Chapter 079: If I Keep You, Will You Agree?
Ye Zhen was completely frozen in place.
One second she was being mercilessly mocked, the next she was being kissed on the cheek—who could handle that?!
What was Ye Fuli doing?
Was she confessing her feelings?
She was confessing her feelings while drunk?!
No, something was wrong.
Ye Zhen instantly realized her optional quest wasn't complete—what she'd recorded weren't Ye Fuli's drunken ramblings.
This is terrifying—Ye Fuli is faking drunkenness!
Damn it, she's faking it so convincingly.
Ye Zhen broke out in a cold sweat.
She deserved to die for her carelessness—how could she have asked such a question?
[Host, she's faking it. Doesn't that mean the confession you just received was genuine?! Σ(⊙▽⊙"a……]
Ye Zhen gasped sharply.
After the system pointed it out, Ye Zhen realized this was far more terrifying than feigning drunkenness.
"Ye Zhen, do you like this answer?"
Ye Fuli placed her hand over Ye Zhen's heart, as if preparing to use this method to detect lies.
Ye Zhen's heart pounded wildly.
Help! She couldn't keep up the act anymore.
She had never even considered the possibility that Ye Fuli would confess to her! The odds of bending someone as unyielding as Feng Aotian should be zero, right?
Even if the odds weren't zero, why would it happen to her?
How much Ye Fuli despised her, this fake heiress—it was plain for all to see.
Now…
What was the male lead supposed to do?
What about the supporting male characters?
No, more importantly, what should she do?
If she really caught the eye of such a twisted individual, she'd be lucky to escape unscathed.
"Why aren't you speaking?" Ye Fuli leaned in again, her gaze dangerously intense. "Ye Zhen, answer me. Do you like this answer?"
In two lifetimes, this was her first confession.
Given Ye Fuli's temperament, she could never accept the possibility of rejection.
Ye Zhen's lips trembled as she stammered, "I… I… I'm drunk… Did you just say something?"
Ye Fuli chuckled, suddenly pulling a folding knife from her pocket and waving it before Ye Zhen's eyes.
"Don't play dumb."
Ye Zhen sniffed and managed, "Let's talk this out calmly. Put the weapon away first."
Unfortunately, the knife wasn't put away. Instead, it slapped against Ye Zhen's cheek.
It felt cold and terrifying.
One second she was whispering sweet nothings close to her face, the next she was threatening to take her life.
Under the glint of Ye Fuli's knife, Ye Zhen could only whisper, "I… I like this answer…"
"Mm, good."
Ye Fuli finally sheathed the knife.
She straightened slightly, giving Ye Zhen more breathing room.
"I agree to move in."
She flicked a stray strand of hair from her ear and exhaled softly.
She hadn't been drunk earlier, but now she was genuinely feeling tipsy, even a little warm.
She simply shed her jacket, sitting beside Ye Zhen dressed lightly. She re-tied her hair, revealing her slender, fair nape.
"How far things go between us depends entirely on your performance from now on, Ye Zhen."
Ye Zhen, lying on the floor, pressed her forehead in frustration.
What exactly was their relationship now?
It felt like their relationship had taken a step forward, yet also like they were treading water.
Lost in confusion, Ye Zhen couldn't help but ask, "What should I do from now on, Ye Fuli?"
This question stumped Ye Fuli.
She hadn't seriously dated anyone before—how could she know how to navigate a relationship?
In fact, she wasn't even sure if what they had now could be called a relationship.
Hmm…
She'd ask He Ying about it another day. He Ying had seen it all.
"At the very least, he should be available whenever you need him and be obedient and sensible," Ye Fuli offered offhandedly. "That shouldn't be too difficult for you."
Ye Zhen nodded.
Yeah, not difficult.
But did this sound like the requirements for a romantic relationship?
Clearly, Ye Fuli had no intention of treating her as an equal. In Ye Fuli's eyes, she was still little more than a puppet on strings.
Only this time, Ye Fuli solemnly staked her claim.
At that thought, the excitement that had just begun to stir in Ye Zhen's heart instantly faded away.
Watching Ye Fuli's retreating figure, she couldn't help but think that perhaps this girl had no clue what love truly meant.
As for this so-called confession…
Best not to take it too seriously.
"I'll be going now."
It was getting late.
Ye Fuli stood up and headed toward the balcony.
After taking a few steps out, she turned back and glanced at Ye Zhen.
Then she hurried back, picked Ye Zhen up from the floor, and placed her on the soft bed.
They stared at each other.
Neither spoke.
Ye Zhen felt a bit nervous but forced herself to stay calm. "What's wrong?"
Ye Fuli's gaze fixed on her: "Shouldn't you let me sleep here too?"
"Well…"
Ye Zhen fell silent for a moment.
She tilted her head, looking at Ye Fuli with deep suspicion.
"Is this something you'd agree to just because I asked?"
At that moment, Ye Fuli, tipsy with wine, smiled faintly. "You never know the answer until you try, right?"
Her tone softened considerably.
It was subtly different from her earlier state.
Ye Zhen noticed that the recording function on her phone was still active.
She looked at the stunningly beautiful woman before her—her eyes hazy, her red lips and pearly teeth radiant—and felt a complex mix of emotions.
If Ye Fuli were this gentle when sober, she'd find it impossible to resist.
But such gentleness was so rare!
Ye Zhen couldn't quite relax knowing Ye Fuli, still hazy with drunkenness, might climb over the fence and leave in the dead of night. Her main fear was that she might stumble and fall in the courtyard, turning into tomorrow's big news.
"Well, I… now…"
"I'm keeping you here."
"You really dare to stay here and sleep?"
Ye Fuli didn't speak. Instead, she simply took off her shoes, nudged Ye Zhen further into the bed, pulled up the quilt, and covered her.
Actions often speak louder than words.
"It's hot…"
Ye Zhen tugged at the quilt, trying to get some air.
But Ye Fuli persisted relentlessly in tucking her in, repeating the motion over and over with evident delight. Finally, she simply wrapped Ye Zhen up in the quilt and tied it securely with a sash.
"Go to sleep, Ye Zhen."
"I can't sleep like this!"
"Then get up and dance for me."
"…I fell asleep."
Through the dim nightlight, Ye Fuli glanced at her and suddenly burst out laughing.
Ye Zhen looked at her curiously: "What are you laughing at?"
Ye Fuli replied with deadpan seriousness: "I just pictured you sleepwalking."
"When did I sleepwalk?"
"At the campsite. That night, you… Never mind."
Ye Fuli pressed her hand to her forehead and fell silent.
Before long, she drifted off to sleep.
Ye Zhen froze.
Her mind instinctively drifted back to that dream—the one where she and Ye Fuli shared a tent, and she’d used Ye Fuli as a pillow.
Wait… this… isn't a dream?!
"Damn system! Damn system, come out here, damn system…"
[Host, why the panic? (*￣rǒ￣)]
"Do you know something? What happened that night?! Did Ye Fuli discover me all along but never catch me?!"
[(*^▽^*)]
"What the hell are you laughing at?! Why didn't you tell me sooner about something this important?!"
[Host, you never asked.]
"…You really are a dog."