If a powerful virus were to break out, the consequences would be catastrophic.
But why was the System telling him all this?
“Scan result. Target Zhou Yanxing—no bugs in the code. Everything’s functioning normally.”
“…???”
He’d been about to ask, ‘How could there be no bugs?’ But even through the System’s mechanical tone, he could hear a heavy, soul-weary note—it sounded like the System was dead serious.
“Now the System needs your help,” it continued, rolling its little wheels over to Chi Zhan’s feet. “Zhou Yanxing’s favorability toward you has exceeded the threshold for friendship. You must guide him back to normal levels.”
“His favorability… how high is it now?” Chi Zhan asked, dazed.
He remembered the last update had been fifty-five.
High, but still within a reasonable range.
Outside, the sky had begun to clear. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting golden streaks across the morning sky. It poured in through the window and fell across the dining table in front of Chi Zhan, where floating motes of dust shimmered like a galaxy of tiny, spinning stars.
His phone, lying to the side, suddenly started vibrating.
Chi Zhan reached for it—
“He’s at seventy,” the System blurted out.
His hand froze mid-air.
In this world’s favorability scale, seventy meant: I have feelings for you.
Chi Zhan knew it well—it was a figure etched into his memory. If a player ever reached that level with a target, they basically had it in the bag.
But flipped around—if Zhou Yanxing had that level of favorability toward him—how was that even possible?
“You know what this means,” the System said gravely. “If this continues unchecked, something’s going to go seriously wrong. There’s only one solution.”
For some reason, a very bad feeling crept up Chi Zhan’s spine.
“…What solution?” he asked.
“Make him give up. If he stops pursuing you, this world might still have a chance. And the way to do that is simple: make him believe you’re already ‘taken.’”
Chi Zhan had just taken a sip of coffee. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind at once. At those words, he nearly choked and started coughing violently.
“You’re serious?” he asked in disbelief.
“Of course. All the romance targets have strong moral boundaries. If he believes you’re in a relationship, he’ll stop pursuing you. What happens afterward, we’ll figure out later.”
His phone was still buzzing, but Chi Zhan couldn’t care less now.
“Hold on,” he said, quickly retracing every step of the situation. “Is there any chance the main system made a mistake? I mean, the odds are low, but—”
The robot vacuum stared at him with its blank, expressionless face.
“The main system doesn’t make mistakes,” the System cut him off. “Just trust me—go do it!”
“But how the hell am I supposed to get married right now? That kind of thing would get seen through in a second!”
Chi Zhan felt like maybe he’d had too much coffee—or maybe the sunlight was just too bright—because his brain was definitely starting to spin.
“You don’t actually have to get married. Just get yourself a ‘boyfriend’—or fake one. Create enough convincing details to make Zhou Yanxing believe it’s real, and that’s enough. We’re running out of time,” the System emphasized. “Whether it’s a hint, an outright declaration, or literally dragging someone in front of him, you have to make him believe you’re taken. The targets all have strong pride. They won’t chase after someone who’s already spoken for. That includes you.”
“……”
There were just… too many problems with that plan!
“And also—”
The System didn’t get to finish.
Suddenly—bang, bang, bang—a loud knock sounded at the door.
Chi Zhan jumped in surprise and sprang to his feet.
Who would be at his place at this hour?
He went to the peephole for a glance—and immediately sucked in a sharp breath.
He opened the door. Zhou Yanxing was standing outside, arms crossed, eyes as cold as blades.
“Secretary Chi. It’s eight ten,” Zhou Yanxing said coolly. “Were you planning to make me wait downstairs all morning?”
“……”
He hadn’t expected Zhou Yanxing to come up here himself. He’d planned to finish breakfast and head over directly. The cruise didn’t set sail until ten—plenty of time even if he left at nine.
How was he supposed to know Zhou Yanxing had actually waited for him downstairs…?
“You’re not answering calls, not replying to texts. Didn’t seem so reluctant when you accepted the invitation. I’d love to know what’s so important that you’d dare stand up your boss.”
Zhou Yanxing was dressed impeccably today. Normally he wore suits, but today he was in a sleek, elegant black tuxedo. His hair was slicked back with meticulous care, sharp features on full display, and he radiated polished intensity.
He strode into the apartment like he owned the place. His eyes landed on the coffee and toast at the table. “This is the big emergency? Breakfast?”
“Uh… yeah. Pretty much.”
He didn’t have a better excuse anyway.
“What’s this?”
As Chi Zhan turned to close the door, he looked back—only to nearly drop dead on the spot. Zhou Yanxing was holding the robot vacuum.
“You still use something this clunky and outdated?”
“Put it down—now!”
“You have five minutes. Eat fast,” Zhou Yanxing said with zero interest in complying, his voice edged with warning. “Or we’re not going anywhere. We’ll just spend the weekend right here.”
Chi Zhan had no choice but to shuffle back to the table, eyes locked anxiously on Zhou Yanxing’s hands, terrified that one wrong move would reduce the robot to spare parts.
Zhou Yanxing, meanwhile, seemed oddly fascinated by the vacuum. He examined it for a moment, then pressed the power button.
“Why’s it not talking?” he muttered, giving it a tap. “Is it broken?”
The robot whirred in place. A childish voice rang out: “Vacuum robot at your service! Please select a function.”
“…Why does it sound like a kid?” Zhou Yanxing frowned and quickly switched to a standard male voice. Then he turned his attention to the screen. “Sweep, mop, water plants, walk the dog… You didn’t program any of this? It’s just sitting here collecting dust?”
