I am the villain in the book

Chapter 143: Everything is Changing

Wei Changtian had actually given serious thought to how to use Chu Xianping.

His initial idea was to find an opportunity to promote Chu Xianping and then gradually take over the Suspended Mirror Division's Shuzhou branch.

However, after weighing the options, he ultimately decided against it.

The reason was simple.

Because Chen Bo, at least on the surface, was already obedient to him, forcing Chu Xianping into a higher position at this time could easily lead to dissatisfaction, or even resistance, from Chen Bo and the other "old-timers."

They might not dare to do anything openly, but they would most likely create obstacles in secret.

Wei Changtian only needed an obedient Suspended Mirror Division, and didn't necessarily need to completely control it, so there was no need to take that risk.

Since that was the case, the Freemasons were the best place for Chu Xianping.

Zhang San was just an executor and couldn't independently plan things.

But Chu Xianping was different. If he were to take over the development of the Freemasons in Shuzhou, it was estimated that the scale of the Freemasons' "Shuzhou branch" would surpass the "headquarters" in the capital in no time.

Of course, that was assuming that everything said in the original story was true.

The next day, Wei Changtian met Chu Xianping again at that "Drunken Cloud Tower."

He seemed the same as before, but also somewhat different.

This difference wasn't reflected in his appearance, but rather in a change in temperament from the inside out.

First betrayed by the person he loved, and then personally killing her...

It would be strange if there were no changes.

However, Chu Xianping hid this change very well. Apart from Wei Changtian, who knew the truth, no one else should have noticed his difference.

On the table were still two pots of wine, a plate of peanuts, and a plate of soy sauce beef.

The waiter was still tirelessly recommending the "newly opened brothel," and Chu Xianping, as usual, smiled and tossed him twenty copper coins.

"Brother Chu."

"Young Master Wei."

After that night at the Guo residence, this was the first time Wei Changtian had met Chu Xianping.

They exchanged a glance and didn't say too much nonsense, quickly entering a state of silent drinking.

According to the saying in his previous life, smoking and drinking were the fastest ways to establish friendship between men.

There were no cigarettes at the moment, nor highly distilled liquor.

However, these pots of Shuzhou's specialty, Bamboo Leaf Green wine, were enough.

At first, they used cups, then bowls, and later they were too lazy to even pour, simply raising the pot to their mouths and emptying it in one go.

Empty wine pots soon piled up on the table, and only then did Wei Changtian feel something.

"Brother Chu, you once said you were willing to serve me... does that still hold true?"

"Of course."

"Then I want you to help me with something."

"Young Master, please speak freely."

"Good."

Wei Changtian looked at Chu Xianping, who also didn't seem drunk at all, and briefly explained the matter of the Freemasons.

After listening, Chu Xianping wasn't very surprised, and only smiled: "Young Master, this is not just one thing."

Wei Changtian also smiled: "Just tell me whether you are willing to help me."

"I have already answered you, Young Master."

"Hahaha, good!"

It had to be said that communicating with smart people was a pleasure. There was basically no need to say any nonsense or repeatedly explain things.

"Okay."

Two hours later, Wei Changtian and Chu Xianping came out of the "Full Spring Courtyard" together, and then parted ways to go home.

Speaking of which, this was the first time Wei Changtian had visited such a place since coming to Shuzhou.

It was said that the women in the south were delicate, but in reality, the experience wasn't much different from that in the capital.

The "paths" were different, but the destination was the same.

However, although Wei Changtian didn't have any special feelings, the girls in the Full Spring Courtyard were buzzing with discussion after they left.

Because the two young masters were not only generous, but also different from other men in other ways.

One was too "persistent," and three sisters took turns serving him, yet he still kept going for over an hour.

The other was a bit funny, spending money but not taking off his clothes, stubbornly sitting at the table and drinking tea for an hour, much to the frustration of the girl serving him.

"I've never seen such a man before! He's like a piece of wood!"

"He doesn't answer when I talk to him, he doesn't listen when I play the zither for him, and he doesn't even look at me when I sit on his lap!"

"If I hadn't secretly grabbed it, I would have really thought he was a eunuch!"

The above were the original words of a girl named Xiu'er, and her little face was full of anger when she said this.

A sister next to her joked: "Isn't that good? He didn't skimp on the money, so you can just relax."

"Hmph, it's true that's right..."

The girl named Xiu'er wrinkled her nose and muttered softly:

"But I just feel that the person is weird..."

In the next few days, Wei Changtian didn't go out wandering around, but "presided" over the "wedding" of Zhang San and Li Suyue at home.

Although it was called a wedding, the whole process was as simple as it could be.

Zhang San's parents had been dead for who knows how many years, and he had no relatives or friends in Shuzhou.

Li Suyue's parents had also just passed away in the past few years, and although there were a few relatives who occasionally visited, they didn't invite any of them, probably to take Zhang San's feelings into consideration.

So in the end, it was just a table of wine and dishes set up at home, and those sitting there were all familiar faces like Yuan'er and Liang Qin.

Although there were few people, the celebration was still quite lively.

Even Liang Zhen took the time to join in the fun, and left a two-hundred tael silver note when he left, saying it was a gift for Zhang San.

Wei Changtian had originally planned to give a few hundred taels as a gesture, but Zhang San and Li Suyue refused to accept it at all costs, so he gave up.

After worshipping heaven and earth, eating wedding wine, and entering the bridal chamber... the next day, after the red lanterns and other things were removed, everything seemed to have returned to its original state, but there were also many insignificant changes.

For example, Li Suyue no longer called Wei Changtian "Young Master," but changed her address to "Master";

For example, Wang Ran changed his surname to Zhang Ran;

For example, Zhang San changed from a "24-hour standby" state to "regular working hours," and would sleep in the house next door at night;

For example, A Chun would occasionally wonder why Aunt Suyue was not a cultivator but could still "dual cultivate" with Uncle Zhang San...

Whether philosophy or science tells us that—everything in the world is changing all the time, only change is constant.

Some of these changes may be just like what Zhang San and Li Suyue are currently experiencing, slow and subtle.

But some are so sudden and drastic that in an instant, they can lead a person, a family, or even a dynasty to another kind of future.

The five-day period had passed.

At midnight, Ning Yuke, with the help of several Freemasons, quietly slipped out of the Shun Prince's mansion and quickly disappeared into the vast darkness.