I'm a Villain! Why Are You Trying to Date Me? - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Zhao Mengmeng—”Sis, This Isn’t Like You!”

Zhao Mengmeng stared at her sister’s flushed cheeks, feeling utterly shocked.

Although the two sisters didn’t spend too much time together due to family matters, they had always been close since childhood.

She knew her sister’s personality very well.

Since when did her sister ever blush?!

Could it be that this seemingly ordinary man—who didn’t even look that handsome—really had something going on with her?

The young girl’s mind began to wander with all sorts of thoughts.

Lin Tian took the initiative to extend his hand, his gaze clear and polite.

“Hello, my name is Lin Tian.”

Zhao Mengmeng hesitated for a moment before extending her slender hand, briefly shaking Lin Tian’s. At the same time, she tilted her head slightly and glanced at her sister, a clear look of inquiry in her eyes.

Zhao Mengmeng was well aware of her own beauty. Ever since she was a child, she had encountered far too many men with impure gazes.

Yet, this man named Lin Tian… was he really just politely introducing himself?

Sis, is he really my brother-in-law?

Faced with her sister’s probing gaze, Shang Chan cleared her throat lightly and spoke in a cool, composed voice.

“Alright, Mengmeng… Is everyone here?”

“Mm, the uncles are all here. Father is waiting for you in the ancestral hall.”

Zhao Mengmeng nodded obediently.

Standing beside them, Lin Tian let out a quiet sigh.

Today was the Zhao family’s ancestral worship day. Given their prestige, the Zhao family typically held the ceremony twice.

On the first day, they would invite friends, business partners, and other prestigious families to witness the event, showcasing their immense wealth and influence.

On the second day, however, was the true core ancestral ceremony, exclusive to the Zhao family itself.

In the original plot, Jiang Yifeng had stolen the spotlight at the first ceremony’s banquet, not only forming connections with two powerful figures but also successfully turning the Zhao family into his vassals.

By the end of it all, he had somehow secured a spot in the second, core ancestral worship ceremony.

Honestly…

An outsider, in just two days, managed to subjugate a family worth over a trillion while also claiming a perfect woman like Shang Chan—

This setup is absolutely ridiculous—beyond ridiculous!

【I hope the plot unfolds smoothly so I can completely stay out of the storm. But thinking about Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng, these two sisters, ending up as cheap prizes for that bastard Jiang Yifeng… it really feels unfair…】

Shang Chan heard Lin Tian’s inner thoughts.

The corners of her lips curled into a faint smile as she stepped forward and took her sister’s hand.

Then, as if casually, she turned her head and spoke.

“Lin Tian, stay by my side during the banquet after the ancestral ceremony.”

“Huh? Oh… Okay, President Shang.”

“Hmm?”

“Ahem… Alright, Shang Chan.”

A smile unknowingly appeared on Shang Chan’s face. The usual cold, distant, and decisive aura that she carried seemed to have completely faded away in this moment.

Even though it wasn’t the first time hearing her name, she still felt a tremor in her fingertips.

I really want to hear him call my name more often…

This thought surfaced in Shang Chan’s mind.

And the moment she realized it, her face instantly grew hot, a soft pink blush even spreading down her fair neck.

Beside her, Zhao Mengmeng’s eyes widened in shock!

Just like Xiaoyun, Zhao Mengmeng was well aware of Shang Chan’s habit—she never called others by their names, nor did she allow anyone to call her by hers.

But just now, what had she heard?

Shang Chan called that man Lin Tian.

Lin Tian called her Shang Chan?

And… it even seemed like he only corrected himself after Shang Chan reminded him to?

What was going on?

A surge of curiosity welled up in the young girl’s heart as she glanced at the man behind her.

Little did she know, curiosity toward a man was often the first step toward falling for him.

……

Zhao Mengmeng didn’t ask any further questions. Everyone familiar with Shang Chan knew that she disliked people prying into her personal life.

The two sisters strolled leisurely, while Lin Tian followed behind, glancing around and admiring the scenery of this secluded mountain estate.

If plants were the most common sight in the deep mountains, then Zhao Jia’s way of showcasing their immense wealth was by replacing all the common flora with the rarest varieties.

As he walked, Lin Tian realized that he hadn’t seen a single willow tree. Instead, the entire path was lined with fragrant, exotic flowers and towering, ancient trees whose names he didn’t even recognize.

Just the sheer value of these plants alone would probably be enough to give many scholars a headache…

Pavilions were spaced out every hundred meters, streams meandered through the landscape, and wooden bridges—crafted from solid timber—arched over the flowing waters. Beneath them, koi fish swam lazily in the winding river, enjoying their tranquil paradise.

Born into a wealthy and powerful family, even these fish lived a life of luxury beyond ordinary imagination.

Walking through such an ancient estate, Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng looked like beauties who had stepped straight out of an oil painting. Lin Tian followed behind them, his gaze briefly passing over the two sisters—without a hint of impropriety.

He was well aware that both of them were already predestined to become part of Jiang Yifeng’s harem.

If he wanted to survive, going against someone like Jiang Yifeng—who was practically the protagonist blessed by fate—was unrealistic. Even with his system, it wouldn’t be enough.

After all, the system hadn’t granted him any kind of invincible combat power. This damn thing was just a survival system!

Only by staying alive long enough could he earn his rewards.

As the three of them continued their stroll, it wasn’t long before they arrived at the Zhao family’s ancestral hall.

The Zhao family had its origins in the 1970s and had been passed down for six generations. The Zhao family’s ancestor started with a humble candied hawthorn business, but over time, their empire expanded across various industries, including traditional manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods, and finance.

A wealthy family in the mountains still has distant relatives.

For a family as massive as the Zhaos, there were more than a dozen branch lineages. Even though only a portion of them had gathered at the ancestral hall today, the crowd was still considerable.

Outside the hall, Shang Chan released Zhao Mengmeng’s hand and turned toward Lin Tian.

Her delicate face had regained its usual coldness and aloof indifference, making her seem unapproachable. However, when she looked at Lin Tian, there was a subtle trace of familiarity and reliance in her gaze.

“Lin Tian, wait for me outside the ancestral hall. I’ll go in and pay my respects, then come right out.”

Lin Tian nodded, not finding anything unusual about it.

“Alright, just don’t take too long.”

Beside them, Zhao Mengmeng’s eyes widened in shock, her astonishment practically overflowing.

Since when had her sister ever asked someone to wait for her?

And Lin Tian even had the audacity to tell her to hurry up?

Sis, this is totally out of character for you!