Chapter 17: The President and the Massage Chair (End)

The woman kept speaking in a sharp voice, as if her words were like a magical sound piercing through the air, an endless, repetitive wave.

Tang Bin covered his head and slowly sat down on the floor.

All he could think about was that President Shang wouldn’t lie to him… he wouldn’t lie to him…

It seemed like only by focusing solely on this thought could he stop his mind from wandering, and stop feeling so sad.

Tang Bin tried to curl up in the corner, hugging his knees into a small ball. Only by doing so, by trying to make his existence as small as possible, could he feel the least amount of hurt.

【…Host, are you okay?】 3378 couldn’t help but ask.

Although paying attention to the host’s physical or mental health wasn’t part of its job description.

“President Shang wouldn’t lie to me…” Tang Bin numbly repeated the words, as if he hadn’t heard the system calling his name at all.

This left 3378 not sure of how to comfort him.

Tang Bin felt so sad, his heart aching as if he were about to die.

As soon as the image of Brother Long holding a woman and being affectionate shifted to President Shang’s face in his mind… he instantly broke down.

Tears as big as beans streamed from his eyes, running down his face and hitting the ground. Somehow, Tang Bin suddenly remembered the wardrobe where President Shang used to collect clothes that had absorbed his tears.

He wanted to crawl inside it.

But in the next moment, that thought was replaced by another: “Every night President Shang stays out, he’s having fun with someone else.”

…Impossible.

President Shang was so good to him.

Wuwuwu.

Tang Bin continued crying there.

The system awkwardly tried to comfort him: 【Host, don’t worry. Based on the current progress, the probability of you completing the task is very high.】

“Wuwu…”

【…Very high.】

“Wuwu!”

It was only at this moment that Tang Bin suddenly remembered his task.

Right, the task!

If President Shang really had someone else, wouldn’t his task be ruined…

The thought of this made him feel even more hopeless than just sadness.

“Wa!”

System: …

Tang Bin pretended that he was in the wardrobe, huddled there motionless, but it still felt like he was being slowly tortured, his body enduring countless cruel slashes, until Yu Shanshan finally finished the last word. The air grew quiet again, and his entire mind went numb.

Then, he heard that voice—the one he was so deeply attached to.

…President Shang?!

Almost immediately upon hearing that voice, Tang Bin lifted his head, staring at the source in disbelief, but all he saw was a shadow dart past. Then, he heard Yu Shanshan let out a loud “Ah!” followed by a terrified scream, and the next moment, the woman was somehow sent flying through the air.

She crashed to the ground heavily, and then a tall figure grabbed her by the neck and lifted her into the air.

“I told you not to provoke Le Yang,” the man’s voice was stern and cold, echoing hollowly down the empty hallway.

The immense pressure felt as if it could crush her, and Yu Shanshan felt an almost uncontrollable urge to vomit blood.

Extreme fear gripped her heart—she had never seen President Shang this angry.

She never wanted to see it again.

Out of fear, Yu Shanshan’s mind went blank, but she still tried to explain: “I—I didn’t provoke him. I just…”

Just subtly told him some information.

Even if the truth came out, and President Shang found out that it was her who had deliberately provoked Le Yang to create tension between them, there would be no evidence.

After all, the person at fault was…

These things had all been perfect, but…

How could President Shang suddenly appear here?!

Everything fell back into silence with another terrified scream from Yu Shanshan, and she disappeared as if she had vanished into thin air. Tang Bin was completely unaware of this.

He couldn’t notice those things anymore.

He still foolishly maintained his curled-up position, motionless.

President Shang had already walked up to him.

“Le Yang? Are you alright?”

President Shang’s voice was still warm and radiant like sunlight. Surrounded by this warmth, Tang Bin felt even more wronged, and in an instant, more large tears began to roll down his face.

“Ugh, President Shang… where did you go…”

“Do you… not like me… anymore?”

Tang Bin hiccupped through his tears. He didn’t want to cry, but he couldn’t stop.

At times like this, he really wished he could bury his head in President Shang’s chest like before… but the words hadn’t even fully left his mouth, and Tang Bin told himself to be strong.

Tang Bin endured, looking at Shang Chengjun with his little face flushed red, his expression stubborn, looking very different from usual.

Shang Chengjun was startled, both surprised and heartbroken. He quickly reached out, pulling the curled-up figure into his arms.

Although it had only been a brief moment of huddling, because he had unconsciously tensed up, Tang Bin’s limbs had gone numb.

He wanted to struggle but lacked the strength, so he could only continue crying helplessly.

His crying made President Shang feel heartbroken, and Shang Chengjun wiped the tears from Tang Bin’s face with his hand, speaking softly, “I wasn’t out there with women.”

“Then… what were you doing…” Tang Bin hiccupped through his sobs. Even though President Shang’s warm, comforting presence was so close, he still didn’t feel at ease.

He hadn’t been alive long enough to learn how to navigate the world smoothly, nor had he learned to be adaptable.

In his world, everything was black or white.

If President Shang couldn’t give him a satisfactory answer today… Tang Bin didn’t know what he would do.

He only knew that if things didn’t work out, he couldn’t reach a happy ending with President Shang.

As for the tasks in this world, he’d rather not do them.

Even if the system deemed him successful, there would always be a block in his heart.

…Just thinking about it made him even sadder.

“Wuwuwu!”

Shang Chengjun sighed. He couldn’t blame the young man for not believing him. The fact that he disappeared every week for a day was indeed suspicious.

Reluctantly, he said, “If you want to know, I’ll take you to see it now.”

“Wuwu… I want to know…” Tang Bin sniffled.

“Then, after you know, you can’t hate me,” Shang Chengjun said. With that, the scene shifted, and they found themselves in a bustling shopping mall.

Tang Bin: “?!”

He recognized this mall—it was the one where he often came to eat, with a food court on the middle floor!

And the place they were standing now was right next to the massage chair he used to sit in.

What was strange was that not only had they suddenly appeared here, but the people around seemed to completely ignore them… It was as if they were in a space separated by some transparent barrier. No one walked past, and no one looked in their direction.

“It’s a barrier,” Shang Chengjun explained, pointing to the chair. “I come here at night.”

Tang Bin: “?” Could it be that President Shang had the same hobby as him, enjoying massages?

Surprised by the strange sight in front of him, Tang Bin forgot about his tears.

He blinked his wide eyes, staring at Shang Chengjun in confusion, signaling that he didn’t understand.

Shang Chengjun’s handsome face showed rare embarrassment as he explained, “You can understand it like this, this chair is… me…”

Actually, Shang Chengjun was not just a chair, but a powerful demon who had once roamed the world in ancient times.

However, as humanity grew stronger, to maintain the balance of species, demons had been constrained by the laws of heaven in order to survive in this world.

For example, Shang Chengjun was exceptionally handsome, with his hands and eyes able to control the world. There was nothing in this world that he couldn’t get if he wanted it.

However, due to the constraints of the heavenly laws, once a week, his demon body had to be attached to this massage chair. To put it in human terms…

It was like working the night shift.

Tang Bin understood.

After all, he was also a demon. Although he had been taken away by the system right after he transformed, he still understood what the heavenly laws were.

It turned out that even in the world of books, demons had to abide by restrictions…

And when he thought about how he was also bound by restrictions, which was why he had been sent to this world to complete tasks, Tang Bin suddenly felt sympathy for President Shang.

Both of them were demons who had fallen from grace.

He accepted this setup with great composure, but for the first time, he thought the system was very cruel and cunning—everything about the male lead in the mission was unknown. If there had been any mention of it, he wouldn’t have been so upset.

In the end, it turned out to be just a misunderstanding.

Now, recalling the scene where he had broken down and cried…

“Hmph!” That was a heavy snort directed at the system.

【…Sorry.】3376 apologized, explaining: 【My duty is only to assign tasks.】

As for things not mentioned in the task, those were traps designed for the host.

So even though he knew the truth, he couldn’t reveal anything.

“Ah no, no…” Tang Bin fell back into panic and quickly explained, “I’m not blaming you… I’m blaming the content of the task…”

He understood 3376’s duty, so how could he take his anger out on it? On the contrary, yesterday, 3376 had tried to comfort him, and Tang Bin knew that went beyond its duties.

So, he felt nothing but gratitude toward 3376.

—

Shang Chengjun noticed Tang Bin’s attitude softening and let out a sigh of relief. “When I first saw you, I could tell that your aura was different from others.”

Tang Bin: “?”

“But you’re not a demon… No demon has an aura as sweet and intoxicating as yours.”

Tang Bin: “…”

His face instantly turned red.

Shang Chengjun leaned forward, getting close to Tang Bin, and with an entranced expression, he sniffed around him.

Then, Tang Bin realized he had changed positions again. He was now sitting on Shang Chengjun’s lap… or rather, on the massage chair.

“Since you’re here, let me give you a service, Ah Yang!”

“…”

This time, not only was Tang Bin’s face red.

He felt like a cooked shrimp, slumped on the massage chair, going through a cycle of life and death… back and forth.

The most exciting part was that he could still see the people outside.

Although he knew that the people outside couldn’t see them… doing such embarrassing things… Tang Bin always managed to forget this point!

He was mortified but couldn’t escape. He could only squirm and moan, his voice coquettish, his body soft and seductive.

“How about you come and accompany me for the night shift every week, Ah Yang?”

Tang Bin heard someone behind him… no, it should be the chair speaking.

“Uh…” he responded.

“Two days a week,” the chair continued.

Tang Bin: “Huh? How… is it two days now?”

“It could have been just one day, but I revealed a heavenly secret to you, and just now I was punished…” The chair’s voice grew hoarser, deeper, and more seductive, whispering in his ear, “From now on, two days a week.”

“…Awooo!”

Tang Bin cried again.

Later, Tang Bin started living the “happy” life of two days a week.

And the first project he took over after arriving at Ruida, the “Cat Mountain King Delivery App,” was successfully promoted in the market.

Relying on his extensive experience with food delivery, Tang Bin incorporated many user-friendly features into the app. Ruida, being financially powerful, also invested a huge sum, with President Shang offering clients coupons worth billions during the early stages of the software’s promotion. This quickly captured a significant market share, and the “Cat Mountain King Delivery” app was soon launched, rapidly generating more capital for the Ruida Group.

As the main person responsible for the app, Tang Bin quickly became a top star in the business world. Though, apart from programming and coding, he still knew nothing else.

But it didn’t matter, because people were supporting him!

In a very short time, Tang Bin was promoted to vice president of Ruida.

As for the Yu family, Shang Chengjun had lost all patience with them.

He had already organized the acquisition of all the shares related to Ruida held by the Yu family.

Yu Shanshan never expected that a single word of provocation would lead to such serious consequences. She tried to plead with Shang Chengjun, but was unable to prevent the Yu family from being expelled from Ruida.

In fact, after everything, when she woke up, she found herself in the hospital.

She couldn’t remember what exactly had happened that night.

But from then on, whenever she saw Shang Chengjun or Le Yang, a deep sense of fear arose from within her… She couldn’t describe the feeling, but it only intensified over time, driving her to madness.

In the end, just thinking about Shang Chengjun would scare her. Not to mention returning to the company—she was lucky not to end up in a mental hospital for treatment.

As for her brother, Yu Mingcheng, his company, which he had founded, gradually fell apart after Tang Bin left. With Ruida rising rapidly, all of his senior employees were poached, and new hires couldn’t be found. The company was unable to handle basic maintenance and was facing the severe problem of bankruptcy and liquidation.

Of course, Tang Bin knew nothing of this.

Even if he did, he wouldn’t understand.

Even though the system had told him the task was complete, he continued to go about his usual routine—working hard every day, or sticking close to President Shang, happily waiting for the day when the system would confirm his task was done. Life was blissful.

—

【Congratulations, Host. You have completed the task for this world.】

【Congratulations, Host. During the mission, you have obtained the following items: Landmines ×238, Grenades ×163, Rocket Launchers ×80, Underwater Mines ×18, Deep-Sea Bombs ×3.】

【Congratulations, Host. You won the “Most Tips Received” award during the event, earning the skill 【Affection Check】. Would you like to activate the skill now?】

The system’s cold voice had a hint of liveliness and excitement, and Tang Bin could tell.

He had long understood what affection meant, so he immediately said, “Activate… Thank you, 3376.”

Tang Bin shyly responded.

After activation, Tang Bin didn’t notice any immediate changes, because he was currently lying in the nutrition pod of the real world where the system was located.

After completing the task and leaving the previous world, he was placed in this nutrition pod. 3376 explained that every host returning from a mission had to stay here for a while to replenish energy and strength.

Now that he had woken up, the pod door opened. Tang Bin groggily sat up and heard 3376’s cold voice: 【No problem. Energy supply is complete. If there are no issues, the Host can continue the new journey.】

“Mm.”

Tang Bin climbed out of the nutrition pod, feeling weak and sore.

He wasn’t sure how long he had been asleep.

But as soon as he heard the system urging him to continue with his mission, Tang Bin instinctively shivered—the fear of the unknown world returned.

During the latter part of his last mission, he had enjoyed a period of bliss, where he hadn’t been bullied and had forgotten the fear of “what would happen if the task wasn’t completed.” It had been a long time since he felt scared.

Now…

Tang Bin sniffled, his lips trembling as he felt like crying.

“Wuwu… President Shang…”

Almost instinctively, he called out softly.

The empty room, with only the nutrition pod where he had been sleeping, felt silent.

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Tang Bin heard 3376’s hesitant voice: “…Host, do you still remember the details of the last mission?”

“Mm?” Tang Bin tilted his head, not quite understanding what 3376 meant.

He tried to recall the events from the last world… At first, everything came back to him, but when he tried to focus on a specific detail, it slipped away again.

Tang Bin felt as if his mind had short-circuited, as if he had drunk too much.

Although, he couldn’t really say what it was like to drink too much.

Hmm? When had he ever gotten drunk?

If not, why would he remember what it felt like to be drunk? But when had he ever drunk alcohol? In the last world…

Tang Bin carefully tried to recall, but the more he thought, the blurrier his memory became.

In the end, his head started to ache, and he had to stop thinking.

“3376, what’s happening to me?”

The empty room was eerily quiet, and for a long time, 3376 didn’t speak again.

Tang Bin became afraid. The room wasn’t very big, and the window was only about the size of a palm, with no light coming through. The only light was the cold white glow from above.

But that light was too harsh, like something constantly burning, and it was blinding.

When 3376 spoke to him before, it didn’t feel this bad. Now, all of a sudden, being alone in this room made Tang Bin feel terrified.

Extremely scared, Tang Bin felt the walls and corners of the room—no door, no exit.

“3-3376, don’t scare me…” Tang Bin spoke weakly, his head seeming to become even more confused and painful.

He had to curl up into a ball, huddling in the corner.

He couldn’t think about anything, couldn’t dare to think about anything.

After an unknown amount of time, 3376’s cold voice finally spoke again:

【Sorry, I was just researching some data.】

Tang Bin wiped the tears from his face, not sure when he had started crying. “Mm.”

3376 didn’t explain what data it had been researching. Instead, it asked hollowly: 【Does the Host wish to continue with the task?】

When a person is trapped for a long time in a confined space, mental collapse is common, and psychological fragility becomes overwhelming. In such moments, even 3376’s cold voice became a form of salvation for Tang Bin.

He nodded. “Continue.”

—As long as he could leave this place, he didn’t care what he had to do.

Almost as soon as his voice faded, the scene shifted. The glaring, ice-cold white light disappeared, replaced by a warm orange glow.

The surroundings also changed from a small, suffocating room with square grids to something grand and luxurious… a palace?

Tang Bin wasn’t sure how to describe where he was.

Under his feet was a spiraling wooden staircase carved from fine wood, with a soft long-haired carpet laid down on it. The walls nearby were adorned with ancient oil paintings and various Western-style decorations, radiating luxury.

Tang Bin was now on the second floor, with a magnificent crystal chandelier hanging above him. The warm orange light was coming from it.

He couldn’t tell exactly where he was, but his vague memories told him that a place this big would be incredibly expensive.

And judging by the decor, this was a place only the very wealthy could afford.

A brief moment of confusion, and then a flood of memories of the original host surged into his mind.

—Or more precisely, the settings of this character in the book world.

The original host’s name was Luo Rui, the only son of the billionaire Luo Yuntian.

As the cherished only child of the Luo family, Luo Rui had been spoiled rotten since childhood. With the Luo family’s power and prestige, he was considered the most notorious rich heir in B City.

He was arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable, yet his position was incredibly high. He had been pampered like a star from a young age, surrounded by sycophants who never dared to say a word against him, only thinking about how to cling to his power.

And today was the day Luo Rui had just turned eighteen.

To celebrate this day, his underlings arranged for some beautiful men and women to attend his birthday party.

It was well-known that the young master Luo was a huge fan of good looks.

So, whether they were small-time celebrities or socialites, or even second- and third-tier stars, as long as they were attractive, they were all invited to his birthday bash.

Now, the original host had already changed into a luxurious suit, complete with expensive watches and accessories, ready to head out for the party.

Tang Bin, still disoriented after receiving the information, heard someone calling him from downstairs: “Ah Rui, what are you standing there for?”

Tang Bin blinked and hurriedly ran to the railing, peering down to see that it was his father, Luo Yuntian, calling him.

According to the information, Luo Rui had been very handsome since childhood, and now he was a real heartthrob. But Luo Yuntian’s looks were ordinary, and his appearance was entirely inherited from his mother’s beauty.

However, now that Tang Bin had detached from the original host’s identity, he didn’t feel much about people’s appearances.

Meeting his father’s gaze, Tang Bin found himself momentarily speechless.

He knew from the original host’s memories how chaotic and unpleasant these parties were.

Tang Bin didn’t like them.

But according to the system and the teachings from the Peach Blossom Demon, during the adaptation phase in this new world, he should try to follow the original host’s path. If he did even better and completely adhered to the original host’s personality, it would be even better…

Luo Yuntian was still looking at him.

Tang Bin hesitated for a long time, stammered, and finally had to be truthful: “I’m going out to attend the birthday party they’ve prepared for me.”

“Oh.” Luo Yuntian nodded, putting his hands in his suit pockets, exuding the aura of a billionaire.

Although Luo Rui was a flamboyant and arrogant playboy outside, at home, he was a well-behaved, beloved son, the family’s treasure. Tang Bin’s response was proper and didn’t give him any cause for concern. Luo Yuntian only asked, “What kind of party is it? Any drugs involved?”

Tang Bin thought for a moment and obediently shook his head. “No.”

“Alright, go ahead then. Just don’t stay out too late.”

As the spoiled child of the Luo family, even though the family knew how to discipline him, no one could truly be strict with him.

The only requirement they had for him was that he wasn’t allowed to do drugs.

When Luo Yuntian was young, he had built his fortune from scratch, busy with his career, and didn’t know much about raising children.

Although he had become rich, transitioning from a local tycoon to a billionaire, his approach to raising his son was nothing like that of most noble families.

Luo Yuntian’s method of parenting was simple — he indulged him, spoiled him, and gave him everything, even the stars and the moon.

“Oh, fine.” Tang Bin replied somewhat disappointed. He had hoped that Luo Yuntian would stop him.

That way, he could justify staying home and not following the original host’s path.

But the small sigh mixed in his voice clearly didn’t escape Luo Yuntian’s ears.

Although he was still quite far away, Luo Yuntian waved at his son upstairs: “Come on, come down! Aren’t you going to be late? Why are you still standing there?”

“…Oh, right.”

Tang Bin blinked and hurriedly went downstairs.

As he passed by Luo Yuntian, his father suddenly handed him a small, exquisite car key.

Tang Bin instinctively reached out to take it. Looking at it, vague memories told him that the value of this key… should be over ten million.

“What’s wrong? Did I scare you?” Seeing his son frozen, Luo Yuntian seemed a little disappointed. “Are you still mad? Silly child, have I ever not given you a birthday gift?”

Tang Bin instinctively felt that this gift was too valuable, and he didn’t dare take it back or accept it.

Luo Yuntian, puzzled by his son’s strange reaction, said, “Weren’t you always whining about wanting a car? Congratulations, baby, you’re finally an adult.”

“…Thank you.” Tang Bin blinked.

Only then did he realize that he wasn’t the poor, pitiful, penniless kid who had to pinch pennies to survive anymore.

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?” Luo Yuntian asked, concerned, as he reached out to touch his son’s forehead.

His son’s health had never been great. He didn’t have any major illnesses, but he was often sick with minor ailments, always looking weak and frail.

But today, Luo Yuntian noticed that Luo Rui seemed even more… more fragile than usual.

As Luo Yuntian’s warm hand brushed over his forehead, Tang Bin suddenly felt like crying for no reason.

Then he froze completely: ?!!

This feeling was too familiar. Nothing had happened to make him want to cry, yet he felt on the verge of tears. Could it be that the original host was… also a crybaby?

Tang Bin quickly shook his head to reassure Luo Yuntian that he was fine.

“I’ll be off now… Dad.”

He moved his head away from Luo Yuntian’s hand and quickly started running out.

Halfway through, he turned back and waved the key at Luo Yuntian. “This, thank you.”

After bidding his father goodbye, Tang Bin got into the luxury car that his father had provided, still feeling a bit lost and unsure.

Just like in the previous world, the system hadn’t given him the male lead’s information and background right away. It gave him some time to adapt first.

But speaking of adapting… Tang Bin would rather stay cooped up in that small, stuffy office, sweating and writing code every day, than go to some party.

“…3376, um… can I not go?” Tang Bin asked helplessly.

But obviously, 3376 had no answer for him and could only suggest, 【Staying at home will not help you adapt to this world, which is not good for your task completion.】

In the previous world, 3376 had made the same suggestion.

And then, by going to work every day, he had really met the male lead…

Tang Bin thought about it and realized that 3376 made sense. “Alright then.”

【The host’s original self has complicated relationships with others in this world. It is recommended that the host try to role-play and avoid revealing his true identity.】

“Oh…”

Although his memories of the previous world were still very vague—so vague that just trying to think about them would make him sleepy—Tang Bin still clearly remembered that 3376 had never given him this kind of advice back then.

But 3376 wouldn’t harm him. In fact, it was right. He had to face this world bravely…

“Ugh…”

Tang Bin whimpered a little, like a lost puppy without its mother’s protection, before reluctantly starting the car.

The original host could drive, but since he wasn’t of legal age before, his family didn’t allow him to drive on the road, fearing it would be dangerous.

He did have a driver’s license… It seemed like this was a world where money could make anything possible.

He drove to the agreed location—a bar, which was actually run by one of the original host’s subordinates.

It was exactly eight o’clock in the evening.

“Bro Rui, your car is so cool!”

There were already people waiting outside the bar. Tang Bin was startled by a young man wearing a black tank top, sporting a pompadour hairstyle, his eyebrows shaved in patches, and his arms covered with tattoos.

Although Tang Bin knew this was the original host’s number one lackey, named Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming’s family was quite powerful, though not on the same level as the Luo family. Still, he was a legitimate second-generation rich kid.

As soon as he spoke, a row of people who had come to greet Tang Bin immediately chimed in: “Damn, this must be a limited edition, right? There are only five in the world. I saw one when I went to Europe with my dad recently.”

“Not only a limited edition, but it’s also a new model.”

“Of course, what else would it be? Brother Rui wouldn’t drive anything ordinary.”

“Bro Rui, where did you get this car from?”

“It was a gift from my dad.” Tang Bin, listening to their back-and-forth, felt like he didn’t quite fit in.

When he suddenly heard someone ask him a question, he just honestly answered.

Yuan Ming immediately said, “Our dads are on a whole other level. Not long ago, I wanted my old man to buy me a car. I wasn’t even asking for something like this, just something that could make it up Longpan Mountain, but he still refused to get it. Tch!”

“You’re not of legal age yet.” Tang Bin replied.

As soon as his words left his mouth, there was a sudden silence. No one spoke for a moment.

Tang Bin blinked in confusion, not sure what had happened. According to his memory, Yuan Ming was a few months younger than him. If today was his birthday, Yuan Ming would still have to wait a while longer.

But based on the reactions around him… Tang Bin thought he had said something wrong and didn’t dare speak again.

However, the truth was that the original host’s mood was unpredictable. He had once taken them out for street racing, and now he was the one saying they couldn’t drive. Yuan Ming was used to his behavior, and after a moment’s pause, he quickly responded, “Yes, yes, Brother Rui is right. We’re still minors, we should follow the law.”

Then someone in the back row of the crowd quietly murmured, “Follow the law? Wasn’t he the one who…”

“Shh, don’t say that! Are you trying to get us killed?”

Tang Bin listened to all of this, but remained unmoved.

Without fully understanding this magical world, he didn’t dare to act recklessly.

At this moment, one of his subordinates who had taken his car keys to park the car returned.

“Brother Rui, this car’s performance is amazing, it’s brand new! I don’t know who will be lucky enough to sit in the passenger seat and enjoy the wind with Brother Rui. Haha.”

His comment about the passenger seat sounded a bit suggestive, immediately causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Except for Tang Bin, who didn’t understand what he meant.

He didn’t laugh.

Seeing that he didn’t laugh, the others quickly fell silent. Yuan Ming cleared his throat and said, “Let’s not talk about that. The little celebrity you liked before is here. I’ve asked him to get ready, he’ll come out to serve you later.”

Tang Bin: “???”

What was that about?

It was still early, and the bar had just opened. Yuan Ming and the others had reserved the entire place, so no one from outside the circle was allowed in, and there weren’t many people yet.

The DJs were still getting ready, and the social music hadn’t started yet. The only sounds were the deafening thumps of the speakers.

The interior was pitch dark, with colorful beams of light darting around overhead, illuminating the space in a garish manner. Tang Bin still couldn’t make out the steps or the path in the bar.

The bass of the music rattled his chest, and once again, Tang Bin confirmed that he didn’t like this place.

But the original host used to come here often. The group continued walking forward, and since it was so dark, no one noticed his discomfort.

When they reached the backstage area, the pounding music finally stopped.

Tang Bin let out a sigh of relief, just as he heard Yuan Ming say, “Where’s Zheng Zhe? Go get him! Can’t you see our Brother Rui has arrived?”

Zheng Zhe was the little celebrity the original host had taken a liking to and was preparing to spoil.

The reason it was “preparing” was that the original host, who had been spoiled into a ^[1]“late bloomer” refers to someone who develops skills, abilities, or maturity later than others, especially when compared to peers.late bloomer, wasn’t particularly interested in dating.

It wasn’t until in recent years, when his friends started going through puberty and some of them began exploring their sexuality, that the original host’s thoughts on the matter were slightly stirred by the influence of teenage hormones.

And at just the right moment, Zheng Zhe had appeared.

Zheng Zhe had a cold, handsome appearance and was currently signed under an entertainment company affiliated with the Luo family, preparing to debut.

Before his debut, his manager had arranged a meeting with the financial backer, and the original host was that backer.

It wasn’t love at first sight… Tang Bin didn’t understand this feeling either, but from observing the original host’s memories, it seemed that he wasn’t very enthusiastic about Zheng Zhe.

Because the original host appeared to have more of an interest in rugged, muscular men.

He didn’t particularly like the delicate “fresh meat” types.

In the original host’s luxurious home, there was an entire drawer full of boxing magazines.

His family thought he liked boxing and had even prepared a training room for him, hiring a professional coach. But they didn’t know that what the original host was interested in wasn’t boxing, but the muscular men featured in the magazines…

As for why he had to hide his true preferences and was willing to admit that he liked someone like Zheng Zhe, a delicate young man, Tang Bin didn’t quite understand.

Then, in the backstage VIP room, he saw this so-called Zheng Zhe.

Zheng Zhe wasn’t bad-looking. He had an oval face and peach blossom features. At the moment, he was sitting next to Tang Bin, calling him “Brother Rui” and then gently nudging closer, sitting with his thigh touching Tang Bin’s and looking at him with shy eyes.

Tang Bin: “…”

His back instinctively straightened, and his entire body stiffened.

He had never encountered such a situation!

“Ugh…” Tang Bin felt even more frightened and wanted to cry. He subconsciously tried to call out a name.

But as the words reached his lips, his mind went blank, and he completely forgot who he was going to call.

Helpless, Tang Bin could only seek help from 3376.

However, 3376 was unable to help.

The only consolation it could offer was: 【The role the host is playing this time is that of a rich young master, which is considered quite lucky.】

Tang Bin: “How so?”

【Among the other hosts who started at the same time as the host, some are playing roles such as courtesans, MBs, and other characters who must sell their bodies to complete their tasks.】

“!!!”

Tang Bin’s heart jumped, and he didn’t feel comforted at all.

Besides feeling sorry for those other hosts, he also grew deeply worried about his own future.

“…Thanks.” Despite everything, he still thanked 3376 for trying to console him.

3376 probably sensed its attempt had the opposite effect based on his reaction, and after a brief silence, it couldn’t bear it and finally gave him a suggestion, breaking the rules: 【Actually, if the host doesn’t like it, you can refuse him.】

“Mm.”

Tang Bin still hadn’t figured out how to read people. He didn’t realize that although it seemed everyone was casually enjoying themselves, they were actually observing his reactions and acting accordingly.

Even Zheng Zhe, who had been rubbing up against him earlier, probably noticed his lack of enthusiasm and stopped pushing for physical contact. Now, he was just slightly leaning against Tang Bin, holding a glass of champagne, pretending to be casual while chatting with others.

Tang Bin couldn’t see through any of it.

He was still shaken by the tragic situations of the other hosts described by the system. Coincidentally, he also felt a little urgent to go to the bathroom, so he just stood up.

As soon as he did, all the activity around him came to a halt, and everyone looked at him.

“Brother Rui, what’s wrong?” Yuan Ming asked.

Tang Bin: “…” Although he had understood his identity and the others’, seeing Yuan Ming’s imposing presence still made him nervous.

“It’s nothing, I… I just need to go to the bathroom…”

The karaoke next to them was blasting music so loud that Tang Bin’s soft voice was completely drowned out.

Yuan Ming didn’t catch on to anything unusual.

Anyway, Tang Bin successfully made his way to the bathroom.

There was a bathroom in the small VIP room, but Tang Bin purposely walked out to get away from the crowd and went to a bathroom at the end of the corridor, where there were fewer people.

After dealing with his biological needs, Tang Bin lingered in the bathroom for a while. At this moment, he hated himself even more for not having been firm in his decision earlier, for being afraid of missing out and feeling the need to join this party.

After wasting some time, Tang Bin finally headed back.

However, just as he was about to return to the VIP room, he was drawn to a familiar voice coming from a small room as he passed by it.

“Do you even look at yourself in the mirror before coming here to attend Young Master Rui’s party?”

“I’ll tell you this, Lin Moning, Young Master Rui likes me. Tonight, I’m going to win him over. Someone like you shouldn’t even be here trying to get attention. Even if Young Master Rui is blind, he wouldn’t come near you, you slut!”

Tang Bin: “…”

The voice belonged to Zheng Zhe. After spending the whole evening with him, Tang Bin couldn’t mistake it.

He knew that humans were complex creatures, and many people could change. But the sweet and obedient person who had been sticking to him earlier—what was he saying now?

Tang Bin couldn’t bring himself to say something like that.

He sighed, astonished.

Before he could fully process what was happening, he heard loud noises coming from inside, followed by a shrill scream from Zheng Zhe, who had just been boasting a moment ago: “You dare hit me? Hit him back! Damn it, I’ll kill this slutty bitch tonight!”

“You dare hit Brother Zheng? Don’t you fear Young Master Rui finding out and dealing with you?”

Soon after, more banging noises followed.

Tang Bin: “…”

He paused for a moment at the door, feeling confused. The next moment, he kicked open the wooden door in front of him.

If it had just been an argument earlier, even though he was the center of attention, he wouldn’t have intervened.

Tang Bin was timid by nature and didn’t like to stir up trouble.

But the noises inside were so chaotic, and there were multiple voices cursing. It sounded like several people were fighting. At a time like this, he couldn’t just ignore it.

As soon as he kicked the door open, Tang Bin’s figure appeared in the doorway.

Since he was Luo Rui, he didn’t need to say anything. Just by standing there, everyone inside, who had been fighting, immediately stopped.

Tang Bin frowned slightly. The small VIP room didn’t have much space, and he could immediately see everything inside.

The poker cards, dice, and other items on the table had already been knocked onto the floor during the scuffle, and the table was flipped over. In the center of the room, a person was being held down by three others, pressed tightly against the floor. The person had injuries on their face and was staring at him with a stubborn expression.

Not just stubborn—their eyes were so sharp that they made Tang Bin flinch.

Before this, he had never encountered someone with such a wolfish aura. It felt as though even a glance would be met with aggression and hostility.

Shocked by the intense gaze, Tang Bin involuntarily shouted, “Stop—!”

Once the words left his mouth, his confidence increased slightly, and he added, “What are you doing? Let go of him!”

After speaking, he hurriedly stepped into the room, attempting to help the poor young man who was pressed to the floor.

When Tang Bin looked at the young man up close, his first reaction was: Hmm? Who is this person? The original owner doesn’t seem to have any memory of him.

His second reaction was: Huh? Strange, why can I faintly see a few semi-transparent numbers above this person’s head…

【Those are the affection points of the target character.】 3376 reminded him promptly, while also issuing the system task:

【Welcome to the world of the book After Successfully Raising a Little Wolf Dog, I Was Completely Devoured by Him. The system task is now released—

Target: Lin Moning.

Height: 185 cm.

Identity: Unknown.

Background: Unknown.

Task Requirements: ① Become the target’s sugar daddy and support him financially. ② Establish a romantic relationship with the target. ③ Achieve a happy ending (HE) with the target.

Task Difficulty: Two stars.】