Adrián walked through the inner corridors of the Coliseum, searching for a secondary exit. A forgotten door. A service tunnel. Anything that would take him away from curious disciples and sect scribes.
He had no luck.
Turning a poorly lit corner, he stumbled upon a scene that froze his blood.
Lin Yue and Su Meilan stood face to face.
They weren't shouting.They weren't moving.But the air between them was so dense it seemed to vibrate, as if two incompatible wills refused to yield space.
"Saint Lin," Su Meilan finally said, offering a perfect bow—polite… and razor-sharp."I did not expect to see you observing such low-tier rounds with such… personal interest."
Lin Yue didn't blink.
"The Saint must identify talent before Heaven claims it," she replied coldly."I am more surprised to see you here, Director Su. I thought your devotion was exclusively… financial."
The temperature dropped by a degree.
Before Su Meilan could reply, a heavy hand landed on Adrián's shoulder.
"Ha!" a rough voice laughed. "Don't start without me."
Su Meilan's father emerged from the shadows as if he had always been there. He squeezed Adrián's shoulder hard enough to remind him of old injuries… and future ones.
"My daughter and I came for the same reason," the old man continued with an unreadable smile."To see how her boyfriend is doing. After all, the boy has improved considerably thanks to my careful training."
Silence.
Not awkward.Funeral.
Lin Yue slowly turned her head toward Adrián. Her eyes, once calm, now looked like blades of polished jade.
"Boyfriend?" she repeated.
She didn't raise her voice.The lanterns in the hallway flickered anyway.
Su Meilan stiffened… then stepped forward. She didn't deny it. She didn't retreat.
"Father, don't exaggerate," she said, positioning herself slightly closer to Adrián, her face flushed."Are you alright? Did you get hurt?"
The message was clear.
Cold sweat slid down Adrián's back.
The old man then leaned toward him, smiling like someone negotiating prices… or destinies.
"Listen carefully, boy," he whispered, not bothering to lower his voice much."I've bet heavily on you. If you don't win tomorrow's semifinal convincingly, we'll resume training."
He paused deliciously.
"Several hours a day. No breaks. We'll increase the… pace a little."
Adrián swallowed.
Winning meant deviating from the script.Losing meant being dismantled piece by piece.
And then, as if the world refused to allow him an imperfect choice—
[DING]
The notification appeared before his eyes—red, rigid, emotionless.
[Emergency Mission: Villain Momentum]Required Action: Exploit the current tension.Objective: Provoke the Hero using what he desires most.Designated Action: Kiss Saint Lin Yue in front of Ye Chen.Time Limit: 60 seconds.Penalty for Failure: Grade 9 spiritual cramp in the sciatic nerve for 48 hours.
There was no panic.Only understanding.
This wasn't provocation.It was narrative correction.
If he kissed Lin Yue, it would be blasphemy.If he didn't, he would be reduced to a functional body for punishment.
[Countdown: 45 seconds…]
And then he saw him.
Ye Chen.
The sect's hero, dressed in immaculate white robes, stood a few steps away, watching the scene with eyes burning with jealousy and calculation. Seeing Su Meilan so close to Adrián, his lips moistened almost unconsciously. A tiny gesture, but enough to mark territory: in his world, this woman belonged to him.
But Ye Chen's anger was doubled.
Because while his body reacted to Su Meilan's presence, his mind also sensed Lin Yue evaluating Adrián—registering every flaw, every tic, every glance. The hero didn't see reality; he only imagined betrayals and poses. Every breath Adrián took felt like a challenge. Every blink, an insult.
Adrián swallowed again.
Winning broke the System's plan.Losing meant functional dismemberment.And now, the hero stood there, radiating romantic jealousy worthy of a classical novel.
"I…" Adrián began, voice tight, a desperate attempt at rationality."I think we should all sit down, review the ledgers… and—"
[Countdown: 10 seconds…][Preparing penalty…]
The corridor seemed to narrow.
Not because the world hated him.Not because the Saint would rebuke him.Not even because of Su Meilan or her father.
But because Heaven, Ye Chen, and an implacable System had already decided his role.
Adrián stepped back.
Then another.
It wasn't cowardice.It was instinct.
"No," he said with forced calm. "This is inappropriate."
Su Meilan tensed beside him, relieved and alert at the same time. Lin Yue barely frowned, surprised not by the rejection… but by how natural it had been.
And then the air shifted again.
Ye Chen stood at the far end of the corridor.
He had followed the tension like a predator follows the scent of blood. Seeing Lin Yue standing before Adrián, and Su Meilan so close to him, something ignited in his gaze. His lips curved slightly, possessively. In his world, the scene was already written.
The villain corners.The maiden resists.The hero intervenes.
Perfect.
Adrián saw him from the corner of his eye… and sighed internally.
"This is a mistake," he said, turning to leave. "I have no interest in—"
[DING]
The notification exploded across his vision.
[Emergency Mission: Villain Momentum]Narrative correction in progress.The Hero requires immediate emotional stimulation.
Warning: Repeated rejection weakens the Hero's motivation.
Adrián clenched his teeth and kept walking.
[DING]Repeated warning.The villain must act.
Another step.
[DING]Forced correction imminent.
Lin Yue caught up to him.
She didn't run.She didn't touch him.She simply appeared at his side.
"Adrián," she said softly. "Wait."
Behind them, Ye Chen quickened his pace. In his mind, the climax approached. He was ready to intervene. To save. To shine.
[DING]Countdown: 10 seconds.Preparing neurological penalty.
Adrián stopped.
Closed his eyes.
"Damn… system," he muttered.
He slowly turned.
Not toward Ye Chen.Not toward Su Meilan.
Toward Lin Yue.
"Saint," he said in a voice so neutral it sounded administrative, "this is foolishness."
She looked at him.
Not with anger.Not with disdain.
With dangerous curiosity.
[DING]Final warning.Immediate action required.
Adrián took the final step.
It wasn't arrogant.It wasn't theatrical.It was clumsy, even.
A gesture that didn't belong to this world… nor to his assigned role.
When his lips touched Lin Yue's—
Time broke.
There was no rejection.No slap.No heroic intervention.
Lin Yue… accepted.
It was brief.A minimal contact.Enough.
When they separated, the corridor was absolutely silent.
Su Meilan stared in disbelief.Ye Chen froze, his mind unable to process the scene.The witnesses forgot how to breathe.
Lin Yue stepped back half a step.
For the first time, her face was flushed.
Adrián looked at her, equally stunned.
"I…" he began. "This wasn't—"
[DING]
Silence.
The system didn't respond.
For the first time… it had no correction line prepared.
Ye Chen clenched his fists.
He hadn't saved anyone.He hadn't been needed.The villain hadn't been punished.
And Heaven…had just made a mistake.