Chapter 1 – See You at the Civil Affairs Bureau
“Letting my person go… you’ve really got some nerve,” the man before him remarked in a dangerous tone. His sharp, phoenix eyes appraised Xiao Fang, and his long fingers interlaced over his knee. The man’s powerful aura was on full display, and Xiao Fang couldn’t help but swallow hard, his legs trembling so much they felt like sieves.
Here’s how it all happened. While relaxing at home, he had just finished reading a scum-and-submissive BL novel when a powerful force unceremoniously dragged him into that world. A flood of memories poured into his mind, and it took him all of three seconds to identify his new role: a minor villain, a piece of cannon fodder whose sole purpose was to stir up a little trouble and solidify the main couple’s relationship—a household essential, really.
Just half an hour ago, he had released the main uke, whom he had kidnapped, and agreed to a series of unfair terms to preserve what little standing he had left in the man’s eyes.
“President Fei, I think… there’s still room for discussion,” Xiao Fang said weakly, raising a small hand as he scanned the burly, suit-clad men surrounding him.
“Hmph, I don’t think I have any obligation to leave you room for anything, Xiao Fang.” The deep voice uttered a name identical to his own in his previous life, and Xiao Fang’s heart trembled. Villains were truly terrifying!
The man with a cigar in his mouth was Fei Xiangnan, the despicable villain from the original story. He had initially intended to sponsor Xiao Qi with a casual, playful attitude, but the protagonist was fiercely unyielding. Naturally, Fei Xiangnan fell into the strange trap of, “This man is so special; if I can’t have your heart, I’ll have your body.” In the end, he was double-teamed and eliminated by the main couple.
His current character, Xiao Fang, was the older brother of the main uke, Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi was the illegitimate son of Father Xiao and was brought back to the family a year after Xiao Fang’s biological mother passed away. As expected, Xiao Fang began to bully his younger brother, competing with him over everything since childhood. In this world, there was an additional setting: a third gender. Individuals of this gender had male physical characteristics but could become pregnant. Due to the rarity and superior genetics of the third gender, the state’s intervention in their marriages grew stronger, making them a target for all the major families. The main uke was one of these rare third-gender individuals.
When Xiao Qi turned eighteen, various major families came to propose marriage, but he only had eyes for Yan Yunyang. Yan Yunyang had left the Yan Family to make his own way, and he and Xiao Qi had known each other since university, their relationship growing stronger ever since. This was when the cannon fodder brother began to cause trouble. Same-sex relationships were common in this world, and Xiao Fang also had a crush on Yan Yunyang. However, given the cannon fodder brother’s history of bullying the main uke, it was an act of mercy that Yan Yunyang hadn’t already dealt with him. But if the protagonist didn’t act, the villain would.
Fei Xiangnan used economic pressure to force Yan Yunyang to hand over Xiao Qi. But before Fei Xiangnan could escalate his efforts, the couple had a fight. In a fit of anger, Xiao Qi decided to go to Fei Xiangnan, only to be intercepted by Xiao Fang. His goal was to kidnap Xiao Qi and blackmail Yan Yunyang into marrying him. This ridiculous scheme didn’t bring Yan Yunyang, but Fei Xiangnan instead. Fei Xiangnan easily dealt with Xiao Fang, bringing his short, laughable life to an end.
Because the minor cannon fodder shared his name, Xiao Fang had paid a little more attention to him, though many details had been glossed over. It wasn’t until he arrived in this world and received Xiao Fang’s memories that he truly understood the character.
“President Fei, a melon plucked too early isn’t sweet.”
“As long as it’s filling,” Fei Xiangnan replied, completely unfazed, embodying the thick-skinned nature of a true villain.
“Hahahaha, President Fei, you’re so humorous.” Xiao Fang joked, trying to keep his violently shaking legs still. He had this tendency—the more dangerous the situation, the more reckless he became.
Clang! A man in black slammed a sharp knife onto the table, making Xiao Fang’s small frame flinch.
“Oh? As it happens, I’m not a man who appreciates humor. It’s rare that someone comes to me willingly without me having to lift a finger. Do you have any idea how much money I’ll have to spend now that you’ve ruined it?” Fei Xiangnan said, his words brutal despite his perfectly polite smile.
“I… I can compensate you with another one?” Xiao Fang offered with a fawning expression.
“A third gender?” Fei Xiangnan raised an eyebrow. There were no more than three third-gender individuals in the entire city, and each was treasured by their family. What’s more, Xiao Qi was a popular young star, which made him even more valuable. In contrast, Xiao Fang was just an 18th-tier actor who relied on money to land leading roles in terrible idol dramas. He was completely incomparable to Xiao Qi.
Xiao Fang thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, a third gender!”
Fei Xiangnan sized up the handsome young man. Having long known what kind of person he was, the only feeling he had left for him was disgust. “Since when did I, Fei Xiangnan, have to stoop to asking the son of a nouveau riche for a third gender?”
That one sentence negated everything.
It seemed he had no choice but to play his trump card.
Xiao Fang cleared his throat. “President Fei, I have something I’d like to show you in private.”
“No need.” Fei Xiangnan had no more patience to waste on him. He leaned back on the sofa, his long, well-defined legs relaxed on the floor. “We’re all brothers here.”
Hearing this, the sunglasses-wearing, suit-clad strongmen puffed out their chests with even more vigor.
We’re all brothers my ass! Xiao Fang’s teeth itched with anger at Fei Xiangnan’s arrogance, but he maintained a sycophantic look on his face.
Although it was a bit premature to reveal his hand, he had no other choice.
Xiao Fang took a deep breath, pulled his phone out of his pocket, and found a photo. Just as he was about to hand it to Fei Xiangnan, the two men in black beside him stepped forward, blocking his way.
Suppressing his frustration, Xiao Fang obediently and fawningly handed the phone to one of the men.
Even though Fei Xiangnan had said they were all brothers, the man in black remained professional, handing the phone over without so much as a glance at the screen. Fei Xiangnan looked at it with a playful smile, but his expression gradually grew serious, eventually turning contemplative.
“Should I congratulate you?” Fei Xiangnan’s voice finally broke the long silence.
Xiao Fang chuckled. “You should congratulate yourself, too.”
The bodyguards on the side looked on in confusion, watching the two men speak in riddles.
“You all can leave now.” Fei Xiangnan’s attitude had completely changed. He tossed aside his cigar and stood up.
The strongmen in suits thought, Boss, what happened to ‘we’re all brothers’?
Faced with their boss’s firm expression, the men in black whimpered internally and retreated.
The hotel room door opened and closed.
Fei Xiangnan was like a different person, his earlier laziness replaced by a cold indifference. He looked at Xiao Fang. Killing the man before him should have been an effortless task, but the contents of that photo had, by a stroke of luck, become Xiao Fang’s final, powerful shield.
“I’m not one for jokes.”
Xiao Fang certainly understood the importance of this transaction; his life depended on it. He wiped the smile from his face. “I’m not one to joke with my life, either.” The knife on the table was still there, a fresh reminder!
Fei Xiangnan looked down at the photo on the phone again. It bore the logo of a reputable hospital in the city. Skipping past a long stretch of professional terminology, Fei Xiangnan’s eyes landed on the words “eight weeks pregnant.”
The amount of information was overwhelming. He never expected Xiao Fang to be a hidden third gender, let alone pregnant. In this world, people had an unparalleled tolerance for third-gender individuals, and the government had even enacted a new set of laws specifically for them. This was to say nothing of a pregnant third gender.
“What do you mean, ‘congratulate myself’?” Fei Xiangnan pressed, catching the key point in Xiao Fang’s words.
Xiao Fang had also been shocked by this critical piece of information. The story of the original Xiao Fang had too many plot holes in this world. Perhaps his arrival had caused the world to automatically fill in these gaps. For example, Xiao Fang’s third-gender traits only awakened when he was eighteen. For another, he had once slept with this major villain. And for yet another, he was pregnant and in a hurry to marry Yan Yunyang because he didn’t dare to easily get an abortion.
“Because that check has your name written on it,” Xiao Fang reminded him carefully. He absolutely could not afford to anger this big shot right now.
Fei Xiangnan looked up at him. Xiao Fang wasn’t captivated by the handsome face; instead, he felt a chill run down his spine. He would bet that the last person Fei Xiangnan called “brother” was no longer among the living.
“Xiao Fang, I’ve really underestimated you,” the big shot stated coldly.
Gulp.
Xiao Fang couldn’t help but swallow again. He had underestimated the original owner of this body, too. To think he managed to climb into the villain’s bed before he died.
Fei Xiangnan’s gaze shifted from Xiao Fang’s face to his stomach, as if trying to stare a hole through it. Xiao Fang cautiously tried to move away, but the big shot’s gaze followed him.
“You didn’t say you were a third gender back then.”
Xiao Fang scratched his head, looking innocent. “Well, nobody told me. I only found out after I got pregnant, you know.”
Fei Xiangnan didn’t reply. Seeing the glint in his eyes, Xiao Fang was certain he wasn’t thinking of anything good. He felt it was necessary to put his gift of gab to good use.
“President Fei, think about it. No matter how much of a failure Yan Yunyang is, he’s still the heir to the Yan Family.”
Fei Xiangnan snorted contemptuously. “You think I’m afraid of the Yan Family?”
“No, no, no!” Xiao Fang shook his head like a rattle drum. “The Yan Family is nothing in your eyes, of course. But what if Yan Yunyang decides to fight you to the bitter end? Xiao Qi is a popular star. Even if it doesn’t hurt your foundation, it won’t do your reputation any good, right? But look at me, it’s different. I’m the legitimate son, an 18th-tier actor. If this gets out, people will just curse me for trying to climb the social ladder. It definitely won’t affect your reputation, President Fei. What do you think?”
Fei Xiangnan weighed the options in his mind, and the scales began to tip.
“If you reveal your third-gender identity, you’ll have no trouble finding another partner. And from what I understand, you’re supposed to hate this little brother of yours. Why would you cover for him?” Fei Xiangnan retorted.
Xiao Fang righteously refused. “President Fei, I have absolutely no intention of helping Xiao Qi. I’m doing this for you.” His dramatic declaration thoroughly disgusted Fei Xiangnan.
“The government is getting stricter about third-gender abortions. Do you want your own son calling another man ‘dad’? And with my taste, who knows what kind of nouveau riche brat I’ll find. Do you want that kind of person to cuckold you for the rest of your life? Or maybe I’ll remarry, and then my son will have to call yet another person ‘dad’…”
“That’s enough!” Fei Xiangnan couldn’t listen anymore. He could guarantee that the only reason Xiao Fang was still alive today was because of the child in his belly.
“If you can’t produce anything in eight months…” Fei Xiangnan threatened.
“Absolutely not!” Xiao Fang’s heart, which had been hanging by a thread for nearly twenty minutes, finally settled. It seemed he had won this negotiation.
According to the plot that followed, the national business tycoon Elder Liu would take a fancy to Yan Yunyang’s assets and quietly transfer all power to him. It was at that moment that the ever-proud Fei Xiangnan would be utterly defeated. Yan Yunyang would get his revenge for the past humiliation and live happily ever after with Xiao Qi.
But today, Xiao Fang had successfully turned the tables with his glib tongue. Thinking about it, he felt a little proud. His good little brother would surely remember his heroic sacrifice today and let him off the hook. Then, once everything calmed down, he could take his son and leave. The thought was rather exciting.
Xiao Fang grinned. Maybe he could make a better life for himself in this world.
“Xiao Fang, I was wrong about you. Your calculations today were truly brilliant. You not only dispelled my intentions for Xiao Qi, but you also raised your brother’s opinion of you. Yan Yunyang’s company may not be much now, but he still has the Yan Family behind him. In the end, you’ll have a foothold in both families. Tsk, clever.” Fei Xiangnan was no fool. It only took a little thought to guess Xiao Fang’s intentions.
He said all this just to let Xiao Fang know that no matter what schemes he had, he should never cross his bottom line. He did need a child to deal with the malevolent characters in his family, but this child would by no means be his only one.
Seeing Fei Xiangnan’s serious and somewhat intimidating expression, Xiao Fang scratched his head and chuckled foolishly. “President Fei, you’re overthinking it. I wouldn’t dare have designs on the Fei Family. It’s just that getting rid of this child would be too much trouble for me. If I were found out, it might even affect my family. Since you’ll have me, it’s all for the best. If you don’t like me, you can divorce me right after the baby is born. But as a condition, I hope you won’t make a move on my little brother. After all, the Xiao Family behind him isn’t strong enough to withstand you.”
Fei Xiangnan sneered. Unlike Xiao Qi, this older brother of his was far more aware of the bigger picture. This was quite different from the Xiao Fang he knew.
“I hope you still feel the same way after the child is born. Otherwise, killing Xiao Qi or the Xiao Family would be a piece of cake for me.” Fei Xiangnan’s gaze fell on the knife on the table.
“Understood!” Xiao Fang stood up straight, not daring to have any crooked thoughts. It seemed the negotiation was a success. However, the fact that there was really a child in his belly was still a bit hard for him to accept. How on earth does a man give birth?
Fei Xiangnan sized up Xiao Fang for a while, a decision forming in his mind. The days to come should be very interesting.
“Go home and get your documents. Be at the Civil Affairs Bureau before five.” Fei Xiangnan’s cold tone shattered Xiao Fang’s fantasy. Xiao Fang snapped back to reality, stunned.
The… the Civil Affairs Bureau? So fast?!! Do all big shots think this erratically?