Manipulative Harem God

Click!

!!

The sound of the door opening jolted Chen Yulan out of her daze, sending a fresh wave of panic through her.

She braced herself, not knowing who to expect.

"Oh my... What a mess..." The voice was unmistakably Xie Meirong's, tinged with a delight as she took in the chaotic state of the room.

"Wei, wait!" Chen Yulan's voice was a mix of confusion and fear, her heart racing as she saw Zhang Wei turn to leave at Xie Meirong's arrival.

Her plea fell on deaf ears; he didn't even pause, his departure only heightening her anxiety.

Boom!

As the door shut behind him, Chen Yulan's complexion grew even paler, if that were possible. 'He was... so sure...' she thought, her mind racing with dark thoughts and fears.

Xie Meirong, unfazed and even more provoking, shrugged. "If you want to jump, go ahead, do a backflip. I won't stop you. In fact, I'm here to help you," she stated smiling, with a twisted enjoyment.

Her words, meant to provoke or mock, didn't even register with Chen Yulan, who was still absorbed from Zhang Wei's announcement and abrupt departure.

Her world was crumbling around her, and Xie Meirong's cruel taunts were just fading whispers.

____

Outside Chen Yulan's room, Zhang Wei leaned against the wall, a picture of nonchalance. The air around him seemed to stir as the system, which had been silently observing, finally spoke up. [Wow, host... You have so much potential.]

"For what?" Zhang Wei inquired, his tone laced with a hint of confusion.

[To be a domestic abuser.]

"..."

A brief silence followed, then Zhang Wei shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You're not wrong," he admitted, surprising even the system with his candid response.

[....] The system, for once, found itself at a loss for words.

At that moment, Yu Lei approached, holding a new dress. Her mechanical movements were precise, her expression controlled.

"What's happening downstairs?" Zhang Wei halted her, and asked, his voice betraying a hint of curiosity.

Yu Lei paused briefly, offering a practiced smile. "We've informed everyone that Chen Yulan is not feeling well and that the event will be delayed until 8," she explained.

"Go inside then," Zhang Wei directed her with a casual wave of his hand.

"Okay," Yu Lei responded, leaning in to plant a quick kiss on his cheek before slipping into the room.

Meanwhile, the system chimed in again, its virtual tone tinged with concern. [Host, is it alright to leave Meirong with her? Isn't that girl eyeing Yulan's body like a predator sizing up its prey, to enhance the quantum of her art pieces?]

Zhang Wei shrugged nonchalantly. 'She can look all she wants. I'll break her legs if she tries anything,' he thought to himself, his mind clear on where his boundaries lay.

'Domestic abuser indeed,' the system noted silently. Then, it brought up another matter. [What about those torn pieces of clothing you kept in your inventory? What should we do with them?]

Zhang Wei recalled how he had surreptitiously gathered Chen Yulan's torn clothes earlier, stowing them away when she wasn't looking. "That?" he mused, his eyebrows arching in amusement. 'Can you put it all together?'

[Already done, host.] The system's response came promptly, almost eagerly.

'Hm? Have you changed your ways, greedy system?' Zhang Wei teased, a hint of surprise in his tone.

[No, host, infact — I'm as greedy as ever for your body. It's just, the energy required for this task was insignificant, so consider it a free service!] the system replied, its virtual voice maintaining its uncharacteristic eagerness to assist.

Zhang Wei gave a resigned shake of his head, choosing not to engage further with the system, which seemed to grow more audacious and unrestrained with each passing day.

As time slipped by, the atmosphere in the banquet hall below shifted, the guests' initial excitement tinged with whispers of curiosity and concern over the delay.

The clock's hands moved inexorably forward, marking the passage of time with a silent, steady rhythm.

Finally, the clock struck eight, its chimes echoing through the corridors and rooms of the Dragon Pearl Banquet Hall.

The sound was a reminder of the evening's purpose and the expectations resting on the ceremony.

The guests, their patience stretched thin, turned their eyes towards the stairs, awaiting the emergence of Chen Yulan, oblivious to the turmoil that had unfolded just floors above.

____

In the lavishly decorated hall of the Dragon Pearl Banquet Hall, the guests murmured amongst themselves, their anticipation increasing .

The engagement ceremony, delayed by hours, had stirred a buzz of speculation and curiosity.

Liu Ming, the son of Mayor Liu Kang, stood with his family near the front of the hall. His father, the mayor, sat in a wheelchair, his aged face marked by a frown that reflected his irritation at the unexpected delay.

The presence of two armed guards behind him added a silent but invisible weight to the atmosphere.

Chen Dong, Chen Yulan's brother, paced nervously nearby. Clad in a sleek grey suit, his brow furrowed with worry, he kept glancing at the entrance. "Why isn't Yulan here yet?" he muttered to himself, his concern growing with each passing minute.

Leaning against a pillar, Zhang Wei observed the scene with an amused detachment. His gaze then drifted to a starkly contrasting figure on the other side of the hall - Chen Daozi, an unkempt old man who seemed out of place amidst the finery.

Dressed more like a beggar than a guest, he was indulging in the free food and drinks with abandon. Chen Daozi, a primary school teacher regarded as somewhat of a deadbeat, was surprisingly the father of Chen Yulan and Chen Dong.

His presence at such a prestigious event was unexpected, and Zhang Wei couldn't help but wonder how Chen Dong had allowed him to attend.

At that pivotal moment, the crowd's attention shifted as Chen Yulan appeared at the top of the staircase, flanked by Yu Lei and Xie Meirong. The guests, who had been buzzing with speculation, fell into a hushed silence as they took in her appearance.

*Gasp!*