After Transmigrating into a Novel with My Boyfriend, He Turned Out to Be a Native Villain

Leaning against a tree, Yu Li watched as Elia’s family disappeared into the distance, her face contemplative, lost in thought.

"Sis, what are you looking at?" the system asked curiously.

Now that the audience’s perspective had shifted away, the system had no way of knowing why Yu Li was still watching the protagonists.

Yu Li tilted her head slightly at the question, her cool blue eyes sweeping over the suddenly appearing Joeci. "Can’t you see it? There’s a ghost attached to her."

And not just any ghost—a man.

A few minutes ago, when Yu Li was about to invite the family to her home, Joeci had appeared out of nowhere, her flowing green-dyed hair tangled with leaves as if she had been rolling around in the grass.

The moment she saw Yu Li, her pupils constricted, but she quickly averted her gaze, clearly looking guilty. It was the kind of expression that suggested she recognized Yu Li but was pretending not to.

She then turned to Elia in a hurry. "Mom, let’s go home! Don’t we have a lot of cleaning to do?!"

Her voice was rushed, as if she couldn’t wait to get away.

"I... I tripped and passed out. I just woke up." Joeci mumbled before grabbing Elia’s arm, trying to pull her away. "Let’s just go home already! I can’t stand being this dirty!"

"Wait a moment, Joeci, let me introduce you. This is our neighbor, Filia... Auntie."

Elia, of course, wasn’t going to just leave like that. She stopped and turned to Joeci, making the introduction.

Then she turned back to Yu Li. "Filia, this is our second daughter, Joeci."

Yu Li propped her chin on her hand, her eyes curving into a smile. "What a lovely little girl."

But Joeci avoided her gaze entirely, refusing to acknowledge her and instead turning back to Elia. "Mom, I really want to go home. We have so much to do, don’t we?"

Elia unconsciously frowned at her daughter’s rudeness. However, since Joeci was often like this, she didn’t find it too unusual. Instead, she merely offered Yu Li an apologetic smile.

"Then we’ll be heading back for now. Next time, we’ll make sure to thank you properly."

Yu Li chuckled behind her hand, her posture elegant. "You’re too kind, dear."

But her gaze never left Joeci, eyes thoughtful.

The live chat was also full of speculation.

[Is Joeci possessed?]

[I’d bet on it. From what I remember, that rope was supposed to imprison a ghost. It wasn’t supposed to be cut so easily, but since Hou Liang broke it, a male ghost appeared ahead of schedule.]

[Oh crap, does that mean this instance just got harder? The ghost wasn’t supposed to show up yet!]

[Xi Xi is in trouble, QAQ.]

[I don’t know how this will play out, but what I’m most curious about is the neighbor! In previous runs, she barely had any screen time—she was supposed to disappear early on. I’m so excited for this one!!]

[Me too! Gorgeous auntie, wait, I mean Filia! I still can’t believe she’s thirty-five! She doesn’t look it at all!!]

Yu Li couldn’t see the live chat, but the system relayed some of the key points to her.

This was actually very helpful to Yu Li, since she had no idea what the actual plot was.

Not only did the system not have the original novel’s plot, it also didn’t have the instance’s script. Yu Li could only rely on whatever memories she could extract from NPCs.

Unfortunately, the NPCs had very little useful information, so she had to piece things together and improvise.

One thing was certain—the male ghost knew her.

And he wasn’t just afraid of her.

No.

Yu Li immediately overturned that assumption.

He hated her.

She clearly remembered the flash of resentment in his eyes.

Watching the group disappear into the woods, Yu Li finally turned and headed toward her own home. "So, which ones were the protagonists?"

"The couple," the system answered. "They should be the male and female leads."

"And what about Bo Jingmo?" Yu Li thought back to the couple’s appearance. "Do they look different from reality? Or are they like me, forced to use an NPC’s face?"

Her current appearance was drastically different from her real self—she wasn’t even the same person. If there was any resemblance at all, it would only be in her eyes, both being classic fox-like eyes with a slight upward tilt.

"They only have slight modifications," the system explained. "Sis, we sneaked in through a backdoor. We can’t let anyone find out, or the consequences will be serious."

Yu Li: "…"

And who was she doing this for?

Thinking back to how the system had stolen data for her, Yu Li felt a headache coming on.

As soon as she heard that there was a ranking system, she had asked the system to steal Bo Jingmo’s ranking from the protagonists’ files.

She had assumed that, given Bo Jingmo’s abilities, he would be near the top. At the very least, he should have been in the middle rankings—after all, back in the real world, this man thrived in competitive scenarios, his achievements countless.

But when she saw Bo Jingmo’s name at the bottom of the leaderboard, Yu Li nearly blacked out.

Five stars? Out of ten? He only got half??

Her boyfriend was the so-called slacker actor?!

The bright red numbers at the bottom of the list were so eye-catching that Yu Li was silent for a full five minutes.

Bo Jingmo, are you really this patriotic?

Because aside from that, she couldn’t think of any other reason.

So the current situation was—she had just arrived, but her boyfriend was already on the verge of dying?

The system scanned the live chat and relayed more information to Yu Li.

"Based on the chat, Bo Jingmo might be a ghost. And from what they’re saying, he always plays a ghost and doesn’t have any awareness? Sis, what does ‘no awareness’ mean? Is it like losing memory?"

Yu Li took a deep breath and said nothing. She simply returned to her courtyard, collapsed onto a rocking chair, and shut her eyes. She needed a moment to calm down.

Under the golden sunlight, her striking features appeared even more mesmerizing. Her long golden hair cascaded behind her, and her ethereal beauty was reminiscent of a demon that thrived on stealing one’s essence.

"It doesn’t matter. Just relax." Her tone was indifferent. "We just have to wait for the protagonists to start the plot. Keep an eye on the live chat—if anything happens, let me know."

As for Bo Jingmo?

She’d wait and see.

—

Meanwhile, inside the other villa, Jiang Xi instructed Hou Liang to quickly tidy up the bedrooms before placing Joeger on the bed. Only after confirming that she was truly just sleeping did she leave the room.

Noticing the scratches on Jodie’s ankle, she motioned for her to sit down. "Baby, let me put some medicine on that."

Jodie glanced around and frowned. "Mom, where’s Joeci?"

Hou Liang, who was tidying up nearby, replied, "She went upstairs. Said she wanted to take a shower and rest. I checked the water pipes—they’re fine. You should rest after this too."

Jodie nodded, but she still felt uneasy. "Dad, I think Joeci is acting weird. She barely spoke on the way back, and when I asked her where she went, she wouldn’t say anything."

Truthfully, what Jodie really wanted to say was—this whole villa felt strange.

Whether it was the eerie incidents with her sisters or the unsettling lake and woods—everything about this place felt wrong.

Hou Liang and Jiang Xi were well aware that something was off, but as the protagonists of a horror film, they could only shake their heads and reassure Jodie gently. "Baby, you’re just exhausted today. Get some rest, okay? This place is wonderful, isn’t it? And besides, we have such a beautiful neighbor."

Thinking of that goddess-like face, Jodie’s cheeks reddened slightly, and she gave a small nod.

Maybe her parents were right—she was just overthinking things.

That beautiful auntie had lived here for so long without any problems. Maybe it was just her imagination.

[Here we go, the classic ‘it’s just my imagination’ trope.]

[I mean, understandable. They just bought the house, they can’t just up and leave, right?]

[No, but seriously, isn’t anyone questioning how that neighbor auntie is thirty-five and still looks that stunning?!]

After getting some medicine on her wound, Jodie stood up, the grime on her body making her frown uncomfortably. "Mom, I’m going upstairs to change."

Jiang Xi smiled as she put away the medical supplies. "Alright, go ahead."

—

At the same time, in the attic hallway, Joeci stood at the bottom of the stairs, staring at the dark loft above.

Her lifeless eyes were fixed on the shadows, and in her white dress with damp green hair clinging to her back, she looked eerily unnatural.

The haughty, energetic girl from earlier was gone.

Now, she stood like a corpse that had been dead for years.

Her once-light-colored irises had turned completely black, and the darkness spread until her entire eyes were consumed in pitch black voids.

Then, suddenly—she smiled.

Her pale face stretched into an unnatural grin, widening like something inhuman.

Joeci narrowed her pitch-black eyes, her expression filled with an indescribable fanaticism and devotion.

She murmured softly, her voice dissipating into the air.

"My dear young master…"

"I will help you wake from your slumber."

The moment the words fell from her lips, she placed a hand on the stairs and started to climb.

But just as she lifted her foot—

"Joeci, what are you doing?"

Jodie’s voice interrupted her.

Joeci’s movements froze.

The eerie smile vanished from her face, and a cold, sinister glint flashed through her pitch-black eyes.

When she lowered her gaze again, her eyes had returned to their original light brown.

Noticing Jodie waiting at the doorway, an annoyed look crossed her face. Without a hint of expression, she said, "Nothing. Just looking around."

Then, without sparing her sister another glance, she brushed past her and left.

Her movements were unnaturally stiff, like someone who had forgotten how to walk and was forcing themselves through the motions.

Joeci’s behavior was too strange.

Jodie pressed her lips together and glanced at the attic entrance.

But when she turned back toward the hallway, Joeci had already closed her bedroom door.

Jodie hesitated, torn between curiosity and hesitation.

But in the end, her curiosity won.

Step by step, she approached the attic stairs.

She looked up.

For a moment, her vision blurred.

Without realizing it, she had already stepped onto the staircase.

By the time she came back to her senses, her head had already peeked into the attic.

The space was small, illuminated only by a faint glow from the dusty window.

Cobweb-covered junk filled the cramped room—old, forgotten items from the previous owner.

Nothing seemed particularly strange.

Jodie let out an unconscious sigh of relief.

What was she so nervous about?

It was just an attic.

She was about to leave when something caught her eye.

A jar sat in the very center of the attic.

It was covered with a lid and looked completely ordinary—except for one thing.

A yellow paper talisman was placed on top.

The strangest part was that, despite the uneven surface of the lid and all the movement she had made climbing up here, the talisman hadn’t moved at all.

It remained perfectly still.

That wasn’t normal.

And the talisman itself… what was it?

Jodie had never seen anything like it. The strange symbols drawn on it felt wrong, and the more she stared, the harder it was to look away—

It was as if the jar was sucking her in.

"Jodie? Jodie?"

Her mother’s voice snapped her out of it.

Jodie jolted awake, a chill running down her spine.

"I’m here, Mom!" she quickly called back.

Hearing footsteps approaching, she hurriedly prepared to climb down.

But just before she left, her gaze lingered on the jar.

She hesitated.

Then, gritting her teeth—

She grabbed it.

—

Jiang Xi, not finding Jodie in her room, followed her voice upstairs. When she arrived, she saw Jodie standing near the attic entrance, looking a little guilty.

"Jodie, what are you doing up here?"

Jodie hid the jar behind her back and smiled. "Nothing, Mom. What’s up?"

"Joeger woke up. She’s looking for you."

Jiang Xi turned and motioned for her to come down. "Come on, this place is still covered in dust."

"Okay, Mom."

Jodie followed her mother downstairs.

The moment they left—

The attic stairs retracted on their own.

With a sudden clap, the attic door slammed shut.

Time slowly passed.

No one looked back at the attic again.

But something had already changed.

—

Later that night, Jodie sat on her bed, playing with Joeger, when she suddenly remembered the jar.

She turned toward the desk.

That was when she noticed—

The yellow paper talisman had turned to ashes.

Jodie’s hands froze.

Her pupils shrank.

A deep sense of dread crawled up her spine.

The talisman... burned on its own?

What… was it sealing?

Just as she was about to check the jar—

She froze again.

Outside her window—

The sky was filled with crows.

The entire sky had darkened unnaturally, and the eerie cries of the birds filled the air.

The distant church bell tolled, each ring echoing in her chest like a death knell.

Her heart pounded violently.

She watched in horror as the sky, which had just turned pitch black, suddenly snapped back to its normal sunset glow in an instant.

The leaves rustled in the woods.

The wind rippled across the lake.

And then—

A woman’s wail drifted through the air, a sorrowful voice filled with both laughter and weeping, sending a chill through the night.

—

Inside another room, Joeci stood stiffly by her bed, her expression blank.

Then, she sensed something.

Her dead eyes suddenly widened.

An intense, uncontrollable joy flashed across them.

Her pupils darkened again, and her lips stretched into a wild, twisted grin.

Her hands, hanging by her sides, trembled with excitement.

Their young master…

—had awoken.

—

In the attic, a shadowy figure slowly materialized.

His body was semi-transparent and black, his features obscured.

Only his pure black eyes could be seen—cold and indifferent.

His waist-length black hair draped behind him, and he wore an ink-colored traditional robe, its rich fabric exuding an air of nobility.

He stood by the window, unmoving.

The golden sunlight shone through his ghostly form, casting an unnatural glow.

His gaze remained fixed on the light on the floor, silent, lost in thought.

A few seconds passed.

Then, he moved.

He slowly turned his head toward the window, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.

Something smelled good.

Where was that scent coming from?

He reached a hand toward the window—

But the moment his fingers extended past the frame, a force repelled him, shocking his fingertips.

Retracting his hand, he furrowed his brows, irritation creeping in.

A sudden, violent urge to destroy something stirred inside him.

The man’s gaze turned icy as he locked eyes with the crow staring at him from outside. He clicked his tongue lightly.

Downstairs, Jiang Xi and Hou Liang were busy tidying up when—

Thud!

A crow suddenly slammed against the window, letting out a shrill, agonized cry.

Only then did they notice the strange commotion outside.

When they took a closer look, their bodies stiffened.

They exchanged glances, and in each other’s eyes, they saw the same heavy unease.

The wind howled violently.

Dark clouds rolled in.

This wasn’t just a change in the weather.

Something was coming.

Jiang Xi pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

Hou Liang pulled her into his arms. "It’s okay. Just like before—don’t be scared."

—

A single comment quietly slid across the live chat.

[Oh ho. Bo Jingmo has arrived.]

—

Receiving the system’s update, Yu Li slowly opened her eyes.

Her delicate face remained emotionless as she sat up, smoothing out her skirt.

Then, she paused mid-motion.

As if sensing something, she lifted her gaze.

From this angle, she could only see the large window of the distant villa.

And that window—

Was directly below the attic.

In that brief moment, she felt an invisible force, as if her gaze had locked onto someone else’s.