Chapter 004: A Jab

Bang

The beauty of one's appearance will gradually fade away with the passage of time, yet those eyes remain forever bright and clear. When his smile appears, it is like the sudden emergence of the morning sun; and in moments of gloom and depth, it resembles the sunlight that cannot be concealed behind dark clouds. At this moment, it seems as if one can truly see the entire world collapsing within those azure eyes, causing her heart, cold as iron, to ache slightly.

George slightly raised his head and looked at the disheartened Lance. Suddenly, he understood that Lance was not mad, nor had he discovered the secret of his collusion with Ryan. Instead, it was because of Gwyneth— that still unhealed emotional wound. This was why Lance had lashed out at him, simply because he had just spoken disrespectfully to Gwyneth.

After throwing a punch, Lance felt as if his burning lungs had finally taken a breath of fresh air. He tried to calm his chaotic mind and sort through his thoughts, but the oppressive voice filled with anger before him left him no time. Once his vision refocused, he clearly saw the person in front of him: George, George Clooney, one of his once best friends, and also one of the accomplices who conspired with Ryan.

"George is your best friend—at least one of your best friends. You do not need to conflict with him for my sake." Gwyneth took a long, deep breath to adjust her emotions, then said coldly and calmly, "What you are doing will only make me more uncomfortable. This is a public occasion, and everyone is here to pay their respects to Mr. Lize. Your actions will not only divert everyone's attention but also put immense pressure on me. I do not like this; I loathe it. If this is your attempt to win me back, it only makes me feel more nauseated."

This is Lancelot Strelow as he knows him, without a doubt. But why did Lancelot suddenly turn against him? Not to mention that they are in a public place, with many top Hollywood moguls gathered not far away. Has Lancelot lost his mind? Or has he already sensed his secret?

Lancelot

George felt his collar being gripped tightly, and his height disadvantage forced him to rise onto his toes to avoid the embarrassing situation of having his feet dangling. He then saw Lance's sharply defined face suddenly magnify in his vision, and time seemed to come to a standstill. George cleared his throat and managed to squeeze out a sound, "Lan... Lance"

"Shut up..." Lance could no longer endure it and his voice burst forth from his throat. However, his voice was not loud enough, seemingly unable to reach the other party, as that incessant chattering continued, "Look! Patro came! Oh, that shameless bitch, she actually wore a tight-fitting short skirt, clearly here to seduce others today. I wonder who her target is this time, truly a complete whore..." Oh, that shameless bitch, she actually wore a tight-fitting short skirt, clearly here to seduce others today. I wonder who her target is this time, truly a complete whore..."

George Clooney staggered back two steps, looking in astonishment at the man standing in front of him

Gwenyth cast a fleeting glance at Lance, and when their eyes met, she quickly lowered her eyelids to shield her gaze. Yet even so, a hint of disdain slowly spread in her eyes under the sunlight. She then slightly turned her head, revealing the graceful curve of her jawline, "If you are standing up for me, then forget it. I have made myself clear; it is over, and that is final. There is no possibility left between us."

Lance almost instinctively turned his head to look over, and then he saw Gwyneth Paltrow standing five steps away.

The pain made George feel as if his jaw had dislocated, every pain nerve in his brain was moaning; however, more terrifying than the pain was the sense of humiliation—this was an incredibly important occasion, attended by many bigwigs, and the elegant gentleman image he had painstakingly cultivated was now reduced to a pile of scrap paper due to Lance's simple and brutal blow. This sense of humiliation made George wish he could die from the pain; he wished he could tear Lance to pieces, but more urgently, he wished he could simply disappear on the spot! Many bigwigs were present, and the elegant gentleman image he had painstakingly cultivated was now reduced to a pile of scrap paper due to Lance's simple and brutal blow. This sense of humiliation made George wish he could die from the pain; he wished he could tear Lance to pieces, but more urgently, he wished he could simply disappear on the spot!

Lance was indeed shocked, but not because of Gwyneth, nor because of George, but because of the truth revealed in their words ...? ... What on earth is going on? Wasn't he sitting on the subway back to Brooklyn? Is he still not awake from his dream? Is this a dream or reality? Is it 2015 or 2002? Where exactly is this now? Has he traveled through time or been reborn? Is he Li Jin or Lancelot, or perhaps some other stranger? Is this a dream or reality? Is it 2015 or 2002? Where exactly is this now? Has he traveled through time or been reborn? Is he Li Jin or Lancelot, or perhaps some other stranger?

After coming to this realization, George let out a long sigh, secretly cursing under his breath a couple of times, but on the surface, he managed to regain his composure. "Damn Lance! Always putting love before friendship, I only spoke a couple of truths, why do you have to react so strongly? It's really..." Lance did not respond, as if he had not heard George's words at all. George sighed deeply, straightened his body, and gently patted Lance on the shoulder, putting on an air of "a mature person does not hold grudges against a petty one," but... "Damn Lance! Always putting love before friendship, I only spoke a couple of truths, why do you have to react so strongly? It's really..." Lance remained unresponsive, as if he had not heard George's words at all. George sighed deeply, straightened his body, and gently patted Lance on the shoulder, putting on an air of "a mature person does not hold grudges against a petty one," but... Lance still showed no signs of movement.

Gwyneth's voice is so cold, ruthlessly shutting out all warmth.

"Shut up!" Lance shouted loudly, his mind in turmoil, nearly exploding. The uncontrollable wave of nausea surged forth, and despite clenching his teeth tightly, balling his fists, and tensing his muscles, it was all in vain. The incessant muttering of curses, no matter how elegant, sounded at that moment like the endless nagging of a monk, serving no purpose other than to lead him step by step into the abyss of madness. Thus, he could no longer endure it.

Everything has become chaotic

George could hardly conceal the tumultuous waves within his heart; anger and shame surged up his chest in an instant. "Lance, are you out of your mind? Look closely at who I am; I am not Ryan Cavallaro! Have you lost your senses? You look like a deranged lunatic right now!" George stared wide-eyed, incredulously at Lance. Despite his efforts to suppress his emotions and maintain his elegant image in public, the tumult in his pupils betrayed the fact that he was gradually losing control.

A pair of elegant eyebrows were tightly knitted together, the tension and melancholy gathered between them exuding a sense of orphan-like bewilderment, infused with the weight of a Shakespearean tragedy, subtly cascading into those deep and vast eyes reminiscent of the azure sea, bursting forth with a quality of despondency that oscillates between strength and fragility. Sunlight, like fragments of gold, penetrated the tender green and fell softly, the light gradually gliding across his face, as if a master artist were using the gentlest strokes to meticulously outline that breathtaking contour, momentarily halting breath.

The sound of curses in my ears was intermittent and vague, as if the illusion and reality of a dream were constantly alternating, and the tinnitus gradually became clearer. That voice was elegant and mature, with a hint of hoarseness, as sensual and beautiful as red velvet, even the words of insult were delivered with such grace. Even without seeing the expression on the speaker's face, one could easily conjure up the perfectly timed smile in their mind, the gentlemanly composure and wisdom, making it easy to overlook the roughness in their words.

Lance felt dizzy and disoriented, his vision a blur, only vaguely able to discern large swathes of green, black, and gray swirling together, resembling a worthless abstract painting. He was utterly unable to concentrate on any thoughts, let alone stop those around him, as his chaotic mind felt like two galaxies colliding, with stars scattered across a dark expanse akin to a tornado, the violent tremors and impacts causing his stomach to churn—he truly felt like vomiting. He was utterly unable to concentrate on any thoughts, let alone stop those around him, as his chaotic mind felt like two galaxies colliding, with stars scattered across a dark expanse akin to a tornado, the violent tremors and impacts causing his stomach to churn—he truly felt like vomiting.

When the brain realized that it was George standing right in front of him, anger surged in an instant, once again consuming Lance's still-recovering rationality. His previously relaxed fist tightened once more, and with just a single large step, he directly moved in front of George, looking down at his face. With his left hand, he grabbed George by the collar and forcefully lifted him up.

Oh, God! Oh, Jesus Christ! Oh, damn it! They truly disgust me! Just look at their pretentious demeanor, as if nothing has happened at all. I really want to tear that hypocritical mask off their faces, it's nauseating!

Gwenyth could not help but glance at Lance again; the vulnerability in his eyes softened her heart once more. However, she clenched her teeth, refrained from saying anything further, and turned to leave, decisively severing all remaining ties.

The sound of cicadas still echoed in his ears, and the refreshing scent of summer lingered beneath his nostrils. Suddenly, George saw a wicked and cruel smile curve at the corner of Lance's mouth, like a sharp blade that stabbed fiercely, causing his heart to stop beating abruptly. Before he could even savor the meaning of that smile, he saw a shadow rushing towards him. Instantly, it felt as if a train had collided head-on with his left cheek, and a surge of intense pain engulfed him in an instant. Yet, his scream was still caught in his throat, and the suffocating grip at his collar suddenly loosened, causing him to fall to the ground like a ragged sack.

"Damn that Kavalog, that despicable little man has actually started socializing impatiently..." Shut up! This was the only thought in Lance's mind at that moment; he just wanted the noise around him to stop, to just be quiet! "I really want to punch him hard, watching his filthy smile turn into a pile of dog shit..." Shut up, shut up! "He must have been drained dry on the bed of some third-rate prostitute last night; just look at his dark circles, it's truly disgusting..." "I really want to punch him hard, watching his filthy smile turn into a pile of dog shit..." Shut up, shut up! "He must have been drained dry on the bed of some third-rate prostitute last night; just look at his dark circles, it's truly disgusting..."

Today, Gwyneth wore an all-black ensemble, a fitted off-the-shoulder dress that wrapped around her exquisite figure. Her long golden hair was styled into a bun, adorned with a small black hat, and a half piece of black veil hung to obscure a small portion of her face, creating a heavy and solemn atmosphere that gradually permeated the surroundings

At that moment, a sound came from beside me

Lance's recent hook punch had almost concentrated all his strength, and after venting all his emotions, his chest gently rose and fell. His gaze remained fixed on George, who then awkwardly averted his eyes. This caused a slight pause in the smile at the corner of Lance's mouth, which then faded away. He gently clapped his hands, as if brushing off the dust from them.

Lance swung his right fist, striking fiercely and accurately at that mouth. Immediately, he felt the violent impact between his fist and the facial muscles, a tangible sensation of hitting that seemed to make the entire world start to spin. However, the solid feeling in his feet was unprecedented, allowing the tumultuous waves in his mind to gradually calm down. Then, ... his vision began to clear up ... the tangible sensation of hitting seemed to make the entire world start to spin, but the solid feeling in his feet was unprecedented, allowing the tumultuous waves in his mind to gradually calm down. Then, ... his vision began to clear up ...

She glanced at him again out of the corner of her eye, and then she saw Lance's breathtaking gaze. Although she and Lance no longer had any relationship, she could not help but let out a sigh