Don't... I Know I Was Wrong...

"Mr. Meng, Young Master Jiang..."

Cheng Feng stood nearby, worried. Seeing Meng Zhiyuan's dark expression, he ultimately didn't dare finish.

"Tie these two up."

Meng Zhiyuan coldly glanced at the two men lying on the ground, their condition unknown. After giving the order, he carried Jiang Ze, who was already burning up and babbling deliriously, outside.

"Meng Zhiyuan, mm... I'm so hot..."

Holding the restless young man in his arms, Meng Zhiyuan strode to the car, opened the door, and put him in the back seat.

"Stay still."

He grabbed the young man's hands as he tried to pull off his own clothes, his temples throbbing.

Holding back his anger, he deliberately patted Jiang Ze's flushed face and gave a cold laugh, enunciating every word.

"You'd better hope you're clearheaded tonight."

Then he got into the car and floored the accelerator, speeding back to the villa in no time.

"Elder Feng, please get some hot water ready."

Elder Feng repeatedly voiced his agreement. Seeing how miserable the young man in Meng Zhiyuan's arms looked, he didn't dare waste a moment.

Jiang Ze felt as though he had returned to that giant furnace. This time, the door guardian wasn't standing watch outside; instead, he wore a ferocious expression as he picked Jiang Ze up and threw him into the water.

Splash!

The sound of water mingled with Jiang Ze's frantic flailing, and before long, the bathroom was a mess.

"Mm... Help!"

Meng Zhiyuan watched coldly as he thrashed around in a bathtub less than half a meter deep, then reached out and hauled him up.

"Cough, cough..."

The young man now leaned against the edge of the bathtub, his soaked shirt revealing his lean figure. Perhaps because he had just choked on the water, his almond-shaped eyes were wet, making him look rather innocent.

"Meng Zhiyuan... I'm so hot..."

The man crouched beside the tub and lifted the young man's chin with one hand. His grip was firm enough to leave several red marks on that delicate, fair chin.

"Very hot?"

Jiang Ze felt the fire inside him flare up again. His lips were dry, and when he felt the slight dampness of the man's large hand, he couldn't help licking it.

The man's grip abruptly tightened, making Jiang Ze nearly bite his tongue.

"Mm... That hurts!"

Feeling that warm, soft wetness against his hand, Meng Zhiyuan's voice had become impossibly hoarse. He couldn't tell which of them had actually been drugged.

"You really are my little tormentor."

Jiang Ze only felt someone suddenly strip off his wet, sticky clothes. Much more comfortable now, he stretched out his arms for a hug.

In an instant, he landed in a tall man's warm embrace.

"Meng Zhiyuan... I feel awful..."

The young man's eyes were half-lidded and seemed to shimmer with moisture. His cool, fair skin was flushed crimson, and paired with the little mole at the corner of his eye, he looked less lively than usual, but a little more seductive.

"Be good. You'll feel better soon..."

When Jiang Ze woke the next day, some hazy memories of the previous night still lingered in his mind.

Wait, after the big boss brought me back yesterday, in the bathroom...?!

He struggled to shake his heavy head, his mind spinning as though he had a hangover.

No way. Did I sleep with the big boss?! Was that drug so powerful that it not only made me braver, but stronger too?

He only remembered being taken into the bathroom by the man. What happened afterward was nothing but blurry fragments, and his cheeks inexplicably began to heat up at the thought.

As he was piecing together the previous night, he turned his head and saw Meng Zhiyuan emerge from the bathroom wearing a bath towel.

"You're awake?"

Jiang Ze nodded blankly. The man wore nothing but a gray bath towel, leaving his strong, muscular upper body fully exposed. A few droplets of water seemed to slide slowly down his bronze skin.

He was drying his hair with a white towel. As he raised his arm, the defined contours of his muscles showed clearly, prominent veins running from his wrist all the way to his elbow.

"What, did a night's sleep turn you into an idiot?"

Meng Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow at the kid's dazed expression. A few strands of hair had been flattened into a swirl on top of his head. Unlike his appearance last night, he looked rather cute.

At the thought of last night, his gaze darkened slightly.

Jiang Ze came to his senses and hurriedly shook his head.

Beauty really does lead people astray! I wasn't staring at the big boss. I was purely appreciating him!

"Oh? If you're not an idiot, why don't you explain what happened yesterday?"

Jiang Ze watched the man sit on the edge of the bed, facing him. His eyes were dark, his expression unreadable.

Yet somehow, he just knew the man was angry.

His voice unconsciously grew quieter.

"I... I just wanted to look at what my mother left me."

"Then why did you sneak off?"

Meng Zhiyuan planted one hand beside the young man and leaned closer, his tone decidedly dangerous.

"You think you're so capable? What if there had been twenty men there instead of two? Did you ever consider the consequences?"

"You could have ended up pinned beneath some old man, just like this, unable to move while he did whatever he wanted."

As he spoke, Jiang Ze felt himself completely trapped by the man, unable to move an inch. A large hand slowly roamed over his body, making him tremble.

"Wah... Don't... I know I was wrong..."

Jiang Ze's eyes reddened. He sniffled, feeling a little aggrieved.

"What? Am I wrong?"

The man's breath brushed his ear, tickling him. Knowing that Meng Zhiyuan was worried about him, Jiang Ze said nothing and simply nuzzled him gently.

"No... I was wrong, okay? You... don't do this..."

Jiang Ze felt embarrassed. The man completely loomed over him now, his powerful muscles filling Jiang Ze's vision and making it a little hard for him to control himself.

Jiang Ze, now is not the time for those filthy thoughts! Get a grip!

"Very good. It looks like you're enjoying yourself."

Meng Zhiyuan felt rather helpless. After the kid softened toward him a couple of times, he couldn't stay angry, no matter how furious he had been.

He got up and tossed the freshly dried clothes to Jiang Ze. Watching him begin to dress, he finally spoke slowly.

"The next time something like this happens, tell me immediately, then take Cheng Feng with you."

"Understood?"

Jiang Ze nodded like a chick pecking at grain. He knew he had been reckless this time. If he hadn't had the system, whether he could have escaped unscathed was still an open question.

After that incident, Cheng Feng went on high alert. Aside from when Jiang Ze attended class or used the restroom, he stayed by his side at all times to protect him.

Jiang Ze felt helpless, but there was nothing he could do, so he let him be.

"Hey, System, System! I think the Spirit Fruit I planted has sprouted!"

The system's leisurely mechanical voice sounded, carrying a hint of schadenfreude.

"Host~ It's estimated that the Spirit Fruit will need at least twenty more drops of Spirit Spring Water to ripen~"

Jiang Ze's smile froze, and he inwardly cursed the system for being so unscrupulous.

"Seriously? These Points would be enough to buy Spirit Fruit outright! What's the point of going to all this trouble to grow it?"

"Not so, not so. This Spirit Fruit... will be very useful~"

Jiang Ze felt that lately, the system was not only getting frivolous, but also talking in increasingly cryptic ways. He had a persistent feeling it was up to no good.

"By the way, System, I've changed quite a few major plot points now. Have I gained any of the world's fortune?"

The system fell silent for a while, seemingly checking, before finally replying.

"By obtaining the Lucky Jade Pendant and ruining the protagonist's financial luck, two major turning points, you've gained 30% of the fortune. Keep up the good work~"

Jiang Ze sighed. The figure was about what he had expected. He checked his Points again; he still had a long, difficult road ahead before reaching his ultimate goal.

He watered the Spirit Fruit with another two drops of Spirit Spring Water. As he headed back inside, he suddenly received a message from Mu Shaoxuan.

The premiere of the variety show "Wild Mountain Survival" had ended, and Shen Yun had become famous.

But for all the wrong reasons.