Chapter 1

Chapter 1

System: "Zhou Yongnan has arrived. Host, please prepare yourself."

Ye Weian toyed with the ruby in his hand, his expression blank as he responded, "Oh."

Two days ago, he had transmigrated into this low-IQ novel, becoming the cannon-fodder love rival, Ye Weian, who shared his name.

The protagonist of this book was Yan Qing.

Yan Qing was a captivating figure, moving between countless men, enchanting every male character in the book and leaving them utterly infatuated.

The original host was the head of the Ye family—a perpetually gloomy and ruthless man with vicious methods, yet he treated Yan Qing with unparalleled gentleness.

This stark contrast garnered affection from countless readers, making the original host the most popular cannon-fodder love rival.

To pave the way for the official male lead, Zhou Yongnan, the author suddenly turned the original host villainous, transforming him into a pervert. After discovering that Yan Qing was stringing him along while being intimate with Zhou Yongnan, the original host imprisoned Yan Qing and committed a series of indescribable acts.

When this plot development was released, the comments section was flooded with criticism, with radical readers even sending the author a barrage of negative ratings and hate comments.

But the author remained stubborn and simply wrote the original host to his death.

Before dying, the original host dug his own grave through a series of foolish actions, fully cementing his role as the malicious cannon-fodder.

The author really went all out.

Ye Weian: "."

Fictional characters have no rights.

Not long after, the old butler knocked on the door: "Young Master, the eldest son of the Zhou family is here."

Sure enough, he came.

Ye Weian placed the ruby back into the gold-veined nanmu box, stored it carefully in the safe, and made sure it was locked securely before heading downstairs to meet the guest.

*

Zhou Yongnan stormed into the hall with his bodyguards, only to find Ye Weian casually leaning against the sofa with a cup of hot tea in front of him, looking completely at ease.

Furious, Zhou Yongnan demanded bluntly, "Where is Yan Qing?"

Ye Weian lifted his gaze to him.

Zhou Yongnan was the official male lead, from a top-tier family and with top-tier looks, not far behind the original host.

However, the current head of the Zhou family was Zhou Yongnan's uncle, Zhou Huaichen, making Zhou Yongnan one generation his junior compared to the original host. This put him at a disadvantage in terms of authority.

This was also why readers of the original novel preferred the original host—after all, most people admire powerful figures.

Ye Weian turned to the old butler and said, "Bring Yan Qing up."

Two minutes later, Yan Qing was brought to the living room.

Zhou Yongnan, anxious and worried, called out repeatedly over the bodyguards, "Qing Qing, are you okay? Did he force you? Are you hurt? Were you mistreated?"

Yan Qing sobbed, crying with pear-blossom tears: "I'm fine... Yong Nan, I knew you would come to save me..."

The two of them were like the White Snake and Xu Xian, while the Ye family's bodyguards were like Fahai—a whole group of them re-enacting the scene of "West Lake's water, my tears."

(Note: The White Snake, Xu Xian, and Fahai are characters from a famous Chinese legend. The White Snake and Xu Xian are lovers, while Fahai is a monk who tries to separate them. The phrase "West Lake's water, my tears" refers to a tragic love story.)

Ye Weian: "."

To be fair, Yan Qing wasn’t bad-looking; he had a white lotus vibe.

No wonder he was such a heartthrob.

But Ye Weian wasn’t into it.

His taste ran more toward shiny crystal cores and gemstones—the white lotus type was just too bland for him.

He also couldn’t understand the original owner’s obsession with this white lotus, especially since the original owner almost got himself killed from anger over this very delicate flower just two days earlier.

—The original owner, furious, grabbed Yan Qing, locked him in a dark room, and demanded to know why Yan Qing was leading him on while getting intimate with so many other men.

Seeing the original owner’s jealousy, Yan Qing, before any force could be used, put on a shy act and offered to let the original owner have him.

The original owner was stunned, as if struck by lightning.

He never expected Yan Qing to have so little self-respect, to be so casual about sex.

This wasn’t the pure, innocent white lotus he had imagined, and he ended up raging himself into passing out.

Then Ye Weian took over.

Ye Weian: “...”

How could the head of the prestigious Ye family faint over something so trivial?

…Oh right, because this is a low-IQ novel.

Blame the author, I guess.

In a rare show of pity, Ye Weian mourned the original host silently for two seconds.

“Release Qing now, or the Zhou family will go against the Ye family!” Zhou Yongnan’s shouting snapped Ye Weian out of his thoughts.

He replied coolly, “Do you have the authority to speak for the Zhou family?”

Zhou Yongnan stammered, then sneered, “Don’t try to provoke me. You’re the head of the Ye family, and I’m the Zhou family’s eldest grandson, the heir apparent. Our status isn’t that different… I’ve already asked my young uncle to come help me. He’ll be here soon!”

Ye Weian: “...”

Zhou Huaichen is the head of the Zhou family, two years older than the original owner. He doesn’t appear much in the book, but the original owner’s impression of him was that he was low-key but powerful.

Ye Weian also thinks Zhou Huaichen is impressive because the system told him Zhou Huaichen is the only man in the book unaffected by Yan Qing’s allure and the one who ultimately helps Zhou Yongnan defeat the original owner.

Basically, he’s Zhou Yongnan’s ace in the hole.

Totally overpowered and makes no sense.

Zhou Yongnan kept shouting, “Getting scared now? If you’re scared, then let—”

Ye Weian cut him off expressionlessly, “You should stay too.”

Zhou Yongnan: “?”

Ye Weian: “Three’s a party.”

Zhou Yongnan: “???”

Yan Qing: “…”

System: "Warning! Warning! Host's mission is to win over Yan Qing! Zhou Yongnan is a rival in love, not a target!"

Ye Weian: "Why can't I pursue him? Can’t I charm everyone?"

System: "..."

Encountering such a host who breaks the rules for the first time, the system was a bit tired.

"No!!!!!!!!" The system blared in bold red text with a string of exclamation marks.

Ye Weian: "."

He turned to Yan Qing: "Didn't you say you really want to be with me but can't let go of Young Master Zhou? How about the three of us living together and creating a perfect ending? Isn't that good?"

System: "Warning! Warning! Host's mission is to romance Yan..."

Ye Weian directly blocked it.

Yan Qing: "..."

Yan Qing hesitated.

Zhou Yongnan widened his eyes: "Qingqing, how can you hesitate?"

Yan Qing blinked his eyes welling with tears: "But Mr. Ye has been very good to me too."

The original host had indeed treated him well.

Yan Qing was a small-time actor who had been unknown for three years. In the fourth year, the original host took an interest in him. Over the next two years, the original host invested in four TV dramas for him and even produced a variety show specifically to promote him, finally making him a star.

As for Zhou Yongnan, despite being the eldest young master of the Zhou family and living off annual dividends, he didn’t dare to use the Zhou family’s name to get him roles/resources.

Yan Qing knew very well that his current popularity was built with the original host’s money.

How could he let go of such a lucrative sponsor?

Zhou Yongnan, softened by Yan Qing’s pleading, hesitantly agreed: "Well... alright then..."

Ye Weian: "?"

They actually agreed?

Good.

Ye Weian: "From now on, you’ll be bottom."

Zhou Yongnan: "???"

Ye Weian: "You don’t get it?"

Zhou Yongnan was too furious to speak. Trembling, he pointed at Ye Weian, and after a long pause, squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "You’re not human!"

This pervert! It was bad enough that he made a move on Yan Qing, and even worse that he wanted to split Yan Qing with him—but now he actually wanted to make a move on him too!

How shameless!

Ye Weian maintained his relaxed sitting posture, his expression still blank: "I can make you happy."

Zhou Yongnan exploded in anger and rushed at him, ready to fight: "You pervert, in your dreams!"

Ye Weian: "."

Good, talks have failed.

Time to capture him then.

Soon, Zhou Yongnan was grabbed by Ye Weian’s subordinates, and all the bodyguards he brought were subdued as well.

Ye Weian: "Think it over carefully."

Zhou Yongnan: "..."

Zhou Yongnan was stunned.

He never imagined Ye Weian would dare to capture him.

"Release me now! My uncle will be here soon. You’d better not oppose the Zhou family, or my uncle will make you regret it!"

Ye Weian: "."

A man in his twenties still calling for his elder to save him.

"Gag him and take him away," he said to the old butler.

The old butler approached and whispered in his ear: "Mr. Zhou is here."

Ye Weian, who had been about to return to his room to admire his gems, sat back down on the sofa.

Two minutes later, Zhou Huaichen walked briskly in through the door.

His features were sharp and handsome, his presence commanding, and every movement exuded authority.

Ye Weian’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He didn’t notice Zhou Huaichen’s handsomeness, but he did notice how appealing and delectable he looked.

—This man was radiant, so much like his beloved purple crystal core.

Glistening like a gem, sweet as grapes, juicy as...

Ye Weian nearly salivated.

—"He must be delicious."

Zhou Huaichen halted in his tracks.

He... seemed to have heard Ye Weian speak?

But Ye Weian sat there motionless, making him wonder if he’d heard wrong.

He stepped forward and greeted cordially: "Mr. Ye."

Ye Weian: "Mhm."

—"His voice tastes like grapes too. I want a taste."

Zhou Huaichen raised an eyebrow.

Grape-flavored?

"My Yong Nan was being immature and was rude to you. I'll have him apologize," Zhou Huaichen said, his eyes flicked over Ye Weian's face.

Ye Weian: "Oh, it's fine."

Zhou Huaichen slightly frowned.

Rumors had it the head of the Ye family was sullen and temperamental, but he hadn’t expected Ye Weian to be so easygoing.

Ye Weian: "I have my eye on your nephew and his partner. Just let them stay here with me."

Zhou Huaichen: "..."

He took back his previous thought—Ye Weian was not easy to deal with and was actually quite picky.

Zhou Huaichen smiled: "I’m afraid that’s not possible."

Ye Weian: "Oh."

—"Fine, if it’s not possible, it’s not possible. Anyway, I don’t like your nephew or his partner—two idiots; I’m not interested."

Zhou Huaichen: "..."

This was the third time he had heard such a baffling remark.

After a brief thought, he was certain he was hearing Ye Weian’s inner thoughts.

His gaze grew complicated.

Today’s Ye Weian had shed his usual gloominess and turned into a sarcasm machine.

This was truly beyond his expectations.

After thinking it over, he said, "Feel free to state your demands, Mr. Ye, as long as you let my nephew go."

Ye Weian looked up, locking eyes with him.

—"Then you stay. I’ll make you happy."

Zhou Huaichen: "?"

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