The people around Su Hua frowned one after another.
If that were the case, then this Young Master Lin's acting skills were truly impeccable—even they had been fooled.
Hong Yuanjie's words dredged up painful memories for Su Hua.
Every penny Lin Xuan earned from odd jobs was spent on Qin Ruoyao. He went out of his way every day to make her happy.
He had even planned to marry her.
If Su Hua hadn’t shown up at that wedding and snatched A-Xuan away from the ceremony, he would probably be Qin Ruoyao’s husband by now.
For those two years, he had hurled cruel words at Su Hua every time they met, only to turn around and shower Qin Ruoyao with affection.
It drove her mad with jealousy.
A crimson hue gradually crept into Su Hua’s eyes, and the air around her dropped to freezing point.
Hong Yuanjie secretly reveled in schadenfreude.
This time, he would make sure Su Hua saw Lin Xuan for the worthless trash he really was.
What Hong Yuanjie failed to notice was the slow dissipation of the hostility radiating from Su Hua.
Her mind was now filled with sweet memories of her time with Lin Xuan—and those gentle, loving eyes of his.
A-Xuan would never lie to her.
A-Xuan was already her boyfriend. He had promised her he wouldn’t run away. He had sworn not just to be her lover, but to marry her, to have children with her.
She should trust him.
"Master," Hong Yuanjie pressed on, "Lin Xuan has been deceiving you from the very beginning. You mustn’t let him blind you. A man like him doesn’t deserve to stay by your side."
"In my opinion, if he’s gone, then let him be. There’s no need for you to go looking for him."
Jiang Qing, who had just arrived: ???
Did this guy have a death wish, badmouthing Young Master Lin like that?
Hong Yuanjie had always known his place—why was he suddenly stirring up trouble today?
"Master—" Hong Yuanjie opened his mouth to speak again, only for Su Hua’s hand to clamp around his throat.
"Master, you—" Hong Yuanjie stared at her in shock.
Her grip tightened inch by inch, his face flushing redder by the second.
"A-Xuan would never lie to me. He would never leave me." Su Hua’s eyes burned with murderous intent.
"I won’t tolerate a single word against him."
"You dare judge my A-Xuan? Know your place!"
Jiang Qing’s heart leaped into his throat.
Hong Yuanjie was still useful among the shadow guards—he couldn’t afford to die yet.
"Master," Jiang Qing reported, "I’ve located the bodyguards assigned to protect Young Master Lin."
Only then did Su Hua release Hong Yuanjie.
Gasping for air, he clutched his throat.
She had genuinely been about to kill him.
He had come within inches of death.
Was Lin Xuan’s position in Su Hua’s heart really this unshakable?
That she wouldn’t allow even a single criticism of him…
"Continue," Su Hua ordered.
"Yes." Jiang Qing bowed slightly. "Two men were tailing Young Master Lin. He subdued them and went alone to confront the ones behind this."
Hong Yuanjie frowned.
So Lin Xuan hadn’t run off on his own.
Did that mean someone was trying to capture him to use as leverage against Su Hua?
That good-for-nothing!
How dare he face those people alone? If he got caught, his death would be the least of their problems—Su Hua would be dragged down with him!
"Master, given Young Master Lin’s combat skills, he should be fine," Jiang Qing assured.
Hong Yuanjie scoffed inwardly.
What combat skills could a weakling like Lin Xuan possibly have?
"What if there were more than just two?" Su Hua’s fists clenched at her sides.
Even the strongest fighter couldn’t hold off a swarm.
If those people truly wanted to capture A-Xuan, why send only a pair?
"Find him. Now. Bring A-Xuan back to me," Su Hua ground out.
"Understood." Jiang Qing nodded.
"Where is Su Sheng’s shipment now?" Su Hua asked next.
"It will reach the Strait of Haibu in twenty minutes," Jiang Qing answered dutifully.
"Intercept it." Her voice was ice.
"Yes."
With a single call from Jiang Qing, the Night Roses mobilized.
"And have our mole in Su Sheng’s ranks investigate whether he’s captured A-Xuan."
"At once, Master."
Jiang Qing had his doubts.
If Su Sheng had caught Young Master Lin, he would’ve already contacted Su Hua to use him as a bargaining chip. She was letting panic cloud her judgment.
Seizing Su Sheng’s shipment was likely just a warning—a reminder to keep his hands off her people.
Talk about an undeserved calamity.
Su Hua personally led the search for Lin Xuan.
Meanwhile, at the Black Tiger Gang—no, it was the Golden Dragon Gang now—Lin Xuan remained blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding around Su Hua.
Seated in Wang Ba’s former golden nanmu chair, legs casually crossed, he demanded, "Talk. Who hired you to grab me?"
Wang Ba, fearing retribution, trembled and kept his head low. "Boss, we weren’t targeting you specifically. We were just paid to do a job. Please, spare us."
Had they known how formidable Lin Xuan was, they’d never have taken this job.
Now, not only had they failed the mission, but their gang leader had been demoted to underling.
Damn it all—who was trying to screw him over?
"Did I say I was punishing you?" Lin Xuan frowned.
"I’m asking who ordered you to abduct me—and to cut off my damn dick," he repeated coldly.
Realizing this wasn’t about reprisal, Wang Ba relaxed slightly. "Boss, someone posted the job on the Dark Web. They offered eight million to have you… neutered. Buyers and sellers on the Dark Web stay anonymous. No way to trace them."
"Is that so?" Lin Xuan smirked. "Well, today I’m finding out who it is."
"Got a computer?"
"Right away." Wang Ba hurriedly had one brought over.
"Where’s the Dark Web portal?"
"Here, Boss."
Wang Ba pulled up a webpage and navigated to their gang’s active contracts. "This is the Golden Dragon Gang’s account. See? This is the guy who paid eight million to have you… you know."
Lin Xuan drummed his fingers on the desk.
"Good. Very good," he said with a chilling laugh. "Since they sent hired hands after me, it’s only polite to return the favor."
"Boss, how can we retaliate if we don’t know their identity?" Wang Ba asked, puzzled.
Lin Xuan shot him a sidelong glance. "Trace their IP. Then we’ll know."

young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."

d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!

ver to a world of cultivation and returned invincible. Modern medicine is child's play compared to elixirs; technological might crumbles before true cultivation. My name is Qin Ning, Earth's sole cultivator!

rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!