I've worked security and been a bodyguard. Keeping you safe is no problem

Lu Group, CEO's office.

The secretary knocked and entered, speaking in an even tone. "Mr. Lu, the director called. He hopes you'll step in and talk to Lu Yuanhang."

Lu Siqi looked up from the proposal he was reading. "Talk to him about what?"

"Persuading him to leave the variety show." The secretary maintained his professional smile.

Lu Siqi frowned. "Is the director out of his mind? Doesn't he know Lu Group invested five million?"

The secretary said, "The director said it would be even better if Lu Group withdrew its investment."

Lu Siqi said, "..."

"Mr. Lu, Lu Yuanhang's reputation has taken a beating these past two days, and it's already affecting the company's brand. Quite a few people online are asking whether Lu Group has ties to loan sharks." As he spoke, the secretary placed screenshots of the comments on the desk.

Lu Siqi picked them up, skimmed them, then crumpled them into a ball and threw it away. "They're just a few grasshoppers hopping around. What trouble could they possibly cause?"

"What about the marketing agency? Don't they know how to manage the comments?"

The secretary lowered his gaze to the ball of paper, a hint of helplessness creeping into his businesslike tone. "The agency has done its best. The main problem is that Lu Yuanhang-your brother-keeps producing outrageous quotes. It's a little difficult to clean up his image."

At those words, Lu Siqi went still for a long moment.

He had been busy lately.

Busy with meetings, busy with business trips, busy crushing other companies underfoot.

He hadn't even had time to get back at Jian Li. How could he have time to follow a variety show?

So it was only natural that he knew nothing about his adoptive brother's shocking remarks.

"Go tell the director..." Exhausted, Lu Siqi rubbed his brow. "Xiaohang will rein it in a little. He's always been frail, so he's been spoiled and grown a bit willful. He's actually very kind."

The secretary said, "..." You call that kind?

Then I'd really like to slap that kind little brother of yours across the face a few times!

"Mr. Lu, I'm afraid that won't work this time."

He paused for several seconds and was about to press his case when his phone rang.

Assuming the work call was urgent, the secretary went ahead and swiped to answer. "What's the matter?"

"Really?"

"All right, understood. I'll inform Mr. Lu immediately."

With that, he hung up and looked straight at Lu Siqi. "Mr. Lu, you'll have to intervene personally this time. It's been exposed that Lu Yuanhang ordered violent debt collection, driving a debtor to suicide."

Shock flashed across Lu Siqi's face. "What?!"

The rain on Deserted Island stopped just as afternoon training ended.

A rainbow arched across the horizon, its colors complementing the sea in a scene of exquisite natural beauty.

Despite the lovely view, the director had no interest in filming. He stood beside the instructor, his brows tightly furrowed. "There's really no room to negotiate?"

"We have to evacuate immediately?!"

Feng Dayuan nodded. "There's a military operation on the island. The troops need to clear out all unauthorized personnel."

"To be honest, I'm disappointed too. We were just about to start the Hilltop Competition..."

Victory was so close.

Boo-hoo.

Even tough guys cried!

The director heaved a sigh. "Fine. We've got enough footage for this season anyway. With some editing, we can just about put together something to air."

He turned to his assistant. "Pack up. We're going home."

When the news reached the guests, none of them reacted much except Lu Yuanhang.

"What? We're leaving after just a few days? Are you messing with us? Do you know how many gigs I turned down to make time for this?" Agitated, he started shouting at the crew.

The crew member rolled their eyes. "Count yourself lucky. If we weren't all evacuating, you'd be leaving on your own."

"What?" Lu Yuanhang clearly hadn't understood. He was about to ask more questions, but the crew member had already hurried away.

He turned, hoping to find someone who shared his outrage at being toyed with by the production team, only to discover that the other guests had begun packing.

"What a bunch of lackeys!"

Lu Yuanhang muttered with a curl of his lip. After standing there for a while, he started packing his clothes too.

Toward evening, the yacht left Deserted Island.

Then they boarded a bus and headed straight for the airport.

By the time they returned to the capital, it was already nine in the morning.

As he emerged from the special passage, Lu Yuanhang spotted a crowd of fans holding illuminated signs in the distance. His lips curled smugly. "I told them not to come meet me, but they insisted. Having such enthusiastic fans can be a burden."

He deliberately took a dig at the other guests, only to find that no one was paying him any attention.

Tch. A bunch of nobodies!

Cursing inwardly, Lu Yuanhang quickened his pace with his suitcase in hand. But just as he stepped through the automatic doors and was about to approach the crowd, deafening shouts rang out.

"Brother Li, we're your die-hard fans!"

"Brother Li, are you going to start a fitness class? I'll be the first to sign up!"

"Brother Li, the topic group is ready! We're waiting for you to come online and join us!"

"Brother Li, when are you and Huo Xiao getting married? We're waiting for our invitations!"

"Brother Li..."

Before Jian Li, who was walking behind him, could process what was happening, the crowd of men and women was shouting increasingly outrageous things.

His mouth fell open in surprise. He turned and met Huo Xiao's unreadable gaze, then hurriedly blurted out, "Let me explain. I really don't know anything about this!"

"About what?" A faint curve touched Huo Xiao's lips, his voice resonant and cool.

"Th-the marriage thing they're shouting about. That wasn't my idea, and I definitely wasn't trying to hype us up as a couple. Please don't get the wrong idea!"

Jian Li waved his hands frantically, looking the very picture of innocence.

He knew that, in the original novel, this villain hated celebrities who used him for publicity more than anything.

He pretty much killed every last one of them.

With the fans acting this crazy, wasn't he as good as dead?!

Jian Li wasn't afraid of trouble, but he hated dealing with it.

"Being hyped up as a couple isn't a bad idea." Huo Xiao's smile deepened. "We'll be working together again, after all."

Jian Li looked utterly bewildered. "?"

Without waiting for his response, Huo Xiao strode over on his long legs and got into his chauffeured van.

The windows were opaque, and possibly even bulletproof.

Yet as it drove past him, Jian Li still had the uncanny feeling that someone was staring him down.

While he stood there in a daze, someone sidled up beside him and said maliciously, "Don't think one variety show will make you a star. Ruining your reputation would be child's play for me!"

Jian Li narrowed his eyes and turned, his usual casually indifferent smile curling his lips.

"Is that so? Then I'm really looking forward to it."

The words had barely left his mouth when a Maybach pulled up in front of them.

Lu Yuanhang rose onto his toes for a look, and delight immediately spread across his face. He said smugly, "My brother's here to pick me up. See you, loser."

Jian Li said nothing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a tall figure step out of the back seat and head straight toward him.

He was just considering whether to loosen up his muscles when several people suddenly sprang out from behind him.

Yuan Feng said, "If you're being forced into anything, just blink."

Shi Huayi said, "I'm pretty good at grappling. Say the word if you need me."

Zhou Nan said, "I've worked security and been a bodyguard. Keeping you safe is no problem."

Luo Xiaohong said, "Cut the chatter. Do you need me to whip him?"

Suddenly overwhelmed by all the attention, Jian Li said, "..." Aren't you afraid of exposing yourselves?!

Fuck.

Why was he actually kind of touched?!