Acting skills soar

Lin Yuxi, having calmed herself down a little, carefully sized up the man before her.

His eyes were strikingly beautiful, with a faint flush of red at the corners — the kind of redness that lingered after just waking up. His nose was straight and well-defined, and his lips were pale without a hint of blood, making him look somewhat fragile.

The sharp lines of his jaw were more defined than her entire life.

She had never seen a man with such features before.

There was something bewitching about his appearance — but definitely not feminine.

More like... a fox?

Just as Lin Yuxi was lost in her thoughts, the low, hoarse voice sounded again, pulling her back to reality.

"Sister... please... let me go..."

His voice was incredibly deep, with a raspy undertone — the kind of sound that could tug at people's heartstrings.

Hearing it made her heart flutter inexplicably.

Seeing that the man was bound just like her, Lin Yuxi finally let down a bit of her guard.

She wiggled her legs, the bright ropes around her ankles flashing into view.

"I'm also a victim here, little brother."

She glanced at him, feeling a bit odd.

This boy looked about the same age as her, but he kept calling her sister — how strange.

Normally, she was indifferent toward men — cold and slow to warm up.

Yet this man's voice was so magnetic, carrying a subtle sexiness even with his pitiful tone.

Somehow, when he called her sister, it didn't sound childish at all — rather, it had a certain manly charm to it.

But in those deep, dark eyes, there was still a trace of helplessness —

That vulnerability made Lin Yuxi instinctively accept the way he addressed her.

Following his gaze, Lin Yuxi suddenly noticed the ropes crisscrossed tightly over her chest —

Her face flushed red in an instant.

These kidnappers... were such perverts!

She quickly avoided his eyes and mumbled awkwardly,

"D-Don't look."

Bai Ze immediately turned his head away, the corners of his lips curling into a smile.

Hah... Interesting.

According to the novel's character description, Lin Yuxi was supposed to be cold, arrogant, and rebellious — someone who only ever showed her soft side to the male lead, Chu Cheng.

With strangers, she was distant and disinterested — barely sparing them a glance.

But now?

This shy little reaction...

Clearly, the novel's portrayal wasn't entirely accurate.

Or maybe...

It was just because he was too damn handsome.

Heh.

Men should understand their own charm.

But Bai Ze also knew one crucial thing —

Lin Yuxi's soft spot.

She had a hidden tenderness beneath her cold exterior — a heart full of compassion.

In the novel, she had even opened a large stray animal rescue shelter, dedicating a whole chapter to saving abandoned pets.

If he wanted to conquer this heroine —

He had to chip away at her softest spot, bit by bit.

Bai Ze kept his head turned, his voice aggrieved yet magnetic.

"Sister... these kidnappers are so cruel... tying you up like that...

I-I would never look! Absolutely not!"

The deep, gravelly voice mixed with righteous indignation —

Yet every word seemed to scratch at the softest part of Lin Yuxi's heart.

Her cheeks burned redder, hot enough to melt snow.

She let out a muffled hum through her nose, as if struggling with something.

The next second, she spoke softly—

"It's okay... you can look."

Bai Ze froze.

Huh?

What? Look at what?

Is this... seduction?

What kind of hidden character setting was this?

Just as Bai Ze's mind started spinning, he turned his head cautiously —

But before he could catch a glimpse—

A slender, graceful figure stood up straight in front of him.

The first thing that caught his eye—

Those legs.

Long. Straight. Flawless.

But the next second —

WTF?!

How the hell did she untie herself?!

Lin Yuxi tossed the rope aside without waiting for Bai Ze to ask, directly giving him the answer.

"The knots weren't tied very tightly."

Oh... right!

Her combat power was a solid 60.

Plus, Bai Ze had been too soft-hearted when tying her up earlier, leaving the bindings loose on purpose — he never expected her to free herself so easily.

Watching his hard work go to waste, Bai Ze felt the bad impression of the kidnapper in Lin Yuxi's mind deepening.

He needed to prove himself — to protect her.

His gaze fell on her delicate, slender hands as she flexed her fingers. With a sincere expression, he said,

"It must've been the kidnapper showing mercy...

With such beautiful hands like yours, sister, how could anyone bear to tie them up too tightly?

These hands... definitely look like they're meant for playing the piano."

Lin Yuxi followed his gaze down to her own fingers, then back up to his face.

Unexpectedly, a soft smile bloomed at the corners of her lips — a faint dimple appearing like a hidden pear blossom.

"Didn't you say you were scared? How are you still so smooth-tongued? You're quite the sweet talker."

"I'm scared, but..."

Bai Ze lowered his head for a moment, then lifted it again with a bright, sincere smile.

"I never lie... Sister's hands are really beautiful."

Hmph. Call me smooth-tongued now... Sooner or later, you'll taste just how sweet this mouth really is.

Bai Ze secretly smirked in his heart.

Lin Yuxi glanced at him, amused.

"Alright... you know how to talk your way out of trouble."

Without another word, she circled behind him, crouched down, and began untying the knots on his wrists.

Her gaze unintentionally swept over Bai Ze's hands —

Long, slender fingers with clearly defined joints.

"You've got nice hands too."

"Thank you for the compliment, sister."

When Bai Ze finally stood up, Lin Yuxi tilted her head up and furrowed her brows slightly.

She hadn't noticed earlier when he was curled up on the floor —

But now, standing straight, this boy was almost a full head taller than her.

"Huh... You're so tall, but such a coward..."

Bai Ze thought to himself —

If I were really that cowardly, you wouldn't be standing here in this room right now.

But he didn't want to show any masculinity in front of Lin Yuxi.

After all, with only 20 combat power and one less kidney, he'd be no match for the male lead in a fight.

He had to play weak — let this cold-faced, warm-hearted heroine protect him instead.

Wait... Kidney?

An idea suddenly struck Bai Ze.

Without saying a word, he slowly lifted the hem of his shirt...

"What are you doing?!"

Lin Yuxi immediately took two steps back, one hand flying up to cover her eyes while the other clenched into a defensive fist.

Bai Ze hurriedly explained,

"Sister, don't misunderstand! I just... wanted to show you my scar."

His voice trembled ever so slightly, carrying a hint of vulnerability.

Coupled with his harmless appearance, Lin Yuxi's guard gradually lowered.

Her hand fell away as her gaze followed the movement of his fingers.

Beneath his shirt was a lean, well-defined waist — the sculpted lines of his abs faintly visible under the cold white skin.

But what caught her eye wasn't his figure —

It was the terrifying scar running along his side, jagged and sinister, as if he'd been torn apart by a wild beast.

"You... this is..."

Lin Yuxi's voice faltered slightly.

Bai Ze lowered his eyes, letting a glimmer of unshed tears flicker in the depths of his dark pupils.

"I was kidnapped when I was little...

They... took one of my kidneys."

His voice was hoarse, trembling just enough to evoke sympathy.

"I've been afraid of kidnappings ever since...

I still remember that room — pitch black, with those men pressing me into the corner...

They didn't give me any food for five days...

Then the lights suddenly came on... and a man in a white coat...

He didn't even give me anesthesia... He just—"

Of course, none of this was written in the novel.

Bai Ze's high-speed brain had made it all up on the spot.

Though, halfway through the story, he realized there was a slight plot hole —

Would a child really survive having a kidney removed without anesthesia?

But since he'd already started, there was no turning back now.

He was just about to embellish the story further when —

Thud.

A soft, warm weight suddenly wrapped around him from behind.

The faint scent of jasmine filled his nose.

A pair of delicate arms hugged him tightly around the neck, the soft murmur of her breath brushing against his ear.

"Don't worry... Sister will get you out of here...

I won't let anyone hurt you again."

Bai Ze's lips curved up slightly —

Tsk tsk tsk...

Who needs to be the hero saving the beauty...

When it's so much better to have a beauty saving and protecting you?

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Bai Ze's mind.

[Ding! The female lead is deeply moved by the host's experience. Favorability +20.]

[Ding! The host has successfully altered the basic plot trajectory. Villain points +200.]

[Ding! The host has successfully altered the basic plot trajectory. Villain fortune +200.]

Bai Ze's lips curled into a sly smile as he rested his head comfortably against Lin Yuxi's fragrant shoulder.

"Thank you, sister... I'll do my best to protect you too."

He couldn't help but wonder —

Were they chatting too happily?

Had this sister already forgotten she was in the middle of a kidnapping?

Two strangers kidnapped to an unknown place, hugging and snuggling up like this —

Was that really appropriate?

Would they... be kissing next?

Bai Ze decided to strike first before things spiraled out of control.

Nestled against Lin Yuxi's soft neck, he asked in a low, pitiful voice,

"Sister... do you know who brought us here?

Where are we right now?"

He felt the soft strands of her hair brushing against his neck as Lin Yuxi gently shook her head.

"I don't know... I remember... I was feeding the cats, then I woke up here."

"I was at home... admiring the scenery... then I woke up here."

Bai Ze echoed her words, his voice equally lost.

"Hmm... judging by the situation, I think this kidnapping is probably just for ransom.

Otherwise... we wouldn't be standing here unharmed."

Lin Yuxi calmly analyzed the situation, but halfway through, something seemed to occur to her.

She sat up, glanced at Bai Ze, and suddenly smiled faintly.

"When you first saw me, didn't you say it yourself?

You're delicate, tender-skinned... and your family is pretty rich."

Bai Ze's eyes flickered —

He nodded slightly, his voice carrying a hint of bashfulness.

"My dad is Bai Jingkuo...

Sister might have seen him on TV before... our family has... a little money."

His confession was straightforward, without the slightest intention of hiding his identity.

After all —

He wasn't the kidnapper here.

Why pretend to be poor?

Better to show his sincerity to his dear sister from the start.