Because he had never expected things to develop this way, Ji Xie actually failed to stop Li Xian in time-by the time he caught his wrist, the Marriage Certificate, torn in half, had already vanished from Li Xian's palm.
"Baby."
Ji Xie's voice turned cold.
"You've taken this joke a little too far."
Li Xian turned his head aside, avoiding Ji Xie's burning gaze.
"I'm not joking."
"Why?"
"Because I don't..." Li Xian abruptly faltered, then sped up. "Don't want to be with you."
"So there's no need for this contract anymore, either."
"Where's your Marriage Certificate? Take it out."
At this point, Ji Xie actually calmed down. He reached out and turned Li Xian's face back, forcing him to look him straight in the eye.
"Look at me and say that again."
Li Xian's gaze flickered. "I've already said everything I needed to."
That reaction made Ji Xie realize something was wrong. He quickly recalled everything they had experienced, from the previous Instance right up to the present, then lowered his head and pressed his nose into the hollow of Li Xian's shoulder, sniffing carefully-
Li Xian shuddered and tried to push him away, but he was no match for Ji Xie's strength. Only after several seconds of forcibly "inhaling" him did Ji Xie lift his head and ask:
"What did the system do to you?"
Li Xian bit his lower lip. Rather than answering Ji Xie's question immediately, he repeated:
"Take out your Marriage Certificate."
"I'm not even considering it until you explain what happened."
Ji Xie closed both hands around Li Xian's wrists, holding him firmly in his arms, clearly intent on being unreasonable.
Li Xian drew a deep breath-
"Fine."
"I signed a Betting Agreement with the system. The next three Instances will all be harder."