Chapter 3 - What To Do if You’re the Villain and the Heroine Likes You

At the grand hall of Chunfeng Tower, an unremarkable figure sat in the corner. His appearance was plain, but his eyes displayed the determination befitting a protagonist. Despite being in a brothel, his hand never left his sword. For him, in the city of Yinjing where money and power intertwined, the sword was his only reliance. Chu Fan paid no attention to the fine wine in his cup, sitting upright, his gaze fixed on the entrance of Chunfeng Tower. It wasn't until a slender figure appeared that he relaxed. Chu Xiaoxiao was outstandingly beautiful, especially her innocent and lovely demeanor that stood out conspicuously in the debauched environment of Chunfeng Tower. Dozens of pairs of eyes followed her every move as she walked in. However, no one dared to make a move because earlier at the banquet, the infamous libertine He Yunxiao had proclaimed his intention to admire the moon with Miss Chu. He was the son of a Marquis, and no one dared to offend him. Chu Fan watched his sister with his hand firmly gripping the sword's sheath. Although she was not his blood sister, they had relied on each other for years. Even without blood ties, their bond was stronger than blood. That accursed scoundrel He had violated the morals of Yinjing, with ill intentions towards Xiaoxiao. Tonight, Chu Fan would rid the people of this scourge! As Xiaoxiao returned to her seat, Chu Fan dismissed his thoughts and spoke softly, "I told you there were no candied haws outside, but you insisted on going to check." Xiaoxiao pouted, "Not only were there none outside, there weren't any further down the street either." Chu Fan indulgently chuckled, "If they're not there, they're not. Some preserved fruits would do just as well." Xiaoxiao reached out with her chopsticks towards the crabs on the table. "I want to eat this." Chu Fan gently tapped her hand with the chopstick handle, saying, "Crabs are cold in nature, and you've never been strong. No being greedy." Xiaoxiao stuck out her tongue at her brother and sweetly said, "I know." But soon, her tone shifted, "I ran into a few beggars on the street just now." Chu Fan's heart skipped a beat, and the sword flashed out of its sheath an inch. He asked urgently, "Are you okay? How did those people treat you? Did you get hurt?" Xiaoxiao replied, "I'm fine. Luckily, Master He passed by and helped me." Chu Fan frowned, "He Yunxiao? He did a good deed?" Xiaoxiao pondered, "Master He seems completely different from the rumors in private. It's as if his usual arrogance is intentionally exaggerated." He Yunxiao was now her pawn. He couldn't be easily killed. Chu Fan completely trusted Xiaoxiao's words. He immediately thought, He Yunxiao's father, General Wu, was quite prestigious in the military. Could it be that He Yunxiao's usual arrogance was a deliberate act? It wasn't impossible, and a very real possibility! Chu Fan lowered the sword he had been gripping tightly and picked up his wine cup. Looking at the clear liquid in the cup, he secretly vowed to clear his father's name and bring glory to Daqi. ... To be honest, the antagonist is really pitiable, but also satisfying! After bidding farewell to Jiang Wuyou, He Yunxiao returned to the main hall of Chunfeng Tower and quickly got into the swing of things. He drank heavily, ate heartily, and caroused loudly, with people coming to make friends with him. Initially, some noblemen at his table felt that He Yunxiao was different from before. But after He Yunxiao cracked a few dirty jokes, the atmosphere warmed up again. However, no matter how they joked or revelled, He Yunxiao's gaze never fell on Chu Xiaoxiao's direction again. Chu Fan, adept at observing keenly, noticed every detail. He Yunxiao's actions confirmed his suspicions, that this fellow was tarnishing his own reputation to protect his family. In no time, the opening ceremony ended, and the new courtesan, Du Yinyin, appeared with her servant carrying a bronze gong. Although the guests had seen the courtesan during the opening, her beauty continued to mesmerize. With exquisite eyes, ruby lips, fine brows, and fair complexion, Du Yinyin's appearance was exceptional. She moved with a grace not typical of her profession, but of a lady confined to a boudoir. Such demeanor inevitably reminded the crowd of her identity. General Du Lie's daughter! This additional advantage caused many who were initially uninterested in vying for the courtesan's favor to become eager. Approaching the center of the hall, Du Yinyin's attire became apparent to everyone. Even He Yunxiao, who had experienced a rich past life, was impressed. This young lady, known for her aloofness, now donned a sheer garment that partly concealed her beautiful shoulders and thighs as she moved. It only served to heighten the curiosity and desire of onlookers. The proprietor of Chunfeng Tower was quite the talent! He Yunxiao couldn't help but exclaim. As Du Yinyin neared, her eyes surveyed the crowd before settling on Chu Fan and He Yunxiao. One person had an ordinary appearance but clear eyes, the other was handsome but infamous and vulgar. Having stepped down from the platform, Du Yinyin made her way to the exclusive viewing platform on the second floor of the hall. Inside, her thoughts were conflicted. One the one hand, she admired Chu Fan very much and didn't want him to fight for her. On the other hand, she yearned to establish something with him, preferring a gentleman over the debauched dandies. With He Yunxiao, however, she had entirely different thoughts. General He Lie was a renowned hero. How could such a scoundrel like He Yunxiao, who had no respect for others, be born from him? When it came time to judge, she would discuss with Jiang Wuyou to lower the scoundrel's score and push him out of the top ten. She hoped that would force him to reform and focus on the right path. Upon reaching the viewing platform, the servant girls with bronze gongs were ready. After introducing the five judging courtesans, Du Yinyin declared the start of the competition! However, what surprised everyone was that this competition would have two courtesans judging—Du Yinyin and the renowned dancer of the Yinjing, Jiang Wuyou! Typically, there should have been one courtesan and four lesser-known prostitutes as judges. Having two courtesans was unusual, but no one objected. It was a pleasant surprise for the audience. If they weren't favored by Du, then being favored by Jiang was equally delightful. The originally popular competition for the courtesan became even more intense. Lastly, even Chu Fan rose to register, while He Yunxiao remained seated, making no move. It wasn't possible to register. If I go, won't I be sticking my head out to be chopped off by Chu Fan? Du Yinyin frowned at He Yunxiao. This fellow didn't even attempt to participate until registration was over. Not only did he not participate, he even called for a table of delicacies, seemingly prepared to feast heartily. He Yunxiao's behavior even made Du Yinyin doubt her own looks. Having heard he was fond of revelry and women, why was he indifferent to me? Could it be that my appearance doesn't meet his standards? However, for Du Yinyin, He Yunxiao ultimately wasn't an important person. She didn't dwell on her doubts about her appearance and quickly shifted her focus. She immediately directed her attention to the competition, as the clear-eyed Chu Fan stepped into the arena. "The competition begins!" As the bronze gong resounded, the audience cheered, and Chu Fan and his opponent made their move. At the same time, He Yunxiao, down below, also made his move. He loudly cleared his throat, attracting many gazes. Then, with all eyes on him, he lifted a table full of food with one hand and swaggered past the competition stage, making his way toward the second-floor viewing platform. "Damn! He Yunxiao is absolutely ruthless!" "Lifting a whole table of food with one hand, he must be at least a seventh-ranked martial practitioner!" "Not only that, look at the wine in the bowls on the table, as still as a mirror with no ripples. He Yunxiao's prowess is definitely beyond the seventh rank!" All eyes in the venue were fixed on He Yunxiao, with no one paying any attention to Chu Fan in the competition arena. Including Du Yinyin. As she watched He Yunxiao carrying the table toward her, she furrowed her brow. Is he trying to get my attention with this method? Childish tricks. To her surprise, He Yunxiao didn't spare her a glance, but instead walked up to Jiang Wuyou with the table in hand. He flashed a dazzling smile at Jiang Wuyou. "Sister Jiang, fine wine, sumptuous food, or beautiful women—which one would you like?"