ALL NOVEL I 01. Penalty
The air, filled with the permeating smell of cigarette and alcohol, mingles with the sway of ambiguous lights. Under these lights, different kinds of men and women dance crazily with the music releasing their stress.
In a corner at the edge of the bar’s dance floor there was an austere man wearing a meticulously tailored suit, who seemed to be incompatible with the noisy atmosphere of the bar.
His gaze has not been in the slightest attracted by the enchanting women on the dance floor; instead it has been solely competing with the liquid in the transparent glass in front of him.
Cup after cup, seemingly immersed in his own world.
Usually, if this kind of rich looking handsome man was drinking alone here, those restless bold girls in the pub would have already attempted to seduce him.
This time, however, those young women haven't even approached within a meter from this high quality man. They seemed discouraged by the strong aura emanating continuously from his entire body, preventing any strangers from coming close."
“Guru guru……bang~”
—was the crisp sound of wine glass rolling a few laps on the bar counter, then later falling to the ground due to inertia.
With this sound, the taciturn man, who had been drinking heavily just moments ago, succumbed to the erosion of alcohol and passed out completely on the bar counter.
***
However, this person who was supposed to be dead-drunk, opened his eyes not long after.
Only this time, the icy cold air along with his stern eyebrows that habitually curled slighty had disappered.
***
{System, does my time in the real world really stops while I'm here in this body? }
{That's not quite true. As long as the host completes his tasks properly，waking up in the real world would certainly just take a blink of an eye. But……if you can't complete your task，the you in reality might just……}
{might just what？}
{Just suddenly die from fatigue because of staying up late for a long time. }
When Lu Ran heard what the system said, his eyelids narrowed：
{Are you threatening me？}
The system, however, just slightly made a sound similar to a deep laughing voice when it heard Lu Ran's question.
{How can it be a threat……. If it weren't for me，you would have already died from fatigue right at this moment. You were permitted to enter these worlds to complete tasks，so you can obtain points that would enable you to restore your damaged body's health and regain vitality. I am the one who's saving you here. }
Lu Ran was silent for a while but eventually accepted the realistic explanation of the system.
{Do I just have to simply help this body have a romantic relationship？}
{Indeed. }
The sound from the system was both affirmative and convincing, that Lu Ran could only choose to beleive it.
{Do you want to load the original owner's memories？}
{Yes}
Lu Ran knew that he would receive the task after loading the original's memory. But if he doesn't accept the task, he might die in the real world the next moment.
Even though he lacks understanding about why he is bound to this system called 628 and has inexplicably found himself in this so-called world, tasked with fulfilling the supporting character's wish for romance on their behalf.
Considering both sides, life seems to be fine this way, and there is no reason to give up on survival……
After thinking it over，Lu Ran's eyes flashed with relief.
Fine then, he can just think of this as a long vacation for working hard in the real world.
***
After receiving the memory obediently，Lu Ran learned that the body he was possessing is named Lu Xiuming, who is also the affectionate second male lead in the book called《The Film Emperor's Feisty Little Wife》.
Come to think of it, this Lu Xiuming was originally, or rather WAS the female lead's ex-boyfriend，but she broke up with him after entering the entertainment industry.
The second male lead originally thought that the female lead didn't want people to misinterpret those shady rumors about her hugging a golden thigh. So, he chose to wait silently while of course, still providing her with the resources she needded, all the while ensuring there were no traces of his assistance.
But he didn't expect that while he's keeping himself pure for the female lead, she already went to hook up with the Film emperor！
As a matter of fact, today was actually the day the Film emperor and the budding young actress officially announced their relationship. The second male lead heard this rubbish, and later due to that matter, he turned paralyzed for several hours. He tried to go to the female lead and question her, but he ran into the scene of her kissing the film emperor by the window with its curtains opened.
In that moment, there was no need for questions anymore.
The second male lead only felt that his devotion has been betrayed. Heartbroken, he went to the bar to drown his sorrows in alcohol.
Lu Ran thought that with such plot, the second male lead would've blackened and retaliated against the female lead. But the remaining feelings inside the second male lead couldn't make him harbor any hatred against the female lead, as if staying silent was an ideal fulfillment.
Coming here alone to get drunk was solely to alleviate the pain of his broken heart.
{Is this person still a man? After being played this way by a woman, he would still choose to wish her well. Isn't he being too much of a holy father？}
Lu Ran personally thought that despite the second male lead concealing himself, the female lead, lacking any influential connections, could smoothly advance in the entertainment industry with such substantial resources upon entering. Even if she doesn't have an IQ of 150, she would've realized that there was someone helping her behind the scenes.
And the only person around her who has the ability and financial resources to support her like this is the second male lead.
In this manner, she naturally capitalize on the resources of the second male lead, eventually forging a close connection with the film emperor after becoming one of the four most popular actresses in the industry. If this isn't a joke, then what is it?
Lu Ran could even imagine that if the second male lead were to confront the female lead today, she might cry and express feeling wronged, saying, "These are the resources you chose to provide yourself. I never asked for them."
Ugh~
Which author wrote this? Having such a pretentious heroine, truly gives him valuable insights.
{The original supporting male leads' emotions were influenced by the author's consciousness, preventing them from autonomously seeking revenge. Frustrated, the supporting male leads became resentful and sought help from others to break free from the constraints of the narrative world.}
System 628 heard Lu Ran’s complaint and explained carefully.
{Then, can I immediately change the ending set by the author for the supporting male leads upon my arrival? Will the trajectory of the supporting male lead's destiny in this scenario also alter at that moment?}
Lu Ran expressed his doubts.
{The plot or ending set by the author has already concluded or discontinued, but the characters in the world still continue with their lives. Your task is to continue the life of the supporting male lead and guide him to successfully find love elsewhere.}
Lu Ran raised his eyebrows,
{You mean that, after the supporting male lead chooses to silently protect the heroine's life, there are still endless possibilities for their daily life. While everyone assumes he will remain single forever, perhaps he could encounter true love and eventually move on from the heroine in a few years?}
{The original supporting male lead's fate is, of course, restricted by the author to be single for life, but you aren't bound by the author's limitations. The system allows you to transmigrate as the supporting male lead and assist them in changing their ending of being single}
Lu Ran pondered this for a while and, feeling that he understood, decided to stop asking further questions.
Following the original owner's memory, he retrieved his mobile phone from his suit trouser pocket, activated the fingerprint scanner, and opened the front camera.
Despite the dim lighting in the bar, the touch-screen SUPER phone that came with the original body vividly displayed the appearance of the supporting male lead before him.
With a face as sharp and angular as a sculpture, a high nose bridge, deep eyes, and slightly pursed, thin, light-colored lips forming a seductive arc. Undoubtedly, it was a handsome and refined visage.
However, an inexplicable chill emanated between the eyebrows, across the cheeks, and from the thin lips, as if a subtle expression could freeze people in place.
Lu Ran sighed. This supporting male lead is worth tens of billions, and the coat he is wearing today alone costs hundreds of thousands.
A diamond king at only twenty-seven years old
A face that seems to have been favored by God through miraculous craftsmanship.
With such conditions, one would expect countless women to be swarming in every minute, wanting to win him over without even a beckoning finger.
But just because of his cold personality, after twenty-seven years, only the heroine dared to approach him.
Now, due to the author's partiality, the only woman who dared to approach him has fallen into the arms of another.
Not to mention protecting the heroine; as long as he remain cold and aloof, he is destined to be alone for a lifetime, right?
Fortunately, he is here now.
Lu Ran pressed his heart, suppressing the original discomfort and pain in his body, and silently said in his heart:
"Don’t worry, it’s impossible to be single all your life. I’m afraid there are too many candidates, and it’s hard to choose."
After saying this silently, Lu Ran shifted his gaze away from the dimmed mobile phone screen to the women with voluptuous figures and delicate faces in the booths beside the dance floor.
It's worth noting that women who frequent TOP bars are willing to invest in themselves.
They were so fashionable that they reached perfection, and their beauty was alluring. Even from a distance of five meters, Lu Ran felt like he could smell the sweet fragrance emanating from them in the air.
Especially when his eyes swept over them, they were obviously afraid of him in their hearts, yet their instincts had already compelled them to adjust their sitting postures and expressions to the best state.
Like a group of talent show girls awaiting the emperor's favor.
Lu Ran suddenly became interested. His mouth curled up, and the tip of his tongue followed suit.
An uninhibited and flamboyant whistle escaped from his originally indifferent lips.
Upon his whistle, as far as the eye could see, the group of beautiful ladies began to transform from their initial reserved state.
Some clenched their fists in excitement, and their eyes instantly gained courage, as if they were about to get up and approach him in the next second to strike up a conversation.
Others lowered their eyebrows shyly, concealing the ambition in their eyes, attempting to attract his attention with their shyness.
Some were even bolder. In response to his whistle, they lifted their beautiful long hair, casting seductive glances at him that would make ordinary men dizzy, akin to a silent invitation.
……
Lu Ran was very satisfied with the effect he had caused.
In his opinion, he didn't really want to have a casual encounter with any of these women tonight. On the contrary, he firmly believed that for a man and a woman to have a relationship, it must be based on a certain emotional foundation.
He couldn't tolerate having a relationship with a stranger.
This time, the reason he did this was merely to verify his hypothesis.
Now he comes to the conclusion:
The reason why this body has been single for twenty-seven years is indeed because the author created his character to be like an air-conditioner. Now, with a slight change, he can attract girls in minutes.
Unexpectedly, before he could feel proud, System 628's cold warning sounded in his mind.
{Please don’t destroy the character of the supporting male lead. One warning and two electric shock punishments!}
When Lu Ran heard this, he raised his eyebrows, his face full of dissatisfaction:{Fuck! If a man is not bad, a woman will not love him. How can I go find love with this iceberg face?}
{The second electric shock punishment begins}
The system's more callous and ruthless voice echoed in his ears, causing his teeth to tremble in pain. Lu Ran persisted for ten seconds; cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his heart began to contract irregularly. He finally gave in:
{Isn't it fine as long as I don't fuckin' collapse?! }
The author has something to say：
Lù Rǎn：I knew that this task was not that simple，╭(╯^╰)╮
New posts are continually being published. I am committed to daily updates and never giving up. In case of any unforeseen circumstances, the copywriter may need to take a leave. I kindly request everyone's understanding and support, (づ￣3￣)づ
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This is MTL and edited for comprehension. This is not an accurate translation and is solely based on what I understood by reading the mtl version of the novel.
NOTES:
I am still unsure about the last part: 雾草劳资不崩还不行吗
While I did search some of the phrases:
雾草 [wù cǎo] n. Fog+glass. This Internet slang term is a euphemism for 我操 [wǒ cào] “I fuck” because of the similar pronunciation.
劳资 [láo zī]=老子 [lǎo zi] n. Labor+capital. I. This Internet slang term means 老子 [lǎo zi] “I (used jocularly and arrogantly)” because they sound similar.
I don't feel like i captured the meaning of that sentence well. If you have ideas plase let me know.
Thank you