After parting ways with Wang Yue, Chen Fan made his way directly to the Feng family manor to meet this so-called fiancée of his.
Standing before an enormous villa surrounded by a meticulously maintained garden, Chen Fan couldn't help but feel a hint of awe at the sheer grandeur of the property.
"As expected of one of the city's giants," he murmured to himself, taking in the towering structure and its luxurious atmosphere.
Just then, a security guard approached him, speaking politely. "Hello, sir. Do you need anything here?" The guard's sharp eyes scanned Chen Fan's appearance, noting his well-tailored outfit and the expensive watch on his wrist. Clearly, this man wasn't an ordinary visitor. If Chen Fan had shown up in his old, shabby clothes, the classic scene of being turned away at the gates might have unfolded.
"Is this where Feng Xueying lives?" Chen Fan asked calmly.
"Yes, sir. But the young miss is currently at the company. Do you have an appointment? And may I ask what business you have here?"
"No, I don't have an appointment. I haven't met her yet. I'm her fiancé," Chen Fan stated matter-of-factly.
"I'm sorry?" The guard blinked, thinking he must have misheard. "Could you repeat that, sir? Did you say... fiancé?"
Before Chen Fan could respond, a middle-aged man with a thin beard and a thick mustache approached the two. He was tall, his aura commanding, and the security guard immediately stepped aside, bowing slightly to show respect. Clearly, this man held a position of importance within the Feng family.
Chen Fan turned to face the newcomer, his sharp eyes assessing him. A master martial artist, and one who's infinitely close to the grandmaster level, Chen Fan thought to himself.
The man's gaze was equally scrutinizing. "Did you just say that you are Xueying's fiancé?" the man asked, his voice deep and steady.
"Yes, fa—" Chen Fan caught himself. "Cough, I mean, sir. My master gave me this as proof." He extended a document toward the man, his tone calm but respectful.
The middle-aged man, Feng Yuhan, twitched slightly at Chen Fan's almost-slip of the tongue. Taking the document, he glanced over it, his expression subtly shifting as his thoughts wandered to memories long buried. Of course, he was well aware of the engagement arranged long ago.
"Let's continue this conversation inside,"
Chen Fan nodded and followed him obediently into the grand mansion. As they walked, the intricate details of the villa's interior—marble floors, exquisite chandeliers, and antique furnishings—barely fazed him. His focus was entirely on the man leading the way and the meeting that lay ahead.
----
Meanwhile, in front of Cloud Pharmacy—the company Feng Xueying had painstakingly built—Su Ming arrived in grand style, stepping out of his luxury car with a flourish. A small entourage of bodyguards followed him closely. The employees glanced at him with expressions of mild disinterest, their faces a perfect portrait of "Here we go again." After all, Su Ming had earned quite the reputation as the most loyal "licking dog" for the esteemed chairwoman.
"It's finally begun, huh," Su Ming muttered, gazing dramatically at the building as if it were his grand stage.
The bodyguard nearest to him heard this but wisely chose to remain silent. Over the past three days, his young master's behavior had taken a turn for the...peculiar, to say the least. It was like watching a poorly-written soap opera unfold in real time.
At times, Su Ming would whirl through a chaotic storm of emotions in mere seconds—raging with anger, basking in smug self-satisfaction, grinning like a madman, only to follow it up with a dramatic sigh of despair, as if bearing the weight of the world's sorrows. Other times, he'd suddenly erupt into furious shouting, jabbing his finger at thin air and yelling, "I'm going to kill you!"
Instead, the bodyguard settled for rolling his eyes internally as Su Ming strutted toward the entrance of the building. Employees politely nodded at him as they passed, most of them already betting among themselves on how quickly the chairwoman would ignore him today.
--
In the chairman's office, Feng Xueying sat at her desk, glasses perched neatly on her nose as she reviewed the latest company report. Her focus was broken by the sudden ring of her phone, her mother's name flashing on the screen.
"Xue'er, come home immediately. There's an urgent matter," her mother said with clear urgency.
"What's wrong, Mom?" she asked, her brows knitting together.
"It's better if I explain in person," her mother replied before hanging up.
With a sigh, Feng Xueying packed her things and headed for the door. As she opened it, she was greeted by the sight of a man holding a bouquet of flowers and a slim red box. Her expression immediately darkened.
"What are you doing here? I've told you before—I have no interest in you," she said coldly.
The man, visibly flustered, stammered, "Yi… Ying'er, is something wrong? Did something upset you? I brought your favorite flowers and a limited-edition necklace to cheer you up. Please don't be angry, okay?"
Around them, the employees exchanged knowing glances, suppressing the urge to roll their eyes.
"Aren't you the reason she's angry in the first place?" they thought collectively.
Before Feng Xueying could respond, a strange voice echoed in her mind.
[This face, this figure, this temperament... Truly a heroine. With her talent and beauty, it's no wonder she's surrounded by so many simps.]
"Who?"
[Oh no, she's going to pretend she doesn't know me. Classic move,] the voice continued.
Su Ming, oblivious to her inner turmoil, smiled confidently. "Ying'er, it's me, Su Ming."
Hearing this, Feng Xueying narrowed her eyes. She had a sudden realization—the voice wasn't random. It was Su Ming's inner thoughts. Her frown deepened.
"Don't call me Ying'er. I've told you before not to address me like that," she snapped.
"Ah, my apologies, Miss Feng," Su Ming said, feigning innocence. "It slipped out. In my dreams, I've already lived a lifetime with you, so sometimes it just feels natural to say it."
Disgust flickered across her face, but before she could retort, his inner voice chimed again.
[Ugh, that was so cringe. Saying stuff like this makes my skin crawl.]
A pause.
[Still, she lives up to the title of Iceberg Beauty. Hard to believe this cold demeanor belongs to the same woman who fawns over the her fiancee, the protagonist. Heck, she even brought her sister into his harem. Classic licking dog behavior.]
"What did you just say?!" Feng Xueying's voice turned icy, and her sharp tone startled Su Ming out of his internal monologue.
"I just said I love you so much I even dream about you,"
"Young Master, please stop," thought the bodyguard nearby, resisting the urge to facepalm. "You're just digging your grave deeper."
But Feng Xueying wasn't even listening to Su Ming anymore. Her thoughts spiraled.
"I'm a… licking dog? I'd bring my sister into someone's harem?!"
Her anger surged, and an almost palpable murderous aura filled the room. Everyone froze, assuming Su Ming had finally pushed her too far.
"Shut. Up." Feng Xueying's voice cut through the air like a blade, silencing the room.
[Wow, harsh. It wasn't that bad, was it?] Su Ming thought, wincing.
Without sparing him another glance, Feng Xueying stormed out, her only thought being to meet this so-called fiancé. The idea of becoming licking dog irritated her beyond belief, and she was determined to settle the matter immediately.
Watching her leave, Su Ming sighed before muttering to his system, "That went according to plan… right?"
Originally, the protagonist was scheduled to meet Feng Xueying tomorrow. Today, he was supposed to spend time with Wang Yue, who had been going out of her way to extend their moments together because of her growing affection for him. However, Su Ming, ever the schemer, had anticipated potential deviations from the plot and arranged for someone to keep an eye on the situation.
As fate would have it, a deviation occurred. Upon receiving the update, Su Ming immediately rushed to Feng Xueying's company. His plan was simple yet deviously calculated: knowing Chen Fan was heading to Feng Xueying's house, Su Ming predicted she would likely return home quickly to confront the situation, leaving little time to deal with him.
To ensure this outcome, Su Ming deliberately provoked her anger, leveraging his well-established role as a "loyal licking dog." By appearing to follow her in an attempt to appease her supposed fury, it would seem more natural than showing up at her house uninvited. This way, he could ensure the meeting between the protagonist and antagonist occurred as planned.
Su Ming's eye twitched. "I'm a genius," he told himself, trying to regain some confidence.
"Young master—" the bodyguard began, attempting to calm him down, only to be interrupted by Su Ming yelling,
"F*CK YOU!"