episode_0011

[You’ve gone mad. You can’t suppress your laughter, your nerves are constantly alight with mirth, your mind is endlessly filled with chaotic giggles, and the uproarious laughter of your fellow inmates swirls around you, pressing down on you relentlessly, forcing your lips into a grin.]

[Day after day, you live like this, having long lost track of time. Everyone is busy, their faces stretched into smiles—even the prison guards. You watch as inmates laugh until they can’t breathe, until they die, their corpses still grinning.]

[You’re on the verge of breaking. Your sanity grows more fragile by the second. You think, perhaps one day, you’ll become just like them.]

[You seem to laugh even more joyfully now. You think you should leave this place, go somewhere crowded, and share this euphoria with others.]

[Someone leads you out of prison. You realize the person who took you out is your ex-girlfriend.]

[You stare at her. She cups your face and pours darkness into your mind.]

[“Nian Nian? Why… why have you become like this? How did they mark you?”]

[“I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I came too late.”]

[“Don’t worry. Once you’re fully asleep, I’ll place you in my home. I’ll stay with you forever, never leaving your side.”]

[“I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”]

[“Don’t worry. It won’t hurt.”]

[The black terror swallows you whole. Your consciousness shatters.]

[Simulation complete.]

[Unlocked Ending: A Beautiful Collection Piece]

[You believe the most beautiful love is to exist eternally in her home. Even as you sleep forever, you remain within her reach. You wear a contented smile, occasionally letting out familiar sounds. Though eerie, the noise is undeniably captivating.]

[What joyous love.]

[Please select your reward:]

[1. A brand-new, sexy prison uniform] [2. The secret to perpetual happiness] [3. A clear, bell-like voice capable of shifting tones]

“……”

What can I even say about this simulation?

That the man was a domineering CEO didn’t surprise Xu Nian in the slightest.

In a cliché urban novel about a fake heiress, what else could the male lead be besides a domineering CEO? It’s not like he’d be some construction worker.

The female lead absolutely needed a powerful backer.

And if things got more extreme—

Something like Harem of Male Gods wouldn’t be strange at all.

But… what the hell was all that stuff afterward?

What did it mean that her father was investigated for crimes and dragged to prison?

What was this about growing happier and happier until she went insane?

And what was this “eternal sleep” nonsense?

Xu Nian could guess with her ass who was behind her father’s crimes and her imprisonment.

No matter how she looked at it, the eerie events in the prison later on were because of her.

And that “eternal sleep”? That was clearly Su Qingya executing her with her own hands.

“Great job. Really great job.”

Xu Nian gritted her teeth.

Still, this simulation provided a lot of information.

Why had she gone mad?

And why had it been laughter that drove her insane?

That question was relatively simple.

Xu Nian immediately thought of the Emotion Beasts.

Because she had learned of their existence, one had fixated on her, using her as a conduit to spawn a disaster.

Judging by the symptoms…

“Laughter? Euphoria? So, the one that marked me was a Joy Beast.”

Xu Nian gave it a name herself—close enough.

But now, she was at a loss.

The outcome was clear: Xu Nian had to meet that man, even if it meant inviting danger.

Could she send Su Qingya instead? As a shield? After all, she was the one who needed answers…

Impossible!

Xu Nian would never allow it.

How could she let Su Qingya interact with another man?

She would not permit it.

What if—

Xu Nian’s expression darkened like ink.

Besides, it would violate the daily task, and the system might revoke a simulation attempt.

With no simulations left, Xu Nian spent a long time analyzing this one.

Then, she noticed a critical detail.

Hadn’t she been rejected because of her attitude?

If she behaved better and established distance—approaching him as Su Qingya’s family, like a younger sister, under the pretense of asking for advice…

That might work.

She stuffed a fruit knife into an inconspicuous cloth bag, then hurried to Su Qingya’s closet to rummage through her clothes.

There were plenty of outfits belonging to Su Qingya.

Their figures were similar, so Xu Nian could wear them.

She also had a black wig. She could tuck her fox tail between her legs and hide her ears under a hat.

Once she had the idea, she acted. A little makeup, a glance in the full-length mirror—she looked refreshingly different.

Xu Nian added a pair of non-prescription glasses, completing the transformation.

Even she barely recognized the timid girl in the mirror.

As for her voice…

Wasn’t the reward from the fourth simulation perfect for this?

Unlike the third, the fourth simulation’s choices were easier.

She’d just pick the good voice.

The other two options were too abstract.

After testing it, Xu Nian found she could now freely modulate her tone—deep or sweet, she could even be a professional voice actor.

As for the third simulation’s reward…

The only useful one was lockpicking, right?

But the hallucinogenic dark elixir and the chess skills to defeat grandmasters were so tempting.

Whatever. She’d go with the practical choice: lockpicking.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Nian pulled out her phone and dialed.

“Hey, Butler, could you tell my mom I’m studying at a friend’s place today? I won’t be back.”

She took a roundabout approach, avoiding calling her mother directly to dodge a lecture.

Now, how should she spend the rest of her time?

Xu Nian’s gaze drifted toward her girlfriend.

Shedding all disguises, she slipped under Su Qingya’s blankets, breathing in her scent as she booted up Honor of Kings on her phone.

Woc, Glory!

The system’s sleeping drug worked wonders—even after gaming late into the night, Su Qingya showed no signs of waking.

By her estimate, Su Qingya wouldn’t stir until afternoon.

Feeling drowsy herself, Xu Nian hugged Su Qingya and closed her eyes.

Su Qingya’s soft, smooth skin was irresistible—the perfect body pillow.

After all, Su Qingya was the school’s icy, untouchable beauty, the dream girl countless boys pined for. Yet this adorable creature had long been claimed by Xu Nian.

Three years ago, in fact—since middle school.

This wasn’t “puppy love.” How could tangerine love be called that? It’s not like they could get pregnant, so no harm done.

Heh~

Next time, she’d find a way to teach those boys who fantasized about Su Qingya a lesson.

That was Xu Nian’s final thought before sleep took her.