Which One of Us Are You Going to Choose?!

"No! I won't accept it!"

Changli suddenly stepped forward, and a sword appeared out of thin air in his hand, its blade entirely crimson.

With a flick of her wrist, Blazing Brilliance drew a sharp arc in the air, its tip resting steadily on Kexi's neck.

Kexi spoke with trembling hands, trying to persuade her not to get agitated.

However, Changli had no intention of listening to his explanation and slashed his neck with her sword.

The protagonist dies suddenly, and the book ends.

This is what Kexi imagines it to be like.

Kexi felt her Adam's apple bob involuntarily.

The gleam on the blade was almost touching his skin, and he could feel a scorching heat emanating from the sword, as if it would burn through his neck in the next second.

It's over.

It's time for G.

This damn system is messing with me!!!

Someone's going to die!!!

Cantarella's expression changed.

She did not step forward to stop him, but merely narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze lingering on Blazing Brilliance for a moment.

"Changli, sheathe your sword." Cantarella's voice still carried a smile, but a subtle chill crept into her tone. "He is, after all, my guest in Porto-Vino. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to shed blood here."

"I won't hurt him." Changli's gaze never left Kexi's face, his voice as calm as a frozen lake, "But he must answer my question."

Her fingers tightened their grip on the sword hilt, pushing the tip forward an inch. Kexi tilted her head back, her back already pressed against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat.

"Speak," Changli's voice was low, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "Who do you choose?"

Kexi opened her mouth, but before she could utter a sound, Changli spoke again.

"Choose Cantarella?"

She tilted her head slightly, glanced to the side, and a cold smile curved her lips.

"Choose Jinhsi?"

Her voice paused for a moment, and the glint of light on the sword blade brightened even more.

"Or choose me?"

Kexi's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

He looked at the longsword less than a fist's distance from his neck, then at Changli's eyes, which showed no hint of a joke, and realized that he had truly played himself to the bone tonight.

"Sister Changli, please put down your sword. Let's talk this out."

"Speak." Changli's sword moved forward another half inch.

Kexi's forehead began to sweat.

His gaze darted rapidly between Changli and Cantarella, his mind frantically searching for any excuses or pretexts he could come up with.

Just as he was about to throw caution to the wind and say any name to save his life, a voice drifted leisurely from behind him.

"If you haven't decided yet, should you ask for my opinion?"

Cantarella had somehow appeared behind Kexi.

She placed one hand on Kexi's shoulder, not with much force, but Kexi felt as if a piece of iron was pressing on her shoulder.

She tapped his shoulder twice with her fingers, a slow, precise tap that fell precisely between his heartbeats.

Then she bent down and whispered in Kexi's ear.

The voice was very soft, so soft that only Kexi could hear it clearly, but Changli, standing opposite, could see everything clearly.

"Kexi, you'd better think carefully before you answer." Cantarella's breath brushed against his ear, her voice as sweet as honey-coated poison, "If you choose the wrong one..."

She paused, and the fingers on his shoulder pulled back slightly.

"You probably won't leave Porto-Vino Castle tonight. Tomorrow morning, the headline in Ragunna's morning paper will likely be 'Young Master of the Montelli Family Falls into the Sea in the Middle of the Night, Cause of Death Unknown.'"

Kexi's pupils suddenly contracted.

Cantarella straightened up, smiling at Changli with an innocent expression as if nothing had happened.

Kexi glanced at Changli, then at Blazing Brilliance beside her neck.

He turned his head to look at Cantarella, and then at her hand resting on his shoulder.

The two women's gazes met in mid-air, sparking a silent explosion of light, and he happened to stand right in the center of that explosion.

His brain was working at full speed.

Choosing to Changli? Cantarella was right behind him; his words about falling into the sea were definitely not a joke.

Choosing Cantarella? Blazing Brilliance only an inch from his neck. He had never seen Changli's swordsmanship before, but he definitely didn't want to experience it himself.

Choosing Jinhsi? That would mean offending both of them.

Choose someone else? Then he won't even be able to leave the lobby today.

what to do?

what to do?

Need pills!

No!

How could he so easily give up here? He's still just a young man from Chu.

Well, Qiuyuan doesn't count.

He intends to use the delaying tactic, one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems of Love.

"I need time." Kexi raised her hands, her expression extremely sincere. "This matter is of utmost importance, concerning my lifelong happiness. I cannot give an answer casually. That would be unfair to you, and unfair to me."

Changli did not lower her sword, but she did not speak.

Cantarella tapped his shoulder twice more with her fingers, without saying a word.

Kexi pressed her advantage, her gaze lingering on Changli's face, her tone so sincere it was almost tearful. "Sister Changli, you're asking me to choose now? I really can't. Each and every one of you is important to me. This isn't an excuse, it's the truth. If I just randomly pick one to appease you, that would be disrespectful."

He then turned to Cantarella: "Sister Can, you wouldn't want me to be an irresponsible person, would you?"

Quiet.

Changli stared at him for three seconds, then slowly withdrew Blazing Brilliance.

The longsword twirled in the air before she tucked it behind her back, its shimmering light gradually fading.

"Good."

Just as Kexi was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Changli spoke again.

Your birthday party is the day after tomorrow.

Kexi's smile froze halfway down her face.

"I will be there on time." Changli's voice returned to its calm, a calmness that sent a chill down Kexi's spine. "At that time, I want you to announce in public who you have chosen."

Cantarella finally let go of Kexi's shoulder.

She took two steps to the side, sat back down in her chair, picked up her completely cold coffee, raised the cup to Kexi, and smiled as thickly as syrup.

"That's a good suggestion. I'll go join in the fun then."

Kexi stood frozen in place, feeling as if he had just walked through the gates of hell and then been pulled back by someone. The person who pulled him also tied a rope around his neck and told him that the rope would be tightened the day after tomorrow.

"Um, I suddenly remembered I have something to take care of at home--"

"Saibas," Cantarella waved towards the door, "Escort Young Master Kexi back. Be sure to personally escort him to the gates of the Montelli Manor."

"Yes, Master."

Saibas gestured for her to follow. Kexi could only silently follow behind him out. Just as they reached the door, Cantarella's voice came from behind them again.

"By the way, Kexi."

He turned around.

Cantarella rested her chin on her hand, winked at him, and said in a lighthearted tone, "Remember to prepare your answers well. I'm really looking forward to it!"

Changli Li didn't speak, but just looked at Kexi with a calm yet complex gaze.

Kexi didn't dare to say a word and turned to run away.

That was so exciting!