The System said: "Julian Sterling is going to destroy the world. You must stop him." I pulled out my phone. "I'm calling the cops." The System screamed, "Stop! Do you know what love is? Do you understand what 'redemption' means?" Redemption. Save and redeem. I nodded. "I got it." The next day, when I tied Julian—the billionaire heir—to a chair in my apartment, the System collapsed screaming: "YOU DON'T GET IT AT ALL!!" 1 The System was emitting a high-pitched screech in my brain. I was annoyed. "Didn't you say 'save'? How am I supposed to save him without tying him up? How else is his family going to pay the ransom?" The System was losing its mind. "Are you a college student or a felon?! I swear I'm going to call the cops on you! Chloe, haven't you read a romance novel? Redemption means saving his soul! Filling his heart with love! With sunshine!" I paused for a moment. "You mean... you want me, a broke college student, to save the soul of a billionaire heir with assets worth hundreds of millions? And fill his heart with love?" What the f*ck. I wake up every day and grind just to survive. Who's coming to redeem me? Forget it. I'm going to destroy the world too. Julian had woken up. A pair of cold, dark eyes were staring right at me. "How much do you want?" he asked calmly. Wait, is this for real? I blurted out, "Two thousand dollars!" Silence. The System and Julian both went quiet. The System broke first. "Oh my god, why did I choose someone so useless! Kidnapping is bad enough, but who kidnaps a billionaire for two grand?!" I wanted to slap this foul-mouthed System. "Ask for too much and it becomes a felony kidnapping! Do you know the law? Use some common sense!" "I'll give you twenty thousand. Untie me," Julian said after a long pause, sounding almost like he was sighing. My rental apartment was shabby. The young master was thrown onto my small bed, lying on his stomach, hands and feet tied behind his back. The posture was undignified, but his expression was calm. He asked unhurriedly, "You kidnapped me for two thousand dollars?" The System kept barking in my head: "Don't say it's for money! Make him feel your love! Love! LOVE! Do you understand?!" Under the System's duress, I stiffly changed my tune. "I did it for love." The young master finally lost his composure. His handsome face was written with confusion. He paused. "Is thirty thousand okay?" Thirty thousand. That's thirty thousand dollars. With tears in my eyes, I gritted my teeth and shook my head. "I don't want money. I just want your happiness." Julian was silent for even longer this time. He thought I was sick. I thought I was sick too. He struggled to lift his head to look at me, trying to figure out my angle. "You know my family will find this place. Soon they'll find you and send you to the police station. It's not too late to let me go." Julian negotiated patiently. "Don't worry. As long as you let me go, I won't let them send you to jail. I'll even give you a large sum of money. Is fifty thousand enough?" Fifty thousand! Oh god, fifty thousand. How many DoorDash meals is that? Just as I was calculating my beautiful life with fifty grand, Julian raised the stakes. "One hundred thousand. Let me go and I'll transfer it now." Stop talking, rich boy. I really can't hold out much longer. I gritted my teeth and said, almost angrily, "I don't want anything!" Julian was lying on his stomach. I sat halfway on him, untying the ropes on his hands with tears in my eyes. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. He's so rich, why does he want to destroy the world? My life is so hard, why do I have to save him? Let him live my life where I can't afford meat once a day, and I guarantee he won't have time to destroy the world! It's just rich people problems. I was so mad my teeth itched. I couldn't help but slap the back of his head hard. "Let me tell you, go back and live a good life! Be positive, love life, do charity! If you're bored, sponsor a poor student like me!" Julian got smacked. He buried his face in my mattress and didn't speak for a long time. The room was quiet. The System spoke faintly in my mind again. "The villain definitely hates you now. It'll be harder to redeem him." I stopped untying the rope. "What do you mean? Is he going to take revenge on me?" "Hard to say. The only info I have is that he's vindictive, ruthless, and cruel." I looked down slowly. Julian's wrists were red from the ropes. I was sitting on the noble ass of a billionaire heir. And I had just suicidally slapped the back of his head. I quickly got off him and used all my strength to help Julian up. Blinking my big eyes with utmost sincerity, I said, "I have no malicious intent towards you, and I won't take your money. But to prevent you from taking revenge on me in the future, I have to do one thing." The young master immediately went on alert. "What are you doing?" I reached out with trembling hands, trying to unbutton his shirt. "You dare?!" Julian's face flushed red, and he began to struggle frantically. His white dress shirt buttons were hard to undo. I was already nervous, and he was struggling violently. I could only coax him gently, "It's okay, it'll be over soon. I'll finish quickly." Maybe because I had loosened the rope a bit earlier, the knot on Julian's hands actually came undone. Before I could dodge, he flipped me over and pinned me under him. His face was cold and menacing as he choked my neck. "Who sent you?" I confessed without thinking. "The System! That money-losing System made me do it!" "Chloe!!" The System roared. "You coward!!" Julian frowned slightly. "What did he make you do?" "Make me... make me love you." I thought about it and shook my head. "No, make you love me." I spoke sincerely, and Julian believed it. He nodded calmly. "Oh." I just breathed a sigh of relief when the large hand on my neck suddenly tightened. His dark eyes were cold and emotionless, as if looking at a dead object. I couldn't breathe. The feeling of suffocation made my vision go black. "Relax. It'll be over soon," Julian comforted me gently. His low, melodious voice sounded like the whisper of the Reaper. In the moment of life and death, I finally grabbed his critical area. And squeezed hard. Come on! Mutual destruction! Julian's face changed. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he didn't dare apply more force. I raised my eyebrows arrogantly. Julian stared at me grimly. Our eyes met, filled with pure hate. He loosened his grip a little, and I loosened mine a little. But no one let go first. The System, which had crashed from fear earlier, was now mentally broken. It laughed inexplicably. "Haha, how is this not a match made in heaven? Maybe you've pioneered the path of pure hate redemption. Haha, I might as well die." After speaking, the System went completely silent. During the standoff, the front door slammed onto the floor. I looked over in shock. Immediately, a crowd rushed in through the door. Police, reporters, countless flashes going off at Julian and me. Why are there reporters? A beautiful woman crying squeezed through the crowd. "Julian! You died so..." Her crying stopped abruptly when she saw the two of us. Julian suddenly lowered his head and kissed my cheek. "Baby, let go first. We'll continue later." 2 I reacted instantly, covering my face quickly, not forgetting to act. "I'm so scared." "It's okay." Julian sat up, rubbed my hair, and slowly untied the rope on his feet. "I think there's been a misunderstanding." Actually, there was no misunderstanding. The reporters were driven away. Julian faced the police alone. "This is my girlfriend. We usually play like this." I sat in the back nodding furiously, chiming in, "Right, so what about my door?" Sadly, no one paid attention to me. "Your stepmother called the police, saying you were kidnapped by a gang of bandits." The young and beautiful stepmother looked guilty. "Julian, I thought you were kidnapped, so I called the police." Julian sneered. "Then I should thank you for caring about me so much." Zero people care about my silently deceased door? I rent this place! And I am absolutely not paying to fix the door. I quickly got up, grabbed Julian's arm, and said sweetly, "Auntie, then you have to pay for the door. You wasted police resources and trespassed on private property. But considering your age, I won't hold it against you. Just pay me some emotional damage fees and repair costs." Julian's stepmother froze, looking helplessly at Julian, tears welling up again. "Julian, I..." Don't even think about using relationships to get out of paying! I interrupted her quickly, stopping her pitiful act. "Auntie, don't worry, we're family. I won't scam you. You're a decent person; you'd be unhappy if I didn't let you pay. Ju-Ju said you've always been generous." "Ju-Ju?" Julian's stepmother seemed unable to believe her ears. Julian also looked at me. I held his arm tightly to prevent him from turning hostile. "Yes, that's my nickname for him. Calling him Julian feels so distant. Don't you think Ju-Ju is catchy and positive?" She wanted to say something else, but I didn't give her the chance. I decisively pulled out my phone and opened my QR code. "Let's add each other on WeChat, and you can transfer the money to me." She looked at Julian, then at me, and finally silently added me. "Taking classes for him? Taking exams? Picking up delivery?" She looked at me with a complicated expression. "Does Julian not spend money on you?" I said righteously, "We have a pure physical relationship." Julian's stepmother didn't say a word and turned to leave. I didn't forget to remind her, "Remember to transfer the money, Auntie!" Hearing this, the stepmother paused, then immediately transferred five thousand dollars. Wow! Rich people are generous! I gave a thumbs up and said sincerely, "Ju-Ju, your stepmom is a great philanthropist." Julian stared at me for a while, then suddenly smirked. His handsome face coupled with that soul-snatching smile made it hard to look away, but I sensed a hint of danger. "Since we've met the parents, why don't you come home with me?" I wanted to refuse, but his words were full of threats. "Do you want people to think you're really a kidnapper?" Considering the police officer was still there, I swallowed my curses and smiled. "Sure, I'd love to." Julian handed over the aftermath to someone else and prepared to take me home. I asked him to wait while I packed. I picked up my pot. Julian stood behind me. "Put it down." Fine. Then I'll take my fan. Julian said coldly, "Put it down." I tentatively picked up the desk lamp. He was like a repeater. "Put it down." Can't take this, can't take that! I turned around angrily, about to curse him out. Julian seemed to predict my move. "I'll transfer you ten thousand later. Don't take anything, okay?" I instantly softened, grinning. "Okay." Sitting in Julian's luxury car, I held my broken phone, grinning from ear to ear. I made fifteen thousand in just one day. Anyone would say I have a good life. Julian closed his eyes and suddenly asked, "What did you mean by that System you mentioned?" "Just what it means." I was busy buying a new phone and didn't have time for him. He paused and asked again, "What's your name?" "Chloe. Chloe Fang." He asked again, "How many people in your family?" I was getting impatient. "I'm an orphan." "In college?" Julian opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah." I said seriously, "I have to remind you, your whereabouts are very easy to track. Why were you sleeping on the roof for no reason? It's dangerous. If someone wanted to kill you, they could have just thrown you off." Julian stared at me indifferently. "Then why didn't you throw me off?" I quickly cleared my name. "Hey, watch your words. I'm not a psychopathic killer. I just wanted to redeem you." "Redeem?" He smirked. "Are you going to redeem me in the future too?" I clasped my hands together, devout and serious. "Actually, I support you destroying the world. After I finish spending this fifteen thousand, can you blow up the world? I don't want to face the life of a broke person anymore." Julian raised an eyebrow. "I will destroy the world in the future?" So he doesn't want to destroy the world yet? I called the money-losing System in my mind. "Come out! What now? What do I say?" The System was silent. He was staring at me with those clear, dark peach blossom eyes. I laughed awkwardly and explained, "No, I was talking nonsense." He smiled without speaking. The more Julian smiled, the more panicked I got. I pleaded earnestly, "Why do you want to destroy the world? There's no reason, Ju-Ju. Don't you think I just love talking nonsense? Actually, I'm mentally ill. Don't believe me, okay?" "No." He sat up straight, half-smiling. "Starting now, I want to destroy the world." I suspect this kid is targeting me on purpose. I darkened my face and threatened him half-heartedly, "If you want to destroy the world because of one sentence from me, then I'll have to redeem you. From now on, I will haunt you like a ghost and make you fall in love with me." The car slowly stopped. Before getting out, Julian chuckled low in my ear. "It's okay, take your time." "Maybe you won't live to see that time." He is definitely targeting me. With that, he turned to get out of the car. I gritted my teeth with hatred and kicked his raised butt. Get down. Julian was kicked out, stumbled, and almost fell flat on his face. "Ah, baby, I'm so sorry." I quickly got out to help him up, patting his butt. Julian's face was iron green, but I smiled cheerfully. "I didn't mean to. You surely won't be mad at me, right?" The Sterling family butler came out to greet us. A smile appeared on Julian's face. He reached out and pinched my cheek hard. "How could I be mad at you? Baby, you are so cute. So cute I really want to strangle you." I was in pain but couldn't scream. I could only look at him with a smile, reaching out to pinch his cheek just as hard. I said sweetly, "Baby, actually, I love you so much I want to strangle you too." 3 Julian and I entered the Sterling house with red marks on our faces. Grandpa Sterling was waiting for us. He heard there was a granddaughter-in-law and couldn't wait to see me. Julian's stepmother sat obediently by his side, eyes lowered, looking very meek. I was dressed very plainly. I thought I would be looked down upon, but the old man seemed to appreciate a broke person like me. "Look, kids these days are rarely this simple and unpretentious." Old man, open your eyes to the world. All broke people are as unpretentious as me. "Eh? Why do you have red marks on your faces?" Grandpa Sterling asked suddenly. I smiled and touched my cheek. "We just love to play rough. Sorry you had to see that, Grandpa." Hearing this, Julian's stepmother turned pale and slowly stood up. "Dad, I'm not feeling well. I'll go back first." "Go, go. Sickly all day, no energy." The old man seemed to dislike her, frowning impatiently. Before leaving, the philanthropist glanced at Julian. The look had a hint of resentment, quickly withdrawn, but I keenly caught it. I thought it was a plot where the stepmother hires a hitman, but it turned out to be a soap opera drama. Unfortunately, the feelings were unrequited. Julian never looked at her. I chatted with the old man for a while until he got tired. Julian helped him to rest, and the butler took me to my room. As soon as I entered the room, I stopped. Black curtains drawn tight, black carpet, black bed, even the closet was black. This was very unfriendly to someone like me who insists on pink bedsheets. I turned to look at the butler and asked sincerely, "This looks like hell. It's so dark. Can I not stay here?" "Aren't you staying with the Young Master? Madam said your relationship is good, so she didn't prepare a guest room." I smiled and shook my head. "Our relationship isn't that good. Can I trouble you..." Before I could finish, Julian walked up from behind and interrupted me. "Uncle Zhao, she's staying with me. You can go." With that, the young master smiled at me slightly. "Baby, stop joking like that, or people will think we are liars." Under duress, I had to swallow my anger and reluctantly walked into the room so dark I couldn't see people. The door closed. Julian turned on the light, but I still looked resentful. "You didn't say we were living together before coming." "Didn't you want to make me fall in love with you?" Julian walked past me, slowly taking off his watch, speaking calmly. "Spending day and night together, maybe you'll succeed." I didn't think this psycho would fall in love with me, nor did I think I had that charm. But since I'm here, I just have to make the best of it. "So you're sleeping in the same bed as me?" I asked the most critical question. The young master sat down calmly, took out a glass from the cabinet, and opened a bottle of wine that looked expensive. He poured himself a glass. "You can sleep on the floor or the sofa, but I will never sleep on the floor or the sofa." I sneered immediately. "Then we sleep together. If I snore, grind my teeth, or fart at night, don't regret it." "Mmh." Julian was as calm as could be. "If I sleepwalk in the middle of the night, just don't be scared." A worthy opponent. The wine on the table looked expensive. I poured myself a glass angrily. This wine must cost a fortune. Not drinking it is a waste! First time drinking liquor, I downed it in one gulp. Julian glanced at me but didn't speak. "What kind of crappy wine is this? So bitter. Bitter and spicy." I choked, taking a while to recover. After a while, my chest felt hot, and my consciousness drifted a bit. I sat next to Julian, staring at his face, forgetting what I wanted to say. After a long time, I finally remembered. I reached out to cup his face and shouted in surprise, "I remember! I wanted to tell you, you're actually pretty big!" Julian slapped my hand away, his ears turning completely red. "What nonsense are you talking about?!" I took the opportunity to persuade him. "Look at you. Rich, handsome, highly educated, and remarkably well-endowed. What's there to be unhappy about?" Thinking of my own crappy life, comparing it to others felt like a joke. I sighed. "I can't even imagine what troubles you could have." I suddenly remembered the philanthropist. "Don't tell me it's unrequited love. Your dad will die sooner or later. Your good days are ahead." Julian finally snapped back and pushed me away. I floated down onto the sofa. Well, wherever I fall is where I'll sleep for a while. "No sleeping." Julian patted my cheek. "Tell me what else you know." I suddenly felt so wronged. Sleeping was my only joy. Before, I had to work and study and never got enough sleep. Why can't I sleep now? I was aggrieved to death. I asked him, "Why can't I sleep? I haven't slept well in a long time." Julian frowned and lowered his voice. "I'll let you sleep after you finish talking." "What did the System tell you?" I thought about it. "He said you will destroy the world in the future, and no one can stop you. He also said you are vindictive and ruthless. He told me to love you, fill your heart with love and sunshine, treat you well, and redeem you." "Anything else?" I closed my eyes again, planning to sleep. "Nothing else." Julian picked me up, forcing me to stay awake. "Did anyone send you to assassinate me? Is the System a code name? Where is he?" This guy is too suspicious. "No." I had to open my eyes. "The System is just a system. He crashed and stopped contacting me. How would I know?" I leaned on his shoulder, unable to control myself, complaining, "Do you have persecution mania? Do you think the whole world is your enemy? In this world, only I have the obligation to be good to you, and you don't even cherish it." Julian stopped talking. I was drowsy but felt something was wrong. Why did I answer whatever he asked? Is this what they call "truth after drinking"? Whatever. Sleep. I had a terrible dream. I dreamed I was tightly wrapped by a giant python. The black python was thick and strong, wrapping around my whole body. It didn't eat me, just waited slowly for me to suffocate to death. No, no. This feeling of death-like suffocation was incredibly real. I struggled, trying desperately to break free. "Help, don't eat me." In the nick of time, I finally shouted out. A hand broke free and slapped the python's big head. A crisp sound rang in my ear. My palm stung slightly. I opened my eyes slowly, confused. Because Julian was holding me in his arms in an extremely ambiguous posture. He buried his head in my hair, seeming to smell my scent. "What are you doing?" I was speechless. His expression didn't change, nor did he try to explain. He slowly let go. There was a clear red mark on Julian's fair face. Just as I was about to ask if he planned to murder me, the butler knocked on the door. "Sir is asking for you two." ... Yes, he has persecution mania. He had this problem since childhood. After some treatment, he still always feels someone is trying to harm him. Chloe fell asleep in his arms. Julian thought about it and didn't let go. She had a reassuring scent. Holding her felt safe. At first, he only wanted to hold her for a while. Somehow it evolved into holding her tightly. A slap came. Julian froze, looking down. Their eyes met. Julian suddenly thought she looked cute. Her eyes were bright, like a puppy. He wanted to laugh, but he held it back. Because if Chloe knew his thoughts, she would jump up and hit him on the head. Flailing her claws, as if afraid of nothing. Chloe walked in front of him. Although she had never been here, never met his father, she was confident, as if she could solve any problem. Julian followed closely behind her. 4 Julian's father expressed great disappointment about today's events and told Julian to break up with me as soon as possible. I lowered my eyes, but Julian didn't seem to listen at all. He held my hand in his and kept kneading it. He pinched my fingertips. I glanced at him unhappily. Do you have a death wish? This is a hand, not a stress ball. Julian's father also noticed his small movements. In a rage, he slammed the table. "Look at what you've become!" Father Sterling was furious, but Julian smiled very happily. I silently stared at Julian. Does this guy have Oppositional Defiant Disorder? "I don't even want to talk about that slap mark on your face!" Father Sterling glanced at me, then took out several stacks of cash from the safe behind him and slammed them heavily on the table. I finally stopped playing dead. I pulled my hand back sharply, sat up straight, and looked at Father Sterling expectantly. Come on! Smash me with money! Give me money, let me roll! Father Sterling's face turned red. He pointed at Julian and roared, "Slap him again for me, and all this money is yours!" My eyes lit up. Really? Daddy. Is money this easy to earn? "You dare." Julian glanced at me and said in a low voice. I slapped him without thinking. "Bold! Is this how you talk to your father? I hit you not because of the money, but because you failed your father's painstaking efforts!" Julian looked at me gloomily. I widened my eyes. "What are you looking at? Apologize to Uncle!" I stood up abruptly and advised earnestly, "I know you are a filial person. Uncle treats you so well. I can't bear to let you father and son have differences because of me. No choice, Ju-Ju. I love you very much, but I still have to go. Let's break up!" Although no tears came out, my tone was very sincere. I looked grief-stricken and reached for the tens of thousands of dollars on the table. Too sad. Can only run away with the money in tears. Just as I reached out, Father Sterling suddenly held my hand, seemingly deeply touched by my words. "Chloe, children as sensible as you are rare nowadays. Uncle spoke a bit heavily just now." I froze. "Now it seems you and Julian are a good match. You must discipline him well." Julian also stood up and put his arm around me. "Dad, now you know? Chloe is such a simple, unpretentious, non-greedy girl. You give her money, she doesn't even want it." Father Sterling withdrew his hand in shame and stuffed all the money back. "Uncle was too shallow. Chloe, don't hold it against me." I really wanted to cry this time. Not taking this money is no different from losing it. I walked downstairs in a daze and ate with the Sterling family. At the dinner table, I learned Julian has two younger brothers. One about his age named Ryan. They didn't look much alike. Ryan sat the farthest away, eyes lowered. After saying hello, he sat down obediently to eat. There was also a four-year-old brother named Nate, looking sturdy and cute. Julian's stepmother is named Catherine. She went to the same school as me before. After graduating from college, she married Father Sterling. The Sterling family relationships aren't too complicated. After dinner, Julian had things to deal with and asked me to go back to the room to rest first. When I went upstairs, I met Ryan following behind me. To be polite, I waited for him. Ryan looked up at me. His dark brown eyes had no emotion. He said nothing. I didn't know what to say either, so I smiled at him. We walked upstairs side by side and separated at the stairs. I lost tens of thousands of dollars. I lay on the sofa sighing in despair. When Julian came back, I threw a pillow at him. "That was tens of thousands of dollars! Julian, are you targeting me on purpose?" He caught the pillow easily and smirked. "I haven't settled the score with you for hitting me yet." I cursed his entire family in my heart. Julian walked slowly to me, sat down slowly, and said casually, "Stay away from everyone in this house, especially Ryan." I always take such advice to heart. I nodded and silently moved away from Julian. Julian noticed my movement, glanced at me, and pulled me back with a cold face. "Not including me." He knocked on my head with his finger, frowning slightly in confusion. "Aren't you afraid of bad guys trying to harm you?" I really wanted to say, no one in this world is worse than you. But I didn't say it. I just told him sincerely, "Nothing in this world scares me except poverty. As long as I have money, I am invincible." Hearing this, Julian curled his lips slightly but said nothing. A large sofa. He read beside me, and I lay by his legs catching up on villain redemption novels. The quiet and comfortable environment was relaxing but also made my mind wander. I suddenly sat up. Julian looked up at me. I looked at him seriously. "Were you bullied?" He said without hesitation, "No." I didn't give up. "Then were you bullied by your family?" Julian didn't change his expression, saying coldly, "No either. As you can see, no one in this house can do anything to me yet." Impossible! There's always a reason for becoming a villain! I held his hand, intending to warm his heart through thermal transfer. "Then tell the truth. Are you rebellious because of Catherine?" "Catherine... she is indeed a bit annoying." He thought for a moment, closed the book with his other hand, and squeezed my hand slightly. "She chased me for a long time. Very annoying." Me: "...Then what is the biggest setback in your life?" Julian smiled. "Baby, I'm different from you. My life has no setbacks." I couldn't smile. What does that mean? Is this dead thing speaking human language? Is he inhuman? The villain with no setbacks pulled the phone from my hand, glanced at the book title. "Better uninstall it. Reading this stuff all the time, you won't live until the day the world is destroyed." I raised an eyebrow and retorted, "If your life has no setbacks, why do you suspect someone wants to kill you?" Julian pinched my fingers, answering slowly, "If you hadn't kidnapped me, I wouldn't suspect someone wanted to kill me." So it's all my fault? I was dead inside. I exited the reading app, slightly dissatisfied. "I also think these redemption novels are unreliable. Kissing and hugging for no reason, is that serious redemption?" Julian always has a sharp tongue. I thought he would laugh at me, but he put the book aside. "It's late. Time to sleep." Julian slept on the bed, I slept on the sofa. All these years, I could sleep in any harsh environment. Sleeping on a soft, large sofa was already very good. The pitch-black environment helped sleep. I fell asleep in a while. I dreamed I was wrapped by a giant python again. Help. Why are there pythons everywhere? This time the python wrapped tighter, even biting my neck. So scary. Pythons evolve. I opened my eyes groggily. The pitch-black room prevented me from seeing who was beside me. Hot breath scattered on my neck and chest. My waist and back were hugged tightly. Julian buried his head in my neck like a dying ghost, inhaling deeply, as if he were a plant dying of thirst, lying on me to absorb water and nutrients.
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