Chapter 12: Poisoned Silent by One’s Own Vows

Bai Jingchuan was truly silenced.

When a subordinate sent him an email to schedule a meeting, he gestured for them to leave and simply put on his headphones, pretending to be on a call. With his dignity completely shattered and his affection points plummeting, his level wouldn’t rise. All his innate abilities were reduced to 10%. Even teleportation wasn’t enough to reach the building’s entrance—he had no choice but to squeeze into the elevator and take a taxi home. The die kept talking beside him: “Li Bode, making her forget the hard work she poured into those characters is so cruel. If it were me, I’d make you shut up too. Now that you’re mute, what are you going to do? I’ve already searched for ten ways to please a girl—work on reconnecting with her and winning her back…”

Isn’t there a mute button for the die?

He scoured the menu for a way to save himself. The training area was closed for three days, so there was no way to gain affection through leveling up. Unable to earn affection through conversation, Jiang Huan ignored him, and the Realm of Ten Thousand Gods took away his rest area and changing room, even shortening his shower time. Emerging from the shower in just three minutes, Bai Jingchuan stared at his half-dried suit, reluctantly putting it on despite the chill. He sneezed several times in succession. Bound by the system’s punishment, he hadn’t expected things to become so dire. Walking out onto the street in damp clothes, the cold fabric clinging to his back made him reflect once again: no food to eat, no house to live in, forced to go out in wet clothes, others doubting your integrity—what was the point of life if not to suffer? Pure torment.

Thinking of the biomimetic father figure, he realized there was no difference between him and that father—no emotional entanglements, but when real emotional issues arose, all he could do was become a soulless puppet with a human shell.

He let out a soft sigh.

The pancake breakfast stall was located at a small intersection not far from the company. Recently, Bai Jingchuan had found it surprisingly delicious and enjoyed selecting ingredients with the vendor. But now, unable to say anything, he couldn’t choose bean curd skin without green onions, double cilantro, and starch sausage. Instead, he turned into a café. When it was his turn in line, the barista, head down, didn’t hear the person in front of her speak for a long time. Looking up, she saw a strikingly handsome man struggling to suppress his irritation and was puzzled: “Sir, would you like a blueberry bagel set?”

Bai Jingchuan waved his hand and tapped on the menu. The barista glanced at his face and turned to prepare the coffee. Behind him, two girls in line whispered: “Oh my god, such a handsome man who can’t talk—it’s such a waste.”

Unable to refute and too lazy to turn around, Bai Jingchuan accepted the iced Americano and beef croissant from the barista. Just as he stepped outside, a Samoyed collided with him, spilling coffee all over the ground while the dog quickly swallowed the croissant. All of this happened within half a minute. The dog’s owner appeared frantically, rushing toward them: “I’m so sorry! This one’s adopted and doesn’t listen. It’s exhausting—he broke free from the leash. Do you know how hard it was to find you? He charges at girls and doesn’t even bark. If he got lost, where would I find you? Does he even like you? So reckless!”

Starving in the conference room, Bai Jingchuan noticed someone had left chocolate on the table. He picked it up and brought it into the office. As soon as he entered, he heard the intern’s thoughts: Teacher Bai is so handsome—he took my chocolate!

Jiang Huan walked in with breakfast. Normally fond of sweets, Bai Jingchuan suddenly lost his appetite for chocolate and went straight into the meeting.

On the large screen, the male protagonist sat in a café. Moving the mouse changed his perspective; he looked toward the cursor, as if following the call of a lover. Sunlight streamed through the window, though the scene could also switch to nighttime mode. Bai Jingchuan suddenly recalled the café in Magu City, where he could adjust the lighting and scenery outside the window. Virtual scenes were created like this—manipulated without soul, oscillating between reality and fiction. Which scene did he belong to? A game, a manga, or a novel? Abandoned before completion, why did he still possess a work like Emotional Tide ?

Jiang Huan sat on the other side of the long table, her hair loosely tied atop her head, staring blankly at the projection. Her gaze flickered toward him but quickly withdrew, as if deliberately ignoring him. On the screen, the new male lead in the café gazed out the window, waiting for someone. His gaze was gentle and quiet, the shadows of trees falling on the windowpane, swaying faintly across his face. His eyes shimmered, creating a beautiful scene.

Akira opened another dating scenario. From the first-person perspective, the male lead handed over a gift—a string of latitude and longitude coordinates. Clicking it revealed a heart-shaped island on the map. The veins of leaves blown by the wind resembled strands of a maiden’s hair. He spoke gently yet firmly: “For you, I have only one answer—I will walk resolutely toward you. No matter how much you can feel, as long as you remember me in this moment, I exist for you. Don’t worry about missing me. You haven’t walked alongside me in the past, but starting from the day you truly like me, I begin to exist for you.”

These lines, written by Jiang Huan, were profoundly romantic: “Brave people are the first to experience the world. Love is a sword that cuts through dimensions.”

The lines were incredibly poetic. Bai Jingchuan and Jiang Huan exchanged glances simultaneously.

[Jiang Huan’s affection towards you: +30.]

Could a single glance increase affection?

Everyone in the office murmured “Wow,” but Jiang Huan pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows, as if the praise others offered existed on a different wavelength than the one she received. Bai Jingchuan stared at the male protagonist on the screen, facing the wind—whether or not he could speak, he couldn’t decipher his own feelings. Jiang Huan’s attention wasn’t on him—even after gaining affection points, even after rescuing her collaborator, she still had her own goals and drive. Her gaze lingered briefly on him before quickly shifting away. He prided himself on being perceptive, but his mind-reading talent failed with her. She clearly had no intention of intersecting with him.

Feeling anxious because her attention wasn’t on him shouldn’t happen—it must be a flaw in his persona. He was supposed to be a charming villain, yet here he was, trapped in an emotional whirlpool, unable to escape, even finding it hard to breathe.

The art team was planning a new scene, discussing the suburban planetarium. They thought this male lead with his captivating gaze needed a dedicated dating spot. Colleagues brainstormed ideas to create a planetarium more suited to the character. Bai Jingchuan remembered the planetarium he had stumbled upon before coming to the real world—the one where he heard glaciers collide and birds cry, where interstellar light danced. Such sensations were perfect for romance…

But he was still muted, unable to do anything.

“Teacher Bai, do you have any opinions on this script and the current male lead animation?”

He opened his mouth but couldn’t speak, shaking his head instead. The entire conference room fell silent as they interpreted his stern expression as a rejection. The die quietly popped up and laughed: “See, Li Bode? Jiang Huan’s script is so touching. Brave people get to enjoy the world—you’re just not trying hard enough. Oh, wait, you’re silenced by your own big talk.”

What could he do? His mouth was sealed!

Unable to argue even with the die, Bai Jingchuan suppressed his anger and endured his hunger, ultimately leaving the intern’s chocolate uneaten.

Jiang Huan had no interest in paying attention to Bai Jingchuan. The floor she worked on had been empty on the left side, while the right side had recently undergone renovations. Workers started drilling walls at 8 a.m., and when she returned home at night, she often heard rustling sounds. Mustering her courage, she pushed open the door and discovered—three workers secretly living inside. Jiang Huan turned and ran. The renovation was expected to last at least six months, so she hastily installed a camera. Every night, alarms went off—different people loitering at the door. She avoided going home, staying late at the company to work overtime as much as possible.

Akira patted her shoulder worriedly, asking if the outsourced girl had contacted her. Trouble piled on trouble—their most valued outsourcing partner, a girl, had disappeared from their contacts after being scammed by her boyfriend. Deadlines were looming, and they couldn’t reach her, causing headaches.

“A while ago, I saw her post a complaint on her social media late at night. She said she argued with her boyfriend, who knelt and cried in public, scaring passersby. At that moment, she didn’t feel moved—just scared. Later, during a date at home, he choked her and threw things. She planned to break up but didn’t know how. She probably posted it in a group, deleting it minutes later. I saw it while bored, taking a taxi home from overtime.”

“Do you know her address?”

“Yes. But would she want us to come over? She doesn’t consider us friends, does she?”

“What else can we do? Echo (HR) insists that freelancers can’t have access cards. Even when she comes to submit work, no one opens the door for her. Last Saturday, I came specifically to let her in and accompany her while she worked overtime.”

“You know her address, right? Let’s check it out. I’m a bit worried. If she’s just avoiding us, it’s fine—we can settle payments and collect as many drafts as possible. But if she’s really unsafe, at least we can help.”

“Jiang Huan, not to criticize, but don’t meddle. Interns and freelancers are like cosmetic samples—varied, cheap, and contract-free. Isn’t that the best solution? You’re not some magical girl or trio of cat-eyed sisters. Why do you always want to help them?”

She couldn’t possibly ignore it. The outsourced girl was her junior, a graduate from the playwriting department of the drama academy working as a freelancer for about a year or two. She handled NPC character design in the maps, essentially “fleshing out” roles. They had collaborated for seven or eight months, and she was working hard for a full-time opportunity, maintaining a good reputation. Jiang Huan instinctively felt that men in the real world often acted crazy, likely related to relationships. Since she was afraid to go home anyway, she decided to drag Akira along to investigate. Following the address, they arrived at an old residential complex, locating the unit building. Even from downstairs, they heard crying and tugging. The girl pleaded, “Please, stop coming!” but was repeatedly pulled by the sleeve. She wore an old floral cotton dress, torn to expose her shoulder. Her hair was disheveled, tears streaking her face, leaving trails of despair—completely devoid of dignity. Jiang Huan charged forward, grabbing the man and pulling him back with surprising strength, startling him—for two seconds.

“Let him go! We’re calling the police!” Jiang Huan locked her arm around the man’s throat, kicking his knee hollow to bring him down. With a thud, the man sat on the ground, and both Jiang Huan and the girl tumbled over. Three years of judo training finally paid off. The girl scrambled a few steps away, and the man realized a stranger was behind him, screaming wildly: “Mind your own business! Get lost!”

The man’s voice was hoarse, carrying the madness of someone drunk. In the dimly lit old residential area, only a faint light near the trash bins illuminated the scene. Doors remained closed, and no pedestrians passed the standalone unit entrance. The man spotted Jiang Huan and Akira, shoving them aside and lunging toward the girl: “Baby, come upstairs with me. It’s our private matter—why are you involving outsiders?”

“They’re my colleagues!”

“Liar! You don’t have colleagues! You’re unemployed, aren’t you? I’ve already come back—have some pity on me.”

Jiang Huan understood. The girl had hidden her job from the man, thinking pretending to be incapable and unemployed would help her break up. Jiang Huan rushed forward again, shouting: “Don’t listen to him! No one comes back to love you again. Dragging you around outside the door—don’t fall for it!”

“Bullshit!” The man’s voice twisted: “It’s none of your business! We’re talking about marriage! Mind your own damn business!”

“At least tonight, you can’t get near her! Can’t you see she’s trembling?” Jiang Huan turned to Akira: “Help me! At least pull him away!”

Akira panicked, hopping from foot to foot but too scared to approach: “I’m calling the police! Even if we chase him away now, it’s only a temporary fix. If we send him off today, won’t he just come back tomorrow?”

The man forcefully shoved Jiang Huan, who crashed to the ground with a loud thud. Her tailbone nearly broke, and she struggled to get up for a long time. The man dragged the girl toward the unit entrance, smug: “Mind your own business! Love is a family affair behind closed doors. Go back where you came from, or I’ll call the police…”

At least she had to buy time. Jiang Huan charged forward again, summoning her strength to punch the man’s exposed abdomen and bite his arm fiercely. Damn it, salty and stinky—she hated men today. The man pounded her back several times. Shit, their physical strength was too mismatched. No matter how much martial arts she practiced three times a week, it was all for show. Her strength couldn’t match an enraged man’s…

Her back hurt, and her breath shortened. Damn it, she was going to die. To society, everyone was just a cosmetic sample. Even if she died here tonight, Love Continent would surely hire a new writer within a month. Her family probably wouldn’t even buy her an expensive feng shui tombstone.

Wasn’t anyone going to manage this screwed-up world?

Before the unit door closed, it was forcefully pulled open. Bai Jingchuan signaled for the girl to enter and lock the door, then dragged the man out. Confused by the sudden appearance of these people, the man pushed Bai Jingchuan: “Damn it, who the hell are you?”

Bai Jingchuan said nothing, only tightening his grip on the man’s shoulder. The silent warrior seemed disadvantaged in this moment, but Jiang Huan thought he looked incredibly cool—like Seishiro Sakurazuka from Tokyo Babylon , Tuxedo Mask, or Shaka of Virgo from Saint Seiya .

[Jiang Huan’s affection towards you: +100.]

He dodged the trash bin the man threw at him, his disgust reaching its peak—how dare such filth be used to attack him?

The stench wafted even to the unit entrance, yet no one came to help. Bai Jingchuan released the man and stood before him. The man’s anger peaked, throwing punches at his face and ears. Bai Jingchuan dodged without retaliating, finding the man’s attacks laughably weak. His face even showed boredom. The girl’s eyes remained fearful, and she tried to rush out to check on her boyfriend but was pulled back into Akira’s arms. Bai Jingchuan took off his suit jacket and tossed it over, which Jiang Huan caught and draped over the girl. Jiang Huan sighed inwardly—helping her today wouldn’t solve tomorrow’s problems. Love-brained behavior equaled lowered intelligence. Was it true that whoever fell in love in this world went insane?

The two men moved out of the sightlines of the three girls. Jiang Huan only heard a few dull thuds and the man’s piercing scream. When silence fell, Jiang Huan hurried over. The man lay on the ground, his head stuck in the trash bin, while Bai Jingchuan stood clean and composed. He pulled a thin black handkerchief from his trouser pocket, calmly wiping his fingers, seemingly unwilling to acknowledge any connection to such a lowly fight. Jiang Huan asked: “Are you okay?”

Bai Jingchuan remained silent. Jiang Huan thought, This guy is really putting on a show.

[You have purchased and used the prop “Magnetic Insulation.” Please specify the range where you will not meet again. Your current limit is five kilometers. Do you choose to confirm?]

[You have chosen “Yes.”]

The outsourced girl took a step forward. Her gaze happened to fall on his chest and collarbone, prompting Bai Jingchuan to politely step back.

“Are you the new producer? I promise to deliver drafts to Teacher Jiang on time. Could you give me an access card? I can revise at the company—I don’t need a workstation. I can use any empty desk…”

Bai Jingchuan silently observed the three girls. The outsourced worker received no reply, thanked him dejectedly, feeling increasingly embarrassed. She pushed the trash bin back to its original position, opened the unit door, and went upstairs. The three of them watched as the sensor lights from the first to sixth floor lit up and then dimmed. Akira couldn’t help but speak: “Teacher Bai, I can’t tell if you’re a good person or a bad one anymore. She’s so pitiful—couldn’t you at least say a few comforting words?”

Still, he offered no response. Jiang Huan tilted her head, stealing glances at him—what was he thinking? Did he think tonight’s fiasco was a waste of his time? Did he find the girl too much trouble? Had he not anticipated how unsafe life could be for young women in the city? Did he think women often revealed their darkest sides when cornered? But why did his scrutinizing gaze carry hints of displeasure and sorrow?

[Jiang Huan’s affection towards you: +100. Level increased to Lv 16. You have earned 1 Prop Exchange Coupon and 5,000 gold coins.]

Akira patted Jiang Huan’s arm: “What are you thinking about? Our meddling is over. Shall we go?”

The autumn night was cool. Bai Jingchuan, still unable to speak, didn’t ask for his suit back. He walked into the endless night, thin and silent, no longer paying attention to the gazes that didn’t linger on him, refusing to give this world the satisfaction of mocking him.

Jiang Huan noticed her superior’s desolation. The image of someone so capable, even effortlessly charming, now appearing so forlorn kept surfacing in her mind. She patted Akira’s shoulder: “Leave the rest to you. I’ve got something to do.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Follow him.”

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