Author Archives: sandy

Seeing Fang Ziyang taking the bait, Shi Meijing felt proud and couldn’t help but reveal a hint of disdain in her eyes.

After suppressing the joy of almost achieving her goal, she turned to Guo Ran and said, “Guo Ran, can you wait here for a while? I’ll accompany Ziyang inside. Is that okay with you?”

“Sure, I’ll wait here.”

Although Guo Ran really wanted to witness the confession in person, he felt awkward insisting after Shi Meijing’s statement.

Then Fang Ziyang and Shi Meijing walked along the path decorated with colorful lights, their figures disappearing into the faint glow of the lights.

Guo Ran felt a bit regretful. He stretched his neck and looked curiously, trying to catch a glimpse with his limited vision. At the same time, he took out his phone and prepared to capture the exciting scene of the confession to share with everyone later.

But before he could make out anything, suddenly, someone rushed out from the side and snatched his phone, then fled.

“What the hell, a robber! Stop!”

Guo Ran realized that his phone had been stolen and immediately shouted as he tried to chase after the thief.

However, just as he took a few steps, he heard cries of surprise from behind.

The voices of Fang Ziyang and Shi Meijing resounded at the same time, “Who are you? Ah, robbery! Help——”

Guo Ran stopped in his tracks, immediately giving up on chasing the person who stole his phone. He quickly turned around, anxiously looking at Fang Ziyang and Shi Meijing.

Then he saw Fang Ziyang and Shi Meijing being dragged into a van…

Guo Ran’s face lost all color, and the two words echoed in his mind: It’s over!

…

Faced with the sudden appearance of the robbers, Fang Ziyang only struggled a little before pretending to be captured and dragged into the van.

Shi Meijing still had to clear herself of suspicion afterward, so for now, she had to continue the act. As soon as they got in the car, she immediately shielded him from behind, displaying a strong and self-sacrificing demeanor.

“Who are you? What do you want? If you dare to do anything excessive, you won’t be able to escape. Do you know who Ziyang is? If you do anything to him, you won’t get away with it.”

“Our companion saw everything just now. He will report to the police immediately…”

The robbers in the van wore masks, so their expressions and appearance couldn’t be seen. They didn’t say anything in response, only viciously hitting Shi Meijing with a stick and warning, “Shut up! If you say another word, I’ll beat you to death!”

The harsh tone sounded extremely cruel.

Shi Meijing’s face turned even paler, and she trembled, too frightened to speak. She continuously protected Fang Ziyang, trying to comfort him, “Ziyang, don’t worry. I… I’ll protect you…”

She acted so convincingly, it was a shame she didn’t pursue a career in film.

“Mm.”

Fang Ziyang replied in a trembling voice, his face showing fear and being thoroughly frightened.

However, throughout it all, there was no emotional fluctuation on his face or in his eyes. He remained cold, as if enduring a biting winter wind.

These people were also afraid of complications arising during the night.

So, after a short while, the van arrived at a remote and abandoned factory. Fang Ziyang and Shi Meijing were separated and taken into two different rooms.

Soon, Fang Ziyang heard panicked cries from the adjacent room. Shi Meijing’s voice sounded distressed, “No, don’t, you can’t do this, help——”

Then, sounds of clothes being torn could be heard.

Hearing the commotion next door, several burly men surrounding Fang Ziyang suddenly became agitated. They stared at him with explicit intentions.

“Kid, blame it on your good looks and wealthy background. It’s not right if we don’t tie you up. Unfortunately, that poor girl next door will be in trouble because of you… Tsk tsk… But don’t worry, we won’t go too far with her. Our brothers won’t let her suffer too much.”

“As for you… it depends on whether you cooperate or not. Today, there’s no way you can escape. If you don’t want to suffer, just behave and listen to us. Otherwise, you might see blood soon.”

Saying that, the men started to approach.

Meanwhile, the duct tape binding Fang Ziyang’s hands was removed.

He lifted his head, showing no panic or fear on his face, his gaze cold. “How much did the person behind you pay you?”

The men were taken aback.

Fang Ziyang spoke again, “I’ll pay you five times that amount.”

The men immediately reacted, the desire on their faces disappearing, replaced by anxiety and bewilderment. They hadn’t expected Fang Ziyang to react so calmly and even seemed to know something.

Someone quickly changed his tone, stammering slightly, “W-What nonsense are you talking about? Trying to buy us with money? No way. Don’t think we haven’t seen the world. We won’t get the money you promised even if we tie you up. Do you really think we need you to throw money around?”

Fang Ziyang ignored their words and continued, “Ten times.”

The hearts of the men pounded, their pupils shrinking.

Ten times! It was actually ten times! The person who hired them for this job promised them 50 million, so ten times would be 500 million! That would be enough to live a life of luxury for half their lives!

But soon, the men calmed down.

Although the sum of money was tempting, it would be useless if they were dead. Could they really trust this young master to deliver on his promise? What if it was a ploy to delay rescue efforts? There was no trust between kidnappers and hostages.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

They had already planned to run away after completing this job, and all the arrangements for their escape were made by the person who contacted them. If they accidentally double-crossed them, they would be in trouble on both sides, and they wouldn’t be able to escape even with the money. Don’t forget, they weren’t professional kidnappers, and their identities were easily traceable.

With these thoughts in mind, the men regained their composure and sneered, “As expected of a young master from a wealthy family, you have quite the courage, daring to negotiate with kidnappers… really…”

The sound abruptly ceased.

There was a simple reason for it.

In Fang Ziyang’s hand appeared a wooden box the size of a palm. His expression was devoid of emotion as he said, “Do you want to find out if this is a toy or the real deal?”

Strict regulations in Huaguo made it difficult even to walk around with a fruit knife, let alone a wooden box. The kidnappers were not professionals, so they wouldn’t recognize whether the box was real or not.

However, even if they didn’t recognize it, they could still analyze a thing or two. Although the wooden box in Fang Ziyang’s hand was small, its smooth and precise craftsmanship, as well as its high-quality material, indicated that it was likely a realistic replica, possessing significant lethality.

Sweat dripped down the backs of the kidnappers, and they dared not approach nor make a sound.

Fang Ziyang’s gaze was icy.

“Since you don’t want money, then it’s a matter of life. Listen carefully. If you don’t want to die, hand over the cyanide capsules you have and then go to the next room… and do something to Shi Meijing for me. Since she enjoys playing the role of a patient so much, let her lie in bed for the rest of her life.”

The emotionless voice seemed to carry a terrifying pressure. The calmness in Fang Ziyang’s tone made it difficult for people to catch their breath.

The kidnappers were ordinary people who had never encountered someone who would threaten their lives so directly. Even when they dealt with powerful figures they encountered at the clubhouse, the situation always involved twists and turns and subtle methods.

Although it sounded a bit exaggerated, they felt an impulse that the other party could truly carry it out.

But to be threatened like this and forced to switch sides… wouldn’t that make them seem weak?

One of the more stubborn kidnappers couldn’t help but speak up, “You… If you want to take our lives, go ahead! Even if you have a wooden box, do you think you can take on all of us alone? Don’t think a few tough words…”

The voice abruptly stopped again, interrupted by a miserable scream.

Before they could finish their words, the wooden box in Fang Ziyang’s hand suddenly emitted a burst of infrared-like light. In the next moment, one of the men’s arms was directly severed.

Along with the kidnapper’s scream, an arm fell to the ground and was offered up to Fang Ziyang.

Seeing this, the remaining men turned pale and took a step back in unison.

Damn it, this was for real! And it was high-tech!

Fang Ziyang raised his eyes and spoke again, “Do you want to waste my time?”

Their eyes focused on the wooden box.

The kidnappers dared not argue and nodded in panic. “Okay! We’ll do it right away! Don’t open the box, please!”

Saying that, one of them took out a small box containing capsules from his pocket and threw it on the ground.

Then they picked up the severed arm from the ground and hastily ran toward the door, stumbling and rushing into the next room, not daring to have any thoughts of direct escape.

Soon after.

The sound of terrified screams from Shi Meijing came from the next room.

Unlike the earlier pretense, this time it was genuine fear from the depths of her heart.

“No, what are you doing? We had an agreement! How could you go back on your word! You’d better find Fang Ziyang. If you go back on your word, you’ll be in trouble! Aren’t you afraid of my people coming after you? Get away, ahh, don’t hit me, help, ahhhh, my hand, mmm…”

The agonized voice of Shi Meijing echoed throughout the abandoned factory.

A few minutes later.

The door to the next room opened, and several kidnappers came out trembling, holding sticks in their hands. Fear filled their voices.

“Okay, okay, Young Master Fang, rest assured. W-We promise she’ll spend the rest of her life lying in bed and unable to say a word… Young Master Fang, can we go now?”

Fang Ziyang glanced at the terrified figure lying on the ground, unable to move or speak, and his voice was calm. “Get lost.”

With those words, the kidnappers ran away as if granted amnesty.

However, Fang Ziyang didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he found a convenient hiding place.

–

Until Yan Tong, who received a phone call, arrived.

Fang Ziyang knocked the person unconscious from behind, fed him the cyanide capsule obtained from the kidnappers, and then hid the unconscious Yan Tong in a place far from the abandoned factory.

Only then did he return, deliberately leaving marks of bruises on his body, and stumbled and ran out of the abandoned factory…

On the other side.

Shi Liangchen, who was walking toward the small park with a nervous smile on his face, suddenly paused, collapsed to the ground, and fell into unconsciousness.

But in less than a minute, Shi Liangchen on the ground woke up again. His eyes looked around blankly for a moment, as if suddenly realizing something. His face showed an unbelievable and ecstatic expression.

“I’ve… I’ve returned! I actually went back in time… Ziyang, I have to find Ziyang… Wait, what time is it now… September 30th, 20XX… How can it be this time? It’s too late, two months late…”

Shi Liangchen looked at the screen of his phone with a frantic expression, his eyes bloodshot and trembling with madness.

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Sandy: Oh shiiiiiiiiiit

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The celebration venue that the principal arranged for everyone was more accurately a hotel, not just a restaurant.

The owner of this hotel was also a former student of Qing University and had a good relationship with the principal. As a result, he was more than willing to give back to his alma mater.

Upon learning that the principal wanted to celebrate with everyone after the evening party, the hotel staff worked overtime and decorated a banquet hall in the auditorium. The environment was pleasant but not overly luxurious, creating a perfect atmosphere for the students and teachers to celebrate.

In order to fully enjoy this celebration, everyone had changed into the clothes they had prepared in advance before leaving the school.

In the nearly 300-square-meter auditorium, boys wore suits while girls wore dresses. They held low-alcohol beverages, enjoyed small cakes and buffet meals, and chatted, deliberately avoiding awkward topics. The scene gave off a feeling of a high-profile gathering.

The principal was a very open-minded person and didn’t mind creating an experience for the students to step out into society early. After all, broadening horizons and gaining knowledge were important, and the principal didn’t want the students from his school to only excel academically but be socially inept.

Although Fang Ziyang had hardly attended any banquets in his previous life, many things were deeply ingrained in him due to his upbringing.

As long as he wasn’t specifically targeting anyone, his temperament and attitude were quite good. In addition, his excellent academic performance played a major role in the knowledge quiz during today’s freshman party. Humans naturally had the psychology of admiring the strong. Therefore, he was quite at ease among the crowd.

He handled conversations with his classmates while waiting for certain people to make their move.

Since Shi Meijing wasn’t a member of the Student Union and wasn’t involved in the evening party’s performances, she wasn’t qualified to attend this celebration.

Moreover, the other side wouldn’t be foolish enough to make a move in such a crowded hotel with surveillance cameras.

Therefore, it didn’t take long for Fang Ziyang’s phone to ring.

Fang Ziyang almost immediately guessed who the caller was.

However, he didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pretended to accidentally spill the drink in his hand, making both of his hands messy. He then turned to the person next to him with an apologetic smile.

“Classmate Guo Ran, my hands are dirty. Could you help me answer the phone?”

Guo Ran, who was called over, was a cheerful boy. He responded eagerly, “Sure, no problem.”

He put down the drink in his hand and took out Fang Ziyang’s phone from his pocket. After connecting the call, he placed it by Fang Ziyang’s ear.

Since the two of them were close in proximity, and Fang Ziyang had set the call volume quite high, Guo Ran could hear some of the sound coming from the phone. It was the soft voice of a girl, saying, “Hello, is it Brother Ziyang?”

The owner of the voice was Shi Meijing. Recently, their relationship had improved, so she shamelessly changed her way of addressing him to something more affectionate.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Unaware that someone else could hear their phone conversation, Shi Meijing sounded joyful yet anxious after receiving a response. “Brother Ziyang, how’s the celebration going over there? It’s like this… my brother wants to talk to you about something tonight. He asked me to call you and see if you can come over?”

Fang Ziyang, looking puzzled, asked, “He has something to say to me? Does it have to be tonight? Can’t he just call me?”

He seemed to have missed the hidden meaning in her words.

Meanwhile, Guo Ran, who was closest to them, immediately brightened up. It was evident that he had high emotional intelligence. He couldn’t help but make a teasing gesture, silently mouthing the word “confession” to the surrounding classmates.

Suddenly, the people around became excited in silence. Watching others confess their feelings was an enduring interest for all students.

Fang Ziyang didn’t notice everyone’s enthusiastic gossiping expressions. He looked somewhat troubled and said, “It’s late, and it’s not safe to go out at this hour. If he really wants to talk in person, I’ll be back at school soon. I’m worried that if something happens outside, the principal won’t be able to explain it to my family. My family is strict with me.”

He was speaking the truth.

Shi Meijing didn’t expect him to not take the bait directly, and she secretly panicked. She continued, “It won’t be dangerous. The place isn’t far from the hotel, and it won’t take long to go back and forth. Brother Ziyang, you must come. My brother… My brother has a surprise for you, a very important surprise that he can only give you in person. Tonight is a special day for him. I’ll be waiting for you at the hotel entrance.”

Her words were filled with implications.

Guo Ran, who accidentally overheard the conversation from the corner, had an excited expression. He kept winking at Fang Ziyang, clearly demonstrating his understanding of the situation.

The surrounding classmates also nodded in agreement, their eyes full of gossipy excitement.

With everyone’s attitude and Shi Meijing’s obvious hints, Fang Ziyang couldn’t keep up and pretended to be embarrassed. Suddenly, his face flushed as if he realized something, and with a rush of heat to his head, he nodded, “Oh, okay, I… I’ll come right away.”

After hanging up the phone, the surrounding classmates immediately couldn’t hold back their excitement and started teasing him.

“Oh, Fang Ziyang, isn’t Shi Meijing’s brother Shi Liangchen? Is Shi Liangchen going to confess to you tonight?”

“Wow, I already noticed that something was going on between you two. Even though you’re roommates and eat together in the cafeteria and go to the library together during class!”

“Although Shi Liangchen seems to be an orphan, he’s really amazing, and he’s handsome too. The other day, I heard the advisor say that Shi Liangchen will definitely become a prominent figure in the field of computer science… Fang Ziyang, you’re not loyal enough. It’s only been a few weeks since the start of the semester, and you’ve already won someone over!”

“Get out of here! What do you mean by ‘winning someone over’? Ziyang is amazing too.”

“Fang Ziyang, can we follow along? I can’t even imagine what Shi Liangchen’s confession, which keeps people at a distance, would be like. It must be so impressive!”

Although Shi Liangchen came from an ordinary background, he was highly popular among the freshman students at Qing University due to his exceptional professional skills.

Coupled with his aloof personality and handsome appearance, Shi Liangchen had quickly been regarded as one of the “campus crushes” in the computer science department. So, when they heard that Shi Liangchen might confess to Fang Ziyang, everyone couldn’t help but get excited.

Of course, there were some who were jealous and sour, but they were in the minority. Fang Ziyang’s excellence and family background were enough to make any male student pursued by others not surprising.

Furthermore, if Fang Ziyang and Shi Liangchen started dating, it meant there would be one less strong competitor when pursuing other outstanding male gods in the future. Don’t forget, apart from his good grades and family background, Fang Ziyang was also quite attractive!

Faced with everyone’s teasing, Fang Ziyang’s face became even redder. He didn’t know how to respond.

How could he, as the person involved, have the audacity to bring others along to watch? It would be so awkward.

Soon, everyone also realized the awkwardness and disappointment. They were really curious!

Guo Ran thought for a moment and said with a smile, “Stop teasing. This is a private matter. It’s not right for everyone to tag along. How about this, it is indeed getting late, and it’s not very safe for Fang Ziyang to go out alone. I’ll accompany him, and then I’ll come back and report to you about what happened on the scene?”

Although there was a suspicion of openly joining in the excitement, the reason was reasonable.

But there were other curious classmates who were unwilling to accept it. “Why should you accompany him? I can accompany him too. Fang Ziyang, let me accompany you. I’m stronger, and in case we encounter any villains on the way, I can protect you!”

“Choose me, choose me! I’ve learned taekwondo.”

“Get out of here. What’s taekwondo? I’ve learned martial arts…”

The curious crowd started to argue and create a lively commotion.

With a red face, Fang Ziyang stopped everyone’s excitement and, in the end, asked Guo Ran to accompany them on behalf of everyone.

Guo Ran was very happy and proud, lifting his chin at the other classmates. Then, under the envious gazes of everyone, he reported to the principal briefly before leaving the auditorium.

At the hotel entrance, Shi Meijing had been waiting for a long time and was getting impatient. But when she saw Fang Ziyang coming down with someone else, her face immediately stiffened. She clearly didn’t expect Fang Ziyang to bring someone along!

Fang Ziyang pretended not to notice her expression and introduced, “This is Guo Ran, a member of the Student Council. The principal was concerned about our safety, so he asked Guo Ran to accompany us.”

Guo Ran nodded, patted his chest, and pretended to be an unknowing bodyguard. “Don’t worry, Shi Meijing. Although I don’t have much muscle, I’ve learned judo. Protecting you guys is a piece of cake…”

With the matter reaching this point and the reasons being quite convincing, Shi Meijing couldn’t refuse and could only force a smile, “The principal is indeed considerate. It is indeed getting late. Let’s make use of our time.”

Although there was an unexpected addition, it didn’t significantly affect their plan. Originally, they needed a witness after the whole event, and now that Guo Ran was there, it made the situation even more realistic.

With this in mind, Shi Meijing’s stiff smile became more natural. She stopped a taxi and immediately headed to their destination.

Indeed, the place Shi Meijing mentioned was very close to the hotel.

After a taxi ride of about ten minutes, they arrived at a small park. Since it was already close to midnight, there was naturally no one in the park, and it was pitch black everywhere except for the dim streetlights.

However, the atmosphere in the park at this moment wasn’t eerie because as soon as they got out of the taxi, they saw a path in the park adorned with many small colorful lights, creating a romantic and warm ambiance. At the end of the path, they could faintly see the glow of various candlelight arrangements.

Not to mention, the scene’s details were arranged perfectly and felt very realistic.

“What is this…”

Fang Ziyang remained calm but immediately showed a surprised yet slightly shy and uncertain expression on his face, as if he had guessed something but was afraid to confirm it.

Guo Ran’s eyes also sparkled with excitement.

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Lu Yan could only force a smile and tried to sound concerned. “That’s right, Ziyang. I really didn’t expect Fang Yandong to treat you like that. He’s truly a hypocrite. If I had known earlier, I would never have let you suffer so much. Thankfully, you’re smart, and Tang Xun is also impressive; otherwise, sigh…”

As someone who relied on looks and acting skills for a living, he still managed to act quite convincingly.

Fang Ziyang coldly smiled in his heart. He didn’t want to hear these useless words. He nodded with a smile and said, “Little uncle, let’s not talk about the past. You have a lot of projects, and it’s rare for us to meet. Let’s discuss the main matters first, and we can find another opportunity to catch up later. Didn’t you want to start a studio? Let’s talk about the plans. Did you bring the proposal?”

Speaking of that.

Lu Yan also didn’t want to waste time and quickly nodded. The manager then handed him a document.

They had been considering starting a studio for a while. After all, there was a difference between working for others and being your own boss. And now that Lu Yan had taken a liking to the new little brother he had met, it was even more reason to establish a studio.

However, while the idea was great, it required financial and resource support to operate.

Although Lu Yan had been a child star for many years, his liquid assets weren’t significant. Most of what he had left were the shares and properties left by his grandfather, which couldn’t be easily sold. They needed to think of other methods.

Fang Ziyang took the document and skimmed through it.

The content was well-prepared. If they followed the resources and projects outlined in the document, Lu Yan might not become a megastar who could transcend the entertainment industry, but his position in the industry would be unshakeable. The plan to support new talents was also well-thought-out and impressive.

But the only issue was that these resources and projects required substantial capital investment. In other words, they needed to spend money.

The estimated investment funds in the plan were in the billions, but based on his financial instincts from his previous life, there would undoubtedly be additional funding needed later.

His little uncle thought well, treating him and his brother as ATMs.

After pretending to carefully read through the document, Fang Ziyang put it down and showed a disapproving expression. “Little uncle, although the business plan for your studio is good, the initial investment is too large. We lack experience, and acting and running a studio are fundamentally different. I think we should focus on stability and accumulate experience first…”

So, you’re rejecting it because there’s too much funding and you don’t want to help, right?

Lu Yan immediately became displeased with those words. “Ziyang, the entertainment industry is all about capital. You wouldn’t understand since you haven’t been in the industry. If it weren’t for the circumstances, your uncle wouldn’t have approached you. Your grandfather left you a considerable inheritance, and my sister also left you many shares. Now, it’s just asking you to invest a few billion to support your uncle. Can’t you spare it?”

Just a few billion?

Fang Ziyang couldn’t help but find it amusing. Did they think money just flew in with the wind, and writing a few words would bring in billions?

They spoke so easily, so boldly. If they had the ability, why didn’t they sell the inherited antique properties and invest themselves? Why bother talking about borrowing from him? In his previous life, he happily supported Yan Tong’s company. Now he’s being stingy.

He didn’t want to argue with them and directly handed his own proposal to the manager.

“Little uncle, it’s not that I don’t want to invest, but you don’t have a background in finance, so your understanding of capital is limited. Although I don’t understand the intricacies of the entertainment industry, I’m quite sensitive to investment projects. The returns estimated in your business plan are indeed substantial, but the investment required is also significant…”

“This is a plan I made after thoroughly understanding the current situation in the entertainment industry. I believe we can start with these resources, with a smaller initial investment and promising resource prospects. Most importantly, the scale of these resource projects is not small.”

“Take a look at it first, then we can discuss…”

Lu Yan’s manager was an experienced veteran with a calm personality. He took Fang Ziyang’s plan and began to earnestly read it.

Then, the manager’s eyes widened.

There was no other reason—the resources in Fang Ziyang’s plan were far superior to what they had come up with themselves!

Every single resource listed was a variety show or major production film or TV series, and even the level of endorsement opportunities was excellent. It was not an exaggeration to say that they were all top-level resources.

Lu Yan was also surprised after reading it.

The manager exclaimed, “Young Master Fang, if we follow your plan, won’t the investment be even greater?”

Fang Ziyang shook his head and smiled as he explained, “No, the cash investment for these resources is not significant. I obtained them by exchanging other resources with various talent agencies. I will invest in small-scale productions to support these companies in promoting new talents, and in return, they will provide me with other roles and guest spots. It’s a resource exchange.”

“Dongsheng Pharmaceutical has just been revived, and I currently don’t have much cash on hand. The same goes for my brother. We can’t come up with such a large sum of money all at once. If little uncle is willing, we can collaborate in this way.”

The manager was pleasantly surprised. “Are these resources certain?”

Lu Yan also showed delight. If it was like this, it would be better than having his little nephew invest directly. They could use the resources on Yan Tong without being discovered in the short term. By the time it was discovered, it would be too late to do anything, and would his little nephew still dare to act arrogant towards his uncle?

“Of course. Little uncle is my only relative, and naturally, I want to help him. It’s getting late, so little uncle, you can rest here and continue reading the plan. I need to go prepare for my performance.”

Fang Ziyang smiled genuinely.

After saying that, he turned and left.

Leaving behind a delighted Lu Yan and the manager.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Perhaps because he achieved his goal, Fang Ziyang was in a very good mood.

When the freshmen welcome party began, Lu Yan’s performance at the opening was excellent. His upbeat song ignited the atmosphere of the entire party and prevented the first performer from facing a cold audience.

Following that, the subsequent student performances were even more spectacular.

This greatly proved that the students who were admitted to Qing University were not just studious nerds who knew nothing but burying themselves in books, but outstanding talents who excelled in morality, intelligence, physicality, arts, and labor.

Especially when Fang Ziyang played one of the world’s top ten most difficult piano pieces, “The Devil,” his superb playing skills and highly emotional performance not only ignited the audience at the scene but also overwhelmed the live stream with an influx of barrage comments, causing the stream to lag.

Those who understood piano left continuous barrage comments, stating that the performance was at a level that could participate in international piano competitions. It was truly amazing!

Having such attention and receiving applause and praise made Fang Ziyang feel like he was in a different world.

He never imagined that he would still have such a popular day.

After the program performances, it was the most eye-catching knowledge quiz competition. Students from several prestigious universities displayed their talents on stage, competing fiercely to bring glory to their schools.

Regardless of who ultimately won, the competition was evenly matched, and even the winning scores wouldn’t be too high.

However, this year, a freak like Fang Ziyang mixed in. It was a perfect opportunity for Qing University to completely dominate the opponents. Fang Ziyang didn’t want to bully others, but with the title of the top scorer in the college entrance examination, if he lost, it would become a big joke. Helplessly, he could only shamelessly bully the kids.

Seeing the kids on the other side doubting their life choices after losing, he kindly comforted them, “It’s alright, it’s alright. You encountered me this year, and it’s honorable to lose with such distinction. I’m not a normal person, and victory will definitely belong to your school next year.”

His attempt at consolation backfired, and one of the kids on the other side burst into tears on the spot.

“Fang Ziyang, you jerk! That’s too much! Crying and showing off even after winning! Sob, when I get back, I’m going to stuff you in a sack and beat you to death! Letting you show off, sob…”

Fang Ziyang: …That’s not what I meant.

The audience burst into laughter.

Qing University’s president was so delighted that he couldn’t close his mouth. When the party ended, he directly waved his hand and let all the participating students and faculty go to the pre-booked restaurant for a celebratory dinner.

Although it was getting late, everyone was still in high spirits.

Moreover, it was the National Day holiday tomorrow, so staying up all night tonight wasn’t an issue. The stingy president was generous for once, and they couldn’t afford to miss it!

Of course, Fang Ziyang wouldn’t miss it.

Tonight, there was a big show to be performed, and he was one of the main characters. How could he break the appointment?

As for Xie Zheng, he never planned to go there in the first place. The surprises were all just to temporarily keep Xie Zheng occupied. Once Xie Zheng discovered that he didn’t show up, he would rush over to witness the spectacle.

The Dark Diary was just a test and a setup. When Xie Zheng discovered his true identity, he should wake up and realize that they were not compatible…

Meanwhile…

Shi Meijing nervously called Yan Tong, her voice trembling and anxious.

“Yan Tong, I… I’m a little scared. Even though we’ve prepared everything, this is the first time I’m doing such a heartless thing. What if… what if it fails? I can’t even imagine the consequences… How about you come over, just in case something unexpected happens, I can find you for a solution… I’m really scared that if it fails, my mind will go blank and I won’t know how to wrap things up…”

“I come over? Huh, Shi Meijing, are you crazy? If I could come over in person, why would I need you to do things for me?”

“The only option is success, not failure. If we fail, you better hold on and wait for me to come and save you. Don’t even think about exposing me, otherwise, neither of us can escape.”

Shi Meijing was unwilling and gritted her teeth. “But… but I’m really scared. What if you don’t keep your word and abandon me if we fail? What will I do then? I don’t care, you have to come over and take charge! Otherwise, I won’t do this! I’d rather have my brother know the truth and hate me than end up in jail. You figure it out!”

On the other end of the phone, Yan Tong fell silent for a moment.

After a while, he spoke, “Fine, I will come over. But the condition is that you make sure Fang Ziyang is locked in the room.”

“Okay, no problem.”

Receiving the affirmative answer, Shi Meijing revealed a triumphant smile.

On the other end,

Yan Tong hung up the phone and also revealed a cold smile.

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Amidst the busy preparations of the teachers, students, and performers at Qing University…

On September 30th, the freshman party officially began. This year, thanks to Xie Zheng’s generous sponsorship, the school had sufficient funds, resulting in an upgraded setup and conditions for the event.

Due to the news of the appearance of movie emperor Lu Yan at the school’s event, the attention towards this university-oriented party increased significantly, especially among Lu Yan’s fans. They were actively seeking opportunities and channels to support their idol in person, treating Qing University’s freshman party as a fan meeting.

However, for the sake of safety and to maintain control over the event, the school strictly controlled the presence of guests. Apart from the university’s faculty and students, only a few teachers and exchange students from other universities were allowed to enter.

To ensure security, the school even hired a professional security company to maintain order. After all, the madness of fans and sasaengs in the entertainment industry was well known.

Actually, if Lu Yan wasn’t Fang Ziyang’s little uncle, the school wouldn’t have been keen on having a celebrity like him attend.

Firstly, the freshman party was an exclusive event for the school, meant to showcase the students’ talents. Inviting a celebrity to steal the limelight wouldn’t be appropriate.

Secondly, there were concerns about the behavior of celebrity fans and sasaengs, which would add significant pressure to the school’s security measures.

So, even though the school agreed to have Lu Yan appear, their enthusiasm was not particularly high. All the arrangements and reception for him were no different from other invited guests.

When Lu Yan and his manager arrived at Qing University in the afternoon, he couldn’t help but feel a bit dissatisfied with the school’s attitude, which contrasted with the excessive attention he usually received.

However, Lu Yan, understanding that Qing University held a prestigious position, knew better than to act out of line.

Being a celebrity might be glamorous in the eyes of the public, but in the eyes of true elites and intellectuals, they were still considered to be just performers. Unless one reached the level of a top-tier artist or had a perfect public and private image, being associated with the upper class would be met with discrimination.

Although Lu Yan held the title of “Movie Emperor,” his position in the industry wasn’t yet stable. It was all the result of the company’s marketing and promotion. In reality, he was still a celebrity who relied on his looks for popularity.

So, Lu Yan didn’t dare to act arrogantly at Qing University.

However, while Lu Yan didn’t express his dissatisfaction to the school, he showed his displeasure when Fang Ziyang didn’t personally come to pick him up.

In the lounge, Lu Yan complained to his manager, somewhat annoyed.

“I told you it would be better to contact Tang Xun directly. After all, he’s also my nephew and a shareholder of New World Technology. But you insisted that I should contact Fang Ziyang. Look, we had a good conversation on the phone, but he didn’t even come to pick me up today? The longer he holds a grudge, the worse his temper becomes. He never really considered me as his uncle from the beginning.”

Although they were biological uncle and nephew, the age gap wasn’t significant, and Lu Yan and Fang Ziyang didn’t have a close relationship.

Apart from Fang Yandong intentionally keeping them apart, Lu Yan was also dissatisfied with Fang Ziyang due to the significant inheritance he received from their father. Lu Yan couldn’t understand why their father favored Fang Ziyang so much and even left him a substantial amount of inheritance. This directly affected his own interests, and he couldn’t possibly like Fang Ziyang.

He had actually been aware of the situation in the country while he was filming abroad. He had noticed that Fang Yandong was trying to spoil Fang Ziyang.

But he hadn’t intended to interfere. Firstly, it was a matter between Fang Yandong and his son, and his relationship with his little nephew wasn’t close enough to meddle in their family affairs. Secondly, Lu Yan’s family was in decline, and he still relied on Fang Yandong to support him in the industry. How could he get involved in his little nephew’s affairs?

Unexpectedly, within a few months, so many shocking events had occurred in the Fang family.

Originally, when he returned to China, he had planned to directly contact Tang Xun to develop a relationship as uncle and nephew. However, his manager insisted that he focus on Fang Ziyang.

His manager was also feeling frustrated and couldn’t help but speak in a harsh tone.

“Lu Yan, if you still want to thrive in the entertainment industry and fit in seamlessly, you better listen carefully to what I’m about to say. Let me repeat it to you once again: you must improve your relationship with Fang Ziyang.”

“I know you weren’t close to your little nephew in the past, but it’s still possible to mend the relationship now. Do you think I don’t want you to develop a relationship with Tang Xun directly? But that requires an opportunity.”

“Tang Xun spends most of his time in the research lab. He rarely shows up in public, and even reaching him by phone is not guaranteed. In such a situation, how can you develop a relationship with him as an uncle? How much time does Tang Xun have to spare for you as his little uncle?”

“However, Fang Ziyang is different. Even though your relationship was average before, you’ve known each other since childhood, and there is still some emotional connection. Moreover, Fang Ziyang isn’t just a useless playboy. He managed to hide his brilliance under his lousy father for many years and resurrected a company on the verge of bankruptcy. It proves his intelligence and abilities. He is undoubtedly a super potential stock…”

“Even if Fang Ziyang’s current abilities may not be of immediate help to you, don’t forget that Xie Zheng publicly supported him on Weibo, and he’s even staying at Xie Zheng’s house now.”

“He has only recently acknowledged Tang Xun as his relative, but he’s already gained such favor from Xie Zheng. If Fang Ziyang is willing to speak for you, Xie Zheng can become your biggest support… I believe you understand the significance of Xie Zheng’s influence.”

Lu Yan felt a bit annoyed. “But you’ve seen the attitude of my little nephew. He simply doesn’t care about me. And if it wasn’t for Xiao Tong telling me, I wouldn’t have known that my little nephew not only pretends to be weak but is also so malicious…”

The manager almost felt like vomiting blood at Lu Yan’s words.

Lu Yan had the audacity to say that!

Others might not be aware, but he had been with Lu Yan since his child star days. How could he not know about Lu Yan’s family situation? Could Fang Ziyang’s attitude towards his little uncle be blamed when he had a nephew who he didn’t care about at all, didn’t even bother to call when he faced major events such as being insulted by netizens and going to court?

Don’t even talk about Fang Ziyang being distant; it would be acceptable if he outright didn’t recognize Lu Yan. But Lu Yan, on the other hand, felt that the other party was in the wrong, showing no reflection on his own lack of understanding.

And then there’s Yan Tong…

Thinking about this, Lu Yan’s manager became irritated and angry.

After all, he was someone who had experienced the hot search controversy with Fang Ziyang, so he had some understanding. And with his years of experience in the entertainment industry, he could definitely say that Yan Tong was the epitome of a scheming, two-faced person.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

He had secretly mocked Xie Wenxu for being deceived by such a green tea bitch. It was truly blind and foolish, a disgrace.

But then Lu Yan ended up meeting Yan Tong and quickly developed a closer relationship. They called each other good brother and good little brother, and Lu Yan wholeheartedly believed everything Yan Tong said. Yan Tong even managed to convince him to support his entry into the entertainment industry!

The manager felt like he had been struck by lightning and his head was still spinning.

“That’s enough, Lu Yan. Can’t you control your temper and use your brain a bit? Regardless of the circumstances, Fang Ziyang is your close nephew. Even if he is truly scheming and malicious, that’s only towards people outside.”

“If you want his connections and investment, then be a bit self-aware. If you can’t control your temper and cause a scene, don’t blame me for not helping you. You can fire me and find a bigger manager to manage you. I have limited abilities, and I can’t handle your antics.”

The manager couldn’t bear it anymore.

He knew that Lu Yan had a temper as a young master, but this was the first time he realized how difficult Lu Yan could be. He wanted someone’s connections and resources but complained and found fault with everything. It was truly a case of pretending to be virtuous after acting like a whore. Did he really think the world revolved around him, this turtle bastard?

“And don’t forget that Yan Tong has a grudge against Fang Ziyang. If you really want to support him, it’s better to keep it low-key until the resources are secured. After so long in the industry, you should know what ‘reality’ means.”

The manager directly exposed the embarrassing fact of seeking help.

Lu Yan’s face darkened, but he could only hold back his feelings and reluctantly say, “I understand, stop talking about it.”

Being an uncle who had to fawn over his nephew was truly the most humiliating thing in the world, but unfortunately, that was the reality.

—

Lu Yan and his manager had been waiting in the lounge for more than half an hour when Fang Ziyang finally arrived.

It wasn’t that Fang Ziyang intentionally made them wait; he was genuinely busy today. He wasn’t used to the piano at the school, so to ensure a perfect performance, he had brought his own piano from home.

Considering that the piano was a specially customized masterpiece purchased abroad with a high price tag and significant collector’s value, the staff at the school were understandably nervous. They were afraid of accidentally damaging it and not being able to afford the cost, so they insisted on having Fang Ziyang personally oversee the transportation and placement.

Thus, when Fang Ziyang finally arrived after finishing his work, he was naturally late.

Seeing that Lu Yan was a bit unhappy, Fang Ziyang simply acted as if he hadn’t noticed and greeted him with a smile. “Little uncle, it’s rare to see you. You’ve become even more handsome. If it wasn’t for your photos circulating online, I might not have recognized you.”

Although it was just a normal greeting, and Fang Ziyang even smiled warmly, it still felt off.

As a close blood relative, having to rely on online photos to recognize each other—wasn’t that ironic?

Lu Yan didn’t think much of it.

However, the manager’s expression stiffened, and he discreetly tugged at Lu Yan’s clothes.

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“Brother, I’ve never seen you being so gentle towards anyone before. Do you know how focused your gaze is when you look at Fang Ziyang?”

“Fang Ziyang is so outstanding, it’s not surprising if you like him. Look at Xie Wenxu, isn’t he regretting it now?”

“Brother, even though Fang Ziyang comes from a better family background than ours, you’re not inferior either. You’re handsome and capable, and if you work hard, it’s not impossible to create your own career in the future. Besides, I don’t think Fang Ziyang cares so much about family background…”

“Brother, haven’t you noticed that Fang Ziyang smiles differently at you?”

Shi Liangchen didn’t speak, his heart felt warm.

He recalled the time when Fang Ziyang smiled and said they were good friends, looking as beautiful as an angel.

But…

He had such malicious thoughts towards Fang Ziyang.

“Brother, you’ve taken care of me all these years, and I can’t help you with anything. I want you to be happy. If you truly have feelings for him, then pursue him without any reservations. If my happiness causes you unhappiness, even if I survive the surgery, I won’t be happy.”

“Brother, please don’t do anything against your conscience for my sake. If you do something irreparable because of me, then even if the operation is successful, my life will have no meaning.”

Shi Meijing looked pale with concern.

Shi Liangchen was momentarily stunned. “You, you know…”

“Yeah, brother, you’ve protected me for so long. This time, live for yourself, okay? Please, I hope you can be happy.”

The fragile girl’s eyes were filled with pleading.

Shi Liangchen’s throat felt choked, and the chains of guilt and heaviness seemed to be released. His eyes turned red. “Alright, I’ll listen to Meijing. But you also have to promise me to take care of your health.”

“Okay, brother, you must be happy too!”

Shi Meijing smiled, hugged Shi Liangchen’s arm, and acted spoiled. She felt triumphant.

This fool, Shi Liangchen, was so easy to deceive from childhood to now.

But this was also what the Shi family owed her. If it wasn’t for her parents saving Shi Liangchen when he was young, he wouldn’t have survived till now. It was only right for Shi Liangchen to sacrifice for her.

Shi Meijing felt proud, making calculations in her mind.

With Shi Meijing’s persuasion, Shi Liangchen, who had been burdened with heaviness and guilt, finally found liberation. He already had a good impression of Fang Ziyang, and now his gaze towards Fang Ziyang had become much deeper.

Of course, Fang Ziyang also noticed Shi Liangchen’s change.

But he didn’t expose it or avoid it, maintaining the same state of caution as before.

Shi Liangchen was emotionally reserved, and even if his feelings changed, he wouldn’t openly admit it so quickly. And Fang Ziyang naturally wouldn’t point it out and cause trouble for himself.

On the other hand, with Shi Meijing and Yan Tong, although they had become cautious about phone and internet surveillance, they apparently forgot that he was a rich man who could hire detectives!

In just a few days, he received three important pieces of information from the detectives.

First, Yan Tong had met with his little uncle, and in a short period of time, their relationship had changed from strangers to familiar terms like “brother”.

Second, Yan Tong had purchased a pregnancy pill at a high price from the black market.

Third, Shi Meijing had contacted several private investigation firms at a nightclub.

“Master Fang, it seems that Shi Meijing wants to dig into Yan Tong’s past. Recently, she’s been searching for a reliable detective, but she hasn’t found a reputable agency yet because she doesn’t have any connections…”

The detective reported diligently. The salary provided by the employer was high, so they worked very hard.

Fang Ziyang, who had previously interacted with Shi Meijing, almost instantly understood her intentions based on her recent behavior.

“She has some good ideas…”

His voice didn’t reveal any emotion.

The detective couldn’t gauge his temper and didn’t dare to ask any further questions. They remained silent, waiting cautiously for him to speak again.

After a while, Fang Ziyang didn’t say anything else. He simply instructed, “Keep an eye on them,” and then hung up the phone.

A cold, faint smile appeared on his lips.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

In the days leading up to the school’s freshman party, Fang Ziyang appeared to focus most of his time on studying and preparing for the performance.

But at night, he spent his time reviewing the reports sent by the detective and chatting with Lu Yan and Xie Zheng.

Although he knew in his heart that Lu Yan didn’t really consider him as a nephew, in the eyes of outsiders, he was the only family they had. If he was to show excessive coldness towards Lu Yan before Lu Yan did anything to harm him, he would definitely be criticized.

After all, Lu Yan was the elder, and he was the younger one. In Huaguo, a country that valued respecting the elderly and caring for the young, the most difficult thing to handle was family relationships.

In order to prevent his little uncle from causing harm to his brother, he had no choice but to engage with him and play along.

Because Lu Yan had reached out to him proactively after returning to the country, Fang Ziyang could easily guess the reason.

There were probably only two reasons: connections and resources.

Although the Lu family had some connections, most of them were only useful for life-saving situations and couldn’t help Lu Yan’s career in the entertainment industry.

The reason Lu Yan had been so successful in recent years was largely due to the fact that Fang Yandong had supported him as a good father and husband, ensuring smooth progress in Lu Yan’s acting career.

Now that Fang Yandong had fallen from grace, even though Lu Yan was already a well-known actor, he still needed a powerful background to survive in the entertainment industry.

Now that he had recognized Tang Xun as his relative and Tang Xun was a shareholder and technician at New World Technology, with a company worth nearly billions in his hands, why wouldn’t Lu Yan come forward to acknowledge their relationship?

In the previous life, Lu Yan had ignored him, claiming that he didn’t have such a nephew. Now, in this life, he suddenly wanted to take advantage of him.

Hah, he must be dreaming.

And the funniest thing for Fang Ziyang was that during their conversation, Lu Yan not only wanted him and his brother to provide support, but also asked him to invest in a studio, asking for tens of billions.

It was said that they had recently discovered a very talented newcomer and wanted to sign him to see how he would fare. Lu Yan hoped that his nephew could support his career, considering they were the only family they had now.

When Fang Ziyang saw this message, he immediately realized who the talented newcomer mentioned by Lu Yan was.

Just when he received news from his detective about Lu Yan’s acquaintance with Yan Tong, Lu Yan brought up the talented newcomer. Did Lu Yan think he was a fool or blind?

Was his little uncle out of his mind, thinking that he could count on him to support his enemy without holding any grudges? Or did he believe that the bond of family between them would make his nephew obey his every word?

It was probably the latter.

If it wasn’t for his belief that he could bind him through family ties, Lu Yan wouldn’t have asked him to invest tens of billions in a studio!

It was fortunate that his brother had been immersed in the lab and hadn’t been able to answer calls or chat online; otherwise, the other party would have succeeded.

“Uncle, opening a studio is a big deal, and tens of billions is no small amount… How about this, since Uncle wants to come and watch the performance at our school’s freshman party, let’s discuss it when we meet. Uncle, prepare the proposal, and we’ll talk about it then.”

Fang Ziyang didn’t directly refuse, but he didn’t immediately agree either. His tone was warm and carried a hint of a CEO’s aura.

After all, he was now a shareholder of Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals and in charge of decision-making. When it came to official matters, he naturally had to adopt some CEO “habits,” right?

Lu Yan clearly hadn’t expected that his naive nephew, who had been like a fool before, would suddenly switch to elite mode.

But considering what had happened during the time he was away and the recent miraculous revival of Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals, he quickly stopped finding it strange. As some netizens had said, his nephew was a genius who had previously pretended to be weak in the Fang family.

Having thought it through, Lu Yan agreed and smiled, “Alright, we’ll talk about it when we meet. Choose the performances for the party carefully. When the time comes, Uncle will be there to support you.”

Was this building up their uncle-nephew relationship? Or was he planning to announce directly that he wanted his nephew to invest in his project?

Fang Ziyang’s lips curled up.

“Sure, thank you, Uncle. I’ll inform the school about it and make preparations in advance. Uncle has a lot of fans, and I’m going to be envied by everyone.”

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

He began to recall the TV dramas, movies, and variety shows from his previous life that had been criticized and ridiculed. He took out a small notebook and memorized them carefully.

Since his little uncle wished to become a superstar and break into the industry, he would give him a boost.

…

Lu Yan was easy to deal with.

But Fang Ziyang found himself in a bit of a headache with Xie Zheng.

When Xie Zheng returned with the piano scores that day, he seemed off, probably having discovered the notebook Fang Ziyang had deliberately left behind.

According to his expectations, Xie Zheng, upon discovering that his docile behavior was just an act and that he was actually a cannibalistic flower, would at least feel conflicted and distant from him. Even if he didn’t immediately dislike him, some coldness would be the normal reaction, right?

However, Xie Zheng didn’t take the usual route.

Not only did he not show any signs of coldness, but he also became more active in messaging and calling him! Previously, they would only contact each other once every few days, but now they had to chat every night.

It was as if he had never seen that dark diary, behaving as if nothing had happened.

Was this still the upright and serious Xie Zheng, who hated evil and was resentful?

How come he hadn’t realized that he was so charming?

Or was it that the dark diary wasn’t significant enough?

Was Xie Zheng trying to push him into completely breaking his persona?

Why was it so difficult for him to be a good person!

After a few frustrating days, Fang Ziyang decided to give Xie Zheng a little push and sent him a WeChat message:

“[Brother Xie, I heard that you’re sponsoring our school’s freshman party. Are you planning to attend? Can you skip it? Book a room at the Jinhao Hotel on Jinhong Road. I’ll come find you then. I have a surprise for you. (Blushing emoji)]”

Hotel… room… surprise…

Xie Zheng’s hands trembled when he received the WeChat message, and his ears turned red, not knowing what he was thinking about.

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Fang Ziyang was not surprised by Xie Wenxu’s decision to move out of the dormitory. He had achieved his goal of using Xie Wenxu to provoke Yan Tong, and now that their relationship was strained, and Yan Tong had no better options than Xie Wenxu for the time being, despite any internal anger, Yan Tong would definitely find a way to continue holding on to this support.

And he would launch an even more fierce attack on Xie Wenxu next.

And this was exactly what he wanted.

As expected, the outcome confirmed his expectations.

After returning to school for the first weekend of the semester, Shi Meijing shamelessly clung to him again.

Having learned from the previous lesson, Shi Meijing had become smarter this time. Instead of coming to him alone, she always approached him when he was with Shi Liangchen.

This way, he couldn’t tell Shi Meijing to stop shamelessly clinging to him anymore since it was a normal reason for her to come to her brother.

But this time, he had no intention of driving Shi Meijing away again.

Before, he didn’t want to bother with her because it was a waste of time, but now that Yan Tong was shaken and in disarray, planning to target Shi Meijing, how could he retreat?

However, Yan Tong was more cautious this time. Perhaps it was because he had suffered at the hands of the “Tech Emperor” before, but this time, he didn’t dare to give instructions over the phone, risking being caught on the spot.

Therefore, Fang Ziyang had no idea of Shi Meijing’s intentions at the moment.

But not knowing didn’t mean he couldn’t analyze.

Soon, he understood what Shi Meijing wanted from her behavior.

Shi Meijing seemed to be trying to matchmake him and Shi Liangchen.

It wasn’t that Fang Ziyang was being overly sensitive or self-absorbed, but Shi Meijing’s actions were too immature and clumsy for someone as mature and experienced as Fang Ziyang, who possessed the soul of a twenty-eight-year-old.

In order to matchmake him and Shi Liangchen, Shi Meijing seemed to have forgotten all the unpleasantness from before. Every time they met, she still maintained her warmth and friendliness.

Every time she approached, she would overtly and covertly praise Shi Liangchen in front of him, extolling his various virtues.

In fact, if Fang Ziyang wasn’t mature enough, Shi Meijing’s methods would have been perfect, at least for people of the same age.

During each meeting, Shi Meijing wouldn’t be foolish enough to directly say something like, “How great is my brother? You should date my brother.” It was too obvious and simple-minded. Instead, she would seize every opportunity to make her comments.

For example, when they were at the playground watching people play basketball and the boys and girls around them were cheering for the handsome basketball players, Shi Meijing would innocently say, “Although Senior Zou is indeed charming, I still think my brother is more handsome, hehe. My brother can play basketball too. He used to represent the school in competitions. But my brother just likes messing with computers, wasting his talent. Such a pity. Young Master Fang, do you really like watching basketball? How about my brother performs some fancy basketball moves for you? It’ll be amazing!”

Or when they went to the cafeteria to eat, Shi Liangchen would always remind him to have a bowl of soup to nourish his stomach before eating.

Then Shi Meijing would sparkle with stars in her eyes and say, “Brother, why don’t you always be so gentle! Being so nice to everyone, my future sister-in-law will definitely be jealous. But on another note, brother, you’ve never had a girlfriend or boyfriend all these years, right? I really want a sister-in-law, so you have to work hard, okay? We’re in college already and you’re still not in a relationship, it’s a worry!”

And then Shi Meijing would continue, “Brother, you’re really talented in computers. After our parents passed away, most of our living expenses and my medical fees came from programs you developed or from helping others with programming. If it wasn’t for me dragging you down, you would have been even more outstanding…”

These words may not seem like much on the surface, but upon closer inspection, they meant something else.

If he was just an eighteen-year-old young boy and heard Shi Meijing say these things so often, he would unconsciously develop feelings for Shi Liangchen that went beyond friendship.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

After all, young people are impulsive and ambiguous when it comes to emotions. When someone keeps saying how great another person is and how nice it would be to date them, if one’s willpower is not strong, they can easily be influenced, agree with the other person’s words, and start believing it.

Shi Meijing not only brainwashed him, but also launched the same attack on Shi Liangchen.

In front of Shi Liangchen, Shi Meijing would heap praises on him, such as: “Young Master Fang, you’re really amazing. Not only are your grades good, but you can also play the piano. I read online that your piano skills are almost at a professional level! It’s truly impressive.”

“Haha, Young Master Fang, how can you be this adorable? You’re so outstanding, I really don’t know who will be lucky enough to be your boyfriend in the future. They’ll definitely be happy and blessed.”

“What kind of guys do you like? I’m sure you like someone gentle, right? And they should know computers too, or else it’ll be difficult to find common topics and get along…”

“Young Master Fang, it’s great that my brother is sharing a dormitory with you. His personality is too easily bullied. Fortunately, you stood up for him at the beginning of the semester. You’re really a good person, unlike those who mind their own business. Brother, you should treat Young Master Fang better in the future!”

These actions of Shi Meijing went unnoticed by others, but Fang Ziyang understood them perfectly.

However, he didn’t believe that Shi Meijing simply wanted to matchmake him and Shi Liangchen.

After all, Shi Meijing was someone who held grudges and was petty. Once she hated someone, she would never reconcile with them unless she sought revenge and vented her anger. So how could she just watch him and Shi Liangchen happily dating?

And Yan Tong would never allow him to be in a relationship with Shi Liangchen and hand over his right-hand man to him.

So Shi Meijing’s actions were definitely her own idea.

In response, Fang Ziyang would always show a shy smile, without any clear indication.

However, his attitude towards Shi Meijing had improved significantly compared to before. He would occasionally engage in conversations with her and no longer meet her with a cold and hostile demeanor.

–

Shi Meijing felt that her actions had an effect, and she felt both happy and relieved.

Indeed, she wanted to matchmake her brother and Fang Ziyang, but she wouldn’t easily let Fang Ziyang marry her brother. After all, this annoying guy had bullied her before, and she wouldn’t let it go unpunished, or else she wouldn’t be Shi Meijing!

It was also Fang Ziyang’s own misfortune to encounter such a ruthless rival like Yan Tong.

Originally, Yan Tong only wanted her to approach Fang Ziyang, become good friends with him, and monitor his actions at all times to prevent her brother from making mistakes due to soft-heartedness.

But when Fang Ziyang handled the controversy over the performance list at the previous party with such carelessness, causing a rift between Yan Tong and Xie Wenxu, and driving Yan Tong to lose his sanity, Yan Tong directly contacted her and instructed her to ruin Fang Ziyang’s reputation at the post-party celebration!

At that time, Shi Meijing was somewhat afraid after hearing Yan Tong’s plan.

After all, although she had used various means to sabotage annoying classmates and friends behind the scenes, it never escalated to the point of ruining someone’s life directly. The tasks Yan Tong assigned her could easily cross legal boundaries.

If she failed carelessly, she would definitely be caught by the police!

Even if the plan succeeded and Fang Ziyang’s reputation was ruined, he still had Tang Xun supporting him from behind, as well as billions of inheritance and shares. His life would still be comfortable, despite the tarnished reputation.

By that time, Yan Tong would achieve his goal, but she would be in a miserable state. Fang Ziyang would never let her off.

But after careful consideration, she calmed down and had a sudden flash of insight, coming up with a win-win solution.

Since Yan Tong dared to threaten her, she wouldn’t hold back.

As long as Fang Ziyang developed feelings for her brother, and when Fang Ziyang’s reputation was ruined and he fell into a predicament, her brother’s character wouldn’t reject him, and the vulnerable Fang Ziyang would definitely see her brother as a lifeline.

At that time, she could reveal Yan Tong’s ugly deeds to Xie Wenxu, and Xie Wenxu would definitely not spare Yan Tong. So what if Yan Tong tried to expose her secrets?

When Fang Ziyang married her brother with his billions of assets and feelings of guilt and inferiority, could he still treat her, his little sister, poorly?

She would simultaneously teach two annoying people a harsh lesson and instantly become a member of a wealthy family. She was truly clever!

To ensure that Fang Ziyang would eventually marry her brother, she even coaxed Yan Tong into buying a pregnancy pill from the black market at a high price.

It was easy to solve the issue of a young master losing their innocence, but if they lost their innocence and became pregnant, that would be more difficult to handle.

Although the technology and safety of pregnancy pills were already well-assured, there was still a significant drawback: it was better not to use them before the age of 20. If they were used before the age of 20, there should be no miscarriage or termination, as it would cause serious long-term effects on the man’s body.

Fang Ziyang was only eighteen years old and not physically strong. Once he became pregnant, if he didn’t want to harm his own body, he would have to keep the child.

By then, besides her brother, could Fang Ziyang find another young and talented person who didn’t mind and wanted to marry him?

In terms of ruthlessness, Shi Meijing is no less than Yan Tong, and she may even be smarter than him.

–

Shi Liangchen had no idea that his sister would have such absurd and terrifying thoughts. He had no guard against Shi Meijing at all.

So when Shi Meijing said that Fang Ziyang liked him, Shi Liangchen didn’t think that his sister had ulterior motives. He simply thought she was concerned about his love life.

Initially, Shi Liangchen wasn’t shaken and found it amusing. “Alright, Meijing, I know you care about me, but Fang Ziyang and I are just good friends. You’ve misunderstood…”

He hadn’t told Shi Meijing about the deal he made with Yan Tong, so he assumed that his growing closeness with Fang Ziyang had led his sister to misunderstand.

But Shi Meijing didn’t give up there and gossiped, “How can it be a misunderstanding? I can’t be mistaken. Brother, Fang Ziyang definitely likes you. If he didn’t, why would he treat you better than others? Why did he help you out during the enrollment process? And why did his attitude toward me change because of you? Can all of that be explained by just being good friends? You’ve only known each other for less than a month, right…”

Upon hearing this, Shi Liangchen didn’t know how to respond and couldn’t find any arguments.

Shi Meijing continued, “Brother, deep down, you also like Fang Ziyang, don’t you?”

Shi Liangchen was stunned.

---

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The fans in her live streaming room felt deeply moved. They liked Zhou Lingling because of her inner beauty, and they called her a goddess despite her densely pimpled face. Their love for her was genuine.

However, in the middle of their heartfelt comforting, they saw a “terrifying” scene.

Zhou Lingling’s skin started oozing black liquid, just like in Fang Ziyang’s live broadcast. The difference was that it happened a bit quicker because Zhou Lingling had more toxins and impurities in her body.

Upon hearing the fans’ reminder, Zhou Lingling quickly went to look in the mirror and used a wet tissue to wipe off the black liquid from her face.

Once her skin was revealed, although the acne was still there, it was noticeably smaller. Most of the black liquid had come out of the pimples.

The sight was a bit disgusting, but… it was also pleasantly surprising!

The effect of this beauty essence was truly not exaggerated.

It was genuinely a trustworthy product!

That was the only thought in Zhou Lingling’s mind and the minds of the fans in her live streaming room.

As expected, Zhou Lingling’s live stream went viral.

In addition to her, several other customers with obvious skin improvements also gained popularity with their live videos.

Although the price of the 9,999 yuan instant beauty essence was expensive for ordinary people, there were still quite a few wealthy individuals in Huaguo. As a result, there were plenty of people who directly purchased the most expensive beauty essence.

This led to a surge in live experiment videos.

Although there were doubts about whether it was just Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s astroturfing and marketing, the astonishing visual effects still attracted many people.

Especially those who knew the people in the videos hurriedly called them and, after getting their confirmation, immediately went to buy the product without hesitation.

The rich bought the most expensive and effective one, while the less affluent bought the cheaper one with slower results.

After these examples of verified effects emerged, people no longer cared about the price or potential side effects. Who would want to be ugly when they could become more beautiful!

Even those who didn’t care much about their appearance went to buy the product because of its “detoxification function.”

The massive response resulted in an increase in sales of the beauty essence every day. The company’s official blog followers also surged, and the stock of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical rose overnight.

Fang Ziyang, Zhou Jun, and Zhao Jingyu, the three young shareholders and employees of the company, couldn’t sleep well over the weekend. They woke up with smiles on their faces!

Fang Ziyang checked the online situation and, before returning to school, had a video conference with Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu from the company headquarters in Jiangshi.

The video conference was straightforward: they wanted the company to establish a charitable fund department. In the future, a percentage of the proceeds from every product sold by Dongsheng Pharmaceutical would be allocated to the fund for charitable purposes.

The high-level executives of the various departments hesitated because of the significant cost involved in this charity initiative.

However, Fang Ziyang left them speechless with one sentence:

“Do you want Dongsheng Pharmaceutical to experience the power of public opinion in the future?”

That single sentence brought the managers back to reality from their jubilant mood.

“When we took over Dongsheng Pharmaceutical, I told you that Dongsheng Pharmaceutical would shine in our hands. The beauty essence is just the beginning. Please trust the research and development team that I have rebuilt.”

“I admit that establishing this charity department has some personal motives, but it is mostly for the future of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical.”

“In the future, Dongsheng Pharmaceutical will undoubtedly become a thorn in the side of the industry peers. Therefore, we must have the support of the public…”

Fang Ziyang was well aware of the power of public opinion.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Whether it was an individual or a company, in this era of flourishing internet and increasingly free expression, the direction of public opinion could be powerful enough to destroy a giant enterprise.

The information and formulas in the “Golden Finger” were superior to the technology of this era. The company’s development would increase exponentially. When a new industry leader rose, they would inevitably face suppression from the established giants.

Even if Fang Ziyang was confident and had cooperation with the country, he dared not be too arrogant.

Therefore, before facing difficulties, they must be prepared. They needed to lay the groundwork in advance and win the hearts of the people. No matter how powerful the capital was, the ultimate competition of an enterprise lay in the hands of consumers.

Their products had high production costs and high selling prices, and it would be the same for every product they brought out in the future.

Initially, people might understand, but as time went on and they were led by others, many people would overlook the premise and question the high price of the products.

There might even be conspiracy theories suggesting that their products didn’t contain the claimed ingredients and were just a money-making scheme. They would be accused of being heartless capitalist vampires, and so on.

Take from the people, use for the people.

Please believe that giving back to society and supporting customers will make your company thrive.

Of course, they could have taken the high-end route for all their products and made them exclusive luxury items. That would have made things less complicated.

But Fang Ziyang didn’t want that. The “Golden Finger” formulas were not as simple as beauty products. Just like the beauty essence, although it was called a beauty essence, it would be more accurate to call it a detoxification essence. These were things that enhanced the body’s overall health, and he wanted to promote them widely.

There was another reason as well.

If Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s “Golden Finger” products were widely promoted in the future, they could undoubtedly single-handedly drive the development of the traditional Chinese medicine market in Huaguo and arouse worldwide interest in Chinese medicine research.

As a Chinese person, Fang Ziyang hoped for a better future for his country. Chinese medicine was truly worth exploring, and the information in the “Golden Finger” was the best proof of its effectiveness.

Setting aside lofty ideals, there was a practical truth:

Our peaceful and happy lives are based on the strength of our motherland. The motherland protects us, and we contribute to the motherland. That is the meaning of each of us striving to protect and dedicate ourselves to our motherland.

“But let’s keep this matter quiet. No publicity, low-key operations. Being too high-profile is not good for our company,” Fang Ziyang added.

In fact, the real intention behind this statement was that he wanted to keep the fund department as a trump card.

If no one tried to attack their company in the future, that would be great. But if someone foolish enough came, they would be ready to strike back.

He had skipped that pitfall in his previous life, and once was enough.

…

This weekend, Fang Ziyang experienced both joy and worry.

There were happy events, but also troublesome ones. However, regardless of his emotions, he couldn’t resist the urge to continue moving forward.

In the afternoon of the weekend, he packed his things and returned to his dormitory at school, ready to continue attending classes.

The other roommates had also returned, but Xie Wenxu brought two bodyguards to pack his belongings and prepare to move off-campus.

“Ziyang, can we talk alone for a moment? I promise that, after today… I will never disturb you again.”

In just two days, Xie Wenxu’s state had deteriorated several times over. It seemed as if he had suffered a major blow overnight, appearing dejected and frustrated.

It wasn’t hard to guess what had caused this impact.

As for what Xie Wenxu wanted to say to him…

Fang Ziyang understood very well. He nodded and said, “Fine. Let’s talk outside.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

His attitude remained calm and indifferent.

This made Xie Wenxu even more miserable and uncomfortable. He would rather have Fang Ziyang hate and scold him than face this calm and indifferent version of Fang Ziyang. It showed that he no longer held any place in Fang Ziyang’s heart.

Endless regret overwhelmed him like waves, suffocating him every day.

He had ultimately made the wrong choice, but there was no turning back now.

Walking to a secluded corner, Xie Wenxu remained silent and repressed for a long time before forcing out a smile.

“Ziyang, I know you can never forgive me, but I still want to say sorry to you. In the past… I let you down. You were good, you never changed. It was me who changed. It was my foolishness and arrogance that made me lose you.”

“The controversy over the guest list for the previous event was orchestrated by Yan Tong. I apologize on his behalf. If you need any compensation, you can tell me, and I will try my best to fulfill your requests.”

“You’re apologizing on his behalf?” Fang Ziyang suddenly smiled.

Although there was no sarcasm in his smile, it felt deeply ironic to Xie Wenxu for some reason.

Xie Wenxu knew exactly what that irony meant.

When Fang Ziyang had an incident in the past, he didn’t believe in him or support him. He was indifferent and merciless. Now, it was Yan Tong’s turn, and Xie Wenxu gave him trust and support. To Fang Ziyang, it was a second act of cruelty.

But that wasn’t what he meant.

Xie Wenxu’s heart ached unbearably. “It’s not for him. Ziyang, I don’t expect your forgiveness, but I hope you won’t look down on me anymore…”

Sometimes, you only realize the true value of something after losing it.

He had never realized how important Fang Ziyang’s glances, smiles, and approval were to him.

Fang Ziyang looked at the pained and worn-out Xie Wenxu, but his heart couldn’t stir even a little.

If apologies were effective, what would the police be needed for?

Even if he had been reborn, the events of the past were remembered only by him. Could he consider it as if nothing had happened, as if he had a fresh start?

No.

Fang Ziyang was still living in hell. Why did these people deserve redemption?

“Xie Wenxu, do you know what it means to kill someone’s heart?”

Fang Ziyang calmly looked at the person in front of him.

Xie Wenxu raised his head.

“You’ll understand soon. Everything you once bestowed upon me, I will return to you all. And then, I will completely erase you from my life.”

Fang Ziyang chuckled lightly.

He turned around and walked away.

Xie Wenxu stood still, completely shattered by the words “completely erase you from my life.”

---

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Xie Zheng took awhile to fetch the sheet music, he returned with a somewhat dazed expression.

Fang Ziyang knew that the other person must have seen the diary.

He pursed his lips and chose not to expose it. He politely took the sheet music and continued playing, his smiling face showing no special emotions.

However, deep down, he still felt a discomfort that was hard to explain.

Everyone longed for sunshine, but someone as pure and clean as Xie Zheng was not something he could possess. He couldn’t always pretend to be the person the other liked. There were still many things he hadn’t done and he didn’t want to become a moth to the flame.

Before he could embrace the sunshine, he didn’t have the right to do so until he sent those people to hell. It would burn him.

Although he had already decided not to harm innocent people, he still wanted to preserve a glimmer of light. He didn’t want to lose himself in the process of seeking revenge and become the heartless enemy he hated.

It’s okay. He had overcome so many difficulties and pain before, he could do it.

…

There were only two days in a weekend.

Fang Ziyang seemed outgoing and cheerful, but he was actually lazy and liked to stay at home.

So he didn’t go out the whole weekend, staying at Xie Family Manor with Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu, focusing on monitoring the promotion of the beauty essence online and reviewing the sales reports from Dongsheng Pharmaceutical.

As they expected, the short advertisement live broadcast, which had only a few minutes of dialogue, created a huge response.

They say seeing is believing, and the audience had high trust in what they saw with their own eyes.

Fang Ziyang’s live broadcast didn’t use any filters and there were no editing issues or lags. It was a complete and unobstructed playback from all angles. There was no possibility of faking it.

Even if they couldn’t confirm the final results of using the beauty essence through the screen, the immediate detoxification effect was undoubtedly real!

In this day and age, who hadn’t read a few fantasy novels or watched a few fantasy TV dramas? Based on the situation during the live broadcast, the first thing that came to everyone’s mind was: Damn, is this the legendary purification and marrow-cleansing technique?

Even if it was out of curiosity, after the live broadcast ended, 90% of the netizens rushed to Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s official website.

The remaining 10% stubbornly refused to believe that such a miraculous scientific research result was real. They insisted that it was a gimmick intentionally created by the company using magic tricks! They just didn’t believe it!

However, having 90% of the netizens attracted to Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s official website was already enough.

As long as the feedback from the first batch of buyers came out, the product wouldn’t have any sales issues in the future.

And the first batch of netizens who flocked to the official website didn’t disappoint. Almost half of them placed an order after seeing the product information on the website, while the other half hesitated due to the price and waited for the experimental results from others. After all, they had been tormented by advertisements and their hearts were almost broken.

Fang Ziyang wasn’t surprised by this situation either. The selling price of the beauty essence was indeed not cheap.

In the advertisement, he showcased only one product from the beauty essence series, which consisted of different types such as Beauty Essence No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and so on, with varying effects and prices.

The one he presented in the live broadcast was the best one with immediate results, priced at 9,999 yuan per box.

It did sound frighteningly expensive, but a careful analysis of the costs revealed that the price was absolutely cost-effective.

Although he could provide the formula, it still required the efforts of the research team. All the ingredients used in the product were genuine Chinese medicinal materials, and the effectiveness of the product depended entirely on the age of those medicinal materials. The high cost naturally resulted in a high selling price.

For those who couldn’t afford the expensive one, they could choose the lower-priced options. However, the lower-priced products would take longer to show effects, and the final results would be slightly inferior.

When formulating the product series, they had already considered the economic capabilities of consumers at different levels.

On the official website, all the information about each product, including the expected time for results, was clearly stated. The government had also approved and completed all the necessary procedures, ensuring the quality.

Although some people criticized the prices online, many others had positive comments:

“Those who doubt the reasonable pricing obviously haven’t carefully read the product description. Although it’s a bit expensive, considering the raw materials and the final results matching the live broadcast, I believe it’s definitely worth the price… I’ve already ordered a box and will provide feedback.”

“Mama, do you know how I felt when I saw the prices on the official website? I suddenly felt so poor that I doubted my life…”

“9,999 yuan per box! Is this pricing really reasonable?”

“Is the product’s effect really as good as shown in the live broadcast? Will there be any side effects from the immediate results?”

“Why do I feel like it’s not real? That live broadcast must be fake. Can the Industrial and Commercial Bureau really turn a blind eye to such pricing?”

Many people criticized the prices, but there were also many positive comments.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

“The person upstairs is right. If the product’s effect is really the same as shown in the live broadcast, then the price is incredibly reasonable. Getting a whitening injection at a beauty salon costs several thousand yuan at the cheapest, and the results are still debatable.”

“9,999 yuan is the price of the most expensive one. If you can’t afford it, you can choose a cheaper option. It’s a series, right? The lower-priced products may take longer to show results and the final effect may be slightly inferior, but it’s similar to buying regular skincare products.”

“I checked, each product has been registered with the Industrial and Commercial Bureau, and the official health procedures have been completed.”

“I bought one for 1,999 yuan. It’s supposed to show results within two months. I’ll give it a try. After all, the effects in the live broadcast were amazing!”

“I also bought the 999 yuan one. It shows results in three months. My skin has been through so much. I’m willing to be a test subject for everyone.”

“I bought the 499 yuan one. Wait for me…”

Appearance is something that people of all ages and genders pay exceptional attention to, especially women. They can endure any amount of pain for the sake of beauty.

People are willing to go under the knife or get injections to modify their appearance, so when they see something that can change their skin with just a drink, the risk they’re taking seems much smaller compared to cosmetic procedures. If they don’t have the courage to try it, they might as well be dead for those who love beauty.

The beauty essence series had different price ranges.

On the day after the live broadcast, those who were both beauty-conscious and courageous enough chose the product that suited their financial capability.

On the third day, when customers in the same city as Jiangshi received the product and tried the ones with immediate effects, they shared videos of their experimental results through their Weibo and live streaming accounts.

This caused a real uproar and made the beauty essence completely viral on the internet.

One of the most impactful videos was shared by a female student from a university in Jiangshi.

Her name was Zhou Lingling, and her facial features were actually very good. She also maintained a hot figure. However, the only flaw was that she constantly suffered from acne on her face, and neither medicine nor cosmetic procedures could solve the problem…

Since middle school, Zhou Lingling had been subjected to sympathetic or mocking looks from her classmates and friends because of the acne on her face. The acne was like a nightmare that haunted her throughout her growth.

To get rid of the acne on her face, Zhou Lingling had gone to extremes.

After watching Fang Ziyang’s live broadcast, she thought that this beauty essence seemed like the purification and marrow-cleansing technique from the novels she had read. Her acne could be considered a toxin resulting from imbalanced hormone secretion, so it should fall within the range of treatment, right?

Whether it was exaggerated in the advertisement or not, as long as it had even a slight effect, it was worth buying!

Without any hesitation, Zhou Lingling immediately rushed to Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s official website after closing the live broadcast and placed an order. The price and safety of the product were not even in her consideration.

As long as it could solve the acne on her face, she would even drink poison without changing her expression!

Thanks to the local express delivery service, she received the package the next day.

Although she was anxious and not afraid of any side effects, Zhou Lingling had high expectations for the product. She had been deceived enough by advertisements.

Instead of consuming the product right away, Zhou Lingling opened her own live streaming account and prepared for a live broadcast.

Since Fang Ziyang dared to do such a live broadcast advertisement, he must be prepared for more rigorous scrutiny from everyone. People couldn’t be easily fooled.

After explaining the situation to the few hundred fans in her live streaming room, Zhou Lingling courageously followed the instructions and drank a bottle right in front of the camera.

“You all must be familiar with the condition of my face, which has been troubled by acne since middle school. I’ve tried both Chinese and Western medicine, but nothing worked…”

“Do you know what nicknames I had? In middle school, they called me ‘Acne.’ In high school, they called me ‘Flower with Acne.’ In college, they were more subtle, at least from their perspective, the ‘Killer of Backs’ nickname made me feel like they were praising my figure…”

“I don’t expect this beauty essence to be as good as Fang Ziyang’s live broadcast, but as long as it has some effect, I have decided to become Fang Ziyang’s loyal fan! I will be a loyal customer of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical.”

With teary eyes, Zhou Lingling shared her experiences and expectations.

She had truly been driven crazy by the acne on her face. It was a disaster for someone who loved beauty like her.

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A car turned the corner and drove towards Yan Tong. Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice it until he was directly startled.

Fortunately, the car wasn’t going fast and managed to stop in time, avoiding an accident. However, it frightened Yan Tong to the point that his legs gave way, and he fell to the ground.

Then, a handsome man, as if radiating light, got out of the car and politely asked with concern, “Are you okay? Did you hit anything? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“Lu… Lu Yan…”

Yan Tong raised his head and saw the man’s appearance, his eyes widening in surprise!

**

Xie’s Manor.

Fang Ziyang ended the livestream and turned his head, only to see Xie Zheng, Tang Xun, and Rick standing at the entrance of the piano room, their expressions solemn.

Clearly the previous performance of “Abyss” not only shocked the viewers of the livestream but also deeply affected them, even with some advertisements to lighten the atmosphere, their mood couldn’t improve.

The piece “Abyss” had a firm determination, but the overall atmosphere was too dark and oppressive. It gave a feeling of struggling through a thorny path, drenched in blood, making it hard to breathe.

The emotions conveyed in the entire piece were extremely intense, and it couldn’t be written without personal experience.

So… what was he hiding in his heart, the innocent and obedient young man in their eyes? Were there still things in the Fang family that they hadn’t uncovered?

The three men were weighed down by heavy emotions.

Fang Ziyang could see it, but he didn’t plan to expose it. Instead, he playfully changed the topic and blinked mischievously.

“Brother Xie, Brother Xie, Brother Rick, was my advertisement impressive just now? I’m sure after tonight, the whole country will know about our company’s new product. Once the first product gains popularity, we won’t have to worry about promotion for the subsequent products. Do you want to praise me?”

His voice was lively, with no trace of sorrow or darkness.

If they hadn’t just heard the extremely breathtaking piano piece, Xie Zheng and the others might have believed that everything was peaceful.

But the more it seemed like this, the more uneasy the three men felt.

This uneasiness made Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu, who were still immersed in the joy of successfully advertising the company’s products, quickly detach from their emotions.

Zhou Jun signaled Zhao Jingyu with his eyes.

Zhao Jingyu immediately understood and spoke to Fang Ziyang, “Ziyang, did you really compose the piano piece you just played? It was so shocking and yet so sad. When did you write it? Why haven’t we heard you play it before?”

“Not only was ‘Abyss’ shocking, but it was also capable of making one’s soul tremble. Now that I think about it, I immediately feel a bit breathless.”

Upon hearing the question, Fang Ziyang maintained a smile.

He remained silent for a few seconds before continuing to smile and say, “I wrote it a long time ago, but I haven’t played it before because the piece isn’t finished yet. Today… it can only be considered a half-finished work.”

“This is only a half-finished piece?”

The faces of the three men changed slightly upon hearing his words.

The emotional repression revealed by just a half-finished piece was already suffocating. If it was a finished piece… they couldn’t even imagine.

Zhao Jingyu couldn’t contain his curiosity and was about to ask further.

But he was interrupted the next moment.

Fang Ziyang maintained his smile, looking charming, “The finished piece is already complete, but it’s not time to play it yet. Brothers, don’t worry, one day I will play it for you, and at that time, you must applaud for me.”

This clearly indicated that he didn’t want to say more.

Xie Zheng pursed his lips, his face cold.

Rick glanced at his friend and remained silent.

Tang Xun clenched his fists tightly, his heart aching. He hated himself for not discovering the truth earlier, so he didn’t know how his younger brother had been hurt to become like this right under his nose.

With great effort, Tang Xun suppressed his heartache. He knew Fang Ziyang was stubborn, so he forced a smile and said, “Okay, we will definitely applaud for you then. So, what piano piece are you preparing for the school performance? Make sure to choose a good one. The performance will also be live-streamed on the internet, and your uncle will come to see you.”

“Uncle? Lu… Lu Yan?”

Fang Ziyang paused upon hearing that.

Tang Xun nodded and smiled, “Yes, it’s Lu Yan, your uncle. He called me yesterday and said he just found out about the situation in the Fang family. He couldn’t reach you before because you changed your phone number. He’s flying back today and asked me to tell you that he will come to the university’s performance to watch your show.”

Grandpa Lu had a son and a daughter. His daughter was Lu Fei, and his son was Lu Yan.

Although they were siblings, Lu Yan was the youngest, and there was a considerable age difference between them. Lu Yan had just turned thirty this year.

Lu Yan didn’t inherit the family’s natural talent, but he inherited their good looks. Interested in acting, he entered the entertainment industry as an adult. With the family’s money, connections, and his exceptional appearance, he flourished in the entertainment industry and became one of the famous actors in the industry.

Last year, he successfully auditioned for a role in Hollywood, directly rising from the first-tier to the top-tier position. He was undoubtedly one of the most prominent stars in the entertainment industry in recent years.

When the Fang family encountered trouble, Lu Yan had already gone abroad to film, and it was reasonable for him not to come back according to everyone’s perception.

In his previous life, Fang Ziyang also believed that his uncle didn’t help him in time because he didn’t receive the news while abroad.

However, in this second life, he wouldn’t be so foolish and naive.

How could Lu Yan not have heard the news? It was clearly a deliberate disregard.

The film set was closed, but not a prison, and it wasn’t some signal-blocked mountainous area. In this day and age, with internet access on mobile phones, how could someone not know what was happening? Even if he unconsciously checked, the Fang family’s situation was so big at that time that it would have been trending on any browser.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Furthermore, Lu Yan is part of the entertainment industry, which values being well-informed about news the most. It’s absolutely impossible for him to stay offline for months.

So no matter how nice his words sound, it’s all intentional.

His brother didn’t notice when he received the call, but that’s because he didn’t think much about it, considering they were the only remaining family members. But upon closer thought, Lu Yan’s words were nothing more than empty talk.

In his previous life, although Lu Yan didn’t do anything substantial to harm him, he always stood by Yan Tong’s side, coldly observing all his pleas for help and the difficulties he faced. Lu Yan, as his little uncle, was not a good person.

Lu Yan was never close to him from childhood. He used to think that Lu Yan had a naturally cold personality, but the reality proved otherwise.

Lu Yan could be meticulous in caring for Yan Tong, but he was indifferent to his only family member. The reason was simply due to the absurd and extreme sense of injustice over the fact that his grandfather didn’t leave him the entire inheritance.

In the past, Lu Yan observed him indifferently, and now he wanted to be his little uncle. It was quite amusing.

But it was good that he came back. The more these people gathered, the more people he could catch in his net.

He had said that he wouldn’t spare anyone who had wronged him…

Fang Ziyang didn’t plan to reveal all of this to Tang Xun. He nodded happily, “Really? Uncle is coming to watch my performance? That’s great! I have to prepare well and not embarrass myself. Brother, please give me uncle’s phone number later. You’re busy usually, and it’s a bit inconvenient for you to always answer his calls for me.”

“Okay, I’ll give it to you later.”

Tang Xun nods. He doesn’t know much about Lu Yan, but seeing his little brother’s happiness, Lu Yan shouldn’t be as despicable as Fang Yandong.

No one notices anything strange about Fang Ziyang, except for Xie Zheng.

Although Xie Zheng now sees Fang Ziyang through a thick filter, he hasn’t completely lost his intelligence. Unlike when they first met and Xie Zheng saw Fang Ziyang’s obedient side, he has also seen Fang Ziyang’s aggressive side.

When Fang Ziyang was just reborn, his emotions were unstable, and the hatred and aggression emanating from him were intense and overwhelming. Even though Xie Zheng’s view of Fang Ziyang has changed, he can’t forget it.

So, he is quicker and more accurate in catching Fang Ziyang’s emotional fluctuations compared to others.

He is certain that there was a significant and intense emotional reaction when he heard Lu Yan’s name.

There is a very complicated secret in the young man’s heart, but he is completely unaware of it…

Xie Zheng feels somewhat stifled by this discovery.

Xie Zheng has a strong presence.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

So, even if he doesn’t speak out and remains silent in the corner, it’s hard not to notice his change in mood.

Especially when he constantly observes Fang Ziyang, since discovering Xie Zheng’s hidden thoughts about him, Fang Ziyang has also been observing Xie Zheng.

The more he observes, the more difficult Fang Ziyang finds it to bear his feelings towards Xie Zheng, and the more restless he becomes.

No one dislikes being liked by others, but he is genuinely afraid that the pureness of Xie Zheng’s feelings is something he can’t handle. So,

he wants to cut off these feelings from Xie Zheng as soon as possible, for both Xie Zheng’s sake and his own. It’s best to do it sooner rather than later.

Lu Yan has returned, and it’s time to start reeling in the net. This is the perfect opportunity.

Fang Ziyang casually flicks his fingers on the piano keys and then looks at Xie Zheng with a smile, saying, “Brother Xie, I feel like playing the piano for a while. Can you help me get a sheet music from my room? It’s on the third shelf of the bookcase, the handwritten one. The room is unlocked, so you can just go in.”

“Sure, but you can only play for half an hour. Get some rest early tonight.”

Xie Zheng is now willing to fulfill any request from Fang Ziyang, so getting something for him is no problem at all.

Tang Xun and Rick already know what Fang Ziyang is thinking.

Xie Zheng is a great candidate to be Fang Ziyang’s younger brother. Tang Xun naturally wouldn’t stop it and would be supportive if they have a connection.

But Tang Xun still ruffles Fang Ziyang’s hair and affectionately scolds him, “You’re so lazy. You even need someone to get something for you. It’s only because the boss has a good temper and spoils you more than I do. You can’t be this lazy in the future…”

“I got it, just this once… just this once…”

Fang Ziyang grins. He promises with his mouth, but his words have no credibility at all, showing his youthful nature.

Seeing this, Tang Xun’s indulgent smile grows even more, and the gloom from the Abyss Piano Sonata he heard just now dissipates.

Xie Zheng listens to the laughter behind him and can’t help but raise the corners of his lips. The heaviness he felt just a moment ago also disappears.

Being the only one among the group who isn’t bossed around by the young man indicates that he holds a special position in his heart.

With a pleasant mood, Xie Zheng quickly enters Fang Ziyang’s room and finds the handwritten sheet music on the third shelf of the bookcase.

Due to the tightly packed books on the shelf, he exerts a little more force when taking it, causing a few books to accidentally fall down.

Xie Zheng quickly squats down to pick up the scattered books.

However, at that moment, he notices a notebook wrapped in other books, clearly meant to be concealed.

Due to the angle at which it fell, the notebook caught his attention…

“Why are there such detestable people in the world? If that’s the case, then let’s destroy everything even faster…”

“He’s done for… He’s over… He has entered my game… Dealing with them one by one is too troublesome… Let’s do it together next time… All neatly in order, that would be great.”

“Hehe, this person is really interesting today… If they don’t know their place, then I’ll compose a more perfect ending for them. Otherwise, it would be unfair to their beautiful expectations of me, right?”

“Once Pandora’s box is opened, nobody is allowed to shut it until the game is over!”

These fragmented words were spoken casually but carried an overwhelming sense of hatred and aggression.

They were grim and chilling to the core.

Xie Zheng looked at the beautiful handwriting, feeling a bit blank in his mind.

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In order to gain the favor of Xie Wenxu, Fang Qianhao, and other supporting male characters, Yan Tong had put in a lot of effort into how to attract them.

In the end, he concluded that it had to be perfection.

This perfection wasn’t the kind that everyone commonly understood, where everything was excellent. Instead, it meant that he would present himself in whatever way Xie Wenxu, Fang Qianhao, and others desired.

No matter what others thought, in the eyes of his chosen targets, he was the most perfect existence in the world. And to protect the ideal image of himself in their hearts, he was capable of doing anything.

Therefore, it could be said that Xie Wenxu and the others didn’t fall in love with Yan Tong as much as they fell in love with the illusion of their own dreams, which was why they repeatedly helped him as if under a spell.

However, once Yan Tong couldn’t maintain this “perfection” and his persona collapsed, his control over Xie Wenxu and the others would begin to diminish.

This was the current situation with Xie Wenxu.

The saying goes, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Previously, Yan Tong had been unattainable to him, and not being able to obtain him had been the best outcome. Now that he had obtained him, Xie Wenxu discovered that Yan Tong didn’t match his imagination, and naturally, their feelings began to encounter problems.

Especially since Xie Wenxu was not any less arrogant than Fang Qianhao.

Rather than saying that Xie Wenxu was angry and reignited his feelings for his old love, Yan Tong, it was more accurate to say that he was angry at Yan Tong’s deception.

Yan Tong was no longer perfect now; he had become dark and cunning. This contrasted greatly with the kind and gentle image Xie Wenxu had of him, making it difficult for Xie Wenxu to accept.

While Xie Wenxu appeared to be deep in affection, in reality, he was heartless. He would never truly realize his own mistakes; he would only find excuses that even he himself could be hypnotized into believing for each of his mistakes.

Just like when he cheated on Yan Tong, he felt that Fang Ziyang had become domineering, capricious, and foolish, which greatly disappointed him.

Now, Xie Wenxu was subconsciously hypnotizing himself, believing that the current terrible situation was all due to Yan Tong’s instigation. Although he wasn’t entirely wrong, he never considered that he himself had any issues.

“Xiao Tong, I really doubt if I ever truly knew you…”

Xie Wenxu felt anger and disappointment, suppressing his rage.

Yan Tong wasn’t a person with a good character to begin with.

The consecutive blows and frustrations he had endured during this period had pushed his emotions to the brink of eruption. Now, hearing the blaming tone in Xie Wenxu’s words, his anger flared up as well.

What did it mean to doubt if he ever truly knew him? How could Xie Wenxu have the audacity to say such words? He really wanted to ask Xie Wenxu this question!

He had always believed that Xie Wenxu was a deep and affectionate supporting male character. In the novel, Fang Ziyang was too harsh in rejecting Xie Wenxu. But now that he had gotten close to Xie Wenxu, he realized that Fang Ziyang’s rejection of Xie Wenxu was completely justified.

This so-called emotionally invested supporting male character was nothing more than a fickle scumbag!

He had easily played the role of understanding and considerate person, and the moment Fang Ziyang showed any flaw, he immediately turned his back on him, claiming that Fang Ziyang wasn’t attentive enough. And now that he saw Fang Ziyang’s excellence, he wavered again. Let it be known that they had just gotten engaged!

“Xie Wenxu, you say I’m malicious? Cunning? But how much better are you?!”

Yan Tong finally couldn’t hold back his anger and vented his frustration.

“Did I beg you to like me back then? Did I beg you to say those hurtful things about Fang Ziyang? It’s true that I had some feelings for you, but I told you many times that I only wanted to be friends…”

“Now that we’re together, it’s all because you pursued me relentlessly! You were the one who said you would love me for a lifetime, protect me for a lifetime. I was your true love. If it wasn’t for your passionate efforts, why would I have risked being labeled a homewrecker to be with you?”

“Are you planning to treat me the same way you treated Fang Ziyang back then? Ha, it’s not impossible, considering how crazy you were for Fang Ziyang. You truly are the most affectionate person in the world!”

Yan Tong mocked with a bitter smile.

Back then, he had been a damn idiot to believe that Xie Wenxu was affectionate! Fang Ziyang was such a smart person, and if Xie Wenxu had truly been affectionate, how could Fang Ziyang have abandoned their childhood friendship and broken up with Xie Wenxu?

The truth was directly shattered, and Xie Wenxu’s face instantly turned pale.

Yan Tong’s words reminded him of all the things he had done to Fang Ziyang, memories he had deliberately ignored during this period. They reminded him of how he had treated the person he once deeply loved with such despicable actions.

And now, it seemed like he was walking down the same path again.

Yan Tong didn’t have many virtues, but he was adept at understanding people’s hearts, especially those of men.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Seeing that Xie Wenxu was affected by his words, Yan Tong regained his confidence, suppressing his previous guilt.

He continued to speak, his angry expression turning into one of restrained sadness.

“Xie Wenxu, if it wasn’t for your fickleness, would I become like this? Do you know how much insecurity you’ve given me? Think about your actions during these days! How many times have you trampled on my dignity in public?”

“It’s you, it’s all because of you that I’ve become this jealous and malicious. During this time, I’ve been constantly worried that you would leave me one day, constantly worried that you would rekindle your old flame with Fang Ziyang…”

“I have nothing left; I only have you. I revealed my biggest secret to help you stabilize the mess left by Xie Zheng. You’ve done so much for me, but have I not shown any friendship towards you?”

“Xie Wenxu, I can do these things because I love you so damn much! I’ve given everything and stood by your side, but you keep wavering in the middle. Who are you to blame me… sob…”

After saying that, Yan Tong ran out of the door in tears.

Of course, he wasn’t really running away from home; he just needed to temporarily separate from Xie Wenxu. His image in Xie Wenxu’s eyes had begun to crumble, and given Xie Wenxu’s character, he wouldn’t tolerate his deception.

But he couldn’t afford to lose Xie Wenxu at this moment, so he had to find a way to salvage the situation.

Temporarily separating and calming down was the best choice. Distance could create beauty, and he could only rely on Xie Wenxu’s slow-wittedness to transition his persona.

Although he wasn’t perfect anymore, he could still be “affectionate”… With Xie Wenxu’s self-importance and indecisiveness, he still had a chance to turn things around.

And in fact, Yan Tong had a pretty accurate grasp of men’s mentality.

As he watched Yan Tong run off in tears, Xie Wenxu stood frozen in place, completely stunned by Yan Tong’s breakdown.

Yan Tong’s words kept replaying in his mind.

“Are you planning to treat me the same way you treated Fang Ziyang back then? Ha, it’s not impossible, considering how crazy you were for Fang Ziyang. You truly are the most affectionate person in the world!”

This mocking remark felt like a sharp knife piercing his chest, digging up the reality he had been avoiding all this time.

He was scum, a true scumbag.

He had once loved Fang Ziyang so intensely, yet he could abandon him just like that, inflicting such cruel pain.

And now, it seemed like he was following the same path, treating Yan Tong, who he now regarded as his true love, in the same way.

He had never seen how Fang Ziyang looked when he discovered the truth, his voice filled with anguish. But he could easily imagine how Fang Ziyang must have been more devastated than Yan Tong is now.

After all, he and Fang Ziyang had several years of history together.

In this moment, Xie Wenxu, who had never recognized his own mistakes, suddenly realized the truth.

The truly malicious person was him; the true scumbag was him. His biggest mistake was himself!

He had betrayed and hurt Ziyang, and now he was betraying and hurting Yan Tong…

What had he done?

Xie Wenxu lowered himself, hugging his head, unable to hold back his tears. His heart felt as if it had been ruthlessly stabbed and torn apart.

He remained in that spot, crouched down, not knowing how long he spent lost in his thoughts.

Finally, he took out his phone and made a call, his voice hoarse, “Hello, Uncle Cai, please contact the school for me. I don’t want to live on campus anymore…”

Xie Wenxu closed his eyes in pain, a tear rolling down from the corner of his eye.

He couldn’t continue like this.

If he carried on, Ziyang would look down on him even more.

…

Meanwhile…

Yan Tong ran out of Xie’s house, haphazardly hailed a taxi, and hurriedly left, not daring to stay at Xie’s house any longer.

He was worried that once Xie Wenxu regained his composure and grabbed him to question him, he wouldn’t be able to explain himself clearly.

He was truly panicked now. Fang Yandong and Fang Qianhao were both in prison, and he hadn’t had any contact with the other male supporting characters. Currently, Xie Wenxu was the only assistance he had. If anything happened to Xie Wenxu, his future would turn into a living hell.

He couldn’t understand why he had turned this good hand into such a mess!

Now, forget about reaching the pinnacle of life, he wasn’t even sure if he could maintain his current advantage!

After leaving Xie’s house, Yan Tong felt regret and remorse.

If he had known things would turn out like this, he wouldn’t have gotten together with Xie Wenxu. It would have been better to focus on keeping Fang Qianhao firmly by his side. After all, Fang Qianhao would never fall in love with Fang Ziyang, and they had a natural advantage due to their opposing backgrounds.

Xie Wenxu was just a fickle scumbag! He must have been out of his mind to have rushed into a relationship with Xie Wenxu!

Yan Tong walked aimlessly on the street, his mind filled with confusion.

And at that moment…

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