The Devoted Villain Only Wants to Survive, but the Heroine Refuses to

[Damn it, if you're going to push me this far, then I'll go all the way!]

[If I don't hit you hard, you'll never know what I'm capable of!]

Hongwen Zhang grinned. "Want me to calm down? Sure!"

He grabbed a bottle of liquor and slammed it onto the table. "Drink this."

First, Shuying Feng never drank alcohol. Her tolerance was embarrassingly low—just a little would leave her completely intoxicated.

Second, Shuying Feng was fiercely proud. She had never compromised her dignity, never accepted forced drinks, and never bowed to humiliation.

Hongwen Zhang didn't believe it. He didn't believe Shuying Feng's limits had disappeared, nor did he believe she would endlessly tolerate him. That wasn't her character—it shouldn't be her character.

I don't believe this!

Shuying Feng stared at Hongwen Zhang, her eyes filled with anger and grievance, tears glistening at the corners.

Seeing her on the verge of breaking down, Hongwen Zhang felt a pang of guilt.

Shuying Feng had never suffered this kind of humiliation before.

For three years, he had pampered her, chased her, and humbled himself before her.

For three years, he had been obedient, soft-spoken, and endlessly accommodating.

She had always been above him, proud and untouchable. But today, he wanted her to bow her head in public.

Hongwen Zhang scolded himself internally:

[Why are you feeling sorry for her, Hongwen Zhang? Don't fall for those tearful eyes!]

[You need to end this. Offend her now, break it off cleanly.]

[But… those sad eyes… Am I being cruel?]

Pretending to be nonchalant, Hongwen Zhang said, "Not drinking? If you don't drink, it means you're disrespecting me. And disrespecting me means… disrespecting me! In Snow City, I am—"

Before he could finish, Shuying Feng grabbed the bottle and tilted her head back, pouring the liquor into her mouth.

Everyone froze.

Hongwen Zhang stared, fists clenched tightly, watching the proud and noble Shuying Feng spill liquor down the corners of her lips.

[Don't feel sorry for her, don't feel sorry for her, don't feel sorry for her! Feeling sorry for her means hurting yourself!]

[Please, stop drinking! Just yell at me, turn around, and leave! Slap me if you have to—anything but this!]

Shuying Feng suddenly choked and started coughing violently, setting down the bottle.

Hongwen Zhang exhaled in relief. "Phew…"

But before he could fully calm down, Shuying Feng picked up the bottle again and continued drinking.

Hongwen Zhang couldn't take it anymore. He snatched the bottle away from her.

They locked eyes. The room was eerily silent.

Shuying Feng's eyes were bloodshot, tears clinging to the corners. Her expression seemed to ask:

Are you happy now, Boss Zhang? Are you satisfied? Do you want me to keep drinking, Boss Zhang?

Hongwen Zhang averted his gaze, unable to meet her eyes. In a low voice, he muttered, "I'm… I'm sorry."

The club manager, sensing an opportunity to intervene, clapped his hands. "Bravo! Boss Feng has an impressive tolerance. Truly admirable—"

"Get out!" Hongwen Zhang roared.

The manager froze before hurriedly motioning for everyone to leave. "Let's go, everyone. Out, out!"

The room emptied quickly.

Hongwen Zhang exhaled deeply and stood up. "Let's talk."

As they walked down the hallway, Shuying Feng stumbled unsteadily.

Hongwen Zhang remained silent, filled with guilt.

[I didn't mean to push you this far. How did things even end up like this?]

Shuying Feng's steps grew weaker until she finally staggered. Hongwen Zhang quickly reached out and caught her.

The last thing Shuying Feng heard was Hongwen Zhang's inner voice:

[I'm sorry. Truly, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen…]

In her haze, a tear slipped from the corner of Shuying Feng's eye. "Hongwen Zhang… you're such a bastard…"

Hongwen Zhang picked her up in his arms and sighed. "You're right. I am."

Shuying Feng's team of secretaries panicked.

They had never encountered a situation like this before.

The chief secretary stepped forward respectfully. "Um… Boss Zhang, please hand Boss Feng over to us. We'll take care of her."

Hongwen Zhang looked at them with a calm, sincere expression. "I won't hurt her. Don't worry."

The secretaries were stunned.

They had seen countless sides of Hongwen Zhang—shameless, cunning, self-absorbed, and irritating.

But they had never seen him like this: sincere, serious, and heartbreakingly honest.

For a moment, they were speechless.

Hongwen Zhang forced a bitter smile. "In short, I hurt her today. The guilt is killing me. Please trust me and let me make it right."

The chief secretary hesitated. "Boss Zhang, it's not that we don't trust you, but we think—"

Before she could finish, Shuying Feng mumbled in a daze, wrapping her arms around Hongwen Zhang's neck. "Leave us. I'm fine."

Everyone froze.

Was she drunk? Or was she not drunk?

The chief secretary needed confirmation. "Boss Feng, are you sure you're okay? Do you want Boss Zhang to take you?"

"Mm…"

Shuying Feng nuzzled her face against Hongwen Zhang's chest, murmuring softly.

The secretaries were even more bewildered.

First, Hongwen Zhang was acting completely out of character.

Now, Shuying Feng was showing a side of herself they had never seen before—a delicate, vulnerable side.

The chief secretary was sweating nervously. "Boss Feng, I must confirm. Are you really drunk, or…"

"Go away," Shuying Feng murmured sleepily.

Without another word, Hongwen Zhang carried her out of the club.

Hao Wang had already pulled up the car, flashing a mischievous grin at Hongwen Zhang.

The car drove away, leaving the secretary team standing in silence.

One secretary spoke hesitantly, "Chief Han, this… handing Boss Feng over to Boss Zhang doesn't seem very professional."

Another added, "But what could we do? Boss Feng was alternating between clarity and confusion. We couldn't tell if she was really drunk or just… using it as an excuse to stay with Boss Zhang."

"But… doesn't Boss Feng hate Boss Zhang?"

"But she came looking for him today. And you saw how things unfolded."

Chief Han sighed, watching the car disappear into the distance. In a calm voice, she said, "If Boss Feng was truly drunk… we're all doomed tomorrow."

Hao Wang was driving personally.

While driving, his sly gaze kept flicking to the rearview mirror, trying to catch a glimpse of the situation in the back seat.

Hongwen Zhang was carefully wiping Shuying Feng's face with a damp towel from the car, asking repeatedly if she felt any better. Shuying Feng was still in a hazy state, alternating between brief clarity and confusion.

Hao Wang finally spoke up, "Young Master, I have to hand it to you! This move of playing hard to get is absolute genius! I was wondering why you suddenly decided to act like a gentleman—turns out, you had this trick up your sleeve all along. Brilliant! Simply brilliant!"

Hongwen Zhang glanced at him coldly. "I'm just taking care of a girl I accidentally hurt. There's nothing indecent about my intentions. Got it?"

"Yes, yes, I understand." Hao Wang nodded earnestly, pressing his lips together to suppress a grin. "Honestly, sometimes I'm really glad I follow you, Boss Zhang. Your integrity and noble character are my role models. I firmly believe that if everyone in the world were as kind, righteous, and compassionate as you, this world would be a harmonious, beautiful, and perfect place."

"...By the way, I know a discreet and private love hotel nearby. Fully equipped with all kinds of toys and tools. If we give the manager a little 'tip,' he'll even provide us with a multi-angle recording system for free—"

Hongwen Zhang couldn't bear to argue with this clown anymore and silently raised the privacy partition. Now, he could see Hao Wang, but Hao Wang couldn't see him or continue their conversation.

'A little tip? How is that free?!'

No matter how unscrupulous Hongwen Zhang might seem, he would never take advantage of someone in this situation.

In his world, he was just a delivery guy—a web novel junkie who had read countless online stories and seen his fair share of explicit films. But he knew those were part of his private life and had no place in reality.

His education, his principles—they wouldn't allow him to cross that line.

Besides, could he even lay a hand on Shuying Feng? She was the female lead! The protagonist's woman was off-limits—this was an unbreakable rule!

Every single novel he'd read followed the same formula: the villain trying to harm the heroine would always trigger the male lead's dramatic entrance.

No matter how secretive or remote the location was, Aotian Long would find a way to show up.

Forget logic—web novels didn't care about logic!

Even if he tried something on the moon, Aotian Long would still stumble across some miraculous encounter and arrive just in time to save her.

What would happen then?

First, Aotian Long would beat him half to death.

Then maybe castrate him.

Then, he'd set fire to his entire family estate.

All while holding Shuying Feng in his arms, crying bitter tears and saying lines straight out of a romance drama:

"Qingqiu, it's my fault. I failed to protect you. Hit me, scold me—it'll make me feel better!"

"Oh no, I'll never despise you for being touched by him. It's not your fault!"

"I swear, from now on, no one will ever hurt you again. You are mine, forever!"

Hongwen Zhang shuddered at the thought and nervously scanned the surroundings, checking if any cars were tailing them.

'Damn it, why did I let my emotions get the better of me and bring the female lead into my car?

Heaven help me! I have no ill intentions, Aotian Long! You have to be reasonable, you have to be moral. Don't hit me! Don't...castrate me.

That's just...inhumane.'

He lowered the partition slightly and ordered, "Hao Wang, head home."

"Go... go home?"

"Is that hard to understand? Are you an idiot?!"

"No, no, not at all."

The night grew deeper.

Sitting in the back seat, Hongwen Zhang felt utterly drained. So much had happened today—too much.

What others saw as minor confrontations had felt like multiple brushes with death for him.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Linglong Xia.

"Hongwen, my darling! What are you busy with? Come to the pharmaceutical plant right now—I'm waiting for you."

"What?"

Hongwen Zhang nearly broke down. "God! I've been running plotlines all day! Can't I get a break? Villains are people too!"

Linglong Xia paused, confused by his words.

"Anyway, you said those medicines must be destroyed urgently. My team's already set everything up. Tonight, we'll complete the destruction and hold a press conference tomorrow. We need you here."

"Aren't you the vice president of the pharmaceutical plant? You can handle it!"

"Hehe, operations like this require the CEO's personal signature. And besides... don't you miss me?"

"Miss you? Are you serious? You've been plotting against me since day one! Just tell me—are you with Aotian Long?"

"Aotian Long? That so-called 'miracle doctor' from today? Please, I don't even know him. My heart belongs only to you."

Hongwen Zhang clutched his head in despair. "Sister, I'm begging you. Stop messing with me. Fine! I'll supervise the destruction process myself. Just don't show up, okay? Can we avoid meeting?"

"Hmm, that won't work. The official destruction protocol requires the presence of you, me, a representative from the drug administration, our internal review committee leader, and a notary public. Every party must be present."

Hongwen Zhang groaned, his head pounding. "Fine! But let me make one thing clear—I'm going to play it safe. I will survive this plotline. None of you can frame me this time!"

He hung up abruptly.

Linglong Xia stared at her phone, bewildered. "Is he... losing his mind? What nonsense is he even saying?"

Hongwen Zhang slumped back into his seat, feeling even more exhausted than the drunken Shuying Feng beside him.

Just then, a system notification chimed:

"System Alert: Congratulations, Villain! You have successfully taken control of the female lead, Shuying Feng. The male protagonist is now en route to her rescue. Wishing you luck as you face countless challenges ahead!"

Hongwen Zhang's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Do you people have no humanity?!"