The Shackles of the System and the Fallen “Protagonist”

Shi Ji spent a moment in internal despair. He took a deep breath, reset his expression, and tugged at Li Chen’s arm again. “Quickly, give it back to me.”

The youth before him blinked, staring straight into Shi Ji’s eyes, and then—with deliberate provocation—lifted his hand even higher.

The vibration stopped. The screen flickered and eventually went dark. After a while, the caller didn’t try again; they seemed to have given up.

Silence returned to the room, broken only by the intermingling breaths of Shi Ji and Li Chen.

“I’m not joking, Brother,” Li Chen spoke after a long time. The pale light from the window spilled into his eyes like scattered stardust across a dark blue night. He repeated each word slowly: “I. Like. You.”

This time, Shi Ji finally looked at him. His usually calm eyes flashed with a hint of shock, which was quickly replaced by a complexity Li Chen couldn’t decipher.

The person before him truly wasn’t joking. When Shi Ji looked into those eyes that held only his reflection, he knew Li Chen’s gaze couldn’t lie.

But he couldn’t find a reason for the boy to like him. Even as Li Chen held out his pounding, sincere heart, Shi Ji didn’t dare to accept it.

How could he? He didn’t belong here. If he were to leave suddenly one day, he would be leaving a debt to a heart full of passion.

Shi Ji hesitated for a few seconds, then frowned and pushed against Li Chen’s chest. “I don’t have time to discuss this with you right now.”

Li Chen pressed forward urgently. “Why don’t you have time? Are you unwilling to listen to me?”

His voice had lost its youthful rasp, replaced by a low, deep tone that vibrated near Shi Ji’s ear. Shi Ji realized then that Li Chen was no longer the naive boy he had met; he had truly grown into a man.

A subtle feeling expanded slowly in Shi Ji’s chest.

Shi Ji bit his lip and remained silent. His silence only made Li Chen more impatient. He pushed further: “Why, Brother?”

“You can look at anyone else,” Li Chen said, his emotions becoming more volatile, his breathing ragged. His hot breath brushed against Shi Ji’s lashes, making Shi Ji’s mind begin to wander. “But you just won’t look at me.”

“I’ve reflected many times. I thought I did something wrong to make you angry, which is why you won’t acknowledge me.” As the boy spoke, his eyes reddened, and his voice took on a hint of grievance. “But I really don’t know what I did wrong.”

His long lashes trembled. His slightly flushed nose made him look pitifully fragile. One of Li Chen’s hands slid around Shi Ji’s waist, the heat of his palm seeping through the thin fabric.

Shi Ji watched a single tear roll down the boy’s cheek. Li Chen looked up, taking a breath as if trying to control his unstable emotions, but his voice still wavered.

“I can’t take it anymore, Shi Ji.”

He finally called Shi Ji by his name, emphasizing every syllable.

“To be honest, I never thought I’d like you this much. But Lin Yi and the others told me that if you like someone, you’ll feel… desire for them.”

“I have to admit, I feel desire for you.”

“But you keep pushing me away. I’m afraid that one day I’ll actually lock you up—keep you by my side forever, so your eyes can only see me…”

The final sound was muffled against warm, pressed lips. Li Chen’s eyes widened in disbelief as Shi Ji leaned in to kiss him.

The man grabbed the boy’s collar and yanked him down. His eyes were faintly red, and despite his sharp intellect, his kissing technique was clumsy.

He brushed his lips against Li Chen’s, his soft tongue tracing the beautiful shape of the youth’s mouth as they exchanged hot, hurried breaths.

Li Chen noticed that Shi Ji didn’t close his eyes this time, unlike when Li Chen had forced a kiss on him before. Instead, Shi Ji stared at him intently. Li Chen could see his own reflection in those smoky-black eyes—like a bottomless abyss dragging him down.

As Shi Ji saw the desire clouding Li Chen’s gaze, he lowered his lashes. Before Li Chen could react, Shi Ji deftly snatched his phone back and pushed the boy away. The silver thread of saliva between them broke. The youth stumbled back and slowly sank to his knees.

He breathed heavily, covering his face with his hands, unable to hide his crimson ears and the flush on the back of his neck.

Shi Ji glanced at him, then walked over to the window with an unbothered expression. He redialed Yan Guangsheng’s number. After thirty seconds, the other end picked up.

“Hello? Mr. Shi?” Yan Guangsheng’s voice was tentative. “Were you just…”

Shi Ji rubbed his numb lips with the back of his hand and glanced back at Li Chen. “It’s nothing,” he replied quietly.

His voice was raspy. For someone like Shi Ji who had never been in love, a kiss was a complication. It threatened to dismantle the defenses he had built; it made his breathing irregular and his heart rate soar.

Yan Guangsheng sensed something was off but didn’t dare ask. He went straight to the report: “Mr. Shi, things are progressing smoothly. I’ve made contact.”

“You reached him?” Shi Ji paused. “The man who is supposed to be impossible to see?”

“That’s what they say,” Yan Guangsheng wiped sweat from his brow. “I find it strange too. As soon as Qin Zhe heard it was you who wanted to see him, he agreed immediately.”

“Something is wrong. Mr. Shi, I’m afraid… it’s a trap.”

Yan Guangsheng continued cautiously, “So… are we still going to see him?”

Shi Ji bit his lip, contemplating for a moment. “Yes. Even if it’s a trap, we go.”

His intuition told him that Qin Zhe was the person closest to the truth in this entire mystery. The car accident, the photo, the organization mentioned by Ji Shichu—Shi Ji didn’t believe these were coincidences. Someone was watching him, pushing him from the edge toward the center of the storm.

If someone was forcing him to find the truth, even using his life as a threat, he might as well be the fish that takes the bait and unearths the buried memories.

“When did Qin Zhe say to meet?” Shi Ji asked.

“He didn’t,” Yan Guangsheng replied. “He said it’s up to you. Just say the word, and he’ll be there.”

Shi Ji arched an eyebrow. The man was unexpectedly compliant. “Then let’s make it tomorrow evening.”

“Understood.”

After hanging up, Shi Ji looked out the window. He couldn’t go to this meeting alone; that would be irrational. He needed to bring someone he could trust.

Yan Guangsheng was a given. He lacked a bit of sense sometimes, but he was reliable, had no hidden agenda, and wouldn’t dare betray Shi Ji. In the original novel, he was the only one who stayed with the original host until the very end, which led to his tragic demise.

Who else?

Shi Ji frowned, feeling a headache coming on. Because the original host held a high position and used ruthless methods, he was surrounded by vultures. He couldn’t find a second person he truly trusted.

He paced the room aimlessly, wondering how a simple romance novel had turned into this. If he had followed the system’s plot, would things be easier? At least he wouldn’t be a headless fly crashing into walls.

He was officially regretting his choices.

Shi Ji unconsciously paced near Li Chen. Suddenly, he felt his robe being gripped. He looked down to see Li Chen, still kneeling on the floor, clutching the fabric of his bathrobe. The boy’s bangs had fallen back down, partially obscuring his eyes.

“Where are you going?” Li Chen asked.

Shi Ji said coldly, “It’s none of your business.”

Li Chen’s expression fell. He tried to stand, but his legs were weak from kneeling, forcing him to lean against the bed for support.

“Take me with you.”

Ignoring Shi Ji’s coldness, he stubbornly made his demand.

Shi Ji remained expressionless. “Li Chen, I’ve already given you what you wanted.” He touched the boy’s reddened lips with his finger. “Or are you saying it wasn’t enough? Do you want more?”

Shi Ji withdrew his hand and looked away. He pulled his robe back with force, prying it from Li Chen’s grip. “I’m very busy right now. Stop being a child.”

That phrase again.

Li Chen ground his teeth. His “brother” always treated him like a brat. Shi Ji was like an irresponsible owner who wouldn’t even pat the head of the dog that was desperate for his attention.

As Shi Ji turned to leave, Li Chen stood up and said in a deep, commanding voice:

“Stay.”

As if by magic, Shi Ji’s feet stopped moving. He froze, eyes wide.

[0373: Host! Are you finally going to start retaliating against the vicious villain?!]

0373 suddenly appeared as a translucent puff of fur, bouncing on Li Chen’s shoulder. Its black dot-eyes flickered with mechanical excitement.

Shi Ji snapped awake. He was pinned to the spot, unable to move. Li Chen was using his System to control him!

“Li Chen, you…”

“Shut up.”

Instantly, Shi Ji was silenced. His throat felt constricted, making it impossible to produce a sound. This was his first time seeing the full extent of Li Chen’s System. The original novel hadn’t detailed this ability, and Shi Ji’s own system couldn’t control others.

Li Chen’s face was cold. He stood tall, his gaze dark and icy. The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

“Shi Ji.” His lips moved. “Look at me.”

Shi Ji’s head lifted against his will, meeting Li Chen’s eyes.

“Come here.”

His legs moved automatically, shuffling slowly toward Li Chen. Because Shi Ji was instinctively fighting it, his movements were jagged and bizarre. He stopped less than half a meter away from the boy.

Li Chen looked down at him, a cold chill permeating his shadowed gaze. A dark smile played on his lips—a look that didn’t belong on his handsome face. His gaze swept over Shi Ji’s pale, trembling form.

“Don’t push me, Brother.” Li Chen leaned in, his warm breath hitting Shi Ji’s exposed chest. His soft thumb slid slowly across Shi Ji’s skin. “I want too much.”

“How could a little bit like that satisfy me?”

He slid his hand into Shi Ji’s bathrobe, his fingers kneading the smooth skin, brushing against his collarbone.

Shi Ji’s pupils contracted. He knew Li Chen was using the system to amplify his sensitivity; every touch felt like ants crawling over him, sparking a subtle itch. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he let out a muffled, involuntary groan.

Li Chen narrowed his eyes, pulling Shi Ji even closer. He felt the man’s racing breath and heard that small, kitten-like whimper.

“What are you saying?” The youth asked repeatedly. “Brother.”

He blinked, a sliver of a smile breaking through his cold mask. “Are you cursing me again?”

Li Chen looked up into Shi Ji’s eyes. Shi Ji’s brows were knit tight, the sounds in his throat becoming more frantic.

“Ah—” The smile in Li Chen’s eyes deepened. “You definitely are.”

“Are you calling me a madman? Or saying I should die?”

“Oh, wait.”

He suddenly realized something.

“You aren’t the original Shi Ji. You wouldn’t want me to die.”

“You said… you wanted me to live.”

Li Chen looked like a child who had received a prize. He massaged Shi Ji’s stiff muscles and then greedily pressed his lips against the corner of the man’s mouth.

“I will do as you wish and live well.”

“Brother.”

He cupped the back of Shi Ji’s head, forcing their foreheads together. “I will never leave you.”

Shi Ji glared at him with everything he had, but he still couldn’t move. The atmosphere was stifling. Suddenly, the doorbell rang sharply from downstairs.

In that instant, Shi Ji broke free from the control. He reflexively turned his head toward the door, missing the dark look that crossed Li Chen’s face.

Then, he heard the youth in front of him slowly utter two words:

“Kneel down.”