"Brother Chuan, don't you think there's something weird about this survival show everywhere you look? Doesn't everyone online hate that simp Shang Shujue?"
Lin Xu watched Shang Shujue return to his seat from backstage on the screen and sit down very casually, while the person beside him handed him things.
He refused none of them, simply accepting them with a smile and a nod, and even eating them right away.
"But why do I feel like most of the contestants on this show don't hate him, but fear and respect him instead?"
Lin Xu didn't know whether he was imagining things, but he kept feeling that the person handing Shang Shujue things didn't hate him in the slightest, and even seemed a little suspicious of unconsciously trying to please him and get on his good side. Yet when he looked closely, that didn't seem to be the case.
"Heh, Shang Shujue has Song Yanqing backing him now. He's acting even more brazen than before. How could anyone who knows who's behind him not fear him?"
"You'd be scared too if you had to take on Song Yanqing alone, let alone this trainee who clearly has no backing."
Han Dong looked at Lin Xu, his lips curling into a meaningful smile. On closer inspection, there seemed to be something sinister in that smile. A single glance made one feel as though disgusting maggots were crawling all over their legs, leaving their hair standing on end and chills running down their spine.
"Still, that trainee handing him things is pretty good-looking... He really does have such a delicate face..."
"Hehehe, I think the trainee in front of Shang Shujue, the one called Xu Jiaqiao, looks much more exciting."
Li Yun'ao dismissed Han Dong's taste and fixed his gaze on Xu Jiaqiao.
The outfit he wore exposed his lovely rounded shoulders and collarbones, his skin fair with a rosy flush.
"This trainee seems to be the little pet that shell company was going to give me. It's all that idiot Shang Shujue's fault for getting in my way."
Just imagining his name branded there made him inexplicably excited, to the point that his body trembled a little.
"Stop going into heat, you two. Especially you, Han Dong. You're injured, so focus on recovering. Don't stir up any trouble lately."
"Song Yanqing dared to speak up for Shang Shujue at the risk of facing sanctions. That alone makes his position clear."
Yang Shaoying rapidly rolled the iron walnuts in his hand, the two walnuts making crisp clicking sounds. He frowned at Han Dong and Li Yun'ao as they went into heat, thoroughly displeased.
"If he really wanted to ruin our reputations and leave us dead without a burial place, it would be far too easy."
"You two had better behave yourselves for now. Don't cause trouble for me and Brother Chuan. And you, Lin Xu, behave yourself too! Don't do anything you shouldn't!"
Yang Shaoying held considerable standing among them. Apart from Su Youchuan, he was the second person in charge, and whenever Su Youchuan was absent, they generally listened to him.
"We all know where to draw the line."
The three spoke in unison.
Su Youchuan ignored all of them, his gaze shifting back and forth between Yu Zeqi and Zhang Zhichen on the screen.
No matter how many times he looked, he still felt that the two of them looked far too alike.
As he studied them carefully, he found that Yu Zeqi's features were somewhat softer, while Zhang Zhichen's were sharper. But if that sharpness were softened, they would look practically identical.
[For reference here, think of Chen Xinhai and Zhou Keyu. This is just an example, not saying they look exactly like them. Please don't misunderstand, dear fans of these two celebrities.]
"They really do look alike..." Su Youchuan picked up the specially mixed drink on the table and took a sip, his eyes taking on a predatory look. "Yang Shaoying, set Shang Shujue's matter aside for now."
"First, look into the boy sitting in front of Zhang Zhichen, the one who looks almost exactly like him. I want him."
With that single remark from Su Youchuan, the room instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at him, and when they noticed that his gentle air had vanished entirely, replaced by coldness and aggression, they immediately understood everything.
Su Youchuan's feelings for Zhang Zhichen were genuine, but he couldn't bear to use those filthy methods on him, so he intended to find a substitute who looked very much like him to satisfy his physical...
As for Hu Yichen, Su Youchuan's white moonlight who had traveled across the ocean and settled in France, he would probably become someone who could never be mentioned in his heart from now on.
So far, no one had ever been able to change a decision Su Youchuan had made. Even if Hu Yichen returned to the country now, he probably wouldn't change this decision.
"Then our plan for the Shang Family..."
Although Yang Shaoying didn't interfere with Su Youchuan's romantic affairs or private life, he couldn't help becoming cautious when their interests were involved.
"We can't touch the Shang Family anymore. I had someone investigate before I came. A company under Song Yanqing has already entered into a partnership with Shang Shujue's eldest brother's company."
"The Song Family's professional hackers have already moved into the Shang Family. We can't touch him. All we can do now is change targets."
"Much as I hate to accept it, we can only abandon it temporarily for the sake of our long-term plans. If we want everything the Shang Family has, we'll have to start with the Song Family. I heard Song Yanqing has an eighteen-year-old younger sister who's in college..."
At this point, Su Youchuan unconsciously set down his glass and raised his eyes to Yang Shaoying. "Don't you have a younger male cousin studying abroad? Call him back, train him properly, and send him to Song Yanqing's sister's school."
Su Youchuan didn't finish what came next, but Yang Shaoying already understood what he meant. He narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded gently. "I understand."
Su Youchuan withdrew his gaze and tugged lightly at his collar, staring at Zhang Zhichen on the screen with narrowed eyes. A moment later, he shifted his attention to Shang Shujue.
The timing was such a coincidence. Just as Su Youchuan looked at Shang Shujue, the warm yellow light overhead fell on him, making his already attractive face look even more handsome.
He sat there with a bright, uninhibited smile, as though radiating holy light, and was full of life as he spoke to Zhang Zhichen.
He had clearly done nothing, yet he looked so pure that even Su Youchuan felt a momentary sense of inferiority, with nowhere to hide his shame...
Shang Shujue... don't think I'll let you off... No one who can cross me and walk away unscathed has been born yet...
Su Youchuan drained his glass and set it back on the table with a crisp clack.
Han Dong involuntarily glanced at him and followed his gaze, narrowing his eyes without realizing it. Su Youchuan, you're truly ruthless. Even if you destroy someone you don't want, you won't leave him for your brothers? Hehehe, don't even think about it...
"Achoo!"
"Achoo!!"
Yu Zeqi suddenly sneezed, his whole back trembling, as cute as a little hamster curled into a ball and shaking its tiny legs. Before he could figure out what had happened, Shang Shujue sneezed too, and he instinctively turned to look.
"You sneezed too, Brother Jue? I just sneezed as well. I don't know why, but I keep feeling uneasy."
Not seeing a camera, Shang Shujue rubbed his nose before speaking to him. "Unless something unexpected is going on, someone's probably plotting against us behind our backs."
"Have you cut ties with that scumbag friend of yours? Blocked and deleted him? Don't let him call you over as soon as the livestream ends. You can't trust a single thing people like that say."
*[It must be Su Youchuan plotting against me and Yu Zeqi behind our backs! What rotten luck... Huh? It really is him? That piece of trash is actually watching the livestream?*
He set his sights on Yu Zeqi at first glance? Unbelievable... Does he really think Xiao Qi has no background or backing? What a joke...
*No need to bother with him for now. Uncle Yu Yang knows a little martial arts. If he can't beat up someone from the younger generation, can't he beat up his dad?]*
Yu Zeqi: Pfft, hahaha... My dad is that amazing? Hahaha... Ahem, hold it in, hold it in, hold it in!
Shang Shujue's inner voice nearly made everyone burst out laughing. Fortunately, they all held it in. When it came to controlling their expressions, they truly were professionals.
Even Hong Zhenghua managed his expression well. He had already decided to find a way to break up with that woman after the livestream ended.
Fortunately, he had never brought that woman home. Otherwise, even his grandfather might have suffered...