Heard Young Master Lu Wasn't Quite... Up to It Back Then?

On the pier, the sea breeze carried a faint salty stench, but it could not disperse the tense, hostile atmosphere between the four of them.

Lu Yunshen wore a meticulously tailored black trench coat. Behind his lenses, his narrow eyes narrowed slightly, radiating the dangerous air of a refined scoundrel. Ignoring Huo Si's warning, he kept his gaze fixed on Jian Ning as though observing an exceedingly rare lab mouse.

"Mind-reading?" Jian Ning poked his head out from behind Huo Si, blinking his innocent big eyes. "Young Master Lu, you really know how to joke. If I could read minds, I'd have gone off to buy lottery tickets long ago. Why would I need to come here and earn appearance fees?"

This guy's gaze is making me really uncomfortable. It's like he's dissecting me.

But... a psychology PhD? I heard people like that are usually a little mentally unhinged. System, keep an eye on him. Don't let him hypnotize me.

Lu Yunshen chuckled and turned the silver ring on his thumb. "A person's microexpressions do not lie. Mr. Jian, when you looked at me just now, there was only thirty percent fear, but seventy percent... excitement? What are you excited about? Are you looking forward to digging up some secret of mine?"

Jian Ning's heart skipped a beat.

What sharp instincts!

Just then, Su Mo, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly stepped forward. Her high heels clicked sharply against the wooden boards. Expressionless, she stood between Jian Ning and Lu Yunshen, her voice as cold as ice chips.

"Lu Yunshen, this is the production set, not your psychological clinic. Don't disgust people with your occupational habit."

The moment Lu Yunshen saw Su Mo, the dark, crazed look in his eyes instantly turned into an inky gloom that would not dissipate. He adjusted his glasses, and his tone became exceptionally gentle—so gentle that it sent chills down one's spine.

"Momo, you're finally willing to look at me properly? I thought... you planned to ignore me for the rest of your life."

Su Mo snorted. "Young Master Lu, you're joking. I'm Jian Ning's manager. Protecting my artist is my duty. As for you... an ex should act like they're dead. No need to crawl out of the grave."

The livestream comments exploded.

[Holy shit! Gossip! Su Mo's ex is Lu Yunshen?!]

[Young Master Lu from the capital circle? That lunatic who was ruthless enough to send even his own father to a psychiatric hospital?]

[Help! Sister Su is so brave! She actually dares to talk to Young Master Lu like that!]

That evening, the production team specially held a bonfire party to welcome the new guest.

Really, they just wanted to stir up trouble.

The director smiled as he pulled out a deck of cards. "Everyone, since you aren't familiar with each other yet, let's play a simple game—Truth or Dare: Psychological Warfare!"

"The rules are simple: everyone draws a card, and the person with the lowest number receives a punishment. The person with the highest number decides the punishment. Note: truths must be genuine, otherwise..." The director glanced at Lu Yunshen. "We have a professional psychology PhD here. If anyone lies, Young Master Lu will see through it at a glance."

Jian Ning curled up in Huo Si's arms and muttered quietly.

This is a trap! Lu Yunshen is clearly here to mess with people.

Huo Si squeezed his palm and said in a low voice, "Don't be afraid. If you lose, I'll take it for you."

The game began.

In the first round, Kevin was absent, while Lin Mo and the professor were both very honest.

Unfortunately, Jian Ning's luck was as bad as ever—he drew the lowest card, a "2."

And the person who drew the highest card, an "A," was none other than Lu Yunshen.

Lu Yunshen waved the card in his hand, light gleaming off his lenses. "Mr. Jian, truth or dare?"

Jian Ning swallowed. A dare would definitely get him tortured to death, while truth... was hard to say.

"T-truth."

Lu Yunshen curled his lips and leaned forward, his eyes fixed firmly on Jian Ning.

"Mr. Jian, I heard you have quite a talent for 'judging people.' Then, please evaluate me in front of everyone. Remember, I want your most honest assessment."

This was a death trap of a question.

Say something nice? Lu Yunshen would definitely expose him for lying.

Say something bad? He would offend this lunatic.

Jian Ning's mind raced.

Then the system notification suddenly sounded.

[Ding! A major piece of historical gossip regarding target Lu Yunshen has been detected!]

[Gossip title: The "Unspeakable Difficulty" of That Rainy Night.]

[Details: On the night Su Mo broke up with him five years ago, Lu Yunshen prepared a romantic candlelit dinner and... an indescribable night in an attempt to win her back. However, because he was too nervous and had also drunk counterfeit alcohol, at the crucial moment... he couldn't get it up. Su Mo thought he was impotent and broke up with him in anger. Lu Yunshen was left with psychological trauma and has been visiting an andrologist for the past five years. His body is actually fine; it is purely a psychological issue.]

Jian Ning's eyes widened the instant he saw the gossip.

Pfft—!

Couldn't get it up? Counterfeit alcohol? Psychological issues?

Hahahaha! Young Master Lu, so that's why you've kept clinging to Su Mo? You want to prove that you can do it now?

Jian Ning's expression instantly became incredibly vivid. He tried hard to hold back his laughter, but his trembling lips betrayed him.

Lu Yunshen frowned. "Mr. Jian, did you think of something amusing?"

Jian Ning took a deep breath and put on an exceedingly sincere expression, one that even carried a trace of sympathy.

"Young Master Lu, since you asked me to tell the truth, then I'll be direct."

"I think... you've actually had it quite hard."

Lu Yunshen: "?"

Jian Ning sighed, his gaze deliberately—or perhaps inadvertently—sweeping over Lu Yunshen's lower body, though it was hidden behind the table.

"Although you're wealthy, powerful, and handsome... as a man, certain deficiencies in your 'dignity' can indeed make one feel rather inferior. That kind of psychological pressure can inevitably make you a little extreme, a little... crazy?"

The entire place fell silent.

Huo Si paused in the middle of drinking water.

Su Mo abruptly raised her head, staring at Jian Ning in disbelief.

Lu Yunshen's smile froze on his face. "You... what do you mean?"

With an expression that said I understand everything, Jian Ning earnestly advised him.

"Young Master Lu, this sort of thing isn't entirely your fault. Who hasn't had a time when they drank counterfeit alcohol and weren't in the right condition? It's been five years. You should let it go. Obsessing over that night when you 'couldn't get up' will only worsen your condition. Believe in science, believe in your andrologist. You... can still be saved!"

Boom—!

Those words were like a nuclear bomb, blowing the entire bonfire party to pieces.

The cup in Su Mo's hand fell to the ground with a smack.

She had always thought they broke up because Lu Yunshen did not love her, or because there was another woman. But it turned out... it was because of that?

And... he had not found anyone else these past five years because... he had been getting treatment?

The refined mask Lu Yunshen had maintained for years completely shattered.

Even a powerful figure from the capital circle who could remain calm with Mount Tai collapsing before him could not stay composed when such an "unspeakable difficulty" was exposed in public.

His face turned the color of pig liver, veins bulging in his neck as he ground out several words through clenched teeth.

"Jian. Ning! What nonsense are you talking about?! Who can't do it?! Who's been seeing an andrologist?!"

Jian Ning blinked innocently and hid behind Huo Si.

"Oh, Young Master Lu, don't get worked up! Getting worked up isn't good for recovery in that area! Wasn't I just telling the truth? Didn't you say microexpressions don't lie? Look at Sister Su's expression... she seems to believe it."

Lu Yunshen abruptly turned to look at Su Mo.

Su Mo was looking at him with an incredibly complicated, shocked, even faintly pitying gaze that seemed to say, So that's how it is.

Lu Yunshen broke down.

"Momo! Don't listen to his nonsense! I was... I was..."

He wanted to explain that the counterfeit alcohol had ruined everything, but the more he explained something like this, the worse it would sound!

Huo Si sat beside them, his shoulders trembling slightly.

One arm was around Jian Ning, while his other hand covered his lips as he struggled desperately not to laugh.

This little thing was truly... too vicious.

One sentence had directly crippled Lu Yunshen's fighting power.

The livestream comments had already gone insane with laughter.

[Hahahaha! Help! I can't do this anymore!]

[Young Master Lu: I came here to show off, but ended up becoming the laughingstock of the entire internet.]

[A man's dignity shattered into dust at this very moment.]

[So this was the truth behind Su Mo and Young Master Lu's breakup? No wonder Sister Su left so decisively! I'd leave too!]

Lu Yunshen took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his urge to kill someone. He knew that losing his temper now would only make him look guilty.

He stared coldly at Jian Ning. If looks could kill, Jian Ning would have reincarnated eight hundred times already.

"Fine. Very fine." Lu Yunshen laughed in fury and adjusted his glasses. "Mr. Jian's 'powers of observation' are indeed astonishing. I'll count this round as my loss."

"However..." He abruptly changed direction, his gaze sweeping toward Huo Si. "Since Mr. Jian understands 'men' so well, why not let President Huo evaluate himself too? President Huo has kept himself clean these past few years. There hasn't even been a female mosquito around him. Could it be... that the two of you share the same affliction?"

Holy shit? This mad dog is biting people at random?

How dare he say my husband can't do it?

Before Jian Ning could defend Huo Si, Huo Si had already spoken calmly.

He played with Jian Ning's fingers and casually glanced at Lu Yunshen, his tone lazy yet domineering.

"I'm not like Young Master Lu. I don't need to prove myself through this sort of thing."

"As for whether I can do it..."

Huo Si tilted his head and, in front of everyone, kissed Jian Ning's earlobe. His voice was low and suggestive.

"My little one begs for mercy every night. If Young Master Lu doesn't believe me, you can come listen outside our tent tonight. However... I don't recommend it. After all, hearing too much might make you feel even more inferior."

An absolute kill.

Not only had he struck back at Lu Yunshen, he had also flaunted their affection—albeit the very explicit kind.

Jian Ning turned red like a cooked shrimp and punched Huo Si in the arms.

Huo Si! Have you no shame?!

What do you mean I beg for mercy every night? Clearly, you're the one who insists on... mmph...

Watching the couple, Lu Yunshen felt as though he had suffered ten thousand points of damage.

He turned to Su Mo, trying to find some comfort. "Momo..."

Su Mo silently moved her chair farther away, avoiding his gaze.

"Don't call me that. I have a cleanliness obsession. Psychologically."

Lu Yunshen: "..."

That night, Young Master Lu completely lost sleep.

It was said that someone saw him roaring at the sea in the middle of the night, trying to prove his capability.

Meanwhile, in Jian Ning and Huo Si's luxurious sea-view room, the atmosphere was particularly enchanting.

Although Jian Ning cursed Huo Si for being shameless, he was secretly very pleased by Huo Si's earlier act of defending him.

"Mr. Huo." Jian Ning lay sprawled on the bed, swinging both legs. "Lu Yunshen really... has that problem?"

After showering, Huo Si came out wearing only a towel around his waist. Water droplets slid down his chest muscles, looking so sexy it could make someone bleed from the nose.

He walked over and leaned down, bracing himself above Jian Ning.

"Mind less of other people's business. What you should be concerned about now is me."

"Lu Yunshen was provoked tonight. He'll probably find a way to make up for it tomorrow."

Huo Si pinched Jian Ning's cheek.

"Tomorrow's task is the Couples Water Sports Meet. He'll definitely target us. Are you afraid?"

Jian Ning looked at the body before him that was enough to make one spurt blood and swallowed.

"W-with you here, I'm not afraid."

As long as you're here, even if the sky falls, you'll hold it up. I'll only be responsible for... watching the show and counting money!

Huo Si smiled and switched off the lights.

"Then sleep early. Tonight... I won't make you beg for mercy. Save it all for tomorrow."