The Counterattack Plan of A Villain With Ten Thousand Fans - Chapter 24 - Part 1 (Patreon)

Chapter 24 - Part 1

Lin Tianhao, dressed casually, sat in the restaurant glancing at his phone from time to time. The agreed-upon time had long passed, and the person he was waiting for hadn't arrived yet. The prolonged wait made him a bit impatient, but the thought of the other person's face calmed his anger. He patiently continued to wait.

Lin Tianhao, the only son at home, had a decisive personality since childhood, accustomed to getting what he wanted. With the help of elders in the family, he securely held the position of the company's president. This was the first time he had set his mind on pursuing someone.

Although the other person's gender was unconventional, with surrogacy being common nowadays, he wasn't worried about a lack of heirs. Lin Tianhao never doubted that Ling Chunan would reject him. As the president of Haotian Entertainment, his patience in pursuing a mere small-time star was merely a matter of personal preference.

However, to his surprise, after agreeing to his invitation, Ling Chunan stood him up! As the sky gradually darkened, Lin Tianhao couldn't sit still any longer and picked up his phone to make a call.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently busy," a cold female voice came through the receiver.

The next morning, Ling Chunan saw the headline on Weibo's hot search.

"President of Haotian Entertainment waits for hours without a trace of the mysterious person – who could it be?"

"Film and television dragon Lin Tianhao spotted leaving a restaurant angrily, suspected of being stood up – who's behind this?"

"Good morning, darling." Chu Yunge held Ling Chunan tightly, planting a kiss on his forehead. "What are you looking at?"

"Lin Tianhao actually waited for me for five hours." Ling Chunan dropped his phone, circling his arms around Chu Yunge's waist. "I feel a bit guilty."

Upon hearing Lin Tianhao's name, Chu Yunge, who was initially a bit confused, instantly became alert. However, seeing Ling Chunan softened his expression. He spoke with a hint of complaint, "My darling cares so much about other men. I'm heartbroken."

Thinking that this man had disrupted a significant portion of his plans, Ling Chunan gave him a glare and kicked him.

Chu Yunge groaned, his voice husky, "Darling, you kicked the wrong place."

"Hmm?" Ling Chunan grabbed the lower part of the man, which was no longer as hard as before. "Then I'll go on a date with Lin Tianhao."

Just as Ling Chunan was about to get up, the man pulled him back, pressing him down. The heat of the man's breath surrounded him. "No, you're not allowed."

"I've always remembered the mission, 098. You have to trust the professionalism of your host," Ling Chunan sighed, "How can you blame me? It's just that the enemy is too powerful. Look at my thin arms and legs; how could I be his match?"

"If you don't tease him every day, I believe you wouldn't still be in bed after a week. Normal men wouldn't be able to resist your teasing."

After hearing 098's words, Ling Chunan seemed somewhat troubled and fell into a thoughtful silence. Just when 098 thought he might regret his actions, Ling Chunan spoke, "098, you're mistaken."

"Why only the bed? Haven't we explored the living room, bathroom, balcony, and kitchen?"

"But how is his kidney so good?"

A completely shattered worldview for 098: "..."

On the eighth day, Ling Chunan finally got out of bed. First, he called the crew, explaining that he was feeling better and would resume shooting in a couple of days. Then, he called the male lead.

The call connected quickly, and a calm male voice came from the other end, "Hello, who is this?"

It was only then that Ling Chunan realized he was using Chu Yunge's phone. Their phones were the same, but why did Chu Yunge's contact list also have all his contacts?

However, this thought lasted only a moment. Ling Chunan naturally placed the phone against his ear, "Hello, is this Mr. Lin? I'm Ling Chunan."

Hearing Ling Chunan's voice, Lin Tianhao nearly threw his phone out. Although he hadn't come to bother him these past few days, it didn't mean he wasn't angry. He took a deep breath, finally calming down. He wanted to hear what this person had to say.

Ling Chunan, with a tone of genuine remorse, calmly continued, "I'm truly sorry, Mr. Lin. Last time, when I was about to meet you, I had a little accident and ended up lying in bed for a few days. I also lost my phone, so I lost your contact. I only saw your number today on a friend's phone."

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, looking at his expressionless self, Ling Chunan's voice was sincere and earnest, "So, I'm borrowing my friend's phone to call you now, and I hope you don't mind."

"What happened? I haven't seen any news about you going to the crew these past few days. Is it something serious?" Lin Tianhao's voice came through the phone again, but this time without anger.

"It's not a big deal, just... cough, when I went out, fans recognized me, and when I ran away, I forgot to look where I was going and ended up falling into a pond." Ling Chunan coughed again, sounding a bit embarrassed, "My body feels a bit weak. It seems I need to exercise more."

Watching the host run a train with a straight face and making the host on the other side believe it wholeheartedly, 098 decided it might be better not to provoke him easily in the future.

Rejecting Lin Tianhao's offer to visit him, Ling Chunan flipped through his contact book and found that, besides having a few more numbers, the people in the contact list were the same as those in his phone.

"He actually cloned my contact book, and the call records between the two phones are interconnected." Ling Chunan said to 098, "This is an invasion of my privacy."

"Your bathroom surveillance is still intact and running." 098 replied.

"How can they be the same? What if I make various arrangements with someone someday, and he sees the call records and knows who the other person is? That wouldn't be exciting at all."

"..."

"Darling, who were you talking to just now?" The voice of Chu Yunge came from nearby.

Ling Chunan immediately dropped the two phones in his hands and smiled at the man, "I'm hungry."

Suddenly, 098 felt relieved. As long as this man's flesh was still to the host's liking, it wouldn't be easy for him to stray.

Not sure how, but 098 relaxed, thinking that dealing with one man and numerous emotional entanglements seemed easier to accept.

Ling Chunan declined Chu Yunge's proposal to help him deal with the male lead. This time, he had a plan of his own. After all, he had been the victim once, and revenge suited his taste.

In the past few days, the media had been surprisingly quiet. Although Ling Chunan hadn't appeared in front of the media for several days, the promotional photos for the film he was shooting had just been released, creating a wave of enthusiasm online. Almost no negative news about him could be found.

The male lead's impression of Ling Chunan these days wasn't good. Not causing trouble for him when he had the chance was already commendable. Naturally, he wouldn't actively support him. Although Ling Chunan's agency had high expectations for him, with so many artists under their management, they wouldn't pay attention to every detail unless a major event occurred. The orchestrator of this situation was evident.

However, as long as Chu Yunge didn't intervene in Ling Chunan's dealings with Lin Tianhao and Wu Zichu, Ling Chunan was quite tolerant of other actions.

"An Nan, how's your body? Any discomfort? Why not take a few more days off work?" On the tenth day, Ling Chunan was surrounded by a group of production assistants as soon as he appeared on set, all expressing concern in a flurry of words.

Ling Chunan responded one by one, finally being rescued by the director.

Director Chen Xianlin looked at Ling Chunan with a concerned gaze, his tone meaningful. Both in words and between the lines, he was hinting at him to endure if he couldn't avoid it, to be obedient and not let himself get hurt. Many things could be endured, and they would pass.

Pretending not to understand, Ling Chunan thanked the director for his concern and then walked towards the dressing room. "Is that what he meant by what I thought?"

"What do you mean by what you thought, sorry, 098 doesn't understand."

"Hehe." Ling Chunan suddenly laughed.

"Maybe because the director didn't see Chu Yunge's concern for you, he thought you were being kept by him." 098, holding the handle against the host, changed its tune, then concluded, "Although his words weren't pleasant, he cares about you. He's a good director."

"An Nan."

Just as Ling Chunan completely escaped the gaze of the crowd, filled with either concern or worry, and was about to enter his exclusive dressing room, the voice of the female lead sounded.

Yang Qingya seemed to have not slept well these days, her face a bit pale. Even with makeup, it couldn't conceal the dark circles under her eyes. Ling Chunan smiled at her, "Come in and talk."

Several makeup artists and assistants had been waiting inside for a long time. Seeing Ling Chunan come in and greet them with a smile, and noticing Yang Qingya, they also showed a kind expression, not urging Ling Chunan to hurry up with makeup.

Ling Chunan led Yang Qingya into the inner lounge, then poured a cup of hot water for her from the water dispenser, "I see your complexion isn't great. Is there anything bothering you lately?"

"Nothing, really." Yang Qingya took the water from Ling Chunan, her eyes somewhat moved. "Thank you."

"If there's anything I can help with, just say it. We're friends, aren't we?" Ling Chunan sat down on the sofa opposite her, his tone sincere.

Under Ling Chunan's gaze, Yang Qingya relaxed a lot. Her previously worried expression also softened a bit. She tightened the cup of warm water in her hand and, almost involuntarily, spoke, "It's just that I recently found out that a friend of mine has sacrificed a lot for my current role. I feel a bit guilty."

"Is it your boyfriend?" Ling Chunan asked.

"No, I don't like him. I always thought I entered the crew based on my own abilities. I didn't expect him to sacrifice so much." Yang Qingya frowned, thinking about Wu Zichu's words that day, a trace of disgust passing through her eyes. "I can't quit the role, but I want to repay him. So..." Yang Qingya looked a bit embarrassed, "Could you lend me some money?"

"We're friends; you can just ask directly." Ling Chunan comfortingly smiled, "How much do you need?"

"Four, forty million." Yang Qingya's voice was somewhat soft.

Watching the host write a check generously, 098 felt like it saw four glittering golden words on top of its host's head—naive and wealthy.

"098, this is called an investment, with double returns, you know?" After sending away the female lead, Ling Chunan sat in front of the makeup mirror, gesturing to the makeup artist to start working on him, while talking to 098, "Wu Zichu's company is on the verge of collapse."

Thinking about Ling Chunan's mysterious actions recently and Wu Zichu's apparent economic pressure shown just now, and even the disrespectful comments towards her, it suddenly felt like the host had a deep plan.

"Your favorite woman doesn't accept your money but borrows from another man." Ling Chunan's voice carried a playful tone, "Just because of the stress, he said such things to a woman. I bet he looked really interesting when writing that check."

Suddenly realizing that Ling Chunan deliberately conveyed the message to the female lead that the supporting actor invested money in the crew, 098 felt a bit creepy.

Wu Zichu, born in the countryside, rose from being a grassroots university student with nothing to having a fortune of billions before the age of thirty. He should have been enjoying success and prosperity.

But whether it was due to bad luck or something else, he recently seemed to be in a string of misfortunes, even to the point of being unlucky enough to get something stuck in his teeth by drinking cold water.

Calculating, he figured it should have started after he helped Yang Qingya secure the role.

First, he was deceived in an investment, then his company's stocks were maliciously dumped, causing a sharp drop. Not only that, even the most lucrative joint venture under his banner, the daily necessities production, unexpectedly encountered issues. The products sold had quality problems, and all had to be withdrawn.

At this moment of distress, Yang Qingya somehow learned about the money he invested for her role.

Originally, it was meant as an expression of his love for her, but Wu Zichu didn't know where he went wrong. Seeing Yang Qingya made him think of the current chaotic state of his company.

By the time he realized it, it was too late. The moment Yang Qingya closed the door behind her, he knew he had lost his chance.

However, what Wu Zichu didn't expect was that, on the third day, Yang Qingya actually sent him a check.

Forty million, five hundred thousand more than what he invested in her.

"From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Thinking of Yang Qingya's last words, Wu Zichu took a deep breath. Then, gripping the check, he was about to tear it apart, but he stopped.

He needed this money.

"Host, Wu Zichu did invest the money into the company." 098 watched Ling Chunan in front of the computer screen, marveling at how versatile its host was this time. Perfect, indeed.

It would be even better if his personality were a bit better.

Unaware of the system's inner thoughts, Ling Chunan's fingers danced swiftly on the keyboard. Strings of characters appeared and disappeared on the screen.

"I know you admire me a lot, but as a system, 098, don't you think your role is too small?" Mocked again for being useless, 098 felt a bit hurt.

Ling Chunan's plan progressed smoothly. After receiving the money, Wu Zichu promptly filled the company's loopholes.

Now, all Ling Chunan had to do was stir up the scandal surrounding the supporting actor's company before their products were completely taken off the shelves. The negative effects on the human body after using them would lead to various issues, even cancer. If this news came out, the emerging company, New Yu Media, wouldn't be saved just by that forty million.

Watching Ling Chunan release the information, 098 felt a bit scared. "Host, you didn't do all of this, did you?" It had been with Ling Chunan the whole time and hadn't noticed his actions at all.

"How is that possible? 098, don't you think I would harm innocent people for the sake of a mission?" Ling Chunan retorted.

Silent, 098's answer was evidently affirmative. After all, before meeting Ling Chunan, it had never imagined there could be such a ruthless person in the world.

"I have principles." Ling Chunan said again, "As my system, we may cooperate for

 a long time in the future. You should trust my judgment."

"Yes, host."

Ling Chunan didn't explain in detail to 098, as it wasn't a significant plot point, and the plot didn't mention this incident. But since Ling Chunan had lived in this world for twenty years, he naturally remembered what happened to the supporting actor's company this year.

A quality scandal was nothing much, but allergies leading to death was a big deal. It would be a major news story.

He only found out after he came back that the daily necessities company still had the male lead's hidden shares.

This also conveniently explained why the incident from his previous life was suppressed so quickly.

However, this time, Ling Chunan wouldn't let them catch on so quickly.

So, he decided to release the news before the male lead took action.

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