-Chapter 2-
Just as Yelena was completely stunned by Lucas's inner thoughts, her phone rang.
"Hello? Dad, yes, I'm with Rose. Alright, I'll head over now."
After hanging up, she frowned slightly and said, "Rose, my dad needs me for something. Let's go in together."
Rose nodded and deliberately walked to one side of Lucas.
She hadn't expected this little bastard to know so much about her, and now even about Yelena as well.
Let's see if she could coax a bit more out of him.
Then she'd find a chance to remind her best friend just how dangerous that male lead really was.
But what she didn't know was that whatever she could hear, Yelena could hear just the same.
So Yelena silently moved to Lucas's other side, trying to probe as well.
"Does Young Master Grey have any close friends in the Miller family? I can ask someone to keep you company later."
He seemed to know far too much about the Miller family.
Maybe someone from the inside was leaking information to him.
Lucas answered absentmindedly, "I don't know anyone. Not a single one."
[I'm just one of the villains in the novel, and only the villain in Rose's storyline at that. If I knew anyone in yours, that'd be a real ghost story.]
[The villain for your line is someone else, a fool named Louis Johnson. He'll show up soon.]
[Also, could you two just stay away from me? I'm trying to keep a low profile. Walking beside Rose is already eye-catching enough, and now you're both tagging along.]
It's not that he didn't want to walk with two beauties.
It was just that too many people were watching.
And their discussions weren't even subtle. He couldn't ignore them if he tried.
"Hey, isn't that Lucas, the Grey family's infamous good-for-nothing? Walking beside Goddess White, and her bodyguards didn't throw him out?"
"Haven't you heard? The guy threw himself down the White family's stairs just to latch onto her. Scared her parents so much they've been apologizing at the Grey house every day since."
"Tch. What a dog. He's willing to lose all dignity to chase the goddess. But why is Goddess Miller with him too?"
"Goddess Miller and Goddess White are best friends. She's probably worried that guy might take advantage of White, so she's secretly protecting her."
"Yeah, that must be it. Only explanation."
Lucas nearly rolled his eyes right out of his skull.
[Protect what? I was dragged here by your goddess, alright?]
[Take advantage? Even if you gave me a hundred million, I wouldn't touch her finger.]
What?
Yelena's eyes widened in surprise.
So it wasn't that he was pestering Rose, but rather that Rose had invited him?
And from the way he was thinking, he actually seemed repulsed by Rose?
That's too strange.
She glanced at Rose, only to find her gaze icy cold, with a faint anger beginning to smolder.
As the three walked into the hotel, an elderly man hurried over. "Miss, you've finally arrived. The master is waiting for you."
After greeting Rose with a nod, he led Yelena away.
As soon as she left, Lucas let out a sigh of relief.
[Finally got rid of that walking disaster.]
Turning his head, he met Rose's frosty gaze.
[Very good, that look suits you. Keep it up. Remember your ice-cold goddess persona. Don't talk to me.]
Hmph.
Rose pressed her lips together, clearly displeased.
What did he mean by not even touching her for a hundred million?
She didn't believe it for a second.
A surge of stubbornness rose in her, and she deliberately grabbed his wrist. "I'm tired. Let's sit over there."
With that, she led him toward the sofa area, hand still on his wrist.
This move didn't just shock Lucas. The men who had been secretly watching them were practically fuming with jealousy.
"Fuck! Goddess White actually took that guy's hand!"
"I must be seeing things. She has a cleanliness obsession. She won't even touch people through clothes. And now she's touching her number one most hated simp?"
"No way. Bro, I'm about to mentally collapse. Don't tell me this loser simped his way into having it all!"
All around, the men looked at Lucas with envy and hatred.
But what they didn't know was that Lucas wasn't enjoying this at all. In fact, he felt like he was sitting on needles, choking on fishbones, and about to cry.
[Please, miss, stop ruining me. Even if nothing happens between us tonight, you're still the male lead's childhood sweetheart. If he sees this, he might just target me right away.]
[Sure, I want to act as a villain, but I don't want to get beaten for no reason.]
[If I'm remembering right, the male lead enters like a god of war. Crushing people is like slicing vegetables for him.]
Seeing how terrified Lucas was, Rose finally felt a little better.
She let go of his wrist and curved her lips smugly.
Little liar. Let's see if you dare badmouth me in your heart again.
Childhood sweetheart?
She didn't have one. If she had to name someone, it would be David Fox from the Fox family.
But seven years ago, the Fox family was wiped out.
David disappeared without a trace and hasn't been heard from since.
It couldn't be him.
While she searched her memories for clues, Lucas suddenly clutched his stomach.
"Ow, my stomach hurts. Maybe the wound reopened. Rose, can I go back to the hospital to rest?"
[I've got a bad feeling about staying here. Better to leave this cursed place and stay far away from the male lead.]
Rose glanced at him coldly. "But your wound isn't on your stomach. It's on your chest."
"Uh…"
Lucas was at a loss for words and was just about to make up something else when Yelena walked back toward them.
[No, please! Why are you coming back?]
[Your male lead is about to arrive. He'll be stopped and humiliated by the guards, waiting for you to show up and help him save face by firing them. Could you go find him already and stop bothering me?]
Lucas wanted to cry.
He mentally reviewed the plot while helplessly watching Yelena approach.
She really was the female lead the male lead spent the most time chasing.
Her presence was like spring flowers blooming—comfortable and soothing.
Her every movement was filled with elegance, her gentle eyes revealing wisdom and tenderness that most women couldn't compare to.
But Lucas had no time to admire her beauty or grace.
Because she had walked right up to him, gracefully lifted her skirt, and sat down beside him.
[The sky is falling.]
[If the male lead walks in now and sees both his soulmate and his childhood sweetheart sitting on either side of me, I'll be promoted straight to the top of his hit list.]
At that thought, Lucas shot to his feet.
"I—"
He was just about to escape using the classic bathroom excuse when a waiter suddenly rushed over.
"Miss! Someone is trying to force their way into the banquet, claiming to be your friend. Should we let him in?"
Lucas's eyes widened instantly.
[He's here! That's definitely the male lead!]
David is here?
The moment Yelena heard the news, she immediately grew nervous.
But it was not because of David himself. Instead, her concern lay in this: if he truly clashed with the security guards, or if he ended up provoking Zeke, then that would confirm everything Lucas had been thinking.
It would also mean that David was not the person she had believed him to be. Perhaps even the antidote he gave her father had ulterior motives behind it.
She frowned slightly and stood up. "Rose, Young Master Grey, I'll head over and take a look. I'll find you two again later."
[What the hell? Got nothing better to do than pester us? Go hang out with your male lead already.]
Lucas could only sigh.
Watching Yelena walk away, he turned to Rose. "Not curious enough to go join the crowd?"
[As long as Rose stays away from me, the male lead will never notice me. I just want to blend into the background and be invisible.]
Rose bit her lip to hold back a laugh. So he wanted to be invisible?
She had no intention of letting that happen.
"I came out today to relax. Why would I get involved in drama? Lucas, there's a dance going on over there. Why don't you join me for one?"
Dance?
Lucas nearly coughed up blood.
Half the people in the hall were already casting sneaky glances their way, and the other half were glaring daggers at him. Now she wanted to be even more conspicuous by dancing? Why not just make him run around naked?
He dropped back onto the couch with a thud. "Can't. Still recovering. Feeling dizzy. No dancing."
"Dizzy?" Rose leaned in toward him. "Let me massage your temples."
Lucas: "..."
[Have you lost your mind? Your childhood sweetheart is literally at the front gate. Why are you over here massaging me instead of going to see your precious male lead?]
He screamed internally, but he had to maintain his role. He couldn't even push her away.
On the surface, he looked like he was lazily reclining on the couch, but in truth, every muscle in his body was tensed. Rose was practically lying on top of him.
Her cool, soft fingers pressed gently against his temples. The light fragrance from her neck wafted straight into his face.
At this distance and angle, her neckline was completely exposed.
Even their legs were pressed tightly together.
He could feel her body heat seeping through his thin pants, and it was driving him crazy.
[Too close, too fragrant. Why is my nose itching? Am I seriously about to get a nosebleed? No, no, not now.]
[But actually, if I do, it fits the character. I'm the simp, after all. Getting a nosebleed next to the school beauty is totally in character. Nothing to be ashamed of.]
Hearing his inner monologue, Rose's lips curved into a smug smile.
Wouldn't touch her for a 100 million? Please.
He was obviously all talk.
The more she listened to Lucas rambling in his head, the more she wanted to mess with him.
She leaned in even closer. Her fingers slid from his temples to the back of his neck, lightly brushing along his skin, then gliding down to his arm.
Lucas felt like his brain had short-circuited.
[Author!]
[System!]
[Somebody help. Look at what you've done to this character. She's supposed to be a frosty queen who hates the villain. Now she's massaging him? Leaning on him? What happened to kicking him away at the slightest touch?]
[No. I can't just sit here and take this. She's being so bold because she thinks I'm too injured to react. I need to scare her a little, remind her that men aren't toys, and she can't just touch me however she wants.]
With this thought, Lucas took a deep breath. Just as her fingers slid down to the base of his neck, making his whole body tremble, he suddenly lunged forward and threw his arms wide to catch her.
But all he caught was air.
Rose had clearly anticipated the move. The moment he reached out, she stood up.
"I'm going to get you a glass of warm water. Stay here and wait."
The crisis was over. Lucas should have been relieved.
But as he watched her figure disappear into the crowd, a strange feeling of disappointment stirred in his heart.
Still, it was fine. One female lead going off-script was manageable. As long as the others stayed on track, the overall plot wouldn't fall apart.
Hopefully, everything was still under control with Yelena.
—
At the entrance of the Golden Lace Hotel, two security guards stood firmly in front of the doors, refusing to let the man before them pass.
This man wore a wrinkled, ill-fitting suit, dirty shoes, and had a cold, murderous look in his eyes. His expression radiated arrogance and defiance.
He looked like trouble from a mile away.
This was David, male lead of The God-Tier Magnate Returns, the Dragon King of the North, and Supreme God of War.
Seven years ago, the Fox family was wiped out. The true culprits? The four great families of Su City.
David, the protagonist blessed by fate, narrowly survived. He was rescued by a mysterious expert and taken to the northern frontier, where he trained in secret for years.
With his natural talent and relentless will, it took him only five years to defeat every rival across the North.
Two years ago, during an accidental encounter with a spatial rift, he awakened a superpower.
Now, he had returned.
If gods blocked his way, he would slay gods. If Buddhas blocked his path, he would cut them down.
Of course, in true main character fashion, no matter how powerful he was, he would always wait until his enemies insulted his entire bloodline before lifting a finger.
Today was no exception.
The guards pointed at his face, hurling insults and threats, but David simply stood still, smiling coldly.
"No invitation means no entry. How many times do we have to say it?"
"You look like a damn beggar. You think the Miller family would invite someone like you?"
To be fair, it wasn't unreasonable for them to look down on him.
Anyone with a brain knew that for a high-end banquet, you didn't need to wear luxury brands, but you should at least dress clean and tidy.
He, on the other hand, looked like he had crawled out of a garbage heap. No one in their right mind would let someone like that inside.
If something happened, who would the guards answer to?
At that moment, John William, heir to the William family — one of Su City's four great clans — strolled over, arm-in-arm with a popular influencer.
He glanced at David, then burst out laughing. "It's you? So you're not dead after all?"
He looked him up and down. "Seven years without a word. Turns out you ran off to play hobo. What now, broke and back to borrow money?"
"I happen to need a driver. I can give you five thousand a month. Interested?"
The influencer sneered and glanced at David with disdain. "Young Master William, you're way too generous. Even someone like him, you still want to help?"
John laughed even louder. "Honestly, if the Fox family hadn't been wiped out, the William family never would've broken into the top four. His parents' deaths really helped us out. Giving him a job now is just me paying back a debt."
Crack.
David's knuckles tightened until they cracked audibly.
He stared coldly at John. "You dare mention the Fox family. You dare speak of my parents."
John shrugged. "So what if I do? What are you going to do about it? Hit me? If you can't appreciate kindness, then I won't bother pretending anymore. Someone come and throw this piece of trash into the street."
At his command, two towering bodyguards stepped forward.
Their muscles strained against their suits, looking like they were seconds from tearing the fabric. One look was enough to see they were trained professionals.
The guards snickered. "You better run. One punch from them and you'll be in bed for a month."
John leaned in, full of scorn. "Get on your knees, apologize, and knock your head on the ground three times. If you do that, I might let you leave in one piece."
-End of Chapter 2-