The Disgraced Heir of the Wealthy Family Has Gone Mad - Chapter 8

The system looked left and right with a look of feigned innocence. “But this is the fastest solution, Host.”

Shen Muyun shook his head helplessly, cursing internally for the ten-thousandth time.

“System, have you realized that it makes no difference whether you are here or not? You are just a task broadcaster. Can I change systems?”

“Ding. Host, that service is currently unavailable. Meeting me is your good fortune.”

“I would rather not have this fortune. It is far too much for me to bear.”

The system gazed at the blue box, watching the gemstone shimmer and sparkle. It was beautiful.

“How should I put this? I am only worried about you. You have no money, so we must solve that. As for the solution, it is unconventional. This is the fastest way and yields the best results.”

“Best? Your head!”

“How about this? Use your special talent: bold acquisition! If you cannot get it, grab it. If you cannot grab it, then act coquettish. Ying, ying, ying, Brother, I do not want to.”

Hearing the system’s pathetic whimpering, Shen Muyun felt his worldview crumbling. He grabbed the system’s small wings. “King of bad ideas? You said you could change into anything. Why not change into my likeness and try it out? Ying, ying, ying. After all, you are a system; you are just a program. You must be much more intelligent than I am.”

“Host, this is absolutely forbidden! I am the rules!”

“What kind of bull-crap rules? If I am annihilated, you will not have a good ending either!”

The system flashed away, breaking free from Shen Muyun’s grip, its small wings flapping with dissatisfaction.

“Host, you cannot be so violent. My display screen is electronic. If my programming glitches and I accidentally teleport you to the Amazon rainforest to participate in a wilderness survival show, what will you do?”

Shen Muyun was helpless, and he was already tired of the system.

“It is getting late. Are you not supposed to focus on wellness? Sleep before 9:00 PM, tell me goodnight, and stop disturbing my peace.”

The system, sensing it was unwelcome, traced a curve through the air. “Goodnight, dear Host. System Number 1314 is always at your service.”

Shen Muyun’s world was instantly quiet. It felt so good to be free of the system’s interruptions.

He patted his cheeks. What should I do? This matter is truly more troublesome than Zhou Shiqing!

Inside the banquet hall, the crowd was surging. People pointed at the blue sapphire on the stage. It was stuffy and suffocating, so he decided to step outside, hoping a cool breeze might bring a solution.

Before leaving, he swiped a bottle of chilled cola from a nearby drink cabinet. Happiness always came first; he could not drink too much alcohol, but a soda was fine.

Lu Huainan saw Shen Muyun leave the banquet hall and ordered his subordinates to follow him.

The air outside was fresh, filled with a faint scent of grapes mingled with the sweetness of osmanthus. From time to time, the sound of cicadas drifted over. It was comfortable, a life he had longed for before.

I have to work hard. I need to enjoy this more.

Shen Muyun found what he considered a secluded spot, a small garden planted with champagne roses. Under the moonlight, they shimmered like silk. Colorful string lights were wrapped around the porch, and there was a swing in the middle.

Shen Muyun found it fun and jumped onto the swing, swaying back and forth. “Aloha! Aloha! Haroha! Hahaha.”

Shen Muyun’s hearty laughter echoed in the air.

He casually grabbed some potato chips from a small table, perhaps meant for guests or for children of the Lu family, and combined them with his cola. Life was bliss. If not for those inexplicable tasks, he could happily live like this forever.

After ten years as a corporate slave, he had finally turned his life around. It was incredibly comfortable.

Suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist. A soft, low voice spoke, “You forgot. Your body is not well. You should not have iced drinks.”

Shen Muyun was stunned, nearly falling off the swing. He turned his head to look at the person beside him, momentarily unable to react, and blurted out, “Who are you?”

The man was dressed in a black suit, his chestnut-colored hair slightly curled at the ends. He had a pair of attractive peach-blossom eyes that looked deeply affectionate. He was handsome, perhaps even with a hint of an enchanting aura.

The original host’s memories flooded into Shen Muyun’s mind like a tide. This man was Lu Huainan. He had clearly seen him before; why did his brain go blank and ask such an outrageous question? He wondered how to backtrack.

Wait, this is Lu Luozhi’s brother. I have to run. He surely came to stand up for his sister. Shen Muyun looked at a side door and jumped off the swing.

“Ding, ding, ding. Transferring original host’s memories. Host, please prepare to receive.”

The system’s voice echoed in his mind as Lu Huainan’s detailed profile was transmitted. The title of this book was originally The Villain’s Self-Rescue Guide, but it had been abandoned after only a dozen chapters.

Seeing Shen Muyun about to run, Lu Huainan turned sideways, blocking the door, and smiled at him.

Shen Muyun saw his smile and found it chilling. Sure enough, karma. Who can escape it?

“Um.” They both said at the same time.

“You go first.” They said together again.

Shen Muyun felt as though the sky was falling. Why did he have to run into Lu Huainan here? This was more terrifying than meeting Lu Luozhi.

Lu Huainan watched Shen Muyun and smiled. “You go ahead.”

“I just wanted to say that I should apologize to Luozhi. But it was not my fault. She was the one who called off the engagement; she just did not like me.”

“Luozhi cried for a whole day, but she has listened to reason. Since that is the case, are we enemies? Perhaps we can have a chance to sit down and chat later.”

Chat with a ghost, he thought. She is a total demon.

“If there is nothing else, I think I should head back to the banquet hall.”

“If you have no other plans, I would like to chat with you. May I?”

Shen Muyun knew he could not escape, so he sat at the small table to see what Lu Huainan had to say.

Lu Huainan smiled secretly. “The weather has turned cold recently. Your brother has been looking everywhere for you, saying he wanted to bring you a coat. However, he is not familiar with the layout here, so he asked me to find you. I heard you fell into the water a few days ago. Is your health better now?”

“I feel completely fine, thank you for your concern.”

System, are you sabotaging me? Lu Huainan is actually so gentle!

“You must take care of yourself. The wind is strong here, and the suburbs are colder than the city. Here is a coat; you should put it on.”

As soon as Shen Muyun took the coat, the heavy scent of roses made him suspicious. This was not Shen Liuyun’s scent.

Shen Muyun smiled and, under Lu Huainan’s gaze, put the coat on. There was an inexplicable feeling of familiarity.

“Thank you, but the banquet is about to end. You are the host; you should head back.”

“It is still early. I noticed you seemed very interested in the Kashmir blue sapphire. Are you planning to bid on it?”

Shen Muyun gave a bitter smile and sat on a bamboo chair, pouting. “How should I put it? I am indeed interested. It is a closed-mine stone, not something easily obtained. I have a natural fondness for minerals, but I have some unspoken difficulties.”

Lu Huainan sat side-by-side with Shen Muyun. “Actually, there is a legend about it, or perhaps a past event.”

Shen Muyun knew from the system that this gemstone was extraordinary and had heard it might be cursed, which piqued his curiosity.

“It is a story about a white dove and a crow who fell in love. It is a niche story, not one for the masses. If you want to know, I can tell you.”

Shen Muyun was naturally intrigued. “Please, I am listening.”

“In the history of world wars, there was a minor battle called the Battle of Shumshu. It was the final horn of the war. At that time, there was a pair of lovers who were both officers and had survived countless brushes with death. The world could not bind their love. The man said that after the war, he would bring his favorite sunset roses and spend his life with his lover, even if their love was not accepted by the world. Everyone said this battle would have no casualties because the outcome was already determined.”

Shen Muyun listened quietly. He assumed the man eventually died, leaving one person behind, or perhaps it was a story of unrequited love or a broken promise.

“No one expected that the starting point of this battle would be their hometown. Countless shells suddenly struck Cape Lopatka. In the end, the sunset roses never had the chance to bloom on that piece of land again.”

Shen Muyun toyed with the flower petals on the table, an inexplicable emotion clogging his heart.

“After the war, when the final tally was made, everyone found a bouquet of sunset roses stained red by blood in the man’s pocket. The blood had turned most of the petals red, and the edges were even curled and withered, looking exactly like love wilting after its brilliance. His diary was against his chest, written with his love for the other, the moment of love at first sight, and even his expectations for the future. In the other’s pocket was a brilliant Kashmir blue sapphire. The letter said he had searched for the most precious gem in the world to be a witness to their love. ‘It will be soon. This battle will pass, and we will be together soon. Even if the world does not accept our love, we will just find a place where no one is, and settle down.'”

Why was this story so familiar? An inexplicable emotion occupied Shen Muyun’s heart. His heart seemed to ache faintly again, and he did not know why.

Lu Huainan continued unhurriedly, “Well, how should I say it? It was many years later when the Bai family obtained this gem, and many things happened along the way. For instance, the husband and wife died in an accident, leaving only the heir of the Bai family. I do not know if it is a coincidence, but this gem has been labeled with misfortune.”

“You seem quite interested in this stone.”

Shen Muyun smiled. “I am interested. But I have decided that if I cannot obtain it, I will just snatch it.”

“Oh? Snatch it? The security system here is quite good. You probably would not get out even if you got it.”

Shen Muyun paused. “How do you know I would not get out if I got it? What if I have accomplices?”

“How about this? Since this is my event, I will start the bidding at the base price. What do you think?”

Shen Muyun did not know what Lu Huainan was planning, but he was determined to get this stone. “Fine. If I get this stone at the base price, what is the condition of the trade? Merchants always have their own set of rules.”