Chapter Six: Do You Dare?

“No, you can’t. Life is precious and you only get one. If you die, it means failure,” the system intoned.

“Therefore, Host, you must cherish your life,” 007 continued. “From my understanding, these monstrous grasses are highly aggressive. You should have your target accompany you to ensure your safety.”

So, did she almost die last night? That near miss with the falling rocks—she’d only survived by sheer luck.

Xu Nuo kept her composure. “Then why didn’t you warn me when I was coming over just now?”

007 replied with pride, “If you got hurt and your target rushed out at a critical moment to save you, wouldn’t that be even more romantic and beautiful? It would surely heat up your relationship faster!”

“That’s hardly necessary,” Xu Nuo replied coolly.

007 sighed. Its host was perfect in every way, except that she was far too independent-minded.

The underlings followed Xu Nuo over, looking fierce and ready for action, but she simply stood there, lost in thought at her destination, making no move to attack. Were they supposed to fight or not?

The audience in the livestream chat was having a field day:

“What’s there to be afraid of? Just charge ahead—fight if you’re not convinced!”

“I’ll bet fifty cents that Gu Xingze is nearby. The streamer is too weak. How did she deal with those crazy grasses last time?”

“Streamer, go up and attack the grass once, I’ll send you a box of fruit.”

“If you attack twice, I’ll send a generator.”

“Hahaha… You’re all betting she won’t dare, right?”

“Go on, are you scared, streamer?”

“Heh, where are all the people who hyped her up before? With her cowardly act, she still dares boast?”

Xu Nuo glanced at the viewer count—over five hundred now, just overnight. The comments scrolled quickly, and it was all either bickering or fueling the fire.

007 was at its wit’s end. Other romance streamers had sweet, affectionate chats, so why was its host’s stream always a powder keg?

Xu Nuo finally spoke up. “Everyone, let me say a few words.”

Her sudden voice startled the quarreling audience.

“So you can see us? We thought you’d muted the chat.”

Anyone inexperienced would’ve been rattled by such a barrage of sarcasm and criticism, let alone able to maintain such an air of detachment—but Xu Nuo did just that, as if the drama in the chat had nothing to do with her.

“I trust you all keep your word. If I go up and attack the monster grass a few times, you’ll reward me, right?” Xu Nuo’s eyes curved like sweet crescent moons, innocence and sincerity in her expression, like a pitiful soul pleading for help.

“Of course, we keep our promises. Everyone here can bear witness.”

“Watch closely, then.” Xu Nuo drew a knife and dashed forward.

“Miss Xu!!” her underlings cried, stunned.

With a few swift moves, she flashed across the mountainside so quickly that no one even saw her action. In just a few seconds, she returned, opening her hand to reveal several muddy roots.

“Run! Another landslide is coming,” Xu Nuo warned.

Her underlings, already standing at a safe distance, scattered instantly, vanishing like the wind.

Stimulated, the roots convulsed and twitched like a nest of worms. Half the mountainside trembled, dust billowing.

007 couldn’t help urging, “Host, what are you waiting for? Run!”

“I’m posing,” Xu Nuo replied calmly. “It has to look impressive, not desperate.”

“...?”

“Otherwise the underlings won’t listen to me.”

If she hadn’t shown off during yesterday’s landslide, they’d probably think she was just Gu Xingze’s kept woman.

“Your logic is sound, Host, but aren’t you in a live romance game?” 007 asked, genuinely puzzled.

“That’s right.” Xu Nuo smiled softly, closed her eyes, and crossed her hands over her abdomen.

“Are you mad?” Gu Xingze’s angry shout rang in her ears. Just as when they first met, he grabbed her by the collar, lifting her up, his breath disordered as he stared at her.

“I knew you’d come to save me,” Xu Nuo murmured, her voice gentle.

“You…” Gu Xingze looked at her pitiful face, and for a moment, could not utter a single reproach.

“Ouch!” He dropped her to the ground. Fortunately, no one else was around, or her dramatic act would have been for nothing.

Xu Nuo appeared completely at ease, but 007 was terrified—if a single rock had fallen differently, the host would have been a goner.

“You see?” Xu Nuo said to 007. “The romantic scene is all here: dancing among falling rocks, gazes locked, the perfect atmosphere. And you got your hero rescuing the damsel, too.”

Beep—
Heartthrob Points +15

007 was stunned, then numb with disbelief. “What about this makes Gu Xingze’s heart race? What’s so romantic about it?” If it had a heart, it would be having palpitations by now.

Xu Nuo smiled at Gu Xingze. “Thank you for saving me just now.”

“No need.” His gaze was complicated. With her skills, she could have dodged easily—why pretend to be helpless? Yet, knowing she did it deliberately, he still couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

“Gu, it took all my strength to get these two roots. We should take them home and study them carefully. Maybe we’ll discover something.” The grass’s main destructive power lay in its roots, but once cut, they were no longer dangerous—just limp and lifeless, like frostbitten eggplants.

The stalks looked ordinary, but the roots resembled sweet potatoes and exuded a faint vegetal sweetness.

Xu Nuo asked the system, “Little Seven, do you think this root is high in starch? Is it poisonous?”

007 replied, “Yes, it’s rich in starch and non-toxic. In theory, it’s edible.”

Xu Nuo glanced at the root-covered cliff—despite two landslides, there were still plenty left. Looking from the slope to her hand, she realized she’d found something that was safe, abundant, and edible.

“The streamer’s not actually thinking about eating those monster roots, is she?”

“What’s she plotting? Isn’t there an easier monster to fight?”

“Don’t bother, streamer. That thing is really tough.”

“Can you all quiet down and fulfill your promises?” Xu Nuo said, having memorized those few IDs and now reading them out loud. As long as she wasn’t embarrassed, it was the others who would feel awkward.

The named viewers grudgingly kept their word. Their intention had been to make things difficult for Xu Nuo, to see her fail, and though she did as they asked, the outcome was nothing like what they’d expected. They had meant to toy with her, but in the end, it felt as though she’d played them instead.

“Host, do you dare to kiss that handsome guy next to you? If you do it, I’ll send you a martial arts manual—guaranteed to let you carve a bloody path through a horde of zombies.”

Gu Xingze watched as Xu Nuo stood there, stunned, her face cycling through a range of emotions—delight, pride, and a hint of… was that shyness?