The Whole Family Are Villains, I’m the Group Pet 197

Chapter 197

Xing Nuo, his mouth full of rice, his chopsticks frozen mid-air, looked up at Shen Yan, who was sitting on the sofa, his posture relaxed, his whole being radiating an aura of effortless competence.

Qi Yao, also surprised, scratched his head.

“Collaboration? What do you mean?”

Shen Yan, a man of few words, skilled at directing conversations, having managed a large company for years, got straight to the point.

“Let’s skip the pleasantries. You’re wearing a communication device, aren’t you? If I’m not mistaken, your superiors are listening to our conversation.”

A red light flickered on Qi Yao’s wristwatch, and a soft beep came from the earpiece hidden behind his ear, telling him to stay silent.

“Yes, you’re very perceptive, as expected of a high-level monster. May I ask your level?” He followed his superiors’ instructions, relayed through the earpiece.

Shen Yan, his legs crossed, his sleeves rolled up, revealing his unusually pale forearms, said calmly:

“Since we’re discussing a collaboration, transparency is important. According to the players’ ranking system, I’m SSS-rank.”

Qi Yao and the other ability users listening in gasped, their eyes widening.

“Then why…are you in the human world?”

Shen Yan raised an eyebrow, not wanting to waste time on these questions, and steered the conversation back to the main topic.

“Let’s talk about the collaboration. With your current abilities, stopping Sang Ming and the monsters is impossible.”

Although Qi Yao knew this, hearing it stated so bluntly made him flush with embarrassment.

“So you want to help us stop Sang Ming and the monster invasion? But why?”

With Shen Yan’s power, he would benefit greatly from the invasion.

Why would he side with the humans?

Xing Nuo, who had been eating, froze, his chopsticks mid-air, staring at his brother and his dad, who had known about this all along, his heart swelling with a sudden, overwhelming gratitude.

They’re doing this for me.

His throat tight with emotion, his eyes welling up, he wanted to say something, but Shen Wen, catching his eye, shook his head slightly, silently telling him not to speak.

Daddy and Big Brother will handle it.

Xing Nuo, blinking back his tears, took a sip of his soup.

Shen Yan chuckled coldly.

“Because, as you can see, Xing Nuo is human. He’s my little brother, and I want him to live in a normal, safe world, not one where he encounters murderous monsters and players on his way to school.”

His voice was sharp, laced with disdain.

“Rongcheng was in chaos recently. That’s your department’s incompetence. If this were my company, you would all be fired.”

Qi Yao’s face burned with shame, and he coughed, waving his hand dismissively.

“So, how will you help us? And how can we be sure you’re not planning something?”

Shen Yan just smiled, his lips curving into a cold, thin line.

“You have no choice. If you don’t cooperate, within six months, this world will be overrun by monsters.”

Sang Ming, a ruthless and driven man, his determination even stronger than Shen Yan’s,

would stop at nothing, not even caring about his own kind.

With his current power, entering the real world was only a matter of time.

“Think about it. Let me know your decision.”

Shen Yan, glancing at the time, it was already past noon, stood up to clear the table and wash the dishes, giving Qi Yao and his superiors time to consider his offer.

Qi Yao’s earpiece was filled with frantic voices.

“We can’t trust him! He’s a monster! Our enemy!”

“But we can’t defeat Sang Ming and the other monsters, can we? Do we have a better option?”

The chief, listening to their arguments, sipped his tea, his face thoughtful.

After a long moment, he spoke.

“I understand your concerns. You’re afraid Shen Yan will betray us.”

“But we’re facing a crisis. Countless lives depend on our decision. We have to be careful, make the right choice.”

“We’ve investigated Xing Nuo’s family. They’ve lived ordinary human lives for over a decade. You’re worried they’ll harm humans, but have you considered why, with their power, they’ve chosen to live like ordinary people?”

“And they’re offering to cooperate. I might not be good at many things, but I’m a good judge of character.”

He paused, then added, “And monsters. I think we can trust them.”

After half an hour of heated debate, just as Shen Yan returned from the kitchen, Qi Yao stood up.

“We agree.”

Shen Yan, not surprised, glanced at his watch and set a time.

“Tomorrow morning, 10:10. After my board meeting. Have your chief come to my office. We’ll discuss the details.”

Qi Yao, who had expected to discuss it today, was surprised.

“Not today?”

Shen Yan, putting on his suit, grabbing a pen and paper, said:

“No, Xing Nuo has a parent-teacher meeting this afternoon. I have to go.”

Nothing was more important than his little brother.

Qi Yao, stunned, looking at Xing Nuo, who was leaving with his brother, his backpack on, felt a strange sense of reassurance.

Xing Nuo’s family truly cares about him.

They want him to have a normal life.

He reported their decision to the chief, and the other ability users, their earlier arguments forgotten, fell silent.

“Some humans are more monstrous than monsters, but some monsters are willing to live ordinary lives for their loved ones.”

The chief, feeling a surge of hope, sat down, sipping his tea, thinking about tomorrow’s meeting.

Xing Nuo wanted to attend the meeting. He knew things they didn’t, and he wanted to help.

After much pleading, he was finally allowed to sit in, excited to be part of something so important.

“If needed, Little Knight Xing Nuo, ready for battle! Defeat evil bad guys!”

Shen Yan, chuckling, took his little wooden sword, which he still carried everywhere, and put it away.

“I know. But Little Knight Xing Nuo has a powerful family. You just focus on your studies. We’ll take care of everything.”

Xing Nuo’s heart swelled with warmth and gratitude, his eyes welling up.

“I know. Thank you, Big Brother.”

The tears he had been holding back all day finally spilled over, and he quickly wiped his eyes, embarrassed.

Shen Baizhou, watching him, his arms crossed, his usual lazy grin on his face, teased him:

“Crying already? Always so clingy and crybaby-ish. Crybaby King Xing Nuo.”

Xing Nuo, ignoring him, huffed, turning his head away.

That nickname had followed him since childhood.

But he was a good-natured kid and quickly forgave his brother’s teasing.

Having excused himself from his morning classes, he went to the company with Shen Yan.

The SIA, taking this collaboration seriously, had mobilized their elite team.

The chief, along with his core members, met with Shen Yan in the company’s conference room.

Shen Yan, sitting at the head of the table, Xing Nuo standing beside him, exuded an aura of power and authority.

Xing Nuo, having been an intern assistant before, expertly made tea for his brother, his face serious.

“Big Brother…Mr. Shen…your tea.”

Shen Yan, suppressing a smile, glancing at his little assistant, addressed the SIA representatives.

“Apologies, my father doesn’t attend such meetings, and my other brother is busy with work. I’ll be representing our family today.”

The chief, unfazed, was about to start his prepared speech when Shen Yan interrupted him.

“Let’s skip the formalities. I’ve calculated that, at this rate, the barrier will be completely shattered within two months.”

“Low-level monsters can’t control their instincts. They crave flesh and blood. They’ll invade our world. It’s inevitable.”

The chief’s heart sank.

“But our calculations showed we still have a year!”

Shen Yan chuckled coldly, shattering their illusions.

“Do you know why the monster incursions slowed down ten years ago? Because I’ve been expanding my territory in the other world. My dungeons, my monsters, they’re all under strict orders not to enter the human world.”

“Otherwise, your world would have been overrun years ago.”

“I was planning to wait until my brother finished his college entrance exams, but it seems we don’t have that much time.”

The chief and the other ability users exchanged glances, their faces grim.

Although they couldn’t confirm his words, the chief nodded seriously.

“We understand. We’d like to hear your proposal.”