Chapter 12: So you want to make a scene? I get it!

"Host, this won't do. According to the plot, although you've agreed to marry the youngest Shang uncle, you must act out and be as demanding as possible. Insist on the most extravagant wedding: the wedding dress must be exclusively custom-made by an Italian master, hand-stitched stitch by stitch; the shoes must be encrusted with diamonds; you must invite every single one of your friends; and you must demand that the 'nephew'—the male lead—accompany you to try on dresses, pick gowns, and select rings... In short, you need to make such a scene that the male lead learns every detail of your wedding and sees you on the verge of marriage, so that he will be forced to stop you!"

Lin Xianxian pondered.

"So I just need to be difficult, right? I get it!"

Consequently, under the complex gazes of her parents, Lin Xianxian made her demands with an arrogant air.

"In short, the wedding dress must be exclusively customized by the Italian designer Michele, and she must stitch it herself, needle by needle. The shoes must be unique and diamond-encrusted; no one in this world is worthy of wearing the same shoes as me!"

"Let’s hold the wedding at the largest hotel in the Imperial Capital. Rent out the entire hotel; my friends will need to stay there. Also, I won't allow anyone else to hold their wedding at the same time!"

"I have quite a few friends abroad, at least several hundred. Shang Yang, you need to charter a plane."

...

Lin Xianxian reeled off seven or eight demands in one breath, each one making Lin Wen and Xu Wei feel faint.

Lin Wen’s mouth twitched.

*Wait, it’s only been four years since we last saw her, and even that was only six months ago... How did his daughter become so...*

Xu Wei also looked embarrassed, glancing at Elder Shang with a look that begged for words.

"Um, Xianxian, isn't this a bit too much..."

Lin Xianxian never expected the Elder or Shang Yang to agree; she was simply following the script.

But to everyone’s complete shock, just as Elder Shang was about to speak, Shang Yang said:

"Fine."

Everyone was stunned. Even Elder Shang, who had been prepared to agree, looked at Shang Yang.

Shang Yang remained composed.

"For a wedding involving me, Shang Yang, such standards are only appropriate."

Lin Xianxian blinked, then blinked again.

*Wait, System, in the original plot... is this the character setting for the youngest Shang uncle? I remember him being quite... low-key?*

The system was momentarily lost as well.

*Perhaps it's because... in the original plot, the host's parents weren't here at this moment?*

*I see...*

Lin Xianxian suddenly realized.

*So Shang Yang is afraid of his parents-in-law! How cute!*

"..."

His ears turning a strange shade of red, Shang Yang gave a light cough and avoided the complex gazes of Lin Wen and his wife.

Lin Xianxian:

*Wait, if he's being this cooperative, how am I supposed to be unreasonable?*

*Still... System, the result is that I achieved my goal, so the plot point is completed, right?*

The system sounded uncertain: *...Yes??*

Lin Xianxian nodded with satisfaction.

"If there are any other requirements, just go to my assistant."

Shang Yang handed the task directly to his assistant.

Lin Xianxian was very pleased.

*So this is Ning Feng, the first big sucker I’ll be tormenting as this villainous female lead, right? He looks quite refined and handsome, and tall too, just a bit thin... well, it’s no wonder, working overtime every day for the perverted workaholic Shang uncle!*

*I heard that in the original plot, Ning Feng worked overtime every single day while following Shang Yang, and they both ended up with stomach ulcers from the stress. Tsk, shouldn't stomach ulcers be a 'male lead' disease? How come the male lead doesn't have one? Oh right, the male lead is a decathlete, loves sports, and never had the chance to experience the signature disease of a cold-blooded CEO...*

Ning Feng, who was currently mourning internally about having to deal with such a spoiled young lady, suddenly heard Lin Xianxian’s inner voice:

*Poor Ning Feng. Not only will he be treated like a servant by me, but in Shang Feifei’s script, he’s just a pathetic, gentle second male lead. No matter what he does, Shang Feifei never takes it to heart; she only has eyes for that cannon-fodder character who is crazily obsessed with the heroine... Tsk tsk. What a soapy drama—I love you, you love him, he loves her...*

Ning Feng: ??!!

*How does Lin Xianxian know I like Shang Feifei?! And she clearly didn't speak, so how can I hear her voice?!*

Ning Feng stood with his mouth agape, looking utterly shocked.

However, catching his boss's gaze, Ning Feng suppressed his shock, merely swallowing hard and staring at Lin Xianxian in disbelief.

After warning his assistant, Shang Yang exchanged a thoughtful look with Elder Shang.

He hadn't expected his assistant to harbor feelings for Shang Feifei. And even more surprisingly, his assistant's favorability toward Lin Xianxian was actually quite high...

Since he could hear Lin Xianxian's inner thoughts upon entering, Ning Feng certainly didn't dislike her.

Shang Yang was surprised; he had assumed that in most people's eyes, Lin Xianxian was just a spoiled, willful young lady, and that Ning Feng would find these demands to be a nuisance.

He didn't realize that while Ning Feng knew Lin Xianxian was spoiled, he had never been personally affected by it. As Shang Yang's assistant, he only acted on his boss's orders.

Before this, Shang Yang had never made him do anything for Lin Xianxian. Conversely, because Ning Feng liked Shang Feifei—who was Lin Xianxian's best friend—he naturally held some affection for Lin Xianxian.

Furthermore, Ning Feng deeply admired Elder Shang. The Elder liked Lin Xianxian, and often, when even the Shang family's own juniors wouldn't spend time with the old man, it was Lin Xianxian who kept him company.

Thus, Ning Feng shared Shang Yang's underlying gratitude toward her.

Ning Feng's favorability toward Lin Xianxian was high, which was why he could hear her thoughts. If the threshold for hearing her inner voice was a favorability of 60, then Ning Feng was at least at 60. The drop in favorability would only occur later, once she started treating him like a servant.

But for now... it was still early.

As he heard her inner thoughts, Ning Feng was completely bewildered. Especially when he realized that the Elder and his boss seemed to have heard these words as well.

*It’s over...*

Ning Feng’s face drained of color. The Elder and his boss both knew he was pining after the Shang family’s daughter! But, but!! He never had the ambition to climb the social ladder through marriage! He couldn't help his feelings, but he knew his place and knew that a relationship with Shang Feifei was impossible. He had never revealed his feelings. How... how did Lin Xianxian, an heiress he had only greeted from afar a few times, know about it?!

Could it be... that Shang Feifei also...

Ning Feng turned pale, his head buzzing.

Lin Xianxian glanced at him.

*This assistant looks so frail, his face is so pale... Should I... maybe not torture him too much?*