Chapter 2

Chapter 2

A sudden chill enveloped Zhou Shiqing, a coldness that snaked up his spine and pierced his brain. One thought spiraled in his mind: Shen Muyun was utterly insane, now contemplating murder.

Zhou Shiqing regretted his earlier actions but fought to suppress his fear. Though his body trembled involuntarily, he refused to let his defiance waver. Steeling himself, he retorted with undisguised displeasure, "Shen Muyun, this is a crime. There are plenty of witnesses here who can corroborate my story."

But as Zhou Shiqing scanned the deck, his heart sank. Most of the onlookers who had been captivated by the spectacle had already dispersed. This was nothing more than a humiliating farce.

Shen Muyun glanced at the shattered glass on the ground, then casually tossed the remaining half of the wine bottle into the nearby pool. With a dull "thud," it sank instantly, the crimson wine staining the water red. Someone shrieked, "Murder!"

Shen Muyun’s smile turned sinister. He drew a knife from his pocket and playfully used the hilt to lift Zhou Shiqing’s chin. Then, he casually tapped the blade against Zhou Shiqing’s face a few times, his narrow eyes gleaming with disdain. "Oh? What people are you talking about? Who’s watching? Is there really anyone around? And even if there were, did they truly see anything? Hey, who said I committed murder? Don’t go spreading baseless accusations."

The remaining onlookers retreated further. Who would dare provoke such a madman now? It would be sheer folly.

Zhou Shiqing, summoning his courage, tried to grab the knife hilt, attempting to break free from Shen Muyun’s grip. But his movements were entirely predictable. Shen Muyun’s hand clamped firmly around his throat, exerting just enough pressure to suggest he could crush Zhou Shiqing’s windpipe with a slight increase in force.

"Trying to run? Weren’t you full of bravado when you pushed me earlier? Didn’t you say you wanted me dead? To be honest, the pool water tasted quite good. Would you like to try it yourself?"

Zhou Shiqing’s face instantly paled. From the shadows high on the deck, a figure was barely discernible, a faint smile playing on his lips as if observing the unfolding drama. Yet, no one noticed his presence. The shadowy figure seemed to scrutinize the two, like a predator sizing up its prey.

Zhou Shiqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Restrained by Shen Muyun, he felt a profound discomfort, and his voice trembled slightly.

"I—I just slipped. It was an accident, not intentional. The Shen family values decorum. Are you certain you want to make both the Shen and Zhou families a laughingstock? Shen Muyun, think carefully. This isn’t just about you and me. After all, I am the official eldest son of the Zhou family. You cannot bear the consequences."

Shen Muyun retracted the knife and patted Zhou Shiqing’s shoulder. Leaning close to his ear, he whispered coldly, "You’re right. This farce should end. Besides, it was an accident on my part too. Who knew the knife would suddenly spring out like that? Don’t you agree, Young Master Zhou?"

Shen Muyun’s eyes sparkled with clear amusement, but Zhou Shiqing was in no mood for games. All he could think about was how to escape.

Seeing Shen Muyun relent, Zhou Shiqing immediately broke free from his grasp. Clicking his tongue softly, he stumbled toward the spiral staircase without a backward glance, muttering curses under his breath: "He’s truly a madman. But before, he was always so submissive. This time, it’s like he’s a different person. Could he really be possessed by something? Next time, if I encounter him again, just wait—I’ll make him pay dearly."

Shen Muyun blew a kiss to the remaining onlookers on the deck. "Well, everyone, had enough fun? If so, please disperse. No need to get yourselves embroiled in this mess."

The people on the deck were intimidated by his icy gaze and retreated, scattering quickly. The noisy music resumed, and the clinking of glasses continued as if nothing had happened. The lively atmosphere, infused with clamor, revolved solely around money and power. Such feuds were commonplace—merely a diversion for these bored individuals.

Shen Muyun had never intended to cause a major incident. Seeing that the matter was mostly resolved, he walked directly into the cabin. His clothes were soaked, clinging tightly to his skin and revealing his well-toned physique. But it was extremely uncomfortable, and he couldn’t find a change of clothes anytime soon. If he didn’t find dry clothes soon, he feared he might develop a fever.

He surveyed his surroundings, found a booth, and picked up a specially crafted fruit cocktail. The translucent pink liquid swirled in the glass, refracting the light in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind: "Respected Host, hello. Things were a bit rushed earlier. Now, allow me to introduce myself. This is the Villain Self-Rescue System. You can call me System, Little System, System Bro..."

A small blue orb with wings floated before his eyes, blinking at Shen Muyun. It looked rather endearing.

"Hmm? System? Do you have any clothes?"

"Me? Have clothes? I couldn’t possibly—"

Before it could finish, Shen Muyun recalled the earlier events. "What exactly are you? Why did you choose me? And why am I the villain? Others get main character advantages. Also, what’s the purpose of bringing me here? Where is my original body? And where did the young master of the Shen family go? I have many questions. Answer them properly, or else..."

Shen Muyun casually waved the knife toward the so-called system.

"Respected Host Master, please calm down. Some of your questions I can answer, but others... I don’t know. After all, I’m not omnipotent. I’m just a harmless, pitiful system. I’m not human, so I don’t have the clothes you need. If necessary, the system will develop a human marketplace feature and undergo corresponding updates. Don’t worry, others can’t see me. Only the most esteemed VVIP Host Master can see me."

Shen Muyun frowned, gripping the glass tightly. His expression grew increasingly cold. "Just tell me what you know, and cut the superfluous chatter. It’s irritating."

The system cleared its throat. "How you were selected is an internal secret and cannot be disclosed. As for this book, it was originally a guide for villains to save themselves. However, before you arrived in this world, 1,313 unlucky individuals—well, 'chosen ones'—had already failed. As for where they went after failing, that’s also not for me to say. After all, it’s part of the game. A little mystery will make you more excited. I regret to inform you that in real life, your body has already been cremated. In other words, you can’t return to your original world. If you fail the mission..."

After listening for so long, the most critical part was the system’s last sentence: if self-rescue failed, there was no returning to the original world. If he couldn’t complete the tasks, even this world would disappear. Damn. So this was the price of a life that had previously gone smoothly?

"Tell me, what should I do next? Or can I do as I please? And what’s the ultimate goal? Can you state all the requirements at once? I don’t have time to waste with you."

"Bingo! You’re getting it, Host! Time is money, so I’ll keep it short. This system has specially designed three tasks for you, tailored to ensure—"

Before the system could continue, Shen Muyun interrupted, growing impatient. Other people’s systems were so clever, so why was his so foolish and verbose? It couldn’t even find him a change of clothes.

"Enough with the flowery language. Three tasks, right? Tell me what they are. But let me say this upfront: I won’t accept tasks that involve betrayal, damage to my integrity, or life-threatening risks. After all, I have my principles."

The system seemed hesitant, pausing for a long time without speaking. Shen Muyun grew uneasy. It seemed the previous failures had completely vanished. Or perhaps if he completed the tasks, they would return. The future was entirely unknown.

"Dear Host, well, you know... the designated package: three years of life. As for the tasks, the first one... this should be the simplest."

The system flipped through its task list, muttering to itself. "The first task usually isn’t too difficult. Let me see what it is... Hmm, your father, Shen Wenjin, recently has an investment agreement. According to the known plot, if this agreement is signed, the Shen family will bear the stigma of betrayal and become a laughingstock in Jiangcheng. So, your task is to stop him from signing this agreement within three days. Simple, right?"

Shen Muyun’s face darkened. Based on the original host’s memories, Shen Muyun’s relationship with Shen Wenjin was terrible, almost hostile. If he tried to persuade his father personally, wouldn’t it just be seen as sabotage? A headache—this task was far from simple, yet it was the easiest of the three.

"System, if you want me to die early, you don’t have to be so blatant about it. Is this really simple?"

The system feigned innocence. "How could that be? I’m speaking from the heart. Since you’re the 1,314th candidate, there’s a certain lucky number vibe, so I chose a relatively simple task. This is a task specially customized for you by the system. So, Host, do your best! As for me, it’s now off the clock."

"Beep—System shutting down. Have a good dream. Goodnight!"

Before Shen Muyun could ask anything else, he heard the system power down. The little orb before his eyes vanished instantly. Just great. Just fantastic.

There was nothing he could do. Shen Muyun tugged at his clinging clothes. The salty, briny smell permeated the air, making him extremely uncomfortable. He glanced around, feeling as if many unfriendly eyes were watching him.

"Did you see that earlier? The Shen family young master—he must be insane. He slapped the Zhou family young master and even held a broken bottle to his neck. Wasn’t Young Master Zhou usually so arrogant? But he totally backed down just now."

"What’s the big deal? That knife is a Swiss army knife. Who knows how many lives it’s taken? And it was auctioned by the Shen family for a huge sum. Who would’ve thought it’d end up in the hands of their second young master? It seems the rumors outside aren’t reliable—all that talk about him being unloved might just be a cover-up."

"Someone was watching the drama earlier and made a bet. Didn’t expect to make 10 million in one night. Tell me, isn’t the world of the rich just all about easy money? Shh, it seems like Young Master Shen is looking this way. Let’s get out of here before there’s trouble."

Shen Muyun paid no mind to their words. It was just a farce—nothing more. Since he had been reborn, he would live according to his own rules and forge his own extraordinary path.

Relying on his memories, Shen Muyun made his way to the guest cabin but ran into a problem. The party was only for one day, and there were no extra clothes. This body had almost reached its limit. The feeling of a fever was far from pleasant. He lowered his head, contemplating his next move.

At the corner, he spotted a familiar figure. "Father."

He said robotically to Shen Wenjin, but Shen Wenjin seemed indifferent, only frowning slightly. "Go change your clothes. What kind of appearance is this?"

Shen Muyun gave a weak smile, unsure how to respond. He glanced up slightly at the person before him.

"Um, Father..."

Suddenly, someone appeared from behind. "Mu Yun, come here. Staying in wet clothes for too long will make you sick. These are your brother’s clothes. Hurry up and change."