“Beep. Target located, Host target has died. Initiating soul extraction mode, activating self-binding program.”
“Binding successful. System 007 is at your service.”
A voice as cold as a machine, devoid of any emotion, rang out through the space, frigid and stiff.
In the white expanse of space, a small figure knelt on the ground, his soft black hair drooping, looking fluffy and downy. A pair of cat-like eyes brimmed with confusion. Delicate brows and eyes, a high-bridged nose, a small, rosy mouth he was absolutely beautiful.
“Hiss, it hurts.”
The little figure furrowed his brow, his delicate features all scrunched up in pain, looking rather comical. His adorable, babyish voice echoed around, and the whole space seemed to fill with the scent of warm milk.
Qi Yu could still feel the lingering pain from his fall down the stairs.
Today was supposed to be his birthday. As the most pampered young master of the Qi family, of course the occasion wouldn’t be allowed to pass unceremoniously. His parents and older brother were busy preparing a banquet to celebrate his birthday.
He had wanted to go downstairs to take a look, but unexpectedly, one careless step sent him tumbling down the staircase.
It had hurt so much.
The commotion in the living room and the heart-wrenching shouts still seemed to echo in his ears.
He slowly rubbed his head, recalling the words he had heard in his dazed state just now.
“System?” He looked around. This was an enclosed space, white and hazy in every direction, nothing like anywhere that existed in real life.
So, was he dead?
“Yes, the host’s body has died.” The mechanical voice sounded again. Qi Yu’s heart lurched, how did this system, whose origins he had no idea of, know what he was thinking?
Having grown up sheltered within his family, suddenly cast out of that safe haven and confronted with such a bizarre situation, Qi Yu panicked a little. His small face instantly turned deathly pale, looking pitiful and fragile.
Seeing this, 007 immediately explained, “Host, there’s no need to panic. I am System 007 from a high-tech plane. If you don’t want me to hear your thoughts, just silently recite ‘block’ in your mind.”
Although Qi Yu was already eighteen years old, his frame was slender, and compared to others his age, his figure was more petite. His height of 172 centimeters made him look soft and adorable, even 007 couldn’t bear to see him so distressed and frightened.
“Th-then, why am I here?” Having calmed down slightly, he blocked off the so-called system and spoke in a soft, sticky voice, his fingers involuntarily clutching the hem of his clothes.
007’s voice was as cold as ever, but its tone had grown gentler. “Does A-Yu want to go home?” It sounded like a seasoned expert at luring children, even its form of address had turned intimate.
Go home? Of course he wanted to.
Thinking of the chaos at home before he passed out, of his parents’ and brother’s anxious, heartbroken eyes, Qi Yu nodded eagerly.
“Then, A-Yu, help me complete missions. Once you’ve earned enough energy, I can send you home. How does that sound?” 007 negotiated with him.
Seeing him waver, 007 added, “Don’t worry, I won’t make you do anything like killing people or setting fires.”
Qi Yu breathed a sigh of relief and agreed without hesitation.
The moment he agreed, 007 immediately initiated the teleportation, afraid he might change his mind after all, it no longer had the energy to bind another host.
“Teleportation will begin shortly. Host, please prepare. 3, 2, 1, Teleportation initiated.” The mechanical voice surfaced in Qi Yu’s mind.
In an instant, Qi Yu felt dizzy and disoriented, and before long, he lost consciousness.
Yuncheng, in a wealthy villa district, luxurious and elegant villas were nestled among lush, verdant trees, one of which stood out in particular.
Amid all the greenery, only this one was surrounded entirely by a blazing fiery red, swaying in the wind, rippling with waves of flame, blooming passionately.
It was a rose garden. The roses had clearly been carefully tended, growing splendidly. It seemed the villa’s owner must be especially fond of roses.
At this moment, in one of the villa’s bedrooms,
“Where is this?”
The moment Qi Yu woke up, he felt something strange about his body. Before he could figure it out, 007 spoke up on its own, its voice low, as if feeling a bit guilty: “This is the host’s mission location. However, due to insufficient energy, something went wrong along the way, so…”
As it said this, a screen of water suddenly appeared before Qi Yu, reflecting his current form,
“How did I turn into a rose?”
On the water screen was unmistakably a swaying rose in full bloom, its petals layered and interlaced, like a seductive youth draped in layer upon layer of thin red gauze.
A few crystalline dewdrops clung between the petals, as if the rose were weeping.
Velvety texture paired with jade-green stems, luxurious and mysterious enticing, yet without losing an air of refined elegance.
The rose was a rare deep crimson, black tinged with red, red tinged with black, its languid, gorgeous color carrying a hint of decadent allure that made it impossible to look away.