Ch 8: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel A stone thrown into the water stirred up a thousand waves. Fang Ziyang’s words had no hidden or subtle meaning. Anyone with a normal level of intelligence could clearly understand the implications. He was blatantly expressing his suspicion that Yan Tong was pulling the strings behind the scenes. But since he didn’t have concrete evidence for now, he couldn’t directly report the case against his enemies like he did with Xu Jiaqing and the others. So, he could only use this method to implicate his adversary. Of course, there were still those who didn’t believe it and immediately became angry, especially considering the stark difference in reputation between Fang Ziyang and Yan Tong. Even though Fang Ziyang showed a rational and intelligent attitude towards the bullying incident today and was wrongly accused, the fact remained that his previous behavior as a spoiled rich second-generation was arrogant and bullying, and it couldn’t change the reality of his poor character. On the other hand, after the details of the bullying incident came to light, netizens discovered that Yan Tong was a hardworking, intelligent, kind, and handsome boy. Coming from an ordinary family, he stood out among a student population comprised mostly of wealthy and influential individuals at No.1 High School. Not only did he excel academically, but he also had a good reputation among his classmates. It was evident that he possessed genuinely good character and was kind to others. Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. The two sides were in stark contrast. Even if Fang Ziyang cleared his name in the bullying incident, it wouldn’t make people like him, let alone the fact that he was now openly throwing dirt on others. It was just too much! After finishing his statement, Fang Ziyang immediately ended the livestream. He didn’t wait to see the insulting comments on the screen, nor did he expect everyone to immediately take his side. He had simply thrown a bomb, issued a declaration of war, and planted a seed of suspicion. And as expected, the internet exploded once again. … “What on earth? Is Fang Ziyang implying that Yan Tong instructed Xu Jiaqing to frame him? How is that possible?” “It’s totally impossible. I’ve seen Yan Tong’s profile, and he has been an exemplary student from childhood to adolescence. He’s well-behaved and gentle. Teachers and classmates from elementary school to high school can all vouch for him.” “I agree. Besides, with Yan Tong’s family background, how could he have the influence to instruct Xu Jiaqing? Although Xu Jiaqing’s family isn’t considered an elite one, they are still quite wealthy. Why would he need someone’s instructions to take such a risky criminal action?” “The point is, Xu Jiaqing is definitely the one committing a crime now. He has very little interaction with Yan Tong. How could Yan Tong instruct him to do anything?” “Just based on a red bracelet, Fang Ziyang is talking nonsense. Isn’t this considered defamation? Shouldn’t he be reported to the police as well? Haha!” With Yan Tong’s popularity and track record, most people simply didn’t believe Fang Ziyang’s words and were even angry as a result. However, there were a few rational and intelligent individuals among them. After all, not everyone in the world was foolish, nor were they all keyboard warriors who only knew how to escalate conflicts. “Hey, wait a minute, hold on. Don’t be so absolute in your statements. I think there’s something fishy about this…” “Yeah, I feel the same way. I just took another careful look at Yan Tong’s and Xu Jiaqing’s profiles, as well as the photos circulating in their social media circles. I found that Yan Tong did indeed wear a red bracelet in the past! And now, there are also pictures of Xu Jiaqing wearing one in his social media posts!” “This… Although I’m not a big fan of Fang Ziyang, if what he said is true and there is a connection between Yan Tong and Xu Jiaqing, with Xu Jiaqing ruthlessly backstabbing his own friend, then that’s…” “Hey, and Fang Ziyang mentioned that he has been having bad luck ever since he met Yan Tong. I checked the pictures he posted on his Weibo, and his experiences throughout high school really seem to match up. It’s a coincidence that’s making me feel uneasy.” “Hey, what’s Fang Ziyang’s Weibo username? I want to take a look!” “It’s ‘Troublemaker Little Lord,’ go and check it out.” “‘Troublemaker Little Lord’? How did I miss that before? Haha, suddenly I find Fang Ziyang quite intriguing…” “…” The online discussion continued with new topics being explored, and everyone held their own opinions, engaging in heated debates. Fang Ziyang paid no further attention to these discussions. He closed his computer and leaned back in his chair. The carefree smile that had adorned his face earlier disappeared, and he returned to his expressionless state. Only a long breath indicated a slight calmness in his current state of mind. His first victory after rebirth had been achieved. His life could be changed. He would no longer suffer from the same misfortune and helplessness as in his previous life, nor would he be trapped in despair and resentment. There was hope and opportunity in his future. His phone kept vibrating on the table, and the incoming caller ID displayed the words “Dad.” It had been ringing for more than ten minutes. However, Fang Ziyang had no intention of answering. He simply looked at the phone, and a faint smile reappeared on his expressionless face. He turned off the phone directly. Fang Ziyang leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He needed rest. His body and mind both needed a good rest. Since his rebirth, he hadn’t slept for a whole day and night, and he was feeling a bit tired. At the moment Fang Ziyang closed his eyes, he suddenly found himself enveloped in a faint golden light. His consciousness plunged into a deep slumber… This was a strange place. An empty, white expanse filled with mist. Apart from the mist and a golden book floating in mid-air, there was nothing else. The silence was astonishing, as if it were a world of nothingness. Fang Ziyang stood there, rooted to the spot. He knew he must be dreaming. There was no basis for this assumption, just an instinctual intuition that he was in a dream. However, compared to the usual vague dreams, his perception and awareness were much clearer now. Where was this place? How did he end up having such a peculiar dream? And why was he so acutely aware that he was dreaming? Having experienced the inexplicable phenomenon of rebirth, Fang Ziyang remained calm and composed in the face of the current situation. He accepted it with composure and naturalness, even able to engage in rational thinking immediately. After all, what could be more shocking than going back in time and reliving one’s life? Taking a quick look around the surroundings, there was nothing particularly notable. Finally, Fang Ziyang’s gaze returned to the golden book floating in the distance. “A golden book floating in mid-air?” Such a conspicuous object naturally piqued Fang Ziyang’s curiosity. After all, it was just a dream, and experiencing the dream with such clarity was an intriguing sensation, even for someone as calm and rational as him. He walked over to examine the book. Fang Ziyang’s lips twitched when he saw the title on the book cover. The reason was simple—it was embarrassingly cheesy. “Transmigrated into a World Where Everyone Loves Me.” Although his lips twitched, living in an era of information explosion, even though Fang Ziyang wasn’t particularly fond of reading online novels, he could roughly guess the content of the book from its title alone. How could he dream of something so bizarre… Fang Ziyang felt speechless and puzzled. However, curiosity compelled him to unconsciously open the book. Then, he stood frozen in place, his complexion gradually turning pale, and his hands and body trembling uncontrollably. 【Yan Tong couldn’t contain his joy as he gazed at the mirror, beholding the beautiful and obedient face of the young boy. He never expected that after a mere nap, he would transmigrate into a novel, into a body that not only resembled his own but even shared the same name…】 【Unfortunately, the original owner of this body was just a nobody!】 【But what does it matter to be a nobody? I know how the plot will unfold, which companies will rise, and where the destitute will flourish. With my knowledge and skills, I can thrive in this world. After all, I’m practically the beloved son of God, hahaha, how embarrassing…】 【By the way, where did Fang Ziyang’s cheat item come from? I have to find a way to obtain it. If it’s meant for a destined person, and now it’s not Fang Ziyang’s possession, then it’s not considered stealing, right? Besides, Fang Ziyang is already a young master of a prominent family. He doesn’t lack such a cheat item. Worst case scenario, if Fang Ziyang encounters difficulties in the future, I can compensate him for it…】 【How is that possible! Wasn’t the jade pendant cheat item just a random piece of jewelry Fang Ziyang bought? How did it become an heirloom item!】 【Xiao Tong… Go to the Fang family… and retrieve what rightfully belongs to you… Fang Ziyang is not the young master of the Fang family… You are… The status and position of Fang Madam and Fang Young Master belong to us. You must snatch back what belongs to us!】 【Mom, don’t worry. I will do my best!】 【Xiao Tong, stop crying. It’s not your fault. It’s all because of Zheng Yating, that crazy woman. Who would have thought she would be so malicious, not only causing the death of her own sister but also using you to harm me and Dad. Now, everything is clear. You are not my little brother at all. You don’t have to hide anymore. Come back home. Dad has been waiting for you.】 【Is he really… waiting for me all this time?】 【Yes, Dad is waiting for you. Zhang Ma is also waiting for you. I am waiting for you. Everyone at home is waiting for you to come back. Xiao Tong, I know you love Dad too, right? Don’t worry, it’s all a misunderstanding. We will all bless you both.】 … Trembling, Fang Ziyang held the book in his hands and mustered all his courage to read through the entire content. The book contained a lot of information, describing a protagonist named Yan Tong. One day, this protagonist woke up and found himself transmigrated into a novel, becoming an insignificant side character. However, this side character’s identity was not ordinary at all. He turned out to be the illegitimate child of the prominent Fang family in Jiang City, who had been living outside. Determined to help his poor mother reunite with his father and reclaim what rightfully belonged to them, he resolutely stepped into the conflicts of the wealthy family. Little did he know that he would be manipulated by his mother… Initially, Fang Ziyang thought it was just a novel with the same name and surname as him. But the more he read, the more shocked he became. He discovered that more than half of the content in the book coincided with events that had happened in his previous life one by one! Previous TOC Next
Ch 7: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel Although they had seen Fang Ziyang make the police call earlier, deep down, everyone still had their doubts. After all, in their subconscious minds, they believed that once Fang Ziyang explained the truth, everything would be clear. The dispute between classmates didn’t seem necessary to escalate to the level of involving the police… right? Especially now, with the police and lawyers appearing before all the netizens, the scale of this situation seemed way too overwhelming in the eyes of ordinary internet users! The barrage in the live chat began scrolling furiously once again. “Ah, ah, ah, it’s really the police, and there’s even a team of lawyers!” “Oh my god, Fang Ziyang is really stirring up trouble!” “Although it seems a bit excessive, if what Fang Ziyang said earlier is true, then I have to say, I support it! I fully support reporting to the police! This is no longer a simple dispute between classmates; it appears to be a case of deliberate framing and defamation. Can it be constituted as a criminal offense?” Even though the final outcome of the situation was still uncertain, and Fang Ziyang’s account was just one side of the story, with evidence yet to be verified. But what are netizens? Most of them are followers who go with the wind, easily swayed by a little instigation. Regardless of whether the police have investigated or not, at this moment, more than half of them already believe. Look at all those pieces of evidence, so clear and straightforward. If Fang Ziyang didn’t have absolute confidence, how could he be so bold in front of all the netizens? Those pieces of evidence must be genuine! Everyone nervously and excitedly stared at their phones or computer screens. This was the first time they had witnessed a live broadcast reporting to the police. It was truly extraordinary. Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. Meanwhile, After seating the team of lawyers and a few police officers, Fang Ziyang showed no intention of ending the live stream. Instead, he asked Wu Qiang about the possibility of continuing the live broadcast during the process of filing the police report. After receiving approval from Wu Qiang, Fang Ziyang proceeded with his statement. Being well-prepared, he calmly and logically described the sequence of events. The reason he gave when he made the initial phone call was fabricated, meant only to astonish the well-intentioned netizens. Now, he swiftly moved past that point and focused on the real subject of the case. With limited time and without unnecessary verbosity, Fang Ziyang briefly recounted the incident and then stated his demands. “…That’s roughly how things unfolded. All the evidence is here, and I understand that verification will take time. However, to ensure the smooth progress of the case, I have already discussed with my legal team whom to sue. I kindly request Officer Wu and your team to take detailed notes. Thank you.” As soon as he finished speaking, the Chief of the Legal Department from the Fang Corporation, who had been silent all along, took the floor. He picked up a document that had been prepared in advance and started listing names with a rapid-fire delivery. As the mastermind behind the entire affair, Xu Jiaqing’s name topped the list. Then came Teacher He, followed by official representatives from No.1 High School, the No.1 High School Student Union… Next were the Weibo marketing accounts, marketing agencies, XX News self-media… And finally… “Finally, regarding Zhang Xu, Liu Ming, Xu Ya, Zhou Tingting, Wang Jie, and others, they not only provided false testimony in the bullying incident but also spread various defamatory videos and posts about me online, causing serious damage to my client’s social image and inflicting physical and psychological harm. We will provide evidence… We hope that the police will clear my client’s name as soon as possible.” Zhao Wenshu handed over a thick stack of documents, speaking with seriousness, “Our client will fully cooperate in this case. To avoid prolonged investigation, which may make it difficult for my client to restore their social image, we have already sent a legal letter ourselves. Therefore, we hope that Officer Wu and your team can complete the investigation before the court hearing. Thank you.” The whole venue fell into silence. The entire internet fell into silence. Because the number of people that Fang Ziyang was suing was… too many! Xu Jiaqing, Teacher He, and several key participants were expected, but the manipulative marketing agencies and self-media outlets deserved it. However, no one expected that Fang Ziyang would also sue over a dozen anonymous internet users who had posted videos and made defamatory remarks about him. Although most of these people were his unscrupulous acquaintances, there were a few who were just casual followers, those keyboard warriors who accidentally said too much in their sharp-worded Weibo posts and gained likes and retweets. Fabricating facts and slandering others could lead to lawsuits, but there were really only a handful of cases where people were sued for a few remarks on the internet. “Could this be the legendary case of ‘money… being willful?'” Someone couldn’t help but clutch their chest and weakly voiced their soul-searching question. Throughout the entire incident, the only person who was not being sued was Yan Tong. It wasn’t because Fang Ziyang was merciful, but because Yan Tong had distanced himself completely. From beginning to end, Yan Tong portrayed himself as a victim, and he never said anything against Fang Ziyang. Xu Jiaqing had taken care of everything, and the internet users had already thrown all the dirt they could at him. This is Yan Tong. The things he wants and the actions he takes are always done indirectly, never personally, and he remains clean and untouched. Every person he has used would never realize they had been used, even in death. In his past life, he had suffered too much from this kind of loss. Throughout it all, Yan Tong never did anything to him, but every unfortunate and painful thing was somehow connected to Yan Tong, entangled in a web of subtle relationships. In terms of appearance and abilities, Yan Tong could only be considered above average. But Yan Tong had one absolute advantage: his luck. Whether it was luck in love or other aspects, he always managed to attract excellent men who would dedicate themselves to him, protecting and caring for him. His luck and popularity were enviable. But… it didn’t matter. Now, he would eliminate one by one the men surrounding Yan Tong, returning all the pain they had caused him in his past life. These people would personally experience the hellish demons they had created, devouring them piece by piece. Who said that without evidence, nothing could be done? Yan Tong’s desire to distance himself and continue being an untainted person was nothing more than wishful thinking. After seeing off the lawyers and police, Fang Ziyang returned to his computer with a smile on his face. Like a dazzling sun shining on the top of a snow-capped mountain, or a bewitching poppy plant that was both alluring and deceptive, Fang Ziyang exuded a dazzling and hidden murderous intent. “Alright, the necessary report has been made, and now we wait for the police investigation. I hope those who have received my lawyer’s letter will cooperate actively to avoid any further disturbances to public order and law enforcement. As I mentioned before, I may lack many things, but money is not one of them. If the police need assistance, my team of lawyers can provide help… Now, let’s continue with our livestream.” Fang Ziyang sat upright in front of the screen, with a warm smile. He appeared to be a well-behaved student, but his words were incredibly sharp. “I know there are still many people cursing me right now. Although I have nothing to do with the bullying incident, I cannot deny that I am a spoiled second-generation young master with a bad temper. When something happens, I don’t have a single friend who would speak up for me. It’s evident that my character is truly lacking.” “Moreover, I am ruthless. I actually sued those netizens who said a few words. I don’t care about any personal connections… After all, isn’t living all about making oneself happy? Who cares about random strangers?” “So, regarding this incident, I have something else to say. I wonder if the ‘bullied’ Yan Tong is present before our livestream?” Once again, his words stirred up a storm. As another key figure in this incident, Yan Tong’s name had become widely known throughout the internet. Compared to Fang Ziyang’s infamous reputation, Yan Tong was now seen as a praised and sympathetic figure. Until now, the situation seemed to indicate that the truth of the matter was a fallout between Fang Ziyang and his good friend Xu Jiaqing, with backstabbing occurring between brothers. As such, while Fang Ziyang was a victim, he wasn’t entirely blameless. In a quarrel and falling out, both sides were responsible. And Yan Tong, he’s truly an unlucky fellow who got dragged into someone else’s fight without reason. It’s really unfortunate and pitiful. But… Listening to Fang Ziyang’s tone, it doesn’t sound good at all! Regardless of how the netizens reacted upon hearing those words, Fang Ziyang had clearly made up his mind to confront someone head-on. When it came to Yan Tong, there was no need to put on a facade or waste any effort on saving face. Fang Ziyang couldn’t even fake a smile. Sitting upright in the livestream room, Fang Ziyang spoke calmly, stirring up waves of discussion. “Yan Tong, you are also one of the parties involved in this incident. Although all the evidence points to Xu Jiaqing orchestrating this against me, there are still some doubts that I can’t resolve. Because of you, these past few days have been extremely unpleasant for me, with pent-up emotions…” “So I have a few questions for you, and I apologize if any of them come across as offensive.” “I’ve always wondered why Xu Jiaqing, who has been my friend since middle school and whom I considered a close brother, would do such harm to me without any reason. Then, by chance, I discovered that Xu Jiaqing had a red string bracelet just like the one you used to wear…” Boom! The viewers watching the livestream felt as if their heads had been struck by a heavy hammer once again. “So… were you and Xu Jiaqing acquainted before?” “Also, I’ve had a string of bad luck these past few years, and my reputation at school has been deteriorating. Yesterday, I carefully thought about it and made a list of all the unfortunate things that have happened to me during these years. I realized that all the misfortunes started from the beginning of my sophomore year when I first met you.” “So… is this a coincidence, or do our destinies clash? Should I find a feng shui master to calculate our compatibility? If we truly clash, I should transfer schools as soon as possible.” “After all, I’ve been having bad luck for nearly three years. It won’t hurt to be a little superstitious and entertain the idea.” Who doesn’t know the tricks of spreading rumors? With enough practice, one can become a master. Yan Tong, you taught me all of these. Now, are you surprised? Previous TOC Next
Ch 74: TGCIR Shen Cheng didn’t care about their shoving. Since she didn’t follow her uncle’s suggestion to take that flight and didn’t answer their calls, she knew that it would anger these people. In their minds, she was just a little orphan girl without any backing. When she was younger, they threatened to sell her to an older man for dowry if she misbehaved. She remembers every word and every expression they used back then. Since she already knows what kind of people they are, and they are now surrounding her in the mourning hall, all condemning and dissatisfied, what else could she care about? But in the midst of their words, she suddenly understood one thing: grandpa indeed didn’t leave a will before he passed away! He had a sudden stroke and lingered for three whole days before dying. They said grandpa wanted to wait for her, but who knows that she never came back. They said this to make her feel guilty, to press her with that kind of mentality, making her tremble with fear. But in her heart, she understood clearly. When she heard them say those words, there was no ripple in her heart, and she even wanted to laugh: grandpa would wait for her? He was waiting for her even on his deathbed? The man who said, “you’re a jinx and never come back”! Shen Cheng calmly argued back and retreated to the side of the filial son and grandson, standing next to a tall young man in black clothes. She didn’t even remember who he was, probably a cousin? When the mournful music began to play and everyone started crying, Shen Cheng quietly followed behind. From beginning to end, she didn’t shed a single tear, except for the slight downturn of the corner of her lips. When the long ceremony was over, the sun was already setting. A man in a black suit walked up from the crowd, holding a stack of documents in his hand. He pulled out one and placed it in front of Shen Cheng. Before the man could speak, Shen Cheng’s uncle spoke first: “Cheng Cheng, sign the document.” Shen Cheng remained silent, opened the document folder, and saw the seven words “Waiver of Inheritance Agreement” written on it. Without reading further, she smiled and put the document back into the folder. She looked straight at the man in the suit, who appeared to be in his early thirties, and asked with a smile, “Do I have to sign this contract? Is there a reason why?” The lawyer’s surname was Zhang. He thought that the family had already reached an agreement among themselves, and when they assigned him to handle their affairs, they never mentioned anything about it. They had not yet resolved the issue with the parties involved. He was not a bully of a lawyer, and he could not possibly have a conflict with a young girl who was alone at the funeral. Lawyer Zhang shook his head and said, “Of course not. Inheriting the estate or not is up to you.” “Good.” Shen Cheng handed the document back to him. She looked up at her uncle, who didn’t seem as tall as he was a few years ago, and several other uncles. “I won’t sign.” Their facial expressions instantly became agitated, and even some of them stepped forward, rolled up their sleeves and wanted to beat her. Shen Cheng almost instinctively took a step back. But even though she trembled her lips, clenched her fists, she still firmly said word by word: “What belongs to me, I won’t take a penny less. What doesn’t belong to me, I won’t take a penny. If you want me to sign this agreement, you can. But my things, you also have to give them back to me!” Someone’s face changed dramatically. Shen Cheng dropped this sentence as if pointing to something, and didn’t care about the waves it caused at home, she happily went back to her rented apartment to sleep. It’s better to play games with cub than argue with a group of old men at this time! Now that the truth is revealed, and she has figured out what these people want to do, she is no longer entangled and now in the mood to play games. The countdown for the zombie attack on the Noah base is still more than two weeks away. Shen Cheng looked at the situation of her cub who was still on a trip and suddenly noticed that something seemed to be wrong with him? 【Li Weilan is exhausted】 【Recovering energy…】 【Li Weilan is exhausted…】 【Li Weilan encountered a mutant rat group in the wasteland and is running away…】 【Li Weilan is seriously injured】 “??? What’s wrong with cub?” Shen Cheng couldn’t see the situation over there, but when she looked at cub’s situation and hundreds of status messages, she panicked: What the hell is wrong with this crappy game? She hasn’t been online for a few days, and cub almost died as soon as she logged in? What’s going on? Cub has encountered a mutant rat swarm before, but he managed it fairly well at that time. How come he’s in a critically injured state this time? Shen Cheng opened the game and looked up the explanation for “critically injured status”: it’s almost at the brink of death! Hang in there, cub! Mom’s coming! Shen Cheng was anxious and quickly checked the red and blue medicine in the store. She hurriedly spent money to buy an “advanced universal potion” – a boutique product in the store. Compared with the small red bottle produced by Noah’s base, this thing costs ten yuan with just one recharge, but in terms of emergency rescue, its effect is much better than the small red bottle from the base. After sending the medicine over, Shen Cheng waited for a while and saw the status refreshed to “[in the process of recovering from injuries]”. She breathed a sigh of relief. Her cub must be fine now! In the place where she couldn’t see, Li Weilan held the bottle and leaned against the garbage dump, breathing slowly. There were three deep claw marks on his chest, penetrating deep into the bone. As the potion began to take effect throughout his body, the wounds, which were once deep enough to see the bone, gradually began to heal. Even the strands of flesh and blood could be vaguely seen expanding slowly and sticking together at a speed visible to the naked eye, covering the huge and hideous wound. In addition to their large numbers, mutant rats were not particularly scary opponents in themselves, but what Li Weilan didn’t expect was that there was a mutant rat king that looked almost identical to the others. When it sneaked up on him in the rat swarm, it was almost silent, but its paws were attached with golden ability. One paw was more than just a flesh wound. Li Weilan couldn’t dodge it in time and almost had his throat cut open on the spot. It was also his own carelessness. The residual energy of the ability had just recovered a little bit at that time, and he barely managed to move aside with the ability, avoiding the fatal blow, but he could not avoid the blood dripping down and the chasing that followed. After coming up with a solution, Li Weilan finally managed to hide in a garbage dump and used the already strong smell to distract the mice’s sense of smell. As he watched his wound gradually heal, self-deprecatingly he curled his lips. At the crucial moment, he still managed to escape smoothly thanks to her help. Li Weilan did not regret the experience of nearly dying due to using up his spatial ability to input a large amount of energy, but what he cared about was that he had once again caused worry for her. How is she doing? Wait for me, Cheng Cheng. Although he didn’t know if filling up with 1000 points of spatial ability could successfully see her, Li Weilan still wanted to achieve it to the best of his ability, even if there was only a slight possibility. To him, everything now was given by her, so it was only fair to repay her with everything he had. Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. Li Weilan took a deep breath, looked up at the leaden sky, and once his energy recovered slightly, he resumed inputting his ability into the window in front of him that only he could see and touch, desperately trying to input as much energy as he could. ** The next day, Shen Cheng contacted a lawyer – a lawyer named Wang that she found online and who had a good reputation in the local area. Lawyer Wang obviously didn’t expect such a young girl, let alone that the first thing she said was, “Hello, lawyer sir. I’m afraid I can only afford an hourly consultation fee now, but I want to work with you on a contingency fee.” He was taken aback. The little girl looks helpless and her dress is plain and simple, it doesn’t seem like she understands the twists and turns in between. Today, he received her phone call and explained the situation. It sounded a bit pitiful. He originally had other commissions, but still made time for her based on a momentary compassion. Now she talks about risk agency? He frowned and asked, “Risk agency is the minimum requirement for all our lawyers. What is your target amount?” Shen Cheng nodded her head, tried her best to remain calm, but her palms were sticky and sweaty. “Two million.” It was only then that Lawyer Wang paid attention and carefully listened to Shen Cheng’s situation, looking at the file bag she put down, furrowing his brows and pondering. Based on the value, the deceased left behind three houses – the largest one with a yard was worth over 6 million, and there were also two old houses worth around 2 million. The “Abandonment of Inheritance Agreement” in the file bag mainly mentioned the ownership of these three houses. The old man had three sons who were still alive, plus this little girl’s deceased father. Without a will or spouse, the total value was 10 million. This little girl could have received nearly 2.5 million. Now she says the target amount is 2 million. Could it be that she’s referring to the value of one of the houses? “The house in the city…,” Shen Cheng said, her eyes turning slightly red. “My father bought it. It was supposed to be my home.” She didn’t want anything else, she just wanted to get that house back, which could be considered a consolation for her deceased parents. After lawyer Wang carefully inquired about the situation, he found out that this family was just a bad debt from years ago. When Shen Cheng’s parents passed away, her grandparents were still alive, so according to reason, the property should have been divided into two equal parts, with half of Shen Cheng’s father’s share going to her grandparents and the other half to her. In other words, Shen Cheng should have owned half of the house. However, things were not that simple. At the time of Shen Cheng’s parents’ death, she was only eight years old. At that time, her grandparents produced a loan agreement, proving that they had paid the down payment, and Shen Cheng’s parents borrowed money from them to buy the house. Shen Cheng was very sure that the money did not come from her grandparents, but from her paternal grandparents. However, her paternal grandparents had passed away, and there was no evidence to prove it. In a convoluted manner, her biased grandparents gave the house to her second uncle’s family to live in, while Shen Cheng, as the original owner of the house, became dependent on others and had to watch their faces. But as fate would have it, now that her grandfather has passed away and her grandmother had died a few years earlier, Shen Cheng, as the representative inheritor, is entitled to inherit one-fourth of their entire family property. If you discount it a little, that house…would still have to be returned to its rightful owner! Lawyer Wang roughly calculated that this was a case worth fighting for! The evidence from that time had long been lost, but the inheritance law was in place now. This two million yuan property was something they could still get their hands on! “I’ll take this case,” said Lawyer Wang, reaching out his hand to her straightforwardly. “Let’s work together.” 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 Previous TOC Next
Ch 73: TGCIR After the construction of the factories that required a large labor force, such as the armory and the animal husbandry, chicken processing, canning, ore refining, and textile factories, the “idle” residents of Noah Base quickly disappeared. With stable jobs and long-term goals and prospects, many people in the base settled down and no longer floated aimlessly like before, unable to find a foothold. Some ordinary people who could not afford combat mecha temporarily would choose to pool their resources and purchase one together, either by a few households or a roomful of people. After participating in the sweep, they would distribute it separately when they had enough points. But regardless, the increase in combat power gave everyone in the base something to look forward to. Among the ability users, the team led by Yan Hongyu, Xi Nan, and Chen Feng was active in the wasteland. Although there were casualties during the sweep, with the support of the base’s universal medicine, Noah’s progress was impressive and smooth compared to other bases. Every time Shen Cheng went online, she read through the logs of her cub. [Main character met Tang Lu.] [Main character encountered a mutated rat swarm.] […Mutated rat swarm cleared. Light injuries…recovering.] [Main character’s ability has been upgraded.] [Main character encountered bandits.] [Main character cleared the bandit’s nest and found a large number of firearms and ammunition. Stored.] Every time she went online, she felt that cub had so many stories during his wandering days! Shen Cheng felt itchy looking at the log, and even a bit annoyed that the game didn’t allow her to watch her cub’s exciting performance. Cub was out there alone, tumbling and crawling, not knowing if he was eating enough or dressed warmly enough. He had suffered minor injuries before, and this time it was a minor injury again… If it weren’t for cub sending her a photo of himself full of energy every day, Shen Cheng suspected she wouldn’t even be able to continue playing the game. She was thinking this when her phone suddenly vibrated and a text message popped up. Shen Cheng looked at the unfamiliar number and suspected it was a spam call, but hesitated for a moment and still put the phone to her ear: “Hello?” “Cheng Cheng,” came an unfamiliar, somewhat hoarse voice from the other end, “Is this Cheng Cheng? I’m your uncle.” Shen Cheng’s hand trembled. She didn’t expect to receive a call from her father’s relatives. After all, so many years had passed, and she had dealt with her parents’ affairs herself and left her hometown to make her own way. She never saw them call to care, and Shen Cheng didn’t care for their contact either. “Uncle?” she hesitantly called out, “Is there something you need?” “Well, your grandfather passed away recently, and we hope you can come back for the funeral,” Uncle’s voice was tinged with weariness. Shen Cheng was stunned. She had thought that she and the relatives over there would never have anything to do with each other again, after all, she was alone and had been distant from the scary kinship from the beginning to the end. The memories of the abuse had gradually faded, but the fear and shadow left behind were real and had never disappeared. Mourning? Her first thought was: Is it appropriate for her to attend the funeral? As a “messenger of death,” is it appropriate for her to pay respects to the elderly? Wouldn’t even the dead be brought back to life by her presence? Hesitantly, Shen Cheng said, “I’m afraid it’s inconvenient. I just started working and it’s not easy to take time off. Besides, my grandfather didn’t want to see me before he passed away…” “If you’re called, you come,” the man suddenly changed his tone. Shen Cheng took two deep breaths. If she had to endure everything and be submissive when she was forced to live with them in the past, now that she was independent and owed them neither favors nor money, why should she swallow her pride? Shen Cheng was ready to refuse. Perhaps sensing her cold and indifferent response, Uncle Shen realized that she was not as easy to control as she used to be and finally softened his tone slightly. “Cheng Cheng, even if you have no emotional connection with us, your grandfather did raise you for such a long time. Now that he has passed away, you represent the prematurely departed…” “I’ll go.” With the mention of her deceased father, Shen Cheng took a deep breath but still reluctantly said, “…But I can’t take time off and I don’t have the money to buy a plane ticket. Let me ask my supervisor for time off and explain the situation…” Before she could finish her sentence, Uncle Shen quickly said, “Give me your bank account number and I’ll transfer you the money for the plane ticket. If you can buy it, buy it. If you keep dragging your feet, you might miss the funeral…” Shen Cheng remained silent and responded with a simple “ok” before hanging up the phone. She didn’t feel like playing the game anymore. After a long sigh, she sent her account number to the phone number that had called her. When she saw that the other party had transferred over a thousand yuan for the plane ticket almost instantly, and had even looked up the date and flight number, Shen Cheng felt deeply puzzled: when you give someone a gift, you always have a motive. Uncle’s family never do anything without a benefit. If there was nothing in it for them, why would they spend so much money on her, even without haggling? This was definitely not their usual style! Grandfather had passed away… Shen Cheng suddenly thought of something, so she looked up the legal provisions and guessed the possibility. Yes, only such a huge benefit could make them temporarily ignore her current disadvantage and even humbly invite their niece, whom they despised, back to their hometown! But what should she do? If she was right and those people needed her now, but still had such an attitude towards her, it was clear that they had never valued her. So, when they handled the matter, they would adopt similar attitudes and methods, right? Shen Cheng had a rough idea in her heart. ** She hadn’t had time to play games these days. Shen Cheng traveled thousands of miles back to the small town in the water town of Jiangnan where she had once lived. Instead of taking the flight her uncle had arranged, she arrived a day early and headed straight to the small building where she had lived before.” With vague memories, Shen Cheng managed to find the place. However, she saw a real estate agent showing a house to a family while she arrived. This building was the first property that the Shen family had purchased years ago. Naturally, they had bought the best location, with a mountain behind and water in front. In the summer, there was a cool breeze, except for the mosquitoes in the river. There were no other flaws. The family was obviously very satisfied with the house, but they were negotiating the price with the agent. Shen Cheng watched them for a while, furrowing her brows slightly and covering half of her face with an umbrella. She soon figured out that the price was the sticking point, but overall, as housing prices skyrocketed, this small courtyard in the center of the small city could bring in at least 6 million yuan for her uncle’s family. That was definitely not a small amount of money! However, the premise was that they could swallow it in one gulp. Shen Cheng had an idea of the price and turned around to find a small guesthouse to stay in. While she was taking a break, her uncle and his family went to the airport to pick her up, but they found out that she had never boarded that flight. Her uncle was furious and kept calling her phone at the airport, but none of the calls went through. The old man was stomping around the airport in anger, while his strong and young son sighed, “Dad, being angry won’t help. Maybe we offended her too badly back then, and now she doesn’t want to talk to us.” “What right does she have to hate us?” the old man exclaimed angrily. “Since she is so unfilial…” “What can you do about it?” the lazy son said. “Can you deprive her of her inheritance? If you ask me, the mistake was not making a will back then…” “Shut up!” Uncle Shen’s eyes glared at his son, who kept poking at him, and he couldn’t get angry with his only son. He waved his hand in anger and left. Shen Cheng had anticipated that they would call, so she just muted her phone and left it in the bathroom without answering. She treated this rare outing since graduation as a relaxing vacation. Although it was a funeral and she was returning to her hometown, the old man had no affection for her, her parents, or anyone else. They had already fulfilled their duty of support. Moreover, the people who came to find her had other motives. Presumably, the person who left was surrounded by “filial sons and grandsons” and passed away with a smile. What’s the point of her joining the commotion? She was just an unwelcome orphan. With this thought in mind, Shen Cheng slept soundly. When she woke up and looked at her phone, she raised her eyebrows. As expected, there were more than 20 missed calls. After washing up, she picked up her phone and small bag and went to the funeral home they set up for her grandfather. Uncle Shen had a sharp eye and almost immediately spotted Shen Cheng. This eldest niece had not visited once since she went to college, but she looked so much like her father that it was as if they were cut from the same cloth. Uncle Shen recognized her at a glance. Looking at his grown-up niece, Uncle Shen had to admit that this girl was truly like a delicate flower. Her features were exquisite, and she had a soft and beautiful appearance. In the Shen family, she was a rare and outstanding beauty. Uncle Shen rushed forward and pulled her over, “Cheng Cheng, why didn’t you answer my phone when you came?” Shen Cheng innocently said, “I was too tired from work, and I rarely come back to my hometown. I overslept and came as soon as I woke up, fearing that you all had been waiting for a long time.” ** Li Weilan had not heard from her for five days. Before that, she would send photos over, sometimes of changes at the base, and sometimes of small stories and incidents that happened there. So even though she was outside the base, seeking opportunities for breakthroughs and battle experiences, Li Weilan’s heart was still at ease. But now it was different. She was like a kite with a broken string, gone for five whole days. How could it take so long? Did she not care about the base because he wasn’t there? In just over two weeks of traveling, Li Weilan’s abilities had already broken through from level three to level four. This progress was achieved through repeated use of his space abilities to fight against many enemies and survive dangerous situations. He had planned to continue training, but now he couldn’t calm down. He decided to pack up and return to the base. It was strange, but just as he had this thought, a new translucent screen suddenly appeared in front of him. It looked exactly like the video he had seen before, with no tangible shape but clear and without any illusionary feeling. Li Weilan remained calm, the screen that initially appeared blurry as if splashed with water gradually stabilized and eventually became as clear as 3D imaging. At first glance, he saw her. She was okay. But he soon realized that he was too quick to relax. On the screen, he saw several men surrounding Shen Cheng with one particularly tall and muscular man pointing and jabbing at her, spewing out saliva in a rude manner. She was wearing a plain white dress, her face delicate and gentle, but at this moment, her small face was filled with a resolute determination. Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. She was facing so many men alone! Were those people bullying her? Li Weilan was in agony, but he could only watch her on the screen from a thousand miles away, seeing her displaying a stubborn and heartbroken expression. Under her strong facade, he saw her inner pain. Yes, so many people, but not a single person stood up for her, not a single word of support! Li Weilan punched the invisible screen, and it trembled for a moment before displaying a prompt: 【Do you want to purchase a temporary teleportation pass? Please note: this pass can only be used for one day. If not purchased within three days, it will no longer be available. Purchase price: 1000 points of spatial power.】 1000 points of spatial power? Li Weilan frowned. Beside this line of small print, there was a light blue object that looked like a piggy bank. He tried to input his ability into it, and as his ability slowly flowed in, the object absorbed his power, and the numbers slowly started to rise. Li Weilan experimented and found that if he didn’t reserve any of his ability, it would take about two and a half days to fill up the small pool. But this also meant that during these two and a half days, he had to constantly pour his ability into the pool, even the slightest danger could be fatal for him. However, looking at how tightly the time limit was set, Li Weilan was sure that the time was calculated precisely! Coincidences don’t just happen by chance. The idea of seeing her surpassed everything else, and Li Weilan began to desperately pour his ability into the pool, ignoring even the slight throbbing pain in his ability core. 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 Sandy: AHHHHH THEY’RE GONNA MEET IN PERSON!!!!!!!!!! Previous TOC Next
Ch 72: TGCIR 【Individual Combat Mech Factory has been purchased.】 After Shen Cheng clicked on the purchase of the factory, she placed it in the base. The first-tier factory only had one blueprint, which was for an individual combat mech. She thought she could start production right away after buying it, but then she found out…when she clicked on “start production,” it showed “insufficient base raw materials”? Shen Cheng looked at the production requirements; the first-tier individual combat mech required a special material called “sulfur ore,” which could be refined and configured by metal-type ability users. However, the base currently lacked a mine, and the closest mine to the base belonged to the M City base, which was heavily guarded according to the map. It seemed like she would have to fight the other party to seize the mine. Shen Cheng hesitated. Due to her personality, which was a reason she enjoyed playing management simulation games, she had to admit that if she woke up one day and saw a system notification saying “Your house was robbed by XXX while you were sleeping,” she would have a heart attack. In PVP games, the point of spending money was easier than raising babies; when someone attacked you, you had to fight back, and if you spent money, there was no upper limit. Shen Cheng’s personality meant that she didn’t want to actively engage in conflict with others. So instead of directly finding a team of ability users to go explore, she looked through the system mall and buildings to see if there were any alternatives. After searching for a while, Shen Cheng finally found a special building that could be purchased for one yuan under the “transmission” category: “[Transdimensional Transport Gate]: This transport orifice can transport a selected type of metal raw material. The transmission speed is 100kg per day. The selected resource type cannot be changed.” One yuan huh! Shen Cheng looked at the price and hesitated a bit: after all, according to the nature of this game, when she previously spent one yuan, it was actually several hundred yuan. It didn’t seem like a legitimate game! Now, she stumbled upon this transdimensional transport gate when she was in need, and it only cost one yuan. Round off, it was basically free, and it was also one of the most important materials for the base’s combat power…metal raw materials. She felt like there might be some problems if she bought it, what was going on? But if she didn’t buy it, the base might have to fight with the “heavy troops” of the M City base if it wanted to develop. Unknown risks should be better than direct casualties, right? She felt like this game was playing with her psychology. One yuan…the price was cheap, but could it be a trap? Shen Cheng’s hesitation was fully displayed at this moment, and she thought for a long time before finally clicking to complete the purchase with a recharge. A white light flashed deep in the base, and an arc-shaped gate with a golden shimmer appeared in the warehouse deep inside the base. After Shen Cheng selected the mineral name, it slowly opened its mouth and spit out today’s quota of raw materials. ** Fu Yanzhou immersed himself in the laboratory, neglecting food and sleep, with his eyes bloodshot from looking at the drawings and parameters. But to him, nothing was more exciting than the data and progress obtained from experiments. He had participated in the research of human mecha before the apocalypse, and at that time, the material technology had been almost completely conquered, but the energy problem had never been solved. But this mecha… Looking at the energy charging position and internal structure on the drawing, he knew clearly that as long as he understood the theory in between, all his previous problems would be solved easily! What was this? This had saved him at least 20-30 years of labor and time! For a scientist, was there anything more exciting than this? This had forcibly extended his lifespan by 20 years! Fu Yanzhou had never been so grateful for the coincidence and chance that led him to Noah Base, nor had he ever been so grateful for the fickleness of fate. He focused on operating the instrument in his hand, and the laboratory door suddenly opened from the outside. Xi Bei walked in with a piece of metal ore in her hand. Fu Yanzhou was so scared that he jumped when she patted his shoulder and asked in a muffled voice, “Is there something wrong?” Xi Bei glanced at him, handed the ore to him, and said, “The warehouse in the base suddenly had more ore today.” Fu Yanzhou suddenly realized that he had the drawings, but it seemed that there was still a problem with the production of raw materials in the base. He looked down and his face changed drastically. After carefully examining the ore from all angles, he frowned and asked Xi Bei, “You mean, it appeared out of thin air?” Xi Bei didn’t understand. She had brought something that Fu Yanzhou might be interested in, thinking that he had been staying up all night and worrying about his health. But from Fu Yanzhou’s expression, Xi Bei knew that things were probably not as simple as she had thought before. She nodded, “Yes, out of nowhere.” Fu Yanzhou carefully looked over it under the light. He frowned, “I see… Leave this ore here. I’ll study it further.” Xi Bei didn’t know what he was up to and was pushed out of the room by him. She muttered in her heart, “What’s wrong with this straight man?” and couldn’t understand his attitude. After Xi Bei left, Fu Yanzhou put the ore in his hand on the elemental analyzer. As soon as the composition and ratio of the elements were revealed, his brows furrowed even tighter. Where could there be a natural ore with a ratio almost identical to the previous ore they had experimented with in the lab? Even if it were a natural ore, it would not necessarily have the same ratio as the one in his hand, which was composed of five or six elements. Could this be the same piece of ore? But if it was the same ore, how could it appear out of nowhere in the base? Fu Yanzhou was baffled, but when he thought of the many mysteries of the Noah Base, he said nothing and gently placed the ore on the research table, making a mental note of the matter. At the same time, in the warehouse of the research institute, a corner of the once towering pile of ore quietly disappeared. However, compared to the huge total amount, this small piece that was lost was like a small bite that had been taken, and it did not attract anyone’s attention. ** With the ore, the production of the human-body mecha in the base quickly entered normal operation after being refined by the metal-type ability users. On the day the first armor was produced, an ordinary person in the base finally exchanged his accumulated contribution points with his wife for a suit of armor. He put on the armor, and a large group of people crowded around him. His wife was a strength-type ability user herself, and the two of them had a good relationship. If it weren’t for this, she wouldn’t have agreed to give him her contribution points. But with this exchange, both of their contribution points were completely depleted. Although the people around them were envious, they couldn’t come up with so many contribution points, and they couldn’t be sure whether the current technology level of the base was sufficient to support the use of human-body mecha. Someone on the side sneered, “This mecha is said to be able to withstand the attacks of first-level ability users and zombie bites. Why don’t you try it out and show us what the effect is?” The man and his wife glanced at each other–they both had confident in the base. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have put all their contribution points into buying the mecha. Since he had confidence in the base, the man felt that he could dispel doubts by demonstrating it on the spot. He glanced at his wife, and then led a group of people to the simulation training ground. When they arrived at the training ground, he closed his eyes and tremblingly said to his wife, “Hit me…” As a real couple, his wife didn’t use her full strength when she swung her hammer. She probably only used 60-70% of her strength, but even that much force from a power-type ability user is definitely not something an ordinary person can handle. However, when his wife swung her hammer and hit him, he just opened his eyes and smiled at her absent-mindedly, “Wife…are you done hitting me?” Suddenly, there was a loud noise from around them! Even though she had already reduced her strength, the power of that one punch was still very real. The ground under his feet even trembled slightly – it was worth noting that the strength of the foundation materials in Noah Base was already very high, so this slight tremble itself meant a very scary force! Everyone present could see it clearly. Some ability users nearby looked on with envy and walked up to him, asking, “Can I try to cut you with a knife?” He hesitated a bit. Although the instructions said that it could withstand general knife and heat weapon attacks, but… he cherished his own life! Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. After being hit by his wife, he already felt that it was enough to verify the strength of the armor. Wasn’t it a bit exaggerated to use a knife to cut it? However, his wife had more confidence in the mecha. Moreover, in the future, when wearing this mecha suit out of the base, they will face the danger of being bitten by zombies. Only if the armor is truly as solid as described in its introduction, can she feel safe about her husband facing the zombies in the future! The woman nodded, indicating for the other person to try. The ability user picked up a knife from the side and, with a flash of light, the sharp blade was aimed at the uncovered face of the protective suit! His wife was surprised, she never expected this person to be so ruthless. But before she could stop him, the armor suddenly changed and a blue transparent net-like structure enveloped the man’s cheek. There was a clang, and the thunderous strike of the knife was deflected! The knife lay quietly on the ground. The room was silent for a moment. After a while, there was a buzzing sound and a few people rushed to the registration office, competing with the receptionist to place their order for the next day’s production. They were determined to reserve a suit even if they had to sell their possessions! With the introduction of the first suit of armor, the people of the Noah base were enthusiastic about earning contribution points. Everyone wanted a suit of armor, as it was a symbol of high-tech romance! From the moment the first suit of armor was produced, even non-ability users from the Noah base joined the ranks of zombie hunters. They were no longer weak civilians who had to be protected at the rear, but residents who could earn contribution points. 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 Sandy: Very rude to aim for the exposed face sheesh Previous TOC Next
Ch 71 (Part 2): TGCIR Currently, the Research Institute was constrained everywhere, even self-righteous people had the intention to contend with him for power. Although he was an lightning-type ability user and had control over the military, all of these were openly exposed. The cards held by the Research Institute were hidden underwater and were too deep to see through. They could only vaguely glimpse the huge shadow underwater but couldn’t see the real shape of it. If he wanted to win the contest with the researchers, he must have some cards that they couldn’t see. This person had no reaction to his lightening-type ability. According to Bai Su, there was even another team with that man. Wouldn’t they be a good knife to be wielded if he could win them over? He was now a single wanderer, perhaps it was a good opportunity to win them over. If Bai Su offended him at the first meeting, where could he find such a good knife? But Tang Lu couldn’t say these things in front of Bai Su. After all, in her heart, he was the number one person in J City Base and must be omnipotent. If she saw his calculations, considerations, and compromises, as someone who admires strength, she might have some other ideas. After all, she has a rare healing ability. Tang Lu smiled and rubbed her head, “You silly girl, I was thinking of using him as a good knife. We’ll watch the show as he kills like my borrowed knife, and then I’ll help you get revenge. Don’t be in a hurry.” Bai Su gritted her teeth in frustration. Before, that person had a team with him, and she couldn’t beat them alone, but today they were a team against him, and Tang Lu was still hesitant! Bai Su had the first thought of whether it was worth following him. ** Shen Cheng stared at the several green figures displayed as “detention room,” at a loss. From their status, the small figures had both satisfied and dissatisfied points with the base, but they looked normal, and she couldn’t tell. She even doubted herself: with the friendliness system not working, and the loyalty of these small figures still above 60, she even wondered if there were any loopholes or if she had wronged some of them. At this moment, a new task prompt popped up in the system: [Fu Yanzhou requests: Review the permissions of Chai Yi and others. Agree? Y/N] Fu Yanzhou? The social anxiety guy? Shen Cheng hesitated. She hadn’t forgotten how these people had surrounded Fu Yanzhou excitedly at the beginning. If Fu Yanzhou came to review…could he be protecting and condoning them? But she soon thought again: cub never suspected Fu Yanzhou…perhaps she should also have more trust in the people in the base? Shen Cheng ultimately chose “Y”. Fu Yanzhou entered the room. He was holding a plate of fried chicken. He placed the food in front of the three men, ignoring their angry expressions, and propped up his legs: “Eat. Talk after you’re full.” The aroma of the fried chicken wafted in, and since being locked in the confinement room since yesterday, they didn’t know that the base had already opened a breeding farm and had a stable supply of chicken meat. However, upon smelling the scent of the meat, all three of them salivated and quickly began to stuff it into their mouths. Shen Cheng was shocked to see that the loyalty of the three people actually increased as they ate the fried chicken? “???” Is the friendliness and loyalty system broken? Fu Yanzhou looked coldly at them after they finished eating, “This is the welfare of everyone in the base. But it will be gone after today.” No more such delicious chicken? Some people regretted it. They had all seen the hamster room, which was so terrible that it seemed to have no end. As ability users, they could only run in circles like hamsters to generate electricity. What hope was there in life? Wasn’t it worse than death? Chai Yi knew he was opposing the base’s regulations in the base, but if they didn’t successfully make the base compromise, they would be on a dead end. He gritted his teeth and said, “I don’t think we did anything wrong! The current policy is great for ordinary people, but how many ability users can survive under it? If the base doesn’t change, ability users will eventually be wiped out. Then, you will have to be leaders with no followers!” Ability users fought and shed tears outside just for the privilege of being in the base! And in Noah, there was not even a little bit of that privilege? Which base did not have that! Shen Cheng saw this and already understood their demands. She frowned and opened the blueprint for the construction of the second-level base, finding the “weapon factory” section. Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. As Fu Yanzhou was about to speak, a blueprint suddenly fell from the sky. He was stunned, opened the blueprint and looked at it carefully. His expression suddenly changed, and he didn’t even want to waste time talking to these people anymore. He stood up and turned around to leave. “Hey! What do you mean, Fu Yanzhou!” It was then that Fu Yanzhou realized his loss of composure. On the blueprint, there was a design for human armor that the research institute had considered before. As long as there were enough units in production, even ordinary people could wear them to fight against zombies! Most importantly, according to the data on the blueprint, the armor could completely prevent attacks from zombies of third rank and below! When combined with thermal weapons, ordinary people could be armed to the teeth. As long as they did not fall into a zombie siege and were not fiercely bitten by a group of zombies, their defensive capabilities would not be inferior to those of ability users before their defenses were breached! Fu Yanzhou looked at the blueprint and deeply admired the precision of the person who drew it in every detail. At this moment, he had no intention of following Xi Bei’s original suggestion to eliminate these people and their research. He only wanted to go back to the laboratory to make a set of finished products and test if the parameters could reach the same high level as on the blueprint! This kind of single combat mech was at least 20 years beyond their laboratory’s level! It was a direction that he had considered before, but it was also a height that he had never reached. With this, the so-called “they bleed and sweat on the front line, while ordinary people sit back and enjoy their protection” that ability users claimed was non-existent! As long as ordinary people received basic training and had the absolute advantage in numbers, they could at least protect themselves in the wasteland. All of what these people said was based on the premise that the base did not have this kind of black technology. Fu Yanzhou’s hands trembled with excitement. It was only at this moment that he suddenly understood what his senior brother had said before. In the face of absolute strength, all other conspiracies and tricks were nothing but insignificant attempts that could be shattered with a single blow. Chai Yi clearly saw the blueprint falling from the sky and the change in Fu Yanzhou’s expression. He suddenly understood something and trembled as he shouted at Fu Yanzhou, “You’re just a figurehead, right? Everything in the base is not your accomplishment!” Fu Yanzhou turned back upon hearing the words. For the first time, a terrifying smile like that of a demon appeared on his handsome and pale face. He slightly parted his lips, revealing his eight internal teeth. “Ah, you figured it out, but now you can never leave.” After hearing the howls of regret and despair from behind him, Fu Yanzhou left the confinement room and couldn’t help but squat down and laugh for a while. He practiced this expression and decided that the next time Xi Bei came to disturb him at work, he would scare her with the same expression and action until she howled like a ghost and wolf. 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 Sandy: I’m glad the ordinary people at Noah can now play important roles like the ability users. F*** those arrogant ability users booooooo Previous TOC Next
Ch 71 (Part 1): TGCIR Li Weilan opened today’s package. He sat in a deserted wilderness, with a sparkling starry sky above his head. After the apocalypse, air pollution disappeared, and humans could finally see the stars clearly again. However, humans were no longer the masters of this planet. Li Weilan traveled alone with a blade and on the road, he inevitably encountered thugs who thought he was an easy target. He also fell into the midst of zombies. But compared to the anxiety, panic, and worry he felt when the apocalypse first happened, Li Weilan was now clear in his heart that his confidence came from: even if he chose to retreat, when he looked at the starry sky above his head, he seemed to still see her gaze and smile. The girl he had only seen once. The girl who was not in the same world. This girl deeply imprinted in his heart. As long as he thought of her watching his back, he had infinite courage. Li Weilan lit a fire with the flint he carried with him and was about to take out some food to roast when suddenly the sound of flapping wings came from the sky. Was it today’s mail? Li Weilan faintly hooked his lips, with a hint of expectation in his eyes. What could it be? Today’s package was still small, but inside was a hard square object. Li Weilan smiled as he gently untied the knot, revealing a stainless steel box. He just opened the package and heard a slight “click”. Along with the box he took out, there was a thin piece of paper stuck to the bottom of the box. As he moved, it fell out. Li Weilan picked it up and his eyes froze: the person smiling brightly and making a V sign towards the camera in the photo was none other than Shen Cheng herself! Although her big eyes lacked any spirit and only her face was present without her soul, all in all, it was still Shen Cheng smiling at him! Li Weilan stared at her intensely, carefully examining her smile. His eyes burned as if he wanted to carve her into his heart. A warm current surged through his body, sweeping away the exhaustion from the day’s battles as if it were nothing, all in her smile. Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. Li Weilan stared at her for a while before reaching out to open the insulated box. As he lifted the lid, a tantalizing aroma rushed into his nostrils. The fragrance of butter, the tantalizing taste of meat… several fragrances mixed together, making his mouth water involuntarily. It was fried chicken. The golden oil was so thick that it seemed like it would still be juicy even after he took a bite. Touching it even felt like it was still piping hot! “I haven’t had a bite of junk food since the end of the world!” Li Weilan felt the oil in his hand. He silently took a bite, and a crispy and fragrant taste suddenly rushed to his tongue. As he bit down, the soft and crispy chicken skin broke, and the juice splashed out, massaging his taste buds with the crunchy meat, making him feel relaxed. What’s even more annoying is that the box is full of these chicken legs! Li Weilan couldn’t help but laugh and cry: Did he look like a big eater in her heart? There are at least a dozen chicken legs here, if not more. Where did she get so many chickens? Was the chicken meat free? The taste of fried chicken is extremely pure. Li Weilan knew it as soon as he took a bite. It was the taste of free-range chicken before the end of the world, but definitely not the taste of mutant beasts. Could it be that the base has already opened a breeding system? Li Weilan quietly nibbled on the chicken while thinking. Suddenly, there was a roar of a vehicle engine coming from the wilderness ahead. Li Weilan immediately closed the box and grabbed Thunder that he always carried with him. The car seemed to have seen the fire and stopped briefly. Several people got out of the car. It was not very clear in the dark, but from afar, a soft and gentle voice came from the cold wind: “Brother Tang, it seems that there is someone here… Oh, what a delicious smell?” Li Weilan quickly put away the fried chicken into his space. He’s stingy even with a glance for others to see. Those people approached. When he could see the face of the woman who was speaking clearly in the light of the fire, Li Weilan’s pupils shrank slightly: it was really a coincidence, she turned out to be an old acquaintance! It seems that there is no place in life where people cannot meet! When he recognized the woman, she also recognized him. Her originally gentle voice instantly became sharp, and she pulled the sleeve of the man next to her, “Brother Tang! It’s him! The person who killed all my companions!” She gnashed her teeth and her anger was written all over her face. The man she called carefully scrutinized Li Weilan, lingering for a moment on the blade of the knife in his hand, but did not immediately turn hostile. Instead, he stretched out his hand, smiled gracefully and said, “Friend, meeting like this is also fate. Why don’t we forget our grievances with a smile?” Should he shake hands or not? Li Weilan did not hesitate and simply extended his hand. A tingling sensation spread, Li Weilan’s facial muscles only moved slightly, he shook hands and then let go. After this brief confrontation, the man confirmed that his ability did not work on Li Weilan for some reason. His smile became more sincere, and he reassuredly touched the angry cheek of the woman in his arms, and said to Li Weilan, “Welcome to visit the J City base in the future.” Li Weilan’s pupils shrank slightly. Just now, during the brief moment when their hands clasped, a current flowed through his hand, and if it weren’t for his blade’s thunder ability absorbing the entire force of the current, he would have been paralyzed for a moment. Thunder and lightning ability, able to easily overwhelm him, and able to mention the words “J City” and “guests”, could this person be Tang Lu from the J City base? It is said that he was the second generation of J City before the end of the world, and quickly awakened his thunder and lightning ability after the end of the world, and he had the support of the entire J City base, from resources to manpower at his disposal. If someone else heard him say “welcome to come as a guest”, they would probably be ecstatic, as this directly means that the person who receives these words has obtained the qualification to enter the J City base! However, Li Weilan just nodded lightly and said, “Thank you for your invitation, Brother Tang. If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely come.” “Then I will wait for good news.” Tang Lu smiled, and the woman in his arms seemed to want to say something, but suddenly felt a slight pain in her waist that was being held, and her words were cut off by a soft electric shock. She made a soft whimper and was almost half supported and half embraced by Tang Lu as they left. It wasn’t until the sound of the car engine faded away that Li Weilan squinted his eyes and sat back by the bonfire, munching on the fried chicken. It was the fried chicken given by Cheng Cheng. That was the only important thing. As for the people just now and the J City base that he would eventually go to collect debts from? At this moment, the fried chicken in his hand was more important. As soon as they left that place, Bai Su in the car began to shed tears. Large drop of tears rolled down from her eyes, dropping one by one onto her fair arms. Her soundless expression of crying looked especially pitiful. Tang Lu sighed, knowing that it was his fault that Bai Su blamed him for not seeking revenge immediately and stopping her from speaking out. To be honest, although she was a rare healing-type ability user in the apocalypse, her ability to grasp the big picture and judge the situation was not very good. What was their current situation? What was the situation in the base now? 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 Previous TOC Next
Ch 6: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel Boom! After a brief silence, the live stream chat was once again flooded with barrage comments. No one expected Fang Ziyang to act like this. What happened to the promised explanation and apology live stream? Before saying anything, he dragged out the netizens who were criticizing him and publicly scolded them. And in the end, he even called the police! Has he gone crazy? At this moment, this question echoed in almost everyone’s mind. “Damn, has Fang Ziyang gone crazy? Did he really call the police?” “Seriously, I saw it. The call was definitely connected. It’s not fake!” “Is he stupid or dumb? Calling the police over a comment, is he disrupting public resources and disturbing public order?” “The person upstairs has a point. Fang Ziyang is basically seeking death.” “Well, it’s not necessarily. Fang Ziyang isn’t actually mentally ill. How could he do something so foolish?” “He looked calm and even mentioned getting a team of lawyers. Let’s keep watching. I think I might be lucky enough to witness a great spectacle…” Similar comments swiftly scrolled through the barrage, instantly suppressing the previous insults and curses. Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. At this moment, upon receiving such shocking news, no one had the mood to continue scolding. Everyone was eager to know if Fang Ziyang had really called the police. What would happen next? Damn, Fang Ziyang is so bold! However, not everyone reacted in the same way. Those who had been targeted by Fang Ziyang before didn’t feel as excited anymore. The office of No.1 High School, the student council, Teacher He… for some reason, a sense of unease arose within them. Including Yan Tong, who was sitting in front of the computer, felt nervous at this moment. His intuition had always been accurate. In fact, ever since Fang Ziyang posted the new Weibo, he had been on edge. He didn’t know why, but when he saw the Weibo, an indescribable chill ran through his heart. There was a sense of impending doom, as if a venomous snake was crawling up his spine, staring at him with cold, sinister eyes… Yan Tong didn’t understand why he felt such an eerie sensation upon seeing a Weibo post, but his intuition had always been accurate. He rarely missed anything, so the more he felt this way, the more nervous he became. As he watched Fang Ziyang speaking confidently and smiling in the live stream, this ominous premonition grew even stronger. As expected, Fang Ziyang’s voice resounded in the live stream once again: “Alright, I apologize for keeping you all waiting for so long. Let’s officially begin today’s live stream topic. First of all, regarding the recent rumors of me bullying students on campus, I want to say… I really, really, really did not do it. Important things need to be said three times.” Fang Ziyang’s tone was calm, and his expression was helpless. While speaking, there was no trace of fear or helplessness, as if he was stating something that was somewhat related to him but not that significant. He seemed indifferent, with a gentle attitude, and his gaze on the screen was like someone looking at a group of ignorant children. Regardless of what comments the netizens sent on the screen upon hearing these words, Fang Ziyang ignored them all, smiled, and continued, “I don’t know how things suddenly turned out like this. When I saw the news and videos online, I was shocked myself. Before I could even react, you all started bombarding me with insults…” “I admit, I have a bad personality, and I have a hot temper. But apart from that, I consider myself an ordinary person with principles, conscience, respect for the law, and over a decade of education.” “If you disagree with this statement, then I’m sorry, but I don’t accept opposition. Keep your criticisms to yourselves because I don’t care about your opinions. Thank you.” After finishing his statement, Fang Ziyang immediately reached out and clicked on the mouse. He smiled brightly and said, “Alright, I know you’re all about to scold me. I can’t see the comments anymore, so feel free to say whatever you want.” As the netizens were preparing to unleash their furious typing and insults: … The absence of comments on the computer screen made it much more pleasing to the eye, and Fang Ziyang’s voice sounded somewhat cheerful. “I don’t know how you all have been these past few days, but for me, it has been terrible. Although I am a broad-minded person, it’s quite distressing to be criticized by netizens nationwide. Most importantly, it’s not just unfamiliar netizens who misunderstand me, even my friends and teachers around me don’t believe me.” “Furthermore, there are some so-called friends of mine who anonymously provide ‘evidence’ of my ‘malicious’ acts. Their words are convincing, to the point that I almost started doubting myself…” “However, it is precisely because of these so-called friends that I have awakened from this blow.” Suddenly, Fang Ziyang’s smile became inexplicable. “So… I’ve decided to investigate thoroughly.” Investigate? Investigate what? Does this mean he has been wrongly accused? But the evidence is conclusive, there are video verifications, how could it be fake? Could it be that everyone is falsely accusing Fang Ziyang? Would his character be that terrible? Although netizens enjoy being keyboard warriors, it doesn’t mean they lack intelligence. Fang Ziyang’s intention was too obvious. As long as one’s intelligence isn’t compromised, it’s clear to everyone that his words almost directly imply that someone framed and plotted against him. But is Fang Ziyang truly a victim of false accusations? Some people were skeptical. After all, the evidence is so complete and obvious, the collective opinion is against him, even his friends and teachers, not to mention the official stance of No.1 High School. If this is all a set-up and a false accusation… things would be on a much larger scale! The netizens immediately became excited and started commenting again, and more and more people flooded into the live stream. However, Fang Ziyang had already disabled the comments. He didn’t care about everyone’s current opinions. Today, he only needed to proceed at his own pace. With a faint smile on his face, Fang Ziyang updated his Weibo by typing on the keyboard while continuing the livestream. “In these past few days, everyone has shown such concern for me. I think most of you should be familiar with my family background. My father is the Chairman of the Fang Group, and my grandfather is a renowned technical expert in the field of scientific research. They have left me a considerable inheritance. As a young master of the Fang family, I lack nothing except money…” “So, in order to prove my innocence, I have spent a hefty sum to hire several computer experts and detectives with excellent skills to investigate thoroughly. After all, as the person involved, would I not be aware if I had done something myself?” Although everyone knows about hackers, it’s not something that can be directly mentioned. Even if everyone understands, it has to be expressed differently. “And guess what I found out? It’s truly a breathtaking drama of a guardian protecting a flower…” Fang Ziyang’s smile was gentle like a spring breeze, but the words he spoke were chilling. “At this point, I must thank the advanced technology of modern society, the omnipresent surveillance, and my dedicated team of experts whom I hired at a high cost. Thanks to their efforts, I obtained the complete surveillance footage that was deleted and even got to reacquaint myself with my good friend.” “Now, let me show you the results.” Calm and composed, Fang Ziyang displayed the A4 papers that were prepared in advance on his desk, explaining as he did so. “Firstly, I have already posted the complete surveillance footage of the bullying incident on my Weibo. You can go and see it for yourselves.” “Now, let’s talk about the first point. The content on this A4 paper in my hand is the data record of the surveillance restoration process. It may be a bit complicated, and most people may not understand it, but it’s alright. Just focus on the last paragraph.” “As we all know, accessing, deleting, or editing surveillance videos in schools or corporate premises requires authorization. Without proper permission, it would be an illegal intrusion.” “But clearly… the evidence I have found indicates that the video regarding me bullying a fellow student was deleted through legitimate and normal means.” “Therefore, I have reason to suspect that the person who framed and set me up must be someone close to me, someone who also holds a certain level of authority within the school.” “In light of this, I have several suspects: Teacher He, Teacher Wang, Zhang Xue, and Liu Qi… the classmate and teacher who have a somewhat strained relationship with me.” “With the suspects identified, the detectives I hired have begun investigating and eliminating them one by one. Finally, the focus of suspicion has fallen on my homeroom teacher, Teacher He. Please take a look at the investigation results on this A4 paper, and the related video will guide you to my new Weibo post.” On the A4 paper were clear details of Teacher He’s activities on that day, along with several photocopies of images showing their entry and exit from the surveillance room. “Regarding the investigation results concerning Teacher He, I feel deeply saddened. But considering her abilities, it’s not that I underestimate her. She’s just an ordinary middle-aged woman and teacher from an average family. Does she really have the skills and motive to target me, the young master of the Fang family?” “So, after a thorough investigation… Well, the news is truly astonishing.” Suddenly, the smile vanished from Fang Ziyang’s face, and he calmly looked at the live stream audience, picking up the last sheet of A4 paper to display. “My good friend, Xu Jiaqing, please explain why you suddenly transferred 500,000 yuan to our homeroom teacher, Teacher He?” “Why did the marketing studios, Yangguang and Dongsheng, receive one million yuan each from you?” “What did you say to the student council members on that noon of the bullying incident video? How come so many people coincidentally witnessed my argument with Yan Tong that day?” “Xu Jiaqing, what have I done to offend you so greatly that you would go to such lengths to destroy me?” Question after question. Piece by piece, the evidence. A hint of doubt. Just as the passionate netizens were stirred up, they were suddenly silenced and the entire live stream room fell into a hushed calm. It was as if everyone’s throat had been clenched, and even their breath seemed to pause. However, at that moment, a doorbell rang in the live video. Fang Ziyang suddenly smiled again, adjusting the webcam of his laptop to face the room’s entrance, and then got up to open the door. Amidst the accelerated heartbeats of the netizens, a group of well-dressed elite men and women, along with a few individuals wearing police uniforms, were invited into the room and appeared in the camera frame of the live stream. Representatives from both sides stepped forward, “Mr. Fang, I am Zhao Shuwen, the head of the legal department at Fang Group. We have understood your request, and I will personally lead the team to handle this case for you.” “Mr. Fang, I am Captain Wu Qiang from the xx Police Department in Jiang City. We have just received your report, and I kindly request your cooperation for the record. Here is my identification. Thank you.” Sharp-dressed lawyers exuding professionalism. Stern and serious law enforcement officers. The situation had escalated! That was the only thought running through the minds of all the netizens in an instant. Previous TOC Next
Ch 5: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel The voices on the internet became increasingly intense as time went on. As the incident grew larger and the news spread wider, regardless of whether people were interested in the matter or not, as more and more people around them discussed it, even those who didn’t care couldn’t help but become curious and ask a few questions. After all, compared to the daily news broadcasts, frequent entertainment gossip, and the usual scandals involving certain celebrities… and so on, isn’t it more interesting to see a universally despised enemy of the people confront everyone head-on? So, until the approaching time of the live broadcast mentioned by Fang Ziyang, he truly became the focal point of the entire internet. And the number of viewers flooding into the live stream multiplied exponentially, leaving the boss of Orange Live both delighted and worried. Of course, they were delighted by the tremendous traffic, but worried that their servers might crash. “Put everything else aside, today, all technicians, guard the servers, and be prepared…” Ready for immediate repairs! In the end, with no other choice, as the data showed the horrifying surge in traffic, the boss of Orange Live could only give a pained yet happy command. Time ticked away, second by second. When it was 8 o’clock in the evening, the highly anticipated live stream of Fang Ziyang officially began. Because half an hour before 8 o’clock, to ensure that the live stream wouldn’t get overwhelmed by a sudden influx of viewers, Fang Ziyang had already opened the live stream and allowed online audiences to enter in advance. Therefore, when Fang Ziyang changed into his clothes and walked in front of the computer, the entire screen of the live stream room had already been filled with various insulting comments. Densely packed, all were invisible knives. “He’s here, he’s here, Fang Ziyang is here!” “Oh my, he actually dares to come out. His face is truly thick.” “He looks refined and handsome, but who would’ve thought he had such a dark heart.” “So what? People can put on a facade. There are plenty of hypocrites out there, not to mention that Fang Ziyang is the typical arrogant and domineering second-generation wealthy in the Jiang City circle. He’s despicable, trash.” “Go die, Fang Ziyang, go die.” The audience in the live stream room was intensely and gleefully hurling insults. Even those who were rational were in the minority, and their comments were drowned out by the various curses. Fang Ziyang glanced at the comments on the screen and smiled faintly. This smile, like snow melting in winter, seeped into his core, but it lacked the warmth and instead carried the coldness of a snowy peak, looking down on the world. He was naturally good-looking, with delicate features and a refined beauty. In the past, his arrogance and haughtiness overshadowed his physical attractiveness, making it easy for people to dislike him upon first meeting, avoiding him altogether. No one had the patience to get to know his true nature. Now, stripped of all the superficialities, all the sharp edges of his personality had melded into his very being, and the unnoticed virtues were brought to light. For example, his handsome appearance inherited from both parents. For example, the grace and refinement of a scion of a prominent family. For example, the unique temperament forged through countless experiences, setting him apart from ordinary people. The young man in a simple shirt sat in front of the computer screen, his posture calm, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. Every move and gesture revealed the cultivation and demeanor cultivated by a prestigious family. Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. At the moment Fang Ziyang appeared, the entire internet suddenly fell silent. The yearning for beautiful things is a natural instinct for all living beings, and judging people by their looks is inherent. It is often said that beauty is righteousness, and there is no doubt about it. Good-looking people always have various advantages at any time, and there’s nothing to be done about envy and complaints. Before, everyone had seen photos of Fang Ziyang, but his previous arrogant and stubborn personality was enough to overshadow his radiance. Even in a small photo, one could feel the overwhelming arrogance and capriciousness. Without the influence of that personality, Fang Ziyang’s appearance was absolutely stunning. After all, his parents were both renowned beauties and talented individuals in the upper-class circles, so the genes for good looks were definitely superior. The reason why there were so many people speaking up for Yan Tong in the online video incident was not just about righteousness; it was also because Yan Tong was good-looking. Now that it was Fang Ziyang’s turn, it was naturally the same. After a full minute of silence, the comments in the live stream room began to liven up once again. Although there were still various insults and condemnations, it was much less dense compared to before, clearly indicating that the belief of some “looks enthusiasts” had started to waver. How could such a good-looking young man be so bad? Maybe… there are hidden circumstances? It is said that appearance reflects one’s heart, an ancient saying passed down in China for thousands of years. Maybe… there’s some truth to it? Well, “looks enthusiasts” have always been fickle in their stance. But regardless of the mood and expressions of the netizens on the other side of the screen, Fang Ziyang remained calm, unruffled. He even took out a lollipop and calmly placed it in his mouth while scrolling the mouse on the screen. “I apologize for keeping everyone waiting. Let’s start the live stream now. I believe everyone should already know me well, my personal information, family background, and even my ancestors’ history. I won’t introduce myself.” “Today’s live stream might be a bit long. Let me first take a look at the online comments. I heard that everyone’s emotions are quite intense. I’ll read and carefully consider my words, so as not to speak improperly and provoke anger later…” Fang Ziyang had a gentle smile and spoke politely. However, everyone felt that something was off. There was a deep sense of shock from the stark contrast. Since when did Fang Ziyang become so polite? Even if people didn’t know him personally, ever since the viral video surfaced, various “friends” of Fang Ziyang anonymously posted numerous videos online showcasing his participation in various parties and gatherings. In those videos, Fang Ziyang was the epitome of a typical spoiled rich second generation, speaking and acting arrogantly and capriciously, with an unbearable temper. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was extremely detestable. Even after the incident, there were videos of people confronting Fang Ziyang to inquire about the truth, and he couldn’t control his temper in those videos due to his bad mood. Those videos spread everywhere. That’s why the entire trending world caught fire so quickly. In any case, in everyone’s impression, Fang Ziyang could never speak so gently and with a smile! “When did Fang Ziyang become so easy-going? He’s not showing any anger or change of expression despite the screen being filled with insults and criticism? It’s shocking.” “He must be feeling guilty. He’s acting better now so that when he apologizes and repents later, he won’t be scolded even more.” “Heh, what a hypocrite. No matter how he pretends, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a scumbag.” “Exactly, I will never forgive him. This kind of disaster should be locked up in prison. Otherwise, with his family’s money and power, who knows what even worse things he might do next time.” “Oh, don’t say that. It is a great thing to acknowledge one’s mistakes and make improvements. Actually, Fang Ziyang didn’t go too far. He didn’t physically harm anyone in the video. It’s enough punishment for a high school student to publicly apologize and face condemnation in front of everyone.” “Although the previous commenter is being self-righteous, it’s true that he doesn’t deserve to go to prison. Fang Ziyang’s behavior makes him a problematic teenager, but it doesn’t reach the level of criminal sentencing…” “Even if he can’t go to prison, he should be sent to a correctional facility for minors. Even if this bullying incident didn’t cause significant harm, Fang Ziyang’s actions in his daily life are definitely a social tumor for the future.” “That’s right, a tumor. How can there be such a person in the world, who has the audacity to live stream? Why doesn’t he just die…” Another round of online discussions and insults began. Fang Ziyang looked at the comments one by one, and his smile grew bigger and bigger. After taking screenshots of the IPs with the most frequent and enthusiastic insults, he crushed the lollipop in his mouth and finished eating it before finally continuing to speak. “Alright, I’ve pretty much read all your comments. Seeing how enthusiastically you all are insulting me, I feel like if I don’t respond first, I would be a bit unfair to the traffic generated by your comments. After all, even a single comment costs money, right? It’s such a waste.” “And live streaming without interaction is boring. If I respond happily later, everyone should start sending gifts, otherwise, I might not be too pleased. After all, I’m someone who values the atmosphere, and I need enthusiasm and encouragement…” Response? What response? Interaction? What interaction? Sending gifts, valuing the atmosphere, needing enthusiasm and encouragement… Isn’t this supposed to be a tearful, remorseful apology live stream? What is this person talking about? Everyone was baffled by the unusual behavior of the teenager in the video. However, Fang Ziyang didn’t give everyone much time to react. As soon as he finished speaking, he continued with a smile on his face. “Alright, let’s take a look at this comment from someone called Xiao Dudu. He asks me, ‘How can a scumbag like you still be alive in this world? Why don’t you die sooner?’… Just by glancing at it, I can confirm that this person hates me. But this friend might have some problems in their head, asking such a stupid question. Everyone knows that as a scumbag like me, I have money and power at home, I live a carefree life, so why would I want to give up and seek death?” “And this person, Tongtong, I’ll protect you. They said, ‘How can there be such a malicious person in the world! If you bully my Tongtong again, I’ll bite you to death!’… This friend might need to see a doctor. I don’t know how there can be such a malicious person in the world, but friend, you might have some misconceptions about your own species. When people fight, we use our hands, only dog bites.” “And this person, I Love Tongtong, said, ‘Every time I see you eat pork, I feel deeply saddened. We were originally from the same root. Why hasten the mutual harm? It truly pains me.’… Hmm, they make sense. I’m deeply moved. From now on, I’ll switch to eating beef and lamb, so you can keep half of your life, my friend.” “As for this internet user named Tongtong’s Top, they said, ‘Fang Ziyang, wait for me. Dare to bully my Tongtong, and I’ll finish you off. The 800-meter machine gun is ready!’… Well…” At this point, a look of fear suddenly appeared on Fang Ziyang’s beautiful face. Then, in front of netizens nationwide, with an anxious expression, he picked up his phone and dialed 110, as if he were frightened. “Hello, is this the police station? I want to report a case! There’s someone threatening to kill me here. Please come quickly. They’ve even prepared the weapon, a firearm! I suspect this might be an organized criminal gang!” “By the way, please bring a lawyer when you come. I have suspicions about the mastermind behind this criminal gang. I have evidence, and my legal team will actively negotiate and cooperate with you. They’ll be enthusiastic…” After hanging up the phone. Fang Ziyang patted his chest in relief, showing an apologetic expression toward the screen. “Sorry for the delay caused by the phone call just now. As a law-abiding citizen, we must not rush when encountering such situations. The first thing we should do is call the police, just like I did earlier. Actively reporting the case, providing evidence, and making good use of time to do our part in maintaining a harmonious society.” Netizens:… Tongtong’s Top:… A certain netizen: “Um, I saw it. He just now… seemed to have really connected… the police… the hotline.” Sandy: Smh some people who hate Yaoi would just give bad ratings just cause they hate the genre. I just uploaded this new novel like an hour ago and already received a 2-star rating. Can those people just leave Yaoi novels alone? So pissed. Previous TOC Next
Ch 4: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel The difference in attitude between the two biological sons was stark. Fang Ziyang didn’t know what his dear father was thinking, but there had to be a reason why parents didn’t like their own biological son. For now, he didn’t have the time or connections to investigate, but Li Zhiren was a great choice. Whether it was curiosity or connections, Li Zhiren was more than qualified. What a great ally to have. Watching Li Zhiren leave with excitement on his face, Fang Ziyang was in a good mood as well. To be precise, ever since his rebirth, as long as he didn’t think about those distressing matters, he never had a bad mood. It was quite amusing to watch those people waiting for his return, completely oblivious. Continuing to sit in the café and typing on his computer, after preparing all the necessary evidence, Fang Ziyang contacted the company’s legal team. With Li Zhiren covering for him, he didn’t have to worry about Fang Yandong finding out and trying to stop him. Even if he did come, Fang Ziyang wasn’t afraid. As long as Fang Yandong didn’t fear a bunny like him biting, he could come and try to confront him. As the team specially funded by the Fang Group, the company’s legal team had considerable capabilities. This case might seem grand in scale, but in reality, it wasn’t difficult at all. It was merely a case of defamation and spreading rumors. Fang Ziyang had provided clear evidence, leaving no doubt about the outcome of the case – a resounding victory. Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com. The only challenge would be dealing with a larger number of people involved, so sending legal letters would require a bit more effort. However, in order to have some peace and quiet, after contacting the legal team, Fang Ziyang decided to turn off his phone. He continued to sit expressionless in the café, contemplating his future plans. No matter how treacherous or dark the path ahead might be, as long as he could make those people suffer, he would strive to move forward, even if it meant… going through an ordeal that seemed impossible to overcome. Meanwhile, While the café remained tranquil, the online world had become incredibly chaotic within a few hours. The reason, of course, was Fang Ziyang’s provocative Weibo post, filled with obvious defiance. Ever since the bullying video involving Yan Tong appeared on the trending list of Weibo, the entire internet in China had been caught up in heated attention and discussions. In today’s society, which increasingly emphasized morality, human rights, and the law, any incident that crossed the line of caution would have unimaginable consequences once it escalated. Fang Ziyang’s case was not only morally repugnant, but more importantly, the sensitivity of the protagonist’s identity made it even more noteworthy. In this day and age, what captures people’s attention the most is the behavior of the second generation of the rich or the officials. The same incident happening to a “second-generation” versus an ordinary person would have completely different implications in terms of public opinion. Before Fang Ziyang’s Weibo post, people already regarded him as an unforgivable bully. Now, with his provocative Weibo post, it was as if he had willingly placed himself on a fiery grill, inviting scrutiny and criticism. Within just a few hours, Fang Ziyang’s name had gained several degrees of popularity. He occupied half of the positions on the Weibo hot search list, surpassing the traffic of any big stars or idols! This scared the stars who had bought hot search rankings in the past few days. They quickly instructed their managers to cut their losses. Buying hot search now would be like throwing money down the drain. “Pretentious and showy. Let’s see it on live stream. Haha, who do you think you’re scaring?” “Video evidence, expert verification, solid proof. Can they still twist the facts?” “From the incident until now, not a single friend or teacher has come forward to help or speak up. It shows his poor character!” “It’s been several days already. Why haven’t the police responded or resolved the issue? Could the Fang family have actually bought them off?” “With everyone watching and the entire nation’s attention, how audacious, corrupt, and wealthy must they be?” “Don’t say such things, upstairs. This incident has gained too much attention. Would the authorities dare to cover it up? I trust the government won’t go that far.” “It’s because the victims didn’t report to the police. They don’t want to escalate things. It’s their classmates and children showing compassion and innocence. Let it be.” “But this is bullying! They’re too kind-hearted. This person is turning 18 soon, not a child anymore. Haha, what an overgrown baby!” “What kind of classmate keeps such face for someone like Fang Ziyang? He’s a social menace!” “Exactly, the nature of this incident is extremely vile. We must not let it go easily. The victims may have good intentions, but it also depends on who they’re directed towards…” “Fang Ziyang is truly disgusting and despicable…” “Scum! Menace! Trash!” The online discussions were heated and the criticism was intense, as if Fang Ziyang was a serial killer with a million floating corpses, making people wish to punish and teach him by tearing him apart, verbally and in writing, with sharp and cutting words. Of course, there were a few rational voices as well, who believed that Fang Ziyang probably wasn’t that foolish and speculated that there would be some explanation later. Waiting for a day wouldn’t be an issue. But overall, the internet was in an uproar. As for the few parties involved and their related relationships, some were angry, some were uneasy, and some were burdened with complex emotions. The angry ones were undoubtedly the Student Union of No.1 High School. As a student organization representing the students of the school, their responsibility was to help the students gain benefits, organize activities, and so on. They had a strong sense of responsibility and representation. The trending video this time could be said to have been indirectly promoted by them. Several student representatives in the Student Union, who had a say in the matter, had never liked Fang Ziyang’s arrogant personality and sympathized with Yan Tong, who was bullied. They had always been frustrated due to Fang Ziyang’s background and the lack of opportunities to confront him. When they accidentally came across the anonymous video condemning their school, instead of promptly reporting it to the school and stopping it, they added fuel to the fire themselves. In the end, the incident went viral and became known throughout the internet. In their hearts, they believed that they were fearless heroes who bravely stood up against tyranny. Initially, they felt a bit guilty for causing such a huge commotion. However, Fang Ziyang not only failed to admit his mistakes and show remorse but also provocatively responded, infuriating everyone even more. Therefore, shortly after Fang Ziyang’s Weibo post, the Student Union of No.1 High School also quickly responded: “[No.1 High School Student Union: A corrupt character, an immoral nature, justice lies in the hearts of the people.]” This was a direct and strong response to Fang Ziyang’s provocation, firmly stating their position and condemning Fang Ziyang’s character. They wanted to see how Fang Ziyang would try to defend himself with eloquent words. Now that the incident had become widely known throughout the internet, even if the Fang family had money and connections, they couldn’t manipulate everything. The Student Union wasn’t afraid, and they were not people without their own backgrounds. With such a stance, many indecisive people online immediately leaned towards their side again. Fang Ziyang was stubborn and unyielding, and the Student Union was not lacking in determination. Such a strong stance indicated that they truly had confidence, didn’t it? Next, the official Weibo account of No.1 High School and Teacher He also made statements one after another. After all, the situation had reached this point, and they couldn’t deny their previous statements just because of a bit of guilt, right? Moreover, they had consulted with Fang Yandong about this matter, and since the Fang family didn’t want to intervene with their own son, and others were pressuring them, how could Fang Ziyang turn the tables… Although the school had doubts and confusion about the Fang family’s attitude and behavior, they couldn’t control what happened in the household of an influential family. It was better for them to be wise and comply. Among all the people involved, Yan Tong was the only one who hadn’t made a statement. However, nobody felt that Yan Tong not speaking up was a problem because since the incident occurred, Yan Tong hadn’t said a word on Weibo. When someone tried to interview him, he appeared weak and didn’t show any intention of condemning Fang Ziyang. On the contrary, he consistently expressed that he didn’t want to pursue the matter and didn’t want to escalate things… But Yan Tong’s “peace maintenance” behavior didn’t make everyone comply. Instead, they believed that he must have been threatened behind the scenes, which was why he had such a submissive appearance. It was truly pitiful. Afterwards… the condemnations naturally became even more intense. In the eyes of everyone now, Fang Ziyang was the bully who abused his power and committed all sorts of evil acts, while Yan Tong was the pitiful and helpless victim. Perhaps some people felt that something was amiss, but in the larger context, the voices of the few rational individuals had little effect. If anyone spoke up in support of Fang Ziyang, they would definitely be labeled as an accomplice, an idiot, a bootlicker… the next target to be doxxed and attacked. That’s how the internet worked. After all, nobody really knew each other beyond their keyboards. When people had been suppressed by life’s pressures for a long time, their emotions were easily incited and manipulated. Fang Ziyang found this trend of jumping on the bandwagon pitiful, but he would never sympathize with them. Because these people would never know the serious consequences their thoughtless words could have on the individuals involved. Each and every one of them had the potential to become the executioner in someone else’s murder. In his past life, his situation had only worsened, and his personality had become increasingly gloomy and dark, all because of the incessant rumors and gossip. But… not in this lifetime. Other people’s opinions and words would no longer be able to affect him. He would strive to sever all thorns in his path, return all the pain inflicted upon him by others, and reclaim everything he had lost. … At the same time. In a villa in the outskirts of Jiang City. A handsome young man with gold-rimmed glasses was frowning as he stared at the computer screen, following the news about Fang Ziyang’s bullying video. The man had been sitting in front of the computer for a whole hour without any movement. His expression changed with the comments on Weibo, and his frown deepened. The handsome blond man next to him couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed. He found it absurd that his friend was wasting precious time on online gossip. He was somewhat speechless and slightly displeased. “Oh, my dear Tang, I always thought you were a workaholic robot, but now I see that you’re interested in gossip too.” “While I admit this Eastern boy called Fang Ziyang is really good-looking, I can’t see any other merits in him. Since you returned to the country, you’ve been following him every day. Now I seriously doubt your taste.” Rick’s tone was extremely dissatisfied. However, Tang Xun didn’t show any expression in response to the comment. His gaze remained fixed on the screen as he spoke in a calm voice, “If you think there’s a problem with my taste, then feel free to back out of the contract before signing it. I don’t want to leave any failed investments with my boss. Thank you.” His blunt attitude was truly infuriating. Rick was left speechless, unable to respond, and a rush of anger welled up inside him. How did he end up with such bad luck to encounter this guy? When working with others, they would usually flatter him and act like subservient grandchildren to their grandfathers. But this guy turned the tables and became his “boss” instead! Damn it! However, it was evident that Tang Xun had no self-awareness about his status as the “boss.” Without bothering about his friend and business partner’s expression, after browsing through the Weibo news, Tang Xun closed the computer and pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose. In a calm tone, he spoke again: “Tomorrow, after signing the contract with my boss, I plan to stay in the country for a while. Please don’t book a return flight ticket for me.” “What? You want me to go back alone?!” Rick jumped up from the sofa in disbelief, looking both incredulous and hurt, pointing angrily at the computer. “For him?!” Finally, Tang Xun turned around and looked at him, seeming a bit puzzled by his sudden outburst. Rick became even more infuriated by Tang Xun’s expression. He violently threw the nearby sofa cushion to the ground, resembling a heartbroken abandoned woman as he accused, “Tang, I’ve really misjudged you. I never expected you to be such a shallow and ungrateful person! Our years of friendship have ultimately been in vain! I was so foolish and naive. Oh, you Eastern people are truly the most cunning deceivers in the world.” Tang Xun: ??? Tang Xun adjusted his glasses and picked up his phone to dial a number. “Hello, boss, could you lend me Dr. Qin for a moment? It seems that Rick is having another episode. This time, I forgot to bring along his personal doctor.” Rick: … “I’m not sick, I’m fine, I don’t need to see a doctor! I just wanted to express my emotions, thank you!” Previous TOC Next