I, The Villain, Just Wanted to Be a Nobody, So How Did I Become the Protagonist? - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: Transmigrated into a Novel as the Leader of the School Bullies

“No way?”

 Chen Tianyou looked at the high school students around him in their uniforms, feeling like a thousand horses were galloping through his mind. He had been reading a modern urban novel and made a sarcastic comment about the brainless villain—only to find himself transmigrated into that very novel.

 What made it worse was that he had become the very same brainless villain he had mocked!

“No, this villain is absolutely brainless. Can’t people even talk about it?” Chen Tianyou’s face darkened. 

Anyone who had read an urban power-fantasy novel would know that villains only exist to help the protagonist show off and attract the female lead, so that he can rise to the top. This character was no exception. His setting was to be the protagonist’s most important stepping stone in the early stages.

Chen Tianyou was a rich second-generation heir who did nothing serious in school, only bullying classmates and starting fights. 

He was known as the leader of the Three Tyrants and was someone everyone avoided. No one dared mess with him—except the protagonist. He even encouraged the other two tyrants to pursue the campus belle.

Mentioning the campus belle made everything clear. The campus belle belonged to the protagonist. Anyone else who touched her would die. The tyrants were all eliminated by the rising protagonist, each with a miserable ending.

Chen Tianyou, as the leader of the tyrants, was an even bigger joke. 

Despite being wealthy, he didn’t enjoy life but chose to be a pathetic simp. He spent the entire fortune—over 100 million yuan inherited from his father—on chasing another female lead. That female lead ended up falling for the protagonist at first sight, and during her wedding banquet with Chen Tianyou, she held hands with the protagonist and ran away, making him the laughingstock of the entire city.

In the end, both his assets and fiancée were taken by the protagonist. He went from a wealthy heir to a beggar and was eventually mauled to death by a stray dog. As he lay dying, he had to watch the protagonist holding the female lead, flashing that signature smirk.

If this kind of villain wasn’t brainless, then what was?

Chen Tianyou looked at himself and felt an overwhelming desire to die. 

Before transmigrating, he was an orphan who had grown up in poverty. Through years of hard work, he had developed a new energy battery patent, founded his own company, and was about to shine—until he got pulled into this mess.

“Brother Tianyou, why that gloomy look? Is it your new way of flirting?” A voice beside him snapped him back to reality.

“Brother Tianyou, what do you think of this confession card?” Zhang Kai handed him a love letter.

If he remembered right, Zhang Kai’s ending wasn’t any better. Under Chen Tianyou’s scheming, Zhang Kai went crazy chasing their class belle Su Ling. Not only did he fail to even hold her hand, but she also grew to despise him. In the end, he was killed in a car crash orchestrated by the protagonist’s people.

Chen Tianyou frowned and took the letter. 

Just a glance made him feel sick. A big heart was drawn on the cover, pierced by an arrow. Chen Tianyou couldn’t help but mutter inwardly. 

So all love letters looked like this now? 

Did the author have no creativity at all?

Forcing himself to endure the disgust, Chen Tianyou opened the card. One glance, and he nearly had a brain hemorrhage. It read: “Su Ling, Su Ling, I love you, like a mouse loves rice!”

He thought the cover was already cringey enough, but this… was on another level. Author, I really admire you!

Chen Tianyou, thoroughly disgusted, put the card away and looked at Zhang Kai with pity. “Sigh.” He sighed and placed a hand on Zhang Kai’s shoulder.

“What’s wrong, Brother Tianyou? Is it not good enough?” Zhang Kai asked, scratching his head.

“Kai-zi, from your heart, what do you think of me as a person?”

“Not that great.”

“…”

“Then how do you think I treat you?”

“Well… Brother Tianyou, you’re amazing to me! If it weren’t for you jumping into the river to save me back then, I’d be dead now!” Zhang Kai’s eyes sparkled.

Years ago, Zhang Kai had fallen into a river, and Chen Tianyou happened to pass by and saved him. The two became close ever since, always hanging out together, doing nothing productive.

“Good! Since you call me ‘brother,’ there’s something I want to say.”

“Go ahead!”

“Do you think you’re a good match for Su Ling?”

“Not really.”

“What? If you don’t think you’re a match, why are you chasing her?” Chen Tianyou was speechless.

“You were the one who told me to! You said that as one of the Three Tyrants, I should date the campus belle to match my status!” Zhang Kai said innocently.

“…”

“Alright! At least you get it now. I’ve figured it out too—Su Ling’s not right for you. From now on, stop chasing her.”

After saying that, Chen Tianyou quickly tore the love letter to pieces and threw it into the trash can. 

After doing so, he let out a long breath. Now he was no longer the one who encouraged a tyrant to pursue the female lead. That should help him avoid the protagonist’s wrath, right?

“Alright then,” Zhang Kai nodded.

“Hmm, teachable lad!” Chen Tianyou nodded in satisfaction.

“But Brother Tianyou, honestly, I think you and Su Ling are quite a match. I don’t know much about this stuff, but you’ve got experience. Why don’t you go for her instead?” Zhang Kai said with a grin.

Chen Tianyou’s expression instantly froze.

Pursue her? Was he trying to get himself killed faster?

“Stop right there! Our focus now should be on studying. Don’t bring love affairs into school, understood?”

Chen Tianyou gave Zhang Kai a long lecture on principles and finally felt relieved.

The bell rang. 

Chen Tianyou and Zhang Kai quickly returned to their classroom.

As soon as he sat down, Chen Tianyou’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the beautiful girl beside him.

He had almost forgotten—Su Ling was his desk mate!

In the original novel, Chen Tianyou encouraged Zhang Kai to pursue Su Ling. When she refused, he was humiliated and started bullying her in class. The protagonist would appear at all the right moments to save her, eventually winning her heart completely.

No way—he had to find a way to stay far away from this troublesome girl! Otherwise, if the protagonist bore a grudge against him, he’d be doomed!

“Wait… where’s the protagonist?” Chen Tianyou quickly scanned the room, but he didn’t know what the protagonist looked like. The novel only said he was very handsome, so Chen Tianyou looked around for the most good-looking person.

After a round of searching, his frown deepened.

He realized that… the most handsome guy was actually himself!

What the hell was going on?

Could he have remembered wrong?

That didn’t make sense!

Feeling confused, Chen Tianyou turned to ask Zhang Kai, who was seated behind him, “Kai-zi, who’s the most handsome guy in our class?”

“Of course it’s you, Brother Tianyou! Is that even a question?” Zhang Kai answered without hesitation.

Hearing that, Su Ling’s brow furrowed slightly, and her gaze toward Chen Tianyou was filled with disdain.

She had seen shameless people, but never someone this shameless!

“I’m the most handsome?” Chen Tianyou murmured in confusion.

“Everyone quiet down! Today, we have a new transfer student joining our class. Let’s give them a warm welcome!” The homeroom teacher’s voice rang out from the podium.