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

Inside the activity hall on the other side, Hao Lan crouched on the floor dismantling light bulbs. He removed the outer packaging before handing them to Bo Jingmo.

"Bro, should we sneak out and take a look?"

This rundown warehouse had nothing interesting - staying here was such a waste of time.

Bo Jingmo accepted the bulb and replied calmly, "No need. We'll stay here."

After screwing in the final bulb, he climbed down the stepladder. "I'll put this back in the warehouse."

"Got it. I'll take out this trash then." Hao Lan gathered up the cardboard scraps on the floor.

Just as Bo Jingmo was about to nod, his peripheral vision caught a woman hurrying past. He turned his head to look.

Noticing this, Hao Lan also followed his gaze. "Isn't that the old lady from earlier?"

Bo Jingmo folded the stepladder and looked down at Hao Lan still crouching on the floor. "Follow her."

Weren't we just told to stay here?

But Hao Lan didn't question further, standing up to leave.

Then came the man's slightly exasperated voice from behind: "Take the trash with you. If discovered, say you couldn't find the garbage disposal area."

He immediately stopped, scratching his nose sheepishly. "Heh, Brother Bo always thinks of everything."

After Hao Lan left, Bo Jingmo opened the warehouse door. Setting down the stepladder, his eyes swept across the interior.

That woman had exited from here earlier.

His gaze landed on a cardboard box on the floor. Approaching it, he reached out.

Inside were packed art supplies.

Bo Jingmo lowered his eyes in thought before selecting a black pen. Testing it lightly on his hand to confirm it worked, he pocketed it.

Soon, Hao Lan returned and reported his findings: "Bro, that old lady went to this really remote house... um, about that house..."

Scratching his head while searching for words, he was interrupted by Bo Jingmo: "Pointy roof? Looked like a church?"

Hao Lan's eyes lit up as he clapped. "Yes yes! Exactly! At first glance I thought it really was a church."

Bo Jingmo rubbed the pen in his pocket between his fingers before looking up. "Unless I'm mistaken, Hou Liang should be moving things there."

After all, that house...

"Does that mean there are clues there?"

Hao Lan picked up Bo Jingmo's train of thought, sighing with hands on hips. "They got lucky."

The man glanced at him. "You think they're lucky?"

Hao Lan nodded honestly. "Don't you think so, Brother Bo?"

With a low chuckle, the man strode outward. "Sure. But good fortune doesn't guarantee everything. Too much luck might attract unwanted attention - even get exploited by others."

Turning to see the younger man still standing there, he raised an eyebrow.

"For example... exploited by us."

Hao Lan was still processing the previous statement when this new revelation made him exclaim in admiration: "Bro! You're amazing!"

Ahhh, this is why following a pro is the best! Huang Ya, your past decision was absolutely correct!

Lush green leaves obscured pedestrians' views until, after traversing a cobblestone path through the grove, a retro-styled exquisite tower came into sight.

Its spire pierced the heavens, intricate carvings covering its surface that cast dappled shadows under sunlight's caress, exuding an aura of mysterious eccentricity.

Hao Lan was about to comment on the beautiful architecture when he noticed Bo Jingmo staring upward at the tower's peak.

After a long pause, the man finally spoke softly.

"Let's go in."

Meanwhile, inside the spire...

Hou Liang lifted a cardboard box from the floor before addressing the woman nearby: "Where should I put this?"

She pointed to a room. "Place it there."

Then added, "After moving everything, you may leave. I need to go upstairs - but remember, you cannot follow."

He couldn't?

A thoughtful glint flashed through Hou Liang's eyes as he complied, entering the designated room.

The unsealed box was loosely covered. Seizing the opportunity, he peeked inside.

...Drawing paper?

Before he could ponder further, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

"Hou Liang, need any help here?"

Instinctively covering the box's contents, he turned to face the newcomers.

"What are you two doing here?"

Hao Lan blinked with flawless innocence. "Helping you? Isn't it obvious?"

Brother Bo had taught him - surviving scenarios required mastering the art of strategic lies.

Hou Liang closed the door behind him. "I'm done here. No assistance needed."

Noticing Bo Jingmo eyeing the room behind him, he subtly blocked the view.

"See something interesting?"

Bo Jingmo looked at him before suddenly smiling. "Just looking around. Why so tense?"

Hou Liang stiffened slightly. Truthfully, he wasn't keen on sharing intel with Bo Jingmo.

After last scenario's events, how could he not hold some resentment?

Fortunately, Bo Jingmo seemed merely making conversation.

His gaze swept the surroundings. "Where's that woman? I need to discuss something."

"Probably... upstairs?"

Hou Liang immediately regretted his words, quickly adding, "But she said we can't go up. You should wait here with me."

Since the woman had forbidden him from ascending, surely that applied to all volunteers? Therefore Bo Jingmo staying was perfectly reasonable.

Hou Liang saw no flaw in this logic.

Yet the man ignored his follow-up, heading straight for the stairs. "I'll find her myself."

"Hey! If you go now and something happens, she'll blame me!" Hou Liang hastily blocked his path.

In response, Bo Jingmo gave him a sidelong glance.

"Simple solution - leave now. Any consequences are mine alone, nothing to do with you."

Hou Liang's arm froze. Truthfully, that wasn't his actual concern.

For some reason, he simply didn't want the other going upstairs.

Bo Jingmo seemed to notice this odd resistance, his lips curving meaningfully. "What's this? Blocking my access to clues?"

Beside them, Hao Lan's eyes darted between them, sensing tension.

He flashed Bo Jingmo a look before throwing an arm around Hou Liang's neck. "Dude, you're not seriously being this stingy? You know there are clues upstairs but won't share?"

Hou Liang frowned. "That's not what I meant..."

Prying off Hao Lan's overly friendly arm with some effort, he turned back to find Bo Jingmo already vanished up the steps.

Hou Liang clicked his tongue silently, shifting his glare to Hao Lan.

"That was deliberate?"

Hao Lan gazed skyward with angelic innocence. "What? I don't know anything about being deliberate."

"..."

Just as Hou Liang was about to retort, a voice sounded from above.

"What's going on down there?"

The woman descended the stairs, her gaze first landing on Hou Liang before noticing Hao Lan's unexpected presence.

Her brows instantly furrowed.

"What are you doing here?"