As Chu Yi's hands continued their rhythmic massage, the swelling and redness around Liu Ruoxin's ankle gradually subsided. In just a short while, what had once been as swollen as a steamed bun shrank to the size of a few cherries.
"Chu Yi, you've really been hiding your talents," Liu Ruoxin exclaimed in mild astonishment, gazing at him with surprise. She had never expected this seemingly carefree cousin of hers—who appeared to only excel in eating, drinking, and making merry—to possess such skill.
"This is just a basic technique," Chu Yi replied nonchalantly. "By the way, do you have any ice in your room, cousin?"
"In the fridge, near the balcony," Liu Ruoxin pointed out the location.
"Got it," he nodded, exiting the bathroom. After retrieving a few ice cubes, he returned to Liu Ruoxin's side.
"Although the swelling has gone down, it's best not to engage in any strenuous activity for the next day or two, just to be safe."
Though confident in his own expertise, Chu Yi added these words to further endear himself to Liu Ruoxin.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for gaining preliminary trust from Liu Ruoxin. You've earned 300 villain points and 1 fortune point.
A familiar mechanical voice echoed in Chu Yi's mind, catching him off guard. He hadn't expected to gain a fortune point from this interaction.
The system had once explained that fortune points held significant weight. The more fortune points he accumulated, the stronger his luck would become—an edge that would ensure he wouldn't be at a disadvantage when going head-to-head with the protagonist. Conversely, the loss of fortune points would bring misfortune and setbacks.
Moreover, accumulating fortune points could lead to system upgrades.
That meant he'd eventually gain overwhelming power to completely crush the protagonist.
As Chu Yi was absorbed in thought, Liu Ruoxin's soft voice reached his ears.
"Chu Yi… when you came here, did my father already know where I was?"
A trace of guarded caution appeared in Liu Ruoxin's expression. Though Chu Yi had helped her, one matter could not be confused with another. If her father truly knew her location, she wouldn't hesitate to show him the door—even if he was her cousin.
Chu Yi, of course, was fully aware of the delicate nature of the situation. In fact, he had been waiting for this question.
After a brief silence, his face softened with gentleness.
"Cousin, Uncle has no idea where you're staying," he said warmly. "I had to go through quite a bit just to find you."
"Why... why would you do that?" Liu Ruoxin asked, a blush beginning to bloom on her cheeks.
After all, they had barely spoken since childhood, and were, in truth, no different from strangers. Why would he go to such lengths to find her?
"I was worried about you," Chu Yi replied. "Even though we drifted apart as we grew older, I've always cherished those moments we spent playing together as children. So when I heard you had run away from home, I instinctively wanted to find you."
With the poise of a seasoned actor, Chu Yi's every gesture and word exuded sincere concern.
Liu Ruoxin was visibly moved. After a moment of silence, she finally said softly, "Help me out of here, cousin."
Her voice now carried a hint of tenderness, and she had unconsciously changed how she addressed him. No longer just "Chu Yi"—he was now cousin once more.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for earning intermediate trust from Liu Ruoxin. You've gained 600 villain points and another fortune point.
A surge of satisfaction welled up in Chu Yi's chest. It hadn't been easy, but he had finally begun to reshape his image and carve out a place in Liu Ruoxin's heart.
If he kept this up, winning her favor would only be a matter of time.
And when that happened, Ye Fan would no doubt suffer.
In the original story, Liu Ruoxin had deeply disliked the original Chu Yi, purely because he had sided with her father and supported the idea of an arranged marriage. Naturally, she had loathed him for it.
But now... everything had changed.
A flicker of amusement danced in Chu Yi's eyes at the thought.
…
In the center of the living room sat Chu Yi, calm and composed.
To his left was the injured Liu Ruoxin, and to his right sat Ye Fan, face bruised and battered.
Ye Fan, clearly still brooding over what had happened earlier, sat in silence watching television, his mood heavy with resentment.
Liu Ruoxin, noticing the injuries on his face, couldn't help but voice her concern.
"Xiaofan, what happened to your face?" she asked gently. "You didn't look like this this morning."
"It was Chu—" Ye Fan lit up as soon as she asked. Wasn't this the perfect opportunity to tell her the truth? That Chu Yi had beaten him up? There was no need to embellish anything—just the truth would surely earn her disapproval of Chu Yi.
He was about to speak when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chu Yi lightly tapping two fingers on the armrest.
Ye Fan instantly understood.
His expression deflated like a wilted eggplant. After holding it in for a long while, he finally muttered:
"I tripped and fell by accident."