WCHM Chapter 3

As soon as Lu Chi’s voice fell, everyone in the private box instinctively followed his gaze. Their breath caught in their throats, and only then did the commoners acknowledge the arrival of the delicate, untouchable Young Master.

 

But before the Liang siblings could react, Liang Jiashu had already stepped out from the shadows and into the silent room.

 

Neon lights spilled overhead, casting a shadow over the young man’s sharply defined brow bone. He still wore that indifferent expression, his pitch-black gaze landing on Lu Chi’s face, revealing no visible emotion…

 

…As if he didn’t care at all that the Liang family’s Second Young Master had just been slapped across the face in public like a dog.

 

The air became utterly still.

 

It was strange, since just moments ago, the atmosphere in the room hadn’t felt that oppressive. But now that Liang Jiashu wasn’t speaking, everyone found themselves holding their breaths as well, unconsciously shutting their mouths, and wearing expressions like they were… A bunch of poor siblings gathered together to mourn their departed father in a nightclub.

 

Lu Chi suddenly thought of his own colorful, crystal tombstone and couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly, smiling to himself in the suffocating silence.

 

As for Liang Jiashu, the man simply looked at him. Under the light, his pupils appeared profoundly dark, thinking that now that he was closer… The sharp, blinding beauty radiating off Lu Chi was even more unbearable to look at.

 

Most of those who worked in nightclubs wore makeup, but Lu Chi didn’t bother. His bare, stunning face met Liang Jiashu’s gaze directly, without a flicker of restraint.

 

That Gong No. 1’s vision was a perfect 5.2. Under the neon glare, he could clearly make out the soft fuzz on Lu Chi’s side profile, reminiscent of the powdery scales on a butterfly’s wings, or the fuzz on a peach, prickling even from across the air.

 

Those languid, seductive eyes also swept toward him, and Liang Jiashu could only think of one word:

 

Vivid.

 

Completely, irreversibly vivid, and everything he himself was not.

 

Meanwhile, the system was screeching in Lu Chi’s mind:

 

[Gong No.1, Liang Jiashu, makes his grand debut! The Shou, Gu Yanyan, is here too! All the main characters have assembled! Host Baby, hurry up and seduce them!! Aaaaah!!]

 

Lu Chi held down the system who was busy having a breakdown in his mind and replied serenely, like a living Buddha:

 

[Hold on.]

 

[Hold on?! Hold on for what?!] The system gawked.

 

Lu Chi took another small sip of his icy wine, feeling a little tipsy, and quickly set the glass down before answering: [I’m observing the main character’s personalities first.]

 

When people encountered unexpected situations, their instinctive reactions would never lie. In the end, Lu Chi was simply interested to see how that renowned Young Master would react.

 

However, the system was confused: [But it’s all in the script—], it started. [Liang Jiashu is calm, rational, yet kind-hearted. He helps the bullied Gu Yanyan many times. Gu Yanyan is timid and insecure but dares to fight back, a glowing little white flower who moves everyone with his purity. Liang Zhiyu is rebellious and unloved, but reforms in the face of love and redemption… Blah, blah, blah—]

 

It sounded extremely confident before ending in a joyful note: [See? Clear as day! Sure, it’s cliché, but they’re all morally upright protagonists! No need to observe anything!]

 

Honestly, Lu Chi thought. With that level of intelligence, his so-called “Professionally Immoral” System wouldn’t survive three minutes in a palace drama… Even two seconds might be enough for the director to shout “Cut!” and ask for the last bento to be served. However, Lu Chi still hummed in perfunctory agreement: [Wow, your tiny brain is developing so well! Good job! Now hush and go play.]

 

The poor system obviously didn’t have the necessary code to understand sarcasm, so it could only hear the praise. Beaming with joy, it obediently went silent.

 

The rumbling system finally went offline, but the characters in the private box finished rebooting, showing signs of beginning to react.

 

Still half-kneeling on the floor, Liang Zhiyu was stunned, never expecting his so-called “older cousin” to show up at FOM in person, let alone witness his humiliation with his own eyes. The teen’s expression instantly darkened, but he quickly forced it into a strained smile.

 

However, Lu Chi noticed the hidden emotions behind it: a reflexive need to please… And a deep, instinctive disgust.

 

It looked like even before the love triangle plot kicked off, Gong No.1 and Gong No.2 already deeply hated each other’s guts.

 

Lu Chi blinked and leaned bonelessly against a table, watching the protagonists square off like it was none of his business. Liang Zhiyu, meanwhile, had no time to brood. He tucked the bank card back into his collar and stood up, his cheek still red from the slap.

 

“…Brother,” he muttered. “What are you doing here?”

 

Liang Jiashu didn’t reply and Liang Zhiyu forced a smile and continued: “Must be Mom nagging in front of Uncle Liang again. She’s got too much time on her hands. If she’s not micromanaging Dad, she’s watching over me like a hawk. I didn’t think she’d even bother you with this… Sorry, Brother.”

 

Liang Zhiyu was from a classic upper-class household: his dad was forever too busy with business, while his mom was a full-time door guardian at home. His little sister was too young to cause problems, so all the loving “care and attention” fell on him.

 

With the new semester at A University about to begin, Liang Zhiyu had been partying hard, driving his mother up the wall with constant nagging that even the family butler couldn’t tune out.

 

The waiters nearby stayed as quiet as statues.

 

Liang Jiashu’s gaze finally moved away from Lu Chi, landing on Liang Zhiyu with a glance as indifferent as mist as he commanded: “Take Liang Yi downstairs.”

 

Wow! After all that babbling, all he got in return was a flat four-word sentence!

 

Liang Zhiyu’s expression instantly collapsed, as if someone had doused him in a bucket of ice water, even more humiliating than getting slapped in public. He understood what it meant… Liang Jiashu didn’t even see him as worth responding to!

 

And worst of all, Lu Chi was still watching!

 

Second Young Master Liang’s hand clenched around the icy champagne bottle that brought him momentary relief. He was only eighteen, still too young, so he impulsively opened his mouth, about to say something…

 

But just then, little Miss Liang hopped off the couch in her overalls and trotted to the doorway of the private box. Her voice rang out clear and bright as she addressed Manager Zhao, who was busy taking a shower in his own sweat: “Uncle, please bring some water and towels. Also, call a few people to help carry my brother downstairs.”

 

Manager Zhao acted like he had just received an Imperial Edict, scrambling around like an eunuch who tried his best to preserve his head under an unruly Emperor. “Yes, yes! Xiao Lin, go get the supplies!”, he roared outside the door. “Second Young Master Liang’s car is parked at the back entrance, make sure someone helps… Help the Second Young Master into the car!”

 

The second those words came out, Second Young Master, Liang Zhiyu’s expression turned even uglier, dark enough that even passing stray dogs could see the storm cloud hanging over his head.

 

Whose genetics failed at life and produced something that stupid?!

 

Liang Jiashu, with his face as blank as ever, wondered idly if it was time for the second branch of the Liang family to go bankrupt. After all, putting any industry in his cousin’s hands was basically equal to handing it over to a pig that could speak!

 

Meanwhile, Lu Chi seemed lost in thought for a moment, before turning his head to glance at Gu Yanyan, who was still standing beside the table. Only then did he realize that the little white flower Shou was also staring at him in a daze, who knows for how long. Lu Chi raised an eyebrow and gave him a smile, bright and charming.

 

However, Gu Yanyan instantly flinched, yanking his gaze away like he’d been burned and turning to stare at the floor, no longer daring to look up.

 

The system, observing the data stream, exploded with excitement: [Piece of cake, Baby! Seducing the protagonist Shou is a piece of cake! Bag them all!]

 

Whenever it got too hyped, it reverted to calling Lu Chi “Baby”, making him laugh. Feeling he’d seen enough, Lu Chi stretched lazily, strolled over to Manager Zhao, and casually announced: “Manager, it’s getting late. I’m clocking out now.”

 

He’d only had two sips of wine, but he was already tipsy, and all he really wanted was to go home and sleep.

 

The system had originally planned to push him into fanning the flames further, ideally triggering a jealous love triangle brawl between the Gongs and the Shou protagonists tonight. But one look at Lu Chi’s drowsy, misted-over eyes, and it paused.

 

…And said nothing.

 

Lu Chi yawned. As he passed by Liang Zhiyu, he didn’t spare him even a side glance.

 

Manager Zhao noticed the Second Young Master’s murderous expression and broke out into another cold sweat shower. He didn’t dare say anything, just turning his big, pleading eyes toward the ever-silent Liang Jiashu, hoping for a cue, anything to help him smooth things over…

 

After all, Liang Zhiyu was part of the Liang family. He’d just been “educated” by a stranger in front of everyone. Surely, Liang Jiashu had to do something… Right?!

 

Lu Chi arched an eyebrow and also turned to look at Liang Jiashu.

 

A man’s expression could lie, but his habits never did. Clothing, accessories, hairstyle, all those tiny, unremarkable details revealed far more about a person’s temperament and preferences than their words ever could.

 

As for Liang Jiashu, he was tall, about the same height as Lu Chi. Despite the sweltering heat, he was dressed in a smoky gray shirt and long trousers, ironed crisp with sharp folds. His handsome face had on its usual mask of indifference, and there were no accessories on his neck or wrists. He was clean, so clean it bordered on boring, a stark contrast to the jingling disaster that was Liang Zhiyu.

 

With lowered eyes, Lu Chi also noticed his nails, trimmed short and perfect, a crisp indicator of his obsessive personality. His black hair was cut to fall precisely across his brow, neat to the extreme.

 

Someone like that…

 

He was either a celibate monk or a control freak so well-hidden you’d never break free once you got caught.

 

They were standing very close now, close enough for Liang Jiashu to see the shimmer of glitter clinging to the tips of Lu Chi’s hair. He had just finished stripping on the dance floor, so his body was still coated in sparkly residue, like a walking pink diamond.

 

And that diamond looked at him for a moment, before breaking into a random, inexplicable smile. Without turning to look at anyone else, he waved lazily at Manager Zhao: “I’m really leaving this time. Bye-bye, Manager.”

 

Click.

 

The pink diamond walked out the door with dramatic flair…

 

…Leaving Manager Zhao standing there with his heart bouncing around in his chest, not daring to speak.

 

But after a brief wait of just a couple of seconds, Liang Jiashu turned around and left too. Without a word, expressionless.

 

“……”

 

The waiters helped the tipsy, unsteady Liang Zhiyu downstairs, while Liang Yi followed close behind. The private box was quickly emptied and a blanket of silence fell over the entire fourth floor, as if nothing had ever happened.

 

Manager Zhao only managed to snap out of it, still utterly baffled, when his phone chimed twice. Glancing down, it was a text message from Lu Chi.

 

EatSleepDance: [Manager, I’m short on rent. Can I get an advance on next month’s salary? Kitten-reaching-out.jpg]

 

…Like nothing had happened at all!

 

Manager Zhao had always seen Lu Chi as his little money tree. But at that moment, he genuinely felt a flicker of admiration for the young man who slapped someone and still walked away scot-free.

 

Amazing!

 

He quickly replied “OK” and forwarded it to accounting for the transfer. But before the transaction could go through, another message arrived, making Manager Zhao freeze.

 

EatSleepDance: [Oh right, Manager! I’m quitting after next month! Be sure to start looking for my replacement. Kitten-walking-away.jpg]

 

………………………..

 

Lu Chi put his phone away and stepped out of the front doors of FOM.

 

In a second, the blast of cool air disappeared. Since it was the middle of summer, the night’s heat hit him full in the face, and the haze of sleepiness made his limbs go soft. However, now he was hungry too.

 

Luckily, FOM was located right in the city center, and even at 2 a.m., the streets were still glowing with life. Feeling bored, Lu Chi picked a cozy-looking dessert shop nearby. Fifteen minutes later, he stepped out holding a freshly baked egg tart.

 

The system, watching him eat his midnight snack while strolling down the street, was practically bursting into flames: [Host, why did you quit?! Your only connection to the main characters is the FOM nightclub! If you resign, there won’t be an opportunity for a chance encounter anymore!]

 

Both Liang Jiashu and Liang Zhiyu were born into wealth, so he’d never run into them in ordinary places. As for Gu Yanyan, he was the shy, obedient type. Aside from working part-time at FOM, he barely ever stepped off campus.

 

If he resigned, the golden opportunity to seduce them was gone!!

 

Lu Chi took a bite of his egg tart and calmly chewed it without responding. The system was just about to switch to its trademark brand of unethical, “I’ll smash your gravestone!” type of threats…

 

When it heard him say softly: “I’m tired.”

 

[…]

 

Silence instantly returned to Lu Chi’s mind. After a moment, the system whispered a soft and guilty “I’m sorry.”

 

Lu Chi blinked and kept chewing, suppressing a laugh as he ate his egg tart. The streets were bustling, with cars flowing past in both directions. People glanced at him, drawn in by his absurdly good looks, but no one dared to approach.

 

Lu Chi, used to that kind of attention, ignored the stares and stopped at a red light.

 

Not far away, in the passenger seat of a black Maybach, Liang Jiashu silently accepted a stack of documents with unmoving eyes, his pitch-dark pupils fixed on the lazy figure ahead.

 

Behind him, a man sensed his mood so he started reporting the intel they just finished gathering on Lu Chi: “Mr. Lu is twenty-seven, also an A University graduate,” he started. “A month ago, he began frequenting a casino run by the Lin family. However, he got trapped and ended up borrowing from a loan shark…”

 

The light turned green and the man in question crossed the road with the crowd.

 

He looked exhausted. That dazzling face had lost some of its sharpness, and even the dusty pink of his hair seemed dull, leaning more on the dusty side. He’d also changed into casual clothes, a simple white T-shirt, loose athletic pants, and sneakers, looking even younger than a college student.

 

And there was something else that complemented his look. There was a strangely shaped bag hanging carelessly on his shoulder, looking oddly relaxed.

 

A frog’s head. A crying frog face to be exact, so hideous it made Liang Jiashu frown.

 

The Maybach drove slowly. A moment later, Liang Jiashu saw Lu Chi finish the last bite of his egg tart, toss the wrapper in a bin, and begin digging around in that bizarre frog bag.

 

After much effort, he pulled out an equally ridiculous frog-shaped water bottle.

 

Then… Glug, glug, glug… He started drinking.

 

Liang Jiashu: “…”

 

Still unaware he was being followed, Lu Chi kept drinking his water. The night was just too hot, and it was only after finishing that he finally felt somewhat awake again. The system remained quiet in his mind, with its virtual head hanging low like a scolded puppy. Lu Chi tucked away his deeply discounted, supermarket-promo, depression-themed frog bottle and let out a soft laugh: “Hey, little idiot,” he said. “Be a good boy and look through that plot again.”

 

………………………………..

Enjoyed this chapter? You can support me and read up to Chapter 12 here, with new chapters coming in the first week of the month! Happy Reading!