-Chapter 3-
"Hehe."
David gave a cold laugh, clenching his fists tightly.
There was already killing intent in his eyes.
"Kneel to you? You think you're worthy?"
A surge of awakened power coursed down his arm. Just as it was about to erupt from his fingertips, a soft voice suddenly interrupted.
"Enough, both of you."
Yelena frowned slightly and stepped forward quickly.
"Young Master William, this gentleman is a friend of my father's. Please don't make things difficult for him."
The two security guards were stunned on the spot.
Was this broke loser really invited by the Miller family?
Even John was taken aback. "Miss Miller, are you sure? Why would you be friends with someone like him? Do you even know who he is?"
Yelena's brows knitted slightly. She hadn't known before.
Now that she did, it was too late.
The guest had already been invited. Could she turn him away now?
She wisely chose not to address the topic directly. "Young Master William, my cousin is waiting for you. He said it's been a while since you last met and he's missed you. You should go see him."
"Fine. I'll give you this one chance and let him off today."
After shooting David a disdainful glare, John turned and walked into the hotel.
Hmph. As long as that guy is still in Su City, there will be plenty of chances to deal with him later.
What he didn't know was that Yelena had stepped in not to help David, but to save him.
Although she appeared calm and elegant, she had practiced martial arts since childhood and was highly perceptive.
In that split second, she had sensed a powerful murderous aura from David.
If she hadn't stopped it, John would have been seriously injured.
If a young master of one of the Four Great Families was severely hurt at a Miller family banquet by a guest they themselves had invited, the Miller family would absolutely be held responsible.
And if the Four Great Families collectively turned against the Miller family, how would they withstand it?
Though Yelena blamed him in her heart, she showed none of it on her face. She simply smiled and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Fox, for the trouble you've been put through."
David looked at her deeply. "It's nothing. I don't concern myself with petty vermin."
"You truly are magnanimous, Mr. Fox. Let's go inside."
As she turned, Yelena shot a sharp glance at the two guards.
"You misjudged someone, failed to report the situation, and acted on your own. Each of you will write a 5,000-word reflection and have this month's bonus deducted."
The guards nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, thank you Miss! Sorry, sir! We didn't recognize someone as important as you!"
David frowned slightly, confused as he looked at Yelena.
They had treated him with such disrespect, and she was only docking their pay?
Shouldn't they be fired outright?
Forget it. This woman has always been soft-hearted. No point in arguing with her over this.
Inside the hotel, most of the guests had arrived and the banquet was about to begin.
Lucas slowly calmed down as he sipped hot water that Rose had asked for on his behalf.
[The Dragon King male lead crashes the engagement banquet to snatch the bride because he sees Rose there. She's grown up into such a beauty, and he would never let her fall into another man's hands. Neither would the author allow that.]
[But in the original plot, the villain doesn't show up. Yet here I am. Who knows what direction the story will take now.]
[If the male lead suddenly picks a fight with me, I'll just go all in and antagonize him until he snaps and kills me at the banquet. Perfect way to die in the line of duty, return to my original world, and maybe even get compensation for a workplace injury.]
Rose swirled the wine in her glass. She had already gotten used to terms like "male lead" and "villain" coming out of his mouth.
This little rascal was convinced that their world was just a novel, and that she and Yelena were both heroines.
She was half skeptical and half convinced.
What made her doubt was how real and detailed this world felt. It didn't seem like a story at all.
But what made her believe… was that he really knew things he shouldn't have known.
Now they just had to wait and see if this so-called male lead would show up and clash with Zeke. Then everything would be clear.
Suddenly, there was a stir at the entrance.
Lucas immediately straightened up, and Rose also looked over with curiosity.
A moment later, Yelena appeared before the crowd, walking side by side with a tall man.
"Whoa! Who's that guy? Dressed like a complete loser, and yet he's standing next to the goddess of the Miller family?"
"No idea. Maybe a beggar she picked up to help clean up. Everyone knows she's beautiful and kindhearted."
While the crowd murmured, Yelena was called aside by the butler.
As soon as she left, a young man stepped out from the crowd, glaring at David.
"Where did this beggar come from? Where are the guards? How could you let this kind of trash sneak into the banquet? Do you all want to lose your jobs?"
Lucas nearly spit out his water.
This guy's villain lines were textbook perfect. Truly a role model.
He nudged Rose's shoulder. "Hey, your childhood sweetheart just showed up. Aren't you going to say hello?"
In the original story, Rose had already gone to greet him.
But now, she didn't move at all.
To keep the plot going, Lucas had no choice but to prompt her.
Rose glanced over coldly. "We did know each other as kids, but he wasn't my first love. Watch what you say."
When David disappeared, he was fifteen and she was only fourteen, still in middle school. She hadn't even started feeling that way yet. How could she have had a first love?
Lucas didn't argue.
[Yeah yeah, not first love. You two were just pure. Totally pure. A man and a woman with nothing between them.]
Rose: "…"
She really wanted to smack him.
As the two of them were chatting, Zeke began to escalate things. "Filthy beggar, you deaf or something? Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson myself. Do you think the Miller family is easy to mess with?"
"Guards!"
He clapped his hands. Six bodyguards instantly appeared.
Zeke crossed his arms and sneered. "This loser snuck in just to scam food and drinks. Give him a good beating and throw him out!"
"Yes, sir!"
The bodyguards responded in unison, but before they could move, David stepped forward. "What's your relationship with Yelena?"
Zeke grew furious. "Shut your mouth! A broke loser like you thinks he has the right to say my sister's name?"
"So you're Yelena's brother. In that case, I'll teach you a lesson on her behalf for your lack of manners."
Smack!
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and slapped Zeke hard across the face.
Though the slap looked fierce, David had actually held back. If he had used even half his strength, it would have been enough to kill Zeke outright.
Zeke stood frozen, stunned.
Covering his cheek, he looked at David in disbelief. "You… you dared to hit me?"
The crowd widened their eyes, utterly shocked.
Who was this guy, daring to hit the Miller family's young master at their own banquet? Was he crazy?
Lucas was so stunned he almost sprayed his drink again.
Reading stories where people show off and slap others around was one thing. Watching it happen live was something else entirely.
The crowd looked like NPCs, stuck on two expressions: shock and confusion. Even their dialogue sounded AI-generated.
It was hilarious.
[In the novel, Zeke actually loses two teeth after the slap.]
Just as those words came to mind, Zeke spat out a mouthful of blood, and in it were two teeth.
Rose stiffened.
He really could predict the future.
He really knew everything about this world.
Could it be that the world she lived in was nothing more than a novel?
While Lucas was silently laughing to himself, David suddenly turned around. His sharp and overwhelming gaze landed squarely on him.
Lucas froze instantly.
What was going on?
Why wasn't the male lead beating up Zeke? Why was he suddenly staring at him?
What was he supposed to do now, start acting right away?
Just as he was panicking, David strode toward them with long, purposeful steps.
Rose frowned, her face showing clear displeasure.
What was he coming over for?
David had been missing for seven years. He was no longer the clean and clear-eyed boy from her memories.
Now he was tall, powerful, and full of presence. His pitch-black eyes burned with fury and hatred.
His killing aura felt as if it could burn down the entire world, making him seem like a stranger and putting her on high alert.
Just thinking about how this man relied on being the novel's male lead, blessed by fate, to steal the White Corporation and force her into his harem...
To make her obediently wash clothes, cook, and serve him...
She clenched her delicate fists, grinding her teeth.
She was the legitimate eldest daughter of the White family. She was destined to stand at the top of Su City's business world. There was no way she would fall so low.
"Rose."
David walked up to Lucas and Rose. He ignored Lucas and smiled at Rose.
"It's been a long time."
Lucas was stunned, then realized what was happening.
Right, right, right.
This was how the plot was supposed to go.
Tonight was the night the male lead reunited with Rose. It made sense for him to come greet her.
But Lucas wasn't supposed to be here. Yet now, he was sitting next to Rose, and they were sitting very close.
Lucas swallowed hard.
[I'm the villain. I can't just sit still while the protagonist tries to talk to Rose. If I do nothing, my character will fall apart.]
[I'll just scold him a little, help wrap up this small face-slapping scene, then leave the party and go home to sleep.]
With that, he suddenly stood up and blocked Rose.
"Who the hell are you? Flirting with my girlfriend right in front of me, Young Master Grey? You must be tired of living!"
Perfect. The idiotic lines were delivered just right, and the arrogant acting was flawless.
Lucas quietly gave himself a mental thumbs-up.
David paused. His already cold eyes flared up even more. "Your girlfriend? Rose, is that true?"
[Nonsense, of course it's not true. As long as Rose denies it, the male lead will definitely get angry. Then I'll curse him out a bit, he'll punch me, I'll roll away, and the scene ends perfectly.]
After hearing Lucas's inner voice, Rose chuckled inwardly.
Leave?
Keep dreaming.
She rose gracefully, walked up to Lucas, and under his eager gaze, raised her hand and took his arm.
"Yes, David. Long time no see. Let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Lucas."
Lucas jolted in shock, his jaw almost dropping to the floor.
[What... what is she saying? Has she lost her mind?]
Not only was he stunned, everyone around them was wide-eyed.
"Fuck, what's going on? Goddess White actually admitted she's with Lucas?"
"No way. She must have been threatened!"
"Yeah yeah, I heard Lucas got injured at the White family just to threaten her. Now the Grey family's even planning to blacklist the White family."
Hearing the crowd's words, David's murderous aura exploded. "Lucas, is what they're saying true? Did you threaten Rose?"
Cold sweat dripped down Lucas's back.
Fuck.
[Rose, you crazy fool. Are you trying to get me killed? I just needed to say a couple lines and be done tonight. Why would you provoke the male lead into going full rage mode? Dammit...]
He knew he still had tons of villain scenes left. He couldn't die here or the mission would fail.
So he had to calm David down.
He took a deep breath and said, "Yes, what they said is true. Rose has always missed you. Now that you're back, she fell for you at first sight and wanted to throw herself into your arms. But she didn't dare say anything, so she could only stand by my side, threatened by me."
Rose: [...]
This idiot. He was really scared of David to this extent?
So what if he's the male lead? The Fox family of the past was already gone. What kind of storm could he stir up?
Lucas didn't know what she was thinking. All he wanted now was to survive. He had to keep acting.
"Hah. I'm Lucas, the eldest son of the Grey family. In Su City, few people dare stand up to me. I advise you to back off now. Don't poke your nose in my business. Otherwise, ever seen a fist the size of a sandbag?"
He raised a loosely clenched fist and waved it in David's face.
The movement was completely absurd. He looked every bit the clown.
This was the essence of the Dragon King novel villains.
Be dumb enough. Be brainless enough. Be ridiculous enough.
[The key is, David's hatred is already maxed out. He's about to throw a punch to send me flying. If I act dumb enough, he'll look down on me and pull his punch.]
[Because I'm just a clown. Not worth his full strength.]
Sure enough, David looked at Lucas's foolish arrogance and his anger lessened a bit.
There was no way Rose could fall for someone this brainless.
Besides, Lucas had just said she always missed him. David looked at Rose with renewed emotion.
"Rose, I'm sorry. I made you wait for seven years. I'm back now."
Rose bit her red lips. She pinched Lucas's arm hard, then looked coldly at David.
"Don't listen to his nonsense. I became his girlfriend willingly. He didn't threaten me."
David's gaze filled with pain. "Rose, don't be afraid. With me here, no one will ever bully you again. From now on, I'll stand in front of you and shield you from everything."
Rose already feared David taking over the White Corporation. Now that she heard him say he would stand in front of her, her cold gaze turned even sharper.
"I entered the White Corporation at sixteen. It's been five years since. I've never relied on anyone's help. David, stop being so self-righteous. Move. You're in my way."
With that, she pulled Lucas's arm and walked forward.
Lucas tugged back with a sleazy grin. "Heh, Rose, are you worried I'll beat him up, so you're pulling me away on purpose? Don't worry. As long as you behave and be my woman, I promise I won't lay a finger on him."
Rose glared at Lucas. "I already told you. I willingly became your girlfriend. Do you not understand plain words?"
"Wait, no... stop pretending. I know you're not willing, but even if you're not, you have to be. I'm Young Master Grey. If I can't get your heart, I'll get your body."
[Fuck you. This female lead is definitely mentally unstable. I need to take her to a psychologist when I get the chance. She keeps breaking character, and I have to fix the plot nonstop. System, I want a raise.]
Mentally unstable?
See a psychologist?
Breaking character?
Rose sneered. "You don't believe I did this willingly, right? Fine. I'll prove it to you."
With that, under the stunned gazes of everyone present, under David's surging killing intent, and in front of Lucas's exaggerated fake smile...
Rose suddenly let go of his arm, cupped his face—
And stood on tiptoe to kiss his lips.
-End of Chapter 3-