The soft sound of the door closing was like a pause, cutting off the almost stagnant air in the room and also shattering Su Nian's forced composure.

"Here, I'm in charge."

That chilling statement, along with the subtext of "no matter who you are," coiled around her spine like a sinister serpent, sending a shiver down her spine. He noticed? How much did he notice? Did he think her personality had drastically changed, or… did he suspect she had a different soul inside her?

A wave of immense panic washed over her again, threatening to engulf her. She instinctively curled up, hugging her knees tightly, the chains on her wrists clanging sharply with the movement.

"Ugh... 088, did he find out? Will I be burned as a monster? Or... will he just..." She didn't dare say the word "annihilate," the mere thought sent chills down her spine.

"Ding—Host's emotions have fluctuated drastically, and vital signs are becoming unstable." System 088's voice sounded at the right time, with a carefree electronic sound effect. "According to data analysis, the target Xie Chen's 'suspicion' is within the reasonable range. The original owner Lin Nuannuan's behavior pattern has changed drastically. If it does not arouse any suspicion, it would be inconsistent with her high-IQ and suspicious persona. Please treat this as a challenge, not a dead end."

Su Nian: "..." Thank you, but I wasn't comforted at all.

"But please rest assured, host!" 088's tone shifted, becoming cheerful again. "Your initial 'anti-routine' operation has been judged by the system as an effective icebreaker, rewarding you with 10 initial points! You can use these points to exchange for some items or information in the system shop~ Would you like to browse the shop?"

There's an online store? Su Nian barely mustered any interest. "Let's open it and take a look."

A semi-transparent screen unfolded before her eyes, displaying a dazzling array of goods, but at astonishingly high prices.

[Items]

【Delicate and Soft Body, Easily Pushed Over Aura (Trial Version)】: 50 points (Effect: Slightly increases the target's affection value for 10 minutes)

【Mary Sue's Tears】: 100 points (Effect: When crying, there is a starlight effect, making her look pitiful)

[One-time universal key]: 500 points (Effect: Can open any physical lock)

[Skills]

[Advanced Tea Ceremony Mastery]: 200 points

[Professional Guide to Writing Flattery]: 80 points

【Insightful Eye (Beginner)】: 300 points (Effect: Slightly improves the perception of the target's emotional fluctuations)

[Information Category]

[Target Xie Chen's Itinerary Today]: 5 points

[Complete Memory Fragments of the Original Owner Lin Nuannuan]: 100 points

[Hidden plot clues in this world]: 500 points

Su Nian looked at her meager 10 points, then at the prices that were often hundreds, and silently turned off the screen. Poverty made her calm.

"You see, host? Points are hard to earn, and missions are arduous, but our system is honest and reliable!" 088 coaxed patiently. "Please keep up the good work, host, and strive to earn more points to reach the pinnacle of life!"

Earning points... which means she has to continue to deal with this pervert and complete the "Kiss of Trust" mission, which sounds absurd.

Su Nian took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Fear wouldn't solve anything. Now that she was on this path, there was no turning back.

From another perspective, Xie Chen's suspicion was also a form of "attention." He had initially treated her merely as an object to be manipulated at will, but now, this object had suddenly become "interesting." What she needed to do was to use this "interestingness" to truly gain a foothold before his patience ran out.

She reassessed her situation. The chains were still on, but Xie Chen hadn't gotten angry at her "picky" remarks; he'd even... asked her what she wanted to eat. It was an extremely small step forward, but a breakthrough from zero.

The next step is to solidify this "exception" and test the limits of his tolerance.

She turned her gaze to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window. The heavy curtains acted as a barrier, isolating her from the outside world. She stood up, the chains allowing her to walk to the window. She reached out and forcefully pulled open one side of the curtain with a whoosh.

The pale afternoon sunlight streamed in instantly, making her squint. Outside the window was a meticulously maintained, enormous garden, with lush green forests in the distance—a superb view, but also extremely…desolate. There wasn't a single other building in sight; it was as if the entire world consisted of just this one villa.

It truly is a meticulously crafted, magnificent isolated island.

She didn't try to open the window, knowing it would be futile. She simply let the sunlight stream in, dispelling the gloomy atmosphere. Then, like a true master of her own home, she began to carefully "inspect" the cell that imprisoned her.

The bedroom was ridiculously large, with an equally luxurious bathroom and walk-in closet. The closet was filled with all kinds of women's clothing, from elegant dresses to comfortable loungewear, all in sizes that fit her perfectly, the tags still on. The dressing table was piled high with top-brand skincare and makeup products.

All material conditions are impeccable, except for freedom.

Su Nian walked into the bathroom and looked at the unfamiliar face in the mirror. Delicate and fair-skinned, with large, round eyes, possessing a natural fragility, she certainly had a face that easily evoked protective instincts and…possessive desires. She forced a smile, and the girl in the mirror also gave a slightly stiff one.

"From today onwards, I am Lin Nuannuan." She whispered to herself in front of the mirror, "At least until I leave this world, I am."

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps came again from outside the door, even lighter than before, but Su Nian (from now on, she would assume she was Lin Nuannuan) still caught them instantly.

Her nerves immediately tensed, but she quickly adjusted her expression—a mix of drowsiness from just waking up and a barely perceptible hint of caution.

The woman who entered was a tall, middle-aged woman dressed in a formal black and white maid outfit. She was pushing an elegant food cart, her face expressionless, her eyes respectful yet distant.

"Miss Lin, here is your lunch, and the almond macarons you requested." The maid's voice was flat and even as she pushed the food cart to the small round table in the center of the bedroom and began to set out the dishes methodically.

Su Nian... no, Lin Nuannuan watched her movements and saw the food on the food cart, which was clearly more than enough for one person and plated like works of art, and her heart raced slightly.

He actually gave it to her! She had only mentioned it casually, even with a hint of testing and provocation, but he actually fulfilled the seemingly unreasonable request of this "prisoner"!

This is more than just a dessert; it's a signal! It means that her "unconventional" strategy, at least initially, is effective!

The maid laid out the dishes, bowed slightly, and said, "Please enjoy your meal." Then she quietly retreated to the door, standing there like a lifeless statue, clearly to supervise her meal.

Lin Nuannuan walked to the table and sat down. The food was delicious, but she ate absentmindedly, her mind racing.

Xie Chen didn't come in person. There are two possibilities: either he was too busy with official duties to pay attention to her, or he was deliberately leaving her hanging to observe her reaction.

In either case, she cannot wait passively.

She took small bites of the almond macaron, the sweet flavor melting on her tongue, calming her chaotic thoughts slightly. She had to take the initiative and continue to create "surprises" for him.

After finishing the last bite, she picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth, then looked at the maid by the door and gave her the friendliest smile she could muster: "Sister, what's your name?"

The maid seemed taken aback, clearly not expecting "Miss Lin" to speak to her first. She hesitated for a second, but still replied, "Miss Lin, you can just call me Aunt Mei."

“Aunt Mei,” Lin Nuannuan readily agreed, her smile unchanged, “the curtains here are too dark. Every time I wake up, it feels like it’s a gloomy day, which affects my mood. Could you… change them to warmer colors? Like off-white or light brown?”

For the first time, Aunt Mei's face showed an expression of astonishment. This Miss Lin, ever since her husband brought her home, had either been crying, making a scene, or listless; when had she ever calmly made a request like this? Especially regarding interior decoration?

“This… I need to consult with the master,” Aunt Mei replied cautiously.

"Okay, thank you." Lin Nuannuan nodded and added, "Also, if it's convenient, could you help me find some books to read? Any genre is fine, novels, essays, or... interior design magazines are also okay." She shook the chain on her wrist, making a jingling sound, her tone tinged with self-deprecating helplessness, "Anyway, I have nothing to do, I'm so bored."

Making a request that might be refused (changing the curtains), followed by a more easily granted request (finding a book), is a common negotiation tactic. The former aims to raise the other party's psychological threshold, while the latter is the real purpose. In this cage of idleness, books are an important tool for understanding the world and maintaining rationality.

Aunt Mei looked at the girl in front of her, whose eyes were clear and whose voice was soft, yet who was making a series of bizarre requests, and was momentarily at a loss for words. She could only bow again and say, "I will convey your request to the gentleman."

The food cart was silently pushed away, leaving Lin Nuannuan alone in the bedroom once again, with only the slightly lonely sunlight streaming in from the window.

She walked to the bedside and sat down, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the soft blankets. Would Xie Chen agree? Even if it was just to send a few books?

Time seemed to drag on endlessly as she waited. Lin Nuannuan leaned against the headboard, gazing at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling, silently planning in her mind. If she got the book, how would she use it? If she didn't, what would her next step be? That "kiss of trust"... how exactly could she achieve it? Did she have to take the initiative and kiss that icy, perverted man? Just thinking about it gave her goosebumps.

"Ding—Host's mental activity level has increased, triggering the side quest [Minor Changes in the Environment]." 088's voice sounded again. "Quest requirements: Successfully bring about a positive change in the living environment that benefits the host (e.g., changing curtains/acquiring books/adding greenery, etc.). Quest reward: 5 points. Failure penalty: None."

Lin Niannian: "..." Well, at least I have another reason to work hard.

Just when Lin Nuannuan almost thought there would be no response today, there was another knock on the door.

This time, it wasn't Aunt Mei who came in, but two men in work clothes, carrying heavy, off-white velvet curtains. Aunt Mei, following behind, was carrying several brand-new books and magazines.

Lin Nuannuan's heart skipped a beat.

He agreed! He actually agreed!

The well-trained staff quickly began removing the old, dark curtains and replacing them with warm, off-white ones. As soon as the new curtains were hung, the entire bedroom's atmosphere instantly transformed, changing from its previous oppressive luxury to a bright and soft ambiance.

Aunt Mei placed the book on the bedside table, her tone still calm, but her eyes held a hint of inquiry: "Miss Lin, this is a book that the master instructed us to send to you. The curtains are being changed, please wait a moment."

Lin Nuannuan suppressed her excitement and walked to the bedside table, picking up the top book. It was a popular romance novel from this world. Below it was a collection of essays, and another book… "Interior Color and Psychological Adjustment."

Her gaze lingered for a moment on the title of the last book. Had Xie Chen picked it up casually, or... was it something more significant?

In any case, the change in environment and the arrival of books are a huge step forward! This proves that her strategies of being "well-behaved" and "making demands" are effective, and Xie Chen is willing to invest a little "patience" and "resources" in her, as long as she behaves "interesting" and "harmless".

"Thank you for me, sir," she whispered to Aunt Mei, her tone carrying just the right amount of gratitude and a hint of timidity.

Aunt Mei nodded, said nothing more, and left with her entourage.

Lin Nuannuan was alone in the room again, but she felt the air was much fresher. She eagerly picked up the novel and curled up on the single sofa by the window to read. Sunlight streamed through the new off-white curtains, becoming warm and soft, bathing her in a gentle glow.

She needed to quickly understand the world's cultural background and language habits to avoid giving herself away. At the same time, reading also allowed her to temporarily escape from the anxieties of reality.

After an unknown amount of time, perhaps because the sunlight was too warm, or perhaps because she was mentally exhausted, she actually fell into a deep sleep on the sofa again, holding her book.

She was awakened by a strong feeling of being watched.

I opened my eyes abruptly. Dusk had already fallen outside the window, and the room was dark, with no lights on. In that gloom, at the foot of the bed, a tall figure stood silently like a statue.

Thank you, Chen!

When did he arrive? How long have he been here? Has he just been standing there, watching her sleep?

Lin Nuannuan's sleepiness vanished instantly, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of her throat. She instinctively gripped the thin blanket around her, like a frightened animal, warily eyeing the figure in the darkness.

The man slowly emerged from the shadows, the last rays of sunlight from the window outlining his cold, hard features. He walked to the sofa, stopped, and looked down at her.

His gaze first swept over the novel that had slipped onto the carpet, then fell on her face, and finally settled on her bare feet, which were slightly curled up in nervousness.

The room was eerily quiet, with only the faint breathing of the two people.

Suddenly, he bent down and picked up the book from the ground. His movements were unhurried, yet carried an invisible pressure. His slender fingers brushed over the book's cover, which featured an image of the male and female protagonists embracing.

Then, he raised his eyes, his deep pupils gleaming with an unfathomable light in the dim light, his voice low and unreadable:

"It seems you've adapted very well."

His tone was calm, yet it was like a boulder thrown into Lin Nuannuan's heart, stirring up countless waves.

Was he expressing satisfaction or being sarcastic?

Was he referring to her adaptation to the environment, or... implying that she was "acting" too convincingly?

Lin Nuannuan looked up at his handsome yet cold face so close to hers, and a chill ran from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

She opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't make a sound.