Jaing yue sat in the quiet warmth of Li Zhenkai's office, her fingers curled around a steaming mug of tea. The storm of emotions from the fan comments still lingered in her chest, like embers refusing to burn out. She had cried last night, quiet, trembling tears that Zhenkai had wordlessly wiped away with his thumb, his gaze steady and unyielding, as if daring the world to harm her.
Now, a different kind of storm was brewing.
On the polished mahogany desk between them sat a thick envelope, its cream paper stamped with the prestigious seal of the golden leaf Publishing Group. Even at a glance, she knew it wasn't just another small-time contract offer. It was heavy with weight, with expectation,
an entire future bound inside, he opened it and read our the heading cause he saw how she was hesitating " they want you to write a trilogy"
Her fingers twitched. "A… trilogy?" she murmured, barely believing the words.
"Yes," Zhenkai replied evenly, his arms crossed, eyes narrowed as if the paper itself were trying to trick her. "They want you to write not just one follow-up, but three. A full series under their banner."
The system chimed in her head, its voice irritatingly chipper:
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've unlocked the Business Proposal arc! Warning: Your bad luck stat may interfere with contract negotiations. Please avoid fainting, signing in the wrong place, or spilling tea on legal documents. ]
Yue groaned aloud, pressing her palm to her face. "Not you again."
Zhenkai's brow furrowed. "What did you say?"
"Nothing," she said quickly, shooting a glare into the air as if the system were floating somewhere above her. "Just… talking to myself."
The system snickered.
[ Ding! Talking to yourself is the first sign of literary genius… or madness. Either way, great for book sales! ]
Jaing yue wanted to slam her forehead against the desk. Instead, she picked up the envelope and carefully opened it.
Inside was a contract, pages upon pages of clauses, deadlines, royalties, and obligations. She skimmed through, her eyes widening with each line. "This… this isn't as generous as it looks," she whispered, her chest tightening. "They're offering me exposure but at the cost of almost everything else."
Her hands shook. Bad luck or not, she had learned enough to recognize exploitation.
Zhenkai watched her closely, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he reached over, gently prying the contract from her trembling hands. "I'll have my people look at this," he said. "No one takes advantage of you. Not while I'm here."
Her throat tightened. "Zhenkai… I can't let you interfere in everything. This is my career."
His gaze locked onto hers, firm and unyielding. "And this is your life. You're not alone in it anymore."
For a long heartbeat, silence filled the room.
Then the system, as if allergic to silence, chimed in again:
[ Ding! Host's relationship meter with Male Lead has increased by +10. Intimacy Level: Flirting But in Denial. ]
Jaing yue's face flushed crimson. "Can you not?" she hissed under her breath.
Zhenkai raised an eyebrow. "Who are you talking to now?"
She coughed. "The… um… voices in my head."
His lips twitched, the barest hint of a smile breaking through his stoicism. "That explains a lot."
She gaped at him, horrified. "Are you teasing me?"
"Yes."
The bluntness made her choke on her tea, sputtering while he calmly leaned over and handed her a handkerchief. His eyes softened as he said, almost too quietly, "I like when you're flustered. It reminds me you're human, not just some untouchable poet everyone worships."
Her heart skipped. The sincerity of his words melted through her embarrassment, leaving behind a warmth she couldn't name.
But before she could reply, the office door opened and one of Zhenkai's subordinates entered, holding a file. "Sir, about the stalker investigation… we've uncovered new information."
The air tightened instantly.
Zhenkai took the file, his jaw clenched. "Later," he said curtly. "We're not finished here."
The subordinate bowed and left, but the weight of the stalker's shadow lingered in the room. Ruelle shifted uncomfortably, clutching the edges of her seat.
"Zhenkai…" she began, her voice trembling. "What if this contract is just another trap? What if… my bad luck ruins everything again?"
He placed the contract back on the desk, leaned forward, and pinned her with a gaze so fierce it nearly stole her breath.
"I don't care about contracts. I don't care about money or fame. What I care about is you. So don't talk to me about bad luck, Yue. Don't talk about running away or giving up." His voice dropped, husky and raw. "I don't need thanks. Just… stay alive."
Her chest ached. Tears pricked her eyes, unbidden. She wanted to argue, to remind him that her world was cursed, but his conviction left no space for doubt. He meant every word.
The system chimed softly, almost reverently this time:
[ Ding… Male Lead's heart rate has spiked. Protective Instinct: Activated. Host, please note that this is not a drill. Emotional intimacy has deepened. Proceed with caution or abandon caution entirely. ]
Ruelle laughed through her tears, shaking her head. "You're impossible," she whispered.
Zhenkai reached across the desk, his hand covering hers with quiet finality. "Then stay with me in this impossibility."
For once, she didn't argue.
Outside the window, the city lights flickered like stars, unaware of the stalker lurking in the shadows or the contracts waiting to be signed. In that moment, all that mattered was the silent promise that neither contracts, curses, nor danger would separate them.
And yet, in the deepest corners of her mind, the system hummed a warning:
[ Ding! Host, the stalker arc has not been resolved. Prepare for turbulence. ]