The rebirth of lickspittle

Shen Chuchu clutched a whole bottle of some unknown foreign liquor.

As the saying goes, it's easy to move from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back. She was already accustomed to spending extravagantly. Even after scraping together 5,000 yuan to repay her debts and retrieve her phone, she still had about 3,000 left. Without hesitation, she blew a full 3,000 on a single bottle of alcohol at the bar, indulging in her emotions without any thought for how she would manage afterward.

But drinking in bars came with its own set of problems—too many men looking to "pick up the pieces."

In just over an hour, Shen Chuchu had already fended off seven or eight men. Now, yet another one stood before her. Irritated, she picked up the half-empty bottle, glared at him, and spat out two words:

"Buzz off."

Then she staggered out of the bar.

The man she had insulted twitched at the corners of his mouth, his expression darkening as he watched her retreating figure. He turned and dialed a number.

Shen Chuchu walked along the riverbank with the bottle in hand, drinking as she went. The cool night breeze helped, reducing the number of "flies" around her. Still, she noticed people occasionally casting glances her way.

Perhaps this was the burden of being the campus beauty—always drawing attention. Her thoughts wandered.

She and Zhang Fan had known each other since childhood. Back then, the Zhang family was far wealthier than hers. She had been in awe of him, admiring how someone her age could already ride horses, play the piano, and practice archery.

When they were young, her parents often teased Zhang Fan, saying she would marry him when they grew up. They coaxed him into agreeing, and Shen Chuchu had enjoyed his attention ever since.

Over time, though, her admiration for him faded, replaced by a sense of entitlement. She saw him as nothing more than a doting "lapdog," captivated by her beauty and charm.

Shen Chuchu chuckled bitterly. She had always lived in a dream Zhang Fan had carefully woven for her, where she played the high-and-mighty princess and he was her loyal servant.

But now, the "servant" no longer maintained the illusion. And only now did she realize he had never been a servant at all—he had been the emperor, indulging her whims and making her feel like royalty.

Tears welled up in her eyes as the realization hit her.

Not far away, Lin Feng, out for a walk with his junior apprentice sister, noticed Shen Chuchu sitting by the river, crying. Her sorrowful appearance stirred something within him.

His junior sister glanced up at him, sensing his reaction.

"Brother Feng, are you having naughty thoughts again?"

Lin Feng ruffled her hair with a grin. "Oh, come on. Who can blame me when my adorable junior sister is around?"

Her cheeks flushed red. "I know you need help with your Yang Qi imbalance… If you really need it, I… I could…"

Lin Feng gently patted her head. She was a cultivation prodigy and possessed the special "cauldron body" constitution, making her an ideal partner to suppress his imbalance.

"Didn't we agree to wait until you're eighteen?" he teased.

Blushing even more, she stammered, "That's still over six months away… But since we've agreed, you have to behave yourself!"

Lin Feng laughed. "Don't worry. After I finish breaking off my engagement with the Gu family during this trip, I'll come back to the mountain and wait for your eighteenth birthday. Then we'll have our wedding."

"Mm-hmm!" she replied with a bright smile, continuing to explore the vibrant city around her, a stark contrast to their mountain home.

But Lin Feng's internal energy was restless, the Yang Qi burning uncontrollably. He had lied—the woman by the river, with her sorrowful beauty, was the real reason for his turmoil.

Meanwhile, Shen Chuchu's drinking was interrupted by a group of colorful-haired thugs who swaggered over.

"Hey there, gorgeous. Lucky night for us!"

"Drinking alone? Let us keep you company. Afterward, we can do something more fun together."

Their vulgar laughter sobered her up slightly. She realized that while the riverbank lacked the "flies" of the bar, it wasn't free of danger—here, she faced predators.

"What do you want? I don't know you! Get lost!" she shouted, trying to sound firm.

The leader, a buzz-cut man, smirked and licked his lips. "Feisty, huh? I like them fiery. Let's see how long you can keep it up!"

Shen Chuchu tried to leave, but her legs gave out from the alcohol. She collapsed back onto the bench, making the men even more excited.

"She's playing hard to get!" the buzz-cut man laughed. "Says she wants to leave but falls right back down. She's begging for a helping hand!"

Just as he reached for her, a powerful kick sent him flying. Shen Chuchu fell into the arms of her rescuer, looking up to see a familiar face.

"Zhang… Zhang Fan?" she whispered in shock.

Zhang Fan, his expression cold, placed her on a nearby bench.

Lin Feng, who had been rushing over with his junior sister to play the hero, stopped in his tracks. Folding his arms, he observed from a distance.

"Let's see if this guy's a hero or just a fool trying to play one," he muttered, smirking at the prospect of a fight against six thugs.