episode_0016

Xu Nian hummed a tune, shaking her freshly washed hands still damp with water, her expression perfectly casual, a faint smile lingering at the corners of her lips.

As a diligent university student at the drama academy, her exceptional acting skills left no room for suspicion.

She looked every bit like a beautiful girl who had just finished a meal and was now taking a quick bathroom break to relax.

Suddenly, Xu Nian felt an intense gaze fixed on her and noticed a man staring directly at her—a bloodstain marred the left side of his suit jacket.

“You—what are you looking at me like that for?”

Xu Nian hurriedly raised her hands to cover the necessary areas. Though she had nothing much to hide, dressed conservatively for summer, her reaction made her seem like a pitiful young girl being sexually harassed.

The man scrutinized her.

Race, hairstyle, clothing, demeanor, voice—even her height was completely different.

This person was slightly shorter.

She couldn’t be the same woman from earlier.

“Did you see a human girl about your height running past here in a panic?”

“Um… what do you want? If you’re planning something bad, I won’t help you commit evil, you know.”

“Speak.”

That single word erupted from him, laced with fury.

Xu Nian flinched, trembling as she pointed toward the women’s restroom.

“I—I just saw her run in there.”

“Hmph.”

Not long after, screams erupted from the women’s restroom.

“Pervert!”

“Oh my god! Everyone! A creep just barged in!”

“How—how can he just waltz into the women’s restroom like that?!”

“I’m filming this and posting it on Xiaohongshu!”

Moments later, the enraged roar of the CEO followed.

Xu Nian didn’t pause her steps. Swift as the wind, she maneuvered around the two fallen bodyguards and hurried to the elevator, descending to the lower floors.

It seemed she had successfully deceived them—her meticulous disguise had paid off in the end.

She stuffed all her “tools of the trade” into her cloth bag.

The knife and the set of clothes—everything went inside.

As for fingerprints, she had worn gloves the entire time and hadn’t touched anything unnecessarily.

In other words, there was no evidence left at the scene.

There couldn’t possibly be surveillance cameras in the restroom, right?

This time, she had narrowly escaped danger.

A smile bloomed uncontrollably across her beautiful face.

But then, she raised a hand in confusion, touching the display screen inside the elevator.

In her line of sight, a few glaring crimson characters stood out starkly.

[Joy Value: 75%]

“What is this?”

Xu Nian didn’t understand.

The ding of the elevator arriving snapped her out of her thoughts.

Reaching the first floor, Xu Nian had no intention of leaving through the main entrance.

The results of her fifth simulation had warned her of the dangers of doing so.

Keeping her wits about her, she hid in a corner and peered through the glass—only to spot her girlfriend.

—Su Qingya.

The other girl had already woken from her -induced unconsciousness and was now pacing near the entrance, seemingly waiting for someone. She shifted restlessly like an ant on a hot pan, occasionally hiding herself but making no move to enter.

Xu Nian observed everything.

So adorable, Qingya.

But the moment she remembered what Su Qingya was about to do, that adorableness instantly evaporated.

After all, to avoid the outcome of the fifth simulation, Xu Nian had deliberately locked the door from the outside to keep Su Qingya trapped inside.

Yet she had still failed?

Well, Su Qingya was an Emoter—it wasn’t entirely surprising that ordinary methods wouldn’t work on her.

She quickly slipped out through a side exit, then circled around to the front, intending to give this foolish yandere a little surprise.

“Qingya! Boo!”

Xu Nian moved with feline grace, stealthily approaching Su Qingya from behind.

Seizing the moment of her shock, she wrapped her arms around the other girl.

And in the same motion, she deftly plucked a handkerchief from Su Qingya’s pocket and tossed it into her cloth bag.

“N-Nian? Why—why did you come from over there?”

Xu Nian’s prank had clearly given Su Qingya quite the fright.

Then, Xu Nian suddenly noticed the plants in a nearby flower bed inexplicably beginning to wither.

“Of course, it was to surprise you, Qingya~ Pfft, the look on your face just now was so pathetic—it was hilarious! Ugh, I really regret not recording it. If I had, I’d frame it for sure.”

So punchable!

“Nian! You’re teasing me again!”

Su Qingya’s indignant little fists pounded against Xu Nian’s chest.

Thankfully, Su Qingya didn’t possess the strength of a war goddess—otherwise, Xu Nian’s flat chest might have caved in.

“Pfft~ It’s only because Qingya is so cute.”

A rosy blush spread across the girl’s delicate face, but her embarrassment and anger gradually faded as her expression turned serious.

“Nian, why did you come here alone behind my back? And why did you drug me yesterday?”

“I came to ask about Emobeasts. Since you made it sound so important yesterday, I figured I’d just come in your place.”

Xu Nian spun her lies effortlessly. “And the ‘drug’ I gave you yesterday was just something to help you sleep. You’ve been looking so exhausted lately, so I asked a doctor for a special remedy—good for your health. And look, you slept straight until noon! That just proves how worn out you were.”

As she spoke, she kept a close eye on Su Qingya, cautiously watching for any sudden outbursts like last time—or any signs of suspicion.

“…Is that so?”

To her relief, Su Qingya didn’t question her words.

Xu Nian exhaled internally.

“By the way, Nian, didn’t you want to know more about Emobeasts? I can tell you everything now. I think what you said to me last time was right—I really should have shared this with you.”

“Really? Thanks, Qingya. I do want to know. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have come here in the first place.”

“So… you didn’t need to come in my place.”

“Pfft, pathetic Qingya. If I hadn’t coincidentally seen your messages, were you planning to sneak over here without telling me?”

Xu Nian laughed, still holding onto her tightly.

“Qingya, let’s get one thing straight—the only reason I came alone is because you wanted to come alone.”

“If you hadn’t been so stubborn about repaying that ‘favor,’ do you think I’d be here right now?”

“So you don’t get to question me about this, okay?”

At this, Su Qingya’s eyes darted around guiltily.

Xu Nian pressed her advantage, her face adorned with a sweet smile.

In the sky above, clouds slowly formed into large characters:

[Joy Value: 87%]

The words drifted forward in time with Xu Nian’s relentless interrogation.

She was fully prepared to heap pressure onto Su Qingya.

“Qingya, what were you really planning?”

“I—I’m sorry, Nian. I didn’t realize this was such a big deal for you. I just wanted to learn more about Emoters so I could protect you better… And besides, didn’t I tell you yesterday? I was just coming to order some food.”

“Just ordering food? Look at the prices in this hotel—can you even afford this? You keep refusing my help, relying on your meager part-time job earnings?”

“And Qingya… have you ever treated me to a meal this expensive before?”

“N-No, that’s not…”

Xu Nian could feel the girl in her arms tremble, shaking her head repeatedly.

Of course, Xu Nian knew Su Qingya had no ulterior motives—this was all just part of applying pressure.

Then, just as swiftly, Xu Nian’s aggressive expression shifted again.

Playful. Affectionate.

“Pfft~ And don’t you know how much those rich young masters love tricking innocent girls like you? What if someone lured you in and took advantage of you? A pathetic little thing like you would probably help them count their money afterward.”

“Mm… Nian…”

“It’s okay, Qingya. I’m not blaming you, really. I just want you to be more careful. There are so many bad people out there. The only one who’ll love you unconditionally is me.”

“I know, but…”

“Shh. I don’t want to hear your excuses, Qingya. I love you the most.”

With that, Xu Nian cupped Su Qingya’s face and pressed a kiss to her lips.

Su Qingya hadn’t expected such a sudden kiss.

She couldn’t break free—nor did she want to.

She simply let herself melt into it, returning the affection in quiet surrender.