The “Golden Shield” Strategy and the Sleeping Cat’s New Troubles

Xue Zhen’s considerations were nothing if not comprehensive.

Logically, he had only gone to that wretched place because of Tang Zhan. Emotionally, Tang Zhan was a scoundrel. If the man hadn’t summoned him, Xue Zhen would never have stepped foot in The Night Banquet, let alone wandered into a restroom corridor and encountered such a stroke of bad luck.

Furthermore…

Xue Zhen glanced out of the corner of his eye at the tall, young waiter standing nearby. The boy looked like a student working a part-time job—the kind who clearly didn’t have a cent to his name. There was no way he could afford to replace a designer shirt.

Tang Zhan, on the other hand, was a “fat sheep” from a wealthy household. It would be a waste not to fleece him.

Xue Zhen waited for a reply as if it were his birthright. He had called the man “Big Brother”; surely no one could refuse a request from someone as beautiful as him?

The other side remained silent for several minutes.

Xue Zhen wondered if Tang Zhan had passed out drunk. He knitted his brows, preparing to send another voice message to prod him. Before he could press the button, a red envelope notification popped up.

“Go buy yourself a new outfit,” Tang Zhan’s voice came through, sounding frustrated and out of sorts. “Don’t embarrass me.”

“And… don’t call me ‘Big Brother’ anymore.”

The last sentence sounded as if it were squeezed out through gritted teeth, the emphasis unnervingly heavy.

“What’s wrong?” Back in the private room, someone noticed Tang Zhan’s strange expression.

“Nothing,” Tang Zhan shook his head, suppressing the inexplicable shiver running down his spine. “Let’s continue.” He raised his glass again, forcing a smile, but his right hand gripped the stem so tightly that the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

Big Brother?

What a joke. Tang Zhan couldn’t explain the sensation he felt when he heard that voice; it was a numbing, tingling heat that crawled up the back of his ears like an electric shock.

He remembered this “straw bag” brother used to be full of resentment. From the moment the boy entered the Tang household with his mother, he had never once acknowledged Tang Zhan as an older brother.

Yet today, he had said it multiple times… and even sent that kind of photo.

Tang Zhan’s mind involuntarily drifted back to the image on his screen. Under the bright lights of the restroom, the hem of the soaked white shirt was slightly rolled up, the bottom buttons undone to reveal a sliver of a thin, supple waist. That curve was half-hidden beneath the fabric, yet its owner seemed entirely unconcerned about putting such a view on display.

It made one want to reach out and test with a thumb if that skin was as delicate as it appeared.

“Thanks~”

A voice message snapped Tang Zhan out of his trance. The youth sounded entirely oblivious to Tang Zhan’s irritation; his tone was light, ending on a cheerful, upward lilt.

Tang Zhan’s face darkened even further.

Xue Zhen opened the envelope and saw a five-figure sum. He felt a small pang of genuine appreciation. Truly wealthy. But the moment the money hit his account, he heartlessly deleted the entire chat history with Tang Zhan.

He didn’t know, nor did he care, what kind of stormy waves he had stirred in his “cheap” brother’s heart.

“886, let’s go.” Xue Zhen beckoned to the little bird, which was currently hovering in front of the tall waiter, observing him with intense curiosity.

886 flapped over to its host’s shoulder, its movements slightly sluggish. How strange… The system’s bean-sized brain was whirring. It didn’t understand why it felt so drawn to a random NPC. Fearing that its host would call it “unintelligent” again, 886 kept its mouth shut and quietly sent a minor anomaly report back to the Main God Space.

Xue Zhen spent the morning moving through the crowds of A-University. He wore a short-sleeved white tee under a sky-blue button-down shirt, the collar left open to reveal his elegant collarbones. Even with a mask on, his striking appearance made passersby slow their pace just to catch a glimpse of him.

He walked into the classroom and found a corner seat. It was only the first week of the semester, and students were still forming cliques. When he entered, the hushed whispers died down for a moment. In a university like this, rumors about “special” or “unfriendly” students traveled fast. Xue Zhen didn’t care.

The next class was a major-specific course. Xue Zhen flipped through the textbook to Chapter 2 with a bored expression. In his previous lives, he played villains—and villains weren’t expected to have good grades. In fact, being a top student would contradict his “backdoor entry” character setting.

He decided to listen for ten minutes and sleep for the rest. An 8:00 AM class was simply too much to ask.

“I hate school,” Xue Zhen sighed, leaning his head on his hand. “886, wake me up if they take attendance.”

“886,” he whispered before drifting off, “Is the Dragon Aotian also at A-University?”

The system began retrieving data. “Yes. The protagonist, Qi Wu, should be working various part-time jobs right now to save up for tuition and living expenses.”

“I see.” Xue Zhen’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Then shouldn’t I provide ‘charity’ in his time of need? I’ll make him feel indebted to me, and then we’ll naturally fall in love…”

He remembered from his previous worlds that “Leveling-up” protagonists always had a rich lady or princess helping them in their low moments. Xue Zhen had never been in love, but he assumed the logic was universal.

886 stammered, “But Host… you’re almost out of money.”

Xue Zhen checked his balance. Between the designer clothes he bought last night and the luxury pet accessories he picked out for 886’s future physical form, the numbers had plummeted.

“Fine,” Xue Zhen sighed. “Then I’ll approach the Second Male Lead first. He’s rich; he should spend some on me.”

In the original plot, he was Qi Suichuan’s “rumored boyfriend.” Why couldn’t the Second Lead serve as a stepping stone for his romance with the protagonist?

886 hopped excitedly. “Of course! I’ll go find out where the Second Lead is right now!”

Finally, the long lecture ended. Just as Xue Zhen was about to settle in for a proper nap, the chair next to him creaked.

Someone had approached. Xue Zhen let out a soft “Mm?” and lazily tilted his head.

The newcomer had permed, curly hair, a black obsidian stud in one ear, and a dimple on his left cheek. He looked like a fellow student. When the boy saw Xue Zhen turn around, he froze.

Xue Zhen was drowsy. His chin was resting on the desk, leaving a faint pink mark on his cheek. His long lashes cast soft shadows, and his eyes were watery and bright from sleepiness. To the curly-haired student, he looked like a pampered long-haired cat that had been rudely awakened and was about to hiss.

“Are you… Tang Xue Zhen?” the boy asked hesitantly.

Xue Zhen looked at him blankly. Who else would I be?

“Sorry for waking you,” the boy coughed. “I’m here for my Boss. He wants to know if you’re free to go to the outskirts this afternoon. He’s racing against another department’s team today.”

Racing? No thanks. Xue Zhen searched his memory but couldn’t place who this “Boss” was. If he couldn’t remember, the person wasn’t important.

“I’m not going,” Xue Zhen said decisively. “I’m busy.” He buried his face back into his arms.

The curly-haired student was stunned. His “Boss” was Cheng Shi, a scion of a powerful family in the city—rich, wild, and always surrounded by flatterers. Tang Xue Zhen had previously been one of those people, shamelessly trying to join their circle. Everyone knew Tang Xue Zhen was only after Cheng Shi’s money, and Cheng Shi had only kept him around for amusement.

So… why was he being rejected now?

At a private racing track on the outskirts of the city, the roar of engines filled the air.

Cheng Shi pulled off his helmet, sweat matting his hair. He was a mixed-race youth with deep-set, handsome features and grey-blue eyes. He was taller than most and possessed a reckless, lawless temperament.

“He refused?” Cheng Shi sneered, wiping his face. “Did you tell him it was me calling?”

Upon receiving a “yes,” Cheng Shi’s brows knitted tightly. His lackeys began to gossip, but he silenced them with a sharp look. Finally, one follower spoke up cautiously.

“I heard a rumor at a dinner party… the Tang family is planning to introduce Tang Xue Zhen to the eldest young master of the Qi family.”

The Qi family? Qi Suichuan?

Cheng Shi narrowed his eyes. He knew Qi Suichuan—the man was cold-blooded beneath a polite mask. If the Tang family was pushing Xue Zhen toward the Qi family’s business interests, it explained why the boy was suddenly acting cold toward him.

“He used me, and now he wants to flip the script?” Cheng Shi laughed, though there was no humor in it.

He scrolled through his phone, looking at a candid photo his follower had sent him. In the picture, the black-haired youth was slumped on a desk, eyes closed, revealing a snowy, beautiful face. He looked soft, sweet, and entirely pitiable in his sleep.

A pity he’s actually full of schemes, Cheng Shi thought.

“He won’t come to find me?” Cheng Shi muttered to himself, a chilling smile touching his lips. “Then I’ll go find him.”

The lackeys nearby shivered. They recognized that tone. They didn’t know what kind of torment the young master had planned, but they felt a sudden wave of sympathy for Tang Xue Zhen. To be targeted by Cheng Shi was never a good thing.