The Dollmaker’s Secret

Kissing it, hugging it, confessing to it… Is this really that intense?

Ye Shengge’s face was full of embarrassment, his ears burning a deep crimson. He stammered as he asked the system: [What kind of character setting requires doing this sort of thing?]

System: [The character generated for you by the dungeon is the Dollmaker.]

The system didn’t need to say more. Combining this with the plot broadcast that played when he entered the dungeon, one could guess most of it.

The role the dungeon world automatically generated for Ye Shengge was a dollmaker with a special fetish and a fickle heart.

As for what that fetish was, the plot broadcast didn’t state it explicitly, but judging by the actions the system prompted him to take, it certainly wasn’t a “normal” hobby.

Stealing a glance at the lifelike doll that was also unclothed, Ye Shengge was so ashamed his toes curled. His exposed skin turned a shade of soft pink, and the reddish tint at the corners of his eyes was incredibly alluring.

Shame was shame, but Ye Shengge knew he couldn’t afford the price of violating his character setting. He had to follow the system’s instructions.

He constantly comforted himself in his heart: Even if this doll has a consciousness, it’s fine. At least for now, it has no intention of letting its creator notice anything wrong, let alone hurting the master who made it.

In that case, a little kiss shouldn’t matter, right?

As long as he wasn’t embarrassed, the embarrassment belonged to others.

Thinking of this, Ye Shengge mustered his courage and cautiously moved toward the doll that was indistinguishable from a real human. He gently reached out, hugging its cold body. Then, with his eyelashes trembling, he leaned toward the doll’s perfectly shaped lips and gave them a quick, light peck.

“I like you.”

In the empty, dim room, the youth’s sweet confession rang out, trembling with nervousness.

If the person the youth confessed to were a living being, no matter who it was, they would be unable to resist.

But this confession was meant for a doll.

The doll still kept its eyes open, leaning there motionlessly, allowing its creator to hold it and perform intimate acts that only lovers should do.

Having completed the tasks of kissing, hugging, and confessing, Ye Shengge, with a flushed face, reached for the clothes placed nearby and put them on. Then, without looking back, he quickly ran out of the room.

Heaven as his witness, he never wanted to enter this room again!

Ye Shengge, who only wanted to escape this awkward place, had no idea that behind him, the doll lying on the bed suddenly shifted its pitch-black pupils, staring straight at the pitiful little master who was fleeing in a panic, an inexplicable sense of confusion emanating from it.

Why was he the one doing the “bad” things, yet also the one so shy he fled in a panic?

…

Ye Shengge didn’t look back. He ran to the door at his fastest speed and pushed it open.

However, when he pushed the door and saw the scene outside, he was completely stunned.

On the living room sofa downstairs sat two naked dolls that looked exactly like real people. Each doll’s appearance was outstanding; anyone who saw them would marvel at the maker’s exquisite craftsmanship.

But Ye Shengge had no desire to marvel. His face turned pale the moment he saw so many naked dolls downstairs.

A plot fragment that suddenly surfaced in his mind told him that, including the doll in the room, these were the “new” dolls he had recreated after getting bored with the previous batch.

As for the old doll from the previous batch, as early as three days ago, he had locked it in a cupboard in the basement, never to see the light of day again.

Just then, the system’s voice suddenly rang out: [Congratulations to the player for unlocking the Dollmaker’s plot!]

[You are a wealthy young master who lost your parents shortly after birth and inherited a vast fortune.]

[You have lacked the care of family for a long time. You are surrounded by people who flatter you, trying to gain more benefits. After the older brother—the childhood friend who truly cared for you—went abroad, your mental health grew worse and worse.]

[Until you saw a video of making small dolls and were deeply shocked. From then on, you began to teach yourself how to make dolls.]

[Your talent is unmatched. The dolls made by your hands are as vivid as if they possessed life.]

[But at this time, you discover that you have developed special feelings for the dolls you personally crafted. You fell in love with these dolls that cannot speak, cannot move, yet obey you absolutely.]

[But your love has a short shelf life. You quickly fall in love with a newly made doll and grow tired of the old one, locking it in the basement’s display case, never to be seen again.]

[More and more dolls have been abandoned by you. They are madly jealous of the new dolls you favor, and their resentment grows larger and larger. Before long, they will completely lose control and do something irreversible.]

[You must completely suppress them before the dolls lose control to prevent all of this from happening.]

After Ye Shengge finished listening, his legs felt weak. He asked the system in a trembling voice: [Then can you tell me exactly how many dolls I have discarded so far?]

He used the word “exactly.” Compared to a vague “many,” he needed a number. Even if he was going to die, he wanted to die knowing the score.

The system stalled for a few seconds and answered truthfully: [Not many, just six.]

Just six?!

Ye Shengge’s vision went black.

How was he supposed to suppress them?

Suppose he just suppressed one, the other five might riot. At that time!

This was completely unrealistic, unless he could be like the previous boss and split himself into many pieces.

System: [Please use your advantages, Player, and work hard to complete the task.]

Hearing this familiar phrase, Ye Shengge couldn’t help but ask: [What advantages could I possibly have?]

He couldn’t lift anything heavy or carry anything on his shoulders. Besides a face that was good to look at, what other advantage could there be? Surely he couldn’t be expected to seduce the dolls full of resentment and then use petty tricks to make them fight amongst themselves?

Sensing the host’s thoughts, the system said matter-of-factly: [This game does not restrict the means of clearing the stage. The player is free to choose.]

The implication was, of course, that he could.

Ye Shengge’s face turned explosive red.

Although he had known for a long time that the system wasn’t “normal,” he didn’t realize it was this abnormal—actually agreeing with his shameless idea.

Seducing dolls or whatever sounded incredibly shameful just hearing it.

Shame was one thing; he could endure it if he had to.

The key was that there were a full six dolls to seduce, and that didn’t even include the new dolls that hadn’t been discarded in the basement yet…

One wrong move and he would “roll the car.”

At that time, forget about seducing the dolls to make them fight; he might be seen through and eaten alive by the resentful dolls.

The difficulty was as great as ascending to heaven.

Ye Shengge did not have that kind of confidence.

Just as he stood frozen in place, staring blankly at the doll leaning on the sofa, the phone tucked in his pocket suddenly began to vibrate.

He took out the phone and saw it was a text message.

Big Brother Wen: [Shengge, I’m back. Is it convenient to meet?]

Seeing this contact name and the word “back,” Ye Shengge instantly guessed that this Big Brother Wen was the childhood friend mentioned in the system broadcast—one of the few people who truly cared for him.