Chapter 367: Mutual Deception

Chapter 367: Mutual Deception

Wang Haoran ignored the maid’s warning and stepped straight into the grand hall. As he moved, he quietly gave an order through the system—to activate the Charm Halo on Feng Rao.

【Ding, the supporting character Feng Rao’s side character halo is too high. Host’s Charm Halo level is too low to take effect. Would you like to spend 20,000 Villain Points to upgrade your Charm Halo?】

The notification made him pause mid-step. Feng Rao was already moments away from acting, and he knew he wasn’t strong enough to fight her. What choice did he have?

Without hesitation, Wang Haoran spent the 20,000 Villain Points.

【Ding, Host has successfully upgraded the Basic Charm Halo to Intermediate Level.】

【Ding, Host has successfully used the Charm Halo on Feng Rao. Her Favorability toward you has risen to max.】

【Ding, Host has subdued the major supporting character Feng Rao, significantly altering the plot direction. Gained 1,800 Villain Points. Yan Yuntian’s Protagonist Halo -90, Host’s Villain Halo +90!】

The cascade of system notifications finally made him exhale in relief. He noticed at once that Feng Rao’s cold expression softened. She adjusted her posture slightly and began to observe him more carefully, her eyes gradually filling with a faint, entranced gleam.

“Such insolence! Get out at once!”

The four maids who had been standing nearby saw that Wang Haoran ignored their warning and immediately moved forward to drive him away by force.

“Stop,” came a calm yet commanding voice from behind them.

They turned to find Feng Rao herself had spoken.

Confused, they froze in place.

“Slap yourselves,” she said evenly.

“Yes, Ma’am!” One of them nodded and stepped toward Wang Haoran, thinking she meant for them to punish him. But before she could raise her hand, Feng Rao’s voice sounded again.

“I said you four, slap yourselves.”

The maids were stunned, their faces blank with disbelief.

“Do I need to say it a third time?” Feng Rao’s voice dropped in temperature, cold and sharp.

That was all it took. None of them dared hesitate again—they each raised their hands and slapped themselves several times, the crisp sound echoing in the hall. When they were done, they exchanged puzzled looks but said nothing.

“Leave,” Feng Rao ordered softly.

Though their hearts were full of confusion, they didn’t dare question her and retreated quietly, leaving only Wang Haoran and Feng Rao inside the grand hall.

Wang Haoran stepped closer, finally getting a good look at her. Yun Xuan hadn’t exaggerated—Feng Rao was breathtakingly beautiful, the kind of beauty that could topple kingdoms.

She didn’t look like a thirty-six-year-old woman at all. Every movement she made radiated an aura of nobility and dominance, though her expression remained cold and distant, making her seem unapproachable. Yet that very chill stirred a deep, unshakable sense of conquest in his heart.

“My subordinates were rude. I’ve punished them already. Please don’t take offense,” Feng Rao said politely, though her tone carried the same authority as a command.

The message beneath her words was clear:

I’ve dealt with my people. This matter is closed. You will not complain.

Wang Haoran caught the undertone and found it irritating. He didn’t reply, instead walking to a nearby seat and sitting down as if she didn’t exist, his gaze wandering to the side.

“I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me?” Feng Rao’s voice grew faintly cold.

“This isn’t your house,” Wang Haoran replied, turning to face her calmly. “You have no right to order me around. And just because you talk to me, doesn’t mean I have to answer.”

Feng Rao’s expression darkened. The air around her grew colder as a surge of frigid Internal Energy flowed through the hall, lowering the temperature.

Wang Haoran kept his composure outwardly, but inside, he was on edge, hoping she wouldn’t lose her temper. With his cultivation still limited, wasting Villain Points unnecessarily wasn’t ideal.

He always kept enough in reserve for emergencies but preferred not to spend them unless he absolutely had to.

Fortunately, after a few seconds, Feng Rao’s frosty aura faded. “My attitude just now was too harsh. Please don’t take it to heart,” she said, her tone gentler.

“No problem,” Wang Haoran replied, satisfied that she had backed down.

“Who are you, and why are you here?” she asked.

“My name’s Wang Haoran. I came from Qingling to offer prayers,” he said casually.

“My name is Feng Rao,” she responded.

“Nice to meet you, Aunt Rao,” he blurted out instinctively.

Her face stiffened. “Do I look that old to you?”

“Sorry—Sister Rao,” he corrected himself quickly.

Her expression softened again. “And how old are you?”

“Nineteen,” Wang Haoran said with an innocent smile.

Feng Rao’s gaze flickered; he was around the same age as her son.

“What about you, Sister Rao? How old are you?” he asked, deliberately testing her tolerance.

“Twenty-four,” she said without even blinking.

Wang Haoran’s mouth twitched. If he hadn’t already learned her real age from Yun Xuan, he might’ve believed her.

“Are you married, Sister Rao?” he continued.

“No,” she answered smoothly, her tone steady and utterly shameless.

Wang Haoran was speechless for a moment at how thick her skin was, but he played along without revealing it.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Feng Rao asked suddenly, her tone softening into something almost curious.

“I’ve never even been in a relationship,” Wang Haoran said, scratching his head shyly and pretending to be embarrassed.

If she could play shameless, so could he. Mutual deception—it was fair game.

Feng Rao studied him intently, but his acting was flawless. Even with her sharp perception, she found nothing amiss.

“What kind of woman do you like?” she asked again, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“I… I don’t really know,” he stammered, feigning nervousness as his cheeks reddened.

“How could you not know? When you see a girl, you should feel it. Haven’t you ever met one who stirred your heart?” Feng Rao pressed, her voice teasing but insistent.

After pretending to hesitate for a moment, Wang Haoran met her gaze and said softly, “When I saw Sister Rao… I felt that way.”

A pleased smile spread across her lips, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.

“From this moment on,” she said, her tone turning imperious, “you have a girlfriend.”

“What do you mean?” Wang Haoran asked, pretending not to understand.

“It means,” she declared, voice calm but commanding, “that from now on, I am your girlfriend.”

Her words carried the unmistakable dominance of someone used to being obeyed—a queen bestowing her favor on a chosen subject.