Film and Television: The Villain's Life Begins with Joy of Life

Blue Star, China, a second-tier city.

Zhou Cheng sprawled on the sofa, scrolling through his phone with one hand. The light from the screen shone on his oily face, flickering in and out.

The ancient costume martial arts drama that I've been following for more than half a month is now reaching its final climax.

The background music gradually builds, heavy and steady, imbued with a sense of authority and oppression.

"Yes, yes, that's it!" he muttered, his eyes wide. "Awesome! Quickly take down these lunatics!"

The joy lasted only a few seconds.

In the next shot, the music shifts, becoming both tragic and stirring, as if something is silently gathering strength.

"—No way?"

A bad feeling arose.

really!

Holy crap!

Zhou Cheng suddenly jumped up from the sofa, his hand gripping the phone trembling:

"So cliché? It's that 'love without limits' trope again? And it's that damn love-saves-the-world thing again!"

"Screenwriter, you son of a bitch! Even if the villain can't win, would it kill them to have a little more screen time?!"

Before they could finish venting their emotions, the music on their phone had already become soft and warm, and in the scene, amidst the devastated ruins, only two figures remained, tightly embracing each other.

The finale is out.

The music was very emotional, and the visuals were quite touching, but Zhou Cheng was not moved at all; he only felt so angry that his liver ached.

"The ending is always the same... the villain's fate is always predetermined..."

When they're victimized, no one comes to their rescue. Then they break down, become twisted, and achieve unparalleled power, and the protagonist just jumps in, shouting slogans, and kills them all... It's too difficult! It's just too difficult!

He felt aggrieved by the villain in the drama.

From the very beginning of the series, he watched as the villain suffered all sorts of injustices, humiliations, discrimination, and exploitation, transforming from a righteous, innocent, and enthusiastic young man into a ruthless, paranoid, and suspicious madman.

During this process, the main characters also played an irreplaceable role.

As a result, this villain, who was so realistic, pitiful, and even empathetic, still couldn't escape the fate of being defeated by the two smug, hypocritical, and sanctimonious "protagonists" who only knew how to kiss and fall in love from beginning to end!

Even though we were prepared for the villains to eventually fail, the defeat came as abruptly as the run under the setting sun that afternoon.

This is what makes people lose their temper!

"I wasted my money on the membership; I should have just bought dog food for my dog!"

Zhou Cheng gripped his phone, seething with anger.

He paced back and forth, feeling frustrated and unable to vent his anger.

Just then, a series of cold, mechanical voices suddenly rang in my ears!

【Ding--】

[Strong 'villain empathy' detected, meeting binding conditions... System binding in progress...]

[Ding—Congratulations, host, you have obtained the Movie Villain System!]

[The fake villain: acts erratically, illogically, and evil for the sake of evil; the real villain: has a clear goal, unwavering will, is not bound by worldly constraints, and can do what others cannot!]

This system aims to cultivate the host into a 'true villain' who travels through various film and television worlds, breaking free from predetermined fate and achieving a villainous legend! Completing system tasks will yield generous rewards.

The system uses "negative emotions" as resources to activate multiple functional modules, assisting the host's growth.

[Random trial world automatically selected... Currently locked: Joy of Life]

[Congratulations, host, you have received the New Player Assistance Pack!]

[Gift Pack Opening: You can designate one item to bring into the movie/TV world]

[Acquire Trial Quest Immediately? Yes/No]

A barrage of notification sounds left Zhou Cheng dizzy. He was just about to ask, "What happened?"

A semi-transparent panel appeared before his eyes, and the text records on it refreshed, startling him!

This is?

system?

Zhou Cheng pinched his cheek, making sure he wasn't delusional from anger.

Looking at the panel in front of him that was gleaming faintly, his hands began to tremble uncontrollably!

He's nearly thirty and has accomplished nothing. Not long ago, he managed to buy a bare-bones apartment in this second-tier city with the hard-earned money of his parents.

All the savings I had accumulated over the years were spent on the house, leaving me completely destitute.

He was just thinking about saving up two more months' salary to renovate the floor when the system appeared!

Zhou Cheng took a deep breath and tried to touch it with his hand, but it didn't work.

He then tried communicating with his mind, and it worked.

He quickly selected "yes".

A new notification popped up immediately.

[Villain Mission Acquired: A true villain must possess unparalleled martial prowess and an aura of supreme dominance!]

[Task 1: Before Fan Xian goes to the capital, he must break through to the Grandmaster level in martial arts.]

[Mission Two: Defeat Emperor Qing, seize the throne of Southern Qing, and rule the world.]

[Start the trial immediately? Yes/No]

After reading the prompt, Zhou Cheng's confidence, which had been high just a second ago, turned completely shattered the next second!

He's very familiar with the TV series "Joy of Life". He's not only watched the first and second seasons several times, but he's also read the original novel several times.

It was precisely because he was familiar with it that he knew just how "holy crap" this mission was!

Scratching his head, Zhou Cheng thought for a while and then thought of the communication system:

"This mission is way too difficult. Um... what if we fail? Will there be any punishment?"

He wouldn't dare try something like being wiped out if he failed.

[Mission Failed: System unbinding. Lifespan consumed in the movie/TV world will be deducted from the host's real-world lifespan.]

"hiss--"

Zhou Cheng gasped.

This punishment is better than annihilation, but it doesn't seem much better!

He couldn't help but say:

"This...you're kidding, right?"

[Ding—Host confirmed!]

[Ding—Host's second confirmation complete! The Joy of Life world is now open...]

"?"

Zhou Cheng's eyes widened in surprise.

"Wait! When did I confirm...?"

Before the exclamation had even faded, a dazzling white light appeared out of nowhere, instantly engulfing everything in the room.

......

In the 64th year of the Qingli reign, in the second month of spring.

The Qixia Hall of the Qing Kingdom's Imperial Palace.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on a clear, full-length mirror.

Zhou Cheng stood quietly in front of the mirror, his face reflecting a youthful innocence.

His body was stiff, and he allowed several older palace maids around him to take care of him.

Soon, another beautiful woman in palace attire appeared in the mirror, with graceful features and an elegant demeanor.

Looking at the child's blank expression in the mirror, a doting smile appeared on her face.

She waved her hand gently, and the palace maids withdrew.

"Cheng'er, don't be nervous."

The woman spoke softly as she walked behind him and gently straightened his collar.

"Today, the whole country is holding a temple ceremony, your father is hosting a banquet for his officials, and he will also be selecting a tutor for you. This is a great thing."

Seeing the man in the mirror with his brows furrowed even more and his face almost contorted in a grimace, Consort Li couldn't help but chuckle and hug him from behind.

"At the banquet, there will be attendants to guide you. Just listen to what your father says."

After saying that, she whispered in his ear:

"The Second Prince will also be choosing a teacher with you. The Second Prince is different from the Crown Prince, so you should perform well and compete for what you should. If you can surpass him, it will be very beneficial in the future."

You might not understand what I'm saying now, but you will when you're older!

In the mirror, Zhou Cheng grinned.

do not know?

He knows it so well!

If he successfully chooses a teacher and begins his studies today, there will be no "later" for him!

Just last night, he fully awakened his Earth memories and integrated them with all his experiences over the past eight years.

He was Zhou Cheng, also known as Li Chengcheng, and was the third son of Emperor Qing.

The gentle woman behind him was his birth mother, Consort Li.

When he first learned his identity, he thought that the unreliable system had finally given him a perfect start.

But after carefully sorting through his memories, he suddenly realized that he had been tricked by the system again!

This person's age is only one year different from Fan Xian's. In the story, Fan Xian was probably around sixteen years old when he entered the capital.

He is currently only a beginner in literacy and has never practiced martial arts.

What does this mean?

This means that the system's first task has given him a maximum of eight to nine years!

Eight or nine years is enough time, on Earth, to complete at most nine years of compulsory education.

Now, to transform him from a child with no martial arts background into a martial arts grandmaster who is practically a god in less than ten years, what is this if not a joke?

Despite having extraordinary luck and being blessed with a cheat code, the protagonist Fan Xian ultimately only reached the ninth rank.

Putting aside his talent for martial arts, and whether he has the potential and opportunity, the most pressing issue right now is—

"Studying under a literary master, learning classics and history, understanding etiquette... Emperor Qing's arrangement is clearly leading me down the path of literature. Even learning martial arts is a problem!"

Zhou Cheng felt a chill in his heart.

Who is Emperor Qing?

The Supreme Lord of Southern Qing, a hidden Grandmaster, is the ultimate boss who treats everyone in the world as pawns and has an almost abnormal desire for control!

In the Qing Kingdom, especially within the deep palace, the Emperor Qing's will is the will of Heaven! It is the law of Heaven! No one can defy his will!

He has no right to say 'no' except to obey!

According to the plot, by the time he can establish his own government and not be directly exposed to Emperor Qing, Fan Xian's carriage will probably be leisurely making its way to the capital!

There is no time for the future.

Now, he doesn't have nearly enough time left!

"This...this is a hopeless situation from the very beginning!"

Zhou Cheng racked his brains but still couldn't come up with a single clue.

He was just an ordinary prince who was not particularly valued and whose mother's family was not powerful. His life was so simple that it was almost transparent, and he was tightly bound to the rules of the palace.

You can't rely on yourself, and you can't rely on the people around you either.

"You damn system! You brought me to this place, so show some respect!"

Zhou Cheng was full of resentment.

The first thing he did after awakening was to summon the system.

However, apart from the display panel, the system has not added any new functions.

The promised "multiple functional modules" and "assistance to host growth" are nowhere to be found.

He received feedback from the communication panel that the system functions could only be activated gradually if the prerequisites were met.

Can you ask about the specific conditions...?

There was no response!

Let him guess?

Who knows what those damn conditions are?

If it can't be activated immediately, or even if it takes ten or eight years to activate, the mission will have failed and the person may have died. What's the point of activating it then?

"Oh, right!" Zhou Cheng suddenly remembered a crucial question.

"I almost forgot to ask the system, what if I want to quit halfway through a task that can't be completed?"

He has been in this world for eight years. Even if he goes back now, according to the punishment rules, he will have a full eight years of his real lifespan deducted.

However, if things truly become unmanageable, cutting losses in time is a wise choice.

This time, the system feedback came very quickly.

Upon receiving the reply, Zhou Cheng was stunned.

He subconsciously turned his neck to look around.

Beside me stood a solemn, vermilion brick wall, and above me, heavy beams adorned with intricate, colorful paintings...

His gaze returned, and his little face scrunched up as if he'd eaten a bitter melon.

"This is way too hardcore! Isn't there... a slightly more elegant way?"