The Actor's Self-Cultivation

[The scariest part is, Zhou Ling'er and Li Shiyun seem to be on my side today for some reason, and Lin Ruoxue's behavior is also quite strange. I'm supposed to be the super villain, and as Ye Chen's harem members, are they all rebelling?]

[Is the whole world turning against me? The situation is a mess now, how is the plot supposed to continue?]

Li Shiyun's eyes burned as she greeted Tang Ao warmly, "Tang Ao, it's been years, and you haven't changed a bit."

Tang Ao, thinking about the taken-away Ye Chen and then looking at the seemingly cheerful Li Shiyun, couldn't help but muse:

[According to the plot, when Li Shiyun and I parted ways years ago, she was still an innocent girl. Back then, I was all about fairness and justice, a true model youth. Now, with this cynical attitude, how can she say I haven't changed?]

[What a joke. Is it because my acting is terrible? I've been following the villain's script strictly. Where did I go wrong for her to have this illusion?]

[Should I go home and buy a copy of "The Actor's Self-Cultivation" to improve my acting skills?]

Looking at Li Shiyun's flat chest, Tang Ao replied, "Oh, you're the same."

Li Shiyun couldn't help but laugh at Tang Ao's insincere response, and Zhou Ling'er covered her mouth, giggling as well.

Tang Ao frowned and asked Li Shiyun, "What's so funny?"

"I just remembered something happy. Is that not allowed?"

Hearing this, Tang Ao turned to Zhou Ling'er, "And what are you laughing about?"

Zhou Ling'er quickly wiped the smile off her face and timidly said, "I... I also remembered something happy!"

"Hmm?" Tang Ao looked between Zhou Ling'er and Li Shiyun, "What made you so happy?"

A blush spread from Li Shiyun's cheeks to her ears as she softly said, "I might have found someone who makes my heart race and who I like again today."

Tang Ao, half-understanding, nodded, "So... you're in love?"

"Sort of." Li Shiyun nodded and added silently in her heart: That person is you.

Tang Ao then looked at Zhou Ling'er, "And you?"

Zhou Ling'er lowered her head, almost burying it in her chest, and nodded like a pecking chicken, weakly saying, "I... today too."

"You two like the same man?"

As he said this, Tang Ao suddenly realized!

[Of course! These two do like the same man! They are both part of Ye Chen's harem!]

[Great, I thought everything was messed up. Even so, they still fall hopelessly in love with Ye Chen. Is this the protagonist's charm, the protagonist's halo? I'm so jealous!]

[If only I were the protagonist. Unfortunately, I'm just a villain, ready to be humiliated by the protagonist at any moment.]

Tang Ao's inner thoughts made Zhou Ling'er and Li Shiyun stomp their feet.

He thought they liked Ye Chen!

Li Shiyun didn't want to continue talking to Tang Ao for even a moment longer.

He's too dense!

Li Shiyun had already made it clear!

The word 'again' in her statement, didn't he notice?

She had only met Ye Chen for the first time today, but she had seen Tang Ao again!

This was almost a blatant confession, and he thought she liked Ye Chen?

Now, just the sight of Ye Chen made Li Shiyun feel sick. If she had to be part of his harem, she'd rather bite her tongue and end it all!

"Goodbye!" Li Shiyun glared at Tang Ao angrily, and before leaving, she also glared at the manager of the establishment: "Although I didn't catch anything in the act this time, anyone can see what this room is set up for. I'll be coming back often. You'd better not offer those kinds of services!"

The manager quickly put on a smile, his face almost collapsing into itself with obsequiousness, "How could we? We've always run a legitimate business here. If you're not reassured, I can arrange a free service experience for you. Of course, we have nothing to hide and welcome you to visit anytime for supervision!"

[Such righteous indignation! I almost believed it. Manager, I should give you an award for the best actor!]

"Hmph!"

Li Shiyun remembered Tang Ao's inner thoughts, glanced at him deeply, and prepared to leave. The smiling manager blocked her way: "Officer, the door... you see, it's completely deformed and unusable now..."

"The police will compensate you!" Leaving this remark, Li Shiyun strode away.

Watching her leave, Tang Ao suddenly realized that the plot seemed to—

Somehow fall back into place!

Next, Li Shiyun would escort Ye Chen back to the police station...

[I remember Ye Chen's first trip to the station was being caught by Li Shiyun, and she was the one who interrogated him personally.]

[The classic interrogation dialogue is coming up. First, ask for his name. After Ye Chen responds, ask for his gender. Then Ye Chen would retort with—Can't you see for yourself? Classic interrogation start.]

[Then, Ye Chen would boast that they can't judge him, and then show off his prowess by defeating everyone in the interrogation room, calmly calling his organization. After that, Ye Chen would be politely escorted out of the station, leaving Li Shiyun fuming after being thoroughly humiliated.]

Li Shiyun's steps halted, and she continued forward with even greater determination, murmuring in a low voice: "He has a powerful organization behind him and needs to contact them by phone?"

"Ye Chen, just wait. I won't give you the chance!"

To the great disappointment of the manager, Tang Ao was escorted out of the establishment.

Looking at the enchanting Hong Jie, Tang Ao couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.

Ultimately~

He couldn't grow here after all!

Just as Tang Ao took a few steps out, Hong Jie whispered into Zhou Ling'er's ear, "Zhou Ling'er, if I were you, I would catch up now and get into Tang Gongzi's car."

"In our line of work, our bodies are just tools. One session for five hundred thousand, you're making a fortune."

"No matter how much education you have, what's the use? After this, work for a few more years and save up, then there will be plenty of honest men willing to marry you. While you're young, take advantage of the golden years where spreading your legs can make you a fortune."

"I disagree!" Zhou Ling'er shook her head vigorously, "No matter who advances the medical expenses for me, even if the terms for borrowing the money are... objectionable, I will repay it!"

"I'm not a prostitute!"

"I know money is hard to save. If it takes a year, fine, if two years, fine, even three years. I may be poor, but I'm not what you think!"

With that, Zhou Ling'er strode out of the establishment, leaving behind a sneering manager and a Hong Jie who looked at her with a mix of shock, pity, and envy. The manager spat on the ground with disdain, "What a stubborn idiot. She's been brainwashed by books, a total bookworm. Even being a whore, she wants to keep a clean reputation. What a joke."