Chapter 367: The Little Villain Jumps Out! Stomped to Death!
"Oh, Lu, why call me Young Master Shen? Just call me Brother Shen. What's our relationship? We're like old friends at first sight."
Shen Anyu greeted Lu Xiuhan with a warm, disarming smile, extending his hand with an air of nobility that felt both welcoming and condescending.
Lu Xiuhan's expression was strange for a fleeting second. He was clearly older than Shen Anyu by several years, a seasoned veteran of the business world who had crushed countless competitors. Yet, facing this young man, he felt an inexplicable pressure—a biological instinct telling him that the predator standing before him was at the top of the food chain.
Of course, he was happy and content with Shen Anyu's closeness. Being addressed as a "brother" by the heir of the Yanxia Shen Family was a golden ticket in the capital's circles.
"Brother Shen is right, this little brother was too formal."
[Ding! Detected Destiny Male Lead Lu Xiuhan's favorability +1, plundering +3000 Destiny Value!]
"Brother Shen, I won't disturb you and Sister-in-law. This little brother has something to attend to and will leave first."
After a few pleasantries and greetings, Lu Xiuhan, this domineering CEO who usually walked with his nose in the air, bowed slightly. He was naturally not a fool. He had survived the shark tank of the corporate world by knowing when to advance and when to retreat. Being a third wheel to a man like Shen Anyu was a death sentence for one's career. He found an excuse to leave, his steps brisk but respectful.
Wen Feifei's beautiful eyes watched this scene, her cherry lips slightly parted. Her heart was filled with a tumultuous wave of emotion.
Once upon a time, CEO Lu Xiuhan was a Titan, a big shot she couldn't afford to offend in her wildest dreams. She remembered a banquet years ago where Fan Lei accidentally pushed her, causing her to step on Lu Xiuhan's shoe. She had spent the next week terrified, unable to sleep, fearing she would be blacklisted from the industry.
But now?
That same CEO Lu Xiuhan referred to himself as "little brother" in front of her. He bowed to her. He treated her with deference.
Wen Feifei, of course, knew that all of this wasn't because of her acting skills or her fame. It was entirely because of the man standing beside her—her man.
'System, you're right... Brother Shen is truly my lucky star. And not only my lucky star, but he is also my fated love, my true destiny.'
Inside her mind, the mechanical voice of her cheat echoed, sounding somewhat resigned.
[Entertainment Domination System: "...Ahem, Feifei, it's good that you feel that way... Just... try not to provoke him, okay? Even I feel a bit short-circuited when he looks at us."]
At this moment, Shen Anyu frowned slightly, his sharp brows knitting together as if sensing a disturbance in the ether. He turned his gaze toward the distance, a calculating light flickering in his eyes.
He smiled at Wen Feifei, his expression shifting instantly from deep contemplation to doting lover.
"Feifei, I have something to do, so I'll leave first. I'll pick you up in the evening for a candlelight dinner, you know. Make sure to wear that dress I bought you."
Wen Feifei's small face flushed a deep crimson. She bit her lip and nodded profusely, her eyes filled with infatuation.
"Okay, Brother Shen! I'll wait for you!"
Watching Shen Anyu's departing back—tall, broad-shouldered, and exuding an aura of invincibility—Wen Feifei only withdrew her gaze after a long time. She clutched her hands to her chest, muttering in her heart:
"Brother Shen is good in every way... it's just that he's too busy. But that's normal; he's the Young Master of the Yanxia Shen Family, the crown prince of a dynasty. He must be busy inheriting the family business, dealing with trillions in assets, and perhaps even busy with power struggles, like the 'Nine Sons' Succession' in those historical dramas."
"It's a pity I can't help him right now. I'm just an actress," she thought, her determination hardening. "But once I have more fans and gather more Popularity Value, I can exchange for many useful skills and items from the System Store. Then, I can truly help Brother Shen stand at the peak of the world!"
[Location: Modu Film City – "Republic of Mist" Set]
The film set was a bustling hive of activity. Artificial fog rolled through the cobblestone streets, recreating the melancholic atmosphere of the 1930s.
"As expected of Heavenly Queen Zhong, her appearance and temperament are truly breathtakingly beautiful and peerless!"
"Look at that posture... she doesn't even need to act. She is the character."
In the nearby crew, regardless of gender, everyone who saw the scene before them had eyes filled with admiration and exclaimed in praise.
Zhong Lingyin was standing in the center of the frame. She was wearing a light blue cheongsam embroidered with white magnolias. The silk hugged her exquisite curves, outlining a figure that was both seductive and dignified. She held an oil-paper umbrella, her movements graceful and fluid as she walked through the misty alley.
With light makeup, her naturally beautiful face appeared even more flawless and captivating. It was a beauty that could topple cities and bring empires to their knees. She looked like a porcelain doll brought to life, too fragile for this world yet commanding the attention of everyone in it.
"Fifth Sister is so beautiful!"
On the sidelines, Yang Luoluo's large, clear eyes widened. She was munching on a stick of candied hawthorn, her admiration for her senior sister overflowing.
"Damn Jade Prince... Fifth Sister is mine! She belongs to the sect, and you absolutely won't take her away!"
Ye Linyuan, standing next to Yang Luoluo, was also stunned by the visual impact. But his awe quickly turned to a burning, acidic jealousy. He remembered Fifth Sister Zhong Lingyin's officially announced boyfriend—that mysterious "Jade Prince"—and he was furious.
He clenched his small, childlike fists, his nails digging into his palms.
'I definitely have to find a way to break up this relationship. Fifth Sister is too pure. She's being deceived by that scumbag!'
At this moment, the harmonious atmosphere of the crew was shattered.
Crash!
The entrance gate was kicked open violently. The crew became noisy as everyone looked towards the disturbance.
A group of people rushed in like a pack of wild dogs. They were five or six bodyguards in black suits, their expressions fierce and bullying. They surrounded a young man in a flashy, mismatched designer suit.
The young man had slicked-back hair that shone with too much oil, and his face was pale with the hollowness of excessive indulgence in wine and women. He walked with an arrogant, swaying gait, as if he owned the very ground he stepped on.
This was the Second Young Master of the Ji Family—Ji Baduan. A notorious playboy in Modu.
"Tsk tsk! As expected of Heavenly Queen Zhong! The rumors didn't do her justice. She's just beautiful! A top-tier item!"
The slick-haired, effeminate Young Master's eyes went straight when he saw Zhong Lingyin. His gaze was lecherous, stripping her with his eyes, lingering on the slit of her cheongsam.
The person had disturbed the crew's work, and the director's face was initially displeased. He was about to get angry and shout "Cut!", but upon seeing the newcomer's face, his expression changed instantly. The anger evaporated, replaced by a fearful, obsequious smile.
He immediately walked up, bowing low.
"Er Shao! Oh my, what wind blew you here? Why are you here personally?"
"Get out of the way, old man. Don't block my view of the beauty."
Er Shao unceremoniously pushed the director aside. The director stumbled, but didn't dare to complain.
Ji Baduan walked straight up to Zhong Lingyin, looking at her with an evil, possessive smile. He sniffed the air around her, acting like a disgusting pervert.
"Heavenly Queen Zhong, I've secretly admired you for a long time. I heard you're filming here, so I came specifically to invite you on a date. Tonight. My yacht. You must give me this Face."
Zhong Lingyin was so angry she laughed.
With her family background and fame, she had never encountered such a shameless, brainless Young Master before. Usually, people in the circle knew better than to provoke her. This was a first.
She took a step back, her expression turning icy.
"No matter who you are, I'm not interested in dating you. I already have a boyfriend. Please leave."
A rare coldness appeared on Zhong Lingyin's clear and gentle face as she directly refused. She didn't leave any room for negotiation.
The smile on Ji Baduan's face froze. His pupils constricted. In his world, no woman had ever rejected him.
"Not giving me Face?"
Er Shao became annoyed upon hearing this. His voice pitched up, sounding shrill. "I am giving you a chance to climb up, and you refuse? Shameless bitch!"
He directly reached out, his claw-like hand aiming to grab Zhong Lingyin's arm, which was exposed and looked like beautiful mutton-fat jade.
"Ah!"
Zhong Lingyin's face lost color, and she hurriedly retreated, almost tripping over her hem.
"Courting death!"
Seeing this, Ye Linyuan was furious. His eyes turned red. He wanted to rush up, summon his inner strength, and slap this profligate Young Master's head off his shoulders.
But then...
He took a step forward and froze. He awkwardly looked at his small arms and short legs.
'Dammit!'
Having been cursed with the [Divine Curse Talisman] by Shen Anyu, which reverted him to childhood and stripped him of all his cultivation, how could he still have the ability to fight? He was just a kid now. Unless he had a life-or-death crisis to trigger a desperate outburst, he was useless.
He could only watch, impotent rage boiling in his veins.
"Get lost! Don't touch my Fifth Sister!"
However, Yang Luoluo reacted.
The girl was a martial artist, young but fierce. Her bright eyes filled with anger, she didn't hesitate. She stepped in front of Zhong Lingyin and unleashed a beautiful high kick.
Bam!
"Oof!"
She directly kicked Er Shao in the solar plexus, sending him flying five or six meters away with great force.
"Er Shao!"
Seeing this, the bodyguards were all stunned. They stood there, mouths agape.
Although this Er Shao was indeed a brainless profligate Young Master, his family—the Ji Family—was one of the most prominent ancient martial arts families in Modu. He was doted on by his elders. If he got injured on their watch, these bodyguards wouldn't have a good outcome. They might be fed to the dogs.
"Ugh... my... my gut..."
Er Shao clutched his stomach, curled up on the ground like a cooked shrimp. His face was flushed purple, and he was drenched in cold sweat from the pain. It took him a long time to catch his breath. He felt as if his intestines were almost kicked off.
He had never suffered such a great loss in his life. He was extremely annoyed, humiliated, and enraged.
He angrily scolded the bodyguards, his voice hoarse:
"You useless fools! Why are you still standing there?! Are you dead?!"
"Hurry up and act! Kill them! No—capture them!"
"Grab Zhong Lingyin and that little wretched woman for me! Grab all of them! This Young Master will arrange them in a row tonight and teach them a lesson they'll never forget!"
Hearing Er Shao's angry scolding, the bodyguards looked at each other, hesitating.
Doing such a thing in broad daylight? Kidnapping the national Heavenly Queen Zhong Lingyin in front of a film crew? Was he crazy? This would cause a national uproar.
"Hurry up and act! Fuck the consequences! The Ji Family rules Modu! This Young Master will take responsibility if anything goes wrong. What are you afraid of?"
Er Shao was furious and repeatedly reprimanded them, spitting foam.
Shen Anyu had already arrived at the scene at this time. He stood on a high platform overlooking the set, concealed in the shadows of the lighting rig.
Seeing this farce, he was not in a hurry to act. Instead, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
'Interesting...'
It seemed that this Er Shao was probably a minor villain, generated by the world's will specifically for Ye Linyuan to perform a "heroic rescue" outburst. There were plenty of such brainless minor villains in these novels.
If you hit the small ones, the old ones would come. It was an infinite loop of face-slapping for the protagonist.
'Disrupting such a protagonist's heroic rescue plot should allow me to plunder a lot of Destiny Value. I can't let Little Yezi have his moment.'
Of course, such trivial matters didn't even require Shen Anyu to act personally. Dirtying his hands on trash like Ji Baduan was beneath his dignity. It was a matter of a single glance.
He looked toward the entrance where another figure had just arrived, panting slightly.
"Brother Shen... I've made you laugh. Leave this to me! I'll handle this!"
Lu Xiuhan, who had apparently followed Shen Anyu (or perhaps Shen Anyu had led him here), rushed over. His face was ashen at the sight of the chaos. He recognized the "Young Master" on the ground and realized the gravity of the situation. If Shen Anyu's woman was insulted here, and Lu Xiuhan did nothing, his relationship with the Shen Family would be over.
Er Shao was still clamoring, struggling to stand up, telling the bodyguards to capture Zhong Lingyin and Yang Luoluo and take them back to his dungeon.
But the next moment.
Slap!
A thunderous sound echoed through the silent studio.
A loud, heavy smack landed squarely on Ji Baduan's face, spinning him around.
Lu Xiuhan stood there, his chest heaving, his face dark as a thundercloud. He looked at Er Shao with eyes full of anger and terror—terror of what would happen if Shen Anyu had been the one to strike.
He roared:
"Ji Baduan! You crazy kid! Do you have a death wish?!"
"Do you know who you've provoked?!"
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