Chapter 16: Ye Bai’s Ambition, Lu Ziyan!
At the Central Hospital in the capital, Ye Bai received a phone call. The moment he hung up, a faint smile curled his lips.
“Never thought Lu Ziyan had such a video,” the caller was a spy Ye Bai had planted in the Lu family.
Since planning his return to China, he’d embedded informants in various clans. Unexpectedly, the Lu family’s mole proved useful so soon.
The spy revealed shocking news: Lu Ziyan had been at the Longteng Hotel yesterday and recorded the video of him being beaten.
Talk about a timely gift—Ye Bai had been racking his brain for a way to approach her, and now the excuse landed in his lap.
Since issuing his orders last night, his overseas capital consortium had acted, offering a sky-high investment to join Lu Ziyan’s movie, with him starring as the male lead.
As the saying goes, money moves hearts. Ye Bai spared no expense, and the Lu family had no reason to refuse.
But Lu Ziyan was the director, and her family doted on her. Without her consent, they hesitated.
Ye Bai had been pondering how to proceed when this opportunity arose. If he seized it and won over Lu Ziyan, he could legitimately invest in the Lu family, opening a path for his capital into China.
For an artistic soul like Lu Ziyan, he had a hundred ways to win her over effortlessly!
Without delay, Ye Bai checked himself out of the hospital. His physique far surpassed the average person’s, and with the protagonist’s halo, he was walking by the second day.
Upon receiving the news, he set out without hesitation.
The Lu family estate wasn’t far from the Lin residence—just a ten-minute drive.
After the guard announced his arrival, Lin Tai easily entered the Lu family gates.
As one of the ten minor clans, despite his poor reputation, access was straightforward.
When Lin Tai reached the Lu family living room, Lu Ziyan was already seated, waiting for him.
Familiar with the plot, Lin Tai suspected Ye Bai was likely outside, waiting to swoop in and save the day after he clashed with Lu Ziyan.
“Come, sit,” Lu Ziyan said, gesturing to the sofa as Lin Tai entered.
Her persona was that of an artistic young woman—sensitive and fiercely opposed to bullying.
Though both were second-generation heirs of the ten minor clans, Lu Ziyan, like most rich kids, disliked Lin Tai, even despising him for tarnishing their image.
In Emperor’s Return, her interactions with Lin Tai were limited but left an indelible mark on the vicious supporting male character.
Following the plot, Lin Tai swaggered into the room and plopped onto the sofa next to Lu Ziyan.
His persona feared Xiao Yuxuan, but he had no qualms about Lu Ziyan.
“Spill it—what’ll it take to delete the video?” Lin Tai tilted his nose upward, blunt but secretly observing her.
As in his past life, her expression was laced with disdain.
Lin Tai rejoiced inwardly. Lu Ziyan was normal!
As long as he stuck to the script, all would be fine.
Thank the heavens—the plot was finally on track for once.
Lu Ziyan, I’ll crown you the most dedicated heroine, far more reliable than Xia Shihan or Xiao Yuxuan!
“You should know I hate people throwing their weight around,” Lu Ziyan said, studying Lin Tai across from her.
Sure enough, he was the same as in her past life … Kind at heart yet putting on a tough front. Her eyes filled with emotion. She never imagined that, after dying with endless longing, she’d be reborn.
In her past life, Lu Ziyan initially despised Lin Tai, viewing him as an irredeemable villain, while Ye Bai was the heroic protagonist.
So, she had no qualms about exposing Lin Tai’s assault video and pushing for his public condemnation. For years, she believed she’d done the right thing.
Until Lin Tai was gunned down in a warehouse, past events and truths surfaced, and Ye Bai’s schemes were laid bare. She was shocked to find reality differed vastly from her assumptions.
She recalled at the Lu estate, when Lin Tai raised his hand to strike her, it never fell—only dropping with relief when Ye Bai appeared.
The kind Lin Tai had never intended to hit her.
Instead, Ye Bai had timed his heroic rescue perfectly.
Later, at the film set, she’d blamed Lin Tai for the fire, unaware it wasn’t him but one of his thugs—a man under Ye Bai’s control.
Yet the kind Lin Tai said nothing, choosing to protect that traitor by silently taking the fall.
As more hidden truths emerged, she realized her mistake.
The “good” she’d admired was scheming everywhere; the “villain” she’d scorned was constantly protecting others.
Lu Ziyan hated herself for not seeing it sooner, spending her remaining years drowning in guilt over Lin Tai.
The longer it went, the deeper her longing grew, eventually turning to love, accompanying her to her death.
Yet she never expected that after dying, she’d be reborn on the day she returned to the Longteng Hotel.
So she picked up her DV camera—not to harm him this time, but to record her beloved boy.
Since yesterday, she’d been eagerly awaiting Lin Tai’s visit. She swore never to hurt him again; she’d protect him with all she had.
“Cough, cough, just talk—don’t get handsy,” Lin Tai coughed as Lu Ziyan’s hand neared his face.
What was wrong with her? Staring at him was one thing, but trying to touch him? Did she think a vicious villain’s face was hers to caress?
Wait—what was Lu Ziyan up to? A bad premonition crept into Lin Tai’s mind.
Could Lu Ziyan be going off-script too?