After the One Being Courted Awakens

[Opening date: To be determined]

Xing Yao was a member of the Conquest Team at the Quick Transmigration Bureau. He'd taken on seven missions and failed all seven.

At last, he decided to quit. He and his System agreed to go their separate ways: Xing Yao would return to inherit his hundreds of billions in assets, while the System would find a new Host.

But just after he submitted his resignation, before his supervisor could stamp it, Xing Yao heard two disheartening things from him:

First, the Conquest Team had spent a fortune on a System overhaul, raising the mission success rate by fifty percentage points.

Second, his precious System had performed so badly that it had already been sent for destruction.

Thinking of the help and companionship he'd received across seven little worlds, Xing Yao blinked, then tore his resignation letter to shreds. He decided to try one more time.

*

Upon entering the eighth little world, Xing Yao learned from his sobbing System that the Conquest Team had paid extra for a new "save" function.

The feature description read: Once the target's favorability toward you reaches 50, you can save as many times as you want.

Underneath, in tiny letters, was a PS: Since this feature launched, its approval rating has been 100%. If anyone still can't complete their mission, they should consider whether the problem is with them.

What Xing Yao didn't know was that when the System went "beep" to announce that favorability had reached 50, the target in front of him had awakened to his inner consciousness.

- - - - - -

Little scene (1) >>>

As the saying goes, to win a man's heart, first win his stomach.

Xing Yao wiggled his fingers. This, he knew how to do.

After a flurry of activity, a beautiful spread of eight dishes and a soup, appealing to the eye and delicious in every way, was set before Cheng Xiuqi.

Cheng Xiuqi tasted the soup, lowered his eyes, and thought for two seconds. "A little salty."

Xing Yao: ...

Seeing that his favorability had already reached 70, Xing Yao gritted his teeth and activated the save function.

So the next day, the same eight dishes and a soup were set before Cheng Xiuqi.

Cheng Xiuqi tasted the soup, hiding the amusement in his eyes. "It's delicious!"

*

At some point, this dull, tasteless world began to feel a little different.

From Cheng Xiuqi, who had been forced into a loop

- - - - - -

Little scene (2) >>>

The first time he realized time had reset was the day after he heard that strange voice come from Xing Yao.

He picked up his phone. The date was yesterday's.

The next second, the phone rang. His secretary's calm voice came through, reporting the day's schedule, all of which he remembered as having already happened.

It all felt like a dream.

Later, he realized that every time the timeline reset, it happened after he'd pointed out something wrong with Xing Yao's behavior:

Sometimes because the soup was too salty.

Sometimes because the restaurant they'd gone to happened to be one he disliked.

Sometimes because Xing Yao had said the wrong thing.

Sometimes because...a certain position during their intimate moments was uncomfortable.

Rubbing his phone, Cheng Xiuqi's eyes brimmed with amusement. He knew Xing Yao had many secrets, but watching him love him so clumsily filled him with a secret delight.

*

"Time should have moved on without looking back, but I have always loved you just the same."

- - - - - -

Little scene (3) >>>

Cheng Xiuqi had eagerly planned to spend the rest of his life with Xing Yao, but he never imagined the conquest would end with Xing Yao leaving this world.

The moment he learned the ending from the System, Cheng Xiuqi could no longer suppress the ferocious beast of obsession roaring inside him.

From then on, the favorability displayed by the System remained frozen at 98.

The eighth little world became an exquisite, precious golden shackle, clasped tightly around Xing Yao's pale, slender ankle. Freedom became nothing more than a dream.

[Cover art by artist: Sarah Zi]

>>> Content warnings:

1. Includes a "romantic war" plotline.

2. The male lead, who is the top, is not a good person.

3. The little-world endings are tragic; the main-world ending is happy.

4. The main world is the world where the male lead, who is the bottom, lives.

Theme: Life is hard. Cherish every moment as you go.