Xiao Fan forcefully suppressed the murderous intent that originated from the depths of his soul, the pain from his fingernails digging into his palm barely allowing him to maintain a facade of calm.
Lu Cheng!
How could he be here?!
In the simulation, he was only drawn here after he had acquired the stone king and made a name for himself in Yun City!
Why?
Why did he appear so many days earlier?!
This sudden variable was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, disrupting all his plans.
He didn't dare to look again, lowering his head, afraid that his uncontrollable killing intent would alert the other party.
But why should he run?
Wouldn't running make it even more obvious?
He also wanted to see what kind of person this villain, who was almost omnipotent in the original body's memory, was.
In a busy downtown area, even if he was discovered, could he really make a move?
His steps gradually slowed, and his ears perked up, greedily catching any movement from that direction.
Just then, Bai Zhi, who was sprawled on Lu Xuan's back, idly swinging her little legs, suddenly saw the familiar system light screen pop up in her mind!
"Ding! Detected the rebirth of the Son of Destiny, Xiao Fan! Host faces a choice!"
Bai Zhi's eyes widened instantly.
Xiao Fan?
That good-for-nothing she had stabbed to death was alive again?!
She subconsciously followed the system's indicated direction and, sure enough, saw that familiar figure in the shadows of the crowd not far away.
Although he had his head down, Bai Zhi would recognize that figure even if he turned to ash!
Immediately after, three options clearly appeared on the light screen.
"Option One: Pretend not to see him, avoid conflict with Lu Cheng. Reward: Title 'Pacifist'."
"Option Two: Shout 'Thief!' to create chaos and cover for the Son of Destiny's escape. Reward: Skill 'False Justice'."
"Option Three: Pretend to 'accidentally' fall from Lu Xuan's back in front of Xiao Fan, observe the Son of Destiny's reaction to gauge the quality of Xiao Fan after his rebirth, and simultaneously pull Lu Cheng into a playful embrace for cover. Reward: Skill 'Acting Mastery'."
Although Xiao Fan was foolish, he was still the Son of Destiny, and now that he was alive again, it might be some new fortuitous encounter... It was very necessary to test the quality of this new Xiao Fan!
More importantly, this option... not only allowed her to complete the mission and get the reward, but also allowed her to naturally mess with that dog villain Lu Cheng and earn some emotional points. Why not do it?
As for the risk?
If Xiao Fan had the guts, he could kill Lu Cheng!
Then her mission would also be completed; otherwise, this guy should still be pretending to be a passerby... Let's do it!
Bai Zhi made up her mind.
She precisely timed the moment Xiao Fan was about to pass them, calculating the angle and distance.
Passing by, one second, two seconds, now!
"Oh no! My foot went numb!"
Bai Zhi exclaimed, a hint of panic in her voice.
The moment Lu Xuan instinctively turned around because of the exclamation.
Bai Zhi's body, as if boneless, swayed and slid directly off Lu Xuan's back!
The entire movement looked like a perfectly real accident.
Her target was Xiao Fan, who was walking with his head down to her side and rear!
Xiao Fan was currently fully focused on Lu Cheng with his peripheral vision and didn't notice this sudden movement.
Just as Bai Zhi was about to accurately hit her target and stage a good show of "tripping on flat ground."
However, Lu Cheng seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.
The moment Bai Zhi's body was about to collide with Xiao Fan, he didn't even turn his head, merely casually extended his arm backward.
That hand, with incredible precision, wrapped around Bai Zhi's slender, barely graspable waist.
An irresistible force came, and Bai Zhi felt a dizzying sensation; the anticipated collision did not happen, instead, her whole body was pulled by that force and directly crashed into a firm and warm embrace.
The scent of a young girl wafted into his nostrils.
Bai Zhi's plan completely failed.
She was pressed firmly against Lu Cheng's chest, in an extremely ambiguous posture.
Her mind was blank, only hearing Lu Cheng's deep voice, tinged with a hint of playfulness, gently sounding in her ear.
"Who are you throwing yourself at now?"
"What's gotten into you these past few days?"
The next second.
In her mind, the cold system prompt exploded!
"Ding! Villain emotional value +12888!"
A string of glittering auspicious numbers almost blinded her!
This... so much?!
The huge number made Bai Zhi temporarily forget the frustration of mission failure, leaving only a dizzying sensation of being hit by a huge sum of money.
And her commotion, after all, still startled Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan was startled and turned his head sharply to look.
He met Lu Cheng's eyes, and in his arms was Bai Zhi, her face flushed red and seemingly "still in shock."
The moment their eyes met, Xiao Fan's heart almost stopped beating!
He was discovered?!
No!
That's not right!
There was no surprise in Lu Cheng's eyes, only amusement!
He had discovered me long ago?
This realization made Xiao Fan dare not linger for another moment, he turned and blended into the stream of people going in the opposite direction, hastily disappearing at the end of the street.
His heart was filled with doubt and unease; what was going on with that little woman? Why did it seem like she was coming for him?
Did she also discover my identity?
Impossible, she's just a follower, a plaything by Lu Cheng's side!
It must be a coincidence!
As Xiao Fan's figure disappeared, another cold and emotionless system prompt sounded in Bai Zhi's mind.
"Warning! Target attack incorrect! Mission judged: Complete failure!"
"Penalty: Rewards cleared!"
Bai Zhi: "..."
She was on the verge of tears.
She struggled to get out of Lu Cheng's warm yet dangerous embrace; this dog villain was definitely doing it on purpose!
However, Lu Cheng held her even tighter.
He lowered his head and said to her softly in a tone full of "concern."
"Look at you, your legs are all weak from fright."
"Let me carry you."
After saying that, under Lu Xuan's almost fiery gaze, Lu Cheng used his arm to lift her petite body horizontally!
"Brother! What are you doing! Quickly put that bad woman down!"
Lu Xuan stamped her foot again in anger.
Lu Cheng, however, just smiled at her, and to appease his bristling sister, he even freed one hand to hold hers.
"Xuaner, be good, look, she can't even stand steady."
This comical and strange combination instantly drew the attention of passersby.
A handsome man, holding a small, adorable girl in his arms, and leading another delicate little princess who looked like a doll by the hand.
"Wow, look at that person, he's so handsome!"
"Is he a celebrity? Filming?"
"Are those two girls his sisters? How lucky they are!"
The surrounding whispers made Bai Zhi feel utterly mortified.
"Put me down! You pervert! Lolicon!"
Her small fists rained down on Lu Cheng's firm chest, the force no different from a tickle.
"Quickly let go of me! I can walk by myself!"
"Ding! Villain emotional value +2000!"
"Ding! Villain emotional value +3000!"
"Ding! Villain emotional value +5000!"
In her mind, the continuously skyrocketing emotional value, like a floodgate opening, made Bai Zhi's curses sound somewhat lacking in vigor.
Finally, under Lu Xuan's murderous gaze and the envious eyes of passersby, Bai Zhi was carried all the way back to the hotel by Lu Cheng.
The door slammed shut with a "bang," and Bai Zhi was finally put down.
She locked herself in the room, looking at the long string of emotional value on the system panel that almost overflowed the screen, her mood incredibly complex.
She felt like a small mouse being toyed with, all her actions within the other party's expectations.
But... this feeling of passively gaining points was also damnably sweet!
She opened the system store, looking at the dazzling array of powerful items inside, her eyes gleaming with greed.
On the other side, Xiao Fan hurried back to the cheapest inn.
He closed the door, leaned against it, and recalled what had just happened... Lu Cheng!
He actually came early!
Although from beginning to end, Lu Cheng's gaze never lingered on him for more than a second, not even a glance, as if he didn't recognize him at all.
But Xiao Fan dared not gamble!
He would rather believe that this was Lu Cheng's more sophisticated disguise!
This man's appearance made tomorrow's Jade Gambling Festival full of deadly risks!
No! I must simulate again!
He calmed down, sat cross-legged on the bed, and immediately ordered the system.
"System! Simulate again! I want to deduce all possible accidents, including Lu Cheng's interference!"
He wanted to be absolutely foolproof!
"You can only perform one life simulation per day. Please try again after midnight."
The cold prompt, like a basin of cold water, extinguished his last hope.
"Damn it!"
Xiao Fan angrily punched the creaking wooden bed beneath him, his eyes filled with gloom and unwillingness.