174: Chapter 174 The Grand Show Begins

The three NPCs were left to improvise, tearing at each other and staging an annual emotional drama on the spot.

Hiss—

Not bad, I'm actually looking forward to this.

Planner, don't disappoint the vast number of players!

"Meng De's deep affection is truly admirable."

Chen You said lightly, "Hurry up and go. Juaner is waiting for you."

Meng De Meng De's mind was completely clouded by love. He bowed deeply to Chen You again.

Then, he turned and left in a frantic rush, muttering to himself.

"Juaner, I'm coming! I will never let you suffer any grievances again!"

Chen You wasted no more time and immediately set off to find Du Chedi.

In a room deep within the alley, the revived Du Chedi was leaning against the wall, staring blankly at the sky.

He was alive, but the breath that sustained him seemed to dissipate as his body slightly recovered.

He could not find a reason to live.

"Do you want to ask clearly face to face?"

Chen You's voice came from the doorway, calm, yet carrying an unquestionable power.

Du Chedi's cloudy eyes struggled to move as he looked at Chen You, his lips moving, but he could not utter a sound.

Chen You had no unnecessary words. He walked straight to him, looking down at him.

"I will take you to see her."

"All your unwillingness, resentment, and doubts—ask them out loud in front of her."

"No matter the result, it's better than rotting here like a dead dog."

After speaking, Chen You didn't wait for a response. He reached out and easily scooped up the emaciated Du Chedi around the waist.

Du Chedi's body was light. Chen You steadily placed him on the back of the giant White Rabbit.

"Hold on tight."

Chen You flipped onto the White Rabbit and gave a faint instruction.

The next second, the White Rabbit exerted force with its four hooves, turning into an afterimage, instantly bursting out of the alley and speeding toward the direction of the Wangting Tower.

...

Wangting Tower.

The emerging entertainment venue in Thousand Light City, and also the place where countless players loved to gather in their spare time.

However, it was getting late, and only a handful of players remained.

At this moment, on the stage in the teahouse, Cai Wenjuan was holding a pipa, singing softly.

A song titled "Heartbreak" was mournful and moving, entrancing everyone below the stage.

Just as the song reached its climax, the most intense moment of emotion—

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, the main door of Wangting Tower was kicked open.

A figure clad in the Meng De's magnificent robes, with bloodshot eyes, charged in with an unstoppable momentum.

It was Meng De!

The music abruptly stopped.

Everyone's gaze was drawn to this uninvited guest.

"The... Meng De?"

"Why is he here?"

The players and NPCs below erupted in an uproar.

Meng De ignored the surrounding gazes. He stared fixedly at Cai Wenjuan on the stage, his eyes filled with an unyielding heat and regret.

"Juaner!"

He roared, his voice trembling with emotion.

"It's me! Meng De! I've come to take you back!"

This shout was like a clap of thunder, stunning the entire teahouse into silence.

Cai Wenjuan on stage froze, her hand gripping the pipa. Her face instantly turned pale, her eyes filled with shock and astonishment.

Below the stage, after a brief silence, a massive, surging discussion broke out.

"Holy crap! What's going on! The Meng De is stealing someone?"

"What quest is this? What did I miss?"

"Stop arguing! I'm barbecuing!"

The players were flushed with excitement, as if they were about to witness an epoch-making annual event.

Meng De walked step by step onto the stage, stood firmly in front of Cai Wenjuan, and said with deep affection.

"Juaner, I'm sorry! It was my fault! I shouldn't have been indulging in a false haven of softness and forgotten you!"

"From today onwards, I only want you! I will make you the most honored woman in Thousand Light City!"

Cai Wenjuan was dizzy from this sudden confession. She instinctively stepped back, at a loss.

"Brother Meng... Lord Meng De... You... I..."

"You don't need to say anything, I know!"

Meng De grabbed her wrist, his tone domineering and unquestionable, "Come with me!"

Just as this dramatic scene was about to peak, a leisurely voice drifted from the doorway.

"Good, I made it in time."

Everyone turned their heads at the sound.

They saw a handsome young man wearing the moyuan star river robe strolling in slowly.

And beside him, supporting a ragged, withered man. It was Chen You and Du Chedi.

"It's that big shot!"

"He's here again! Why did he bring a beggar?"

"Wait... this plot, I don't quite understand it?"

The players' chatter quieted down. Everyone felt that the real storm seemed to have only just begun.

Chen You ignored everyone's gaze, walked to the front of the stage, and gently placed Du Chedi on the ground as if setting down cargo.

He patted Du Chedi's shoulder and whispered, "This is your stage. Please begin your performance."

After being set down, Du Chedi's body went weak, and he nearly fell.

He struggled to raise his head. The moment his gaze met the panicked, beautiful woman on the stage, the entire world seemed to freeze.

Time appeared to flow backward to three years ago.

"Jua... Juaner?"

Du Chedi's voice was hoarse, dry, and filled with disbelief.

Cai Wenjuan on stage, who was being held by Meng De, was struck as if by lightning upon seeing Du Chedi's face!

The color drained from her face instantly. Her body trembled violently.

The astonishment in her eyes was immediately replaced by endless fear and guilt.

"Che... Che Di...?"

She cried out, her voice shaking uncontrollably.

Meng De was also stunned.

He looked at the beggar who had suddenly appeared, then looked at Cai Wenjuan's drastically changed expression. A sense of ominous foreboding surged in his heart.

"Juaner, who is he?" Meng De asked with a frown.

This question seemed to light the fuse of a powder keg.

The atmosphere instantly shifted from a romance drama of the "Domineering Meng De Stealing a Bride" to an ethical drama of the "True Owner Confronting the Mistress."

All the onlookers' eyes lit up!

Chen You crossed his arms and leaned casually against a pillar, only lacking a handful of sunflower seeds.

Hmm, the heat is just right.

It's time... to add some heavy ingredients.

With a thought, he took out the strangely shaped [Red String Puppet] from his backpack.

The puppet was entirely black, with a bizarre smiling face painted on it, sending chills down one's spine.

Chen You swept his gaze between Du Chedi and Meng De.

His fingertip lightly tapped the void, locking the targets—

Meng De!

Du Chedi!

"Ding! Do you wish to use the special item 'Red String Puppet' on NPCs 'Meng De' and 'Du Chedi'?"

"Confirm," Chen You thought silently.

The next moment, a nearly invisible red string shot out from the puppet.

One end connected to Meng De's brow, and the other shot into Du Chedi's brow.

Both men shuddered simultaneously and froze stiffly in place.

Their eyes were bloodshot, staring fixedly at each other, as if they wanted to devour the other alive.

They could not move, nor could they look away.

"Ding! 'Frank Exchange' has been activated, lasting for ten minutes!"

"During this period, both parties will ignore all external interference and reveal their truest inner thoughts!"

The curve of Chen You's mouth widened.

Come on, let me see...

Just how insane can this Source Realm get!

In the deathly silence, a hoarse, weak, yet incredibly clear voice broke the silence first.

It was Du Chedi.

His tears mixed with grime slid down his face. Facing Meng De, he spoke word by word.

"Three years ago, was it you who ordered people to break my legs?!"