Chapter 23
by GideonChapter 23: The Doll Is Delicate and Incapable of Taking Care of Herself (16)
Ye Jiujiu considered herself a fairly reasonable person. She wasn’t some kind of demon, after all.
Since Tu Jin had admitted his mistake so promptly…
“Then what exactly did you do wrong?”
She raised her eyes, looking utterly aggrieved.
What had he done wrong?
Hearing her question, Tu Jin genuinely took a moment to reflect on himself.
In his opinion, his greatest mistake so far had been failing to cut his losses in time. As a result, he’d ended up pouring tens of millions of points into this doll, and by now, there was no turning back.
However, judging from what he knew about Ye Jiujiu, telling her that would be disastrous for his favorability. He’d rather die than let her find out.
So…
He genuinely had no idea what mistake he was supposed to admit to.
As he remained silent, he noticed the little doll’s expression growing increasingly unpleasant.
Unable to figure out what answer she wanted, Tu Jin simply gritted his teeth and—
Took the little doll’s hand, slipped it beneath a layer of his shirt, and pressed it directly against his abdominal muscles.
“Something suddenly feels a little uncomfortable here, darling. Could you rub it for me?”
Ye Jiujiu obviously hadn’t expected this move.
Feeling the firm, subtly elastic muscles beneath her fingertips… her expression froze.
Wow, Tu Jin! So you’re that kind of person!
I’d completely misjudged you!
Shameless!
Ye Jiujiu silently condemned him—
Then quietly leaned against his embrace and adjusted her position. She rested her head on his shoulder, while her arm conveniently wrapped around Tu Jin’s well-built waist.
One button after another came undone until, at last, his shirt hung open, with his tie dangling uselessly as though it were meant to provide some modesty.
Broad shoulders, a slim waist, and perfectly defined abdominal muscles arranged in neat rows. Even the slightest stroke of her fingers revealed the distinct separation between each muscle.
The pleasant scent of some expensive perfume belonging to Tu Jin lingered around her nose. After secretly glancing at Tu Jin’s face, which was trying very hard to remain composed, Ye Jiujiu suddenly felt as though she were coercing an innocent, respectable married man into entering the entertainment industry.
She was finally rendered speechless.
Well…
He gave her food, drinks, points, and even let her look and touch…
This man wasn’t merely a God of Wealth anymore. Tu Jin was practically a living Bodhisattva!
How could she throw a tantrum at a living Bodhisattva?
Seeing that the situation had finally settled down, Tu Jin glanced at the favorability rating, which had slowly climbed to 61%. For a moment, he was completely speechless.
He’d given up.
After losing more than twenty million points, Tu Jin had genuinely reached enlightenment this time.
He smiled faintly at the delighted Ye Jiujiu in his arms. After hesitating for less than a second, he decided that, for the sake of her favorability, he might as well get up and carry her along with him into the study of the hotel suite.
If she liked abdominal muscles, then he could let her touch them.
Tu Jin no longer insisted on increasing her favorability. As long as she didn’t lower it, that was good enough.
There was no other reason.
He was tired.
One document after another was transferred to him. Holding Ye Jiujiu with one arm, Tu Jin had already slipped seamlessly into work mode.
They said that a man was at his most handsome when he was working. Ye Jiujiu found herself agreeing with that statement today.
She quietly admired him for a while, but before long, she grew bored.
Very properly, she withdrew her little hand and pretended as though nothing had happened. Then she gestured for Tu Jin to remove the arm wrapped around her waist.
Tu Jin looked at Ye Jiujiu, then at the emails waiting in his inbox. After thinking it over, he obediently released her.
“Don’t leave the room. It’s dangerous outside. Understand?”
Understand, understand, understand!
Ye Jiujiu nodded repeatedly, her expression showing absolutely no hint of insincerity.
Did she not know better than him whether the outside world was dangerous?
“I just want to go to bed and take an afternoon nap.”
She came up with the excuse without even blinking. Yet Tu Jin recalled how Ye Jiujiu had previously fallen asleep while leaning against him, and actually believed her. He casually gestured for the little doll to do as she pleased.
She’d said she wanted to go to bed, so Ye Jiujiu really did go to bed.
As for whether she intended to take an afternoon nap…
With 22.31 million points sitting in her account, who could possibly fall asleep?
Ye Jiujiu certainly couldn’t.
Wasn’t this the perfect time to strengthen herself?
First, she would upgrade her own instance.
Looking through the items available for purchase in the system shop, she began carefully rewriting the main storyline. Her little fingers flew across the screen.
Once she confirmed the submission—
The original instance data was completely overturned. After the system reviewed it, the instance was promoted directly to a higher rank. This time, it didn’t even require a test.
Instance Name: The Nonexistent Doll Is Everywhere (S+)
Number of Instance NPCs: 500
Number of Instance Items (Non-Consumable): 124
Instance Duration: 12 hours
Instance Background:
Doll Town had made its name famous throughout the world through its world-renowned dolls.
But one day…
Everyone in Doll Town, along with all the dolls, mysteriously disappeared overnight.
A very, very long time later, an ancient castle estate suddenly appeared, occupying the land where Doll Town had once stood.
Exquisite dolls were displayed throughout the castle estate, attracting wave after wave of tourists.
You are among the visitors who have come here because of its fame.
However, unlike the other tourists who have come to admire the dolls, you have entered this castle estate to uncover the mystery behind Doll Town’s disappearance.
Prerequisite for Clearing the Instance:
Protect the dolls.
Clear Conditions (Complete and submit any two of the following):
-
Discover the complete truth behind the disappearance of Doll Town.
-
Find the most precious doll. 【Hidden Mission: This objective will not be displayed unless triggered.】
-
Rescue the dolls. 【Hidden Mission: This objective will not be displayed unless triggered.】
Notice: This instance contains a special hidden item. It can be taken out of the instance after completing the hidden mission.
【Hidden Item: Substitute Puppet】
Instance Clear Reward: Points 【To be deducted from the account of the instance owner: Ye Jiujiu.】
Next came her own status panel…
Looking at her remaining points, Ye Jiujiu didn’t hesitate in the slightest. She repeatedly tapped every skill upgrade option she could find.
Finally…
Name: Ye Jiujiu
Background Classification: Modern World
Overall Personal Evaluation: S-
【You possess intelligence, exceptional beauty that is impressive enough to be used as a weapon, and… you finally have the opportunity to obtain a little power to protect yourself.】
Owned Instances: The Nonexistent Doll Is Everywhere
Instance Rank: S+
Skills:
Puppet Bestowal (Lv. 9): When the target’s level and strength are less than or equal to yours, or when the target is an unranked item-type object, you can directly transform the selected target into a puppet without making physical contact.
When the target’s level and strength exceed yours, selecting it for puppet transformation will inflict a corresponding degree of Puppet Curse upon it. This means that random corresponding parts of its body will turn into puppet material.
As long as the host remains alive, a damaged puppet can be completely restored without restrictions by paying an equivalent amount of resources.
【Conditions for upgrading to maximum level: ??? (Not yet triggered)】
Paint and Powder (Max Level): You can create puppet clones and assign them specific character profiles. For a certain period of time, you will gain all the abilities specified in the character profile.
(Ability specifications cannot be repeated. For example, if your previous template was assigned the ability of invisibility, and the manifestation fails, the invisibility ability will be permanently disabled.)
Before the abilities expire, provided that the character profile does not collapse, you must use the puppet clone’s assigned persona to gain sufficient recognition from living beings.
Once recognition reaches 30%, the puppet clone will successfully manifest. You will permanently retain that puppet clone and its abilities. Furthermore, its abilities will gradually synchronize with your main body according to the progress of its recognition.
(Notice: While using a puppet clone’s character profile, you will retain only the abilities specified by that particular profile. All other abilities will enter a sealed state.
P.S. The greater the difference between the level and strength of your puppet clone’s assigned character profile and your own actual strength, the shorter the duration for which you can maintain that persona.)
Silk Thread Manipulation (Lv. 9): You can completely control any existence whose level and strength are less than or equal to yours. You can also exert corresponding influence over existences whose level and strength exceed yours.
【Conditions for upgrading to maximum level: ??? (Not yet triggered)】
Trait: Every puppet you create can be your true body, and your true body can also be any one of your puppets. Furthermore, as long as even one puppet bearing your imprint still exists in the world, you will never completely disappear.
Points:
Ye Jiujiu, who had thought she would be able to reach S Rank with this round of upgrades: …
Tsk. S- Rank.
She’d thought she could turn Tu Jin, that S-rank male Bodhisattva, into her puppet and keep him as part of her collection while squeezing points out of him…
Ahem. She meant so they could love each other and live happily together.
What a pity…
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