When she re-entered the study, a soft blanket was draped over her arm.
Xiao Yu's sharp gaze followed her movements as she gently approached and placed the blanket around his shoulders.
"The butler said your body temperature is naturally low and not a cause for concern," she explained in a soft tone, meeting his guarded eyes. "Still, being cold isn't comfortable. Use this to keep warm."
Xiao Yu's gaze lingered on the blanket, suspicion flickering across his features.
Emotional manipulation? he thought bitterly. Is this the next tactic? Win my trust, make me dependent, then strike when I least expect it?
A faint, mocking smile tugged at his lips, hidden from Azhao's view. Fine. If she wants to play this game, I'll play along.
Slowly, almost deliberately, he pulled the blanket around himself. The warmth seeped into his frozen body, soothing the constant chill he was so used to enduring. A quiet sigh escaped his lips, unbidden.
Azhao, watching him accept the gesture without resistance, felt a small sense of relief.
"I'll begin our lessons tomorrow," she said gently. "For now, try to rest."
Xiao Yu closed his eyes, his expression unreadable.
Soft music filled the air a moment later. Xiao Yu's lips twitched. He knew it wasn't his doing—he never played anything so frivolous. It had to be her.
Azhao lingered for a few moments, ensuring he was comfortable, before quietly leaving the room.
Unbeknownst to her, as soon as the door clicked shut, Xiao Yu's eyes snapped open. They were sharp, alert, and devoid of any drowsiness.
His gaze fell on the phone she had left on the table. He stared at it for a long while before a faint sneer curved his lips. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes again.
After taking a deep breath, she headed into the bathroom, washing off the heavy makeup that had painted her as a seductress. As the hot water cascaded down, her thoughts began to wander.
"System," she called out, breaking the silence, "do you think the male lead really has mental health issues?"
If Xiao Yu truly had significant psychological problems, her task might prove far more challenging than she'd anticipated.
A soft glow appeared in the air—a marshmallow-like ball of light flickering faintly. This was her system, the entity guiding her through these missions.
"The information provided by Zhao Li claims he has severe mental disorders, including social barriers, violent tendencies, and intellectual deficiencies," the system replied mechanically.
Azhao frowned.
"So it's based on her perspective?" she muttered. How trustworthy could that be?
The system didn't respond further, and Azhao let out a quiet sigh. This world had far more layers to it than she had expected, and Xiao Yu was at the center of it all.
As she lay down to rest, a steely determination settled in her chest. Whatever the truth was, she would uncover it piece by piece.