By the fourth day of shadowing Li Zhenkai, Jiang Yue had learned two important facts:
1. His security team was terrifying.
2. He absolutely did not appreciate being followed, but… he wasn't stopping her either.
And that, in Jiang Yue's little shameless world, it was practically a signed permission slip.
Still, even with the CEO shaped human luck charm around, the blue game like screen in her vision wouldn't disappear. Every morning it still greeted her with flashing text:
System Analysis: JIANG YUE
Luck Level: -41 (Slightly Less Cursed)
Danger Index: 96%
Objective: Survive 100 near-death events.
Penalty for Failure: Permanent death.
She shuddered every time she saw it.
"One hundred near-death experiences," she whispered, staring at her reflection. "What am I, a horror movie final girl on repeat?"
But the real shock came that evening when she visited the Jiang family library.
The library was ancient, tucked into the eastern wing of the mansion, lined with dark mahogany shelves that stretched to the ceiling. Thousands of books filled the room, their spines glinting under the golden chandelier.
She wasn't sure why she came here, just a gut feeling and damn it's the sweet smell of old books and history, how I missed it, But her eyes were drawn to a small, dust-covered section tucked away in the corner. Unlike the polished shelves, this one was locked behind glass.
Curiosity won.
She picked up the spare keys labeled "Library Restricted" one of the perks of being a favored pampered young miss, and unlocked it.
Inside, among leather bound tomes, she saw it:
A single book. Bound in deep crimson leather.
Her name engraved on the cover.
"The Misfortunes of Jiang Yue."
Her blood ran cold.
"I—what?"
She reached for it. The moment her fingers brushed the cover ?
DING.
The blue screen flared bright, and a voice smooth, mechanical, but oddly smug rang in her head.
[System Online.]
Welcome, Jiang Yue. Contract recognized.
Objective: Survive 100 Fatal Events.
Reward: Freedom.
Failure Condition: Permanent death, no reincarnation, no retries.
"WHAT?!" she yelped, nearly dropping the book.
The system ignored her panic.
Tip: Current luck dependency detected.
Li Zhenkai – Aura: High Luck Output (S-Rank).
Recommendation: Stay close to him or die faster.
Her jaw dropped. "Oh, come on. Even my curse ships me with the iceberg?"
The screen blinked cheerfully.
[Affirmative.]
The next morning, she was determined to stick to him like glue.
And so began her most ridiculous plan yet: "accidentally" wandering into Li Zhenkai's office.
The Liu Corporation headquarters was busier than a stock market floor on fire. But Jiang Yue, dressed in a pristine white blouse and high waist black skirt, marched past security with a bright smile and a very fake "I'm supposed to be here" confidence.
The receptionist blinked. "Miss Jiang? Do you have an appointment?"
"Of course," she lied smoothly.
Five minutes later, she was inside the elevator, smirking to herself. "Easy. Now, all I have to do is, become a three meter glue to Li zhenkai"
Ding.
The elevator doors slid open, and she walked with confidence straight to his office, ignoring the weird stares from his assistants and gave the door a gentle knock, loud enough for anyone inside to hear but not too loud to disturb him, she didn't want to be chased out before even tasting the luck she came for, she directly opened the door after hearing an affirmation from inside and there he was.
Li Zhenkai, seated at his massive black desk, flipping through documents with the calm precision of a man who had conquered kingdoms in a past life.
He looked up and stopped.
"Miss Jiang."
She froze. "...Hi."
He raised one brow. "Why are you in my office?"
Think, Jiang Yue. Think. "Because…" She glanced around and grabbed the nearest thing she saw. A potted plant. "This plant was… dying. And I came to… save it."
Silence.
Even the assistants in the room stopped typing.
Li Zhenkai leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "You came to… rescue my plant."
"Yes." She nodded fiercely. "I'm an environmentalist. Plants matter."
For one second, his lips almost twitched. Almost. Then he gestured lazily toward the door.
"Out."
She shuffled closer instead.
His eyes narrowed. "You're not leaving."
"Nope," she chirped.
"Why."
She leaned forward, lowering her voice like she was sharing a dark secret. "Because you're my… aura battery."
He stared at her like she'd just confessed to being abducted by aliens.
"Aura," he repeated flatly.
"Yes."
"Battery."
"Yes."
Li Zhenkai closed his eyes, exhaled slowly, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "God help me."
But he didn't throw her out.
Instead, after a moment of silence, he returned to his papers as if she weren't standing there, while muttering, "If you're going to loiter, at least stay quiet."
Jiang Yue beamed.
"System," she whispered under her breath, "log this as a victory."
[Victory logged.] Luck Boost: +10%. Fatal Event Probability: Reduced.]
For the next hour, she sat quietly in his office, pretending to read a business magazine upside down while sneaking glances at him.
And for the first time since she woke up in this cursed novel, she felt… safe.
Maybe it was because her "High Luck Output CEO" was three feet away. Maybe it was because, despite his coldness, he hadn't kicked her out.
But as she stared at him, Li Zhenkai, the untouchable iceberg of a man, she realized something:
If she was going to survive this curse…
She wasn't just going to need him.
She was going to have to make him stay and she'll go for it..