Chapter 1: I Actually Became the Villain?
Dusk fell upon the Imperial Capital of the Dragon Nation, its neon-drenched streets buzzing with traffic.
Exhausted office workers yawned as they sat trapped in the slow crawl of evening congestion, eager to return home.
Inside one of the towering skyscrapers downtown, a woman with light, elegant makeup was hunched over her desk, pen gliding across the page. Her long, flowing hair framed her shoulders like strands of black silk, and her eyes, deep as a still lake, shimmered with a mysterious, untouchable holiness.
Below her slender nose sat a pair of soft, full lips—subtly parted, rich in color, sensual in curve. Each feature on its own could turn heads, but together they formed a face of breathtaking beauty that could make women envious and men ashamed of their own reflections.
Yet despite such perfection, her expression carried a hint of frustration. Her delicate brows arched in a faint frown, as though something was weighing heavily on her mind.
She wore a fitted coffee-colored suit with a crisp white blouse beneath, but her proud, curvaceous figure brought with it minor troubles. The top button of her shirt strained against her chest, stretched to its very limit.
Her narrow waist flowed into generous hips, an exaggerated curve far more alluring than any filtered influencer photo. The hem of her blazer just barely covered the curve of her hips, blending into tailored slacks of the same color.
At the cuffs, slender ankles peeked out, and her pale feet rested in a pair of pristine white high heels.
She looked to be no more than thirty, but few would believe she already had a son in university.
She set down her pen and stretched, arms rising over her head in a casual motion that sparked unintended consequences. With a quiet snap, the struggling button on her shirt finally gave in, launching itself into the air with a sharp flick.
"Tch."
She straightened up at once, her hand instinctively covering her chest. The rogue button bounced across the floor, rolling all the way to the office door before wobbling to a stop.
Outside, the click-clack of high heels approached. Then came a knock.
"Come in." She adjusted her clothes quickly, trying to make the absence of a button less obvious.
The door opened, and a young woman stepped in, carrying a folder. Her eyes immediately fell on the button lying on the floor. Without missing a beat, she crouched down and picked it up.
"Chairwoman Bai, your button popped off again?" The young woman's voice was light and playful, showing no particular fear or formality despite standing before the sole leader of the entire corporation.
"Mm, looks like I need to buy a size up... By the way, Nana, you're still here?"
Joanna stepped closer, handing over the folder and lightly cradling the stray button in her palm. "You're still working, Chairwoman. How could I clock out before you? Here, let me fetch you a spare shirt. I'll sew this one back on."
"Thank you. I'll trouble you, then."
"No trouble at all. It's what I'm here for." Joanna's lively smile brightened her features. Her long, slightly curled hair gave her a playful, energetic air as she turned and moved to a nearby cabinet.
She retrieved a shirt and handed it over, then gently helped the older woman remove her blazer before settling onto the sofa and beginning to sew with practiced ease.
Watching Joanna work so earnestly, Bai Shuyao felt a flicker of satisfaction rise in her heart.
If it were Xiao Yun here, he'd probably just sneak off to buy a new outfit for me without saying a word, wouldn't he?
The thought of her son made her brows knit again. It was likely she wouldn't make it home tonight either. As someone used to handling every major document personally, especially those that affected the direction of the company, she'd be buried in work till well past midnight.
The phone rang suddenly, startling Joanna.
Bai Shuyao picked it up, and when she saw the name flashing on the screen, her cold features softened like spring snow, revealing a warmth rarely seen.
"Hello? Xiao Yun?"
"Mom, are you coming home for dinner tonight?"
"I'm sorry, Xiao Yun. I'll probably have to work late again..."
"You've only been home once this week."
His voice carried a hint of frustration.
Bai Shuyao's heart clenched. "I'm really sorry, Xiao Yun. I'll definitely be home tomorrow night."
"You said the same thing yesterday."
"I..."
"It's fine. I know you're busy. Just don't forget to take care of your health, okay? You're the chairwoman of a major group, Mom. You've hired all those people—there's no need to do everything yourself."
"I guess I'm just used to it," she said with a soft laugh.
They chatted a while longer before reluctantly ending the call.
Joanna, who'd been waiting quietly, stepped forward with the freshly sewn shirt.
"Chairwoman Bai, the button's fixed."
"Your hands really are nimble, Nana." Bai Shuyao gave her a look that held deeper meaning. "When you have time off this weekend, why don't you come to my house for dinner?"
"Huh?" Joanna immediately thought of the tall, handsome young man. Her ears flushed, and she touched her neck nervously. "That... might not be appropriate..."
"It's just dinner. You won't turn me down, will you?"
Joanna tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "My mom might be visiting this weekend..."
"Then never mind. You should spend time with her while she's here. She must've traveled a long way to come to the capital."
"Mm."
"Head home. Don't overwork yourself. Young people should enjoy life more."
"Goodbye, Chairwoman Bai!"
Joanna breathed a quiet sigh of relief as she left the office.
Once the door closed, Bai Shuyao unlocked her phone and looked at a photo of her and the young man she'd just spoken to.
Her fatigue seemed to melt away.
Refocused, she dove back into her work.
The Bai family of the Imperial Capital—descendants of founding heroes—had long taken root in the city. Over decades, they had grown into one of the most powerful and hidden forces within the capital.
After the death of the Bai family patriarch, his daughter Bai Lan stepped up to lead. In a world where polygamy was the norm, she bore the weight of societal pressure alone and built the family up with her own two hands.
Now nearly sixty, Bai Lan still looked like she was in her early forties, thanks to cutting-edge biotech that let her remain youthful. Through advanced procedures, she had given birth to three daughters—each of whom had carved out their own place in the capital.
The eldest, Bai You, held high office and was a political pillar of the family. The second, Bai Shuyao, founded and now helmed a publicly traded group worth hundreds of billions.
The youngest, Bai Yiyi, possessed extraordinary talent in martial cultivation and was personally invited by the military to serve as a training instructor.
None of the three sisters were married, but Bai Shuyao had a son who was viewed as the Bai family's treasure.
The strangest part? That young man didn't carry the Bai surname. His name was Ling Yun.
People across the capital had speculated wildly about who Bai Shuyao's child's father could be, but no matter how hard they dug, no one could find the slightest clue.
At that very moment, this mysterious young man quietly set his phone down at home.
"Sigh. Mom's not coming back again tonight." Ling Yun tossed his phone onto the couch and turned toward the kitchen.
Through the glass sliding door, he saw a slim figure in a maid outfit busy at the stove.
"Sister Xiaohui, don't bother cooking for my mom tonight!"
He slid the door open and called out.
"Huh?"
The exhaust fan was roaring.
The woman didn't seem to hear clearly and turned with a questioning look. "Young Master Ling, what did you say?"
"I said my mom's not coming back for dinner."
"Oh, alright then." Ye Hui nodded, and a visible weight lifted from her shoulders.
Thank goodness the madam isn't coming home tonight. If she saw me dressed like this, she'd probably tease me again...
She flipped the stir-fry deftly, but her skin tingled as she felt a heated gaze lingering behind her.
When she turned to look, she found Ling Yun leaning against the doorframe, eyes fixed on her legs wrapped in black garter stockings.
"Young Master Ling~" She pouted slightly.
Ling Yun laughed and rubbed his chin. "Sister Xiaohui, this maid outfit really suits you. If you lose a bet again, wear it for me next time too."
"Alright, enough teasing. Get out of here. I'm busy!"
Only in private would Ye Hui show this side of herself. She waved her spatula at him, chasing him out of the kitchen.
Ling Yun shook his head. Even his mother probably didn't know that the quiet and obedient Sister Xiaohui was actually quite playful underneath. But that hidden side was something only he got to see.
He plopped back onto the sofa and pulled out his phone to scroll through some videos, when a strange voice echoed in his mind.
"System awakening. Binding complete!"
He froze, thinking it was just audio from the video and rewound to check.
"Hey now, no need to rewind. That was me!"
This time, he was sure. The voice came from inside his head.
He was twenty years old and consumed more than his fair share of books and dramas. He knew exactly what this meant.