Trapping the Protagonist

The police arrived quickly.

"Who called the police?" the lead officer asked.

"I did," Shen Yingnian said, pointing at Xiao Chen. "He broke into my house and assaulted my staff."

The officer's expression darkened as he surveyed the bruised and swollen bodyguards. "Is this true?" he asked Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen, however, seemed unconcerned. "Yes, I did," he admitted, "but I was rescuing someone!" He then pointed at Shen Yingnian. "He kidnapped my friend and is holding her captive in this villa!"

The officer paused, then looked questioningly at Shen Yingnian.

Shen Yingnian spread his hands. "Officer, if you believe his slander, I'm happy to cooperate fully with your investigation to prove my innocence."

"We believe in truth and evidence," the officer said sternly. "We won't wrong an innocent person, nor will we let a guilty one go free!" He gestured to his officers to search the villa.

Throughout the search, Shen Yingnian remained calm.

Though Xiao Chen had acted impulsively out of concern for Nie Ruoyun, he was, after all, a protagonist with protagonist-level intelligence. Seeing Shen Yingnian's nonchalant attitude, Xiao Chen began to suspect he had walked into a trap.

But that seemed unlikely. This young master had always been a fool. How could he be so cunning?

Just as Xiao Chen was pondering this, the officers returned.

"Captain, there's no one else in the villa," one reported.

"Are you sure?" Xiao Chen asked, paling.

"Absolutely," the officer confirmed.

"Impossible!" Xiao Chen exclaimed. "He must have hidden her somewhere!"

Shen Yingnian sneered. "Looks like someone's crying wolf. If you don't trust the police, feel free to search yourself. If you find a single hair of Nie Ruoyun's, I'll admit defeat!"

"No need for that," Xiao Chen said, performing a quick hand gesture and closing his eyes. He extended his spiritual consciousness, encompassing the entire villa.

When he opened his eyes, they were filled with disbelief.

"Well, Master Xiao?" Shen Yingnian asked with a smile.

Xiao Chen's face was ashen. "Where did you hide Ruoyun?!" he demanded.

His recent divination had failed to pinpoint Nie Ruoyun's location. This was unprecedented!

He had been certain she was brought to this villa!

Even more baffling, his spiritual sense, which could usually perceive everything within a few miles, detected no trace of her!

"So, you lured me here, then moved her somewhere else!" Xiao Chen accused. "Shen Yingnian, you're despicable!"

Shen Yingnian inwardly acknowledged Xiao Chen's sharp instincts. If not for the system's storage ring, he'd be in serious trouble.

Keeping his composure, he sneered, "Xiao Chen, I used to think you were just self-righteous, but now I suspect you're delusional. You're a nobody. You're hardly worth the trouble for someone like me."

He then turned to the officer. "Officer, I leave it to you."

The officer nodded. "You're suspected of assault and disturbing the peace," he said to Xiao Chen. "Come with us."

Xiao Chen was frantic. "But Ruoyun… she…"

"Oh, so you're resisting arrest now?" Shen Yingnian added fuel to the fire. "Officer, this kid knows martial arts. Be careful."

The officer instinctively reached for his sidearm. "Cooperate with us!" he ordered Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen hesitated, then reluctantly complied.

Though he possessed extraordinary powers, he knew he had to abide by the law.

But he wasn't ready to give up. "Can I make a phone call?" he asked the officer.

"Yes," the officer replied.

Shen Yingnian knew exactly who Xiao Chen would call: his powerful backer.

This influential figure had received a favor from Xiao Chen.

It was a classic novel trope: when the protagonist was in trouble, his powerful allies would appear to save the day.

Shen Yingnian had anticipated this. As the protagonist, Xiao Chen wouldn't be easily defeated.

…

After Xiao Chen left with the police, Shen Yingnian instructed his bodyguards. "Get yourselves checked out. And keep an eye on that kid. Report any news immediately." He paused, his expression hardening. "Remember: say only what you need to. Don't breathe a word about anything else. Otherwise…"

The bodyguards, having worked for Young Master Shen for so long, knew what he meant. They quickly agreed.

"You, stay here," Shen Yingnian said to the least injured bodyguard. He beckoned him closer. "Did anyone see you bringing her here?"

"No. We were careful. We avoided surveillance. The car went straight into the garage and we took her to the bedroom through the connecting passage," the bodyguard replied.

"Delete all the surveillance footage from today. Leave no trace. And no one is allowed near the villa," Shen Yingnian ordered.

The bodyguard was surprised. Young Master Shen seemed different today – calmer, more cautious, less arrogant.

He thought of Nie Ruoyun, wondering how Shen Yingnian was planning to keep her hidden, but seeing his stern face, he kept his questions to himself.

Upstairs, Shen Yingnian locked the bedroom door.

His work was far from over.

He retrieved Nie Ruoyun from the storage ring and placed her back on the bed. A villainous smile played on his lips.

A common trope in these novels was the villain's inability to take advantage of the heroine.

Even a mere touch from the villain would enrage the readers.

So, to appease them, authors often reduced the villains' intelligence.

Shen Yingnian had often read about villains capturing the heroine, only to hesitate, giving the protagonist a chance to rescue her.

But he, reborn into this world, had no such scruples.

He climbed onto Nie Ruoyun's delicate body and proceeded to take care of some "unfinished business."