Yu Jiuyuan sat by the window on the third floor of the Saint Sakura Academy library, her fingertips casually tracing the surface of a biological encyclopedia with a gold-embossed cover. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, casting dappled patterns of light on the back of her fair hand, making it look like a quiet and beautiful oil painting—at least that's how it appeared to those who didn't know her.
The system's screen hovered above her retina, clearly displaying three names and their associated data:
Hsieh Che-cheng: Favorability rating 0, emotional fluctuations (negative 20/neutral 5/positive 10)
Rong Shenghan: Favorability rating not displayed.
Yuan Xu: Favorability 33
A faint smile curved her lips, but her eyes remained devoid of warmth. Ten days ago, when the system forcibly bound herself to her, the words, "Mission successful, you will receive one wish; any wish can be granted. Mission failed, you will be annihilated," were the only thing that could currently pique her interest. As for these three so-called "targets," they were merely pawns in her game to achieve her goals.
"Yu Jiuyuan?"
A clear, gentle voice sounded from behind, tinged with a barely perceptible hesitation. Yu Jiuyuan turned around, her face instantly switching to just the right amount of surprise and gentleness: "Yuan Xu, what a coincidence."
Yuan Xu stood beside the bookshelf, the sleeves of his white lab coat rolled up to his forearms, revealing his clean-lined wrists. He held several thick foreign journals in his hands, and his eyes behind his glasses showed obvious weariness, but they lit up when he saw her—the kind of light that only appears when a researcher sees something interesting, except that the "thing" in this case was her.
"You like biology too?" Yuan Xu took a few steps closer, her gaze falling on the open atlas. "This 'Global Atlas of Endangered Species' is very rare. Which species are you interested in?"
"I wouldn't say I like them, I just find them amazing." Yu Jiuyuan closed the book, her tone natural. "For example, the mimicry octopus can imitate the forms of at least fifteen different creatures, and it can achieve the ultimate in disguise for survival... Yuan Xu, do you think this counts as a kind of intelligence?"
Yuan Xu's eyes immediately lit up, as if she had found a kindred spirit: "Of course it counts. Survival itself is the highest form of intelligence. The genetic sequence of the mimic octopus contains the code of evolution, and I've been conducting similar genetic simulation experiments recently..."
He became incredibly talkative when he started discussing biology, his speech quickening and his fingertips even gesturing unconsciously in the air. Yu Jiuyuan listened quietly, nodding occasionally in agreement, and sometimes asking a precise question or two that struck a chord with Yuan Xu, clearly the result of her last-minute cramming on biology the night before.
[Ding! Yuan Xu's favorability +2, currently 35.]
When the system notification sounded, Yu Jiuyuan's smile deepened. The most effective way to deal with Yuan Xu's "academic mind" was to become part of his "research field." She didn't need to actually understand biology; she just needed to make him feel that she was someone who could understand his world.
"Sorry, I talked too much." Yuan Xu finally realized her lapse in composure, her ears turning slightly red. "Don't you find it boring?"
"How could that be?" Yu Jiuyuan said sincerely. "I find what you're saying very interesting. Yuan Xu's passion for her major is truly admirable."
Her gaze was clear, her tone soft, like a feather gently brushing against the heart. Yuan Xu paused for a moment, then suddenly lowered her head, her voice softening: "The biology lab is having a new specimen exhibition next week, would you... like to come and see?"
“Okay.” Yu Jiuyuan immediately agreed, and then added, “I happen to have a question about cell fusion that I would like to ask you. I’ll have to trouble you then.”
[Ding! Yuan Xu's favorability +3, currently 38.]
Watching Yuan Xu leave with almost light steps, Yu Jiuyuan's smile slowly faded. 38 points of favorability wasn't high, but it was enough to keep him paying "special attention" to her. Next, it was time to deal with the toughest nut to crack.
She packed her things and got up to walk to the study area on the other side of the library. It was dimmer and quieter there, a place Xie Zhecheng often frequented.
From afar, she saw Xie Zhecheng.
He sat in the far corner, dressed in a well-tailored black school uniform suit, his posture ramrod straight. A law textbook lay open in front of him, and beside him sat an untouched cup of Blue Mountain coffee, its steam long since dissipated. His eyes were lowered, his long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath them; his profile was hard and cold, radiating an aura of "keep away."
Yu Jiuyuan knew Xie Zhecheng's rules: he absolutely could not be disturbed while studying. Previously, as the eldest daughter of the Yu family, she and Xie Zhecheng, though belonging to the same social circle, had almost never spoken. She only knew that he was the eldest grandson of the Xie family, a perfectionist to the extreme, with a natural aversion to anything "imperfect."
She deliberately slowed her pace, and as she passed Xie Zhecheng's table, the book in her hand "accidentally" slipped and fell with a soft "thud".
Xie Zhecheng's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly as he looked up at her. His eyes were extremely cold, like a frozen lake, and his gaze swept over her with obvious displeasure.
[Xie Zhecheng's emotional fluctuations: Negative +5 (currently 25).]
Yu Jiuyuan immediately looked flustered, bent down to pick up the book, and apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry! Xie, I didn't mean to, I disturbed you..."
Her movements were slightly clumsy, and stray hairs fell across her forehead, obscuring half of one eye, making her look both embarrassed and innocent. Just as her hand was about to touch the book, Xie Zhecheng picked it up first and handed it to her.
His fingers were long and clean, and his nails were meticulously trimmed, but the way he handed the book carried a clear sense of aloofness.
"Be more careful next time." His voice was as cold as he was, devoid of any extra emotion.
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