Shang Wan stared at her phone for a long time, ultimately deciding not to reply to Gu Xun.
Who knew if Gu Xun was suddenly acting up in the middle of the night, playing some kind of “substitute game” where she resembled his lost love, which was why he had inexplicably gained 1 Bond Point.
If she ruined the nostalgic atmosphere Gu Xun had created for his white moonlight and lost the 1 Bond Point she hadn’t even warmed up yet, she really wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight!
Fortunately, Gu Xun’s greeting was indeed just a simple greeting.
Shang Wan didn’t reply to him, and he didn’t send any more messages.
Perhaps it was because the mission progress had finally taken a big leap forward, and Shang Wan’s tense nerves relaxed considerably, or maybe it was because the New Year’s moonlight was too gentle. That night, Shang Wan had a rare and beautiful dream.
In the dream, she was back at the age of fourteen.
She hid in the cramped maid’s room, waiting for Shang Baoqin to bring her a piece of cake after finishing work, then lowered her voice and softly sang a slightly off-key “Happy Birthday” song.
The birthday candle emitted a warm yellow glow, casting a gentle and cozy light on Shang Baoqin’s nose.
Shang Wan almost touched Shang Baoqin’s nose.
The next second, a piercing phone ringtone woke her up.
Shang Wan: “…”
She was really fed up!
She answered the phone irritably and heard the person on the other end eagerly calling out to her: “Sister-in-law, it’s me, Xiao Duo!”
Shang Wan was taken aback.
On the other end, Fu Duo immediately continued in rapid succession: “Sister-in-law, I’ve already arrived at your underground parking garage. Are you up yet? My brother asked me to pick you up for dinner. I’ll wait right here for you.”
Shang Wan: “…”
If she remembered correctly, Fu Chen had said the dinner time was 6 p.m. last night!
Shang Wan looked at the large numbers on her phone—6:13 a.m.
She blinked several times hard and, after confirming she hadn’t misread it, finally couldn’t help but curse: Does Fu Duo have something wrong with his brain?!
Shang Wan took a deep breath and tried to speak as calmly as possible: “Xiao Duo, have you had breakfast? I remember the time I agreed with your brother was in the evening. Why are you here so early?”
Fu Duo: “Thank you for your concern, Sister-in-law. It’s fine, I’m not hungry.”
Shang Wan: “…”
Alright, alright, you’re pretending to be crazy with me, aren’t you!
She fell back onto the bed, closed her eyes, and replied to Fu Duo as if she were half-dead: “I’m not awake yet. If there’s an urgent schedule, you can make an appointment with my agent.”
With that, she decisively hung up the phone.
Fu Duo: “…”
Outside, the sky was still dark.
Shang Wan closed her eyes in the darkness, planning to catch a little more sleep and continue her earlier beautiful dream.
Ten minutes later, listening to the incessant doorbell ringing outside, Shang Wan finally felt a faint sense of despair.
Why on earth did Fu Duo have to force her to get up so early?!
She squirmed restlessly in bed for two minutes, then crawled out with a look of utter disdain on her face.
She was going to strangle Fu Duo today!
The doorbell rang as if it were a matter of life and death.
Shang Wan opened the door, ready to confront Fu Duo head-on, but was startled for a moment by the large crowd gathered at the entrance.
At the front, Fu Duo still had that flamboyant and captivating look, like a painting splashed with ink, but when he smiled, there was actually a hint of sycophancy.
Shang Wan: It was truly unbearable to watch.
Fu Duo: “Sis-in-law, I’ve brought you makeup artists, wardrobe stylists, and fashion designers. I even had them bring all the haute couture gowns from the last two seasons—don’t worry, for your date with my brother tonight, I’ll make sure you shine like a star!”
Shang Wan: “…”
There were too many absurdities to count. Shang Wan couldn’t help but complain inwardly to the System: “He’s acting, right? He must be acting, right?!”
How could the scheming, brother-obsessed, shady character from the original novel, whose mind was more full of holes than a honeycomb briquette, look so much like the foolish son of a wealthy landowner?
The System was also a bit disoriented: “…Probably.”
Shang Wan launched into a lengthy tirade in her mind: “If I remember correctly, tonight I’m just invited to have a casual dinner with Fu Chen’s friends, not walk the red carpet. Why did he bring so many stylists?”
The System nodded silently in her mind.
Shang Wan: “The most important thing is…”
Thinking Shang Wan was about to deliver a profound insight, the System quietly expanded its data stream, preparing to listen more carefully.
Shang Wan spoke indignantly: “As a stunningly beautiful superstar like me, do I really need stylists to shine? Does Fu Duo even have eyes?”
The System: “…”
It should have known!
Shang Wan’s distraction and complaints lasted only a moment.
When she snapped back to reality, Fu Duo was already wide-eyed, discussing with the stylists which gown suited her better and which set of jewelry to pair it with.
Shang Wan quickly stopped him: “Hold on!”
She let out a sigh, smiled at Fu Duo, and said, “Xiao Duo, your brother and I have been married for so long, there’s no need for all this flashy stuff.”
Fu Duo’s gaze, fixed on Shang Wan since he entered, didn’t waver in the slightest. He retorted, “Really?”
Shang Wan’s expression remained unchanged: “Really.”
The System: …
It couldn’t shake the feeling that these two were up to no good.
In the villa, a crowd bustled about. Gowns covering the entire living room floor and piles of haute couture jewelry glittered brilliantly, creating a dazzling display of extravagance.
Fu Duo watched Shang Wan calmly, seeing eagerness in her eyes.
Not greed.
Just an undisguised appreciation for beautiful things.
He let out an almost imperceptible “tsk” in his mind.
She wasn’t with Fu Chen for money.
Then what was it for?
Fu Duo continued probing, his tone carrying the unique familiarity and naturalness of youth: “No way, sis-in-law! Even if you and my brother don’t care about these things, you’re meeting his business partners tonight. You can’t lose face in front of them!”
Shang Wan out-acted him effortlessly.
Her expression was gentle, even carrying a hint of the happiness that comes with finding true love.
She said dreamily, “It’s fine. Your brother told me that no matter how I look, I’m the best in his eyes.”
Fu Duo: “…”
He was truly speechless!
Did Fu Chen end up with a love-struck airhead?!
Shang Wan curved her lips, frantically calling out to the System in her mind: “Tongtong, Tongtong, how was that? Fu Duo trying to compete with me in acting—still too green, right?”
The System: “…”
After her acting spree, Shang Wan had pretty much figured out why Fu Duo was so determined to find opportunities to interact with her—
Fu Duo suspected her.
He suspected her motives for getting close to Fu Chen.
He doubted the authenticity of her relationship with Fu Chen.
He wondered if she and Fu Chen were secretly plotting something.
Shang Wan felt exhausted.
A terminal case of paranoia like Fu Duo’s was probably incurable for life.
Shang Wan, fighting off the drowsiness from waking up early, half-heartedly responded to Fu Duo. With the help of her superb acting skills, she managed to temporarily dispel his suspicions.
Who would have thought that the very next second, the System would notify her that Fu Duo’s Bond Points had dropped by 1.
Shang Wan: “Ahhhhhhhhh!!”
Shang Wan wailed in agony in her mind, her distress causing even the System’s electronic signals to fluctuate for two seconds.
Shang Wan gritted her teeth: “I’m going to kill Fu Duo!”
The System couldn’t help but feel a brief moment of sympathy for its Host:
“Based on my big data analysis, Fu Duo likely thinks your level of danger is low and doesn’t require investing too much effort in you anymore, so the Bond Points dropped accordingly.”
Shang Wan felt so heartbroken she could hardly breathe. Upon hearing the System’s explanation, her fists clenched on the spot.
Fine, fine, picking on the weak and fearing the strong, is that it?!
Shang Wan took a deep breath, still wearing the same flawless smile from earlier.
The next second, she suddenly raised her hand and “accidentally” swept the cup of coffee she had only taken a small sip from toward the floor rack holding the haute couture gowns nearby.
The dark coffee stains spread evenly, leaving a large, patterned imprint on the expensive gown.
The stylist standing not far away widened her eyes in shock.
Shang Wan quickly stepped forward, flustered as she tried to help, but in her haste, she stumbled and knocked the entire floor rack to the ground.
The few remaining gowns on the rack finally met their fate—soaking in the puddle of coffee alongside the already stained clothes.
Shang Wan looked horrified and took the opportunity to add a couple of kicks to the pile of gowns.
The stylist: “…”
Fu Duo: “…”
The System: “…”
After a brief moment of shock, the System was the first to issue a notification: “Congratulations, Host. Fu Duo’s Bond Points have increased by 2. Current Fu Duo Bond Points: 10.27.”
Shang Wan smiled: “See? There’s no bond that can’t be boosted by spending money.”
The System: …But is that your own money you’re spending?
Amidst the mess, Shang Wan looked at Fu Duo with deep remorse, beginning to play the role of a helpless, innocent damsel in distress. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Xiao Duo, I… I didn’t mean to.”
Fu Duo gritted his teeth, appearing calm as he responded: “It’s fine. They’re just a few pieces of clothing, right?”
As he spoke, he waved to the stylists and said, “Put it on my tab.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the System reminded Shang Wan once again that Fu Duo’s Bond Points had increased by another point.
Shang Wan: Satisfied.
This pile of haute couture had to cost at least eight figures. For a rich second-generation heir like Fu Duo, who held no real power in the group, such a large expense would definitely make him bleed.
Did he think she wasn’t dangerous enough?
Well, danger has arrived!
The System: …
The Host is acting too much like a villain. It’s starting to feel scared.
With the gowns gone, Shang Wan could finally leave with a clear conscience, wearing her warm down jacket.
Fu Duo dutifully but resentfully acted as Shang Wan’s chauffeur for the day, dropping her off punctually at the restaurant at six in the evening.
As a romance novel that loved depicting the luxurious scenes of high society, Star Path naturally portrayed the male lead’s social settings with vivid detail.
The massive crystal chandelier shone dazzlingly bright.
Under the silk-smooth flow of music, the eye was drawn to the gold leaf on the arched doorways, the famous paintings lining the long corridor, and the waiters who stood with bowed heads, impeccably polite and silent.
Shang Wan fell silent.
There were so many wealthy people in this world—why couldn’t she be one of them?
Feeling a bit disheartened, she followed the staff’s guidance through the corridor and entered the private room.
Fu Chen was hosting the gathering, and all the guests were familiar faces from the business world. As soon as Shang Wan stepped inside, she recognized quite a few familiar figures from Star Path.
The one with half his hair dyed yellow was Fu Chen’s sidekick number one.
The one wearing a cross earring in his left ear but not believing in religion at all was sidekick number two.
The one who always wore a three-piece gray suit when out and about was sidekick number three…
While Shang Wan was quietly memorizing the sidekicks, the door to the private room opened again shortly after.
She looked up, her face completely bare, and abruptly met the gaze of the person who had just entered.
The newcomer stood tall and poised, casting her a calm glance with a hint of indescribable gentleness in his tone as he spoke.
He said to Shang Wan, “Miss Shang, it’s been a long time.”
Shang Wan’s back stiffened instinctively.
Why was Gu Xun everywhere she went??
The next moment, Fu Chen, who had followed Gu Xun inside, slightly furrowed his brows.
He looked at Gu Xun and asked, puzzled, “Old Gu, do you know Nan Zhi?”
Shang Wan: “…”