Su Tao nodded frantically in her heart.
【Give up! Give up! Give up!】
She did not want the fifty billion anymore! She did not want Lu Shiyu either!
She only wanted to get out of here!
Fortune:
【Confirmation from the guide received.】
【Time reversal beginning now.】
【Countdown: Ten, nine, eight…】
Su Tao’s heart pounded like a drum as she nervously swallowed.
“Eat something.” Lu Shiyu was still holding the bowl of porridge.
It was seafood porridge with shrimp and dried scallops. The rice had been cooked until soft, and steam rose from the white porcelain bowl, carrying a fresh and savory aroma.
Su Tao used to love the seafood porridge Lu Shiyu made. Now, however, the smell only made her feel sick.
He crouched down in front of her, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to her lips.
Su Tao glared at him.
She was about to leave.
She would not have to be afraid of him anymore.
The thought made her courage swell like a balloon.
She raised her hand and knocked the spoon away. It clattered to the floor, the bowl shattered, and porridge splashed all over both of them.
A small sense of satisfaction rose in Su Tao’s heart.
“Lu Shiyu, you make me sick.”
【Fortune: Three, two, one.】
Su Tao closed her eyes and imagined herself being bathed in a beam of white light like in a movie, then erased from this dark room.
But nothing happened.
When she opened her eyes again, Lu Shiyu was still standing in front of her.
【Fortune: Unknown interference detected. Time reversal failed.】
Su Tao’s mind went blank with a buzz, and her entire body froze.
【Su Tao: Why did it fail?】
【Fortune: Investigating and attempting repairs…】
The courage Su Tao had finally gathered deflated completely, like a balloon pierced by a needle.
She raised her head and looked at Lu Shiyu.
He was staring at her expressionlessly. There was no anger or reproach in his eyes, only a calmness that made her scalp tingle.
If the system could not repair itself, would she have to remain locked up here forever and become Lu Shiyu’s captive?
In this world, Su Tao was an orphan. She had no family and barely had any friends at school.
It was summer vacation now, which meant no one would notice that she was missing. No one would come looking for her.
Even if she tried to preserve her life by obeying him and doing everything she could to please him, there would eventually come a day when he grew tired of her.
What would he do with her then?
Su Tao suddenly remembered the way he cooked.
He was excellent with a knife and very skilled at preparing meat. He could separate meat from bones so cleanly that not a trace was left behind.
He even knew how to use tenderizing powder and kiwi fruit to make meat soft and prepare delicious meatball soup.
He had majored in medicine during university. He probably knew how to handle a corpse.
While Su Tao’s thoughts ran wild, Lu Shiyu had already cleaned up the broken bowl.
He swept up the porcelain shards and wiped the porridge from the floor twice. His movements were efficient and quiet.
After putting down the mop, he walked toward her.
Every hair on Su Tao’s body stood on end. The satisfaction she had felt from getting back at him vanished like a bucket of ice water poured over her from head to toe.
Lu Shiyu approached and suddenly raised his hand.
Su Tao thought he was going to hit her. She instinctively closed her eyes, hunched her shoulders, and turned her face away.
His hand landed gently against her cheek, wiping away a small spot of porridge.
He noticed how she had flinched and let out a soft sigh.
“Taotao, I won’t hurt you.”
Su Tao opened her eyes and met his gentle gaze.
His voice was soft, almost as if he were soothing a child.
“I love you. How could I bear to hurt you?”
His gentle words only made Su Tao angry.
“This isn’t love.” Her voice trembled. She knew this might provoke him, but she still said it. “Love means wanting someone to be happy. It doesn’t mean locking them up like this.”
Lu Shiyu said nothing.
He reached out, pulled her into his arms, and gently kissed her hair.
“I’m sorry, Taotao. I’m sorry.” His voice was muffled. “I know I’m being selfish. But I can’t let you leave me. I’ll make it up to you. I’ll treat you well for the rest of our lives.”
Su Tao’s gaze slowly became numb.
She did not push him away. She simply remained in his arms like a puppet, her eyes open as she stared at the wall behind him, which was completely covered with photographs of herself.
【Host, the problem has been identified.】
Fortune’s voice suddenly sounded again, and a spark of light returned to Su Tao’s dull expression.
【An electromagnetic interference device has been detected inside the room. It blocks high-powered signal transmission. The time reversal program can only continue after you leave the interference range. You need to get the key and leave this room.】
The light in Su Tao’s eyes immediately dimmed again.
Get the key? How?
The key was definitely on him.
But Lu Shiyu was intelligent and cautious.
Was she supposed to play mind games with him and find a way to steal the key? His IQ was 160, while she had never even passed mathematics. There was no way she could outsmart him.
As for using force? That was even more impossible. He was tall, exercised regularly, and could lift her with one hand.
There was only one option left.
Su Tao bit her lip, took a deep breath, and gathered the greatest courage she had ever had in her life.
She rose onto her toes and wrapped her arms around Lu Shiyu’s neck.
She could feel his body stiffen. The muscles in his neck tensed beneath her arms.
“Taotao.” His voice dropped, carrying a familiar huskiness. “What are you trying to do?”
Su Tao said nothing. She could not lie. If she spoke, her voice would tremble, and the moment it did, he would see through her.
She simply buried her face against his neck and rubbed against him the way he used to like.
Lu Shiyu’s breathing grew heavier.
Su Tao almost regretted it, but he gave her no chance to retreat. He wrapped an arm around her waist and lowered her onto the bed.
The mattress sank beneath them. He leaned close and pressed gentle kisses to her eyelids, the tip of her nose, and the corner of her lips.
His fingers slipped into her hair, his thumb lightly brushing behind her ear, a place he knew was particularly sensitive.
While enduring his affection, Su Tao slowly moved her hand down from his neck.
His shoulder.
His chest.
His waist.
Her fingertips reached the edge of his trouser pocket.
“Looking for the key?”
Lu Shiyu’s voice was soft beside her ear.
Su Tao’s hand froze.
He straightened and looked down at her.
The warmth in his eyes had not completely faded, but it had already been replaced by a clear, cold awareness.
He reached into his trouser pocket and took out a silver key, holding it up in front of her and giving it a small shake.
Su Tao’s face immediately went pale.
Lu Shiyu looked at her pale expression without becoming angry. He sighed, his expression filled with helpless indulgence.
“Eat first.”
He got off the bed and helped her sit up.
“Finish this bowl of porridge, and I’ll give you the key.”
Su Tao was not sure whether he was lying.
She no longer had any confidence that this man would keep his word.
But the porridge was still on the table, steam rising from it, and her stomach betrayed her with a quiet growl.
【Host, agree for now. As long as you can leave this room, I can help you get out of here. Don’t be afraid of him.】
It could not get any worse anyway.
Su Tao picked up the bowl and quickly finished the porridge. She held up the empty bowl for Lu Shiyu to see, her eyes shining as she stared at him.
“You promised me.”
Lu Shiyu smiled and placed the key in her palm.
“Ten minutes. I’ll give you ten minutes. If you can get out of here, I won’t stop you.”
Su Tao tightly gripped the key and ran toward the door.