The world slowed…
The footsteps approached the backstage hall like a countdown to a nuclear explosion.
Elegant.
Soft.
Deadly.
System:
[Host, she's now 12 meters away.]
Li Cheng hissed quietly,
"STOP MEASURING HER DISTANCE LIKE A SNIPER!"
[11 meters.]
"STOP—!!"
All four women behind him snapped their attention toward the entrance curtain.
Their collective aura was enough to make even the sound system tremble.
Literally—one speaker buzzed and shut off.
And then—
The curtain gently parted.
And Yue Yiran stepped inside.
Carrying a bouquet.
A large one.
Elegant, expensive, white roses with gold-tipped petals.
And a small velvet gift box in her other hand.
She walked with the calm assurance of someone entering her own kingdom.
Every backstage staff member scattered like pigeons.
Li Cheng felt his stomach fold into origami.
---
The Stare Down
Yue Yiran smiled warmly when she saw him.
"President Li. I came to congratulate you personally."
The four women took one synchronized step forward.
It wasn't a step.
It was a warning.
Shuxian's eyes sharpened to surgical precision.
Chen Yuxi's tablet powered on like a weapon system.
Mengyu puffed up like an angry kitten.
Auntie Mei… cracked her knuckles.
Li Cheng wanted to scream into a pillow.
"Miss Yue," he said through tight teeth, "you didn't have to bring anything—"
"I wanted to," she replied, walking closer.
That was the moment Chen Yuxi stepped between them.
Politely.
Coldly.
Like an ice wall wearing heels.
"Miss Yue," she said with a business-smile sharp enough to cut glass,
"Backstage is restricted."
Yue Yiran's smile didn't falter.
"Oh? I was told President Li was free for visitors."
Chen Yuxi replied instantly:
"He is not."
Shuxian glided to the other side of Li Cheng.
"Schedules are tight. Please book a meeting through proper channels."
Mengyu squeezed Li Cheng's arm and whispered, "D-Don't go with her."
Auntie Mei stood behind him like a guardian deity.
The temperature dropped.
Yue Yiran paused…
Then smiled wider.
"I see."
She looked at Li Cheng again.
"You certainly have a loyal entourage."
Li Cheng nearly cried,
"They're not a—"
"They're frighteningly devoted," Yue Yiran continued calmly.
"But devotion alone cannot stop me."
The backstage light flickered.
Mengyu gulped.
Shuxian's pen snapped again.
Chen Yuxi's grip on her tablet tightened.
But Li Cheng—
Li Cheng had reached his limit.
---
Attempted Escape (Failed)
He stepped forward, raising both hands.
"Miss Yue—thank you for the gifts—but please understand—"
Then he pointed at the four women.
"These people will KILL ME if I look suspicious for even half a second.
Please. I am begging you. Save my life."
Dead silence.
The four women glared at him.
Yue Yiran blinked.
Then—
She laughed softly.
Not mocking.
Not cruel.
Just… amused.
"President Li…"
She leaned slightly closer.
"You are even more interesting backstage."
He felt his soul leave his body.
---
The Etiquette Duel
Yue Yiran gently held out the bouquet.
"To congratulate you on the launch of NovaTech."
Li Cheng stared at it.
Touching it meant accepting it.
Accepting it meant dying.
But refusing meant offending an heiress of Aurora Global.
System:
[Host, pick the least lethal option.]
"THERE IS NO LEAST LETHAL OPTION!!"
Everyone stared at him.
He coughed.
"N-Nothing. Just thinking."
Chen Yuxi reached out lightning-fast and snatched the bouquet.
"I'll hold that."
Yue Yiran raised a brow.
"Oh? You're his… assistant?"
Chen Yuxi smiled.
"Chief Operations Officer."
Shuxian slid the gift box out of Yue Yiran's hand before Li Cheng could touch it.
"I'll screen this for security."
Mengyu yanked Li Cheng one step backward, placing herself between them.
Auntie Mei crossed her arms.
Yue Yiran just watched the entire scene… with visible amusement.
"You're all very… protective."
"Territorial," Shuxian corrected politely.
"Possessive," Chen Yuxi corrected, colder.
"L-Loving," Mengyu whispered.
Auntie Mei didn't say anything—she simply stared like an executioner deciding the price of trespassing.
Li Cheng felt like he was attending his own custody battle.
Yue Yiran tilted her head in fascination.
"So this is your world, Li Cheng?"
He closed his eyes.
"I swear I didn't choose any of this."
---
Yue Yiran Drops Another Bomb
She stepped forward again.
Everyone tensed.
Even the curtains swayed in fear.
Yue Yiran looked directly into Li Cheng's eyes and asked:
"President Li… may I speak with you alone for one minute?"
All four women:
"No."
"No."
"No!"
"Denied."
The harmony was terrifying.
Yue Yiran blinked.
Then, he turned to him once more.
"Just one minute."
Li Cheng opened his mouth—
But the system blasted him.
Warning: If the host goes alone, the jealousy index will exceed safe limits.]
[Potential outcome: emotional riot.]
[Secondary outcome: physical riot.]
Li Cheng closed his mouth.
"…Miss Yue, maybe another time—"
She didn't look disappointed.
Instead… she smiled knowingly.
"Understood."
She leaned slightly closer and whispered—
Just loud enough for everyone to hear:
"I'll come again."
Li Cheng's heart collapsed.
The four women's auras flared like solar eruptions.
Yue Yiran turned gracefully and left.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Not even a glance back.
The curtains closed behind her like the end of a drama scene.
Silence.
Stillness.
Deathly calm.
Then—
All four women turned slowly toward Li Cheng.
He raised both hands instantly.
"LISTEN—NONE OF THAT WAS MY FAULT—"
Shuxian:
"She's dangerous."
Chen Yuxi:
"She's bolder than expected."
Mengyu:
"S-So pretty…"
Auntie Mei:
"I will not allow her entry next time."
Li Cheng shouted,
"PLEASE don't start a war with Aurora Global!"
But they ignored him.
---
The System Decides To Ruin His Life (Again)
System:
[Host. Important notice.]
"What now?!"
[Yue Yiran left a second gift.]
"…Where?"
[Check your left pocket.]
Li Cheng froze.
Reached down—
And pulled out…
A card.
Black.
Glossy.
Unmarked.
The woman leaned in, ready to murder whatever it was.
Li Cheng opened it.
And inside—
Elegant handwriting:
"Meet me after school tomorrow.
—Y.Y."
Li Cheng threw it into the air as it burned him.
"NOPE—NO—I'M NOT GOING—THIS IS ILLEGAL—THIS IS HAUNTING—THIS IS—!!!"
Chen Yuxi caught it mid-air.
Immediately scanned it with suspicion.
Shuxian analyzed the ink.
Mengyu read it upside down and gasped.
Auntie Mei burned it with a lighter she took out of nowhere.
Li Cheng's jaw dropped.
"YOU BURNED IT?! WHY DID YOU—"
Auntie Mei said simply:
"It contained danger."
"IT CONTAINED HANDWRITING!!"
"It contained intentions."
"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN—?!"
---
The Unwanted Announcement
Just when he thought the nightmare was over—
Lin Jue burst in again.
"BRO—THE INTERNET IS ON FIRE!!"
Li Cheng screamed,
"PLEASE GO AWAY—"
Lin Jue shoved his phone in his face.
Front page headline everywhere:
"Cold CEO Rejects Heiress — Sparks Legendary Romance War!!"
Li Cheng dropped the phone.
"NO—NO NO NO—THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE WAR—STOP CALLING IT THAT—"
Lin Jue grinned.
"Bro, you're trending #1 worldwide."
Li Cheng covered his face.
"I WANT TO DIE."
---
Aftermath — The Quartet Takes Control
The four women formed a circle around him.
A protective formation.
A prison.
He wasn't sure which.
Chen Yuxi spoke first.
"Starting tonight, we'll escort you everywhere."
"I DON'T NEED BODYGUARDS—"
Shuxian added:
"Your schedule will be modified to reduce heiress interference."
"THAT IS NOT A CATEGORY—"
Mengyu raised her hand.
"I'll walk you to school tomorrow."
"THAT MAKES IT WORSE—"
Auntie Mei finished:
"You will not be alone. Even in the restroom."
Li Cheng:
"NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT."
They stared.
He looked at them.
Realized resisting was pointless.
And collapsed onto a chair.
"…I miss my old life."
System:
[Host. Good news.]
"What possible good news could exist?!"
[Your charisma stat increased by +20.]
Li Cheng stood up.
"I DON'T WANT CHARISMA—TAKE IT BACK—"
[Cannot be undone.]
"AAAHHHHHHH—!!"
---
The Cliffhanger — The Unknown Visitor
As Li Cheng was being dragged out by four overprotective disasters disguised as women—
A backstage coordinator ran up, pale.
"L-Li Cheng—sir—there's someone waiting for you outside."
He paled.
"No. NO. TELL ME IT'S NOT—"
The coordinator swallowed.
"She says she's… your old classmate."
Li Cheng blinked.
"…Old classmate?"
The woman stiffened.
Shuxian narrowed her eyes.
"Name?"
The coordinator shivered.
"She only said:
'Tell him the girl he rejected in high school is here.'"
All five of them froze.
Li Cheng whispered:
"…Huh?"
The system chimed cheerfully.
[Host. New challenger approaching.]
Li Cheng:
"NO MORE CHALLENGERS—PLEASE—"
But it was too late.
A silhouette appeared at the backstage entrance—
Slim.
Stylish.
Smiling confidently.
"Long time no see, Li Cheng."
Li Cheng's heart stopped.
The quartet's eyes turned murderous.