ITVCFITB CHAPTER 130

Chapter 130 — Extra: If This Were a Modern AU · 4

Whether Li Mingchun and Shen Mingyun were the “protagonists” of this world didn’t matter. Villain or not, what mattered to Luo Shuyu was how to take them down.

In the previous life, the two had joined forces, powerful together and utterly ruthless.

Anyone who stood in their way ended up in prison on trumped-up charges. Shen weaponized fandom and online attacks to crush opponents in body and spirit; if someone was stronger than he was, he resorted to dirty tricks. 

Once, to steal a role from a bona fide film king, he threatened the man via his child, forcing him to withdraw and personally recommend Shen so it looked as if Shen had won the part aboveboard.

By then, Shen had no scruples left.

As for Li Mingchun, his methods were even filthier. He framed Li Mingjin for colluding with outsiders to harm company interests; and when Mingjin began to recover, he bribed the leader of his project team, plunging the project into crisis. In the end, Li Tiansheng scolded Mingjin and stripped him of all positions. Not long after, on the day Mingjin and Luo went to divorce, they were hit by a truck. Car totaled. Both dead.

Reborn, Luo didn’t carry some grand mission. He just wanted a good ending with Li Mingjin: no misunderstandings, no fatal crash.

So far, his revenge plan against Shen was working and he hadn’t seen Shen counterattack. Mingchun, though, had already bailed Shen out several times.

Shen’s string of liaisons existed for one purpose: to solve problems in showbiz and rake in fame and profit.

Shuyu hated them both most of all. He would make them taste pain.

Shen would be dragged down from his pedestal to sample the realities of ordinary life; Mingchun would lose his status as Li heir. A rough childhood didn’t excuse his crimes.

Showbiz was easy enough: a few more exposés and Shen’s borrowed glory would crumble; none of it was truly his anyway. He would reclaim it without guilt. The harder task was Mingchun and for that, he needed to loop in Li Mingjin.

After tweaking the timeline to accelerate Shen’s fall, Shuyu clocked out.

Two months had passed since the two shows had gone head-to-head. Chen Rong and Lin Yuan earned a reputation for real acting; Shen got saddled with a “fake acting” label.

Once both series finished airing, the contrast in ratings and buzz spoke for itself.

He had no intention of giving Shen a breather. The industry was about to see another storm and this time, Li Mingchun would be too busy to play fixer.

That evening, there was an important banquet. As Li Mingjin’s fiancé, he decided to give him a surprise.

The event was a birthday party for a business mogul whose favorite hobby was flaunting his much younger wife. She had a famously enviable figure, celebrated across the entertainment world; riding her popularity, the mogul had made himself into a minor celebrity, showing off their love on social media, now bringing that act to the business floor.

Li Mingjin had been invited.

The more guests, the happier the host.

Shuyu’s mother was a known figure, and his uncle’s side was no slouch either; getting an invitation was easy.

He rarely appeared publicly, but his showing at the engagement party had made an impression; plenty of people recognized him now.

He walked toward Mingjin, who was chatting softly with a few acquaintances. Heads turned as he passed.

Sensing the sudden hush, Mingjin looked up and his eyes lit immediately.

For a second, he wondered if he was seeing things.

It was an evening banquet, but not strictly formal.

Shuyu dazzled in a light plaid suit paired with a striped tie, quietly bold.

He hadn’t been dressed like this that morning.

Mingjin couldn’t look away. He passed his wineglass to a server drifting by and reached out a hand.

Luo placed his hand in Mingjin’s and leaned close. “Surprised?”

A flush touched Mingjin’s ears. He often felt as if his fiancé were constantly seducing him; the way his heart thundered the moment he saw Luo told him he was thoroughly hooked.

“How are you here? You didn’t mention it this morning.” He squeezed Luo’s cool fingers, winter had settled in.

Luo tapped Mingjin’s tie. “To surprise you.”

Even through layers of fabric, Mingjin swore he could feel the warmth of Luo’s fingertip. He closed his hand over Luo’s. “Message received.”

Gift after gift, Mingjin’s heart felt full in a way it hadn’t for a very long time.

His love for Shuyu deepened again. This was someone he had no intention of letting go.

Side by side, they were a striking pair, enough to make socialites who had their eyes on Mingjin retreat.

So it wasn’t a forced engagement with a man, they were genuinely fond of each other.

Whispers spread as people asked about the fiancé’s background.

Not asking was one thing, finding out was another.

Chen family, came the answer. Not moguls in commerce, but with a legend in commercial circles nonetheless.

Over a decade ago, a major statesman had come from the Chen family. After taking office, he tightened key policies that pushed Huaxia’s economy a step forward. In the later shake-ups, the Chens kept a low profile, fading from conversation.

If not for Shuyu’s appearance tonight, many wouldn’t have connected the dots: the statesman was Shuyu’s maternal grandfather.

Rumor had it the Chen granddaughter’s casual necklace started in seven figures, yet the family stayed understated, nothing like the nouveau riche who flaunted their wealth.

“So he’s a Chen, but why the surname Luo?”

“His mother married out. Her ex was a fool, kept a messy tie with an ex and even had kids during the marriage. She dumped him and lives beautifully now.”

“How do you know?”

“It was a whole scandal back then. If I had a father-in-law like that, what would I worry about?”

“True love, they all say. Every guy claims he’s looking for ‘true love’ these days.”

“Or just muddle-headed.”

“Wonder if the Li and Chen families will end up tying themselves together.”

Let them gossip. Shuyu and Mingjin didn’t care; Mingjin even took him around to meet a few friends connected to the entertainment business.

After a circuit, they spotted Li Mingchun arriving with Shen Mingyun.

A little later, under the pretext of getting a drink, Shuyu pulled Mingjin away from his circle and murmured, “Darling, want to watch a show?”

Mingjin arched a brow. “What show?”

Luo tipped his chin toward Mingchun and Shen. “Know why they’re here?”

“To meet President Qin,” Mingjin said.

“At first I thought so too,” Luo replied, wagging a finger, “but look at where they’re sitting.”

Mingjin pressed his lips together. “That group hangs with the Yan family.” Understanding dawned. “You mean… they—”

Luo nodded. “Exactly. If they were really distancing themselves from the Yans like you did, why sit together? And they look like old acquaintances.” He paused, leaned to Mingjin’s ear, and whispered, “I read a bit of lips. If their conversation helps you… will you repay me tonight?”

Now it wasn’t just Mingjin’s ears burning; his whole face was hot. He coughed, deadpan: “Behave.”

Luo chuckled and translated in a low voice: “They’re discussing a project’s kickbacks…”

Mingjin’s expression shifted.

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