Steam drifted lazily through the air like white clouds trapped inside a palace.
The bathing chamber was so large that Lin Xiaoyu genuinely suspected people could get lost inside it.
And honestly?
She wouldn't even blame them.
The floor beneath her feet was smooth black jade polished so perfectly that she could practically see her reflection on it. Golden lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow across the room while the scent of sandalwood incense floated through the air so richly that Xiaoyu felt like she was accidentally inhaling money itself.
At the center of the room rested a gigantic bath carved from dark stone.
No.
Calling it a bath was insulting.
This thing looked like the private hot spring of an emperor.
Steam curled endlessly from the surface of the water while flower petals floated elegantly across the top like some historical drama scene with a budget larger than her future.
Lin Xiaoyu stood at the doorway in complete silence.
Then—
"...Holy crap."
Her voice echoed slightly inside the chamber.
This wasn't luxury anymore.
This was corruption.
This was the kind of wealth that made ordinary citizens cry themselves to sleep.
Meanwhile, she used to celebrate whenever instant noodles were on discount.
The unfairness nearly made her emotional.
Behind her, Shen Wei stood calmly with his hands folded behind his back.
"Master," he said respectfully, "your bathwater is ready."
Xiaoyu slowly turned to look at him.
Then back at the bath.
Then at him again.
For several long seconds, she couldn't process reality.
The villain lived like this?
THIS?
No wonder so many villains refused redemption.
If she lived here, she'd refuse accountability too.
Eventually, Xiaoyu remembered she was supposed to act cool.
Right.
Cold villain mode.
She quickly straightened her expression and lightly coughed into her fist.
"...Good."
The moment the word left her mouth, she almost slapped herself.
Good?!
That was the best response she could think of?!
Meanwhile, Shen Wei didn't seem suspicious at all.
He simply stepped forward calmly.
"Please allow this subordinate to assist Master."
Xiaoyu nodded absentmindedly while still staring at the giant bath like a country girl entering a billionaire's mansion for the first time.
Seriously.
Why was the bath bigger than her apartment?
Who needed this much space to become clean?
Was Xie Yuchen bathing or hosting diplomatic meetings inside the water?
As she continued questioning the economic stability of the Hei Ming Sect, she suddenly felt something touch her waist.
Xiaoyu nearly ascended on the spot.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
She jumped backward so violently that her sleeve smacked into a nearby candle stand.
The stand wobbled dangerously.
Shen Wei reacted instantly, catching it before disaster struck.
Silence filled the room.
Shen Wei slowly looked at her.
Xiaoyu slowly looked at Shen Wei.
"...Master?"
Xiaoyu immediately crossed her arms over her chest protectively.
"What was that for?!"
Shen Wei blinked once.
Then twice.
"...I was trying to undress you."
Xiaoyu's soul left her body.
Her brain shut down completely.
Windows error sound.
System malfunction.
Please restart device.
For a full five seconds, she forgot how human language worked.
Then—
"...Excuse me?!"
Shen Wei now looked genuinely confused.
"Master," he said carefully, "you are about to bathe."
"I KNOW THAT!"
"...Then why are you reacting as though I attempted assassination?"
Because in her old world, if someone randomly grabbed another person's clothes, police would become involved immediately!
Unfortunately, she couldn't exactly explain modern law enforcement to a historical villain sect.
Shen Wei stared at her strangely.
Then slowly said,
"Master... are you feeling unwell?"
"No!"
"...Are you certain?"
"Very certain!"
"...Then why are you hiding your body like a maiden from a respectable family?"
Xiaoyu almost coughed blood.
Maiden?!
Respectable family?!
Sir, she was internally fighting for her life right now!
Shen Wei suddenly became quiet.
His expression shifted subtly.
Almost hurt.
"Master," he said softly, "during your absence... did I do something wrong?"
Xiaoyu froze.
"...What?"
"You have become distant."
His eyes lowered slightly.
"You no longer allow me near you."
His voice sounded so genuinely sad that Xiaoyu suddenly felt like the villain.
Which was technically accurate.
Oh no.
Wait.
Was Shen Wei emotionally attached to Xie Yuchen?
Her brain immediately entered dangerous territory.
No no no no.
Absolutely not.
This story was already stressful enough without adding emotional servant drama.
"I-I just—"
Shen Wei sighed quietly.
"I understand."
"You do?"
"Master has likely grown tired of me."
"...Huh?"
Before Xiaoyu could recover, Shen Wei added in the calm tone of someone discussing the weather,
"Has Master chosen another servant to attend him instead?"
Xiaoyu nearly slipped on oxygen.
Chosen another servant?!
WHY DID THAT SOUND SO SUSPICIOUS?!
Her face almost exploded from panic.
"No! Absolutely not!
Shen Wei blinked.
Xiaoyu blinked.
Why did that sound even worse?!
The room fell into awkward silence.
Meanwhile, memories suddenly surfaced inside Xiaoyu's head.
Fragments belonging to Xie Yuchen.
Servants helping him dress.
Servants preparing his meals.
Servants combing his hair.
Servants selecting accessories.
Servants preparing his bed.
Servants basically breathing on his behalf.
Lin Xiaoyu was horrified.
This man had never struggled a single day in his life.
Meanwhile, she once survived three weeks by eating only bread and instant noodles during exam season.
And somehow the universe decided SHE should inherit this spoiled tyrant's body.
Was heaven mocking her?
Before Xiaoyu could think of a proper response, Shen Wei suddenly stepped forward again.
"We are running late."
Then—
Splash!
Xiaoyu let out the least dignified sound imaginable as Shen Wei shoved her directly into the bath.
Water exploded everywhere.
Flower petals flew dramatically through the air.
Xiaoyu resurfaced in complete disbelief, hair sticking messily to her face.
"SHEN WEI!"
The man calmly rolled up his sleeves.
"Yes, Master?"
"WHY WOULD YOU PUSH ME?!"
"Because if Master continues arguing, the coronation ceremony will begin without you."
"...You could have warned me first!"
Shen Wei looked thoughtful for a moment.
"That is reasonable."
Xiaoyu sighed in relief.
Then he added,
"Next time I will warn Master before pushing."
"...There will not BE a next time!"
Shen Wei smiled politely like someone humoring a child throwing a tantrum.
It was infuriating.
Absolutely infuriating.
Meanwhile, Xiaoyu was internally dying.
She was in a giant luxury bath.
Inside the body of the future villain.
Being bathed by an absurdly handsome martial artist.
If her friends from university could see this,
they would never let her rest in peace.
Unfortunately, the real problem arrived moments later.
Shen Wei stepped closer.
Xiaoyu immediately sensed danger.
A deep instinctive danger.
The kind animals sensed before earthquakes.
"What are you doing now?"
"Bathing Master."
"...I can wash myself."
"You said that earlier."
"Because I mean it!"
Shen Wei looked genuinely puzzled.
"Master has never washed himself before."
Xiaoyu froze.
"...What?"
The man tilted his head slightly.
"You dislike doing it personally."
The silence afterward was painful.
Lin Xiaoyu suddenly realized something horrifying.
Xie Yuchen wasn't merely spoiled.
He was useless spoiled.
The type of rich villain who probably didn't even know where his own clothes were stored.
Meanwhile, she used to wash clothes with her hands whenever her hostel water supply became unreliable.
The contrast nearly made her cry.
As Shen Wei approached again, Xiaoyu immediately covered her eyes with both hands.
Nope.
She refused.
She absolutely refused to look downward.
This body might belong to Xie Yuchen, but mentally she was still very much Lin Xiaoyu.
And Lin Xiaoyu was not prepared for this level of psychological trauma.
Shen Wei paused mid-motion again.
"...Master."
"No."
"...You are covering your own eyes."
"I know."
"...Why?"
"To preserve my remaining dignity."
Shen Wei looked completely lost now.
For the first time since meeting him, Xiaoyu managed to mentally confuse him.
Victory.
Small but meaningful victory.
Still, Shen Wei maintained admirable professionalism.
Despite Xiaoyu behaving like an overdramatic cat being forced into water for the first time in its life, he calmly continued his duties without another complaint.
At one point, Xiaoyu accidentally opened one eye.
Then immediately regretted it and closed both again so fast she nearly gave herself a headache.
Absolutely not.
No eye contact with villain anatomy.
She refused.
Shen Wei, meanwhile, seemed increasingly amused.
Although his face remained calm, Xiaoyu could swear the corners of his mouth twitched several times.
That traitor was enjoying this.
Eventually, after what felt like ten years of suffering, the bath finally ended.
Xiaoyu had never escaped water with such gratitude before.
Several servant girls entered carrying layers upon layers of ceremonial clothing.
The instant they saw Xie Yuchen, every single one lowered their heads respectfully.
"Greetings, Master."
Xiaoyu nearly responded with, "Please don't touch me."
But fortunately, common sense stopped her.
Barely.
The servants moved skillfully around her, drying her hair and helping her into layer after layer of elaborate robes.
Black silk embroidered with golden dragons rested against her skin while dark crimson inner robes wrapped elegantly beneath the outer layers.
Every piece looked expensive enough to destroy entire economies.
Even the belt looked richer than her previous bloodline.
Xiaoyu stared at herself in the mirror as the servants worked.
Then stared harder.
"...Wow."
She hated to admit it.
But Xie Yuchen was ridiculously handsome.
The type of handsome that made people forgive crimes.
Dangerous handsome.
Unfair handsome.
Final-boss handsome.
Shen Wei stepped behind her and carefully adjusted the outer robe resting across her shoulders.
For the first time, genuine warmth appeared in his usually calm expression.
"Master looks worthy of the position."
Xiaoyu almost burst into tears.
Worthy?
Sir, she was currently planning escape routes.
At this exact moment.
In fact—
Maybe she could jump through a window.
No, too high.
Maybe fake illness.
No, villains probably weren't allowed basic human weakness.
Maybe pretend memory loss—
Actually no.
That sounded even more dangerous.
Meanwhile, Shen Wei continued admiring his master completely unaware that Lin Xiaoyu was mentally preparing migration plans.
Because honestly speaking...
Even the REAL Xie Yuchen ran away from this responsibility.
So why should she stay?
This sect was terrifying.
The people were terrifying.
The politics were terrifying.
Even the bath experience was traumatic.
And somewhere in this giant murder organization existed two brothers destined to die in the future.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
She wanted resignation.
Unfortunately, heaven clearly hated her.
Because the moment the chamber doors opened—
Xiaoyu froze.
Rows upon rows of servants stood outside the corridor waiting silently.
The instant she appeared, everyone bowed at once.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
The synchronized voices nearly sent her soul directly into the afterlife.
Xiaoyu almost retreated back into the bathroom.
Shen Wei stepped forward smoothly.
"The coronation ceremony is prepared."
Prepared.
Such a harmless word.
Such terrifying implications.
Xiaoyu swallowed hard.
Then slowly began walking forward.
Her black robes trailed elegantly behind her while countless servants followed silently from both sides.
Crimson lanterns illuminated the endless palace corridor ahead.
Each step echoed softly against polished stone.
And as Lin Xiaoyu walked toward the coronation hall wearing Xie Yuchen's face, only one thought repeated endlessly inside her mind—
She truly had no idea what kind of nightmare she was walking into.