Seeing the content on his phone screen, Chen Yan's heart didn't ripple in the slightest.

He was already accustomed to the system's tricks and knew this was a pitfall.

Without any warnings or guidance, there was just a message telling him that he was about to face a test.

Who could know what the right thing to do was!

However, after last night's trial and error, Chen Yan felt that maybe going along with Zhao Ying wasn't entirely the right choice. Or maybe, as a man, he should be more proactive?

While thinking, Chen Yan looked over at Zhao Ying.

Since entering the room, Zhao Ying, who had some drinks, was a bit different from usual. Usually, she would have run over, curious to see what Chen Yan was looking at.

But tonight, she just stood there with her dark eyes fixed on Chen Yan, filled with curiosity, restlessness, shyness, and fear...

So many complex emotions, yet they didn't seem out of place on Zhao Ying.

Each emotion on her seemed to have been purified, clear and yet blending together harmoniously.

However, this was indeed the first time Chen Yan had seen such complex emotions on Zhao Ying.

Normally when he saw Zhao Ying, her emotions were very simple and pure, so Chen Yan became curious about her change.

He couldn't help but ask, "Brother Ying, what's wrong with you?"

Looking at Chen Yan, a hint of confusion flashed in Zhao Ying's dark eyes as she said, "I... I don't know. I just feel a bit off."

"Off?" Chen Yan asked.

Zhao Ying hummed in acknowledgment, and then, showing a rare cautious demeanor, she said to Chen Yan, "I feel a bit warm, and I keep feeling like... like I want to be near you, to be close to you."

"Close?"

Chen Yan almost didn't catch on to the trendy phrase.

But the profundity of the Chinese language allowed him to quickly grasp the meaning of the word.

Without hesitation, he beckoned Zhao Ying over and said, "Then come and be close."

Zhao Ying's face showed a rare hesitation, then she rapidly shook her head, "Never mind, it feels weird. And... something's not quite right with you either."

Chen Yan asked nonchalantly, "What's wrong with me?"

Zhao Ying didn't speak but instead pondered for a moment, then turned around with her bedding, ready to leave.

Although she wasn't much of a thinker, her animalistic sense of danger made her feel that this place was very dangerous tonight.

Even though she didn't understand how this man with his scrawny arms and legs could pose a threat to her, as one punch could probably make him cry, Zhao Ying still felt a bit of fear at the bottom of her heart.

Could this be... the power of magic?

Zhao Ying didn't quite understand.

From childhood, there was no such thing in her world.

Her world only consisted of a master who could leap down tens of meters from a mountain effortlessly, an uncle master who was as comfortable underground as a fish in water, and a grandmaster who could vanish from the spot with just a tap of his foot.

That was the normal world.

She had never seen someone like Chen Yan, who seemed so weak yet so dangerous.

Or rather, since coming out of the mountains, he was the first person she felt was dangerous...

Because she couldn't understand why, Zhao Ying didn't dare to linger and her instincts drove her to escape quickly.

But Chen Yan had made up his mind, how could he let her leave like this.

Seeing Zhao Ying trying to escape, Chen Yan's brain whirred, and then he suddenly stood up and shouted at Zhao Ying, "Brother Ying! Are you trying to avoid sparring?!"

"Is this the spirit of a martial artist?"

Chen Yan's words indeed had an effect.

Hearing his words, Zhao Ying stopped in her tracks.

Then, holding her bedding, she turned her head to look at Chen Yan and whispered, "But... I'm not really a martial artist. I'm just a gossip lover."

Saying that, she scampered off without a trace.

Chen Yan: ...

Damn it!

Who would have thought that there would come a day when just standing up would frighten Zhao Ying into running away!

If this got out, who would believe it?!

While silently groaning in his heart, Chen Yan hopped off the bed and followed in Zhao Ying's direction.

The villa was actually very nice, but it had one flaw—it was too big.

Especially since Chen Yan didn't know where Zhao Ying's room was, he had to search room by room.

After searching five or six rooms, Chen Yan finally found Zhao Ying.

Zhao Ying was making her bed, looking like she had really decided not to go to Chen Yan's room tonight.

To be honest, if Zhao Ying had been a "braver", Chen Yan might have been hesitant about how to proceed.

But seeing Zhao Ying's odd behavior, how could Chen Yan let her go?

After all, with her current adorable appearance, if he failed the mission, it wouldn't be a loss, but if he succeeded, it would be a huge gain!

When Zhao Ying saw Chen Yan, she leaped to one side like a startled bunny.

Perhaps because she wasn't wearing her tasteless outerwear but a simple nightgown instead, her athletic figure and long legs caught Chen Yan's eye as she moved.

It was the unique vibrancy of a sporty girl.

A surge of youthfulness mixed with sunshine and sweat.

Chen Yan... was moved.

So he said to Zhao Ying, "Brother Ying, if not sparring, then... how about learning magic?"

Upon hearing Chen Yan's words, Zhao Ying's head shook like a rattle-drum.

Chen Yan was puzzled.

Wasn't magic something Zhao Ying had always wanted to "learn"? Why the sudden change of heart?

Chen Yan couldn't help but look at Zhao Ying.

This time, she held herself and then said without him asking, "You... you are very dangerous. And weird."

Chen Yan: ...

He wasn't sure if it was Zhao Ying's pitiful look that threw a bucket of cold water over him, or if his alcohol was wearing off, but suddenly, Chen Yan realized his conscience...

He felt very dishonorable.

Since knowing her, Zhao Ying had always been helping him, and Zhao Xuan had also been good to him. Now with Zhao Xuan having problems, Zhao Ying trusted him and stayed with him, and after drinking some "horse piss," he was entertaining the thought of taking advantage of her.

Regret washed over Chen Yan.

He took a few deep breaths, calming himself down.

Then he looked at Zhao Ying, smiled gently, and said, "Brother Ying, sorry for that. I did seem a bit off just now."

He paused and then went on, "Let's not spar or study magic today."

"In a few days, when you're ready to spar or learn, we can do that then."

Saying this, he feigned a yawn, finding an excuse, "Alright. You should rest early, I'm going back to sleep too."

After finishing, Chen Yan left Zhao Ying's room without any hesitation and returned to his own bedroom.

Leaving Zhao Ying, who gradually relaxed her guard, innocently watching Chen Yan's retreating figure, blinking her dark eyes...

...

Back in his room, Chen Yan stripped down and headed straight for the bathroom to take a cold shower.

With a constitution of +9, even a cold shower just served to make him alert, without causing much discomfort.

In the cold water, Chen Yan slapped himself hard as both a lesson and a warning to himself.

Then, he slowly finished bathing, dried off, donned a bathrobe, and left the bathroom.

Jumping into bed, Chen Yan covered himself with the blanket and began to reflect on himself.

To be honest, his rapport with Zhao Ying had reached MAX, and many things could happen naturally.

But... it definitely shouldn't have been a forceful situation like today.

It wasn't fair to Zhao Ying, and for Chen Yan, it was a bit too eager.

Even with the pressure of the "ultimate test," it wasn't certain for Chen Yan if the test was to make a move on Zhao Ying.

And even if it was... to treat a woman he had become so close to, just for a mission, was indeed very cruel and unethical.

So, Chen Yan reflected incessantly.

After about half an hour of reflection, Chen Yan sighed lightly and turned off the light, ready for sleep.

Having almost been "squeezed to death" by Zhao Ying last night, he hadn't rested well, and tonight he needed a good sleep.

Thinking this, Chen Yan closed his eyes and was ready to fall asleep.

But just as he was about to drift off, his sixth sense suddenly tingled with a sense of wrongness.

A bit alarmed, he sat up and looked in the direction of the strange feeling.

Then, he saw a figure cautiously approaching him in the darkness.

Due to the villa's blackout curtains, the room was pitch black once the lights were out.

Even with his constitution of +9, Chen Yan could only vaguely make out the tall figure and those sparkling eyes...

"Click." Chen Yan turned on the light.

The darkness was dispelled by light in an instant, revealing Zhao Ying in her nightgown, stealthily holding her bedding and sneaking into the room.

Perhaps because of the sudden brightness or the fact she was caught, Zhao Ying squatted down, covering her face.

Seeing Zhao Ying's nonsensical side, Chen Yan was torn between laughter and exasperation.

He asked, "Brother Ying, what are you doing?"

Zhao Ying squatted on the floor, holding her bedding, then looked up, grinned, and said, "I just wanted to come over and hang out with you again."

Hearing Zhao Ying's words, Chen Yan said with annoyance, "What do you think I am? You come when you want and run when you want."

Zhao Ying showed no shame at all; she laughed as she climbed onto the bed, pushing Chen Yan toward the edge as she said, "I know you wouldn't really be mad."

"And besides, we're all buddies here. Scooch over."

Chen Yan, trying not to laugh, scooted over and watched Zhao Ying efficiently make the bed.

Chen Yan couldn't help but ask, "So? Not afraid anymore?"

Zhao Ying turned her head, her dark and beautiful eyes looking at Chen Yan, and shook her head, "Nope. You're much more normal now."

Saying this, she leaned close to Chen Yan and sniffed him with her nimble nose, remarking, "And, that smell that attracted me is gone. I still want to be close to you."

Perhaps because Zhao Ying was so close, Chen Yan felt a tickling sensation on his face. He lightly patted Zhao Ying's head and said, "Just be good tonight. I was almost crushed by you last night."

Zh Ying giggled and nodded in agreement.

Once the bed was made, Zhao Ying crawled into her own blanket.

Tonight, her blanket hadn't been torn, so they didn't have to share one.

But after turning off the light, Chen Yan still instinctively held her in his arms.

This time, Zhao Ying did not resist or shy away.

She nestled into Chen Yan's embrace like a cute little hamster, her sparkling black eyes peering at him, then she whispered, "Chen Yan. How did you become normal?"

Chen Yan had already closed his eyes, but on hearing her question, he "hmm?" from his nose and said, "What do you mean become normal? I've always been normal, okay."

Zhao Ying huffed lightly and said, "Stingy. Are you afraid I'll learn your adjustment method?"

Chen Yan, sensing the implication in her words, couldn't help but ask, "What? Do you think you're not normal, too?"

Zhao Ying nodded, and as she did, her fluffy head rubbed against Chen Yan's chin, making it itch.

Zhao Ying, "Yeah. I've felt off these past few days. I especially want to be close to you, and I want to learn magic."

Chen Yan smiled and hugged her tighter, saying, "That means you've grown up."

"Grown up?" Zhao Ying looked at Chen Yan with a puzzled face.

Chen Yan smiled and didn't explain.

He figured that even if he did, Zhao Ying probably wouldn't understand.

Better to save his breath.

Seeing Chen Yan wasn't going to speak, Zhao Ying's curiosity was piqued.

Gossip lovers are always curious.

So she began to wriggle in Chen Yan's arms, "Tell me, tell me. What do you mean by grown up?"

Perhaps even Zhao Ying herself didn't realize that by Chen Yan's side, she was gradually showing a bit of a girlish demeanor.

Without the idea of completing the test, Chen Yan didn't care about rejecting Zhao Ying. He patted her back, dodging the issue, "We'll talk about it later, wait and see."

Zhao Ying wriggled again.

After a while, seeing that Chen Yan really wasn't going to spill the beans, she rolled her eyes and asked, "Fine, don't tell me. Then how about you just teach me magic?"

Chen Yan said, "I thought you didn't want to learn?"

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