I Was Reborn as the Villain, but the System Bound Itself to the Female Leads - Chapter 42:

Chapter 42: Mind-Reading Skill Card

Gu Qingyi drove home, feeling inexplicably irritated the moment she thought about Lin Yuan.

“Ugh, what a blockhead!” she muttered inwardly.

When she returned to the Gu Family residence, she saw Long Haochen standing outside the gate.

“Long Haochen!” Gu Qingyi narrowed her eyes slightly and got out of the car. As she approached him, she noticed he was smiling as if to warmly welcome her home. With disdain, she asked, “Long Haochen, if I remember correctly, Grandpa assigned you to be my personal bodyguard, right? But today, I was suddenly kidnapped, and where were you? Why didn’t I see you anywhere?”

Only now did she remember that Long Haochen was the one assigned to protect her. So why, when she was actually in danger today, was he nowhere to be found? If Lin Yuan hadn’t been nearby by chance, she really would’ve been kidnapped by those thugs. Facing Chen Xingyu alone… the consequences would’ve been unimaginable.

This was a serious dereliction of duty on Long Haochen’s part, and it made Gu Qingyi—who already disliked him—even more repulsed. Just looking at his face now annoyed her.

“What? You were kidnapped, Qingyi? Are you alright? Who dared to lay a hand on you? Was it Lin Yuan? I’ll go kill him right now!” Long Haochen exclaimed anxiously.

Hearing this, Gu Qingyi found it absurd. What was the point of saying this now? It was all just empty talk. She didn’t believe a word he said.

“Right, the mind-reading skill card!” Gu Qingyi suddenly remembered her mission reward. With this card, she could hear a specific person’s true inner thoughts.

“Long Haochen, let’s see what you’re really thinking.”

She reached into her pocket, pulled out the mind-reading skill card, and used it. As soon as it was activated, Long Haochen’s voice echoed in her ears—even though he hadn’t spoken.

[I knew you were kidnapped. I was right there, watching the whole thing unfold.]

[I planned to wait until you were in real danger before stepping in as the hero to save you, so you’d fall for me. But I didn’t expect Lin Yuan to suddenly show some skill and handle those thugs.]

[That bastard even dared to put his arm around your waist. Damn it. I’ll definitely kill him!]

Gu Qingyi clenched her fists tightly. Her eyes burned with anger as she looked at Long Haochen. So this was his plan all along—using her danger as a setup to play hero and win her heart? Disgusting. Delusional!

“The one who kidnapped me wasn’t Lin Yuan. Don’t lay a finger on him. Someone else was behind it,” Gu Qingyi said coldly.

“If it wasn’t Lin Yuan, who else could it be? Everyone in North City knows he’s been after you for years. I can’t think of anyone else,” Long Haochen replied.

[Hmph, of course I know it wasn’t Lin Yuan. I even know it was Chen Xingyu who really wanted to kidnap you. But so what? I just need an excuse to deal with Lin Yuan.]

[You have no idea. I already formed a secret alliance with Chen Xingyu to take down Lin Yuan. Just watch—I’m going to kill him.]

[Of course, once Lin Yuan’s dead, Chen Xingyu won’t be spared either. How dare he touch the woman I have my eyes on? He must die.]

Hearing this two-faced monologue made Gu Qingyi feel sick. How could Grandpa place someone like this at her side?

Even when Lin Yuan had followed her around for three years, she had never felt such disgust. This was the first time she truly loathed someone.

She took a deep breath to calm herself. Then she looked at Long Haochen and said, “Long Haochen, you failed your duty today. I’ll be reporting this to Grandpa. Someone like you doesn’t deserve to stay in the Gu Family.”

With that, she walked past him. As they brushed shoulders, Long Haochen’s thoughts echoed in her ears again.

[Damn it! This is all Lin Yuan’s fault! Because of him! No matter what, he must die!]

Gu Qingyi didn’t say another word. She had reached her limit of tolerance for Long Haochen. If it weren’t for the mind-reading skill card, she never would’ve imagined he could be so fake.

After returning home, she went straight to her grandfather and told him everything that had happened.

“Outrageous!” Gu Weijun struck his cane hard on the floor. A ceramic tile instantly shattered beneath the force.

“Chen Zhibao! That backstabbing traitor actually dared to harm my granddaughter? He’s grown too bold. Looks like it’s time to teach him a lesson.”

“Grandpa, don’t be angry. Let me handle this. I’ll make sure the entire Chen Zhibao family is kicked out of Tengyuan Group,” Gu Qingyi said firmly.

She already had a plan. Besides, all of Chen Zhibao’s shares were already in her hands. Removing him would be an easy task.

“Alright. I’ll leave it to you,” Gu Weijun nodded, then turned to Long Haochen.

“Haochen, why didn’t you protect Qingyi when she was kidnapped? I need an explanation.”

“Grandpa Gu, I’m sorry. It was all my fault,” Long Haochen replied without trying to defend himself.

“I know how strong you are. I assigned you to Qingyi’s side to ensure her safety. Yet this happened. I’m deeply disappointed in you,” Gu Weijun said, shaking his head.

No wonder Qingyi wanted him replaced. A bodyguard who couldn’t protect his master deserved to be dismissed. But Long Haochen was different—he wasn’t just a bodyguard.

“Qingyi, Haochen knows he made a mistake. Why don’t you give him another chance?” Gu Weijun looked at his granddaughter with a gentle tone.

Gu Qingyi sneered internally. She remembered how, as a child, she had once admired her grandfather. But when had that admiration started to fade?

She couldn’t understand why her grandfather protected Long Haochen so much. Was Long Haochen his real grandson? Or was she?

“Whatever Grandpa decides is fine. I’m tired. I’ll go to my room now,” Gu Qingyi said and left without looking back.

Gu Weijun looked at Long Haochen and sighed. He had hoped that putting Long Haochen by her side might help develop feelings between the two. If they ended up together, it would’ve been perfect.

But clearly, there was still a long road ahead.

“Haochen, I’ve secured another chance for you. Don’t disappoint me again. Go apologize to Qingyi properly.”

“I understand, Grandpa Gu. I won’t let you down,” Long Haochen said sincerely before leaving the main house and returning to his room.

“Lin Yuan! This is all because of you. Tonight… you die.”

He changed into black nightwear, then quietly flipped over the wall and left the Gu residence.