The bedroom was silent.
City lights flickered through the tall glass windows, painting long shadows across the floor.
Gu Yichen stood only a step away from Lu Bolin.
Too close.
The difference in height forced Lu Bolin to tilt his head slightly upward, but his expression remained calm.
Almost curious.
Gu Yichen stared at him.
His gaze was sharp enough to make most people instinctively lower their eyes.
Lu Bolin didn't.
Instead, he observed Gu Yichen carefully, the way someone studies an unfamiliar object.
That expression…
Made Gu Yichen uncomfortable.
For three years, Lu Bolin had always looked at him with anxious admiration. There was always a trace of fear, hope, and desperation in those eyes.
But now—
Nothing.
No expectation.
No nervousness.
Just quiet observation.
Gu Yichen slowly straightened.
"You said you want to renegotiate our relationship."
His voice returned to its usual cold tone.
Lu Bolin nodded.
"Yes."
"Explain."
Lu Bolin thought for a moment.
He had never negotiated relationships before.
But from a logical perspective, the situation was simple.
"You dislike this marriage."
"Yes."
"I also no longer find it beneficial."
Gu Yichen's eyes narrowed slightly.
The wording was strange.
"Beneficial?"
Lu Bolin nodded.
"In the past, the original… I mean, I believed emotional attachment could create mutual value."
He paused, correcting his words quickly.
"However, evidence suggests that approach has failed."
Gu Yichen stared at him.
"…What?"
Lu Bolin continued calmly.
"So I propose a more practical arrangement."
Gu Yichen crossed his arms.
"Go on."
Lu Bolin raised two fingers slightly, as if presenting a lecture.
"Point one: we maintain the legal marriage to satisfy both families."
Gu Yichen said nothing.
That part was obvious.
"Point two," Lu Bolin continued, "we live independently and avoid unnecessary interference in each other's lives."
Gu Yichen's eyes darkened.
"And point three?"
Lu Bolin lowered his hand.
"You stop hating me."
Silence fell instantly.
For a moment, Gu Yichen thought he had misheard.
"…What did you say?"
Lu Bolin repeated calmly.
"You stop hating me."
Gu Yichen let out a short laugh.
Cold and sharp.
"That's not something you get to request."
Lu Bolin tilted his head slightly.
"Why not?"
"Because you forced this marriage."
"That was the Lu family."
"You benefited from it."
Lu Bolin thought about that.
Then he nodded.
"That is true."
His honesty caught Gu Yichen off guard.
"But," Lu Bolin continued calmly, "hatred requires emotional investment."
Gu Yichen's expression darkened.
Lu Bolin looked at him thoughtfully.
"Wouldn't indifference be more efficient?"
For a brief moment—
Gu Yichen had absolutely no response.
This conversation felt completely wrong.
Like he was arguing with a different person.
The old Lu Bolin would have been flustered by now.
Maybe even crying.
But the man in front of him looked perfectly calm.
Gu Yichen's gaze sharpened.
"What game are you playing?"
Lu Bolin blinked.
"Game?"
"Yes."
His voice turned colder.
"You suddenly change your personality overnight and expect me to believe it?"
Lu Bolin considered that question carefully.
Then he answered truthfully.
"My personality didn't change."
Gu Yichen raised an eyebrow.
"I simply stopped pursuing a losing strategy."
Gu Yichen stared at him for several seconds.
Something was definitely wrong.
But he couldn't identify what.
Then he suddenly noticed something else.
Lu Bolin was barefoot.
Standing on the cold marble floor.
His pale toes curled slightly from the chill.
Gu Yichen frowned.
"You're still sick."
Lu Bolin looked down.
"Oh."
"You shouldn't be standing."
"I feel fine."
"You collapsed earlier."
"That was inefficient resource management."
Gu Yichen felt a strange headache forming.
Why did this conversation feel like a business meeting?
He suddenly stepped forward again.
Without warning, he grabbed Lu Bolin's wrist.
Lu Bolin blinked.
Gu Yichen's grip was firm.
Warm.
Lu Bolin looked down at their joined hands with curiosity.
This was his first physical contact with another person in this world.
Interesting.
Gu Yichen frowned again.
"Your hands are cold."
Lu Bolin answered simply.
"My body temperature is lower than average."
Gu Yichen pulled him slightly closer.
"You're going back to bed."
Lu Bolin didn't resist.
He allowed himself to be guided back toward the bed.
From a research perspective, observing the villain's behavior was valuable.
Gu Yichen pushed him down onto the mattress.
"Lie down."
Lu Bolin obeyed immediately.
Gu Yichen paused.
That… was unexpected.
Normally Lu Bolin would argue weakly or try to start a conversation.
But now he simply followed instructions.
Gu Yichen pulled the blanket over him.
Lu Bolin watched the movement carefully.
"You're acting strangely."
Gu Yichen froze slightly.
"What?"
Lu Bolin spoke honestly.
"You said you hate me."
"I do."
"But you are currently taking care of me."
Gu Yichen's expression turned cold again.
"That's because you're still my responsibility."
Lu Bolin nodded.
"I see."
Then he added,
"You're a responsible villain."
Gu Yichen stared at him.
"…What?"
Lu Bolin paused.
Ah.
He shouldn't say that word out loud.
"The system's voice immediately echoed in his mind.
[Warning: Host should avoid abnormal terminology.]
Lu Bolin corrected himself smoothly.
"I meant… antagonist."
Gu Yichen rubbed his temples.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Lu Bolin decided not to explain.
Instead he asked a different question.
"How old are you?"
Gu Yichen frowned.
"You've known me for three years."
"Yes, but I don't remember clearly."
"…Twenty-nine."
Lu Bolin nodded slowly.
"So statistically you will live another fifty years."
Gu Yichen stared at him again.
"Why are you calculating my life expectancy?"
Lu Bolin answered calmly.
"I'm estimating mission duration."
Gu Yichen's eyes narrowed.
"…Mission?"
Lu Bolin paused.
The system beeped loudly.
[Warning.]
[Host approaching restricted information.]
Lu Bolin corrected himself again.
"Personal life planning."
Gu Yichen leaned slightly closer.
"You're hiding something."
Lu Bolin met his gaze.
"Yes."
The direct admission stunned him again.
"You're not even denying it?"
"No."
"Why?"
Lu Bolin answered simply.
"Because denying it would be inefficient."
Gu Yichen fell silent.
Then suddenly—
He laughed.
For real this time.
Low.
Dangerous.
But genuine.
"You really are acting differently."
Lu Bolin watched him carefully.
This was the first time he had seen the villain smile.
Interesting.
Gu Yichen stopped laughing and leaned down slightly.
Their distance became dangerously close.
"Let me ask you something."
Lu Bolin waited.
"Do you still love me?"
The question hung heavily in the air.
The original Lu Bolin would have answered immediately.
Yes.
Always yes.
But the man lying on the bed now was different.
Lu Bolin thought carefully.
From a mission perspective…
Emotional attachment might create better results later.
But at this stage, honesty was acceptable.
"No."
The answer came out softly.
But clearly.
Gu Yichen froze.
For three full seconds.
The air in the room seemed to stop moving.
Lu Bolin observed the reaction.
Interesting.
The villain's pupils had slightly contracted.
Heart rate increased.
Emotional disturbance detected.
Gu Yichen slowly straightened.
His expression had returned to its usual cold mask.
But something inside his chest felt strange.
Very strange.
"You're giving up?"
Lu Bolin corrected him.
"I'm optimizing my strategy."
Gu Yichen stared at him again.
"You're unbelievable."
Lu Bolin nodded politely.
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"Oh."
Silence returned once more.
Finally Gu Yichen turned toward the door.
"I have work."
Lu Bolin simply nodded.
Gu Yichen paused before leaving.
For some reason…
He turned back to look at Lu Bolin again.
The young man was lying quietly under the blanket.
Pale.
Fragile.
But those calm eyes were still watching him.
Like he was studying something fascinating.
Gu Yichen suddenly felt irritated.
He left the room.
The door closed.
The moment he disappeared—
The system appeared again.
[Villain emotional fluctuation detected.]
Lu Bolin looked at the ceiling.
"Results?"
[Villain interest level increased.]
A small bar appeared.
Interest Level: 3%
Lu Bolin considered that number.
"Efficient."
The system sounded slightly nervous.
[Host behavior deviates from typical emotional strategy.]
Lu Bolin closed his eyes calmly.
"I am experimenting."
[Experiment parameters unclear.]
Lu Bolin smiled faintly.
"Human psychology."
Meanwhile—
Downstairs in the mansion—
Gu Yichen stood beside the living room window.
His assistant asked carefully,
"President Gu, are you leaving?"
Gu Yichen didn't answer immediately.
His mind kept replaying the same moment.
Do you still love me?
No.
That answer…
Should have made him relieved.
It was exactly what he wanted.
So why did it feel…
Wrong?
Gu Yichen frowned slightly.
Upstairs—
Lu Bolin had already fallen asleep.
Completely peaceful.
The system quietly displayed a new notification.
[Warning.]
[Villain curiosity rising.]
And curiosity…
Was always the first step toward obsession.