[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off":3,"chapter-bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-chapter-169":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Bound to the Sign-In System, I Took Off",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2336223,4567,"Chapter 169: A Love Long Overdue","bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-chapter-169",169,"\u003Cp>In December, Hangzhou was cold, but compared to the extreme chill Qin Yun had experienced in Qaidam and the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway, this temperature was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he wore only an undershirt, over which he pulled on a hooded sweatshirt, not to mention the thermal pants—he simply couldn’t bring himself to wear them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan, however, was bundled up tightly on top: a thick white down jacket, layered with a heavy scarf. Yet her lower half remained slender and trim, clad in fitted gray leggings and caramel-colored snow boots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This extreme contrast between top and bottom left Qin Yun stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting in the car, Qin Yun held back for a long time, but finally couldn’t help asking: “Aren’t your legs cold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not cold?” Su Huan glanced at her legs and shook her head. “These pants are thick and warm—I feel absolutely no chill. Plus, they show off my figure. Don’t you think they look good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beautiful, beautiful.” Qin Yun rubbed his nose, suddenly recalling a rather crude joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Milk needs warmth, ham needs refrigeration—yeah, definitely crude!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still early; when Qin Yun arrived at the scenic area’s parking lot, it was barely past eight, and the roads weren’t congested at all—probably because it was the weekend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the cold weather meant few people were willing to rise so early to visit the site.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reached Jiuxi Road, the starting point of the scenic area, where maple trees lined both sides of the path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This season, the maple trees had shed their green, replaced by deep red leaves that carpeted the ground, soft as a plush rug underfoot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this hour, there were hardly any people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun wore his camera around his neck, frequently finding angles to capture several beautiful shots of Su Huan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take me looking good. If you make me look ugly, you’re in trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan waved her fist in threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun laughed. “I can’t guarantee anything else, but I’ve trained specifically in photography. Even if I closed my eyes and shot, my photos could win awards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan snorted, clearly disbelieving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking a while, a clear pool appeared before them. The water reflected the crimson leaves along the shore, mist gently curling above the surface—beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Su Huan, stand on that rock by the pool. Yes, like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan obeyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, tilt your body slightly, one hand gently brushing the tree trunk, the other hanging naturally. Yes, just like that. Turn your head a little toward me, lift your lips slightly—perfect. That’s beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun watched the frame, slowly crouching to include the red leaves and mist within the shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Click.*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the camera froze the moment, a scene blending crimson leaves, mist, and a gentle smile was preserved in the lens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me see, let me see!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan ran over, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t rush. I’ll send the photos directly to your phone—it’s easier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Qin Yun connected the camera to Su Huan’s phone and transferred all the photos he’d taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she opened the first photo, her lips parted in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… you really can?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun smirked, his gaze lingering for a moment on her cherry-red lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you didn’t believe me at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scrolling through her photo album, Su Huan found every single shot rendered her stunning—even she couldn’t believe she looked that good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her figure was perfectly framed by the environment; every smile, every gesture, every movement was beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the final photo appeared, Su Huan sucked in a sharp breath, contributing a little more to the greenhouse effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The image was clean, yet mysteriously veiled in a soft haze, like a fairyland. She, leaning against the tree trunk, smiled tenderly—evoking a sense that the world was wonderfully beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at herself in the photo, Su Huan swore she’d never taken a picture this beautiful before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The naturalness, the complete absence of pretense, combined with the atmosphere—it was breathtaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m printing this and putting it by my bed.” Su Huan looked up at Qin Yun, delighted. “Take more photos later. This is amazing—I never knew you were this good at photography.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun sighed and nodded. “Alright, Miss. Your humble servant will do his utmost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan burst into laughter and waved her hand. “Come on, let’s keep going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, they walked and shot along the way. Whenever they found a good scene, they paused to take several more photos; sometimes Su Huan would hold up her phone and drag Qin Yun into a selfie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who’s taken selfies with a phone knows: to fit both people in the frame, you either need long arms or you have to get very close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Su Huan’s photo album quickly filled with pictures of the two pressed tightly together—so intimate they looked like lovers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They crossed brooks, stepped over stone pillars, and sat on pavilions—each step revealed a new scene, leisurely and content. Gradually, Qin Yun even forgot he still had a check-in task hanging over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter became the best commentary on their journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along Ganlong Road, Longjing Village lay ahead, flanked by terraced tea plantations. In winter, the tea fields were a deep emerald, and from afar, morning mist wrapped them like a landscape painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping into the tea plantation, the view opened up instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tea bushes spread along the slopes; inhaling deeply, the air carried a faint, sweet fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan hurried up a few steps. “Come here, take a photo here—I’m sure it’ll look amazing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she forgot the winter ground: dew dripped slowly from the tea leaves, making the path far less stable than flat pavement. Her foot slipped suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan cried out, her body tilting toward the tea bushes—she already imagined the humiliating fall in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next instant, a pair of strong hands firmly gripped her waist and gently pulled her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Qin Yun not reacted so swiftly, someone else would’ve left her sprawled helplessly among the tea bushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan patted her chest. “That scared me half to death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she froze—because they were now pressed tightly together. She looked up and saw Qin Yun’s clean, handsome face; their breaths seemed tangled in the same moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant Su Huan’s eyes met Qin Yun’s, he too froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He unconsciously held his breath, yet his gaze couldn’t tear away. In that instant, the world shrank to just the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun didn’t move. Su Huan didn’t move. Looking at his face so close, she felt his eyes were impossibly tender, her heartbeat accelerating uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A light breeze blew; distant figures seemed like NPCs. Each listened to the other’s heartbeat, and something called *romance* slowly spread between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Qin Yun’s left hand still circled Su Huan’s waist—he’d completely forgotten any task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A primal emotion began to govern his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking into Su Huan’s eyes, Qin Yun lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on her rosy lips—tentative, restrained. Su Huan’s heart pounded wildly; she shut her eyes tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did that mean? Qin Yun knew perfectly well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second, their lips touched—zero distance. An endless sweetness flooded Qin Yun’s heart. As for the system’s notification, he didn’t care. He didn’t press or devour—only gently brushed, savoring the moment, his right hand sliding naturally around her back to fully embrace her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long… long…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they parted, Su Huan’s cheeks flushed, her eyes dazed. She leaned her head gently against Qin Yun’s chest, then wrapped both arms tightly around his waist, as if trying to merge entirely into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qin Yun, I like you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A whisper, almost to herself, she spoke the confession that had waited ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a man, being the first to receive a woman’s confession filled Qin Yun with joy. Now, he cast aside all hesitation, lowering his head to breathe in the scent of her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He whispered: “Su Huan, I like you too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?” Su Huan lifted her head. “I made my feelings so obvious, yet you kept avoiding me. Are you sure you really like me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun nodded firmly. “Yes. My last marriage made me hesitant—I lost confidence in giving anyone happiness. I feared repeating the same mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan immediately said: “It won’t happen. Happiness is something we create together, not one person giving everything while the other just takes. I’m not like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling Su Huan into his arms, Qin Yun sighed: “I know. I just regret it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regret what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regret ignoring your hints in college.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, so you finally found out I liked you back in college?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only recently.” Qin Yun smiled bitterly. “The matchmaker tied our strings long ago—I cut them myself. Luckily, you mended them again. Otherwise, I’d have lost you forever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe… good. Then you’d better treat me well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I’ll treat you well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. Otherwise, Mom will come and beat you up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a minute—you’re that close to my mom just so you two can gang up on me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a safeguard,” Su Huan declared. “A weak woman like me needs a protector, doesn’t she?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They parted, then naturally took hands, naturally walking through the tea plantation—the familiarity of lovers felt as if it had always been this way, without a single hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the stirring emotions remained, the heartbeats still quickened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not dramatic, not sealed with grand vows, this quiet mutual affection had now shattered the thin veil between them—no longer two, but one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huan was ecstatic—more ecstatic than she’d ever been. She felt this moment, the moment Qin Yun said he liked her, was the happiest of her twenty-eight years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would remember it forever, grip him tightly, and never, ever let go like Song Ya, that big fool, had done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun was equally ecstatic—more than he’d ever been. He realized life might take wrong turns, but fate would help you correct them and return you to the right path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back, those four years in college—how many times had that girl subtly drawn near, only for him to ignore her? Perhaps his fate had already been decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter what, this mutual affection between them was what mattered most. Fortunately, they were still young—there was still time. Life stretched long, very long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On their way back, Su Huan suddenly tugged Qin Yun’s hand and asked: “Do we really keep calling each other by our full names? Shouldn’t we use nicknames?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun laughed. “Sure. I’ll call you CEO, you call me Chairman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh.” Su Huan punched his chest. After thinking a moment, she said: “How about I call you Yunyun, and you call me Susu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll kill you—it’s that disgusting, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha, no, it's just... never mind, it is kind of disgusting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahh—I'm so angry, I'm going to beat you to death!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the afternoon sun, their shadows flickered faintly through the forest, stretching longer and longer; their laughter and playfulness made life seem wonderfully beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this moment, perhaps, the embodiment of happiness is just like this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Su Huan, who had just tasted the flavor of love, intimacy always carried temptation, as if the other’s lips held endless charm—he could never get enough, wishing to cling together forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Qin Yun, who had experienced marital failure, his intimate moments with Su Huan were equally irresistible; though they had not gone further, simply holding her made his heart surge with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two hit it off immediately, and Su Huan didn’t let Qin Yun leave until ten at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, since they had just begun their relationship, their intimacy was limited to hugging and kissing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reluctantly leaving Su Huan’s neighborhood, Qin Yun returned to the hotel, took a cold shower, and finally calmed his heated body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked at the system panel and finally had time to claim his task reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Daily Check-in Task Completed, Received Random Reward: Parkour Skill +1】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Parkour Skill LV1: Kid, run! Nothing can stop your steps】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, all sorts of parkour techniques flooded into his mind. Yet no dramatic physical changes occurred—clearly, his current physical condition made parkour like using a cannon to swat a mosquito.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad. More skills never hurt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than the system reacted again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ding! Host’s current abilities meet parkour skill upgrade conditions. Parkour Skill now LV2】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ding! Host’s current abilities meet climbing skill upgrade conditions. Climbing Skill now LV2】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun was stunned—this parkour skill he’d drawn had triggered a chain reaction, upgrading both parkour and climbing simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, warm streams surged through every part of his body, enveloping him in soothing warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About ten minutes passed before the changes slowly faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at his skill list: three LV2 skills glowed brightly and vividly—Wilderness Hunter LV2, Parkour Skill LV2, Climbing Skill LV2.\u003C\u002Fp>",2126,"2026-06-20T21:37:28.858Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1a1ac48bed49e6979db61bd5e67830287088d71e57146a219323e13074aadc29","bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-chapter-170","bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-chapter-168",329,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-cover.jpg"]