Chapter 4 — Captive

Just as I expected.

Xie Chu asked me to help him plan his proposal.

Everything from choosing the ring to arranging the venue—the balloon colors, floral decorations, lighting, background music…

Every detail was based on Wei Yi’s preferences.

He and Wei Yi grew closer and closer.

He even managed to make the male lead, Liu Feng, so jealous that he nearly came to blows with him.

At long last, the storyline was beginning to fall back into place.

The system was practically ready to pop champagne.

【Female lead’s affection for the male lead: 50%!】

【Her favorability toward Xie Chu: 60%, but romantic interest: 0%!】

【Wei Yi will definitely reject his proposal!】

【Qianqian, the moment Xie Chu turns against the male and female leads, the mission is complete! We can get you out before the first side map even opens! It’s perfect!】

After all, this was a game world.

And games loved drama.

Once the romance route ended, the next arc would inevitably involve territory wars, gunfights, assassinations, and all sorts of bloody chaos.

Getting out before the war map unlocked was obviously the civilized thing to do.

I lowered my head and continued preparing for the party.

With Wei Qing’s memories to help me, none of it was particularly difficult.

The proposal took place at an extravagant party.

Xie Chu had practically invited every member of the upper class in this world.

The scale was no less impressive than the press conference a few months ago.

【The more publicly he’s rejected, the more humiliated he’ll be. And the more he’ll hate the male and female leads!】

The system sounded like someone settling in for the greatest blockbuster of the year.

I was silent for a moment before asking,

“Can I leave as soon as it’s over that night?”

【As soon as Xie Chu officially turns against the male and female leads, the first side map will unlock! I’ll take you out immediately!】

I gave a quiet reply.

“…Okay.”

As Wei Yi’s younger sister—and someone directly involved in planning the party—I was naturally on the guest list too.

Wei Yi cared deeply about her chronically ill little sister. She had even personally chosen my dress and jewelry.

But I didn’t go with her that evening.

Xie Chu had sent a car to pick Wei Yi up early.

I deliberately took my time, dragging things out for another half hour before finally leaving.

In the car, the system wouldn’t stop chattering.

【This is so much easier than last time! You don’t even have to stab Xie Chu yourself anymore! Cheer up! You’ll have 500 million waiting for you when you get back! How about stopping for some ice cream? You always eat ice cream when you’re sad—】

“Would you shut up already?!”

Who was sad?

The mission was practically complete. It was going so smoothly that I should’ve been thrilled.

And yet…

There was still a strange uneasiness sitting in the pit of my stomach.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

The driver opened the door for me.

I stepped out.

The party was being held at an estate on the outskirts of the city.

I’d been here twice before, so the place was familiar.

The grounds were beautifully decorated, but strangely enough, the entire area was unnaturally quiet.

A server came over to lead me inside.

After we’d walked for a while, I frowned.

“Isn’t this the wrong way?”

The server lowered his head.

“The wind is quite strong tonight, so we’ve changed the entrance route.”

Something about this felt wrong.

The system immediately spoke up.

【Don’t worry! The storyline has been progressing perfectly lately, and I’ve built up quite a few points too! If anything happens, I’ll get you out immediately! Hurry, Qianqian. We’re almost at the proposal!】

I kept following the server.

He stopped in front of a massive door and gestured for me to enter.

The room beyond was brilliantly lit.

Music echoed through the space.

I had barely stepped inside when—

Click.

The door behind me slammed shut.

The next second—

Flick.

Every light went out.

The music stopped.

The entire room plunged into darkness.

I immediately turned around and tried the door.

Locked.

From the outside.

I pounded against it several times.

Nothing.

And then, from somewhere in the darkness, a figure appeared.

There was no moonlight.

No way I should’ve been able to see him clearly.

But I recognized him instantly.

Of course.

Xie Chu had never been someone you could fool easily.

“Get me out of here!”

I called for the system.

There was no response.

My heart sank.

Xie Chu began walking toward me.

The sound of his dress shoes echoed through the darkness.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Every step felt like it was landing directly on my heart.

“System?! Get me out of here!”

Xie Chu suddenly laughed.

It was quiet.

Almost gentle.

But the sound sent a chill straight down my spine.

“It can’t get in here.”

He stopped directly in front of me.

Then he bent down and gently lifted my chin.

His voice was terrifyingly soft.

“Let’s see if you can run this time…”

“Qianqian.”

Xie Chu had locked me up.

More accurately…

He was keeping me captive.

I had no idea how he’d managed it, but he not only knew that the system existed—he could actually sever the connection between it and me.

Clearly, he’d been preparing for this for a very long time.

The house on the estate was enormous, with room after room connected together.

I was free to move around inside.

But I was absolutely forbidden from going outside.

And Xie Chu himself…

Never left either.

He simply watched me.

The perfect, gentle gentleman he presented to the outside world was gone.

His gaze was cold.

Dark.

And filled with that familiar menace I’d once known so well.

The old Xie Chu.

“Why did you come back?”

“Because I wanted to see you.”

“Why did you want to see me?”

“Because I missed you.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Why did you miss me?”

“Because I like you.”

He stared at me.

“Prove it.”

I stepped forward, intending to kiss him.

He turned his face away.

I caught his face in my hands and forced him back toward me before lowering my head and kissing him.

Xie Chu shoved me away.

His voice was ice-cold.

“Lin Qian. That trick doesn’t work anymore.”

Then he walked away, leaving me standing there speechless.

What happened to the man who used to turn obedient as a puppy after a single kiss?

Had he finally updated to a version with immunity?

The old Xie Chu had actually been incredibly easy to soothe.

He couldn’t stay angry for more than three seconds.

All it took was one little kiss, and he’d cheer right back up.

He barely spoke to anyone else.

But with me, it was like he’d unlocked a whole new setting.

He always had a million things to tell me.

But now…

He didn’t even want to say another word to me.

The enormous house was silent day after day, the kind of silence that made your skin crawl.

Xie Chu had locked every window.

They couldn’t be opened.

I couldn’t even see what was happening outside.

Honestly, I could understand why.

With the setting of “ultimate final boss,” Xie Chu had always been frighteningly intelligent.

He had probably discovered long ago that some force existed beyond this world.

That was why he’d prepared a house specifically designed to keep me contained.

No way out.

Not even a window.

But the truth was…

I wasn’t planning to escape anyway.

“What should we have for dinner?”

I opened the refrigerator and looked inside.

“We’re out of beef…”

“How about chicken?”

As usual, Xie Chu answered without looking up.

“Whatever you want.”

That was enough of an answer for me.

I made the decision myself.

I was cutting the chicken when I accidentally nicked my finger with the knife.

“Ow—”

Bang!

Xie Chu immediately snapped his laptop shut.

He walked over, grabbed the first-aid kit, rummaged through it, pulled out some gauze, and tossed it onto the counter.

“Deal with it yourself.”

I lowered my head and disinfected the cut.

It really was nothing more than a tiny slice.

A bandage would’ve been more than enough.

Then, without warning, Xie Chu kicked the chair beside him.

Crash.

I jumped and looked up.

“It really doesn’t hurt…”

He shot me a cold glance and turned away.

A while later, he came back.

This time, he was carrying a shopping bag.

Inside was a fresh package of beef.

He pushed me away from the kitchen counter, took the knife himself, and started cooking.

Huh.

Had the ultimate villain finally unlocked the domestic skills achievement too?

I used to be the one who cooked for him all the time.

When the food was finally served…

I took one bite.

And my eyes immediately burned with tears.

It tasted exactly like the food I’d once cooked for him all those years ago.