Second playthrough begins

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I feel so bad.

I'm suffocating...

I felt a tightness around my waist, as if someone was hugging me from behind. His head was buried in my neck, and one hand was around my waist. I felt an uncomfortable, sticky feeling inside my body, as if something was squeezed inside, and my limbs felt weak and heavy.

It was so uncomfortable that I couldn't help but open my eyes.

The room was decorated in an extremely cold and luxurious style.

The all-black color scheme, the dark-colored wool carpet with its intricate patterns, and the luxurious and exquisite decorations still created an atmosphere of extreme coldness. I looked up and saw a huge photograph hanging on the wall.

In the photo on the left, the girl looks younger and more naive.

With her hair reaching her waist, wispy bangs, and wearing a sundress, she looked at the camera with a shy expression.

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On the right, the girl has clearly grown up, with long, straight black hair that exudes innocence, a light pink dress, and a beauty that seems almost unreal.

They are all me.

My heart was in my throat. The suffocation and tension made my breathing quicken. I finally remembered that Jiang Zhao had taken me away.

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A slight shiver ran through me; I felt a chill in my shoulders and neck. Looking down, I realized I was completely out of control. Recalling Jiang Zhao's fierce and ruthless actions sent shivers down my spine.

The excessively quiet atmosphere tormented my nerves constantly. I dared not move, fearing that Jiang Zhao, who was holding me from behind, would wake up.

Just then, someone applied a little force to my waist. His arm, with its perfectly sculpted, cold lines, turned my face and squinted slightly: "Awake? Have you eaten?"

I was terrified. Just seconds before, when he made me look at him, I had closed my eyes tightly. Jiang Zhao chuckled softly, then kissed my forehead gently, pinched my chin, and kissed my lips.

Even though I couldn't see him, I could feel his gaze was direct and sharp, carrying a strong aggressive desire, as if he wanted to devour me alive, making me uncontrollably terrified.

“I’ll let you off the hook tonight,” Jiang Zhao said to me. “Tomorrow, you’d better stay awake. I can’t wait to hang our wedding photo there.”

No, no, I don't want to... I don't want to marry you! My head was throbbing so badly it felt like it was going to split open, and I was on the verge of losing my mind. Jiang Zhao bit my shoulder, and I opened my eyes, desperately trying to struggle and escape. I managed to crawl a little further away, but Jiang Zhao grabbed my slender ankle and pulled me back.

Every inch of his taut muscles seemed to exude a strong aura of hormones.

Jiang Zhao held my calf, lowered his head, and kissed my way up from there. His handsome face was outlined with a sharp look by the moonlight outside the window, and his eyes were filled with determination and intense desire.

What should have been a romantic gesture between lovers made me shrink back in fear.

I watched as Jiang Zhao lowered his head, trying to please me. His back was slightly hunched, and his back muscles were smooth and strong, covered with a thin layer of sweat.

Unable to resist my body's reaction, my fingers weakly gripped the blanket. Jiang Zhao ignored my resistance, moved closer to me, and whispered in my ear, "Didn't you used to like this? We did it so many times. Have you forgotten?"

I shuddered. I wanted to tell him that it was when I was controlled by the "game" and had to like him, which was different from now.

I couldn't ignore the madness and jealousy in Jiang Zhao's eyes. He lifted my chin and kissed me. Even though it was the water I left behind, I reflexively felt nauseous and vomited. Jiang Zhao's hand on my shoulder tightened slightly.

...

I felt a chill run through my body. The feeling of being plundered made my limbs feel extremely weak. I opened my lips, breathing heavily, and my eyelashes drooped limply.

The excessively large bedroom was no longer in sight; instead, cream-colored wallpaper came into view, which looked very comfortable.

I saw a teddy bear that Yu Xu and I had brought back from the arcade in the corner. There was a huge photo wall on the wall, covered with photos of us traveling around. On the windowsill, there were lush green plants.

A moment of confusion flashed in my eyes. I slowly raised my eyes and saw a man's chest in front of me. Yu Xu's arms were holding me tightly. I was in his arms, and my nightgown was rolled up to my lower abdomen. I blinked again, and my vision slowly became clear again.

The wall clock shows 6:30 a.m.

"Hmm..." Yu Xu frowned slightly. I squirmed in his arms, probably making him restless as well. He opened his eyes and looked at me, startled. "Xiao Fu? What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

I looked at Yu Xu blankly, and asked him in sign language, "You and Auntie are back?"

Yu Xu: "Auntie? You mean we went back to Xinzezhou to visit her during winter break?"

“We’re already back, aren’t we…” I gestured, then collapsed weakly into Yu Xu’s arms.

He raised his hand and placed it on my forehead, his voice anxious, "Why are you sweating so much? You've been running a fever for a while now. Are you feeling unwell?"

I felt the stray hairs at my temples were soaked with sweat and stuck to my neck, making me look like I had just been pulled out of the water. I hesitated as I watched Yu Xu get out of bed. He opened the door to go to the living room to get a thermometer and medicine. I hesitated, then picked up my phone, which was placed to the side.

The screen was turned on.

Suddenly, I was stunned.

On December 21st, my phone's memo app thoughtfully reminded me that there were only three days left until Christmas.

As my senses returned slightly, I barely dared to breathe. I quickly opened several news headlines, my brain racing as I tried to recall the details of what had happened. I clearly remembered that Yu Xu and I had stayed in the small town until the end of February.

Everything that happened in my memory felt like a dream; I've seen movies with similar settings before. Perhaps I did something that caused time to change, and I really did go back to two months ago, to December 21st, before Yu Xu's car accident.

"Xiao Fu, come here, let me take your temperature." Yu Xu pointed the thermometer at my forehead. I was nervous, and my fingers trembled uncontrollably. Seeing this, Yu Xu hugged me tightly after taking my temperature. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Hearing his gentle voice, I couldn't help but want to cry, but I also knew clearly that if I didn't do something, Yu Xu would be framed again tomorrow, injuring Jiang Mingzhuo, and I would have to beg Xie Yong... and so on, until finally being captured by Jiang Zhao again.

I shook my head, lifted my face, and wrote in his palm.

"I'm just feeling a little unwell, but I don't have a fever."

"Okay, I'll ask for leave for you today. It's snowing outside, so you don't need to go to school." He stroked my long hair, helped me lie back on the bed, and looked at me.

Cold sweat poured down my back. The thought of Yu Xu having to attend Xie Yong's birthday party tomorrow night made my heart pound and made me dizzy.

I shouldn't have used illness as an excuse, but I couldn't just stand by and watch Yu Xu walk into the trap.

Thinking of this, I took his hand and silently wrote down two words.

"Stay with me..."

Yu Xu laughed, "Okay, okay, I'll make you a cheeseburger patty rice bowl when I get back tonight. I'll stay with you tomorrow, I'm not going anywhere."

I received Yu Xu's promise, but I was still uneasy.

I instinctively gripped his hand, yearning to draw a bit of warmth and strength from his palm. If I really did go back to the past, I didn't know how to avoid what was about to happen; I could only awkwardly keep Yu Xu by my side.

Yu Xu patted my head. He had taken some time to make a light breakfast and reminded me to eat after I woke up. He also told me that if I felt better and wanted to go out, I should drive so I wouldn't get cold again.

I looked out the window, and unconsciously, my gaze was once again drawn to the room with the black curtains always hanging there.

Like dark, unblinking eyes, they stared at me.

My fingertips were trembling uncontrollably, and my mind kept replaying the events of the past few days. I wanted to go and see what was there.

Without further ado, I got out of bed, changed my clothes, and hurriedly took the elevator downstairs.

Snowplows were everywhere outside, clearing away the snow. Some of the thin snow had already melted into ice.

Across the street, the landlord was shoveling snow from the sidewalk downstairs in the apartment building.

Empire State law requires apartment landlords and shop owners to clear pedestrian crossings by 11 a.m.

The other person was a middle-aged woman who appeared gentle and polite. She was wearing heavy clothes and a dark purple shawl, and she was shoveling snow with some effort.

Seeing this, I quickly went over and took the snow-shoveling tool from her. In addition to leaving a four-foot-wide path, I also cleared the snow near the fire hydrants and drain wells.

She smiled gently and invited me to go upstairs for a cup of hot black tea.

I looked up at the room on the seventh floor. The landlord seemed to sense my hesitation and said with a smile, "There's no one there. Do you want to rent a room?"

"..." After hesitating for a few seconds, I still took out my phone and asked, "But the light is always on."

“I often go over there to clean.” The landlord gently stroked my hand. “Did I scare you? Don’t be afraid, no one is watching you.”

Her hands were icy cold, but she smiled kindly at me and said, "Have a cup of tea."

I shuddered when I saw her beautifully manicured fingers and dark nail polish, unlike the landlady I remembered.

Some bad premonitions made me instinctively shake my head and refuse her.

When I got home, I drew the curtains tightly shut and covered my head, but I couldn't fall asleep no matter how much I tossed and turned. I felt like I couldn't breathe.

It felt as if a huge boulder was pressing down on my heart. I couldn't stop worrying about Yu Xu. I was afraid something had happened to him, so I suddenly sat up and prepared to drive to Yu Xu's school to find him. I had to make sure I stayed by his side every step of the way.

I even forgot to bring my scarf as I drove my car out of the parking lot. Compared to the morning rush hour, the roads were not as congested at this time. I followed behind a black Aston Martin, carefully maintaining a safe distance.

The red light wasn't long, so I carefully gripped the steering wheel. Just as the green light turned on and I was about to move, the car next to me suddenly changed lanes. I tried to avoid it, but the front of my car had already crashed solidly into the back of the Aston Martin.

Even though the impact wasn't violent, it made me instinctively lean forward.

Why can't I learn from my mistakes! I was annoyed, but I knew it wasn't good to be stuck in the middle of the road, so I slowly pulled over to the side of the road, following the car I had hit.

As soon as the car stopped, a man in a black trench coat got out.

He had long legs and walked to the driver's seat in a few steps. He raised his hand and knocked on the window, saying, "Get out of the car."

I took a deep breath, opened the car door, and repeatedly bowed to the other person to apologize.

The other party sneered, "You're not going to look me in the eye? Apologizing won't do. Either we get the traffic police to handle it, or we can settle this privately. You have three minutes, you choose."

I had no choice but to look up. I had only vaguely recognized the voice, but when I saw the man's handsome and deep-set face, my eyes widened.

It was Lin Zhi'en's brother? I hit him? Lin Jindong?

Lin Jindong looked at me expressionlessly, raised an eyebrow, and his narrow eyes narrowed slightly when they met my gaze, exuding an undeniable sense of pressure and danger. Combined with his handsome and sculpted features, he appeared extremely aggressive.

I gestured to indicate that I was willing to settle this privately. He had a half-smile on his face, "Give me your contact information, I'll contact you after the insurance policy is issued."

The next second, I suddenly realized that he could actually understand sign language... I didn't dare to delay and handed him my phone. Lin Jindong quickly opened the app and added me as a friend through search. I didn't say anything.

Lin Jindong looked at me thoughtfully, his gaze direct and undisguised. I had no choice but to bow again and apologize, telling him in sign language that I would pay him whatever the repair cost was.

I had just turned around when Lin Jindong suddenly called out to me from behind.

"Want to grab lunch together sometime?"

I turned my head in confusion, a little bewildered.

He moved closer to me; he was very tall, and his superior position gave off an insidious sense of control.

“There’s a nice restaurant around here,” Lin Jindong said lazily. “I’ll treat you.”