Chapter 62: Just warming the bed

"You mean..." Lin Anyi was shocked after hearing this. The simulator's words were like a bucket of cold water poured down on him, jolting him out of his lost mood and forcing him to think seriously about the reasons behind the outcome.

Suddenly, he understood that whether it was to protect himself or those around him, strengthening his abilities was a responsibility he could no longer avoid.

His eyes gradually grew firm as he looked deeply at the simulator and slowly said:

"You are right. I can't escape anymore. From today on, I will use the simulator to improve myself and ensure neither I nor the people around me get hurt."

The simulator seemed to sense the change in Lin Anyi's attitude. Its voice carried a hint of satisfaction:

[That's right. If you want to protect Funina's place in your heart, you must be strong in all aspects. In the areas where those bad women are most confident, you must defeat them, completely destroying their arrogance and confidence.]

[Take Funina, for instance. She can't be tough in front of you at all and can only play the role of a gentle wife. If those bad women are no match for you, how could they ever challenge Funina's position in your heart?]

Hearing the simulator's bold and outrageous remarks, Lin Anyi couldn't help but feel a sense of sudden enlightenment.

"Listening to your heartfelt words really clears the clouds and opens my eyes!"

Although the simulator's words were indeed extreme, they resonated with Lin Anyi. Facing bad women who only used underhanded methods to force him, the simulator's advice provided a practical perspective that addressed his deep unease and anxiety.

They were not opponents who played by the rules, so Lin Anyi needed greater strength to confront their challenges head-on.

"If nothing unexpected happens, Clorinde may still attack me tonight," he thought.

"Then I'll simulate again before that happens, hoping to get useful rewards."

With this mentality, Lin Anyi opened the simulator once more. This time, perhaps for the first time, he started the simulation with a sense of anticipation.

The simulation officially begins!

As the simulator's announcement echoed, Lin Anyi once again entered the simulation world.

Since he had already settled the mission reward before, the save point had changed. Lin Anyi didn't wake up in his familiar home this time but instead found himself in the dormitory of the Hearth House.

Everything felt strange.

In the last simulation, he had agreed to be Alechino's housekeeper for a month. Now, it happened to be the first day of the second week.

Upon entering the simulation world again, Lin Anyi felt a pang of discomfort because Funina was not there to greet him as usual.

He stood up, tidied his clothes, took a deep breath, and adjusted his mentality.

From the settlement rules of his previous simulations, it was clear that the rewards he earned during settlement were deeply tied to the experiences he encountered in the simulation.

With this rule as a premise, Lin Anyi began to clearly construct a new strategy in his mind.

"If I want to obtain skills like [Turning the Clouds]," Lin Anyi muttered to himself, "then I must be more proactive in contacting those bad women in the simulation, even if it makes me uncomfortable."

But... should he really take the initiative to do it? He was filled with hesitation. After all, this kind of contact far exceeded his moral bottom line.

However, Lin Anyi quickly dispelled these thoughts and reminded himself of the greater goal he must achieve.

"No, I can't be as naive as I was in the past!" Lin Anyi sternly warned himself, his inner voice firm.

"It was because I was too conservative in the simulation before, not seizing opportunities in time, that I failed to prevent those misfortunes from happening in reality. Remember, everything serves the purpose of reality. This is to better protect Funina. What happens in the simulation world, no matter how unacceptable, doesn't matter. It shouldn't affect my determination to achieve my goal."

His eyes gradually became resolute.

"As long as I can defeat those bad women in reality, what does it matter if I endure a little setback in the simulation world?"

Especially when he thought about the bad women who were coveting him at home, Lin Anyi realized the urgency of strengthening himself as quickly as possible. He needed to prepare for a counterattack during the next possible night attack.

With his mind made up, Lin Anyi walked out of the dormitory room and headed toward the main hall of the Hearth House.

Now that he had resolved to take action, he had to find a suitable opportunity to throw himself into the arms of Alechino!

_______________

Of course, some decisions are easy to make, but putting them into action is far more difficult.

Although Lin Anyi knew that acquiring more skills required him to take the initiative and get closer to Alechino, he still felt uncomfortable acting on it immediately.

The day passed, and he completed his housekeeping tasks. Yet, he hesitated to take that decisive step. The sky outside darkened, and the lights inside cast a softer glow. Lin Anyi turned to Alechino and asked tentatively:

"I've done everything I should do. Is there anything else I need to take care of?"

Alechino gently shook her head. Her calm eyes met his as she spoke in a soft voice: "It seems you've completed all the tasks for today very well."

"It's getting late. I'll go back and rest, then," Lin Anyi said, his tone carrying a hint of weariness.

Alechino hadn't given him overly complicated tasks; most of his time was spent accompanying her. But the internal conflict and struggle he experienced weighed heavily, leaving him mentally drained and physically tired.

Just as Lin Anyi turned to leave, Alechino's voice suddenly stopped him.

"Wait a minute, Lin Anyi."

Her tone made his steps falter. He turned back slowly, his eyes questioning and slightly apprehensive.

"What is it?"

Alechino stood up and walked toward him, her movements light and deliberate, each step seemingly resonating with his heartbeat.

She stopped mere steps away, her red lips parting slightly. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes as she spoke in a voice that was both gentle and playful:

"It's getting colder at night. Why don't you go lie in my bed for a while to warm it up?"

Lin Anyi froze, unable to process her words immediately. After a moment, he stammered: "Is this also part of the housekeeper's duties?"

Alechino smiled faintly, her tone carrying an air of nonchalance:

"Of course. Isn't it reasonable for a housekeeper to help their master warm the bed on a cold night?"

Lin Anyi's mouth opened slightly in shock, his expression a mixture of disbelief and helplessness. He glanced at Alechino's smiling face and caught a glimpse of unfathomable cunning in her eyes.

As she stepped closer, her movements light and graceful, her voice softened further, carrying a seductive charm: "Don't worry. I only want you to warm the bed. I'll let you go back later. I've never lied to you, and I won't start tonight."

Her tone was strangely reassuring, almost hypnotic.

Lin Anyi's heart raced. He stared at Alechino's face, illuminated faintly in the dim light. The look in her eyes left him both excited and bewildered.

Finally, he nodded hesitantly, his emotions swirling with complexity.

"Okay," he replied softly.