When everyone saw my ruffian and lewd side, she always stood behind me, calm as still water; when everyone saw my cold-blooded ruthlessness and my devilish decadence, she would always comfort me with gentle words. When I asked her if what I was doing was right, she always gave me this one sentence: "If you fall into hell, I will accompany you; when you ascend to heaven and must bear the burden of sin, I will take it for you. Whether to heaven or to hell, I will always be with you." — The Memoirs of Yang Yi

Flustered by the suggestive glance Yang Yi gave her, Yanran’s face flushed a shade of rosy red, and she gave him a sidelong glance, saying, "My young master, let's go!"

Yang Yi clicked his tongue, glanced back at Fatty Lin who was suppressing a smile, and roared irritably, "Why aren't you moving? What are you grinning at!"

"Uh!" Fatty Lin froze in momentary shock, then shook his head and followed them.

The first and second floors of the Xinhua Hotel were restaurants, but everything above the third floor consisted of guest rooms. Yanran had booked a room here long ago, and now Yang Yi and the others found themselves on the third floor.

Upon entering the room, Yang Yi remained silent, his eyes gently closed, seemingly deep in thought. Yanran and Fatty Lin sat quietly beside him, sharing a comfortable silence born of mutual understanding.

"Has the information on City A not been prepared yet?" Yang Yi suddenly asked.

"Long Yi has everything ready and is sending it over now. I think it should be arriving soon," Yanran replied. She knew that the moment he stepped into this room, the man who had been provoking her just moments before had shifted his demeanor to one that could not bear the light of day—a countenance capable of inspiring profound fear.

What is a sovereign? The way to rule the world is not merely being a ruler, but knowing how to appreciate intellect, knowing how to manipulate intellect, and knowing how to hold the entire world in the palm of one's hand—that is the King among kings.

"Good. Since that's the case, let's prepare ourselves first, and then we can wait for Long Yi over dinner," Yang Yi said, standing up and walking toward the washroom.

Fatty Lin watched Yang Yi’s retreating figure. He knew very well that the situation in City A currently held Yang Yi’s full attention, making him extremely cautious. If Yang Yi couldn't handle just City A, how could he possibly manage the entire nation's underworld?

In less than a moment, Yang Yi emerged after washing up, dressed in an outfit Yanran had prepared for him earlier. Looking at himself in the mirror, Yang Yi couldn't help but sigh, "Turns out I have a handsome side too. Clothes make the man, indeed."

The exquisite casual wear complemented his refined features, while his disheveled, choppy hair exuded an air of untamed wanderlust and the latent aristocratic evil lurking beneath; a ruffian’s wicked smile played on his lips. "Perhaps revealing the authentic self born from change is a leap forward itself. Maybe only then can I reach my desires..." Yang Yi stared at the reflection—so close, so transparent. He hadn't wanted to change; originally, he had only acted on his own whims. But he knew that way of operating would never lead to success; it would only make him a stepping stone for others. To overcome this obstacle, he had to change himself.

Walking out of the washroom, he saw Yanran and Fatty Lin were ready. A faint smile touched his lips. "Let's go."

"Mm!" Yanran and Fatty Lin responded simultaneously. A flicker of surprise crossed their eyes, but they said nothing, following him out.

When the trio arrived at the second-floor dining area, it was a Western-style restaurant—what one might call a fine dining establishment. For those overly demanding or those with a lofty pursuit of life, the truly aristocratic and wealthy, this was undoubtedly an excellent choice. As evening approached, the restaurant was nearly full. After a brief search, Yang Yi and the others finally found a table and sat down.

After casually ordering a bottle of red wine and a steak, they began to eat with relish. Yang Yi, having learned refinement from a young age, was quite adept at Western dining etiquette. His movements flowed seamlessly; he chewed slowly, savoring the food, taking a small sip of red wine, and slowly enjoying his dinner. This was the way of the noble diner, a luxury far removed from the common folk who simply ate to fill their stomachs.

It must be said that the West values etiquette highly, yet the breadth of Eastern propriety in vast China is by no means inferior to the West. If familiar strangers were present, they would undoubtedly gape in astonishment, as it was truly surprising to see Yang Yi and his group, usually behaving like ruffians, adhering to Western formality. Yanran, who had been silently observing Yang Yi all along, showed no expression, yet her heart was filled with intrigue.

"What kind of person is he? Why does he always feel so mysterious? He seems like a rogue normally, but suddenly he transforms into a commanding, overwhelming warlord, capable of seizing control, and now he presents himself as a gentleman—like a decadently noble devil. The coldness in his eyes seems sharp enough to pierce through everything in the world... What... what exactly is he?"

Yanran pondered silently, her beautiful eyes occasionally glancing at Yang Yi as he enjoyed his meal. Just then, someone approached their table. Dressed entirely in black, like a crow in the night, the figure possessed eyes that held not excessive coldness, but just the right measure of detachment. He stopped before Yang Yi’s group with measured steps. "Young Master..."

"Mm, eat first, we'll talk after. Have you eaten?" Yang Yi said, sipping his red wine, as if he had expected his arrival.

The newcomer was, needless to say, Long Yi. Hearing Yang Yi’s question, Long Yi replied, "Yes, your subordinate has already eaten."

This was the third time Long Yi had met Yang Yi, so his speech was somewhat constrained. Yang Yi understood this and said casually, "Long Yi, you don't need to be so formal!"

"Yes, Young Master!" Long Yi’s response remained stiff as ever.

Yang Yi smiled helplessly, then took another sip of wine and asked, "Have you two finished eating?"

"We're done!" Yanran and Fatty Lin replied in unison.

"Good, let's go up," Yang Yi said, standing up and walking away.

[The groundwork is laid. The world of the underworld and campus life, along with the ruffian's ****, will soon arrive. Brothers have waited long enough; let us watch with anticipation, stand strong, lift up, and sweep across everything with a firm body....] [Note: Do not forget to bookmark! Bookmarks and recommendations are a huge support to your little brother. Thank you!]