The Disgraced Heir of the Wealthy Family Has Gone Mad - Chapter 2

Zhou Shiqing felt a sudden, piercing chill. The cold crawled up his spine and struck his brain, leaving only one thought swirling in his mind: A madman. Shen Muyun is an absolute madman. He had truly intended to kill him just now.

Zhou Shiqing felt a wave of regret for his earlier actions, but he suppressed his fear. Despite his body trembling uncontrollably, he could not let his bravado falter. Putting on a brave face, he said sharply, “Shen Muyun, this is a crime. There are so many people here who can testify against you.”

However, when Zhou Shiqing glanced at the people on the deck, his heart went cold. Most of the onlookers had already dispersed; to them, this spectacle was merely a source of embarrassment.

Shen Muyun looked down at the shattered glass on the ground, then threw the half-broken bottle in his hand into the pool nearby. Splash! It sank to the bottom instantly, and the crimson wine stained the water red. Suddenly, someone screamed, “Murder!”

Shen Muyun’s smile grew even more sinister. He pulled a knife from his pocket and playfully used the handle to lift Zhou Shiqing’s chin. He tapped the blade against Zhou’s face a few times, his narrow eyes filled with disdain. “Oh? What people are you talking about? Who is watching? Are there really people around? And besides, did they actually see anything? Hey, who was it that said I committed murder? Do not go slandering me.”

The crowd pushed further back. Nobody wanted to provoke such a lunatic; it would be asking for trouble.

Zhou Shiqing gathered his courage and grabbed the knife handle, trying to pull away, but his move was anticipated. Shen Muyun’s hand clamped firmly onto his throat; a slight squeeze would be enough to crush his laryngeal cartilage.

“Want to run? You were full of fire when you pushed me earlier, even saying you wanted me dead? Honestly, this pool water tastes quite good. Do you want to go down and try it yourself?”

Zhou Shiqing’s face turned deathly pale. High up in the shadows of the deck, a figure stood, partially hidden. The corners of their mouth turned up slightly, as if watching a play. No one noticed their movements, but the figure scanned the two men like a predator watching its prey.

Zhou Shiqing swallowed hard; being restrained by Shen Muyun was suffocating. His voice trembled.

“I just slipped. It was an accident, not intentional. The Shen family values etiquette; are you sure you want to make both our families the laughingstock of the city? Shen Muyun, think clearly. This is not just between the two of us. After all, I am the nominal eldest son of the Zhou family. You cannot afford the consequences.”

Shen Muyun retracted the knife and patted Zhou Shiqing’s shoulder, leaning in to whisper coldly in his ear, “Fair point. This farce should end. Besides, I was also being careless. Who knows? Maybe the knife just popped out on its own. Would you not agree, Eldest Young Master Zhou?”

Shen Muyun’s eyes glinted with amusement, but Zhou Shiqing had long since lost the appetite for games; he was only focused on how to escape.

Seeing Shen Muyun release him, Zhou Shiqing broke free, let out a soft curse, and stumbled toward the spiral staircase without looking back. He is truly a lunatic, he thought, but he used to be so timid and submissive. It is like he is a different person. Could he be possessed? Next time, if I run into him again, I will make sure he pays.

Shen Muyun blew a flying kiss to those still watching on the deck. “Everyone, have you seen enough? If so, disperse. Do not get stained by this mess.”

Intimidated by his cold gaze, the people on the deck retreated and scattered. The loud music resumed, the clinking of glasses continued, and it was as if nothing had happened. In this atmosphere of wealth and power, such conflicts were nothing more than a trivial spice for bored people.

Shen Muyun had not intended to cause a major scene. Seeing that things were settled, he headed into the cabin. His clothes were soaked, clinging to his skin and revealing his lean physique. He felt incredibly uncomfortable; he needed a change of clothes, or he risked catching a fever.

He found a booth, picked up a specially crafted fruit cocktail, and watched the translucent pink liquid swirl, catching the multicolored light.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his head: “Greetings, host. I apologize for the hurried departure earlier. Please allow me to introduce myself. This is the Villain’s Self-Rescue System. You can call me System, Tongzi, or Brother Tong…”

A small blue orb with wings fluttered out, blinking at Shen Muyun. It looked quite cute.

“Hmm? A system? Do you have any clothes?”

“Huh? Ah? What? How could I possibly…”

Before it could finish, Shen Muyun recalled what had just happened. “What exactly are you? Why did you choose me? And why am I a villain? Other people get a halo, but why was I brought here? Where is the original body? And where is the real young master of the Shen family? I have plenty of questions, and you better answer them properly, or else…”

Shen Muyun picked up a knife and gestured threateningly at the system.

“Respected host, please stay calm. Some questions I can answer, others I cannot; I am not omnipotent, just a harmless, pitiful system. I am not human, so I do not possess the clothing you require. If needed, the system can develop a ‘Human Market’ feature. Please rest assured, others cannot see me; only the most distinguished VVIP host can.”

Shen Muyun frowned, gripping his glass tightly, his expression growing colder. “Just tell me what you know. And spare me the chatter.”

The system cleared its throat. “How you were chosen is an internal secret. As for this book, it was originally a ‘Villain’s Self-Rescue Guide,’ but before you arrived, 1,313 ‘lucky’ candidates failed. As for where they went, that is classified. After all, it is part of the game; a little mystery keeps things exciting. I regret to inform you that in your original world, your body has already been cremated. You cannot return. And if the mission fails…”

So, the most important part was that last sentence: if he failed to save himself, he could not return to his world, and if he failed the mission, this world would cease to exist. So, this is the price for a smooth ride?

“Tell me what to do next. Can I do as I please? What is the final objective? Can you state all the requirements at once? I do not have time to waste with you.”

“Bingo! You are on the right track. Time is money, so I will be brief. I have prepared three custom-tailored tasks for you…”

Before the system could continue, Shen Muyun cut it off, impatient. Why did his system seem so much more foolish and talkative than others? He could not even find a change of clothes.

“Enough with the fluff. Three tasks; what are they? But let me be clear: I will not accept anything treacherous, anything that degrades my character, or anything life-threatening. I have my principles.”

The system seemed troubled, hesitating for a long time. Shen Muyun felt uneasy; it seemed the previous candidates had truly vanished.

“Dear host, you know how it is. Package deal: three years of life. As for the first task… this should be the easiest one.”

The system scrolled through a list. “Usually, the first task is not hard. Let’s see… Your father, Shen Wenjin, has an investment agreement. According to the plot, if this is signed, the Shen family will be disgraced and become the laughingstock of Jiangcheng. Your task is to stop him from signing this agreement within three days. Simple, right?”

Shen Muyun’s face darkened. According to the original memories, his relationship with Shen Wenjin was volatile; they were like oil and water. If he tried to persuade his father, he would surely be seen as a troublemaker. This was a nightmare.

“System, if you want me to die early, just say so. You call this simple?”

The system feigned innocence. “How could that be? I am speaking from the heart! Since you are the 1,314th candidate, you have a certain ‘metaphysical’ luck, hence the simpler task. Now, host, good luck! It is my off-duty time.”

“Beep. System shutting down. Have a good dream. Goodnight!”

Before Shen Muyun could ask another question, the system powered down, and the blue orb vanished. Incredible. Simply incredible.

With no other choice, Shen Muyun tugged at his damp clothes. The salty, fishy smell of the sea air was everywhere, and he felt miserable. He looked around, sensing many unfriendly gazes sweeping over him.

“Did you see that? The Shen young master must be crazy. He slapped the Zhou young master and held a broken bottle to his throat. And that Young Master Zhou, usually so arrogant, just cowered like that.”

“Big deal. That was a Swiss Army knife; who knows how many lives it has claimed? And it was bought for a fortune by the Shen family. To think it is in the hands of the second son… the rumors must be wrong. ‘Out of favor’? Probably just a smokescreen.”

“Someone over there bet on it and made 10 million in one night. Is it true that the rich make money that fast? Shh, the Shen young master is looking this way. Let us scatter before trouble starts.”

Shen Muyun ignored their chatter. It was just a farce. Since he had been reborn, he would live his own way and create his own brilliance.

Relying on his memories, he reached the passenger cabins, but he faced a problem: the party was only for one day, and there were no extra clothes. He was already reaching his limit, and the onset of a fever was not pleasant. He lowered his head, calculating his next move.

At the corner, he saw a familiar figure. “Father.”

He called out mechanically. Shen Wenjin looked at him with indifference, frowning slightly. “Go change your clothes. What kind of state is this?”

Shen Muyun gave a bitter, awkward smile, unsure how to respond. He lifted his eyes to look at the man before him. “That, Father…”

Suddenly, someone appeared from behind. “Muyun, come. You will get sick if you stay in wet clothes. Here, take my clothes and go change.”