I, The Villain

- Volume 1 -

Chapter 1

“To force me into an engagement, you really are pulling out all the stops!”

A voice filled with gritted teeth rang in his ears. Lucas Grey opened his eyes in a daze and looked at the stunning woman before him, her expression cold and aloof.

This... is a hospital ward?

The person in the mirror is him?

At that moment, a surge of memories not belonging to him flooded his mind.

Lucas Grey, the good-for-nothing young master of the Grey family, sole heir of the third generation, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Whatever he wanted, he got.

But he had fallen in love with the female lead, Rose White.

After three years of tireless pursuit and receiving no response, he resorted to a foolish move. During a banquet at the White family, he deliberately fell from an upper floor.

He intended to fake an injury for sympathy.

Who would have thought, he ended up swapping places with another Lucas Grey with the same name.

[So, this stunning beauty in front of me is Rose White, the female lead of the popular novel “Return of the Godly Tycoon”?]

[Have I transmigrated into the book?]

[Fuck you, just because I complained once that the brainless simp villain in the book had the same name as me, now I’ve become the simp myself?]

After understanding the situation, Lucas Grey nearly coughed up blood.

Other people transmigrate and become the protagonist, rising to the peak of life. Why does he have to be the villain?

Just thinking about the plot where “Lucas Grey” gets brutally crushed by the crooked-mouthed Dragon King made Lucas Grey want to cry.

No, he had to stay far away from the female lead, far away from the crooked-mouthed Dragon King.

[Ding. Congratulations, host. Supreme Villain System unlocked.]

[System scan complete. Host perfectly fits the villain profile in the novel “Return of the Godly Tycoon.” You are specially invited to play the villain, assist the male lead, and complete the god-tier plot reversal.]

[Once the plot reaches its finale, the host can return to the original world and receive a reward of ten billion Dollar.]

Hold on. As long as he follows the plot to the end, he gets ten billion Dollar?

Damn, if he takes that back to the real world, he could live a life of luxury, never lifting a finger again.

Alright.

This villain role is his. No one can take it from him.

Lucas Grey looked up at Rose White and saw that she was staring at him with eyes full of shock.

His heart skipped a beat.

[What kind of look is that? Don’t tell me she suspects something. Could she have figured out that I’m not the original Lucas Grey?]

Rose White took a sharp breath when she heard his thoughts.

From just now, she had been hearing a strange voice.

That voice said she was the female lead of a novel, and something about transmigration.

That was already bizarre enough. But now, this guy said he’s not the original Lucas Grey?

What kind of joke is this?

“Lucas Grey, are you talking with ventriloquism? Or did you fall and hit your head when you fell from upstairs?”

Lucas Grey was stunned when he heard that.

[You’re the one who hit your head. I just transmigrated and haven’t adapted to this villain identity yet.]

[The most urgent task is to get Rose White to agree to the engagement. That way, the male lead can make a grand entrance at the engagement banquet, slap faces, and take Rose White away.]

[But verbal coercion isn’t enough. According to the novel, Rose White resisted in every possible way until she was swindled by the CEO of KY Group, leaving her with nothing. Her family nearly went bankrupt, and only then did she reluctantly agree to the engagement.]

[So, I need to pretend to be deeply in love and reinforce my simp persona. Once the White family goes bankrupt, I’ll add fuel to the fire and threaten her.]

Rose White’s beautiful eyes narrowed. She looked at Lucas Grey in disbelief.

This wasn’t ventriloquism.

It sounded like his inner voice.

But why could she hear his inner voice?

No, that wasn’t the point. The point was, he said the CEO of KY Group tricked her and nearly bankrupted the White family?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

President Kang was a close family friend of her grandfather’s for years. He was very sincere about this partnership. The contract was for ten years, and he even gave up two percent of the profits.

How could he be a fraud?

More importantly, the night of the negotiation, only she, her grandfather, and President Kang were present.

How did this little punk know?

While her mind was a mess and she couldn’t sort any of it out, Lucas Grey began acting up.

[Since I need to be the ultimate simp for the female lead, I have to act like a real simp when facing her.]

[Now is the time to test my simp acting skills.]

“Rose, I love you with all my heart. Why can’t you accept my feelings?”

“I’ve pursued you for three whole years. In those three years, I haven’t looked at another woman.”

“What do you want me to do? Just say it. Even if you want the stars in the sky, I’ll pluck them for you.”

After saying this, Lucas Grey almost moved himself to tears.

[That was a great performance. Totally Oscar-worthy.]

Rose White’s mind was already in chaos. Seeing his fake, affectionate act made her grind her teeth in hatred.

Liar. Scumbag.

If he didn’t like her, why toy with her?

If she hadn’t suddenly heard his inner voice, she would still be in the dark.

But he kept mentioning this novel, and male and female leads. What did that mean?

If he were just rambling nonsense, then how did he know about the White family’s cooperation with KY Group?

This punk must know something.

He said he wasn’t the original Lucas Grey and that Lucas Grey was just a villain in a novel, while she was the female lead.

There must be more to the story.

This concerned the fate of the White family. She had to get to the bottom of it.

Lucas Grey continued pretending to be heartbroken, secretly observing Rose White and not missing the slightest change in her expression.

Good. She’s frowning.

That means she’s angry.

Anger is good.

The more unwilling she is, the more he must cling to her.

That way, at the engagement ceremony, her sorrowful expression will make the male lead’s heroic rescue more meaningful.

“Rose, please, marry me. As long as you’re willing to be with me, I’ll give you the entire Grey family as your betrothal gift.”

[The White family is almost bankrupt. What betrothal gift could they possibly offer? Only the male lead can save this sinking ship. Any sane person would steer clear.]

[But so what if Rose White is saved by the male lead? The White Corporation she worked so hard to build over five years still ends up in the male lead’s hands.]

[The number one beauty with endless glory at the start of the story becomes a mere background decoration in the male lead’s harem before even a third of the plot is over.]

[Such a pity. What a waste of that pretty face.]

Rose White nearly had a heart attack from hearing this.

She had taken charge of the White Corporation at seventeen. It took her five years to win the approval of upper management and triple the company’s size.

This little bastard actually said she would end up as a decorative vase in the male lead’s harem?

Even the White Corporation would be handed over?

What a joke. The White Corporation was her life’s work.

She would never hand it over to anyone.

She bit her rosy lip, flames of anger burning in her icy eyes.

She looked up at Lucas Grey and saw that he was still trying to act deeply in love. A plan formed in her mind.

“Lucas Grey, tonight the chairman of Skybridge Group is celebrating his sixtieth birthday. How about you come with me to attend?”

Her perfectly curved lips lifted into a slight smile.

Little scumbag, you think you’re the only one who can act?

Now that I can hear your inner voice, things just got easier.

As long as I talk to you more, I’ll definitely uncover the truth.

However, she had no idea that her one sentence was like thunder striking Lucas Grey.

[The villain attending a birthday banquet with the female lead?]

[No way. This wasn’t in the novel.]

[The female lead isn’t following the script. I must find an excuse to refuse.]

Chapter 2  

“Sorry, I...”

Just as he was about to refuse, he was cut off by Rose White.

“Lucas Grey, you keep saying you like me, but now you won’t even accompany me to a birthday banquet?”

Her face, pale and flawless like snow, showed no hint of a smile as she slowly stepped closer, eyes glittering.

“Have you been lying to me all along?”

Cold sweat formed on Lucas Grey’s forehead.

He quickly forced a smile. “How could I? I was just joking. As long as you say the word, I’ll go through fire and water for you!”

Rose White curved her lips slightly. “Then get ready. Pick me up at six.”

[Pick her up it is. To keep the persona intact, I’ll follow the female lead through anything.]

...

At six in the evening, a Porsche appeared right on time at the gates of the White family villa.

Lucas Grey stepped out of the car with a heavy heart, but the moment he looked up, he saw Rose White walking out.

[Wow, she’s stunning.]

[Her black hair flowed like a waterfall. Her figure was curvy and graceful. Her delicate waist looked like it could be held in one hand. The slit in her white dress revealed a glimpse of her pale, slender legs.]

[Even her feet in black high heels were fair and flawless. This woman is the very definition of top-tier beauty.]

All his worries vanished. Lucas Grey suddenly felt that this trip was well worth it.

Hearing his inner praise, Rose White scoffed quietly.

Even if his affection was an act, he was still captivated by her looks.

Men really are all the same. All they know is how to ogle legs. Pathetic.

“Let’s go.”

Once they got in the car, Rose White pretended to casually scroll on her phone, but her mind was filled with thoughts about how to coax information out of him, especially about KY Group.

They happened to drive past KY Tower, and Rose White seized the chance.

“KY Tower is quite impressive. By the way, has the Grey family ever considered working with KY Group?”

Lucas Grey chuckled. “You’re asking the wrong guy. I’m famous for being a wastrel who loafs around all day. I don’t handle any family business. You know that better than anyone.”

“Should I call my dad and ask him?”

[Of course not. KY Group has been in trouble for a while. Their cash flow has dried up. Even the banks won’t lend to them. Only a fool would want to work with them.]

[Such a major project, and they didn’t even do due diligence? Signed the deal over a dinner meeting? I honestly don’t know how this woman built White Group to such heights.]

[The male lead is blessed by fate. Is the female lead just lucky by association? Business queen? Seriously?]

Rose White took a deep breath, barely resisting the urge to pinch him hard.

This guy really had a way with words. When talking about KY, did he have to insult her too?

President Kang was her grandfather’s close friend. Her grandfather had been present during the contract signing. Could she really oppose the elders in that situation?

Still, why did Grandpa trust President Kang so much?

Half an hour later, the Porsche stopped at the entrance of the Golden Lace Hotel.

As soon as Rose White stepped out, she drew every gaze on the scene.

No surprise there. She was the number one beauty in Su City.

Who wouldn’t want to steal a glance?

Except for Lucas Grey.

Even acting gets exhausting, so whenever Rose White turned her back to him, he used the time to relax and admire the surroundings.

The birthday banquet was hosted by the President of Skybridge Group. He couldn’t quite recall the name, but it did sound familiar.

“Rose!”

Suddenly, a gentle voice called out.

“I’m so happy you could come for Dad’s birthday. He’ll be thrilled. But why are you here with Young Master Grey? I thought you hated him?”

Standing behind Rose White, Lucas Grey had originally planned to keep a low profile. After all, the original novel never mentioned the villain attending this event.

But upon hearing the obvious disdain and surprise in the woman’s voice, he couldn’t help but glare at her.

Then he froze.

[Yelena Miller! One of the male lead’s harem members. Early on, she was his close confidante and the woman he took the longest to pursue.]

[But even with all that buildup, she still ended up giving herself to him.]

[According to the timeline, she’s already met the male lead. Three days ago, the male lead returned, happened to witness her father being poisoned, and cured him using acupuncture and massage. That led to him being invited to tonight’s banquet.]

Wait a second!

Did she just say this was her father’s birthday?

That means... the male lead is coming tonight!

Lucas Grey sharply sucked in a breath.

No way.

Just walking his own villain storyline already had him getting thrashed by the male lead repeatedly.

There was no way he could get involved in anything else.

The male lead was the true protagonist of this novel.

The returned god of wealth.

What Lucas Grey didn’t know was that while he stood there reeling in shock, the two stunning women in front of him were equally stunned.

Especially Yelena Miller. Her eyes trembled, her lips parted slightly, and she momentarily forgot all her noble etiquette.

Because she didn’t understand.

Why could she hear Lucas Grey’s inner thoughts?

At first, she thought he was talking out loud, but after staring at him closely and confirming he hadn’t moved his lips at all, she began to suspect she was hallucinating from the stress of caring for her father.

Until he mentioned the poisoning three days ago.

That night, only she, her father, and Brother Fox had been there.

Her father hadn’t told anyone about the incident, and Brother Fox had promised to keep it secret. She certainly hadn’t said a word.

So how did Lucas Grey know?

And why did he call Brother Fox the male lead?

What was going on?

She was completely confused.

Meeting Yelena Miller’s gaze, Lucas Grey grew even more anxious.

[Don’t look at me. The male lead fell for you the moment he saw you. He pretends you’re just a close friend, but he secretly eliminates every villain who looks at you the wrong way.]

[It’s already dangerous enough being Rose White’s loyal simp. Please stay far, far away from me.]

Rose White nearly laughed out loud when she heard that.

But the smile at the corner of her lips quickly faded.

Perfect.

Tonight, she would finally meet the man who supposedly stole White Group from her and turned her into nothing but a pretty face in his harem.

Shameless.

He even took down her best friend Yelena Miller? Disgusting.

She would definitely teach this greedy man a lesson.

Yelena Miller gently shook her head and subconsciously took a step forward. “Young Master Grey, I heard you got hurt at Rose’s place. Are you okay?”

He said Brother Fox liked her?

Impossible.

Brother Fox was such a noble and upright person.

Lucas Grey had to be slandering him on purpose.

Lucas Grey had no idea all his thoughts had been laid bare. Seeing Yelena Miller talk to him made him want to disappear.

But to stay in character, he could only force a stiff smile and say, “Even if I were hurt, I’d still come. After all, I’m Rose’s best friend.”

[Stay calm. If I remember correctly, I shouldn’t have much to do tonight.]

[The one who provokes the male lead tonight is a minor character named Zeke Miller, a distant relative of the Miller family.]

[After causing trouble, Zeke Miller not only gets beaten half to death but also gets kicked out of the family. Brutal.]

[All I need to do is stay far away and be a spectator.]

Lucas Grey snickered to himself, completely unaware that Yelena Miller had gone stiff as a board.

Chapter 3

Just as Yelena Miller was completely stunned by Lucas Grey’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 White nodded and deliberately walked to one side of Lucas Grey.

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 Miller could hear just the same.

So Yelena Miller silently moved to Lucas Grey’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 Grey 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 White’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 White 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 Grey, 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 Grey 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 Miller’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 White, 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 White with a nod, he led Yelena Miller away.

As soon as she left, Lucas Grey let out a sigh of relief.

[Finally got rid of that walking disaster.]

Turning his head, he met Rose White’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 White 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 Grey. 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 Grey with envy and hatred.

But what they didn’t know was that Lucas Grey 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 Grey was, Rose White 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 Fox disappeared without a trace and hasn’t been heard from since.

It couldn’t be him.

While she searched her memories for clues, Lucas Grey 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 White glanced at him coldly. “But your wound isn’t on your stomach. It’s on your chest.”

“Uh…”

Lucas Grey was at a loss for words and was just about to make up something else when Yelena Miller 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 Grey wanted to cry.

He mentally reviewed the plot while helplessly watching Yelena Miller 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 Grey 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 Grey 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 Grey’s eyes widened instantly.

[He’s here! That’s definitely the male lead!]

Chapter 4  

David Fox is here?

The moment Yelena Miller heard the news, she immediately grew nervous.

But it was not because of David Fox himself. Instead, her concern lay in this: if he truly clashed with the security guards, or if he ended up provoking Zeke Miller, then that would confirm everything Lucas Grey had been thinking.

It would also mean that David Fox 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 Grey could only sigh.

Watching Yelena Miller walk away, he turned to Rose White. “Not curious enough to go join the crowd?”

[As long as Rose White stays away from me, the male lead will never notice me. I just want to blend into the background and be invisible.]

Rose White 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 Grey, there's a dance going on over there. Why don’t you join me for one?"

Dance?

Lucas Grey 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 White leaned in toward him. “Let me massage your temples.”

Lucas Grey: “……”

[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 White 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 White'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 Grey 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 Grey 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 Grey 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 White 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 Grey 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 Miller.

—

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 Fox, male lead of Return of the Godly Tycoon, 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 Fox, 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 Fox 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 Fox, 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 Fox with disdain. “Young Master William, you’re way too generous. Even someone like him, you still want to help?”

John William 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 Fox’s knuckles tightened until they cracked audibly.

He stared coldly at John William. “You dare mention the Fox family. You dare speak of my parents.”

John William 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 William 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.”

Chapter 5  

“Hehe.”

David Fox gave a cold laugh, clenching his fists tightly.

There was already killing intent in his eyes.

“Kneel to you? You think you’re worthy?”

A surge of awakened power coursed down his arm. Just as it was about to erupt from his fingertips, a soft voice suddenly interrupted.

“Enough, both of you.”

Yelena Miller frowned slightly and stepped forward quickly.

“Young Master William, this gentleman is a friend of my father’s. Please don’t make things difficult for him.”

The two security guards were stunned on the spot.

Was this broke loser really invited by the Miller family?

Even John William was taken aback. “Miss Miller, are you sure? Why would you be friends with someone like him? Do you even know who he is?”

Yelena Miller’s brows knitted slightly. She hadn’t known before.

Now that she did, it was too late.

The guest had already been invited. Could she turn him away now?

She wisely chose not to address the topic directly. “Young Master William, my cousin is waiting for you. He said it’s been a while since you last met and he’s missed you. You should go see him.”

“Fine. I’ll give you this one chance and let him off today.”

After shooting David Fox a disdainful glare, John William turned and walked into the hotel.

Hmph. As long as that guy is still in Su City, there will be plenty of chances to deal with him later.

What he didn’t know was that Yelena Miller had stepped in not to help David Fox, but to save him.

Although she appeared calm and elegant, she had practiced martial arts since childhood and was highly perceptive.

In that split second, she had sensed a powerful murderous aura from David Fox.

If she hadn’t stopped it, John William would have been seriously injured.

If a young master of one of the Four Great Families was severely hurt at a Miller family banquet by a guest they themselves had invited, the Miller family would absolutely be held responsible.

And if the Four Great Families collectively turned against the Miller family, how would they withstand it?

Though Yelena Miller blamed him in her heart, she showed none of it on her face. She simply smiled and said, “I’m sorry, Brother Fox, for the trouble you’ve been put through.”

David Fox looked at her deeply. “It’s nothing. I don’t concern myself with petty vermin.”

“You truly are magnanimous, Brother Fox. Let’s go inside.”

As she turned, Yelena Miller shot a sharp glance at the two guards.

“You misjudged someone, failed to report the situation, and acted on your own. Each of you will write a 5,000-word reflection and have this month’s bonus deducted.”

The guards nodded frantically. “Yes, yes, thank you Miss! Sorry, sir! We didn’t recognize someone as important as you!”

David Fox frowned slightly, confused as he looked at Yelena Miller.

They had treated him with such disrespect, and she was only docking their pay?

Shouldn’t they be fired outright?

Forget it. This woman has always been soft-hearted. No point in arguing with her over this.

Inside the hotel, most of the guests had arrived and the banquet was about to begin.

Lucas Grey slowly calmed down as he sipped hot water that Rose White had asked for on his behalf.

[The Dragon King male lead crashes the engagement banquet to snatch the bride because he sees Rose White there. She’s grown up into such a beauty, and he would never let her fall into another man’s hands. Neither would the author allow that.]

[But in the original plot, the villain doesn’t show up. Yet here I am. Who knows what direction the story will take now.]

[If the male lead suddenly picks a fight with me, I’ll just go all in and antagonize him until he snaps and kills me at the banquet. Perfect way to die in the line of duty, return to my original world, and maybe even get compensation for a workplace injury.]

Rose White swirled the wine in her glass. She had already gotten used to terms like “male lead” and “villain” coming out of his mouth.