My system gave me one job: save the brooding male lead. He was a gorgeous wealthy heir, sent abroad young. But a car crash had left him paralyzed, turning him bitter, cynical, and desperately starved for affection. Luckily, I suffered from a severe savior complex. I spent three years giving him unconditional warmth, taking care of him so thoroughly I practically babied him back into the womb. But the moment I showed up with a bouquet to confess my feelings, he threw the flowers straight into the trash. His voice dripped with mockery. “Stop acting. I’ve been able to hear your conversations with your system this entire time.” “Did you really think I loved you? The only difference between you and those gold diggers is that you’re free.” Watching my stunned expression, he let out a cold, sharp laugh. “What? You’re allowed to play me, but I’m not allowed to play you?” I was quiet for a few seconds. Then, I gave him a soft, accepting smile. “It’s okay. If you felt even a single second of happiness over these past three years, then our meeting had meaning.” “It doesn’t matter if the mission failed. I’ll just find someone else to romance. Take care of yourself, Henry. Goodbye.” Ignoring his frozen expression, I logged out and left his world. 1 Six months later, I saw Henry again. The system informed me that I had to romance him a second time. He was sitting in his wheelchair, clutching a bottle of hard liquor, smelling like an absolute distillery. His strikingly handsome features were utterly ruined by exhaustion, his eyes bloodshot. Standing in front of him, I couldn’t help but sigh. People who have never been loved don’t know how to love others, and they certainly don’t know how to love themselves. I soaked a towel in warm water and walked over to his side. Taking the bottle from his grip, I gently wiped the grime and alcohol from his face and hands. He opened his eyes, glaring at me with a wild, feral hostility. “I told you all to get the hell…” His voice cut off instantly. He blinked, staring at me as if looking at a ghost. Tears spilled from his beautiful, hollow eyes, chasing each other down his cheeks. In the span of a heartbeat, his silent weeping broke into a violent, sobbing wail. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, burying his face in my stomach. “I thought you abandoned me,” he choked out between sobs. “Why did you come back?” I hesitated for a mere two seconds before his voice spiked, cracking with a desperate, ragged edge. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Paige, what is this supposed to mean?” “Talk to me! Say something! Please, say something!” He was completely wasted. If he were sober, his stubborn pride and tangled ego would never have allowed him to show me this kind of vulnerability. But there was no point trying to reason with a drunk. I reached out and stroked his hair, using the same endless patience I had shown him a thousand times before. “I didn’t abandon you.” “Whenever you need me, I’ll be here.” His body stiffened. Then, he clung to me even tighter, crying like a child. In my mind, the system whispered, Host, I know I usually call you a bleeding heart, but this is next-level martyrdom. He wasted three whole years of our lives. Have you already forgotten the horrible things he said to you last time? I kept running my fingers through Henry’s hair, replying to the system in my head. “I haven’t forgotten. But does it really matter?” “Once the mission is done, we won’t ever see each other again. Why waste energy holding a grudge against a temporary passenger in my life?” The system went quiet. I helped Henry into bed and cleaned up his messy bedroom. Only when I was finished did the system speak up again. Host, I honestly can’t tell if you’re a saint or just completely cold-blooded. This second run has two objectives. You need to max out both his affection meter and his regret meter. That means you don’t just have to make him fall madly in love with you, you also have to make him suffer through agonizing regret. Are you sure you can pull this off? 2 Henry was my first target. He came from a wealthy family, but his parents both had their own secret lovers and never gave him a shred of warmth. Before he could even speak English properly, he was shipped off to boarding school across the ocean. The only people around him were hired nannies, drivers, and bodyguards. Just as he survived a chaotic childhood, a car accident shattered his legs at the age of ten. During our three years together, I poured every ounce of my energy into him. Because he was deeply insecure, I made sure to reply to his messages instantly. Rain or shine, I always showed up right on time. Because he starved for care, I took over his cooking, cleaning, and daily life, constantly monitoring his physical and emotional health. I used to think the fleeting softness in his eyes meant he was being touched by my devotion. But I was wrong. He had known the truth from the very beginning. “Did you really think I loved you? The only difference between you and those gold diggers is that you’re free.” Yet, I didn’t hate him for those wasted years. When we parted last time, my words had been entirely genuine. “It’s okay. If you felt even a single second of happiness over these past three years, then our meeting had meaning.” I could still picture his stunned, pale face from that day. That was why I knew, without a doubt, that this second attempt would succeed. 3 I slept on the sofa in Henry’s living room that night. Even though it was just a couch, it was far more comfortable than most beds, and I managed a solid eight hours of sleep. In my dreams, the system kept rambling about how it had patched the audio bug so Henry could no longer hear our thoughts. It insisted we had to succeed this time. When I opened my eyes, I saw Henry sitting in his wheelchair, his eyes red and swollen, staring down at me blankly. I sat up, greeting him naturally. “Morning. What are you in the mood for? I can whip up some breakfast.” Henry’s voice was freezing. “What are you doing in my house?” I grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge to help soothe his puffy eyes. His body tensed when I pressed it to his face, but he didn’t pull away. “My system mentioned you weren’t doing too well. I thought you might need me, so I came back to check on you.” Henry gripped the armrests of his wheelchair, his gaze turning mocking. “Don’t flatter yourself. Me, need you? Who do you think you are?” “Just because you spent three years acting like a desperate lapdog doesn’t mean you’re actually my girlfriend.” My hands paused. I placed the cold bottle on his lap. Without a single word, I turned and walked toward the front door. Behind me, a heavy thud echoed. In his panic to stop me, he had forgotten he couldn’t walk and had tumbled out of his chair. I immediately turned back to help him up. His face was flushed with anger and embarrassment as he snarled, “Get off me! I don’t need your…” The system groaned in my head. Host, you really drew the short straw with this guy. He’s a nightmare. What kind of sweet talk are you going to use to pacify him this time? I hoisted Henry back into his wheelchair and answered the system. “No sweet talk. He told me to get lost, so I’m getting lost.” 4 I stood before Henry, looking down at him with a soft, gentle gaze. “Yesterday you blamed me for leaving you. I thought you really needed me, but I guess that was just the alcohol talking.” “I’m sorry, Henry. I lied to you for three years, and now I’m back here bothering you again.” I gently smoothed out his wrinkled collar, turned around, and walked toward the exit once more. But I had barely taken a step before I felt a heavy tug. Henry had grabbed the hem of my jacket, gripping it so hard the veins on the back of his hand bulged. I turned back, wearing a look of mild confusion. “Is something wrong?” Henry ground his teeth, struggling for a long moment before muttering, “Who said you could leave?” I gently pried his fingers off my jacket. “You did. Didn’t you just tell me to get lost?” He choked on his words, his face flushing a deep, embarrassed red. The silence stretched between us for another thirty seconds before I finally spoke. “If you want me to stay, you have to be honest with me.” “Tell me you missed me, that you need me, and ask me to stay.” Henry’s expression soured even further. To bow his head, to swallow his pride, and to utter such vulnerable words to a liar like me was agonizing for him. But as his eyes fell on my retreating figure, he finally forced the words out. “I… I missed you. And I need you.” “Please stay and keep me company. Are you happy now?” It was a simple plea, but to him, it seemed more humiliating than begging on his knees. He stared at me with bloodshot eyes, looking as if he would drag us both to the grave if I dared refuse. I held his gaze for a few seconds. Then, I reached out and gently ran my fingers through his hair. Leaning down, I wrapped my arms around him. His body went rigid, but then he greedily tightened his arms around my waist, burying his face in my neck and breathing me in. “I’m glad you told me the truth, Henry.” “You were drunk yesterday, so you probably forgot what I said.” “I told you, I didn’t abandon you. Whenever you need me, I’ll be here.” It was a beautifully crafted, utterly empty promise. Yet hearing it made Henry hold me even tighter. The system suddenly squealed in my head. Host! The progress bar moved! Finally! How is this possible? He knows you’re just playing a game! I gently stroked Henry’s cheek. His eyelashes fluttered as he bit his lip, subconsciously leaning his face into my palm. It was a familiar gesture. The stray dogs I used to feed back home would nuzzle my hand the exact same way. Feeling the warmth against my palm, I took a moment to reply to the system. “Maybe because, outside of me, nobody has ever given him this much affection and security.” “So what if he knows it’s fake?” The system went silent. And Henry, suddenly realizing how pathetic he must look, pulled back and fell silent too. 5 He pushed me away, though he didn’t dare utter another word about making me leave. “Paige, I know you only came back for your mission,” he said, his voice flat. “But since you’re here, you might as well play your part.” He pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message to someone. A moment lator, he looked up at me, his eyes full of deliberate provocation. “My girlfriend is coming over for dinner tonight. Get things ready.” I nodded smoothly. “Of course. Could you ask her what she likes to eat?” Henry was clearly annoyed by my calm reaction. He scowled and muttered, “Whatever.” I didn’t let his dismissive attitude stop me. I drove to the grocery store, bought a variety of fresh ingredients, and spent the afternoon preparing a lavish spread. Around twilight, there was a knock at the door. A beautiful girl stood on the threshold, holding a bouquet of red roses. I offered her a polite nod, hung up my apron, and walked out the door. The weather in this city was always lovely. I found a quiet outdoor café, ordered an iced Americano, and sat on the patio, watching the world go by. The warm afternoon sun gradually dipped below the horizon, and the air grew cool as darkness settled over the streets. My system, which had gone quiet for a while, suddenly chimed in and panicked. Host, what are you doing? Why aren’t you going back to keep an eye on them? They might be making out right now! Men are fickle creatures. If he moves on, we’re screwed! I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m the one who needs to worry.” I pulled out my phone and switched it on. Instantly, a barrage of notifications flooded my screen. They were all from Henry. [Are you seriously gone? You didn’t even bother to say goodbye?] [What is your problem? You’re throwing a tantrum just because my girlfriend came over? Who do you think you are?] [Why aren’t you replying? Stop acting so cold.] [????] [Answer me.] [Pick up the phone.] [I told you to pick up the phone!] […Did you turn your phone off?] The system was dumbfounded. What is wrong with him? “He’s always been like this,” I replied. The system argued, No way! He’s usually the ice king! I slipped my phone back into my pocket. “He only had the luxury of being the ice king because I used to reply to him within seconds.” My iced Americano had melted to room temperature. I finished the last sip and walked back to Henry’s apartment. Even though I expected a scene, I still winced slightly when I opened the door. The place was a disaster. The dining table was overturned, food splattered all over the floor. Every piece of glassware had been shattered to pieces. Henry sat in his wheelchair, his face pale with rage, gripping his phone. His right hand was bleeding heavily from a deep cut caused by a shard of glass. I set my bag down on the console table and walked over to him, frowning. “What happened here?” “I was only gone for a couple of hours. How did you manage to do this to yourself?” 6 Henry looked up at me, his entire frame trembling with rage. “Where…” he spat through clenched teeth, “where the hell did you go? Why was your phone off?” “I was just sitting at a café, having a drink,” I answered honestly. “As for my phone, it must have turned off by accident.” Henry suddenly hurled his phone against the floor, shattering it completely. “Who gave you permission to turn it off? Who said you could ignore my messages?” I let out a soft sigh and leaned down to look him in the eyes. “Why are you so worked up? Are you really that afraid of me ignoring you?” “If you are, you need to say it. I can’t read your mind.” Henry wasn’t stupid. He caught on immediately. He grabbed my arm, his grip tight and angry. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” I ignored his question. “I’ll say it again.” “If you’re afraid of me leaving, of me ignoring you, you have to tell me.” Henry glared at me, his eyes burning with something close to hatred. “Paige… you…” But as the silence stretched between us, his anger slowly dissolved, replaced by a raw, fragile panic. Finally, after nearly three minutes of quiet, his defenses crumbled. “Fine! Yes, I’m terrified of you leaving! I’m terrified of you ignoring me! Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?” I retrieved the first-aid kit, sat on the sofa beside him, and began to clean and bandage his bleeding hand. Only when I felt his tense muscles start to relax did I speak. “I didn’t ignore you on purpose, Henry.” “But you have a girlfriend now. I have to respect her and keep a proper distance, don’t I?” Henry’s fingers tightened around mine. “No.” I looked at him, feigning confusion. “No what?” “She… she isn’t my girlfriend,” he muttered, looking away. “I paid her to come over just to make you jealous.” Perhaps because he had already thrown away his dignity, confessing this didn’t seem to bother him as much. I let out a gasp of surprise. “You really are something… Since when did you become so childish?” I reached out and softly patted his head. “How about this, Henry? From now on, whenever you text me, just tell me honestly that you miss me.” “If you do, I promise to reply instantly. I won’t make you wait even a second. Deal?” Having endured so many blows to his pride in a single day, Henry didn’t agree immediately. I didn’t press him. I called a cleaning service to sweep up the wreckage of the apartment. Later that night, after Henry had gone to bed, I slipped out of the apartment to take a walk in the courtyard downstairs. The system was buzzing excitedly in my head. Host! I am never calling you a saint again. You are absolutely devious! But the progress bar didn’t move today. Are you tossing and turning because of that? I smiled. “Don’t worry. The progress will come.” If you say so, the system mumbled. About twenty minutes later, my phone vibrated. I pulled it out. It was a message from Henry. [Where are you?] [It’s late. Where did you go?] I stared at the screen, intentionally leaving him on read. A minute later, another text popped up. [I miss you. Please text me back.] 7 I didn’t hesitate. I replied instantly: [I’m just getting some fresh air downstairs, sweetie. I’m on my way back up now.] The system was silent for several seconds before letting out a gasp as the progress bar ticked upward. I headed back upstairs. Henry was sitting anxiously on the edge of the bed. When he saw me walk through the door, his shoulders visibly dropped in relief. I walked over to him and gently cupped his face. “I was just taking a stroll. Don’t be scared.” “I’ll always be by your side.” Henry stared at me for a few seconds. Then, suddenly, he violently slapped my hand away. “Don’t you get sick of hearing yourself talk?” “You act like you’re completely devoted to me, like you actually care. But it’s all for your stupid mission!” “I know exactly what you’re doing. You’re training me like a dog, and you love seeing me like this, don’t you?” He glared at me, but beneath the anger, there was a flicker of desperate hope in his eyes. He was waiting for me to deny it. But as the silence dragged on, that hope slowly curdled into bitter resentment. “Stop looking at me with those fake, pitying eyes!” “Do you really think I’d die without you? Don’t think so highly of yourself!” He turned his back to me, burying himself under the covers. But right at that moment, the system chimed with a sudden sub-mission. Sub-mission triggered: Make the target say “I love you” within 24 hours. Failure will result in an electric shock penalty. Given the timing, I was convinced the main system was doing this purely to torment me.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “497733”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel
Leave a Reply