Chapter 22: The Plan Fails
This task was almost identical to the last—same boldness required, but with a tighter deadline (four hours instead of twenty-four) and a hug replacing a confession. Yet the difficulty had skyrocketed.
First, the banquet was starting any minute. A private hug was impossible; this would have to happen in full view of everyone. Second, last time he'd hidden behind a *Days of Being Wild* reference. What excuse could he use now? "My arms are numb and need a squeeze"? Ye would eviscerate him. Third, a hug wasn't just words—it was *touch*, intimate, a step lovers took. For Wu Yifan, it might as well be a death sentence.
"Xue'er… any chance we can swap tasks?" Wu's voice trembled.
*"Task activated. Cannot cancel or swap. Fail to complete, and the Intelligent Enhancer will self-destruct."*
"Fine. I'll do it."
Wu wanted to bang his head against a wall. Why had he activated this? Now he was trapped: succeed and risk disaster, or fail and lose the Enhancer. The latter wasn't an option.
"What's wrong?" Ye asked, noticing his silence. Her tone softened—maybe she thought she'd hurt his feelings. "I didn't mean it earlier. I just… want you to remember your past. It'd help. Stay at Infinity, and I'll treat you well."
"Boss Ye… could I ask a tiny favor?" Wu blurted.
"A favor?" Ye tensed, suspicion flashing. After his last stunt—blurting "I like you" in front of the hostesses—she didn't trust his "favors." "Whatever it is, forget it."
Wu's eyes darted. Across the room, Zhang Hualei and Song Mingjie schmoozed, toasting club owners with arrogant smirks. Everyone fawned, terrified of offending them. A plan sparked in Wu's mind—*foolproof*.
He'd march over with Ye, toast Zhang and Song, then "accidentally" spill wine on her. He'd "save" her with a hug. Simple, effective, and blame-free.
But timing was critical. Hug too early, and it looked intentional. Hug too late, and it was pointless.
Wu checked his stats:
*Enhancements available: Agility, Muscle Strength.*
*Current enhancement: Agility ×2.*
*Duration: 0.5/1.*
*Remaining points: 0.*
His agility boost would fade in 30 minutes. Now or never.
Wu squared his shoulders and approached Zhang and Song. "A toast, gentlemen?"
They exchanged a wary glance but clinked glasses. After a sip, Wu pulled them aside. "I need a favor."
Song's eyes lit up. "Name it."
Wu explained his plan. Zhang and Song snickered—so he wanted to use this to hit on Ye? Spilling wine was trivial. "Easy," they agreed, eager to curry favor with the "Running Emperor."
Moments later, Zhang and Song cornered Ye, showering her with flattery. "Heard Infinity's thriving!" "We should toast to your success!"
Wu loitered nearby, heart racing.
Then—*"Hey! Who the hell bumped me?!"* Song yelled, feigning outrage as his glass tilted toward Ye.
Wu moved like lightning, lunging forward.
This was it.
He'd grab her, spin her away, and let the hug linger—bold, "passionate," just enough to satisfy the task.
But Ye, ever sharp, saw the spill coming. She stepped back, dodging the wine—and Wu's outstretched arms.
*Thud.*
Wu crashed into the table behind her, sending glasses clattering.
Silence.
Ye stared at him, confusion melting into realization. "You… did that on purpose?"
Zhang and Song froze, sipping their wine like they hadn't just helped stage a disaster.
Wu scrambled up, his face burning. "I—uh—tried to save your dress!"
Ye crossed her arms, her gaze icy. "By tackling me?"
"Plan A failed," he thought, panicking. "Backup? Backup?!"
No response. Just the ticking of the clock.
Three and a half hours left.
And now, Ye was onto him.
Wu swallowed hard.
This just went from bad to worse.