Crouched in the corner, Li Ruoshui rubbed her hands together, trying to keep warm in the dungeon.

It was March, and the cold, damp wind seeped in through the cracks in the stone walls.

She was dressed in nothing but a thin, pale yellow ruqun, and the chill had soaked into her very bones. Even the two silk sashes at her waist were damp from the moisture in the air.

Li Ruoshui glanced at the other women in the cell and let out a faint sigh.

At least she could still move—rub her hands, stomp her feet. The others had clearly been drugged; they slumped weakly against the icy walls, their faces pale, their lips tinged with blue from the cold.

“System, when exactly is that male supporting character supposed to show up?”

[Please remain patient, Host.]

Li Ruoshui stayed huddled in the corner, hands tucked inside her sleeves, looking utterly pitiful—like a homeless vagabond on the street.

“If I’ve done something wrong, the law should punish me. Not dump me in some book to suffer like this.”

She was only here because of the damned system.

It had tossed her into a novel called The Game of Cat and Mouse, a romantic mystery story, with the mission of winning over the gentle and devoted male side character, Lu Zhiyao.

To build a strong emotional bond with him and improve the success rate, the system had her take the role of a pitiful side character in the very first case—a girl who had been ruthlessly kidnapped and sold.

It even sent out a special bounty notice for her ahead of time. According to the system, Lu Zhiyao was already on his way to rescue her.

“Allegedly.” It had said the same thing an hour ago. And now it was still telling her to “be patient.”

“I can’t wait any longer. It’s freezing. If he doesn’t show up soon, I’m finding my own way out of here.”

Just as the words left her mouth, the heavy door at the dungeon’s entrance creaked open. Daylight spilled in, cutting across half the chamber. A long shadow stretched into the cell.

A tall, burly woman appeared at the doorway.

Several men in black followed behind her, holding cloaks and shawls, speaking in flattery-laced tones.

“Careful, Mama Yang. Don’t slip.”

She descended the stairs slowly, every step deliberate and heavy, exuding a strange and oppressive presence.

Once the door slammed shut again, the men lit torches. The warm orange glow pushed back some of the dungeon’s gloom.

The woman’s features were sharp and hard. She wore a stony expression as she approached the bars, her gaze cold and dehumanizing—like someone sizing up livestock, assessing appearance and calculating value.

Li Ruoshui frowned slightly—just as Mama Yang’s gaze landed on her. Her eyes were full of disdain, and her voice bristled with annoyance.

“So it was you who tried to escape yesterday? Injured two people, did you?”

Huh?

Li Ruoshui blinked in confusion. I only arrived today. Was that the original body’s doing?

“She’s too headstrong. Soften her up a little before we send her out.”

“H-How exactly are you planning to do that?” Li Ruoshui shouted in her mind—but the system remained silent.

You’ve got to be kidding me. Silent again?!

Just then, Mama Yang pulled out a cloth bundle and unrolled it to reveal a neat row of silver needles, each glinting coldly in the torchlight.

“These won’t leave a mark,” she said casually. “Stick ’em in through the fingertips—even the most stubborn ox won’t dare act tough after that.”

Li Ruoshui’s eye twitched at the sight of the needles. She nearly shouted aloud—

An ox doesn’t even have fingertips, lady!

“Wait, wait—what if I apologize? You think there’s still a chance for me?”

A truly smart person knows when to bend, when to yield, when to advance and when to retreat.

Mama Yang sneered, plucking one of the needles from the bundle as she stared her down. “What do you think?”

As Mama Yang leaned in closer, Li Ruoshui instinctively pressed herself back against the wall, quickly running out of space to retreat.

“Even if I have no chance, you really don’t have to get this close…”

Mama Yang took her hand, moving slowly, her voice suddenly soft.

“You’re a pretty little thing. Sharp eyes, clever face. Why were you so reckless yesterday?”

The silver needle hovered at Li Ruoshui’s fingertip. Mama Yang sighed faintly.

“You’ll have to learn to behave better when serving clients. These needles are meant for them—but if you keep acting out, you’ll get the same treatment.”

“Wait! Someone’s breaking in!”

Li Ruoshui yanked her hand back with a jerk—but couldn’t quite pull free. Eyes wide, she stared toward the entrance of the dungeon.

The black-clad men barely reacted, lazily scratching their ears. Mama Yang let out a long sigh and pulled out another silver needle. The warm torchlight glinted off its sharp tip, reflected in her dull, lifeless eyes.

“Trying to be clever? One more for that.”

Li Ruoshui’s eyes widened. She struggled to pull her hand back, but Mama Yang’s grip was far too strong.

“Come on! I was just joking!”

All she wanted was to stall a little—was that really too much to ask?

Just then, with a creak, the wooden trapdoor at the top of the dungeon opened. Dim light spilled back into the room.

A shadow stretched down the stairs, followed by the soft tapping of a wooden cane, echoing tap, tap as it descended step by step.

Mama Yang and her men straightened up immediately, frowning toward the entrance.

The newcomer wore flowing white robes. His long hair reached his waist, a longsword hung at his side. His face was obscured by the shadows, but he moved unhurriedly, following the crackle of the torches until he stopped near the prison bars.

His eyes were closed, lips curved in a gentle smile. The air around him was like snow that hadn’t yet melted in spring—clear, pure, yet carrying no trace of coldness.

“Someone sent me a personalized bounty,” he said lightly. “I got curious and thought I’d come take a look.”

“So… which one of you is Li Ruoshui?”

[Target Lu Zhiyao has arrived. Host, please seize the opportunity. Strategy initiated.]
[Friendly reminder: the personalized bounty included your name. Use discretion.]

Li Ruoshui slowly closed her mouth.

She remembered the novel had said that before meeting the leads, Lu Zhiyao’s name was a secret known only to himself.

And now here he was—and she supposedly had no idea who he was.

…

Did I wrong this system in a past life or something? Why does it keep screwing me over?

No one answered in the cold, silent dungeon. What was strange, though, was that Mama Yang and her men didn’t move a muscle. They simply stared at the newcomer, frozen.

Then, from the shadows, one of the slumped girls pushed herself up and broke the silence with a weak voice.

“I’m Li Ruoshui.”

Li Ruoshui slowly turned her head toward her.

So that’s how it is, huh? Even if it’s not your name, might as well try for a shot at living. “Better you than me,” is that it?

Lu Zhiyao raised a brow and stepped forward, tapping his cane as he moved.

Mama Yang locked eyes with him, but still found herself instinctively backing away. One of the black-clad men drew a blade and lunged, but the moment he came close, Lu Zhiyao struck. The man went flying into the cell door, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Li Ruoshui inhaled sharply. Wait—wasn’t he supposed to be the gentle, soft-spoken type? This doesn’t quite match his “devoted and tender” description!

Lu Zhiyao tilted his head slightly in her direction, still smiling warmly.

“If I were you,” he said softly, “I’d sit there quietly and stay out of the way.”

He walked over to the girl who’d spoken and knelt down. His snow-white robe fanned out across the floor, catching the firelight like a ghost-white flower stained with sunset.

“You’re Li Ruoshui?”

His voice was as gentle as a clear spring, instantly easing the tension in the girl’s expression.

“Yes,” she replied softly.

“Then… do you know my surname?”

The girl froze. She only knew about the bounty notice—she hadn’t paid attention to the word exclusive. Kicking herself for being too impulsive, she hesitated for a beat, then took a gambler’s leap and blurted out a surname.

“Su.”

Li Ruoshui: …

Well… not a terrible guess. With a face that handsome, his surname probably wouldn’t be something too plain.

Lu Zhiyao chuckled quietly, his head dipping as he laughed. Then he rose to his feet and turned to face the others.

“How interesting. You know my name but tried to hide anyway?” His tone was light, but his gaze sharpened. “Now I’m even more curious.”

He raised an eyebrow slightly, the corners of his lips lifting into a smile pure as freshly fallen snow.

“How about we play a little game—find out who the real Li Ruoshui is?”

If not for that smile, his presence and tone were far more villainous than anyone else in the room.

Mama Yang glanced toward the dungeon door, forcing a stiff smile.

“How would you like to play, young master?”

“I’m blind,” Lu Zhiyao said, smiling again. The firelight danced across his lashes like flecks of gold.

“So, let’s do this—whoever can prove she’s Li Ruoshui, I’ll take her with me.”

The moment he said that, the wilted girls suddenly perked up like overwatered cabbage. One after another, they began spouting nonsense—some even recited The Hundred Family Surnames, hoping to guess his correctly.

Guessing doesn’t hurt, they all thought. If we get lucky, it might just be our ticket out of here.

Li Ruoshui stared at him, her mind nearly bursting with questions.

Wasn’t Lu Zhiyao supposed to be the gentle, devoted, and kind-hearted male side character?

So why did he feel… dangerous?

Her instincts had always been sharp—they’d saved her from more than a few disasters before. And right now, they were screaming at her that something about Lu Zhiyao was off. But according to the book, he was supposed to be tender and lovesick…

“I found you.”

A shadow suddenly crouched in front of her—white robes, black hair, eyes gently closed, smiling like he could see straight through her.

Li Ruoshui instinctively pressed herself back against the wall and sighed inwardly. Damn it, I got too lost in thought.

She’d been so distracted, she’d forgotten to shout along with the others.

Lu Zhiyao leaned in, the jade prayer beads wrapped around his wrist clicking softly as they shifted. The tassel hanging from them brushed against the back of her hand—it tickled.

“What’s my surname?”

His smile deepened, brows arching slightly, voice lilting upward like he was almost… excited.

“Lu.”

Li Ruoshui relaxed her shoulders. Well, we’re going to have to get acquainted anyway—might as well be direct.

Lu Zhiyao paused for a moment, then let out a soft laugh, his expression warm and gentle.

“In this entire world, only I know my name. How did you find it out?” he asked, still smiling. “I’ve been wondering and just couldn’t figure it out.”

Li Ruoshui licked her dry lips. Well… that’s a good question. I don’t really know either.

But her gut told her something important: Lu Zhiyao wasn’t looking for the truth—he was looking for something interesting. A clever answer. Something that would catch his attention and make him want more.

“It’s… a very unusual reason,” she said carefully. “Why don’t you save us first, and then I’ll explain everything properly?”

Lu Zhiyao stood, the prayer beads on his wrist clinking softly.

“Then you’d better think fast,” he said gently. “I kill quickly—and if your reason isn’t interesting enough, you’ll suffer more than the rest.”

He turned toward the others and slowly drew the sword at his waist, his smile as pleasant as ever.

“I’ll give her a bit of time to come up with a story, so I’ll go slower. Now… who wants to go first?”

Mama Yang clenched her jaw. She exchanged a glance with the black-clad men around her, and in an instant, they all rushed forward. Every strike aimed for the kill—no hesitation, no mercy.

Steel flashed in the torchlight. Shadows danced violently across the dungeon walls as blades clashed. Yet despite being outnumbered, Lu Zhiyao didn’t falter for even a second.

[Warning: Revealing anything about the system or mission is strictly prohibited. Violators will be forcibly erased.]

Li Ruoshui nearly snapped. Oh, now you show up? None of this would be happening if not for you in the first place!

She had seen enough—Lu Zhiyao was not the gentle, sweet man the book made him out to be. But then again… in the story, he had only ever shown that side to the female lead.

And she? She was just cannon fodder.

“Hmm?”

A soft exhale pulled Li Ruoshui out of her thoughts. She looked up—and nearly gasped.

The fight was over.

The so-called villains hadn’t even lasted a few rounds. They lay on the floor in eerie silence. The torches had fallen, casting flickering light over the thin stream of red now trickling across the stone.

Lu Zhiyao turned to face her. The firelight behind him stretched his shadow and blurred his features.

“Apologies,” he said mildly, “I got a little excited. Might’ve gone too fast.”

Li Ruoshui swallowed hard.

Too fast?

She silently begged the fallen goons to get back up and give her a bit more time.

The other girls huddled against the walls were deathly silent, terrified that even a single sound might draw his attention.

He stepped forward, walking across the blood-slick floor. Crimson droplets splashed onto the hem of his white robes. Then he stopped—right in front of her.

Lu Zhiyao lowered his eyes and leaned down. Blood dripped slowly from the tip of his sword, the sound sharp and clear in the dungeon’s silence.

“Well?” he asked softly. “Have you thought of your interesting reason?”

=^_^=