Shen Qianqian sat on the ground, dragging herself backward as she retreated. "I’m warning you—if you dare lay a finger on me, my father will have you skinned alive!"
"Your father can barely save himself right now. Do you really think he’d spare a thought for you?"
The bodyguards weren’t aware of Su Hua’s dealings with Shen Corporation, but given their employer’s temperament, Shen Qianqian had repeatedly crossed the line by coveting Young Master Lin. There was no way Su Hua would let the Shen family off the hook.
Other offenses might be forgivable, but Young Master Lin was her absolute red line.
Shen Mao was probably already drowning in chaos.
"Shen Qianqian, enjoy yourself."
None of Su Hua’s subordinates had any patience for delicate flowers.
The two bodyguards began kicking and punching Shen Qianqian relentlessly.
"Ahhh—!"
She curled into a ball, shielding her head as blows rained down on her.
They were professionals—they knew exactly where to hit without risking her life, and where would hurt the most.
Soon, Shen Qianqian’s body was covered in injuries, every inch of pain radiating through her limbs, leaving her in unbearable agony.
"Wuwuwu…" She sobbed, pleading, "Please… let me go."
She had been spoiled by her father her entire life, and others had always tread carefully around her status as the Shen family’s heiress. Never had she been beaten like this.
It hurt so much.
The two black-clad bodyguards took their time, only stopping when they deemed it enough.
Clang!
The rusted iron door of the abandoned factory creaked open.
A tall, strikingly handsome man stepped inside.
Shen Qianqian, sprawled on the ground, lifted her head.
Her eyes lit up.
Her heart pounded wildly.
It was Lin Xuan!
He had come to save her!
He did care about her—he must have been cold before only because that woman was around.
Maybe this beating was even a blessing in disguise.
Now, she could expose that woman’s true colors to Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan strode in expressionlessly, his refined demeanor starkly out of place in the decrepit factory.
"Lin Xuan-ge!" Shen Qianqian crawled toward him, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up pitifully. "They hit me… Lin Xuan-ge, save me!"
"Save you?" Lin Xuan looked down at her, his voice dripping with icy mockery.
Something felt off.
Shen Qianqian’s delicate brows furrowed.
Why did his tone sound like… he wasn’t here to rescue her?
No, that couldn’t be.
"Young Master Lin." The two bodyguards removed their masks and sunglasses, bowing respectfully.
"You—you—!" Shen Qianqian’s eyes widened in shock.
She recognized them—they were Lin Xuan’s personal bodyguards.
Why were they here?
A terrible realization struck her. Slowly, she turned her head back to Lin Xuan.
"Lin Xuan-ge, you…?" Her voice trembled with disbelief.
No… he wouldn’t do this to her.
"Lin Xuan-ge," she said, eyes red-rimmed, "these two might be yours, but they attacked me because of that vixen’s influence! You had no idea, right?"
"Or—or were they fired? Maybe they resented you and took it out on me!"
One bodyguard’s expression darkened. He kicked her sharply. "Call our employer a vixen again, I dare you."
Shen Qianqian bit her lip, still staring at Lin Xuan with desperate hope.
He had to punish them for this, right?
"Lin Xuan-ge," she whispered tearfully, "make them pay, please?"
She gazed up at him, fragile and pleading—but such tactics had no effect on Lin Xuan.
Qin Ruoyao had used the same act on him for years. He was immune.
(Well, except for Su Hua.)
"Punish them?" Lin Xuan’s lips curled coldly. "How?"
"I sent them to beat you."
His words struck Shen Qianqian like a thunderbolt.
She froze, her pupils dilating in horror as she stared at him.
It took her a long moment to find her voice.
"No… Lin Xuan-ge, you’re lying, aren’t you? You’d never hurt me… never!"
She clutched at his pant leg, begging hysterically, "Say it’s a lie! Say it!"
Lin Xuan kicked her off impatiently.
"Ah—!"
She collapsed back onto the floor.
"Shen Qianqian." Lin Xuan crouched in front of her. "I warned you. If you keep clinging to me, don’t blame me for what happens."
"Lin Xuan-ge, I cling to you because I love you!" Tears streamed down her face. "Is it wrong to chase after the person I love?"
Besides, that woman was not right for him.
She didn’t deserve Lin Xuan.
In love, the one who wasn’t loved was the third wheel. If Lin Xuan fell for her instead, then she wouldn’t be the other woman.
Lin Xuan was speechless.
What kind of messed-up logic was that?
"Lin Xuan-ge, please… just give me a chance. If you get to know me, you’ll see how good I am!" Shen Qianqian implored pitifully.
Lin Xuan’s voice remained frigid. "Shen Qianqian, I told you—there’s no future between us. I’m in love with someone else. Even if Hua’er didn’t exist, I’d never choose you."
Each word shattered her hope further.
Her expression crumbled into desolation.
Lin Xuan stood. "Today’s beating is your final warning. If you harass me again, I will make sure you regret being alive."
With that, he turned away.
"Throw her back to the Shen family," he ordered flatly.
"Lin Xuan-ge!" Shen Qianqian screamed in despair. "You can’t do this to me! LIN XUAN-GE!"
But he was already gone.
Shen Qianqian lay on the ground, wailing in anguish.
The bodyguards watched, satisfied.
Serves her right.
They hauled her up, dragging her out of the factory and shoving her into a car.
---
Night Garden Estate
Su Hua kept glancing at the clock.
Eight o’clock, and A-Xuan still isn’t back.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her entire aura icy.
Jiang Qing, currently delivering a report, trembled internally.
Of all days for Young Master Lin to be absent, why did I have to run into Su Hua when she’s in a mood?
She prayed silently for Lin Xuan’s swift return.
The moment he stepped through the door, Su Hua’s temper would vanish.
During her work report, Jiang Qing received a phone call. She glanced at the caller’s name.
"President Su, I need to take this call."
Jiang Qing stepped out with her phone. She wouldn’t usually interrupt her duties for a call, but this was from the bodyguard assigned by President Su to protect Young Master Lin—she had to answer immediately.
As she listened to the voice on the other end, surprise filled her eyes.
She returned to Su Hua’s study.
"President Su, the bodyguard assigned to Young Master Lin has kidnapped Shen Qianqian today."
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
ey change clothes. Li Chuan contributed all his possessions, only to find that things were not as they seemed. Almost a year after joining, he hadn’t managed to get a single Daoist consort. Thinking he had been deceived, he was approached by a stunning senior fellow disciple who asked if he would like to form a spiritual bond. For those who don’t practice cultivation, they might not know what “forming a spiritual bond” is. Let me put it this way: A long-term relationship is called a “Daoist consort,” while a short-term relationship is known as “forming a spiritual bond.” From then on, Li Chuan discovered the true way to interact with the Yin-Yang Sect’s Daoist consorts. As long as he had enough spirit stones, he could form a spiritual bond with anyone, Whether it’s Senior Sisters, aunts, Daoist consorts of aunts, female elders, Daoist consorts of elders, or even the Daoist consort of the sect leader, anyone can form a spiritual bond as long as there are enough spirit stones.” I've already joined the Yin-Yang Sect, and you're telling me to focus on cultivation? Do you even know what the Yin-Yang Sect is all about?
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
