The hall was silent.
The type of silence that comes right before someone screams, faints, or uploads a scandal to social media.
Li Cheng stood frozen on the stage.
Spotlights hit him sharply.
The system aura glowed faintly around him, making him look like a protagonist stepping out of a dream…
…and into a nightmare.
Because Yue Yiran—
Heiress of Aurora Global, rumored genius, icy beauty with a business empire at her fingertips—
was smiling at him like she already owned him.
Four women "backstage simultaneously narrowed their eyes."
Lin Jue covered his face.
"Ohhh no. He's dead. He's so dead."
Even the reporters sensed the danger.
One whispered:
"Is this a love triangle?"
Another:
"No, this is a love hexagon."
And one particularly bold one typed furiously:
Li Cheng's Love Debts Expand: Mysterious Heiress Appears—Fiery Showdown Expected!
Li Cheng wanted to explode into dust.
---
Yue Yiran's Introduction to Chaos
Yue Yiran stepped toward the stage with perfect grace.
Her heels clicked softly on the marble, but somehow the sound echoed like thunder.
Every step she took made Mengyu more anxious.
Made Chen Yuxi colder.
Made Shuxian tilt her head with assessed threat-level calculation.
Made Auntie Mei press her lips into a thin line of disapproval sharp enough to slice steel.
Li Cheng cleared his throat in panic.
"E-Excuse me, Miss Yue, but… is this important enough to interrupt the launch speech?"
She smiled.
A killer "smile."
A smile that said, "Yes, and you can't stop me."
"Very important," she said softly.
"In fact… it may determine the future of NovaTech itself."
The hall "gasped."
Investors whispered frantically:
"Has Aurora Global come to buy them?"
"Partnership? Merger?"
"Is she courting him or scouting him?!"
Li Cheng raised both hands.
"Can we talk after the speech—?"
"No."
Her answer was crisp and immediate.
Li Cheng died internally.
The system chimed happily.
[Host's romantic disaster index has increased by 37%.]
"SHUT UP."
[Congratulations! Index has now reached 'Elite Drama Magnet.']
"I SAID SHUT UP—!"
The audience thought he was talking to himself.
Reporters scribbled in excitement.
---
Backstage Jealousy Temperature: RISING
Backstage:
Chen Yuxi typed furiously.
"She's deviating from the script. There is no clause for 'Heiress Attacks Stage.'"
Mengyu whispered shakily,
"S-She's… too pretty… I can't compete…"
Shuxian analyzed:
"She is dangerous. Her every gesture is calculated. This is an apex predator of the business world."
Auntie Mei cracked her knuckles.
"…She wants my child."
Lin Jue trembled beside them.
"Should I… stop her?"
All four women stared at him coldly.
Lin Jue instantly folded.
"…Right. I'll stay here and be useless."
---
The Bomb Yue Yiran Drops
Yue Yiran reached the stage and extended a hand to Li Cheng.
He hesitated, then shook it.
The moment their hands touched—
FLASH!
Every reporter took a photo.
Chen Yuxi "nearly threw up her laptop."
Mengyu "squeaked."
Shuxian's "pen snapped."
Auntie Mei's "eyebrow twitched with divine fury."
Yue Yiran's eyes sparkled subtly.
Perfectly calculated.
Then she turned to the microphone.
"Good morning, esteemed guests."
The crowd went silent.
"As the representative of Aurora Global, I am here today… because our company has taken a very deep interest in President Li Cheng."
The hall erupted.
Li Cheng coughed violently.
"Miss Yue—this is very sudden—"
She continued smoothly.
"We have been observing NovaTech's development for quite some time.
And after reviewing President Li's innovations, talent, and potential…"
She took a slight step toward him.
Close.
Too close.
"…we believe his future lies far above where he is today."
Li Cheng blinked rapidly.
"W-what do you mean by—"
Yue Yiran looked straight into his eyes.
"In short:
I want to acquire your company."
The hall exploded.
"What?!"
"She wants to buy NovaTech?!"
"On launch day?!"
"This is historic!"
"This is insane!"
Li Cheng froze.
The system chimed.
[Warning: Aura effect heightened due to emotional disturbance.]
"Oh God—NO—!"
A camera crew near the stage tripped over their equipment.
A reporter dropped her phone.
A microphone exploded in feedback.
Li Cheng felt his eye twitch.
---
Face-Slap #1 — Calm CEO Mode Activated
He exhaled slowly.
Then smiled gently.
Professional.
Stable.
Handsome.
Every woman watching him went still.
Even Yue Yiran paused.
"Miss Yue," Li Cheng said smoothly, "while I appreciate your interest—"
Reporters leaned closer.
"I'm afraid NovaTech is not for sale."
The room froze.
Yue Yiran blinked.
Then smiled again, a little more amused.
"I expected that answer."
Li Cheng added, smiling more sharply:
"But let me give you another one."
He stepped closer, just one deliberate pace.
"And that is:
No matter who stands in front of me—
Aurora Global, or any other empire…"
He lowered his voice.
"I won't kneel just because someone powerful smiles at me."
The audience ERUPTED.
"Damn—!"
"That's a main character line!"
"He rejected an heiress!"
"He refused Aurora to their face!"
Backstage, Mengyu whispered,
"H-He's… so cool…"
Chen Yuxi pushed up her glasses, hiding a blush behind professionalism.
Shuxian nodded with rare approval.
"Yes. That is expected."
Auntie Mei "folded her arms in satisfaction."
Lin Jue whispered,
"Why is he suddenly hotter than me? Not fair."
---
King-tier Face-Slap #2 — The Silent Kill
Yue Yiran tilted her head.
Her eyes shone.
"President Li," she said with a calm, dangerous softness,
"You are very confident."
He smiled lightly.
"And you're very dramatic."
The hall OOOOHHHH'D.
"That was flirting."
"No, that was war."
"No—both—??"
Yue Yiran's lips curved into a subtle, predatory smile.
"I like dramatic people," she said.
"I don't," Li Cheng replied casually.
Every reporter screamed internally.
Shuxian nodded approvingly.
"He learns quickly."
Lin Jue clutched his chest.
"If that were me, I'd have melted into a puddle."
---
Aura Accident #2 — The Chair Incident
As they stood on stage, the aura surged again.
Li Cheng felt it.
He panicked.
Too late.
A man attempting to film them leaned too far—
Tripped—
Slammed into a lighting stand—
Which fell—
—but landed exactly one centimeter away from hitting Yue Yiran.
She blinked in surprise.
Li Cheng instantly stepped in front of her.
The hall "gasped."
Reporters took a thousand pictures.
Behind him, the stand crashed harmlessly to the floor.
Yue Yiran stared at him.
Her lips parted slightly.
"…You protected me?"
Li Cheng's brain screamed internally:
"NO I DIDN'T, IT WAS INSTINCT—SYSTEM STOP THIS—"
He coughed stiffly.
"It was falling near you. Anyone would've done the same."
"Not anyone," she murmured softly.
His heartbeat kicked.
"Aura off—AURA OFF—"
[Host, aura cannot turn off during public event.]
"I hate everything."
---
Yue Yiran's Final Blow (Damage: 9999)
She took a half-step closer.
"President Li," she said quietly, just for him and the microphones,
"I'll make this clear for you and everyone watching."
She raised her chin.
"I don't give up easily."
Every woman" backstage felt a vein pop simultaneously."
Chen Yuxi: "…Oh, she wants to die."
Mengyu: "S-She's too bold…"
Shuxian: "I admire her courage. But she is foolish."
Auntie Mei smiled coldly like an executioner.
Lin Jue backed away slowly.
"I'm not getting involved in this one."
Yue Yiran continued:
"I will not accept your refusal today.
I will return."
She pointed subtly between his collar and chest.
"And next time… you won't be able to avoid me."
Li Cheng froze.
"…Why?"
She smiled.
"For the same reason, everyone here is looking at you."
She leaned slightly closer.
"You're interesting."
And then—
She stepped down from the stage.
Graceful.
Calm.
Untouchable.
The reporters went wild.
The system chimed louder than ever.
[New affection detected: Yue Yiran]
[Affinity Level: ★★★★☆ — Dangerous Interest]
"DANGEROUS?? WHY??"
[Because she is very competitive. And very rich.]
"THAT'S NOT A REASON TO—"
[Preparing side quest: "Survive the Heiress Arc."]
"CANCEL IT!!"
[Cannot cancel.]
Li Cheng wanted to scream.
---
Li Cheng Finally Starts His Speech
He turned back to the crowd—
Still buzzing like a swarm of gossip-loving bees.
He swallowed.
Then began speaking.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Confidently.
The aura helped.
His voice carried power without arrogance.
Warmth without weakness.
A sense of rising greatness that everyone could feel.
Minutes passed.
The chaos settled.
Li Cheng found his rhythm.
The audience leaned forward, captivated.
For the first time,
It truly felt like he was a CEO commanding the future.
He ended with:
"NovaTech begins today.
And we will climb… step by step…
without fear."
The applause was deafening.
Standing ovation.
Cameras flashing.
Shouts of praise.
Students cheering.
Even teachers applauded proudly.
Behind the stage—
The four women "watching him…
felt something shift."
Something subtle.
He wasn't the Li Cheng who struggled with insults years ago.
He wasn't the boy trying to survive embarrassment.
He was becoming someone sharper.
Stronger.
More charismatic.
Someone they could not ignore—even if they wanted to.
And the system whispered:
[Host, congratulations. The world is beginning to recognize you.]
Li Cheng exhaled deeply.
"…I just want a nap."
[Impossible.]
"…Why?"
[Because all four women are walking backstage toward you right now.]
Li Cheng froze.
"And they all look angry."
Li Cheng died internally.
Fade out.