Chapter 100: Get a sore throat

Liu Qiu didn’t know when she had fallen asleep.
When she woke up, the sky was already bright.

The sunlight was blocked by the curtains, but a few stray beams still slipped through.
Her eyes felt sore and swollen, and when a ray of light brushed across them, tears welled up uncontrollably.

[System, are you awake?]

[I’m awake. How are you feeling, Host?]

Liu Qiu got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and walked toward her room.
[Much better.]
Sure enough, sleeping on it had helped.

The system was right.
She had simply missed home too much and subconsciously treated Fu Jinyin as someone familiar.

So when Fu Jinyin treated her badly, her heart would ache, and she would feel wronged.

The living room was quiet.
Liu Qiu walked to her bedroom door and knocked lightly.
When there was no response, she slowly pushed it open.

The quilt on the bed was neatly folded, and the pajamas were placed over the chair.
The room was spotless.

She had no idea when Duan Fan and the others had left.
She had slept too deeply to even notice Fu Jinyin moving.

It seemed like everyone in this world disliked her.

She splashed cold water on her face, took a deep breath, and looked at herself in the mirror.
Reaching up, she patted her cheeks lightly to pull herself together.

She had to work hard on the mission and then go home.
Her parents were still waiting for her.

[Host, don’t put psychological pressure on yourself. Developing feelings is normal because you’re a normal person.]

The system said this to ease her burden.

If the Fu Jinyin of this world really resembled someone important to her, it was only natural that she would project her emotions onto her.

The system had guided many mission-takers before and usually told them not to waste emotions in mission worlds.

But this was the first time it had said that it was okay to let some feelings exist.

Its host had already done very well.

Liu Qiu nodded firmly.
[I know, System.]

Because she was a normal person, after learning about Fu Jinyin’s experiences, she would naturally feel heartache for her.

And because she was normal, seeing someone who carried the shadow of a familiar face would inevitably stir her emotions.

There was nothing wrong with her feeling upset or crying.

She still felt sorry for Fu Jinyin now, for what she had gone through and for the wounds covering her body.

But she wouldn’t feel hurt just because Fu Jinyin was with someone else.
Her original wish had only ever been for Fu Jinyin to be a little happier.

The system stopped watching dramas and asked, [Host, are you still going job hunting today?]

Liu Qiu spat out the foam from her mouth and rinsed.
[Yes. I still need to live.]

She was currently an unemployed former CEO.
The money in her bank card had to cover rent and other expenses.
She had to earn her own income.

The system silently swore that next time, it would definitely let her be a rich second-generation heir.

Xingyun Building, tenth floor.

Chao Yue lounged lazily on the sofa, playing a mobile game, looking utterly unrestrained.

Duan Liming’s gaze fell on her.
“Why are you here instead of keeping an eye on Fu Jinyin?”

“Why rush me? Can’t I take it slow?” Chao Yue replied.

“Liming-jie is too cold. No wonder you’re thirty-five and still single.”

Duan Liming frowned slightly, the lines between her brows deep and severe.

No. 137 had undergone more social training than any other experimental subject, yet her personality leaned closer to Duan Fan’s—carefree and irreverent.

“Chao Yue, don’t learn from Duan Fan.”

Chao Yue let out a laugh and rolled her eyes toward Duan Liming.
“Liming-jie, I’m nothing like Duan Fan. Don’t slander me.”

Knock, knock.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Duan Liming said.

A suited assistant entered and handed over a document respectfully.

“President Duan, the press conference has been arranged. This is the guest list. Please review it.”

Chao Yue put down her phone and walked behind Duan Liming, resting a hand on the back of her chair.
“Liming-jie, what press conference?”

“So secretive. You didn’t even tell me.”

Duan Liming flipped open the document.
“It concerns human reproduction. You probably wouldn’t be interested.”

Experimental subjects, regardless of gender, lacked reproductive capability.

Chao Yue immediately lost interest.
“Boring.”

“If you’re bored, go monitor Fu Jinyin.”

“Your kind should be better at identifying each other,” Duan Liming said flatly.

Chao Yue narrowed her eyes and removed her hand.
“Even workers get days off. I work one day, rest one day. Perfectly reasonable.”

Duan Liming didn’t bother arguing.
She closed the file.

“For the conference the day after tomorrow, increase security outside,” she instructed.
The technology challenged natural reproduction; radicals might attempt to disrupt the venue.

The assistant nodded and left.

Chao Yue flopped back onto the sofa.
“Liming-jie, find me a wife.”

“Long arms, strong, and good-looking.”

Duan Liming’s eyelid twitched.
“Go to a nightclub.”

Chao Yue sighed dramatically.
“You’re so cold, my heart’s freezing.”

Duan Liming didn’t even spare her a glance.

Chao Yue yawned lazily.
“Fine, I’ll nap next door. Wake me for lunch. Bye, Liming-jie.”

When she left, the office fell silent.

Duan Liming tapped her fingers against the document.
No. 137 was unpredictable.
No one could guess what she’d think of next.

Perhaps it was time to select another experimental subject.

At noon, the sun hung high in the sky.
Early summer wasn’t too hot yet, though the light was dazzling.

Liu Qiu walked down the street, holding an ice cream.
She had tried several places, but none were hiring part-timers.

[Host, let’s go back and try again tomorrow.]

Liu Qiu shook her head, her pale cheeks flushed.
[Let’s keep looking.]

Her balance was shrinking every day.
She had to work harder.

As if her silent wish had been heard, a flyer drifted to her feet as she passed a building.

She picked it up and read it.

[Temporary security guards needed. 50 per hour. No gender restrictions. Height 165cm+. Interested? Call: 130xxxxxxx.]

The pay was high.
It looked like a scam.

But she could at least call and ask.

After finishing the last bite of her ice cream and tossing the stick away, she dialed the number.

It was answered quickly by a pleasant female voice.
“Hello, how may I help you?”

Liu Qiu hesitated.
“Um… are you still hiring security guards?”

“Yes. If you’re interested, please come to Xingyun Building, Room 2014 on the tenth floor for an interview.”

She looked up.
The building in front of her was Xingyun Building.

Memory surfaced—it belonged to Duan Fan’s family.
The entire building did.

So it wasn’t a scam.

She probably wouldn’t run into Duan Fan, right?
She was only applying for a temporary position.

Clenching her fists, she walked inside.

As soon as she entered the lobby, she saw a familiar figure—Chao Yue.

Chao Yue saw her too and waved with a smile.

Liu Qiu nodded politely.

But Chao Yue clearly wasn’t going to let her pass so easily.
She walked straight over.

Liu Qiu’s face remained calm, though a flicker of unease lingered in her eyes.

They weren’t close.
The original host’s memories didn’t include this person.

“Liu Qiu, good afternoon,” Chao Yue greeted brightly.

“Miss Chao Yue, hello.”

Chao Yue narrowed her eyes playfully and hooked her arm through Liu Qiu’s.
“Sweetheart, what brings you here? Looking for Duan Fan?”

Her arm pressed against Chao Yue’s chest.
Feeling the rise and fall, Liu Qiu tensed.
“I’m here for an interview.”

She tried to withdraw her arm, but Chao Yue tightened her hold.
“Don’t be so resistant. I just want to be good friends.”

“After your interview, want to hit a bar with me? I’m looking for a girlfriend.”

Liu Qiu didn’t want to argue.
“Let go first. I’ll go with you after the interview.”

Chao Yue looked genuinely surprised.
She hadn’t expected Liu Qiu to agree so easily.

Letting go, she instead laced their fingers together.
“I’ll take you. Which floor?”

“Tenth floor, Room 2014.”

They walked together.

Liu Qiu tried gently to pull free, but Chao Yue held firmly.
Her palm was cool—pleasant in summer.

Fu Jinyin’s hands were cool too.
As expected of childhood friends—even their cold hands matched.

After the brief interview—astonishingly easy—they passed.

Outside the building, Chao Yue suddenly leaned her head on Liu Qiu’s shoulder and snapped a photo.

“Can I post this? I want to brag about making a new friend.”

Liu Qiu couldn’t refuse her bright smile.
She nodded.

Later, at the bar, Chao Yue chatted endlessly, pointing out beautiful women.

It felt strangely comfortable, like being with a friend.

But when Chao Yue disappeared upstairs with someone and Liu Qiu went looking for her, things took a turn.

She was suddenly dragged into a restroom stall by three women.

“Want to play a game?” one of them teased, unbuttoning her shirt.

“I’m not interested,” Liu Qiu replied coldly.

They let her go—but once outside, dizziness hit her.
Heat pooled in her body.

[System… I feel hot.]

[There’s a small amount of drug residue in your system, but it’s not dangerous. Sweat it out or drink water.]

Relieved, yet increasingly flushed, she waited in a private room Chao Yue had guided her to.

When Chao Yue returned, Liu Qiu’s face was crimson.

“…Chao Yue,” she murmured.

“What’s wrong, Qiuqiu?”

“I… I’m wet.”

Sticky.
Uncomfortable.

Chao Yue froze.
“What are you talking about?”

“I was drugged. I didn’t lie. My pants got wet.”

Chao Yue covered her mouth and laughed softly, though her breath had grown uneven.
“You really can’t say things like that so casually.”

“I can show you.”

[Host, don’t say that!] the system screamed.

Liu Qiu looked up with hazy eyes.
“Do you want to see?”

Chao Yue’s smile faltered.
“Stop seducing me. We clash, and I’m lazy.”

“What does that mean?”

Chao Yue studied her eyes and confirmed she wasn’t clear-headed.

“Nothing. Let’s get you out of here.”

But Liu Qiu grabbed her hand and guided it downward.

“If you won’t look, then feel.”

“I’m not lying.”

Chao Yue’s fingers trembled.
She should have pulled away.

But she didn’t.

Warmth and dampness met her fingertips instantly.

So hot.

Her breathing quickened—

—and then Liu Qiu pulled her hand back.

“I didn’t lie.”

Chao Yue slowly rubbed her damp fingertips together, her smile returning.

“I know.”

For a brief moment, when she touched her, she had wanted to go further.

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