He was already a deviation

After a few minutes of comforting, or perhaps because they were both women, Tan Yaya recovered somewhat.

She wiped her tears. "I'm fine."

Only then did Zhang Jue breathe a sigh of relief.

The bar owner stayed with Tan Yaya, while Zhang Jue, Xie Yuan, and Mu Ze turned their gazes to the man on the floor.

The man had recovered a little by now. He glared viciously at Zhang Jue. "You'd better let me go, or my dad will make you pay."

Zhang Jue stepped forward and kicked him in the stomach. "Still threatening us at a time like this? Get through this first, then we'll talk."

He kicked the man twice more before his anger eased a little.

Zhang Jue looked up to consult Xie Yuan and Mu Ze. "What do we do with him?"

Letting him go was out of the question.

Xie Yuan thought for a moment. "If you trust me, leave him to me. Once we're gone, I'll have someone take him away."

Zhang Jue was silent for a moment. "All right. I trust you."

With the man's fate settled, it was Tan Yaya's turn.

She couldn't go out in her current state.

Xie Yuan asked, "Teacher Tan, are you feeling all right?"

Faced with their concern, Tan Yaya held back her aversion. "I'm all right. What do you have in mind?"

Xie Yuan watched Tan Yaya for a moment. Only after seeing the resilience in her eyes did he say, "I'll have to trouble you to faint for a bit, Teacher Tan."

Understanding what Xie Yuan meant, Tan Yaya nodded. "All right. I'll do as you say."

A minute later, Zhang Jue carried Tan Yaya out of the restroom.

Tan Yaya lay curled in Zhang Jue's arms, motionless, as though she had fainted.

Xie Yuan, Mu Ze, and even the bar owner all looked at Tan Yaya with concern.

The instant they emerged, the camera operators aimed their cameras at them almost instinctively.

In the Livestream Room.

[What happened to Heavenly Queen Tan?]

[From the looks on their faces, did something really happen?]

[What is the production team doing? Didn't they say everyone was thoroughly investigated before being added to the show's roster?]

[I heard bars are really chaotic places. Did something really happen?]

[What could happen in a bar? Use your brain and you'll know.]

In the Livestream Backstage, Director Ma looked worried.

The camera operators hadn't followed them inside, so he didn't know what had happened either.

He could only hope nothing had really happened.

Facing the camera, Xie Yuan explained, "Teacher Tan suddenly had a bout of low blood sugar and fainted in the restroom."

"It's nothing serious at the moment. She'll be fine after going back and getting some proper rest."

Those words weren't meant for the camera operators, but for the viewers in the Livestream Room.

Zhang Jue chimed in then. "Teacher Tan told me earlier that she wasn't feeling well. It's my fault for not noticing anything wrong sooner."

In short, she had fainted from low blood sugar.

In the Livestream Backstage, Director Ma breathed a sigh of relief.

He told the Deputy Director beside him, "Keep an eye on what's being said online. If anyone posts any other claims about Heavenly Queen Tan, clarify things immediately."

After leaving the bar, the four rode back to the villa together.

A few minutes into the drive, Tan Yaya acted as though she had just woken up.

Her complexion was a little poor, and her voice was apologetic. "Sorry for troubling you all."

"I forgot about my old problem with low blood sugar."

Zhang Jue replied, "It's not your fault, Teacher Tan. You couldn't have known it would flare up then."

Tan Yaya looked guilty. "It's just that we might lose today's wages."

Zhang Jue deliberately teased her. "I never knew you were such a money grubber, Teacher Tan. You're still thinking about your wages at a time like this."

Tan Yaya raised her chin haughtily. "Am I thinking about that little bit of pay? I'm thinking about the first-place prize, okay?"

Mu Ze cut in. "You might be disappointed, Teacher Tan. We're determined to take first place."

Tan Yaya refused to concede. "Then let's each do our best."

After this exchange, the viewers in the Livestream Room who had still been suspicious immediately set their doubts aside.

[Look how relaxed they are. How could anything really have happened?]

[Where are those clowns from earlier? Go on, keep making a scene.]

[I've been to that bar. They're very strict there. None of that filthy stuff would happen.]

[Looks like it really was low blood sugar.]

[Everyone knows our Yaya has always had low blood sugar.]

[You really can't predict when low blood sugar will strike.]

In the car, Xie Yuan watched the streetlights outside the window, his eyes brightening a little.

In the original novel, although Tan Yaya hadn't been violated tonight, she had been left with severe psychological trauma.

Although she had forced herself to finish filming the show, her condition had worsened day by day afterward, and she had soon left the entertainment industry.

Some of the opportunities that should have belonged to her had gone to Su Wanyue.

Zhang Jue had felt guilty over the incident, and with Tan Yaya's aversion as well, the budding affection between them had gone no further.

At the end of the book, their circumstances had even been specifically mentioned to highlight the happiness of the male and female leads.

Neither Tan Yaya nor Zhang Jue had ever married, and even their careers had fallen far short of what they once were.

He glanced toward Tan Yaya out of the corner of his eye. Although she was still affected, judging by her choice to let Zhang Jue carry her into the car, she at least wasn't averse to his touch.

That was a good thing. At least it showed that the original novel's plot could be changed.

Xie Yuan called the Wicked System in his mind. Keep an eye on what's being said online. If you notice anyone using this incident to smear Tan Yaya on a large scale, tell me immediately.

[Got it. I've been watching all along.]

Xie Yuan caught the reluctance in the Wicked System's tone. Do a good job, and if I'm happy, I might give you some Villainy Points.

[Really?]

[Rest assured, host. I'll keep a close eye on things online and notify you at the first sign of anything.]

Xie Yuan thought for a moment. Can you monitor the Male and Female Leads' Halo?

[Yes. The Male and Female Leads' Halo currently has eighty percent remaining.]

Eighty, huh. Still quite a lot.

Since he had awakened his memories, the female lead had already lost her inheritance of over a hundred million.

The male lead's reputation had also suffered considerably because of his own actions.

At least it was no longer like the book, where most people online had marveled at their love.

On the dating show, Xie Yuan had put the two of them in their place several times and stolen plenty of screen time.

Then there was the kindergarten incident. Su Wanyue hadn't saved that child and had lost a major opportunity.

And tonight, things with Tan Yaya hadn't unfolded as they had in the original novel.

All of these things had affected the male and female leads to some degree.

And there was also...

Xie Yuan turned to look at Mu Ze.

In the original novel, Mu Ze hadn't joined the dating show and had never had any contact with the male or female lead throughout.

He was already a deviation.

As things stood, even if something happened to Mu Ze later, just as it had in the book, Gu Yanzhou wouldn't gain control of Mu Ze's company.

No. Xie Yuan shook his head. Whatever the reason something had happened to Mu Ze in the book, he was now someone Xie Yuan had his eye on. He wouldn't let the plot unfold the same way.

He would protect Mu Ze, no matter what.

Mu Ze noticed Xie Yuan's gaze. "What's wrong?"

Xie Yuan tilted his head and rested it on Mu Ze's shoulder. "I'm a little sleepy. Wake me when we get there."

"All right." Mu Ze stiffened for a moment, then immediately relaxed.

Soon, the sound of Xie Yuan's steady breathing reached him.

Mu Ze stared at Xie Yuan's profile, lost in thought.

Tan Yaya happened to see this and quietly tugged on Zhang Jue's clothes.

Zhang Jue followed Tan Yaya's gaze.

Tan Yaya leaned close to Zhang Jue, her voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. "Don't you think Young Master Xie and Mu Ze make a good match?"