Jiang Yue had never been to a temple before. At least, not one like this.
The mountain air was sharp and cold, carrying the faint scent of incense. The temple bells echoed, slow and heavy, as she and Li Zhenkai climbed the stone steps side by side.
"This feels… ominous," she muttered, tightening her jacket around her.
"Superstition," Zhenkai said flatly. But his hand brushed lightly at her elbow as if steadying her climb.
She raised a brow. "You say that, but you're the one who insisted we come."
He didn't answer, only kept walking, his expression unreadable.
At the top of the steps, an elderly priest in flowing white robes stood waiting. His gaze, ancient and piercing, swept over her as though he were reading something beneath her skin.
"You," he said, voice hoarse but commanding. "Child born under a paradox star."
Jiang Yue stiffened. "I'm sorry, under a what now?"
The priest didn't blink. "Your fate is cursed. To live, you must always dance with death. Only by walking the edge of ruin will your life continue."
Her stomach dropped. "So… I'm basically a cat with nine lives?"
"Eight," the priest corrected gravely.
Her mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again. "WHAT?!"
Zhenkai's jaw flexed, his expression darker than a thundercloud. "Enough."
The priest's eyes locked onto his. "She is tethered to calamity. If you would save her, you must bear half of her burden. Can you do that?"
There was no hesitation. No pause. Just Zhenkai's voice, low and unshakable:
"I will break her curse myself."
Something inside her chest clenched so hard it almost hurt.
> [System Alert: WARNING! Romance intensity levels rising dangerously fast. Host's heart rate = 132 bpm. ML's heart rate = classified but definitely faster than normal.]
She blinked hard, forcing her gaze away. This isn't the time to swoon. I'm cursed, remember?
Back in the City
The system popped up like a smug cartoon bubble while she was still reeling in the priest's words.
> [System Alert: New missions activated!]
Mission 1: Hold ML's hand for 30 seconds.
Mission 2: Make ML smile twice in one day.
Reward: Unlock new survival buff (a.k.a. less likely to die stupidly).
She groaned. "You're turning my curse into a dating sim."
> [System Innocent Tone: Correction—romance is the antidote to your curse. Now get to work, Host.]
Jiang Yue dragged a hand down her face. "I'm doomed."
---
Mission 1: Operation Hand-Holding
That evening, they walked through a quiet underground parking garage toward his car. Jiang Yue glanced at his hand, her palm sweaty.
It's just hand-holding. Easy. Simple. Totally normal human interaction.
She casually brushed her fingers against his.
Nothing.
She tried again, this time letting her pinky hook around his.
Zhenkai stopped walking and looked down at her with a raised brow. "Do you need something?"
Her brain short-circuited. "Uh—mosquito!" She slapped at their joined hands dramatically. "Got it. Don't worry."
He stared at her. "…We're in an underground garage."
> [System Alert: Mission failed. Retry.]
She wanted to throw her shoe at the system.
---
Mission 2: Make Him Smile
The next morning, she tried again.
Attempt #1: She made him pancakes shaped like cats. He stared at them blankly.
"They look diseased," he said.
Attempt #2: She told him a knock-knock joke.
"…You're terrible at this," he replied.
Attempt #3: She tried to tickle him when he wasn't looking. He caught her wrist mid-air, eyes narrowing. "Don't."
> [System Alert: Mission progress: 0/2 smiles. Host, you're failing spectacularly.]
Jiang Yue collapsed face-first onto the couch. "He's an emotionless robot. You expect me to make him smile?!"
> [System Alert: Tip - ML's weakness: YOU. Try sincerity instead of bad comedy.]
She blinked. "…Sincerity?"
That evening, as Zhenkai sat reviewing documents in her living room (because apparently her apartment had become his second office), she placed a steaming mug of tea beside him.
He glanced up. "What's this?"
"You always drink coffee. Too much. So… tea. It's better for you."
He stared at her for a long moment, then—
His lips curved. Small. Subtle. But a smile.
She froze. "Oh my god. He actually has teeth."
The smile widened.
Two smiles. Mission complete.
Her heart thudded painfully. Oh no. He's too beautiful when he does that.
> [System Alert: Mission completed. Reward unlocked—survival buff activated. Probability of death by falling chandelier: reduced by 12%.]
Later That Night
Jiang Yue lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her chest still felt tight from the priest's words. Cursed. Dancing with death. Eight lives.
But then she remembered Zhenkai's vow. I will break her curse myself.
Her cheeks burned.
"System," she whispered. "Do you think… he really can?"
> [System Reply: Statistically speaking, no. But emotionally speaking? He'd burn the world before letting you die. So maybe yes.]
She covered her face with her pillow. "Great. Now I'm crying. Thanks a lot."
The system's voice softened.
> [System: Don't worry, Host. You're not dancing with death alone anymore.]