Chapter 9

The next day, Zhou Jinsheng didn’t show up again.

Looking at the empty seat behind him, Shen Yu rubbed his brow and calmly passed the day. Suddenly, he received a text from an unknown number. The message was short and direct.

[Ten o’clock at night. Zhou Jinsheng wants you to come.]

It was followed by a string of addresses.

Shen Yu frowned. This message clearly wasn’t from Zhou Jinsheng himself, but it was most likely related to him. Recalling his conversation with Chen Miaomiao half a month ago, Shen Yu roughly deduced two possibilities.

The first, and most probable, was Zhou Jinsheng’s group of cronies.

The fact that Shen Yu had pissed off Zhou Jinsheng was common knowledge in Jingyang. But with the recent upheaval from above, Zhou Jinsheng, constrained by the Zhou Mansion, wouldn’t make a move himself. His friends, however, could teach Shen Yu a private lesson—having some fun while currying favor with Young Master Zhou. It was a win-win.

The other possibility was less likely.

Zhou Jinsheng’s coming-of-age ceremony was approaching, and control of the Zhou Corporation was about to change hands. This would inevitably affect others’ interests, so they would band together for warmth.

If it was that kind, they probably wanted to pull Shen Yu into their camp as cannon fodder.

But in either case, whether Shen Yu showed up or not made no difference to them. After all, to them, Shen Yu was currently just an insignificant nobody.

007 was a bit worried: 【Be careful, Host.】

After spending this time together, 007 had figured out its host’s personality.

When it first bound to Shen Yu, 007 only remembered him lying pale on a hospital bed—beautiful, yes, but so fragile that a slight negligence in the torrent of fate could sweep him away like dust.

So 007 subconsciously thought Shen Yu was melancholic, reclusive, and vulnerable. It had been deeply concerned about whether he had the perseverance to see this through, constantly monitoring his mental health.

It wasn’t until witnessing Shen Yu’s series of actions that 007 realized it had been overthinking. All the prepared words of encouragement to keep him going on the tasks turned into worries about his relentless, no-retreat advance.

Shen Yu smiled: 【Don’t worry.】

At ten o’clock that night, Shen Yu took a cab to a private club called Blue Sea Bay in the city center, following the address from the text.

He paid the fare and was immediately met with endless streams of lights—red, white, yellow, blue, multicolored. Neon shuttled and flashed through the night like flowing fire.

Luxury sports cars lined up in front of Blue Sea Bay. Men and women in fashionable, extravagant clothes gathered in small groups. Clear yet hazy smiles emerged under the neon lights, then swayed and vanished into the shadows. Amid the intertwining scents of perfume and hair, the fragrance lingered endlessly.

One glance revealed the decadent revelry of Shangjing.

Blue Sea Bay was members-only; no membership card, no entry. Shen Yu naturally didn’t have one and had deliberately not changed out of his school uniform.

The doorman, sharp-eyed and experienced, spotted the White Sail School Badge on Shen Yu’s uniform and immediately approached warmly. “Hello, sir. How can I assist you?”

Shen Yu explained the situation to the doorman.

The young man’s brows and eyes carried a smile. When he looked at someone, it was sincere and candid, stirring an urge to talk.

He clearly rarely frequented such places, but his demeanor showed no awkwardness—just a mild, detached poise, as if the flashy wealth everyone chased had nothing to do with him.

The doorman was momentarily stunned, then lowered his eyes to mask his emotions. Smiling, he said, “Please wait a moment while I check for you.”

Shen Yu nodded.

After making a phone call, the doorman hung up, bowed slightly to Shen Yu, and gestured toward the entrance with a proper, respectful smile. “Young sir, go straight ahead, turn left at the end, fourth private room. Enjoy your evening.”

The lights inside Blue Sea Bay were hazy, the music flowing. As soon as Shen Yu entered, he drew quite a few gazes. He hadn’t taken three steps before someone came up to hit on him.

Shen Yu kept smiling at everyone, even his rejections gentle, which only piqued more interest. Soon, people were crowding around with drinks in hand.

System: 【What do we do? Do they know the Host is a pushover?】

Shen Yu: 【…】

A few minutes later, Shen Yu slipped through the crowd like a nimble cat and reached the end of the corridor.

The corridor end was much quieter. Silent flowing lights on the walls surged like ocean waves, full of sci-fi vibes. Shen Yu hurried to the designated private room door.

Just as he arrived, the ornate golden door swung open from inside, and Shen Yu collided right into someone.

The air carried the scent of alcohol. The other person was clearly drunk, swaying, and toppled backward from the bump, landing flat on his ass with a thud. He instantly grimaced in pain.

“Fuck, where did this dumbass come fro—”

Shen Yu looked down. The cursing boy on the ground was definitely young—thirteen or fourteen at most. His hair was dyed a flashy, vibrant red, the tips glowing under the lights. The kid had delicate features, with a ruby-like stud at the end of his left brow, making his gaze even more arrogant.

Shen Yu hadn’t expected to run into the original story’s protagonist bottom here: Yu Tingsi.

According to the plot, three years later, Yu Tingsi would be thrust into the spotlight for a school violence incident that caused a death. The Yu family would be implicated, exposed for corruption under public scrutiny, and collapse like a skyscraper.

His father would suicide, his mother die of illness, his older brother take the fall and go to prison. Later, Yu Tingsi would be taken in by the Zhou family out of old affections.

Someone in the room saw Yu Tingsi get knocked down and rushed over obsequiously to help him up, cursing at Shen Yu. “Fuck, are you blind? Didn’t you see people here? Can you afford to pay if you hurt Young Master Yu?”

Yu Tingsi, sobered a bit by his companions’ help, stood up.

Young as he was, his brows and eyes brimmed with arrogance and wildness. He frowned, disdainfully shoving away the supporting arm. “Shut up. I’m fine.”

Young Master Yu lifted his chin slightly. His striking features showed no trace of childishness, gleaming demonically like a seductive ghost under the lights. His peach-blossom eyes resembled Shen Yu’s—rippling and amorous in shape—but narrower and sharper at the corners, full of edge.

Yu Tingsi narrowed his eyes, sizing Shen Yu up and down. A flash of amazement crossed his gaze, then his frown deepened.

Fuck, this weakling could knock him over? Yu Tingsi instantly felt humiliated, his face flushing with anger. “Blue Sea Bay has really gone downhill. Letting in any stray cat or dog now.”

Yu Tingsi’s words drew chuckles and agreement from those around.

The smile on Shen Yu’s face, which hadn’t faded even through the constant harassment, suddenly stilled. His lips pressed into a straight line, his ink-black eyes silently fixed on Yu Tingsi.

“Hmph.” Having thrown his harsh words, Yu Tingsi snorted coldly, shouldered past Shen Yu, and strode toward the restroom nearby.

Shen Yu entered the private room.

The room was full of people, most of whom Shen Yu had seen eight years later. Men and women in all varieties, yet they all shared the same air of ennui born from excess beauty and luxury.

Chi Xianli sat at the head, lounging lazily on the reddish-brown sofa, swirling a wine glass in one hand while the other arm draped around a pretty model.

The moment he saw Chi Xianli, Shen Yu confirmed his earlier guess—the first kind.

They were here to mess with him.

A real ambush banquet.

Aside from the initial commotion at the door, Shen Yu’s entrance caused no stir. Everyone continued their own fun, clearly planning to embarrass him.

Shen Yu scanned the room and quickly pinpointed the ringleader.

He walked up to Chi Xianli and cut straight to the point. “Where’s Zhou Jinsheng?”

A shadow fell over him, blocking the view.

Chi Xianli frowned slightly and looked up.

The smile was gone from Shen Yu’s face, replaced by cold aloofness. His lashes cast shadows, his complexion pale and still. His temperament was inherently cool; without expression, it gained an extra touch of hauteur.

Seeing Shen Yu for the first time, Chi Xianli’s initial thought was that he was putting on an act.

Such a pretentious act.

Chi Xianli had once told Zhou Jinsheng that Shen Yu seemed interesting, but that was never a compliment.

Having clawed his way through various circles since childhood, Chi Xianli knew Shangjing’s social intricacies better than most. This world was alive with death—people scrambling to get in, only to be brutally eliminated every moment.

Shangjing’s elite circles were a massive dye vat, chaotic and filthy at its core. Standing on that soil, how could anyone remain pure?

If they did, it was all an act.

Once in the vat, why pretend to be aloof?

Even if their face was ground into the mud, they’d come crawling back smiling the next second, not slinging cold glares.

The crowd turned to look at Shen Yu upon hearing him.

Shen Yu ignored the stares, keeping his eyes down on Chi Xianli. Getting no reply,

Shen Yu suppressed his irritation and patiently asked again. “Hello, where is Zhou Jinsheng? I got a message…”

Chi Xianli cut him off, tilting the model in his lap’s chin upward. “What time is it?”

The young woman coyly dodged his fingers, checked her phone, then slithered back into his arms like a water snake, smiling sweetly. “Young Master Chi, ten eleven.”

Shen Yu realized now—they were just toying with him like a monkey. The whole “Zhou Jinsheng wants you here” was bullshit. Not wanting to waste time playing along, he turned to leave.

But things weren’t that simple. As he reached the door, two bodyguards in black sunglasses silently extended their arms, blocking his path.

Shen Yu had to stop. Behind him, Chi Xianli’s voice rang out again.

“Ten eleven.” Chi Xianli eyed Shen Yu’s back, his lazy smile fading as he countered, “Late, and you want to leave without apologizing first?”

The room was full of Shangjing’s infamous young masters, used to getting whatever they wanted. They loved a spectacle, especially buzzed on booze, and egged it on. With Chi Xianli leading, the mood heated up instantly.

“Yeah, you can’t just leave after being late without making it up.”

“Hahaha, short-staffed on servers tonight? Why not fill in temporarily?”

Shen Yu lowered his eyelids, his hands by his sides clenching into fists. An unprecedented humiliation seized him.

Just as the group was chattering loudly, the door was kicked open from outside. Yu Tingsi stormed in, frowning with irritation, his voice preceding him. “What the hell are you doing? Why’s the door shut so tight?”

The two previously menacing bodyguards immediately bowed respectfully to Yu Tingsi. As he entered, he spotted Shen Yu at the door.

Yu Tingsi suspiciously scanned the room. Someone quickly explained, “Shen classmate was late, right? Can’t just leave without paying for it. Young Master Chi just wants an apology.”

Yu Tingsi glanced at Chi Xianli as instructed. After throwing out the opening line, Chi Xianli hadn’t said another word, just sipping his drink casually, as if the whole discussion had nothing to do with him.

Yu Tingsi couldn’t stand this play-with-them-first style. Sure, he played around too, but he valued “realness”—no fancy tricks. Yet others ate it up.

Feeling competitive, Yu Tingsi said,

“If you ask me, we’re not some lowlifes. An apology needs rules, right?”

As expected, his words drew everyone’s attention. He continued, “What rules?”

With all eyes on him, Yu Tingsi milked the suspense, arms crossed against the door like a third door god, drawling lazily, “Since we’re at a drinking party, why not settle it with booze?”

Chi Xianli, intrigued, asked, “How?”

Yu Tingsi’s smile turned mischievous and wicked. He instructed the bartender to fetch several foreign liquors from the cabinet. He carefully selected a glass of high-proof distilled vodka, then casually poured other spirits into it.

Satisfied with his creation, Yu Tingsi nodded, personally carried the glass to Shen Yu’s side, and held it out.

He swirled the glass, the clear liquid sloshing against the walls. His face lit up with his grin:

“Down it in one, and we’re square. How’s that?”