Ah! The Villains I Forced to Turn Evil Can Read My Mind

Lou Yuejue's arm rested on the back of the car seat, his body carrying a faint, cool fragrance. It seemed he had just showered and dressed up carefully before coming. Even the scent of his hair was rich and lingering.

His invasive gaze settled on her profile. "Do you know how old I was when my father died in my previous life?"

She couldn't help but frown. "Twelve."

[Because back then, I still dreamed of him—dreamed of him standing alone in front of the gravestone, lost in thought.]

Lou Yuejue lowered his lashes. "After you passed away, Father became a shadow of his former self, consumed by grief. He died in a shootout. Everyone in the organization came to take their share of the spoils. I was the one who held it all together."

She was stunned. "You never told me any of this before."

"Because I don’t like remembering that time." His eyes were like a treacherous night, his voice icy.

"During that period, my father was gone, members of the Weisheng family died one after another in accidents, and even Ying Chen was gone. Everyone I could rely on disappeared."

"Little by little, I secured my position, not daring to slack for even a moment. I survived until thirty, with everyone eyeing my wealth and power."

"So, sister..."

He hooked a finger under her chin, pulling her closer. "After all I’ve been through, do you still see me as some naive child?"

His gaze held an emotion she couldn’t decipher. "I even skipped grades in middle school to become your classmate. I sat through years of classes with you. How can you still treat me like a kid? In your eyes, am I forever a child, never a man?"

Qiao Chuchu bit her lip guiltily. "I’m sorry, Yuejue. I’ve always focused on how young you used to be and forgot everything you’ve endured. I won’t do it again."

Lou Yuejue paused, his expression softening as the corners of his lips curled. "So obedient, sister. You listen so well."

His smile melted the cold severity of his features. "Of course, don’t blame me for being harsh. My father treating me like a child is one thing—he’s my father. But I won’t accept it from you."

He ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍trapped her between himself and the car window. "Anyone else can, but not you."

There was an unspoken implication in his words.

Qiao Chuchu didn’t catch it, flustered as she was, pressed into the corner. She spoke earnestly, as if writing a self-reflection. "I understand how much you’ve suffered. If I still treated you like a child, it would mean I don’t acknowledge your struggles. Don’t worry, I won’t do it again."

Lou Yuejue arched a brow, his smile deepening as he pinched her cheek. "I knew sister was the most understanding, the most obedient."

Qiao Chuchu: "…?"

[Why do I feel like none of the people who call me 'sister' are any good?]

[Wait, no—Weisheng Huailing can be sweet sometimes. He even mimicked speech for me earlier. Just thinking about it moves me.]

Lou Yuejue’s expression darkened instantly, his gaze sharpening dangerously.

The air thickened with the scent of jealousy.

Qiao Chuchu snapped back to reality, noticing his stormy expression. She cringed internally. "You heard that, didn’t you?"

[Dammit, how do I stop my thoughts from leaking out?!]

Lou Yuejue tilted his head. "Hear what?"

Something flickered in his deep eyes. "I didn’t hear anything. Were you thinking out loud?"

Qiao Chuchu blinked. "Ah, a little. But it’s nothing important."

"Is that so?" He smirked meaningfully. "Good."

They arrived at the restaurant together.

Lou Yuejue had reserved a private room—just the two of them.

He meticulously cut the steak on his plate. "It’s just us here, sister. No need to mind table manners."

He swapped his neatly sliced steak with hers. "Eat this. You must be tired today."

Grateful, Qiao Chuchu accepted it. Just as she was about to take a bite, Lou Yuejue’s chilling voice cut in.

"You’re not getting emotional over this, are you, sister?"

Qiao Chuchu: "…"

The steak hovered at her lips. Eating it felt wrong; not eating it felt awkward. She set down her fork with forced patience. "You said you didn’t hear my thoughts, but you clearly did!"

Lou Yuejue leisurely continued slicing his food, deliberately reducing it to shreds. "I tried to ignore it, but it was too grating."

His sharp eyes locked onto hers, glinting coldly. "Do you like Weisheng Huailing more than me?"

Qiao Chuchu’s appetite vanished. "Why would you say that? I care about everyone equally."

Lou Yuejue dropped the act, his face darkening. "Then why were you thinking about Weisheng Huailing while with me? Why say you were moved by him?"

Qiao Chuchu rubbed her temples. "Because he couldn’t speak, but he learned to—that kind of effort is touching, isn’t it?"

Without hesitation, Lou Yuejue countered, "Then if a bomb blows out my eardrums someday, I’ll learn to speak too."

Qiao Chuchu: "?"

She stomped on his shoe under the table. "Don’t say things like that!"

Lou Yuejue glanced down.

In the darkness beneath the tablecloth, her pristine white sneaker ground mercilessly into his spotless leather shoe.

The little white shoe looked like an angry rabbit, venting its frustration on his immaculate footwear.

It didn’t hurt at all.

His gaze lifted back to Qiao Chuchu’s face.

Her brows were knitted, her expression stern. "Don’t jinx yourself! Spit it out!"

Lou Yuejue tilted his head, amused. "You believe in that?"

She scowled. "Yes! Now spit. Three times."

"Fine." He cleared his throat. "Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey."

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Hearing you say that makes me happy. You actually care whether my words bring bad luck. Since that’s the case, I’ll let your earlier comment slide."

Then his expression hardened again. "But watch yourself next time. I have a short temper. One more word, and I’ll go pick a fight with him."

Qiao Chuchu: "…?"

What kind of threat was that?

After dinner, they drove to the mall entrance.

Curious, she asked, "Do you need to buy something?"

Lou Yuejue’s tone was cryptic. "No, you do."

Qiao Chuchu: "Me?"

He stepped out and opened her door. "Go on in. There’s someone familiar waiting for you."