In the next scene Linghu finally got to relax after the chaotic banquet. Lying down with a glass of wine, he called out to the system and asked whether it had something to tell him. The system happily responded that the second stage of the story had begun.
At that moment he immediately regretted asking in the first place.
In this part, Churong and Linghu were forced into their alliance marriage. Her father would take them to meet an important elder named Tan Zhou. Tan Zhou was an old man who had once raised and trained Churong's father. Now, at the age of seventy, he was seriously ill, and many people had tried to treat him, but none had succeeded.
In the original story Linghu introduced a so-called miracle doctor, and it ended in failure and embarrassment. After that Beichuan appeared and saved the day using a powerful medical technique, earning Tan Zhou's favour. Because of that, Tan Zhou later supported Beichuan's side, which led to the decline of the Linghu family.
Thinking about this, Linghu Chang realised how bad the situation was. According to the plot, the main protagonist already had that powerful technique, while he had nothing at all to compete with. Going there would only lead to humiliation.
The system encouraged him not to give up, reminding him that as the villain he had to fight to survive.
Just then the door opened and someone came in to inform him that it was time to prepare for the banquet. The person was Hu Chang.
The system immediately warned him that this man was known as the king of provocation, and that simply being around him increased the chance of dying by fifty per cent.
Linghu quickly decided to remove him from the situation. He praised Hu Chang and suddenly offered to send him abroad to become a shareholder, promising him wealth and success. Hu Chang was completely confused, since he understood nothing about business or stocks, but Linghu followed him all the way to the airport and pushed him to believe in himself, adding that he was the best.
Feeling relieved, Linghu thought he had finally got rid of a major problem. Checking his watch, he realised it was time for the banquet.
The next scene took him to the Tan family hotel. He stepped out of the car, adjusted his tie, and messaged Churong that he had arrived, asking for her location.
While he was busy with his little plan, a red-haired beauty with a striking figure appeared beside him and asked why he looked so familiar. The author had made sure that all the important characters were stacked.
She had stepped out of a car, and now she suddenly remembered. She looked at him closely and asked whether he wasn't the ex-boyfriend she had hated the most.
The moment he recognised her, the system triggered the host's memories of Mao Kiwa, the daughter of the prestigious Mao family. She and the original Linghu had been classmates and college sweethearts, but they had broken up because of a ridiculous misunderstanding. Not long after that, the original Linghu became Churong's follower, and as a result Kiwa gradually distanced herself from him.
She smiled and said it hadn't been that long since they last spoke, so there was no way he could have forgotten her.
At the same time Linghu observed her figure and admitted she was stunning. It was hard not to appreciate the fact that she used to be his girlfriend. On top of that, the original Linghu was a complete idiot.
Unfortunately, she heard that thought and looked around in shock, trying to find the source. By the time she looked forward again he had vanished, which irritated her a little, since they had not finished talking.
He was busy talking to a blond man instead, thinking that he needed to avoid another red flag. As he moved farther away she noticed the voice in his head becoming quieter.
He tried casually to make small talk, but his thoughts revealed his frustration. Beauty didn't matter, he complained, if she was going to end up in someone else's harem anyway. He even called himself the biggest fool in the novel. He was already unlucky as the villain, and now he might lose his ex-girlfriend too.
Kiwa heard every word of it, became furious, and stepped closer. She asked him what nonsense he was talking about.
Confused, he denied saying anything, but she pointed out that he was clearly making a mess of things. After finally winning Churong over, he was now trying to make her angry.
He was completely lost. He had been trying to get a divorce this whole time, and he did not even like Churong. In his mind, someone like Kiwa would be a much better match.
Of course, she heard that too, and quickly realised that he had no idea she could hear all his thoughts. But what mattered more was what he had meant by saying she was better than Churong.
Because of this, she asked why his expression had suddenly changed the moment she mentioned Churong. Did he not want to marry her?
Linghu sighed, thinking that this marriage was nothing but trouble. She pressed further, asking why he acted like a lackey.
He went on another rant, explaining that he had never wanted that role and had been forced into it. According to him, Churong had manipulated everything and turned others against him, making his life miserable.
She listened, quietly laughing at his complaints. He did not understand why she had started laughing, especially since he hadn't said anything.
She stepped closer and concluded that the misunderstanding from years ago had not been his fault after all. Even so, she sighed. It was a pity that he still had to get married.
He responded with a strange saying about preferring familiar things, then gently pushed her away, saying that life would be easier with someone like her — but that now he had no choice.
At that moment Churong stepped out of her car. She had already heard his thoughts about preferring someone else.
Seeing the two of them standing close together, she shouted his name.
He was completely cooked.
Anger flashed across her face, but she quickly calmed herself and decided to act differently. With a bright smile she walked over and greeted him warmly, pretending she had been looking for him everywhere. He was completely confused by the sudden change in her behaviour. Declaring her sovereignty, she hugged him tightly and called him her husband. Before he could react, she grabbed his face and went in for a kiss.
He was stunned, and did not understand why her personality had suddenly changed.
Kiwa immediately realised it was only an act, and told him they would talk after the banquet, reminding him that her number had not changed. The girl was openly flirting with him in front of his fiancée.