Chapter 24.5

　　Understanding Jing Xi’s concerns, Duan Chi responded, “He belongs to a fox-like race that’s part of the canine family. Once they catch a scent, they will never lose track of it.”

　　Finding the bodyguard reliable, Jing Xi gave an approving nod. After all, anyone would be a welcomed addition as long as they did not spoil the fun.

　　As the delicious meal came to an end, Duan Chi, true to his customary habits, escorted his guest to the door. Lingering by the threshold, his eyes fixed on the departing figure.

　　Just as Jing Xi took a few steps away, an inexplicable pull compelled him to look back. And there he was, caught in the magnetic gaze of Duan Chi.

　　Outside the opulent mansion, trees native to this planet flaunted their resplendent autumn blooms. The gentle rain from the night before had showered the petals, creating a whimsical carpet that adorned the damp path. The lamplight of the evening danced upon the wet pavement, intertwining with the prevailing tranquility. And there, amidst this ethereal backdrop, stood Duan Chi, who resembled an exquisite work of art.

　　In a split second, Jing Xi stood transfixed, utterly captivated by the spellbinding ambiance.

　　Duan Chi puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
　　Jing Xi’s eyes lingered on him for a moment before answering calmly, “It’s nothing.”
　　Duan Chi was unwilling to part ways with Jing Xi, especially not now. Each piercing stare from Jing Xi weakened his resolve, to the extent that he could not resist taking a step forward and suggesting, “Let’s take a walk?”

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　　Jing Xi’s eyes surveyed them from the top down twice over before summoning Artificial Stupidity, “Are they for real?”
　　System reported, “I have no idea, as not many club activities were mentioned in the original storyline.”
　　Jing Xi stated, “Since they are in the same club, that should have created tons of opportunities for them.”
　　System clarified, “Following that particular incident, the club does not appear much in the storyline. Instead, it was filled with scenes of how the Scumbag and Conniving Little B*tch would harass her to the point where it captured the male lead’s attention. At other times, she had to juggle between caring for her comatose father and managing the company. Coincidentally, the male lead was interning in a company near hers, so they would occasionally run into each other.”

　　However, the female lead’s father escaped the accident in the current storyline, rendering the subsequent plot points utterly pointless.

　　All of a sudden, a thought sprouted in its mind. “Are you hoping for one of them to be afraid?”

　　Jing Xi refuted, “Isn’t that great?”

　　As an avid reader of romance novels, System delved into its vast knowledge and discovered a handful of stories had indeed featured such plot points. Although they were relatively scarce, the fact that they existed at all signaled their potential.

　　With newfound enthusiasm, System proposed, “That sounds good, so let’s give it a try!”

　　Soon, the club members braved the spine-chilling haunted house one after another.

　　The chilling atmosphere of the haunted hospital was so authentically crafted, thanks to cutting-edge technology. But for Jing Xi, it was all too familiar, so it failed to stir even the slightest hint of emotion within him. Nonchalantly, he trailed behind them for a few paces, only to catch snippets of terrified screams.

　　In this hair-raising haven of fear, people tend to cling to those they are closer to in sheer terror. The moment one man and one robot noticed Jin Yumeng’s roommate let out a blood-curdling shriek, he swiftly pulled her away, and together they dashed off, vanishing around the corner in the blink of an eye.

　　With that, a suffocating silence ensconced Jing Xi’s mind. Time passed before System broke the stillness with a question. “What else do you have planned?”

　　Jing Xi replied, “Well, since it’s an adventure club, there are only so many activities I can plan. After the mishap on our last trip, I doubt they’re willing to travel any time soon. That’s why our schedule today only consists of a visit to the haunted house in the morning, solving an escape room in the afternoon before ending the day with dinner.”

　　Thinking over his words, System could not help but agree. After all, it was all about creating exciting opportunities for the main leads.

　　On that note, something took root in its mind. “Oh, right! You must have had tons of admirers, haven’t you? So how did they go about winning your heart?”

　　Jing Xi listed, “They sent flowers, poured out their feelings, gave me a roofie, got me drunk, sneaked into my bed naked, begged the emperor for my hand in marriage, and so forth.”
　　“…” System wondered, “Isn’t there anything that is more romantic?”
　　Jing Xi puzzled, “Isn’t sending flowers and confessing their love in a candlelit environment romantic?”
　　System disagreed, “That is too cliche. What’s more, they have yet to reach that stage.”
　　Jing Xi shrugged, “Then, that’s it.”
　　System rebutted, “So… despite having many admirers, none of them left a lasting impression?”
　　Jing Xi responded, “Of course, there is. There’s that CEO Duan of yours.”
　　System argued, “See? That just proves my point! All those admirers of yours are nothing but useless!”

　　Jing Xi’s silence stretched on, casting a heavy weight upon both man and robot. During that lapse of time, they both felt the toll of being a matchmaker and realizing the arduous nature of their mission. Thoughts of moving on to the next storyline emerged, driven by the desire to evade the bugs linked to emotions.

　　As Jing Xi trailed behind them, a glimmer of insight emerged in his mind. It dawned on him that since his previous admirers were all unwanted romances, the recent energy fluctuations, at the very least, hinted at a potential connection to matters of the heart.

　　For this to be recorded in his data, it must not have been done for the sake of the Agent.

　　That left him with two possibilities — it was either a bad romance where some unfortunate event occurred that prompted it to be recorded, or a good one that was marred by unforeseen incidents that prevented their reunion. Upon regaining his consciousness, he made an effort to study his concise information, but it turned out he was the Divine Lord of the Rebirth Department and had remained single perpetually for thousands of years.

　　Of course, there was also the possibility that there had been no admirers at all. Instead, the situation was simply far too awe-inspiring that it stirred something deep within his heart. At this juncture, Jing Xi attempted to link these scenes that triggered the fluctuations.

　　As he immersed himself in reminiscence, several powerful torrents of energy coursed through his veins, frightening System out of its wits. “Jing Xi?”

　　Yet, Jing Xi merely let out a faint sound of acknowledgment as he attempted to analyze them.

　　 As System observed his chaotic data stream and somewhat unstable energy gateway, it exclaimed in fright, “What do you think you are doing? This body cannot handle that massive energy pool of yours! It will explode if you try to activate it forcefully! Stop this madness!”

　　 Yet, Jing Xi calmly reassured, “Don’t worry, this body won’t explode, especially not after they activated a safety lock. There’s no way I can activate it without their permission.”

　　Fear gripped System, as its eyes remained riveted on the energy gateway. Sure enough, a red light flickered before the program abruptly terminated, leaving behind an eerie stillness. After heaving a sigh of relief, System inquired, “What exactly were you trying to do? Is there anything in the Rebirth department that requires your attention?”

　　Jing Xi answered, “Nah, I was just bored. Figured I’d organize my data…”
　　His words trailed off as his vision started fading to white and his consciousness wavered. He reached out, desperately clutching the wall to steady himself.

　　System fretted, “Are you alright?”
　　Jing Xi staggered a couple of steps before collapsing to the ground. 
　　System cried out, “Jing Xi!”