The person stood quietly hidden in the snowstorm, holding an umbrella steadily, neither speaking nor moving, like an ageless marble sculpture.

Xie Yu closed the window, thinking to himself, 'Strange.'

On such a snowy day, the sleet and wind were sharper than a knife. Standing there for half an hour would freeze a person numb.

He muttered in his heart, feeling that this person might be sick in the head. He stopped paying attention to it, sorted his luggage into their respective places, and took a quick shower.

The small hotel's showerhead had a slow water flow and the temperature wasn't high, making it awfully cold against his body. Xie Yu hastily dried his hair and glanced out the glass window, but the person was already gone.

The heavy snow had erased his tracks, as if he had never been there.

The System didn't feel cold. It floated in mid-air, happily flipping through the plot. Its fluorescent blue screen flashed as if cheering with joy.

Xie Yu: "Are you very happy?"

System: "Host! We only have the last two steps left. The! Last! Two! Steps!"

After returning to China, Xie Yu didn't have much of a storyline. Seven days later, Xie Yuanhai would hold a memorial banquet for Xie Yuanshan. He needed to attend, fake a few sobs, and then be forcibly abducted by Shen Ci at the banquet, have his fingers broken, and be locked up in a psychiatric hospital. Then the plot would end.

During this period, there wasn't even any real action required from Xie Yu. He just needed to let his mind wander, cooperate like a puppet, and finish acting out this scene.

The System checked Xie Yu's score. Although Xie Yu's acting skills were not up to standard and his detailed performances were a mess, fortunately, all the required plot points were hit, and the lines were spoken, albeit stumblingly. His current score was 85.

Overall Evaluation: "Your acting skills are truly terrible, but your redeeming quality is that you are diligent and very dedicated. Your overall evaluation is above average."

If it were before, the System would mourn how he got such a low score. But considering it was Xie Yu, it wanted to beg the heavens and earth, shouting thanks to all the Bodhisattvas for their protection.

This was Xie Yu! The Xie Yu who had pulled so many crazy stunts earlier! And he still managed to get an 85?!

If he just casually acted out the last two scenes, this was in the bag!

The System displayed fireworks on its screen, congratulating the smooth completion of the mission in advance.

Xie Yu stopped it. "Don't, absolutely don't. We're right at the finish line, please don't set any flags."

He pressed down the excited System and lay down on the small bed in the middle of the hotel room. The small bed couldn't bear the weight and creaked wildly, iron scraps rubbing against each other, emitting a sound like nails scratching a chalkboard.

This hotel was truly dilapidated. The bed was broken, the windows were broken, and drafts came in from all sides. The strong wind passing through the gaps emitted indescribable shrieks, like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves.

The System endured it for a bit but couldn't hold back anymore. "Host, are we really going to stay in this rundown place?"

Xie Yu rested with his eyes closed. "It's just for seven days, bear with it. Let's not cause any unnecessary trouble."

Over the course of seven days, Xie Yuanhai widely distributed invitations, inviting all the celebrities and socialites of Jiang City. He made it incredibly lively; those who knew understood he was holding a memorial service, but those who didn't might have thought he opened a bar and invited people to a rave.

On the seventh day, while Xie Yuanshan's body was still laid out in the living room and before the banquet started, Xie Yuanhai finally remembered he had a nephew. He sent Xie Yu an invitation, called a driver, and conveniently handed over a set of clothes.

The clothes consisted of a traditional suit with a double-breasted waistcoat and peak lapels. Xie Yu touched the fabric; it had a smooth drape, it was good material.

He changed into the clothes in front of the only full-length mirror in the hotel. The person in the mirror had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, looking tall, handsome, and remarkably imposing.

Xie Yu confirmed with the System, "For this final scene, I don't have to do anything, right?"

The System flipped through the novel. "No need, you're just a background character. As long as you cooperate and get dragged away by Shen Ci, you're good."

Xie Yu: "That's easy."

The driver drove all the way, dropping him off at the hotel. People were coming and going in the hall. The men were meticulously dressed, wearing ties and hair wax, while the women were lavishly dressed, exuding fragrance and elegance. Xie Yu weaved through them and found a secluded corner to sit down.

He took a glass of juice from a waiter. As he was drinking, his gaze suddenly drifted and landed on a certain spot in the corner.

There, a familiar figure flashed by.

Xie Yu frowned. "He Zhiyuan?"

The System was startled. "Wasn't this scumbag dragged back to the Capital City by his family's old man? Why is he here?"

Xie Yu withdrew his gaze. "Maybe I saw wrong."

They were far apart, and the crowd was dense; it was possible he had seen wrong.

At exactly eight o'clock, Xie Yuanhai arrived as expected. Radiant with smug satisfaction, he gave a long and stinky speech from the head seat, turning the memorial service into an inauguration ceremony. Afterwards, amidst thunderous applause, he acknowledged all directions to express his gratitude.

Xie Yu clapped perfunctorily and took a few pieces of pomelo from a waiter.

He wondered if there would still be pomelos to eat in the psychiatric hospital.

At this time, the secretary answered a phone call. Xie Yuanhai raised his hand to signal, and the sparse applause in the venue stopped. He immediately walked toward the door, straightened his tie, and the attendant beside him bowed to open the door, as if a heavyweight guest had arrived.

Xie Yuanhai was considered a top-tier figure in Jiang City. There weren't many people who could make him stand up to greet them. Many people at the banquet craned their necks in anticipation, curious about who had come.

Xie Yu already had half a foot in the psychiatric hospital and didn't care about this at all. He continued drinking his juice. It wasn't until the crowd in front had mostly parted that he lazily raised his eyes and took a casual glance over.

With just one glance, he was stunned.

The newcomer was wearing a traditional gray suit. The fitted waist design perfectly outlined his beautiful waistline, tempting people to place their hands on it and fiercely rub that curve. His legs were also long and beautiful, gathered in draped suit trousers. As he walked, only a slight hint of skin at his ankles was exposed. Complemented by his dark socks, his skin color was lustrous and jade-like, truly resembling the white glaze on porcelain.

Xie Yu didn't even need to look up at his face; just from this glimpse of his wrist, he knew the newcomer was Shen Ci.

"..."

Xie Yu's throat felt slightly bitter. He knew Shen Ci would come, but he didn't know Shen Ci would come this early.

In the novel, Shen Ci was already powerful and influential enough by this point that Xie Yuanhai had to give him some face. At the end of the banquet, he directly brought people in and seized the Young Master of the Xie Family on the spot, with no one in the entire venue daring to utter a sound.

But now, the banquet had just begun.

When the banquet was almost over, most people would have already left. Being dragged out then was quite different from being ridiculed in public and dragged out in front of a huge crowd. Xie Yu didn't look up. He unconsciously rubbed the wall of his glass, pretending not to know anything, as if this way, Shen Ci wouldn't be able to see him either.

Shen Ci was now a wildly popular nouveau riche in Jiang City. Countless people rushed up to curry favor with him. Before long, they had surrounded him so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through. Meanwhile, Xie Yu, as an expired Young Master, sat properly in the corner, not drawing any attention.

Xie Yu drank his juice. "Can't see me, yeah, he probably can't see me."

Unfortunately, things didn't go as one wished. The System hovered above his head, stuttering as it spoke, "H-h-h-host!"

"S-S-S-Shen Ci is coming over, be prepared to be dragged away!"

Xie Yu was already annoyed, and hearing it nag made him even more annoyed. He used the fruit platter to block his line of sight. "I said, if I get dragged away, I get dragged away. I'm the one being dragged away, not you. Why are you stuttering?"

The System wanted to cry but had no tears. "...You don't understand, Shen Ci has become a little bit scary."

Shen Ci's face was as noble and beautiful as always, but at this moment, he was expressionless with a dark gaze, inexplicably adding a bit of cold severity. He casually pushed aside the surrounding crowd, took a glass of wine from a waiter, and walked straight towards Xie Yu. His steps were steady, carrying an imposing aura of someone coming to settle scores.

Xie Yuanhai quickly followed, slightly stunned. "Mr. Shen, Mr. Shen, you should go to the center of the banquet. What are you doing going to this remote corner?"

Shen Ci stopped by a sofa five meters away from Xie Yu and sat sideways. Xie Yuanhai froze for a moment, assuming he only chose this place for some peace and quiet, so he sat down as well. The few of them began discussing recent industry trends as if no one else was around.

The System let out a sigh of relief. "He's not coming for you, Host."

Xie Yu was propping up his head, looking in another direction, pretending to be deep in thought. Hearing this, he slightly turned his neck and used his peripheral vision to look at Shen Ci. He didn't dare to look blatantly, only daring to take a hasty glance. The moment his gaze made contact, he withdrew it as if he had been burned.

Xie Yu: "Shen Ci... seems to have become prettier?"

Shen Ci was already very beautiful before. His brows and eyes were handsome, his temperament gentle, full of a scholar's literary aura. It was just that back then, he was still a student from a poor family. His clothes were baggy and old, not the right size, and his entire body couldn't hide his destitution, which suppressed three-tenths of that beauty.

But now, Shen Ci's temperament was much more noble. A crisp shirt perfectly wrapped his slender body, his tailored suit was ironed smooth, and his hair was combed meticulously. He wore low-prescription silver-framed glasses, his brows and eyes hidden behind the lenses, masking his emotions... If the former Shen Ci had an elegant and gentle beauty, now, his beauty was sharp and completely exposed. In a suit, he looked gentle yet abstinent, like a precious pearl wiped free of dust, adding an aura of awe-inspiring inviolability.

Xie Yu evaluated, "He really did get prettier. The little beauty has turned into a great beauty."

The System went crazy. "Brother, my dear brother, aren't you going to look at what time it is? Is this the time to discuss whether he's pretty or not?"

Xie Yu shook his head. "You don't understand, appreciating beauties is one of the great joys in life."

He sighed slightly. "It's just a pity that such a great beauty will never give me a good look again."

System: "..."

It was speechless. "How about this, when you go to the psychiatric hospital, you cry out a bit more miserably, that way he might look at you and laugh."

Xie Yu didn't retort. He straightened his suit, stood up with his back facing Shen Ci, and then deliberately walked in a circle, going around the outside of the sofa, and headed toward the southwest corner of the banquet hall.

System: "...Where are you going?"

Xie Yu: "We're too close, I'm afraid he'll see me. Going to the restroom to lay low."

In the entire venue, the restroom was the best refuge. Shen Ci couldn't possibly forcibly drag him out of a bathroom stall.

System: "."

It questioned, "Didn't you say appreciating beauties is one of the great joys in life?"

Xie Yu: "Appreciating a beauty is a joy, but being dragged out in public is not."

When describing this scene, the original text used a very vivid term—"dead dog." It said that Eldest Young Master Xie struggled continuously, cursed non-stop, and had his limbs restrained as he was dragged out like a dead dog.

Xie Yu wasn't confident in his own acting skills. He wasn't sure if he could play the role of a "dead dog" well, so he immediately decided it was best to leave first, and stall until the banquet was almost over.

Shen Ci sat upright on the sofa, his peripheral vision fixed on a certain spot until Xie Yu's silhouette disappeared. Only then did he withdraw his gaze.

He seemed to have a calm expression and a relaxed posture, but his back was strung tautly straight, lightly leaning against the sofa, so dignified that not a single flaw could be picked out.

This posture wasn't comfortable, nor was it easy to maintain, but it had the advantage of looking good enough. The socialites and gentlemen of Jiang City used it often. Back when Lin Yin followed He Zhiyuan, she maintained this posture anytime, anywhere.

At the time, Shen Ci found it laughable, never expecting that one day, he too would hold his poise so tightly, just for a certain someone's casual glance.

"...As I was just saying, our phase two trial went smoothly, and we can start phase three right away. Once the drug is released, the stock price... Mr. Shen? Mr. Shen?"

"Apologies," Shen Ci tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear. Since Xie Yu wasn't there, he no longer paid attention to his hairstyle, tidying all his hair to reveal his smooth forehead.

He had specially trimmed his eyebrows today, giving the arched brows a soft curve; he also styled his stray hair. The side of his face angled towards Xie Yu was precisely at a 45° angle, the angle that best highlighted his handsome features. He didn't understand fashion and usually dressed plainly, so he sought Lin Yin's advice, picking a suit that accentuated his waistline. Even the watch on his wrist was specially chosen—appropriately sized, with a lacquer dial that was low-key and natural, not stealing the spotlight.

After Lin Yin finished coordinating his outfit at the time, she even took a slight breath. "Shen Ci, I know why Young Master Xie was utterly bewitched by you. You really are beautiful."

Shen Ci had given a self-deprecating smile back then. He had never utterly bewitched Young Master Xie. Between the two of them, Xie Yu was the one who was completely unattached and detached. The rumored lustful Young Master Xie was more strictly observant of etiquette in bed than the most upright gentleman. Aside from shallow embraces, there was nothing else.

But today, Xie Yu didn't even raise his head to look at him once.

He secretly sneered, thinking to himself, 'Young Master Xie is truly as fickle and heartless as the rumors say. When he likes you, he dotes on you in every possible way; when he doesn't, he discards you like a worn-out shoe. A living, breathing person standing right in front of him is worse than a stray cat or dog.'

"...Mr. Shen, Mr. Shen?" Xie Yuanhai leaned in closer. "Are you not feeling well today?"

In just a few short minutes, he had zoned out countless times.

Shen Ci stood up. "There was a traffic jam on the way here just now. I sat for too long and feel a bit carsick. I'll go to the restroom to freshen up."

Xie Yuanhai quickly pointed it out for him. "It's in the southwest corner."

Shen Ci: "Thank you."

He pushed through the crowd and walked toward the southwest corner. He bypassed two flower walls and stopped at the restroom entrance.

Separated by a thin door, Shen Ci paused his steps and pressed his temples with a slight headache.

His thoughts were a tangled mess. Following Xie Yu wasn't a good idea. Young Master Xie obviously had no interest in him. Rushing to lean in close, aside from lowering his own status and bringing humiliation upon himself, making him seem like those cheap playthings that could be casually tormented, served no other purpose.

But he still followed him.

Shen Ci slightly pursed his lips. The more uneasy he felt, the colder and more severe his expression became. Right now, his face was as cold as frost. If he ran into Xie Yu, he could also pretend it was a coincidence.

Shen Ci grasped the handle and pulled the door open.

There was no one within his line of sight.

The innermost stall was locked. Xie Yu was inside.

Shen Ci paused, then immediately washed his hands as if nothing were wrong. He lathered hand soap properly and rinsed it off thoroughly, as unhurried as any other guest at the banquet.

But right at this moment, the door lock of the stall behind him shifted. His whole body suddenly tensed up. He took large strides backwards, found the nearest stall, walked straight in, and locked the door all in one smooth motion.

Shen Ci: "..."

This posture was truly miserable.

Xie Yu didn't know there was someone next door. He leisurely strolled out, casually washed his hands, then pulled out his phone and started playing a game.

He was playing Tetris. Amidst the heavy beep-beep sound effects, the blocks fell one after another. Xie Yu manipulated their movements, instantly clearing a large section.

System: "...Do we absolutely have to play games here?"

Xie Yu: "Laying low, laying low."

The banquet hall's restroom had aromatherapy lit, so there was no strange smell. Xie Yu operated with both hands, feeling happy and at ease.

Shen Ci: "..."

He stood there on pins and needles.

Ten minutes later, Xie Yu grew tired of standing and planned to change places to continue standing. He was just about to go out when a person suddenly flashed in and locked the door.

Xie Yu's hand, which was putting away his phone, paused.

The newcomer was He Zhiyuan.

Compared to his previously high-spirited appearance, his look now could only be described as dismal: his hair was disheveled, his eyes were full of bloodshot veins, and dark stubble scrambled to sprout from his chin. His suit was baggy and wrinkled, the edges curling up as if it hadn't been ironed or arranged in a long time.

The once highly sought-after playboy of Jiang City had actually been reduced to this state.

He stared at Xie Yu with a fierce and crazy expression, looking too much like a madman. Xie Yu quietly took a step back. "System, how did he become like this?"

"Oh, after you left, He Zhiyuan had an incident. But every time I mentioned him, you didn't have much interest, so I didn't talk about it later."

Xie Yu: "What incident?"

System: "I heard that the matter of his group orgies was exposed. The evidence was conclusive. His family spent a huge amount of money to suppress it, but they basically gave up on his bloodline..."

The He Family had a vast business and was unlike the Xie Family, which only had Xie Yuanshan and Xie Yuanhai, with Xie Yuanshan only having Xie Yu as a single seedling. Internal competition in the He Family was quite fierce. With He Zhiyuan having such a huge problem, he was basically out of the running for family heir. Moving forward, he could only say he wouldn't worry about food and clothing, but everything else would be stretched thin.

Xie Yu frowned. "Was this in the novel?"

Before his voice faded, He Zhiyuan suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Xie Yu's shoulders. His eyes were blood-red as he gritted his teeth, "Xie Yu, oh Xie Yu, what a fine lover you raised! What a fine lover you kept! Making me fall into this state..."

He muttered somewhat deliriously, his voice suddenly rising high. "You have to help me get revenge! Xie Yu! You have to help me get revenge!"

Xie Yu raised an eyebrow. "Revenge on who?"

"Shen Ci! Shen Ci... Do you know what he did? Do you know what he did?!"

Xie Yu: "Oh? What did he do?"

The System had already displayed the information on a tablet. From how Shen Ci contacted Lin Yin to find the boys and girls who were victimized before, to how he set up a trap to let Lin Yin latch onto Luo Shao's ship, and then to how he gained Luo Shao's trust. It laid out everything completely and clearly.

Xie Yu found it somewhat amusing. Every single one of these things was done by He Zhiyuan himself. He was the one who played with pretty girls, he was the one who hit people, and he was the one who hosted various banquets. When things came to light later, he completely deserved it; it was bringing about his own destruction. Yet now he was crying and making a complete fool of himself, as if someone had pointed a gun at his head and forced him to rape and pillage.

Veins bulged on He Zhiyuan's forehead. "Xie Yu, you don't fucking think Shen Ci is some innocent little white flower, do you? I'm telling you, his mind is filthy. Back then, when he persuaded Lin Yin not to seek compensation, I even thought he loved you so much and was so obedient. But then he turned around and ruined me! Huh?! This is how he acted as your lover."

Xie Yu didn't speak. He methodically started washing his hands.

His hands had just been grabbed by He Zhiyuan, and it disgusted him.

He Zhiyuan certainly didn't know what Xie Yu was thinking. He grabbed Xie Yu, both hands trembling wildly, "Xie Yu, we've been brothers for decades. He exposed my dirty laundry today? What about tomorrow? Whose will he expose tomorrow? He approached you, took benefits from you, but then turned around and sold out your brother. This ungrateful bitch..."

In a fit of anger, He Zhiyuan's vocabulary gradually became unbearable to the ears. Shen Ci hid in the stall, hearing everything clearly, yet his face showed no expression. The pale lighting of the restroom shone on his face, making it as pale as gold foil, and even his usually gentle features carried a bit more sharpness.

Yes, he had done all of this, but if he were to do it again, he would still do the same.

He Zhiyuan was true scum. Not only did he play with people like Lin Yin, but he also toyed with young boys and girls who had just entered society and were yearning for love. Some people would still wake up screaming from nightmares half a year after leaving his side. Shen Ci had seen enough of it while nursing them in the hospital. If the He family hadn't spent huge sums to settle things, he would have directly sent He Zhiyuan to jail.

But...

Shen Ci's fingertips rubbed unconsciously.

But what would Xie Yu think?

In the rumors, the Young Master of the Xie Family was loyal and valued his friends the most. Yet Shen Ci stayed by Xie Yu's side, used the laboratory quota Xie Yu got him, and then turned around and struck at Xie Yu's friend. It was no exaggeration to say that Shen Ci single-handedly ruined He Zhiyuan's future.

So much so that while He Zhiyuan spouted these obscenities, he couldn't find a single word of rebuttal.

Would Xie Yu agree with He Zhiyuan's words and think he was... an ungrateful person?

He Zhiyuan was still immersed in his own world. As if he had grabbed onto his only outlet, he tried to vent all his malice.

"Xie Yu, you don't know, but he's really capable. Less than five years after you went abroad, he turned around and latched onto Luo Shao. Bah! Pretending to be aloof and arrogant, acting like it would kill him if I just touched him, but then turning around and getting into Luo Shao's bed. Now he's prospered, he's just a promiscuous slut and whore..."

Separated by a single door, Shen Ci clenched his palms tightly.

He didn't care about these obscenities. Ever since he followed Xie Yu, the rumors and gossip had never stopped. Even to this day, the A University campus forum still had threads left up saying how he used tricks and played games to latch onto Young Master Xie.

Shen Ci never took these words to heart, but he couldn't—absolutely couldn't—accept He Zhiyuan laying out all these groundless things, laying them bare right in front of Xie Yu.

"Are you done talking? If you're done, it's my turn to speak." Xie Yu had already washed his hands clean. He leisurely pulled out a tissue and carefully dried the water between his fingers.

"He Zhiyuan, actually, the first time I met you, I wanted to do one thing. Guess what it was?"

The topic changed too quickly. He Zhiyuan was momentarily stunned. "What?"

Xie Yu let out a laugh. Under He Zhiyuan's astonished expression, he suddenly raised his hand, throwing an uppercut straight to his chin. This punch was heavy and solid, knocking He Zhiyuan staggering until he was half-kneeling on the ground.

"You!"

"The first time I saw you, I was thinking, how can there be someone so punchable in this world?" Looking down from above, Xie Yu grabbed He Zhiyuan's tie, hoisted him up, and landed two solid blows straight to his abdomen. "He Zhiyuan, I say, why don't you take a look at what kind of trash you are. Slandering Shen Ci in front of me, are you even worthy?"

Although Xie Yu was quite a delinquent in high school, he hadn't maxed out his cursing skills. His level of swearing was far worse than He Zhiyuan's, and he was absolutely incapable of saying words like whore and slut. Fortunately, he worked out often; his abs and chest muscles were decent, making him the type to look slim in clothes but muscular when undressed, so beating someone up came to him smoothly and effortlessly.

Shen Ci, behind the door, was outright stunned. He pressed against the edge of the door frame, as if rooted to the spot.

Shen Ci had imagined many types of reactions from Xie Yu, but absolutely none of them included throwing punches at He Zhiyuan.

He Zhiyuan was incredibly bewildered. Having taken a few heavy punches, he dodged miserably while cursing angrily, "Fuck you, Xie Yu, are you crazy?!"

According to the novel, Xie Yu shouldn't be attacking He Zhiyuan. He didn't have this part. But since the plot was reaching its end, and He Zhiyuan was an irrelevant minor male supporting character without even a specified ending, Xie Yu figured he'd just beat him up. What could go wrong? He might as well follow his heart.

He threw another punch at He Zhiyuan's chin. "Say it again, fuck whose mother?"

He Zhiyuan had come to throw a fit at Xie Yu, never expecting Xie Yu to be crazier than him. He immediately spat out saliva, his face ferocious. "Xie Yu, you're fucking crazy. What kind of drug did that slut Shen Ci slip you..."

Before his voice faded, Xie Yu threw another punch. He Zhiyuan's eye instantly turned bruised, and a nosebleed flowed down his philtrum, looking terribly miserable.

Xie Yu pressed him down. "He Zhiyuan, I'm warning you, keep your mouth clean. You have the nerve to tell me that Shen Ci's mind is filthy? That Shen Ci is a slut? Could his mind fucking be as filthy as yours? Could he be as slutty as you? Do you even deserve to speak?"

Xie Yu couldn't hold back and cursed, "Fucking idiot."

In the original text, even when Shen Ci was abused to that extent, he never did anything shameful. Speaking of revenge, he only exacted revenge on the original host; the original host's friends and family remained safe and sound. Even during the worst times of his depression, he only harmed himself and never hurt others. Later on, when his health was depleted and his illnesses were severe—plagued by constant major and minor ailments and looking like he didn't have much time left—he donated most of his wealth to sponsor impoverished children. Putting himself in his shoes, Xie Yu admitted he couldn't do the same.

Was such a person someone He Zhiyuan could slander?

In the stall, Shen Ci silently curled his fingers.

This was truly a novel experience. Shen Ci's family was poor, but he was good-looking. Growing up, the rumors and gossip never stopped—some said he sold himself, others said his mother sold herself, and so on and so forth.

It wasn't that no one had ever spoken up for him. Han Yunyun and Li Yue would complain and get angry every time they saw it on the forums, but the most they could do was reply to clarify a few words. And these clarifications never made a splash, drowning instantly in the rumors and slander.

Gradually, Shen Ci learned not to look, not to listen. He stopped visiting those forums and stopped listening to that gossip, and thus, he stopped caring.

But now, as Xie Yu smashed his fists down again and again, Shen Ci stood in the stall, in a daze, recalling his childhood.

Back then, he and another girl in his class were both very beautiful. The boys in the class didn't know where they learned terms like "brothel," "whorehouse," and "top courtesan," but they surrounded the two of them and made fun of them, saying they were the top male courtesan and top female courtesan.

That girl cried. The next day, her parents came to the school. Her father grabbed the ringleaders and gave them a severe beating, while her mother went straight to the office to find the head teacher. The head teacher, furious upon hearing it, rewarded the boys with another beating from a ruler.

After that, the girl was never spoken about like that again, because she had someone backing her up.

But Shen Ci didn't.

He was called that for two semesters, and no one stood up for him. His father died early, and his grandmother was old. Every day, she sat under the lamp stitching shoe soles and doing physical labor, barely making ends meet. Shen Ci couldn't possibly bother her with these little squabbles among classmates.

And now, because of He Zhiyuan's two shady and superficial sentences—words that even Shen Ci himself didn't much care about—Xie Yu had made a move.

Shen Ci closed his eyes. His eye sockets were rimmed with red, and an intense soreness filled his chest.

In this small, cramped stall, Shen Ci dazedly returned to that afternoon many years ago. He had hidden behind the classroom door, looking through the broken gap as the girl's father threw punch after punch, hitting the flesh. Shen Ci couldn't remember his exact feelings at the time. Perhaps it was envy, bitterness, jealousy... A mixture of various emotions that turned into an overwhelming sense of loss and helplessness.

But now, someone was also throwing punches for him.

Xie Yu had trained when he was a delinquent. His punching movements were stylish and handsome. His elbows drove his waist and back muscles, his shoulder blades tense. His suit clung tightly to his body, tracing fluid lines, elegant like an agent in a British movie. As Shen Ci watched, he suddenly remembered the shape of this body. He thought of every winter night five years ago, when these arms tightly encircled him in an embrace—the rise and fall of the muscles, and the scorching temperature of the skin.

He... really wanted to hug Xie Yu.

But now, Xie Yu wasn't his anymore.

Outside the door, He Zhiyuan shouted sternly, "Xie Yu!"

Although his body had been hollowed out by wine and women, he was still a grown man after all. Pushed to the brink, he rushed forward with red eyes, reaching out to choke Xie Yu's neck. Shen Ci watched through the gap in the door, his brow twitching, unable to resist leaning in closer.

Xie Yu clicked his tongue. While abroad, he ate properly and worked out properly. His physical fitness was far beyond what He Zhiyuan could compare to. With a quick reverse twist, He Zhiyuan cried out in pain. Right then, an unbelievable thought floated up. "Motherfucker Xie Yu, it's already come to this, and you're still protecting Shen Ci? You didn't even hesitate to attack me, are you still harboring old feelings for him?"

"..."

Inside and outside the stall, Xie Yu and Shen Ci froze simultaneously.

Shen Ci silently gripped his clothes, leaving a patch of wrinkles on the hem of the expensive suit, as if he were going to rub it into pieces.

Xie Yu was originally pressing down on He Zhiyuan's shoulder. Hearing this, his grip slightly loosened, revealing an opening.

He Zhiyuan struggled violently and took the opportunity to break free. He stumbled back two steps, staring at Xie Yu as if seeing a ghost. "You really fucking fell for him?"

Among all the rich second generations in Jiang City, Xie Yu and He Zhiyuan were the biggest players. Both were heartless, wealthy playboys. No matter how beautiful the boys or girls were, they were just playing around; who had ever truly fallen in love?

"..."

Xie Yu looked at him quietly, saying nothing.

Silence.

He Zhiyuan wiped his nose, getting a handful of bright red nosebleed. Just now, Xie Yu's punch had landed squarely on his nose, nearly breaking the bridge. At this moment, thick blood was dripping down his philtrum, drop by drop.

With a hand covered in blood, He Zhiyuan looked at Xie Yu and started laughing. "Xie Yu, do you know what kind of person Shen Ci is now? He caught Luo Shao's eye and personally nurtured a listed company. They've almost beaten my family so badly we can't tell north from south. Now, even your uncle, Xie Yuanhai, has to respectfully call him President Shen when he sees him. You treated him like that back then, forcing him to sign an agreement. How do you guess he'll take revenge on you? Ah? Guess!"

"..."

"Hahahahahaha," He Zhiyuan laughed increasingly madly. "Harboring old feelings? Xie Yu, what a joke of harboring old feelings! I'm waiting to see your ending!"

Xie Yu looked at him with disgust and said flatly, "Then you guessed wrong. I never harbor old feelings for anyone."

It wasn't that he was being stubborn. It was just that only the last few plot segments remained, and He Zhiyuan was a gossipy person who liked to drag others down. Shen Ci was currently working under Luo Shao; if rumors spread that "Xie Yu had old feelings for him," it wouldn't be good for Shen Ci's reputation. Xie Yu didn't want to cause any unexpected complications.

At this time, a thud came from the stall door, the door panel trembling slightly, as if someone had lost control and bumped into it. It was just a pity that He Zhiyuan had been beaten to half a life, and Xie Yu was currently dragging him out like a dead dog, so neither of them noticed the commotion inside.

Xie Yu dragged He Zhiyuan out of the restroom and tossed him far away. He raised his hand to check his watch; there was still an hour or so until the banquet ended. Thus, he carefully selected a hidden corner and started playing Lianliankan.

The System perched on his shoulder, circling around to look at the screen, looking at it with disdain. "Host, can you play something a bit more advanced?"

As an electronic system, it could spot the optimal solution for Lianliankan at a single glance.

Xie Yu: "Stop being picky. Once we go to the psychiatric hospital, we'll be lucky just to be able to play Lianliankan."

It would be fine on normal days, but on the days Shen Ci came to visit, he'd probably have to lie on a bed strapped in restraints, his hands and feet tightly bound, completely unable to move.

The System comforted him, "It's fine. When the time comes, I'll play little movies in your head. I promise they won't be able to tell."

The other guests present were all networking and socializing; only Xie Yu, self-proclaimed as a "dying man," was finding joy in his own company. As a result, just after playing two rounds, right as he was about to break the record, a sudden commotion came from the entrance.

The guests in the front hall fell into chaos, the sound of chatting abruptly growing louder. Xie Yuanhai also hurried forward, as if speaking with someone.

The System left Xie Yu, flew a circle toward the front, and then returned to Xie Yu's side. A "crying" emoji appeared on its screen.

Xie Yu's movements paused, the game timed out, and the screen displayed game over. He closed the game, put away his phone, and asked, "What happened?"

The emoji on the screen shed thick, noodle-like tears. The System was frantic. "Ahhhhhh! I knew it! I knew it! There was no way the last scene would go this smoothly!"

Xie Yu's heart skipped a beat, feeling slightly uneasy. "What exactly is going on?"

System: "You beat up He Zhiyuan, and that retard He Zhiyuan, he called the police! Ahhhhhh!"

Xie Yu: "...?"

This group of rich second generations was "abundant in martial virtue." They didn't do any fewer illegal or undisciplined things on a normal day, nor did they get into any fewer fights. But they were used to settling matters privately with money. Using the police to solve problems was truly a first for them, like a bride riding in a sedan chair for the first time.

'Great,' Xie Yu thought to himself. 'The barefoot aren't afraid of those wearing shoes. This is He Zhiyuan jumping over the wall in desperation like a cornered dog.'

Not long after, the crowd automatically parted to make way. A pair of silver handcuffs was handed in front of him. The law enforcement officer looked serious. "You're Xie Yu, right? Someone reported you for brawling. Come with us."

The System was about to break down. "What the hell! How did the plot turn out like this?!"

Xie Yu glanced at the screen. The original text of the novel read: "Shen Ci called people over and, right in front of the crowd, pinned Xie Yu down. Xie Yu struggled on his own but had his arms twisted behind his back and his shoulders firmly pressed down, dragging him away like a dead dog."

"..." Xie Yu sighed.

The original text was written very well, with a strong visual sense. It was just that now, with silver handcuffs right in front of him, he seemed unable to recreate it.

After all, he couldn't exactly say out loud, "Comrade, please drag me away like a dead dog."

Xie Yu raised his hands, analyzing calmly, and replied in his mind, 'It's fine, don't panic. Isn't my average score 85? We still have 5 points to deduct. A small plot point like this will deduct two points at most, leaving us with 3 points.'

The System was shrouded in a gloomy cloud, muttering, "...Even so, I still have a bad feeling."

No matter how powerful Shen Ci was, he couldn't snatch someone from law enforcement officers. As Xie Yu was escorted into the car, he saw a black-and-blue He Zhiyuan.

He Zhiyuan's eye was swollen, his nose was broken, and his chin was bleeding. He had also taken two kicks to his abdomen, full of purplish bruises. He looked quite terrifying.

But it only looked terrifying. Xie Yu had held back his strength. This body full of bruises on He Zhiyuan were all superficial wounds, not even constituting minor injuries. Even if he went for an injury assessment, Xie Yu wouldn't have to go to jail; at most, it would be considered brawling and disturbing public order.

They took down a statement. According to the rules, Xie Yu was subject to administrative detention. The law enforcement officer, seeing that he looked decent, didn't seem like a repeat offender, and was entirely dressed in haute couture, asked, "Do you want to post bail?"

Bail didn't require detention, but it required paying a bail bond, and a guarantor needed to sign and take responsibility.

This money was mere pocket change for the rich second generations of Jiang City. But as soon as Xie Yuanshan died, Xie Yuanhai united with other shareholders to repurchase the equity. Right now, the money hadn't hit the account yet, and Xie Yuanhai was eagerly wishing for Xie Yu's reputation to be ruined so the board of directors would expel him; it was impossible for him to sign and bail him out.

That left Zhou Yang and Xu Qingshan. But Zhou Yang wasn't in Jiang City; he had returned to the Capital City to inherit his family business. As for Xu Qingshan, Xie Yu didn't want to get involved with him and expose their uncle-nephew relationship. Otherwise, if Shen Ci found out later and discovered Xu Qingshan was his relative, he might transfer him to another psychiatric hospital. Who would Xie Yu cry to then?

Calculating like this, in the massive Jiang City, he truly couldn't find a guarantor.

Xie Yu sighed and slumped into the chair. "Just detain me."

The law enforcement officer paused, encountering this request for the first time. "You really won't post bail?"

Xie Yu smiled. "No one to bail me out."

He felt slightly self-deprecating, thinking to himself, 'It's been two worlds. Even if I wanted to find someone, I couldn't find anyone to bail me out.'

Xie Yu was used to being a loner and didn't have any close friends. In high school, when he had psychological problems, his classmates all avoided him. Once, when he skipped class by climbing the wall, he bumped into thugs robbing someone outside the alley and got into a fight, resulting in administrative detention. At that time, similarly, no one bailed him out.

However, Xie Yu was broad-minded and didn't really mind. If the first time felt a bit awkward, now, the first time is raw, the second time is ripe; he felt quite at ease.

Bail procedures were complicated, but detention procedures were simpler. The law enforcement officer quickly got it done and printed out the documents. He handed Xie Yu an inkpad. "Check if there are any mistakes, and press your fingerprint here."

Xie Yu looked down. The charge column read: "Suspected of intentionally assaulting another person, disturbing public order."

Xie Yu thought to himself that he wasn't intentionally assaulting another person; it was purely He Zhiyuan having a foul mouth. But giving these reasons wouldn't be of any use, so he simply admitted it.

He was still wearing handcuffs, his movements restricted. So he awkwardly raised his thumb, dabbed it on the inkpad, and was about to press it onto the paperwork.

But the next second, the document was suddenly pulled away.

"Wait, hold on a moment."

It seemed a new message had arrived. The law enforcement officer checked his computer and made a stop gesture to Xie Yu. "It seems someone is here to pick you up."

Xie Yu paused. "Who's here to pick me up?"

The law enforcement officer looked down and typed on the keyboard, then unlocked his handcuffs. "You'll know once you go out and see. My side shows he has already paid the bail bond and signed to take responsibility. You can go."

"..."

When he was about to face administrative detention, Xie Yu was completely normal. But now that someone had bailed him out, he felt stunned instead. It wasn't until the law enforcement officer knocked on the table that he stood up.

In this situation, who else could bail him out?

Xie Yuanhai? Xie Yuanhai was busy socializing at the banquet, dead drunk, with no time to care about his cheap nephew.

Zhou Yang? Even more impossible; he couldn't even make it in time if he flew over.

Xu Qingshan? Xu Qingshan was at the hospital in the far suburbs. No one had notified him, so he didn't know what had happened here.

Xie Yu frowned.

Who else could it be?

He followed the law enforcement officer through the corridor and walked to the main entrance. From a distance, he finally saw the guarantor sitting on the bench in the lobby.

That person was wearing a well-fitting suit, his features handsome and beautiful, his demeanor elegant and dignified. He was currently flipping through some documents. A few strands of hair fell by his brow; perhaps annoyed, he raised a hand to push up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, tucking the hair behind his ear. The incandescent lights of the lobby fell upon him, illuminating his cold white skin, making it look as moist and luminous as if coated with a layer of white glaze.

Just sitting there, this person exuded a uniquely gentle and elegant temperament, making the shabby lobby seem high-class. Even the rusty iron bench behind him looked like a display stand supporting exhibits in a museum, while he himself was the antique porcelain displayed in the glass cabinet.

Xie Yu held his breath.

...Shen Ci.