TYMRHBDES Chapter 12

The group’s attention was finally drawn away as the show changed.

Jiang Luoluo poked his head out from Fu Tingchuan’s embrace, but as he looked up, he found Fu Tingchuan staring back, a half-smile playing on his lips.

The small hand clutching his suit jacket tightened briefly. Fu Tingchuan looked away, filled Jiang Luoluo’s hand with a bunch of grapes, and said, “Have these for yourself.”

Jiang Luoluo’s fingers closed around the grapes, while the System’s voice chattered incessantly in his mind:

[Host, this Fu Tingchuan is too high-level for you. Even if you keep trying, he’ll end up winning you over first.]

“I told you I shouldn’t have come,” Jiang Luoluo grumbled. “You people insisted on making me attend.”

The System fell silent for a moment, then admitted:

[I suppose you’re right. But he seems to like you. His favorability rating is already at 4501 now. If you keep working at it, you’ll definitely succeed—]

[I’m being cut off!] The System stalled momentarily before exclaiming, [Oh no, why is he here?!]

Jiang Luoluo looked up and met the gaze of the figure in the aisle, entangled in a group of people.

The man seemed to have been drinking. His peach blossom eyes were slightly unfocused, the corners curving upwards as his gaze shifted, carrying an indescribable allure.

The commotion drew the attention of many present. Several turned to stare, and after taking in the newcomer’s appearance, their eyes shifted in unison towards Fu Tingchuan.

For a brief moment, Jiang Luoluo’s heart sank before he realized with a start—

This was Fu Tingchuan’s childhood white moonlight.

At that moment, someone in the crowd raised their voice, “Hey, isn’t that the young master from the Bai family, the one who studied abroad—Bai Tang?”

The arm draped over Jiang Luoluo’s shoulder fell away as Fu Tingchuan abruptly stood up. He strode forward, forcefully pushing aside the people grappling with Bai Tang and pulling him protectively behind his own body.

Jiang Luoluo couldn’t see Fu Tingchuan’s face, but he could hear the concealed fury in his voice. “Get lost!”

The man had been drinking, but it only emboldened his cowardice. Seeing Bai Tang alone, he’d seen an opportunity to take him away. Now, finding himself blocked, he initially wanted to teach the interloper a lesson. But when he met Fu Tingchuan’s darkened expression, all the courage drained out of him.

Clothes could be deceptive, but presence was not.

This was someone he couldn’t afford to mess with, nor should he have tried.

The man slapped his own face a couple of times, bent down to offer a hasty apology, and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.

Fu Tingchuan turned back. Bai Tang’s eyes were teary as he looked up at him. “Mr. Fu…”

Fu Tingchuan’s voice was stern. “What were you doing in a place like this by yourself? When did you get back from abroad?”

Bai Tang shook his head, his body swaying as if he were about to collapse into Fu Tingchuan.

Fu Tingchuan swiftly caught him.

The two figures overlapped, Fu Tingchuan steadying Bai Tang’s shoulders with a gentleman’s touch, careful not to let him fall into his embrace.

Sympathetic eyes passed to Jiang Luoluo.

Holding a grape in his hand, Jiang Luoluo studied Fu Tingchuan’s profile and felt a twinge of sadness.

Just moments ago, Fu had been protecting him, but now he’d rushed over to stand by another person’s side.

The grape in Jiang Luoluo’s mouth suddenly tasted a bit sour.

The System decided to comfort its novice Host undertaking a mission:

[Childhood crushes are hard to match up to. Bai Tang might be a big catch for Fu Tingchuan, but he’s not someone to be trusted. In the original story, Bai Tang dangled on Fu Tingchuan until he met his true love, then kicked Fu aside.]

[I bet his sudden interest is because of your arrival. He must be afraid he’ll lose his fish, Fu Tingchuan, so he’s putting on this show.]

[This task might seem hard—charming a villain and outsmarting a player? First missions aren’t always smooth sailing, but Fu Tingchuan seems to like you. Maybe—]

The System’s voice cut off abruptly.

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