It was him. Shen Ting, peering through a few bamboo stalks, observed the handsome couple. The man was striking, and the woman beautiful; together, they were a perfect match.
Yet, despite the picturesque scene, the air between them was thick with tension. The woman looked as if she were about to explode with rage.
"Why are you breaking up with me? I gave you everything, my heart and soul! Have you fallen for someone else? Tell me!" The woman screamed hysterically at Hong Xi.
Hong Xi looked at her with a cold, indifferent gaze, wondering what possessed him to ever get involved with her.
It had been nothing more than a one-night stand, but it dragged on, morphing into this ambiguous, tangled mess. He had never considered them a couple. At best, they were just...
"Listen, I'll only say this once. I never loved you, and I doubt you ever truly loved me."
He watched her bite her lip, but there was no trace of pity in his voice as he continued, "Don't think I don't know your little schemes. You got what you wanted from me. Don't be too greedy. Disappear while I still have patience, or else... you know my temper."
The woman glared at him furiously, wanting to unleash a tirade but restraining herself. She stamped her high-heeled foot, spat out a venomous "Just you wait!" and stormed off with her purse.
Hong Xi couldn't be bothered. He stretched his neck, feeling the stiffness, and lazily turned around. "Hey, you know watching a show costs money, right?"
Shen Ting, who had been about to leave, froze at his words. Hearing his footsteps behind her, she stood there, unsure of what to do. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but how could she explain that to someone who seemed so difficult?
Hong Xi, in his flip-flops, sauntered over to her, raising an eyebrow at her frozen expression. "You alright? I was just kidding. No need to take it so seriously." What was she so scared of? Was her courage really that small?
Shen Ting steadied herself, her gaze fixed on the ground as she stiffly explained, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I won't say anything about your conversation."
Not that it would matter, Hong Xi thought to himself. He tilted his head, looking at Shen Ting's lowered face with a teasing smirk. "Is there money on the ground?" Why wouldn't she look at him? He wasn't so shameful, was he?
Shen Ting's hands clenched the seams of her pants. In that moment, she wished the earth would open up beneath her, allowing her to hide from this mortifying scene.
The silence stretched between them. Hong Xi, surprisingly patient, waited for her to lift her head, while Shen Ting twisted her pant seams into a knot.
As the seconds ticked by, sweat beaded on her forehead. Finally, in this wordless battle of endurance, Shen Ting surrendered and slowly raised her head.
It was like watching a scene in slow motion. Her gaze traveled upward from Hong Xi's chest to his chin, which was adorned with a hint of stubble—fresh, rugged, and strangely alluring. His perfectly shaped lips, soft and slightly curled, added an air of devil-may-care insolence.
Her eyes finally locked with his—a pair of enchanting, almond-shaped eyes that seemed to draw her in. She had planned to glance away, but now found herself unable to. Not entranced, but as though some invisible force held her in place, compelling her to keep staring. It was unnerving.
Before she could even register the shock, the next moment she blinked, only to be jolted by a voice ringing in her mind. Her terror deepened.
[Forced Mission: Target—Hong Xi. Duration: Three months. Success will be rewarded with 30,000 points. Failure will incur unknown penalties.]
Shen Ting had never expected the mission to arrive so soon. She instinctively took a step back. How was she supposed to conquer this handsome man before her? No wealth, no power, and she didn't even have the beauty to back her up. Was the system really not joking?
[The system never jokes.] The cold, mechanical voice reaffirmed its stance.
...
Hong Xi, seeing the girl's horrified expression, instinctively touched his face. Maybe he had rushed out too quickly and forgotten to wash up?
Frowning slightly, he crossed his arms and watched her back away, as though she were about to flee in panic. He couldn't help but ask, "Are you naturally timid, or do you just feel the urge to run from everyone?"
Hong Xi wasn't one to boast, but he'd never had a woman react this way before. He didn't have tattoos on display, nor had he ever harmed anyone in front of her. Was there any need for such fear?
Shen Ting's alarm had nothing to do with Hong Xi. Her mind was flooded with information about him—every detail down to how many times he visited the restroom each day and the exact amount of toilet paper he used. The level of detail was downright unsettling.
She recalled the earlier moment when she'd been unable to move, her gaze locked on his. The system must have accessed Hong Xi's brain through his pupils, extracting all that information. This ability was beyond terrifying.
[As the host's first forced mission, the system has provided a full set of data on the target. For subsequent missions, this will not be available. Host, please do your best to succeed within the allotted time.]
Crushing pressure—that was all Shen Ting could feel at that moment.
Despite the system's generous reward of points, Shen Ting had no confidence in herself. Just thinking about it made her certain that Hong Xi would never be interested in her. If he was so indifferent to the beautiful woman earlier, how could he possibly notice someone as... plain as her?
Smiling bitterly at her own self-deprecation, Shen Ting glanced at Hong Xi, who was still waiting for her answer. She nervously muttered an apology, then before he could respond, she turned and hurried off, jogging out of sight.
It was the first time Hong Xi had ever been treated this way by a girl. He couldn't quite pinpoint his feelings—anger? No. Frustration? Maybe a little. But mostly, he was simply amused.
What a strange girl, he thought.
She felt completely different from the first time they had met. There was something about her, an invisible force that seemed to pull him in, compelling him to delve deeper. But what exactly was it?
Hong Xi didn't know. He turned away, mimicking the call of a distant bird with a whistle before lazily strolling away in his flip-flops.
It didn't matter. He knew she was staying with Fang Kelou's family. She could avoid him for now, but she couldn't escape forever. He'd find the right time, buy a little gift for Fang Kelou's mother, and casually drop by for dinner. Let's see where she'd hide then.