Chapter 2: The Fallen Phoenix

Suppressing the emotions that kept rising, Xie Ting’an’s dark brows moved slightly as he tried to rationally analyze the situation before him.

First of all, he wasn’t hallucinating.

According to the text descriptions paired with the images flashing before his eyes, this world was made up of two novels with completely different styles.

The first was a “chasing wife in the crematorium” story, where the male lead was his arch-enemy Gu Qiu, and the female lead was his former next-door sister. The two tormented each other but eventually ended up together.

The second was a “divorce harem” story, where the male lead was the only son of the first story’s couple, Gu Mingchen, and the female leads were so numerous that Xie Ting’an couldn’t count them all on his fingers.

As for himself, he was the main antagonist throughout both books, responsible for obstructing the male and female leads’ relationship in the first book and continuing to oppose Gu Mingchen in the second.

Putting aside the issues with the male and female leads, what Xie Ting’an cared about was that, in addition to being the CEO and president of the Xie Corporation, he was working four jobs in total, only to end up with a broken family and dying in a car accident!

Author, you should get up at eight in the morning!!!

Suppressing his anger, Xie Ting’an tried to extract more information from the recent fragments.

From the time casually shown in the small fragments, Xie Ting’an could determine that he was currently at the beginning of the second book, right when the male lead Gu Mingchen was suffering hardships, while he was desperately advancing his career, having everything he wanted in Rong City. As for the series of unfortunate events in the Xie family, they would happen a year later.

Moreover, the system’s recent statements made Xie Ting’an notice something unusual. Based on the system’s words like “just lost precious life” and “revenge,” Xie Ting’an had a vague guess that fit the current situation.

This system was most likely something that came to bind with him after he got into a car accident coming out of Gu Mingchen’s villa in the future, to help him start anew, no, to rise again, but now, it had arrived early.

And it had arrived at least a year early.

Xie Ting’an’s gaze shifted slightly.

When it comes to matters concerning his closest family and the company he had worked hard for over a decade, as a manager and businessman, Xie Ting’an knew all too well the importance of seizing the initiative.

Taking several deep breaths, as his gaze swept over, the options lit up with his line of sight, and Xie Ting’an unhesitatingly selected all three options with the same meaning heavily.

In such an extreme future situation, choosing with emotion when faced with options of the same meaning was the best way to express himself.

“Yes! Of course, I want to beat them to death! Come on, dear system, I can’t wait any longer!!!”

This system.

It probably has some kind of quirk.

[Congratulations to the host for choosing correctly!!!]

The next moment, fireworks burst on the screen, quickly shrinking into a line, and new subtitles popped up.

[Beginning to monitor the host’s surrounding environment, task retrieval in progress…]

Monitor the environment?

Xie Ting’an instinctively glanced around, his breath slightly tense, considering whether the system would detect anything unusual. As he looked up, he saw Gu Mingchen about to drink a mixture of chili oil and alcohol.

In the fragments about the future, Xie Ting’an clearly saw how he was humiliated, but ironically, he was the only one among so many people who extended a helping hand.

It was just like giving a blind man a rose as a target; the other party not only paid but also resolved the unwarranted disaster his sister encountered at the time.

In contrast, friends who had cooperated with him for years avoided him like the plague, and the Xie family’s distant relatives had long fled abroad. Those few pure carbon fiber arrow shafts became the only straw for a drowning man to grasp.

In the private room, Gu Mingchen raised the decanter filled with the alcohol-oil mixture, and under countless gloating gazes, the mouth of the decanter lightly touched his lips.

The pungent smell kept spreading, Gu Mingchen closed his eyes, held his breath, and lifted his wrist, wanting to end it all quickly. In his peripheral vision, however, a slender hand reached over, like the afterglow of moonlight, grasping Gu Mingchen’s wrist, slowly pulling the decanter away from his lips.

The back of this hand was fair, the palm delicate, and the pulling force was just right. The mixture in the decanter swayed lightly but did not spill.

Following that hand, several juniors saw Xie Ting’an’s face. The head of the Xie family still wore a gentle and calm expression, but in his dark eyes was an unfathomable depth.

The good show was suddenly interrupted, and the boy who had personally poured the chili oil almost cursed in anger. Seeing it was Xie Ting’an, he could only open his mouth, unwillingly swallowing the curse back down.

“Brother?”

Xie Yurun was full of confusion, completely not understanding why such a good opportunity to beat a dog when it’s down was stopped by Xie Ting’an.

“President Xie.” The boy couldn’t help but speak, his tone carrying a bit of sarcasm, “The Gu family has bullied the Xie family for so many years, and now, you wouldn’t be soft-hearted, would you?”

Before the boy’s voice had even fallen, the system that had been monitoring for a long time suddenly made a “ding” sound in Xie Ting’an’s ear.

[Once a tiger falls to the plains, being verbally humiliated is common. Now, your system is here, and you won’t be bullied like before. It’s time to show them your attitude in fighting back!]

[Task 1: Use various means to make the target person suffer punishment.
Task Reward: Money +10,000 RMB, Achievement Value +10, Data Point +1.]

The system did not detect any anomalies.

Or rather, this system had a bit of a quirk, a bit of a cat pancake, but it didn’t affect its use.

Looking at the boy with a large virtual arrow above his head, Xie Ting’an’s expression relaxed slightly. Under everyone’s gaze, he casually sat on a single sofa to the side, raised his hand to call over another waiter, handed over the decanter, and whispered a few words in his ear.

The waiter’s face froze, taking the decanter from Xie Ting’an’s hand to the table, gritting his teeth as he poured the dry dish condiments on the table, like chili, cumin, mustard, and Sichuan pepper powder, all into the alcohol, stirring it evenly.

Watching the scene before them, several juniors realized what Xie Ting’an was about to do, and their eyes on Gu Mingchen unconsciously filled with excitement. The target boy couldn’t help but whistle, picking up the strongest liquor on the table, looking up at Xie Ting’an as if asking for permission.

Xie Ting’an smiled slightly, as if giving his consent.

The target person beamed with joy, immediately filling the decanter to the brim.

The waiter carefully wiped the marks off the edge of the decanter, handing the mixed drink back to Xie Ting’an’s side. As he got up to leave, he couldn’t help but cast a sympathetic glance at Gu Mingchen.

This new colleague was famously good-looking and equally famously bad at socializing. His performance was decent, but he was constantly being bullied, usually just insulted by guests, taking a few punches or kicks, or being forced to drink. But today, it was clear he wouldn’t be let off so easily.

Compared to when he faced the chili oil, with his fists clenched tightly at his side, Gu Mingchen now had no expression. His tall figure stood under the light, long lashes lowered, lips pale.

Receiving the prepared drink, Xie Ting’an looked up at his younger brother who had called him here today. With just a “come here” look, Xie Yurun’s face instantly hesitated, wanting to struggle to explain something, but ultimately said nothing, quickly walking towards Xie Ting’an.

“Yurun.”

Xie Ting’an lightly pressed his fingers down, and Xie Yurun immediately crouched down, looking up at his brother.

“If one day, something happens to me.” Xie Ting’an deliberately slowed his tone, the fragments he had just seen from the system flashing before his eyes.

“Brother, ptooey ptooey ptooey!” Xie Yurun frowned tightly, instinctively refuting, “Brother, how could anything happen to you!”

“Nothing is absolute.”

Xie Ting’an’s gaze was gentle, signaling Xie Yurun to look at the many juniors ready to watch the show.

“Most of these people’s families had dealings with the Gu family before. If they encountered Gu Mingchen in the past, they would only flatter and please him, just like they do with you now.”

The private room’s lighting flickered, and Xie Yurun was stunned by his words, suddenly realizing that recently, his “friends” had indeed increased in number.

These “friends” were more enthusiastic, more generous, some of whom weren’t even in the same circle before, but now their relationships inexplicably began to grow closer.

“If one day something happens to me.” Xie Ting’an glanced lightly at Gu Mingchen standing nearby.

“That would be a lesson for you. Who knows, these people might do even worse things to you.”

Xie Yurun’s expression froze, instinctively looking at the empty bottles on the table and the decanter in Xie Ting’an’s hand.

“Then the one being forced to drink, being insulted and bullied, would be you, or even possibly our sister.”

Xie Ting’an pressed a hand on Xie Yurun’s head, forcing him to see the restrained smiles and evasive glances of the surrounding friends.

“President Xie.” The boy who had been grinning earlier couldn’t smile anymore.

“I’ve always looked down on this Gu family’s eldest son. I’m really close with Yurun, so don’t make baseless accusations like this!”

“Especially people like him.” Xie Ting’an remained unaffected, looking at the boy, his gentle eyes carrying a few degrees of penetrating coolness.

“His family elders once told me that he used to try to please Gu Mingchen but was coldly ignored, and then he followed you. Now that the opportunity has come, he’s using you, using the Xie family, to brazenly insult Gu Mingchen.”

Xie Ting’an’s voice lowered, his tone softening a bit.

“You can think about it. If you ever displease him, he would be the type to secretly endure, and when you fall, he’d be the first to pour soup into your drink, even inciting others to abuse you.”

Xie Ting’an’s breath was still in his ear, and Xie Yurun’s breathing became a bit unsteady. Suddenly, he realized that today’s gathering was initiated by the other party, and Gu Mingchen working here was also discovered by him.

In other words, he had misjudged people and was being used as a tool.

“But you don’t have to worry now.” Xie Ting’an’s expression was gentle, handing over the decanter with its unknown contents.

“Right now, his family’s business still relies on the Xie family.”

Realizing he had been used and being called out by Xie Ting’an in front of everyone was already embarrassing. Seeing his brother hand over the decanter, Xie Yurun immediately reacted, grabbing the decanter and striding towards the boy.

“You damn bastard, talking about being good brothers, but all your schemes are on me!”

Xie Ting’an sat on the sofa, his long legs crossed, watching as the juniors avoided the two, and Xie Yurun forcibly poured that cup of mixture into the boy’s mouth. The boy resisted constantly, taking several hits in the scuffle.

The drink clearly didn’t taste good, and the boy lay on the ground, retching desperately. Xie Yurun gritted his teeth, rubbing his eye socket, still angry, and after a few punches, grabbed a bottle of the strongest liquor on the table, shoving it into the boy’s mouth.

The scene was chaotic, and Xie Ting’an watched as everyone’s attention focused on the two fighting, then looked up at the always silent Gu Mingchen.

Gu Mingchen’s gaze happened to meet Xie Ting’an’s, and as their eyes met, Gu Mingchen immediately looked away, but after a moment, his gaze slowly returned, seeing Xie Ting’an’s usual expression, his chin slightly raised, indicating the private room door.

Having grown up in a family where his parents were at odds, Gu Mingchen had long learned to read people’s expressions. His gaze lingered on Xie Ting’an’s face for a moment, realizing that the other party wasn’t focusing on him. Gu Mingchen’s blue eyes lowered, and he stepped out of the private room.

Xie Ting’an patiently waited for Xie Yurun to finish pouring the drink, watching as he stood up, his face marked with a bloodstain, his clothes nearly torn to shreds.

The boy’s condition was even more miserable, unrecognizable even to his own mother. Xie Ting’an merely glanced at him before calmly looking away.

After all, they were juniors, and Xie Ting’an wouldn’t personally get involved. It’s best to let them resolve matters among their peers.

“Ding~”

In Xie Ting’an’s ear was a different notification sound from before.

[Congratulations to the host for successfully completing Task 1.]

[Reward distribution in progress: Money +10,000 RMB, Achievement Value +10, Data Point +1.]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the achievement “Green Mouth, Palm His Fruit!”]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the achievement reward: Soft Light Filter Puls.]

[Detected that the host has unused data points, would you like to use them?]

[Detected that the punishment inflicted on the other party exceeded expectations. To prevent the host from being retaliated against, a low-level protective shield ×1 is gifted, capable of automatically blocking one attack.]

Xie Ting’an’s gaze shifted slightly, checking the task rewards.

Among the rewards received, the only thing Xie Ting’an didn’t understand was the data point. Seeing the inquiry before him, Xie Ting’an clicked to use it, and the next moment, the scene before him rippled like water, quickly returning to calm.

When Xie Ting’an looked up, he saw that almost everyone had a green two-digit number above their heads.

87, 79, 85, 77…

As his gaze moved, Xie Ting’an saw a 69 above Xie Yurun’s head, and a 41 above the boy lying on the ground.

Without much guessing, Xie Ting’an deduced that this number was related to the person’s physical condition. As he looked around, he noticed that most people’s numbers were green, but there was one junior whose number was orange.

Before he could figure out a result, when Xie Ting’an looked back at the boy lying on the ground, he noticed that his 41 had changed from green to pink.

The process of the number changing color happened right before Xie Ting’an’s eyes, and it was so fast that he couldn’t discern the change.

“Go get me some ice.” Xie Yurun pulled out a tip and handed it to the waiter, lightly touching his eye socket in pain. When he looked up at his brother, he found that Xie Ting’an wasn’t looking at him but was instead staring at the unconscious boy.

Feeling inexplicably annoyed, Xie Yurun went over and kicked the boy a couple more times. After a few kicks, a small bag of pills fell out of the boy’s pocket.

“What’s this?” Xie Yurun wondered, picking up the small bag. Xie Ting’an’s eyes flickered, almost instantly realizing something, and he got up to leave the private room.

×××

The club had a distinguished guest tonight, and the manager had specifically instructed that besides the few waiters arranged inside the private room, two people should also be stationed outside the room just in case.

Even if the waiters inside the private room were asked to leave, they couldn’t go on break but had to stay at the door in case they were needed inside.

Gu Mingchen quietly walked out, gently closing the soundproof door, standing outside the private room, casually glancing at the two people the manager had arranged. They were the club’s mainstays, with impeccable height and appearance.

At the private room door, Gu Mingchen remained silent, standing a distance away from the two.

The soundproof door worked well, and almost no sound could be heard from outside. Before long, four or five club young masters walked over, chatting and laughing, standing in the hallway, asking the two waiters outside for information.

Upon hearing that the people inside were personally received by the manager, the club young masters seemed to sense an opportunity and also stayed at the private room door, looking at each other as they tidied their clothes and makeup, various perfume scents mingling in the hallway.

Gu Mingchen’s eyes lifted slightly, looking at the figures and makeup on their faces.

“Hey, move aside a bit.”

A club young master looked at Gu Mingchen. He had specifically researched that the position where the waiter stood was the most likely to be noticed by the people coming out from inside.

“Hey, are you deaf?!”

The words were repeated two or three times, but the waiter in front of him seemed to hear nothing. The club young master rolled his eyes, suppressing his displeasure, and pulled out a pink bill from his wallet, handing it to the waiter in front of him.

“Move aside!”

Gu Mingchen lowered his gaze, looking elsewhere, his demeanor cold, without any reaction.

“You’d better not waste your time on him.” The waiter stationed outside spoke sideways.

“He used to be a real young master, has seen big money, and looks down on your little shrimp.”

“Oh, a real young master.” The club young masters’ mocking gazes gathered on Gu Mingchen, almost laughing out loud.

“What kind of big young master is this, playing real and fake young master with us here?”

“I don’t know how big of a young master he is.” The waiter at the private room door spoke mockingly, his gaze contemptuously sweeping over the new colleague’s cold face.

“I only know one thing.”

“A fallen phoenix is not as good as a chicken.”