Gu Yufei wasn't being narcissistic—she simply knew what she looked like.
If she wanted a man, even with a child, plenty of people would still line up to be with her.
Some of them were even rich young masters from good families.
But Gu Yufei could see right through their intentions.
The greed and malice in their eyes always reminded her of what happened five years ago.
That was her worst nightmare.
Yet now, when she saw that same look in Young Master Zhao's eyes, she didn't feel the usual disgust or rejection.
Instead, she felt unworthy.
She felt dirty.
She felt like she would only taint him.
"You've been in the Zhao family for four years now," Zhao Yan said in a low voice. A cold, mocking smile typical of those arrogant young masters curved his lips.
In this moment, Zhao Yan felt like he had fully stepped into the role of a brainless, spoiled villain from a drama.
Gu Yufei's body trembled slightly.
"Yes, Young Master. If it weren't for your protection back then, my daughter and I… we wouldn't have survived."
Four years had passed since that day.
She would never forget the torrential rain, the moment she was thrown out of her home with nothing.
Clutching her little girl, she had huddled against the wall of the Zhao family manor just to get out of the downpour.
That was when the young master appeared—like a beam of light cutting through the darkness of her despair.
"Are you in some kind of trouble?"
At that moment, he had shone so brightly.
It was by following that light that Gu Yufei had slowly crawled out of the shadows in her heart.
Her hands, folded in front of her, unconsciously gripped the hem of her skirt.
Just standing in front of him made waves of inferiority crash over her until she felt cold from her toes to the crown of her head.
"Hmm… four years really is a long time," Zhao Yan said with a sigh.
He looked at the trembling woman in front of him and secretly applauded himself.
*Damn, I'm good at this. I slipped into character way too fast. Do I actually have villain potential?*
*Oh right—I'm supposed to be the villain. Never mind then.*
"I suppose you could say I'm your benefactor," he drawled, deliberately making his tone deep and imposing, perfectly playing the part of a scheming young master.
The original plot didn't explain exactly how Zhao Yan forced Gu Yufei, so he decided to improvise.
Judging from their history, he figured "repaying kindness" was a classic villain move.
"Yes…" Gu Yufei looked up at him with earnest, serious eyes. "Young Master's kindness is something I could never repay—even if I were reborn as a cow or horse in my next life to serve you."
'Reborn as a cow or horse?'
Zhao Yan's mouth twitched.
He almost wanted to point at his own extremely handsome face and say, *Look at me. People this good-looking usually get offered bodies, not livestock labor in the next life.*
But fine—he was the villain, she was the female lead. He could live with it.
A cruel, mocking smile slowly spread across his face.
He reached out and grabbed her rough, work-worn hand.
"Hey, why talk about the next life? I don't believe in that stuff. Can't you just repay me with this life?"
*Okay, that sounded outrageously sleazy. I have no idea how the original Zhao Yan did it, but this is the best I've got. Villain enough, right?*
He could feel her hand trembling violently in his grip.
She was terrified.
She was really scared!
A surge of villainous satisfaction rushed through him.
*Things are going perfectly.*
"Y-Young Master…" Gu Yufei's voice quivered.
It felt unreal—like a dream.
The young master actually wanted her. He wanted *her*.
The thought alone made her legs so weak she nearly collapsed.
She tried hard to stay composed and blinked back tears.
She made a weak attempt to pull her hand away, but it was useless.
Not because he was holding her tightly—he wasn't using much strength at all.
She just… didn't really want to escape.
She wanted to stay in his grasp a little longer.
Even just a few more seconds with him would be enough.
Looking up at the man in front of her—so outstanding, so dazzling, like the moon and stars—she felt smaller than ever.
She was just a woman who had already given birth.
How could someone like her possibly be worthy of him?
Another wave of inferiority crashed down.
She finally pulled her hand free and swallowed the bitterness in her throat.
"Young Master… I have a child."
After saying those words, it felt like she had used up every last bit of strength she had.
Her heart shattered.
The dream she had longed for had finally come close enough to touch—and she still couldn't reach it.
She lowered her head, barely holding herself together.
Zhao Yan had no idea about the storm raging inside her mind.
From his perspective, she had frozen after he demanded repayment.
She was clearly frightened.
Look at her—she was shaking like a leaf.
*Perfect. She looks exactly like an innocent woman being threatened by a thug.*
Darkening his expression, he stepped closer and spoke in a low, sinister tone.
"Are you rejecting me?"
"…Yes. I'm sorry, Young Master."
Gu Yufei's entire body trembled uncontrollably.
Pain, sorrow, and despair surged through her like a tidal wave, as though an invisible hand was dragging her toward an endless abyss.
A man as brilliant as the young master—how could someone like her, a woman with a child, ever dare to stain him?
He was the light of her life.
Raising her daughter was her unshirkable responsibility.
But wanting Zhao Yan… that was her own selfish wish.
Zhao Yan had no clue what she was really thinking.
Looking at the terrified, trembling woman in front of him, he had to admit—he was a natural-born villain.
He had successfully scared the female lead out of her wits.
*Outstanding performance,* he thought smugly.
"Get out," he said coldly.
"Hmph." He snorted, letting his face darken even more. "I don't like being rejected. Rejection comes with a price."
The harsh tone stabbed straight into Gu Yufei's heart.
The thing she had dreamed of was right in front of her, yet she didn't even have the courage to reach for it—because of her own shame.
"…Yes, Young Master."
Her voice shook so badly she sounded like she might collapse any second.
She stumbled out of Zhao Yan's room.
The moment the door closed behind her, her legs finally gave out.
She slid down against the wall and crumpled to the floor.
Pain and confusion sliced through her chest like a knife.
Silent tears streamed down her face.
The moment she had waited for had finally arrived…
but she didn't have the courage to take it.
She clutched her chest, breathing hard, as though she might suffocate at any moment.
…