Scumbag A's Plan to Save the Heroine - Chapter 36

Without a doubt, Ruan Ye hadn’t left with the man in the military uniform back then.

Looking back now, Song Rang felt only relief. If Ruan Ye had chosen to leave with that man, they wouldn’t have shared their childhood together.

As his memories drifted back, Song Rang stared at the scene unfolding before him—a scene eerily similar to the past—his expression dazed. For a moment, he couldn’t distinguish between past and present, unsure which reality was real and which was an illusion.

Though he hadn’t eaten anything, his throat felt blocked, rendering him speechless.

How did things end up like this?

Ruan Ye should have belonged only to him. They had grown up together, gone to school together. He had helped her escape her abusive foster parents and move out, and he had been by her side through every major upheaval in her life.

But ever since Ruan Ye was specially recruited by Noadon as an art student, things had spiraled out of control. Her life had become filled with people he couldn’t compete with.

First, there was Fu Jin Yan, the heir to the Fu Family, whom he could only try to please. Now, there was Zhi Qiu, a woman claiming to be a suitor with an alarmingly close relationship to Ruan Ye.

Song Rang’s smile was a little stiff, but he forced himself to maintain a humble expression, striving to maintain a polished appearance.

This was part of his self-cultivation as a celebrity. No matter the situation, he had to maintain a proper smile, lest anyone seize an opportunity to create negative publicity.

Although forces act in equal and opposite pairs, Zhi Qiu was the one who had thrown the punch. Her fist was hard as iron, leaving only a slight ache and barely any visible marks. Ruan Ye initially breathed a sigh of relief, then remembered Song Rang was still standing nearby.

Recalling Song Rang’s impulsive words, Ruan Ye frowned slightly.

Their past affection had been genuine. Even though their feelings had soured later, this Alpha who had grown up alongside her had once truly cared for her.

With this thought, Ruan Ye’s tense body relaxed slightly. She picked up the first-aid kit and approached him, her tone apologetic, seemingly unaware that she had already taken responsibility for Zhi Qiu’s mistake.

“Are you alright? I’m so sorry, my friend… she’s just a bit emotionally charged.”

Clutching his aching cheek with his left hand, Song Rang maintained an impeccable smile. He waved dismissively, saying magnanimously, “I think there might be some misunderstanding between us. She was just looking out for you. But Xiao Ye, next time you have a friend escorting you home, remember to let me know beforehand. I rushed over here the moment I saw the trending news, even before I could finish filming my scene. Thankfully, you’re alright.”

“Don’t worry about the trending news. My team will handle it. The heat should die down by the day after tomorrow at the latest. I have properties in other neighborhoods too—you can move there temporarily to avoid the spotlight.”

“Oh, and…” Song Rang suddenly remembered something he’d received earlier that day. He reached through the bright yellow dragon robe, into the jeans he was wearing underneath, fumbling for a moment before finally pulling out a dance invitation.

Noadon held an annual ball, inviting many prominent figures from society. Though nominally a dance, most attendees treated it as a networking event, a prime opportunity to forge connections with future influential figures.

Even established figures with social standing needed to cultivate relationships with the next generation of heirs, laying the groundwork for future investment in their ventures.

The upcoming ball had visibly softened Song Rang’s expression, even making his gaze gentler. He said wistfully, “Since becoming a celebrity, it’s been so long since we’ve danced together.”

Back in elementary school, when social dances were part of the curriculum, everyone clamored to partner with the prettiest girl in class. But Song Rang never felt threatened. Ruan Ye always gave him face, and he knew she would only choose him—without exception.

Holding his invitation, Song Rang fixed his burning gaze on the girl standing ramrod straight before him. Confident in her inevitable answer, he waited for her expected reply.

But before she could respond, another hand suddenly snatched the invitation from his grasp.

Zhi Qiu raised an eyebrow, flipping through the silver-edged card with a hint of disdain. “Oh, just a regular attendee. I thought you might be a special guest, Brother Song. This must be your first time being invited to Noadon’s ball.”

“Since you’re Ruan Ye’s friend, I feel obligated to inform you that regular attendees aren’t allowed to invite Noadon students to dance on the inner floor. You’ll be confined to the outer area for drinks and conversation. It seems your dancing plans will have to be put on hold.”

The wheelchair was burning hot, but Zhi Qiu, standing on the ground, couldn’t feel the scorching heat. This left the Truth System momentarily confused, unsure whether its passive function had activated or if Zhi Qiu had simply spoken her true feelings without hesitation this time. Observing the malfunctioning program, the System’s gaze darkened as it swiftly resolved the operational bugs with lightning-fast keystrokes.

“Heh… Xiao Ye, your friend really loves to joke around.”

Song Rang’s prideful invitation had been dismissed as worthless. Even with his exceptional composure, he couldn’t help but lose his smile.

After all, he was the only person in the entertainment industry to receive an invitation. He was the Federation’s only dual-crowned champion in recent years, having won both Best Actor and Best Television Actor awards. Though his family had initially risen to wealth as nouveau riche, over the past decade, they had long since established themselves among the elite families, their wealth ranking among the top in the Federation.

Song Rang dropped his forced smile, his expression hardening as he retorted sarcastically, “When I was at Noadon, the school didn’t have the resources to host dances. I truly envy you students for having such opportunities to network. After all, you all have the privilege of attending the dance, while graduates and others must earn social recognition through their own merits to gain access.”

The unspoken implication was clear: You’re just a kid who hasn’t even entered society yet. Don’t presume to criticize the industry elites who received invitations.

Zhi Qiu smiled and shook her head, refusing to dwell on the matter. She swiftly changed the subject. “Since Brother Song is here, I hope you’ll remove the trending topic as soon as possible. We can’t let this situation escalate further. Today they’re doxxing addresses; tomorrow they’ll be doxxing families. As an industry elite invited by Noadon, I trust you have the capability to handle this without waiting for the heat to die down on its own, right?”

Song Rang’s smile vanished.

For days, he had been immersed in the production of his upcoming drama, set to be released soon. This groundbreaking series, uniquely set in the Qing Dynasty of Ancient Earth, was widely predicted by experts to become a household name across the Federation. To generate buzz for the drama’s launch, his team had been continuously buying up the trending topics for the day.

But with Zhi Qiu’s pointed words, he had no choice but to withdraw the campaign.

“Of course,” the man in the dragon robe replied, his face flushed and his smile strained, as if making a solemn vow. He looked at the girl in her school uniform and promised, “I’ll ensure those irrational fans never disrupt your life again.”