A kiss?
The corner of Fu Shijing’s lips twitched slightly. What on earth was going on inside this woman’s head?
999 silently gave a thumbs up. He had never expected Shen Nuan to be so impressive, actually daring to make such a bold request.
【Boss, our world of lovestruck fools needs talents like you. The ultimate goal of a licking dog is to keep licking until becoming the dog trainer. You’re amazing, you’re practically my idol.】999 showered her with praise.
A dog trainer?
Shen Nuan had no such ambitions. She only wanted to earn one hundred million and survive.
Without giving her any chance to explain, Fu Shijing set her down once they reached the lobby.
“Handle it yourself.”
After saying that, he turned to leave.
Panicking, Shen Nuan grabbed his arm and said with a flushed face, “Fu Shijing, I was wrong. If you don’t want to kiss, then we won’t kiss. Please don’t leave.”
Fu Shijing glanced at her hand.
“Let go.”
He was telling her to let go again. Shen Nuan resigned herself and obediently released him.
【I thought the male lead would take Boss home. I can’t believe he’s abandoning us already.】999 lamented.
【Just like you said, if he pitied his pursuers so easily, I wouldn’t have chased him for so long. Unless it’s the female lead.】
999 nodded. After all, this was a one-on-one sweet romance.
Shen Nuan continued trying to gain his sympathy.
“Fu Shijing, I don’t have a driver anymore. Could you take me home? I twisted my ankle.”
She carefully moved her foot, her face full of pain.
“It hurts so much, I’m not lying. Please help me.”
Shen Nuan was genuinely in pain, enough to make her bare her teeth.
“Get in.”
Even Fu Shijing himself was surprised after saying those words. He had actually pitied her.
“Thank you.”
Shen Nuan hopped into the car on one foot. Seeing her cheerful expression, Fu Shijing asked, “Where to?”
“I live in Jixiang Garden, so it’s just Jixiang Street. Sorry to trouble you.”
She had been living there all this time? That old, rundown place?
He instructed, “To Jixiang Street.”
The driver respectfully answered, “Yes, sir.”
As the car started, silence slowly filled the interior.
Seeing him looking out the window, clearly unwilling to talk to her, Shen Nuan wasn’t discouraged. The fact that he had allowed her into the car had already exceeded her expectations.
What troubled her now was figuring out what topic would count as flattering him in the eyes of the System.
The car sped forward, and if she didn’t speak soon, they would arrive home.
Putting on a shy expression, she looked at the man beside her.
“Um, did you see the gift I gave you?”
Fu Shijing remembered the tiny bracelet in his pocket. He should have thrown it away or ignored it completely, but seeing the red bracelet on his friend’s hand somehow bothered him, and in a moment of impulse, he had taken it.
He didn’t answer. Shen Nuan assumed he neither liked nor wanted it, so she reluctantly painted a future promise.
“My family’s having some difficulties right now. When I start working and earn money, I’ll buy you another gift, okay?”
Faced with his silence, Shen Nuan felt as though she were putting on a one woman show, but she refused to give up.
“Fu Shijing, I really wish I could’ve been there on your birthday.”
In other words, she wanted to spend it with him.
After speaking, Shen Nuan secretly glanced at him and grew anxious.
【Little Nine, wasn’t I obvious enough?】She even began doubting her communication skills.
【That’s already very obvious. The male lead’s so smart, he definitely understands what you mean.】999 offered his opinion.
So he was deliberately ignoring her.
Shen Nuan felt stifled but helpless. Since she had no choice but to pursue him, she could only shamelessly continue.
“I really want to celebrate your birthday with you. I want to make a cake for you myself. I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance.”
Fu Shijing finally spoke. “Are you done?”
Joy flickered inside Shen Nuan.
“Fu Shijing, I really want to spend your birthday with you.”
He glanced at her and uttered coldly, “You’re noisy.”
Shen Nuan: “……”
At this moment, she should have felt wronged and burst into tears, but after trying for a long time, she couldn’t cry.
Shen Nuan viciously pinched her thigh again, and tears instantly sprang to her eyes.
“Fu Shijing, do you really hate me that much? Waaa…”
She bit her trembling lip and sobbed softly, desperately trying not to cry out loud.
After only a few days apart, this woman had become such a crybaby. Irritated, Fu Shijing threatened her.
“If you cry again, I’ll throw you out.”
Knowing he was capable of doing it, Shen Nuan nervously grabbed his arm.
“Don’t throw me away.”
Her eyes were red, sparkling tears hanging inside them, but she didn’t dare let them fall.
Seeing that tear-streaked little face, delicate as pear blossoms in the rain, Fu Shijing inexplicably felt displeased.
“I’ll never like you. Give up.”
With other women, one cold glance was enough to make them retreat, but she was an exception.
Noisy like a chirping sparrow, and unfortunately, one deeply devoted sparrow that loved confessing her feelings.
Shen Nuan knew she would never gain his love, and she never expected to.
Forcing out an ugly smile, she pretended not to care.
“It’s okay. I know you don’t like me, but as long as you don’t have someone else, I won’t give up.”
An inexplicable emotion stirred within his chest. Ignoring the strange feeling, he remained expressionless.
“If you insist on suffering, that’s your business.”
Shen Nuan humbled herself to the extreme.
“As long as you don’t hate me, that’s enough.”
Fu Shijing’s heart trembled slightly, but he said nothing.
She had already made up her mind. If she could earn one hundred million and survive, she would never appear before him again. Even if they crossed paths, she would never disturb him.
【Little Nine, I’ve already said all that, and he’s still unmoved. I’m really curious, how did he fall for the female lead? Didn’t you say it was love at first sight?】
Although Shen Nuan knew she had transmigrated into a sweet romance novel, she had never actually read it. Everything she knew about the plot came from the System, and even then there were missing details.
【The female lead accidentally got hit by the male lead’s car while leaving work. The moment he saw her through the window, he fell in love at first sight.】
999 couldn’t understand human emotions.
【That’s so bizarre.】
【It really is, but it’s a novel after all.】Shen Nuan was so embarrassed she wanted to dig out a two bedroom apartment with her toes.
When that part of the story came, she really wanted to witness it herself. Could love at first sight really happen so easily?
Maybe the male and female leads had protagonist halos.
【But why haven’t I received any reward? Doesn’t this count as pursuing him?】
999 stroked his chin and swayed his head.
【No! The boss hasn’t taken any practical action. Just talking isn’t enough, unless…】
【Unless what?】Shen Nuan asked curiously.
【Unless you can move the male lead emotionally. Then words alone would work.】
Move him emotionally?
Shen Nuan secretly stole a glance at the man beside her. If she could move him emotionally, would she have to pursue him so painfully?
That path was too difficult. It would be better to think of actual actions.
Even while looking out the window, Fu Shijing could still feel her sneaky gaze.
He should have thrown her out, but the image of her swollen ankle surfaced in his mind, and in the end, he said nothing.
【Ding~ System credit received: 100,000 yuan.】
Shen Nuan was delighted and puzzled.
【I didn’t do anything. Why did money suddenly arrive? Little Nine, what’s going on?】
【Maybe the System only just detected Boss’s licking dog behavior. The money isn’t under my control.】999 explained.
【Can it lag too?】Shen Nuan was speechless.
999 laughed awkwardly.
【It’s a System. Sometimes it’s slow to react.】
What else could Shen Nuan say? She could only accept it.
Jixiang Street.
It was an old street lined with aging houses and narrow roads.
Even after arriving, Shen Nuan hadn’t found another chance to flatter him.
“Get out.”
His tone was indifferent, and she was already used to it.
She didn’t want to leave so soon, but she had no reason to stay.
“Thank you for bringing me home. I probably won’t appear in front of you for a while. Fu Shijing, don’t forget me, okay? I’ll come see you again.”
Ever since the Shen family went bankrupt, she had to earn money. Even part time jobs left her far less free than before.
Not appear?
Fu Shijing remembered that the last time he had seen her had been ten days ago.
Unexpectedly, he asked, “What are you doing now?”
Shen Nuan lowered her head and twisted her fingers.
“I’m going to work. Dad’s still immersed in the pain of bankruptcy, so I have to take responsibility for taking care of the family.”
She and her parents were renting in the old district. The area was crowded, with narrow alleys, no villas, no servants, and everything had to be done by hand.
In her previous world, Shen Nuan had never come from wealth. She had been an ordinary overworked employee, so she adapted easily, but the original owner’s parents were different.
They had lived luxurious lives, and the sudden change hit them hard. Her father shut himself indoors and became utterly dispirited, while her mother found a job to barely make ends meet.
Shen Nuan felt sorry for them but could do nothing except work and improve their situation.
So the reason she hadn’t appeared recently was because she had been working?
Fu Shijing looked at her, a complicated feeling arising inside him.
“I’m heading up now. Be careful on your way home.”
Shen Nuan gave him a sweet smile and got out. Because of her injured ankle, she couldn’t put weight on her left foot and could only hop along on her right.
【Little Nine, is he looking at me?】
【He is. Boss, do you think the male lead might feel sorry for you?】
【Please, I’m not the female lead. Why would he pity me? I think he’s just checking whether I’m faking the injury.】
Looking up at the endless stairs, Shen Nuan stopped.
The fifth floor.
Back then, they had rented the fifth floor because it was cheap. She could still climb it, but with an injured foot, it would be difficult.
【Little Nine, don’t you have any special powers? Systems in novels always help somehow.】
【Boss, I can help, but every time I use my powers, it consumes money from the System. If you’re willing, I can do it.】999 also wanted to help.
【How much?】If it was fifty thousand, she could accept it.
【Seeking assistance is charged according to severity, starting from five hundred thousand.】
【I sometimes only earn fifty thousand, and it wants to charge me five hundred thousand? That’s even worse than capitalism.】
999 spread his hands helplessly.
【Sorry, Boss. I can’t decide that.】
Shen Nuan sighed.
【I know, everyone has things they can’t control. I’ll just go up slowly and save the money.】
【Can you really manage?】999 worried.
【If I take it slowly, I should be fine.】
Just as she lifted her foot painfully, 999 suddenly screamed.
【Ahhhhh, Boss!】
Startled, Shen Nuan patted her chest.
【Little Nine, what are you shouting for? It’s the middle of the night, don’t scare me.】
999 hurriedly calmed down.
【The male lead got out of the car.】
Shen Nuan glanced toward the vehicle and quickly withdrew her gaze after seeing him.
【Why did he get out?】
【Maybe he thinks Boss is pitiful and came to help?】999 thought it was possible.
Shen Nuan immediately rejected the idea.
【Are you joking internationally? If he were that kind, I’d have earned enough money long ago.】
【We’ll know when he gets here.】999 stretched his neck, eager to listen.
“What are you standing here for?”
Fu Shijing stopped beside her.
“Why aren’t you going home?”
Shen Nuan smiled faintly.
“I was thinking about something. I’m going right now.”
She cautiously climbed one step. The pain twisted her face into a grimace, and if she hadn’t held the railing, she might have fallen.
Unable to watch any longer, Fu Shijing directly picked her up in his arms.
Caught off guard, Shen Nuan looked at him blankly, delighted and shocked.
“Fu Shijing.”
“Don’t move. Do you want to fall?” His voice carried a hint of threat.
“Oh.”
Shen Nuan obediently stayed still.
【Ding~ System credit received: 200,000 yuan.】
Hearing the familiar mechanical voice, hope reignited in her eyes.
【Boss, the male lead carried you again. I told you he came to help.】999 said proudly.
【Today he’s already shown mercy twice. I hope things like this happen every day.】
She hadn’t expected him to really help her. Previously, he hadn’t even wanted to acknowledge her.
【They definitely will.】
“What floor?” his voice came from above.
“Fifth.”
He climbed quickly without even breathing heavily.
Shen Nuan couldn’t help admiring how good his physique was.
When they reached the fifth floor, Fu Shijing put her down.
“Go inside yourself.”
He was leaving already?
Shen Nuan hurriedly said, “Fu Shijing, my house is a little messy. If you don’t mind, would you like to come in and sit for a while?”
“No need.”
Seeing him turn to leave, Shen Nuan panicked.
“Wait, Fu Shijing.”
He merely stopped.
“What else?”
Not wanting their relationship to remain stagnant, Shen Nuan felt that words alone weren’t enough. She needed action.
Hopping over on one foot, she stared at his broad back, nervous enough to repeatedly exhale.
“Fu Shijing, thank you for bringing me home.”
Without waiting for his response, she gathered her courage and hugged him from behind.
Feeling the soft curves pressed against his back, he instinctively reached for her hands.
Just as his large hand touched her smaller one, the woman behind him murmured affectionately,
“Fu Shijing, I really, really like you.”