A True Villain Takes Down the Protagonist Template!

Inside the resplendent hall of the Xiao Household Villa, guests filled every table. As the birthday celebrant, Xiao Zhenzhong moved through the hall with his son, Xiao Fan, smiling continuously as he welcomed the business partners and company subordinates who had come to celebrate his birthday.

Congratulations rang in his ears, and Xiao Zhenzhong beamed with delight. The numerous guests present all wore brilliant smiles as well.

Except for Xiao Zhenzhong's cousin, Xiao Zhenyang, who stood in a corner. He looked at Xiao Zhenzhong with a hint of mockery, gripping his wineglass tightly as he sneered.

"Dad, it's fine. They won't be jumping around for much longer!" his son hurriedly stepped forward and said coldly, resentment flashing through his eyes.

If Xiao Zhenzhong had not been favored by the old master and made head of the Household back then, he would be the Xiao Household's eldest young master now, not that brain-dead Xiao Fan.

Damn it!

At that moment, Xiao Zhenzhong paid no attention to what was behind him. He raised his glass high, clinking cups with others as he drank one glass of fine wine after another.

Yet as the wine went down, a faint flush appeared on the slightly tipsy Xiao Zhenzhong's face, while a trace of worry entered his eyes.

Today was his birthday.

How could he not have wanted to hold a grand celebration? But the Xiao Household was currently declining, leaving him no choice but to celebrate modestly. At the thought, Xiao Zhenzhong drank another glass of wine to suppress the sorrow in his heart.

Xiao Fan, his son, saw it all and felt his heart tighten. He hated his own helplessness, but there was nothing he could do right now.

Just then!

The butler hurried over with joy on his face, leaning close to Household Head Xiao Zhenzhong's ear as he said excitedly, "Master, the Su Household's eldest young master has arrived!"

The Su Household had come?

In an instant, Xiao Zhenzhong's slightly gloomy expression brightened. Delight flashed across his face as he laughed heartily. "Good! It seems this old man still has some standing. The Su Household has even come to wish me a happy birthday."

Who said the Xiao Household was declining? Didn't the Su Household come to celebrate my birthday?

"Quick, come with me to welcome the Su Household's eldest young master." Xiao Zhenzhong slapped his son Xiao Fan on the shoulder and spoke in a voice like a great bell.

His words immediately spread throughout the hall. The guests who had been eating and drinking froze, surprise and excitement flashing in their eyes.

The Su Household's eldest young master had come?!

The outside world had been saying that the Xiao Household had been getting worse in recent years and was about to fall out of Suzhou's Four Great Families. Even their business partners had been somewhat worried.

But the Su Household's eldest young master had personally come to offer birthday wishes. What did that mean? The Xiao Household still had its foundation!

Countless people immediately followed behind Xiao Zhenzhong, eager to see the Su Household's eldest young master. If they could build some connection with him, wouldn't that be wonderful?!

But Xiao Zhenyang was dumbfounded. He stood rooted to the spot in confusion, his brows tightly furrowed. When had Xiao Zhenzhong gotten involved with the Su Household?!

Could this interfere with his plan to seize the position of Household Head?!

Meanwhile, as he watched the smiling Xiao Household servants surrounding him, helplessness flashed through Su Bai's eyes. Sorry, everyone.

I didn't come here today to wish Xiao Zhenzhong a happy birthday. I came to break off an engagement. You're celebrating too early!

"Hahahahaha!!!"

Just then, a hearty laugh burst forth. Su Bai looked over and saw Xiao Zhenzhong, his face covered in a beard and his body somewhat plump, spreading his arms in joyous welcome.

"My worthy nephew, you have come on behalf of the Su Household to celebrate my fifty-fifth birthday. This old man is truly delighted. Please take a seat quickly and allow the Xiao Household to show you our hospitality!"

In an instant!

Su Ruoxue and Bai Yun both froze, a trace of guilt flashing over their faces as their eyes instinctively wandered. This was far too enthusiastic.

But unfortunately, they had not come to offer birthday wishes.

Su Bai's gaze, however, rested on the person beside Xiao Zhenzhong—a young man slightly shorter than himself, with delicate features, dark eyes carrying a melancholy air, and an innate sense of steadiness—because the system's notification sounded...

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for discovering a Fate Protagonist. Attribute Panel activated.]

At once, the dark-blue virtual panel appeared before his eyes again, taking up more than half his field of vision. Su Bai's expression tightened as he scrutinized it carefully...

[Fate Protagonist]

Name: Xiao Fan

Gender: Male

Age: 24

Height: 180 cm

Weight: 75 kg

Intelligence: 120 (Host, don't be afraid. We crush him in this regard—we hold the high ground in intelligence!)

Hobby: Showing off (Since ancient times, those who fail at showing off end up destroying themselves.)

Strength: Early External Strength (Host, try ambushing him.)

Special Physique: Dumbness Halo (The intelligence of everyone nearby decreases by 90%) Protagonist Halo (Activates after the engagement is broken off, all attributes surge by 999+)

Luck: 58

Comprehension: 78

Potential: 99

Charm: 69

Probability of Both Parents Dying: 50% (When parents are sacrificed to the heavens, one's power becomes boundless.)

Identity: Fate Male Protagonist of the Trash-to-Hero Engagement-Breaking Genre, young master of the Xiao Household

Su Bai did not dare to be careless with the protagonist he was about to face. He examined him closely, then sneered when he noticed Xiao Fan's hobby.

Showing off?

Not while I'm here!

However, Xiao Fan's Early External Strength cultivation made Su Bai's pupils contract slightly. He inwardly sighed that, as expected of a protagonist, even as trash, he was not someone a little villain like him could compare to.

Fortunately, this young master had brought a group of bodyguards, so he had nothing to fear!

But when he saw the words [Dumbness Halo], Su Bai could not help rolling his eyes. No wonder the villains in urban novels were all so stupid.

Without that thing, the protagonist probably would not even make it out of the beginner village!

As for the Protagonist Halo, there was no need to look at it. Su Bai had already expected it. But since it only activated after the engagement was broken off, could he exploit a loophole?

But when he thought of how his sister would absolutely never allow it, and how he also needed the system's reward, he immediately dismissed the idea.

"Cough, cough."

Just as Su Bai was engrossed in reading, Su Ruoxue lightly coughed twice and gave him a small shove. Even Bai Yun shot him a helpless look, wondering whether Su Bai was reliable at all. Should I just do it myself?

At that moment!

Su Bai abruptly came back to his senses. Looking at the smiling Xiao Zhenzhong and Xiao Fan, who wore a faintly peaceful smile, he immediately revealed a cheerful smile as well and strode forward to greet them.

The two of them!

They repeatedly shook hands in midair as a gesture of goodwill. Everything appeared so peaceful that the guests could not help sighing over how exceptionally close the Su and Xiao Households were.

Who said the Xiao Household was declining and finished?

Fake!

But just as Xiao Zhenzhong was about to lead Su Bai into the villa, Su Bai shook his head and politely declined. Showing eight gleaming white teeth, he enunciated each word with perfect clarity. "Sorry, but we didn't come today to wish you a happy birthday. We came to break off the engagement!"

Break off the engagement!