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[Challenge 3 (Ding~)
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The system immediately bent over and clutched its crotch, standing off to the side.
[Holy crap! Calling you that way was just... way too much...]
What kind of man could withstand that kind of test?
Calling it soul-stealing wouldn't be an exaggeration.
I can't take it. Absolutely can't take it.
Unlike the system, Ji Mu didn't lose his composure.
However, the girl's unexpected response left him utterly confused.
This isn't how it was supposed to go.
[Maybe we should retreat for now?]
The system was already considering backing out.
Such a terrifying succubus! If she gave it her all, only the host could probably hold his ground.
[This girl is completely immune to all tactics. You'll need to try a different approach.]
The system was clearly exasperated.
It was clear that an afternoon of studying wasn't enough; he'd have to refine his skills even more.
Ji Mu was reluctant to accept defeat.
He'd drawn inspiration from several bullying-themed films, yet he completely flopped when it came to actual combat. He was thrown into the river without so much as a splash.
Then what was all that hard work and film analysis for?
Was it just seaweed snacks for the soul?
As his frustration grew, the subtle shift in his expression, caught between pride and panic, was noticed by the girl.
The pale skin around his ears had taken on a faint blush.
She vaguely remembered that the first time she'd called him "Master Mu" back in their previous life, he'd looked just as flustered as he did now.
Kind of cute, actually.
Yu Hua remained composed, raising her hand in an unhurried gesture.
—If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back now.
Just before leaving, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.
"Master Mu."
She called out again, her voice crisp and sweet.
The boy visibly froze in place.
She walked to the side, her cool expression masking the mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
Staring at her calm, drifting silhouette, Ji Mu felt a surge of frustration that wouldn't let him retreat in defeat.
He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and called out to her.
"Little Mute."
His tone was sharp and laced with warning.
"Don't think this is over."
So what if you're mentally strong? So what if you're as serene as a chrysanthemum?
You've caught my attention now, so watch yourself!
Yu Hua turned back.
The boy stood beneath a weathered, flickering streetlamp. Its glow outlined his tall, refined figure as he met her gaze head-on.
His voice rang out clearly and resolutely.
"From now on, every single day, my mind will be filled with thoughts of you."
The sincerity and determination in his voice were impossible to ignore.
The girl's expression faltered ever so slightly.
Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily, and she forgot to blink.
"Hah!" Ji Mu scoffed and turned to walk away.
He'd said what he needed to say.
He wouldn't stop until he found a way to completely break her defenses.
...
The golden hues of dusk spilled generously across the narrow streets and alleys, bathing the weathered cobblestone paths in warm light.
Cracked bricks and aged tiles were draped in a soft veil of gold.
A breeze blew through the corridor, lifting Yu Hua's dark hair and the hem of her skirt.
Loose strands of hair tickled the skin behind her ears.
The rustling of the surrounding trees faded into a distant, slow-motion murmur. Only the sharp "thump, thump, thump" of her heartbeat echoed in her ears.
In that moment, her chest experienced a strange sensation similar to palpitations.
It crisscrossed through her, tangling her thoughts.
It was like an unfinished painting waiting for color to bring it to life.
Or a piano piece marred by a single wrong note.
After a brief moment of daze, Yu Hua's eyes slowly refocused.
The world resumed its normal pace.
The alley was dim and quiet. Her hand tightened slightly on the strap of her bag.
The scattered glow of streetlights cast soft reflections across her exquisitely delicate features. For once, her usually indifferent expression revealed a flicker of emotion.
Lost composure again...
Her tongue lightly brushed her sharp canines as a strange sense of irritation rose within her.
She pulled a cigarette case from her backpack.
With a faint spark from the lighter, the slender cigarette between her fingers lit up.
Tilting her head back and half-closing her apricot eyes, she exhaled a swirl of smoke from between her red lips.
Under the influence of nicotine, the restless frustration in her chest finally began to ease.
But only a little.
Yu Hua knew exactly who was to blame for all this.
Her free hand reached up; it felt as if all the warmth in her body had gathered in her cheeks. The heat made her fingertips flinch slightly.
Ji Mu...
She mouthed his name silently, her back trembling slightly.
Ash from the half-burned cigarette fell away.
Cool, hazy smoke curled around her. Her teeth unconsciously grazed the cigarette filter, leaving faint marks behind.
You really are...
Just as annoying as you were in the last life.
…
On the way home, Ji Mu listlessly kicked a small stone on the side of the road.
On his first day at a new school, he had already tasted the bitter fruit of failure.
The flavor was truly unpleasant.
Throwing out bold threats might look cool, but ultimately, they were all bark and no bite.
Sigh...
He let out a melancholy sigh.
Earning that second 25 million is going to be so hard.
What does that calm-faced girl even care about?
[Holy crap! Am I seeing things? What the hell is that?]
The system's shrill screech suddenly shattered Ji Mu's gloomy thoughts.
His eyes widened as if a planet were about to fly off its orbit. They were filled with disbelief and a blinding flash of excitement.
[Host! The Prajna Instrument just reacted! The female lead's corruption value has suddenly increased by five points!"]