I Transmigrated into a Novel as a Villain, and My System Refreshes Randomly - Chapter 13:

Chapter 13: I’m Afraid That’s Not Possible

Sticky sweat soaked through Qin Xiao’s pajamas, clinging coldly to his back. He suddenly opened his eyes, his chest rising and falling sharply. The exhaustion from the nightmare swept through him like a tide, leaving every cell in his body aching.

Sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, barely dispelling the room’s dimness, but it couldn’t clear away the gloom weighing on his heart.

When he turned his head, the hairs on his body stood on end.

A cold figure stood right beside his bed, holding a gleaming kitchen knife.

It was Mo Meigui.

Her face was expressionless, her eyes empty, like a statue without a soul—only the sharp knife in her hand revealed the danger.

“Damn! What are you doing?!” Qin Xiao’s heart nearly stopped. He instinctively shrank back, his voice pitching higher.

Mo Meigui seemed startled by his voice. Slowly lowering her head, her gaze focused on his face, still without emotion.

Just when Qin Xiao thought she was about to carry out an assassination, a sudden, out-of-place sound broke the silence.

“Grrr—”

It came from Mo Meigui’s stomach.

On her icy face, a fleeting trace of embarrassment seemed to flash, but it quickly disappeared. Only the whitened knuckles on the hand gripping the knife betrayed anything.

Qin Xiao blinked, then couldn’t help but chuckle helplessly. So she was just hungry.

Well, considering this top-class assassin’s greatest hobby besides missions seemed to be eating, it made sense.

“Alright, alright, I get it—go cook.” Qin Xiao waved his hand in resignation and got out of bed.

Before long, the clatter of pots and pans echoed from the kitchen, and the scent of food filled the villa.

Knowing Mo Meigui’s appetite, Qin Xiao had prepared an oversized breakfast—enough for three grown men. But when he placed the last fried egg on the table, he saw that most of the food had already been devoured.

She ate quickly but not crudely, her focus intense, as though savoring some rare delicacy.

Qin Xiao looked at the nearly empty plates and twitched his lips. Feeding this maid was going to be costly.

Just then, the doorbell rang sharply.

Wiping his hands, Qin Xiao walked toward the door, puzzled. Who would come at this hour?

Looking through the peephole, his pupils contracted slightly—it was Gu Siqing.

What was she doing here?

He opened the door.

Gu Siqing stood there, faint dark circles under her eyes, her face pale. Those eyes, usually calm and unruffled, now brimmed with complex emotions—part relief after surviving danger, part urgent need she couldn’t explain.

Before Qin Xiao could ask, she suddenly threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly. Her body trembled slightly, her arms tightening around his waist as if she wanted to melt into him.

“Qin Xiao…” Her voice carried a faint hitch and lingering fear. “You’re still here… thank goodness…”

With her soft, warm body in his arms, Qin Xiao was momentarily stunned. He instinctively patted her back gently. This woman had come all the way here early in the morning… just to check if he was still alive? Did she have a nightmare?

Burying her face in his chest, Gu Siqing breathed in his familiar scent, felt his steady heartbeat, and gradually let her fear and unease fade—replaced by a joy like regaining something lost.

But the feeling didn’t last long.

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the woman in the dining room—a woman with an empty rice bowl in hand, a grain of rice still stuck to her lips, watching her with a scrutinizing look.

Gu Siqing’s body stiffened instantly. The warmth on her face disappeared, replaced by icy scrutiny. She released Qin Xiao and fixed her sharp gaze on Mo Meigui. “Who is she?”

Mo Meigui sensed the hostile eyes. She set down her bowl, stood up, and, like a beast guarding its food, looked back at Gu Siqing with guarded hostility—completely forgetting to wipe the rice from her face.

The atmosphere turned tense.

Qin Xiao rubbed his nose, feeling a headache coming. “Ahem… she’s Mo Meigui. My dad… well, the family sent her to take care of my daily life and manage the villa.”

“Manage the villa?” Gu Siqing frowned, her eyes darting between him and Mo Meigui, full of distrust. The way this woman looked at Qin Xiao was nothing like an ordinary maid. And that aura—too cold, with a faint, dangerous edge.

Jealousy and a sense of danger rose in Gu Siqing’s heart. She stepped forward, closing in on Qin Xiao, her tone firm and brooking no refusal. “Qin Xiao, I don’t like her. Let her go. I can take care of you myself. Fire this woman.”

At those words, Mo Meigui’s gaze turned ice-cold. Fire her? That would mean losing the long-term meal ticket she’d just found. No one was taking away her food source.

A flash of steel gleamed.

No one saw when Mo Meigui moved, but the next moment, the knife she’d been using earlier was pressed to Gu Siqing’s pale neck. The icy touch made Gu Siqing shiver.

“Can you protect Young Master Qin like this?” Mo Meigui’s voice was devoid of warmth, her eyes pure warning and killing intent. She didn’t care what these two were to each other—anyone who threatened her meals was an enemy.

“Ah!” Gu Siqing, never having faced such danger, paled in terror, her body going rigid. She could feel the sharpness of the blade and had no doubt the woman would use it.

“Mo Meigui! Stop!” Qin Xiao’s face darkened. He stepped forward, grabbing her knife hand while pulling the frightened Gu Siqing into his arms, shielding her behind him. “Don’t be afraid, she means no harm.”

Held against Qin Xiao’s broad, warm chest, hearing his steady heartbeat and breathing in his familiar scent, Gu Siqing felt her terror melt into an overwhelming sense of safety. His embrace was just like in her dream when he had shielded her—full of steady strength.

Sweetness and happiness washed over her. She instinctively let her hand roam over his firm chest, her fingers tracing the outline of his abs through his shirt. Solid, strong—pure masculine allure.

Qin Xiao felt the soft pressure against him and glanced down at the woman rubbing against him like a cat. A faintly amused smile tugged at his lips. “Hey, early in the morning, what are you doing? Taking advantage of me?”

Her cheeks flushed, but Gu Siqing didn’t move her hand. Instead, she looked up, her gaze steady and serious, her cool eyes now shining like stars. “Qin Xiao, I’ve decided.”

“What?” he asked, not catching on at first.

“I said, I’ve agreed to your request.” She took a deep breath, as though gathering all her courage. “I agree to be with you.”

Qin Xiao’s eyes flickered with understanding, but it quickly faded into apologetic helplessness. He gently pushed her back just enough to look into her eyes, his tone heavy. “Siqing… I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

Her smile froze. “Why?”

Qin Xiao sighed, his gaze complicated. “You know my family’s situation is complicated. They’ve already arranged a marriage for me—with someone from a well-known family in the capital. I can’t go against it. And, Siqing… don’t you already have a fiancé? That Ye Chen—I heard it was arranged by your grandfathers…”

Boom.

His words struck Gu Siqing like a bolt of lightning. She had a fiancé? Yes… she once did. But she had just torn up that marriage contract—the symbol of humiliation and danger—not long ago.

She thought she had severed her past and chosen Qin Xiao, only to find… he was already arranged for someone else?

Was it because of her earlier rejections? One refusal had led to boundless regret.

Her world spun. Darkness crept into her vision as her body swayed. Looking at Qin Xiao’s apologetic yet immovable expression, her heart felt crushed in a merciless grip.

She opened her mouth to speak, to explain, to plead… but her throat was blocked, no words emerging.

In the end, everything turned to silent tears, blurring her sight.

She stumbled back two steps, turned away like a broken doll, and slowly walked out of Qin Xiao’s villa, disappearing into the morning sunlight.