Chapter Three: Strategy Value -99

Chu Hengyang’s study.

Beneath the desk, Lin Xiaoyue hid in a plain white inner robe, wearing nothing beneath it. Her rounded shoulders and long, flawless white legs were half concealed as she crouched there.

A faint smile curved her lips.

Hah... An antiquated old fossil who only knew how to teach? He probably spent his whole life looking at nothing but illustrated spring books.

With her like this, how could he possibly not take the bait?

Squeak—

The study door opened.

In an instant, Lin Xiaoyue changed the expression on her face.

What had been greed and desire in a heartbeat became bewildered innocence and pitiful helplessness.

Chu Hengyang had been thinking about the students’ progress in the imperial academy, and worrying over who had caused Chu Ying to turn into that state.

His younger sister had always been different since childhood. Though she often did things others could not understand, she would never—

Suddenly, his gaze shifted.

A corner of fabric peeking out from under the desk caught his eye.

"Host," G97 said, "Chu Hengyang has already noticed that you’re under his desk."

Lin Xiaoyue’s lips lifted slightly. "I remember I have a beginner’s gift pack, don’t I?"

"That’s right," G97 replied. "The rookie gift pack for the charm-system host contains: Enchanting Fragrance, which gives the host an irresistible scent for half an hour; Love at First Sight, which lets the host maintain peak attractiveness for 10 seconds; and Soft Voice, Seductive Bones, which grants the host a Heavenly Voice for 80 seconds."

A flash of contempt passed through Lin Xiaoyue’s eyes.

Once she used these skills, would this old-fashioned relic even have a chance not to fall at her feet?

And obey her every command?

The darkness in Chu Hengyang’s eyes did not lessen in the slightest. He drew the dagger he carried for protection, his voice cold. "Come out."

The cloth corner beneath the desk shifted slightly.

"I’ve already seen you," Chu Hengyang said in a low voice, carrying a faint threat. "If you don’t want the servants to beat you to death with clubs, you’d better... come out now."

After a small rustling sound, Lin Xiaoyue, who had been hiding under the desk, finally emerged.

"System, activate the skill Love at First Sight."

"Understood," G97 answered.

In a blur, Lin Xiaoyue climbed out from under the desk, half frightened and half panicked.

Her eyes curved prettily, carrying a pitiable charm and innocent bewilderment. There was not the slightest trace of fear toward Chu Hengyang’s coldness on her face, only curiosity.

Her clothes were somewhat disheveled, and the skin faintly visible through the gaps in the fabric stirred endless reverie.

But what was even more captivating was her face, one that could seize a person’s heart in an instant.

It wore the purest expression in the world, yet her features were wrapped in a dense, bewitching allure.

Innocence and seduction fused together, stunning and strangely unsettling, beautiful beyond words.

Ding. Chu Hengyang’s affection value +20. Current affection value: 40.

Lin Xiaoyue’s lips curved almost imperceptibly, while her eyes remained fixed on Chu Hengyang’s face, somewhat satisfied with him.

This old fossil did look decent.

His bearing was even more refined and handsome than the noble gentlemen portrayed by the most top-tier actors on television.

She was not losing out after all.

Lin Xiaoyue shifted her body, the sheen of her exposed skin growing even brighter. In a childish voice, she tilted her head and blinked. "Big brother, who are you?"

The 10-second Love at First Sight skill has expired.

At this moment, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.

Warning! Warning! Chu Hengyang’s affection value -99. Current value: -59. When the affection value falls below -80, the host will suffer severe punishment! G97’s alarmed voice blared frantically.

The piercing sound stabbed into Lin Xiaoyue’s brain.

Her smile froze on her face. She could hardly believe what she had heard.

-99?

Had this old fossil gone blind and insane?!

She nearly failed to suppress her fury, her face almost twisting in anger.

"Big Brother! Big Brother!" Outside, Chu Ying hurried over while shouting.

Chu Hengyang, having come to his senses, glanced at Lin Xiaoyue with a rather unsightly expression.

Chu Hengyang’s affection value -1.

Lin Xiaoyue: ???

Chu Hengyang sheathed the dagger and put it back on his person.

His face was dark as ink.

This girl should be the foolish and simple-minded Lin Xiaoyue that his mother had mentioned rescuing, shouldn’t she?

His eyes swept over the clothing that was not properly arranged, revealing a hint of spring.

He clicked his tongue inwardly.

Chu Hengyang’s affection value -1.

Lin Xiaoyue was furious, grinding her teeth to barely keep herself from exploding on the spot.

Chu Hengyang withdrew his gaze, displeased.

If his younger sister saw him alone in a room with a disheveled woman, what would she think of him?

Affection value -1.

Lin Xiaoyue was almost unable to maintain her expression any longer.

"Big Brother!" Chu Ying, flustered, shoved open the study door, too anxious to care about anything else, only wanting to save her brother’s eyes.

Clang!

As soon as she pushed open the study door, Chu Ying saw Lin Xiaoyue standing behind the desk, her expression faintly strange and impossible to read.

Chu Ying drew in a sharp breath.

The heroine’s appearance and pure, flawless expression were so shocking that she was momentarily stunned.

It was over. She had come too late!

Her brother’s eyes were no longer clean!

Chu Hengyang’s affection value -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1...

Chu Ying hurriedly shut the study door, not daring to let anyone else see the scene and ruin Chu Hengyang’s reputation.

"Tsk. Why does this girl have to be someone who can’t speak properly, someone who can’t explain the truth to my younger sister?" Chu Hengyang was deeply displeased in his heart.

"It makes my sister very likely to misunderstand me."

Chu Ying paused, startled.

In the original plot, after the heroine had used her appearance advantage to deal a blow to her brother unlike anything he had ever experienced, she had unconsciously begun to protect her.

She had thought the girl was too flawless and beautiful, worried she would be harmed by the outside world, always on edge for her safety.

She had treated her as someone in need of his care and protection.

And in the story, it was precisely because of this that she had begun to grow wicked, becoming more and more hateful and jealous of the heroine.

But now it seemed...

Her brother seemed completely unaffected by this little trick of the heroine’s?

"Little sister, what urgent matter do you have with Big Brother?" Chu Hengyang asked gently, completely ignoring Lin Xiaoyue.

Lin Xiaoyue turned burning eyes toward Chu Ying.

Ever since this woman entered, this old fossil’s affection value had been dropping crazily by one point at a time.

Who was she?

"System, who is this woman? Why is my target losing me so much affection value because of her?"

G97 said coldly, "Host, she is the ninth young lady of the Chu residence, Chu Ying. She is also the younger sister of your first target and the other seven unbound targets."

A younger sister?

Lin Xiaoyue gave a cold laugh.

A mere younger sister was enough for him to deduct so much of her progress?

These old-fashioned people... really were ignorant!

"Well, Big Brother..." Chu Ying, thinking of the plot and her brother’s future marriage with the heroine, said, "This girl is..."

As expected.

Chu Hengyang gave Lin Xiaoyue a harsh critique in his mind.

She had still managed to destroy the perfect older-brother image he held in his little sister’s heart.

"Don’t worry, little sister." Chu Hengyang smiled as he patted Chu Ying’s head. "She..."