Fight, fight!

Enemies saw red the moment they met. Ye Lan slipped both hands into his pockets and laughed.

"What am I doing here? Obviously, I picked this place. As for you, don't you understand first come, first served?"

Nie Chu refused to give an inch, glaring back on the spot.

"First come, first served? Since when does that exist in the adult world? Obviously, whoever has the better moves gets it."

Their rivalry was notorious in the entertainment industry, and they did not even bother hiding it in front of the audience.

This was Ye Xunzhi's first time watching an entertainment-industry feud unfold at such close range. Her only regret was not having a plate of sunflower seeds in her hands.

[Argue! Argue louder!]

[Damn it, how do I add fuel to the fire and make them fight? Fight, fight!]

Could she stop stirring up trouble just for the spectacle? Shouldn't a normal person try to stop them? Ye Lan shot her an annoyed glare.

Ye Xunzhi: [Why are you glaring at me? Shouldn't you be glaring at the enemy? Is this some kind of hint from my second brother? Why can't I understand it?]

Her thoughts alone made it clear just how confused she was.

They could argue and bicker, but neither of them would actually fight on camera.

Both sets of fans had already charged back and forth through the livestream chat, tearing into each other in a frenzy.

Only when the two men decided to check the challenge and its reward before discussing things further did their fans barely regain their reason.

[What a shame.] Disappointment was written all over Ye Xunzhi's face. [Second Brother, how can you stop moving forward? In life, it's not about what you gain, but standing up for your pride. Don't you understand?]

Ye Lan: "..."

I'm so sorry I didn't give you the drama you wanted.

[Strange, why can't I hear Second Brother anymore?]

The task location was on the second floor. Ye Xunzhi walked with her head down until she realized there was no sound coming from ahead.

She looked up in confusion, and a refreshing fragrance immediately reached her nose.

Ye Lan handed her a peach blossom pastry wrapped in oiled paper, his face wooden. "The house specialty. Eat it."

Ye Xunzhi's eyes lit up instantly. She happily took a bite. "Second Brother, didn't you say you had no money?"

"When I'm out and about, can't I stash away a little money for a late-night snack?" Ye Lan resigned himself to emptying his secret savings. Even he felt he had sacrificed too much on this trip.

"Thank you, Second Brother~"

[Long live Second Brother! I knew you were the best.]

Although he knew his little sister's mood changed faster than a storm, Ye Lan still could not help curling his lips.

"Just eat your pastry."

The four of them went upstairs. A server, already prepared for their arrival, led them into a private room. A white-bearded old man sat inside drinking tea. When they entered, he calmly lifted his eyes and nodded.

Before the other three could respond to his nod, Nie Chu's nephew, An Yuan, stepped forward in surprise and bowed.

His voice was unusually respectful. "Master Jiang."

Old Master Jiang nodded. "Hello, young man."

[Who is this?]

[I'm back from looking him up. This is Mr. Jiang, the internationally renowned Go master. He represented our country in competitions when he was young.]

After hearing An Yuan's introduction of the old man, the other three felt some respect for such a leading figure, even though none of them worked in the field.

Faced with these big stars from outside his field, Old Master Jiang merely offered a calm greeting. He had come as a special guest this time.

The old man handed over the task card. "The reward for this task is 1,000 yuan. Your objective is to solve the board position I have set up. Do that, and you can claim the reward."

Both teams were startled. They had not expected to encounter a task of the highest difficulty right at the start.

Even if the master had gone easy on them when setting up the position, it certainly would not be simple. Before they could finish thinking it over, however, Old Master Jiang calmly continued.

"But I have only prepared one board this time, and there are two of you here, so which of you will take the challenge? In the end, whether you succeed or not, this task location will disappear."

This laid the competition bare. Nie Chu's eyes shifted, and he suddenly gave Ye Lan a provocative smile.

"Well? Dare to make a bet?"

Ye Lan glanced at him. "You're not worth my time."

Despite being dismissed like that, Nie Chu did not get angry this time. Instead, he casually laid out his stake.

"Don't you want the Aosa endorsement?"

Ye Lan abruptly turned his head. Aosa was an internationally renowned car brand. He really liked its cars, but had failed to secure its endorsement. He reasonably suspected this bastard had gotten it by selling his ass.

Ye Lan eyed him suspiciously. "You'd be that generous?"

Nie Yuan chuckled. "Of course not. In exchange, I want your Suotu endorsement."

Suotu was likewise an internationally renowned perfume brand. Both endorsements were for top-tier luxury brands. Ye Lan had known this bastard could not possibly have suddenly come to do him a favor. So he was coveting the resources Ye Lan held.

But Ye Lan really did like that car brand. Besides, while losing a top-tier luxury endorsement would hurt, it was not an unbearable loss for someone of his standing. He fell silent for a moment.

"What do you want to bet on?"

Nie Chu pointed at the board. "This game. Have your sister play my nephew. Whoever loses hands over the endorsement."

Ye Xunzhi was crouching beside Old Master Jiang. Since the peach blossom pastry was a little dry, she had been itching to wheedle some of the fragrant tea in his hands out of him when she was suddenly called out.

[Is it my turn to step up again? Can I even slack off anymore? Still, since Second Brother bought me peach blossom pastry, I suppose I could accept...]

"No."

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted. Ye Xunzhi froze as Ye Lan rejected the suggestion without mercy.

"Fuck you. If you want to bet, then bet. Leave my sister out of it."

Nie Chu: "You don't dare?"

Ye Lan: "Not interested."

Listening to their voices, Ye Xunzhi suddenly recalled a scene from the past. It had been a bright, breezy day when she and her second brother had gone out to collect trash.

The very same Nie Chu before her had driven up in a luxury Aosa sports car, looking scornful from head to toe.

"Well, well, if it isn't our award-winning actor Ye. How come you're collecting trash now?"

Their family had already been through a great deal by then. Ye Lan continued without a word. Nie Chu got out of the car and kept mocking him, turning his gaze to Ye Xunzhi.

"This is your sister, right? She's pretty good-looking. How about washing her up and lending her to me for some fun? It's such a waste having her collect trash with you..."

Before he could finish, the previously silent Ye Lan suddenly seemed to go berserk. He grabbed Nie Chu by the hair and slammed his head hard against the front of the car, again and again, drawing blood.

Ye Lan's eyes were filled with vicious fury. "You can insult me, but don't you fucking humiliate my sister!"

Afterward, they all headed into the bright confines of the police station. Nie Chu had pissed himself in fear right then, and a month later, his reputation came crashing down.