The Plot Can't Stop

"Grandma, if you don't do it, I'll do it myself!"

[If I don't give you some hard drugs, you'll never know how many legs this young master has.]

FyrenZhang smiled and said, "You want me to vent my anger? Fine!"

He grabbed a bottle of imported liquor and poured it onto the coffee table. "Drink."

First, ElizaLeng never drank alcohol—her tolerance was so poor that even a small amount would make her completely drunk.

Second, ElizaLeng had extremely strong self-respect. In this lifetime, she had never been coerced or humiliated, so she had never drunk a forfeit.

FyrenZhang refused to believe it. He couldn't accept that ElizaLeng's principles had vanished, couldn't believe she would compromise without limits. This wasn't the heroine's character, nor should it ever be her character.

I won't believe it!

ElizaLeng stared at FyrenZhang, her eyes filled with anger and sorrow, tears welling up.

FyrenZhang looked at ElizaLeng, whom he had forced to her breaking point, and suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

ElizaLeng had never suffered this kind of humiliation since childhood.

He had spoiled her for three years, doted on her for three years, pursued her for three... years.

For three years, it had been nothing but submission and obedience, whispering sweet nothings and bending over backward to please her.

She had always been lofty and proud, but today, he would make her bow publicly.

FyrenZhang shouted inwardly:

[FyrenZhang, why are you feeling sorry for her? Don't be fooled by her puppy-dog eyes! She's... Anyway, you have to see this through!]

[Don't get entangled with her—offend her now before it's too late, break up before it's too late.]

[Damn... but those sultry eyes... Am I committing a sin here?]

FyrenZhang feigned indifference. "Not drinking? If you won't drink, you're disrespecting me! You're... disrespecting me! I, FyrenZhang, am... someone in Crystalpeak City!"

ElizaLeng suddenly grabbed the bottle and tilted her head back, pouring the liquor into her mouth.

Everyone watched in stunned silence.

FyrenZhang witnessed this scene—the noble, proud ElizaLeng with wine overflowing from her lips—and nervously clenched his fists to steel himself.

[FyrenZhang, don't feel guilty, don't feel guilty, don't feel guilty... She's just hurting herself!]

[Don't really drink, big sister! Don't drink—just scold me a few times and walk away, or slap me across the face! What are you doing?]

ElizaLeng suddenly choked and put down the bottle, coughing violently.

FyrenZhang sighed in relief: "Whew..."

But before he could recover, ElizaLeng grabbed the bottle and started pouring again.

FyrenZhang couldn't take it anymore and snatched the bottle away.

The two stared at each other while the entire club room fell deathly quiet.

ElizaLeng, with red-rimmed eyes and tears glistening at the corners, stared at FyrenZhang as if saying:

Are you happy now, Young Master Fyren? Are you satisfied, Young Master Fyren? Do you want me to drink more, Young Master Fyren?

FyrenZhang shamefully averted his gaze, unable to meet her eyes, and whispered, "Yes... I'm sorry."

The manager nearby decided it was time to intervene and curry favor, clapping his hands: "Excellent! Eliza has impressive alcohol tolerance, truly a woman's—"

"Get out!"

FyrenZhang roared.

The manager froze momentarily before hurriedly whispering, "Go, everyone out, now."

All the waitstaff and hostesses scrambled to leave.

FyrenZhang exhaled deeply and stood up. "Let's talk."

Walking through the club's corridor, ElizaLeng was already unsteady on her feet.

FyrenZhang remained silent the whole way, inwardly blaming himself:

[I never meant to put you through this, really... how did things come to this?]

ElizaLeng's mind was foggy now, her steps increasingly uncoordinated until she finally stumbled—only to be caught by FyrenZhang's quick grip.

The last thought ElizaLeng heard in FyrenZhang's mind was:

[I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry, I never meant to...]

Tears spilled from ElizaLeng's dazed eyes as she slurred, "FyrenZhang... you're inhuman..."

FyrenZhang scooped her up in a bridal carry and sighed, "You're right. I'm inhuman."

ElizaLeng's team of secretaries panicked.

This was unprecedented territory for them.

The chief secretary bowed respectfully: "Um... Young Master Fyren, please leave Eliza to us. We'll take care of her."

FyrenZhang regarded them calmly with sincere eyes: "I won't hurt her. Don't worry."

The secretaries froze.

Over the years, they'd witnessed FyrenZhang in every possible state:

Stone-faced, viciously cruel, absurdly self-amused, utterly shameless...

They simply had never seen a FyrenZhang who wore such a sincere expression, spoke with such genuine tone, and uttered such earnest words.

For a moment, several of the female secretaries were momentarily spellbound.

FyrenZhang smiled bitterly: "Anyway, Eliza got hurt because of me today, and the guilt I feel now makes me want to choke myself to death. Please believe me and give me a chance to make it right, okay?"

The chief secretary awkwardly replied: "Young Master Fyren, it's not that we don't trust you, but we feel..."

At that moment, ElizaLeng drowsily wrapped her arms around FyrenZhang's neck, murmuring as if sleep-talking: "You all go ahead. I'm fine."

Both FyrenZhang and the secretarial team were thoroughly confused.

Was she actually drunk or not?

The chief secretary sought confirmation: "Eliza, are you absolutely sure you're okay? Do you want Fyren to take you away?"

"BoingBoing..."

ElizaLeng nuzzled her face against FyrenZhang's chest while clinging to his neck, her voice coming out in a pouty murmur.

This left the entire secretarial team even more bewildered.

First FyrenZhang had acted completely out of character, becoming frighteningly intense.

Now ElizaLeng was displaying a spoiled, daughterly attitude none of them had ever witnessed since knowing her.

The chief secretary grew so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead: "Eliza, I need to verify - are you truly drunk, or..."

"Just go away," ElizaLeng mumbled hazily.

FyrenZhang carried ElizaLeng straight out of the club.

Zaring had already pulled up with the car and flashed FyrenZhang a mischievous, knowing grin.

As the car drove off, the chief secretary remained rooted in place, brows knitted tightly.

"Chief Secretary, this... Eliza drank way too much. Handing her over to Young Master Fyren is completely unprofessional... ah!"

Another secretary chimed in: "The crucial point is we can't intervene. Eliza seems lucid one moment and confused the next. We can't determine whether she's genuinely too drunk to make rational decisions or just... deliberately using drunkenness as an excuse to be with Young Master Fyren."

"But... doesn't Eliza despise Young Master Fyren?"

"Yet today she clearly sought out Young Master Fyren intentionally, and... you all witnessed what happened earlier."

The chief secretary sighed deeply, watching the vanished taillights as he said calmly:

"If Eliza turns out to be truly drunk, we're all finished tomorrow."

...

Zaring personally took the wheel.

While driving, his sly, darting eyes kept glancing backward through the rearview mirror.

FyrenZhang kept dabbing ElizaLeng's face with the moist towel in the car while asking if she felt better. ElizaLeng remained in a daze, alternating between moments of clarity and confusion.

Zaring spoke up: "Young Master, I'm thoroughly impressed! Your escape tactic is brilliant! I was wondering why you'd suddenly turned over a new leaf to become a good person. Turns out you still had this trick up your sleeve. Masterful! Truly masterful!"

FyrenZhang glared at him: "I'm just tending to a girl I accidentally hurt. I don't have any improper intentions, understand?"

"Yes, I understand." Zaring pressed his lips together tightly and nodded with exaggerated sincerity: "Honestly, sometimes I'm truly grateful I chose to follow you, Young Master Fyren. Your upright personality and noble character have always served as my role model. I firmly believe if everyone in the world were as kind, principled and compassionate as you, Young Master Fyren, the world would become a harmonious, beautiful utopia."

"Speaking of which, I know of this love hotel that's completely private and discreet, stocked with all kinds of adult toys and equipment. We just need to slip the manager a small bribe, and he'll provide complimentary multi-angle video recording services..."

FyrenZhang had no way to deal with this incorrigible pervert. Silently raising the partition window, he could still see Zaring, but Zaring could no longer see into the backseat or communicate.

Give him a little money? That makes it fucking free?

FyrenZhang wouldn't take advantage of someone like that, no matter how unscrupulous he might be. In his original world, he'd been a delivery driver. He didn't read much web fiction but had sampled all kinds of adult films - you could even call him somewhat of a connoisseur.

But he clearly understood this belonged to his private life and couldn't spill over into reality. The upbringing and education he'd received wouldn't permit such behavior.

Besides, was ElizaLeng even an option? It was an ironclad rule that the male lead's woman was off-limits! Every novel he'd ever read followed this principle - there was never a plot where the female protagonist was won over by the villain.

And if he actually tried anything, according to story conventions, OttoLong would instantly materialize. No matter how well-hidden the location, OttoLong would inevitably find them. As for logic? Since when did web novels care about logic!

You could be bullying ElizaLeng on the moon and OttoLong would still have some bizarre encounter that allowed him to suddenly appear, scaring you so badly you'd piss yourself on the spot.

Not only will you absolutely fail to get what you want, but you'll also instantly max out the hero's hatred meter toward you.

OttoLong will get right in ElizaLeng's face, furious to the point of madness to demonstrate how protective he is of her, to show how deeply he cares and fights for her...

So how does one portray such complex, intense emotions from the male lead?

By beating me up!

Yes, beating me to death!

Maybe even castrating me before burning my entire family alive.

Then he'll wrap ElizaLeng in his arms, heartbroken, adopting that perfect idol drama/wuxia/QiongYao romance tone:

"Eliza, it's all my fault! I failed to protect you! Blame me! Hit me! Scold me! Only that will ease my guilt!"

"Oh no! NO! NO! I don't mind that he held your hand—it wasn't your fault!"

"I, OttoLong, swear from this moment onward, no one will ever lay a finger on you again. You're my woman, forever!"

FyrenZhang shuddered and nervously checked the rearview mirror for any pursuing vehicles.

Holy hell, in a moment of weakness how did I actually end up with the female lead in my car?

Heavens bear witness! I harbor no ill intentions—you...you're the male lead, you've got to be reasonable, you've got to have morals! I didn't intend any wrongdoing, you can't beat me up!

And you definitely can't castrate me.

Castration...that's just immoral.

FyrenZhang lowered the partition: "Zaring, head home."

"B-back home?"

"Is 'go home' really that hard to understand? You're a grown man!"

"No, it's perfectly understandable."

The night was late.

Sitting in the backseat, FyrenZhang felt mentally drained. Too much had happened today—far too much.

Others might not feel it, but he'd narrowly escaped death several times over.

Just then, his phone rang.

Surprisingly, it was XenaXu.

"Fyren, what're you busy with? Get to the pharmaceutical factory immediately—people are waiting for you."

"What now?"

FyrenZhang was on the verge of collapse. "Big sister! By Cthulhu! I've already endured a full day's worth of plot—can't you give me a break? Are villains not human?"

XenaXu froze, completely baffled by his ranting.

"No, you're the one who insisted we destroy that drug batch ASAP. My team has everything arranged for tonight's disposal, plus we're pulling an all-nighter for tomorrow's launch."

"Aren't you the vice president of the pharmaceutical company? This is your responsibility!"

"Hehe, for this level of operation, it requires your personal signature as president! And don't you want them?"

"I want your big head! You've been waiting all day to screw me over! First tell me, are you and Otto Long in cahoots?"

"Otto Long? That so-called 'miracle doctor' today? How would I know him? You're the only one in my heart."

FyrenZhang was nearly in tears. "Big sister, I'm begging you, just let me go, okay? Stop spouting such nonsense. Here's what we'll do - I'll go to the factory and personally supervise the entire destruction process. You stay away, we won't meet. Can we do that?"

"Well... no, we can't." XenaXu said. "According to standard destruction procedures, you, me, the Drug Administration leader, our group's internal review committee head, and the notary public must all be present. None can be absent."

FyrenZhang clutched his head in agony. "I know! But I'm telling you, this time I'll definitely stay until the end! Absolutely! Don't try to set me up!"

FyrenZhang finally shouted before roughly hanging up.

XenaXu was baffled. "Is this guy crazy? What's all this nonsense about?"

FyrenZhang lay in the backseat, feeling weaker than the "drunk" Eliza Leng.

At that moment, the system's ding-dong sounded.

[System Alert: Congratulations to the villain for bringing female protagonist Eliza Leng under control. The protagonist is currently en route to rescue her. We wish you luck in your endeavor.]

FyrenZhang's eyes widened as he shouted, "Do you people have any humanity left?!"