"Don't celebrate too soon," Wang Ba said with a furrowed brow. "This time, they lost to our gang, but they’ll definitely try to get their revenge."
His voice carried a thick layer of worry. "We’ll likely face Night Rose soon. Even though we’ve grown strong over the past few months, there’s still a gap between us and them. I don’t know if we can win when the time comes."
The gang leader was formidable, but Wang Ba couldn’t help feeling uneasy. After all, Night Rose wasn’t an easy opponent—especially their leader, Dark Rose, who was not someone to be trifled with.
Wang Ba reported the matter to Lin Xuan.
"Boss, we won the arms deal against Night Rose," he announced.
"Mm." Lin Xuan nodded. The victory didn’t surprise him—he had prepared thoroughly for this.
"Boss," Wang Ba said cautiously, "Night Rose will definitely come for us. Have you thought of a countermeasure?"
Lin Xuan replied, "Keep a close eye on Night Rose’s movements. Report anything suspicious to me immediately. When the time comes, I’ll handle it myself."
Right now, he was focused on dealing with the Mourning Organization.
Facing Night Rose would have to wait—unless they came knocking before he dealt with Mourning. Then, he’d act.
"Understood." Wang Ba let out a relieved sigh.
If the boss took action personally, there was at least a chance of winning.
Maybe their gang wasn’t as strong as Night Rose, but Lin Xuan had strategy.
Last time, with just a handful of men, they had crushed the world’s top assassin organization—Mourning—all thanks to the boss’s tactics.
If he personally faced Night Rose, losing wasn’t a foregone conclusion.
"Wang Ba, start preparing the men," Lin Xuan ordered.
Wang Ba blinked. "Boss, are you saying… you plan to strike Night Rose first?"
"No. We’re raiding Mourning’s hideout." A cold glint flashed in Lin Xuan’s eyes.
"Boss," Wang Ba hesitated, "Why do we keep clashing with Mourning? Shouldn’t we focus on Night Rose first? We can deal with Mourning later."
"No. Mourning must be eliminated first," Lin Xuan insisted.
Wang Ba frowned. "Boss, why are you so fixated on destroying them?"
Lin Xuan’s voice turned icy. "They dared to touch my girlfriend. I need to wipe out Mourning completely—for Hua’er’s safety."
Plus, he needed Mourning to help recover his lost memories. It might even help with Hua’er’s condition.
Wang Ba: "…"
So the boss was a simp after all.
His mind drifted to Su Hua’s image—her figure, beauty, and aura. Well, with someone like her, it was no wonder the boss was whipped.
"Boss," Wang Ba couldn’t resist asking, "How did you even get Su Hua to fall for you?"
Lin Xuan: "Didn’t need any tricks. She fell for me at first sight."
At least, that’s how he remembered it.
Wang Ba sighed. "Never thought the CEO of Su Corporation would be so shallow."
Not that he blamed her. Even as a man, he had to admit Lin Xuan was ridiculously handsome—the kind who could make women swoon instantly.
"Get things ready. I’m hanging up." Lin Xuan set his phone aside and retreated into his thoughts.
He needed to plan carefully—how to confront Mourning.
---
Su Corporation, CEO’s Office
Jiang Qing’s lips parted slightly as she listened to her subordinate’s report over the phone.
The Golden Dragon Gang had actually gone head-to-head with Night Rose over an arms deal.
She knew the two factions would clash eventually—just not this soon.
Young Master Lin had guts.
"CEO Su," Jiang Qing strode into the office, calm as ever. "Our men lost the arms interception mission."
"Who took the shipment?" Su Hua’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Golden Dragon Gang," Jiang Qing answered.
Su Hua let out a low chuckle. "It’s been a long time since any gang dared to oppose Night Rose."
"CEO," Jiang Qing ventured, "How do you plan to handle them? This is practically a declaration of war."
Su Hua’s lips curled. "I’ll deal with Golden Dragon Gang personally… later."
Jiang Qing’s face lit up with amusement.
If Night Rose moved, Lin Xuan would surely step in too. And if Su Hua personally handled Golden Dragon Gang… the two would cross paths.
Oh, this was going to be good.
Jiang Qing decided she’d stick close to Su Hua. If things got heated, she’d have to reveal their identities—before they accidentally hurt each other.
"CEO," she asked, "Should I start preparing countermeasures against Golden Dragon Gang now?"
Su Hua’s expression remained blank. "No need. I have something more important to handle first."
Jiang Qing blinked. "What’s more important than this?"
Su Hua shot her a glance. "Mine and Xuan’s anniversary."
Jiang Qing: "!!!"
Of course.
Well, Night Rose wouldn’t be making a move anytime soon.
Their meeting anniversary was still over a week away.
By then, Su Hua would undoubtedly slip into one of those risqué outfits, sway to some sultry jazz-classical fusion, and seduce Lin Xuan into bed for days.
After that… recovery time.
Any showdown between their alter egos would have to wait.
Sigh.
Jiang Qing lamented inwardly.
Guess the drama would have to be postponed.
Just as she stepped out of the office, she spotted the dance instructor arriving. Jiang Qing promptly turned back.
"CEO, your instructor is here," she announced.
"Mm." Su Hua set aside her work and stood.
In the dance studio, Jiang Qing watched, chin in hand, as Su Hua practiced with intense focus.
The CEO had long moved beyond just classical jazz—now she trained in everything from traditional to modern dance, specifically the kinds that could ensnare a man.
By the time their anniversary rolled around, Lin Xuan’s kidneys were in for a world of suffering.
He’d better pray for mercy.
An hour later, the instructor left.
Su Hua, glistening with sweat, emerged from the studio and returned to her office. Just as she was about to enter her private restroom, another notification buzzed on her phone.

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?!!!"

. As long as he maintains the villain image and follows the plot to the grand finale, he can obtain generous rewards and return to the real world. So Gu Chen'an entered the role and began to act as a scumbag villain, but who would have expected that the female leads could hear his inner thoughts. Miss Su from the Su family was shocked: "I originally thought Gu Chen'an was a scumbag, but I didn't expect he turned out to be a gentleman! What? You said I have to call off the engagement? I definitely won't, I'll piss you off!" Bai Yuan Tian was dumbfounded: "Young Master Gu is usually unreasonable and a complete brat, but he actually calls me little sweetie in his heart? What, Young Master Gu even said he likes me?" As the female leads' images collapsed more and more, the plot also collapsed with it. Gu Chen'an looked at all this chaos. "Ladies, don't aggro me, if you keep this up the male lead really will stab me, I still need to survive to the grand finale!"

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!

【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)