Chapter 176 Playing with applause!
[Ding! Child of Destiny Xu Ping'an is speechless, plundering +6666 destiny value!]
[Ding! Child of Destiny Xu Ping'an doubts life, plundering +9999 destiny value!]
...
[Location: Outside the "Iron Fist Club" - Xu Commercial Building]
"Kicking the gym?"
A burly man in a security uniform stood behind the glass doors, looking at Xu Ping'an with a mix of pity and amusement. He pointed to a sign taped to the door.
"Sorry, little brother. We're currently closed for renovations. The boss decided to upgrade the facilities. When we reopen, you can come back to kick the gym. Or sweep the floor. Whatever you want."
"Renovations?" Xu Ping'an stared at the sign, his eyes wide. "But... I checked online! It said open!"
"Online information is outdated. We closed... about ten minutes ago. Urgent pipe burst. Very tragic."
"When will we reopen? That's hard to say. Maybe a month, maybe several months, or maybe we'll just go out of business. Who knows? Life is unpredictable."
"..."
Xu Ping'an was utterly speechless, stomping his foot in frustration. The sound echoed in the empty corridor of the commercial building.
He had arrived at this [Gao Duan] martial arts gym near the Xu Commercial Building with high hopes, intending to challenge it and gain fame and fortune.
The owner of this gym was said to be a national Sanda champion, a man of immense strength and arrogance, who once publicly stated that anyone who successfully challenged him and won would be directly rewarded with one million yuan! Cash! No questions asked!
However, after several years, no one had successfully challenged and defeated the owner. He remained undefeated, a legend in the amateur circle.
As a result, this gym became famous, a gathering spot for the elite. Wealthy young masters flocked to become his disciples, hoping to learn a fraction of his skill. Even the annual tuition fee of 188,000 yuan couldn't deter their enthusiasm.
When Xu Ping'an was still the Young Master of the Shanghai Xu Family, he also came here once or twice to join in the fun. He knew the layout, the rules, and the arrogance of the owner.
He had planned everything perfectly. He would walk in, provoke the owner, accept the challenge, and then use his [Damage Reflection Aura] to easily defeat the national Sanda champion.
He imagined the scene: The champion's punch landing on him, only for the champion's own arm to break. The crowd gasping. The beautiful female receptionists looking at him with admiration. The one million yuan check being handed to him.
The thought of showing off and effortlessly defeating the national Sanda champion in front of everyone, gaining both fame and fortune, made Xu Ping'an incredibly excited just moments ago.
However, reality was a cold bucket of water.
Xu Ping'an was astonished to find that this gym had just coincidentally begun renovations and was closed. Ten minutes ago? Is God playing a joke on him?
"Damn it! Why is my luck so bad?"
Xu Ping'an kicked the wall, scuffing his cheap sneaker.
"No, impossible... I awakened a cheat! I have a System! I should be the protagonist! Why is everything going wrong?"
His original plan failed once again, and Xu Ping'an was in a terrible mood, somewhat doubting life.
First, he went to the underground arena of the Black Dragon Bar, intending to dominate the ring. Result? Arrested. Detention center. Humiliated. Forced his mother to pay a fortune.
Now, he planned to come here to earn back that money and regain his dignity. Result? Closed for renovations.
It felt like an invisible hand was blocking his every path to success.
Xu Ping'an sighed helplessly. He reached into his pocket and clutched the cool, smooth surface of the zitan wood Guanyin pendant. It was his only comfort.
Touching the pendant brought back memories. The gentle and beautiful figure of his elder sister, Xu Ruoshui, seemed to appear before his eyes. Her smile, her scent, the way she used to ruffle his hair.
"Since I'm already here... this is the Xu Commercial Building... her office is upstairs."
He looked up at the ceiling, as if trying to see through the concrete floors to the CEO's office on the top floor.
"I wonder if I can run into her..."
The person Xu Ping'an was closest to and liked the most in the past was his elder sister, Xu Ruoshui.
Although she was the female CEO of [Xu Shi Garden Landscape Co., Ltd], a powerful figure in the business world, Xu Ruoshui was not strong or overbearing like other career women. Instead, she was gentle, graceful, approachable, and treated him exceptionally well. She was the ideal "Yamato Nadeshiko" type of woman.
Therefore, when he was kicked out of the Shanghai Xu Family, the betrayal hurt the most coming from her.
His parents were strict and distant, so their rejection was expected. But Xu Ruoshui? She didn't say a word for him. She just stood there, her eyes lowered, accepting the decision.
This deeply hurt Xu Ping'an and left him with a lingering resentment.
But strangely, he didn't resent her like he resented his parents. Xu Ping'an couldn't bring himself to hate her.
"Is blood relation really that important? Twenty years of sibling affection... sleeping under the same roof, eating at the same table... and she just watched me get kicked out like that?"
Xu Ping'an couldn't help but sigh again, his voice thick with emotion.
"Little brother, what's wrong? You seem to have something on your mind? Did you lose your wallet?"
A voice interrupted his brooding.
It was a staff member of the gym—not the security guard, but a young man in a trainer's uniform who was "accidentally" taking a smoke break nearby.
He had sharp eyes and a seemingly friendly smile. But if Shen Anyu were here, he would recognize this man as [Agent 007] from the Shadow Guards, specifically deployed to execute the "Mental Corruption" plan.
Xu Ping'an glanced at him. Normally, he would ignore such a person. But right now, he was lonely, frustrated, and desperate for someone to listen. He wanted to vent the frustration in his heart.
So he spoke, using the classic "I have a friend" defense.
"I have a friend... he recently found out he's not his parents' biological child. It was a mix-up at the hospital twenty years ago."
"His original parents and elder sister directly kicked him out, disregarding twenty years of familial affection. They cut him off completely."
"Especially his elder sister... who is so gentle, beautiful, and kind... the kind of woman who wouldn't hurt a fly. Yet she watched my friend get kicked out into the rain without saying a word. It's truly disheartening."
The martial arts gym staff member (Agent 007) looked at Xu Ping'an with a knowing smile. He leaned against the wall, taking a drag of his cigarette.
"Is this friend of yours... yourself?"
"No! Impossible! How could it be?"
Xu Ping'an's face flushed red instantly. He waved his hands frantically.
"It's really my friend! He... he lives in my building!"
He passionately retorted, then turned around, making to pull away and leave to hide his embarrassment.
"No, no, no, don't go! I was just joking!"
The staff member quickly grabbed Xu Ping'an's arm. His grip was firm.
"Alright, alright, I believe you. It's your friend, not you. Come on, have a smoke. Tell me more. It sounds like a tragic drama."
Looking at the staff member's smiling face, Xu Ping'an's expression twitched. He knew the guy didn't believe him, but the urge to talk was stronger than his pride.
He didn't explain further and continued, his voice lowering:
"You tell me... isn't my friend's elder sister a bit too much? She gave him this pendant... and then abandoned him."
The staff member flicked the ash from his cigarette. He looked at Xu Ping'an deeply, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"From what I see, listening to your tone... your 'friend' doesn't seem to have any real anger or resentment towards his elder sister."
"If it were hate, you would be cursing her. But you sound... aggrieved. Like a child who has been wronged and wants a hug. Or perhaps... a lover who has been dumped."
"How is that possible? Don't talk nonsense!" Xu Ping'an's face turned red again, ready to retort angrily. "They are siblings! Well, were siblings!"
But the staff member smiled, a predatory glint in his eyes.
"I'm a good judge of character, little brother. I see many people in this gym."
"Your friend seems to have a different kind of affection for his elder sister, doesn't he? It's not just brotherly love. It's... obsession."
Boom!
Upon hearing this, Xu Ping'an felt as if struck by lightning. He froze. He was unable to utter the retort on his lips.
The words pierced through his defenses and touched a secret part of his heart he dared not acknowledge.
As a young man with surging hormones, living in the same house with a woman as beautiful and gentle as Xu Ruoshui... he naturally had thoughts.
He had seen her in her pajamas. He had smelled her shampoo. He had accidentally brushed against her. And yes, in the darkest hours of the night, he had even fantasized about her in his adolescent dreams.
However, Xu Ping'an wasn't a pervert (or so he told himself). He knew it was taboo. So he kept them suppressed in his heart, locked away in a box labeled "Never Open."
But normally, he inevitably showed a lot more closeness to his elder sister, Xu Ruoshui. He was clingy. He was protective.
This was also why, when he was previously kicked out of the Shanghai Xu Family, his resentment towards his elder sister, Xu Ruoshui, surpassed that towards his Xu Family parents.
Because being ignored by the person you cherish most—the person you secretly desire—is the most painful and unbearable thing.
Now, being exposed by this stranger, Xu Ping'an felt his face burning. It was extremely hot, as if he had been stripped naked in public.
At this moment, seeing the crack in Xu Ping'an's armor, the staff member leaned in closer. He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, planting the seed of venom.
"Little brother, let me tell you something."
"Isn't the best form of revenge for your friend... to marry his original elder sister?"
"Think about it. They kicked him out because of bloodline. If he marries her, he becomes the Son-in-Law. He returns to the family. And he gets the girl."
"Anyway, now... they no longer have a blood relationship. Biologically, they are strangers. Legally, they can marry."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
These words, upon falling, were like thunderclaps exploding in Xu Ping'an's ears, completely stunning him. His brain short-circuited.
Marry his elder sister???
"This... this... this..."
Xu Ping'an stammered, his face flushed a deep crimson. He gestured wildly, completely at a loss. The impact of these words on him was simply too great. It shattered his moral framework.
Marrying his elder sister, Xu Ruoshui, was something Xu Ping'an had never even considered consciously. It was the ultimate taboo.
"How can this be? She's my sister!"
"Why not? You just said you aren't related!" The staff member pressed on, relentless.
"But..."
"There are no 'buts,' little brother. In this world, the winner takes all. If you like her, be brave and pursue her. Don't let yourself regret it."
Then, the staff member delivered the final blow.
"Besides... a woman as beautiful as her... do you think she will stay single forever?"
"If your elder sister is pursued by someone else... some rich, handsome young master... and becomes another's bride, moaning under another man..."
"You'll probably regret it for the rest of your life!"
Xu Ping'an listened to the staff member's words. His pupils dilated.
He didn't even refute that it was his "friend's" elder sister anymore. The mask had fallen.
Only one thought occupied his mind: Xu Ruoshui... becoming someone else's bride?
The thought of this scene made Xu Ping'an somewhat unable to accept it. A dark, possessive rage bubbled up in his chest.
Even when he was still in the Shanghai Xu Family, he was extremely resistant to those young elites who approached his elder sister. He chased them away like a guard dog.
And now... he wasn't her brother anymore. He was a man. And she was a woman.
"That's right..." he whispered, his voice trembling. "We don't have a blood relationship anymore. The DNA test proved it."
"We can be together. It's legal..."
Xu Ping'an kept muttering, his eyes gradually brightening with a twisted, fanatical light.
The staff member's words seemed to have unveiled the deepest, darkest desire in his heart.
Marry his elder sister, Xu Ruoshui. Conquer the Xu family from within.
"Yes... I will marry her!"
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