Of course, Chen Yan didn't think it was a bad thing that there were only the two of them, himself and Zhao Ying, in the villa.

Now that something had happened to Zhao Xuan, Chen Yan, even if he were an animal, wouldn't have any untoward designs on Zhao Ying under these circumstances.

The reason he cared about this was because Zhao Xuan's villa was a bit large, and it felt strangely desolate and creepy with just the two of them inside.

In addition, it was early spring. The central heating had stopped, but the temperature was yet to rise. It was the coldest season of the year in the north, making the whole villa seem chilly.

It only accentuated that feeling.

Looking at the empty villa, Chen Yan couldn't help but ask Zhao Ying, "Usually, it's just you and your dad living here?"

Zhao Ying first nodded, then shook her head, "Normally, it's just my dad and me. But there is a butler who always follows my dad."

"If there's something that needs doing, he'll do it himself, or call some cleaning ladies."

Chen Yan was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Is he here today?"

Zhao Ying shook her head, "He's gone. I don't know what he's off doing."

Chen Yan: .....

Chen Yan asked, "Can you contact him?"

Zhao Ying shook her head, "Only my dad can contact him. I don't have his contact details."

Chen Yan was silent for a moment, feeling like this butler might be a key figure. Maybe he knew something?

However, with no way to reach him now, Chen Yan could only wait patiently.

To be honest, when he went to see Cao Weiguo earlier and heard Cao Weiguo tell him to hold his actions, Chen Yan didn't quite believe his identity.

But now, considering the mysteriously missing butler, Chen Yan felt that there might be a sliver of possibility...

After all, the butler was certainly Zhao Xuan's closest confidant.

And this very important confidant, at the time of Zhao Xuan's distress, had mysteriously disappeared; most likely following an order from Zhao Xuan to do something.

So, Chen Yan thought that perhaps Zhao Xuan was indeed preparing something in secret.

Feeling reassured by the fact Zhao Xuan wasn't entirely defenseless, Chen Yan slightly relaxed.

He turned on the central air-conditioning to warm up the villa, then watched TV with Zhao Ying for a while before going back to his room to rest.

Lying in bed, Chen Yan took out his phone to chat with He Mengxue for a bit, then discussed some plans with Yang Rou. After checking the time, it was already past 10 p.m.

So, he opened Yu Qiao Qiao's WeChat, intending to say goodnight to her.

Since the two spent Chinese New Year together in Gambling City, their relationship seemed to have grown closer with some cute couple habits forming, like saying goodnight, one of those adorable rituals.

And, with He Mengxue's "simpering dog" guide, Chen Yan's sweet nothings had become smoother and smoother.

So, after thinking for a moment, he sent a message,

[In Sleeping Beauty, the princess fell under a curse and slept for a very, very long time. Until a passing prince kissed her, waking her up to live happily ever after. What does this fairy tale teach us?]

Yu Qiao Qiao, who seemed to be waiting by her phone just for Chen Yan, almost instantly replied, [What's the lesson? "Only a true love's kiss can awaken one's beloved?"]

Chen Yan smiled and then replied,

[No, no, no. The story tells us that without enough sleep, you cannot become a princess. So my princess, it's time for us to sleep~]

On the other side of the phone, Yu Qiao Qiao blushed as she read the contents on her screen. She shyly lowered her head and typed a few characters, [Okay~ My prince. Remember to wake me with a kiss in the morning.]

After sending the message, Yu Qiao Qiao's face became redder as she pressed on her screen.

A moment later, it seemed as if steam was practically billowing from her head.

She hurriedly reached for the delete key, ready to erase what she'd just typed.

But just then, a voice came from behind her, "Qiao Qiao, what are you doing?"

During the voice, a fair hand deftly grabbed Yu Qiao Qiao's phone.

"Ah?! Sister Man Man!" Yu Qiao Qiao was taken aback and tried to retrieve her phone, but Lu Man didn't give her a chance.

The dancer Lu Man twirled gracefully, using her slender figure to block Yu Qiao Qiao's reach as she started reading.

"My princess, it's time for us to sleep~~ugh~~"

Looking at the message Chen Yan had sent, Lu Man made a disgusted expression before turning to the content Yu Qiao Qiao had typed, unable to restrain a smile, "Yo~ Our Qiao Qiao is all grown up, even flirting now."

Having her biggest secret discovered by Lu Man, Yu Qiao Qiao's face turned even redder. Meanwhile, she frantically tried to snatch her phone back from Lu Man's hand.

But Lu Man was too nimble, dodging left and right, eluding Yu Qiao Qiao's grasp.

In between, she even pressed the send button and said with a mischievous smile, "If you wanted to send it, just send it. Why be shy?"

Seeing Lu Man actually send that embarrassing message, Yu Qiao Qiao turned crimson with mortification, almost to tears, as she stammered, "Sister Man Man, I, I..."

Lu Man cut her off, "Let me tell you, as a woman, don't just sit and wait passively. Why not take the initiative?"

"Be brave and say what you like, love freely."

"Don't be shy."

"If you don't express yourself, how will the other person know how much you like them!"

After finishing her monologue, she tossed the phone to Yu Qiao Qiao and waved her hand, "I'm going to the bathroom. Think it over," then she turned and left.

Yu Qiao Qiao clumsily caught her phone, her heart racing. After all, this was the phone Chen Yan had given her not long after they met, a treasure she'd cherished for over three years...

As for the message Lu Man had sent on her behalf, it was already forgotten...

Meanwhile, having gone to the restroom, Lu Man no longer hid her emotions.

Jealousy clearly written over her beautiful features, she angrily took out her phone and sent Chen Yan a WeChat message, [Should I head to bed since it's so late?]

Moments later, she received a reply, [If you're tired, sleep. But aren't you a night owl? Why sleep so early?]

"Ah! Chen Yan, you jerk!"

Squatting over the toilet, Lu Man was nearly driven mad with frustration, furiously replying, [I want to go to bed early! From now on, I'll go to bed early every day!]

Chen Yan: .....

On the other side of the phone, Chen Yan was utterly baffled...

...

In Tiandu, in Zhao Xuan's villa.

Chen Yan was actually pleasantly surprised when he received Yu Qiao Qiao's message.

Although Yu Qiao Qiao had been getting more proactive and brighter, she had never said something so bold and direct.

So Chen Yan was very happy.

However, before he could chat more with Yu Qiao Qiao, barrage of messages from Lu Man began to arrive.

At first, Chen Yan was confused and responded normally.

But with Lu Man's last message, Chen Yan finally sensed something was off.

He scratched his head in confusion and then opened the Virtual Girlfriend Simulator, wanting to see what Lu Man was up to for her to suddenly become so irritable.

Was it because the dieting over the past few days had been too rough on her?

Upon opening the game, the first thing Chen Yan saw was Yu Qiao Qiao's interface.

Yu Qiao Qiao was lying in bed, seemingly ready to sleep.

He silently commended, "My Boss Qiao Qiao is really the best," then switched avatars to see what Lu Man was doing.

But just as he switched away, Chen Yan let out a curious, "Huh," and then switched back.

Because he suddenly realized that the environment where Yu Qiao Qiao was didn't look like her own home.

Chen Yan's pulse quickened as he hastily checked Yu Qiao Qiao's current location.

And upon seeing where she was, Chen Yan let out another "Huh," then wore a look of bewilderment.

For... Yu Qiao Qiao was now in Lu Man's home.

Chen Yan was confused.

What business had brought these two women together?

Before he could figure that out, another notification held his attention: apparently Lu Man had sent him a series of odd messages.

Probably, she must have seen the message he had sent to Yu Qiao Qiao and gotten jealous.

Chen Yan couldn't help but wryly smile.

What unlucky timing.

He had no idea they were together.

Had he known, Chen Yan would most certainly... not have contacted either of them.

Pondering this, Chen Yan was racking his brains for a way to make amends.

He dredged through his meager store of romantic phrases before coming up with one at last. He hurriedly sent it to Lu Man, [Man Man, I feel like you're getting more and more temperamental, and your personality's gaining more edges.]

He sent the message, and it went through successfully.

Chen Yan quickly prepared the sweet follow-up line, [But amazingly, your size and edges just happen to fit perfectly into my heart.]

"Whoosh~"

He sent the message.

Message failed to send, the recipient has blocked you.

Chen Yan: ?????

Chen Yan examined the two WeChat messages, the first had gone through, the second had been blocked.

Chen Yan: .....

Ah! It's not like that, Man Man! Hear me out!!

Chen Yan was nearly going mad.

Was Lu Man's reaction that swift? She blocked him after the first message?

It wasn't as if he'd said anything exceptionally aggravating!

Thinking this, Chen Yan was just about to call Lu Man to clarify, when his phone buzzed with several notifications,

[Zhao Ying and Lu Man's affection level has reached 200, MAX Affection.]

[Please complete the final test for this girlfriend.]

[After completing the final challenge, you will receive this girlfriend's exclusive reward.]

[Lu Man's affection level has reached 200, MAX Affection.]

[Please wait patiently for the ultimate test to be triggered.]

Baffled by the succession of pop-ups, Chen Yan was cluelessly wondering what was happening.

Why did Brother Ying's affection suddenly max out?

Could it be... Brother Ying dislikes Lu Man, so her mood improved because I annoyed Lu Man?

But that didn't make sense either. She isn't part of the system; how could she know I'd annoyed Lu Man?

While guessing blindly, Chen Yan once again opened the game, interested in the recent changes in Zhao Ying's affection levels.

Checking Zhao Ying's detailed affection score, Chen Yan found her affection had varied a lot recently.

Before heading to Tiandu, her score had reached 161 points.

Then, having arrived in Tiandu, potentially because Chen Yan kept his promise, her affection increased in two instances to 184 points.

After that, it was a rollercoaster of ups and downs, probably because Chen Yan hadn't practiced martial arts with Zhao Ying, causing her affection to fluctuate continuously.

The turmoil shifted today.

Upon learning of Zhao Ying's ordeal and rushing to Tiandu at once, and then busily looking after her, including their philosophical chat, Zhao Ying's affection incessantly accumulated.

Until after dinner and TV, her affection reached 199 points.

Then, when she returned to her room, alone. Something miraculous happened.

Perhaps because the vast villa housed only Chen Yan and her, and with the turmoil at home, she felt fragile and wanted Chen Yan's comfort, thus... that last point was added.

[Desires Chen Yan's companionship: Affection +1].

Thus, she reached the full 200 points.

Seeing Zhao Ying's affection reach the maximum, Chen Yan was initially dumbfounded.

Truth be told, he had anticipated He Mengxue would be the first to max out. Unexpectedly, it was Zhao Ying...

While he pondered on this, suddenly, his door was knocked "thump, thump, thump," with Zhao Ying's ethereal voice reaching him from the outside, "Chen Yan. May I come in?"

Chen Yan reflexively said, "Sure. Come in."

The door slowly opened, and Zhao Ying appeared in her pajamas, clutching a pillow and blanket at the entrance.

Her gaze bore no traces of shyness or desire, just candidness.

She spoke quietly, "I can't seem to sleep alone; I'd like to sleep in here with you."

Hearing Zhao Ying's words, Chen Yan was momentarily at a loss for a response.

Just then, he felt his phone buzzing subtly in his hand.

Without making a sound, Chen Yan glanced down.

And he saw a game notification pop on his screen,

[Ultimate test phase one triggered. Please accept the challenge.]

Chen Yan: ????

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