Lin Xuan shot a challenging glance at Huo Shen.
Look at how Su Hua is defending him everywhere. Yet Huo Shen still wants to make trouble for him? Tsk, his hopes are bound to be dashed.
Huo Shen noticed Lin Xuan’s gaze as well.
His expression darkened to the extreme.
Let Lin Xuan gloat for now—just wait and see.
"Yes," Huo Shen took a deep breath before beginning his work report.
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow.
Huo Shen was here to report work? In front of his romantic rival, how could Lin Xuan not take the opportunity to flaunt their intimacy?
With other women, he might feel embarrassed.
But in front of a man like Huo Shen, who coveted Su Hua? Not a shred of shame remained.
"Su Hua," Lin Xuan called out to her.
"Hmm?" Su Hua, who had been reviewing documents, lifted her head at his voice.
"Nothing much. I just thought your lips look very kissable… and wanted to kiss you," Lin Xuan said.
Huo Shen clenched the files in his hand.
He knew Lin Xuan was doing this on purpose!
Su Hua always prioritized work—she wouldn’t casually agree to such an inappropriate request.
He’d just wait for Lin Xuan to be shot down.
But to his surprise, Su Hua’s eyes curved with amusement, her entire demeanor radiating delight.
"If A-Xuan is so eager, then as his girlfriend, I should properly fulfill his request."
With that, she leaned in, pressing her lips to his, her soft arms winding around Lin Xuan’s neck.
Huo Shen’s face cycled between green and white.
Su Hua… actually agreed to such an outrageous demand!
What kind of spell had Lin Xuan cast on her?
Jiang Qing entered with tea, freezing at the sight before her.
Oh-ho, how scandalous.
She glanced at Huo Shen’s expression. Tsk, tsk—clearly, Young Master Lin was putting on this show just to provoke Huo Shen.
He was stabbing straight at Huo Shen’s heart.
If Huo Shen had drawn Lin Xuan’s attention… well, he’d better pray for himself.
After delivering the tea, Jiang Qing didn’t leave the office. Instead, she stayed to watch the drama unfold.
Honestly, President Su and Young Master Lin were such a visually stunning pair. Just looking at them was a treat.
Though…
Sigh.
This dog food was hard to swallow—not just bitter, but liable to make one choke.
Huo Shen stood stiffly by the desk, unable to leave outright. Forced to watch them, his expression grew increasingly grim.
Five minutes later, Su Hua and Lin Xuan finally parted.
With a smirk, Su Hua asked, "A-Xuan, was I sweet?"
"Mhm, very sweet," Lin Xuan nodded.
Her beautiful eyes glimmered with faint amusement as she straightened up, shifting her gaze back to Huo Shen. "Continue."
Huo Shen swallowed his fury.
But he masked it well, betraying nothing in front of Su Hua.
"Yes."
He picked up the files and resumed his report.
Su Hua remained strictly professional throughout, not a hint of ambiguity in her demeanor.
Once work was concluded, Huo Shen and Jiang Qing stepped out of the CEO’s office together.
"President Huo," Jiang Qing paused, "Back when President Su and Young Master Lin were stranded on that deserted island, they relied on each other for survival. That’s when they fell in love."
"Some misunderstandings came between them later, but in the year-plus since they’ve been together, their closeness has been undeniable. Everyone in the company has seen it."
Huo Shen frowned at her. "Secretary Jiang, why are you telling me this?"
Jiang Qing smiled. "They won’t separate easily. Anyone trying to interfere in their relationship won’t just fail—they might end up burned."
"President Huo, you’re a smart man. You understand what I mean."
If Huo Shen dared to meddle, even if he had once saved Su Hua’s life, she wouldn’t spare him.
Huo Shen chuckled. "Their relationship is strong now, but no couple stays perfectly in love forever. Circumstances change—who knows what the future holds?"
He was determined to have Su Hua… and the Su Corporation.
Both would be his sooner or later.
"Secretary Jiang, instead of worrying about outsiders, perhaps you should help Lin Xuan figure out how to keep Su Hua’s heart firmly in his grasp."
With that, Huo Shen brushed past her and returned to his office.
Jiang Qing arched a brow.
Huo Shen truly was stubbornly fixated on President Su.
But he clearly didn’t understand Young Master Lin. Lin Xuan was just as cunning as Su Hua—not someone to be trifled with.
Back in the CEO’s office, Lin Xuan placed the processed documents before Su Hua just as she closed the last file.
"I’m done too. Didn’t A-Xuan promise to have lunch with me? Let’s go."
She took his hand.
"Su Hua," Lin Xuan frowned, "Aren’t you going to review the files I handled? In case there are mistakes?"
Su Hua smirked. "I trust you."
Besides, even if there were errors, the Su Corporation had money to spare. A little waste wasn’t a problem.
The two arrived at a restaurant, their striking looks drawing countless stares.
"Ahhh! They’re so gorgeous—even more than celebrities! Who are they?"
"Wait, isn’t that Lin Xuan? From Shangqing University? Oh my god, I actually ran into my idol in real life! He’s even hotter than in photos and videos—I think I’m gonna faint!"
Their excited chatter, loud and fangirlish, reached Su Hua’s ears without fail.
Her aura grew colder by the second.
Until—
"Who’s the woman with Lin Xuan? His girlfriend? Wow, she’s stunning. They look perfect together."
The frost around Su Hua melted instantly, her lips curving slightly.
A waiter approached. "Miss, sir, what would you like to order?"
Lin Xuan, well-versed in Su Hua’s tastes, selected several of her favorite dishes.
"That’s all," he said, closing the menu and handing it back.
"Very well. Please wait a moment."
Once the waiter left, Lin Xuan pulled Su Hua closer.
"Come, let’s take a photo."
Arm around her waist, he struck an intimate pose, snapping several pictures. Then he moved opposite her, capturing more shots of her alone.
"Su Hua, how do these look?" He sat beside her, scrolling through the photos on his phone.
"Mhm." Her lips quirked up.
Lin Xuan grinned. "You’re beautiful no matter the angle."
(Note: The last line about zongzi seems out of place and may be an author’s note or unrelated addition. It translates roughly to: "Have you all eaten zongzi yet? My family’s are made with glutinous rice, mung bean paste, salted duck egg yolk, and pork, wrapped in leaves—so fragrant! I don’t know how to describe it properly in Mandarin.")
Next chapter: Jiang Yutong appears.
Thank you to all the lovely supporters—Shan Chu, Ming La, and the nostalgic millet porridge-loving Prince of Xiang—for your gifts.
uu
m back to his original world. In the end, he realized he had overthought things. [Hey, why is Shen Manni, the female lead, acting strange? Shouldn't she be fawning over the male lead at this point?] [Zhou Qiaoqiao, are you sick? Weren't you supposed to break off your engagement today?] [Damn it! An Youyi, please do your job as an undercover agent and sell my information to the protagonist, you idiot!] ... At this moment, Xu Mo himself didn't know that these female leads had already heard his inner thoughts. Then they decided not to play by the rules. Xu Mo: Please respect my profession as the big villain!
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!
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."
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
