12

"Sweetheart, you wanna tag along to school with me today?" I say, batting my lashes at Wilde and throwing him my most coquettish look.

"Host, you're such a pro at this. Maybe next time you transmigrate, I can arrange for you to be a movie queen! I really feel for Wilde Seede; it must be so tough to deal with his bully. Poor dude is probably a mess inside, yet he keeps playing his part. Major props to you both—you're seriously goals." How did I not realize this system bee was such a smooth talker?

Without giving Wilde a chance to dodge my offer to drop him off—an offer that, let's be real, is pretty great for both of us—I half-drag, half-push him to the overly ostentatious car. I see his face scrunch up in distaste at the sight of it, but he keeps quiet, so I just roll with it. I mean, he's still gonna have to sit in the car, right? Fanyin gets what Fanyin wants, always.

I fling open the car door for my gorgeous prey, letting him climb in while I protect his head from the roof—I'd make such a great boyfriend—and then plop down on his lap, totally catching both him and the driver off guard. The driver looks like he's about to lose his mind, but the system's pretty chill about my antics now. So adaptable, this system!

Villain-sama opens his perfect pink lips to tell me off, but the driver's already on it. "Young Miss, you should sit properly and put on your seatbelt, just in case."

Ignoring him, I snuggle into Villain-sama's broad chest and make myself comfy. It's gonna be a bit tough to use just words to turn this zombie-virus-releasing Villain-sama into an upstanding citizen, especially since it's his own bully trying to reform him. Hence, it's time to deploy the ultimate honey trap. He seems like the kind of guy who takes physical intimacy pretty seriously... like those brooding male leads in dark romance novels pining after their first love, and from what I gather from the original Faye's memories, he's indeed never had a close friend or a girlfriend. Or a boyfriend for that matter. Fingers crossed he's straight. Maybe the system shop has a gender-changing tool?

But if all else fails, I guess I could just kidnap him and keep him in my basement forever. Not ideal, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I feel his torso stiffen up underneath me wonderfully. His fingers twitch slightly where they rest near my thighs, as if even touching me is a battle.

It's so refreshing to see such innocent reactions from a man of such power. I deliberately let my warm breaths fall on the side of his neck and watch fascinatedly as goosebumps appear on his silky smooth skin. His jaw tightens, and for a split second, I catch a flicker of something in his eyes—hesitation? Confusion? It vanishes too quickly for me to tell. And as the cherry on top, he gulps as he finally wraps his arms around my slender waist. Mhmm, that feels heavenly.

Then, to the driver he says, "Just drive, I'll keep her stable." His voice is strangely hoarse, thick with something unspoken. Whatever could that possibly be about? Hehe.

Noobs say 'where my hug at' but I go and get my hug wherever it is at!

"You're fearless," he says, his voice lower now, almost a growl, "just diving into my arms whenever the mood strikes. Do you really believe I have such impeccable self-control?" His gaze locks onto mine, searching, daring me to push further. His hands are still firmly in place around my waist, but there's a tension there now, like a rubber band stretched too thin. "Or are you testing just how far I can be pushed before I lose all restraint?"

For a moment, I'm frozen. Is he losing control right now? Should I be worried he's thinking about beating me up because I was his bully, or… something else? Something unspeakable but very sexy? That I won't really complain about, hehe.

Well, either way.

"Are you losing control right now?" I whisper playfully in his ear, my breath ghosting against his skin. "Should we skip class today and go to a hotel?"

Wilde's grip on my waist tightens slightly, but he doesn't pull me closer. Instead, he tilts his head down to look at me, his gaze sharp, calculating. For a moment, I wonder if I've crossed a line I didn't even know existed. The air between us feels thick, like something heavy is building, but I can't quite tell whether it's attraction or a storm about to break.

"You don't know what you're playing with, Faye." His voice is barely above a whisper, but it's more dangerous than any shout could be. There's a warning in his tone, one that almost makes me hesitate… almost.

"Maybe I do," I respond, my voice a teasing purr, refusing to back down. I run my fingers lightly over his chest, feeling the tension coiled beneath his skin. He's trying so hard to keep it together, but I can sense he's close to snapping. "You're not going to hurt me, Wilde. You're not that kind of man." Mhmm, let's put it into his head that he's a calm, mentally stable man. Let's hope his subconscious mind is picking up on my words.

A flicker of something flashes across his face—surprise, maybe? Or doubt? I'm not sure, but it's enough to keep me going.

"You're right," he finally says, voice soft yet firm. "I'm not that kind of man." His eyes bore into mine, intense and unwavering.

That's right, my good doggy. I almost want to pet his head and toss him a treat for listening to me so obediently but then his hands slowly release their grip on my waist, and a chill creeps up my spine. There's something cold in his expression now, something that reminds me that this is not just some game. Wilde is still the villain, the one destined to destroy the world. His pain and his need for revenge are deep, ingrained. I'm not the only one playing this game, and maybe… just maybe, I'm losing.

I narrow my eyes slightly, trying to push down the sudden unease. I can't afford to let him see any weakness. "You won't hurt me or anyone else because I will protect us," I say, hoping it fills him with a sense of camaraderie, "and if we're safe, then there's no need for revenge, isn't that right? Besides, revenge and hurting people is beneath us," I say, forcing confidence into my tone. "Don't you think?"

He watches me for a long moment, his face unreadable, before a soft chuckle escapes his lips. It's a dark sound, low and almost mocking. "You really believe that, don't you? But where were these bright, knowledgeable words when you were playing cat and mouse with me with your minions?"

I shrug, leaning back a little, though still perched firmly on his lap. "I was a kid, Wilde. Everyone makes mistakes. I'll make it up to you. I promise." I say, flashing a bright smile at him.

The car glides to a stop at the school gates, the metal barriers looming ahead. The engine's low rumble contrasts sharply with the heavy silence inside the vehicle. Neither of us moves, the weight of the conversation palpable. The driver glances nervously in the rearview mirror, but the tension in the air makes it clear that this exchange isn't over.