A Tangled Web of Responsibility and Desire

The coordination between Ning Ran and Jiang Zhe was seamless, whereas Lin Moshu, who had taken on the responsibility, was visibly displeased.

As Lin Moshu watched his nominal fiancée, her face beaming with satisfaction, her overly striking beauty seemed to glisten. However, in his eyes, this beauty was synonymous with bitterness and cruelty, intensifying his disgust.

Unlike the dazzlingly beautiful woman, Lin Moshu preferred a pure and innocent type.

Moreover, Ning Ran’s tendency to be calculating and her fiery temper were all negatives in his book. If not for the need to rely on the Ning family’s support in the power struggle within the Lin family, he wouldn’t have considered a business marriage with Ning Ran, preventing him from marrying the girl he truly loved.

The helpless situation weighed on him like an enormous weight, making it hard to breathe and leaving him exhausted and frustrated.

If it weren’t for Su Lianlian’s companionship, Lin Moshu felt he would have been driven to the brink of insanity by the pressure.

“Lin Moshu, where’s your apology? Your hesitant behavior doesn’t suit you. If you have the guts to act, you should also have the guts to apologize. Otherwise, don’t play the hero’s part, or you might end up looking like a fool.”

After waiting a while with no response from Lin Moshu, Ning Ran sneered, lazily raising her hand to examine her nails, which were painted a deep red. She spoke again, her words as poisonous as ever, further darkening Lin Moshu’s expression.

Even Jiang Zhe, standing nearby, couldn’t help but smile, realizing that Ning Ran’s sharp tongue wasn’t aimed at him alone.

The onlookers, familiar with Ning Ran’s style, smirked, enjoying the spectacle as they waited for Lin Moshu’s apology. The only reason no one had started recording was the fear of the Lin family’s power.

Amidst the curious stares, Lin Moshu knew that delaying was futile. He took a deep breath, his usual cold expression returning as he bowed his head to Ning Ran.

“Ning Ran, I’m sorry. It was my fault for being hasty, causing you to be misunderstood.”

Given the circumstances, an insincere apology would only make things worse. Lin Moshu, despite his reluctance, knew how to adapt.

Su Lianlian, watching Lin Moshu, showed clear concern in her eyes. This small gesture of attention from her made Lin Moshu feel a bit better, and he subtly indicated that he was okay.

Their interaction, though subtle, was not missed by Jiang Zhe, who was a keen observer. Seeing the chemistry between Lin Moshu and Su Lianlian, it reminded him of a classic story where the characters are wronged lovers, making him wonder about the initial design of this love game, which seemed to have a glitch.

In the game, Ning Ran was portrayed as a busty, brainless villain, occupying a key role as the female antagonist, frequently using her status to bully the protagonist. However, in reality, Ning Ran was seen as a scheming and manipulative woman, while Su Lianlian, the protagonist, was a kind and cheerful girl who faced Ning Ran’s bullying with resilience and even tried to befriend her.

Now, it seemed the game’s perspective was biased, painting a rosy picture that felt unrealistic. In Jiang Zhe’s eyes, it was a story of a white-lotus, green-tea girl rising to power, playing with the emotions of innocent young men, and surprisingly, some actually fell for it.

Thinking about his own role in the game, Jiang Zhe felt a mix of amusement and disdain. He was grateful he could control his actions, not forced to follow the game’s script. He certainly didn’t want to be the laughing stock of the game.

“Next time, make sure you see clearly. If your eyes are bad, I can help you find a doctor to replace your corneas, so you don’t mistake trash for treasure again.”

Even after Lin Moshu’s sincere apology, Ning Ran’s tongue remained sharp, her words laced with hidden meanings. Although she didn’t point fingers, everyone understood she was referring to Su Lianlian, comparing her to trash. Su Lianlian, who heard every word, started to tear up, her pitiable expression making Lin Moshu clench his fists.

He glared coldly at Ning Ran, no longer keeping quiet: “This doesn’t concern you.”

For the sake of relying on the Ning family’s influence, Lin Moshu didn’t elaborate further. He simply left with Su Lianlian, unwilling to stay and be the center of attention any longer.

Su Lianlian, reluctant to leave, turned to look at Jiang Zhe with a mix of apology and longing, as if saying, ‘I’m not blaming you; you had no choice.’

However, Jiang Zhe, determined to stay away from the protagonist’s drama, ignored her. Instead, he thoughtfully considered how to bind himself to a game character to earn ‘heart points.’

The game had only announced this briefly, without giving Jiang Zhe a chance to ask questions, leaving him with vague information. Helping Ning Ran and making Lin Moshu apologize should have earned him points, but without a binding contract, he received nothing.

Jiang Zhe secretly raised his left hand, noticing a battery-like icon on his wrist, currently at full charge, with no idea how long it would last.

[To bind to a game character, a kiss must be performed, with both parties’ lips touching for thirty seconds. If the time is insufficient, the binding is invalid, and once bound, it cannot be undone.]

As Jiang Zhe pondered the binding, a game notification sounded, prompting him to consider this as a challenge. He thought, ‘This is a tough one!’ Perhaps it should be renamed from ‘Love Excitement’ to ‘Flirtatious Game.’

Although Ning Ran was Jiang Zhe’s type, the thought of forcing himself on a young girl made him feel uncomfortable, a rare occurrence for someone as experienced as him. He had always avoided romantic entanglements, fearing they would become clingy and hard to escape.

This caution stemmed from a friend’s experience, who was a notorious playboy, entangled with multiple women, boasting about his ‘harem.’ However, his reckless behavior nearly cost him his life. After being rescued, the sight of his friend’s battered body left a lasting impression on Jiang Zhe.

This experience made him wary of women, avoiding any romantic involvement. Therefore, despite his age, he lacked any romantic experience, making the sudden demand to kiss Ning Ran a daunting task, even if it was necessary for survival.

When he first learned about the need to bind to a game character, he accepted it, thinking it might lead to a romance. However, the pace of the game’s progression was too fast for his liking.

Jiang Zhe looked at Ning Ran with a mix of struggle and resolve, knowing he had to find a way to bind with her to survive. The bigger challenge, however, was convincing Ning Ran to cooperate.