Author Archives: sandy

Was this really a Moments post from their boss? Was his account not hacked?

If it wasn’t hacked, then what did this mean? It meant that their boss, who had always been aloof, had really entered a relationship and cherished it deeply. Otherwise, why would he make such an overtly boastful Moments post?

Suddenly, the entire internal environment of New World Technology was stirred up into a frenzy three minutes after Xie Zheng’s Moments post appeared.

The executives from various departments put down their work in unison and picked up their phones to chat.

“Did you see Boss’s Moments post? Is it really from him? Not hacked? Liu Xiaohua, aren’t you close with Secretary Li? Quickly confirm! We’re waiting online!”

“I, a person with no culture, can only say ‘holy shit’! So our boss is actually so flirtatious…!”

[Even the boss has found someone to show affection with. Why doesn’t anyone want me? Sob~ I’ve been a lonely old virgin for almost thirty years. Sob~]

[I can tell you, I’ve suspected that the boss has issues for a while now. The other day when I went to deliver documents to him, I accidentally saw books on his desk titled “The President’s Priceless Spoiled Wife,” “My Wife Ran Away with My Baby,” “My Beloved Tsundere Little Prince”… I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but now it turns out my vision is 20/20. How exciting~]

[And do you all remember the boss’s previous Moments post? I had my suspicions about him pursuing a wife!]

[Wait a minute… Shouldn’t we go like and congratulate them? After all, men who show affection are more likely to get a raise.]

[Hmm… That makes sense, damn it!]

As a newly established company in recent years, the executives at New World Technology were all young, and even the older ones were smooth operators.

Who couldn’t see through Xie Zheng’s little show of affection?

If you wanted to succeed in the workplace, not only did you need good work abilities, but you also had to be quick with flattery.

So, the high-level executives from various departments frantically rushed to the Moments section, occupying the comment section with likes, messages, and blessings, making sure to show a strong presence in front of the boss.

Liu Xiaohua from the Finance Department: Boss, you’re finally off the market! Congratulations! So exciting!

Zhao Jingying from the Legal Department: Wishing the boss and his wife a lifetime of love and waiting for the boss’s wedding!

Pu Dazhuang from the R&D Department: The boss’s wife must be very beautiful! Boss is really lucky, I’m envious!

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Zhang Chunchun from the Public Relations Department: To celebrate the boss’s new relationship status, our department has decided to shoot a beautiful microfilm specifically for the boss and his wife. Boss, could you privately share your love story with us? It would help with the material.

Various departments: …

Damn it, the Public Relations Department is so cunning!

And Xie Zheng, as a long-time bachelor who had finally found love, responded to each comment promptly.

Xie Zheng to Liu Xiaohua from the Finance Department: Thank you, I’m also very happy.

Xie Zheng to Zhao Jingying from the Legal Department: Yes, we’ll get married soon. Our relationship is special.

Xie Zheng to Pu Dazhuang from the R&D Department: The best in the world, you have good taste.

Xie Zheng to Zhang Chunchun from the Public Relations Department: That’s a good idea. Let’s have a meeting tomorrow to discuss it in detail.

Receiving replies, the executives were in disarray: …

Who’s the boss of PDA? It’s our boss, let’s join in!

Of course, when Xie Zheng made a Moments post, it wasn’t just the company executives who were in a frenzy; the entire upper-class society was as well.

Although Xie Zheng only had Tang Xun and Rick as friends, their network of connections covered a wide area, and all of them were influential figures.

Even though everyone had been cautious about introducing their children to Xie Zheng due to his reputation as a star of ill fortune, it didn’t mean they didn’t secretly desire to be connected with him.

And how did Xie Zheng earn such a notorious reputation? Ordinary wealthy people might not know, but the true top-tier figures couldn’t remain ignorant of the situation.

If it wasn’t for Xie Zheng’s insistence on not getting married for the time being, as long as he was willing, the top figures would be more than willing to marry off their sons and daughters to him. After all, whether it was Xie Zheng’s abilities, looks, or the century-old network of connections he held as a member of the Xie family, he was truly a one-in-a-thousand marriage candidate in their circles.

Now that the Xie family had split into two branches, everyone’s desire to form a connection with Xie Zheng had grown even stronger.

But who would have known that before they could make a move, this golden son-in-law had been silently hooked away! And it seemed like Xie Zheng was completely smitten!

Everyone was pounding their chests and stamping their feet.

**

On the fifth floor of the VIP single room at Ward 3 of the Capital Hospital.

Several nurses, wearing sympathetic expressions, finished applying ointment to the girl lying on the bed in apparent pain. Then they turned their gaze to the young man beside her, his face filled with sorrow, and didn’t have the heart to console him.

“Student Shi, don’t worry. The doctor will do their best to save your sister, and the police will catch the culprit. You’ll get better soon…”

Although these were words of consolation that were impossible to fulfill, the person on the bed was destined to spend her life lying on the hospital bed. Nevertheless, the nurses couldn’t help but offer kind words of comfort.

“Thank you.”

The young man next to her, Shi Liangchen, forced a smile and politely thanked them, but he felt a deep sadness inside.

The nurses sighed, not wanting to touch on painful subjects. They nodded and quickly left the ward, giving the patient and her family space. At a time like this, providing a quiet environment for the patient and their family was the best form of comfort.

However, the nurses didn’t notice that although Shi Liangchen’s expression was filled with sadness, he hadn’t shed a single tear from beginning to end.

When only the siblings remained in the room, Shi Liangchen’s sorrowful expression disappeared instantly. He stood up, walked to the door, locked it, and then returned to the bedside.

Looking at his sister lying on the bed, tears flowing from her painful wounds, her eyes full of expectation and words she wanted to say, Shi Liangchen’s voice sounded low.

“Does it hurt?”

“Sob…”

Upon hearing her brother’s concern, Shi Meijing nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with pain and resentment. She wanted to speak, just like before, asking her brother to stand up for her and seek revenge on Fang Ziyang.

It was all Fang Ziyang’s doing. He had turned her into this! Her limbs and spine were shattered, her tongue was gone, and she had no way to express her thoughts except through her eyes. She never expected Fang Ziyang to be so vicious!

He already knew what they were going to do, yet he turned the tables on her and made her disabled! Her entire future was ruined, and she wanted to kill Fang Ziyang, to have her brother kill Fang Ziyang and seek revenge for her!

Shi Meijing kept sending various expressions to Shi Liangchen, trusting that her brother would understand what she was trying to convey.

However, things didn’t go as she imagined. She struggled and sobbed for a while, but Shi Liangchen showed no signs of concern. Even his previously sorrowful expression turned into cold indifference, and his gaze locked onto her with an indescribable danger.

“Sob… Sob…” Shi Meijing’s sobbing voice gradually diminished. Seeing her brother’s sudden change, she felt a sense of fear.

Her body involuntarily wanted to retreat, but due to her injuries, she couldn’t make any movements. She could only wait helplessly for judgment.

“What’s a little pain? Sister, you’ve always been strong. You’ve overcome countless life-threatening situations before, so why can’t you endure this little pain…” Shi Liangchen spoke again, and a smile devoid of emotion finally appeared on his expressionless face. His voice was soft, as if suppressing some kind of insane demon.

With those words, he suddenly placed his hand on the injured fingers of the person lying on the bed.

“Ugh!” In the next moment, Shi Meijing’s eyes widened in pain, her eyeballs almost popping out as blood vessels burst all over.

However, her agony didn’t make Shi Liangchen stop.

Shi Liangchen’s eyes were filled with resentment and regret as he stared at her. He deliberately broke and shattered her bones at the site of her wounds inch by inch, until blood seeped through the bandages. Then he spoke again, “Shi Meijing, do you think this is pain? This is just the beginning… Don’t worry, you’re my sister. Although we’re not related by blood, I promised Mom and Dad that I would take good care of you. I won’t let you die…”

“Aren’t you the one who wanted to have surgery and live? I will definitely find a suitable bone marrow match for you, so you can live a long life… Otherwise, if you die, how can I show you what true suffering is…”

Shi Liangchen’s voice sounded like that of a devouring demon.

Shi Meijing was frightened by this version of Shi Liangchen. She shook her head in fear, her eyes pleading for mercy.

She didn’t understand what had happened to Shi Liangchen, how he could treat her like this and say such terrifying things. But she instinctively felt fear, and all she could do was plead with her teary eyes, as the newly broken bones and wounds caused unbearable pain.

However, Shi Liangchen seemed oblivious to her pleas.

He became even more brutal, his smile almost contorted on his face.

“Is it painful? Good, Shi Meijing, this pain is nothing compared to one-tenth of what you’ve caused me, do you know that? You can’t bear this little pain, how will you handle what’s coming next…”

“I treated you so well, caring for you like a real sister. For you, I even suppressed my conscience and deceived Fang Ziyang’s trust, just to save you. But how have you treated me?”

“Time and time again, you lied to me, selfish and greedy for vanity. Even when I could have stopped, you, driven by your selfishness, pushed me into the abyss time and time again…”

“In the beginning, I could have paid for your surgery by selling the program, but you destroyed it because you wanted to attach yourself to Xie Wenxu. You made me have to comply with Yan Tong’s demands. And this time, your true nature hasn’t changed. Did you steal the five million check? Shi Meijing, you’ve truly outdone yourself.”

“Originally, I could have overlooked everything before and just considered myself blind and soft-hearted. Everyone should bear the consequences of their mistakes…”

“But why… why couldn’t you leave me alone until the end? Why did you expose my whereabouts? Do you know that I could have been with Ziyang? We could have started over, but you ruined everything for me!”

“If I hadn’t survived that time, I wouldn’t have known how cruel you all could be… Why did you treat Ziyang like that… How could you be so heartless… Ziyang died… died such a miserable death, how could you do this…”

Shi Liangchen’s eyes glared fiercely at the person on the bed, his gaze filled with a madness that could tear her to pieces.

Shi Meijing shook her neck frantically in a state of madness and terror.

She had no idea what Shi Liangchen was saying. Shi Liangchen must have gone insane! He must have gone insane!

She wanted to call for the doctor, but unfortunately, she couldn’t do anything at all.

The more she struggled in pain, the happier the person standing by her hospital bed became.

“My dear sister, don’t worry, I will make sure you live a good life. If you don’t return to me a hundredfold of the pain I’ve endured, how can I find peace…”

Shi Liangchen threw the painkillers on the bedside into the trash can.

With a disturbing smile, he enjoyed the sight of Shi Meijing’s suffering for a while before turning around and sitting back on the chair, taking out his phone.

Shi Liangchen stared at a certain phone number on the screen with bloodshot eyes for a while before trembling fingers typed a message:

“[Ziyang, can we meet privately? I have something important to tell you. I’m sorry… I… have come back.]”

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Fang Ziyang’s eyes widened with astonishment, reflecting his shock.

The scorching breath enveloped his entire being, his head firmly held, and the touch of the lips was gentle and soft, though not skillful. It carried an irresistible tenderness.

Fang Ziyang wanted to push the man in front of him away, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He remained in the embrace of warmth, unable to resist while surrounded by the cold.

Trembling hands grabbed onto Xie Zheng’s clothes as his mind filled with shock and disbelief.

It was unclear how much time had passed.

Xie Zheng finally pulled away, his deep gaze falling upon Fang Ziyang’s slightly swollen lips. His usually cold face carried a hint of blush.

“Sorry, I applied a bit too much force. I’ll try harder next time. But swollen and red, just like in the movies, it looks good.”

Fang Ziyang: …

All the sentimentality vanished in an instant!

Wait, now is not the time to think about these things.

Remembering what he had heard earlier, Fang Ziyang couldn’t care less about the reality of being taken advantage of. He uncovered the blanket that covered him and knelt down, his voice trembling with urgency, “What did you just say? Brother Xie, what do you mean by your words?”

What did ‘my child’ mean? Was it… what he understood?

Xie Zheng didn’t answer immediately upon hearing Fang Ziyang’s question. Instead, his usually cold face turned even redder.

But seeing Fang Ziyang on the verge of tears and anxious, he didn’t play coy and directly took out his phone, tapped a few times, and showed Fang Ziyang a photo of himself wearing the ring from before.

“I didn’t tell you before because I was scared by what you said. I hadn’t decided whether or not to accept your feelings. The ring you’ve been looking for is mine…”

Xie Zheng gazed intently at Fang Ziyang, his emotions boiling with an unprecedented fervor.

When he heard Fang Ziyang’s heartless rejections earlier, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of comfort. Especially when Fang Ziyang said he didn’t like the owner of the ring he had been searching for and that it was all a lie, it felt as if his entire being had been hollowed out, shattering his beliefs.

But in the next moment, he was pulled back to heaven. Fang Ziyang said he wanted to have a child with him, a child who would belong to both of them.

Even though Fang Ziyang repeatedly emphasized that it was purely about having a child and had nothing to do with romantic love, what did it matter? Since the other party was willing to conceive a life with him, it meant that he held a special place in his heart.

Even if he didn’t currently have feelings, what about the future? Isn’t love something that can be cultivated and nurtured through time spent together? He didn’t like Fang Ziyang before either, but now he had fallen for him, hadn’t he?

They had a lifetime ahead of them.

“Ziyang, I may not understand some of the things you said earlier, but what I like about you isn’t just your innocent and obedient side. I know I can’t change any of your decisions, but I can change myself.”

“Actually, I’m not as righteous as you imagine. We belong to the same world. I don’t consider everything you’ve done as ruthless. Those people hurt you, and the consequences they face are deserved. Being kind to enemies is being cruel to oneself. If kindness brings you harm, then I would rather have the person I like turn into a devil…”

Although Xie Zheng wasn’t fully aware of Fang Ziyang’s past, he had witnessed almost everything happening around Fang Ziyang now.

Whether it was Fang Yandong and Fang Qianhao or the current Shi Meijing, none of them were innocent. Even if Fang Ziyang didn’t take action, he would have done so. Retribution for ill deeds, how could he not repay kindness with kindness?

“I don’t like people who are full of calculations, but you are different.”

Xie Zheng’s gaze was serious, devoid of any hint of insincerity.

Fang Ziyang suddenly felt his nose tingling. “You’re being hypocritical…”

Xie Zheng pursed his lips, disagreeing strongly, emphasizing, “You were already great to begin with.”

His judgment had always been impeccable. The people and projects he chose never resulted in losses or mistakes. If he said the young man was great, then he was great. Those who said otherwise were simply lacking in discernment!

The man’s resolute and self-assured attitude made Fang Ziyang unable to hold back his tears and he felt like laughing.

His gaze fell on the phone that Xie Zheng had handed him. The photo showed Xie Zheng wearing the ring, exactly as he remembered it. Fang Ziyang suddenly realized how fate could play tricks on people.

The person he had been searching for, going around in circles, was right in front of him.

No wonder that man had left behind the ring and contact information, yet never appeared after showing such a responsible attitude…

No wonder Yan Tong had caught them in the act when he and Xie Zheng had relations, ruining his reputation…

No wonder Yan Tong had instigated Fang Qianhao to disturb him while he was peacefully carrying his child, knowing that his baby carried the bloodline of the main branch of the Xie family…

No wonder he couldn’t find that person later, it was because he had already passed away.

Thinking about how he had once resented Xie Zheng, Fang Ziyang couldn’t help but want to cry.

He was certain that Xie Zheng’s death back then was not solely due to the dispute over the Xie family’s inheritance. It must have been because Yan Tong had discovered that the person he had relations with was Xie Zheng, and out of concern that Xie Zheng would become his reliance, Yan Tong caused his death.

In his previous life, he was like a disaster, and everyone who treated him well had an unfortunate ending.

“Xie Zheng, starting from today, let’s officially date. But please promise me that if there comes a day when you no longer like me, just tell me directly, okay? I hate being lied to by others…”

Unable to hold back, Fang Ziyang reached out and embraced Xie Zheng’s waist, burying his head in the man’s chest.

When it came to relationships, he truly had no confidence left. But if it was Xie Zheng, he was willing to give it another try, even though the outcome might still be unsatisfactory. This time, he was willingly taking the risk.

He really, really wanted to embrace the sunshine once again.

“Alright.”

Xie Zheng nodded, without making any promises, but his cold face was filled with a smile.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

His little young man was so good at acting spoiled. How could he not like it?

However, while being cute was adorable, crying while acting spoiled was heart-wrenching. It would be better if the little young man behaved like a proud little prince.

Xie Zheng patted the person in his arms and comforted in a low, soothing voice, “Good, don’t cry. Swollen eyes won’t look good. Good…”

His tone was like coaxing a child.

As a twenty-eight-year-old man in his soul, Fang Ziyang blushed, feeling all the sentimentality vanish again, and he just found it embarrassing.

Being coaxed like this made him feel like a fool…

Unable to hold back, he raised his head, trying to save face with a nasal voice, “I’m not crying, there’s sand in my eyes!”

“Hmm, my mistake then. Let me blow on it for you…”

While Xie Zheng, who was completely oblivious to the fact that he had already become an obsessed man, found an opportunity to take advantage again, he approached Fang Ziyang’s beloved eyes and kissed them several times.

Fang Ziyang: …

Wasn’t he supposed to blow on them?

Completely unaware of his own descent into madness, Xie Zheng suddenly remembered something after kissing Fang Ziyang’s eyes. He immediately took back the phone he had given to Fang Ziyang earlier.

Then, he reached out and held Fang Ziyang’s hand with one hand while holding the phone with the other, taking a photo of their hands clasped together.

“Why did you take this?”

Fang Ziyang could somewhat guess Xie Zheng’s intention, but his face still reddened as he asked.

Details revealed one’s heart, and was Xie Zheng planning to take a photo of their clasped hands as a commemoration during their official relationship? It felt a bit embarrassing to be placed on the tip of someone’s heart, but it also felt good.

However, he underestimated the man who had fallen in love and let it cloud his judgment.

Xie Zheng was even more reserved than he had imagined. After taking the photo, he immediately posted it on his Moments with the caption: “My little spoiled wife is off the market now. Let everyone know.”

Fang Ziyang: …

Being off the market was understandable, but what on earth was this “little spoiled wife”? Did Xie Zheng also get influenced by those legendary overbearing CEO novels?!

After posting on his Moments, Xie Zheng’s ears turned red.

“Since leaving the Xie family, there have been people trying to introduce potential partners to me again. But I have principles, and I only like you. To avoid trouble, I have to let others know that I already have a partner… Calling you a ‘little spoiled wife’ helps divert attention. Until the downfall of the second branch, I don’t want you to enter their line of sight.”

Although they had already cut ties with the second branch, it was still uncertain if they would go mad and target the little young man before the second branch completely crumbled.

Xie Zheng was eager to announce to the whole world that his wife was a cute and handsome young man, but now protection was more important.

Xie Zheng carefully and reluctantly said, “If you don’t like this term of endearment, I can think of another one. But I think this one provides better cover, and… it sounds really nice.”

Being an eternal virgin, once Xie Zheng blossomed, it was truly a terrifying thing.

Fang Ziyang reached out and hugged Xie Zheng’s neck, unable to hide his smile. “Old top, you’re really smart.”

“Hmm, everyone says so.”

The redness on Xie Zheng’s ears quickly spread to his neck, and he felt a bit light-headed.

Old top?

Who came up with this term of endearment? It sounded incredibly pleasing.

…

Outside the hospital room.

Rick, who was bored waiting, suddenly saw a message from his good friend on his social media feed and almost had his eyeballs pop out.

“Oh my god! Tangtang, look at the Moments post Xie Zheng just made. This fair and tender hand… is it your brother… oh no, our brother? ‘My little spoiled wife,’ hahaha, what on earth is this? Has Xie Zheng secretly been reading those famous overbearing CEO novels?”

Rick pulled Tang Xun over to look at his phone, laughing uncontrollably.

Tang Xun’s gaze fell on the phone screen, his mouth twitching: … It was the first time he discovered that his boss could be so reserved.

Meanwhile, the high-level executives of New World Technology, upon seeing this Moments post, immediately lost their composure, and each of them was dumbfounded.

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“I’m even more vicious than you can imagine. Shi Meijing is just one of my many masterpieces. In the future, I will do even more extreme things, but I don’t regret any of it, and I don’t feel guilty at all.”

“I hold grudges. They provoked me, and there is only one end for them. That is to send them all to hell.”

Fang Ziyang looked up.

“Initially, you advised me not to let hatred blind and control me, but I couldn’t do it. To seek revenge, I would rather become a devil.”

So, please don’t like him, okay?

He could handle it on his own. He didn’t want to burden anyone who treated him kindly. Those things were truly precious.

Fang Ziyang tried hard to suppress his emotions.

Xie Zheng remained silent for a while, his gaze fixed on Fang Ziyang with profound depth, before speaking,

“Is that your reason for rejecting me?”

“Can’t that be the most fatal reason?” Fang Ziyang’s voice was strained. “Brother Xie, there are some things I can’t explain clearly to you. All I can tell you is that we can never be together.”

“Temporary affection cannot last a lifetime. We are different people, unable to walk the same path. I won’t waver because of anything, and I don’t want to throw myself into the fire like a moth.”

“Brother Xie, most people who can walk together are not necessarily in love, but they are compatible. I’m not compatible with you… So please, really don’t like me, okay? Your liking brings me pressure, not happiness, because I will do many things that you’ll despise.”

Fang Ziyang tightly clenched his fingernails in his palm, lowering his gaze to hide the tears welling up.

He had shed tears only a few times in his previous life, despite experiencing so much. As time went on, his heart grew harder, to the point where even the final failure couldn’t make him shed a single tear.

But now, he wanted to cry, to cry out loud and vent his emotions.

It wasn’t that he had no fondness for Xie Zheng, but he couldn’t choose Xie Zheng or anyone else. Xie Zheng was one of the few people who genuinely treated him well.

He struggled to suppress the feelings in his heart.

Suddenly, Xie Zheng spoke again,

“Have you tried? How do you know we’re not compatible? You haven’t even asked, so how can you know that I only like your innocent and obedient side?”

Fang Ziyang’s body froze.

Xie Zheng’s stern face softened like never before, “If I only liked your innocence and obedience, I would have liked you a long time ago. Even though you had a bit of a spoiled attitude and were a bit foolish for liking someone like Xie Wenxu, you were always shy and obedient whenever you came to the Xie family. If I truly only liked that side of you, why would I have agreed to your engagement with Xie Wenxu back then?”

“Was that diary intentionally shown to me by you? But how can you be so sure that I can’t accept a devil like you?”

Fang Ziyang slowly raised his head and stared blankly at the person in front of him.

Xie Zheng reached out and rubbed his hair, continuing, “If I advised you back then, it’s because I could see your true self. In my principles, many of your actions aren’t great, but that doesn’t mean I can’t accept them, because I know you’re different from those real devils. Ziyang is not a bad child…”

He admitted that the young man had many unconventional and ruthless methods. But if he was truly that bad, he wouldn’t have willingly revealed his true self to reject Xie Zheng, considering the harm it could cause.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

There was no completely good or bad person in the world. The young man had too much self-doubt and idealized Xie Zheng too much.

He wasn’t as upright as Fang Ziyang thought he was. They were not people from two different worlds; they were the same kind of person.

“Although I don’t know exactly what hatred you carry in your heart, I can see that everything you do is in retaliation. If those people hadn’t done something to wrong you, you wouldn’t be so cruel to them. I understand what kind of person you are; you don’t need to tell me who you truly are.”

“How do you know that I’m retaliating? Do you have evidence? Even if that’s the case, I just disabled Shi Meijing, a girl. She will spend the rest of her life in bed, unable to speak. Isn’t that too cruel? Don’t you think I’ve gone too far?”

Fang Ziyang’s eyes suddenly became moist, and he turned his head away.

He tightly clenched the blanket beneath him, trying to remain calm and not be swayed or deceived by such trust.

“It’s just because you like me now that you’re finding reasons for me. This is a filter. And even if you can accept such cruel and ruthless methods from me, so what? I don’t like you, I…”

“Are you trying to say that you already have someone you like? The owner of that ring?”

Xie Zheng interrupted him.

Fang Ziyang suddenly fell silent, looking at the man in front of him, whose gaze remained deep and warm. He truly felt despicable.

His heart was filled with calculations. He had never spoken a truthful word to Xie Zheng, yet Xie Zheng always treated him with the utmost tolerance and sincerity. Even before they recognized each other as brothers, Xie Zheng had treated him very well. On the surface, his attitude seemed cold, but he always helped him during critical moments.

Since his current persona had already collapsed to this extent, it didn’t matter if he further broke it down.

Fang Ziyang took a deep breath, “No, I lied to you. I don’t actually like the owner of the ring or anyone else. I’m sorry, Brother Xie. Everything I told you before was fake. I did want to find the owner of the ring, but not because I liked him…”

This time, Xie Zheng’s expression finally changed.

Fang Ziyang hesitated to meet his gaze, closed his eyes, and shamelessly continued,

“I want to have a child with that person, a pure child of his.”

“What? What are you saying?”

Xie Zheng’s face directly turned to stone.

Why was it that he understood each word individually, but when they were put together, he couldn’t understand?

Fang Ziyang covered his head, recalling the child that had come into this world and left without opening his eyes, and choked out, “I can’t explain it to you. Anyway, I just want to have a child with that person. You can think I’m crazy or stupid, but I must do it. In this lifetime, I won’t like anyone.”

Although that child’s arrival wasn’t pure and had caused him pain and confusion, it had also been the source of his motivation during his darkest times.

When he insisted on giving birth to the child back then, apart from the stirring of blood ties, there was also a trace of impure calculation…

How could he not bear any grudges when he was so wretchedly driven out of the Fang family? At that time, he wanted revenge, to wash away the grievances and desires he had suffered. However, he had no resources or background, and the people who could help him avoided him like snakes and scorpions, while those willing to help him didn’t have the ability to do so.

Finally, he thought of the other father of the baby.

He speculated that the man he had a relationship with, based on the ring he left behind, must have come from a distinguished background. The responsible note left behind afterwards further proved the man’s character. If he gave birth to the child, the man wouldn’t be as heartless as others, considering the child’s face.

He admitted that such thoughts were extremely twisted and extreme, driven by manipulation and calculation. But at that time, it was the only way he could think of to turn his situation around.

With these thoughts in mind, combined with the growing father-son bond he developed with the baby later on, he persisted for those reasons during that period.

Who knew reality would be so cruel…

That child was no longer just a child to him; it represented his hope and conviction. It had become a knot in his heart.

Rebirth didn’t mean he could start a new life.

As long as the knots and grudges from his previous life remained unresolved, he could never truly be reborn.

Fang Ziyang stared at Xie Zheng, mustering the little courage he had left to smile, “Brother Xie, do you really know what kind of person Fang Ziyang, whom you like, is? You don’t know at all. I will never like anyone in this life because no one can enter my world.”

“Even if I was to choose someone to be with, that person definitely wouldn’t be you because I truly can’t afford your feelings. Do you understand…”

In this lifetime, he could never have a partner who truly bound his emotions because of the things he had done, which ordinary people couldn’t comprehend.

Even if Xie Zheng was willing to accept all of his crazy and neurotic behavior, Fang Ziyang couldn’t bring himself to selfishly enjoy the other’s sincerity.

The space in the hospital room suddenly became quiet, with only the sound of their breathing audible.

“I want to rest now, Brother Xie, please leave.”

Fang Ziyang lay down and covered his head with the blanket, signaling his unwillingness to continue the conversation.

He had made himself clear. It was better to end the pain sooner rather than later. No matter what Xie Zheng said, he wouldn’t waver. This was his last act of kindness. He could be ruthless and cruel without any scruples, but he absolutely didn’t want to become someone like Yan Tong, who played with other people’s emotions without any moral boundaries. That was what he despised and hated the most.

It was unclear how much time had passed.

Xie Zheng’s voice sounded again,

“So, are you planning to let my child grow up in a single-parent household, or will you let my child call someone else father?”

Fang Ziyang, who was hiding under the blanket, suddenly opened his eyes wide and sat up, “What do you mean, Brother Xie?”

“Fang Ziyang, I can’t change you, but I can change myself. So, let’s be in a relationship with the goal of marriage.”

Xie Zheng reached out and held Ziyang’s head, his warm breath pouring down as he leaned in and kissed him.

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“…At that time, I was attending a celebration banquet held by the principal at the hotel. Shi Meijing suddenly called me and said that her brother, who is also my roommate and classmate, Shi Liangchen, wanted to meet me privately and talk. Initially, I was hesitant because it was late at night and not very safe. But Shi Meijing said that Liangchen had a surprise for me, so… I…”

“I had other classmates with me at the time, and they were curious and concerned, so in the end, I asked Guo Ran to accompany me for extra support.”

“Usually, I have bodyguards by my side, but I mostly stay on campus, and the bodyguards only follow me on weekends. That day, I thought there would be so many people from the school, and after the celebration, I would go back to the campus, so I didn’t call the bodyguards.”

“…Shi Meijing asked Guo Ran to wait outside while she and I walked into the park. But before we reached our destination, several people suddenly appeared and grabbed us, forcing us into a van.”

“We were taken to an abandoned factory together, but the kidnappers separated us and locked us up… I heard Shi Meijing’s screams from the next room, and I was very scared. They also had intentions towards me…”

“…As someone with my background, the likelihood of being kidnapped is always high, so I have learned some self-defense knowledge and techniques from a young age… I managed to break free from the duct tape and injured one of them with a fire axe I found in the abandoned factory…”

“At that moment, my mind went blank, and I didn’t know what to do. I only thought that even if I died, I wouldn’t compromise. I wanted to take a few of them down with me, so I attacked with more ferocity.”

“Those kidnappers were probably not professionals. It seemed like a spontaneous act. Although there were more of them, my ruthless attack scared them off. They were probably afraid of getting hurt, so they covered their wounds and ran away…”

“Once I calmed down, I went to find Shi Meijing in the next room, but it turned into the situation you see now.”

“It’s all my fault. If it wasn’t for protecting me, Shi Meijing wouldn’t have said so many things to provoke those kidnappers and become the target of their anger…”

**

“…Ah, how is Ziyang doing now? I heard that Shi Meijing is undergoing treatment at the hospital, but Ziyang looks much better than her. Those kidnappers won’t let him go easily…”

“Guo Ran, please calm down. Ziyang is not severely injured. He only has some superficial wounds and psychological trauma… Shi Meijing’s condition is more serious, but there is currently no life-threatening situation, and she hasn’t experienced any sexual assault. Although her injuries are severe, the situation is still optimistic. Please try to recall the situation at that time to help us with the investigation of the kidnappers.”

“Okay, okay, I will try to remember. At that time, it happened like this… Someone snatched my phone, and I chased after them. But when I had only run a few steps, I heard Ziyang and Shi Meijing calling for help…”

“But by the time I reached them, it was already too late. Ziyang and Shi Meijing had already been dragged into the van. The license plate of the car was intentionally covered, so I couldn’t see it… Then I immediately ran to a nearby convenience store to call the police.”

“Yes, yes, Shi Meijing called us, and we were all present and heard it…”

“Officers, you must catch these people. They are so audacious under the nose of the Imperial City in Beijing. If they manage to escape, they will definitely become notorious criminals in the future! Who knows how many young girls and boys will suffer. It’s so terrifying, it scared me. I’m so scared that I might develop a heart condition…”

“Guo Ran, please rest assured that we will do our best. You can leave now.”

“…Yes, that’s right. At that time, I was sleeping at home, and suddenly I was awakened by knocking on the door. When I opened the door, that young man fainted right in front of me, with blood on his clothes. It really scared me.”

“Then I immediately called the police.”

**

“My sister told me that if you meet someone you like, you should at least give it a try, even if success is uncertain, so that you won’t regret it in the future.”

“I was hesitant, but my sister supported me. She helped with the preparations at the venue, and I was touched. So I decided to listen to my sister’s advice and confess to Ziyang.”

“But I waited for a long time at the small park and didn’t see him. It wasn’t until later when the police called me that I learned about this accident…”

“…How is the situation at the hospital? Can you tell me? Meijing is in this state, and I feel so guilty towards my parents. It’s all because of me…”

**

After dragging his swollen and bruised body out of the abandoned factory and seeking help not long after, Fang Ziyang received prompt assistance as the police, who had already been alerted by Guo Ran’s report, swiftly arrived at the crime scene with an ambulance.

Considering Fang Ziyang’s identity and the severity of the incident, the police immediately initiated an investigation that very night without wasting any time.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Naturally, the first step was to gather testimonies from all individuals involved in the case. Although it appeared to be a simple robbery at first glance, experienced detectives in the police force sensed that there was more to it. To them, this case had suspicious signs of premeditation.

First, everything seemed overly coincidental. Second, the kidnappers used a van, indicating that it was not a spontaneous act. The choice of tools and the number of people involved couldn’t be explained as something decided on the spur of the moment. Finally, when the police attempted to review the surveillance footage of the relevant routes that night, they discovered that all the recordings for that day had mysteriously disappeared.

This was clearly not a simple matter!

The ability to directly delete all surveillance videos from the area on that particular night was not something easily accomplished. This made the police realize that this seemingly ordinary kidnapping case was far from simple. However, before the police could continue their in-depth investigation, the police chief of Jing City received a call from a special department above.

“The kidnapping case involving Fang Ziyang ends here. Close the case as soon as possible.”

That single sentence was enough to make the police chief aware of the gravity of the situation. Their suspicions were correct; this kidnapping case was not simple, to the extent that they didn’t even have the authority to intervene.

Thus, the following day, after completing the necessary questioning of all the individuals involved, the police promptly closed the case and kept the information suppressed, preventing the media from reporting on it.

Although Fang Ziyang’s injuries were not severe, they looked quite frightening, with bruises all over his body. Therefore, after giving his statement, he stayed in the hospital for a full body examination.

Tang Xun received the news and rushed over from the laboratory. When he saw his younger brother covered in bruises, he couldn’t help but have red eyes, feeling both angry and heartbroken.

“Ziyang, didn’t I tell you to always have bodyguards with you once you leave the school? Why didn’t you listen to me? And what about the necklace I gave you? Why didn’t you wear it?”

“Brother, please don’t scold me anymore. I was really terrified at that time. Look at my injuries. If you don’t comfort me and instead scold me, it means you don’t care about me anymore…”

Fang Ziyang felt a bit guilty and didn’t dare to dwell on this issue with Tang Xun, so he could only act cute and divert the conversation.

Tang Xun couldn’t bear to blame his younger brother. He loved him deeply, and as soon as his younger brother softened, Tang Xun immediately softened as well.

He tenderly applied ointment to Fang Ziyang’s body, and his words were filled with comfort.

“The school has already arranged for your leave. Stay obediently in the hospital and complete the full-body examination. I will handle the matter with the kidnappers. This is not a coincidence. I will definitely find the mastermind behind this! As for Classmate Shi…”

At this point, Tang Xun paused before continuing, “The hospital said she might have to spend her time in bed from now on. I’ve already discussed the medical expenses and follow-up matters with her brother… After the examination, you should visit her.”

“Okay, I understand, brother.”

Fang Ziyang nodded, tightly gripping his hands under the blanket.

This was his masterpiece, and he certainly knew the current situation of Shi Meijing. But he didn’t regret it because it was just desserts for her.

Even if he doesn’t consider the harm Shi Meijing caused him in his past life by selfishly taking advantage of Shi Liangchen, in this life, he had given her opportunities as well, but she never took him seriously. It was not entirely due to external circumstances; it was just an excuse for her selfishness.

Every decision she made was her own choice. Now, she was only reaping what she had sown.

His gaze fell on Xie Zheng, who had been silent since entering the ward.

Fang Ziyang pursed his lips and then smiled at Tang Xun. “Brother, I want to have a private conversation with Brother Xie for a moment. Is that okay?”

Tang Xun didn’t understand why he suddenly made such a request.

Rick was also unsure.

So, the two of them looked at Xie Zheng, who nodded in agreement, before leaving.

–

When there were only the two of them left in the hospital room,

Fang Ziyang could no longer maintain his smile. It felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart, making it difficult for him to breathe. His voice was strained and hoarse as he spoke,

“I’m sorry…”

Only three words, but both people present understood the meaning behind those three words.

Xie Zheng wasn’t a fool. Even if he was emotionally blinded, at this point, he couldn’t deceive himself any longer. Many things had become clear.

Fang Ziyang had lied to him, and the surprise was all fake.

Yesterday, he had waited at the hotel for a whole night, but instead of the person he had been looking forward to, he encountered a horrifying kidnapping case. Tang Xun couldn’t associate this incident with Fang Ziyang, but Xie Zheng could immediately deduce the truth behind the case. After all, the information Fang Ziyang had left him was too obvious.

“Why did you do this?”

Struggle filled Xie Zheng’s profound eyes.

He wasn’t angry; he was just upset. Upset that the young man would show him such a side, upset that he would reject him in this way.

“Because I don’t want you to like me.”

Fang Ziyang’s voice was soft.

But it felt like a knife piercing Xie Zheng’s heart.

Fang Ziyang hugged his legs, his voice low, “Brother Xie, you shouldn’t like me. We are people from two different worlds. From the beginning, you should have known that I’m not as good as you imagine. I’m not obedient at all. In front of you and my brother, I only pretend to be good to make you happy…”

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

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

“Sure, I’ll wait here.”

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

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

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

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

“What the hell, a robber! Stop!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

…

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

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

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

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

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

The harsh tone sounded extremely cruel.

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

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

“Mm.”

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

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

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

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

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

Then, sounds of clothes being torn could be heard.

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

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

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

Saying that, the men started to approach.

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

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

The men were taken aback.

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

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

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

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

The hearts of the men pounded, their pupils shrinking.

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

But soon, the men calmed down.

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

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

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

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

The sound abruptly ceased.

There was a simple reason for it.

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

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

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

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

Fang Ziyang’s gaze was icy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Their eyes focused on the wooden box.

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

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

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

Soon after.

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

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

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

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

A few minutes later.

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

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

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

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

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

–

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

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

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

On the other side.

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

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

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

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

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Sandy: Oh shiiiiiiiiiit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fang Ziyang almost immediately guessed who the caller was.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

He was speaking the truth.

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

Her words were filled with implications.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“What is this…”

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

Guo Ran’s eyes also sparkled with excitement.

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

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

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

Speaking of that.

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

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

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

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

Fang Ziyang took the document and skimmed through it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just a few billion?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then, the manager’s eyes widened.

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

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

Lu Yan was also surprised after reading it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fang Ziyang smiled genuinely.

After saying that, he turned and left.

Leaving behind a delighted Lu Yan and the manager.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The audience burst into laughter.

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

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

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

Of course, Fang Ziyang wouldn’t miss it.

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

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

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

Meanwhile…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Okay, no problem.”

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

On the other end,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lu Yan had the audacity to say that!

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

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

And then there’s Yan Tong…

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

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

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

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

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

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

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

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

The manager couldn’t bear it anymore.

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

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

The manager directly exposed the embarrassing fact of seeking help.

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

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

—

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lu Yan didn’t think much of it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But…

He had such malicious thoughts towards Fang Ziyang.

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

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

Shi Meijing looked pale with concern.

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

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

The fragile girl’s eyes were filled with pleading.

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

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

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

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

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

Shi Meijing felt proud, making calculations in her mind.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“She has some good ideas…”

His voice didn’t reveal any emotion.

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

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

A cold, faint smile appeared on his lips.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

There were probably only two reasons: connections and resources.

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

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

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

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

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

Hah, he must be dreaming.

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

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

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

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

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

It was probably the latter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fang Ziyang’s lips curled up.

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

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

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

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

…

Lu Yan was easy to deal with.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hotel… room… surprise…

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

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

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

And this was exactly what he wanted.

As expected, the outcome confirmed his expectations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

–

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

–

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shi Liangchen was stunned.

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