After Transmigrating into a Book, I Turned the Straight Bigshot Gay (BL) - Chapter 15

“Distinguished guest, Mr. Lin has arrived!”

A loud announcement suddenly rang through the bustling banquet hall. Standing behind Yan Shiqi, Xie Yunshen turned his gaze toward the entrance.

It seemed the Male Lead had arrived.

In the original text, before the Male Lead entered, he was disdained at the door, leading to a satisfying “face-slapping” plot point where he humbled some cannon fodder. Looking at the Male Lead’s high-spirited appearance, Xie Yunshen guessed he had already cleared that hurdle.

“Distinguished guest Mr. Lin? Who is Mr. Lin?”

“I heard he’s Old Mrs. Zhu’s savior.”

“He’s that young man who’s been getting quite famous in the Southern Province lately, right?”

The crowd buzzed with hushed whispers.

Under the crystalline chandeliers, a young man dressed in a Mao suit walked in. Lin Jin, the Male Lead of this power fantasy. Originally an orphan, he was taken to the mountains by a hermit master to cultivate since childhood. He descended the mountain to investigate the truth behind his sister’s death. Armed with stunning martial arts and the inheritance of the Heavenly Gate medical arts, he began his “cheat-code” life in the bustling city.

Unlike typical righteous protagonists, this Male Lead was a morally gray character. His catchphrase was: “Today’s grudge is settled today! Better to cut off someone else’s path than to let my own wealth be blocked.”

Initially, Xie Yunshen liked this unconventional Male Lead. However, as the story progressed, Lin Jin’s actions became increasingly reckless, disregarding everything to achieve his goals. Conversely, the Head of the Yan Family—who constantly fought for his family’s interests and struggled against the Top Star Sect—gradually won Xie Yunshen over.

The novel had decided Yan Shiqi’s death in two indifferent sentences. Did such an end truly befit a man who had spent his life meticulously striving for his family?

Xie Yunshen looked at Yan Shiqi’s back, then at the predatory eyes watching from the distance. Perhaps surviving until that moment was already the best Yan Shiqi could do.

Old Mrs. Zhu publicly announced Lin Jin as the Zhu family’s great benefactor. Many people stepped forward to converse with him; he was the man of the hour. In reality, few truly respected an unknown kid; most were just giving face to the Zhu family.

Lin Jin, however, was even more arrogant. His gaze remained fixed on Yan Shiqi at the other end of the hall, and he spotted Xie Yunshen as well. Xie Yunshen, in turn, kept a close eye on his every move. When their eyes met, Xie Yunshen gave a cold sneer—his version of a greeting.

“Old Five, I’m stepping away for a second. Watch the wine Mr. Yan drinks,” Xie Yunshen whispered. Yi Wuyi nodded slightly, his expression grave.

Xie Yunshen wove through the suits and gowns, searching the crowd until he found the waiter near the bar. He finally broke into a smile: Found him.

Not long after he returned to Yan Shiqi’s side, Old Mrs. Zhu brought the Male Lead over to talk. Yan Shiqi didn’t yet know that this young man was the “Child of Destiny” in this world, let alone the man who had broken into the Yan residence that night.

He proactively extended his hand. “Mr. Lin is surprisingly young. Truly a case of youth being talented and capable.”

Everyone in the ballroom, though pretending to chat, had shifted their attention here. Yan Shiqi proactively reaching out to this young man was a signal: the Yan family truly wanted to draw closer to the Zhu family. Old Mrs. Zhu was also beaming with joy.

The Male Lead, however, only glanced at the hand before slowly reaching out to shake it. He was tall, and he slightly raised his eyebrows while lowering his gaze, as if Yan Shiqi was already beneath his perspective.

After deliberately scrutinizing Yan Shiqi, he finally said, “Mr. Yan is also quite a talent. I’ve heard much about you.”

Some onlookers couldn’t help but look shocked. Is this young man looking down on Yan Shiqi’s height?

Old Mrs. Zhu’s eyes narrowed, and her face immediately darkened. The purpose of this banquet was to pull the two families together; Yan Shiqi was the core of this event, critical to the Zhu family’s future. Regardless of Yan Shiqi’s height, even if he were a cripple, no one in the Southern Province would dare speak to him with such an attitude. Even Shangguan Hong of the Top Star Sect was polite when speaking to him. Such a lack of manners was a slap to her face.

Yan Shiqi looked at Old Mrs. Zhu with a deep gaze and smiled. “As expected of your savior; he is indeed unique.”

The old lady’s breath hitched. She looked stuck between emotions, offering an awkward smile.

The Male Lead laughed. “Mr. Yan, this is purely my personal temperament. It has nothing to do with the elderly lady.”

The others were stunned by his bluntness. Only Xie Yunshen remained unfazed; he knew the Male Lead’s personality—he simply antagonized everyone. Yan Shiqi didn’t even look at him.

The old lady gave a bitter smile: she truly regretted inviting Lin Jin now.

Just then, a waiter approached with a tray. It held four glasses of red wine and one glass of white liquor.

Here it comes, Xie Yunshen thought, his focus sharpening.

The glass of white liquor was what the Male Lead had personally requested—it was the one spiked by the cannon-fodder villain. Old Mrs. Zhu took a red wine and the white liquor, handing them to Yan Shiqi and the Male Lead.

“Wait a moment, Mr. Yan,” Lin Jin said. “I’m not used to strong spirits. I prefer this red wine. You won’t mind if I use this to apologize, right?”

He took the red wine, while Yan Shiqi was left with the white liquor. Xie Yunshen had to admire him; the crafty Male Lead already knew there was something wrong with the drinks.

Yi Wuyi immediately stopped Yan Shiqi. “Wait, Mr. Yan.”

Xie Yunshen had already signaled to him that the drink was fine because he had swapped the white liquor—all the glasses should be safe now. But Yi Wuyi was still uneasy. He stepped forward. “Mr. Yan, please forgive my rudeness. Let me drink this glass.”

The Male Lead was startled, and Old Mrs. Zhu was taken-back. Yi Wuyi drained the white liquor in one gulp, placed the glass back on the tray, and retreated to Yan Shiqi’s side.

Xie Yunshen’s eyes followed him. Yi Wuyi, if you don’t survive until the final chapter, it’ll be a travesty of justice.

“Mr. Yan, I truly envy you, having such a dedicated subordinate,” an elegant voice rang out.

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi stiffened. It was Shangguan Hong.

“Unlike me. I’m surrounded by disobedient, ungrateful… dogs.” Shangguan Hong spoke with a smile, but his eyes moved toward Old Mrs. Zhu and the Zhu family with unmistakable malice.

The Zhu family didn’t even dare to look up at such a blatant threat. Old Mrs. Zhu forced a smile. “So it is Mr. Shangguan gracing us with his presence.”

Shangguan Hong was followed by two men. One was Qing Ao, who had fought Xie Yunshen previously. The other was clearly another Top Star Sect expert. Qing Ao’s gaze fell on Xie Yunshen like a knife. Xie Yunshen, however, didn’t even look at him; he had zero interest in a former loser. Qing Ao’s dark skin flushed red with rage.

Yan Shiqi, giving Shangguan Hong no face at all, bid farewell to Old Mrs. Zhu and turned to leave.

“Wait a moment, Mr. Yan.” Shangguan Hong took off his glasses to wipe them, head lowered. “Why leave as soon as I arrive? Do you have an issue with me?”

Yan Shiqi only gave him a side profile. “If I had to stay for every person who walked in, how could I ever have enough time, Mr. Shangguan?”

Shangguan Hong didn’t reply. He put his glasses back on, his lips curling into a slight, venomous twist that made onlookers shudder. “Mr. Yan, surely there’s time for a single drink.”

With a glance, the waiter stepped forward with two glasses of red wine on a tray. Shangguan Hong picked them up and handed one to Yan Shiqi. “Surely you won’t refuse to give me the face of sharing a drink?”

Yan Shiqi took the wine. Suddenly, the idiot Qing Ao spoke up: “Wait, Mr. Shangguan, let me drink it.”

That dimwit probably didn’t want to be outdone by Yi Wuyi. After drinking, he looked provocatively at Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi. He likely expected Xie Yunshen to follow suit and block the drink for his master.

Xie Yunshen let out a cold snort. How childish. He reached out, took the red wine from Yan Shiqi’s hand, and downed it in one go.

At that moment, he spotted the Male Lead nearby. Lin Jin’s face was flushed, his brows were furrowed, and he looked completely “off.”

Wait!

A terrifying realization exploded in Xie Yunshen’s mind. His heart sank.

Yan Shiqi bid farewell to Old Mrs. Zhu once more. Before getting into the car, Xie Yunshen meticulously checked the vehicle for anything suspicious.

A few minutes after the car started moving, Xie Yunshen felt it.

Dammit. No way am I this unlucky.

Could it be that every single glass on that tray was spiked?

He looked at Yi Wuyi—he seemed perfectly normal. That was because Xie Yunshen had only swapped the white liquor, which was what Yi Wuyi drank. But all the other red wines were drugged.

That cursed cannon-fodder villain! He’d rather kill a thousand innocents than let one target escape.