Chapter 45: System Malfunction or Heartbreak?
The words still echoed in her mind.
"Everything you are feels like a lie."
Lin Chaoxi stood frozen on the edge of the film set, her fingers twitching at her sides. The air felt too loud, too bright—until the sharp buzz of the system voice pierced through everything.
[System Alert: Main storyline deviation detected. Male lead favorability has exceeded emotional parameters.]
[New Directive 1: Maintain distance from Shen Muyan.]
[New Directive 2: Accelerate plotline shift—initiate romantic interaction with Chi Mo.]
Her eyes widened.
"What…?" she murmured, gripping her temples.
Conflicting commands flashed in red across her mind's interface, overlapping violently. Pain spiked behind her eyes. The lights on set blurred, and the sound of the crew faded beneath the deafening hum in her ears.
She staggered back a step.
"Chaoxi?"
The voice grounded her—deep, urgent, familiar.
Shen Muyan was already striding toward her. His eyes were dark with concern, his brows furrowed. He reached for her arm, stopped an inch short, hesitating.
"You don't look well. Are you dizzy?"
"I'm… fine." Her voice cracked. "Just a headache."
"Cut the scene," Shen Muyan said sharply, turning to the crew.
A ripple of surprise swept across the set.
"Mr. Shen, this isn't like you," the assistant director muttered, puzzled. "We can give her a minute and—"
"I said, cut the scene," he repeated, cold and firm
Before Chaoxi could protest, he had already guided her toward the dressing room, his hand barely touching her back, but steady. Warm.
The door clicked shut behind them.
The system's voice flared up again, more mechanical than ever.
[Recalibrating. Emotional deviation too high. Resetting emotional suppression protocols.]
[Warning: If the host continues to deviate, system will initiate memory erasure.]
Chaoxi collapsed onto the small couch, clutching a throw pillow like it was the only thing keeping her together.
Shen Muyan crouched in front of her, his gaze unreadable—but far from indifferent.
"You're not the same," he said softly. "You used to chase after me, flatter me, cling to me for attention. Now you flinch when I get too close. You look at me like I'm a stranger."
She froze.
[Host at critical threshold. Truth Disclosure will trigger SYSTEM WIPE. Do not proceed.]
He leaned in just slightly, his voice raw. "Who are you really, Lin Chaoxi?"
Her lips parted—but the words died in her throat. Her vision swam as the system surged with warning codes in bright red across her vision. Her chest hurt. Her head hurt.
But worst of all… his eyes hurt.
He looked like he didn't want to accuse her—but he couldn't stop himself from doubting.
"I…" she whispered.
[Final Warning: Speak the truth, and all memories related to Shen Muyan will be purged.]
She took a shaky breath, forced a tiny smile.
"I'm just… tired," she said instead. "That's all."
His frown deepened, but he didn't press. He just stood slowly, then turned as if giving her space. Just before he reached the door, she spoke again—too softly for him to hear:
"But I won't give you up. Even if it means breaking the system."