Chapter 35 Part 1

Again… again?

Had she accidentally gained yet another nickname?

Lu Ningshuang was stunned for a moment, her face flushing with embarrassment.

Fortunately, after spending so much time together these days, she immediately recognized it as Qin Yushu’s voice, avoiding the awkward situation where “the person involved didn’t even know they were being called.”

Qian Jaze sprang up like a shot, his two broken bones miraculously reconnecting in an instant: “You! Keep! Cursing!”

Lu Ningshuang quickly accepted her new “little name,” and at the same time, she felt that President Qin’s posture in calling her today—like summoning a dog—had become all the more practiced.

The young Alpha, however, didn’t notice that Qin Yushu had used “come back” instead of “come here” this time.

In this grand banquet hall, Little Dog Lu could only find true safety and peace by her side—that was her home.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Ningshuang abandoned the raging transmigrator “Huo Yunyi” in front of her and headed straight for Qin Yushu.

There was also an elderly man beside Qin Yushu.

The old man wore a traditional Chinese jacket and trousers, his hair white but his complexion ruddy—he should have looked hale and hearty.

But at that moment, his face was extremely flushed, not with vigor, but rather with shame or anger; and as she got closer, Lu Ningshuang vaguely noticed dark circles under his eyes.

Lu Ningshuang instantly understood his identity—Old Master Huo of the Huo Family.

However.

It had been a full year since the death of the grandson he had once been so proud of. Even with familial bonds, before being a grandfather, Old Master Huo was the patriarch of a vast family.

If it was grief and mourning, that should have passed by now.

What remained was—

This new transmigrator “Huo Yunyi” wasn’t behaving himself—at least, not as well as the original body’s owner had.

Look at this: the old master, at his age, was still being worried sick, unable to enjoy his later years in peace. How… wonderful~!

Lu Ningshuang thought mercilessly.

Old Master Huo was only celebrating his seventieth birthday now, whereas her own grandfather, Grandpa Lu, was even older at seventy-six!

By comparison, it wasn’t all that impressive.

Just half a month ago, Grandpa Lu had posted in the Happily Married Family Group, sharing photos from his trip with Grandma on a senior tour group.

From the way Grandpa Lu climbed heights without breaking a sweat or losing his breath, his physical condition wasn’t just better than Old Master Huo’s—it surpassed many young people!

Her maternal grandparents were a bit younger, not yet seventy.

But as retired teachers, they stayed active with neighbors and friends, practicing tai chi, and dancing in the evenings—their bodies were tough as nails.

So, did being poor have its perks?

As Lu Ningshuang let her mind wander with these thoughts, the old master was sizing her up too. Even “Huo Yunyi” had returned to his side, shedding his wild, roguish aura and bowing his head respectfully. “Grandpa.”

If not for Lu Ningshuang’s earlier self-revelation and Huo Yunyi’s embarrassing display, the crowd’s first impression might have been that this trusted heir of the Huo Family was a disciplined and proper young man.

Now, though~

An illegitimate son was still an illegitimate son—unable to keep his cool and utterly unfit for the stage.

Tsk tsk, who knew how long Old Master Huo’s aging body could hold out. Once he couldn’t, the Huo Family’s vast fortune would crumble.

It was only a matter of time. Perhaps they could start planning ahead and take a bite out of the Huo Family’s sinking ship when the moment came.

As the saying went, even a sinking ship had three thousand nails.

In the business world, battles were won with vision and guts—righteousness was just a cloak over self-interest, made to look noble.

Huo Yunyi’s newly redeemed Favorability System came in handy right then. As soon as he opened it, he saw the Favorability from those around him plummeting uncontrollably.

Among them were a few former business partners he’d collaborated with happily—thanks, of course, to the System’s cheats.

Fortunately, Huo Yunyi saw himself as a transmigrator: unique, superior, uncaring of these mortals’ opinions.

The only pain was losing the Favorability from several single beauties above 80—he felt that sting.

But what he couldn’t accept most was how Lu Ningshuang had toyed with him earlier. No matter how well he masked it outwardly, inwardly he was raging at the System—and Lu Ningshuang had heard every bit.

【This woman! This hateful woman dared to toy with me in public!!】

【Aaaah, so infuriating!】

【And I was all set to make her my confidante with genuine affection. I didn’t even mind her humble background and was willing to share my glory with her—fine! This is how she treats me! I, Chen Ping, swear she’ll pay dearly! Regret everything she did today!!】

【Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don’t bully the poor youth!】

Lu Ningshuang listened with relish. If not for fear of exposing herself, she might have even asked aloud.

And after thirty years? Don’t bully the poor middle-aged man?

Another thirty, don’t bully the poor old man?

Another thirty… the dead are respected?

Somber.

R.I.P.

At that thought, Lu Ningshuang nearly burst out laughing, but she held it in.

Even the System was mocking coldly: 【I told you to focus and stop wasting effort on women.】

Huo Yunyi: 【You told me to go after Qin Yushu—isn’t she a woman too?】

【Idiot!】 the System said. 【Qin Yushu is this world’s child of destiny. How could she compare to some random ordinary woman who popped up out of nowhere?】

【I’ve been telling you you’re targeting the wrong person, but you wouldn’t listen.】

If not worried about pushing him into rebellion, the System would have outright called him “a pig unworthy of fine chaff.”

Even now, its disdain for Huo Yunyi seeped through every word.

Huo Yunyi clicked his tongue inwardly but didn’t argue with the System—probably knowing he still needed it.

After a moment, he asked: 【Do you have any items that can destroy families?】

Lu Ningshuang’s heart jolted in alarm.

From what she knew, transmigrators in their original worlds were just ordinary loser guys.

No ABO distinctions there, otherwise similar to this civilized, law-abiding modern society. Yet someone raised in that environment, after gaining transmigration + System golden fingers, immediately demanded tools for total annihilation!

Was the poison from those male-oriented novels that deep?

Or had he always been like this, forced to play nice due to powerlessness and laziness, only revealing his rotten core once fortune turned?

Regardless.

The Old Lu Family might be poor, but they had a lot of people!

The Old Lu Family alone had three branches totaling over a dozen; plus Lady Ning’s big family of educators; and maybe even her cousins’ families with the two Old Qi Masters and Old Master Bai…

She had to destroy the System or the transmigrator himself soon!

【I’m a Strategy System.】

Thankfully, the System’s cold retort snapped Lu Ningshuang out of her slide toward “lawless maniac” thoughts.

Huo Yunyi: 【In other words, you’re useless, worth shit.】

The System ignored him.

【Hey—】

Huo Yunyi called again, his tone suddenly turning sleazy. 【Since you’re a Strategy System, you must have aphrodisiacs, right?】

System: 【Last explanation: it’s called Heat Inducing Agent.】

【Yeah yeah, Inducing Agent…】 Huo Yunyi brushed it off carelessly. 【Gimme some of that.】

System: 【Planning to use it on Qin Yushu at the banquet?】

After simulating with its latest data streams, the System rarely praised him: 【Desperate gamble, but not a bad idea. It’s your grandpa’s banquet—if handled well, success rate over 70%.】

【Haha, wrong guess this time.】

Huo Yunyi said, 【I’m using it on that bitch Lu Ningshuang just now. For daring to deceive, toy with, even humiliate me! If I don’t fuck her into submission tonight, I’m not Chen Ping!!】

Chen Ping was the transmigrator’s real name—fittingly mediocre and pathetic, just like the man.

His parents had real foresight.

This transmigrator “Huo Yunyi” always got cleverest with women.

In no time, he’d cooked up a pitch to convince the System.

【Didn’t you say this world’s Alphas are like men from my world?】

【Fine, I’ll deign to do it once. Let’s see if after I take this Lu Ningshuang, she can keep being Qin Yushu’s Alpha. Someone as proud as Qin Yushu—would she still want an Alpha violated by another Alpha?!】

Huo Yunyi’s scheme was vicious… but perversely feasible.

The System’s data analysis deemed it “feasible,” though it instinctively threw cold water: 【Alphas don’t have Heat Inducing Agents.】

【You telling me that?】 Huo Yunyi said. 【Just mimic some of Qin Yushu’s Pheromones—she’ll fall for it.】

System: 【Possible, but costs points.】

Huo Yunyi impatiently agreed: 【Deduct it, all my Luck Value is yours anyway.】

【As long as this works…】

The venomous calculation in his tone made Lu Ningshuang shiver just hearing it.

She didn’t think she’d fall for it easily, but villains lurking in shadows were chilling.

Now that she’d heard their full plot, she could prepare early.

—In front of Lu Ningshuang, these two were as transparent as blank paper 🙂

Huo Yunyi’s mind raced through several turns in seconds; in reality, only an instant passed.

He’d just greeted Old Master Huo, who gripped his cane lightly, glanced steadily at his “esteemed” grandson with drooping eyes, and responded indifferently.

“Mm. Stand aside.”

Huo Yunyi blanked for a second. Lu Ningshuang knew he was deep in chat with the System.

In that short time, the old master’s composure had cracked from its initial poise, and the crowd’s view of this lucky illegitimate son dropped further.

Then Uncle De beside him gave a light cough.

The System reminded inwardly: 【The old master is calling you.】

Only then did Huo Yunyi snap out of his fantasies of revenge. Unfortunately, his expression control lagged.

He looked wooden, dazed, eyes vacant—like a stunned fool—

“Ah?”

The old master’s face shifted from red to white, white to blue-green, rivaling Qian Jaze’s hair color earlier.

Utterly hilarious 🙂

The old master glared fiercely at his “good” grandson, and Huo Yunyi finally shuffled obediently to his side at turtle speed.

Inwardly, he griped at the System’s late warning, no prep time, and noted everyone looking down on him—judged by dropping Favorability. He’d pay them back one by one!

Lu Ningshuang: Was the east bank of the river that long? Could it hold that many names?

Unclear. She’d watch.

As she pondered, Qin Yushu tugged her aside.

Lu Ningshuang looked back puzzled.

Qin Yushu explained: “It’s starting.”

The next second.

Old Master Huo’s robust voice rang out: “Everyone—”

“Tonight, I am deeply honored to have so many guests join me for my seventieth birthday…”

The birthday star himself took the stage.

The invitation said seven o’clock; now it was half-past, not too late—proper etiquette.

It saved face without keeping guests waiting too long—that was why he’d appeared now.

Some in the crowd had arrived early to network widely.

Lu Ningshuang listened with half an ear.

Old Master Huo truly lived up to his reputation as a cunning survivor from his era, who had steered the Huo Family for decades.

With just a few opening words, he spoke grandly and elegantly, making everyone feel compliant, and naturally led into introducing Huo Yunyi.

By then, Huo Yunyi had composed his expression and emotions, stepping forward looking quite presentable.

Lu Ningshuang thought that without the earlier “incident,” it might have gone even better.

But everyone present, regardless of age or status, was sharp-minded. They seemed to forget Huo Yunyi’s previous embarrassment in the blink of an eye. No matter what they truly thought, on the surface, they showered him with compliments like “a fine talent” and “destined for great vision and achievements”… all that nauseating flattery poured out effortlessly.

Moreover, Lu Ningshuang noticed something else.