He Couldn't Bear to Let Him Go

Once Jiang Yumiao finished writing his letter and handed it to Xiao Wu, the system finally found a chance to pop up. It felt wronged, too. Its host always had someone around him, and when he finally had a moment alone, his mind was full of the second male lead. As a good system that cared about its host, it couldn't bear to interrupt.

"Congratulations on completing your seventh task. As this was the final task of the dating show's first stage, you will now receive a special stage completion reward-a figure that never loses its shape (except during pregnancy)."

Jiang Yumiao: "..." That caveat was quite thorough.

He pressed a hand to his forehead. "Do you have any rewards that aren't about looks? Could you offer something practical, like something related to everyday needs, or something that improves intelligence?"

The system replied, "This system is the Second Male Lead Romance System and can only provide rewards that assist with romance. Furthermore, a recent assessment determined that the rewards you mentioned would not significantly advance your romance with the second male lead."

Jiang Yumiao argued, "How could they not help? You're just shallow! You only care about looks when it comes to romance!"

In its utterly flat electronic voice, the system said, "Can you honestly say you aren't lusting after the second male lead's body?"

Jiang Yumiao: "..."

The system won this round!

The system had finished Jiang Yumiao off with a single sentence. In the end, all he could do was bluff and change the subject. "Spend less time surfing the internet! What kind of weird slang have you been learning?"

"This system primarily extracts information from the show for learning purposes. It learned that phrase from the live comments while you were staring at the second male lead as he emerged from the hot spring."

Once again, Jiang Yumiao: "..." He didn't want to talk to the system anymore!

If they kept talking, it would be the small hours again. He ended the conversation with the system and, yawning, went to shower and get ready for bed.

He slept soundly all night.

The constant changes of environment over the past few days had made Jiang Yumiao's schedule extremely irregular, throwing his body clock into complete disarray. He was heading home today, and the production team had booked him a noon flight. He also had letters to collect, so he couldn't get up too late.

Jiang Yumiao still got up at six thirty. He had returned too late last night to pack, but unlike the other guests, who had brought three or four suitcases, he only had one. Getting up early left him plenty of time.

Jiang Yumiao packed his clothes and toiletries, then picked up the grape-scented gland patches on the bedside table and the cat-ear headband Ning Chunchi had bought him last night. Unable to keep a smile from his face, he placed both items in his suitcase with gentle care.

But... Jiang Yumiao looked back at the waist-high plush toy lying on the bed. It wouldn't fit in the suitcase. He would have to carry it in his arms.

It was only a little past seven when he finished packing, so Jiang Yumiao went to his door to see whether anyone had sent him a letter.

A secret anticipation stirred in his heart.

Would Ning Chunchi write to him again?

Jiang Yumiao opened the pink mailbox. There were two letters this time.

When he opened the first, his eyes filled with amusement. It was that familiar chicken scratch again.

Yu He had written, "To Yumiao, I'm really glad I got to know you. Let's dodge Ning Chunchi and go hang out again next time."

Unlike his casual approach the first time, Yu He had even added a salutation this time. Clearly, he had put considerably more care into his attitude toward Jiang Yumiao.

Jiang Yumiao opened the second letter. He already had a hunch.

"Put the plush toy on your bed when you get home. Hold it while you sleep."

It was such a matter-of-fact sentence, yet it threw Jiang Yumiao's heartbeat into disarray.

"Hold it while I sleep..." Jiang Yumiao glanced back at Little Wave lying flat on the bed, and the image of waking up in the second male lead's arms flashed through his mind.

Heat spread to the tips of his ears. Jiang Yumiao quickly folded the letter, slipped both letters back into their envelopes, then took out the three he had received before and put them all in his suitcase. A little later, he took them out again, picked out the two Ning Chunchi had sent him, and placed them separately in a compartment of the suitcase.

Once he was done, Jiang Yumiao took one last look at the little room where he had spent the most time since transmigrating here. He slowly closed the door and carried his suitcase downstairs.

They were short on time today, so the production team provided breakfast. After everyone finished eating, Director Yang came over to announce the results of last night's letters.

Aside from Ning Chunchi and Yu He, whose choices Jiang Yumiao already knew, and Mu Yunzhi, whose choice was obvious, almost everyone else had changed their recipient.

An Zhiwan had written to Yu He, and Lin Xu had written to Qin Yuan.

Yet this time, both Qin Yuan and Leng Haiyue had written to Mu Yunzhi.

Yu He knew perfectly well that An Zhiwan had only written to thank him for agreeing to accept his invitation last night. Lin Xu had always been rather interested in Qin Yuan, so that result came as no surprise to anyone.

They just didn't know what was going on with Qin Yuan and Leng Haiyue. Had some sparks flown when the three of them went out together yesterday?

An Zhiwan's hands involuntarily curled into fists, and he glanced at Qin Yuan and Leng Haiyue.

Mu Yunzhi looked indifferent. Nothing had actually happened between the three of them. Qin Yuan's letter was still nothing but a perfunctory string of ellipses, while Leng Haiyue had written purely out of kindness. Worried that An Zhiwan's obvious avoidance had upset Mu Yunzhi, he had sent a letter to comfort him.

Director Yang smiled. "Those are the results. Thank you all for your hard work. Get some good rest. We'll see you next week."

Jiang Yumiao worked it out. Excluding today, the production team had given them three days off.

They didn't all leave together. Mu Yunzhi had to fly abroad to handle matters for his brand, and An Zhiwan had training. Yu He, Qin Yuan, and Leng Haiyue all had their own entertainment industry schedules, while Ning Chunchi had to stop in another city for work first. Unexpectedly, only Jiang Yumiao and Lin Xu were taking the same flight home.

Standing outside the villa, Jiang Yumiao saw the guests off one by one with Lin Xu. When it was Ning Chunchi's turn to leave, something seemed to grip his heart, and the sadness he had suppressed all morning instantly engulfed him.

It felt as though a brief, beautiful dream was coming to an end. Everyone else had left, but he was still lost in it, unwilling to wake.

He was also afraid that their time apart would wear away the little affection Ning Chunchi had developed for him.

Watching Ning Chunchi walk away, Jiang Yumiao felt, for the first time in his life, that a three-day break was far too long.

But after taking two steps, the second male lead unexpectedly turned back and stopped in front of Jiang Yumiao.

Ning Chunchi had work shortly. Unlike the relaxed elegance of the previous days, today he wore an impeccably tailored black business suit. With the imposing air of a man accustomed to authority, he looked even more coldly handsome and unapproachable.

Ning Chunchi glanced at the plush toy leaning against the handle of Jiang Yumiao's suitcase, and an almost imperceptible smile flickered in his eyes.

He raised the phone in his hand toward Jiang Yumiao. "Accept it."

He had barely finished speaking when He Yuan's voice rang out, reminding him of the time.

Before Jiang Yumiao could work out what he was supposed to accept, Ning Chunchi gave him a long, deep look, then turned and got into the car, surrounded by his assistant and the other staff.

Only then did Jiang Yumiao pick up his phone. A friend request popped up on WeChat.

"N has requested to add you as a friend."

The profile picture showed the boundary where a dark blue sky merged with the sea. It seemed as though it would remain forever still, yet also as though a storm was brewing.

Ning Chunchi sat in the back of the speeding Maybach, a striking splash of pink suddenly appearing against the stark black of his suit.

He was holding a pink envelope.

The alpha leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes to rest, his expression unreadable, his bearing cold.

But his heart was nowhere near as calm as his face. Whenever he closed his eyes, Jiang Yumiao's handwriting appeared before him.

"Meeting you is the only miracle in my life."

In that case, he had no intention of letting Jiang Yumiao go.