Part 2
Just as Lu Xunye approached Shen Yunqian to survive and return to his own world.
The System’s approach to Lu Xunye was likewise not as simple as its superficial claim of “helping the host fulfill his wish.”
Lu Xunye thought to himself: I have nothing to offer, and no one would truly like me.
The System was still waiting for his answer.
Lu Xunye lowered his eyes, his teeth grinding against the inside of his cheek. After a long while, he said: [Perhaps… have you ever heard the phrase “destruction before construction”?]
He spoke persuasively: [Look, the points haven’t increased in a long time, right? And I’ve been spending basically every day with Shen Yunqian lately. This proves…]
He paused at the right moment. The System naturally took the bait, asking half-skeptically: [That staying together… is also a waste of life force?]
Lu Xunye wore a look that said “you understand me,” but in his heart, he wiped away a sweat. [I’m glad you can understand my painstaking efforts.]
The System’s tone was flat: [I didn’t expect…]
Lu Xunye’s heart skipped a beat.
[I didn’t expect you to actually consider the mission. I thought you were going to give up.]
The System burst into tears of joy and threw itself onto his neck, giving him a full hug.
[I feel deep guilt for having doubted you. You are the best host this time.]
Feeling guilty himself, Lu Xunye pinched its short little legs with two fingers and pulled it off him. “Be good, stop being so mushy. I need to finish drying my hair.”
The System sat on the sink, propping its head up. [Sadly, I won’t be able to stay by your side for a while. There’s a problem on the Main System’s end.]
[Do you remember when you suddenly fainted in Jiang City? That was because the Main System had an issue. We thought the data was corrected, but it turns out there’s still a bug. I have to go back for an upgrade. When I return, I’ll be even better at helping you with the conquest.]
[After I leave, it will be like the previous times I’ve gone offline—the mission progress bar and point reminders will still report on time.]
It looked melancholy as it emphasized repeatedly.
[You must, must, MUST work on the conquest mission, okay? I’ll be back before your life force hits zero.]
12 days.
The buzzing of the hairdryer in the room stopped.
Lu Xunye looked over. [If I don’t finish the mission before my life force ends, will I die immediately, or in two months?]
The System’s gaze flickered. Finally, it said exasperatedly: [Agh, anyway, you just have to finish the mission!]
With that, the little fat ball on the sink vanished. The answer was obvious.
He wouldn’t die in 12 days.
Lu Xunye stared at the empty spot on the sink, his gaze slowly going blank. He raised an eyebrow. That’s good, then. I’ve gained something.
Once Lu Xunye finished tidying the guest room, he threw the bedsheets and pillowcases into the washing machine.
He had already moved his things back to his own place earlier; the wardrobe was empty once again.
……
Lu Xunye couldn’t help but stop, his eyes following the fluid movements of a pair of well-defined, pale, jade-like hands.
The spiral bit into the cork, twisted, and—pop.
The mellow aroma of wine blossomed in the air.
Accompanied by the mouth-watering scent of food.
Unsurprisingly, Lu Xunye felt hungry. He hadn’t eaten much of anything since yesterday.
He found it hard to understand how a young master raised in luxury since childhood could be so good at cooking, but it made sense when he remembered he was raised by Auntie Guo.
“Care for a glass?”
Shen Yunqian gently swirled the crystal glass in his hand, and the intoxicating scent in the air grew even stronger.
The light refracted through the cut facets of the glass base, casting fragmented red glints onto the back of his hand.
Shen Yunqian sat at the dining table without turning to look at him.
Lu Xunye’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Mindful of his poor alcohol tolerance and fearing he might cling to someone and act out again like last time, he immediately refused.
“No, thank you.”
“You’re lying to me again.”
It was a cold, clear sentence, yet it made Lu Xunye feel as if he were being bitten by ants.
He thought the other man was referring to him taking advantage of the situation and wanted to defend himself, but he truly couldn’t clear his name when it came to the matter of lying.
After a long silence, Lu Xunye heard himself say, “I’m sorry.”
The sharp, ringing sound of a glass being slammed onto the table followed. Shen Yunqian’s voice dropped.
“I’ll only ask you one thing. You said just now that you’d agree to any request I had. Does that still count?”
“It counts. Of course it counts,” Lu Xunye said hurriedly.
He placed the paper bag containing his clothes on the floor and walked over quickly, stopping not far behind the young man.
“What do you want me to do?”
Shen Yunqian: “Drink with me.”
The man’s tone was flat. Lu Xunye almost suspected he had misheard. “Just drinking?”
“Forget it if you’re unwilling.”
Shen Yunqian’s gaze drifted toward him, his words laced with a hint of pity and resentment.
“In the end, you don’t have many honest words for me.”
Driven by guilt, Lu Xunye rushed to his side, completely closing the distance between them. He snatched up the glass the other man had put down and downed it in one go.
The potent liquid slid down his throat. Lu Xunye choked and coughed, stumbling as he felt a bit unsteady.
He leaned forward to steady himself against the table. His speech seemed to blur as the full glass of liquid settled in his stomach. “I… I drank it.”
Only then did Shen Yunqian turn his face to look at him, gesturing for him to sit.
Once Lu Xunye was seated, the man considerately poured another glass, his fingertips brushing the base as he slowly pushed it over.
With his other hand propping up his head, he tilted his innocent, harmless-looking face and asked softly, “Does it taste good?”
Lu Xunye was startled by how gentle the man had suddenly become.
Just as he was about to lose himself in those captivating eyes, he shook his head violently to wake up and answered honestly, “It tastes bad. It’s sour and bitter.”
A faint, almost imperceptible curve appeared on Shen Yunqian’s lips. “But I want you to drink it… what should I do?”
He didn’t know if it was because of that ambiguous sentence or the alcohol taking effect in his body.
Lu Xunye felt light as air as he held the wine glass in his hands, taking small sips. He stared at the steaming dishes on the table, and his stomach let out an ill-timed protest.
He was actually quite reserved now, acting like a guest. It wasn’t until the host handed him a pair of chopsticks that he took them with a pretense of etiquette, eating in small bites.
By the time the third glass of red wine was nearly empty, the objects before him began to blur. He blew on the rim of the glass, watching the mist recede before blowing on it again.
Normally, Lu Xunye would never do something so childish, but right now, he was like a child who had discovered a wonder and was desperate to share it.
He placed the chopsticks carelessly on the rim of the bowl. They didn’t settle and rolled onto the floor with a clatter.
Lu Xunye looked at Shen Yunqian blankly, only to find the man propping his chin up, watching him with great interest.
Lu Xunye opened his mouth and blurted out an accusation: “I hate you.”
A shadow crossed Shen Yunqian’s eyes. His tone became dangerous. “Say that again?”
In Lu Xunye’s eyes, the young man was a pest who only gave him 84 out of 200 points. Especially now that he was threatening him.
He turned his head away defiantly, letting out a faint grunt from his throat.
Shen Yunqian stared at the red marks on his neck, his nails sinking into his palms as he remembered the warning Su Zhuo had given him.
— Have you been sleeping too much these past two days?
— Check the trending searches, President Shen. It seems your little lover is about to rekindle things with his old flame. I told you he had a record. Last time at the Dihua Hotel, he got a room with that little star. Who knows, maybe that aphrodisiac was just their little foreplay. Someone’s already helped him take care of it.
He had replied: Where is he now?
Su Zhuo’s teasing voice had rung out: How should I know? You’re the one who installed the tracker, and you’re the one who insisted on taking it off.
In that photo, Lu Xunye was kissing another woman with a decent figure and delicate features in the middle of the street.
Although half of Lu Xunye’s face was blocked, those who knew him could still recognize him by his tall frame, his straight nose bridge, the exquisite curve of his lips, and his unique aura.
Shen Yunqian barely pulled back his thoughts, his palms already covered in nail marks.
He forcefully grabbed Lu Xunye’s chin, pressing down his anger as he asked, “Tell me, did you touch him?”
Touch who?
Lu Xunye’s mind was unclear, and his chin hurt from the grip.
He grabbed the man’s wrist, unable to pull it away. So, he used a bit of force to pry away the hand tightening on his chin and said angrily, “You’re hurting me!”
As he swung his hand down, he accidentally knocked over the wine glass. the remaining red liquid splashed onto his hand. Mixed with the scent of wine, a faint smell of blood wafted to his nose.
Shen Yunqian’s eyes were red, physiological tears forced out at the corners. From the reopening wound, a warm stream dripped down his fingers.
He thought: Didn’t they say pain makes one clear-headed? Why isn’t it working this time?
“Lu Xunye.”
Lu Xunye heard someone call him. He turned toward the sound, only to have the back of his neck seized. Instantly, a sharp pain spread across the side of his neck, reaching into his very bones.
Shen Yunqian viciously bit into the ambiguous red mark on his neck.
Survival instinct made Lu Xunye resist violently. He gripped Shen Yunqian’s shoulder with a strength that nearly crushed the bone.
Shen Yunqian seemed unable to feel the pain, biting even harder. Neither of them felt good, and fine beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads.
It wasn’t until he tasted the flavor of iron in his mouth that Shen Yunqian let go. He looked up and met Lu Xunye’s pupils, which were slowly regaining clarity. The emotions he had suppressed for so long finally burst their banks.
His voice was trembling and raspy: “I hate you to death as well.”
Lu Xunye’s eyes widened, and his consciousness slowly began to scatter. He reached out, trying to grab something, but ultimately the world spun and went black. Before he lost consciousness, he saw only a cold gaze.
Translator’s Note:
- “Blackening” (黑化 – Hēihuà): A common trope in ACG and web novel culture where a character’s personality takes a dark, obsessive, or villainous turn due to trauma or extreme emotion.
- Wenzhou (问舟): Just a reminder, this is Lu Xunye’s pen name.
- Xiao Ai (小爱): The System’s name.
- Jiang City (江市): A location mentioned in earlier chapters.
- Destruction before construction (不破不立 – Bù pò bù lì): An idiom meaning that without destroying the old (or the current state), one cannot establish the new.
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