Chapter 296: The Real Villain

Qin Hao did not like that smile.

Not at all.

Across the enormous ballroom...

Shen Tian stood surrounded by people who seemed naturally drawn toward

him.

Business heirs.

Family elders.

Celebrities.

Cultivators.

And, more importantly...

Women.

Beautiful women.

Important women.

Women Qin Hao’s fragmented plot knowledge told him should have been

connected to completely different storylines.

Gu Qingya stood near Shen Tian’s right side. ℯℯ𝘭.

Rose beside her.

Tang Meilin remained slightly behind them.

Chi Lingxi had already taken Shen Tian’s arm like it was the most

natural thing in the world.

None of them looked uncomfortable.

None looked forced.

None looked like decorations surrounding some arrogant young master.

They looked...

Comfortable.

That bothered Qin Hao more than it should have.

His system appeared again.

[Warning.]

Destiny Anomaly remains active.

Qin Hao mentally answered.

Analyze Shen Tian.

Silence.

Then...

[Analysis failed.]

His expression nearly changed.

Nearly.

He maintained his smile.

Again.

[Analysis failed.]

Why?

Target possesses unknown concealment authority.

Qin Hao slowly rotated the champagne glass between his fingers.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

He had been in this world for less than two days.

And already...

Something existed outside the plot he remembered.

No.

Someone.

Qin Hao looked toward Shen Tian again.

Shen Tian was no longer watching him.

Instead...

He was talking to Chi Lingxi.

Qin Hao couldn’t hear what they were saying.

But Chi Lingxi suddenly blushed.

Then lightly hit Shen Tian’s arm.

Shen Tian laughed.

Qin Hao narrowed his eyes.

System.

[Present.]

Is he a Fate blessed target?

Pause.

Unable to determine.

Qin Hao’s eyes sharpened.

That answer was worse than no.

His system could identify Chen Mo.

Could identify heroines.

Could identify opportunities.

Could identify luck.

But Shen Tian?

Nothing.

Then...

Qin Hao noticed something else.

Gu Qingya leaned toward Shen Tian.

Said something.

Shen Tian turned.

Their faces came closer for a moment because of the music.

Gu Qingya immediately became pink.

Rose noticed.

She smiled.

Tang Meilin covered her mouth.

Gu Qingya glared at both women.

Shen Tian?

Completely relaxed.

Qin Hao stared.

What kind of villain is this?

Because if Shen Tian really was just a background young master...

This made no sense.

. . .

"He’s staring again."

Rose’s voice was quiet.

Shen Tian took a sip from his glass.

"I know."

Gu Qingya glanced across the ballroom.

"Qin Hao?"

Shen Tian nodded.

Tang Meilin looked too.

Qin Hao immediately turned toward another guest.

Tang Meilin raised an eyebrow.

"Subtle."

Rose smiled.

"Very."

Chi Lingxi looked up at Shen Tian.

"You know him?"

"Not yet."

"Then why is he watching you?"

Shen Tian smiled.

"Maybe I’m handsome."

Chi Lingxi stared.

Then...

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

"You are."

Shen Tian paused.

Rose looked toward her.

Gu Qingya looked toward her.

Tang Meilin slowly smiled.

Chi Lingxi realized.

Her face became redder.

"What?"

Rose laughed.

"Nothing."

Chi Lingxi tightened her hold around Shen Tian’s arm.

"I can say my boyfriend is handsome."

Gu Qingya’s expression changed slightly.

Tang Meilin looked down at her drink.

Rose’s eyebrow rose.

Shen Tian noticed all three.

Interesting.

Chi Lingxi noticed too.

Her eyes moved between them.

Then...

She smiled.

Not hostile.

Not possessive.

Mostly amused.

She already knew what kind of situation surrounded Shen Tian.

It was difficult not to.

Especially in that mansion.

Shen Tian gently tapped Chi Lingxi’s forehead.

"What?"

She looked up.

"Stop enjoying yourself."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Your face does."

Rose immediately laughed.

"She’s learning."

Gu Qingya smiled.

Tang Meilin nodded.

Shen Tian sighed.

"That phrase has infected everyone."

Then...

A voice came from behind them.

"Young Master Shen."

The women looked over.

Shen Tian turned.

Qin Hao stood several feet away.

Perfect posture.

Calm smile.

Champagne glass in hand.

Polite.

Controlled.

Nothing like his body’s original reputation.

Xu Ning appeared beside Shen Tian.

[Host.]

I know.

A panel appeared.

Qin Hao

Fate Value: 650,000

Luck: 1,400

Emotional State: Cautious

Suspicion toward Host: 37%

Shen Tian almost smiled.

Thirty-seven already.

Fast.

Qin Hao extended his hand.

"Qin Hao."

Shen Tian looked at it.

Then...

Took it.

"Shen Tian."

Their hands clasped.

Nothing happened.

No ridiculous grip competition.

No Qi clash.

No dominance test.

Qin Hao released normally.

Shen Tian’s smile became slightly more genuine.

At least this one had a brain.

Qin Hao looked toward the women.

"Miss Gu."

Gu Qingya nodded politely.

"Young Master Qin."

"Miss Tang."

Tang Meilin nodded.

Then...

Qin Hao’s eyes moved toward Rose.

He didn’t know her.

That itself was strange.

She clearly belonged in this social circle now.

But not in the original plot knowledge available to him.

Qin Hao smiled.

"I don’t believe we’ve met."

Rose returned the smile.

"Rose."

"Just Rose?"

"Usually."

Qin Hao nodded.

He didn’t push.

Then...

Chi Lingxi.

He recognized her.

Chi family.

Important cultivation connection.

Her grandfather...

Wait.

Qin Hao’s memories shifted.

Wasn’t her grandfather supposed to be dead?

He looked at her slightly longer.

Chi Lingxi noticed.

Shen Tian noticed too.

Qin Hao immediately moved on.

Smart.

Very smart.

Shen Tian took another sip.

"So."

Qin Hao looked toward him.

"What brings you over?"

Qin Hao smiled.

"Curiosity."

Honest.

Mostly.

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"About?"

"You."

Rose slowly looked toward Shen Tian.

Tang Meilin’s eyebrow rose.

Chi Lingxi blinked.

Shen Tian smiled.

"Sorry."

Qin Hao paused.

Shen Tian continued.

"Not interested."

Silence.

Rose choked on her drink.

Gu Qingya immediately covered her mouth.

Tang Meilin turned away.

Chi Lingxi burst out laughing.

Qin Hao froze.

Then...

He understood.

His eye twitched.

"That’s not what I meant."

Shen Tian’s smile widened.

"I know."

Rose laughed harder.

Qin Hao stared.

Then...

To Shen Tian’s mild surprise...

He laughed too.

"Alright."

Qin Hao shook his head.

"I walked into that."

"Completely."

Rose recovered.

Barely.

She looked toward Qin Hao.

"I like him more than the last one."

Shen Tian glanced toward her.

"Low standard."

"Extremely."

Qin Hao heard that.

Last one?

His mind immediately caught the wording.

He kept smiling.

"Sounds like there’s a story."

Rose’s smile weakened slightly.

Lu Chen.

--------

(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

SEND POWESTONES!!!

ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!