Chapter Forty-Six: Amusing

The old butler said, "Miss Xu, you are the first girl the young master has shown such special attention to. He truly likes you."

007 sighed internally. "Ah... Host, you really have a heart of stone. You aren't even the least bit moved or saddened by this."

"Wasn't it all supposed to be a game?" Xu Nuo replied calmly. "Since it's a game, the only thing to do is to enjoy it."

007 was left speechless. Its host's way of thinking was always unorthodox, and she could always come up with responses that left others at a loss.

"Can't you have real feelings while playing a game..." 007 muttered in confusion.

Finally free from the butler's nagging, Xu Nuo returned to her room, only to find Lin Qisheng sitting on the windowsill.

"Sis..." he called her softly, sounding especially obedient.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was worried you might not be used to the living arrangements, so I brought you some of your usual things." Lin Qisheng unpacked the items and arranged them carefully, though from the look of the room, Xu Nuo clearly lacked for nothing.

Xu Nuo sprawled carelessly on the bed. This cheap little brother of hers, at least, was considerate.

"By the way," looking out the window, where the outline of the moon was faintly visible even in the bright daylight, she suddenly thought of someone, "how is Gu Xingze doing?"

"You've asked me about him before," Lin Qisheng replied. "Sis."

Familiarity breeds habit—the word "sis" slipped from his lips once more. "I'm really curious, why do you insist on leaving the camp?"

"I told you, it's a secret."

"A secret you can't share with me." Lin Qisheng gazed out the window, his tone light. "Fine, one day I'll work out your secret."

Xu Nuo was shrouded in mysteries, impossible to grasp, and that was exactly what fascinated Lin Qisheng most—he enjoyed a good challenge.

The search for antiques and data collection had come to an end. The small base under Sheng Ming's command was preparing to return north.

Sheng Ming said, "Whether you stay or leave, I won't force you."

"I'll think about it," Xu Nuo replied.

"Your answers are always so ambiguous," Sheng Ming sneered. "Is playing coy really that entertaining to you? Don't wait until the day my patience runs out."

"Well, let's wait and see," Xu Nuo replied.

[Sheng Ming, affection score +10]

007 cheered for this development. "Host, the system has detected a qualitative change in Sheng Ming's feelings toward you!"

"Be specific," Xu Nuo said.

"According to the latest Universal Calendar 2365 mental detection standard, his mental index 'a' has shifted from a fairly steady, horizontal fluctuation to—"

"In plain language," Xu Nuo interrupted.

"In short, he's getting anxious. Your reverse psychology worked wonders—it sped up his emotional progression toward you," 007 explained.

"Reverse psychology?" Xu Nuo questioned. She couldn't recall having used any such tactic.

Come to think of it, Sheng Ming was the slowest to progress among the three targets. Without any meticulous planning on her part, and given Sheng Ming's peculiar personality, even with her experience, she couldn't predict his thoughts or reactions. She could only take things one step at a time.

Xu Nuo shared her thoughts with 007.

007, not quite understanding but still impressed, said, "Host, I actually think Sheng Ming is the easiest of the three targets to pursue."

"Why?" Xu Nuo asked.

"Because his character is the simplest and most stereotypical—he's the classic domineering CEO. Haven't you read those kinds of novels before? Just follow the usual tropes and you'll be fine. Wasn't that what you did at the start?" At the time, it had thought the host was just playing around, but now it realized it had misunderstood her.

Xu Nuo thought back. At the time, she hadn't given it much thought—she did it simply because... it was fun.