Even after hanging up, Xu Xiliu still felt suffocated.

Grabbing a handful of pills and swallowing them dry? What kind of reckless move was that? The fact that the male lead had survived this long was nothing short of a miracle!

The news had left him momentarily stunned, as if he, too, had lost his mind. After taking a deep breath to dispel the phantom crunch-crunch echoing in his skull, he mechanically reached for a candy on the table, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. The sweet-and-sour flavor slowly brought him back to reality as he sighed.

What could he do? The male lead had already taken the pills. All he could do was hope the random handful had been roughly the right dosage and wouldn’t cause any harm.

If it did cause problems... well, he’d just have to work overtime.

He was being paid a million a year, after all.

Comforting himself this way, Xu Xiliu gradually calmed down.

His instant noodles were ready now, the rich aroma filling the air. The moment he caught a whiff, his appetite roared to life. Crushing the candy between his teeth, he decided to set aside the mess for now and enjoy his meal.

Just as he took his first bite, his phone rang again, startling him so badly he nearly choked.

Don’t tell me the male lead actually overdosed?!

Already?!

He was halfway to grabbing his car keys when he glanced at the screen—Unknown Caller.

Relief washed over him.

Oh. Not Butler Zhong.

He answered casually, "Hello? Who is this?"

"Dr. Xu, it’s me." The middle-aged voice on the other end was vaguely familiar, but it wasn’t until the speaker introduced himself that Xu Xiliu placed him—Xue Bo, the head servant at the male lead’s villa, whom he’d briefly met that night.

The man chuckled before getting to the point. "The master’s stomach has been acting up lately, so I wanted to ask—what’s the best diet for him? Or do you have any medications for gastric pain?"

Xu Xiliu frowned.

The male lead’s stomach issues weren’t new. Why ask now?

And wasn’t Butler Zhong the one usually overseeing his health? What business did this servant have calling him out of the blue?

Of course, he had the medications.

But something about handing them over to this man felt... off.

Recalling what he’d glimpsed that night, Xu Xiliu decided to play dumb. "Ah, Mr. Qin’s gastric condition can’t be cured overnight. It requires long-term dietary adjustments. I’d recommend consulting a professional nutritionist—following their meal plans should help him recover gradually."

"As for medication, Mr. Qin already has a full supply. No need to worry."

The gist? Stay out of it.

This villa was a den of snakes, and he was just a humble side character trying to retire in peace. He had no interest in getting tangled in power struggles.

Having thoroughly reviewed the novel’s plot after waking, Xu Xiliu was well aware of the male lead’s tragic early circumstances. Honestly, even those over-the-top tragic backstories from power fantasy novels paled in comparison—insanity, house arrest, the works. All to set up his later rise as an overpowered, ruthless tycoon.

And his methods were brutal. Every minor antagonist who’d wronged him during his weakest moments met horrifying fates, skirting the edge of legality until the protagonist’s soothing presence mellowed him out.

Xu Xiliu was just a small-time private doctor with no backing. If he accidentally stepped on the wrong toes, he’d be dead before he knew it.

A shiver ran down his spine.

From the fragments of plot he recalled, this Xue Bo wasn’t exactly a saint either.

Sure enough, his deflection was met with silence before the man finally replied, "...If that’s the case, I won’t trouble you further. But don’t forget the master’s routine check-up in two days."

Weekly physicals were part of the job. No way he’d forget.

"Of course," Xu Xiliu replied pleasantly before hanging up.

He eyed the unfamiliar number for a moment before dismissing it.

Two days later, Xu Xiliu arrived at the villa as scheduled.

The weather was a far cry from the stormy night of his transmigration—sunny, breezy, practically idyllic.

Hopefully, the male lead’s mood is just as pleasant.

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he laid eyes on the man.

Seated in a wheelchair, impeccably dressed, Qin Li was half-shrouded in shadow, only a sliver of sunlight catching his hair. Yet even that seemed to irritate him—he shifted slightly to avoid it, then turned his gaze toward Xu Xiliu as he entered.

Pale and gloomy, his handsome features were etched with exhaustion, but his eyes...

Black. Bottomless.

A calm, calculated madness lurked in that stare.

But—remarkably—he was lucid.

Huh.

The intensity of that gaze sent a chill down Xu Xiliu’s spine, freezing him for a split second before he smoothly slipped into his professional persona. "Mr. Qin."

The gold-rimmed glasses were back, tempering the allure of his peach-blossom eyes, leaving only a polished gentleness.

Qin Li acknowledged him with a faint hum.

Xu Xiliu didn’t mind the cold reception, his smile unwavering.

No. Don’t think about it.

If he did, he’d remember the crunch-crunch incident, and that would make his lips twitch.

And if the man caught even a hint of amusement, he wouldn’t live to see tomorrow.

Biting the inside of his cheek, Xu Xiliu forced himself to focus and began the routine examination.

The results were as expected—chronic issues, no improvements. When he relayed this, the male lead’s expression didn’t flicker. If anything, his lips curled in derision, as if mocking either his own body or the futility of these checkups.

Oddly, the reaction steadied Xu Xiliu.

Watching the man absently trace the wheelchair’s armrest, his lashes casting shadows over those dark eyes, Xu Xiliu asked softly,

"Mr. Qin, have you been taking your medication on schedule these past few days?"

He wasn’t sure how much the man remembered of their previous encounters, but given the current calm, probably not much. Otherwise, those embarrassing moments would’ve earned him a one-way ticket to the afterlife by now. Best to bury them forever.

The consultation was private—just the two of them. Butler Zhong would be briefed afterward.

At the question, Qin Li lifted his gaze, his smirk dripping with scorn.

"If pills worked, what would I need you for?"

Xu Xiliu blinked.

Wow. Rude.

"That’s not how it works, Mr. Qin," he said innocently. "I’m human, not a miracle worker. A doctor’s role is to select the most suitable treatment based on the patient’s condition. And as your personal physician, your well-being is my responsibility. Only when you’re healthy can I rest easy."

"So please, take your medications on time. For my peace of mind."

Qin Li had been mentally cataloging the villa’s unwanted occupants—most planted by his uncle—when the doctor’s nattering derailed his thoughts.

Annoyed, he’d been about to snap at him to shut up when those last words registered.

Who in this world genuinely wished him well besides Zhong?

Weren’t they all waiting for him to die?

The shock quickly gave way to suspicion, then simmering fury.

His gaze sharpened on the gentle-faced young man beside him, probing for ulterior motives.

Xu Xiliu smiled beatifically.

Honestly, if there was one thing doctors dreaded most, it was patients who disregarded their health and ignored medical advice like rebellious teenagers.

The male lead checked both boxes.

Part of Xu Xiliu wanted to give him a one-two combo of punches; the other part remembered this man was both his cash cow and an untouchable protagonist. So the frustration did a lap around his chest before settling back into an even brighter smile.

The angrier he was, the sweeter his grin.

To an outsider, he was the picture of a dedicated physician. Little did they know the mischief brewing beneath.

"Mr. Qin, you must answer me truthfully," he cooed.

Without waiting for permission, he declared he’d inspect Qin Li’s medication adherence.

Butler Zhong materialized out of nowhere, silently producing the pill bottles before vanishing again. Xu Xiliu opened one—aha. Just as suspected. Nearly full, barely touched. No wonder the butler was desperate.

Grinning, he returned to Qin Li’s side.

The male lead had been mentally recoiling at the doctor’s saccharine speech when a bottle was thrust under his nose.

Eyes narrowing dangerously, he growled, "What are you doing?"

Xu Xiliu beamed. "Just helping you familiarize yourself."

Before the man could refuse, he launched into a lecture: "This one stabilizes mood—three tablets, three times daily. Got it? This improves sleep quality—four tablets at bedtime. And this..."

Meticulously

, cheerfully, he explained each medication, even producing labels and a pen to mark the bottles before depositing them into Qin Li’s lap.

"All clear, Mr. Qin?"

"Remember—no random handfuls."

His tone was syrup-sweet, his service impeccable. To an observer, he might’ve been a kindergarten teacher coaxing a stubborn child—just one more bite for Mommy~

Qin Li watched, dumbfounded, as bottle after bottle piled in his arms. A vein throbbed at his temple, his aura turning glacial.

When the doctor finally paused for breath, his face twisted in disgust. "Enough. Get out."

Xu Xiliu took the dismissal in stride.

"Of course. Rest well, Mr. Qin."

He exited gracefully, his smile never slipping, the door shutting firmly between him and that withering glare.

Mission accomplished.

Even rebellious brats have their remedies.

Another flawless checkup.

Pleased, he fished out a lychee-flavored hard candy and popped it into his mouth, deciding to brief the butler before heading home.

But as he turned to leave, Zhong stopped him. "Dr. Xu, the master requests you stay for lunch."

What?

Xu Xiliu spun around—only to meet the male lead’s icy, inscrutable smile from across the room.

...A setup?

Was this payback for treating him like a child?

This vindictive protagonist!

Sucking on the candy, Xu Xiliu weighed his options.

This... could be problematic.