Chapter 656: Everyone

"Wang Wu!!!"

Just as Li Ang rubbed the yellow tuft on his forehead, about to say something, he heard an unusually excited puppy yelp.

The cry sounded familiar; Li Ang turned toward the sound and saw a small Husky with a tuft of yellow hair on its head standing up from the counter across the room, tail wagging wildly, face beaming with delight at him.

Little Husky… so you've got a role too?

Recognizing Little Husky by that unique yellow tuft, Li Ang stared at the pup—its face smeared with some fragrant balm, two small pigtails tied with pink rubber bands—and was about to call out to it when the threads on his body pulsed with a will, twisting his words before they left his lips.

"What do I want? Don't you know, Agatha?"

Pulling his gaze away from Little Husky, Li Ang—or rather, "Joseph"—smoothed back his waxed yellow hair, then swept his fingers lightly across his mouth, producing a vivid red rose between his lips.

Chewing the slightly prickly rose sideways, he struck a series of flamboyant poses, then seized Agatha's arm and leaned close, his eyes smoldering as he raised an eyebrow:

"Compared to the watered-down wine in this tavern, what I truly desire is to pluck you, this rose in full bloom~"

"..."

Holy shit… what the fuck is this line?

Li Ang wasn't the only one repulsed by this over-the-top act; sensing the overpowering perfume radiating from "Joseph," the waitress "Agatha"'s radiant smile grew strained.

"Mr. Joseph."

Placing a hand gently against Li Ang's chest, she pushed him away with soft strength, glanced at the rose in his mouth, and smiled as she declined:

"That's not right. If you truly love a rose, let it bloom in the garden!"

"After all, the rose you desire doesn't crave elegant, expensive vases—what she truly wants is boundless open land and sunlight unblocked by glass!"

"Yes yes yes! You're right!"

As if this weren't the first time he'd been turned down, "Joseph" didn't get angry—he spat out the thorny rose, then grinned while licking his lip wound with a hiss and a laugh:

"As for land, my family owns the most in the entire city. My father left me estates stretching endlessly, all on sun-drenched slopes—the very land your lovely rose dreams of!"

"Dear Agatha, if you love wild roses, I'll plant you a whole field of them—ha! We're truly made for each other!"

"..."

Got it. My dumbass role is the rich landlord's idiot son, isn't it?

"Mr. Joseph, that's not what I meant..."

Surprised that the rich landlord's idiot son still didn't get the hint, "Agatha" sighed helplessly.

Considering she planned to stay in this city only two more weeks—then flee the arranged marriage and leave—she dropped the subject, smiling instead:

"Let's talk about this later. Why don't you order first?"

"Alright alright!"

Hearing his beloved goddess speak, "Joseph" nodded eagerly, utterly oblivious to his yellow hair, waved his hand carelessly at the menu, and returned it with a cheap grin and a wink:

"Just these. Same as always. Bring them to the table closest to the counter—best for admiring my rose."

"Alright..." After the bewildered Princess departed, Li Ang sat back down, slightly loosening the transparent threads on his body, then narrowed his eyes in thought.

While acting under the threads' will, Li Ang hadn't been idle—he'd secretly tugged at the threads on the Princess's arm as he held it, trying to free her too.

But sadly, with his current contamination level under 5, barely escaping control via 【Materialism】's resistance was already pushing his limits; trying to rescue someone from 【Theatre King】's 16-point contamination was pure fantasy.

So he'd just have to play along...

After performing several flamboyant gestures in his seat without facing resistance from 【Theatre King】, Li Ang roughly gauged the threads' range of influence.

Actions that were plausible, true to character, and theatrically compelling wouldn't face strong interference.

But actions like earlier—preparing to speak to the goddess's dog instead of rushing to declare love—violated character logic and would be blocked.

That meant there was room to maneuver.

Gazing across the restaurant at the handsome young man chatting warmly with "Agatha," Li Ang's eyes narrowed slightly.

Judging from the earlier exchange, his role was clearly just a comic foil for the male lead—even now, he was staring jealously in that direction. He might even clash with the male lead over jealousy later.

According to the Princess's words, the main villain in this "Twelve Days Together" was Agatha's family—so he'd likely appear only in Act One, get humiliated by the male lead, then vanish. He might not even have lines in Acts Two, Three, or Four.

That won't do.

Glancing toward the male and female leads, yellow-haired Li Ang pondered ways to steal the spotlight, while also considering the core logic of 【Theatre Master】's domain ability.

If his guess was right, the original actress playing Agatha had nearly broken down under 【Theatre Master】's endless manipulation—so Princess, the capital's most beautiful woman, was chosen as the new lead.

After all, if anyone else played Agatha while Veronica remained a supporting role, her beauty, grace, and figure would utterly overshadow the lead, ruining the play. 【Theatre Master】 had no choice.

As for why he became the rich landlord's idiot son...

Recalling his past, Li Ang's face darkened.

Indeed—he fit perfectly. Not to mention, his title as Duke of Lionheart made him the largest landowner in the entire theater—perfect match for "Joseph," who inherited his father's fortune to become the town's richest man.

And coincidentally, everyone saw him as a prodigal wastrel—squandering his entire fortune on the Princess's beauty, even donating the entire Lyon family estate to the royal house. Now even the "obsessive yes-man" trope matched perfectly. Who else but him could play the rich landlord's idiot son?

"Mr. Joseph."

Just as Li Ang, scowling, prepared to stir up trouble and insert himself into the later plot of "Twelve Days Together," Agatha finished taking the male lead Elijah's order, went to the kitchen, then returned carrying a steaming tray.

"Your drinks and dishes are ready."

Pressing two faint marks into the menu with her rose-juice-stained nails, "Agatha" smiled:

"I have other guests to attend to. Don't let me disturb you—enjoy your lunch~"

"..."

Enjoy... my lunch???

Staring at the familiar sheep's head on the tray—charred red by charcoal fire, glazed with peppercorn sauce flecked with meat bits, a large red apple clenched between its jaws, staring right back at him—Li Ang finally snapped.

No way... Little Husky I can accept, but you've got a role too?!

(End of Chapter)