Although it was an unexpected point, the issue is not significant. Realizing this, Sang Manman regained her confidence. Everything was still under control.

Just then, the car came to a halt. The driver turned around and said, “You two, please get out.”

Zheng Yu, ever cautious, asked, “I’ve already contacted my family and friends. Are you with the police?”

The driver dodged the question. “If you’d prefer, I can drop you back at the hospital so you can continue your performance.”

“……”

The two got out of the car. 

Behind them, another car and a motorcycle had followed. Six people climbed out, their collective presence instantly drawing attention.

A cute young man holding a tablet pressed the elevator button and gestured to them. “Come in and explain your situation.”

Sang Manman assumed they were some sort of order-enforcing officials. Zheng Yu seemed to think the same and, after a moment of hesitation, headed for the elevator.

As they walked, Sang Manman tried to gently tug on Zheng Yu’s sleeve. She knew this small, endearing gesture could soften a man’s heart, especially in tense situations like this.

She even planned her next move: once inside the elevator, she’d hold his hand to ease the tension. By the time they left this place, her progress percentage would shoot right back up.

But just as she reached out, Zheng Yu changed direction. He walked straight to the most ordinary-looking woman among the six and stood before her.

Gazing deeply into her eyes, he said, “I’m naturally cautious. Under normal circumstances, I’d never follow a group of strangers. But I’ll make an exception for you. Woman, if you’re leading me, I’d follow you even through a mountain of knives or a sea of fire.”

Sang Manman: “…???”

Xu Xue: “……”

Duan Chunshui, halfway into the elevator, paused and pressed his knuckles to his temple. He’d forgotten to ask about Zheng Yu’s identity.

Xu Xue stepped in for him. “Are you… a CEO?”

Zheng Yu straightened his tie and smirked, his demeanor as showy and self-assured as a peacock’s. “What’s the matter woman? Did my aura give it away? Are you charmed?”

“…!”

Sang Manman: [What the hell?]

System: [It seems… Zheng Yu might be falling for that girl instead.]

Sang Manman: [???]

Sang Manman glanced at the peacock-like Zheng Yu and then at the ordinary-looking girl he was so painfully protective of, and fell silent.

Her silence was so unsettling that the system tried to console her.

System: [Host, stay calm.]

Even the system felt that the storyline seemed to be falling apart.

Sang Manman: [What’s the current progress percentage?]

System: [51%.]

Sang Manman: [And you expect me to stay calm?]

System: […]

Sang Manman quietly entered the elevator, watching Zheng Yu immediately move to the girl’s side. He even spread his arms to shield the girl from everyone else, and adopted an expression that screamed, “No one can touch her.” She felt dazed.

Meanwhile, Xu Xue looked like she’d lost the will to live.

Zheng Yu: “Woman, doesn’t my broad chest make you feel safe?”

“……”

Xu Xue’s face twisted in agony.

Zheng Yu: “Do you smell the faint scent of cedar on me?”

For the first time, Xu Xue felt that a few seconds in an elevator could feel like an eternity. She glanced at Duan Chunshui, silently pleading for rescue, but saw him staring at the elevator ceiling with his hands in his pockets, his thin lips slightly tensed.

Over the past two years, Xu Xue might not have improved in every skill, but she had become adept at reading people. She could “see” that Duan Chunshui’s fists clenched tightly, hidden in his pockets, as he was holding back something.

Li Heng and Zhu Zhu, on the other hand, made no effort to hide their amused, gossip-hungry stares. Li Heng, in particular, looked utterly fascinated, as if witnessing the “Domineering CEO Falls for Me” trope for the first time.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xu and Jiang Nian acted like indifferent passersby, glued to their tablets and phones, blending seamlessly into the background.

As for the quick-transmigration protagonist, Xu Xue couldn’t bring herself to look at her anymore.

Thankfully, the elevator finally stopped.

Instead of the first-floor registration hall, the elevator stopped on the second floor. Unlike other protagonists, this quick-transmigration lead wasn’t taken straight to registration. Duan Chunshui led her to a meeting room door and turned to Xu Xue.

Duan Chunshui: “Take Sang Manman with you.”

Xu Xue pointed at herself. “Me?”

“I have no idea how to handle this!”

Duan Chunshui then turned to Li Heng. “You take Zheng Yu.”

The two who had earlier suggested letting the quick-transmigration protagonist fake her death and leave were now tasked with handling the aftermath. The good news: no “body” collection was required. The bad news: the mess still needed cleaning up.

Li Heng didn’t dare disobey and immediately responded, “Don’t worry, Captain! Leave it to me!”

Xu Xue, metaphorically pushed onto the stage, led Sang Manman into the meeting room.

---

Once the two groups went inside, Duan Chunshui seated himself in front of the surveillance monitor.

Xiao Xu quickly brought him tea, handed Zhu Zhu a bottle of milk, and then sat down. The two assistants in the office gathered around, holding snacks. Even Jiang Nian cast a curious gaze.

Inside the meeting room, Xu Xue was oblivious that her difficult and daunting task was being treated as entertainment by those outside. She stared at the quick-transmigration protagonist, unsure how to proceed.

Meanwhile, Sang Manman was calming down, guided by her system’s reassurance.

System: [Host, take a breath. Think about all the challenges we’ve overcome in different worlds. This is your second-to-last mission. Once you finish this world, you’ll reach the final one and achieve rebirth.]

Sang Manman: [You’re right. I’ve faced so much already. A minor setback like this won’t defeat me.]

The system admired her resilience. 

System: [Exactly! Don’t worry about irrelevant things. Focus on Zheng Yu. As long as his progress percentage reaches 90%, we can leave this world immediately.]

Sang Manman: [True. But now he likes this girl instead.]

System: [That’s unlikely. You spent six months building his feelings. His strange behavior is probably an act to provoke you.]

Sang Manman agreed. [Just in case, let’s deal with this girl first and make her stay away from Zheng Yu.]

Taking control of the conversation, Sang Manman began, “Zheng Yu isn’t in love with you. Don’t be fooled by him. He’s in love with someone else—his white moonlight. He has played me, and now he is playing you. He’s nothing but a scumbag.”

She studied Xu Xue’s expression. “Don’t fall for him just because of his looks or CEO status.”

“……”

Xu Xue hesitated, then took a sip of water. “Maybe… have you heard of Ji Chunshan?”

Sang Manman: “Ji Chunshan? I’ve heard of him. Zheng Yu wanted to work with him but failed.”

“Not just failed. He didn’t even have the chance to meet the man.” Sang Manman thought.

“I just ended things with him… sort of. So don’t worry. I won’t cling to Zheng Yu.”

“Hiss—” Both Sang Manman and her system looked at Xu Xue with newfound seriousness.

Xu Xue: “Actually, I should be the one telling you not to worry. Zheng Yu isn’t truly in love with me.”

“Why?” Sang Manman asked.

Xu Xue scratched her head, embarrassed. “Because of… certain circumstances, every CEO I encounter falls madly in love with me.”

“!!!!!!” Both Sang Manman and her system were utterly shocked.

Their thoughts aligned in an instant, and they understood the truth: this world wasn’t an ordinary one. It was a CEO romance novel, and Xu Xue was the female protagonist—the Child of the World!

Even the experienced system had never encountered a situation this bizarre.

This world wasn’t just difficult—it was downright terrifying.