Even after the opening ceremony, a subtle tension lingered in the student council office.
Yu Jiuyuan sat in a swivel chair, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the table, her gaze falling on the neatly trimmed holly bushes outside the window.
Rong Shenghan was just called away by the head of student affairs for a talk, most likely about the follow-up to Ji Nianqin's remarks at the ceremony.
Xie Zhecheng returned to the club to organize the documents.
Lin Yanran finally threw the corrected attendance sheet on her desk, blushed, and said "Sign here" before running away.
Yuan Xu had already plunged headlong into the laboratory.
She was finally all alone in the office.
She closed her eyes and whispered in her mind, "System."
A cold, mechanical voice immediately echoed in his mind: "Hello, host. System 007 is at your service."
"Pull up the current strategy list."
The strategy list is as follows:
Hsieh Che-cheng: Favorability rating 82, Emotional fluctuations (Negative 0/Neutral 5/Positive 105)
Yuan Xu: Affection level 100, complete the walkthrough.
Lin Yanran: Favorability rating 46, emotional fluctuations (negative 0/neutral 10/positive 20)
Rong Shenghan: Favorability 100, Complete the walkthrough
The list is exactly the same as before, with the four names clearly arranged, without any additions or changes.
Yu Jiuyuan's fingertips paused on the table for a moment, then she asked calmly, "Is Ji Nianqin within the scope of the strategy?"
[Detecting target information...]
The system's mechanical sound paused for a few seconds.
[Target character Ji Nianqin detected. Identity: Heir to the Ji Group, temporary student at Saint Sakura Academy. System has determined that this character has not been included in the initial strategy list.]
"Not included?" Yu Jiuyuan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? Is it temporarily not included, or is it permanently not included?"
[The initial strategy guide list is set by the system based on the importance of the world line and cannot be changed. If the target character has a significant impact on the host's mission, the system will trigger a temporary mission mechanism, but this will not be included in the main strategy guide list.]
In other words, Ji Nianqin is not a necessary character to pursue, but she may become a "variable" that affects the current pursuit strategy.
Yu Jiuyuan opened her eyes, a hint of understanding flashing in them.
That makes sense.
Ji Nianqin's appearance is more like an extra question set by the system; it's not mandatory, but it may affect the final score.
For her, this was actually a more interesting setting; a variable outside her control could always stir up unexpected waves.
She recalled Ji Nianqin's determined look at the opening ceremony, and the deep inquiry hidden in his eyes when he looked at her. Suddenly, she felt that the identity of this "fiancé" might not be as simple as a joke from an elder.
The Ji family has old ties with the Yu and Rong families, but has always maintained a delicate distance. Ji Nianqin's return to the country at this time, and her choice of Sheng Ying, makes it hard to say that she has no other purpose.
"Is he related to the Su family?" Yu Jiuyuan asked again. The biggest mystery at present is still the unseen force behind the Su family.
[Insufficient permissions, unable to query.] The system's response remained cold and impersonal.
Yu Jiuyuan did not ask any further questions.
She was already used to the system's permission restrictions, so instead of wasting time, she decided to look it up herself.
She leaned back in her chair, twirling a pen between her fingers.
Ji Nianqin's absence from the romance guide list means that she doesn't have to carefully maintain her favorability like she does with Xie Zhecheng and the others, nor does she have to be bound by system tasks.
In other words, she can do whatever she wants with him, whether it's winning him over, using him, or eliminating him completely.
This realization greatly reduced the inexplicable irritation she felt.
She has never liked the feeling of being out of control. Ji Nianqin's sudden appearance put her in a passive position for a short time, but now, the system's prompts have helped her regain a sense of control.
"What if he has a negative impact on the existing targets?" Yu Jiuyuan asked again, as if confirming the rules.
The system will issue response tasks based on the severity of the impact, and the host can choose the appropriate response method.
"Understood." Yu Jiuyuan waved her hand in her mind. "You may leave."
【System 007 is at your service at any time.】 The mechanical voice disappeared, and silence returned to my mind.
The office door was pushed open, and Rong Shenghan walked in.
He took off his suit jacket and draped it over his arm, his white shirt collar slightly open, exuding a slightly weary and languid air. "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about what to eat tonight." Yu Jiuyuan looked up, a kind smile on her face. "Didn't you promise to come home with me?"
Rong Shenghan walked behind her, placed his hands on the armrests of the swivel chair, and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head: "You weren't thinking about this before I came."
His aura enveloped us, carrying a blend of ebony and bergamot.
Yu Jiuyuan could sense the probing in his words, but she pretended to be clueless: "Then what am I thinking?"
"I was thinking about Ji Nianqin." Rong Shenghan's voice was deep, with a hint of barely perceptible bitterness. "I was wondering if he's your new target."
Yu Jiuyuan turned around and looked up at him.
His eyes were deep, as if hiding turbulent undercurrents.
She suddenly reached out, hooked her arm around his neck, and stood on tiptoe to kiss the corner of his lips: "My goals have always been very clear."
"Oh?" Rong Shenghan raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
“To tame you all,” Yu Jiuyuan laughed, a sly madness flashing in her eyes. “However, it seems that perhaps we can add another item: teasing uninvited stray dogs.”
She deliberately used the word "wild dog," with a hint of contempt, yet it seemed like she was trying to comfort Rong Shenghan.
Rong Shenghan chuckled and reached out to pinch her cheek: "What new tricks is Miss planning this time?"
"It's a secret for now." Yu Jiuyuan pulled away from his embrace, picked up her coat from the back of the chair, and said, "Let's go home."
As Rong Shenghan watched her light and nimble figure disappear, the gloom in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only an indulgent smile.
He knew Yu Jiuyuan wasn't telling the truth; she must have been thinking about something very important, perhaps related to Ji Nianqin.
But he wasn't in a hurry. He had plenty of time to slowly pry open her mouth and gradually enter her seemingly cold heart.
After all, he was the one she had "tamed" most successfully, so he naturally deserved the most special treatment.
The two walked out of the office side by side, their shadows stretched long in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Yu Jiuyuan turned her head to look at Rong Shenghan beside her, and then recalled Ji Nianqin's gentle smile in the auditorium, Xie Zhecheng's cold profile, Yuan Xu's bright eyes, and Lin Yanran's awkward red ears.
A subtle, unnoticed smile curved at the corner of his lips.
Regardless of whether Ji Nianqin is the target of the romance, this game will only become more and more interesting.
And she will always be the one in control of the chessboard.
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