Chapter 15: A Man’s Changing Face 

Song Huan nervously wrung her hands.

As Jin Yue quietly closed the door behind her and Pei Yan, a faint blush crept up Song Huan’s cheeks. “Did the palace banquet end so early?”

Her voice trembled slightly, and paired with her red-rimmed eyes, she looked like a wounded little fox—pitiful in Pei Yan’s eyes.

Yet somehow, seeing her in this state stirred a fierce, destructive desire in his chest…

His gaze deepened, and his fists clenched.

“It hasn’t ended. I returned to the residence early.” ,” he said flatly.

System: [Favorability from target ‘Pei Yan’ has changed.]

[Favorability -18.] 

Song Huan: “……”

The romantic pink bubble in her heart popped instantly under the system’s cold electronic voice, leaving only gray mist swirling before her eyes.

Though her heart chilled, her nerves settled. She even calmly opened her task list to check today’s missions.

Hmm? The “Daily Hug” task isn’t completed yet?

Well, his favorability is already at -18. What’s the harm in hugging him now?

Without warning, Song Huan lunged forward, arms wide open, aiming to give Pei Yan a solid bear hug—only to be met with an icy palm firmly planted on her forehead.

She struggled to reach him, but her arms were too short, she couldn’t even touch the hem of his robe.

“This Marquis sees you’ve run out of tricks.”

Pei Yan’s brows lowered slightly, and the bloodthirsty, destructive desire in his heart surged even more fiercely.

System: [Favorability from target ‘Pei Yan’ has changed.]

[Favorability -29.]

Song Huan: “……” Holy crap!

This can’t go on!

She quickly retracted her arms and took a step back. “Alright, alright, I won’t hug you anymore.”

Pei Yan withdrew his hand, but the blood churning through his chest only grew more restless, his expression darkening further.

Song Huan lowered her gaze, pretending to straighten the wrinkles in her sleeve, all the while keeping him in her peripheral vision. When she saw his left arm drop ever so slightly, her heart leapt—this was her chance.

She pounced again.

Pei Yan’s pupils shrank. A soft, warm body collided against his chest, and the storm raging inside him… began to quiet.

Eyes shut tightly, Song Huan wrapped her arms around him in a firm hug, counting silently in her heart: One, two, three…

Ding—

[“Daily Hug” mission completed.]

[Congratulations, you’ve gained six hours of life value.]

[Favorability from target ‘Pei Yan’ has changed.]

[Favorability +10.]

Song Huan immediately released her grip.

She hadn’t expected the system’s daily missions to be so miraculous. A simple hug or kiss not only earned life points but could also save plummeting favorability!

Grinning, she felt as though she’d just uncovered a major survival rule in this world.

Letting go, she tilted her head and looked at Pei Yan. “It’s just a hug. It doesn’t cost you anything, so why are you so tense? You wouldn’t even let me—”

Before she could finish, Pei Yan suddenly pulled her back in, wrapping an arm around her waist and hugging her tightly.

Song Huan let out a muffled sound as her forehead slammed into his collarbone, a sharp jolt of pain shooting through her skull.

She tried to turn her face away, but a firmer pressure came down on her shoulder… Pei Yan had rested his chin there.

Song Huan: “……” Is the plot advancing too fast?

She hurriedly opened the favorability interface for real-time updates—

…Only to find that it still hovered between +10 and +20. Nothing significant.

Pei Yan held her even tighter, as if the closer he pulled her, the more settled his heart became.

“Mmmph—!” Song Huan whimpered, her hands and legs pushing and kicking with all her might.

Great Lord, let go!

If you keep squeezing me like this, I’ll become the first transmigrator to die by hug!

Pei Yan lifted his chin slightly. “What did you say?”

Still trapped in his arms, Song Huan tilted her head up, tears glistening in her eyes. “Fine, hug me if you want. But can you not squeeze so hard? Are you taking advantage of my height or what? My nose barely clears your shoulder!”

Pei Yan: “…… Fine. No.”

He only wanted to test whether this woman—Song Huan—really had the ability to soothe his sudden, violent impulses.

So far… it seemed to be working.

But it might just be a coincidence. It needed to be tested a few more times to be sure.

He let her go, his gaze flickering. “This Marquis has no desire to embrace you. From now on, don’t presume familiarity.”

Song Huan: “……” Excuse me? Could you repeat that?

You sure didn’t seem reluctant just now.

“Pei Xi said someone came looking for you today,” Pei Yan said, clearing his throat as he finally revealed his real reason for visiting the Huichun Courtyard.

Well, that was a smooth subject change.

Song Huan nodded, her brow furrowing slightly as she feigned confusion. “He said he was the Lord of Shangbao Manor, but I remembered your instructions and didn’t meet with him.”

Pei Yan’s voice cooled. “What is your relationship with him?”

Song Huan shook her head. “No relationship at all. I don’t even know him.”

“But Pei Xi said the man seemed very concerned about the Marquis’s wife.”

Song Huan widened her innocent eyes. “Concerned? You must be mistaken. The person who truly cares about me probably hasn’t even been born yet.”

After all, the original Song Huan had been hated by her whole family, and aside from them, she hadn’t known anyone else.

As for her current self, she’d been too busy dealing with Pei Yan. She hadn’t had the time—nor the patience—to build ties with irrelevant people.

Knowing Pei Yan, this line of questioning was just another trap. But she wouldn’t fall into it. She truly didn’t know the Lord of Shangbao Manor and had never interacted with him.

Pei Yan stared at her for a long moment. Seeing her calm expression, his mood eased slightly. “If that’s truly the case, then all the better.”

He did want to win over Qin Chengyu, but if Song Huan had any ties to him, he wouldn’t spare either of them.

Pei Yan narrowed his eyes. “Lord Qin left his address before he left. Tomorrow, you’ll accompany me to visit him.”

System: [The target Pei Yan’s favorability toward you has changed. Favorability -15.] 

Song Huan nodded with a sweet smile. “Alright, I’ll do as you say.”

Damn it.

This man had no idea how terrifying his expression looked right now. If she didn’t act obedient, he might snap her neck on the spot.

Seriously…

They say women’s moods change faster than flipping a book, but in her opinion, Pei Yan’s mood swings were faster than lightning.