Chapter 4

I hadn't had the slightest chance to escape.

A few days after that, Song Zhiyue came home.

Mainly because nobody was looking after him in the hospital.

He'd even missed breakfast several times.

I was astonished.

Since when did CEOs have it this bad?

Where was Jiang Chi?

I only learned the answer when he returned to the villa.

She slept until noon.

How was she supposed to bring him breakfast?

Now she was sniffling in the living room.

"You're not angry, are you, Mr. Song? It's my fault. I'm so tired every day, I never have time to bring you food."

Song Zhiyue clutched his head in agony while saying, "It's fine. It's fine."

When he saw me, it was as though salvation had arrived.

"Lin Beibei!"

I paused and looked at him with a decorous smile.

"Yes, young master?"

"From now on, YOU handle my meals."

The emphasis came through gritted teeth.

I glanced at Jiang Chi.

She blinked those big eyes at me, looking pitiful.

I was about to tell him not to dismiss her kindness when her fragile voice rang out.

"Then we'll have to trouble you, Butler."

She turned to him with an adoring gaze.

"Mr. Song, even if I don't cook for you, I still like you."

He sprang to his feet in a panic.

"I have to go to the office."

And left us there.

Jiang Chi watched him go, tears in her eyes.

"Butler, does he dislike me?"

Words rolled around my mouth.

Finally, I swallowed "Perhaps you disgust him" and smiled.

"He's been like this since childhood. Not good at expressing himself."

"You're the first woman he's ever brought home. You must be special."

Only then did she sniffle her way out.

He didn't return for lunch.

Or dinner.

The next day, he still didn't come home.

Day one without Song Zhiyue: I missed him.

Day two: I still missed him.

Day three: I couldn't take it anymore!

By day, Jiang Chi cried and sniffled.

By night, she crept out and stripped the kitchen and fridge practically bare.

Every time I got hungry and went looking, there was nothing left!

And that wasn't even the point.

The point was, whenever she saw me during the day, she'd cling to me and sob.

"Why won't Mr. Song come home?"

"Does he hate me now?"

Honestly...

I was just an NPC, okay?

Why torture me like this?

My already thinning hair was getting thinner by the day.

She cornered me again, her eyes red.

"I must have upset him."

Tears fell one by one.

So pitiful.

I opened my mouth to suggest she go to his office.

Then something dropped from her pocket.

We both looked down.

6

And froze.

I was faster. I bent and picked up the little bottle of eye drops.

She looked embarrassed.

"I've been crying so much lately. Emergency eye care."

I stared for a second.

Doubts began to form.

Were the sweet, innocent heroines in CEO romances really all like this?

I hadn't read much. Don't try to fool me.

I looked at her suspiciously.

Remembering her earlier behavior, I had a rather unlikely thought.

The question slipped out.

"Transmigrator?"

Her hand stopped.

"You too?"

I nodded.

As though freed at last, Jiang Chi dropped onto the sofa and folded her legs beneath her.

She looked puzzled.

"Why do you look prettier?"

"Weren't you the honest, kindly sort before?"

I touched my face.

Had my old-butler image collapsed?

She went on, "Whatever. I'm face-blind anyway. Apart from that bastard Song Zhiyue, I can't recognize anyone."

She took out her phone and called him.

"You can stop hiding. Nobody here is an outsider. Come home."

I was utterly confused.

She immediately explained.

They'd known each other before entering the book.

Song Zhiyue had been born into this world. Jiang Chi had only arrived recently.

The system had assigned them a mission: stay in character, or they couldn't go home.

They'd assumed I was a real NPC.

So all that acting had been for my benefit.

Eventually, Song Zhiyue couldn't stand her nauseating performance anymore and fled.

Now we were all in the same boat.

No more pretending.

She smiled at me with her sweet little face.

"I've worked so hard these past few days! Why didn't you say something?"

Speechless, I rolled my eyes.

I'd only thought to test her today.

7

I simply couldn't imagine a real heroine behaving like that.

So I'd asked.

Song Zhiyue returned very quickly.

At the sight of Jiang Chi, he took two wary steps back.

"Mr. So-o-ong," she trilled.

Goose bumps broke out all over him.

"Stop! Didn't you say we were all on the same side and could drop the act?"

Then he looked at me.

"Lin Beibei, you're not an NPC?"