I’m a Villain! Why Are You Trying to Date Me?

Chapter 32: Shang Chan: “Ugh, Pervert!”

“Yes.”

Jiang Yifeng nodded with a smile, a trace of admiration flickering in his eyes as he looked at the stunningly beautiful woman.

“Qingya, although we’ve spoken on the phone a few times, this is our first time officially meeting, isn’t it? I brought you a gift—one for you, and one for your mother.”

Jiang Yifeng took out a pair of jade phoenix pendants. The larger one was meant for Xuan Yuan Xing, and the smaller fledgling phoenix was for Xuan Yuan Qingya.

In ancient times, phoenixes were considered the kings of all birds—the male called Feng, the female Huang.

This pair of pendants had been prepared long ago by Jiang Yifeng as a gift for Xuan Yuan Qingya and her mother. His master once told him that Xuan Yuan Xing was a remarkable woman, unmatched in strength and dignity. After much consideration, Jiang Yifeng had chosen the female phoenix jade pendants for their auspicious symbolism.

Xuan Yuan Qingya held her teacup gracefully. Her slender fingers were straight and elegant, her eyes carrying a noble pride. Her expression remained cold, as if this aloof demeanor was simply her natural state.

Xuan Yuan Xing knew her daughter’s temperament better than anyone.

She chuckled and waved her hand with a warm smile.

“Come, have a seat. Qingya, this child… she doesn’t even know to stand and greet a guest.”

Jiang Yifeng smiled modestly and shook his head.

“It’s alright. As long as Qingya is comfortable.”

He walked over and sat down beside the tea table, maintaining impeccable etiquette from beginning to end.

Jiang Yifeng was well aware that every move he made in the presence of a reclusive noble family like the Xuan Yuans could influence whether he succeeded in winning Xuan Yuan Qingya over. He couldn’t afford to make a single mistake.

“Young Master Jiang is handsome and well-mannered. Your master truly had an eye for talent,” Xuan Yuan Xing said with a gentle smile. She didn’t look like a forty-year-old woman at all—if anything, she appeared more like Xuan Yuan Qingya’s older sister.

When Jiang Yifeng heard mention of his master, his expression turned slightly solemn.

“My master passed away at the age of one hundred and twenty-nine. It was a peaceful death, a celebration of a long life. I kept vigil at his grave for three months before descending the mountain. I only hope he finds peace in the next world.”

Such a gesture wasn’t just for show—Jiang Yifeng had genuinely shared a deep bond with his master. The previous generation’s Sage Doctor had taken a disciple late in life, and that disciple just happened to possess the rare Heavenly Sacred Body. Naturally, he had cherished him deeply.

Secondly, Jiang Yifeng understood very well that whether he could fully capitalize on the favor his master had once earned depended less on himself and more on how Xuan Yuan Xing chose to perceive him.

After all, the one who had done her the favor wasn’t Jiang Yifeng—it was his master.

What Xuan Yuan Xing was willing to offer him ultimately came down to her mood…

Seeing the somber look on Jiang Yifeng’s face, Xuan Yuan Xing offered a few words of comfort.

“The old gentleman led an upright and honorable life, with no regrets. I imagine when he passed, he did so with a smile. You need not grieve too much, Young Master Jiang.”

Jiang Yifeng nodded gently, a look of wistful sorrow in his eyes.

“Before he passed, my master told me that he once had the honor of meeting you. From that first encounter, he said you possessed the grace and strength of a true heroine. Now that I see you for myself, I can only agree… And I must say, it’s not just you, Madam—even Miss Qingya has inherited that same air of poise and might.”

With those words, Jiang Yifeng not only brought up his master’s connection with Xuan Yuan Xing to close the emotional distance, but also praised both mother and daughter. It was a masterclass in social finesse.

Hearing such praise—not overly direct, yet seemingly sincere—Xuan Yuan Xing’s smile deepened noticeably.

Seeing this, Jiang Yifeng was secretly delighted. It seemed he’d flattered the right person in the right way!

What he didn’t realize, however, was that the mother and daughter’s impressions of him hadn’t started the moment he stepped into the castle.

In fact, they began long ago—back when he first contacted Xuan Yuan Qingya.

Even earlier than that, perhaps—back at the Zhao family.

Xuan Yuan Qingya had once heard her mother speak highly of the previous generation’s Divine Physician, and because of that, she had held some expectations, imagining what this so-called heir to the title, Jiang Yifeng, might be like.

But from the very first message, to the subsequent calls, to this face-to-face meeting, Jiang Yifeng had, step by step, chipped away at whatever curiosity and interest she’d initially had.

Now, seeing the increasingly warm smile on her mother’s face, and the faintly relaxed expression on Jiang Yifeng’s, Xuan Yuan Qingya’s elegant brows arched ever so slightly.

On her exquisitely beautiful face, a faint trace of mockery quietly surfaced.

This guy… does he really think my mother’s starting to like him?

Xuan Yuan Qingya thought to herself, the more she looked at Jiang Yifeng, the less she could muster any interest in him.

She gently lifted her hand, the dark red blouse sleeve veiling her fair wrist. In her hand, the antique and delicate teapot seemed to come alive—tea flowed smoothly, releasing a rich, fragrant aroma.

She poured a cup for herself, and one for Xuan Yuan Xing—completely ignoring Jiang Yifeng.

A lofty immortal maiden descending from the heavens would never feign courtesy toward someone she deemed unworthy.

Xuan Yuan Xing’s eyes darkened slightly. She feigned a tone of reprimand, speaking softly.

“Qingya, how can you be so rude? We have a guest—how could you not pour tea for him?”

Xuan Yuan Qingya raised her chin ever so slightly, her lips—tinted with a pale hue—curving into a faint smile.

“I wasn’t sure if Young Master Jiang would enjoy this tea. How could I pour it carelessly?”

Sensing that the mother and daughter were about to get into a back-and-forth, Jiang Yifeng hurriedly reached for a teacup himself and poured his own tea from the pot.

“No need to trouble Qingya, I can help myself,” Jiang Yifeng replied with what he believed to be a flawless smile, lifting the teacup, taking in the aroma, and sipping gently.

Then he praised, “This should be a special grade of Qimen black tea, right? The fragrance is rich and mellow, fresh and sweet with a vibrant hue… I like it very much.”

Xuan Yuan Xing’s eyes curved with a smile as she nodded. “Young Master Jiang is well-versed indeed… Hehe, someday I should have Qingya learn more from you. This child was born into a powerful household—too proud, not used to lowering her stance.”

Jiang Yifeng glanced at Xuan Yuan Qingya, hiding the fervent glint in his eyes beneath a calm exterior, and said with a light smile, “Qingya is meant to be like this. There’s no need to change her, madam. If I’m fortunate enough in the future, I’d rather she always keeps this elegance.”

Xuan Yuan Qingya remained expressionless on the surface, but inside, she sneered with quiet disdain.

Having grown up surrounded by praise and flattery of every kind, she had long since become immune to all forms of compliments. The more Jiang Yifeng flattered her, the more uninterested she became.

After a brief moment of thought, she rose to her feet and gave her mother a slight bow.

“Mother, I’m not feeling well. I’ll go rest first.”

Xuan Yuan Xing offered Jiang Yifeng an apologetic smile, then turned to her daughter and said, “You child, so impolite… Fine, if you’re unwell, go rest. But remember to accompany Young Master Jiang for a walk tomorrow.”

Xuan Yuan Qingya nodded, making no effort to refuse.

The favor her mother owed—she would repay it. But that was all it would be: a performance, nothing more.

The pride and nobility that lay at this woman’s core were far beyond what ordinary people could comprehend. Now that she found herself in a position above Jiang Yifeng, she would never look up to him again.

As a daughter of the Xuan Yuan family—she would do as she pleased.

Watching Xuan Yuan Qingya’s graceful figure disappear into the distance, Jiang Yifeng’s heart burned with desire.

He was well aware of her pride, but that didn’t bother him—in fact, it only made conquering her more thrilling, more satisfying.

He turned his head, not watching her for long. There would be plenty of time. This proud phoenix of a woman—he had every intention of taking his time studying her.

“Madam, my master often spoke of the interesting things beyond the mountains, but he rarely mentioned his connection with you. Could you tell me more about it?”

“Hehe, of course…”

…

Within the castle, all seemed calm on the surface, yet in truth, neither Xuan Yuan Qingya nor Xuan Yuan Xing had a particularly good first impression of Jiang Yifeng.

Still, since he was the disciple of a benefactor, Xuan Yuan Xing wouldn’t greet him with a cold face. Since her daughter couldn’t be bothered to deal with him, then the task naturally fell to her.

That meeting stretched on for over an hour.

During it, the various expressions Xuan Yuan Xing intentionally displayed—smiles, thoughtful glances, subtle nods—gave Jiang Yifeng a strong sense of confidence and optimism.

In front of someone like Xuan Yuan Xing—who, though not disillusioned with the world, had certainly seen more of it than most—there was no way Jiang Yifeng could hide a single thought.

In fact, this woman, who single-handedly managed the affairs of the Xuan Yuan family, could subtly influence even Jiang Yifeng’s emotions with the lightest of gestures.

The saying held true: a woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea—Jiang Yifeng still had much to learn…

…

The night passed uneventfully.

At dawn the next morning, in the ancient Zhao family courtyard, a young woman dressed in a pure white dress came running toward the guest quarters in a hurry. She rushed in and dragged Lin Tian out of bed before he even had a chance to fully wake up.

The moment Lin Tian opened his eyes, he saw Shang Chan’s delicate face.

She must have run quite fast—her breath was quick and shallow, and a faint fragrance from her body filled Lin Tian’s nose, jolting him wide awake.

“What the hell, young miss! I haven’t even gotten out of bed yet!”

Lin Tian’s mouth twitched as he instinctively clutched the blanket tighter around himself.

Shang Chan’s cheeks flushed pink. Her bright, expressive eyes flickered slightly as she spoke in a soft voice.

“Lin Tian, hurry and get up. Something’s happened at the company—we need to get back right away!”

Lin Tian frowned slightly in confusion. What could possibly be wrong with Xinghai? They’d just acquired 51% of Ice Eye Group’s shares yesterday. What, did the company go bankrupt overnight?

Still, he was currently the manager of Xinghai’s investment department. Since the president herself said there was an issue, it wasn’t his place to refuse.

“Alright then, just wait for me outside for a minute—”

“What? Feeling shy?”

“I’m not wearing any underwear.”

“Ugh, you pervert!”

Watching Shang Chan’s flustered figure flee the room, Lin Tian let out a heavy sigh.

Damn it all… What kind of karmic retribution is this?