I Became the Rich Second-Generation Villain

After settling on her decision, Song Zhenyu let out a long, trembling breath, as though releasing years of pent-up suffocation. When she turned her gaze toward Wang Haoran, there was a softness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

It was he who had given her courage, who made her finally speak of the grievances she had buried for so long. At that moment, she forgot that Wang Haoran was once her student; what she saw was not a boy from her past, but a man—calm, self-assured, and solid enough to make her feel safe.

【Ding, female lead Song Zhenyu’s Favorability toward host +5. Current total: 50 (Budding Affection)】

【Ding, host has altered the plot’s course. Gained 800 Villain Points. Protagonist Halo -40. Villain Halo +40.】

The crowd’s shouting gradually faded. That middle-aged mother who had first spoken up sighed softly and told Zhenyu, “Girl, you’ve suffered enough. Some family ties just aren’t worth keeping. They’ve never treated you as kin. Cut ties now, or they’ll keep bleeding you dry for the rest of your life.”

“She’s right,” someone else said. “You’ve got our support.”

Song Feiyu, still utterly shameless, barked back, “You city folks are all rotten! She’s my sister! Isn’t it right for her to help our parents and me? Why should she cut ties with us?”

Tan Zhen snapped, her voice shrill, “Oh, you’re all taking her side, huh? Fine, if she wants to cut ties, pay me for it! Let’s count by the pound—one hundred pounds at a million each, that’s a hundred million! You pay that, and I’ll cut ties.”

“Otherwise, shut your damn mouths, you bunch of—”

What followed from her was an explosion of raw, gutter-born fury. “You filthy dogspawn! May a pig trample your faces into the mud! You think your city stinks any less than your mouths? Bastards with donkey brains, I’ve scraped better manners off my shoe! Your mothers must’ve coughed you out by accident, you useless sacks of shits!”

Her words tore through the air like stones hurled in a marketplace brawl—vulgar, vicious.

The onlookers—refined men and women stared in stunned disbelief.

Someone growled, “Enough. Hit her!”

That single shout sparked the crowd’s pent-up fury. Sleeves rolled up, people surged forward from the doorway, and in seconds, Tan Zhen and Song Feiyu were swallowed by a wave of angry bodies.

Wang Haoran swiftly caught Zhenyu’s hand and pulled her aside, shielding her from the chaos. Screams echoed as the mob closed in. He couldn’t see the two clearly anymore, but their wails were sharp and unmistakable.

Zhenyu froze, a flicker of panic flashing in her eyes. For all their cruelty, they were still her mother and brother—seeing them beaten stirred something fragile within her. She turned to Haoran instinctively, her gaze pleading.

He understood. Giving her a brief nod, he strode toward the crowd. “Everyone, stop! Don’t hit them, that’s enough!” he called, pushing his way through the throng.

Then, in the midst of the confusion, his foot lashed out several times, striking the sprawled figures of Tan Zhen and Feiyu—each kick sharp, unhesitating.

Their cries rose another octave.

“Stop!” he shouted again, his tone calm and authoritative even as his boots met flesh once more. “Enough already!”

Eventually, the mob began to disperse. When the onlookers stepped back, Tan Zhen and Feiyu were a sorry sight—hair tangled, faces bruised and swollen, barely recognizable.

“You city people are beasts! You’re not human!” Tan Zhen screeched, clutching her side as she turned to a nearby hotel staff member who had stood quietly through the chaos. “Call the police! I’ll have every one of you arrested!”

“Of course, Ms. Tan,” the staff member said pleasantly, dialing his phone. “Hello, this is the Shengtinhg Hotel. We have two guests who dined and stayed without paying, owing over thirty thousand yuan. They’re now causing a disturbance and attacking others. Please come deal with it immediately.”

He hung up, smiling coolly at her. “There, Ms. Tan. Just as you asked, the police are on their way.”

For a second, Tan Zhen could only gape. Then she jabbed a finger toward him, screaming, “I’ll file a complaint! I’ll sue you!”

The staff’s smile faded into a cold smirk. If he weren’t on duty, he looked ready to hit her himself.

Zhenyu, watching her mother and brother’s pitiful state, couldn’t help a faint pang of pity.

Haoran noticed her hesitation and said gently, “We haven’t eaten yet. Come on, let’s get dinner.”

“I… I know they don’t treat me like family,” she murmured. “And I don’t want to treat them as family anymore. But still, I don’t want them jailed. I just want them to go back home safely.” She hesitated, then looked up with faint embarrassment. “Could you lend me some money? I’ll pay for their bill. It’ll be the last thing I ever do for them.”

Haoran nodded, motioning to the staff for the card machine and paying the full amount himself. To ease her guilt, he even handed Tan Zhen and Feiyu three thousand yuan in cash so they could afford their trip home.

Tan Zhen snatched the bills, glanced at them, and with a snarl flung them to the floor. “Three thousand? You think we’re beggars? I want thirty million, or you can forget being with my daughter!”

Haoran’s brow creased slightly. He didn’t answer. There was no reasoning with someone that selfish; the kinder one was, the bolder she became. With people like her, words meant nothing—only strength could silence them.

Luckily, the crowd had shown restraint earlier. If they hadn’t, Tan Zhen wouldn’t still have enough voice left to shout insults now.

Haoran didn’t bother wasting another word. He took Zhenyu’s hand once more and led her out into the night.

Twenty minutes later, the two sat in a quiet Western restaurant. Candlelight flickered between them, but Zhenyu barely touched her food.

“Still thinking about what happened?” Haoran asked.

She lowered her gaze, voice soft and desolate. “I don’t have a home anymore.”

Haoran set down his knife and fork, reached across the table, and held her hand firmly. His eyes met hers, steady and deep. “As long as you’re willing,” he said, voice low and sincere, “wherever I am, that will always be your home.”

Zhenyu’s breath caught. Her eyes widened, and a soft flush spread across her cheeks, the color of sunset.

【Ding, host has stirred Song Zhenyu’s heart. +200 Villain Points!】

【Ding, host has stirred Song Zhenyu’s heart. +300 Villain Points!】

【Ding, host has stirred Song Zhenyu’s heart. +400 Villain Points!】

【Ding, host has stirred Song Zhenyu’s heart. +1000 Villain Points!】

【Ding, Song Zhenyu’s Favorability +10. Current total: 60 (Unswerving Devotion)】

【Ding, plot altered. +600 Villain Points. Protagonist Halo -30. Villain Halo +30.】

The flood of system chimes left Haoran momentarily dazed. He hadn’t meant to flirt—he genuinely felt for her, moved by her pain and quiet strength. He hadn’t expected those words to strike her so deeply.

But thinking it over, it made sense. Zhenyu had just severed the ties that had drained her for years. Beneath her calm, her heart was fragile and hollow. In such a moment, a single sentence spoken with genuine warmth could hit like a lightning bolt.

And so it did.