Volume One, Chapter 14: Choosing the Wrong Strategy Target
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Fu Yunshen arrived at the parking lot and glanced at the vacant space where Fu Yunchen often parked. It was empty now, and from this point on, it would remain empty.
At the villa, I was busy in the kitchen. When I came out, I saw Fu Yunshen lying on the sofa with his eyes closed, one hand rubbing his temple.
“Fu Yunshen?”
At the sound of my voice, Fu Yunshen opened his eyes. For just a moment, I saw the lingering weariness in them, along with the sorrow hidden deep within.
The last time I had seen that expression on his face was when he had been struck.
Had something happened again during his visit to the old family home?
I continued, “Have you eaten? I only made a few simple dishes. Would you like to…”
Before I could finish, I felt my body tighten as Fu Yunshen pulled me into a firm embrace. His voice was as sorrowful and pitiful as it had been last time.
“Let me hold you for a while. Just for a little while.”
I did not move, allowing him to hold me.
After I lost track of how long we had remained that way, Fu Yunshen finally let go.
“Let’s eat. I want to see what delicious things you made today.”
A faint smile appeared on his face, but he could not conceal the sorrow in his eyes.
I warmed the dishes and brought them to the table.
I had assumed Fu Yunshen would not tell me what had happened at the Fu residence, but unexpectedly, he spoke first.
“My engagement alliance with Wang Ruoxi has been called off.”
“Oh.”
So that was why he had gone back to the old family home today. But why was he so sorrowful after returning? Had the cancellation not gone smoothly?
“Did Wang Ruoxi come looking for you?”
Fu Yunshen asked while eating. I shook my head.
“She was rejected. She must be quite upset.”
I looked at him in confusion. Fu Yunshen gave me a brief account of what had happened, and I more or less understood. After dinner, I sent Wang Ruoxi a message.
Fu Yunshen took two bottles of drinks from the refrigerator. He handed one to me and kept the other for himself.
“Have a drink with me.”
I looked at the beer in his hand, then at the fruit juice in mine, and nodded.
“All right.”
Fu Yunshen sat down on the floor, and I sat beside him. After a few gulps, the expression on his face grew sorrowful once more.
The smile he had worn at the dinner table had only been a facade. Now, numbed by alcohol, that layer of pretense was torn away completely, leaving only brokenness behind.
I was not good at comforting people, and I had no idea why Fu Yunshen was so unhappy. All I could do was watch him take one drink after another.
Eventually, Fu Yunshen lay down with his head in my lap. I knew he was not drunk; he simply wanted something to lean on.
Fu Yunshen stared at me, lost in thought.
“Little Fish,” he asked, “am I very detestable?”
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I was stunned that Fu Yunshen would ask such a question, but I answered seriously.
“You’re not detestable. On the contrary, you’re outstanding and worthy of being loved.”
That boy from high school had illuminated my entire youth, and I had spent all these years chasing after him.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, I remained ordinary and could never cross the insurmountable gulf between us.
I did not know whether my words had helped or whether the alcohol had numbed his mind, but Fu Yunshen soon closed his eyes and fell asleep.
By the time he woke, it was the middle of the night, and I had also fallen asleep against the sofa.
When I awoke the next morning, I was in my own bed. There was no need to guess—Fu Yunshen must have carried me back to my room the night before.
I was just about to get out of bed and wash up when a chime rang out. It was Little Bai, the system.
“Good morning, dear host!”
I replied, “Good morning, Little Bai!”
Although I could not see what Little Bai actually looked like, its voice made me think it was adorable.
“Dear host, because your affection score has not changed for quite some time, Little Bai managed to obtain a Heart-Flutter Pill for you. As long as you give it to your target and make sure you are the first person he sees afterward, he will develop feelings for you, and your affection score will increase by fifteen percent.”
As soon as it finished speaking, a pill appeared on the table. I looked at it and asked, “Can I have a few more?”
Little Bai replied, “No, you can’t! Each person may take only one Heart-Flutter Pill.”
I said, “Fine! If you had this thing, why didn’t you bring it out sooner?”
Little Bai answered, “How was I supposed to know you would be this hopeless, dear host? Your affection score hasn’t changed at all for so long. You’re truly the worst host I’ve ever had.”
I automatically blocked out everything Little Bai said afterward. Once I had washed up, I excitedly went downstairs to make breakfast.
The moment Fu Yunshen came downstairs, I greeted him with a bright smile.
“President Fu, here you are. This is the antidote for the next few days.”
Fu Yunshen took the pill and glanced at it with disdain.
“Why is this one so large?”
I felt a little guilty, so I hardened my tone.
“Take it or leave it. If you don’t want it, give it back.”
With some hesitation, Fu Yunshen swallowed the Heart-Flutter Pill.
“This antidote is sweet this time.”
Without thinking, I replied, “The taste of falling in love must be sweet, of course!”
Fu Yunshen stared at me. “What did you say?”
“N-Nothing.”
I answered with a smile, standing firmly in front of him. I was afraid that when the pill took effect, he might not be able to see me.
After swallowing it, Fu Yunshen walked over to the dining table to eat, and I hurriedly sat down across from him.
Throughout breakfast, nothing unusual happened to Fu Yunshen at all.
I returned to my room and asked, “Little Bai, what is Fu Yunshen’s affection score now?”
“Affection score: zero.”
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I froze after hearing Little Bai’s answer.
“Has your pill expired?”
Little Bai replied, “The Heart-Flutter Pill doesn’t have an expiration date. This makes no sense. What exactly is going on…?”
There was a knock at the door. Fu Yunshen stood outside.
“Little Fish, are you dressed?”
“Yes, almost.”
On the way to the company, Little Bai’s voice suddenly rang out.
“Host!”
I was so startled that I shuddered.
Fu Yunshen looked at me with concern.
“What’s wrong?”
Little Bai continued, “Host, don’t be nervous. Only you can hear me.”
“Little Fish?”
Seeing me staring blankly, Fu Yunshen called my name again.
“I—I’m fine.”
“Host, are you sure you haven’t chosen the wrong target?”
I was puzzled.
“Didn’t you tell me that my target was named Fu Yunshen?”
Little Bai replied, “I was only following the list. The target is indeed named Fu Yunshen, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the Fu Yunshen standing in front of you. Otherwise, why hasn’t your affection score changed at all after so long?”
I asked, “Can you only detect the affection score of the target?”
“Yes.”
That meant the affection score had remained at zero not because Fu Yunshen did not like me.
The thought gave me a small, secret thrill.
Sensing what I was thinking, Little Bai reminded me, “Host, you can only continue living if you successfully win over the real Fu Yunshen.”
“I know.”
Today, Fu Yunshen gave me several reports and asked me to process the data, but I could not concentrate. As a result, I kept making mistakes here and there.
Fu Yunshen noticed that I was distracted and told me to take a break.
With my superior’s permission, I immediately slumped over my desk.
Which one of them was my real target?
What if the Fu Yunshen I had to win over turned out to be a burly, foot-scratching man? What would I do then?
Little Bai was completely unreliable. It sent me off to win someone over without identifying the person, leaving me to find him myself based only on his name.
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