Chapter 1
Chapter 1
“What did you say?”
I had the feeling I must have misheard.
The system snickered. “I said I just changed your s*x addiction into a study addiction. From now on, whenever you touch a man, you’ll be seized by the uncontrollable urge to—”
“Study.”
What a vicious word.
My hackles rose. “Change it back right—”
“Ruanruan.”
My stepbrother called my name in a gentle voice and laid a hand lightly against my cheek.
Jiang Zhan played the piano, and he had beautiful hands: pale and slender, with well-defined knuckles. Faint blue veins rose along their backs when he exerted himself. The pad of one lightly callused finger brushed my cheek, leaving behind a fine, prickling itch.
It was like being petted as if I were a cat.
I shivered despite myself. “Jiang Zhan…”
He lowered his head and smiled at me. “Mm?”
“Your face is so red. Are you feeling unwell?”
His eyes were beautiful too—dark and still, like a lake without a ripple, luring me into their depths.
Heat slowly climbed through my whole body, urging the words from my lips.
“I want to…”
“You want to what?” His smile deepened as he coaxed me on.
“I want to…”
My cheeks burned.
“I really want…”
“Mm?”
“I really want to study!”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I shoved him away, sprinted back to my room, hauled out my books, and began studying like a starving woman at a feast.
Jiang Zhan: “?”
The system: “Hah.”
The door swung shut behind me. Jiang Zhan didn’t follow.
I didn’t dare stop studying. The instant I did, an itch burrowed out from the cracks in my bones and nearly drove me mad.
Damn it.
This was torture.
Studying hurts T_T I want to study ^_^ Studying hurts T_T I want to study ^_^ Studying hurts T_T I want to study ^_^ Studying hurts T_T I want to study ^_^ Studying hurts T_T I want to study ^_^ Studying hurts T_T I want to study ^_^ Studying hurts T_T I want to study ^_^…
“System, are you out of your mind?”
I cursed it in the gap between memorizing my fiftieth vocabulary word and starting the next.
“I don’t even want to study! Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for today? Jiang Zhan usually…”
The itch came back.
I hurriedly turned another page.
“Heh-heh,” said the system.
“Change me back right now! I want to do things with Jiang Zhan…”
The thought of Jiang Zhan’s hands made my face flame.
“His hands are so big. His fingers are so long…”
The urge to study surged even harder.
“Fuck.”
I tore through two pages of math exercises. Only then did the gnawing itch subside.
“All I want is to be spoiled…”
“Heh-heh.”
“You’re sick.”
No matter what I said, the deranged system only answered with that same heh-heh.
I studied all night in tears.
Staying up left dark circles under my eyes. In the morning, I sat at my vanity and carefully dabbed on concealer. Once I was sure my face was flawless, I finished my makeup and chose a matching hair clip.
My altered school-uniform skirt was two centimeters shorter than the regulation length.
I admired myself in the mirror with satisfaction.
The girl reflected there had a soft, adorable face, pale skin, and huge eyes. She looked petite and fragile.
I dusted a little more blush beneath my eyes, making myself look even more delicate and pitiable.
Exactly the sort of girl who ought to be cherished.
No wonder I was the heroine of a smut novel.
“Ha. Ha,” said the system.
“You’re not allowed to talk.”
I glared.
Stupid system.
Jiang Zhan was already in the dining room when I came downstairs. I immediately started toward the seat beside him.
The faint scent of agarwood reached me—cool, yet carrying an overbearing edge that invaded my senses.
My face flushed.
My thoughts instantly wandered to…
Uh…
Advance, ambition, concentrate, positive…
My feet veered sideways. I quietly chose a seat farther away.
That was close. I had nearly had another episode.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Zhan asked gently. “Did I do something that made you uncomfortable, Ruanruan? Are you angry with me?”
“Of course not.” I slipped instinctively into a wheedling tone. “I only hope you aren’t mad at me.”
“What did you do to make him mad?” the system asked.
“What would you know? He’s so exceptional. I embarrassed him yesterday, and he’s still being this nice to me.”
“Is his pride worth that much?”
I rolled my eyes. “Obviously. He’s handsome, his family is rich, and…”
“What about yours?”
“My what?”
“How much is your pride worth?”