Chapter 51: The Pure and Innocent Superstar is Not to Be Messed With (Part 1)
【Congratulations, Host, for the perfect completion of the mission.】
【Would the Host like to go to the lounge, or continue to the next world?】 997 asked. In truth, he believed the Host would definitely choose to continue.
The Host was more of a workaholic than even a system like him; even the ladies of the Prince Ning's manor had eventually been "arranged."
She arranged for others to struggle and compete, while she somehow found extra time to fall in love—it was truly unparalleled.
A-Zhen was currently in a soul state. Her right hand held a transparent bottle containing a drifting wisp of cyan light. When she tapped it gently with her finger, the light seemed to sense something and nudged against her fingertip.
Meanwhile, her left hand was cupping a handful of soil.
997 fell silent. What was this for? He could clearly sense the aura of a soul within the transparent bottle.
He was highly sensitive to soul auras; he couldn't be wrong.
The Host's soul state was completely different from when he first met her; back then, she was just an ordinary soul, but now she was so powerful that he didn't even dare to pry.
Now that the cards were on the table, was the Host no longer willing to even pretend?
A-Zhen stared down at the transparent bottle and the soil brimming with vitality. With a thought, both vanished from her hands.
"Continue," she said.
...
With a *beep*, the key card swiped the door open.
Zhang Chaoming closed the door and locked it before inserting the key card.
The room lit up as bright as day.
He walked inside, his heart pounding with excitement at the thought of who he was about to see.
Xuan Yanrui had personally handed him the key card, saying the room contained a gift that would satisfy him and everything he needed.
As Zhang Chaoming pushed open the door, the bright lights revealed a woman sitting in a chair, wearing a beige starlight evening gown. The gown was sleeveless, yet it wasn't revealing; instead, it showcased her beautiful and pure appearance to perfection.
She looked like a fairy descended from heaven, untouchable and sacred.
However, this was the mortal realm, and he, Zhang Chaoming, was a mere mortal. How could he not want to do something upon seeing such a beautiful woman?
Only, the scene was not what he had imagined.
She was sitting in the chair, earnestly fiddling with the ropes Xuan Yanrui had prepared for him, even tying them into a beautiful bow.
"Miss Du," Zhang Chaoming smiled, taking a bottle of red wine from a side cabinet, "I didn't expect I would be so honored to have a few words with Miss Du here."
He was testing the waters.
If Du Zhen was unconscious, he could just get things done and then film some evidence—everything would be easy.
But since the other party was awake, he wouldn't act rashly without understanding the situation.
He poured two glasses of red wine, handing one to A-Zhen and keeping one for himself.
At over fifty, Zhang Chaoming actually maintained himself quite well. He had a refined temperament, and many people outside praised him as a "handsome older man."
But those people didn't know that he played with both men and women, and he played very wildly.
A-Zhen looked up and reached out to take the wine. Just as Zhang Chaoming was harboring a glimmer of hope, she casually splashed it. He was hit square in the face, the red wine staining his shirt as it ran down his cheeks.
"Coming up here was your misfortune," A-Zhen said with a beautiful smile. Just as Zhang Chaoming was about to fly into a rage, she tossed the rope, instantly looping it around his neck. With a sharp tug, she tightened it.
The bow sat right at his neck, perfectly positioned.
With the rope tightening around his throat, Zhang Chaoming's face flushed red in an instant. He clawed at the rope with both hands, attempting to break free.
A-Zhen pulled hard, a faint smile remaining on her face the whole time, as if she were walking a dog.
Zhang Chaoming's face brushed against the spilled wine on the floor, and he felt as though he were suffocating.
Was she going to kill him?
"If you kill... kill me... you won't get away either," Zhang Chaoming used every ounce of his strength to say what was in his heart, "We can... talk it out."
Talk things out properly.
He could give her whatever she wanted.
Seeing him rolling his eyes, A-Zhen loosened her grip slightly and sat down. She looked down at the wretched man on the floor like a queen, picked up the wine bottle, poured herself a glass, and sipped it leisurely.
Zhang Chaoming tried to remove the rope, but even though she wasn't looking at him, the rope would tighten the moment he moved.
He didn't dare move recklessly anymore.
Gazing at the woman who was sipping wine while staring blankly, he organized his words in his mind.
"Miss Du, it was Xuan Yanrui who gave me the key card," he said.
A-Zhen held her glass and brought her thoughts back. "I know."
"You should know that I am not doing this voluntarily."
Zhang Chaoming gave a sheepish smile. In this circle, "not voluntary" or being tricked happened all the time.
A-Zhen gave the rope a tug, forcing Zhang Chaoming to lean forward. He felt humiliated, but he could only endure it. "I can compensate you. Miss Du, feel free to name your price."
"Any condition?" A-Zhen seemed to have taken an interest. Before he could answer, she added, "And what if you don't agree? I have ways to make you agree."
She was too arrogant.
But Zhang Chaoming had no time to think, as an incredibly serious yet seemingly obedient voice came from across from him: "Take it off."
What?
He was stunned. Was she... was she a pervert?
As it turned out, A-Zhen was not a pervert.
She held Zhang Chaoming's phone and took all sorts of photos of him.
Zhang Chaoming recalled three minutes ago, when under the threat of his life, he had been forced to do exactly as she said. He had tied the ropes on himself; they were difficult to tie, leaving him drenched in sweat. He stole a glance downward—thankfully, he still had his underwear on.
However, posing in various humiliating positions and saying those shameful things had utterly destroyed his worldview.
"President Zhang, we had no prior connection."
"If it weren't for Xuan Yanrui, you wouldn't have ended up in this state." Holding Zhang Chaoming's phone, A-Zhen stood two meters away, still maintaining that elegant appearance everyone knew her for. Who could have imagined such a terrifying side hidden beneath that gentle and clean exterior?
"You're not just going to let it go like this, are you?" She leaned in and blinked.
This face was very beautiful, the kind that made one want to bully her at first glance, but Zhang Chaoming didn't dare look too long.
He was beginning to understand. He wanted to say something, but she interrupted him: "But that is no longer my concern."
"I'll take this for now." She waved the phone.
Zhang Chaoming understood. He had to do something to Xuan Yanrui, otherwise, this wouldn't end. Even if he did something to Xuan Yanrui, it had nothing to do with her.
She was terrifying.
Was this her true face?
How many people in this circle had fallen victim to her?
He couldn't stop his mind from racing.
"The night is still long," A-Zhen took a sip of red wine, admiring the brilliant city lights outside the window, while her other hand gently swayed the rope, making Zhang Chaoming's heart race with anxiety. She turned back and raised her glass. "Don't let it go to waste, President Zhang."
A-Zhen tossed the camera she had found earlier to Zhang Chaoming's feet. "In the future, if you see me, walk the other way."
"You could also resist," she tilted her head and smiled.
She was even kind enough to close the door.
Zhang Chaoming gasped for air and closed his eyes. Resist? Or walk the other way—the latter was much easier.
A-Zhen returned to the lively banquet, finding a quiet, shadowed spot to sit down, staring blankly at the festivities ahead.
In truth, she had long been used to loneliness and silence.
Extreme loneliness was terrifying, but she had truly grown accustomed to it.
About twenty minutes later, she saw Xuan Yanrui, looking tipsy and being supported by someone, disappearing into the crowd. He was putting a small piece of cake into his mouth with a smile.
"Too sweet."
He put the cake down.
It seemed that eating small cakes was not a good way to pass the time.
"There are ones that aren't sweet, but the taste isn't very good." A light voice came from the corner.
A-Zhen knew there was someone else there; the person had been resting with their eyes closed earlier.
She recognized him—a long-established senior who had won many Grand Slam awards, known for his image as a gentle and serious veteran official.
He was quite handsome, just a bit too stiff.
"So it's Teacher Shi," she turned her head to address him. "May I ask where the non-sweet cake is?"
The crisp "Teacher Shi" caused Shi Wei's heart to skip a beat, but he maintained a calm and serious expression, refusing to let even a hint of any other emotion show.