-Chapter 5-
Before he could refuse, Susanna happily walked out of the bedroom.
Lucas was nearly in tears and quickly climbed out of bed.
Just as he was fretting over how to change his mom's mind, his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and saw that it was a call from Yelena.
Why was this woman calling him?
He was the villain on Rose's route. Logically speaking, there shouldn't be any interaction with Yelena.
But she was a female lead after all. Lucas didn't dare to take it lightly and could only brace himself to answer.
"Young Master Grey, there were some issues during my father's birthday banquet last night. I wasn't able to host you properly. I'd like to make up for it with a private lunch today. Are you free?"
Huh?
What was there to make up for?
Without thinking, Lucas immediately declined. "Sorry, Miss Miller. I've got something going on this afternoon. I won't be able to make it."
"I see. I heard your father is currently seeking a partnership with Starlight Group. I was planning to help make the connection. But since you're busy, never mind."
"Wait a second!"
Starlight Group? Wasn't that the multinational corporation his dad had been trying to connect with for three years?
And Yelena had that kind of contact?
It looked like she had put real effort into arranging this lunch, even preparing such bait.
What was she really after?
Lucas hesitated again and again but eventually agreed.
It was just a private lunch. It wouldn't affect the main storyline. It should be fine.
After comforting himself a little, he drove to the restaurant address Yelena had given him and arrived at the parking lot.
The moment he stepped out of the car, he saw David striding into the restaurant.
Fuck!
Lucas immediately crouched down to hide.
Why was the Dragon King male lead here?
According to the original novel, the Dragon King wasn't supposed to show up until the engagement banquet. He should have been staying at the villa training during these days.
Could it be that Yelena had pulled a trick and invited both him and David?
That seemed unlikely.
He and Yelena had no grudge. Why would she set him up?
Thinking this through, Lucas calmed down a bit. Still, he called Yelena to ask what was going on.
But just as the call went through, a ringtone rang out behind him.
He quickly turned around and saw Yelena standing right there behind him.
Lucas jumped like a startled bird and took a step back. Once he realized it was her, he let out a speechless sigh. "Why were you standing behind me without saying anything?"
In fact, Yelena had been there for a while.
She had deliberately stayed hidden to run a test.
A test to see how she was able to hear his thoughts and what the trigger was.
Now she was certain. To hear his thoughts, she had to be within close proximity.
The range was roughly ten meters.
But her expression showed nothing. She simply looked innocent and said, "Why does it seem like you're scared of me, Young Master Grey?"
Lucas let out an awkward laugh. "What would I be scared of?"
[Obviously I'm scared! David has a ton of women, and you're the craftiest one of all. The original novel is over five million words long, and you managed to string him along for every single one of them.]
[Even a ten-year fishing master couldn't compare to you.]
[You had David, the ultra-alpha male, wrapped around your finger. What chance does a small-fry villain like me have?]
"So, uh, Miss Miller, you didn't invite anyone else to this lunch, did you? I think I just saw David walk inside."
"That's just a coincidence," Yelena replied with a faint smile. Her eyes were like a spring breeze. "Don't worry. I only invited you."
That was a relief.
Still, he really didn't want to run into David. "Could we maybe eat somewhere else?"
Yelena smiled again. "This restaurant is the best one under my father's name. I invited you here to show my sincerity. Please follow me, Young Master Grey."
With no better option, Lucas could only follow.
Once inside the restaurant, Yelena headed to the center of the dining area and pulled out a chair to sit down.
Lucas quickly stopped her. "Well, I'm kind of a low-key guy. I don't like eating in public. How about we book a private room instead?"
"A private room? That's fine. Let's go upstairs."
Eager to find a place to hide, Lucas took the lead and rushed ahead.
But as soon as he turned into the second-floor hallway, he heard a loud argument.
"I already said I like this private room, so it's mine! You say one more word, and I'll make you get on your knees and call me grandpa!"
Lucas followed the sound and immediately felt his heart jump into his throat.
Someone was provoking David.
And the person speaking was someone he recognized. It was Zavier Brown, the villain in Yelena's storyline.
At that moment, Zavier had his neck stuck out, jabbing a finger in David's face and shouting, "Get lost already! Trying to take my private room? Are you tired of living?"
David, though humiliated, remained calm. "I reserved this room in advance, and the restaurant agreed. On what grounds are you taking it?"
Zavier roared in response. "On what grounds? On the grounds that my last name is Brown!"
Oh, right.
Lucas suddenly remembered.
[There really was a scene like this in the novel. The male lead reserved a private room, got it stolen, and then used the classic face-slapping reversal plot.]
[If memory serves, Old Master Miller gave the male lead a black card, and he used it to viciously slap the villain's face.]
At that thought, Lucas glanced back at Yelena.
[Now the male lead doesn't even need the black card. His little simp, Yelena, is right here. She can be the one to slap faces for him directly.]
Although, Lucas had always been dismissive of this kind of plot.
On the surface, it looked like the villain was arrogant and deserved to be punished.
But the male lead's method of punishing others wasn't all that honorable either.
He didn't rely on his own strength or reason or justice. He just used a higher social class to crush others, just like the villains did.
What was the difference between him and the people he punished?
At least the villains relied on their own family background. The male lead relied on the Miller family. In that sense, he was even worse.
Sure enough, when the restaurant manager began to side with Zavier and tried to kick out David, David pulled a black card from his pocket.
As soon as the manager saw the card, he exclaimed with that iconic line.
"This isn't just any card. This is the VVVVIP black card issued by our CEO at the founding of our restaurant! Only ten exist nationwide. There are only three in all of Su City. How do you have one?"
How did he have it?
You'd have to ask Yelena, his loyal simp.
Lucas turned with a smile to look at Yelena. But, to his surprise, she glared at him angrily.
Then she quickly pulled out her phone and typed out a message before sending it off.
Zavier, shocked by the sight of the black card, yelled, "How do you have a black card? That's impossible! Uncle Miller issued those cards himself. My dad couldn't even get one back then. There's no way you have one. It has to be fake!"
Lucas clicked his tongue in amusement.
[Little Brown, your villainy is truly top-notch. Every single line you speak just sets up the male lead's moment of glory. You're really dedicated to your role. A role model for us all. I need to learn from you.]
The manager clearly didn't believe it either. He took the black card and said, "Each black card has a unique serial number and an anti-counterfeit mark. I can tell if it's fake at a glance."
He immediately began to inspect it.
After a careful comparison, the manager's face showed clear shock. "This is indeed one of the ten black cards originally issued by the Miller family."
"That's impossible. Absolutely impossible!"
Zavier panicked.
"I know! You must've picked it up or stolen it from someone!"
David let out a cold laugh. "If I picked it up or stole it, the card would have been reported lost. You can verify that right now."
The manager nodded and quickly took out his phone to confirm.
Lucas let out a sigh. Was verification even necessary?
The true source was standing right behind him.
That card had been given to David by none other than her.
Yelena hesitated to speak.
The black card had indeed originally been hers. But her father had later transferred it to David, as a gesture to show how much the Miller family valued him.
However, after what happened at the banquet last night, when David seriously injured Zeke, insulted Lucas, and even tried to harass Rose, her father flew into a rage upon learning about it.
Not only did he stop treating David as an honored guest, he even added his name to the Miller family's blacklist.
Just moments ago, Yelena had already sent a message to headquarters to report the black card as lost.
Sure enough, the manager's startled voice soon rang out. "This black card has already been reported lost!"
He glared fiercely at David.
"You thief! How dare you steal from the Miller family and come swaggering into our restaurant? Do you have a death wish?"
Zavier burst out laughing. "What did I say? I knew that card couldn't be his. Someone, arrest him immediately and send him to the police!"
What!
Lucas nearly dropped his jaw on the floor.
The black card was actually reported lost?
Wasn't the Dragon King male lead supposed to use this card to turn the tables and slap the villain's face?
How did it end up with his own face getting completely wrecked?
This… this plot isn't right at all.
David's face was also full of disbelief. "Reported lost? That's impossible. This card was personally given to me by Master Miller. How could it be reported lost? I'll call Master Miller right now and confirm."
"Fuck you."
Without thinking, Zavier swung a kick at David.
"A broke piece of trash like you thinks you can just call Master Miller? Who the hell do you think you are? I gave you a chance and you blew it. You think I've got time to keep playing your stupid act? Get lost!"
At that moment, David no longer held back or kept up appearances.
Seeing Zavier's foot coming toward him, his expression turned cold. He grabbed the man's ankle and twisted hard.
Crack.
In an instant, Zavier's ankle was broken clean through.
"Aaaahhhh!"
A pained scream erupted from Zavier as he collapsed to the ground in agony.
The manager turned pale with fright and ran to the side, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire.
Even Lucas's expression changed when he saw it.
Fuck.
The Dragon King male lead was way too brutal.
Zavier only cursed him a couple of times. Did he really have to go that far and snap the guy's ankle?
Yelena's face darkened as she stepped into the hallway on the second floor.
Lucas watched helplessly as she walked past. He wanted to stop her, but it was already too late.
To stay in character, he had no choice but to follow with gritted teeth.
At this moment, David still wasn't satisfied after breaking Zavier's ankle. He had already grabbed the man's arm next.
"Stop."
Yelena's voice rang out cold and sharp.
"Mr. Fox, I must ask you to stop causing repeated disturbances on the Miller family property."
David turned suddenly and saw Yelena standing side by side with Lucas behind him.
He narrowed his eyes and glared at Lucas. "You again!"
Lucas wanted to cry.
[I really didn't want it to be me either. I've just been shoved onto the stage without warning!]
But to keep up his character, he forced himself to reply. "Yeah, it's me. So what? I'm just here for a meal. Why the hell should I have to look at the face of such a stinky loser?"
David's eyes narrowed further. "You're forcing Rose to marry you, and now you're bothering Yelena too?"
Lucas was just about to retort when Yelena spoke up, her voice displeased. "Mr. Fox, I'm not that familiar with you. Please don't call me by my name. From now on, just refer to me as Miss Miller."
What?
Both Lucas and David turned to her in unison, eyes wide with shock.
[What's going on? Has the female lead gone mad? Last night she kicked out the male lead, and now she's not even letting him call her name? Something's definitely wrong. This can't be right.]
David was clearly confused. "Yelena… I mean, Miss Miller, did I offend you somehow?"
Yelena's lips curved faintly. "Mr. Fox, you're overthinking. You did save my father's life once, and the Miller family has always been grateful for that. However, last night at the banquet, you injured my family. Good and bad cancel each other out."
"As for me, I have no grudge against you. Including today, we've only met three times. Keeping some distance and being polite is just basic manners, isn't it?"
David's thick brows furrowed. His heart was full of frustration.
That first time they met, Yelena didn't treat him like this.
After he cured Old Master Miller's poisoning, her gaze toward him had been full of admiration and respect—there had even been a bit of affection.
Was this really all because he injured Zeke last night?
Was that why she had suddenly grown so cold?
David opened his mouth, seemingly about to explain. But before he could speak, Yelena gave an order. "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and take Young Master Brown to the hospital!"
"Y-Yes!"
The restaurant manager and others scrambled like robots. It was as if Zavier's injuries didn't even matter.
Only after hearing Yelena's command did they finally spring into action, lifting Zavier and carrying him downstairs.
"Miss Miller, it's true that injuring Zeke last night was my fault. But I wasn't the one who provoked things first. You saw how he insulted and challenged me."
David took several steps forward and stood in front of Yelena, his tone emotional.
"I hate it most when people bring up my family. But he deliberately mocked mine. If it were you, could you have stayed calm?"
Yelena's face remained expressionless. "You could have taught him a lesson, but you went too far. Do you know he was in emergency treatment all night? The doctors say he may be left with serious complications."
"I—"
David was filled with regret.
He hadn't meant to go that far. He just wanted to slap him around a little to teach him a lesson.
But when Rose suddenly kissed Lucas, it set him off. His vision went red and he lost control...
Thinking back to that moment, he abruptly looked up and glared viciously at Lucas. His fists clenched tight, cracking with tension.
It was all this guy's fault!
Last night, he had to watch Rose give up her first kiss. That led to him offending the Miller family. Now the same guy was getting cozy with Yelena, even standing around gloating while they argued.
He should be the one lying in a hospital bed!
Lucas stood beside Yelena, not daring to say a word. He desperately wished he could turn invisible.
Yet even so, he could still feel the overwhelming killing intent radiating from the Dragon King male lead.
-End of Chapter 5-