"I've defeated all the big shots."

On an early winter afternoon, the sky suddenly darkened as if drenched in spilled ink. The cold, damp wind pierced the bones, and before long, raindrops began to fall. The rain-washed Qingfeng Mountain shrouded in mist looked like a tranquil paradise until the roar of engines broke the silence as several sports cars raced by. The cars pulled over to the side of the road, and a group of young people, undeterred by the rain, stepped out. Jin Tianyu walked over to a sapphire blue Ferrari and bent down to speak to the girl inside. "An'an, the rain is about to stop, but the fog is thick. Are we still playing?" The girl had a beautiful oval face with delicate, well-defined features, dark hair, and red lips. She lifted her head slightly, her dark eyes sparkling. "If you're scared, just wait here for me," she said with interest. She had planned to die here today; there was no backing out now. "Hey, who’s scared? It's your birthday, and we're with you all the way!" Jin Tianyu quickly added, "But the fog is thick and the road is slippery. How about we wait until it clears a bit, then drive slowly to the top?" "Fine," Qi An'an nodded. She wasn't here for the winding road anyway. Seven people, five sports cars. Besides Qi An'an, another girl with a high ponytail named Beibei approached her. "Why did you choose a rainy day? Why not have a party instead?" Beibei asked. "You don’t get it; this is thrilling," Qi An'an replied weakly. Jin Tianyu glanced at her, his eyes catching her vibrating phone. "Thrilling? Hiding from your boyfriend is what makes it thrilling?" Beibei chimed in, "Right, An'an, you never bring your boyfriend along—ugh, I mean, you’ve never brought him out to play!" Half a year ago, Qi An'an had crazily pursued a college student from Rongcheng University and confirmed their relationship two months ago. They were inseparable. Though the student was poor, he had a good face and temperament, which made Qi An'an infatuated with him. "He doesn’t like playing," Qi An'an said. Besides studying and working, he only loved her. Beibei wanted to say more, but Jin Tianyu pushed her aside. "Can you stop being so nosy?" Seeing his expression, Beibei sympathetically patted his shoulder and walked away. Jin Tianyu lit a cigarette, knowing Qi An'an didn't like the smell, and moved to the side with the others to smoke. Qi An'an leaned back in her seat, her fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel, her phone buzzing incessantly. The screen displayed the name: Gu Shi. She glanced at it but didn't answer. A small black, furry ball suddenly bounced onto her hand, speaking in a cute, soft voice, "Gu Shi is on his way." This was Xiao Hei, her assigned system from the Quick Transmigration Bureau. Only she could see and hear it. Qi An'an was an insignificant employee at the bureau, and Xiao Hei had been assigned to her since she joined. This was her tenth mission world and her last one. Once she finished torturing Gu Shi, she could retire and live a peaceful life. The target in this world was Gu Shi, a twenty-year-old orphan who had lived in an orphanage since childhood. He started working in middle school, lived independently, and got into Rongcheng University at sixteen. His excellent grades and scholarships supported him. Despite his poverty, his handsome face and exceptional temperament made many girls chase after him. However, Gu Shi had strict plans for his life, leaving no room for romance. He was a dull and uninteresting person. Qi An'an's task was to give Gu Shi a taste of love's trials, letting him experience emotional and societal challenges to grow into a man of great destiny. Gu Shi was her tenth target. She wasn’t worried about revenge because she would leave by faking her death once her task was done. No strings attached. Still, Qi An'an felt a bit guilty towards Gu Shi. Thinking about retirement, she had let her guard down. Last weekend, caught in a sudden downpour, she stayed at Gu Shi's place and ended up sleeping with him. Gu Shi was her last mission target but also the first one she had slept with. Xiao Hei floated in front of her, "Why the sigh? Don't tell me you’re reluctant because you slept with him? We can't afford any sympathy. If you go soft, everyone will be in trouble. An'an, you’ve always been the best, surviving through nine five-star difficulty worlds. No one can do better than you—" Qi An'an had heard this countless times. Her temples throbbed. She raised her hand and swatted at the furry black ball, sending it smacking against the windshield before it slowly slid down, silent and dejected. It had no face, but its drooping fur made it look pitiful. Qi An'an ignored it. There was no room for sympathy. A green taxi cautiously made its way along the mountain road. The driver couldn't help but ask, "Young man, what are you doing up here in this weather?" The sky was still overcast. In the backseat, a young man in a black parka leaned against the door, his face partially lit. His striking features, deep and sharp, were devoid of the vitality typical of his age. Hearing the driver, he lifted his gaze slightly, his dark eyes deep and inscrutable. "I'm looking for my girlfriend." He tightened his grip on the waterproof bag in his lap, his long, slender hands pale but firm. The driver, intrigued by the topic, remarked, "You’re quite good-looking. Your girlfriend must be exceptional, huh?" Gu Shi didn't usually talk to strangers, but he didn't mind this time and gave a faint "hmm." His deep eyes softened. "Tsk, tsk, tsk," the driver teased. "Kid, don't get too caught up. Breakups can be tough." Gu Shi's expression turned cold. "We won't break up." She never hesitated to express her love for him. She said he was her favorite. She said they’d get married after graduation. She said they’d build a little family together... The driver, reminiscing about his own love life, sighed, "You're too young. Don't believe in grand promises, just like men saying 'I'll take care of you.' Anyone who believes it gets burned." Gu Shi lowered his eyes, not responding. She had also said, "I’ll take care of you." He didn't like the driver's words. He trusted his own judgment more. She was always full of life. The way she looked at him was always passionate. Her intense love was like molten lava; once he touched it, he couldn't escape. The defenses he had built over the years melted away because of her. The taxi pulled over, and Gu Shi's tall figure immediately drew everyone's attention. "Who is that?" "Gu Shi?" "Damn! Is that An'an's... boyfriend?" Several pairs of eyes turned to look. Jin Tianyu stubbed out his cigarette, his usual smirk in place, but his eyes showed undisguised disdain and disgust as he looked at Gu Shi. He quickly shifted his gaze to Qi An'an. Qi An'an stepped out of the car, her heartbeat quickening as she watched Gu Shi approach. He was here. Gu Shi was tall and lean. The cold wind tousled his hair, revealing his serene features that matched the green backdrop of the mountains. Despite wearing an ordinary black parka, he carried it with the elegance of a high-end fashion model. The road itself seemed like his runway. He carried a bag, its contents unknown, neatly packed. Qi An'an watched the figure blending into the mountain landscape, her heartbeat growing stronger. It was a mix of nerves and other emotions she couldn't quite grasp. It was so difficult. She felt like she was on the edge. But she had done worse things before. "An'an." Gu Shi stood before her, looking down, his lashes casting faint shadows. His voice, usually reserved, held a note of excitement and expectation. Usually, his girlfriend would hug him, nuzzle her face into his chest, and act playful. But not this time. There was no smile on her face, only a frown. "Why are you here?" "I called, but you didn’t answer. I was worried," Gu Shi paused, then continued, "I saw on your social media that you were coming to Qingfeng Mountain, so I took a taxi to find you." Indeed, Qi An'an hadn't answered his calls but had updated her social media. Gu Shi was sensitive. Seeing her post, he felt a moment of unease but dismissed it. His An'an always spoke her mind. She never hid anything from him. "I just wanted to go for a drive," Qi An'an said, staring at him as if making a decision. He noticed a hint of impatience on her face. His lips pressed into a thin line. His voice lowered, "Today is your birthday. I wanted to be with you, is that okay?" His superior brows, high nose bridge, and sensual jawline made his face a work of art. Qi An'an looked at his patient, almost humble expression, feeling a pang of guilt, though her face remained cold. Half a year ago, she had just entered this world and met Gu Shi working at a bar. Gu Shi, uninterested in romance, was unaffected by her stunning looks and figure. When she "accidentally" fell into his arms, he had pushed her away without a second glance. From then on , she had openly pursued him. The identity Xiao Hei created for her was quite good. She came from a prestigious family, three years older than Gu Shi, with a vast inheritance waiting for her. Her parents were still young, so she had no work pressure and spent her days wooing him. She accompanied him to classes, interrupted confessions from other girls, took him to the hospital when he had a stomach ache, and even applied for jobs where he worked... She integrated herself into his life and opened his heart. She made countless promises because she knew she wouldn't have to keep them. Xiao Hei said the world's difficulty was five stars, but it didn't feel that hard to her. Gu Shi seemed unapproachable but was actually quite pure. "An'an?" Seeing her silence, Gu Shi reached out to hold her hand. But she avoided his touch and stepped back. This small act of rejection made Gu Shi pause, his heart sinking. "Gu Shi, can’t you see I have plans?" Qi An'an frowned. "When I'm not looking for you, can't you just stay quietly in your corner?" Even Jin Tianyu and the others were stunned. Qi An'an's pursuit of Gu Shi had been intense and public, known to everyone in their circle and all of Rongcheng University. She didn't care about the gossip. Was she tired of him now?