Chapter 3

Xia Xi didn't want to say another word to this infuriating system. She couldn't quite describe her current mood, only feeling like a foolish animal step by step falling into a hunter's trap, with no ability to resist.
She had no other choice.
Xia Xi sat on the bed, calming herself for a long time, and finally managed to suppress her anger. Still, she couldn't quite give up. "Must I win over Luo Chu'an? Is there no room for negotiation?"
As the saying goes, since you're here, you might as well settle in. No matter how frustrated she was, she couldn’t change the reality of the situation. In the end, she had no choice but to bend to circumstances and take the initiative to yield to the system.
"Yes, Host. You must complete the conquest. There is no room for negotiation." The system’s voice sounded calm, and its words left Xia Xi with no room for argument. But in truth, it was extremely nervous, this was the first time it had played the villain and forced someone into a corner. However, it seemed to have done a pretty good job, as Xia Xi remained silent for a long time, and her attitude clearly softened.
"Then, during the conquest process, do I get to decide how it’s done, or..." Xia Xi paused here, casting a sinister glance in the direction of the voice.
"Of course, the process is entirely up to you. I won’t interfere too much. I’m only responsible for detecting whether the task is completed." This time, the system responded much more quickly, answering without hesitation, as if afraid that even a second’s delay might cause Xia Xi to change her mind.
"Alright then." Hearing this, Xia Xi finally gave in. She couldn’t help but narrow her eyes slightly, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips.
Since I get to decide the method of conquest, with no restrictions or frameworks, handling this matter just became a whole lot simpler.
Watching Xia Xi’s expression, the system suddenly felt a sense of foreboding, as if something was about to spiral out of control.

Five days had passed since Xia Xi first learned about her situation from the system.
During these five days, Xia Xi had quietly stayed in her hospital room, resting and recuperating. She ate, slept, and sorted through the memories in her mind, her days couldn’t have been more comfortable.
Xia Xi cherished this time, as it had been a long while since she’d enjoyed such a peaceful life.
When Luo Chu’an pushed open the door to the hospital room and walked in, he happened to see Xia Xi intently watching a Korean drama on TV with great delight while noisily slurping up a bowl of rice noodles.
Luo Chu’an: "..."
Xia Xi: "..."
Seeing how noticeably chubbier Xia Xi had become, Luo Chu’an’s brow twitched slightly. He felt a bit awkward, thinking that his visit might have been unnecessary. Raising a hand to rub his nose, he said indifferently, "Xia Xi, I’m on leave today, so I came to see you." He paused before adding, "But it looks like you’re doing quite well..."
"Not bad," Xia Xi replied dismissively with a nod. She lifted her head to look at Luo Chu’an, who appeared refined and respectable on the surface, and couldn’t help narrowing her eyes.
This man was the beginning of all the original host’s tragedies. The original host had died because of him, yet he was able to live happily ever after with the woman he loved. How ironic.
"Xia Xi, is something wrong?" Luo Chu’an noticed that Xia Xi had been staring at him ever since he entered. Frowning, a flicker of impatience flashed in his eyes. In Xia Xi’s view, he was playing the role of a scumbag to perfection.
"Nothing, it’s just that it’s been so long since I’ve seen you, I’m just too happy." Xia Xi silently lowered her head, suppressing the disgust in her heart and masking the sarcasm in her eyes. When she looked up again, her eyes were filled with deep emotion, perfectly portraying a girl deeply in love.
Since Xia Xi had promised the system to complete the task, no matter how much she detested Luo Chu'an or how unwilling she was to see him again, she would give her all to play the role of Luo Chu'an's girlfriend. This was both an actor's self-discipline and the power of a promise.
Luo Chu'an pursed his lips, gave a light laugh, and walked over to Xia Xi's side. He placed the fruit basket he was carrying on the table, sat down in the chair beside the hospital bed, and then very comfortably closed his eyes to rest.
There was no communication throughout...
"Aren't you bored?" Initially, Xia Xi hadn't intended to speak to Luo Chu'an, but when she turned her head and saw him resting, her mood instantly soured, and a mischievous thought popped into her mind. She narrowed her eyes, nudged Luo Chu'an, who was sitting beside her, and then took an orange from the fruit basket, handing it to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Since you have nothing to do, help me peel this."
Luo Chu'an opened his eyes, a flicker of drowsiness passing through them. He lowered his gaze to the orange in Xia Xi's slender fingers, pointed at himself, and said incredulously, "...You want me to peel an orange for you?"
"Of course, it's you." Xia Xi wore an expression that clearly said, "Who else would it be?" She blinked her big eyes, looking at Luo Chu'an with affection as she cooed, "Aren't you my boyfriend? Is there a problem with you peeling an orange for me?"
Luo Chu'an raised an eyebrow, his expression clearly showing surprise and impatience. He stared blankly at Xia Xi's outstretched hand for a long moment before reluctantly taking the orange from her. He scrutinized her carefully, raised an eyebrow again to confirm she wasn't joking, and then lowered his head to begin the task with resigned diligence.
The two of them, who had been peacefully coexisting just moments before, suddenly found themselves interacting, and their conversation was utterly awkward.
Xia Xi couldn't help but feel disdainful at the thought that something as simple as peeling an orange was something Luo Chu'an would hesitate over.
Meanwhile, Luo Chu'an was genuinely taken aback that Xia Xi would order him to do something for her in such a tone, it was something that had never happened before.
Of course, if Xia Xi could have heard Luo Chu'an's inner thoughts just then, she would have rolled her eyes dismissively and retorted inwardly, "Hmph, I really spoiled you before."
Xia Xi and the original host were different.
The original host had genuinely liked Luo Chu'an, which was why she couldn't bear to let him do anything or worry about anything. But Xia Xi didn't like Luo Chu'an at all, so of course she wouldn't think about him, love him, miss him, or let herself suffer even the slightest grievance.
To put it plainly, Xia Xi's "love" for Luo Chu'an was now only superficial.
After all, the original host had done so much for him, yet still failed to earn his sincere affection. Xia Xi felt there was no point in wasting her time and energy, she might as well just go through the motions. It wasn't like he cared about what she did anyway.
Watching Luo Chu'an lower his head and peel the orange with such seriousness, Xia Xi felt extremely pleased. She quietly narrowed her eyes, feeling as though she had scored a major victory, even though it was really just a simple, trivial matter.
Perhaps it was because the way the original owner had interacted with Luo Chu'an in her memories was so stifling that even receiving the slightest bit of kindness made Xia Xi this happy.

"Master Xia Xi, is the floor clean enough now? I've been mopping for so long."
"No, there's a strand of hair in that corner."
"...Damn, you've got eagle eyes."
Xia Xi watched Luo Chu'an being ordered around by her in the hospital room, her feelings complicated. She couldn't figure out what had gotten into him these past few days, why he kept coming to see her every day, claiming it was to "take care of his girlfriend."
Take care of his girlfriend, my foot.
Xia Xi wasn't stupid. She had experienced a few relationships in her original world. She could sense that, deep down, Luo Chu'an didn't really see her as his girlfriend. But then why did he keep showing up here every day?
She couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that the male lead's hidden trait was actually being a masochist? Back when the original owner had doted on him and catered to his every whim, he hadn't cared at all. But now that Xia Xi was bossing him around, he was practically begging to be annoyed?
Luo Chu'an turned around just in time to see Xia Xi staring at him with a conflicted expression. He ruffled his hair and said lightly, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm just worried you might be tired," Xia Xi immediately retracted her strange gaze, replacing it with a look full of concern in the next second.
"..." Your eyes were clearly not like that a moment ago.
Luo Chu'an was momentarily speechless at her words. He touched his nose and couldn't help but silently complain in his heart. Since when did Xia Xi become so insincere?
Just as Xia Xi and Luo Chu'an were staring each other down, the hospital room door suddenly swung open. A well-dressed, elegant, and noble-looking lady walked in. Seeing Luo Chu'an obediently holding a mop and cleaning the floor, a slight smile tugged at her lips as she said with satisfaction, "That's more like it, Chu'an. Your girlfriend is sick, so of course you should be taking care of her. Work and everything else can wait."
Hearing that familiar voice, Luo Chu'an silently swallowed and turned to look at the lady, saying helplessly, "Mom, what are you doing here?"
Xia Xi looked at the noblewoman in surprise. So this was the famous Mother Luo? This was the woman who would later cause Lin Wei no end of trouble in an attempt to bring the male and female leads together. Her combat abilities were off the charts, completely on another level compared to the original owner's pitiful skills.
"I came to see how my dear future daughter-in-law is recovering, and to check if you're taking good care of her."
"Mom," Luo Chu'an's tone was clearly exasperated, "isn't this a bit much? I already came to take care of Xia Xi like you asked. Do you really need to personally check up on me?"
"Of course I need to see for myself. Who knows how well you're taking care of her? Your agent's reports weren't detailed enough." Mother Luo shot Luo Chu'an a glare, and as she spoke, she placed a fruit basket on the table beside Xia Xi's bed. She pulled out an apple from it and handed it to Luo Chu'an. "Go peel this for me."
Luo Chu'an cast a resentful glance at Xia Xi, then at his elegant and poised mother. With a sigh, he picked up the fruit knife from the table and silently sat in the corner, peeling an apple. His entire being radiated an aura of "Why is my life so bitter?" Just the thought of being at the beck and call of these two women in the future filled him with despair.
The future...
Perhaps even Luo Chu'an himself didn't realize it at that moment, but he had already started thinking about his future with Xia Xi.