The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness

Chapter 2: The Excellent Lackey

“It’s Mu En Campbell!”

Someone’s low voice rang out.

Then the crowd suddenly parted like they had been trained, creating a clear path.

Revealing Mu En, who was quietly hiding at the back of the crowd, ready to slip into the academy.

“Damn.”

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With half a skewer of grilled meat still in hand, Mu En looked bewildered, as if he had been caught red-handed under the spotlight like a thief.

Who shouted? Their eyes are so sharp!

Can’t I just keep a low profile?

Do they not realize how awkward it would be for me to show up in this situation?

Looking at the confrontation between Eamon and Ariel before him, Mu En felt as if his head was about to explode with pain.

Of all people, it had to be the protagonist Ariel, whom he least wanted to encounter.

And it just so happened that in the original story, one of his subordinates had sent a head to Ariel, creating a classic scene for the protagonist to show off and slap faces.

In this situation, with him, the yellow-haired villain, suddenly appearing, it could only spell trouble.

It would make the protagonist think he was deliberately there to watch her make a fool of herself, thus increasing her hatred!

……

In fact, Mu En had arrived long before Ariel did.

He had come even earlier than her.

But he hadn’t rushed into the academy; instead, he wandered around the streets nearby, looking here and there, buying some snacks and a few skewers of grilled meat, and only then did he prepare to enter the academy when there weren’t many people at the entrance.

Just then, Ariel happened to emerge from her carriage.

And Eamon and his group of fools just happened to block Ariel’s path.

Before long, over a hundred onlookers had gathered at the academy’s entrance, drawn by the commotion.

In an instant, the entire entrance was surrounded, not a drop of water could pass through.

Where did all of you come from? Just a moment ago, the entrance was completely empty!

Is this what they call the protagonist’s need for an audience to show off?

Mu En couldn’t help but scoff.

Scoffing aside, being the center of attention in that moment triggered the muscle memory of this body.

He quickly suppressed the awkward expressions on his face, revealing a standard friendly smile, nodding to the crowd.

But even if he thought he looked devastatingly handsome, his smile carried no malice…

At least eighty percent of the girls present still averted their gazes.

“Oh no, making eye contact with Mu En Campbell will get you pregnant.”

“Ah, I forgot to smear soot on my face, what should I do? I heard that if he takes a liking to you, you’ll be knocked out at night and sent to the duke’s mansion, where he’ll do all sorts of things to you.”

“Want to be a duchess? What a joke, he’s already betrothed; he’s just playing with you. I heard the girls he’s toyed with could fill a whole class!”

“Do you know about that infamous suicide building in the academy? They say half of those who jumped from there were poor souls abandoned by Mu En Campbell.”

“……”

Listening to the increasingly outrageous whispers among the girls, Mu En couldn’t help but twitch his mouth.

What ultimate playboy? It sounded like he was so hated that stepping outside would get him crushed by an angry honest man in a dump truck!

Although his predecessor, Mu En Campbell, was indeed a scumbag, he certainly wasn’t that outrageous; at most, he just teased a few young girls.

If he were truly so despicable as to drive students to suicide, even being the son of a duke wouldn’t spare him from the school’s scrutiny.

“Is it really true that three people can create a tiger? Rumors are truly terrifying.”

Mu En sighed, fully aware that changing others’ impressions of him would be a long and arduous journey…

However, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; it must be done.

Since I’ve made the decision to change, let’s start right now.

With that thought, Mu En stepped forward, walking toward the eye of the storm.

……

“Well, Mu En Campbell, you actually came.”

Seeing Mu En, Ariel was not particularly surprised; rather, it was exactly what she had expected.

After all, it was he who orchestrated this, so naturally, he had to come and watch his enemy suffer humiliation.

Just like he had done before.

But she would never allow such a thing to happen.

“What’s the matter? Still the same as before, lacking the ability to act yourself, only daring to send your rabid dogs to bite? You’re still as useless as ever,” Ariel sneered.

“That’s quite hurtful.”

“Isn’t it just perfect for you?”

“…True enough.”

Calmly enduring Ariel’s mockery, Mu En stepped in front of her.

Then, with one hand on his chest, he smiled in a most gentlemanly manner and said:

“Good morning, Miss Ariel.”

“Huh?”

Ariel was taken aback.

Her eyes widened, as if she had seen a ghost.

What did she just see?

What did she just hear?

That Mu En Campbell was actually bowing to her, actually greeting her.

He didn’t start with, “You filthy, lowly wretch, why don’t you crawl out of here!”

Am I dreaming?

Ouch, that hurts; this isn’t a dream!

Mu En Campbell actually spoke like a human!

“You seem quite surprised that I greeted you.”

Mu En struggled to control the twitching corners of his mouth and said:

“Wasn’t I doing the same at the banquet before?”

Ah, right, he was like this at the banquet too.

……Then that’s even more wrong!

What kind of prank could allow someone to pretend and disguise their true nature for so long?

He must have some grander scheme!

“What exactly do you want to do, Mu En Campbell!” Ariel questioned sternly.

“……I don’t want to do anything, I just wanted to say hello.”

“Don’t try to fool me; I’ve seen through too many of your plots!

Oh right, back then your gaze towards Lia was quite off; you must have been pretending to be good to let me lower my guard, and then you planned to target the naive and oblivious Lia, right?

Let me tell you, I will absolutely not let your schemes succeed! Lia’s chest belongs to me alone!”

Ariel glared at Mu En with all her might, like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

“I’ve already said, I was just saying hello; you’re overthinking it.”

Mu En shook his head with a bitter smile, then temporarily ignored the overly complicated thought process of Ariel and turned to look behind him.

“Master Mu En.”

Seeing Mu En turn around, Eamon and the few people behind him immediately straightened their backs, revealing a flattering smile.

“What are you doing?” Mu En asked.

“We are challenging Ariel Bugalde.”

Eamon declared loudly with great spirit:

“To wash away the shame left from last semester!”

So, you, a fourth grader, challenging a second grader, isn’t that shameful?

Mu En rubbed his forehead with a bitter smile.

I really don’t know whether these guys infected the original with their stupidity, or if the original infected these guys with stupidity. No wonder in the original book, with Mu En Campbell’s background, he couldn’t even last twenty chapters.

“Did someone instruct you to do this?” Mu En asked.

“No, we did it voluntarily!”

Eamon replied proudly, chest puffed out.

Eamon is merely the second son of a viscount, fully aware that if he wants to make a name for himself in this life, he can only cling tightly to the thigh of Mu En, the duke’s son.

So he had long decided to be an excellent sycophant.

What is an excellent sycophant? Does it require the master to personally issue tasks?

No, an excellent sycophant must understand the master’s intentions and learn to find things to do on their own.