As expected, she refused. Face-to-face or voice would be more efficient, but she seemed shy. Recently, Chumo learned a word from an anime—“tsundere”—which seemed fitting.

Chumo: Any other questions today?

Good friend: Yes, yes, yes! [Photo][Photo]

Some people’s talent is enviable. Huaixin sipped her warm tea while thinking.

Chumo’s speed at solving problems was increasing. Previously, it took him a day; now he could solve one the same day. The ink was still wet, bold strokes slightly glossy, reminding Huaixin of the classic “Warming Wine to Slay Hua Xiong.”

Huaixin: study overload take me fly. [salute][salute]

Chumo: I know every word, but not together.

Huaixin: It means “Academic prodigy taking me to fly.” Thank you! Your sister must be proud to have you as a brother—helpful and so good at studying.

Chumo paused a moment: What about you? If you had a brother?

Huaixin twisted her mouth, unsure if it was a bitter smile or helplessness, sighing: I wouldn’t want a brother. Not all parents can be fair to everyone in the world.