BECOME AN ENTERTAINMENT GOD WITH SYSTEM

Chapter 6: Arrogant Pairs

Victor remained unfazed by Butterfly's unexpected appearance at the hospital. He had penned two of his hit singles entirely on his own and had also co-written two other international hits that had charted in 23 countries. Despite his significant contributions to his career, he had been unjustly treated.

"Hah! I've already been shunned by the entertainment industry. Do you really want to collaborate with the black sheep of the music business?" Victor responded calmly. Since he obtained the entertainment god system, he had become more composed.

Butterfly's eyes widened in astonishment, and she inquired, "How did you change your voice?"

Victor furrowed his brow, pondering whether the soulful voice bestowed by the system could also be used for speaking. While he was contemplating this, Butterfly urgently grasped his arm. "Tell me how you managed to develop such a unique vocal style."

Victor maintained a big smile as he calmly responded, "Two fried frogs, three legs of crickets, and seven heads of lizards mixed with dog poo. Take it three times a day."

Butterfly's eyes blazed with anger at Victor's unexpected insult. He pointed a finger at Victor's face and cursed, "Your mother will die of illness, and her ghost will haunt you forever."

Victor stood with his arms clasped behind his back, his expression unchanged as he gazed at Butterfly. In the past, he would have flown into a rage and started ranting, but not now. He had already seen some people arranged by the despicable record label he had left to record the scene and upload it online as a gimmick for Butterfly's upcoming album. He wouldn't give them that satisfaction.

Three minutes passed without Victor reacting, surprising both Butterfly and his bodyguards, who were prepared to intervene. 

"Scram if you are done," Victor sneered, and then walked away without saying another word. Butterfly stared at his retreating figure with an unresolved expression.

Upon reaching the ward, he encountered a nurse who typically cared for his mother. "Hello, sir, your mother has been transferred from this hospital to the best one in the city. I assumed you were the one who authorized the move," the nurse said, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity.

Realizing that Gabriella must have arranged it, Victor chuckled and gave a vague response: "Just out of habit."

Feeling too embarrassed to inquire about the new hospital, he hastily departed the ward. As he pondered his next steps, the screech of tires jolted him, causing him to take three steps backward in surprise. He had barely left the hospital premises.

As the driver removed her mask and glasses, Victor recognized her as Luciana, his ex-fiancee who had abandoned him.

"Get in the car," Luciana commanded in a cold tone.

As Victor gazed at the unreasonable and arrogant woman, he began to question his taste in women. With a shake of his head, he quietly turned and walked away without a word.

Expecting Victor to circumvent the car and take the front passenger seat, Luciana smugly waited. After three minutes, she glanced in the side mirror only to realize that Victor had already strolled down the road and was hailing a taxi.

Furious, Luciana slammed the car door and stormed out, unleashing a shrewish roar. "Victor, how dare you walk away while I'm talking to you? Do you still think you're a celebrity? Open your eyes and recognize that I'm now a well-known actress with over ten million followers."

Lost in her tirade, Luciana had forgotten that she was in a public street, drawing the attention of passersby. As expected, she was soon mobbed by fans.

Relieved to have escaped Luciana's company, Victor let out a sigh only to be interrupted by a sudden ding in his head.

[System Notification]

"Listen to a depressed man to upgrade your writing skills."

As the mission flashed across the screen, Victor felt a mix of emotions, both pleased and despondent. Where would he find a depressed man willing to open up about their struggles? Lost in thought, he absentmindedly instructed the taxi driver, "Take me where I can find a depressed man."

The taxi driver's lips twitched as he contemplated Victor's request. "Which street would that be?" he inquired.

Victor let out a rueful sigh, then a spark of realization brightened his eyes. "Take me to the slums, a beach, or anywhere homeless people used to gather in the city."

The taxi driver glanced at Victor in the rearview mirror, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern, as though questioning the sanity of his passenger. Nonetheless, he drove Victor to the less affluent part of the city and promptly departed. Surveying his surroundings, Victor noticed makeshift tents lining the open streets.

With his hands in his pockets, he strolled along the streets, observing kids gambling, engaging in rap battles, and loitering in groups, while some women lined the sidewalks. The scene was reminiscent of a red-light district.

As he walked along the coastline, he noticed a man sitting on a bench, lamenting, "Sophia, I was a terrible father. I should have worked hard and sent you to school instead of frequenting bars, coming home drunk, and mistreating your mother. I am a failure."

He halted his steps and approached the bench. The man was sobbing, yelling, and at times, banging his head against the bench.

"Hello, sir. What happened to your daughter?" Victor inquired, displaying concern.

Suddenly, the man grabbed Victor's shirt, startling him. "I want my daughter back. I want my daughter back," the man repeated, his voice filled with hysteria as he tugged at Victor's shirt.

Victor felt a mixture of flusters and confusion, yet he managed to respond, "Sir, if you're willing to share what happened to your daughter, I'll do everything in my power to help you find her and reunite you both."

The man suddenly grabbed Victor's shirt, his grip loosening as he looked at Victor with a face filled with disbelief before slumping back into his chair. "I've been a terrible father," he lamented, before recounting how he would often return home drunk and mistreat his wife and daughter. After enduring a decade of abuse, his wife left with their daughter, and it had been twenty years since he'd last seen them. Despite quitting smoking and drinking and hiring private investigators, he had been unable to locate them.