Chapter 158: Xu Ping'an: I Am Not the Real Young Master of the Xu Family??
After the elevator free-fall incident, which had left everyone shaken but unharmed (thanks to Shen Anyu's invisible protection), Shen Anyu, Liu Mi, Jiang Linlin, and Su Hongmian finally arrived at the top-floor penthouse.
However, the journey up was an ordeal in itself. Fearing another "mechanical malfunction," the three traumatized women resolutely refused to step into another metal box. They all opted to walk up the emergency stairs.
More than twenty floors. In high heels.
By the time they reached the heavy oak door of the penthouse, the three women were utterly exhausted. Their usually impeccable appearances were slightly disheveled. Their bodies were covered in a fine sheen of sweat that made their skin glisten under the hallway lights, and their lips were slightly parted as they gasped for breath, their chests heaving rhythmically.
Click.
Shen Anyu opened the door with his fingerprint. The cool air conditioning of the penthouse washed over them like a blessing.
"We made it..." Liu Mi groaned.
Su Hongmian and Liu Mi, abandoning all pretense of elegance, unceremoniously plopped onto the massive Italian leather sofa in the living room. They kicked off their heels, sighing in unison.
Their slender, fair hands immediately went to their legs, either massaging their sore calves or gently pounding their knees to relieve the ache.
"I'm so tired! My legs feel like jelly!"
"I'm so tired! I think I broke a heel!"
After speaking simultaneously, the two women paused. They exchanged a glance, sparks flying invisible between them.
"Hmph!"
"Hmph!"
Both snorted coldly and turned their heads away in opposite directions, refusing to acknowledge their synchronicity.
Jiang Linlin covered her mouth, amused by the scene despite her own exhaustion. She stood by the armrest, too shy to sit down without permission in such a luxurious place.
Shen Anyu was also greatly amused. He looked at the three beauties in various states of disarray—a feast for the eyes.
After laughing for a while, he turned to the somewhat shy Jiang Linlin, who was fidgeting with her skirt.
"You should sit too, Linlin. Why be so polite with me? This is your home now."
At this point, Shen Anyu winked at Jiang Linlin, looking quite mischievous.
Jiang Linlin's cheeks flushed a deep pink. "Home?" The word made her heart flutter. She obediently sat down on the edge of the sofa, following Shen Anyu's words like a decree.
Her family background wasn't as good as Liu Mi's and Su Hongmian's. She wasn't used to such opulence—the crystal chandeliers, the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Bund, the Persian carpets. Nor was she as confident as them, showing no signs of being at ease. She was always a bit shy and timid, feeling like Cinderella who had snuck into the ball.
Even with her and Shen Anyu's intimate relationship, she couldn't fully relax yet.
But Shen Anyu didn't mind. In fact, he enjoyed the variety.
Whether it was Su Hongmian's tsundere vivacity, Liu Mi's charming slyness and ambition, or Jiang Linlin's pure shyness and obedience... he loved them all. They were different flavors of wine, each exquisite in its own way.
Shen Anyu walked over and sat on the coffee table facing them. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong forearms.
He looked at the three somewhat tired women and said with a charming smile:
"You worked hard today. Do you want me to give you a massage? To relax your muscles?"
"Massage?" Liu Mi's eyes lit up.
"Yes. My massage skills are excellent. You could say they're divine! Guaranteed to make you forget all your pain."
Shen Anyu wasn't boasting about this. He possessed the [Nine Cycles Divine Needle] medical knowledge and [Innate Qi]. His control over force was transcendent-level. With just a casual press, he could stimulate acupoints, clear meridians, and make the whole body tingle with pleasure.
Su Hongmian's delicate and pretty face immediately showed anticipation. She remembered the last time he "healed" her ankle.
"Brother Shen's massage techniques are indeed divine. I've experienced them before; he's really amazing. His hands are magic."
She said this with a hint of pride, flaunting her "seniority."
When she said this, Liu Mi and Jiang Linlin both showed expressions of resentment. Their beautiful eyes looked resentfully at Shen Anyu; they hadn't experienced it yet! Why did Su Hongmian get special treatment?
Seeing this reaction, Su Hongmian lifted her fair chin and looked at Liu Mi quite smugly, as if saying: 'See? Brother Shen still loves me more. I know his skills better.'
Seeing this, Liu Mi almost gritted her teeth to pieces, infuriated by the provocation.
But her expression towards Shen Anyu instantly changed. The anger melted into a pitiful, seductive look. Her beautiful eyes became misty, like a fox caught in the rain.
"Brother Shen... my legs hurt too! I climbed twenty floors for you! I want to try it too. Don't be biased!"
She extended her long, shapely leg towards him, wiggling her toes.
Shen Anyu watched this scene of jealousy with amusement. He nodded gently and agreed with a smile.
"Of course. Everyone gets a turn. I am fair."
Although massaging three women was tiring work for an ordinary man, for a Grandmaster like him, it was play. And honestly... touching their soft skin was his reward. He was the one who felt comfortable.
"Me first! Me first!"
Liu Mi was immediately overjoyed. She quickly untied her other shoe and directly lay prone on the sofa, burying her face in a cushion but peeking out with one eye.
She stretched her body like a cat, revealing her graceful, hourglass figure. The skirt rode up slightly, exposing the curve of her thighs.
"Here, Brother Shen. My calves are so sore~"
Shen Anyu immediately sat down beside her leg. His warm hands grasped her calf.
He began to massage. He infused a tiny thread of Qi into his fingertips.
"Oh~"
Liu Mi let out a soft, involuntary moan instantly. It wasn't pain; it was a rush of bio-electricity shooting up her nerves.
Shen Anyu kneaded her muscles firmly yet gently. His thumbs circled her pressure points.
Liu Mi's eyes were full of charm and a hazy pleasure. She bit her lip, looking at Shen Anyu with adoration.
"So good... Brother Shen... harder..."
Jiang Linlin watched from the side, her cheeks flushed red, listening to the ambiguous sounds. She covered her ears slightly but kept watching through her fingers.
Su Hongmian spat in annoyance: "Shameless! She really is a vixen! Making those sounds!"
Afterward, Shen Anyu finished with Liu Mi (who was now limp and glowing) and moved to Jiang Linlin.
He was gentler with Linlin, focusing on relaxing her tense shoulders and back.
"Brother Shen... mmm... you're really amazing! It feels so magical... so warm... and so comfortable!"
Jiang Linlin's eyes curved into crescents. She felt a pleasant tingle all over her body, as if she were floating in warm water. Her fatigue vanished instantly.
Finally, it was Su Hongmian's turn.
Shen Anyu massaged her feet and ankles, teasing her sensitive spots until she was gasping and trying to kick him (playfully).
Su Hongmian lazily stretched her waist, her body relaxed and pliable. She looked at the other two with a triumphant smile.
"See? I told you, Brother Shen is amazing."
This time, Liu Mi did not refute. She nodded in agreement, her face still flushed. "Yes. He has magic hands."
Shen Anyu stood up, wiping his hands on a towel. His eyes held a deep, meaningful smile as he looked at the three women—disheveled, glowing, and looking very... edible.
He slowly said:
"Alright. You are all relaxed now. Go clean yourselves up and change your clothes. You're all sweaty from the climb."
He pointed towards the master bathroom, which featured a Jacuzzi big enough for four.
"There are spare robes in the closet."
"Ah~"
As soon as Shen Anyu's words fell, the three women simultaneously shrieked, realizing their unkempt state.
Then they ran towards the bathroom, fighting over who would shower first.
Before entering, Liu Mi paused at the door. She turned back, playfully winked at Shen Anyu, and said with a giggle that promised trouble:
"Brother Shen... the lock on this door is broken~ You can't come in and peek, okay? Promise me?"
Shen Anyu smiled ambiguously. He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.
"I don't do peeking. That's for perverts."
He paused, his voice dropping an octave.
"If I wanted to look... I'd just go in directly. Openly. Would you stop me?"
As these words fell, the air sizzled.
Liu Mi bit her lip with her pearly teeth, her eyes darkening with desire. She shook her head slightly, clearly indicating she wouldn't stop him. In fact, she might welcome him.
Jiang Linlin bowed her head, timidly hiding behind Liu Mi, but she didn't run away. Clearly also not going to stop him.
Su Hongmian glared at Shen Anyu, blushing furiously. "You dare!" But she also did not voice any real objection or lock the door.
Shen Anyu's smile was playful and triumphant.
"Go on. I'll wait here."
Afterward, the bathroom door closed, but not fully. The sound of water and giggles began.
Shen Anyu did not enter immediately. Not because he was a gentleman, but because he had another good show to watch first.
He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the glittering skyline of the Bund. He tapped his temple, activating the feed from the [Nanometer Monitoring Robot].
The show was currently underway on the other side of the city.
...
At this moment, inside the old family Villa of the Shanghai Xu Family.
The atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.
"No! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
A scream of denial tore through the living room.
Xu Ping'an stood in the center of the room, trembling. His face was filled with disbelief, completely lacking the previous euphoria of discovering he had awakened the [Damage Reflection Aura] and becoming a "Protagonist."
His entire being was stunned. His brain was trembling. His world was collapsing.
He looked at his familiar and kind parents, Xu Jianren (Father) and Qi Lian (Mother). He looked at his usually affectionate and gentle elder sister, Xu Ruoshui, who was sitting on the sofa with a cold, disappointed expression he had never seen before.
They now seemed so foreign. So distant.
This left Xu Ping'an heartbroken and incredulous.
Just an hour ago, at Modu University, he was furious watching Jiang Linlin being taken by Shen Anyu.
Then, he was bitten by a stray dog, which led him to discover with surprise that he had awakened a superpower! He was special! He was the Chosen One!
This filled Xu Ping'an with ecstasy, excitement, and exhilaration. He urgently wanted to share his joy. He rushed home to tell his parents and elder sister about it, expecting praise and awe.
"I am not a waste anymore! I have power!"
Xu Ping'an's parents and elder sister, Xu Ruoshui, had always been extremely good to him, spoiling him immensely because he was the only son.
Therefore, after discovering he had awakened the Damage Reflection Aura, Xu Ping'an's first thought was to return home, declare his power, and prove that he was worthy of the Xu name.
He was already fantasizing about how amazing he would be in the future. He would conquer Modu. He would make beauties like Su Hongmian and Jiang Linlin fall for him. He would make that pretty boy, Shen Anyu, kneel at his feet!
However...
What Xu Ping'an never expected was that upon returning home, instead of a celebration... he walked into a funeral for his identity.
His father threw a stack of documents at his face.
Smack!
The papers scattered on the floor. DNA test results.
"Read it," Xu Jianren said coldly. "We received this an hour ago from an anonymous source. We verified it with the hospital records."
Xu Ping'an picked up the paper with trembling hands.
[Subject: Xu Ping'an. Relationship to Xu Jianren: 0%. Relationship to Wang Qin (Former Nanny): 99.9%.]
"What... is this?"
"It means you are a fake," Xu Ruoshui said, her voice devoid of warmth. "You are not our brother."
He, Xu Ping'an, was not the biological child of Xu Jianren and Qi Lian.
He was not the biological younger brother of his elder sister Xu Ruoshui.
He was not the true young master of the Xu Family.
He was the child of the nanny, Wang Qin, who had swapped him at birth twenty years ago!
"No..." Xu Ping'an fell to his knees. "I am the protagonist! I have a System! How can I be a fake?!"
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