Chen Mengyun hadn't been in close contact with Lu Chengwen for years, but these past couple of days, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was completely different. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed—just that something about him felt off, almost alien.
Now, as Lu Chengwen drove her car like he was trying to break the sound barrier, Chen Mengyun's face paled with terror. "Lu Chengwen! What's the rush? Slow down! Slow down!"
Lu Chengwen snapped, exasperated, "Shut up! I'm in a hurry—your brother's about to get himself killed!"
Chen Mengyun froze. "Moqun? What are you talking about?"
"Stay quiet!" he barked.
Seeing how tense he was, Chen Mengyun's mind raced with suspicion, but she didn't dare ask more. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself.
Lu Chengwen hadn't anticipated that his efforts to stay alive would throw the plot into such chaos. According to the original storyline, Chen Moqun was about to be set up and killed by Long Aotian at Neon Baby Nightclub. And right now, Chen Moqun was at Neon Baby Nightclub.
When Lu Chengwen got the call, his mind sparked with urgency: I have to save him!
First, Chen Moqun was one of his few true friends. Second, while Moqun wasn't exactly a saint, he didn't deserve to die. Sure, he was a spoiled rich kid, a bit arrogant, but that came with the territory. He didn't go out of his way to bully anyone and was usually polite enough. His biggest flaws? Partying too hard and being a lazy playboy. In the original plot, his death was just a stepping stone for Long Aotian to seize the Chen family's assets. But as his friend, Lu Chengwen couldn't stand by and watch him get taken out.
The car screeched to a stop outside Neon Baby Nightclub. Lu Chengwen jumped out and charged inside. This wasn't the kind of place just anyone could afford—Chen Moqun wouldn't be caught dead in a low-end dive.
At the entrance, a few thugs blocked his path. "Hey, buddy, do you even know where you're barging into?"
Zhao Gang roared, "Get out of the way! You're stopping Xuecheng's Young Master Lu? Looking to die?"
The lead thug's attitude flipped instantly. "Oh! Young Master Lu! Welcome, welcome! What brings you here?"
Lu Chengwen shoved him aside with a hand to his face. "Move." He grabbed another guy. "Where's that fat idiot Chen Moqun?"
The kid flashed a fawning smile. "Young Master Chen's on the fifth floor."
"Take me there!"
The lead thug whispered into his walkie-talkie, "Young Master Lu's heading up. Get ready to roll out the red carpet!"
"Which Young Master Lu?"
"Who else? The one who just called Chen Moqun a fat idiot—the super-rich heir with billions in family assets!"
Lu Chengwen, Zhao Gang, and Chen Mengyun stormed through the club. Neon Baby lived up to its suggestive name, decked out in garish, colorful decor dripping with provocative vibes. As they hit the stairs, a line of scantily clad women in shimmering dresses, stockings, and high heels greeted them in unison: "Welcome, Young Master Lu, to Neon Baby!"
A woman in her thirties approached with a practiced smile. "Young Master Lu, what a rare visit!"
"Where's the fatso?" Lu Chengwen demanded.
"He's upstairs. Why don't you take a seat, and I'll get some girls to—"
"No need. Take me to him. Now."
Lu Chengwen's arrival sent a ripple of shock through the club. He'd only messed around in places like this a few times in college. After his breakup with Chen Mengyun, he'd gone through a slump, then focused on pursuing Leng Qingqiu, swearing off these haunts. Chen Moqun, on the other hand, had fully embraced the nightlife lifestyle.
Seeing Lu Chengwen so frantic, Chen Mengyun started to believe something was seriously wrong. "Is my brother okay? How could he be in danger?"
Lu Chengwen glanced at her, thinking, I don't know the details yet. I just know he's supposed to die, but I'm not sure how it plays out.
They pushed open the door to a massive suite, a large screen blocking the view inside. From behind it, Chen Moqun's voice wailed, "I'm gonna die!"
Chen Mengyun's legs buckled in fear. Lu Chengwen steadied her as they rounded the screen—and froze.
It was a disaster. An absolute travesty. Beyond comprehension.
Chen Moqun was sprawled on a massage chair, one girl kneading his head, two working his feet, and another pair massaging his arms. His face was slathered with a colorful mask, and he was groaning in bliss.
Chen Mengyun's face turned ghostly white with rage. "This is your life-or-death emergency?"
Lu Chengwen shouted, "Chen Moqun!"
"Huh?" Moqun didn't move, just mumbled, "Chengwen's here? Grab a few girls and get a massage, man. It's heaven!"
Lu Chengwen strode over. "Out. All of you, out."
The madam, sensing Lu Chengwen's mood, quickly ushered the girls out. "Go on, get out."
"You too," Lu Chengwen added.
"Yes, yes. You two young masters chat. Call me if you need anything." She scurried off.
Chen Moqun sat up, peeling off the mask. "What's the deal, man? I was in the middle of—oh, crap, Sis? I swear, this is my first time here…"
Chen Mengyun glared at them both. "Shut it. Lu Chengwen, explain yourself."
"Where's Hu Shuhui?" Lu Chengwen asked.
Chen Moqun's face darkened with anger. "I already beat his ass and sent him running."
Lu Chengwen nodded. "Don't come back here. This place is dangerous for you."
Moqun laughed. "Dangerous? Yeah, I just got 'attacked' by five gorgeous girls. Real life-threatening stuff."
Before Lu Chengwen could respond, the door was kicked open with a bang. Hu Shuhui stormed in, cursing, "Chen Fatso, get out here!"
Chen Moqun lazily threw on a bathrobe. "What do you want with me?"
A crowd had gathered at the door, pushing and shoving—clearly Chen Moqun's lackeys and Hu Shuhui's reinforcements, ready to throw down.
Hu Shuhui snarled, "You stole my girl! Today, I'm gonna mess you up, or my name's not Hu!"
Lu Chengwen turned to him. "Hu Shuhui, we've got unfinished business, and you're still stirring trouble? You'd better calm down."
Hu Shuhui spotted Lu Chengwen and laughed. "Perfect! You two are teaming up again? I'm not scared of you today. I've got a new friend. Think you're tough? Try taking him on."
A figure stepped out from the crowd—Long Aotian.
Lu Chengwen wasn't shocked that Long Aotian was here. In the original plot, Chen Moqun only came to this club once, and it was the time he'd cross paths with Long Aotian. What stunned him was that Long Aotian was palling around with Hu Shuhui.
What the hell!? You're the hero! The main character! Why are you buddying up with a minor villain?
How was he supposed to handle this?
Chen Moqun, despite his chubby, easygoing demeanor and generous tips to girls, wasn't a pushover. Back in the day, he was one of the "Five Tigers of Guokai," never backing down from a fight. Now, his face twisted with fury. "Fine, Hu Shuhui. You think I care how many goons you brought? You messed with my sister the other day, and now we're settling all scores. Chengwen, let's do this—make sure this punk doesn't walk out that door!"
The club's madam panicked. She couldn't afford to offend any of these people. "Oh, come on, young masters, it's not worth it! Let's cool off. Tonight's on me, alright? Young Master Hui, give me some face…"
Chen Moqun pointed at her. "I'll pay for anything we break. Step aside. Hu Shuhui's not leaving here in one piece. Old Three!"
"Here!" one of Moqun's lackeys bellowed.
"Guard the exits. If a single one of these punks gets away, I'll have your head!"
"You got it, Young Master Chen! They're not going anywhere!"
Zhao Gang joined in, pointing at Hu Shuhui. "I don't care about the rest, but you're mine!"
Lu Chengwen glanced at Zhao Gang, impressed. This guy's a real one. Zhao Gang had somehow produced a knife, wrapping the handle with a towel like a pro.
Lu Chengwen yanked him back. "Cool it."
Zhao Gang blinked, confused. "Young Master Chen's in trouble, and we're not jumping in?"
Lu Chengwen faced Hu Shuhui. "What's got you so worked up? Let's hear it before we start swinging."
Hu Shuhui spat, "He stole the girl I called for! He's disrespecting me!"
Lu Chengwen laughed. "That's it? Over some petty nonsense?"
"Petty? I've been in Xuecheng for years—nobody crosses me! And you, Lu Chengwen, we've still got a score to settle from the other day when you hit me!"
Long Aotian chuckled. "Lu Chengwen, you're quite the busybody, aren't you? Everywhere I go, there you are."
Lu Chengwen locked eyes with Long Aotian, his fear fading. Back in high school, he and Chen Moqun had been scrappy fighters, fearless thanks to their families' wealth. They weren't bullies—early on, they'd paid off thugs to avoid trouble, but when pushed too far, they fought back. By mid-high school, they'd built a reputation. Rich, with loyal followers, they always led the charge, earning fierce loyalty. Later, nobody dared mess with them, so they played vigilantes, shutting down creeps who harassed girls at their university. Their antics were reckless but forged a certain streetwise grit.
Now, faced with a fight, Lu Chengwen felt a familiar surge of adrenaline, though Chen Moqun was outright thrilled—angry at Hu Shuhui's audacity and buzzing with purpose. Everyone in Xuecheng, even his own family, saw him as a useless playboy. But he knew he was a good guy at heart, despite his vices. And fighting? That was his forte. If his family hadn't held him back, he'd have joined the army, legally playing with guns and tanks.
Today was perfect. Hu Shuhui had handed him a golden opportunity to take him down, especially after he'd targeted Chen Mengyun. With his best friend Lu Chengwen by his side, it was like old times—ready to raise hell and relive their glory days.
Lu Chengwen clenched his fists, rage simmering. You're lucky I haven't come for you yet, Hu Shuhui, and you're picking a fight with us?
Chen Moqun kicked a chair to splinters, tossing a broken leg to Lu Chengwen, who caught it. Moqun cleared another chair with a swift kick, brandishing his own weapon. "Chengwen, I'm hosting today! Hu Shuhui's mine. That Long Aotian jerk is yours. Old Three, Zhao Gang, keep the rest in check—don't let anyone interfere."
Lu Chengwen glanced at the chair leg, then up at Long Aotian, who was smirking back at him.
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