Chapter 8

Lin Shiyin let out a soft laugh at his words. “That name… it’s actually quite cute.”

Hearing her goddess say that, Tang Xin’s face lit up with a blissful smile.

She practically skipped upstairs, pausing at the hallway to secretly peek at her breathtakingly beautiful female lead. She was just short of drooling.

Smooch.

She mimed a silent kiss to her female lead. Compared to the beast-like male lead, Yue Yuze, the female lead was much closer to the image she had envisioned.

It seemed her story hadn’t deviated after all.

Look at that—Yue Yuze calling her “Tang Owes-a-Lot” was clearly out of malice.

But her goddess? So kind and thoughtful, she found the name adorable.

Ah, the detestable male lead, viewing everything through a cynical lens.

Only the pure-hearted female lead could see the world with such grace and goodness.

As expected, her goddess followed up with, “Rather than ‘owes a beating,’ I’d say it means ‘burdened with debts.’ I hope no one has ever owed this little cutie anything.” Her gaze then turned wistful as she looked at Yue Yuze.

Yue Yuze let out a cold chuckle. “This is a family matter. If you have no other business here, please leave. I have work to attend to and won’t be able to entertain you further.”

He stood and walked away without the slightest hesitation.

“Yuze…” Lin Shiyin stood as well, her face filled with sorrow, caught between wanting to speak and staying silent.

But all she could do was watch helplessly as the man’s resolute figure disappeared into the distance.

Tang Xin, witnessing this scene unfold, felt a pang in her chest for her goddess’s sorrowful expression. She couldn’t help but want to go downstairs and comfort her.

After all, the male lead was just repressing his emotions.

The two of them were clearly mutually tormenting each other. Why go to such lengths?

As Tang Xin thought this, she started descending the stairs—only to be abruptly grabbed by Yue Yuze, who was coming up.

“W-What are you doing?” She struggled against him.

But she couldn’t break free from the man’s grasp.

With a frosty expression, Yue Yuze tightened his hold on her wrist and dragged her back upstairs.

“Hey, let go… Master, let go! I just wanted to comfort Miss Lin. I know you’re doing this on purpose. You’re just trying to upset her…” Tang Xin protested loudly as she struggled.

She hoped her goddess Lin Shiyin wouldn’t misunderstand her relationship with the male lead. No—there wasn’t even a relationship to misunderstand in the first place!

However…

This damn male lead seemed to have lost his mind. Not only did he drag her upstairs, but he also hauled her all the way to his room!

“What are you doing?” Tang Xin shoved him with all her strength. “If you keep this up, Miss Lin will misunderstand us.”

“Misunderstand? Misunderstand what, exactly?” Yue Yuze reached out and pulled her into his arms.

He had always been a cold and aloof man. Coming from a prestigious family, no one could get close to him unless he allowed it.

A woman…

This was almost the first time he had held one.

Her soft, delicate body pressed against his firm chest, and a faint fragrance wafted to his nose. It stirred something in him, making his throat tighten and his mouth go dry. He found himself wanting… wanting to taste her sweet, inviting lips.

But in the end, he suppressed the urge.

“Tang Xin, you are my wife. Even if it’s just in name, remember this—you are still my wife. Even if Lin Shiyin finds out, it won’t be a misunderstanding. You are, without a doubt, my wife!”

Wife…

Hearing the word spill from his usually impassive lips, Tang Xin froze in shock.

Wait a minute!

In her original storyline, “wife” was a much more intimate term than “spouse.” Yue Yuze would only ever call one person his wife—and that person was Lin Shiyin.

In other words… only the woman he truly cared about could ever be his “wife.”

As Tang Xin was puzzling over this, the tall man suddenly loomed closer. Stretching out his arms, he braced himself against the wall, trapping her firmly between it and his chest. His towering figure exuded an aura of dominance, as if he might kiss her at any moment.

“Y-You… you…” Tang Xin’s mind went blank for a moment.

Was this man out of his mind?

As the male lead, wasn’t he supposed to follow the original plotline?!

“Tang Xin.” Before she could untangle her thoughts, the man grabbed her chin with his strong fingers. His sharp, captivating phoenix eyes locked onto hers, his voice low and magnetic. “Isn’t this what you wanted? My attention?”

Huh?

Before she could process his words, her lips suddenly felt a searing warmth. Her eyes widened in shock.

He’s kissing me?!

The damn male lead is kissing me?!

Tang Xin snapped out of her daze and prepared to shove him away. Damn it—this was her first kiss!

But just as she was about to act, a voice echoed in her mind—it was Little Beauty’s voice: Ding! Reward mission: The transmigrator must immediately respond to the male lead’s kiss. Maintain the kiss for one minute to earn five fragments of the unlockable answer pack.

Little Beauty, are you kidding me?!

If she could, Tang Xin would’ve dragged Little Beauty out and given her a good beating!

But she couldn’t touch Little Beauty. And the voice continued: Attention, transmigrator. You have three seconds remaining. Three, two…

“I’ll risk it all!”

Tang Xin raised her delicate wrist and enthusiastically hooked it around the man’s neck, pressing her red lips forcefully and passionately against his in return.

The strength in her arms tightened even more, as if… as if she wanted to strangle him on the spot!

Yue Yuze was momentarily stunned. Just a second ago, the woman in his arms seemed so reluctant, as though she might push him away at any moment. But then, as if the situation took a complete turn, she did the unexpected—not only did she stop resisting, but she also wrapped herself around him with fiery intensity…

His lips curved slightly, and he pressed her soft, slender body harder against the wall, locking her tightly against his broad chest. Seizing back the upper hand, he pried open her neat pearly teeth and fervently claimed every trace of sweetness from her lips.

Feeling the woman in his arms seemingly lost in the moment, Yue Yuze’s mood gradually improved. His kiss grew gentler, though his grip on her slender waist tightened unconsciously, his lower abdomen burning hotter—like an uncontrollable beast stirring within him.

At that moment, while Tang Xin seemed to be returning the man’s kiss passionately, there was no so-called “immersion.”

Sure, the man didn’t taste bad, but…

Damn it, a whole minute?! Tang Xin was on the verge of suffocation from the dog male lead. Wasn’t the time up yet?

Little Beauty, did you die? If the time’s up, at least give me a notification! You heartless system…

Ding! Congratulations, traveler, on completing the task on time. You have been awarded five fragments of the answer unlock pack.

Tang Xin immediately raised her hand, bent her knee, and forcefully shoved the man away!

Yue Yuze narrowed his phoenix-like eyes, his lips slightly red. His gaze, as deep as an ancient well, fixed intently on her face, flushed with anger. Her small mouth was even redder now, like the petals of a fragrant rose, utterly alluring.

His gaze grew darker, and a strange, intense desire surged from the depths of his heart, spreading through his body and into his veins, making his heart race uncontrollably.

Yet, under his fiery stare, the woman, her lovely face puffed with indignation, pressed her lips together and wiped them forcefully, as though she found it utterly repulsive. She glared at him with clear eyes full of contempt, brushed past him with a deliberate bump, and stormed out of the room without looking back.

Yue Yuze snapped out of his daze, unable to believe that he had just been… rejected.

Clearly… this was what she wanted.

He had given it to her.

So why…

Why did she look like she’d been forced?

And besides, just now… she had kissed him back.

He wasn’t the only one who had fallen into the intoxication of that kiss.

“Delicious…” He suddenly realized he had used that word to describe the unexpected intimacy they had shared. His thin lips pressed together, savoring the lingering sweetness as if it were still there. He couldn’t help but raise a hand, brushing it lightly over his lips.

Tch.

He let out a low chuckle, glancing at the wide-open door the woman had left behind. The smile didn’t reach his eyes. His dangerously enchanting gaze narrowed slightly.

This woman was starting to become interesting.

And her taste…

Wasn’t bad.

It made him want to try her again.

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Author’s Note:
Tang Qianqian: ~~ (_