Riverdale.
Inside the lavish Carter Estate ballroom, the chandeliers sparkled like stars, casting an elegant glow over the marble floor. Classical music danced through the air as socialites mingled in designer gowns and tailored suits. It was the annual Carter family gala—one of the most prestigious gatherings in Riverdale society.
At the center of attention stood Ava Carter, the cold and breathtaking heiress of the Carter family. Her sharp hazel eyes scanned the crowd like a queen judging her court. She wore a crimson silk dress that hugged her figure, the kind of presence that demanded obedience without a word.
With a frosty tone, she looked at the tall, nervous man beside her and said, "How dare the Lin family's useless son-in-law show his face here with that arrogance?"
The man beside her stiffened. "Y-Yes, Miss Ava! I'll deal with him immediately!"
He turned sharply and walked toward a quiet corner of the hall, where a seemingly ordinary man sat alone, sipping champagne with an unreadable expression.
That man's name was Leo.
In his past life, Leo had died in a simple traffic accident—hit by a speeding car while crossing the road. But instead of dying, he had awoken in a bizarre, urban world built entirely from tropes: domineering CEOs, hidden masters, miracle doctors, and "Dragon Kings" that ruled underworlds with a single glare.
Leo wasn't a hero, a villain, or even a side character.
No, he was a "dog" character—a loyal follower, a bootlicker meant to serve the real villains and hype them up.
But fortune wasn't entirely cruel.
He had awakened a cheat system: the [Strongest Running Dog System]. The more convincingly he acted like a loyal lackey, the more attribute points he earned. However, there was one catch: if he didn't bind himself to a major villain within a month, he would vanish from this world entirely.
After analyzing the plot, Leo decided his best bet was Ava Carter—the most notorious villainess in the story, known for her beauty, cruelty, and surviving until the very last chapter.
And right now, the current plot he found himself in was from a popular arc in the story titled "Urban Son-in-law Dragon King."
At this event, Ethan, the Lin family's adopted son-in-law, would first meet Ava. He would suffer humiliation, awaken his hidden identity as the Dragon King, and then rise to power—crushing all who stood against him.
Leo smirked internally. If this is the script… I just need to follow it and please Ava. Easy points.
But what no one noticed—especially not Leo—was that Ava Carter wasn't acting quite the way she should.
She stood frozen for a moment, her cold mask slipping, replaced by wide-eyed confusion.
Wait… this is the Carter gala…? she thought.
Her hands trembled slightly. Am I… reborn?!
Ava had been transported back to this moment, right before she'd made the fatal mistake of insulting Ethan at the dance. In her past life, she had been proud and ruthless, constantly stepping on people's dignity—including Ethan's. That mistake had cost her everything when Ethan rose to power and systematically destroyed her family.
In this second life, she swore to tread carefully, avoid antagonizing Ethan, and live a peaceful, low-key life.
But before she could move—a slap echoed across the ballroom.
SNAP!!!
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Every head turned toward the sound.
A voice followed, dripping with sarcasm.
"You? The Dragon King? Please…"
Ava's face turned pale.
Oh no… it's already happened!
Leo stood in front of Ethan, smirking arrogantly. Without waiting for permission, he had gone ahead and slapped the future Dragon King across the face.
[Successfully humiliated the protagonist "Dragon King" Ethan! Attribute +1]
Leo kept a stoic expression, but inside, he was gleeful. Points!
He glanced toward Ava, thinking she'd be pleased.
But instead, he saw her storming toward him with panic written all over her face.
Huh? he blinked. Why does she look… horrified?
Ethan, for his part, looked stunned. His cheek stung, his ears rang. Normally, he was used to being belittled at home by his in-laws.
But this—this stranger—wasn't family. This was humiliation.
"You…" Ethan growled, his eyes glowing cold. "You dare hit me?"
Leo turned, scoffing. "You call yourself a Dragon King? You're not even a worm."
SNAP!
Another slap.
"You bastard!" Ethan growled, fists clenching.
Just as Leo raised his hand again—
"STOP!!" Ava shouted, finally arriving.
She seized Leo's wrist, forcing his hand down. Her voice was low but urgent.
"Why… why did you hit him twice?"
She was trying to control the damage. She knew what Ethan would become. Humiliating him now was suicide.
Leo misunderstood. Ah. She must think I didn't go hard enough. Got it.
He nodded earnestly. "Miss Ava, don't worry. This is just the beginning. I'll make sure he never lifts his head in Riverdale again!"
Leo turned to Ethan with an aggressive glare. "You worthless son-in-law! Offend Miss Ava, and your whole family will suffer!"
Ava's eye twitched. No! You fool! That's not what I meant!!
But she couldn't expose her sudden change in behavior without seeming insane.
Meanwhile, the audience began to murmur.
"Hmph! The Lin family's dog dares bark at the Carter gala?"
"If he's the Dragon King, I'll eat my tie!"
"I'll join you! King of Losers, more like!"
Ava's expression froze. In my past life, I loved this kind of flattery… That's what doomed me.
She inhaled slowly. No. Not again.
She opened her mouth. "Ethan, I—"
But Ethan cut her off. His eyes burned with rage.
"So this is your doing, Ava Carter? You sent this lackey to slap me?"
"Fine. When I return to power… I'll burn your entire Carter family to the ground."
SNAP!
Leo slapped him again.
"Silence!" he barked. "How dare a worm threaten Miss Ava?!"
SNAP!
"That's for your arrogance!"
SNAP!
"That's for your ugly face!"
SNAP SNAP SNAP!
"These are for your general existence!!"
Even Ava was stunned by the sheer number of slaps.
Why is he so dedicated?! she thought, stunned.
Leo pulled his hand back once more.
"Miss Ava," he said proudly. "I'm not tired. I can keep going!"
Ava forced a smile and quickly interjected, "That's enough. This is still our family's gala. Let's not make it too ugly."
She turned to Ethan and said, "Mr. Ethan, perhaps… we can turn enemies into friends?"
She didn't believe her own words, but she had to try something. If she could de-escalate, maybe she'd avoid doom.
Leo, meanwhile, blinked in confusion.
What is this? Is she… mocking him with fake kindness? So evil! She really is a born villain!
Ethan's expression darkened.
"Ava Carter," he said coldly. "This insult—I will remember it."
Ava gave a tight-lipped smile. Inside, she was dying. No! I'm trying to de-escalate! Why is everything going wrong?!
Then a thought struck her—in her past life, Ethan had a soft spot for Lin Wanrong, the Lin family's eldest daughter.
If I can befriend her, maybe I'll survive!
Leo, thinking Ava wanted more performance, raised his hand again.
Ethan, furious now, stepped forward—ready to fight.
But before anything more could happen—
"Ethan! You useless disgrace! Look what you've done!"
A shrill voice cut through the chaos.
Enter Mrs. Lin, Ethan's overbearing mother-in-law.
And with that, the scene exploded into even more madness…