I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

"It's Little Tiger!"

"This handsome young man said he wanted to give me this badge, but he was afraid I wouldn't dare accept it! Isn't that funny?"

Aunt Shen, the middle-aged woman, immediately put on a familiar yet slightly ingratiating smile.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Wang Hu chuckled, his gaze first sweeping over Gu Yan's face.

He's incredibly handsome, which really annoyed him.

Then, his gaze was immediately drawn to Shen Youyao, who was hiding behind Gu Yan, with only half of her face and trembling shoulders showing.

For some reason, Wang Hu felt his heart skip a beat.

A strong, domineering possessiveness surged into my heart without warning.

As if it were destiny, love at first sight, a crazy desire began to surge.

This girl... really makes his heart flutter.

But seeing Shen Youyao hiding behind Gu Yan looking scared, Wang Hu became even more annoyed.

Gu Yan noticed his greedy gaze, took half a step forward, and completely blocked Shen Youyao.

Wang Hu's eyes darkened, and his hostility towards Gu Yan surged instantly.

He's handsome, how dare you block his view?

And judging from Aunt Shen's greedy look, the badge on this kid's chest is probably worth some money.

"Since you're going to give it to me..."

"Then bring it here! What are you dawdling about?"

Wang Hu glanced at Gu Yan sideways, his tone arrogant.

Wang Hu and this Aunt Shen were naturally having an affair.

Although Aunt Shen is getting old, she is proficient in all kinds of skills and takes good care of Wang Hu.

So he was willing to stand up for his mistress.

More importantly, he developed a strong interest in Shen Youyao.

"Hurry, hurry up..."

Startled, Shen Youyao grabbed Gu Yan's wrist and tried to pull him back, her voice trembling.

Gu Yan reached out and squeezed her cold fingers, then gently ruffled her hair with her other hand, whispering, "Don't be afraid, it's alright."

This affectionate and protective gesture ignited a nameless fire within Wang Hu, who was standing nearby!

He didn't know why, but seeing this timid girl, who should have been at his mercy, being protected by another man made him feel uncomfortable.

Every inch of Shen Youyao's skin, every tremor of fear, even the smell of cheap laundry detergent on her...

They should all belong to him!

Wang Hu took a few steps forward, closing in on Gu Yan, intending to use the old method.

First intimidate, then entice, so that the other party will back down and obediently hand over the prey.

He'd played this game far too many times, watching those so-called boyfriends back down and betray him in the face of pressure and self-interest.

Finally, he could slowly savor the fruits of his victory...

He even had a penchant for secretly recording videos to relive the experience, finding it thrilling.

The middle-aged woman next to Shen Youyao, who was also Shen's adoptive mother, became excited, her eyes fixed on the badge that looked quite valuable.

Once I get my hands on it, I'll definitely be able to enjoy myself for a while!

Shen Youyao was so scared her heart was about to jump out of her throat, but looking at Gu Yan's calm profile, and the godlike gentleness that had flowed from those seven-colored pupils before...

A strange courage overcame the fear.

She should...stand in front of him. No one else should get hurt because of her.

Wait... he just said his name is... Gu Yan?

Shen Youyao was suddenly stunned.

Gu Yan... this name...

How come she shares the same name as the idol that her childhood friend Hua Heng talks about every day and idolizes so much, the youngest psychology master in the empire?

The Imperial Jade, which was reported daily in newspapers and news a few years ago, was also called Gu Yan.

Is it the same person? Or is it a coincidence?

Just then, Wang Hu's hand reached out in front of Gu Yan, about to grab his collar.

But his movements suddenly froze.

His gaze was fixed on the dark gold badge on Gu Yan's chest.

As you get closer, you can see the coiled golden dragon, the ancient longsword, and the tiny red crystals at the tip of the dragon-eye sword...

It's clearer now.

This badge... he could never mistake it!

When I was a child, I went to the Imperial Senate with my father, and there were several similar ones hanging in the deepest part of the highest floor.

Golden Dragon National Protection Medal!

Those who receive this medal are all important figures who have made tremendous contributions to the country in a certain field and whose status is terrifyingly prestigious!

This boy, who looks about the same age as me, or even more frail... how could this be?!

So young, and a man...

Excluding that rising star in the military, who was exceptionally granted the title of Marquis of Champion by the Empress despite being a woman, and was known as the Vanguard of the Empire…

That leaves only...that one!

Gu Yan, the legendary psychological master who became famous at the age of ten, cured S-class superhumans, and was revered as the empire's jewel!

Upon realizing this possibility, Wang Hu's blood seemed to freeze instantly, and cold sweat broke out on his back, soaking his inner shirt.

According to Wang Hu's characterization in the book, he was a direct descendant of the Wang family, a top-tier family in Jinghai, and had a noble status when he was young.

After all, this is a standard feature for the second male lead, paving the way for his redemption later on.

However, his branch of the family was completely defeated in the internal strife. His father died early, and he was exiled by the family and fostered by a lower-middle-class branch of the Wang family in Shanglu City.

The huge gap between his social status and his actual identity distorted his psyche, turning him into a hoodlum who became addicted to using violence and controlling others to gain stimulation and a sense of existence.

But he hasn't completely lost his insight and common sense.

This is... the Imperial Jade!

She became famous at the age of ten.

A single casual remark could bring a once-powerful scion of a fallen family to utter ruin!

Wang Hu's face turned deathly pale, his outstretched hand frozen in mid-air, unsure whether to retract it or extend it.

The middle-aged woman next to him grew impatient when she saw him suddenly stop moving.

"Little Tiger, what are you doing? Stop dawdling! Honestly, I'll do it myself!"

After saying that, she twisted her waist, a greedy smile on her face, and reached out to grab the badge on Gu Yan's chest!

“Pah!”

A crisp, loud slap landed hard on the middle-aged woman's face!

The force was so great that she spun around in place, and some of the thick makeup on her face came off.

A clear five-finger mark quickly swelled up, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

The middle-aged woman was stunned by the blow, covering her face, her eyes wide, about to throw a tantrum and scream—

"Apologize to Master Gu Yan now!!"

Wang Hu's voice was hoarse, almost a shout, filled with undisguised fear and urgency.

He didn't even glance at his dazed foster mother, his eyes fixed on the ground, cold sweat beading on his forehead, as he bowed deeply towards Gu Yan.

"Gu...Gu Yan..."

The middle-aged woman was stunned by the slap. She covered her burning face, her mind buzzing, and she murmured blankly.

The next second, she suddenly realized what the name Gu Yan meant, her face turned deathly pale, her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word, only boundless fear remained.

Looking at the disgusting couple in front of her, Gu Yan's last trace of warmth vanished.

He uttered a single word softly: "Get lost."