The fireworks lasted a full ten minutes before they finally ceased.

Don’t underestimate this short period; the entire riverbank was lined with fireworks. In just these ten minutes, a total of 800,000 was burned away. However, he didn’t mind, as he had just earned over 12 million today. 800,000 was just a drop in the bucket.

“Did you like it?” Wang Haoran asked Xu Muyan with a charming gaze.

Xu Muyan nodded.

Wang Haoran wasn’t surprised at all. How could something that cost 800,000 to create not be beautiful?

“Did you… prepare this?” Xu Muyan felt it wasn’t just a coincidence.

“Do you like it?”

“I do, but why?” Xu Muyan felt her heart pounding wildly.

“Seeing you unhappy, I wanted to cheer you up a bit,” Wang Haoran said, looking at Xu Muyan. “So, are you feeling a bit happier now?”

Xu Muyan met Wang Haoran’s gaze and nodded heavily.

[Ding, Xu Muyan, one of the female leads, has increased her favorability towards the host by 10. Current total favorability is 60. (Developing affection)]

[Ding, the host has influenced the plot direction, earning 200 villain points.]

“You put in so much effort just to make me happy?” Xu Muyan asked bravely.

“Yeah, we’re friends, right?” Wang Haoran replied with a smile.

“Yes… we are friends.”

Xu Muyan also smiled, but there was a hint of disappointment in her heart.

…

Not far away, hidden by the flowerbeds along the river, Chu Bai watched the handsome man and beautiful woman gazing at each other, feeling extremely angry. He ended up damaging quite a few flowers and plants nearby.

Just then, a car suddenly stopped by the roadside. A middle-aged man with a gloomy expression stepped out of the car.

“Uncle Xu!” Chu Bai’s anger turned to joy as he waved at the middle-aged man.

“Where are Yanyan and that kid named Wang Haoran?” Xu Muyan’s father asked Chu Bai in a deep voice.

Xu Muyan’s father was robust and exuded strength from head to toe. Chu Bai could clearly feel the suppressed anger in him. If this anger were to be unleashed through his fists, it would surely be terrifying. Chu Bai could hardly wait.

“They’re over there!” He pointed around the flowerbed.

Xu Muyan’s father walked heavily in the direction Chu Bai pointed. Chu Bai followed behind, trying hard not to laugh.

“Yanyan!” Xu Muyan’s father called out from behind her.

Xu Muyan, who was immersed in the beautiful moment, was suddenly startled.

“Dad, why are you here? Where’s Mom?” Xu Muyan hadn’t figured out the situation yet. She just assumed her mom had sent her dad to pick her up.

“Why am I here?!” Xu Muyan’s father shouted angrily, pointing at Wang Haoran. “If I hadn’t come, you would have been tricked by this kid into going to some hotel tonight!”

Wang Haoran’s heart skipped a beat. Oh no. Did Xu Muyan’s dad guess so accurately?! If it weren’t for the little brother’s tip-off about Chu Bai’s call with Xu Muyan’s father, Wang Haoran really would have tricked Xu Muyan into going to a hotel.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Wang Haoran spent 100 villain points to immediately check Xu Muyan’s father’s attributes. Seeing how agitated Xu Muyan’s father was, he might make a move soon. It was better to understand the situation beforehand.

[Supporting Character: Xu Zheng (Currently aligned with the protagonist’s camp, can be persuaded)]

[Combat Power: 209]

[Charm Value: 103]

[Supporting Character Aura: None]

[Skill: Advanced Mixed Martial Arts]

A combat power of 209 was high, but compared to Wang Haoran’s 289, it was still quite a bit lower. In a one-on-one fight, Wang Haoran could easily defeat him with his master-level Wing Chun against Xu Zheng’s advanced mixed martial arts.

Currently aligned with the protagonist’s camp? No wonder he was speaking for Chu Bai. Can be persuaded? Does that mean if I perform well, I can gain his approval?

Wang Haoran speculated secretly.

“Dad, what are you talking about? I’m just taking a walk by the river with Wang Haoran,” Xu Muyan said, holding her father’s arm tightly, seeing that he was very angry and seemed a bit out of control.

Xu Zheng wanted to rush forward and punch Wang Haoran, but he was afraid of hurting his daughter. Caught in a dilemma, he stood there, unable to move.

“Uncle Xu, we just met today, right? You might have misunderstood me,” Wang Haoran said calmly.

“I didn’t misunderstand. It’s almost ten o’clock, and you brought my Yanyan here instead of letting her go home. Are you saying you have no ill intentions?!”

“I swear, if I brought Xu Muyan here with ill intentions, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!” Wang Haoran swore vehemently. As a villain, he feared nothing. What’s the big deal about swearing an oath? If oaths really worked, who knows how many people would be struck by lightning.

“Wang Haoran, stop denying it. You brought Xu Muyan here with bad intentions. I saw you trying to hold her hand several times and even wanting to hug her,” Chu Bai lied, adding fuel to the fire.

“Is it really okay for you to lie like this?” Wang Haoran was amused. This protagonist, not only did he cheat in bets, but he also falsely accused people!

During his interaction with Xu Muyan earlier, Wang Haoran hadn’t made any such moves.

“Afraid to admit it?” Chu Bai taunted.

“I think nothing I say will help,” Wang Haoran said, giving up on explaining. Xu Zheng was hostile towards him and trusted Chu Bai. Hearing Chu Bai’s words made him even angrier. If Xu Muyan weren’t holding him back, he might have already attacked.

“Yanyan!” A woman’s voice called out from not far away.

“Honey, why… why are you here?” Xu Zheng, still angry, was momentarily stunned.

The newcomer was Xu Muyan’s mother, the lawyer Wang Haoran had met earlier in the day.

“Yanyan asked me to pick her up,” Lawyer An explained, noticing the tense atmosphere. “What’s going on here?”

“This kid brought our daughter out late at night with bad intentions!” Xu Zheng glared at Wang Haoran.

Lawyer An looked at Wang Haoran and exclaimed, “Young man, it’s you!”

“You know him?” Xu Zheng was taken aback.

“I met him earlier today because of a case,” Lawyer An said.

“This kid got into trouble during the day too. I knew he wasn’t a good person!” Xu Zheng snorted.

“What are you talking about? This young man was very brave today…” Lawyer An recounted Wang Haoran’s heroic act of catching a thief.

Hearing this, Xu Zheng’s emotions gradually calmed down, and he reassessed Wang Haoran. His wife, being a lawyer, had impeccable judgment and certainly wouldn’t lie. Moreover, there was no need to. It seemed Wang Haoran wasn’t the kind of morally corrupt rich second generation he had imagined. In fact, he was quite the opposite, a breath of fresh air. Xu Zheng had never heard of a rich second generation risking their life to do good deeds.

[Ding, the host has changed supporting character Xu Zheng’s perception of himself, earning 100 villain points!]