CHAPTER 7 - Regret and Reflection.
As those events played in the school with Liu Quingshuang cutting her ties with Ye Feng, Fang Haoran savored the sweet sound of the system notification in his ears as he sat comfortably in his seat at the headquarters of the Fang Corporation.
[Ding! The heroine Liu Quingshuang has completely severed ties with the protagonist Ye Feng. Protagonist's Halo -100! Host's Fortune +100! Ability Points +10!]
Looking at the boon from the system, he knew that the seed he planted yesterday at the Liu family's house has borne fruit now, making him smile heartily.
'At least she didn't follow that guy to his demise.' He muttered inwardly, relieved for some reason when he found out that Liu Quingshuang hadn't brainlessly continued to follow Ye Feng after all those proofs.
Then, with his expression returning to normal, he called out to his system, "System, show me my stats panel!"
---
[Fang Haoran: Host of the "Villain Counterattack System"
→ Luck Points: 200
→ Skill Points: 20
→ Strength: 70
→ Constitution: 90
→ Mental Power: 200
→ Charm: 90
→ Skills: Appraisal, Steal, Ability Suppression
→ Items: None.
---
As he went through his stats, thinking about the best way to use his stats, Fang Haoran decided it was time to allocate some points.
"System, add 10 points each to 'Physique' and 'Charisma'." He spoke with a thoughtful look, wondering whether he would get the same warm feeling that protagonists in several stories are shown to receive when they get a power boost from the system and the next instant...
[Ding! Points allocated successfully!]
Along with the sound of the system came the warm sensation he was talking about, making him nod with a smile.
He had his eyes set on the coveted "X-ray Vision Lv1" from the system shop, but its price of 800 Fortune Points made it an unattainable dream for the moment. So, he chose to hold on to his Fortune Points for now.
As for cheaper options like cooking, singing, dancing, or rapping skills, he wasn't interested in them at this stage. Then there was this Fortune Draw as well, and it was quite tempting, but it was again the luck barrier, as it cost 300 luck points, so he decided to wait until he squeezed another 100 points from Ye Feng.
Even if he couldn't get his hands on the X-ray Vision, for now, he could still get something good from the Fortune Draw.
"Next up in the storyline is the stone-gambling arc, isn't it…" Fang Haoran mused as he thought about what to do next.
The stone-gambling arc was a pretty common trope for protagonists like Ye Feng who had X-ray or seethrough vision—a trope that would give them a massive windfall. The protagonist would earn tens of millions, catching the eye of a major business mogul.
This would also set the stage for Ye Feng's summer adventures at the border and his entanglement with another heroine, Yun Jing'er.
It was during that arc that Ye Feng's personal combat abilities began to gain crucial importance. Until now, he was just a student who occasionally fought street thugs, used his X-ray vision to win scratch cards, and humiliated his academic rivals.
It was probably because of this that Fang Haoran had deliberately held off on investing in combat power.
(Alright, to be honest, he just wanted the symmetry of two clean 100s in his stats. It looked so much better.)
To counter Ye Feng, Fang Haoran had already implemented a three-pronged strategy:
Investigating Ye Feng's mysterious master: A team was scouring S City and its surrounding areas, but they hadn't found anything yet. According to the plot, the old man wouldn't reappear until Ye Feng finished his exams. Targeting Ye Feng's ally, Brother Tiger: Another team was gathering evidence of Tiger's (Ye Feng's gangster friend called Brother Hu) criminal activities. Monitoring Ye Feng's daily movements: A third team was tailing him, but so far, Ye Feng had only been winning small amounts through scratch cards.
His team behind Ye Feng was working on a strict guideline, and if he were to dare to step into an underground casino, get into an unwanted fight, or use his superior physical abilities to harass someone, Fang Haoran's team would have already made him a headline case of justice served by "concerned citizens."
The upcoming stone-gambling arc was Ye Feng's most significant opportunity early in the plot, where he would earn some huge cash and finally escape poverty. This made it imperative for Fang Haoran to step in himself.
If Fang Haoran were to guess what was happening with Liu Quingshuang right now, he would probably say that she was reflecting on her actions.
.........
And just like he had guessed, far from his headquarters and at school, Liu Quingshuang had returned to her office, but her anger was far from being subsided.
She had always thought that Fang Haoran was just an overly possessive and petty second-generation rich guy, which was why he constantly targeted Ye Feng. That was why, as she blamed herself for his condition—as it was her fiance who was making things hard for him—out of sympathy, she had gone out of her way to support Ye Feng, hoping he would excel in his studies.
But now, she realized it was all part of Ye Feng's calculated plan.
Her genuine care and concern had been wasted on someone undeserving.
The staged "hero saves the beauty" incident disgusted her to the core. She had been thinking of how to thank him for that event every day, feeling grateful that he had saved her, but turned out it was all just a trick he used to get in her head.
To think, a mere student could be so conniving.
Recalling how her mother had reprimanded her last night, Liu Quingshuang felt an unfamiliar sense of shame.
She remembered how Ye Feng used to sigh in front of her about "the outdated concept of arranged marriages" and preach about "the pursuit of true love." She had found his naïve idealism charming and had grown even more protective of him.
Now it was clear: Ye Feng didn't oppose arranged marriage because of principles. He opposed it because he wasn't the groom!
His heart wasn't as pure as she had thought—it had long turned black!
No wonder Fang Haoran had been targeting Ye Feng so relentlessly. It wasn't petty jealousy; He must have already seen through Ye Feng's scheming nature.
Liu Quingshuang was now slowly realizing how wrong she had been about Fang Haoran.
Why else would he only focus on Ye Feng and not any of the other male colleagues around her? In fact, Fang Haoran was always polite and courteous to the male teachers in her office.
The truth finally dawned on her, and with it, guilt—she had misunderstood Fang Haoran all along.
Determined to make amends, Liu Quingshuang picked up her phone to call him. But as she held the phone, she hesitated. She thought back to Fang Haoran's resolute demeanor when he proposed breaking off their engagement.
To him—and everyone else—she probably looked like a fiance who ignored her betrothed while getting entangled with a scheming student.
Even if her conscience was clear, did it matter? In Fang Haoran's eyes, her actions had tarnished his reputation.
No wonder her mother and father were so furious.
But no matter how wrong one was, they would always come up with something to defend themselves. One could never blame themselves for everything, after all. So, even Liu Quingshuang came up with something...
"Still… this isn't entirely my fault. Ye Feng was too manipulative…" She muttered, sitting on her desk, looking at her phone.
"And Fang Haoran..." Then as she opened Fang Haoran's contact—a number she had saved as 'bastard'—she continued, "... couldn't he have just told me earlier?"
She held her head down, her forehead touching her desk as she used her palms to cover her face.
'I need to do something...' She knew that she was wrong, and she knew that she needed to do something. Fang Haoran seemed like the only person other than her mother and father who had ever loved her unconditionally, and yet, she, just out of spite, made him suffer so much.
She didn't even try to understand him...
After a while, she raised her head, her eyes filled with resolution. Liu Quingshuang has decided to meet Fang Haoran in person to apologize. There was no other way. Only by talking face-to-face can one express real feelings.
Since she was busy teaching all day and couldn't leave her students during exam preparations, she sent him a text inviting him to dinner that evening to clear the air.
At the same time, she recalled how Xia Lianxin also seemed fond of Ye Feng.
The two of them had once talked for long about Ye Feng's "heroic rescue" story, thinking how he seemed like a righteous and brave young man.
Now, as she recalled those moments, Liu Quingshuang felt like a fool. They had been sold a lie and still praised how well-packaged the deception was.
Liu Quingshuang decided to reveal Ye Feng's true colors to Xia Lianxin as well.