Chapter 262: The Opportunity Involves The Villain

Shen Tian started laughing.

Lu Chen’s face became red.

Lin Yue laughed too.

Bear slammed the table.

"BEST MISSION EVER!"

Ghost nodded solemnly.

"The goat had impressive pursuit instincts."

Lu Chen stared at everyone.

Then...

His eyes moved toward Shen Tian.

Shen Tian was still laughing.

That...

Somehow...

Made it worse.

Rose wiped near her eyes.

Then...

She looked toward Shen Tian.

Their eyes met.

For a second...

She simply smiled.

Warm.

Natural.

Her cheeks faintly pink.

Lu Chen saw.

His internal voice became dark.

[She’s never looked at me like that.]

Rose heard.

Her smile faltered.

Then...

She thought about it.

Maybe she hadn’t.

Why would she?

She respected Lu Chen.

Loved him like family once.

Trusted him in battle.

But...

That wasn’t the same.

The realization didn’t hurt.

It clarified things.

Rose looked toward Shen Tian again.

He was arguing with Bear about whether surviving a goat attack counted as combat experience.

She laughed softly.

Her crush deepened.

. . .

Lin Yue noticed too.

Then...

Shen Tian looked toward her.

"What?"

She blinked.

"Nothing."

"You’re staring."

Rose immediately pointed.

"See?!"

Lin Yue’s cheeks turned red.

"I was thinking."

"About me?"

Shen Tian asked.

She froze.

Rose’s eyes widened.

Bear looked between them.

Ghost slowly took a drink.

Lin Yue recovered.

Barely.

"Maybe."

Silence.

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

Lin Yue’s face became even warmer.

But...

She refused to retreat.

"You’re interesting."

Shen Tian smiled.

"Good answer."

Lin Yue laughed softly.

Her heart beat faster.

Lu Chen’s fingers tightened beneath the table.

[Again.]

Rose heard.

Lin Yue heard.

[Why is Yue flirting with him too?]

Lin Yue’s expression cooled slightly.

Then...

Lu Chen’s thoughts shifted.

[That dress...]

Her eyes narrowed.

[She knew what she was doing wearing that.]

Lin Yue’s face became blank.

The good mood...

Gone.

Rose saw.

Then Lu Chen thought...

[Rose too.]

Rose slowly looked toward him.

[Both dressed up.]

[For him?]

Rose’s expression turned cold.

Yes.

Partly.

Maybe.

She had spent twenty minutes choosing the dress.

That was her decision.

Not his business.

Lu Chen stared down the table.

Then...

Finally spoke.

"Shen Tian."

The room quieted.

Shen Tian continued eating.

"Hm?"

"This is a Black Wolf reunion."

Rose immediately sighed.

Shen Tian looked around.

"So I’ve heard."

Lu Chen’s jaw tightened.

"You aren’t Black Wolf."

"No."

"So why are you here?"

Rose answered before Shen Tian could.

"I invited him."

Lu Chen looked toward her.

"I know."

"Then why are you asking him?"

Silence.

Bear stared at his food.

Ghost looked toward the ceiling.

Lin Yue leaned back.

Lu Chen’s expression darkened.

"I thought tonight was supposed to be about us."

Rose nodded.

"It is."

"Then..."

"And I wanted him here."

Simple.

Lu Chen’s eye twitched.

Shen Tian stayed silent.

He didn’t need to speak.

That made Lu Chen angrier.

Rose continued.

"You don’t have to like it."

"But stop acting like I needed permission."

Lu Chen’s thoughts screamed.

[She’s choosing him again.]

Rose’s expression hardened.

There it was.

Again.

Then...

Shen Tian finally spoke.

"Lu Chen."

He looked over.

Shen Tian rested his elbow on the table.

His expression calm.

Almost bored.

"Do you ever get tired?"

Lu Chen frowned.

"Of what?"

"Making every room about yourself."

Silence.

Shen Tian continued.

"This is supposed to be your friends reconnecting."

"Bear is telling stories."

"Ghost looks like he’s trying not to laugh."

"Lin Yue hasn’t seen half these people in years."

"Rose is having fun."

He tilted his head.

"And you’re sitting there calculating who smiled at me."

Lu Chen’s face changed.

Rose stared at Shen Tian.

Lin Yue did too.

Shen Tian’s green eyes sharpened.

"If you’re their commander..."

"Act like someone worth following."

Silence.

Heavy.

Real.

Not mockery.

Not a joke.

That struck harder.

Lu Chen’s hand slowly closed.

Then...

Bear spoke.

"Boss."

Lu Chen looked toward him.

Bear’s expression was serious.

"For once..."

"He’s right."

Silence.

Ghost looked down.

Then nodded slightly.

Lu Chen stared.

His own people.

Agreeing with Shen Tian.

His face slowly changed.

This wasn’t humiliation from an outsider anymore.

This was fracture.

Real fracture.

And somewhere beneath all the anger...

Fear appeared.

Not fear of Shen Tian.

Fear of losing Black Wolf.

. . .

Xu Ning appeared beside Shen Tian.

Her eyes widened.

[Host.]

A system notification appeared.

Major Fate Event destabilized.

Original Destiny: Black Wolf reaffirms complete loyalty to Lu Chen.

Current Status: Failed.

Fate stolen: 9,000

Lu Chen Current Fate Value: 415,000

Another.

Rose loyalty route shifted significantly toward independence.

Fate stolen: 3,500

Current Fate Value: 411,500

Another.

Lin Yue reunion route weakened.

Fate stolen: 2,500

Current Fate Value: 409,000

Shen Tian smiled faintly.

Lu Chen saw.

His face darkened.

"What are you smiling about?"

Shen Tian looked toward him.

"Nothing."

Rose immediately laughed.

"That’s his thing."

Lin Yue smiled.

"Unfortunately."

Shen Tian looked between them.

"You’re both picking up bad habits."

Rose leaned closer.

"Maybe you’re a bad influence."

Her shoulder lightly touched his.

She froze.

Then...

Didn’t move.

Her cheeks became faintly pink.

Shen Tian glanced sideways.

Rose held his gaze.

This time...

She didn’t look away.

Her heart hammered.

But...

She stayed.

Lin Yue noticed.

Then...

A strange little competitive feeling appeared.

Small.

Embarrassing.

She reached toward the shared plate at the same moment Shen Tian did.

Their fingers touched.

Both paused.

Lin Yue’s eyes widened.

Shen Tian looked toward her.

Her cheeks instantly became pink.

"Sorry."

Shen Tian smiled.

"You can have it."

Lin Yue stared.

Then...

"No."

She pushed the plate slightly toward him.

"You reached first."

Rose watched.

Her eyebrow rose.

Lin Yue noticed.

Both women looked at each other.

Silence.

Shen Tian looked between them.

Then...

Slowly...

He took the food.

"Thank you."

Rose and Lin Yue simultaneously looked toward him.

Then...

Both laughed.

The tension disappeared.

But...

Lu Chen had seen everything.

Rose touching Shen Tian’s shoulder.

Lin Yue blushing after touching his hand.

Both laughing with him.

His expression became darker.

Viper’s words returned.

He took something from you.

Or someone?

Lu Chen’s hand tightened.

Then...

His phone vibrated.

A message.

Unknown number.

Viper: Check the drive.

Lu Chen stared.

Then...

Slowly stood.

Rose looked over.

"Where are you going?"

"Air."

She frowned.

But...

Didn’t stop him.

Lu Chen left the room.

. . .

Outside...

He inserted the flash drive into his secure phone adapter.

One encrypted folder appeared.

SHEN FAMILY

Another.

QINGHE PROJECT

Another.

XUE LONG

Lu Chen selected the Shen Family file.

Photographs.

Locations.

Financial interests.

Security rotations.

Public appearances.

Then...

One file stood out.

SHEN TIAN — PROJECTED WEAKNESS

Lu Chen opened it.

A list appeared.

Family.

Women.

Mother.

Sister.

Close associates.

His expression changed.

Then...

A message from Viper.

Viper: Everyone has leverage.

Lu Chen stared.

For several seconds...

Nothing.

Then...

His eyes hardened.

No.

He wasn’t that desperate.

Not yet.

He closed the file.

Then opened Xue Long.

A video appeared.

Xue Long.

Alive.

Older.

Scarred.

Looking directly at the camera.

"War Wolf."

Lu Chen froze.

The recording continued.

"If you’re watching this..."

"You finally learned I survived."

Xue Long smiled.

"Good."

His expression became cold.

"I’ve waited three years."

Lu Chen’s fist tightened.

Then...

Xue Long said something else.

"Bring me Shen Tian."

Lu Chen’s eyes narrowed.

"What?"

The video continued.

"The Shen Family possesses something I need."

"Something connected to Qinghe."

"Something your little fiancée’s company was never supposed to create."

Lu Chen’s face darkened.

Then...

"If you want answers..."

"Bring him."

"Alive."

The video ended.

Silence.

Lu Chen stared at the black screen.

His thoughts became chaotic.

[Bring Shen Tian.]

Rose...

Still inside...

Heard.

Her expression changed instantly.

She stopped laughing.

Shen Tian noticed.

"What?"

Rose looked toward the door.

Then...

At Shen Tian.

"Lu Chen just thought something strange."

The table became quiet.

Lin Yue’s expression turned serious.

"What?"

Rose hesitated.

Then...

"Bring Shen Tian."

Shen Tian’s green eyes narrowed.

Xu Ning appeared immediately.

[Host.]

A red system panel opened.

MAJOR FATE EVENT ACTIVATED

Xue Long Conspiracy Route

Primary Objective: Capture Shen Tian

Secondary Objective: Obtain Qinghe Neural Defense Prototype

Associated Fate Value: 32,000

Shen Tian stared.

Then...

His lips slowly curled upward.

Rose saw.

"Why are you smiling?"

Shen Tian leaned back.

His green eyes gleamed.

"Because..."

He looked toward the door where Lu Chen had disappeared.

"...he finally found an opportunity that’s actually about me."

Lin Yue stared.

Rose stared too.

Then...

Shen Tian stood.

"Good."

Rose’s heartbeat accelerated.

That look.

Again.

Not fear.

Not concern.

Excitement.

Shen Tian adjusted his sleeve.

"If they want me..."

His smile became arrogant.

"...they can come get me."

And somewhere outside...

Lu Chen stared at Xue Long’s final message.

His pride.

His anger.

His jealousy.

His past.

Everything was converging.

But for the first time that evening...

One thought pushed through all the others.

[What the hell did Shen Tian get himself involved in?]

Inside the restaurant...

Rose heard it.

Then slowly looked toward Shen Tian.

He was already walking toward the exit.

She immediately stood.

"I’m coming."

Shen Tian looked back.

"No."

Rose froze.

"What?"

"This one is about me."

"So?"

"So you stay."

Her eyes narrowed.

"That’s not your decision."

Shen Tian stopped.

Then...

A faint smile appeared.

"Fair."

Rose folded her arms.

"Exactly."

Shen Tian considered.

Then...

"You can come."

Her expression immediately brightened.

"But..."

He pointed toward her.

"You follow my lead."

Rose raised an eyebrow.

"Bossy."

"Very."

"And if I disagree?"

"You say so."

"And if I still think you’re wrong?"

"Then convince me."

Rose stared.

Then...

A smile slowly appeared.

"Deal."

Lin Yue stood too.

Shen Tian looked toward her.

She immediately crossed her arms.

"Don’t."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I’m a doctor."

"And?"

"If someone decides to capture you..."

She looked him over.

"...there will probably be injuries."

Rose laughed.

Shen Tian smiled.

"Fine."

Lin Yue’s expression softened.

Then...

Her cheeks became slightly pink when she realized...

He hadn’t argued.

He simply accepted that she wanted to help.

Lu Chen returned to the room.

And stopped.

Shen Tian standing.

Rose beside him.

Lin Yue beside him.

Again.

His jaw tightened.

Shen Tian looked directly at him.

Then...

His green eyes narrowed.

"Xue Long wants me."

Lu Chen froze.

"How..."

Rose spoke.

"We heard you."

Lu Chen’s face changed.

Again.

He really needed to remember that.

Shen Tian smiled.

"So..."

He stepped closer.

"Are you going to deliver me?"

Silence.

Everyone watched.

Lu Chen stared.

Then...

His expression became cold.

"No."

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

That answer...

Actually surprised him.

Lu Chen continued.

"Xue Long is mine."

"He betrayed Black Wolf."

"Used my people."

"Killed my men."

His eyes hardened.

"I’ll deal with him."

Shen Tian stared for a moment.

Then...

Smiled.

"Good."

Lu Chen frowned.

"Good?"

Shen Tian walked past him.

"Means you’ll save me the trouble of finding him."

Silence.

Rose covered her mouth.

Lin Yue looked away.

Bear lowered his head.

Ghost stared at the table.

Lu Chen’s face slowly turned red.

Shen Tian reached the door.

Then looked back.

"Come on, War Wolf."

His green eyes gleamed.

"You finally have a chance to be useful."

Lu Chen’s eye twitched violently.

And Rose...

Despite everything...

Burst out laughing.

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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

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