Yan Jiaqi walked into the bathroom, closed the door, and leaned against it weakly, gasping for breath.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her wildly pounding heart. It was beating so fast and hard that it felt as though it might leap straight out of her throat at any moment.
The room was exceptionally quiet. The only sound was the steady patter of night rain against the windowsill.
Strangely enough, despite the rain, it seemed as though moonlight still lingered in the sky, casting a dim shadow across the bathroom windowsill.
She stared at that patch of moonlight for a long while before her breathing gradually settled.
Following the knowledge that had been implanted in her memories, Yan Jiaqi turned on the shower.
Warm droplets slid down the girl’s small, fair chin, gathering in the shallow hollow of her collarbone and trembling there.
Her wet black hair clung around her ears, while the rising steam flushed her cheeks pink.
Thinking back to the fleeting touch on her forehead moments ago, she raised her arm and instinctively brushed her fingertips over the spot.
It was as though she could still feel the coolness of the man’s fingers and the sweet flutter it had caused in her heart.
Yan Jiaqi turned toward the fogged mirror, looking at her blurred reflection.
She touched her still-burning cheeks, then pressed a hand against her chest, trying to suppress her overly frantic heartbeat.
The Young Master.
Her husband.
For the first time in her life, those two words had been connected and become one.
It felt like a dream.
The husband she had in this world, Hua Feng, was not disgusted by her as the system and everyone else had claimed.
On the contrary, he had disciplined those who bullied her, given her money to spend, cared about the tiny wound on her wrist, and even told her to move into the master bedroom and live with him.
All of this made her believe that he was indeed her Young Master.
He simply didn’t remember her yet.
“Immortal, are you there?”
“Immortal?”
Yan Jiaqi called softly in her heart.
【……】
The system was speechless.
【Stop calling me Immortal.】
It sounded like some feudal relic.
Yan Jiaqi thought about it.
“Fine. From now on, I’ll call you Little Bucket.”
The system perked up an imaginary ear.
It was the first time a host had ever called it that.
For some reason, the name had an oddly simple, adorably silly quality to it.
Just like its host.
【Ahem. Why are you calling me?】
The system still sounded petulant. It was very good at holding grudges!
Yan Jiaqi, however, didn’t notice at all. She lowered her head and picked at her fingers.
“Little Bucket, later, what should I… how should I…”
【How to seduce the male lead, right?】
The system gave an arrogant little snort.
【Now you realize you’re a poor student? You didn’t think to cram before the big exam, and only now are you panicking?】
【You should at least binge a few of those Japanese movies. Classic scenarios can always come in handy!】
“Oh, oh. Speak more slowly. I need to write this down…”
【There’s no time. You can study on your own later.】
The system narrowed its imaginary eyes.
【Now, let me ask you the most basic question.】
“Go ahead.”
Wrapped in a bath towel, Yan Jiaqi sat properly on the toilet, waiting for Teacher Little Bucket’s assessment.
The system cleared its throat and asked the ultimate question:
【How are human beings born?】
Yan Jiaqi answered, “They’re born from their mother’s stomach.”
The system continued enthusiastically, patiently guiding her:
【Then how do people get into their mother’s stomach?】
Yan Jiaqi blinked.
“A man and a woman touch mouths, hug each other, and then they’ll have a baby.”
She looked utterly innocent, but her attitude was very serious, like a foolish student who had peeked at the answers in the back of the workbook and thought she had fully absorbed the knowledge, while actually having no idea how to solve the problem.
The system sighed.
There was no need to continue.
The assessment was over.
Result: kindergarten level.
Trying to discuss the mysteries of human reproduction with a young widow who had never been in a relationship was indeed asking for trouble.
【Forget it, forget it. I’ll guide you later. Just do as I say.】
Yan Jiaqi was somewhat worried.
“Will that really work?”
【What a joke. I’m a system! Do you know what big data is?】
【Later, I’ll combine the wisdom of countless romance novels and, according to the male lead’s personality and character, match you with the most suitable little sequence of moves. I guarantee you’ll win effortlessly~】
“Okay.”
Yan Jiaqi pursed her lips.
Seeing that she still seemed worried, the system casually reassured her:
【Relax. What’s there to panic about?】
【This is a romance-novel world. Even if you just stand there like a wooden post, the male lead will take the initiative and throw you onto the bed.】
【Because your character setting in the book is essentially the male lead’s tool for satisfying his desires.】
【So all you need to do is cooperate, satisfy his various needs, and make him happy. Simple, right?】
Amid the misty steam, Yan Jiaqi’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
The rain was still falling. Outside, the night was as thick and inky as if it could never be diluted. The enormous floor-to-ceiling windows were spotless and bright, reflecting the warm, hazy yellow light of the room.
When Yan Jiaqi emerged from the master bedroom bathroom, Hua Feng was sitting on the sofa in the sitting area, looking down at his phone. He was still wearing the same suit as before and seemed to have just finished a work call.
Hearing the movement, Hua Feng looked up in her direction.
The lighting in the bedroom was much softer than that in the study, reducing the cold, oppressive aura around him.
Yet when those deep eyes turned toward her, Yan Jiaqi still felt a faint shiver run through her.
She clutched the bath towel tightly around herself, like a little rabbit that had accidentally wandered into the territory of a great beast, standing awkwardly by the door with nowhere to go.
【Take off the bath towel.】
Hearing the system’s instruction, Yan Jiaqi lowered her eyes, her teeth unconsciously catching her lower lip.
Then she loosened the fingers gripping the edge of the towel.
The snow-white bath towel quietly slipped away.
Hua Feng’s dark eyes deepened. His gaze swept over her flushed cheeks, slowly moving down past her slender, delicate neck and exquisite collarbones.
Finally, it settled on the thin, milky-white silk nightgown she wore underneath.
Two slender shoulder straps outlined her delicate shoulders. The soft hem of the nightgown fell lightly around her figure, her waist impossibly slender, her pale skin seeming almost translucent.
Droplets of water slid from the ends of her hair and dampened the thin nightgown, like freshly fallen snow melting to reveal the faint pink of plum blossoms beneath.
The curtains lifted slightly in the night breeze, carrying the scent of rain.
Hua Feng remained seated, silently watching her.
His sharply defined features were like steep mountain peaks. The hazy lamplight cast alternating shadows across his face, slightly softening the distant, forbidding coldness surrounding him.
【Next, slowly walk toward the male lead.】
【Make sure you go slowly. Don’t rush.】
【At the same time, focus your eyes on him.】
Yan Jiaqi slowly raised her head and met those calm, unfathomable black eyes.
Her heart immediately began pounding like a drum.
Barefoot, she stepped onto the slightly cool floor, one step at a time, moving toward the person she had once regarded as her faith.
Hua Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, then set down the tablet he had been using to read documents. He shifted into a more relaxed position, apparently quite content to appreciate the sight of the beauty who had just emerged from her bath.
【Excellent (•̀֊•́)! Just like that! The male lead is already almost captivated by you!】
【Host, you really do have the makings of a good student!】
The system wore a deeply satisfied smile.
Then it issued its next instruction:
【Now, you can sit over there.】
Yan Jiaqi obediently walked over to Hua Feng and sat down neatly beside him, placing both hands stiffly on her knees.
【Is the sofa comfortable?】
Yan Jiaqi honestly answered in her heart, “It’s okay.”
The system couldn’t help rolling its eyes.
It had praised her too soon.
【If it’s so comfortable, why don’t you just sleep on the sofa yourself from now on!】
【I told you to sit on the male lead’s lap!!!】