I Am the Villain 04

If you couldn't solve the problems, you'd face physical punishment.

And it wasn’t just about solving them—you had to explain the steps too.

"Did you know the Asura Gang changed its name?"

"Huh?"

"It’s called the Asura Study Group now."

"What??"

"Seriously, be careful after school. They’ve been intercepting top students to force them to explain problems."

"What???"

Gu Panxi could now finish all the meals Fang Zhiyi arranged for her. The daily forced high-intensity exercise gradually strengthened her once frail body, and the calcium, zinc, and vitamins Fang Zhiyi added to her food were working wonders—Gu Panxi had grown much taller.

Using the money he’d extorted from Gu Xiaoxiao, Fang Zhiyi rented an empty room, laid out foam mats, and hung up punching bags.

The members of the Asura Study Group became even busier. On top of the academic tasks assigned by their leader, they now had to fulfill his sparring demands—acting as human punching bags.

Aside from Xu Jiabo, who could withstand a few hits, the others were usually knocked down in one go. By now, they were completely in awe of Fang Zhiyi—who knew their boss could fight like this?

But Fang Zhiyi was still dissatisfied.

"Bunch of useless idiots. Can’t even throw a proper punch, yet you call yourselves delinquents?"

After daily physical training, combat drills were now added to the routine.

Everyone was miserable, especially Gu Panxi. She didn’t understand why she was being treated the same as Fang Zhiyi’s lackeys when she wasn’t even one of them. But she didn’t dare complain—Fang Zhiyi had warned her that if she tattled, he’d "decorate" her face.

The way he said it was terrifying, and Gu Panxi had no doubt he’d follow through.

Nearly everyone at school knew Gu Panxi was being "bullied" long-term by Fang Zhiyi’s Asura Study Group. Fang Zhiyi had even publicly claimed her as his territory after some fool tried picking on her and got beaten up by him and his crew.

Because of this, Gu Panxi went through high school without being bullied by anyone else.

Her relationship with her family grew increasingly distant. She basically just went home to sleep and left for school in the morning, as if she’d become invisible in the household. Gu Xiaoxiao used to mock her occasionally, but after witnessing her gradual transformation, she learned to keep her mouth shut.

"Uh… Panxi, have you gotten taller?" Gu’s Mother finally noticed something was off as she watched Gu Panxi stride into the house. She distinctly remembered her biological daughter being small and frail, but now… she seemed tall and sturdy? The schoolbag she carried looked like a child’s accessory in her hands.

Gu Panxi wasn’t expecting her mother to speak to her and was momentarily caught off guard.

After a pause, she replied softly, "Maybe a little?" She’d always been a bit oblivious and hadn’t paid attention to her own changes.

Hearing her gentle voice while staring at her imposing physique, Gu’s Mother gulped. Why was this so unsettling?

Gu Xiaoxiao felt she’d achieved her goal, but things had clearly gone off track.

"Here, sis, have an apple." Gu Xiaoxiao always played the doting younger sister in front of their parents—it made the contrast between them even sharper.

Gu Panxi reached out to take it.

Gu Xiaoxiao gasped dramatically. "Oh! I forgot to peel it for you. Wait a sec—"

Gu Xiuyuan emerged from his room. "Does she not have hands? Why do you need to peel it for—"

Before he could finish, Gu Panxi clenched the apple with both hands and split it in half.

The house fell dead silent.

A chill crept up Gu Xiuyuan’s spine.

"No need. They say eating the skin is healthier," Gu Panxi said, handing half to Gu Xiaoxiao. "Here, you have some too."

Gu Xiaoxiao hesitantly accepted it.

Gu Panxi lowered her head and headed to her room. Gu Xiuyuan instinctively pressed himself against the wall to let her pass.

"How… how did she turn out like this? I remember she wasn’t…" Gu Xiuyuan racked his brain. It seemed like she’d been changing bit by bit every day, but he’d never paid attention.

Gu Xiaoxiao watched as Gu Panxi pulled open her bedroom door—then proceeded to yank the entire door, handle and all, clean off its hinges.

"Broke again," Gu Panxi muttered. She stepped inside, propped the door back into the frame, and with two loud bangs, "closed" it.

The Gu family stood frozen in the living room.

Gu Xiaoxiao knew she wouldn’t be kicked out or have her status as the favored daughter stolen anymore. But she also knew she’d never dare provoke Gu Panxi again—this was downright terrifying.

Just what had Fang Zhiyi done to her?

On graduation day, several of Fang Zhiyi’s underlings burst into tears upon seeing their final grades.

Their teacher, moved by the former delinquents’ transformation into top graduates, wiped her eyes. "Don’t cry, smile! You should be proud of your hard work!"

"Teacher, you don’t understand," Fang Zhiyi said, arms crossed. "They’re crying because they’ve finally escaped hell."

"Fang Zhiyi!" Gu Panxi approached him, then suddenly bowed deeply.

"Huh?" Fang Zhiyi was taken aback.

Gu Panxi smiled. She’d cut her hair short, giving her a brighter, more energetic look. "Thank you… for everything."

Fang Zhiyi snorted. "Bet you cursed me plenty behind my back."

Gu Panxi scratched her head sheepishly. "Only a few times at first. But I know you did it for my good." She glanced at the sobbing ex-delinquents. "And theirs."

"Ah, look at you, all grown up," Fang Zhiyi said in a mock-old-man tone.

Gu Panxi blushed. "Shut up." She playfully punched his shoulder—and nearly sent him sprawling.

"You okay?!" She quickly steadied him.

"Yeah, yeah, just lost my balance," Fang Zhiyi lied, forcing a smile.

Little Hei couldn’t stop laughing. "Oh my god, what have you turned the female lead into? A jacked Barbie doll! Hahahaha!"

Fang Zhiyi rubbed his shoulder. "Protagonist aura is terrifying. In another world, I wouldn’t be surprised if she could kill me with one punch."

"Heh, someone’s in for a bad time," Little Hei snickered darkly.

Fang Zhiyi smirked in agreement.

"Host, you’ve transmigrated to the day the male lead meets the female lead. Seize this opportunity to win her over," the system’s sweet voice chimed.

Xiao Jingran stretched, adjusting to his new body. "Easy."

"To alter the original fate, you must humiliate everyone except the female lead. That’s the original host’s demand."

"Got it, stop nagging. By the way, what’s the bounty on that Hunter?"

"100,000 points," the system replied. "Host, don’t even think about it. I don’t want to run into that Hunter."

"Your Quick Transmigration Bureau’s really slipping, letting one guy cause so much trouble," Xiao Jingran sneered. He straightened his collar and headed toward the location where he was supposed to meet the female lead.

The moment he left, a head popped out from the roadside bushes.

"Wait—did you hear that?"

Little Hei nodded. "An unexpected windfall."