Chapter 224: The Guardian in the Dark! A Bugatti Roar!
Wen Feifei had excellent hearing, honed by years of vocal training. Upon catching Liu Mi's whispered, slightly jealous words to Shen Anyu, she didn't get angry. Instead, she seized the opportunity to clarify the situation and build rapport.
She smiled—a perfect, practiced smile that was disarming and gentle.
"Sister, you misunderstood."
"I'm not trying to steal your boyfriend. Just now, he helped me a great deal…"
With a voice filled with lingering fear and gratitude, she recounted the incident of the middle-aged male director's harassment in the parking lot. She painted Director Jia Quan as a monster and Shen Anyu as a silent, intimidating protector who scared the beast away with just his presence.
After hearing Wen Feifei's explanation, Liu Mi's jealousy gradually dissipated. As a woman, she naturally empathized with such a situation.
She frowned, her beautiful face showing shared indignation.
"That Director Jia Quan? I've even watched movies and TV shows directed by him. He always portrays deep, emotional stories. I never thought he'd be this kind of scum in real life, coercing and enticing a female university student. It's truly despicable. A beast in human skin!"
Lin Shutong, standing beside them, also joined in the condemnation. She crossed her arms, looking disgusted.
"That Director Jia Quan... though somewhat famous, he acts virtuously in public interviews, talking about art and integrity. But behind the scenes, he's a known scoundrel in the industry. My seniors warned me about him. The entertainment industry is ruined by predators like him."
Shen Anyu stood there, rubbing his nose slightly. He didn't speak, letting the women bond over their shared enemy.
However...
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.
A cold, sharp sensation pricked the back of his neck. It wasn't the wind. It was a concentrated, focused hostility.
His peripheral vision scanned the northwest direction, towards a dense grove of trees near the campus wall.
'Killing Intent.'
And not just a trace. It was thick, heavy, and bloodthirsty. Like a tiger watching from the tall grass, ready to pounce.
'Interesting...' Shen Anyu mused, his expression unchanged. 'But this killing intent doesn't seem to be directed at me.'
It wasn't surprising to Shen Anyu that someone wanted to kill him. He was a Villain; enemies were part of the job description. It was natural for remnants of the Black Tiger Gang, assassins hired by the Xu Family, or even Sons of Destiny like Xu Ping'an to want him dead.
However, Shen Anyu possessed [Divine-grade Perception]. He could distinguish the flavor of hostility.
This killing intent was not locked onto him. Nor was it directed at Liu Mi or Lin Shutong.
It erupted specifically the moment Wen Feifei mentioned Director Jia Quan's harassment. And it was directed... towards the general concept of anyone hurting Wen Feifei.
'A Guardian?'
'Is that person related to Wen Feifei?'
'Lu Xiuhan? No.' Shen Anyu dismissed the thought instantly. 'Lu Xiuhan is currently enjoying my '007 Blessing.' The stock prices of all listed companies under the Lu Corporation just plummeted by 15% in the last hour. He is currently screaming at his board of directors. He doesn't have time to play stalker.'
'Or... is it another male supporting character? A spare tire?'
Shen Anyu raised an eyebrow.
Female-oriented novels (especially the "Alluring Movie Queen" type) often operated on a harem logic of their own. The Daughter of Destiny wasn't just pursued by the Male Lead. She was often surrounded by a constellation of high-quality men:
The Domineering CEO (Lu Xiuhan).
The Gentle Movie Emperor.
The Cold Assassin.
The "Sickly but Ruthless" Childhood Friend.
Wen Feifei's core male lead was Lu Xiuhan, but that didn't mean there weren't other devoted knights hiding in her shadow.
Shen Anyu speculated that the person in the dark was likely Wen Feifei's "Guardian Angel." He must have just arrived at the school, perhaps following her, and overheard the conversation about Director Jia Quan.
Thus, the murderous intent was directed at the absent Director.
'If Director Jia Quan were here right now... he would probably be dead.'
Shen Anyu temporarily ignored the hidden observer. He casually sent a mental command to his intelligence network via the System interface.
[Investigate Wen Feifei's social circle. Specifically, look for any men with mysterious backgrounds, disabilities, or high combat power.]
He was not a rash person. Knowing oneself and the enemy leads to a hundred victories. Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit.
When dealing with characters related to the Child of Destiny or Daughter of Destiny, one must never be careless. Otherwise, the "Plot Armor" backlash could be severe.
After all, "doing sit-ups in a coffin" (resurrecting constantly) was a standard passive skill for protagonists. Falling off a cliff brings a manual; a shattered heart is on the right side; being pulverized allows the Soul to possess a new body.
Thinking of these ridiculous tropes, Shen Anyu couldn't help but sympathize with all the villains in fiction who died because they didn't double-tap.
Collecting these scattered thoughts, Shen Anyu smiled warmly and turned to Liu Mi.
"Mi Mi, speaking of celebrations... there will be a birthday dinner for you tonight at 8 PM. At the Riverside Luxury Hotel."
Liu Mi's eyes sparkled. She linked her arm with Shen Anyu's, her soft body pressing close to him intimately.
"Brother Shen... it's not necessary to go to such trouble. Just invite a few friends; as long as you celebrate my birthday with me, Mi Mi will be happy."
"Then as you wish. Just a small, private gathering."
Shen Anyu readily agreed.
Liu Mi's gaze turned to Lin Shutong and Wen Feifei. She was a polite hostess, after all.
She lightly smiled, extending an invitation.
"Tongtong, Feifei... why don't you two also come to my birthday dinner tonight? The more the merrier!"
Lin Shutong naturally nodded in agreement, excited. "Of course! I wouldn't miss it!"
However, Wen Feifei frowned slightly. A look of genuine difficulty and hesitation appeared on her delicate and beautiful face.
She bit her lip, glancing subconsciously towards the direction where the killing intent had come from (though she couldn't sense it, she knew he was there).
"Mi Mi... I'm sorry."
"I... I can't come tonight."
Wen Feifei sighed softly.
"Someone in my family isn't well. He has a... strange temper. He won't take his medicine unless he sees me personally every evening. I need to go back."
Shen Anyu raised an eyebrow, his expression playful.
'Sick family member? Won't take medicine without her? That sounds like the classic 'Sickly/Disabled Male Lead' trope.'
As Wen Feifei's words fell, the killing intent of the person hidden in the dark immediately receded, replaced by a sense of satisfaction.
'He is pleased that she is prioritizing him.'
Shen Anyu confirmed his hypothesis.
"Feifei, it's a bit of a shame you can't come," Liu Mi said, though internally she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't really want a stunning rival like Wen Feifei hovering around Shen Anyu at a romantic dinner.
"But family comes first. It's okay, there will be other opportunities in the future."
Liu Mi quickly changed the subject, turning her attention back to Shen Anyu.
"Brother Shen, it's only two in the afternoon. Tongtong and I are planning to play badminton to kill time. There's a very good badminton court nearby, rumored to be opened by an Olympic champion. Do you want to go with us?"
Shen Anyu nodded. "Yes, let's go. I haven't exercised today."
"Brother Shen, you're the best! Yay!"
Liu Mi cheered, hugging his arm tighter.
Lin Shutong, standing aside, had a strange expression. She adjusted her glasses, looking at her best friend.
She had known Liu Mi for over ten years and had never seen Liu Mi act so... delicate. So girly.
Although Liu Mi was charming and seductive—secretly called a 'vixen' by jealous girls—she had always been independent and somewhat proud. She never fawned over men.
But now? She was practically melting into this man.
'Is Mi Mi's boyfriend, Shen Anyu, really that good? Has he completely captivated her soul?'
Seeing this display of affection, Wen Feifei also thought to herself, a hint of disdain in her eyes.
'I didn't expect this Liu Mi to be such a love-struck fool. What's so great about men? Isn't focusing on one's career better?'
'If it weren't for the [Entertainment Domination System] screaming in my ear that this Shen Anyu is my Lucky Star, I wouldn't have eagerly come over here to be a third wheel. Offering a warm face to a cold butt is humiliating.'
...
"I'll go get the car from the parking lot. It's a bit of a walk to the court. You two wait here."
Upon reaching the school gate, Shen Anyu smiled gracefully. He checked his Patek Philippe watch, then strode with his long legs directly back to the nearby parking lot.
Lin Shutong looked curiously at Liu Mi.
"Mi Mi... tell me the truth. What kind of car does your boyfriend drive? Is he rich?"
Liu Mi shook her head, parting her red lips in a mysterious smile.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?!" Lin Shutong was speechless. "Shen Anyu is your boyfriend, you sleep with him, and you don't know what car he drives? Has he never driven you anywhere before?"
Liu Mi covered her small mouth and chuckled softly.
"Of course he has. More than once. He picks me up all the time."
She paused for effect.
"It's just that... each time, it's a different car. Sometimes a Rolls Royce, sometimes a Bentley, sometimes a Ferrari. I stopped keeping track."
"..." Lin Shutong was silenced by the invisible flex.
Casually responding to her best friend's shock, Liu Mi's gaze turned strangely towards Wen Feifei, who was still trailing behind them like a ghost.
"Student Wen... aren't you going back to give medicine to your family?"
Wen Feifei remained composed, her actor's self-cultivation kicking in. She didn't flush or stutter.
"Oh, that's in the evening. I still have time. I'm also planning to play badminton to stay fit, so it's on the way. Mind if I tag along?"
Liu Mi's long, seductive fox eyes slanted upwards. She narrowed them slightly.
'This Wen Feifei... she is thick-skinned. Could she have taken a liking to Brother Shen and wants to pursue him? Or is she just lonely?'
'But Brother Shen didn't even look at her just now. So I'm safe.'
Just then—
VROOOM!
A low, guttural roar, like a beast waking from slumber, echoed from the parking lot. The ground vibrated slightly.
Gasps of surprise rose from the surrounding crowd of students at the gate. Everyone turned their heads.
"Oh my god! Look at that!"
"Is that... is that a Bugatti Veyron?!"
"A convertible! Grand Sport Vitesse! That's the limited edition!"
"Holy sh*t! It must be worth at least a small fortune, right?"
"Small fortune? Are you kidding? That car costs over 40 million Yuan! With taxes and the license plate, it's probably worth two small fortunes! It's a mobile mansion!"
"I didn't realize you knew so much about cars?"
"Hehe, I can't afford it, but I can still dream, right? Look at those curves! That carbon fiber body! I fell in love at first sight. It's cooler than any woman!"
The crowd parted automatically, awestruck.
"I wonder which super-rich second-generation is driving such a monster to our school? Is he here to pick up girls?"
"I guess no woman can resist that passenger seat, right?"
"Hmph, not necessarily. There are many girls who don't like money... like our campus belle Wen Feifei. Last time, a rich kid driving a Ferrari came to pursue her, but she rejected him without looking back."
"Bro, this is a Bugatti. It's worth ten Ferraris. The level is different."
"Even if the driver is a middle-aged, bald, greasy man with a beer belly... I'd still be willing to marry him if he drove that! Gender is not an issue!"
"Maybe it's a very handsome, rich, and tall guy? Like a prince?"
...
Amidst the crowd's onlookers and heated discussions, the beast approached.
Its engine purred with a restrained power that promised violence. The sunlight gleamed off its polished black bodywork.
A dazzlingly cool, black convertible Bugatti Veyron slowly drove closer, stopping right in front of Liu Mi and the others.
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