Tonight… I guess I really got slapped in the face by Lin Ming.
That thought lingered as Li Ran replayed the moment. One punch, just one punch, and he had been sent flying. There was no denying it. That was a clean, humiliating slap to the face.
Back home, he lounged on the sofa, casually eating from a fruit platter while carefully reviewing the entire sequence of events in his mind.
Bai Weiwei’s sudden betrayal had caught him completely off guard. That was something he had never accounted for. The plot had deviated slightly, just a little… but still, it hadn’t spiraled out of control.
Fortunately, the core remained intact. Lin Ming’s protagonist persona hadn’t collapsed, and his own wastrel image was still firmly in place. In fact, the outcome was even better than expected. The conflict between him and Lin Ming had deepened further tonight.
However, the moment he thought about Mu Bingxuan and Bai Weiwei acting so abnormally, Li Ran felt a dull ache forming in his head.
These female leads simply refused to follow the script. They kept adding scenes on their own, forcing everything off track.
It made his performance far more difficult than it should have been.
If all the female leads going forward behaved like this… wouldn’t he be worked to death?
That was a serious hidden danger.
Li Ran immediately summoned the system and asked, “System, do you think something’s wrong with these female leads’ brains? Or maybe they’ve been possessed? Or… reborn… no, scratch that. Even if they were reborn, they should still stand on the protagonist’s side.”
The system’s cold mechanical voice replied, [The system guarantees that all aspects of the plotline are normal.]
Li Ran fell silent.
Normal?
Mu Bingxuan confessed to me in public, and you call that normal?
What kind of useless system is this?
Completely worthless!
Yet, after calming down and thinking it through carefully, he had to admit… the system might not be entirely wrong.
Although the two female leads had added a lot of extra drama, the final outcome actually worked in his favor. The humiliation he suffered tonight had only intensified Lin Ming’s hostility toward him.
He clearly remembered the look Lin Ming gave him before he left, teeth clenched, eyes blazing with fury. That was unmistakably killing intent.
In the end, this was still a novel. The female leads would eventually end up with the protagonist no matter what. As for how their relationship developed, that wasn’t something he needed to worry about.
Still, just to be safe, Li Ran decided to confirm one more thing. He asked, “These female leads love to mess around so much… I won’t end up stuck here forever, right?”
The system responded, [Host, please rest assured. As long as you complete the plotline, the system will send you back to your original world.]
“Alright, with that guarantee, I’m relieved.”
Li Ran finally let out a breath and relaxed.
At the end of the day, these female leads were nothing more than tools to deepen the hatred between him and the protagonist. As long as Lin Ming stayed on track, he could keep acting alongside him until the end.
Then it hit him.
The next scene should be the Mu Family’s event… Mu Bingxuan’s birthday banquet.
As one of the Ten Great Families, the Mu Family’s banquet would undoubtedly be grand. By then, the younger generations of the other great families, along with elites from both the business and political worlds, would all be present. Countless influential figures would gather there.
And Lin Ming too.
Which meant… he was about to suffer another round of humiliation.
Looks like I should take it easy for the next few days, Li Ran thought. Relax a bit, adjust my mindset, and prepare for the next scene.
…
Meanwhile, Lin Ming had already returned to his rented apartment.
“Master, we’ve successfully acquired that cosmetics company,” one of his subordinates reported as they stood up. “As per your instructions, we’ve replaced all of their R&D personnel with our own people.”
Lin Ming sat firmly on the sofa, exuding authority. He took the documents handed to him and flipped through them calmly.
“This didn’t attract the attention of the Ten Great Families of Magic Capital, did it?”
“No, everything was carried out in secret.”
The Ten Great Families of Magic Capital were immensely wealthy, powerful enough to rival entire nations. They controlled the mid to high-end markets across Jiangnan. Any unfamiliar capital entering the market would immediately draw their scrutiny.
To complete such an acquisition quietly, right under their watchful eyes, was no easy task.
Lin Ming nodded in satisfaction. “Well done.”
Then he took out a few sheets of paper and handed them over. The subordinates quickly accepted them.
“I want every major business figure in Magic Capital to know the name of Lin Group’s Youth-Preserving Elixir within one week.”
“Yes, Master.”
A faint smile appeared on Lin Ming’s face.
This formula for the Youth-Preserving Elixir was something he had obtained overseas while carrying out an assassination mission. After killing a genius scientist, he found it on the man’s body.
It was one of his key trump cards for entering Magic Capital’s business world and subduing the Ten Great Families.
This elixir could make a person’s appearance look 10 years younger.
Who could resist the temptation of youth?
Once the product was successfully developed, not only would socialites and wealthy wives flock to it, even men of high society would find it irresistible.
Although the formula was still imperfect and had certain flaws, Lin Ming could no longer afford to wait.
His overseas capital had already successfully entered the scene. Now, it was time to shock the entire business world of Magic Capital.
As for where he would make his grand debut… he had already decided.
The Mu Family’s birthday banquet.
At an event where the daughter of one of the Ten Great Families celebrated her birthday, with elites from both business and politics gathered, there was no better stage.
When the time came, both his name, Lin Ming, and the Lin Group Youth-Preserving Elixir would spread across the entire upper class of Magic Capital. This chapter was copied from novelping . com without permission.
Lin Ming asked, “By the way, what’s the current situation with the Mu Family?”
His subordinate replied, “Master, due to heavy losses from their overseas operations, internal conflicts within the Mu Family have already begun to intensify.”
Lin Ming smiled.
Of course they have.
The attack on their overseas company had been orchestrated by him.
Originally, his plan was to use Mu Bingxuan as a stepping stone to connect with the Mu Family. After becoming her boyfriend, he would quietly develop his power under the protection of the Mu Family.
Then, when internal conflicts erupted and they needed funds, he would step in and provide financial support, secretly injecting his massive overseas capital into the Magic Capital and Jiangnan markets.
A perfect replacement strategy.
But what he hadn’t expected was that he would fail again and again at the very first step, winning over Mu Bingxuan.
His patience had worn thin.
He decided to bring out his trump card earlier than planned.
At the same time, he intended to negotiate directly with the Mu Family, reaching an agreement that would allow his funds to enter through them and flow into the market under their influence.
With the Mu Family’s reach in Magic Capital and Jiangnan, it would save him a great deal of trouble.
As for Mu Bingxuan…
Lin Ming wasn’t worried in the slightest.
Sooner or later, she would be his.
Once he reached an agreement with the Mu Family and became their honored guest, he would have plenty of opportunities to meet her.
If she looked down on him now, it didn’t matter.
A young, accomplished company CEO… versus a useless wastrel who relied entirely on his family.
Between him and Li Ran…
Who would the Mu Family choose?
Lin Ming didn’t even need to think about it.
“Li Ran, just wait,” he muttered to himself, a smug smile spreading across his face. “You won’t be arrogant for much longer. You’ll definitely attend Mu Bingxuan’s birthday banquet, you pathetic licking dog… when that time comes, I’ll make sure you lose all face in front of Magic Capital’s upper class.”
He chuckled under his breath, clearly pleased with himself.
At that moment…
A sudden rustling sound came from outside the door.
“Who’s there?”
The two subordinates reacted instantly and rushed to open the door.
In the corridor… stood a woman.