First Contact - Chapter 256 (Hesstla)

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

The wrong way to act as a villain no.1: Get rid of the protagonist while he still hasn’t become powerful.

The wrong way to act as a villain no.2: Take the limelight from the protagonist at the key moment.

The wrong way to act as a villain no.3: Make the protagonist fall in love with you, thus making him incapable of completing the final step – eliminating the major villain.

Han Changsheng, Head of the Demonic Cult, is the major villain who’s employed all three incorrect methods.

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As the leader of the first Demonic Cult in the underground world of martial arts and cultivation, Tianning Cult, Han Changsheng carried on the long-standing tradition of an unstable mind and a refusal to seek any treatment.

Originally, his life should have passed by quickly and simply, but one day he kicked a descended Immortal Lord off a cliff. In order to make up for this mistake, he must aid the Immortal Lord in ascending back to his position… but why does this mistake keep growing? Hey, lao zi doesn’t need you as a younger brother, you should look for An Yuan! Don’t chase after lao zi, you’re destined to be An Yuan’s wife! Don’t worship lao zi as a martial arts lord, lao zi is the genuine leader of the Demonic Cult! Hey, Hey lao zi is obviously the major villain! What the hell are you doing?!

- Description from Novelupdates

Xu Zong, who transmigrated into the world of Swallowing Starry Skies, had no chance to battle the Devouring Beasts. At this moment, Luo Feng was peeping underwater, Hong and Thunder God were in deep slumber, while the jumping clown wreaked havoc. Xu Zong had thought that he would rely on himself for his whole life, but unexpectedly, he accidentally joined a chat group. In the group, there were other Xu Zongs, each possessing different talents!Nine Cauldrons Xu Zong: With my unbeatable sliding shovel! Wait, there's a Sabertooth Tiger ahead. Watch me slide and shovel!Comprehensive Martial Arts Xu Zong: I have the War God's sound system! Please, Master Qiao and the God of Gambling, possess me!Heaven Concealing Xu Zong: When I shout, “XX, save me!” XX will be forcibly teleported in front of me to shield me from bullets!XX Xu Zong: Uh, mine is the Arcane Technique of Akalin...Devouring Xu Zong: Well said! But none of your talents are as awesome as mine! My cultivation has no bottlenecks!Various Xu Zongs: Boss! Can you share your Wi-Fi so we can share talents?................This is an unlimited flow story across different realms, involving fantasy, movies, martial arts, anime, and more. Enjoy it to the fullest!

This world is Heaven.

Because this world has everything you dream of, everything you wish for.

This world is Hell.

Because everyone in this world are parts of a never-ending massacre.

Are you fighting to survive, or fighting to come home?

- Description from Novelupdates