Trapped

Lin Yuxi froze for a moment —

Bai Jingkuo — that name was famous.

Bai Jingkuo... the Bai family.

Though the Bai family had been wealthy since the grandfather's generation, they didn't belong to the traditional aristocratic families.

However, the Bai family controlled half of Longguo's entertainment industry — entertainment agencies, talent scouting programs, and the hottest new media platforms.

They held shares in dozens of entertainment media companies, hundreds of large MCN institutions across the country, five film studios, and more than ten large-scale film bases.

The Bai family also had business ties with the Lin family.

Her family's security group had a long-term contract with the Bai family.

She had heard her father mention the Bai family more than once.

Bai Jingkuo was not only extremely wealthy but also handsome — a Grand Slam Best Actor winner.

His wife was equally talented and beautiful, having won multiple Best Actress and TV Queen awards — a stunning beauty in her own right.

The two of them had only one son.

Rumors said that the boy inherited the best features of both parents — truly one in a million.

His name was... Bai Ze.

A student at Luochuan University, Acting Department — same school, same major as Lin Yuxi — just one year below her.

To be kidnapped alongside her, it made sense that this boy's background wasn't simple.

What surprised Lin Yuxi was —

A rich young master born with a silver spoon in his mouth... actually had no arrogance at all.

His tone was soft, with a hint of pure-hearted naivety — completely unguarded.

He didn't show off, nor did he act superior.

Lin Yuxi had met countless wealthy heirs in Luochuan City —

Most of them looked at people with their nostrils.

But this boy... was different.

"You... are Bai Ze?" Lin Yuxi asked tentatively.

Bai Ze's long eyelashes fluttered as if surprised.

"Sister... you know me?"

"Your family has business dealings with mine. I'm Lin Yuxi — junior year, Acting Department at Luochuan University... your senior."

Bai Ze reached out to shake the hand she offered, his grip gentle.

"Hello, Senior. What a coincidence — we've been at the same school for two years, our families cooperate... yet our first meeting happens here."

Lin Yuxi's father had once hinted that she should get closer to Bai Ze.

The Bai family could help her future acting career —

There were even subtle suggestions of marriage ties.

But Lin Yuxi's heart already belonged to Chu Cheng.

She thought her father only cared about the Bai family's wealth and status —

She hated that kind of scheming.

So she deliberately avoided Bai Ze, staying far away.

Over the years, they'd never crossed paths.

But now that she finally saw him...

She couldn't help but feel a bit regretful.

Bai Ze was indeed one in a million — just... a little soft.

Yet his gentle and innocent nature, without any schemes —

He wasn't someone to avoid... but someone worth befriending.

Lin Yuxi said,

"Let's not talk about this now. I'll go check outside — there should be guards.

You stay here and wait for me."

"Can you handle it alone? I'll come with you." Bai Ze blurted out, his steps trailing behind her.

"I'm fine. Without three or five men, no one can get close to me."

Lin Yuxi scanned the storage room and selected a golf club from the corner.

Bai Ze's footsteps paused.

To be honest, he really didn't want to go out.

He knew this mansion like the back of his hand —

There wasn't even a fly here.

His body was genuinely weak, not just pretending.

But before he could rejoice in staying put —

A mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

[Ding! Thoughtful Villain System — Tip: Shared hardships boost favorability.]

Bai Ze sighed silently.

He could only drag his frail body along.

Reluctantly, he grabbed a golf club too and followed behind Lin Yuxi.

Keeping up with his little sunshine green tea persona, he tugged at the hem of her shirt from behind.

Lin Yuxi glanced back.

Before she could speak —

Bai Ze's eyes gleamed with sincerity.

"Sister, I can't let you face danger alone!"

Her pupils tightened slightly.

In that brief moment of contemplation —

[Ding! Lin Yuxi's favorability +10.]

Oh...

That was easy.

"No—"

Lin Yuxi started to refuse —

But before she finished —

Bai Ze's fingers tightened slightly on her shirt, cutting her off:

"Sister, let us face this hardship together!

I'm a man — how could I let you fight alone?"

[Ding! Lin Yuxi's favorability +10.]

Lin Yuxi was touched by his unwavering resolve.

Without another word, she stretched out her free hand and tightly clasped Bai Ze's palm — giving him a reassuring squeeze.

Her eyes locked onto his.

"Stay behind me.

Don't wander off.

If I start fighting, never intervene — I grew up practicing martial arts. I can handle multiple opponents."

Bai Ze obediently smiled.

"Got it, Sister."

Lin Yuxi turned the storage room's doorknob —

It wouldn't budge.

Bai Ze's lips twitched.

His idiot henchmen... locked the storage room door too?

Whatever.

In less than ten hours, Chu Cheng would come to the rescue.

It was better if they couldn't get out —

Otherwise, he'd have to keep acting —

Exhausting.

A night alone in this small storage room with a beauty...

Not bad at all.

Bai Ze's thoughts were interrupted by two loud bangs —

Bang! Bang!

Lin Yuxi was swinging the golf club hard at the door handle.

Her pale, slender arms tensed — showing hidden explosive power.

Bai Ze clicked his tongue.

Good thing he was playing the weak little white flower.

Otherwise...

Those swings would've landed straight on him.

Just thinking about it made Bai Ze feel sore all over.

While he stood still, lost in his chaotic thoughts, the girl in front suddenly turned around, raising her hand and giving him a light push.

Bai Ze stumbled back a few steps.

"I'll only need two more hits, and the lock should come off. Step back — don't hurt yourself."

After saying that, Lin Yuxi raised the golf club in her hand again and smashed it down hard on the door lock.

The storage room's door wasn't particularly thick. Under Lin Yuxi's repeated blows, the lock finally fell off, leaving behind a large hole in the door panel.

Bai Ze, who had been watching the whole process, stood there wide-eyed —

What incredible strength!

He followed behind her as they stepped out.

It was already late at night, but the mansion was brightly lit.

The two of them cautiously searched both floors of the house from bottom to top, but not a single person was in sight.

At first, Lin Yuxi relaxed a little — but as time went on, the uneasiness in her heart only grew stronger.

Not even a guard? What exactly are the kidnappers after?

Her gaze fell on the windows, which were nailed shut with thick iron bars.

Her brows furrowed.

"Are they... trying to trap us here?"

When she reached the front security door, her suspicion grew even stronger.

The door was not only locked from the outside —

There was a small window beside it, not entirely sealed, with two narrow gaps.

Lin Yuxi leaned forward, peering through the slit with the help of the dim light.

What she saw outside made her heart sink further.

The front door was nailed shut even tighter —

Dozens of wooden stakes crisscrossed the door, nailed into place.

On top of that, several huge boulders were piled haphazardly in front of the entrance.

It was impossible to escape from inside.

The answer was clear —

They were being trapped here to die.

Bai Ze glanced at the boulders and silently praised his two underlings.

He hadn't even told them to place those stones — pretty smart of them.

He had no interest in exploring the mansion's layout with Lin Yuxi anymore.

Getting out was never an option.

No matter how strong she was, she was still relying on brute force, not magic.

Those iron bars on the windows would need a chainsaw to cut through, not a golf club.

All he had to do was wait for Chu Cheng to come and rescue him.

With that thought, Bai Ze plopped down onto the sofa in the living room, lowering his head.

"Sorry, Sister..."

Lin Yuxi froze for a second.

He was apologizing for something like this?

Was he really that simple-minded?

Without thinking, she reached out and ruffled Bai Ze's hair — like she was comforting a child.

In that moment, she completely forgot they'd only met less than ten hours ago and had exchanged names just moments before.

By the third stroke, Bai Ze instinctively dodged, tilting his head away from her palm —

A far cry from the way he'd calmly accepted her embrace earlier.

If the previous atmosphere carried a hint of sympathy —

Then this...

was way too intimate.

This won't do.

Not that Bai Ze disliked being touched by girls —

He liked it very much.

But —

There was no favorability increase.

Unacceptable!

Clearly, Lin Yuxi was starting to see him as either a friend... or a cute little kid brother.

That wouldn't work!

His persona was supposed to be an innocent, sunshine boy — not a three-year-old toddler.

If she wanted to touch him...

That would cost at least 10 points of favorability.

The stakes were only going higher.

Bai Ze stroked his chin.

He needed to flip the script.

According to the book's plot, Lin Yuxi had always liked Chu Cheng —

But before the engagement, Chu Cheng played hard to get, always keeping his distance.

His signature lines were:

"I'm just an adopted son... my status isn't worthy of you."

"I can't hold you back, Yuxi... you deserve someone better."

Tsk.

Nothing but that holier-than-thou, self-sacrificing nonsense.

Chu Cheng had rejected her again and again —

That was precisely why Lin Yuxi fell for him so deeply.

A woman like Lin Yuxi — naturally cold with a fighter's temperament —

Must enjoy a challenge.

If Chu Cheng had accepted her from the start, she wouldn't have liked him so much.

There had to be a reason.

Following the male lead's tactics... couldn't go wrong.

Bai Ze turned his head, locking eyes with Lin Yuxi.

His gaze was straight and unwavering.

"Sister... I'm not a child anymore."

His voice was soft and hesitant.

"Your actions are... too intimate.

You're making me misunderstand."

He paused deliberately, then added in a shy murmur:

"No girl has ever touched me like this before...

Sister, you... wouldn't happen to be... planning to do something to me, would you?"