Chapter 256: A Heroine’s Heart Moved Slightly

He moved.

When she needed his ability...

He used it.

That contrast struck her.

Because Shen Tian was arrogant.

Extremely arrogant.

Yet...

His arrogance had boundaries.

He knew what he knew.

And...

More importantly...

He knew what he didn’t.

Finally...

The last critical patient stabilized.

Lin Yue stepped outside the operating area.

Exhausted.

She removed her surgical cap.

Her black hair fell messily around her face.

Shen Tian sat nearby.

She walked toward him.

Then...

Without thinking...

Dropped into the seat beside him.

Close.

Very close.

Their shoulders touched.

Lin Yue noticed.

She didn’t immediately move.

Shen Tian glanced sideways.

"Tired?"

"Completely."

"You did well."

Lin Yue stared.

Then...

A soft smile appeared.

"Thank you."

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

Not because the compliment was particularly romantic.

But...

She cared about this.

Her work.

Saving people.

Hearing praise from someone who had actually stood beside her during the chaos...

Felt different.

She leaned her head back.

"Three of those patients would’ve died."

"Maybe."

"Not maybe."

She turned.

Her face was closer than she realized.

"Definitely."

Shen Tian looked toward her.

Lin Yue froze.

Green eyes.

Close.

Very close.

Her face warmed.

She quickly leaned back.

"...Anyway."

Rose stood several feet away.

Watching.

Her arms slowly crossed.

Then...

Shen Tian looked toward her.

Rose immediately uncrossed them.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She narrowed her eyes.

He smiled.

Rose’s face became pink.

"Damn you."

Lin Yue looked between them.

Then...

She understood.

Her lips curved slightly.

Interesting.

. . .

Then...

Footsteps.

Rose’s expression immediately dropped.

Lin Yue sighed.

Shen Tian looked toward the hallway.

Lu Chen appeared.

Again.

He had apparently received word about the accident and learned Lin Yue was working.

He walked quickly.

"Yue."

Lin Yue looked toward him.

"I’m fine."

Lu Chen stopped.

Then...

Saw how close she was sitting to Shen Tian.

His expression changed.

Again.

[Why is he still here?]

Both women heard.

[And why is Yue sitting that close?]

Lin Yue slowly moved her eyes toward him.

Not her body.

Just her eyes.

Lu Chen continued approaching.

"I heard about the accident."

"We handled it."

"We?"

His eyes moved toward Shen Tian.

Lin Yue nodded.

"Shen Tian helped."

Lu Chen stared.

"He what?"

Rose smiled.

"He saved people."

Lu Chen’s jaw tightened.

Of course.

Of course he did.

Lin Yue continued.

"Three patients would’ve probably died without him."

Shen Tian sighed.

"You’re exaggerating."

"No."

Lin Yue looked at him.

Her expression became warm.

"I’m not."

She smiled.

And...

A faint blush remained on her cheeks.

Lu Chen saw it.

His remaining composure cracked slightly.

[You’ve got to be kidding me.]

Rose nearly smiled.

[She looks at him like that now too?!]

Lin Yue’s smile disappeared.

Lu Chen’s thoughts spiraled.

[What is he doing?]

[First Qingya.]

[Then Meilin.]

[Rose.]

[Now Yue.]

[Every woman...]

Rose’s expression turned cold.

Lin Yue’s too.

Then...

Lu Chen thought the worst possible thing.

[Do women just fall for whichever man shows off the most?]

Silence.

Lin Yue stood.

Lu Chen blinked.

"Yue?"

SLAP!

The sound echoed through the hallway.

Lu Chen’s head turned.

Silence.

Rose’s eyes widened.

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

Lin Yue’s hand trembled slightly.

Not from fear.

Anger.

"That..."

She stared directly at him.

"...was for every woman you just insulted."

Lu Chen’s face changed.

"I didn’t say anything!"

Lin Yue laughed bitterly.

"No."

"You thought it."

His expression froze.

Rose folded her arms.

"And we heard it."

Lu Chen’s face darkened.

"That’s not fair."

Rose stared.

"Excuse me?"

"You shouldn’t be hearing my private thoughts!"

Lin Yue’s eyes narrowed.

"Maybe not."

She stepped closer.

"But here’s an idea."

"Stop having disgusting thoughts about women you claim to respect."

Lu Chen clenched his fists.

"You don’t understand."

"No."

Lin Yue shook her head.

"I understand much more now than I did yesterday."

Silence.

Lu Chen’s eyes moved toward Shen Tian.

Of course.

He blamed him.

Again.

Shen Tian slowly stood.

His height and presence immediately became obvious.

Lu Chen stared.

Shen Tian stared back.

Then...

Lu Chen’s eyes moved toward Lin Yue.

Toward Rose.

Both women were standing closer to Shen Tian than him.

Both looked angry at Lu Chen.

Both...

Comfortable beside Shen Tian.

Something twisted inside him.

"Fine."

He laughed coldly.

"Enjoy playing hero."

Shen Tian’s eyebrow rose.

Lu Chen turned.

Then...

Shen Tian spoke.

"Lu Chen."

He stopped.

Shen Tian’s expression wasn’t playful this time.

"Those people in there..."

He gestured toward the trauma center.

"...almost died."

Lu Chen remained silent.

Shen Tian’s green eyes hardened.

"If your first concern after hearing that is which woman is standing beside which man..."

The hallway became quiet.

"...then you’ve got bigger problems than me."

Lin Yue stared.

Rose did too.

Lu Chen’s fists tightened.

He wanted to respond.

Couldn’t.

Shen Tian turned away.

Conversation over.

And somehow...

That dismissal hurt Lu Chen’s pride more than an insult.

He walked away.

. . .

Rose watched him leave.

Then...

Looked toward Shen Tian.

Her expression softened.

"That was..."

She stopped.

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Rose shook her head.

"Nothing."

But her cheeks were faintly pink.

Lin Yue noticed.

Then...

She looked toward Shen Tian too.

The man had spent two hours helping complete strangers.

No cameras.

No publicity.

No family representatives.

No reward.

Then...

When Lu Chen appeared...

Shen Tian’s concern wasn’t about winning.

It was about the people inside.

Lin Yue’s heart moved slightly.

Small.

Barely noticeable.

But...

There.

She smiled.

"Shen Tian."

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

"You’ve said that."

"I’m saying it again."

She extended her hand.

He took it.

Lin Yue smiled.

Then...

Instead of immediately releasing...

Her fingers remained around his.

Shen Tian noticed.

Rose definitely noticed.

Lin Yue realized.

Her cheeks turned red.

Yet...

She didn’t immediately pull away.

"Coffee wasn’t enough."

Shen Tian smiled.

"What are you offering?"

Lin Yue thought.

"Dinner."

Rose’s eyes widened.

Lin Yue looked toward her.

"What?"

Rose stared.

Then...

Her competitive instincts awakened.

"He’s already having coffee with me."

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow.

"Dinner comes after coffee."

Rose froze.

"..."

Shen Tian slowly looked between them.

Xu Ning appeared beside him.

[Host.]

"Don’t."

[Nothing.]

"Xu Ning."

[I’m simply observing.]

"Silently."

[Two beautiful women are fighting over your schedule.]

"They’re not fighting."

Rose looked toward Lin Yue.

Lin Yue looked toward Rose.

Silence.

Shen Tian reconsidered.

"...Yet."

Xu Ning smiled.

[Exactly.]

Rose finally looked toward Shen Tian.

"When are you free?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"For?"

"Coffee."

"We just had coffee."

"That didn’t count."

"Why?"

"Lu Chen ruined it."

Lin Yue immediately nodded.

"She’s right."

Shen Tian stared.

Rose smiled.

"So..."

She leaned slightly closer.

Her cheeks became pink.

"Tomorrow?"

Shen Tian looked into her eyes.

Rose held his gaze.

Barely.

Then...

"Sure."

Her entire expression brightened.

She tried hiding it.

Failed.

"Good."

Lin Yue smiled.

"Then dinner the day after."

Shen Tian looked toward her.

She suddenly realized how eager she sounded.

Her face became red.

"I mean..."

She cleared her throat.

"If you’re available."

Shen Tian smiled.

"I am."

Lin Yue looked away.

"Good."

Rose stared at her.

Lin Yue stared back.

A silent understanding passed between them.

Neither was in love.

Neither was claiming Shen Tian.

Neither even fully understood what they felt yet.

But...

They were interested.

Very interested.

And both knew the other was too.

Shen Tian started walking.

"You two coming?"

Both women immediately followed.

Rose moved to his right.

Lin Yue naturally ended up on his left.

Shen Tian glanced between them.

Then...

Sighed.

"What?"

Rose asked.

"Nothing."

Lin Yue narrowed her eyes.

"That sounded suspicious."

Shen Tian smiled.

"You both look cute when you’re competitive."

Silence.

Both women froze.

Their faces turned red simultaneously.

Shen Tian continued walking.

Rose stared after him.

Lin Yue stared too.

Then...

They looked at each other.

Rose whispered...

"He did that intentionally."

Lin Yue nodded.

"Absolutely."

They hurried after him.

. . .

Across the street...

Lu Chen stood beside his vehicle.

He had seen them leave.

Shen Tian in the middle.

Rose beside him.

Lin Yue beside him.

Both women blushing.

Both smiling.

Both looking toward him.

His hand slowly tightened around the door handle.

CRACK!

Metal bent beneath his fingers.

His eyes became bloodshot.

Everything since returning to China...

Had gone wrong.

Gu Qingya.

Tang Meilin.

Rose.

Now Lin Yue.

His opportunities.

His spear.

His inheritance.

His Domain.

His pride.

And everywhere he looked...

Shen Tian stood there.

Calm.

Smiling.

Winning.

Lu Chen’s aura began leaking.

Then...

A voice suddenly spoke behind him.

"Getting angry won’t fix anything."

Lu Chen froze.

He turned.

A man stood several meters away.

Tall.

Broad.

Foreign.

A long scar crossed his face.

Lu Chen’s expression instantly changed.

"...Viper."

The man smiled.

"Been a while..."

His eyes moved toward Shen Tian in the distance.

"...War Wolf."

Lu Chen’s anger disappeared.

Replaced by killing intent.

Viper smiled wider.

"Looks like you’ve been having trouble."

Lu Chen’s eyes narrowed.

"What are you doing in China?"

"Business."

"Whose?"

Viper slowly reached inside his coat.

Lu Chen prepared to attack.

But...

Viper only removed a photograph.

He tossed it.

Lu Chen caught it.

Then...

His expression changed.

The photograph showed...

Shen Tian.

Viper smiled.

"Seems we have a mutual problem."

Lu Chen looked toward Shen Tian in the distance.

Rose laughed at something he’d said.

Lin Yue covered her mouth, cheeks pink.

Lu Chen’s fingers tightened around the photograph.

Then...

He looked back toward Viper.

"What do you want?"

Viper’s smile widened.

And somewhere across the street...

Xu Ning suddenly stopped floating.

Her eyes widened.

Shen Tian noticed immediately.

"What?"

Xu Ning slowly turned toward the parking lot.

A system warning appeared.

[WARNING]

Major Fate Event Beginning

Black Wolf Adversary Route Activated

New Fate Opportunity Detected

Estimated Value: 24,000

Shen Tian followed her gaze.

His green eyes landed on Lu Chen.

Then...

The unfamiliar man beside him.

A slow smile appeared.

Rose noticed.

"What?"

Shen Tian slipped his hands into his pockets.

"Nothing."

Lin Yue looked toward him.

"Why do I feel like that’s never actually nothing?"

Shen Tian laughed.

"You’re learning."

Rose stared at his smile.

Then...

Her cheeks warmed again despite herself.

"Whatever you’re planning..."

She stepped a little closer.

"...I want to see it."

Lin Yue glanced toward Rose.

Then toward Shen Tian.

A tiny smile appeared.

"So do I."

Shen Tian looked between them.

His green eyes gleamed.

"Then keep up."

And behind them...

Lu Chen watched both women follow Shen Tian without hesitation.

His expression became darker still.

The next Fate opportunity...

Had already begun.

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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

SEND POWESTONES!!!

ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!