chapter 3

The first thing I did after military training was search, “What should I do if I hear voices in my head?”

Every result described early symptoms of schizophrenia. Terrified, I closed the page.

Ding.

The mechanical voice returned, this time accompanied by a translucent panel floating in front of me.

Enemies-to-Lovers System: User Manual

Host: Shen Yuze.

Binding partner detected: Jiang Xing.

Main mission: Complete every enemies-to-lovers plot point, progressing from mutual loathing to happily ever after.

Final reward: 100 million yuan per person, after tax.

Penalty mechanism: Refusal to advance the plot will trigger an electric shock of random intensity.

Friendly reminder: The more you fight, the more you love. No fighting, no love!

I stared at the words “100 million yuan” for three full seconds.

Then I stared at “electric shock” for another three.

Was I actually schizophrenic?

My phone vibrated. A text had arrived from an unknown number.

“Did you get it too?”

I sent back a question mark.

The reply came instantly.

“It’s Jiang Xing. That system thing. Did you see it?”

Before I could answer, another message followed.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t. It showed me my binding partner’s name.”

I rolled my eyes and typed, “So why are you texting me?”

“This isn’t some trick of yours, is it?”

“Yes, of course it is. I can put systems in people’s heads, and instead of making money or becoming a superhero, I used my powers to tie myself to the school’s resident smoking-and-drinking delinquent.”

“Just you wait.”

I scoffed and was about to send an even nastier reply when the hateful mechanical voice cut in without warning.

Ding! First online interaction between male and female leads detected. Main mission triggered: the icebreaking kiss.

Before I could react, the translucent panel turned into a glaring red warning.

Host must kiss binding partner Jiang Xing for no less than three seconds within twenty-four hours.

Friendly reminder: This is a compulsory main mission. Refusal or failure to complete it before the deadline will result in electric-shock punishment.

The next day, our instructor sat everyone in a circle during a break and told us to put on some performances.

Jiang Xing and I were seated directly opposite each other. In perfect unison, we rolled our eyes.

Male and female leads have made eye contact. Complete the kissing mission within fifteen minutes.

What?

Here? Now?

Both our faces changed. We sat frozen in horrified silence.

One student after another performed in the middle of the circle while the others cheered. Jiang Xing and I remained rigid.

Soon, a shrill countdown rang in my mind.

The leads have failed to complete the mission within the allotted time. Electric-shock punishment will now begin.

Panic became visible on both our faces. We squirmed, inching closer to each other.

Our sharp-eyed instructor noticed immediately and started clapping.

“Looks like these two have a performance for us too. Let’s hear it!”

While we were still trapped between humiliation and electrocution, a current tore through my body.

I shot to my feet with a cry. Jiang Xing started jerking and yelping too.

At first we tried to endure it, but the damned system seemed determined to keep shocking us until we complied.

We gritted our teeth and staggered toward each other.

Kissing in front of everyone was impossible.

So, trembling from the shocks, Jiang Xing and I clasped hands and performed the most grotesque two-person dance in human history.

The applause slowly died.

Everyone watched in awkward silence as we twisted, grimaced, and flailed.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I seized his face and kissed him.

Naturally, our homeroom teacher dragged us into his office and tore us apart. He could not comprehend how two students had managed to start dating less than a week after school began.

Because of the scandal, Jiang Xing lost his position as acting class monitor. We were also sentenced to clean the classroom together for a week.

Humiliated, we hated each other more than ever.