The Abused Villain is Always Obsessed with Me - Chapter 16

The man sat in a genuine leather office chair, his suit jacket casually draped over his shoulders.

His slender fingers held a fountain pen, while his left hand turned a page of a document. Behind his thin-rimmed silver glasses, his gaze was fixed intently on the text, seemingly oblivious to Lu Cang’s presence.

An inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over Lu Cang.

He stared blankly at the man, taking a few steps forward. Yet the man remained unresponsive. Lu Cang opened his mouth to call out, but found himself unable to make a sound.

Suddenly, as if alerted by a noise from the doorway, the man looked up, his eyes meeting Lu Cang’s.

His expression was indifferent, his brows and eyes radiating an icy detachment. The corners of his narrow eyes tilted upward slightly, and his thin lips were pressed into a taut line.

He bore an exact resemblance to Feng Hechi.

Yet something felt different.

There was no disdain, no anger, no heart-wrenching torment in his eyes.

Only calm.

Lu Cang reached out, wanting to get closer, when suddenly the world began to shake violently. A voice called out in his ear:

“Wake up! Class is starting!”

Lu Cang’s head throbbed painfully as consciousness finally returned. He struggled to prop himself up on his arms, lifting his head to see Zhuo Ying’s face leaning close.

“Finally awake! You were sleeping like the dead. I had to call you several times!”

Exhausted, Lu Cang sat up straight, pressing a finger to his throbbing temple. He looked up to see the teacher already standing at the podium.

The bell rang, and the entire class stood to greet the teacher.

As he sat back down, Lu Cang suddenly realized where that strange sense of familiarity had come from.

The man in the office, with the same face as Feng Hechi.

His eyes were nothing like those of the volatile, inferior man he had once known.

But they were identical to Feng Hechi’s eyes now.

For Feng Hechi, who had maintained a strict early-to-bed, early-to-rise routine for twenty years, this disrupted sleep schedule was a significant problem.

When he opened his eyes, the slanting rays of dusk streamed through the glass window, casting long shadows across the floor. Feng Hechi sat up, and his temples throbbed twice sharply—a dull ache from his biological clock being thrown off.

He braced himself against the window frame, pushed the window open a crack, and took a deep breath of fresh air. Only then did his mind begin to clear.

Now he understood why those who worked night shifts vanished during the day.

Feng Hechi glanced at his phone screen. It was already 5 PM. The lock screen lit up with a series of WeChat messages from his boss.

Last night’s alcohol sales hit a new record! I’ve scheduled you for extra shifts. Remember to come in tonight.

Feng Hechi frowned. Before he could even reply, another message popped up:

Don’t worry, I’m doubling your pay!

With such an offer, there was no reason to refuse.

Feng Hechi sent a simple “OK” gesture and was about to put his phone away when several more messages arrived in quick succession.

They were from Manna.

I heard your interview went smoothly. I didn’t realize you were so capable.

I spoke to the boss for you. He agreed to let you repay the money in regular monthly installments. Just think of it as a loan. But if you miss a payment, watch out—you might end up feeding the fish in the river!

The message was followed by a winking emoji.

Feng Hechi finally relaxed, a slight smile curving his lips.

Thank you.

His message had barely sent when Manna’s reply arrived instantly.

Don’t thank me yet. Since I’m doing you such a big favor, you have to agree to one condition.

Feng Hechi raised an eyebrow.

In business, the most taboo thing is to raise the price or impose conditions after a preliminary agreement has been reached.

Once, a clueless CEO, banking on the future appreciation of their development zone, demanded Feng Hechi increase the acquisition budget.

After Feng Hechi casually refused, the CEO threatened he would regret it.

Feng Hechi never regretted it. However, when the Feng Family later acquired all of the CEO’s companies, the CEO regretted it so much he came to Feng Hechi’s door every day, groveling and begging for forgiveness.

If anyone else had made such a demand, Feng Hechi would have taught them a harsh lesson.

But Manna had indeed helped him.

Feng Hechi typed a few words:

Of course, as long as it’s within my capabilities.

A minute later, his phone vibrated again.

So generous! What could I possibly ask for? I just want you to spend one day a week with me. Is that okay?

Manna’s message carried a coquettish tone.

So that’s what she wants.

Feng Hechi paused, realizing his mindset hadn’t fully transitioned from his old patterns. He’d instinctively assumed Manna was trying to use this as leverage to blackmail him.

The circumstances have changed.

Feng Hechi closed his eyes briefly, a pang of guilt rising within him. He picked up his phone.

No problem. Contact me whenever you’re free.

Tucking his phone back into his pocket, Feng Hechi casually swept his bangs aside and leaned against the windowsill, resting his elbows on the frame. He turned his head to gaze at the scenery outside.

The boss had scheduled him for four shifts, including weekend nights. At this rate, his and Lu Cang’s schedules wouldn’t overlap for a long time.

The question now was how to continue advancing their mission.

Lu Cang twisted the key and pushed open the door.

The apartment remained pitch-black.

Standing in the doorway, Lu Cang stared into the empty home, his hand tightening slightly on the strap of his backpack.

Feng Hechi hadn’t returned tonight either. Lu Cang walked slowly into the apartment, not bothering to turn on the lights.

He sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on the table where his phone lay, but made no move to pick it up.

Even if he called Feng Hechi, he’d likely hear the same excuses as last night.

Recalling the strange dream from earlier that morning, Lu Cang’s jaw clenched, his lips pressed together unconsciously. The fingers of his hand resting beside him tapped rhythmically against the edge of the bed.

The last person he’d seen in the dream had Feng Hechi’s exact face.

But Lu Cang knew unequivocally that it wasn’t Feng Hechi.

A man like Feng Hechi would spend his entire life indulging in the base pleasures of wine, women, and gambling.

Even if given a fortune, he’d squander it all in a matter of days, racking up debts many times greater.

How could such a man ever sit in a penthouse office, dressed in a tailored suit, managing the affairs of an entire conglomerate?

Yet that person’s eyes… they were so hauntingly familiar.

It was the same look Lu Cang saw in Feng Hechi’s eyes every day now.

Upon closer reflection, he realized he had been sensing an unsettling dissonance in the man for quite some time.

Feng Hechi hadn’t laid a hand on him in ages.

Back when Feng Hechi was in a bad mood, he used to occasionally vent his anger on Lu Cang.

A kick to the waist or a punch to the stomach when displeased, or smashing him with a beer can, were common occurrences.

Sometimes, he would cross his legs and make Lu Cang cup his hands to catch the ashes from his cigarette.

Wait… ashes?

Lu Cang suddenly looked up, his eyes glowing like fireflies in the darkness.

He hadn’t seen Feng Hechi smoke in ages.

Feng Hechi was absolutely not the type to quit or even cut back on smoking, let alone step outside to smoke.

He reveled in filling the house with thick, choking smoke, and the sound of Lu Cang’s suppressed coughs only fueled his sense of accomplishment.

Yet Lu Cang hadn’t seen him smoke in over a year.

If not for that strange dream, Lu Cang wouldn’t have given this aspect of Feng Hechi’s behavior a second thought.

He loathed Feng Hechi so intensely that he had never bothered to analyze anything about him before.

Lu Cang recalled the gaze he had last seen in his dream.

Calm, indifferent, carrying the aloofness and condescension of someone in a position of power.

Though the thick lashes, the upward curve of the eyes, and the dark pupils matched the eyes in his memory perfectly, that look, that expression…

It wasn’t Feng Hechi.

No, Lu Cang corrected himself inwardly.

It wasn’t the Feng Hechi from a year ago.

But it bore a striking resemblance to the Feng Hechi of the past year—the one who had always been aloof, cold, and condescending.

Lu Cang was stunned by this realization.

What had happened to cause such a drastic change in Feng Hechi within a single year?

Or was it…

This is absurd, Lu Cang thought, shaking his head to dispel the bizarre notion. Yet the idea only grew stronger.

There must be something he didn’t know.

Lu Cang glanced at the wall clock. It was midnight. He grabbed his alarm clock and set it for an hour before Feng Hechi had returned the previous day.

He wanted to see what time Feng Hechi would come home tomorrow.

When Feng Hechi pushed open the door, Lu Cang was sitting on the sofa, just as he had been the previous morning.

The difference was that this time, he wasn’t staring out the window. Instead, his gaze was fixed directly on the door.

As Feng Hechi entered, Lu Cang’s eyes first flickered upward to the clock on the wall, then slowly lowered to settle on Feng Hechi’s face.

Feng Hechi wondered if his eyes were still blurry from spending the entire night in the dimly lit, flickering atmosphere of the bar.

Otherwise, why would he think he saw the corners of Lu Cang’s lips subtly lift, as if he were wearing the faintest of smiles?

Lu Cang rarely smiled in front of him.

He usually glared at Feng Hechi from behind, his eyes hidden beneath his overgrown bangs, filled with hatred and extreme loathing—so intense that Feng Hechi could feel it even without looking at him.

But when Feng Hechi steadied himself and looked again, Lu Cang’s expression seemed no different from usual.

It was as if that fleeting smile had been nothing more than a figment of his imagination.

“You’re back,” Lu Cang said, rising from the sofa and slowly approaching Feng Hechi. His voice was low and deep, devoid of emotion.

“Mm,” Feng Hechi grunted, forcing a perfunctory syllable from his throat as he stared at Lu Cang.

Lu Cang nodded and walked over to Feng Hechi, extending his hand.

Feng Hechi’s brow furrowed slightly as he lazily watched Lu Cang’s movements, yet he didn’t retreat or create distance.

Lu Cang’s hand brushed past Feng Hechi’s shoulder as he retrieved his backpack from the hook by the door.

“I’m going to school now,” Lu Cang said, pausing as if waiting for Feng Hechi’s response.

Feng Hechi glanced at him but remained silent, seemingly ignoring him as he strode toward the bedroom. The door swung open and slammed shut with a click, plunging the house back into silence.

Lu Cang stared fixedly at the firmly closed bedroom door before glancing at the wall clock.

The time was nearly identical to yesterday, indicating Feng Hechi was going to the same place with a fixed departure time.

A bar.

And judging by the timing, he likely wasn’t there for leisure.

He was probably working there.

Lu Cang had once told Feng Hechi “I’m going to school now” in the mornings before leaving for school.

At that time, Lu Cang’s mother had just passed away, and Feng Hechi hadn’t yet fully revealed his true nature.

Lu Cang, remembering his mother’s wish for him to live well with Feng Hechi, forced himself to suppress his disgust and say those words.

It was like a child from a happy family saying goodbye to their parents before leaving for school.

Feng Hechi, who had just returned home after a night of revelry at the club, suddenly flew into a rage upon hearing Lu Cang’s words.

“What do you mean, you little brat? Are you mocking me for not going to school?!”

Lu Cang, standing beside him, was shoved violently away by the enraged Feng Hechi.

His back slammed against the sharp corner of a table, sending a searing pain through him. The large bruise that formed took two full weeks to completely fade.

After that incident, Lu Cang never said those words again.

This was the second time.

And Feng Hechi’s reaction was exactly as he had anticipated.

Lu Cang’s gaze deepened, a sharp glint flashing in the depths of his pupils.

Perhaps his idea wasn’t entirely impossible after all.

The antique chandelier hanging from the ceiling cast a warm, amber glow, its light reflecting off the polished tabletop and illuminating the silhouettes of patrons.

The lively chatter and laughter of the crowd mingled with the rhythmic pulse of jazz music.

Figures swirled across the dance floor, their movements fragmented into shimmering shards by laser beams slicing through the air.

Feng Hechi meticulously dried a glass with a microfiber cloth before placing it back on the rack behind the bar.

The seats at the bar were as crowded as ever, mostly filled with young college students and office workers eagerly gossiping.

Suddenly, a hand landed on the bar—slender, pale fingers with nails painted a delicate pink.

The hand tapped lightly on the surface, followed by a coquettish voice.

“Handsome, I’d like a drink.”

Feng Hechi glanced up and chuckled softly when he saw who it was. He reached for the glass he had just put away.

“My treat.”

“Oh, you’re being generous after all this time?”

Manna’s striking features lit up with a smile. Leaning her elbow on the bar, she rested her cheek in her hand and surveyed the crowd.

“It’s packed tonight—even more crowded than when I was here last time.”

“Yeah, it’s been hard to keep up lately,” Feng Hechi replied, nodding slightly as he mixed a drink.

Manna sighed, a fleeting hint of disappointment crossing her eyes before vanishing.

“At least all these people at the bar are here for you, right?”

After speaking, she shrugged, her tone casual. “You’re so charming, it’s almost enviable.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” Feng Hechi replied smoothly, his flattery effortless. He detected a hint of jealousy in her voice but had no intention of offering any further explanation.

Manna didn’t seem to mind, her smile bright as she asked, “Your business is always so busy. When will you ever have time for a date with me?”

Feng Hechi’s expression remained unchanged, though his hand paused momentarily.

Noticing his reaction, Manna frowned. “You’re not going to cancel on me again, are you? We already made plans.”

“I’ve never canceled on you,” Feng Hechi said without even looking up.

“Liar! You’ve done it more than once or twice,” Manna retorted, her lips curling into a sneer.

Feng Hechi chuckled noncommittally, finishing the cocktail and sliding it across the bar to her. “I wasn’t planning to cancel. I was just thinking about when I could find the time.”

Manna’s expression softened with a hint of melancholy. “True. Our work schedules are completely out of sync. I’m busy every day too. Finding a time that works for both of us isn’t easy.”

“I’ve thought of a time,” Feng Hechi said suddenly, his gaze fixed on her.

“Oh?” Manna raised a delicate eyebrow, tilting her chin in a gesture for him to continue.

Feng Hechi’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Tonight. What do you say?”