Northland. Snow City.
The Lu family's business banquet was in full swing at their grand villa estate—luxurious lights, laughter, and a sea of social elites.
In a quiet corner, Lu Chengwen's body suddenly jolted. His eyes snapped open.
As the rush of foreign memories poured into his mind, he almost wished he were dead.
This was the seventh time.
While delivering takeout, he'd been hit by a car. Then, dragged into some damned system, he was thrown into different webnovel worlds—as the villain.
According to the system, if he managed to survive until the story's end without being killed by the protagonist, he could claim his reward and return to the real world.
He had no choice. His mother's illness couldn't wait, and he needed money for her surgery. So, Lu Chengwen accepted the mission.
But the last six times... each death had been more miserable than the last.
Those protagonists were absolute monsters!
Completely unreasonable freaks of nature—born geniuses with overwhelming power.
They could do everything: medicine, martial arts, cultivation, gambling, X-ray vision—you name it, they had it.
And the worst part? Their luck was god-tier.
No matter how the villain schemed, the protagonist always killed him with a single palm strike, uttered some badass one-liner, and walked away with the beauty in his arms.
Every beautiful woman in the story eventually became his. No exceptions.
Just once, Lu Chengwen had made the mistake of talking a few extra words to one of those women—and Long Aotian crushed him to death on the spot.
What kind of logic was that? Was there no law, no justice left in this world?
Panicking, Lu Chengwen rushed into the bathroom to think.
He'd already been killed by: Xiao Yan, Ye Feng, Chu Feng, Ye Chen, Long Aotian, and Zhao Ritian.
This time, the title of the novel was "God of War's Harem Chronicles in the City."
Just hearing it made him sick.
And of course, the protagonist was that bastard Long Aotian again.
The man was a "War God" from the frontier, returning home to unify all the underworld forces in the North. Currently, he was undercover as a security guard—and about to get close to Leng Qingqiu.
According to the plot, today's event took place in Chapter 9.
At this point, the story called for Long Aotian to heroically intervene during his engagement announcement with Leng Qingqiu, breaking his leg and forcing him off-screen for a few chapters of "recuperation."
After that, Long Aotian would win Leng Qingqiu's heart, and the two would begin their shamelessly intimate "love arc."
Lu Chengwen splashed cold water on his face, glaring at his reflection through gritted teeth.
"This time," he growled, "I'll make it to the end. I'll survive, take the system's reward, and cure Mom's illness!"
He steadied his breathing, resolved to stay calm and low-profile. Then, he stepped out of the bathroom.
Only to find Leng Qingqiu waiting by the door.
She stood there in an elegant evening gown, breathtakingly beautiful—her every movement radiating poise and perfection.
Her figure was flawless, her expression cool and proud.
There was no mistaking it. The female lead.
Leng Qingqiu, eldest daughter of the Leng family.
The young CEO of Qianfeng Group.
His goddess of three long, miserable years.
And most importantly—Long Aotian's future woman.
Lu Chengwen forced a smile, but before he could speak, Leng Qingqiu's cold voice sliced through the air.
"Lu Chengwen, I will never marry you. Give up already."
Lu Chengwen smiled faintly, but in his heart, he groaned:
[Please, spare me already! Marry you? I just want to live long enough to go home!]
[Sure, you've got the looks and the figure—but you're a brainless heroine destined to be swindled by Long Aotian and willingly join his harem!]
[Once he takes you, he'll seize control of the Leng family too. A whole generation's fortune handed to that damn protagonist for free.]
Out loud, he simply said, "I agree."
"You… agree?"
Leng Qingqiu froze.
Something was off. Lu Chengwen hadn't moved his lips, yet she'd just heard him say a string of things before that final "I agree."
What was going on?
And this was Lu Chengwen—the same man who'd chased her for three years, showering her with gifts and clinging to her like a stray dog!
He'd even gotten their families involved to force an engagement tonight.
So why was he suddenly backing off?
Lu Chengwen chuckled and said, "Qingqiu, I've thought about it carefully. You're right—we're not suited for each other. From now on, let's just be friends."
Inside, his thoughts raced:
[Go on, run off to your Long Aotian. You and the other nine hundred and ninety-nine women can take turns kissing his boots and praising his greatness! Hah!]
[The top priority right now is to end this engagement peacefully. This woman thinks she's a genius, but she's just Long Aotian's next victim—already halfway cooked and just waiting for me to trigger the flag.]
Leng Qingqiu's eyes widened.
She could hear his thoughts.
Did he just say I'd lick a man's boots? That I'd share him with hundreds of other women?!
Lu Chengwen, what the hell is going on in that filthy head of yours?!
Wait—Long Aotian? The security guard I just hired a few days ago?!
Me, Leng Qingqiu, become that man's harem girl?!
Her anger surged, her chest rising and falling sharply as she glared daggers at Lu Chengwen.
Lu Chengwen blinked, confused.
[What's wrong with this crazy woman? I just spared her, and she's still mad?]
[Whatever, she's the heroine—better not provoke her. Luckily, female leads are all a bit brainless, easy to handle.]
He flashed an awkward smile. "Let's go tell the elders. Come on, careful now…"
Leng Qingqiu stormed toward the inner hall, rage boiling inside her.
Lu Chengwen, you bastard!
Three years! Three years of gifts and flattery—and now you call me a fool behind my back?
You think I'm so worthless that you can't wait another minute to dump me?
We'll see what game you're playing!
Behind her, Lu Chengwen followed, still thinking smugly:
[Finally! Three years down the drain, but at least I'm free. Once the engagement's off, I can find a few pretty girls to keep me company.]
[This woman's doomed to be a harem member anyway—it's written in her fate.]
[Better distance myself before I get dragged into her drama.]
Leng Qingqiu stopped abruptly, spinning around to glare at him with burning eyes.
Lu Chengwen froze, then quickly smiled again. "Worried I'll trick you? I swear on my life—I'm not up to anything! I'll cancel the engagement, and after today, you won't even see me again. We'll be strangers—happy now?"
Leng Qingqiu's fury exploded.
Strangers?
So I went from goddess to garbage in your eyes?
You can't even stand being near me for a minute longer?
This man… he's infuriating!
Just then, the main doors opened. The elders of both families entered, catching sight of the two facing off.
"My, my, fighting again?"
"Come inside, you two. Don't argue in the doorway!"
Lu Chengwen stepped forward with a polite smile, shaking hands with Leng Qingqiu's parents. "Uncle, Auntie, good evening."
Before anyone else could speak, he said, "Uncle, Auntie, Dad, Mom—we've discussed it. Qingqiu and I won't be getting engaged."
He put on a look of earnest sincerity.
"Qingqiu is strong, independent, and intelligent. She deserves someone who truly understands her—someone she genuinely loves. We should support her choice and wish her happiness."
He clutched his chest dramatically. "Even though I love her deeply—more than I love myself—true love means letting go!"
He almost moved himself to tears, with a cheesy love ballad echoing in his mind: 'There's a kind of love called letting go…'
The room fell silent.
Lu Guanghong, his father, squinted suspiciously.
My son, being this reasonable? Not a chance. That brat must be scheming something again.
Lu Chengwen, however, was very pleased with his own performance.
[Poor Leng family. Their entire fortune will soon belong to Long Aotian.]
[And these so-called elite families are even dumber. Let their daughters join his harem, hand over hundreds of billions, and smile while doing it. Pure brain damage.]
Leng Qingqiu, still reeling from hearing his thoughts, began to doubt her own reality.
Could it be true? If what he's thinking is real, this story is completely insane!
Me, becoming someone's harem girl? Impossible!
No, I have to get to the bottom of this. Lu Chengwen knows something.
While Lu Chengwen continued his Oscar-worthy act, righteously declaring how noble and selfless he was, Leng Qingqiu's expression only grew colder.
Everyone watched, dumbfounded.
Finally, Lu Guanghong turned to Leng Qingqiu and asked, "Qingqiu, what do you think?"
Leng Qingqiu smiled sweetly. Her words stunned everyone in the room.
"Uncle, Auntie, Mom, Dad—I agree to the engagement."
Lu Chengwen's eyes widened to their limit, staring at her like she'd turned into a ghost.
Leng Qingqiu's face was icy—but at the corner of her lips, a faint, mocking smile appeared.