“What is this… some kind of formation?”

Lying on the hospital bed, Qin Cheng murmured faintly. In an instant, he sat upright against the headboard—the IV tube on his right hand nearly snapping from the sudden motion.

The doctor and nurse nearby froze in shock, but professionalism kicked in. They rushed to check on him.

A middle-aged woman and man stood close by. The woman’s face flushed with worry as she hurried to Qin Cheng’s side, gently ruffling his hair with tender affection.

“Cheng, don’t move. You’re hurt. The doctor said several ribs are broken. You need quiet rest, okay?”

Her doting tone left Qin Cheng stunned. He stiffened, letting her touch his head.

*Damn. How dare you mess with my head? I’ll kill you!*

Instinct screamed to punch this insolent person—but this battered body barely held strength. All he could do was fume helplessly inwardly.

Yet… under another’s roof, you bow your head.

“I know… stop rubbing,” he rasped, voice trembling as if through clenched teeth. Shame surged at the touch.

*Him—the mighty Demon Sovereign—patted on the head by a mortal?!*

*You touched me?!*

*Touch me?!*

*Could he endure this?*

The woman froze, staring blankly at him. Crystal tears welled in her eyes. “Mmm… Mom won’t touch you anymore… Be good, Cheng… Don’t scare Mom like this again…”

Her sorrowful gaze, humble plea, and glistening tears felt painfully sharp to Qin Cheng.

He suppressed the twitch at his eye, the urge to strike. *Let her go… for now. Once healed, she’ll pay. Even as this body’s mother—touching the Demon Sovereign has consequences.*

*Yes. Lie low first.*

His gaze snapped to the corner. A stern-faced middle-aged man watched them with open disdain.

“Hmph. Spoiling this useless brat again? Disgusting. He’s awake—let’s go. Now.”

Without a second glance at Qin Cheng, the man turned and strode out.

But the hot-tempered Qin Cheng froze. His eyes locked on the man’s head.

A border frame flashed—gone in a blink. Yet Qin Cheng memorized it perfectly.

*[Antagonist Boss #1]*

He fell into deep thought.

“I’ll go too… Rest well, Cheng, okay?” The woman reluctantly patted his head again, hugged him gently, kissed his cheek—then left under the man’s impatient urging.

Silence settled. Only a young nurse remained, sitting quietly in the corner scrolling her phone. The Demon Sovereign slumped in utter despondency.

After a long pause:

“Hey. You. Got a mirror?”

The Demon Sovereign rallied, turning his head.

“Yeah. Want it?” She tilted her head, pulled a small mirror from her pocket, and asked blankly.

Qin Cheng’s temper flared. *Is she messing with me?* He clenched his fist. “If I don’t want it—do *you*?”

“It’s mine. Of course I want it.” She tossed her hair, innocently clueless.

“Ugh! Testing my patience? Doing this on purpose?”

“What purpose?”

“Just say—yes or no?”

“No.”

“Damn! What the hell? Why?!”

“It’s mine. I don’t lend it.”

“Just borrow it.”

“Here,” she said, handing it over.

Qin Cheng stared at the mirror. Silence.

*Did she just insult my intelligence?*

He glanced at his reflection. Furrowed brows. A stranger’s face—handsome enough to be called a pretty boy, but nowhere near his former glory.

*Confidently shameless thought: Still decent. But… lacking.*

“What’s my name? Identity? Why here? Who hurt me?”

“Qin Cheng. Heir of Azure Cloud Group—the young master. Fell down the stairs.”

“Group? What’s that?”

“Um… hard to explain. Just… super powerful?”

“What’s *your* name?”

“I didn’t call anyone?”

“No—*your* name?!”

“I didn’t call a duck?!”

“You… must’ve had a rough childhood alone, huh?”

“Nope! Mom and Dad raised me. Never alone. Were *you*?”

“I… you… damn!”

Thus began the Demon Sovereign’s first day in this new world—a rebirth forged in fury.

…

Over the next days, Qin Cheng pieced together the original owner’s memories.

A careless, lecherous spoiled rich kid. Relied on family power to act arrogantly. Committed unconscionable deeds—even an attempted assault, hushed up. Truly notorious.

But to Qin Cheng? Child’s play. He felt nothing.

Recently, the original owner confessed to a campus beauty, got rejected, then plotted to ambush her after school.

Until Yu Zhe appeared—a male student who effortlessly dismantled him and his lackeys in seconds, leaving him broken.

Two fractured ribs. Utterly wrecked.

Seemingly trivial…

Yet Qin Cheng noticed something strange in the memory.

Above Yu Zhe’s head—a border frame. Constantly lit. Never fading.

*[Protagonist]*

And above his own head…

*[Failed Antagonist (a foolish stepping stone destined to be defeated)]*

…Now *this* was getting interesting.