Chapter 722: Your Circle is So Chaotic!
'That beast! Shen Anyu is a complete beast! If heaven doesn't strike him down with lightning, then there's no justice in this world!'
Ren Zhacheng's silent, furious screaming was a stark contrast to the scene before him. He could only watch as Shen Anyu chatted effortlessly with He Yiyi and Zhou Luyao, his words weaving a spell that drew forth peals of sweet, charming laughter from the two women.
A bitter, acidic bile of envy and jealousy rose in his throat.
All around the cafe, other patrons cast longing glances in their direction. Who wouldn't envy a man flanked by two such stunning beauties?
But for Ren Zhacheng, the torment was personal and acute. He knew, with agonizing certainty, that both He Yiyi and Zhou Luyao had a history with Shen Anyu. The knowledge was a shard of glass twisting in his gut.
The humiliation was absolute. He had been reduced to the size of an ant, literally pinned beneath Shen Anyu's shoe, while the man himself was basking in the company of two stunning women. How could his sanity not fray at the edges under such a crushing weight of despair?
Just then, the color drained from Ren Zhacheng's face—or it would have, if he had a face larger than a pinhead.
'Oh no, the Shrinking Pill's effect is about to wear off!'
The pill's magic was not permanent. It lasted a mere two hours, though one could choose to end it sooner. Ren Zhacheng had swallowed the pill back in the high-end riverside community to escape his bonds, then used the Seeking Person Compass to track Shen Anyu. He had spent nearly the entire two hours watching, in microscopic agony, as Shen Anyu and He Yiyi shopped with a cloying intimacy.
A wave of pure panic washed over him. If the effect ended here, he would instantly revert to his normal size. He would be discovered by Shen Anyu and He Yiyi, and worse, the surrounding people would treat him like a freak, a monster appearing from thin air. He couldn't possibly unleash a Thunder Talisman and strike everyone dead, could he?
It wasn't that he had any qualms about harming innocents. The problem was one of practicality. If his attack wasn't perfectly lethal and a few survivors were left to tell the tale, he would be utterly doomed. Ren Zhacheng was under no illusion that the handful of pills and talismans in his possession could stand against the full might of the state apparatus.
'There are only seven or eight minutes left! What do I do? Shen Anyu's foot hasn't moved an inch. What the hell do I do? Should I risk it all on the lottery? See if I can pull something useful?'
Sensing the frantic, desperate energy emanating from beneath his shoe, a subtle, knowing smile touched Shen Anyu's lips. He continued to chat with He Yiyi and Zhou Luyao, effortlessly coaxing them with a few well-placed words until they were giggling uncontrollably, their laughter a sweet torture to the ant on the floor.
As the seconds ticked by, Ren Zhacheng paced in his tiny prison, a veritable ant on a hot pan.
[Ding! The Son of Destiny, Ren Zhacheng, is experiencing extreme anxiety. Plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
[Ding! The Son of Destiny, Ren Zhacheng, is agitated. Plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
...
The countdown was relentless. Only one minute remained before the Shrinking Pill would fail. He would instantly expand, be discovered, and his life would be over.
Gritting his teeth, Ren Zhacheng decided to stake it all. He would try the lottery first, praying for a miracle. If he was discovered after suddenly growing to full size, the consequences were unimaginable. He had no desire to be captured and dissected in some government laboratory.
'I still have over nine million points... Spin the wheel! Gods, Buddhas, whatever's out there, bless me! I have to get something good...'
As the wheel in his mind spun with dizzying speed, a sliver of hope warred with his despair. It finally slowed, clicking to a stop on one particular section.
Growth Pill!
Ren Zhacheng's world went dark. A Growth Pill? What use was a Growth Pill to him now? Was he supposed to transform into Ultraman Tiga? There were no monsters here for him to fight!
'Again! Spin again!'
The result of the next spin made his eyes light up.
Invisibility Pill!
Upon consumption, it would render him completely invisible for two hours.
'Yes! Perfect! With an Invisibility Pill, they won't discover me even if I return to my normal size.'
A deep sigh of relief escaped Ren Zhacheng. Seeing the Invisibility Pill in his system inventory was like a divine reprieve. With it, even if he immediately expanded, pushing Shen Anyu's foot away and lifting the entire table in the process, no one would be able to see him. They might find it strange, they might even think they'd encountered a ghost, but as long as they couldn't connect it to him, he was safe.
He quickly consumed the Invisibility Pill. Watching his own microscopic body and clothes gradually fade from view, a triumphant, malicious chuckle bubbled up in his thoughts.
'With an Invisibility Pill, there's so much more I can do. Shen Anyu, your good days are over!''Shen Anyu, I'll...'
His vengeful fantasy was cut short. Shen Anyu ground his shoe against the floor, rubbing him back and forth. Even with a Body Protection Pill active, the sensation of being scraped against the gritty cafe floor was far from pleasant.
[Ding! The Son of Destiny, Ren Zhacheng, is extremely annoyed. Plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
[Ding! The Son of Destiny, Ren Zhacheng, is cursing you. Plundering +9999 Destiny Value!]
...
"I'm going to the restroom," Shen Anyu whispered to He Yiyi with a smile. He then shot a quick, mischievous wink at Zhou Luyao before getting up to leave.
Zhou Luyao bit her lower lip, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. She turned to He Yiyi. "Yiyi, I'm going to the restroom too. Need to touch up my makeup."
"Okay, I'll wait for you," He Yiyi nodded obediently, finding nothing strange about the exchange.
The moment Shen Anyu's foot left the floor, Ren Zhacheng scrambled into the aisle. His body began to expand rapidly, stretching and growing back to its original form. But thanks to the Invisibility Pill, it was as if he were a phantom. No one seemed to detect his presence.
'Shen Anyu and Zhou Luyao going to the restroom together... Something's definitely fishy.'
Ren Zhacheng's mind raced for a moment before he made a decision. He would follow them.
...
"What are you doing?! Oh!"
Zhou Luyao had barely reached the corridor leading to the restrooms when Shen Anyu suddenly cornered her, pressing her against the wall.
Meeting his fiery, intense gaze, Zhou Luyao's beautiful face flushed an attractive shade of crimson. She feigned panic, her voice just loud enough for the nearby patrons to hear. "Shen Anyu, stop! Stop it right now! You're my best friend He Yiyi's boyfriend. What are you trying to do to me?"
Several passersby froze mid-stride. Heads turned, their expressions morphing into blatant curiosity as they stared at Shen Anyu and Zhou Luyao.
What was this? A man making a move on his girlfriend's best friend?
Shen Anyu simply raised an eyebrow at Zhou Luyao. So, she wanted to play this game, did she?
"Heh," he chuckled, his voice low and dangerous. "Zhou Luyao, stop pretending. A minute ago, under the table, you slipped off your high heels and were rubbing those lovely black-stockinged feet of yours all over my leg. You were clearly the one seducing me."
The onlookers' eyes widened even further, their collective gaze shifting to Zhou Luyao in shock.
My goodness! This stylish, gorgeous woman was actually that kind of person? Actively seducing her best friend's boyfriend?
Zhou Luyao's face burned, but she met his gaze with a defiant roll of her eyes. The look was a liquid flow of astonishing allure. "I... I was testing you! I wanted to see if you were truly loyal to Yiyi. And from the looks of it, your performance is abysmal. I have to go tell her right now."
With that, she made a show of trying to push past him, as if to run back and expose his transgression to He Yiyi.
"Heh heh. You're the one who lit the fire," Shen Anyu murmured, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "So you're responsible for putting it out."
He leaned in, closing the distance and pressing his lips firmly against hers.
"Mmph—!" Zhou Luyao's eyes flew wide in feigned shock, as if she were utterly scandalized by her friend's boyfriend's audacity.
The few passersby nearby all wore expressions of people who had just been served a full course of premium gossip.
"Good heavens, I just came for a cup of coffee and I get to witness a drama this intense?"
"Tsk, tsk. Are all you young people's relationships this complicated?"
Ren Zhacheng, still cloaked by the Invisibility Pill, had followed them and was now witnessing the entire scene. His face, unseen by all, was a mask of pure, unadulterated jealousy.
'Damn it! Shen Anyu is having the time of his life! He's even role-playing now?''No, I can't let him be this happy. I have to ruin this for him.'
Ren Zhacheng's eyes darted around. Shen Anyu was pressed right up against Zhou Luyao. He couldn't risk using a Thunder Talisman; he might accidentally strike her dead, and that wouldn't do.
However, he had other methods.
He pulled out his phone and switched it to video mode, carefully recording the scene of Shen Anyu pinning Zhou Luyao against the wall and kissing her.
'Heh heh... When He Yiyi sees this video, she'll be so disappointed in Shen Anyu. Then, after I find a chance to strike him dead with a Thunder Talisman, she won't be too heartbroken. And I... I can swoop in and comfort her.'
Ren Zhacheng stewed in his own clever machinations, a smug sense of satisfaction warming him. He was a man lost in his own brilliant scheme, utterly oblivious to the fact that Shen Anyu was aware of his every move, watching him like a grasshopper dancing in the palm of his hand.
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