Chapter 175 How could I miss it?
"July 15th, Chuan Shu Martial Arts Tournament…"
After Shen Anyu left the Su Family Villa, the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by the cold, calculating expression of a predator. He sat in the back of his Rolls-Royce Phantom, tapping his finger rhythmically against the armrest, lost in thought.
If that Long Hao was really a [Trash-fiancé-dumped] Child of Destiny—which was 99% certain given the classic tropes—then this [Chuan Shu Martial Arts Tournament] would very likely be the start of his comeback. It would be the stage where he shouts "Thirty years east of the river!" and shocks everyone with his recovered cultivation.
How could Shen Anyu miss such an occasion?
It was practically an invitation to a buffet. Not to mention, there was also the Bashu Sword Tomb Sect Master—that "Good Senior Brother"—who coveted Su Wanqing.
Two birds, one stone.
"It's June 18th now, so there's still nearly a month."
Shen Anyu's mind spun like a supercomputer, organizing his schedule.
"During this time, I need to quickly deal with the fake young master Child of Destiny, Xu Ping'an. His value is dropping, and it's time to squeeze the last drops of destiny from him before discarding the husk."
"And the Dragon King Son-in-law Child of Destiny, Han Qi... his wife, Liu Qingyue, is already wavering. I need to push her over the edge."
"Also, if I remember correctly, the end of this month is the Magic City Ye Family's five-year memorial day. At that time, the [Expert Descending the Mountain] Child of Destiny, Ye Yan, is very likely to come down to 'fulfill his engagement' and wreak havoc."
"These Sons of Destiny are all excellent fields of leeks, lush and green, waiting for me to harvest and plunder their Destiny Value."
"Of course, they are not the main focus. The most important thing is the Destined Heroines. Whether they are aloof CEOs, tsundere young misses, pure school beauties, or seductive mature women... they are the true treasures of this world."
"I've already become a top-tier noble, standing at the apex of wealth and power. Shouldn't I enjoy myself? What is the point of being a villain if I don't indulge?"
Shen Anyu's lips curled up into a wicked smile. Dealing with the Sons of Destiny was just a side task—a bit of exercise to keep things interesting. Conquering the Destined Heroines was his daily life, his hobby, and his passion.
Buzz buzz!
Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Shen Anyu casually pulled it out, swiped his finger to unlock it, and upon seeing the message notification on WeChat, a half-smile appeared on his face.
It was from Wang Qin.
[Wang Qin: Young Master Shen... I was almost discovered by Ping'an yesterday. My heart nearly stopped. If he found out, I wouldn't want to live. I... I thought about it all night. I haven't slept a wink. I think we should end our relationship. Please. I'll find a way to return that one million to you. I will work day and night. Please let me go.]
Looking at the message sent by Wang Qin, the birth mother of the fake young master Child of Destiny Xu Ping'an, Shen Anyu's smile was playful and predatory.
She wanted to run? After tasting the forbidden fruit? After selling her soul?
Naive.
He typed a reply slowly, savoring the control he had over her.
[Shen Anyu: Madam, are you sure? You must have found yesterday's events quite memorable, too, right? Your body was very honest. Besides... do you think you can pay back one million by washing dishes? Or do you want your son to go back to jail? Be good. Wait for my call.]
On the other end of the phone...
[Location: Xu Ping'an's Apartment]
Wang Qin sat at the small dining table, staring at her phone screen. When she saw Shen Anyu's reply, her graceful oval face immediately flushed crimson. A wave of heat rushed through her body, settling deep in her lower abdomen.
The memory of yesterday—the heat, the pressure against the door, the sound of her son slapping himself outside while Shen Anyu held her—flooded back. It was a nightmare, but also... a shameful, secret thrill.
She bit her lip, her hands trembling. She felt trapped. But in that trap, there was a strange sense of security. He wouldn't let her go.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
Xu Ping'an walked out of his room, yawning. He saw his mother, Wang Qin, holding her phone with both hands, her face flushed red, her eyes misty and unfocused. She had a charm in her eyes he had never seen before—a look of a woman who was being loved (or consumed).
He was momentarily stunned. His mother usually looked tired and worn out. Today, she looked... radiant. Like a flower that had been watered after a long drought.
Wang Qin jumped, nearly dropping the phone.
"N-nothing~ Just... just reading a funny news article."
Wang Qin quickly put away her phone, shoving it into her pocket as if it were a branding iron, and vehemently denied it.
Xu Ping'an's brows immediately furrowed. His eyes were full of suspicion. He looked at her flushed neck, her evasive eyes.
He didn't press the matter verbally, but his mind was racing.
Although Xu Ping'an, who was in despair in the detention center, was deeply moved by Wang Qin's unwavering willingness to pay one million for him, and he had finally acknowledged Wang Qin as his mother and called her "Mom"...
However, the relationship between them was still somewhat awkward. Twenty years of separation and class difference couldn't be erased in a day. They couldn't speak freely like ordinary mother and son.
Xu Ping'an felt a sudden, irrational spike of jealousy.
'She looks like a woman in love,' he thought, his stomach churning. 'Who is it? Is it that landlord again?'
Xu Ping'an felt that his mother, Wang Qin, looked as if she might be in love. And the thought repulsed him. In his mind, his mother should be a saint, existing only to serve him and make up for his suffering. She shouldn't have a personal life, especially not a romantic one.
As soon as he thought of this, Xu Ping'an's expression involuntarily darkened. He found such a thing difficult to accept. It felt like a betrayal.
'I must investigate this when I have time. I absolutely cannot let Mom be deceived. Men are wolves. They will only use her.'
Wang Qin had taken care of him for twenty years in the Shanghai Xu Family (as a servant/nanny figure in his memories). Xu Ping'an knew that Wang Qin had a gentle and soft personality. She was naive. She was very likely to be tricked by men who only wanted her body.
Although Wang Qin was no longer young, she was still beautiful. Very beautiful. She had that mature, milky charm that many men craved.
Xu Ping'an certainly didn't want a new father to suddenly appear. Especially not some scumbag who would steal her attention (and money) from him.
[Ding! Child of Destiny Xu Ping'an is in a bad mood. Plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
[Ding! Child of Destiny Xu Ping'an is feeling suffocated by possessive jealousy. Plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
Shen Anyu, miles away, smirked as the notifications popped up. 'What a filial son. Jealous of his own mother's happiness? Truly pathetic.'
…
Feeling the suspicious, heavy gaze of her biological son, Wang Qin became even more flustered and helpless. She felt naked under his scrutiny.
She was only able to forcefully change the subject, smoothing her hair nervously.
"Ping'an, do you not have classes today? It's getting late."
Xu Ping'an suppressed the suspicion in his heart. He forced a smile.
"Yes, I do have classes. I'm heading out now. Don't worry about me, Mom."
However, Xu Ping'an wasn't going to Modu University for classes.
He walked out of the apartment building, the morning sun hitting his face. But instead of turning towards the bus stop for the university, he turned towards the commercial district.
"Classes? Hah. What use is a degree when I am destined to be a King?"
"I've already awakened my Golden Finger, the [Damage Reflection Aura]. I am a future big shot like a protagonist in those novels. It's too foolish to still go to class obediently like a sheep!"
Xu Ping'an lifted his chin, his face full of vigor and ambition. The swelling from yesterday's slaps had gone down slightly, leaving bruises that made him look tough (in his opinion).
Although he failed at underground boxing yesterday and was instead locked up in a detention center for fighting and injuring someone, even implicating his mother Wang Qin in paying one million...
But Xu Ping'an was not discouraged. Protagonists always face setbacks! This was just the "suppression before the rise."
He had a Heaven-Defying Golden Finger. Anyone who hit him would get hurt. He was invincible in melee combat.
Rising to power, achieving financial freedom, being surrounded by beauties like Su Hongmian and Jiang Linlin, and reaching the pinnacle of life—wasn't that easy as pie?
"Oh, right. I remember that the commercial building where [Xu Shi Garden Landscape Co., Ltd] headquarters is located—where my sister Xu Ruoshui works—has a very expensive [Gao Duan Martial Arts Gym]."
"It's called the 'Iron Fist Club'. Many rich second generations and experts go there."
"I can go challenge it. I'll bet money on sparring matches. With my reflection aura, they'll knock themselves out, and I'll rake in the cash. I can earn back that one million in a day!"
"This time, I will definitely succeed, and there won't be any accidents! I'll start my legend there!"
…
[Location: Inside the Rolls-Royce Phantom]
"Silly child, your father will always be your father. You can't turn the tables!"
Shen Anyu watched Xu Ping'an's actions through the holographic projection of the [Nanometer Monitoring Robot]. He saw the ambition, the delusion, and the destination.
His lips curled up in a playful, mocking smile.
"He's going to the gym near Xu Ruoshui's office? Perfect. I was just heading there."
Then, Shen Anyu gave a direct order to his Shadow Guards via a thought.
'Arrange for a few 'actors' at the Iron Fist Club. Make sure they use ranged weapons or grappling. Don't hit him directly. Humiliate him. And make sure Xu Ruoshui sees it.'
With Shen Anyu as his "father" (puppet master), how could Xu Ping'an, this foolish son, possibly succeed?
Even with a Heaven-Defying Golden Finger like the [Damage Reflection Aura], which even a Martial Dao Grandmaster couldn't handle if they attacked blindly... it had a fatal weakness. It reflected damage. It didn't reflect humiliation, binding, or non-damaging force.
Shen Anyu was confident he could play Xu Ping'an to death without lifting a finger.
"Oh, right. I'll go meet Xu Ruoshui at [Xu Shi Garden Landscape Co., Ltd], Xu Ping'an's unforgettable older sister. It's time to plant the seeds of discord."
Shen Anyu smiled lightly, picked up his phone, and dialed Xu Ruoshui's number.
Ring... Ring...
"Hello? Mr. Shen?"
A pleasant, gentle female voice came from the phone.
"Oh, Mr. Shen, you want to discuss something with me? Regarding Ping'an? Okay, okay, I'm free. I was just reviewing some documents, but for you, I have time."
"We can talk in detail around noon. And I'll treat you to a meal to thank you for your help last time. I insist."
A gentle smile appeared on Xu Ruoshui's beautiful and elegant face as she softly replied to Shen Anyu. She sat in her CEO office, twirling a pen, her heart beating slightly faster.
She had an excellent impression of Shen Anyu.
Last time in the [Tangquan One Product Villa District], her suitcase was stuck in the trunk. It was a small thing, but Shen Anyu helped pull it out with such effortless grace. He didn't act arrogant like other rich young masters. He was polite, humble, and incredibly handsome.
Shen Anyu's handsomeness and demeanor left a deep, positive impression on Xu Ruoshui. He felt like a gentleman from a bygone era.
Especially later, the battle between Shen Anyu and Yan Lingxiao...
She had watched from a distance. The way Shen Anyu stood calmly while Yan Lingxiao raged... The way he suppressed the so-called "War God" with a single move...
It shocked Xu Ruoshui immensely. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with brilliance just thinking about it.
In her world, men were either weak bootlickers or arrogant thugs like Yan Lingxiao. Shen Anyu was different. He was strong but refined. Powerful but gentle.
"Mr. Shen is truly an incredible man. I wonder what he wants to see me about? He mentioned Ping'an... did Ping'an get into trouble again?"
Xu Ruoshui's beautiful and elegant face, her red lips slightly pursed, showed a look of considerable curiosity and a hint of anticipation~
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