Chapter Forty-Two: Very Well, You Have Truly Angered Me Now

Sheng Ming scoffed. “Stop pretending to be clueless. Aren’t you tired of playing such clichéd roles? I saw right through you from the very beginning—I’ve always known your intentions.”

“Oh? I don’t believe you,” Xu Nuo replied, feeling as if she were acting in some absurdist drama. The air itself seemed charged with a playful energy.

“Still feigning ignorance? Are you really not going to admit it?”

“I sometimes indulge you for amusement, but don’t misunderstand my feelings, and don’t expect to get anything from me,” Xu Nuo retorted, her tone airy. “Go ahead, keep acting. I’d like to see how long you can keep it up.”

With a few cryptic words, Young Master Sheng turned and strode off, his figure cold and imposing.

Xu Nuo, bewildered yet impressed, muttered, “Xiao Qi, did you understand what he was talking about?”

007 replied, “To be honest, Master, I don’t get it either.” For all the countless romance game worlds it had experienced, how could it fail to decipher the words of a single capture target?

Sheng Ming’s warnings had no effect on Xu Nuo; she continued as she pleased. Each time he delivered his “you know and I know” lines, she responded with pure bewilderment, sometimes tinged with irritation or impatience.

The butler, exhausted by their constant bickering, tried to intervene. “Miss Xu, the young master truly cares for you.”

“Really?” Xu Nuo answered, skeptical. If he cared, why didn’t her affection points increase even a little?

With a kind and accepting gaze, the old butler said, “You like the young master too. I can see it.”

Xu Nuo hesitated. “Um…”

Convinced of his own beliefs, the butler decided their relationship would warm with time, and began arranging outings for Xu Nuo. As for Young Master Sheng, despite his constant display of indifference, he always accompanied her.

“I just want to find the fire-ability brother you mentioned,” Sheng Ming declared haughtily, making it clear he didn’t want any misunderstanding.

“How childish,” Xu Nuo scoffed.

“Don’t get lost again on purpose,” Sheng Ming warned. “I’m not so patient as to play your childish games.”

[He doesn’t know what’s good for him! Xu the Empress, just kick him!]

[He’s going too far. Our Empress Xu has worked so hard, and his affection points are still in single digits.]

[This is getting boring—when will the host move on to the next world?]

[Might as well give up this task.]

After days of watching the airheaded ingenue and the domineering CEO, the audience was growing weary. The mood in the livestream had cooled, and the show’s popularity was waning. Ever diligent, 007 rushed to comfort the viewers: [Trust our dear host! She must have her reasons—she succeeded brilliantly the last two times, didn’t she?]

[Little System, weren’t you the one most doubtful of her before?]

[Yeah, do you even believe your own words now?]

[Sheng Ming is a tough nut to crack. If she can give up, she should.]

Contrarily, these comments only made 007 more rebellious: [No, I believe in the host! She’ll definitely succeed!]

[What if she fails the capture?]

007 gritted its teeth: [That’s impossible! If she fails…I’ll call you all 'Dad'!]

Xu Nuo drawled, “Xiao Qi, if you’re going to call me Dad, you might as well start now.”

007 pleaded, [Host, you’re really confident, aren’t you?]

“Of course. I’m reliable. I’ll show you in a moment,” Xu Nuo promised.

007 nodded, eyes sparkling: [Mhm!]

“Xu…Nuo?” Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded.

Xu Nuo snapped to attention, meeting a pair of bloodshot eyes.

“It really is you,” Lin Qisheng said, still in disbelief. “I’ve been looking for you for so long.”

“I…” Xu Nuo started, unsure what to say, when Lin Qisheng pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Don’t say anything yet.” Lin Qisheng held her close, trembling with the joy of recovery, barely able to contain his emotions.

The chat exploded:

[Exciting!]

[Lin Fei has returned.]

[Is this Empress Xu’s performance? Truly thrilling!]

Amidst the frenzy, 007 grew uneasy: [Host, you…you can handle this, right?]

In a shadowy corner not far away, Sheng Ming stared, stunned, at the sight of their embrace.

“Lin Qisheng?” Xu Nuo struggled. “Let me go.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Xu…” Lin Qisheng couldn’t bring himself to release her, terrified that she would vanish again without a trace.

Xu Nuo shoved him off forcefully. “Lin Qisheng, how did you find me?”

“I’ve been searching for you all this time,” he replied, guilt flooding his voice as he ensured she was unharmed.

Sheng Ming watched Xu Nuo’s figure intently. Even from a distance, it was clear the one who’d embraced her was a man—and judging by their posture, they clearly knew each other.

What kind of relationship allows for a hug at first meeting?

An unpleasant sensation surged within Sheng Ming. He couldn’t place it, but instead of hesitating, he strode toward them.

“…That’s how it’s been. I’ve been looking for you,” Lin Qisheng said softly, eyes full of cautious longing. “Miss Xu, it was my fault. Can you ever…”

At that moment: [Sheng Ming, affection +10.]

Xu Nuo was stunned. “!!!”

007 panicked: [This is bad! Sheng Ming is coming! Host, you and Lin Qisheng have to hide!]

“Why is he here?” Xu Nuo exclaimed, then urged Lin Qisheng, “Quick, hide! Don’t let him see you!”

“Why do I need to hide?” Lin Qisheng was confused by her sudden tension.

“I’ll explain later—just don’t show yourself or make a sound,” Xu Nuo insisted, shoving him away.

“Later?” The word sparked hope in Lin Qisheng. She was willing to see him again. Beaming, he obediently ran, waving at her as he went. “I’ll come find you again!”

The instant Lin Qisheng disappeared from sight, Sheng Ming seized Xu Nuo’s chin, his voice icy and fierce. “Who was that stray man just now?”

“What stray man?” Xu Nuo shot back, furious and bewildered. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Do you take me for a fool?” Sheng Ming raged. “I saw everything! You and that man were so intimate—shameless!”

“What nonsense? Take your filthy hands off me!” Xu Nuo broke free, righteous and indignant. “That was my brother!”

Sheng Ming sneered. “Your brother? If he’s your brother, why did he run away like a guilty thief?”

“What business is it of yours? Who do you think you are?” Xu Nuo rolled her eyes extravagantly. “What does it matter to you if I meet with my brother?”

“Fine. Now you’ve really angered me.” Sheng Ming’s last shred of reason told him this might be another one of her tricks, but he could no longer control his emotions. “If this is what you wanted, you’ve succeeded.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Isn’t this all for my attention?” he demanded. “So I’ll fall in love with you and bring you into the family?”

“Xu Nuo, I’ll tell you right now,” Sheng Ming gripped her face firmly. “Since you’ve chosen to provoke me, you’ll have to pay the price. I’ll reluctantly accept you, but you have no right to seduce other men.”

He leaned down—

Smack!

Smack, smack!

Xu Nuo shook the hand that stung from the slap. “Are you out of your mind?”