Villain System: Stealing the Protagonist's Harem and Luck

Chapter 86: Since We’ve Torn Face… What Else Can We Do on This Long Night?

The pitch-black blade plunged into Yue Mingkong’s chest.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed, blurring the vision. The red wedding dress turned a deeper, darker crimson.

Gu Changge watched as the blood stained his own robes. He saw Yue Mingkong’s final expression—shock, confusion, disbelief, and utter desolation.

He felt like a ghost trapped in his own body. He couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t stop the atrocity.

Then, the vision faded.

Gu Changge stood on the mountaintop, silent.

“No wonder,” he finally sighed. “No wonder she broke character when I called her my ‘future wife’.”

To her, those words weren’t a promise. They were a death sentence.

Killed by her beloved on her wedding night, then reborn to suffer the memory?

That’s a brutal trope. And it was happening to his fiancée.

“This is what she experienced before her rebirth. Killed by my hand.”

“But obviously, I wouldn’t do something that insane. Kill a perfect, loving wife? Only a lunatic would do that.”

“In that timeline, the Devil Heart must have consumed me completely. That version of me never awakened the System or my past life memories…”

The wind howled across the peak.

Gu Changge turned into a divine rainbow and flew back to the main hall.

The cause was found. Now, he needed a solution.

“The Devil Nature screws me over again. But… I can use it. I’ll just blame the Devil Heart for everything.”

“However, Yue Mingkong has lived through it once. She won’t trust me easily.”

“I don’t know the details of what happened between us in that timeline…”

He analyzed the situation as he flew.

Yue Mingkong had loved him deeply. That was clear. But love turned to hate was the most dangerous force in the world.

A scorned woman was scary. A scorned regressor woman with foreknowledge and a thirst for vengeance? Terrifying.

His advantage was that he was a variable. He had the System. He had control over the Devil Heart.

If he could make her love him again…

He would gain a powerful, reborn wife who knew the future. A massive win.

Alternatively, she might be plotting to kill him right now.

“She doesn’t know I’m different from the man who killed her. She thinks I’m lying.”

“She suspects I’m also a regressor because my behavior has changed. She’s terrified I’ll discover her secret.”

“She fled because she couldn’t handle the trauma.”

Gu Changge had the full picture.

Explaining was useless. She wouldn’t believe him. Saying “I was possessed by a demon” sounded exactly like something a manipulative villain would say.

So, the best play was to feign ignorance.

Pretend he didn’t know she was reborn. Pretend he was just… exploring their relationship.

…

The Main Hall.

Gu Lintian and the Moon Emperor were laughing over tea when Yue Mingkong walked in.

Her eyes were red.

Gu Lintian frowned instantly. “Mingkong? What happened? Did Changge bully you again? Tell Uncle, and I’ll break his legs.”

He knew his son was cold to her. He and his wife adored Mingkong and hated seeing her mistreated.

“Mingkong?” The Moon Emperor asked, concerned.

Yue Mingkong composed herself, forcing a graceful smile. “Uncle, Father, you worry too much. Changge didn’t bully me. I just… remembered some sad things.”

“Hmph! That brat is too much!” Gu Lintian sighed. “Mingkong, don’t protect him. If he’s like this now, what about after you marry?”

Yue Mingkong smiled bitterly.

After we marry?

There would be no “after.” He would kill her long before that. He knew her secret now. He wouldn’t let a threat like her live.

“Ah, Mingkong is here. Are you feeling better?”

Gu Changge’s voice drifted in from the entrance. Gentle, concerned, perfect.

Yue Mingkong stiffened.

Here he comes.

“Changge!” Gu Lintian scolded. “What did you do to make her cry?”

“Father?” Gu Changge looked bewildered. Then he chuckled. “What are you saying? How could I bully Mingkong? She’s my future wife. I dote on her too much.”

He walked over to Yue Mingkong and naturally took her hand.

Her fingers were cold and stiff.

Yue Mingkong’s mind buzzed.

In two lifetimes… this was the first time he had ever held her hand.

“Hmph. That’s more like it,” Gu Lintian huffed, appeased.

“Are you okay?” Gu Changge asked softly, looking into her eyes. “Why were you crying?”

“I’m fine, Changge,” she replied, her smile stiff but flawless.

She wanted to see what game he was playing.

I won’t be fooled again.

…

The banquet was lively. Gu Changge and Yue Mingkong sat together, the picture of a golden couple.

Young geniuses looked on with envy, cursing Gu Changge internally.

As the feast ended, Yue Mingkong stood up to leave. She was slightly tipsy and wanted to escape.

Gu Changge grabbed her wrist.

“Where are you going, Mingkong?” he smiled. “The moonlight is beautiful tonight. We should admire it.”

Yue Mingkong froze.

“Hahaha! Young people!” The Moon Emperor and Gu Lintian exchanged knowing glances and tactfully left.

The hall emptied.

Silence fell.

Only the two of them remained.

“The night is long,” Gu Changge said, his voice dropping the warmth. “Why rush off? Stay and drink with your husband.”

Yue Mingkong’s expression turned cold. The disguise vanished. The Empress returned.

“Gu Changge,” she sneered. “Everyone is gone. You can stop acting.”

“I don’t know why you’ve changed, or if you were just acting all along… but I see through you.”

Gu Changge sipped his wine, looking unbothered.

“Changed?” he asked.

Yue Mingkong paused.

He doesn’t know I’m reborn?

Is he just testing my recent behavior change?

Relief washed over her. If he wasn’t a regressor, she still had the advantage.

Suddenly, the air grew heavy.

Terrifying pressure crushed down from the void.

He’s attacking!

Yue Mingkong reacted instantly. Her hands formed seals, and brilliant moonlight erupted from her palms, blasting toward him.

She was a peak Conferred Lord Realm. She was strong.

But to her shock, Gu Changge was stronger.

He raised a hand. Golden runes formed a mountain-like barrier that shattered her attack effortlessly.

Then, he clenched his fist.

Space locked.

“Gu Changge! Let me go!”

She was pulled inexorably into his arms. The void bound her limbs.

He looked down at her, the gentle mask gone, replaced by the familiar, playful coldness.

“Not good…”

She panicked. He could manipulate space? That wasn’t in her memories!

She summoned a golden figure from her Sea of Consciousness to attack his soul.

Gu Changge countered instantly. A pitch-black deity emerged from his forehead, swallowing her attack whole.

Yue Mingkong stared at him, horror dawning.

He’s different. He’s stronger than the past timeline.

“Mingkong,” Gu Changge whispered, his face close to hers. “Are you still not going to confess to your husband?”

He stopped attacking.

Yue Mingkong frowned. Why stop?

Does he just want to know why I changed?

She decided to gamble.

“Fine,” she said coldly. “I’ll tell you. The ‘me’ from before was an act. I was trying to please you.”

“But I’m done. You are heartless. You will never be moved by anyone. Why should I torture myself for a man like you?”

Half-truth. Half-lie.

Gu Changge inwardly applauded her quick wit.

“Oh?” he asked. “How do you know I can’t be moved?”

“I know,” she spat. “Now let me go.”

She felt relieved. He hadn’t exposed her rebirth. She had fooled him.

“It seems you have a low opinion of your husband,” Gu Changge sighed, feigning hurt. “Hiding your true self for so long… it wounds me.”

“Gu Changge, don’t pretend you have feelings,” Yue Mingkong scoffed. “We’ve torn face. What now?”

She knew he wouldn’t kill her here. Not in the Gu Family.

Gu Changge ignored her protest. He stood up, lifting her into his arms, and walked toward his palace.

Servants and clansmen saw them and giggled, giving them wide berths.

“Gu Changge!” Yue Mingkong froze, her mind blanking out. “What are you doing?!”

“The night is long,” Gu Changge replied casually.

“Since we’ve torn face… what else can we do?”