Strategy to Capture That Scum Gong-Chapter 198 - King of Green Hats

Chapter 198 - King of Green Hats

Translated by Eve

Edited by Serefina

6. King of Green Hats

Lu Ting didn’t go to see Xie He again. He thought that perhaps forbidding himself from seeing Xie He would be the best way to control himself. However, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to obtain information on Xie He. Therefore, he had 666 continue to keep an eye on the other. He had completely turned into a peeping tom.

666 looked down on his host’s actions very much. He hadn’t improved at all after so many years!

Lu Ting didn’t care. He was already used to it. Actually, the first time he had come to this world, he had also kept quiet tabs on Xie He in the same manner.

Coming to this world had been a coincidence. This mission hadn’t been a voluntary choice.

In the past, Lu Ting had only done other kinds of missions. He had never done a love conquest mission before.

Actually, in the system space, most people looked down on hosts that accepted love conquest missions….The rewards for these types of missions were low. Furthermore, because they had to leave when the mission was over, capturing hosts were not willing to get attached. Many hosts were not willing to take on these missions because it paid little and was grounded in playing with people’s emotions.

The hosts that were willing to take these missions were people who enjoyed playing love games or those that didn’t dare take on missions that involved higher difficulties or levels of danger.

For every ten worlds, a host could choose one vacation world in which they could recuperate and relax.

Back then, Lu Ting had just finished his first ten missions. His tenth mission had been a power struggle type mission in an ancient setting. His task had been to help the protagonist unite the realm. When he had completed his mission in this world, he had been allowed to choose a vacation world. Lu Ting had been sick of ancient settings, so the only keywords he had put in when it came time to choose were modern city setting, peaceful and relaxed.

Lord God had taken his keywords and matched him to an E-ranked, easy vacation world. As such, Lu Ting was thrown into Xie He’s world.

It was very peaceful here. There was no danger at all and the mission was very simple: capture the protagonist named Xie He.

Lu Ting had accepted this love conquest mission carelessly. Although he didn’t like it very much, he didn’t really care. It was just a mission after all. At that time, he wasn’t very high-leveled. Therefore, he had still planned on working hard. After all, the penalty for failing to complete the mission was a deduction of ten thousand experience points.

Because it was meant to be a vacation for him, there was no time limit. Furthermore, Lu Ting had transmigrated with his own body—he didn’t possess an original inhabitant’s body. Therefore, there was no OOC restriction.

When Lu Ting had arrived in Xie He’s world, Xie He had only been ten years old. Lu Ting had a lot of time. In any case, this was his break.

Therefore, Lu Ting had established himself in this world while occasionally keeping tabs on Xie He. He wasn’t in a hurry to see him. After all, he had no interest in romancing children.

But as he learned more about this child, he began to feel sorry for him. Lu Ting knew the entire plot of this world. However, it felt completely different seeing the actual person, as compared to reading about him. After all, seeing it for himself affected him much more than words ever could.

Xie He lacked familial love. His parents had a marriage of convenience and both had lovers on the side. They had only given birth to Xie He for the sake of having an heir.

His father preferred his illegitimate son, Xie Xi over him. His mother also treated her lover’s daughter better than him.

The relationship between wife and husband was tense. No one liked Xie He.

Because of this, Xie He’s personality had never been very outgoing. But he wasn’t timid or weak. Actually, he had learned how to protect himself from a very young age. He had learned how to get what he wanted on his own. If no one would love him, he would just love himself.

Lu Ting had silently watched over Xie He for three years. Although Xie He didn’t know Lu Ting, Lu Ting knew Xie He very well.

Lu Ting had originally planned on waiting until Xie He was an adult before appearing. But one time, he had heard 666 tell him that it was Xie He’s birthday. However, neither of his parents were home. Xie He’s father had gone to an amusement park with Xie Xi and his mother had gone to a beauty salon. No one remembered Xie He’s birthday.

Lu Ting couldn’t bear it any longer. It had been too much. How could there be parents like this? Lu Ting had left his home at once. However, he had also realized that it wouldn’t be good for him to appear in front of Xie He so hastily. He didn’t have a reason to justify his appearance….He had been conflicted for a long time. In the end, he had decided to go see the parents of one of Xie He’s classmates. He had given them a large sum of cash and had told that classmate to call Xie He out to eat. He had then pretended to be that classmate’s neighbour, tagging along to pay for the meal.

Lu Ting couldn’t buy a cake. It would expose him. Therefore, he had made sure to order dessert for Xie He.

But now that he thought about it, Xie He had looked at him weirdly back then.

Lu Ting had wondered if he had been too obvious. The more he had thought about it, the more embarrassed he would feel…But as time passed, he had stopped thinking about it.

Lu Ting got to know Xie He like this. He used Xie He’s classmate to slowly get closer to Xie He.

He took care of Xie He and looked after him. In the beginning, Xie He had been very on guard. He wouldn’t open his heart. But slowly, he would begin to tell Lu Ting of things that made him unhappy. He had begun to show Lu Ting genuine smiles. Lu Ting had felt a sense of accomplishment. He had felt like a father.

In a blink of an eye, seven years passed. Xie He had transformed from a child to an outstanding young man. Lu Ting had given in to all of Xie he’s requests. He wasn’t a very romantic person, but he’d always been protective. No one was allowed to bully his people.

As 666 had watched all of this, he had thought that his host really wasn’t suited for love conquest missions. It seemed like he had developed genuine affection for Xie He. Furthermore, Lu Ting had stayed in this world for too long. He was in no hurry and his actions were very inefficient. If he had nothing else to do, he’d act like a mother hen guarding her child all day. Compared to the other capturing hosts, his methods sucked. But…he was actually able to increase Xie He’s Favourability Value like this. 666 had been left speechless.

Lu Ting had watched as Xie He’s Favourability Value had risen and risen. In the end, he had started to panic. He had known that as soon as Xie He’s Favourability Value maxed out, he would have to leave this world.

Thus, he had chosen to distance himself.

Lu Ting had hesitated for a very long time. But when Xie He’s Favourability Value hit 99, he made a decision. He had decided to leave this world out of his own accord.

He had thought that if he were to disappear without a word, Xie He would definitely be heartbroken and upset. That’s why he had steeled his heart and had made such a bold decision.

Because Lu Ting had always protected Xie He, Xie He’s position in the Xie Family had become very stable. Xie Xi, however, had felt unresigned to this. He had thought that he was just as good as Xie He. Therefore, he had tried to seduce Lu Ting. Lu Ting had never been moved.

Lu Ting would never like Xie Xi. He even found the other disgusting. If he looked at Xie Xi too long, he’d get annoyed. Therefore, even though Xie Xi was a capturable supporting character, Lu Ting had never done anything with him….He also knew how much Xie He hated Xie Xi.

A few days after he made his decision, Xie He’s birthday arrived. This time, Lu Ting had hesitated for a very long time before deciding to call Xie Xi. He had said that he wanted to go with Xie Xi.

Xie Xi had been overwhelmed with favour. He had actually been so pleased with himself when he arrived at Xie He’s birthday party with Lu Ting. Therefore, he had shown off in front of Xie He. Lu Ting had suppressed his desire to beat Xie Xi up and had stood there with his hand on Xie Xi’s waist, a cold expression on his face. In the end, he hadn’t been able to endure it. He had grabbed Xie Xi’s hand and left. He had told Xie He that he had no interest in being with him anymore, that he didn’t like him, and that he was tired of him.

Lu Ting had never forgotten Xie He’s sorrowful, despair-filled expression that day. Even after several hundreds of years.

That expression had tormented him for so long.

The next day, Lu Ting pretended to go missing during a plane crash. He thought that Xie He would never forgive him, someone who had betrayed him. Who cared if he ‘died?’

His goal had been reached. Xie He had always been a very clear-headed person. He probably wouldn’t be upset for very long.

After Lu Ting left, he completed missions without rest. He had wanted to upgrade his system. This was because once a system reached level 10 and above, they would gain the right to negotiate with the main system. There were many privileges that came with it too. He hadn’t known if he’d have the chance to return to Xie He’s world or if Xie He would wait for him. He just hadn’t wanted to give up. What if he did get the chance one day? He had hoped that by the time the opportunity presented himself, he would be ready.

After Lu Ting left, he didn’t stop inquiring about Xie He. He would then hear constant news about hosts failing to capture Xie He. The more he heard it, the more his heart had ached, and the angrier he would get. His emotions were very complicated…. Not only did those hosts climb into his lover’s bed, they were even badmouthing him after failing to win him over! It was unbearable!

Xie He was such a good person. It was these despicable liars who were in the wrong!

666 had thought that there was already a grass plain growing on Lu Ting’s head, but his words of persuasion were useless. In any case, it wasn’t like Xie He could control it. He was also powerless, having to always be a capture target…. Lu Ting couldn’t go back, but he couldn’t swallow his anger either. Therefore, whenever he heard a host badmouthing Xie He, he would beat that host half to death!

Whenever he met a host badmouthing Xie He, he would beat them up to vent his resentment. It was a way to relax between missions….Right, there was also that vile host that had killed Xie He’s original inhabitant boyfriend. That host had suffered Xie He’s frenzied revenge. When that host had returned to the system space, he had had a lot to say. Therefore, Lu Ting had thought up a way to kill him.

Xie He couldn’t kill that host, but Lu Ting could.

Lu Ting had thus completed his missions in a frenzy while waiting for his chance. In the end, the opportunity came knocking and he made a deal with Lord God. He had said that he wanted to go capture Xie He again.

Lord God’s calculations said that no one from the original world could capture Xie He. Therefore, it could only use a different method to trick him. There was a possibility of success, but it required a large amount of energy. But it wasn’t worth it considering it could just erase Xie He. Lu Ting had said that he was willing to provide the energy needed to construct the worlds and that he was also willing to sign a contract. In the end, Lord God agreed to let him go capture Xie He. However, every time he lost, the main system would take ten times the experience points Xie He gained from him. That would be the price for constructing the next world.

…………………………

Xie He knew that Lu Ting was watching him, but he didn’t care. He ate and drank as he pleased. He worked during the day and had fun at night. His days were filled with contentment.

Tonight, President Zhao and co. had called Xie He out for a meal. President Zhao was one of Xie He’s old friends. Their relationship was rather close. After eating and drinking to his content, President Zhao asked Xie He, “I heard that you and President Lu made up?”

Xie He shook his head. “No.”

President Zhao looked at Xie He, obviously not believing him. What happened that day had already spread around! Lu Ting and Xie He had been fighting over someone, but in the end, they had ended up in the room together…. President Zhao wrapped an arm around Xie He’s shoulder and said, “There are plenty of fish in the sea. Do you have to cling onto President Lu?”

He still remembered how Lu Ting had fallen for Xie Xi. And how Lu Ting had brought Xie Xi with him when he had come back. Lu Ting was clearly insulting Xie He. It was unbearable! A man like this should be kicked to the curb.

The corner of Xie He’s lips rose. He said, “You’re right. We’ve broken things off a long time ago.”

President Zhao said, “Good! I’ll introduce you to someone!”

Xie He, “Thanks.”

【444：Yi? Host dada, you don’t plan on dealing with Lu Ting? He’s the capturing host this time….】

【Xie He：It’s fine. He won’t bother me. After all, he’s a very tactful person. Hehe.】

【444：……】

【Xie He：Anyway, I’m not particularly interested in him either. I was just playing with him. Smile.JPG】

【444：(⊙o⊙) I see.】

【Xie He：Don’t worry, Baby. I’ll win this time too. 🙂 】

【444：O(∩_∩)O~ Mn!】He trusted that Host dada would definitely win!

Xie He said to President Zhao, “Introduce me to someone more reliable this time. I want to try getting serious. Don’t introduce me to anyone undignified or someone who leads a messy life again.”

President Zhao was dumbfounded. “Are you serious?” President Xie actually wanted to get serious?!

Xie He nodded, “Yes.”

President Zhao sucked in a breath of cold air. He recalled how Xie He’s boyfriends had always been cursed to die violent deaths. He felt a bit troubled. He hesitated for a long time.

Xie He saw this and sighed. “I promise nothing will happen.”

President Zhao was obviously skeptical.

After some time passed, President Zhao and co. saw that Xie He seemed to genuinely want to settle down. Furthermore, it had been a long time since he last dated. It was rather strange. There had always been lascivious men around Xie He. But recently, he seemed to have calmed down.

Everyone suddenly realized something. In the past, it had always been others courting Xie He. But this time, it looked like Xie He wanted to take the initiative.

President Zhao was still hesitant, but he still introduced a man to Xie He. Actually, he thought that it would be good for Xie He to get serious. After all, after seeing Xie He sleep around for so many years, unable to settle down, with all his exes dying or disappearing…he actually felt a bit sad for his friend….

He really did hope that nothing would happen this time.

President Zhao introduced Xie He to a young teacher. The teacher’s name was Yu Shu. He was a delicately handsome man. He had a very pure personality. Xie He really liked him.

Yu Shu was just an ordinary teacher. He wasn’t part of the circle like they were. President Zhao had only met him coincidentally. He thought that Yu Shu would suit Xie He. Xie He had always liked the ‘good wife and loving mother’ type. Furthermore, Yu Shu had a great temperament. He would always make people happy when interacting with them. He was just a bit reserved.

Xie He was very skilled in courting. He knew what kind of tactics to use on different types of people. He was always very refined and courteous towards Yu Shu. He would just occasionally display his goodwill towards the other and invite him out to eat. He always acted very gentlemanly and was humorous in speech. Although they had not yet established their relationship, they got along very well. It was obvious that they would get together soon.

444 felt bored to death. Host dada seemed like he really planned to concentrate on dating. Then what about the mission, ne? How will they win?

444 couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard he thought. Therefore, he just stopped thinking about it.

He had so much free time. Every day, he’d go out to play. He had completely forgotten about work after indulging in pleasure.

…………………………

Lu Ting avoided meeting Xie He all this time, but he would listen to 666’s reports on Xie He every day. When he had heard that Xie He had recently gotten a new flame—a teacher—and that they were apparently together all the time, Lu Ting shattered the glass in his hands.

666 was speechless. He proposed that Lu Ting stopped listening to these reports. In any case, Xie He wasn’t in any danger. He was actually having a grand old time. He suggested that his host enjoyed himself with some form of entertainment. For example, he could learn from Xie He and start playing games. But then again, Lu Ting didn’t seem to like playing games very much….

Lu Ting had endured for three days with much difficulty before he gave in.

【Lu Ting：How’s Xie He? Is he meeting that Yu something again today?】

666 had been engrossed with hanging out with 444 lately. He hadn’t really kept an eye on Xie He. When he heard Lu Ting ask him this, he quickly went to take a look. As soon as he did, he hesitated. He didn’t know if he should tell Lu Ting the truth because Xie He had invited Yu Shu to go to a hotel with him. This looked like…Xie He was about to revitalize his sex life.

666 knew that his host had a fatal flaw. That flaw would cause him to lose his rationality.

There was millennium old vinegar contained in the vinegar vat known as Lu Ting. What he couldn’t stand the most was Xie He sleeping with other people. Back then, he couldn’t come back, so he had only been able to beat up those hosts to vent his anger. Afterwards, when he had been transmigrating with Xie He, regardless of whether it was before or after he had lost his memories, he would always get into fights with his soul shards. He would even get jealous of himself!

After all, he hadn’t gotten to sleep with Xie He back then and now his precious darling has had relationships with all sorts of men….As a man, being made to wear a green hat was absolutely unbearable!

666, who had watched Lu Ting and his soul shards become rivals-in-love and fight over Xie He, had thought that it was the only joy amongst all his sorrows. Thinking back, he felt ashamed on behalf of his host.

This time, he didn’t want to overestimate his host’s willpower.

【666：Oh, yeah they met up.】

【Lu Ting：What are they doing right now?】

【666：Chatting.】

【Lu Ting：Chatting about what?】

【666：Chatting about life, dreams and love.】

Lu Ting didn’t ask anything else. 666 was about to sigh in relief and escape when he heard Lu Ting ask, “Where are they right now?”

【666：……】

【Lu Ting：What’s wrong?】

【666：Nothing. They’re at a hotel.】

Lu Ting suddenly stood up, gnashing his teeth. A hotel?! They were going to get a room together then!

He didn’t even think before he rushed out and started driving. It wasn’t until he reached the hotel’s entrance that he began to hesitate. What was he doing? Didn’t he already decide to let Xie He hate him? Wasn’t he smacking himself in the face by coming to see Xie He?

Lu Ting mulled over this for a long time outside. He hadn’t been sure that Xie He recognized him before. That was why he had brought Xie Xi with him on impulse. Later on, he found out that Xie He already knew about everything. So he thought that Xie He must hate him even more….After all, even Lu Ting couldn’t forgive himself for what he had done to Xie He in those worlds. Therefore, the reason Xie He had left him so decisively in every world…must be that he loathed him to death.

Lu Ting’s eyes dimmed. He nearly turned away. Actually, he felt too ashamed to see Xie He. That had been why he had acted like that on purpose….

He turned out and took a few steps away….

But when he thought about how Xie He was currently in a hotel room with another person, Lu Ting couldn’t help but recall what the hosts had said about Xie He before. They had said that his thing was big and he was good in bed…f*ck, this was unbearable!

【666：Calm down, calm down!】

He couldn’t calm down!

In any case, Xie He already hated him. Who cares if he hated him a bit more? He could not stand this! He hasn’t died yet!!!!

Lu Ting stomped upstairs!

【666：……】I just knew that it would be like this.

Lu Ting arrived at the door and slammed his fist against it.

The door didn’t open. His hearing was very good. He could hear the sound of water running. It sounded like they were cleaning up for something? Lu Ting gnashed his teeth and grabbed the handle, forcing it open! He straightforwardly broke the lock!

【666：……】This was too horrible to watch. He didn’t want to say a thing.

Lu Ting strode in with large strides, his gaze ice-cold. He was met with the scene of Xie He walking out of the bathroom wrapped in a bathrobe. There were still drops of water dripping down from his hair. Meanwhile, there was a pretty man sitting on the bed, already cleaned up. When that man saw Lu Ting suddenly barge in, he freaked out. He obviously didn’t understand what was happening.

Xie He saw that Lu Ting had come. His eyebrows furrowed. He had no patience for him. “Why did you come here?”

【Ding, the target Xie He’s Favourability Value -40. The current Favourability Value is -20.】

【666 quietly persuaded：Boss, how about you go back first? It’s obvious that he really dislikes being disturbed like this….】

【Lu Ting：……】I’m so goddamn furious!

The author has something to say:

The main thing I wanted to talk about in this chapter is the gong’s personality. 666 doesn’t understand why he’s so attached to his emotions. Actually, love isn’t something that you will necessarily understand even if you live for a long time. It has something to do with a person’s personality and perception abilities. The gong and President Xie walk completely different paths. President Xie has always been fighting and scheming with those capturing hosts. That means that President Xie’s EQ is very high and he’s able to see through many things. Meanwhile, aside from this world, the gong had only ever fought physically and focused on upgrading his system. He’s like a male protagonist in a mainstream fighting novel. However, he’s not a fickle stallion type. He treats these feelings with a lot of gravity. Furthermore, the more he cares, the more afraid he is of losing it. His EQ isn’t high but President Xie can teach him.

That is the reason this author gave President Xie such a gong. Although I know that not everyone will like him…I think that he suits President Xie well. President Xie is very smart. The only thing that traps him is the fate of this world. As long as he’s given the chance to escape, he would soar through the skies. With his IQ, he doesn’t need another smart person to contest wits with. After all, he had been really annoyed with those capturing hosts. Therefore, I gave him an extremely loyal dog type hired thug. Together, they can slowly get strong and walk down the path of shamelessly getting rid of the main system. Their future prospects are boundless….

I feel like after writing this chapter, I can leave out President Lu’s extras 2333

Because there are too many details in the background, I can’t write them all out at once. I have to weave it into the plot. I hope that you darlings won’t think that it’s too long-winded _(:зゝ∠)_…. But this author will do her best to finish writing as soon as possible. I want to express what I want to say properly to you all in the best way possible. Again, that you to the angels that support and understand me. I am grateful. Thumb heart.

Eve: How many times do you think Lu Ting can suffer through fits of jealousy before Xie He finally breaks him.

sere: lmaooo large vinegar vat. Also author’s note makes hella sense… i feel like XH really wouldn’t wanna deal with someone with high EQ…. but also low EQ guys are rather yikes irl so… just sayin