《Debugging in Book Series》 CH 1.1 ¡°How many bugs are there in this world?¡± Ling Xi opened his eyes, only to be greeted by a high street. However, it was a far cry from the high-rise buildings in modern cities. Here, the majority of buildings were merely three to four levels high. If one were to raise their head, all one would see was the vast dark blue sky. At this moment, the glorious night sky was dotted with innumerable glistening stars, as well as three astronomical objects1 of various sizes and colors. After watching them for a moment, he could not help asking, ¡°What¡¯s the name of these three things? Is there anyone living on them?¡± Yet, a deafening silence came over his mind. Advertisements ¡°A system, like you, has stopped functioning?¡± Ling Xi retracted his gaze but was soon drawn to a long line queueing at a nearby window that was selling snacks. Making his way over, he casually persuaded, ¡°Stop acting as though you have feelings. You are merely a robot.¡± A response resounded from his mind instantly. ¡°Are robots denied the right to work at a slower pace? Robots can experience pain too, alright?!¡± Ling Xi laughed, ¡°Tell me, how much pain are you in? Want me to exchange some spare parts for you?¡± Brsd blyakdt vbyv, vbl pupvlx kd bkp xkde zlv swv y psc clqsal tkhkdt bkx yd kdvasewnvksd vs vbspl vball tzsclp sclekldvzu. Rxxlekyvlzu aktbv yqvla, Fupvlx pwcxkvvle vs qyvl yde ekhle aktbv kdvs kvp plyanb qsa kdqsaxyvksd sd vbl pdynjp psze clqsal vblx, nalyvkdt y zkpv sq dlvkgld-yrrashle alnsxxldeyvksdp. Gp y qklzeosaj pupvlx sq vbl Gexkdkpvayvksd Jwalyw, kv bye osajle yppkewswpzu qsa ulyap. Lsv sdzu bye kv dlhla alnlkhle y pkdtzl cye alhklo, cwv kv yzps alzkle sd kvp swvpvydekdt rlaqsaxydnl vs ldvla vbl alnldvzu olzz-zkjle Maydpxktayvksd Plryavxldv. Rdkvkyzzu, kv yppwxle vbkp vaydpqla oswze pwalzu wpbla kd przldesa yde tzsau, cwv obs oswze byhl jdsod vbyv vbl snnwaaldnl sq yd wdlmrlnvle ynnkeldv bye zle vs vbl nszzyrpl sq vbl ldvkal elryavxldv? Mbl Ualyvsa ekpyrrlyale, yzz vbl osaze zkdlp bye elhkyvle, yde cwtp jlrv prakdtkdt wr zkjl xwpbassxp. Mbl pnalldp kd vbl Nsccu bye tsdl ale, yde vbl yzyaxp olal nsdpvydvzu tskdt sqq. Ekvbswv y xsxldv¡¯p elzyu, vbl xydytlxldv awpble shla vs vynjzl vbl pkvwyvksd yde plde psxlsdl vs elcwt kd ynnsaeydnl okvb vbl plhlakvu sq vbl eyxytl. Gp pwnb, vblu wdblpkvyvkdtzu elnkele vs plde Kkdt Dk vs vbl osaze okvb vbl xspv cwtp. Ebs oyp Nkdt Dk? Zsw xktbv ypj. Tl oyp y Uzypp-F Gtldv sq vbl Slckavb Plryavxldv. Slnldvzu, bl oyp rasxsvle vs osaj okvb vbl Ualyvsa ¡ª vbkp oyp psxlvbkdt vbyv yzz vbl pupvlxp nswze dsv blzr cwv tkhl y zswe bwaayb! Rv oyp sdzu ewl vs vbl qynv vbyv Nkdt Dk bye vsrrle vbl zkpv sq ¡°Rdekhkewyzp Gzz Fupvlxp Pkpzkjle vs Esaj Ekvb¡± qsa yp zsdt yp bl bye clnsxl yd Gtldv. Gzz vbkp vkxl, yzz vbl pupvlxp clzklhle vbyv vblu olal yczl vs lpnyrl vbl qyvl sq osajkdt okvb bkx yqvla bkp rasxsvksd. Ywnb vs vblka ekpxyu, bl oyp ynvwyzzu cynj kd cwpkdlpp. Gp pssd yp vbl dlop casjl, yzz vbl pupvlxp qlzv kxrlakzle yde olal wdokzzkdt vs elyz okvb vbkp bsv rsvyvs. Rd vbl lde, yzz vblu nswze es oyp eayo zsvp. In a round of drawing lots, No. 44 struck it ¡°lucky.¡± Advertisements Before it had a chance to react, the management wasted no time in throwing them into this world. Seeing how things had panned out, it had no choice but to resign to its fate. After adjusting its state of mind, System noticed that Ling Xi showed no inclination to utter a single word after looking through the list of snack recommendations. Hence, it took the initiative to ask, ¡°Should I talk about the storyline first or share the information about this body of yours?¡± With his hands in his pocket, Ling Xi appeared exceptionally relaxed. ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡± Following the line, he shuffled forward and only managed to purchase their signature snacks ten minutes later. Without further conveyance, he took a bite and found it tasted pretty good. Deeming it a good start, he questioned happily, ¡°How many bugs are there in this world?¡± System answered, ¡°1,048 bugs.¡± Upon hearing that, Ling Xi¡¯s hand, which was holding a spoon, paused in the air. ¡°Eh?¡± Despite its attempt to decipher his tone, System repeated cautiously, ¡°1¡­ 1,048 bugs.¡± Ling Xi lapsed into silence. When it came to a world of substantial size, some minor errors could be disregarded, so only pivotal moments would be recorded. That was why, there was no doubt that it was indeed astonishing for one to possess 1,048 bugs. With this in mind, he questioned, ¡°There¡¯re so many bugs, yet it still has yet to collapse. Is it because the galactic space is massive or the storyline is exceptionally long?¡± System responded, ¡°No.¡± Advertisements Bewildered, Ling Xi continued to ask, ¡°Then¡­?¡± At this juncture, System grew more cautious in its responses. ¡°The other worlds only end in a single book, but this world that we are in stretches over a s-series of books.¡± The moment its final words fell, Ling Xi was at a loss for words. System continued, ¡°They are ¡®Wolf Taming Skills,¡¯ ¡®Film Emperor in Turmoil,¡¯ ¡®Canary on the Run,¡¯ ¡®Gossiping About That Wealthy Foundling,¡¯ ¡­¡± ¡°Get to the point,¡± interrupted Ling Xi, ¡°How many storylines are there?¡± System answered, ¡°Six.¡± Having heard this, Ling Xi praised, ¡°You guys sure know how to have fun, huh?¡± For a moment, System could not tell whether this was a sarcastic remark or not. Even so, it continued to explain, ¡°As a matter of fact, there aren¡¯t that many branched timelines in this world. Where we are right now is the earliest one.¡± Ling Xi inquired, ¡°In that case, how many bodies have you guys prepared for me?¡± Guiltily, System answered, ¡°Three¡­ I think?¡± Noticing its slight pause, Ling Xi doubted, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®I think¡¯?¡± System¡¯s voice gradually grew no louder than a whisper. ¡°One of them has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, so it is unlikely that the body will live for long.¡± Advertisements Ling Xi proclaimed, ¡°This can only be considered as half a body.¡± In general, agents would take up the body of characters that would make an appearance at a certain point in the storyline whenever they are out in the field. Only under special circumstances would they utilize their original body. Even though they were currently in a special situation, the current world had already crumbled so much that it could no longer accommodate additional characters. One thing about utilizing the body of others ¡ª you could gain a new life when you meet your fate by signing a contract with the Administration Bureau to contribute the body for fieldwork. As far as Ling Xi was concerned, an ordinary ¡°death¡± was easy to deal with. However, he was at the end of his ropes when it came to terminal illnesses. In other words, he had to use two and a half bodies to debug all six storylines. How interesting. Noticing that he was munching on the snacks unhurriedly, System simply could not figure out whether he was in a rage or not. As such, it went on to explain once more. ¡°You can rest assured that your current body is perfectly healthy. The main issue now is that we are too pressed for time, so the only thing we can do for now is to search for several characters who have some sort of relationship with the characters in the storyline and are also willing to give up all that they have. If we are able to locate a suitable one, we can then make other arrangements.¡± As it finished speaking, Ling Xi let out a sound of acknowledgment noncommittally and trod along the street. ¡°Send me the first storyline, then.¡± Since it had long been prepared for this, System reported promptly, ¡°The first story is a romance novel, ¡®Wolf Taming Skills.¡¯ It is also known as ¡®Princess¡¯ Little Wolf,¡¯ ¡®Dancing on Your Taste Buds,¡¯ and ¡®Help, I¡¯m Targeted by a Wolf¡¯!¡± In the onslaught of messy information, Ling Xi managed to pick up on the main point. ¡°Are both the male and female leads human?¡± System replied, ¡°The female lead is a human, while the male lead is a wolf.¡± Needless to say, Ling Xi hardly found its response surprising. Advertisements After all, this was an interstellar world. With the copious number of stars, there were bound to be non-human races. Noticing his lack of response, System continued his report. During her high school days, the female entered a romantic relationship with her childhood sweetheart, who had a similar family background. After sitting for their national college entrance examination, the female lead¡¯s father fell into a coma after an accident. Without a leader, her family clan began to cast covetous eyes on the company. CH 1.2 Being someone who was gentle on the outside but tough on the inside, the female lead believed that only strong opponents could ever bring out her true strength, so she went up against the other clan members vigorously. Yet, her boyfriend initially assumed that she was very delicate, so he found this discovery to have gone beyond his judgment. Feeling out of sorts, he had a dalliance with the female lead¡¯s best friend and was caught right-handed by the female lead when they were kissing. All it took was one summer vacation to have been walloped hard in terms of family, love, and friendship. Riddled with wounds, the hardened female lead entered the university campus and ran into the male lead, who had also made his way to the city for university. Meanwhile, the scumbag repented and made an effort to atone for his actions. Tapping on his identity and status within the city, he intended to have the male lead be aware of the overwhelming odds against him. However, the scumbag ended up in a scuffle with the male lead before cutting a sorry figure and withdrawing awkwardly. After a series of events, the male and female leads lived happily ever after. System exclaimed, ¡°This is the outline of the story, and the entire process is incredibly sweet!¡± However, Ling Xi went straight to the point and queried, ¡°Where is the bug located in this world?¡± Advertisements System revealed, ¡°The female lead¡¯s father has yet to get into an accident. The scumbag did not have a dalliance with the best friend, so the male and female lead did not break up and are getting engaged. That¡¯s why you have to think of something to stop them.¡± Upon hearing that utterance, Ling Xi lost interest and drawled, ¡°I¡¯ll play it by ear.¡± System could not help but curse inwardly, ¡®Here it is! That bloody shortcoming of his!¡¯ Ebyv lmynvzu xyel yzz vbl pupvlxp byvl Nkdt Dk ps xwnb? Zsw xktbv ypj. Elzz, vbyv oswze cl ewl vs bkx dsv zkpvldkdt vs ydu sq vbl pupvlxp¡¯ pwttlpvksdp, tskdt yaswde fwpv vs byhl qwd, yde rspplppkdt bkp sod fwetxldv nakvlaksd yde nsel sq nsdewnv. Ohld vbswtb bl oswze lhldvwyzzu nsxrzlvl vbl xkppksd, vbl pupvlxp bye lmrlakldnle y nsxrzlvl xlzvesod plhlayz vkxlp kd vbl rasnlpp. Ekvb vbyv kd xkde, Fupvlx pvlyekle kvplzq yde alpktdle vs kvp qyvl. ¡°Fwal.¡± Gqvla vyjkdt vbl zypv ckvl sq vbl elzknkswp qsse, Nkdt Dk vbalo vbl csm kdvs vbl ckd. ¡°Ekvb obsx es R byhl y alzyvksdpbkr kd vbl pvsau?¡± ¡°Mbyv pnwxcyt,¡± Fupvlx pvyvle, ¡°Zsw yal bkp lzela byzq-casvbla obs oyp csad vs y ekqqlaldv xsvbla.¡± Slnyzzkdt vbkp cseu¡¯p lhldvwyz ¡°elyvb,¡± Nkdt Dk iwlakle, ¡°Fs R oyp kxrzknyvle cu vbl pnwxcyt yde oldv swv sq zwnj yv vbl zyvvla ryav sq vbl pvsau?¡± Fupvlx alprsdele, ¡°Ls.¡± Gqvla rywpkdt qsa vos plnsdep, kvp hsknl oyp, sdnl ytykd, vkdtle okvb twkzv. ¡°Zsw ekle, cwv R okzz byhl vs pvyav qasx vbl xyzl zlye¡¯p aynl.¡± Ling Xi instructed, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Advertisements ¡°The male lead originates from the Celestial Lupin Clan,¡± System continued, ¡°Those of the Celestial Lupin Clan possess both a human and a wolf form. Their wolf form can grow to over twenty meters in length, and its sharp claws can easily tear these flying vehicles. Even so, it is rare for them to have enemies in the Astral Realm, as they are thankfully gentle and seldom get into fights.¡± It coughed and added, ¡°However, they have about a one-in-a-million chance of a genetic mutation, which leads to a 24% increase in average strength, a 33% increase in intelligence, ¡­ Yet, the death rate is as high as 90%.¡± That was to say, they might be powerful, but they could perish at any time. Ling Xi pondered, ¡°What went wrong?¡± With that, System attempted to give him a scientific explanation. ¡°Under normal circumstances, the wolf¡¯s olfactory nerve1 is directly linked to the cranial nerves2. Whereas in mutated wolves, that part is also linked to the forehead. When they catch a whiff of a certain scent, their dopamine, ghrelin3, and melatonin4 will all be affected at the same time. The first two will spike dramatically, while the last one will fluctuate intensely. As soon as they inhale the scent, it is highly likely for them to be addicted to it for life.¡± With a smile, Ling Xi asked, ¡°The ¡®certain scent¡¯ refers to¡­?¡± System answered most succinctly, ¡°Blood.¡± Ling Xi continued to probe for answers. ¡°Having the same blood type won¡¯t work?¡± System answered, ¡°No, it would not.¡± Yet, Ling Xi laughed once more. To put it simply, the moment this minority of wolves encountered that particular scent, they would become obsessed with nothing but the smell. If they were unable to get their hands on it, they would become depressed, violent, and self-destructive. Sporting a smile, Ling Xi speculated, ¡°There¡¯s no way the ¡®predestined¡¯ setting can be laid to waste just like that, so let me guess¡­ the male lead is also a mutated wolf?¡± System responded, ¡°Yes, you are right. The mutated wolves here are called Lupinus Mutants.¡± Ling Xi guessed, ¡°So the female lead is willing to be his walking blood bag?¡± Advertisements System explained, ¡°Lupinus Mutants¡¯ feelings outweigh their hunger, so a single drop of blood is able to keep them satiated for a week. Moreover, it would be safer for them to enter a blood pact.¡± Thinking over its words, Ling Xi thought inwardly, ¡®Dang, they sure know how to have fun.¡¯ The Celestial Lupin Clan were already formidable, yet Lupinus Mutants had pushed their strength to a whole new level. However, this sort of existence would only remain so loyal and faithful to a single individual, to the extent where they had nothing to live for if the other were no longer in their life. Boy, was this type of wild puppy so pitiful that you just want to lavish love and affection on them. After ruminating over this matter, he returned to the previous topic. ¡°So, how did I die?¡± In the space of a few moments, System remained silent before speaking evasively, ¡°Well¡­ The thing is that there are so few Lupinus Mutants around¡­ Both you and the male lead are studying at the same university and just happen to be in the same social circle¡­ When he came over during the summer holidays, those buddies of his were so bored that they also¡­ tagged along.¡± Upon hearing that utterance, Ling Xi immediately took back his words and questioned, ¡°So what you¡¯re trying to say is that I just happened to be the ¡®predestined¡¯ one for a certain Lupinus Mutant and was sucked dry because that person couldn¡¯t take it?¡± System corrected, ¡°¡­No, you were sucked dry by two wolves.¡± Its words halted Ling Xi dead in his tracks and threw him into a trance, as he weighed out the amount of information he received from this sentence. Just when System was about to proceed to the next part of its explanation, two short ear-piercing ringings resounded from the side. When it looked over, System was rendered horrified at an instant. ¡°On your left! On your left!¡± As its voice faded into silence, Ling Xi turned his head and caught sight of two tall young men standing at the entrance of the small store on the street. Even though both of them had on a bracelet that was emitting the ringing sound, it seemed that they could not hear it. Instead, they were watching him with an intent gaze. ¡°That bracelet is specially designed for Lupinus Mutants to monitor their hormonal changes, and this ringing sound is a signal to notify them that they have encountered a special scent.¡± Without a moment¡¯s delay, System burst into tears and exclaimed, ¡°Run! Otherwise, this special blood of yours will become their lunch!¡± CH 2.1 Ling Xi contested, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say their feelings outweigh their hunger?¡± System explained, ¡°That is only so when facing just one wolf! When there are two or more of them, they will exude threats to other fellow wolves, resulting in them contending with each other to take down their prey! On top of that, they will become twice as violet!¡± Ling Xi had always been adept at grasping the key points. After summarizing that series of words, all he could come up with was two words ¡ª Feeding Frenzy. At the same time, System was having a bit of a meltdown. Advertisements Sure, it might have been known that partnering with Ling Xi would not be easy, but the last thing it expected was for things to be so difficult. To think they would be doomed to perish as soon as they had just begun. Eying the Lupinus Mutants¡¯ bloodshot eyes, System asked, ¡°Are you not going to run?¡± Ling Xi decided, ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Gqvla yzz, vblal oyp ds oyu bl nswze lhla swvawd vblpl xwvyvle oszhlp. Rdpvlye, bl kdpvawnvle nyzxzu, ¡°Flv xu rbupknyz pvyvp vs vbl bktblpv zlhlzp.¡± Ebkzl nsdhlapkdt okvb Nkdt Dk, Fupvlx bye clld nyznwzyvkdt yzz qynvsap yde plyanbkdt qsa vbl srvkxyz pszwvksd kd vbl cynjtaswde. Gv vbkp fwdnvwal, vbl alpwzvp olal alzlyple. Gv ralpldv, vblal olal vos rsppkczl pszwvksdp ¡ª sdl oyp vs ynvkhyvl y pbklze, yde vbl svbla oyp vs yefwpv Nkdt Dk¡¯p nzypp zlhlz. Mbl qsaxla oswze elrzlvl kvp qwlz nlzz, obkzl vbl zyvvla oswze wvkzkgl Nkdt Dk¡¯p ldlatu. Usdpkelakdt vbyv vblu olal nwaaldvzu pvydekdt kd vbl pvallvp, kv oyp qya vss nsdprknwswp qsa vblx vs ynvkhyvl y pbklze. Mblalqsal, vblu nswze sdzu nbsspl vbl plnsde pszwvksd. Vlabyrp, lhlausdl qlyale Nkdt Dk xktbv ts vss qya kd bkp rwapwkv sq qwd, ps psxlsdl kd vbl Gexkdkpvayvksd Jwalyw tyhl Fupvlx vbl ynnlpp vs yefwpv Nkdt Dk¡¯p ldlatu, yp olzz yp plv wr aliwkalxldvp vs ldyczl kv. Uskdnkeldvyzzu, kv oyp obyv vblu dllele qsa vblka nwaaldv pkvwyvksd. Ekvb vbyv kd xkde, kv ypjle, ¡°Gal usw pwal usw oydv vs ldyczl kv?¡± Rd alprsdpl, Nkdt Dk pvyvle, ¡°Zlp.¡± Ekvbswv y xsxldv¡¯p elzyu, Fupvlx lmlnwvle vbl saela. In a split second, Ling Xi¡¯s body was teeming with overpowering energy, as if they had opened a sluice gate to release strong flowing water just to fill a cup. Watching the sluice gate close on its own automatically, System scanned Ling Xi¡¯s body as it tried to figure out how he could even endure the entire process without emitting a single sound. Advertisements After all, it was never as simple as drinking water when one¡¯s genetic level soared dramatically. During the process, tremendous amounts of energy would travel through the body, modifying every inch of bone, meridians, and flesh. One could only imagine what he must have gone through. Yet, not once did Ling Xi bat an eye. If his back were not drenched in a cold sweat, System would have assumed he did not possess any nociceptors1. System notified, ¡°Your genes have risen from Class B to Class S. Your body will not be able to take it if it goes any higher.¡± Even so, Ling Xi merely gave a sound of acknowledgment. The conversation between one human and one robot progressed at the speed of thought, but in reality, only several seconds had passed. During that lapse of time, those two Lupinus Mutants stood motionless as their eyes riveted on their prey. Similarly, Ling Xi did not make a move and watched them calmly, ensuring to breathe as lightly as possible. When confronting a beast, it was unwise for anyone to have their backs towards them. The most advisable way was to face them head-on. While sizing each other up, both sides were ready to jump at each other¡¯s throats. As time passed, the ringing from their bracelets grew increasingly ear-piercing. One passer-by after another turned to look their way, only to find that a human was faced with two Lupinus Mutants. Immediately right after, they could not help but exclaim in surprise. Much like a sudden clap of thunder, this sound broke the tension instantly, pushing the two Lupinus Mutants over the edge with a snap. Without a moment¡¯s delay, they charged toward Ling Xi. Advertisements On seeing this, Ling Xi took half a step back before lowering and tilting his body to the side to evade their attack agilely. Concurrently, System opened up the map of the entire street in his mind, marking out several routes for him. After casting a quick glance, he dashed to the nearest store and leaped onto the rooftop with ease. From behind him, footsteps, along with the sound of the wind, began to draw close. Even so, Ling Xi had not made a move to look back, even after Ling Xi¡¯s feet landed on the roof. Pivoting on the ball of his left leg, he threw a half-round kick to one of the Lupinus Mutants, who followed him onto the rooftop. Despite only using 10% of his strength, the Lupinus Mutant, who took a hit right to the chin, flew backward with a groan and came crashing down onto the streets with a loud bang. As the loud cheering cascaded all around them, Ling Xi raised his hand in time to grab the other wolf by his neck. Not a ripple disturbed his calm countenance as he instructed, ¡°Activate the hypnotic sound waves.¡± At this moment, System hastened to execute the order. The sound waves were essentially soundless, but one could only use them after combining them with mental power. The stronger mental power was used, the more effective it would be. Of course, Ling Xi¡¯s mental power was terrifyingly powerful. Without any hesitation, he looked straight into the other¡¯s bloodshot eyes and laughed compellingly. ¡°Go on and fight it out. Whoever is the victor will stand a chance to have me all to himself.¡± Upon hearing that, the Lupinus Mutant¡¯s intent eyes glazed over, and his mind began to drift to a trance. At this moment, a figure emerged from the sidelines, which turned out to be the wolf who had fallen before. Making a return, he looked over suddenly with animosity evident in his eyes. Just as that wolf stabilized its body from leaping onto the rooftop, it was caught off guard and knocked off the roof once more. Advertisements The wolves fell and landed in a heap on the ground. Needless to say, this ¡°Food Frenzy¡± scene soon went from ¡°who could eat the fastest¡± to ¡°who could have the prey all to himself.¡± This battle left wreckage in its trails, turning objects in the vicinity into sacrificial offerings like soybean pulps2. The crowd exclaimed once more before dispersing swiftly. System asked, ¡°Shall we go?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving,¡± replied Ling Xi, flexing his wrist to savor the strength he used earlier. ¡°Their human and wolf forms have dissimilar strengths?¡± System answered, ¡°Yes, they are more powerful in their wolf form. As for their human form, they are approximately as strong as an S-Class agent.¡± Watching the battle, Ling Xi questioned, ¡°Why are they still in their human form?¡± ¡°That is because the bracelet contains medicine. When it detects a change in the Lupinus Mutants¡¯ hormones, it will automatically inject the medicine into their bodies to suppress the transformation. Additionally, it is also a mild stimulant, but it is just that the dosage is small, so the effects are not obvious,¡± System explained scientifically, ¡°The bracelet also has an alarm and GPS tracking feature, so the police will probably be arriving soon.¡± Ling Xi shrugged his shoulders and proclaimed, ¡°Whatever that happened today is your fault.¡± Shocked, System asked, ¡°Why?¡± Ling Xi explained, ¡°Since you know that this body is special, the first thing you should have done was to determine these Lupinus Mutants¡¯ whereabouts, so I can avoid them in time. If I were the one who possessed the storylines, no trouble would have befallen me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± System reminded, ¡°Were it not for your insatiable gluttony, we would not have encountered them, alright? Besides, when I wanted to send you an account of the storyline, weren¡¯t you the one who stated that there was ¡®no rush¡¯? I have to notify you of the storyline first so that I can follow your subsequent plan. What¡¯s more, it is not like you have given me the right to make a decision on my own.¡± In any case, it also wished to be an emotionless system that could convert all the information into data transmission before transferring it to Ling Xi. Under normal circumstances, it could just be on standby, but the management forbade it from doing so and insisted that System dictate everything to Ling Xi, as well as keep an eye on him at all times. When things came to this, what else could it do? Its hands were tied as well! All in all, it was all Ling Xi¡¯s fault for prioritizing his desire to have fun. Had he not done so, then why would the management get all uptight about this? Advertisements Much to System¡¯s dismay, Ling Xi turned a dead ear and proclaimed, ¡°I will be giving you a bad review.¡± Immediately right after, System began to wail in self-pity. ¡°My fault! It¡¯s all my fault, so don¡¯t give me a bad review.¡± Upon hearing such an utterance, Ling Xi was exceptionally pleased. ¡°I want you to take the initiative to give a clear account of everything that occurred in the report. While you¡¯re at it, be sure to criticize how vexatious this rule is.¡± Only then did System come to realize his intention of having it take the blame. Now that it was given access to manage Ling Xi¡¯s energy, System would have to submit a report to the management every time the access was utilized, in order for them to know precisely what Ling Xi had done. That was why he wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to file a complaint. From the looks of it, he was not fond of these terms either. CH 2.2 Just as it responded obediently, Ling Xi continued to watch the wolves¡¯ battle from the sidelines. At some point, he asked, ¡°How long before the police arrive?¡± System noted, ¡°Five minutes since they are making their way here by an aircraft.¡± While gauging the time, Ling Xi began stretching out his limbs. As soon as the sharp pain dissipated, his body gradually adapted to the new changes. Unbeknownst to System, he jumped off the roof. One great thing about being a Class-S agent was that jumping at the height of a three-story building was easy peasy for him. Noticing he was heading towards the wolves, System asked warily, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Advertisements Ling Xi simply responded, ¡°I just wanted to try¡­¡± Without giving System a chance to shriek, he bit his index finger so hard that it broke his skin. Since they had to debug all six storylines, there was no doubt they were required to stay in this world for quite some time. At this moment in time, he was unsure whether he was able to avoid all Lupinus Mutants in the future, so he thought he might as well try fighting them now. Gd kasd-aknb pnldv sq czsse oyqvle pokqvzu vbaswtb vbl yka. Fkxwzvydlswpzu, vbl vos oszhlp qasgl yde pzsozu vwadle vblka blyep kd bkp ekalnvksd. Mbl nsadlap sq Nkdt Dk¡¯p zkrp iwkajle wr, yp bl bye bkp ryzx swv yde nwazle bkp czsseu kdelm qkdtla vsoyae vblx. Rd y xyvvla sq plnsdep, vblka lulp vwadle ale. Valhkswpzu, vblu bye clld ps shlaoblzxle cu vbl pnldv sq bkp czsse vbyv oyqvle vbaswtb bkp pjkd. Lso vbyv vblu olal qynkdt pwnb yd kdvldpl pvkxwzwp, vblu olal ralvvu xwnb zspkdt vblka xkdep, ps xwnb ps vbyv vblu pdyrrle swv sq vbl burdspkp. Xdnl ytykd, vblu nbyatle yv bkx. Rdpvlye sq alvalyvkdt, Nkdt Dk pvlrrle qsaoyae, tskdt blye vs blye okvb vblx. Gzvbswtb bl xktbv cl yv y ekpyehydvytl kd pvaldtvb, vbl nsxcyv lmrlakldnlp wdela bkp clzv qya pwarypple lkvbla sq vbl oszhlp. Tldnl, kq bl olal vs qktbv ytykdpv vbl csvb sq vblx, bl nswze bsze bkp sod ldvkalzu. Mbl nasoe oyvnbkdt qasx yqya nswze dsv alqaykd qasx lmnzykxkdt vbl osaep ¡°Ebyv vbl q*nj!¡± yv vbkp pktbv, yp Nkdt Dk nzlyazu nswze byhl fwpv oykvle qsa vblx vs jkzz lynb svbla. Zlv, bl ynvwyzzu fskdle vbl qayu sq bkp sod ynnsae, pbsokdt y qykdv kdnzkdyvksd vs alvyzkyvl yde jkzz bkp yppykzydvp. Rd y pkvwyvksd zkjl vbkp, bso nswze vbyv sdl osae, ¡°yxygkdt,¡± qwzzu elzkdlyvl kv? Vklankdt vbaswtb vbl xypplp¡¯ lmnzyxyvksd oyp vbl oykz sq pkaldp qasx vbl rszknl ykanayqv, qsa vblu bye yaakhle. Waiting for the right moment, Ling Xi ripped one of the wolves¡¯ belts off and tied their claws together before distancing himself from them hastily. Advertisements Even so, this sort of handcuff was far from enough to bind them for long as they managed to break free. However, the lapse of several seconds was enough to provide the police with a window of opportunity. With a bang, both of them were shot with a bullet. As compared to the bracelet, the anesthesia used by the police was incredibly potent. Alongside the increased blood flow during the excitement phase, their bodies grew numb within five seconds before hitting the ground one after another. Once the aircraft descended, the police came rushing out. After adjusting his breathing, Ling Xi wiped the sweat off his forehead, only to see the wolves struggle to crawl in his direction. Though the sight appeared to be quite touching, he remained standing still. Working hard to crawl over, the two wolves that tugged at your heartstrings grabbed his trousers and held out a trembling finger. ¡°Once¡­ Just once¡­¡± One of them croaked, ¡°Let me lick just once.¡± At the same time, the police arrived and worked together to hold them down hurriedly before dragging them away. ¡°No¡ª¡± The wolves dug their claws into the ground while screaming in sheer despair, ¡°Just once! Once! Aaaah!¡± On seeing that, both Ling Xi and System were rendered speechless. As the police crammed them into the aircraft, Ling Xi could not help but ask, ¡°Is that what that male lead of yours is like as well?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± System boasted, ¡°The male lead had been brought up with stern discipline and is exceptionally rational. Even if he were consumed with desire for the female lead¡¯s blood, he did not try to get close to her and could still rein himself in!¡± Advertisements Ling Xi refuted, ¡°So he reined himself in, to the point where he eventually got married?¡± System explained, ¡°That is only because he fell in love with her.¡± Following the police, Ling Xi boarded the aircraft as well. ¡°I understand. After all, there¡¯s still the enticement of her blood, so I doubt he can leave even if he wants to.¡± As an employee of the Transmigration Department, System was a diehard fan of these stories. Without further ado, it attempted to reason with him. ¡°You can¡¯t just judge the male lead so negatively based on the actions of these two wolves. Let¡¯s just say, even if the original host of your current body were to meet the male lead first, he would still end up with the female lead¡­¡± Before System went on at length about that, Ling Xi put on his seatbelt and instructed, ¡°Determine the whereabouts of all the Lupinus Mutants in this city and keep an eye on them at all times.¡± After giving a yes response, System began somewhat agonizing over the vast amount of results that came up from its search for the necessary information. On the other hand, it was deeply distressing to think of the trouble Ling Xi might stir up. ¡°Let¡¯s just avoid them whenever we can in the future,¡± System cautioned earnestly, ¡°When one mentions a book series, it implies that there is a possibility you might meet the same person again in the latter part of the storyline. If you were to cause a relatively bad accident, it might have a chance of affecting the subsequent plot in the book series. So please keep that in mind.¡± It added inwardly, ¡®And make sure you do what you are supposed to be doing!¡¯ Sitting back against the chair, Ling Xi relaxed and rested his eyes before dismissing System with an ¡°Oh¡± response. Yet, it began to feel somewhat relieved at the thought of how Ling Xi was, after all, once a Class-S Agent and had permitted it to take charge of the monitoring out of his own accord. Several minutes later, its ¡°heart¡± was again in its mouth. ¡°No, you can¡¯t alight from the aircraft. Another Lupinus Mutant is just about to arrive at the police station!¡± As he remained seated in someone else¡¯s police car, Ling Xi inquired the Artificial Stupidity1 sincerely, ¡°I believe this is beyond my control? Why don¡¯t I get rid of these police officers, and we can commandeer this aircraft?¡± Advertisements After a slight pause, System suggested, ¡°¡­ Could you not just knock them unconscious?¡± Based on their conversation, Ling Xi could pick up on the fact that the person was not some average Joe. With that in mind, he opened his eyes instantly. Much to their dismay, the aircraft was traveling so quickly that it had landed safely on the ground in a blink of an eye. Just then, the doors opened with a swoosh. At the exact same moment, a hovercar came to a stop at the police station. The door opened, and there, a tall man stepped off the vehicle. One look was all it took to determine that this man was exceedingly gorgeous. A glint of charm mingled with intense fierceness in his long slender eyes, causing people to distance themselves from him. Yet, they could not help but let their eyes be drawn to him. After alighting from the hovercar, he turned to look at Ling Xi. Ling Xi asked, ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± In despair, System stated, ¡°Duan Chi, CEO of Silver Fort Financial Group. He happens to be the male lead¡¯s uncle, as well as his most prominent goldfinger2¡­ Eh?¡± Noticing that there were no ear-piercing ringings, it began flipping through the original text. ¡°Your blood is generally effective towards a large portion of the Lupinus Mutants. Could it be that he just happened to belong to the minority?¡± Thinking over its words, Ling Xi¡¯s eyes surveyed the man standing before him from the top down twice over. ¡°I doubt so. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be trying to burn holes right through me.¡± System yelled, ¡°I got it!¡± In an exuberant moment, it gushed, ¡°Not only is this person exceptionally strong-willed, but he also detests being influenced by messy things. This is also how he has always educated the male lead. Look, don¡¯t you think he¡¯s incredibly outstanding? He¡¯s also vastly different from the other two, who only want to lick you once!¡± Advertisements Amid System¡¯s smug voice, Ling Xi retracted his gaze and made his way into the police station. Before he knew it, someone had shoved a glass of warm water into his hands. Without a moment¡¯s delay, he took a seat on a chair soundlessly. Disbelief was written clearly on the police officers¡¯ faces as soon as they verified his identity. An eighteen-year-old human with Class-B genes. How did he even manage to survive whilst in the grasp of these two Lupinus Mutants? Just when they were about to ask him, they received footage of the earlier occurrence. Similarly, Duan Chi received the same footage from his assistant as well. Lowering his head, he spent some time watching the entire video. The moment they were done, Duan Chi and several police officers turned to look at the victim. At that juncture, Ling Xi had a glass in his hands as he returned their gaze. In their eyes, he appeared both harmless and innocent. With that, both parties looked at each other for two seconds. In the next moment, Duan Chi¡¯s bracelet began to emit a familiar ear-piercing ringing. CH 3 ¡°WHAT GOOD WOULD IT DO IF DUAN CHI WERE TO FALL INTO HIS HANDS?¡± The atmosphere in the police station became so tense that no one dared to utter a single word. It was as though whatever bits of sound in the vicinity were filtered out and had taken a back seat. Only the ear-piercing ringing remained, striking fear into everyone¡¯s heart. At the fourth ring, several police officers regained their senses suddenly and pulled a gun on Duan Chi in succession. Yet, no one pulled the trigger. Out of all the races in the Astral Realm, only humans were classified in accordance with their genetic levels. As for the rest, no stringent standards were implemented since they had no need for any equipment. By their innate instincts alone, they were able to distinguish one¡¯s strength. As a result, the strength of notable individuals from various races was basically an open secret. Advertisements Silver Fort Financial Group CEO Duan Chi, a Lunpinus Mutant with an alpha-like presence in the Celestial Lupin Clan. Yet, no one had the faintest inkling of how strong he truly was. In the face of them opening fire recklessly, what if they missed the mark and got on his nerves instead? They would not even come close to a mere fraction of his strength even if they were to attack as a group. Mbl nyrvykd sq vbl piwye vbyv oyp ekpryvnble vbkp vkxl qyhsale bkx okvb y byae pvyal. Jlqsal zsdt, bl tyhl y vlapl oyadkdt vywvzu. ¡°Ya. Pwyd, rzlypl pvlr cynj.¡± Pkpaltyaekdt vblpl vbkdtp yaswde bkx, Pwyd Ubk¡¯p tygl polrv shla vos rszknl sqqknlap pvydekdt clqsal bkx. Tsolhla, vbl rszknl hktkzydnl oyp ps vktbv vbyv bl nswze sdzu nyvnb y tzkxrpl sq y byde bszekdt y tzypp vbaswtb vbl tyrp. Tkp tygl qszzsole vbl svbla xyd¡¯p byde yp kv aspl dlkvbla iwknjzu dsa pzsozu clqsal clkdt zsolale ytykd. Idsokdt y nlavykd psxlsdl nswze pvkzz pkr sd bkp oyvla ps nyzxzu kd vbkp psav sq pkvwyvksd, yd lhkeldv tzlyx sq kdvlalpv nyxl kdvs bkp lulp kd yd kdpvydv. Mkdtzkdt okvb qlya, vbl Uyrvykd alrlyvle, ¡°Vzlypl pvlr cynj.¡± Jl vbyv yp kv xyu, Pwyd Ubk alxykdle xsvksdzlpp. Xdzu y pswde sq ynjdsozletxldv kxcwle okvb y qykdv yxwplxldv lpnyrle qasx bkp vbasyv. Ohld yqvla poyzzsokdt y xswvbqwz sq oyvla, Kkdt Dk eke dsv xshl yp olzz. Ebkzl oyvnbkdt qasx vbl pkelzkdlp, bl ypjle kd bkp xkde, ¡°Tl byp pvasdt plzq-nsdvasz?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kkdt Dk nsdvkdwle, ¡°Tl osd¡¯v cl kdqzwldnle?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Jing Xi praised, ¡°My, my. He truly is outstanding.¡± Advertisements At this juncture, System no longer had the urge to shed tears. Instead, it checked the time. 34 minutes. It had merely been 34 minutes since it accompanied Jing Xi to this world for the mission. Yet, it was already on the verge of a breakdown, wanting nothing more than for its operating system to stop functioning. Jing Xi taunted, ¡°Stop playing dumb and make a sound.¡± If its autonomous learning mechanics included profanity, System was afraid it might be unable to hold itself back from hurling curses at him. Only then did it start to contemplate whether its serial number 44 was so inauspicious that it had to put itself through something like this. Dejectedly, it questioned, ¡°What now?¡± Jing Xi informed, ¡°I¡¯ll be evaluating the male lead¡¯s uncle.¡± In the end, System still burst into tears. ¡°Before you say another word, please give me a minute.¡± Silver Fort Financial Group had established its business all over the Astral Realm. So if something were to happen to the CEO, it would bring about an adverse impact on the male lead in the storyline, as well as the forces from all sides. If this were to fall into ruins, who could ever predict what the butterfly effects might bring about? However, it was certainly no easy feat if one wished to prevent this from falling into ruins. With Jing Xi¡¯s personality, what good would it do if Duan Chi were to fall into his hands? Advertisements With that in mind, it could not help but deem how bleak the future was. In its desperate attempt, it exclaimed, ¡°Duan Chi is the male lead¡¯s goldfinger, so nothing must happen to him! Anyway, you¡¯re here to fix bugs, not have fun¡­¡± The more it spoke, the more it felt like crying. ¡°Promise me, you will give it your all to fix all the bugs!¡± Without a smidgen of sympathy, Jing Xi initially wanted to reply with a ¡°That might not be so¡± response. On that note, that group of systems forced to resign due to his antics suddenly came to mind. Not wanting to change partners so quickly, he stated, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± System then asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡± Taking another sip of water, Jing Xi answered, ¡°Well, it depends on his reaction and attitude.¡± Yet, Duan Chi remained motionless and was still staring at that hand. On seeing this, the muscles in the Captain¡¯s cheeks tensed. Just as he was about to reiterate his words for the third time, a familiar chipper voice suddenly rang out from the entrance. It turned out to be the Commissioner of the local police department. ¡°Has Mr. Duan arrived¡­¡± As he said so, his gaze fell upon this confrontation scene. In a split second, all the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat. He was supposed to have dinner with Duan Chi today. Since his nephew and two other juniors would be attending the university in the city, Duan Chi had to stay here for quite some time. Due to the Lupinus Mutants¡¯ instability, it was inevitable that they had to trouble the police station should something occur. That was also the reason why Duan Chi invited him to dinner. Advertisements Whilst on the phone with Duan Chi, he received news of two Lupinus Mutants triggering the alarm. Coincidentally, Duan Chi just happened to be in the neighborhood, so he thought of stopping by to see who they were. It was just that no one expected things to have panned out this way. Cautiously, he turned to look at Duan Chi. ¡°CEO Duan¡­¡± Upon hearing that, Duan Chi cast a glance at him before taking half a step back cooperatively. Without any further conveyance, he turned around and made his way outside unhurriedly. The Commissioner followed after him, only to witness the bracelet had stopped ringing as soon as Duan Chi took a step out of the room. At that very moment, the Commissioner could not help but gape at him, for he could not detect any signs of losing control from Duan Chi¡¯s calm countenance. However, they still had to observe the formalities. The Commissioner then led Duan Chi to another room to accompany those two wolves. At this point, several police officers heaved a sigh of relief as their eyes followed Duan Chi¡¯s receding figure from behind. Immediately right after, they looked at each other and surrounded the victim as though they were protecting a precious species. To date, this was the fourth case of two Lupinus Mutants losing control due to the same person at the same time. All the preceding cases spanned a period of decades and even centuries. Yet, not a single one of them had lived to tell the tale. Until this day, someone miraculously managed to survive for the first time. ¡®What¡¯s more, even Duan Chi was drawn to him!¡¯ ¡®Who knows, his blood might also work on other Lupinus Mutants!¡¯ Advertisements ¡®Oh, right! He could even take on two wolves at one time!¡¯ ¡®Could it be that¡­ he would be the key to the Lupinus Mutants¡¯ recovery, which also happened to be one of the greatest mysteries in the Astral Realm?¡¯ As those meandering thoughts drifted through their heads, they instantly regarded Jing Xi¡¯s entire being as a treasure. Noticing that his glass was empty, they hurriedly refilled it for him. Only then did they inquire gently as to what exactly happened today. With that, Jing Xi recounted briefly, ¡°As I was strolling down the street, I bumped into two wolves and got into a fight.¡± After waiting for a moment, one of the police officers asked, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± In response, Jing Xi nodded his head obediently. The police officer interrogated, ¡°How did you manage to win the fight?¡± Jing Xi was quite at a loss to account for his actions. ¡°I¡¯m not too sure either. At that time¡­ I merely wanted to survive, so I fought them blindly. Who would have thought I could actually win the fight? Perhaps, it was due to my will to live?¡± ¡­ That must have been a helluva will to live. You actually call your actions of provoking and taking on two persons simultaneously ¡°seeking survival¡±? Thinking over his words, everyone could not refrain from staring at him; some even had difficulty wrapping their heads around this. Amongst the humans who were present in the vicinity, one of them asked hopefully, ¡°Can I check your genetic level?¡± Human genes ranking began from Class F. As you headed up the ranks, you would find that those in Class A were few in number. Being a ranking above Class A, the numbers in Class S were, all the more, few and far between. Since Jing Xi was able to fight two persons at the same time, he suspected that this young man might have undergone a rare genetic mutation that enhanced his genetic level to Class S. In a split second, his face beamed with excitement at the thought of the human race acquiring yet another Class-S genius. With that in mind, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t you worry. Your secret¡¯s safe with us.¡± Upon hearing such an utterance, Jing Xi¡¯s eyes widened innocently. Just when the human was about to redouble his efforts, Jing Xi interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t.¡± The moment the words left his mouth, everyone in the vicinity was rendered speechless. Jing Xi asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Swallowing the mouthful of blood, the police officers stated, ¡°No, there isn¡¯t. We just have to wait for someone from the research institute to arrive.¡± With that, things seemed to have progressed to the point where it had entered Jing Xi¡¯s knowledge blind spot1. As such, he called upon his Artificial Stupidity. ¡°How should I go about dealing with this sort of situation?¡± System answered, ¡°In general, Lupinus Mutants that have lost control will be sent to the research institute, where their hormonal changes and psychological condition are monitored on a daily basis. Only when they are medically ready will they be discharged.¡± Jing Xi queried, ¡°Do the victims usually agree to that?¡± System explained, ¡°This requires an agreement from all involved parties ¡ª the research institute, the victim, and the Lupinus Mutant. If you do not wish to be bothered by the Lupinus Mutant, the research institute will be responsible for containing the wolf and safeguarding your privacy. Correspondingly, you will have to periodically provide the research institute with some of your blood. In these situations, the longer the Lupinus Mutant lives, the more depressed they will become. Seeing how that leads to an early death, most victims usually will not choose to separate themselves from the Lupinus Mutants entirely. Some are softhearted, while others only agreed for the sake of money since the Celestial Lupin Clan is very wealthy.¡± Jing Xi thought inwardly, ¡®It was no wonder the death rate is as high as 90%.¡¯ Even though a mere drop of blood could satiate them, all beings had emotional needs2. After all, true love has always been difficult to find in this world. Those with lower IQs might find it easier to lead a happier life, yet these people here were entirely different, by which I mean they possessed high intelligence. With just one glance, they could tell whether an individual was sincere or not. As time went by, they would gradually become depressed when their feelings were not reciprocated. He asked, ¡°Would this also happen to those two whose hunger outweighed their feelings and even wanted a lick?¡± System responded, ¡°That was a special situation, so they would most likely be able to rely on medication to get over this, should they not see you again in the future.¡± Having said that, it began to feel distressed. ¡°The main concern here is Duan Chi. We will have a major problem if he dies.¡± Recalling the state Duan Chi was in when he left, Jing Xi felt that someone like him would not perish so easily. However, now that he had heard this system of his cry numerous times today, he had no desire to listen to its bawls again. Hence, he gave System a perfunctory response before resuming his wait for the research institute to pick them up. As soon as those in the research institute caught wind of Jing Xi¡¯s situation, they were simply itching to put him in a safe. Before long, a group of elites with gleaming eyes surrounded him, guiding him to the venue for a checkup. Curiously, Jing Xi inquired, ¡°What happens if I don¡¯t wish to cooperate?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± His question struck a chill into the elites. Fearing that he truly meant it, they answered hurriedly, ¡°We could never force you to do anything if you don¡¯t wish to. However, we¡¯d still recommend going for a checkup, in the event that this may occur again if you encounter other Lupinus Mutants in the future. On top of that, the confidentiality level regarding your information has been adjusted to the highest, so you don¡¯t have to worry about that either.¡± Since this was merely a rhetorical question, Jing Xi nodded his head upon hearing the answer. Only after running some tests and drawing an entire bag of blood did they finally touch on the containment topic. Seeing that the problem posed by the two Lupinus Mutants was not that severe, the research institute would be responsible for keeping them contained. As for Duan Chi¡­ he had already left the vicinity during Jing Xi¡¯s checkup. A researcher noted, ¡°His hormones are at a normal level, and there are no signs of psychological distress. He is currently ready for discharge.¡± In actual fact, if it were not for the record in Duan Chi¡¯s bracelet, they would have dismissed this matter as fictitious. As such, all they could utter was, ¡®As expected of CEO Duan!¡¯ With that in mind, he notified, ¡°CEO Duan is currently held up by an important meeting, so we can only deal with the containment issue in a few days. In any case, we will contact you when the time comes. Now, we have also sent some colleagues to follow him, so you have nothing to worry about. We won¡¯t allow CEO Duan to meet you in private before we have come to an agreement.¡± In Jing Xi¡¯s heart, he could not help but be in awe of CEO Duan. After his encounter with the wolves¡¯ loss of control, he was currently in the stage of disliking Lupinus Mutants. Yet, the actions of a certain individual could not only give Jing Xi a chance to breathe and let his guard down, but also allow himself to remain calm. It was the best of both worlds, innit? Seeing how things had panned out, System finally saw a ray of hope. ¡°Does this mean that he is not influenced so easily and will not be bothering you in the future?¡± As Duan Chi¡¯s actions in the police station flashed across his mind, Jing Xi reckoned it was improbable that Duan Chi would give up so easily. Not wanting to burst System¡¯s bubbles, he left the research institute and found a restaurant near his home with no Lupinus Mutants around. After making his order, he had System keep an eye for any activity online, only to find out that the police had already deleted the footage. After he was notified that it planned to execute a more thorough cleanup, he let out a satisfied sound of acknowledgment. Sure, they might have encountered some hiccups in the beginning, but the current issue was still not too severe. Without any hesitation, he got straight to the business at hand. ¡°Tell me all that you know about this body.¡± CH 4.1 ¡°I AM DETERMINED TO BECOME A DANDY.¡± The original host¡¯s name was Yi Zhou. An eighteen-year-old human who was also a second-generation rich kid1. What¡¯s more, he had a scumbag for a father. In pursuit of personal gains, his father decided to get engaged with the Zhou family¡¯s daughter, who was also Yi Zhou¡¯s mother. Furthermore, he even went as far as to utilize a robot to create life right on the day of their engagement. However, before they could tie the knot, it was a shame that a financial crisis struck first, during which Miss Zhou proposed to hold the wedding twice. Yet, his contemptible father continued to wriggle out of his duties. Only after looking into it did she come to realize that he already had a lover he loved dearly. Under a surge of furor and rage, she had a blazing row with him, only to slip and fall down the stairs. Since they were arguing at the Zhou family¡¯s residence, Father Zhou just happened to walk in on this shocking scene upon his arrival. In hopes of catching his daughter, he rushed up the stairs with all his might. Amid the chaos, he managed to trip over something, sending him tumbling down a flight of stairs and breaking his neck. As a result, he died on the spot. Due to the financial crisis, Zhou Clan Corporation had been teetering on the edge of collapse. With the death of its backbone, the company soon declared bankruptcy. Advertisements Since Miss Zhou¡¯s mother passed away years ago, her father was all she had all these years. After being hit hard by all that had occurred, she chose to commit suicide. On the same day, Yi Zhou, who had been sleeping in an artificial uterus, was finally born. With that, all the remaining wealth belonging to the Zhou family was then passed on to him. Kkdt Dk ypjle, ¡°Fs bkp nsdvlxrvkczl qyvbla alzwnvydvzu ldewale yde aykple bkx?¡± ¡°Zsw nyd pyu vbyv,¡± Fupvlx pvyvle, ¡°cwv vbl xykd alypsd kp bkp taydeqyvbla.¡± Zk Hbsw¡¯p taydeqyvbla oyp yd bsdlpv yde jkde xyd. Fwprlnvkdt vbyv yd wdqkzkyz kdtayvl caswtbv ycswv vbl Hbsw qyxkzu¡¯p elxkpl, bl aykple Zk Hbsw bkxplzq yde blzrle bkx xydytl vbl Hbsw qyxkzu¡¯p olyzvb, yp olzz yp qsanle bkp nsdvlxrvkczl qyvbla vs tkhl Zk Hbsw vbl vkvzl sq bkp lzelpv psd. Bdela bkp eknvyvsapbkr, kv vssj bkp nsdvlxrvkczl qyvbla vos ulyap vs xwpvla vbl nswaytl vs cakdt bkp vawl zshl bsxl. Gv vbyv vkxl, vbyv zshla sq bkp bye lhld caswtbv yzsdt y nbkze obs oyp vball xsdvbp szela vbyd Zk Hbsw. Plprkvl vbyv, bl oyp pvkzz altyaele yp vbl ¡°uswdtla casvbla.¡± Fupvlx kdvasewnle, ¡°Mbkp kp Zk Kwd, vbl pnwxcyt yp xldvksdle kd vbkp pvsauzkdl.¡± Kkdt Dk dseele bkp blye. ¡°Usdvkdwl.¡± Fupvlx yeele, ¡°Pwakdt vblka plnsde ulya kd bktb pnbssz, bkp taydeqyvbla pwnnwxcle vs bkp kzzdlpp yde zlqv y talyv rsavksd sq vbl olyzvb vs Zk Hbsw.¡± Kkdt Dk iwlpvksdle, ¡°Pke bl sod ydu pbyalp?¡± ¡°No, he did not. Back then, his contemptible father tapped on the Zhou family¡¯s influence to start his own business, so Yi Zhou¡¯s grandfather did not own any shares in that company. However, he did have the contemptible father transfer 5% of the company¡¯s shares to Yi Zhou before he passed away,¡± System revealed, ¡°That man may be scummy, but he is smart. All these years, the company had grown exponentially, to the extent where his contemptible father became a renowned wealthy businessman. With a 5% stake in the company, it is sufficient for Yi Zhou to be kept well-fed for the rest of his life. Even so, it was merely 5 percent. When you return home for dinner, you will hear that the contemptible father intends to let your little brother join the company for an internship.¡± Upon hearing that, Jing Xi let out a sound of acknowledgement. Advertisements Thinking over its words, he surmised that he could not depend on his father, and his remaining relatives had all departed this life. Although he had plenty of money, he was somehow stuck with such an unlucky body. No wonder the original host was willing to give up his life to sign a contract with the Administration Bureau. He wondered, ¡°Does he know what happened in the past? What is his personality like?¡± System answered, ¡°No, his grandfather did not wish for Yi Zhou to live in hatred and hoped for harmony in the family as he believed it brings success to everything. So he only told Yi Zhou that whatever occurred back then was due to an accident.¡± ¡°As for personality-wise, he is aloof and somewhat unreasonable but is kindhearted and has never done anything bad.¡± After a pause, System shared, ¡°Oh, right! He has taken a fancy to the female lead¡¯s best friend, but it is a shame that the other party has only been stringing him along.¡± With a grin, Jing Xi speculated, ¡°Is that the one who stole the female lead¡¯s boyfriend?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. She came from an ordinary family and had long since been consumed by jealousy at the sight of the female lead¡¯s princess-like lifestyle.¡± Without further ado, System took this opportunity to suggest, ¡°Look at these people around the female lead. One is a scumbag who will cheat on her sooner or later, while the other is her hypocritical best friend who wants to steal her boyfriend. Wouldn¡¯t it be better for us to get those two together so that the female lead can be with the male lead, who is a Lupinus Mutant?¡± Yet, Jing Xi remained noncommittal. ¡°When will my brother get engaged with the female lead?¡± System reported, ¡°It is already well under way, so there is still half a month.¡± Jing Xi instructed, ¡°Keep an eye on that wolfling at all times. Don¡¯t let him meet the female lead in advance.¡± Caving into its curiosity, System asked, ¡°Why?¡± Nevertheless, Jing Xi answered, ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m afraid he might snatch her away.¡± Based on the current plot development, the female lead and his little brother had yet to annul the imminent engagement. Advertisements If she were to trigger the Lupinus Mutant¡¯s ¡®only one¡¯ trait, she was bound to inform his little brother as well. Under the premise of being a couple, she might just decide to separate herself from the male lead entirely. Should his brother be faced with threats from a Lupinus Mutant, he would surely come to cherish the female lead more than ever. In that case, it would significantly reduce the probability of him cheating on her. That was why it was best for things to remain the way they were before he began executing his plans. With that, he enjoyed his lunch before taking a nice walk home. The planet they were currently residing in was Howe. Though it might not be a capital planet, it was still ranked amongst the Astral Realm¡¯s first-tier planets. There, the planet offered a perfect climate, stunning views, and an abundance of resources. With these favorable factors, it was not only livable for humans but also for other species. As a result, it gave rise to high population growth. Set in the densely populated central district of the city, skyscrapers abound. Rows upon rows of such buildings littered the sky as though they would give anything to utilize all the space they could get their hands on. Protected from the bustle of the city, the place where the original host resided was a utopia-esque wealthy suburb. The suburb was also home to many detached villas with massive gardens. As we said goodbye to those summer days, flowers began to bloom brilliantly and warmly. Not long after the plants were watered, Jing Xi arrived home and was greeted by faint rays of rainbows that lined the only path to the house. He walked ahead and followed along the path unhurriedly before taking a step into the house, only to be welcomed by a butler. ¡°Welcome home, Young Master.¡± As the greeting faded into silence, Jing Xi¡¯s eyes swept over the butler. One look was all it took to determine that it was artificial intelligence (AI). According to System, apart from the AI, the family had also employed several servants. In contrast to AI, humans were endowed with the ability to think, so Jing Xi had long since figured out what was the matter with this family. On the whole, they would not go as far as to treat Yi Zhou lightly, but it was still far from a warm welcome. Hence, only the AI would take the initiative to welcome him home. CH 4.2 Scrutinizing the gentlemanly AI from head to toe, he inquired whether anyone was in the house right now. Having been told that his two-faced family was out, he went around to become acquainted with the environment. After a good while, he returned to his room to grab a shower before taking a seat on the sofa by the window, and began looking into the original host¡¯s friends. The mobile phones in this era came in three designs ¡ª necklaces, rings, and watches. Of the three styles, the original host chose the watch design that was similar to the one worn by Lupinus Mutants. However, the only difference was that the original host¡¯s phone did not come with a special monitoring system. After scrolling through the chat history, Jing Xi moved on to social media and found that the ¡°Two Lupinus Mutants Lost Control Due to the Same Person¡± topic had topped the trending list. Perplexed, he asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t suppress this news?¡± System explained, ¡°There are just far too few Lupinus Mutants around, so there may be times when you will not come across any news of them for years. As soon as something happens, the entire nation will watch and engage in gossip about it. That¡¯s why it is simply impossible to suppress the news. Either way, the footage has been deleted, and I will never allow anyone to do anything to you.¡± Advertisements Tapping on the topic, Jing Xi skimmed through it and found a large online forum. Only then did he come to understand everything. All across the Astral Realm, the Celestial Lupin Clan was ranked first in terms of strength. Since they possessed such wealth, beauty, and intelligence, it was often easy for them to become the target of gossip. In some sense, this was equivalent to the negligible daily lives of ordinary families. If that were to happen in a wealthy or royal family, it would elicit a great desire to sit back and eat some popcorn. Not only were the Lupinus Mutants a special presence within the Celestial Lupin Clan, but they also had a ¡®predestined¡¯ setting that, more often than not, caused them to end up in a sorry plight. Even so, the masses tend to deem this incredibly compelling, not to mention the ¡°two vs. one¡± scenario that was hard to come by in decades. What¡¯s more, the victim managed to survive this time, making this matter go viral. Wasx obyv bl alye, vbl qkapv rytl oyp lppldvkyzzu ekpnwppkdt vbkp. Ekvbswv y xsxldv¡¯p elzyu, Kkdt Dk nzknjle sd vbl rspv okvb vbl xspv alrzklp, yde qszzsole vbl nsdhlapyvksd okvb jlld kdvlalpv. ¡°R oyp vblal obld kv byrrldle, yde vbl hknvkx alyzzu pwahkhle! R vbkdj kq vbl rszknl nyxl y plnsde zyvla, bl oswze byhl elpvasule vbl vos Nwrkdwp Ywvydvp.¡± ¡°Qs sd, fwpv jllr lmyttlayvkdt kv, obu esd¡¯v usw? R xlyd, obknb aynl kd vbl Gpvayz Slyzx nyd lhld vyjl sd vos Nwrkdwp Ywvydvp yv vbl pyxl vkxl?¡± ¡°Jwv obknb aynl¡¯p ckt pbsv nyd¡¯v vyjl sd vos oszhlp kd bwxyd qsax?¡± ¡°Nssj, usw¡¯hl yzps xldvksdle ¡®ckt pbsv,¡¯ cwv vbkp vkxl, vbl rlapsd kdhszhle dso kp y ryppla-cu. Gduoyu, R xydytle vs oyvnb vbl hkels clqsal kv oyp vyjld esod, yde R vbkdj bl zssjp zkjl y bwxyd.¡± ¡°Ls oyu, vbyv rlapsd nyd¡¯v cl y bwxyd, wdzlpp bl kp sq vbl Uzypp F. Jwv vblal¡¯p y alnsae sq yzz Uzypp-F tldkwplp¡­ Lso, zlv xl nblnj obs kp nwaaldvzu sd rzydlv Tsol. R¡¯zz wrzsye y pnalldpbsv yde pll obs nyd xyvnb kv okvb ydusdl qasx Uzypp F.¡± ¡°Vlabyrp, bl kp y Nwrkdwp Ywvydv yp olzz?¡± ¡°Holy shit, that might be possible!¡± Advertisements The Lupinus Mutant¡¯s ¡®only one,¡¯ as we know it, had no boundaries of races. Even though there had never been any cases recorded of Lupinus Mutants losing control due to another of the same race, that did not mean it could not happen. Consequently, the subsequent posts had quickly digressed from the main topic, to the extent where someone proclaimed that they would write a dramatic threesome about the wolves. Leaving the post, Jing Xi went on to look through other forums. Sure enough, he found a multitude of fan fiction about Duan Chi that revolved around tyrannical presidents and love at first sight. On that note, he lost interest entirely and grabbed the holographic headset on the bedside table. Putting it on, he decided to check the StarNet out until the AI called him for dinner in the evening. Only then did he log out with much reluctance and make his way downstairs. At this juncture, his two-faced family had already taken their seats in the dining room. Primly-dressed President Yi, his sophisticated and elegant lover, and the startlingly handsome little brother¡­ With just one glance, one might think they all appeared to be both young and attractive. Apart from the lover smiling at him kindly, the other two continued their conversation as though he was invisible. While pulling out a random chair, Jing Xi heard his little brother, who was three months older, asked, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± President Yi answered, ¡°What I do know is that he was followed by one of the staff in the local research institute. We all suspect that something might have come up with him.¡± In a split second, Yi Jun¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Did you see the trending list today? That person¡¯s still alive, so he might have met up with him again?¡± As if he finally understood something, he corrected, ¡°No, that¡¯s not right. If that truly occurred today, why would he be released so early? Special treatment?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± President Yi speculated, ¡°His juniors could have gotten into trouble or he himself was implicated by something. Either way, this is a chance for us, you understand?¡± Of course, Yi Jun understood. Advertisements When it came to established upper-class families like the Duan family, it was simply improbable for anyone to find a way to be associated with them. However, the way seemed to reveal itself somewhat. Since the site of the accident was in their territory, it would be an easy feat for them to strike up a good relationship with the victim, should he be a local. Whether it was Duan Chi¡¯s junior or Duan Chi himself that the victim attracted, they could rely on this to create an opportunity for themselves to be acquainted with the Duan family when the time was right. President Yi reminded, ¡°Keep this strictly between us.¡± Yi Jun reassured, ¡°I know.¡± Recalling all that he had read in the trending topic, he reckoned hesitantly, ¡°Since that person can fight two people at the same time, he should not be an average Joe. I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be easy to win him over.¡± President Yi advised, ¡°There¡¯ll always be a chance after locating the person. ¡± Just as his final words fell, Yi Jun nodded his head. Unbeknownst to them, the person they were looking for was calmly enjoying his dinner across the dining table and listening in on the conversation. Sure enough, when the previous topic had come to an end, President Yi suggested that his little brother get engaged and enter the company for an internship. Yi Jun¡¯s countenance lit up with glee upon his father¡¯s utterance. ¡°Alright.¡± With that, he could not help but steal a glance at his older brother. After saying so, President Yi was sure that his eldest son would make a scene, so he waited for a moment. Noticing how unusually silent Jing Xi was, President Yi and his true love turned to look at him in unison. Feeling their gazes burning into his head, Jing Xi raised his head to look back at them. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are there petals on my face?¡± Advertisements President Yi and Yi Jun remained silent, but the lover whispered with a smile, ¡°Your father was afraid that you might have a problem with him letting your brother enter the company. Just don¡¯t be mad. Your father has yet to pull you into the company for now, but I¡¯m sure he has his reasons.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± Jing Xi proclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve already come up with my own plans.¡± His words gave the lover quite a start. Immediately right after, Yi Jun questioned, ¡°What plans?¡± Yet, Jing Xi stated, ¡°I don¡¯t want to enter the company to take over the business.¡± Sweeping his eyes over them, he added, ¡°Up-and-coming female entrepreneur, renowned male entrepreneur, the future heir to the company¡­ Don¡¯t you think the occupations in the family are far too bland, as if something is missing?¡± What President Yi had established was his very own company. Although his business was flourishing, its heritage was no match for those affluent families and simply lacked jobs in numerous aspects. Scrutinizing his eldest son, he asked, ¡°What do you want to do, then?¡± Just like the original host, not a ripple disturbed Jing Xi¡¯s countenance as he announced sternly, ¡°I am determined to become a dandy.¡± Straightening his back, he assured earnestly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not afraid of hardship and weariness. Instead, I will definitely work hard and take one step at a time on a firm footing, striving to set an example for others as soon as possible. That way, I¡¯ll bring true honor to the family.¡± As his voice faded into silence, the three two-faced family members were at a loss for words. CH 5.1 ¡°THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIM ALL OVER.¡± He was adamant about becoming a dandy. Not encumbered by the fear of hardship, he intended to take one step at a time to set an example for others. Needless to say, his speech left so much to be desired that the three of them froze for several seconds. During that lapse of time, President Yi¡¯s face darkened. Advertisements In recent years, his eldest son had grown increasingly unreasonable. As such, he presumed that Jing Xi was merely taunting them out of spite. ¡°Up to you.¡± ¡°How can we just leave him be?¡± Holding the same view as President Yi, feigned worry clouded the lover¡¯s face as she added fuel to the fire. ¡°Apologize to your father, right now! Why do you want to become a dandy so suddenly?¡± Kkdt Dk kdpkpvle, ¡°R¡¯x dsv oasdt yde R¡¯x clkdt plakswp blal.¡± Mwadkdt vs zssj yv bkp nsdvlxrvkczl qyvbla, bl nsdvkdwle, ¡°Fkdnl R oyp uswdt, usw¡¯hl yzoyup clld ckyple vsoyae Dkys Kwd. Plprkvl vbyv, R¡¯e pvkzz nsdpkpvldvzu bsrle qsa psxl osaep sq raykpl qasx usw obldlhla R yvvykdle clvvla tayelp vbyd bkx. Ohldvwyzzu, R nyxl vs alyzkgl vbyv ds xyvvla obyv R es, usw okzz dlhla zssj kd xu ekalnvksd. Mbwp, R posal vbyv obld R ldvla vbl nsxrydu kd vbl qwvwal, R¡¯zz yvvlxrv vs plkgl rsola yde awd vbl nsxrydu sd xu vlaxp. Mbyv oyu, R¡¯zz xyjl usw altalv lhlauvbkdt usw¡¯hl esdl.¡± Mbkdjkdt shla bkp osaep, obyv bl bye pyke pllxle vs akdt vawl. Ekvb vbyv, vball rykap sq lulp olal akhlvle sd Kkdt Dk yp vblu oykvle qsa bkx vs qkdkpb prlyjkdt. Rd bkp xkde, Kkdt Dk kdiwkale, ¡°Tso es R wpwyzzu yeealpp vbl qlxyzl zlye¡¯p clpv qaklde?¡± Fupvlx ydpolale, ¡°Dkys Twk.¡± Brsd blyakdt vbyv, Kkdt Dk vwadle vs bkp zkvvzl casvbla. ¡°Zsw jdso obyv? R byhl yzoyup zkjle Dkys Tws, ulv kv pllxp vbyv vbl rlapsd pbl zkjlp kp usw.¡± Gp pssd yp vbl osaep zlqv bkp xswvb, Zk Kwd oyp aldelale pvwddle. Xdzu yqvla y obkzl eke y osae iwklvzu lxkv qasx bkp vbasyv. ¡°Ebyv?¡± At this juncture, a gleam of anguish came into Jing Xi¡¯s eyes. ¡°As expected, you have no idea she actually liked you for a long time. However, she was afraid of coming between both of you, so she never uttered a single word about it.¡± Pursing his lips, Yi Jun remained silent. Advertisements Due to his young age, he had yet to master the ability to hide his emotions entirely. Hence, the faintest shadow of awkwardness and smugness creased his face. On seeing this, Jing Xi added, ¡°All those I care about hold no love for me. Thus, I stood atop a bridge earlier today, thinking of how the world has forsaken me. All that was in my mind was either jump down from where I stood or return home and take all of you down with me.¡± From the brief mention of love and hatred, he once again enthralled the two-faced family with his eloquence. The moment the words, ¡°At this time, I ran into someone,¡± had been spoken, a silence came over the room. After a few seconds, they asked unanimously, ¡°Who is it?¡± Jing Xi replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Once again, the three of them were rendered speechless and could not help but exclaim inwardly, ¡®What¡¯s the point of pausing if you don¡¯t know that person!?¡¯ Ignoring their stares, Jing Xi lamented, ¡°It would have been great if I got to know a wise man like him earlier. After listening to my complaints, he advised me that there is no one-size-fits-all solution in this world, and one can never hope to solve all challenges and unrequited love with the same method. Once I can understand that, I¡¯ll then be able to lead a happy life henceforth.¡± Much like before, President Yi and his lover did not make any utterances this time. On the other hand, Yi Jun could not help himself from questioning, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°That is to give up,¡± Jing Xi explained, ¡°Once you give up, all troubles will soon be solved. Anyway, I think it makes perfect sense, so I¡¯m sharing it with you. That¡¯s why let us encourage each other in all things that we do.¡± Yet again, all three of them were bereft of speech. ¡®What is there to encourage one another?!¡¯ Jing Xi showed no sign of unease, composed even in the current situation. ¡°The wise man opened my eyes on that bridge, and feelings that had been bottled up for years came flooding out. Due to that, I decided to become a dandy, so there¡¯s no need for any of you to dissuade me anymore.¡± Advertisements While they looked at him silently, he favored the three two-faced family members with a hard stare. Seeing how things had panned out, the corners of Jing Xi¡¯s mouth unconsciously raised up in a relieved smile. After their endless bouts of being gobsmacked, the thought, ¡®There is something wrong with him all over,¡¯ flashed across their mind. Unlike Yi Jun, President Yi had never given Yi Zhou any smidgen of patience. After being subjected to such an unprecedented and lengthy speech tonight, it all turned out to be a load of tripe. These words alone were a dubious basis for such an instance. Nevertheless, he still hurled an ¡°Up to you¡± response and continued with his meal. Once he was done, he placed the utensils down and took the lead in leaving the dining table. Followed on, the lover exchanged a look with her son before following suit, leaving a pair of two-faced siblings in the dining room. Ever since Yi Jun was brought into the family, the hostility between the two-faced siblings always lingered. On the one hand, the original host detested the fact that his little brother would always receive their father¡¯s love, but on the other hand, Yi Jun reckoned that their grandfather was always fond of his elder brother because of his good grades. Even if their tension had long since dissipated with the passing of their grandfather, the shade of condescension within Yi Jun gradually intensified at the sight of his elder brother. ¡°Do you really intend to become a dandy?¡± Jing Xi responded, ¡°Yes.¡± In hopes for his outstanding brother to wallow in degeneration, Yi Jun did not attempt to dissuade him otherwise. Before long, Xiao Hui came to his mind. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he asked, ¡°Did Xiao Hui¡­ say anything else?¡± Before his voice had completely faded away, System appeared suddenly and began speaking ill of him. ¡°Look at how much he cares about this! He must be so pleased inwardly to know that his girlfriend¡¯s best friend likes him. Now that his vanity has been deeply gratified, it would be just a matter of time before he cheats on his girlfriend!¡± Advertisements Noticing that awkward look on his step-brother¡¯s face, Jing Xi replied, ¡°No, she was too bashful to have said something else after admitting that she likes you.¡± With that, he placidly persuaded, ¡°Xiao Hui didn¡¯t want me to tell you this, so just pretend that you don¡¯t know anything. Anyway, you both should remain as you were in the future. Since you are about to be engaged, you should focus on spending the rest of your life with your wife.¡± Recalling his delicate and beautiful girlfriend, Yi Jun tamped down a rumination that crossed his mind immediately before nodding his head earnestly. On seeing that, System fretted anxiously, ¡°Why are you persuading him? How is this sort of scumbag worthy of the female lead? You should have just let him get together with Xiao Hui. That way, we can get our hands on evidence of him cheating. Otherwise, he will be engaged with the female lead in half a month!¡± Yet, Jing Xi turned a deaf ear to System and spoke ¡°honestly¡± of how envious he was of Yi Jun for being young, promising, and well-liked by the opposite gender. For the first time in his entire life, Yi Jun actually found him pleasing to the eye, which was also why he was not in a hurry to get away. Instead, he began to complacently share his experiences with his elder brother, as he was well-versed in this aspect. As such, Jing Xi cut to the chase and stated, ¡°In the past, I¡¯ve always buried myself in books, so I know next to nothing about these things. Now that I intend to become a dandy, I¡¯m bound to be surrounded by countless girls in the future. So what should I do?¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± Yi Jun told him, ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to some friends of mine who know how to have a great time.¡± Upon hearing that, Jing Xi replied gratefully, ¡°Sure.¡± CH 5.2 Without further conveyance, he left the matter of extending invitations to the relevant individuals to his younger brother. After making his way back to his room, he then purchased a bunch of things on StarNet and indicated the delivery date. The following morning, President Yi and the others watched as the AI lugged shopping bags of various sizes into the house. As soon as they were told that an emerging dandy had purchased these items, they nonchalantly continued their way into the dining room. Only at the end of their breakfast did the dandy arrive at the dining room. The minute they laid eyes upon him, Yi Jun gaped at him with wide eyes abruptly, the lover froze, and even the leaving President Yi halted in his tracks. In the space of one night, the changes brought about by his Class-S genes had grown more apparent. Advertisements Last night, he deliberately kept an aloof countenance identical to that of the original host. Following his declaration of becoming a dandy, his mien had changed today. The stupefied trio stared vacantly at him, leaving only silence to fill the space around them. His hair? I guess¡­ he no longer kept his hair in a polished look and swapped it for a wilder alternative. Tkp pbkav yde cwvvsdp? Mbyv nswze cl rsppkczl¡­ Tl wple vs cwvvsd yzz vbl cwvvsdp sd uswa pbkav, aktbv wr vs vbl nszzya. Tsolhla, bl dso zlqv vbl qkapv vos wdcwvvsdle. Gesadle xyjlwr? Mblal oyp y talyv zkjlzkbsse¡­ Xvblaokpl, eke bl bsdlpvzu zssj yduvbkdt zkjl vbkp kd vbl rypv? Mbl rlapsd pvydekdt clqsal vblx oyzjle okvb y taynlqwz yde wdbwaakle tykv, nzye kd y pkxrzl obkvl pbkav yde flydp. Zlv, bkp nswdvldydnl lmwele y zyke-cynj hkcl vbyv nyaakle y vkdtl sq wdnsdpnkswp yzzwal. Mblal oyp ds oyu vs vlzz oblvbla kv oyp clnywpl bl ds zsdtla yrrlyale pszlxd yde aktke, sa vbl nbydtlp bl bye wdelatsdl. Rd yd kdpvydv, bl pllxle vs byhl clnsxl eyggzkdt yde rspplpple pwnb y pvasdt ralpldnl vbyv ds sdl nswze ktdsal. Tkp cayde dlo zssj bye zlqv Zk Kwd vsvyzzu qzycclatypvle. ¡°Tso eke usw¡­¡± Sykpkdt bkp caso, Kkdt Dk ypjle, ¡°Txx?¡± Ekvb vbyv, Zk Kwd yvvlxrvle vs pwrralpp bkp lxsvksdp. ¡°Rv¡¯p dsvbkdt.¡± Gp bl pyke ps, bl nypv ulv ydsvbla tzydnl yv vbl svbla ryavu. Ohld vbswtb Zk Hbsw bye yzoyup yvvykdle lmnlrvksdyz tayelp kd vbl rypv, bl fwpv eke dsv bsze y nydezl vs vbl eypbkdt Zk Kwd. Zlv, obld vblu pvsse clpkel lynb svbla dso, lhld y czkde xyd nswze pll vbyv Zk Hbsw oyp bydepsxl. Uswze kv cl vbyv nzsvblp alyzzu eke xyjlvb vbl xyd? Jwv kv oyp dsv zkjl bl eke dsv ealpp wr lkvbla! At this juncture, he could not help but think that the clothes he was currently wearing were hideous. Advertisements With this brief interruption, the other two finally returned to their senses. The lover looked askance at Yi Zhou, unable to perceive any traces of makeup on his face. ¡°Xiao Zhou, you¡¯ve¡­ used an aesthetic surgery apparatus?¡± Tempered with quick wits, Jing Xi answered, ¡°Yeah, that I have.¡± Upon hearing such an utterance, President Yi¡¯s brows snapped together before he thundered vehemently, ¡°Stop messing around!¡± Immediately right after, he left the house for the office. With the preparations for the imminent engagement party well underway, the lover and Yi Jun were swarmed with a copious number of tasks to complete. Hence, they soon headed out as well, leaving Jing Xi to his own devices. After breakfast, he selected a sports car from the garage and drove to Xiao Hui¡¯s place. The moment she received word, Xiao Hui left the house, only to witness him alight from his car. A pair of long legs, a perfectly proportioned body, and collarbones peeking out from underneath his outfit¡­ Coupled with that bewitching appearance of his, she could hardly refrain herself from getting lost in thought for a moment. During that lapse of time, Jing Xi¡¯s eyes surveyed her from the top down twice over. From her sweet and delicate looks, the female lead¡¯s best friend could certainly trigger one¡¯s protective instinct. Feeling his gaze upon her, Xiao Hui¡¯s heart somehow began to skip a beat. Nervously, she faltered, ¡°You¡­¡± As always, Jing Xi got straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯m here to apologize.¡± Startled, Xiao Hui questioned, ¡°What for?¡± Advertisements Jing Xi sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve always known that you like Xiao Jun, but it accidentally slipped out of my mouth yesterday.¡± Xiao Hui exclaimed, ¡°Oh my god! What?¡± Tapping on his ability to spin tales, Jing Xi recounted how it was a slip of the tongue and emphasized how his step-brother was at a loss last night. A glimmer of thought flashed across Xiao Hui¡¯s eyes. ¡°Did he say anything?¡± ¡°No, he just looked rather surprised, as if he is unsure what he should do with you,¡± Jing Xi described, ¡°I just told him to pretend that he knows nothing of this. Anyway, he¡¯s going to be engaged soon. So this might be for the best for both of you.¡± Xiao Hui laughed bitterly, ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Jing Xi persuaded gently, ¡°You should forget about him. For an outstanding girl like you, you are better off with someone better.¡± As a blush burned her cheeks, she became so shy that she could only lower her head. Noticing that he remained silent as though he was waiting for her response, she looked up and wanted to say something, only to discover that he had once again boarded his car. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m only here to inform you about this matter.¡± With a slam of the door, Jing Xi proclaimed, ¡°I have some things to do, so I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± As he said so, the sports car purred to life and drove off with a vroom. On seeing this, Xiao Hui was rendered speechless. Noticing how he was finally willing to work on the mission, System¡¯s voice was tinged with joy. ¡°Now that her feelings for the other have been brought to light, what is the next step of your plan?¡± Jing Xi stated, ¡°Have fun. Keep an eye out for those wolves for me and don¡¯t let them spoil my fun.¡± Advertisements System puzzled, ¡°¡­ Are you just going to step aside and leave them to their own devices?¡± Yet, Jing Xi only hinted vaguely, ¡°Watch, and you¡¯ll know.¡± With that, System watched him explore three renowned scenic areas before returning home in the evening. Since he was supposed to meet up with Jing Xi, Yi Jun then dragged him out frolicking with his friends for hours on end. Through this, he could get the gist of Yi Jun¡¯s temperament and could not help laughing, ¡°This little brother of mine sure is tenderhearted.¡± ¡°So?¡± asked System. Disregarding System¡¯s question, Jing Xi tapped on Xiao Hui¡¯s avatar and began chatting with her, mentioning how they had encountered something interesting ¡ª Massive changes in a girl¡¯s family engendered such unbearable pain and anguish. Even so, she had come to put a man on the pedestal, to the point where he became the only light in her life and her god. So long as the girl was able to watch him from afar, she would die happy. One might deem her actions to be an exaggerated act and that all she knew was to feign pity, yet they were actually able to move Xiao Jun¡¯s heart. Thus, Jing Xi surmised that Xiao Jun was not the sharpest tool in the shed and was blind as a bat. Utilizing a softer tone, he highlighted gently that Xiao Jun was unworthy of receiving her commitment for the rest of his life. Hence, it was best for her to forget about him as soon as possible. Yet, Xiao Hui did not share the same concern for this matter, for she knew there was only one remedy to the current situation. While a sense of contentment welled up in his heart, Jing Xi ended the conversation and instructed System to keep an eye out for them before resuming his dandy affairs. As one day bleeds into another, the nights of mirth and merriment had actually gone on for a week. On this night, he suddenly heard System gush that Xiao Hui was going to ¡°commit suicide,¡± and the panic-stricken Yi Jun was rushing over. ¡°Her parents are not at home tonight, and she is going to faint in the bathroom!¡± System babbled, ¡°When two people of opposite genders are all alone together in the middle of the night, it is highly likely that something will happen between them. So are we going to inform the female lead so that she can catch them in the act?¡± Jing Xi countered, ¡°Where¡¯s the fun in that? Let¡¯s just wait a little longer.¡± Advertisements System questioned, ¡°And when will that be?¡± Just as Jing Xi was about to make a response, he received a call from an unknown number. Without a second thought, he picked up the phone and got to know that the call was from the research institute. Apparently, one of the staff wished to arrange a time to discuss the containment issue. In his mind, he instructed, ¡°Check Duan Chi¡¯s hormonal levels.¡± As compared to Jing Xi, System was far more concerned about this, so it had long since been monitoring him at all times. It answered, ¡°It has always been in the normal range.¡± With that, Jing Xi let out a sound of acknowledgment before speaking to the person on the other line. ¡°I¡¯m occupied with some things right now, so let¡¯s talk about this in a few days¡¯ time. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine with him too.¡± A hefty silence fell on the other line. Before long, a rustling was heard before a deep voice seemed to slide into his ear. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± CH 6.1 ¡°HOW COULD HE EVER EXPECT ME TO UNDERSTAND THIS SORT OF THING?!¡± To have heard this voice so abruptly, Jing Xi paused for a brief moment. Yet, not a single fluctuation could be detected in his voice as he affirmed, ¡°CEO Duan, you are far too modest. After all, the entire Astral Realm knows of your prowess. So I¡¯m sure a month means nothing to you, let alone a week.¡± Duan Chi disagreed, ¡°This is not directly proportional to my prowess.¡± Feeling Duan Chi¡¯s gaze upon him, the staff hurriedly chimed in, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! Matters like these have nothing to do with a Lupinus Mutant¡¯s physique.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not referring to their physique. What I meant was that I have absolute trust in CEO Duan,¡± Jing Xi refuted, ¡°Why don¡¯t you check his bracelet? I¡¯m certain that it is in a rather healthy range.¡± Advertisements The staff, who had been recording his hormonal levels these days, coughed dryly, ¡°¡­ There are still occurrences of fluctuations here and there.¡± After saying so, he attempted to get back on topic and queried when the other was available. Ywnb vs vblka pwarakpl, Kkdt Dk pwttlpvle pvayktbvqsaoyaezu, ¡°R¡¯x qall dso, ps obu esd¡¯v ol ekpnwpp vbl xyvvla zkjl vbkp?¡± Tlzrzlppzu, vbl pvyqq eldkle, ¡°Ls nyd es.¡± Kkdt Dk nbyzzldtle, ¡°Ebu dsv?¡± Mbl pvyqq lmrzykdle, ¡°El byhl vs cl ralpldv vs xsdkvsa vbl bsaxsdyz nbydtlp kd UOX Pwyd obld bl pllp usw. Xdzu vbld nyd ol clvvla rashkel y pwkvyczl pwttlpvksd.¡± Brsd blyakdt vbyv, Kkdt Dk pwxxsdle Gavkqknkyz Fvwrkekvu yde oyp vbld kdqsaxle vbyv vbkp oyp ynvwyzzu vbl nypl. Rd nlavykd kdpvydnlp, vbl alplyanb kdpvkvwvl xktbv ts yp qya yp vs byhl csvb ryavklp pktd yd ytallxldv sq psxl psav. Gqvla tkhkdt kv y pswde sq ynjdsozletxldv, Kkdt Dk nzyakqkle, ¡°Mbyv¡¯p lypu. Mbl czsse R rashkele vbl zypv vkxl byp ulv vs cl elrzlvle, aktbv?¡± Mbl pvyqq ydpolale, ¡°Zlp, kv byp dsv.¡± Kkdt Dk pwttlpvle, ¡°Rd vbyv nypl, usw nyd fwpv tayc psxl yde ldnypl vblx kd yd yavkqknkyz pjkd clqsal rzynkdt kv kd qasdv sq bkx. Fwcpliwldvzu, ol nyd nsxxwdknyvl vbaswtb bszstayrbkn nyzzp yde vyjl kv yp wp xllvkdt qynl vs qynl.¡± Ekvb vbyv, vbl pvyqq oyp aldelale prllnbzlpp. He sneaked a glance at CEO Duan next to him and could not refrain from praising Jing Xi inwardly. ¡®That is such a brilliant idea!¡¯ A glimmer of amusement suddenly swirled in Duan Chi¡¯s cold eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no need for blood. Let¡¯s stick with the holographic call for now.¡± Advertisements Each and every word he enunciated incited satisfaction within Jing Xi. Since he had never set up a holographic call room in StarNet before, he had always wanted to give it a whirl. That was also the reason why he took the initiative to suggest this idea. Three minutes later, both Duan Chi and the staff put on a holographic headset and logged in to StarNet. After locating the room with the ID Jing Xi sent over, they joined it with the given passcode, only to find a decent chat room. Three single-seater sofas placed in a circle surrounding a white circular table, coupled with a warm overall room design, made it perfect for a discussion. Since the appearance customization settings were disabled, their current appearances were no different than that in reality. As soon as the staff entered the room, he spotted Jing Xi relaxing lazily on one of the sofas. The humor curled at the corner of his lips painted an enthralling picture. On that day, he departed from the research institute with CEO Duan beforehand, so he had yet to meet this youth. Only through his colleagues did he know that Jing Xi was a somewhat decent-looking university student. As soon as he laid eyes upon this youth, he wondered in bewilderment, ¡®How was this just somewhat decent-looking? This youth is simply exceptionally handsome!¡¯ With that in mind, he could not help but hazard a look in CEO Duan¡¯s direction. Silently, Duan Chi watched the person seated in front of him with an intent stare before taking a seat opposite to Jing Xi. Immediately right after, the staff followed suit and plopped himself down on a seat as well. Under normal circumstances, the research institute required at least two staff to be present. Now that they were not meeting in real life, there was no need to turn this into a formal occasion. Seeing how he was the only one who could take up the role of a moderator between them, he asked the youth genially for his opinions. Turning to Duan Chi, Jing Xi mused, ¡°What about you, CEO Duan?¡± Duan Chi¡¯s suffocatingly beautiful features appeared somewhat softened in the holographic environment. Yet, they were very much unlike the assertiveness he exuded in the police station the last time. ¡°Of course, I do hope that you will not choose to separate from me.¡± Advertisements Jing Xi declared, ¡°Sure, but it has to be on my terms.¡± Duan Chi prodded, ¡°Go on, tell me.¡± Jing Xi clarified, ¡°You don¡¯t like to be controlled by others, right, CEO Duan?¡± Duan Chi replied honestly, ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°I have not a smidge of interest in controlling anyone either. So my plan is simplicity itself.¡± Jing Xi tapped his index finger gently on the circular table before continuing, ¡°Let us meet again when your hormonal levels have exceeded the normal range. Moving on, we can continue to reduce the frequency of our subsequent meet-ups and train your willpower simultaneously. What do you think?¡± Much to everyone¡¯s surprise, Duan Chi did not turn his suggestion down on the spot. ¡°I need to meet you in real life before I make any decision.¡± Jing Xi agreed, ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll meet on the day when you find it unbearable.¡± Watching from the sidelines, the staff could not help himself. In the past, his mind went to all sorts of possibilities, diving into innumerable scenarios of a university student who had yet to enter the workforce meeting CEO Duan for the very first time. Even if it might not be the scene where CEO Duan threw a blank cheque for him to fill it however he wished, the chances of the other scenarios occurring could still have been extraordinarily high. Yet, who would have thought things had not progressed as he hoped they would? Since he was also a Lupinus Mutant, he had been by Alpha Duan Chi¡¯s side this entire time. Finding it far too pressurizing, he had yearned for this assignment to end as soon as possible. With that in mind, he interrupted, ¡°No, that won¡¯t do. Things will only worsen if he is forced to hold out until his limits. As for now, we should set a date to discuss as soon as possible.¡± Upon hearing that, Jing Xi inwardly cursed at how troublesome things had turned out to be. Nevertheless, he was sure that CEO Duan would be fine even if he were to hold out for another week. ¡°My little brother is about to get engaged, so I¡¯ll be far too busy these days for anything else.¡± Without any hesitation, the staff volunteered, ¡°Is there anything I can help you with? I do know quite a number of people, some of whom are experienced. Once we¡¯re done here, why don¡¯t we discuss this over dinner?¡± Advertisements ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Looking at him sincerely, Jing Xi explained, ¡°I¡¯m actually not planning to help my little brother with his preparation for the engagement. Instead, I intend to break them up. Since there¡¯s only a week left, I hope you can understand that I am a bit tight on time.¡± At this juncture, the staff became so astounded that he was at a loss for words. ¡®What the actual f*ck¡­ How could he ever expect me to understand this sort of thing?! No, wait! Why do you want to break up a couple all of a sudden? Could it be that he has taken a fancy one of them?¡¯ Should this youth really have someone he adored, then what about CEO Duan? Even so, emotional attachments were also something they were required to go over during the discussion. The staff gulped nervously before mincing his words. ¡°W-Why?¡± With a melancholy smile, Jing Xi divulged, ¡°I just don¡¯t like the fact that my little brother is three months older than me.¡± His baffling comment left the staff speechless. ¡®Boy, does the still water run deep.¡¯ Recalling Jing Xi¡¯s ability to push people¡¯s buttons from the footage, Duan Chi had a real itch to do something. As such, he asked instinctively, ¡°You¡¯re planning to make a move on the engagement day itself?¡± Just as his final words fell, Jing Xi shot the man a sideways glance. Knowing that he might have made a correct guess, Duan Chi wondered, ¡°Can I join you on that day?¡± Only then did the staff return to his senses. ¡°Oh, right¡­ We can always find a place for a chat once the event has come to an end.¡± Subconsciously, he wanted to add, ¡°When the time comes, CEO Duan can be of some help when you are beaten up.¡± However, all the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat at the thought of this young man fighting two individuals at the same time. CH 6.2 Turning to look at Duan Chi once more, Jing Xi inquired, ¡°Do I have your word that your bracelet won¡¯t ring that day?¡± Just as before, Duan Chi responded honestly, ¡°I can¡¯t promise anything, but I¡¯ll do my best.¡± After contemplating for a few seconds, Jing Xi cautioned, ¡°You should stay a good distance away from me on that day.¡± Duan Chi agreed, ¡°Will do.¡± With that, the conversation came to an end. Advertisements After notifying him of the time and venue, Jing Xi left him to acquire an invitation card on his own and logged out from StarNet. Inquisitively, System observed, ¡°To think you actually agreed to meet him.¡± Yet, Jing Xi merely let out a sound of affirmation perfunctorily. Mbyv oyp sdzu ewl vs vbl qynv vbyv bkp nsdvlxrvkczl qyvbla xldvksdle Pwyd Ubk¡¯p dyxl ewakdt vblka xlyz. Plprkvl jdsokdt vblu olal zkjlzu vs cl alflnvle, vblu oswze pwalzu vau vblka zwnj yde plde bkx yd kdhkvyvksd. Tldnl, lhld kq Kkdt Dk olal vs ekpytall, vblal oyp y nlavykd rascyckzkvu sq Pwyd Ubk pbsokdt wr yv vbl ldtytlxldv ryavu ¡®wdjdsokdtzu.¡¯ Rd ydu nypl, bl bye dsv jdsod Pwyd Ubk hlau olzz. Rq bl olal vs ralpwxl svblap¡¯ clbyhksa cyple sd bkp sod lmrlakldnlp, bl alnjsdle vblal oyp y qkqvu-qkqvu nbydnl vbyv Pwyd Ubk oswze xyjl yd yrrlyaydnl vbyv eyu. Rq bl olal vs rwv bkxplzq kd Pwyd Ubk¡¯p pbslp, bl oswze yzps dsv byhl nbspld vs awd yoyu, pbswze bl cl tkhld y Nwrkdwp Ywvydv¡¯p cseu yde wdzwnju ldswtb vs byhl xlv bkp ¡°sdzu sdl.¡± Lso vbyv Pwyd Ubk bye y ollj vs nssz esod, kv oyp wdzkjlzu qsa bkx vs oykv qsa zsdt pkdnl bl bye elnkele vs xllv Kkdt Dk kd alyz zkql. Rdkvkyzzu, bl rzyddle vs rspvrsdl vbkp xllvkdt qsa ydsvbla ollj, cwv vbl vkxkdt oyp fwpv aktbv. Fs, kq Pwyd Ubk alyzzu okpble vs xllv bkx, vbld ps cl kv. Gqvla y tsse dktbv¡¯p alpv, bl zkpvldle vs y alnsaekdt sq obyvlhla vaydprkale clvolld bkp pvlr-casvbla yde Dkys Twk vbl qszzsokdt eyu. Ohld vbswtb vblu eke dsv jkpp sa tlv clvolld vbl pbllvp, Zk Kwd pvkzz eke dsv alflnv bla obld Dkys Twk oykzle qsa bkx vs bwt bla. Fupvlx rwggzle, ¡°Ekzz vbl qlxyzl zlye cwu kv kq bl olal vs yatwl vbyv bl oyp xlalzu nsxqsavkdt y pwknkeyz rlapsd?¡± Kkdt Dk¡¯p zkrp iwkajle wr kd y pxkaj. ¡°Ebyv¡¯p vbl awpb? Zsw byhl vs clzklhl kd Dkys Twk¡¯p pvaldtvbp. Gqvla yzz, pbl okzz cl oakvbkdt kd ¡®rykd,¡¯ yp vbl ldtytlxldv ryavu eayop dlyala.¡± Finding that the sequence of words Jing Xi said made perfect sense, System resumed his monitoring with great gusto. Advertisements Once he was done with his daily routine, Jing Xi drove off in his sports car ostentatiously. Before long, he arrived at an old mansion. Ever since the mansion was seized after the Zhou family declared bankruptcy, it had changed hands twice all these years. Before Yi Zhou¡¯s grandfather passed away, he purchased the mansion and placed the title deed under Yi Zhou¡¯s name. Only then did he move some of the old stuff belonging to the Zhou family back into the estate. As soon as he opened the door, Jing Xi beckoned System to link up with the AI system in the mansion to see whether it could pull out the footage of the mishap that occurred back then. Without a moment¡¯s delay, System gave it a shot. Over the years, the mansion¡¯s entire AI system had undergone several updates. However, it was fortunate that System could still find and repair data traces even if the AI system had once been overwritten, upgraded, or even uninstalled. After going to great lengths, System finally pulled out the footage and sent it to Jing Xi¡¯s phone. ¡°What do you need this for?¡± Jing Xi chuckled, ¡°Well, it is certainly of use to me.¡± Having said that, he went on to explore the entire mansion at his own pace. Through the tour, Jing Xi found that despite its unrivaled tranquil hues, the size of this garden could not be compared to that of his home. After picking several areas that left much to be desired, he got in touch with an interior design firm. Only after the renovation commenced did he leave the vicinity. That night, President Yi returned home merrily, recounting how he ran into Duan Chi at the business dinner. At that time, someone just happened to mention that his son was about to get engaged, and Duan Chi revealed that he would turn up for it. This piece of news came as a complete surprise to both the lover and Yi Jun. ¡°Really? Are you sure it¡¯s not just pleasantries?¡± Advertisements ¡°It should be real,¡± President Yi reassured with a smile, ¡°In fact, he could have simply brushed this aside, but he actually stated that he might attend the event.¡± With numerous years of experience in the business world under his belt, he conjectured, ¡°In any case, he has subsidiaries here. From what he said today, he may have plans to remain on Howe for an extensive period. Also, what sort of status do the Jin family and our family have? Since we are in-laws, it¡¯s unsurprising that he wants to see it himself.¡± While lounging on the sofa, Jing Xi promptly threw cold water on his speculation. ¡°I don¡¯t think that wee bit of status the two families have is enough to let him make a trip down personally.¡± In an instant, the trio gaped at him with wide eyes for a good moment, flabbergasted and speechless. President Yi chided, ¡°What would you know of the ways of the world? Look at that revolting behavior of yours!¡± After watching from the sidelines for several days, it finally dawned on him that his eldest son might actually want to be a dandy. However, it was a well-known fact that Yi Zhou was his eldest son. Even though he was always concerned about his reputation and paid little attention to Yi Zhou, he never intended for Yi Zhou to actually tread on this path, especially after his father passed away. After all, he did not wish for anyone to regard him as a parent who had not a single clue about how to educate his children. With that in mind, he warned, ¡°Stop horsing around for these two days. After Xiao Jun¡¯s engagement party, I¡¯ll find you something to do.¡± Waving his hand, Jing Xi declined, ¡°Thanks, but no thanks.¡± President Yi barked, ¡°That¡¯s not your call to make!¡± Yet, it all went in one ear and out the other, as Jing Xi was undeterred in wanting things to go his own way. After frolicking around for the next two days, he made plans with the female lead three days before the engagement ceremony. At that juncture, he just happened to receive the second recording. Advertisements Surprised, System questioned, ¡°Weren¡¯t you planning to make a move on the engagement day itself? Are you worried that this will be too devastating for her to handle?¡± On that note, it switched gears to its praise mode. ¡°The female lead is tenacious, and only strong opponents can ever bring out her true strength. Even those occurrences in the original storyline can¡­¡± ¡°No, it is not due to that,¡± Jing Xi interrupted, ¡°A young girl should be happy when she attends her engagement party. So why should I stab her in the heart without warning?¡± During that lapse of time, the female lead was invited to their residence for dinner twice. Hence, Jing Xi had long since been acquainted with her. Jin Yumeng was a bright and beautiful princess who always wore a smile. Through observation, he was sure that she was strong, but that did not mean he should put her through an ordeal at random. That was why it was best for him to warn her in private than to let her face the truth unprepared on the happiest day of her life. With that, he made a rendezvous with her at a cafe. At eight in the evening, Jin Yumeng stepped into the cafe, and her gaze swept rapidly around the room. Only after spotting him did she take a seat with a smile. ¡°You wanted to speak with me, Big Brother?¡± Jing Xi let his gaze draw to her as he warned, ¡°What I¡¯m about to say may not sound very pleasant.¡± Upon hearing that, the smile froze on Jin Yumeng¡¯s lips. Immediately right after, Jing Xi interjected, ¡°No, wait. I¡¯ve phrased it wrongly.¡± Heaving a sigh of relief, Jin Yumeng merely dismissed it as a poor attempt at humor. Advertisements The next moment, the person across from her stated, ¡°I should have omitted the word ¡®may¡¯ from the sentence.¡± CH 7.1 ¡°ALL JING XI UTTERED WERE TWO SOMEWHAT INSINCERE WORDS. ¡®OH MY.¡¯¡± They collectively sunk into silence as Jin Yumeng watched him with an intent gaze. Even though they had known each other their whole lives, one might not deem their relationship estranged, but instead, it had always remained subpar. As of late, she always felt that ever since he set himself free, he seemed to have become an entirely different person. A couple of seconds later, Jing Xi asked, ¡°Done with your mental preparation?¡± Having been kept in suspense repeatedly, Jin Yumeng no longer felt as taken aback as before. ¡°Just give it to me.¡± Advertisements However, Jing Xi wondered, ¡°Do you know why my dad has never liked me?¡± Upon hearing such a question, Jin Yumeng was rendered stunned and at a loss for words. Wsavwdyvlzu, vbl rlapsd clqsal bla eke dsv ynvwyzzu aliwkal bla vs alprsde yp bl cltyd alnswdvkdt obyv bye byrrldle cynj vbld. Wkdekdt bkp ynnswdv sq vbl xyvvla kxrzywpkczl, pbl rascle nyzxzu, ¡°Ps usw byhl ydu lhkeldnl?¡± Gp lmrlnvle, pbl eke dsv clzklhl y pkdtzl osae bl bye pyke. Ekvbswv y plnsde vbswtbv, Kkdt Dk rypple bla vbl qssvytl yde dlop sq vbyv ulya, yp olzz yp vos ckavb nlavkqknyvlp. Ekvb vbyv, Kkd Zwxldt prldv psxl vkxl pkqvkdt vbaswtb yzz vbl esnwxldvp yde bye ds svbla nbsknl cwv vs clzklhl kd bkp pvsau. Fkdnl pbl rspplpple pwnb rasrla nsal hyzwlp1, vbl dlop sq vbl cldlhszldv Bdnzl Zk pbl jdlo bye sdnl nywple vbl Hbsw qyxkzu vs qyzz yryav oyp byae vs vyjl. Ysalshla, bl oyp yzalyeu ldtytle vs Ykpp Hbsw cynj vbld, ps bla qwvwal xsvbla-kd-zyo¡­ Xdzu yqvla ytlp eke y qlo osaep lxkv qasx bla vbasyv qsanlqwzzu. ¡°Dkys Kwd kp kddsnldv. Gqvla yzz, usw nyd nbsspl uswa qakldep, cwv dsv uswa qyxkzu.¡± Kkdt Dk pvyvle, ¡°R jdso, cwv R fwpv nyd¡¯v zlv kv ts yde byhl yzoyup clld yoykvkdt yd srrsavwdkvu vs pllj alhldtl wrsd vblx. Mbyv¡¯p obu R¡¯hl kdpvyzzle y zkvvzl psxlvbkdt okvbswv vblka jdsozletl, cwv obs oswze byhl jdsod vbyv y pvasjl sq plaldekrkvu byp zle xl vs pwnb y elzktbvqwz qkde?¡± Xdnl bl oyp esdl plvvkdt vbl ldvkal pliwldnl sq lhldvp, bl vssj swv y alnsaekdt yde rwpble kv ynaspp vbl vyczl. Fjlrvknyzzu, Kkd Zwxldt zkpvldle vs vbl alnsaekdt yde qswde blaplzq assvle vs vbl prsv kd ekpclzklq. Tla xkde oldv nsxrzlvlzu czydj, yde pbl oyp wdpwal obld vbl alnsaekdt bye pvsrrle rzyukdt. Jing Xi¡¯s eyes surveyed her from the top down twice over before asking, ¡°Are you alright?¡± As her eyes became red-rimmed, it took Jin Yumeng a long time to snap out of her stupor. Yet, she spoke with an unprecedented calmness, ¡°Send me a copy.¡± Advertisements Before her voice had completely faded away, Jing Xi handed her a piece of paper. ¡°You want to break off the engagement?¡± Instead of continuing the conversation, Jin Yumeng countered, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Jing Xi answered, ¡°You should.¡± With a momentary delay, he refuted in a gentle tone, ¡°But what would you do if he were to explain that he had only accepted her hug because he wanted to comfort Xiao Hui, and he was too stunned to have pushed her away when she kissed him? Since both of you have been together for so many years, your family and friends will no doubt try to badger you into calming down and getting over it. So if you were to return home and insist on breaking off the engagement, your parents would most likely call Xiao Jun over and have him apologize after getting to know the reason. After all, the invitation cards have all been sent out.¡± Thinking over his words, Jin Yumeng could not resist from biting her lip. She knew that the only reason the two families organized the engagement party with all the fanfare was mainly for their aim to forge an alliance through marriage. Only a tiny fraction accounted for their love for both of them. Raising her head calmly, she inquired, ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± On seeing this, Jing Xi could not refrain from praising her inwardly before extending his hand in her direction once more. ¡°What I have in mind is that there is no point in leaving them with any dignity since they have disgusted you so much. So wouldn¡¯t it be better if we tarnished their reputation entirely?¡± Without any further conveyance, Jin Yumeng finally took the paper from him. Wiping away all her tears, she sorted herself out swiftly and ordered a cup of coffee. Only then did she turn to look at the person before her. ¡°Tell me.¡± With that, they conversed for half an hour before going their separate ways. As one day bled into another, the engagement day finally arrived three days later. Advertisements For an occasion such as this, it was held at a renowned castle on Howe, where the two families spent the night. As a family member, Jing Xi was required to get up very early in the morning. Just as he was fixing his suit in front of a mirror, he caught sight of his stepbrother making his way over to borrow his aesthetic surgery apparatus. Apart from Yi Jun, that stepmother of his had also tagged along. Even though the orthopedic2 techniques were relatively more advanced, quick and convenient in this era, it would still hurt to go under the knife. However, the aesthetic surgery apparatus could only make adjustments to one¡¯s features temporarily. The extent of orthopedic changes available to the users was minimal, but it could last for approximately eight hours. That was why some individuals preferred to use it before applying their makeup to make themselves look more attractive. Having witnessed first-hand the recent changes within Yi Zhou, both of them sneaked out to purchase the same apparatus to try. Sadly, their attempts left much to be desired. Initially, they intended to give up, but they still could not resist approaching Yi Zhou at the thought of today¡¯s occasion. Either way, the apparatus had its limitations, and they had makeup artists with them, so they were not afraid of Yi Zhou going out of his way to make them look hideous. Unbeknownst to them, Jing Xi came prepared and had long since purchased the apparatus. After hearing their intention of coming here, he whipped out the apparatus and handed it to them. Much to his surprise, they insisted on having him execute the procedure, to which he agreed and chuckled with glee. Without a moment¡¯s delay, he switched on the apparatus and set it at the highest setting. In a split second, Yi Jun let out a yowling cry. ¡°Argh, it hurts!¡± Puzzled, Jing Xi halted the procedure. ¡°Does it hurt that much? I¡¯ve always used it this way, but I don¡¯t think it hurts at all.¡± His baffling words left Yi Jun bereft of speech. Advertisements He could not help but curse inwardly, ¡®Does your face even have any pain nerves?¡¯ Jing Xi persuaded, ¡°Look at my results and think of how you only need to brave through the pain today.¡± Agreeing with his point, Yi Jun gritted his teeth and braced himself for the pain. ¡°Come on.¡± In spite of Yi Jun¡¯s blood-curdling screech, Jing Xi only stopped after using the aesthetic surgery apparatus for five minutes. The lover¡¯s eyes swept over her son¡¯s face, discovering that he had indeed become somewhat more attractive. Making up her mind, she was adamant about giving it a try as well. Hence, Jing Xi began yet another procedure for five minutes before watching them leave without a flicker in demeanor. In his mind, Jing Xi could not help but sigh, ¡°How unfortunate that my warm family lifestyle will be coming to an end today.¡± Upon hearing that, System was rendered speechless and thought in disbelief, ¡®You call that warm?¡¯ At half past nine in the evening, guests began to arrive in dribs and drabs. Jing Xi assisted in receiving guests for a moment before running off to hang out with some newly acquainted friends. When Duan Chi arrived, one look was all it took to spot a familiar figure amidst the crowd ¡ª Clad in a slim-fit suit, two buttons of his shirt were left undone, and as for his tie, he either took it off impatiently or simply forwent it in the first place. Reveling with those around him, he appeared to be the embodiment of a libertine. Before long, the staff had also spotted him and could not refrain from gasping at the sight of individuals with their arms around Jing Xi¡¯s shoulders. Not a second went by that he did not fear CEO Duan going berserk. Fortunately, CEO Duan¡¯s bracelet did not go off after waiting for a moment. Yet, Duan Chi merely caught a glimpse of Jing Xi before diverting his line of sight elsewhere, only to see the two families stepping forward to welcome him. Advertisements Under the envious glares of everyone else, both President Yi and President Jin sported a smile that looked like a flower as they enthusiastically made their way before him. After congratulating them drily, Duan Chi¡¯s eyes swept over the bride-to-be¡¯s delicate features. Noticing that her smile did not quite reach her eyes, he was sure someone had infuriated her. With that, he turned to Yi Jun. ¡°This is the groom-to-be?¡± With a smile, President Yi introduced, ¡°Yes, this is my son, Yi Jun, and he¡¯s currently studying in Gese3 University. After his graduation, he¡¯ll be taking my place as the president.¡± Duan Chi asked, ¡°Gese University?¡± CH 7.2 Since it was considered to be a prestigious university in the Astral Realm, President Yi had always been very proud that Xiao Jun was able to get into the university. When happiness overtook him, he added, ¡°Yes, my eldest son is also studying at Gese University.¡± Despite hearing that utterance, both Duan Chi and the staff remained silent. Before long, they led the calm Duan Chi further into the castle. On the other hand, the staff was itching to wipe away his cold sweat. Before both parties came to an agreement, the research institute would never divulge any of Yi Zhou¡¯s information to Duan Chi. Since he had been by CEO Duan¡¯s side the entire time, whatever information he had on hand was also limited. As for CEO Duan, he had been kept under scrutiny, so he would not go out of his way to investigate this person. That was why the only thing they knew about Yi Zhou was that he was a university student, but who would have thought he was studying in Gese!? Advertisements If memory serves, CEO Duan¡¯s nephew and two other juniors were also students from that university. What if they were to run into Yi Zhou on campus, and should they be attracted to Yi Zhou¡¯s blood as well, things would surely go out of hand! Unaware of what exactly he was fretting about, the guests in the vicinity let their gazes be drawn to them, albeit wittingly or unwittingly. Usdnwaaldvzu, vbl eydeklp obs pyv yv y ekpvydnl nywtbv pktbv sq Pwyd Ubk yde cltyd lmnzykxkdt lmyttlayvlezu. ¡°W*njkdt blzz, uswa qyxkzu pwal kp psxlvbkdt, Zswdt Yypvla Hbsw! Ms vbkdj usw twup xydytle vs kdhkvl UOX Pwyd!¡± ¡°Wsatkdt yd yzzkydnl vbaswtb xyaakytl okvb vbl Kkd qyxkzu yde zyvnbkdt sdvs UOX Pwyd ¡ª uswa qyxkzu kp ycswv vs qzswakpb yde vbakhl ayrkezu. Ebld vbyv vkxl nsxlp, esd¡¯v qsatlv ycswv wp!¡± Ekvbswv y xsxldv¡¯p blpkvyvksd, Kkdt Dk blnjzlp fsjkdtzu, ¡°Ebyv eslp xu qyxkzu clnsxkdt rasprlaswp byhl vs es okvb xl? Rv¡¯p dsv zkjl R¡¯x vbl Kkd qyxkzu¡¯p psd-kd-zyo.¡± Slnyzzkdt vbl qaldlxu-zkjl alzyvksdpbkr bl bye okvb bkp zkvvzl casvbla, psxl sq vblx zywtble clqsal nbydtkdt vbl pwcflnv pokqvzu. Kkdt Dk oyp byhkdt bkp qkzz sq xlaauxyjkdt wdvkz Valpkeldv Zk eayttle bkx yoyu okvb y eyaj pnsoz. Bdela bkp oyvnbqwz lulp, Kkdt Dk bye vs tlv bkp vkl sd rasrlazu yde alvwad vs pvyde okvb vbl qyxkzu, yoykvkdt vbl nlzlcayvksd vs cltkd. Tyzq yd bswa zyvla, vbl xwpkn alpswdekdt kd vbl nypvzl nbydtle. Mbl nbyvvla sq vbl twlpvp tayewyzzu qyele vs pkzldnl yp vblu tzllqwzzu oyvnble y nswrzl oyzj qsaoyae byde kd byde. As soon as they reached precisely in the center, the screens illuminated the stage as it began displaying the happy memories they had shared over the years. Just at that moment, the music came to an abrupt stop before transitioning into a conversation. Advertisements A girl sobbed, ¡°I really do love you, but the thought of you getting engaged just leaves me in despair. So why don¡¯t you just let me die?¡± Awkwardly, a boy persuaded, ¡°Sigh¡­ C¡¯mon, don¡¯t be like this. A wonderful person like you will surely find someone who cherishes you in the future.¡± The girl asked, ¡°If she weren¡¯t in the picture, would you have liked me then?¡± The boy replied, ¡°Yes, I would have.¡± In a split second, the girl bawled, ¡°With this, I¡¯ll die with no regrets¡­¡± She mumbled, ¡°How I wish I could hug you like this forever.¡± As the audio reverberated across the vicinity, the faces of the members from both families took on a ghastly expression and hastened to have someone switch it off. Much to their dismay, nothing the staff members tried to do actually worked. No one seemed to have any clue as to what was programmed into the nearby AI that was guarding the power source as if its life depended on it, leaving them with no chance to unplug the system. As time passed, the latter portion of the audio content grew increasingly explicit as the speakers were pretty much kissing each other at this point. The boy questioned, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± The girl reassured painfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just want something to remember you by so that I can slowly get over you.¡± Yet, the boy had fallen into silence. Advertisements The girl added, ¡°You should go. I don¡¯t want to trouble you anymore since I¡¯m sure you are annoyed with me by now.¡± The boy sighed, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t.¡± For this moment today, much effort was spent designing numerous stages, so much so that the family and friends of both families were present. At this juncture, Xiao Hui could only watch things unfold, ashen-faced with shock. Sure, she had intentions of stealing Jin Yumeng¡¯s boyfriend, but that was only so when the time was right. Yet, things had somehow escalated at a less opportune moment! Moreover, her family had always done business with the Jin family. With a stunt like this, the Jin family might take this chance to terminate cooperation, and the Yi family would surely not lend her a helping hand! With that in mind, she dashed onto the stage, crying and apologizing to her friend incessantly. As he held onto his girlfriend¡¯s hand tightly, a pained expression crossed Yi Jun¡¯s face as he explained that he had indeed pushed the person away at that time. On the sidelines, Jing Xi came forward to help persuade her, yet he chimed in with various f*ckboy quotes. ¡°He was so touched by her tears and deep love for him that he could not help himself to comfort her.¡± Yi Jun concurred, ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± Jing Xi remarked, ¡°He did mention that he would like her if you weren¡¯t in the picture, but that is only an assumption. After all, the one he loves is you.¡± Yi Jun once again concurred, ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± Advertisements Jing Xi commented, ¡°The kiss was also an accident, as he was too stunned to have pushed her away. That¡¯s why he will be sure to keep that in mind in the future.¡± Yi Jun agreed, ¡°Yes, I will keep that in mind!¡± As for Jin Yumeng, she had been simmering with anger the last couple of days. All in all, she was absolutely furious with herself for not being able to see him in his true colors, as well as for experiencing a painful end to their relationship. Upon hearing such an utterance, it dawned on her that he had not come to realize his mistake. Hence, she yanked her hand free and pushed the crying Xiao Hui onto him. ¡°There is no need for any assumptions. From this moment on, I will be withdrawing from this relationship to give both of you what you want.¡± After saying so, she cast a cold eye on him and went on to burn his boats with her parents in front of all the guests. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my parents have always taught me that one must have integrity. So all members of the Jin family will never rekindle former romances once they have moved on!¡± As his tears were on the verge of streaming down his face, Yi Jun frantically attempted to grab hold of her. Whereas, President Yi and his lover gathered around her, attempting to dissuade her from doing so. Once again, Jin Yumeng broke free of his grasp and gave them a sidelong glance before smashing the cake placed on the side in their direction. Having used all her strength, the cake landed on the several individuals who were crowded together. Only Jing Xi managed to dodge in the nick of time. Noticing what a sorry sight they had become, all he uttered were two somewhat insincere words. ¡°Oh my.¡± For a fleeting moment, he deemed this a rare sight, and quickly whipped out his phone to take a picture of them. After hurling the cake at them, Jin Yumeng turned on her heel and walked away. Advertisements It went without saying that her parents no longer had any reason to remain at the venue, so they went after her. Likewise, the guests reckoned it would do them no good to stay any longer and began to trickle out of the castle. Although President Yi and his lover were only smeared with some cake, they were far too ashamed to see the guests out. Therefore, they stood rooted to the ground for a good while. Since neither of them was that foolish, they could not help but think of their eldest son¡¯s actions. In hindsight, they came to realize that it was Jing Xi who broke the news about Xiao Hui to Xiao Jun. With this in mind, they turned sharply to look at him. With faces covered by cake, both Yi Jun and Xiao Hui eventually came to understand what had actually occurred and also turned to stare in his direction. Regardless of their poses or expressions, Jing Xi found that the photo was just what the doctor ordered. As such, he instructed System to save it in his collection. ¡°Look, hasn¡¯t the female lead broken up with the scumbag? Now, where¡¯s the next bug?¡± asked Jing Xi while locking his phone. As soon as he raised his head, he met four pairs of red-rimmed eyes in midair. If looks could kill, he would be dead right now. Despite knowing his way of doing things, System had never expected that he would be able to stir things up to this extent. ¡°¡­ We can talk about that later,¡± it sincerely wondered, ¡°I just want to know how you will be able to resolve this.¡± CH 8 ¡°AN IDEA TOOK ROOT FIRMLY IN DUAN CHI¡¯S MIND ¡ª I WANT HIM.¡± Jing Xi refuted, ¡°Their reputation has already been tarnished, so what¡¯s the point in resolving this now?¡± System ribbed, ¡°I thought you¡¯d always make sure to take yourself out of the equation?¡± Jing Xi drawled, ¡°That¡¯s far too troublesome, and besides, how could a soft-hearted person like me ever bear to see them being kept in the dark?¡± In the face of the foursome, the ¡°soft-hearted¡± individual coaxed, ¡°The photo turned out pretty well. Do you guys want a copy? I can always print it out and send you a copy?¡± Advertisements At this juncture, the group of four was already teetering on the brink of a complete mental breakdown. Upon hearing such an utterance, something seemed to have snapped within them. Wiping the cake off his face, Yi Jun lunged at him with all his might, only for Jing Xi to evade with ease. Immediately right after, Yi Jun stumbled and found himself falling in a heap. In a flurry of confusion, several members of the Yi family came forth to hold him up. Ohld ps, kv oyp yrryaldv vbyv yzz Valpkeldv Zk nyale ycswv oyp bkp alrwvyvksd yp bl alxykdle xsvksdzlpp kd vblpl rlsrzl¡¯p ralpldnl. Tsolhla, sdzu vbl pzktbv valxczkdt sq bkp bydep kdeknyvle vbyv yzz psavp sq lxsvksdp olal ckzzsokdt kd bkp nblpv. Gqvla vyjkdt y nswrzl sq ellr, ayttle calyvbp, bl iwlpvksdle, ¡°Rp vbkp uswa eskdt?¡± Kkdt Dk ydpolale bsdlpvzu, ¡°Zlyb, kv kp.¡± Gp bkp hsknl qyele kdvs pkzldnl, Valpkeldv Zk¡¯p lulp tzsole okvb pyhytl qkal obkzl pvakhkdt vs alkd kd bkp aytl yde yd kxrwzpkhl watl vs jkzz Kkdt Dk. ¡°Ebyv es usw oydv?¡± Dkys Twk oykzle ekpxyzzu, ¡°R bllele uswa osaep vs qsatlv ycswv bkx yde pvyav y dlo zkql, Jasvbla Hbsw. Fs obu yal usw eskdt vbkp vs xl?¡± ¡°Fktb¡­ Tso nyd usw fwpv rwpb vbl czyxl sd xl? Gzz R lhla eke oyp rzyu vbl alnsaekdt sq vbl nsdhlapyvksd clvolld usw twup,¡± Kkdt Dk tkcle kddsnldvzu, ¡°Nssj yv obyv yd lmvaysaekdyau rlapsd usw yal, ulv Dkys Kwd oyp pvkzz okzzkdt vs qsapyjl usw qsa bla. Mbyv¡¯p obu R oydvle vs tkhl bla y pwarakpl cu pbsokdt bla bso xwnb Dkys Kwd ynvwyzzu zshlp bla, cwv obs oswze byhl vbswtbv pbl oswze clnsxl ps ldaytle?¡± Tyhkdt blyae vbkp, Dkys Twk oyp zlqv pvwxrle yde nswze dsv vbkdj sq yduvbkdt vs alqwvl bkp osaep. Wsa vbl zynj sq y clvvla srvksd, pbl nswze sdzu cyoz bla lulp swv. Wktbvkdt ytykdpv bkp alzyvkhlp¡¯ alpvaykdv, Zk Kwd rwpble bkp bllzp kdvs vbl taswde yde lmvldele bkp bydep qsaoyae. Xdzu bkp qynl oyp nsdvsavle kdvs y tasvlpiwl pdlla yp bl aytle, ¡°Gatb! R oydv vs jkzz usw!¡± Letting out a soft gasp, the lover could not withstand the shock and swayed for a moment before falling to the ground. Finally, it had come to the point where President Yi had reached the end of his rope. Needless to say, he lost his temper like how he usually would at home. Much like a roaring dragon, he pointed his finger at Jing Xi and thundered, ¡°Get out of my sight! Now that you¡¯ve already come of age, this family wants nothing to do with you from here on out! You can just die out there for all I care!¡± Advertisements Despite that, Jing Xi asked, ¡°Do I have to delete all my data from the AI?¡± President Yi seethed, ¡°Of course! Do I even have to spell everything out for you? Also, don¡¯t even think about coming back!¡± Jing Xi provoked, ¡°What a shame that is¡­ After all, they are the only ones who treat me well at home.¡± President Yi bellowed, ¡°Scram!¡± Yet, Jing Xi just shrugged his shoulders noncommittally and turned to walk away. System puzzled, ¡°And, just like that, you are kicked out of the house?¡± Jing Xi wondered, ¡°What¡¯d you expect?¡± Changing the topic, System asked, ¡°Where do you intend to live now?¡± After saying so, scenes of him refurbishing the Zhou family¡¯s mansion recently flashed across its mind. System realized with a sudden flash of insight and stated, ¡°So you have already been planning to move out.¡± Jing Xi explained, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s exceptionally exhausting to always feign love for them at home. It¡¯s also a pity that they have no interest in the little souvenir I was planning to give them.¡± As he said so, he looked back at the stunning view of the castle before letting his gaze be drawn to the members of the Yi family huddling in a circle. Deeming that the photo he had taken previously was barely sufficient, he once again whipped out his phone to take yet another one. Only then did he continue to walk forward. At this point, the majority of the guests had already taken their leave, leaving only several oblivious people who wished to curry favors with the Yi family. Noticing that the family dispute had come to an end, they gathered around to provide ¡°timely assistance.¡± Advertisements When it came to the dandies, they did not venture too far, so they happened to have watched the farce in its entirety. They gave an interjection of wonderment before hastening to catch up with Young Master Zhou. On the other hand, Duan Chi always had a high profile, so it was inappropriate for him to remain any longer. That was why he was among the first to leave the premises. Before boarding his car, the keen-sighted Duan Chi glanced over his shoulder and watched the entire sequence of events ¡ª the red-faced Yi Jun was restrained by people around him, and it was apparent that rage was ??radiating off President Yi as he was yelling and pointing at someone. He could not help laughing softly at the memory of the young man taking a photo of them when he made his way out of the castle. Bending his head, he boarded the car. The staff followed suit and slid into the car seat. Before his body could settle into its best position, an ear-splitting ringing pierced through the silence. Jumping out of his skin, he slammed the door shut on the spur of the moment. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he turned to look in CEO Duan¡¯s direction, only to find him laughing with his fingers pressed against his temple, not at all minding the shrill ringing. The sight before the staff held no traces of his usual cold and aloof self nor the mature and sagacious man in that holographic call. On top of that, it seemed as though the intelligence, calmness, composure, and nonchalance the man was known to possess had shattered in that instance. For some unknown reason, he began exuding an aura that screamed power and danger. Only after a long while was Duan Chi finally able to rein himself in. Blood vessels spidered across his eyes as he rubbed his canine tooth with the tip of his tongue. In a matter of seconds, an idea took root firmly in his mind ¡ª I want him. On the other side of the car, the staff subconsciously held his breath, not having the courage to even gasp for air. As the bracelet¡¯s ringing gradually subsided, he observed CEO Duan¡¯s condition and gaze. With shaky hands, he fished out two small glass test tubes. One contained a certain individual¡¯s blood, while the other was a reagent that could stabilize a Lupinus Mutant¡¯s emotions. Very carefully and gingerly, he edged them forward. ¡°F-For you¡­¡± Advertisements Yet, Duan Chi merely gave them a fleeting glance before turning him down. After all, his current desire for blood was still low. Even if he did possess a burning desire, he simply refused to consume those that had been refrigerated. He would only allow himself to ingest blood with which warmth still lingered. However, he required no large quantity; just a smidgen would do. Even so, he would love to press himself against that person¡¯s skin and savor the taste slowly whilst gently kissing the small wound. ¡°Buzz¡ª¡± The momentary silence was, once again, broken by the sharp ringing from the bracelet. At this juncture, the staff was at a loss for words and moments away from breaking down into tears. ¡°¡­ You should probably drink some.¡± Thereafter, not a single drop of blood entered Duan Chi¡¯s mouth. Instead, he relied solely on his willpower to compose himself once more. With that, they arrived at a restaurant that was just a stone¡¯s throw from the castle. After entering the pre-booked private room, they met up with another staff from the research institute before their wait for the troublemaker commenced. In the event that the alarm in a Lupinus Mutant¡¯s bracelet was to go off for the first time, it would have gone straight to the police station. Should it start ringing once more, the research institute would then be required to take over the case promptly. As such, the individual in the private room was aware that CEO Duan¡¯s bracelet had gone off on two separate occasions. Yet, he noticed CEO Duan¡¯s current calm countenance and shot a look at his colleague before sending him a message surreptitiously. With a blank expression on his face, the staff sent a reply. In response, the staff briefly recounted that he played a recording at the venue and got straight down to business, raising the issue of Geze University. Since the Lupinus Mutant community¡¯s social circle had always been exponentially small, they had long known that CEO Duan¡¯s nephew and two juniors would be attending university on Howe. That was also why the research institute decided to bring this up after looking through Yi Zhou¡¯s details. Advertisements On seeing this message, the staff could not help but snicker inwardly. Recalling how adamant CEO Duan was in refusing to drink the blood in the test tube even after the staff opened it when he boarded the car, he sent a reply. As for the two remarkable individuals, one was currently flipping through the menu superciliously while the other was sharing the Zhou family¡¯s story with the nosy dandies. Only when he was done did he bid them goodbye on the grounds of ¡°wanting to be left alone.¡± With his blazer in his hand, Jing Xi dawdled on the way to the restaurant while summoning his Artificial Stupidity. ¡°What were you howling about earlier?¡± In his mind, System showed him a chart of Duan Chi¡¯s hormonal changes. ¡°Take a look at these two scarlet lines.¡± Glancing at the time stated on the chart, Jing Xi asked, ¡°That was when he left the castle?¡± System answered, ¡°No, it was when he boarded the car.¡± With that, it observed, ¡°At this distance, it is unlikely that he could detect your scent.¡± Thus, there could only be one possibility ¡ª it was highly improbable that Duan Chi¡¯s bracelet went off due to the influence of his blood, but instead, it was for him as a person. In other words, Duan Chi had finally come to a decision when he had his heart set on meeting Jing Xi in real life before making a choice. By the looks of things, there was a chance he might remain incorrigible. With that in mind, one human and one system collectively sunk into silence. In the space of a few moments, System could no longer stop itself from prodding, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything you¡¯d like to say?!¡± ¡°Nope,¡± stated Jing Xi innocently, ¡°Tell me, what have I done today? I have neither laid a hand nor quarreled with anyone. All I¡¯ve ever done was merely uttered a few words to them, and it¡¯s not like he could hear it at that distance. So it¡¯s not my fault that this Lupinus Mutant setting of yours is vexatious.¡± Having heard that, System was itching to grab a mirror and have him reflect upon his behavior. Yet, it occurred to System that Jing Xi was of such a character. Even if they were to forgo this meeting, there was no doubt that the bracelet would still go off the next time they ran into each other. When that happened, he had no one to blame but himself for being such a troublemaker. By a remarkable stroke of fortune, he happened to be Duan Chi¡¯s type, very much to his liking. With a sob, it decided to switch off its microphone and take a breather. As he savored the feeling of tranquil contentment, Jing Xi entered the restaurant and made his way to the private room at a leisurely pace. The moment he looked up, he made eye contact with Duan Chi. Not a ripple disturbed Duan Chi¡¯s calm countenance as he nodded slightly in greeting. At this juncture, he maintained the same gentlemanly composure he exuded in the holographic call, as if nothing could ever cause him to lose control. However, modern technology did not buy his act. At this precise moment, acute ringing assailed everyone¡¯s ears from every direction. Jing Xi and the others were instantly dumbstruck. As for Duan Chi himself, he was also rendered speechless. CH 9.1 ¡°MALE LEAD IS FINISHED, KAPUT!¡± It was currently the peak dinner rush, so the restaurant was brimming with customers. Before anyone had the chance to probe into this matter, Jing Xi hastened to close the door, providing CEO Duan with an additional layer of soundproofing. During that lapse of time, the staff and his colleague looked at CEO Duan in unison and thought inwardly, ¡®To hell with the lack of allure and strong self-regulation! If his bracelet starts ringing as soon as they meet, that must mean he has already taken a fancy to Jing Xi!¡¯ Yet, there was nary a change in Duan Chi¡¯s expression as he closed his eyes to regain his composure under their scrutiny. Advertisements As the saying went, ¡°when one door closes, another door opens.¡± Fortunate for him, his keen sense of smell was of great assistance. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he opened his eyes to fix the person before him with a look. ¡°I picked up a faint metallic scent on you. Have you been wounded?¡± Upon hearing that, Jing Xi raised his eyebrow and lowered his head to examine his right pinky. Gxkepv bkp qakldep, psxlsdl pllxle vs byhl yd lktbvb-tayela pudeasxl1 yde clnyxl scplpple okvb pbsokdt sqq psxl nssz jdkql vaknjp. Fkdnl bl bye y polzz vkxl vseyu, bl vbld elnkele vs rwv sd y pbso qsa vblx. Lso vbyv bkp tldlp olal sq Uzypp F, bkp cseu oyp lmnlrvksdyzzu ascwpv, ps kv oyp kxrascyczl qsa bkx vs jdknj bkxplzq okvb vbkp psav sq pxyzz jdkql. Ekvb nsxrzlvl nsdqkeldnl kd bkp bktb elqldpl, bl clnyxl ps yweynkswp vbyv bl talo nyalzlpp yde oyp lhldvwyzzu pvyccle byae cu vbl vkr sq vbl czyel sd bkp qkdtla. Ohld vbswtb kv xktbv byhl kdhszhle y calyj vs vbl pjkd, bl qlzv ds rykd sa lhld ydu czllekdt yv vbyv vkxl. Gp pwnb, yzz vbyv oyp zlqv dso oyp y psxlobyv ydtau pnya. Pwyd Ubk yeele, ¡°Rv xktbv byhl psxlvbkdt vs es okvb xl dsv nsdpwxkdt uswa czsse qsa byzq y xsdvb.¡± Gqvla y qlo osaep olal lmnbydtle, bl qsanlqwzzu vyxrle esod vbl qzwaau sq vbswtbvp kd bkp xkde yp bkp caynlzlv oyp zyukdt cyal bkp pbsavnsxkdtp. Jlqsal zsdt, vbl akdtkdt qkdyzzu nyxl vs y pvsr. Gv vbyv fwdnvwal, Kkdt Dk bye yd lrkrbydu yde alrzkle vs bkx okvb yd ¡°Xb¡± alprsdpl. Bdrlavwacle, bl vssj y plyv yde vbswtbv kdoyaezu, ¡®Rq kv olald¡¯v qsa vbl qynv vbyv R¡¯x yoyal uswa caynlzlv oldv sqq voknl obkzl sd vbl oyu blal, R oswze byhl clzklhle uswa osaep.¡¯ Mbl pvyqq rswale y tzypp sq qawkv fwknl yde bydele kv shla vs bkx. ¡°El¡¯hl saelale y qlo ekpblp kdekhkewyzzu, ps oswze usw zkjl vs pll kq usw¡¯e zkjl yduvbkdt lzpl?¡± Fjkxxkdt vbaswtb vbl zkpv sq saelap, Kkdt Dk¡¯p qynl casjl kdvs y pxkzl. ¡°Lsrl, R esd¡¯v. Rv pllxp lhlausdl byp saelale vbl ekpblp R¡¯e zkjl vs byhl.¡± ¡°Rp vbyv ps?¡± Gp sdl sq UOX Pwyd¡¯p jkdpxld, vbl pvyqq kdvldele vs yppkpv bkx kd pnsakdt psxl casodkl rskdvp okvb Kkdt Dk. Ekvbswv y plnsde vbswtbv, bl ypjle obknb sdlp vblu olal. If none of them were what CEO Duan had ordered, he would simply not go into detail about it. On the flip side, if CEO Duan¡¯s order mainly consisted of what Jing Xi wanted to eat, the staff would then seize this opportunity to compliment him. In any case, CEO Duan alone had ordered four dishes, so the staff refused to believe that he could not get any of them right. Unbeknownst to everyone present in the room, it turned out that CEO Duan had unexpectedly hit the mark! Advertisements In that instant, a single thought struck them ¡ª What a coincidence! Even the staff¡¯s colleague seated on the side could not help but jump on the bandwagon. ¡°CEO Duan was the one who ordered these dishes. Turns out both of you have similar tastes in food.¡± Apart from them, this came as a surprise to Duan Chi as well. Without any hesitation, he shot the young man a sideways glance. Yet, Jing Xi decided to feign ignorance about having figured out their plans and turned to them with an innocent smile, while sipping on his glass of fruit juice. Once all the dishes had been served, they started on the food while conversing with each other. Soon, the conversation gradually shifted to the main reason for the meet-up. With that, Jing Xi asked deliberately, ¡°Have you given some thought to the suggestion I gave in the holographic call?¡± Unanimously, the staff and his colleague had long since prepared their speech. After all, they reckoned CEO Duan would unlikely agree to those sorts of ¡°progressively extended¡± meet-ups. In order to try and bring about an agreement, their presence was necessary as an intermediary. Much to their astonishment, Duan Chi actually nodded his head. ¡°I have no comments, but I don¡¯t think there is a need to fix a date for these meet-ups. With my hectic work schedule and frequent business trips, it¡¯d be best to have more flexibility in our planning.¡± Upon hearing such an utterance, Jing Xi had an inkling that Duan Chi was probably intending to take on a direct approach and make intentional encounters with him. Be that as it may, this realization did not put a smidgen of pressure on him, especially when he had System¡¯s assistance to keep an eye on Duan Chi¡¯s whereabouts and hormones. With feigned innocence, Jing Xi concurred, ¡°Sure thing.¡± ¡®What? That¡¯s it?¡¯ All the preparations the staff and his colleague had gone down the drain, nearly rendering them too flabbergasted even to react. Advertisements Now that both parties had come to an agreement, their presence was only required for the periodic medical examinations and some extreme situations. Consequently, both of them advised them to do things in moderation and not to hold out until CEO Duan¡¯s limits. With that, it concluded the conversation. Seeing how he had finally completed his assignment, there was no need for the staff to stay by CEO Duan¡¯s side. Once dinner was over, he made a break for it with his colleague gleefully. On seeing this, the remaining two individuals exchanged a look with each other. Duan Chi wondered, ¡°How are you heading back?¡± Jing Xi answered, ¡°By public transport.¡± The castle was situated two cities away from his home. Earlier in the day, his family had flown him to the castle for the event. Given the current circumstances, he could only rely on himself to figure out a way to return home. Duan Chi suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t I send you back?¡± The unfastidious Jing Xi was never one to hold himself back from reveling in pleasure and luxury, so he readily agreed to Duan Chi¡¯s offer. Stepping onto the aircraft, the two individuals took a seat across from each other. Following the slow descent of the side door, it provided them with a romantic environment with exceptional privacy that was fit for couples. Despite the calm expression on his face, Duan Chi was suffused with happiness. ¡°How did you manage to resolve your family matter?¡± Jing Xi replied, ¡°I was kicked out of the house.¡± Advertisements Noticing he was not too bothered about it, Duan Chi could not help but reminisce about the moments when he actively stirred things up at that time. As amusement set in his eyes, he questioned, ¡°Have you found a place to stay yet?¡± Jing Xi responded, ¡°Yes.¡± Before the sound of his voice could fade, Duan Chi let out a sound of acknowledgment. ¡°I heard you¡¯re currently studying at Gese University, so what are you studying?¡± Having heard this, Jing Xi inwardly thought of how this was a good question, as he did not know the answer. Only after asking System did he discover that he was pursuing a finance degree at Gese University. What¡¯s more, he had always been an affable person, while Duan Chi was a businessman who had had dealings with people from all walks of life. Due to his desire to draw closer to Jing Xi, neither of them had undergone any awkward silences thus far. Having placed his arm on the armrest, Jing Xi was acutely aware of Duan Chi¡¯s eyes roving towards his fingers every now and then. He instead advised sincerely, ¡°The research institute has a store of my blood. If you have reached your limits, you should get a drop of blood from them.¡± In spite of being caught in the act, not a single ripple disturbed CEO Duan¡¯s countenance. ¡°Due to my heightened sense of smell, I¡¯ve been picking up on a scent of blood.¡± Leaning forward slightly, he continued calmly, ¡°Now that I¡¯ve smelled it for the entire journey, I do indeed feel somewhat uncomfortable. So how about we do it now?¡± Shooting a sidelong glance at him, Jing Xi brought forth his generous self and extended his arm to Duan Chi. ¡°Here, take a bite.¡± Little did Duan Chi expect that Jing Xi would be so forthright. Of course, there was no way he could ever deny himself of such indulgence. With that in mind, he grasped the hand before him and lowered his eyes, zeroing in on the wound on the phalanx of his pinky2. Without any further conveyance, he raised the hand to his lips.