After screwing up three missions in a row, the system was furious.
It swore it would never assign me another mission and told me I was on my own from now on.
I begged it for days. Annoyed yet resigned, it finally hurled me into a new world.
Mission Target: Jin Xuan.
Mission Objective: Prevent Jin Xuan from destroying the world.
The system warned me, "Host, this is your last chance."
"Yeah, yeah, thanks, System bro," I called out cheerfully, scratching my head nervously.
The current Jin Xuan was in the center of a lavish banquet at the Shanglin Hotel, a chic venue in North Jing City known for its exclusive crowd. Jin Xuan, with a stoic face, was surrounded by people trying to strike up conversation, but he seemed utterly bored, as if nothing in the world could interest him.
"System bro, could I ask, how exactly am I supposed to stop Jin Xuan from destroying the world?"
Even if I couldn’t see its face, I could practically feel the system rolling its eyes.
"You have to kill him before he kills the male lead..."
The room was loud, the chatter muddled; I only caught half of what the system said.
"Kiss him?"
I looked at Jin Xuan, who, in that moment, happened to glance at me across the crowd. My gaze traced from his long raven eyelashes to his sharp nose, finally landing on his light pink lips.
I watched as he pressed those lips together.
"Well, that’s easy. I get it, I get it."
If all I had to do was win Jin Xuan’s affection enough to steer him from destruction, that was standard save-the-villain romance stuff. I could handle that.
"You had better succeed this time. If you fail again..." The system’s warning ended with a few ominous scoffs.
Back in my original world, I'd landed in a coma after an accident. The only reason I was still alive was that the system was tethered to me. If I failed this mission and the system detached, I’d be done for.
With a heavy heart, I opened my mission panel. I was surprised to find a numerical stat under Jin Xuan’s name: 55. Not a typical progress bar. I hadn’t even officially met Jin Xuan yet, so it definitely wasn't a favorability score. What did it mean?
"System bro, you forgot to tell me what this stat means!"
But the system had already cut off communication.
I could only steel myself as I lifted my pale green dress, pushed through the crowd, and waved to Jin Xuan.
"Hi there, Jin Xuan..."
Every eye in the banquet hall snapped to me.
Jin Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Miss Liu?"
I didn’t give him a chance to react, instead reaching up to hook my arms around his neck and planting a fierce kiss on him.
Jin Xuan’s pupils dilated in shock. He tried to push me away, but I clung to him like a stubborn koala.
Suddenly the mysterious stat in my mission bar soared to 96. I nearly panicked. Was that a good thing or terrible?
Recalling the system’s vague instructions, I boldly bit down on his lips.
I kept kissing him until I had to pull away, breathless, head spinning. Still, I cradled his face and, dizzily, marveled aloud,
"Surprisingly soft."
Jin Xuan’s expression darkened.
Clearing my throat, I gazed at Jin Xuan with all the sincerity I could muster.
"Jin Xuan, I really like you. I’ve had a crush for a long time. Would you give me a chance?"
I didn’t expect him to say yes. My goal for now was just to make a lasting impression and, from there, orchestrate encounters until I could gently infiltrate his daily life.
Jin Xuan stared at me with an unreadable look. "Do you treat all strangers like this?"
I shook my head emphatically. "Of course not. We’re not close yet, but who knows, maybe you’ll like me after we get to know each other. I mean it, I’m genuinely interested in you. I’m definitely not the casual type. I’d only do this for you."
Something about what I said must have pleased him, because Jin Xuan’s demeanor softened. Meanwhile, the stat in my mission panel suddenly plummeted to 39.
Such wild swings. Was this maybe a mood meter of some kind?
I let out a sigh of relief and softened my own tone.
"Jin Xuan, can’t we give this a try? I promise I’ll treat you well. No pressure, take your time to think about it."
"All right."
I blinked. "W-what?"
"I said, I’ll give you a chance," Jin Xuan replied softly, his fingertip brushing the corner of my eye. "Liu Yue, I said yes."
That simple? After four mission failures, not once had it ever gone this smoothly.
Maybe I’m a secret missions genius. Maybe I just had rotten luck before.
"What are you thinking?" he asked as we rode home from our first date. Jin Xuan leaned over to undo my seatbelt.
I studied his hand, then gasped, "Oh wow, let me see your hand."
Jin Xuan lowered his eyes and extended his palm. The lines were messy and complicated.
I once heard people with chaotic palm lines tend to have turbulent lives. Jin Xuan’s fits: abandoned as a child, bullied through school, forced to drop out and work early. He clawed his way past betrayal and ruin, only recently securing his formidable position in Han City.
His first half of life was one ordeal after another.
I pressed my palm to his; his hand was so much bigger, drowning mine with ease.
"Jin Xuan," I feigned surprise, "your hand is huge."
Lacing my fingers with his, I gazed up and beamed, "A hand this big is perfect for holding mine."
Jin Xuan looked down, lips pressed tight, but I could tell he liked this sort of thing.
Unwillingly, I let go to get out of the car, only to find the doors locked.
Turning back, I saw Jin Xuan idly drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.
"Weren’t you scared just now?"
"Being alone at home, aren’t you afraid?"
The system had set me up as the recently returned only daughter of the Liu family, parents both working abroad, with almost no social ties in Jinling. Which meant I lived all alone in my massive villa.
Jin Xuan’s question reminded me of how, earlier that evening when we watched a horror movie, I pretended to be frightened just to cling to his arm. I barely even watched the film, busy plotting how to get closer to him.
My eyes lit up. I slid back into my seat and buckled my belt.
"I’m really scared, Jin Xuan. I just can’t stay alone tonight. Can I stay with you? Just for tonight."
Jin Xuan smirked and drove us to his place.
He lived in a monochrome apartment building called Longhe Towers. Every surface was black or white, with eerie display cases full of oddities by the lobby. Standing there in my sunshine-yellow skirt, I was the only pop of color.
Jin Xuan set up a guest room for me. But after he went to shower, I sneaked under his blankets, conjuring up a few tears.
"Jin Xuan, I can’t sleep alone. I’m scared of ghosts."
"Would you stay with me tonight? I promise under the covers, just sleep. I won’t touch you."
"Really?" His gaze made me squirm.
"I mean it. I’m not desperate, okay? Don’t you trust me?"
"I’m not worried about you," he replied softly.
Something about the warm light casting a halo around him made my heart flutter. He leaned closer; the room seemed to grow hotter by the second.
"What if the impatient one is me?"
Head tilted up, I answered with a kiss.
In the month I’d spent with Jin Xuan, I’d noticed he was nothing like the book’s villain: gentle, gentlemanly, never crossing any lines. Tonight, though, it was as if I’d flipped some dangerous switch in him.
From the bedroom to the window to the carpet, his passion burned wild and consuming, more like hatred than love, so fierce it made me tremble.
But when my tears wouldn’t stop, he stilled, bending to place a careful kiss on my cheek.
Late into the night, I drifted off in his arms.
Half-asleep, I felt Jin Xuan suddenly sit up, murmuring, "Should I... shouldn’t I..."
Shocked awake, I mumbled, "No, no, not again. Let’s just sleep, okay?"
He settled back, patting my back as if soothing a child, murmuring, "Still not satisfied yet."
Even in my sleep, I frowned. Ugh. Why’s this man always talking about killing?
Not good for world peace.
"No killing anyone, Jin Xuan," I muttered, eyes closed. "It’s very rude."
"Huh?"
I nodded, patting his face and kissing his cheek.
"I only like gentlemen."
Chapter 01
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