Fixing her gaze on Wen Nan’s eyes, Guan Ailin remained silent for a moment, then spoke with a smile.
This time, instead of asking if Wen Nan hadn’t woken up, she simply said two words:
This time, it was Wen Nan’s turn to fall silent.
First, he appeared a bit stunned, then a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, finally replaced by an unexpected joyful smile. He raised his hand and hooked his little finger,
"Then let’s pinky swear, for a hundred years, no changing our minds."
Hearing this, Guan Ailin chuckled and shook her head, "Aren’t you a bit old for this childishness?"
Though teasing with her words, her little finger obediently reached out, hooking tightly with Wen Nan’s, "It’s settled."
The system’s notification sounded in Wen Nan’s mind, inconveniently delivering some mood-dampening news—
9527: [After detection, the strategy target ’The Extremely Cold-on-the-Outside, Soft-on-the-Inside Female CEO’ is a ten-star character. The star level meets the qualification to leave the instance map with the player’s guidance.]
9527: [No controllable runes were detected on this character; this character is uncontrollable.]
9527: [Please note, guiding an uncontrollable character out of the instance carries the risk of unpredictable behavior. If this character causes harm to other players or damages important facilities outside the designated instance, the player guiding the character will bear full risk and responsibility. As per this world’s rules, you will be severely punished, including but not limited to: deduction of account gold coins, confiscation of existing equipment, restriction of player account upgrades, or even account termination.]
Hearing this notification, Wen Nan fell into deep thought.
So, although Guan Ailin had reached ten stars and could theoretically be taken out of the instance, unlike characters like Qiqi or Yu Shujun who are controllable, taking her out would involve significant risk for the player.
Not to mention, since she didn’t actually need to forcibly obey Wen Nan’s commands, using Wen Nan as a springboard to escape was presumably easy for her.
Even if Guan Ailin didn’t intend to sabotage Wen Nan, taking her out also wouldn’t prevent other players who wanted to harm Wen Nan from using her against him—if a player self-harmed and then falsely claimed that Guan Ailin had hurt them according to game rules, wouldn’t Wen Nan’s player account be in crisis?
Just as he was pondering, the system notification took an unexpected turn—
9527: [Once the uncontrollable character is guided out of the instance map, their strategy level will be locked and cannot be changed.]
Locked strategy level?
So, if Wen Nan perfectly strategizes Guan Ailin and then takes her out, her affection for Wen Nan will be permanently locked at 99%.
Then what Wen Nan takes out is not merely an uncontrollable character, but a lover deeply in love with him.
Thinking this way, even with the risk of being framed, it might be worth trying...
Wen Nan pondered, his brow unconsciously furrowing.
Watching his expression, Guan Ailin softly asked, "What’s wrong?"
’Regretting it, right?’
’Regretting agreeing to this?’
’Just made a pinky promise a few seconds ago, already regretting it?’
’˚‧º·(˚˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅)‧º·˚’
Wen Nan snapped back to reality, looking at Guan Ailin, and smiled helplessly, "It’s nothing. Don’t worry, no matter how difficult, I’ll definitely take you out as promised."
Guan Ailin grinned faintly, nodding, "Mm."
’Ugh, a man who keeps promises is the most handsome.’
’You promised me, don’t break your word.’
’Break a promise, and you’ll have a sore butt! Hmph!’
Showing a hint of helplessness in his smile, Wen Nan raised a hand and lightly tapped Guan Ailin’s butt.
The feel was nice, full and bouncy.
Guan Ailin’s eyes widened in disbelief as she glared at Wen Nan.
Wen Nan coughed lightly, "Don’t overthink it."
Guan Ailin’s eyes grew rounder.
’What am I overthinking? A sore butt?’
’Does he read my mind?!’
’How can he do that? Telepathy?’
Wen Nan coughed a couple of times, realizing time was pressing, decided to get back on track, "Ailin."
"Do you know... where it is?"
Hearing this, Guan Ailin’s expression changed slightly. She sat up a bit straighter, looked at Wen Nan with some surprise.
Watching her reaction, Wen Nan thought he would get a reply like before, something along the lines of "how can you ask such a perverted question".
But after a moment’s silence, Guan Ailin instead said seriously:
"Don’t believe a word from a pretty woman."
Wen Nan was startled.
Immediately following, a familiar soft female voice echoed in his mind—
’What your eyes see, your ears hear, your hands touch, and your feet step on... none are worth believing.’
’Believe in your own subconscious.’
Wen Nan wanted to ask more, but the soft female voice by his ear had completely vanished.
9527: [Your skill Mind Reading Technique has ended and is now on cooldown.]
It’s already over? 30 minutes passed way too fast, right?
Wen Nan still wanted to say more, when a plump middle-aged woman entered the corridor carrying a trash bin. Tapping on the alley railing with a broom, she shouted towards the couple’s seats:
"The last Easter egg ended over half a day ago! Not leaving yet? I’m clearing the theater and collecting trash! This is a cinema, not a couple’s hotel! Staying over? Head right out the door, there’s a Royal Court Hotel; continue whatever there!"
Hearing this, Guan Ailin’s face heated up. She quickly stood up from Wen Nan’s embrace, straightened her clothes, and reached to pull Wen Nan along.
Thinking about the 444 gold coins he spent on the couple’s seats that went cold too soon, Wen Nan felt a twinge of pain.
Grumbling under his breath, Wen Nan was reluctantly pulled outside by Guan Ailin, casually asking along the way, "Wanna continue somewhere else?"
Wen Nan initially wanted to suggest that with such a short date, they should grab a late-night snack or something to end on a good note.
But remembering what the middle-aged woman said about continuing in a hotel, Guan Ailin blushed, shaking her head. "No, it’s too late. I have a conference call with overseas partners at seven tomorrow."
Wen Nan didn’t insist, nodding, "Then let me walk you home?"
The two walked side by side on the way to Guan Ailin’s home, and Wen Nan collected all the information he had gathered so far, sending it to the group chat.
Just as he was about to say a few more things, a message popped up in the nearby character chat window—
[Xiao Yi: Uncle, not coming back home yet]
[Xiao Yi: If you don’t return soon, your bed’s gonna catch fire]
Opening the image, Wen Nan was stunned.
The image’s background was his own bed, with Sun Yi raising a hand squarely in the center.