A Rich Second-generation Villain Can’t Just Enjoy Life — Chapter 437

Chapter 437: A Fool’s Gambit and a Villain’s Prize

“Lu Ran, it’s me, Long Hao. We met before on the Ancient Street.”

Long Hao pushed the door open with a grin. His expression brightened when he saw Lu Ran, and his eyes lit up even more when he saw Lu Qiong, the frail beauty beside Lu Ran.

He had guessed correctly. This ethereal girl, whose delicate features mirrored Lu Ran’s but were softened by a fragile grace, had to be his sister. The legendary future Immortal Doctor’s only weakness and greatest treasure.

*‘Hehehe, Lu Ran, you’re the brother-in-law I’ve chosen!’* Long Hao’s lips twisted into a smug, crooked smirk, an expression he’d practiced in the mirror, hoping it made him look like a cunning protagonist from a novel. In his mind, the plan was flawless. He had to secure a bond with Lu Ran, and fast. This wasn’t just about latching onto the coattails of a future medical sovereign for a handsome return on his investment. No, this was a dual-pronged assault on destiny itself. He could secure his future wealth *and* potentially win the heart of this goddess-like beauty, making her his wife.

His gaze lingered on Lu Qiong, a raw, possessive hunger flickering in his eyes. Su Hongmian, the unattainable campus queen from his past and present lives, was a blazing sun of a woman—so radiant that looking at her for too long felt like it could burn a man’s retinas. Even after the public humiliation of her rejection, her image was seared into his memory.

But this girl… Lu Qiong was different. If Su Hongmian was the sun, Lu Qiong was the moon reflected in a tranquil lake—serene, breathtaking, and exuding a poetic melancholy that tugged at the soul. She was like a character straight out of a classical painting, the Crimson Pearl Immortal Herb descended to the mortal realm, a Lin Daiyu whose every breath seemed a fragile miracle. Her beauty wasn’t just physical; it was an aura of vulnerability that made a man’s basest instincts roar to life, screaming at him to protect, possess, and conquer.

Sensing the predatory nature of Long Hao’s stare, Lu Ran instinctively shifted his body, partially shielding his sister from view. The sterile, antiseptic air of the hospital ward suddenly felt heavy, charged with an unwelcome tension.

“Let’s talk in the corridor,” Lu Ran said, his voice low and flat, betraying none of his inner turmoil. “Don’t disturb my grandfather.”

“Of course, of course.” Long Hao’s grin didn’t falter, but his eyes darted past Lu Ran’s shoulder for one last look. He saw the frail figure of an old man lying on the stark white hospital bed, sleeping under the thin blanket, his breathing shallow but steady. A pawn in the grander scheme.

With a final, reassuring glance at his sister, Lu Ran led the way out of the room, the heavy door closing with a soft *click*.

The hospital corridor was a long, sterile tunnel bathed in the cold, unforgiving glare of fluorescent lights. The white linoleum floor reflected the light with a dull sheen, smelling faintly of bleach. Distant sounds—the rhythmic beep of a heart monitor, the soft squeak of a nurse’s shoes, a muffled cough from another room—formed a somber, monotonous symphony.

Lu Ran stopped and turned, his brow furrowed into a deep crease. The patience he had shown inside the ward had vanished, replaced by a guarded suspicion. He crossed his arms, his posture defensive. “What are you here for?”

Long Hao cleared his throat, adjusting the collar of his slightly-too-large, cheap polyester shirt. He decided a serious, sincere approach was best. He met Lu Ran’s gaze, trying to project an aura of a wise benefactor.

“Before, on the Ancient Street, I wanted to help you, but I understand your hesitation. You were wary of a pie falling from the sky. So, how about this?” He leaned in conspiratorially. “I’ll lend you the money for your grandfather’s surgery. We can even do it with interest, same rates as the bank. We’ll sign a proper contract, everything above board. How does that sound?”

Hearing this, Lu Ran’s expression turned utterly bizarre. What was it about today? Why was he suddenly attracting such strange, persistent people? First, there was this man, Long Hao, who had practically stalked him from the Magic City Antique Street all the way to this hospital, desperate to shove money into his hands.

And then… there was Shen Anyu.

The comparison was almost laughable. Long Hao was a persistent fly, buzzing with flimsy schemes and transparent motives. Shen Anyu was a celestial dragon descending from the nine heavens. The Blood Curse Contract he’d produced wasn’t just extraordinary; it was an artifact of divine and demonic power, something that had shattered Lu Ran’s understanding of the world. The memory of his own blood swirling into intricate, glowing runes on the parchment sent a shiver down his spine.

*‘What is so special about me?’* Lu Ran wondered, a flicker of confusion cutting through his weary resolve. Why were these people so fixated on him? Was it some hidden talent he didn’t know he possessed?

Or… was it his sister? The thought soured his mood instantly. The way Long Hao had stared at Lu Qiong made his protective instincts flare.

But even as these thoughts raced through his mind, he knew they were moot. He had no room for regret, no other path to choose. He let out a soft, imperceptible sigh. The moment his blood had sealed the contract, his destiny was no longer his own. It was bound to Shen Anyu, shackled by a power so absolute that the price of betrayal was a fate far more terrifying than mere death.

Given that reality, what was the point of entertaining this street-side prophet?

Besides, a strange sense of gratitude had taken root in his heart. Lu Ran was a man who remembered kindness. When he was at his most desperate, when his world was collapsing under the weight of medical bills and his family’s impending doom, Shen Anyu had extended a hand. Whatever his ultimate intentions were, whatever price he would eventually extract, the fact remained: he had saved them.

He remembered Shen Anyu’s calm, detached instructions just an hour ago. A world-class medical team had already been assembled for his grandfather’s late-stage colon cancer. A transfer to a private, state-of-the-art facility was scheduled for the morning. Even Lu Qiong’s chronic illness was being addressed, with specialists being flown in specifically for her. Shen Anyu had solved problems that felt like insurmountable mountains with a casual wave of his hand.

His thoughts were a tangled mess of fear, awe, and reluctant appreciation. He looked at Long Hao, whose eager, expectant face now seemed pathetic.

“What is your purpose?” Lu Ran asked, his tone devoid of curiosity. It was a question asked out of formality, not genuine interest.

Long Hao was, of course, not about to reveal that he was a reincarnator who knew Lu Ran was destined to become the renowned Immortal Doctor, a figure whose name would shake the foundations of both the medical and martial worlds. His eyes darted from side to side, his mind scrambling for a plausible lie. A moment later, a self-satisfied smile returned to his face.

“I know a bit about physiognomy—fortune-telling,” he declared, puffing out his chest. “I took one look at you and I could see it. Your glabella is bright, and a stream of purple qi is flowing from the east. It’s a clear sign! You are destined to become an extraordinary figure, a titan among men. I simply want to invest in you ahead of time, to… to cling to your leg, so to speak.”

He warmed to his topic, gesturing grandly. “Think of it like Lu Buwei investing in the captive prince, Ying Yiren! If the investment pays off, the profits are astronomical. If it fails, well, the initial loss is negligible.”

[Akarin’s Note: “Purple qi coming from the east” (紫气东来) is a famous Daoist omen of great fortune or the arrival of a sage. Lu Buwei was a merchant who invested in and politically supported a minor prince, Ying Yiren, who eventually became the King of Qin. This is a classic Chinese anecdote for high-risk, high-reward investment.]

Lu Ran was utterly dumbfounded. He stared at Long Hao as if he’d just sprouted a second head. *This* was his grand reason?

His glabella was bright? Purple qi? A future big shot?

What kind of ridiculous joke was this? After witnessing the very real, terrifying magic of the Blood Curse, this felt like a child’s parlor trick.

“Stop joking,” Lu Ran said, his voice laced with weary disbelief. “I’m just an ordinary person, one face in a crowd of billions. I don’t have that kind of potential.”

Seeing that Long Hao was about to launch into another ridiculous sales pitch, Lu Ran cut him off, his tone firm and final. “Besides, there’s no need. A charity foundation has already promised to cover all of my grandfather’s and sister’s medical expenses. I won’t be needing your help.”

This so-called charity foundation was, naturally, one of the many legitimate fronts under Shen Anyu’s vast corporate empire. It was an entity that funneled hundreds of millions into philanthropic endeavors annually. For men of Shen Anyu’s stature, such foundations were a masterstroke—they garnered immense public prestige, secured favorable government policies, and polished their reputations to a flawless sheen. Two birds, one stone.

As for where the money came from? A little extra pressure on the workers, a slightly tighter squeeze on the supply chain, and the good name was all his. The truly audacious ones could even turn a profit from their “charity.”

After delivering the final blow, Lu Ran didn’t wait for a response. He simply turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing softly in the empty corridor, leaving Long Hao standing alone under the harsh fluorescent lights.

Watching Lu Ran’s retreating back, a profound, inexplicable emptiness washed over Long Hao. It was a cold, hollowing sensation in the pit of his stomach, a primal scream from his soul telling him that he had just missed something. Not just an opportunity, but *the* Opportunity. The one-in-a-billion chance to rewrite his pathetic fate had just walked away from him, and he felt it slipping through his fingers like sand.

[System Notification!]

[Ding! The Child of Destiny, Long Hao, has suffered a blow to his dao heart. Plundering 9,999 Destiny Points!]

[Ding! The Child of Destiny, Long Hao, has missed a fated opportunity with the Immortal Doctor, Lu Ran. Plundering 88,888 Destiny Points!]

…

On the other side of the hospital, Lu Ran found a quiet corner in a stairwell. The air was cool and still. He leaned against the concrete wall, his mind racing. After a moment of contemplation, he pulled out his phone and dialed the number Shen Anyu had left him.

The call connected almost instantly.

“Brother Shen,” Lu Ran began, his voice laced with a respect that was both genuine and born of fear. “Just now, a person named Long Hao came to find me. He followed me from the Ancient Street to the hospital. He claimed my glabella was bright with purple qi from the east and said he wanted to invest in me. What are your thoughts on this?”

In Lu Ran’s new reality, there was only one person whose thoughts mattered. Having signed the Blood Curse Contract, his loyalty to Shen Anyu was non-negotiable. His family’s lives were in Shen Anyu’s hands. He couldn’t risk a misunderstanding arising from some bizarre third party like Long Hao.

On the other end of the line, Shen Anyu sat in the back of his Maybach, the city lights streaking past the tinted windows. A faint, amused smile touched his lips. *‘This Lu Ran is quite sensible,’* he thought. He considered the report from his subordinates and Lu Ran’s question, then spoke, his voice calm and magnetic.

“Your fate is indeed quite good,” Shen Anyu said, his tone casual yet carrying an immense weight of authority. “Work hard, and I will cultivate you. In the future, you will learn medicine and martial arts. I will make you a great figure. Of course, the prerequisite for all of this… is absolute loyalty.”

Shen Anyu knew Lu Ran’s destiny value was immense, a canopy of interwoven purple and gold that dwarfed that of ordinary Sons of Destiny. Long Hao’s scattered, desperate words only confirmed it: Lu Ran’s future moniker was “Immortal Doctor,” a title that implied mastery of both healing and combat. He was a diamond in the rough, brimming with potential.

If Lu Ran wasn’t a Child of Destiny himself—a true protagonist—then he was a priceless asset to be nurtured. After all, Shen Anyu was fully determined to claim his beautiful, fragile sister, Lu Qiong. Having a powerful and loyal brother-in-law would be convenient.

But loyalty and usefulness were paramount. If Lu Ran ever wavered, the Blood Curse would activate. Even if he became a Land Immortal, his soul would be instantly extinguished.

And if it turned out that Lu Ran *was* a Child of Destiny? Then Shen Anyu would have to eliminate him. A Destined Villain could not suffer a protagonist to live, especially not one so close.

“Yes, Brother Shen!” Lu Ran’s voice was tight with emotion. Hearing Shen Anyu’s promise, a brilliant light ignited in his eyes.

The worldview he had held for over twenty years had been utterly subverted today. The Blood Curse Contract was proof that the world was not as it seemed. In this modern, mundane city, transcendent beings like Shen Anyu existed, moving through society like gods among mortals, their power straight out of a fantasy film.

To follow such an existence… perhaps he truly could become a great figure one day.

His mind flashed back to the recent past—the sneers and disdainful looks from his relatives as he begged them for loans; the cold, cutting words of his ex-girlfriend, Tan Rong, as she threw herself into the arms of some vapid, rich heir. A fire ignited in his chest. He secretly vowed that he would claw his way up, that he would live a life of such dignity and power that no one would ever dare look down on him again.

Taking a deep breath, he asked one more question. “Brother Shen, how should I deal with that Long Hao?”

Shen Anyu’s faint smile could be heard in his voice. “No need to pay him any mind.”

Three simple words, spoken with the casual indifference of a dragon swatting away a fly.

Lu Ran repeated the phrase to himself, *‘No need to pay him any mind.’* The light in his eyes shone brighter. He nodded, even though Shen Anyu couldn’t see him.

“Brother Shen, I understand.”

After hanging up, a genuine smile finally bloomed on Lu Ran’s face, erasing the lines of stress and worry.

*‘So, that Long Hao is also someone from the transcendent world who could see my potential,’* he mused. *‘But compared to Brother Shen, he is nothing. Less than nothing. Brother Shen doesn’t even see him as worthy of a single glance.’*

A surge of ambition, hotter and more potent than any he had ever felt, coursed through him. *‘If one day, I could possess the same power as Brother Shen… no, even half of it… how wonderful would that be?’*

After entering the ward, the smile on Lu Ran’s face still hadn’t faded.

Lu Qiong blinked her clear, black-and-white eyes, looking curiously at her brother, Lu Ran. “Brother, you’re smiling so happily. Did something happen?”