Lu Bolin stared at the man beside the bed.
His mind processed the words slowly.
"Your husband."
Interesting.
That conclusion created several immediate questions.
Lu Bolin blinked once, calmly examining the man in front of him.
The man was tall—easily over 190 centimeters. His shoulders were broad, his posture straight like a blade. His face was extremely handsome, but the sharp lines of his jaw and the coldness in his dark eyes made him look dangerous rather than gentle.
A powerful presence filled the room.
The kind of person who was used to control.
Used to authority.
Used to obedience.
Lu Bolin's gaze moved slightly.
Suit jacket.
Expensive watch.
Perfectly arranged cuffs.
His eyes lingered briefly on the man's fingers.
No wedding ring.
Interesting.
The man noticed the observation immediately.
His eyes darkened.
"You don't remember?"
His voice was low, calm… but there was a faint tension hidden underneath.
Lu Bolin considered the question.
Then he answered honestly.
"No."
The room fell silent.
The man's gaze sharpened instantly.
For a moment, something dangerous flashed across his expression.
"Lu Bolin."
He said the name slowly.
Almost like a warning.
Lu Bolin froze for a fraction of a second.
So this body had the same name.
That simplified things.
The system's voice suddenly appeared in his mind.
[Memory synchronization beginning.]
Pain exploded inside his head.
Fragments of memories rushed in violently.
Scenes.
Voices.
Arguments.
Cold rooms.
Lonely dinners.
A wedding.
A contract.
And a man standing in front of him with an expression filled with hatred.
Lu Bolin's breathing became slightly uneven.
But the pain disappeared quickly.
Within seconds, the memories settled.
He understood everything.
The original host…
Had been extremely unfortunate.
Lu Bolin slowly looked back at the man.
His husband.
Gu Yichen.
One of the youngest CEOs in the country.
Cold.
Ruthless.
Brilliant.
And famous for destroying his enemies without mercy.
But the original Lu Bolin had made one fatal mistake.
He forced this marriage.
Three years ago, the Lu family used a business deal to pressure the Gu family into a political alliance.
The condition was simple.
Marriage.
Gu Yichen hated it.
He hated being manipulated.
He hated being controlled.
And he hated Lu Bolin most of all.
Because in his eyes, Lu Bolin was nothing more than a spoiled young master who used family power to trap him.
For three years, their marriage had been a frozen battlefield.
Cold.
Distant.
Cruel.
Gu Yichen never touched him.
Never treated him like a partner.
Sometimes he did not even return home for weeks.
But the original Lu Bolin still loved him.
Pathetically.
Desperately.
Trying to please him.
Trying to win even a tiny amount of affection.
And today…
The original host collapsed from exhaustion and emotional stress.
Before losing consciousness, his final wish was simple.
"I want Gu Yichen to regret everything."
The system's voice returned.
[Mission Objective Received.]
[Fulfill original host's final wish.]
Lu Bolin processed the information quietly.
Then he reached a conclusion.
"So the villain is him."
He looked directly at Gu Yichen again.
The man's eyes were dark and unreadable.
"You're acting strange today."
Gu Yichen's voice was cold.
Lu Bolin tilted his head slightly.
That small movement made a few strands of soft black hair fall across his forehead.
Combined with his pale skin and delicate features, he looked unusually fragile.
Gu Yichen's gaze paused.
Something about Lu Bolin felt…
Different.
Before, he always looked nervous.
Careful.
Trying to please.
But now—
His eyes were calm.
Clear.
Almost curious.
Like he was observing something interesting.
Gu Yichen frowned slightly.
"What are you looking at?"
Lu Bolin answered honestly.
"You."
Silence.
That response clearly surprised him.
In the past, Lu Bolin would never speak so directly.
Gu Yichen's expression darkened.
"You should remember your position."
Lu Bolin blinked.
"What position?"
"The one you forced yourself into."
Ah.
Lu Bolin understood.
He looked down at the blanket for a moment.
Then he asked calmly,
"Do you hate me?"
Gu Yichen's answer came instantly.
"Yes."
There was no hesitation.
None at all.
Lu Bolin nodded thoughtfully.
"Understood."
The reaction was so calm that Gu Yichen felt something strange twist inside his chest.
Where was the usual reaction?
Normally Lu Bolin would look hurt.
Or anxious.
Or try to explain himself.
But now…
Nothing.
Just quiet acceptance.
Lu Bolin was thinking about something else entirely.
If the mission was to make the villain regret everything…
Then several strategies existed.
Emotional manipulation.
Psychological dependence.
Gradual attachment.
He had studied these concepts in psychology books before.
But he had never tested them personally.
This could be interesting.
Gu Yichen suddenly spoke again.
"You collapsed."
Lu Bolin looked up.
"Oh."
"You worked yourself into the hospital."
Lu Bolin searched the memories.
The original host had been preparing documents for the Gu company for three days without sleep.
Trying to prove his usefulness.
Trying to earn even a little praise.
Lu Bolin quietly reached a conclusion.
"That was inefficient."
Gu Yichen's brows furrowed.
"What?"
Lu Bolin looked directly at him again.
His voice was soft.
"Working to exhaustion for someone who hates you is not a good strategy."
Gu Yichen stared at him.
For the first time in three years…
Lu Bolin sounded completely rational.
Cold.
Logical.
Almost detached.
"You're finally admitting that?"
Lu Bolin considered the question.
Then he said calmly,
"I am reconsidering my life decisions."
Silence returned again.
The room felt strangely tense.
Gu Yichen studied him carefully.
The pale face.
The fragile shoulders.
The calm eyes.
Something was wrong.
This person in front of him…
Did not feel like the Lu Bolin he knew.
Then suddenly—
Lu Bolin lifted the blanket and stepped out of the bed.
The movement was slightly unstable.
His body was still weak.
Gu Yichen frowned immediately.
"You shouldn't stand."
Lu Bolin ignored the warning.
Instead he walked slowly toward the window.
Outside, the city stretched endlessly.
Lights.
Traffic.
People.
A living world.
Lu Bolin pressed his fingers lightly against the glass.
For a moment…
He simply watched.
This was his first time standing freely inside a world that was not a hospital.
No machines.
No doctors.
No countdown to death.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Gu Yichen noticed it instantly.
And for some reason—
That small smile made his chest tighten.
Lu Bolin turned back toward him.
His eyes were bright with quiet curiosity.
"So."
Gu Yichen narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So?"
Lu Bolin spoke calmly.
"Since you hate me…"
"We should renegotiate our relationship."
Gu Yichen laughed once.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"You think you have the right to negotiate with me?"
Lu Bolin answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
The confidence in his voice was absolute.
Gu Yichen's gaze darkened.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
For three years, Lu Bolin had been weak and submissive.
Now suddenly—
He looked like someone completely different.
Gu Yichen slowly stepped closer.
The distance between them shrank.
His height forced Lu Bolin to look slightly upward.
The pressure of his presence was overwhelming.
But Lu Bolin did not step back.
Gu Yichen leaned down slightly.
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"What exactly are you planning?"
Lu Bolin thought for a moment.
Then he answered honestly.
"I want to try something new."
"And what is that?"
Lu Bolin met his eyes calmly.
"Living."
Gu Yichen froze.
Just for a moment.
But in that brief moment—
Something subtle began to change.
Neither of them realized it yet.
But from the instant Lu Bolin opened his eyes in this world…
The story had already started shifting.
And the man who once hated him the most—
Would eventually become the one who could not live without him.