Chapter 362: Volume 1, Chapter 362 – I Insist on Tasting the Bitterness of Love (2)

「Click。」

The door was locked from inside.

Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, rubbed the goosebumps on her arms, and involuntarily said, "Is he made of ice? Why is he so cold…"

777 said, "Host, do you have a way to win him over?"

Jiang Zhi let out a sly laugh: "I've come up with a win‑win solution."

777 asked blankly, "What method?"

Jiang Zhi slipped on her slippers and returned home, saying, "I won't tell you for now."

After tidying up the house and clearing out unnecessary items, the house suddenly felt much more spacious.

In this world there are no restrictions on character settings, Jiang Zhi lay comfortably on the sofa, feeling happy and content.

"I truly wish I could stay this comfortable forever."

777 happily said, "The mission has no time limit; Host, you can enjoy yourself to the fullest."

Jiang Zhi nodded, took out her phone, and downloaded the currently hottest mobile game.

Similar to League of Legends, it is a MOBA‑type competitive game called Honor of Kings.

Seeing this, 777 excitedly asked, "Host, are you planning to use the game to win over the villain?"

Jiang Zhi was going through the novice tutorial, rubbing her sore fingers, and found a moment to reply, "No, no."

She's terrible at the game, can't tell up from down or left from right.

Thinking about using the game to sway the villain, it would be more practical to just rush next door and knock on his door.

"Isn't the first task to fulfill the original host's wish? I've decided that the next book will be about esports, so right now I'm just getting familiar with the game."

777 suddenly understood: "Oh, that's how it is!"

Jiang Zhi started a bot match, her score was 1 kill, 10 deaths, 3 assists.

That sole kill was given to her by a teammate who couldn't bear to watch.

The match ended.

"It's so hard." Her thumb ached and hurt, she tossed the phone aside, exhausted.

She played the game until six in the evening.

She cooked herself a bowl of century‑egg and lean‑meat porridge, ate and drank her fill, took a shower, then sat on the bed to keep playing.

The next morning.

After an all‑night gaming session, Jiang Zhi showed up at the door with panda eyes, waited a moment, and soon the neighbor's door opened and he came out.

The boy was still wearing his all‑black hoodie, casual pants, and a cap, looking like someone about to commit a crime; his pale fingers had distinct joints, he locked the door and strode off.

He didn't even glance at her.

The air—Jiang Zhi locked the door and followed him into the elevator.

She kept yawning, her reddened eye corners holding physiological tears, her shoulder‑length black hair casually tied back, her delicate, beautiful face looking weary and listless.

A phone ringtone sounded.

Jiang Zhi thought it was hers, took out her phone, and realized it wasn't.

"Okay, got it."

A low, pleasant voice came from behind, devoid of any emotion, like a speaking robot.

Jiang Zhi turned to look at him; the boy answered the phone, said a couple of sentences, then hung up.

Ding, the elevator doors opened.

The boy strode out with long, purposeful steps.

Jiang Zhi was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open; naturally, she went out to have breakfast.

After an all‑night gaming session, she was so hungry her stomach felt pressed against her back—it was mentally draining.

She left the residential complex, sat down at a nearby breakfast shop, finished her meal, then went to the supermarket and brought home a bag of groceries.

The original host was financially independent; the first book earned a lot of money, so she didn't have to worry about finances.

She got home and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She slept until five in the afternoon, then cooked several dishes with the ingredients she'd bought that morning and packed them into boxes.

Soon after, she opened the door and walked next door to press the doorbell.

A few seconds later, the door opened from the inside.

The boy wore a stone‑faced expression, looked at her without saying a word, as if waiting for her to speak first.

Jiang Zhi handed him the box of dishes, smiling, and said, "Hello, I run an online store. This is food I just made—could you please give it a try?"

The box contained all the dishes he liked; the cloth bag gave off a fragrance that hit his nose in waves.

Ning Xun gave her a faint glance, coldly said "No," and shut the door.

Devoid of feeling.

After holding her arm in mid‑air for a few stiff seconds, Jiang Zhi lowered it and went to the house next door to the neighbor's.

At that moment, the boy who had been standing at the doorway peeking through the peephole relaxed his furrowed brows, didn't glance at her again, and turned away.

Jiang Zhi rested her chin on her hand and analyzed.

The villain Ning Xun is extremely vigilant, suspicious, distrustful of others, and his whole body exudes an aura that says 'strangers keep out.'

After her first setback, Jiang Zhi returned home, glanced at the lunchbox left on the table, immediately went to the bedroom, and began writing the opening of her second esports‑themed book.

After finishing, she sent it to the original host's editor, Xiao Jing.

Xiao Jing, who lived far away in Y City, upon receiving her submission, sat up startled from his sickbed, excitedly ran to the computer, and read the opening she had sent.

The preceding passage is a first‑person narrative: the female lead secretly loves the boy next door, wants to find a chance to talk to him, but has no opportunity.

Jiang Zhi writes well, her psychological depictions are spot‑on, capturing the feelings of a secret admirer in vivid detail.

Many who have read her political intrigue stories think she hired a ghostwriter, and they can't believe it, saying: "Did you really write this?"

Jiang Zhi replied: "Yeah."

Xiao Jing exclaimed in delight: "You can do that!"

But this opening is still not as impressive as her political intrigue writing; however, as long as the later developments are impressive, it's fine.

After finishing her discussion with the editor, Jiang Zhi changed into sportswear and went out to exercise.

The original host had a poor constitution, always stayed at home, rarely went out, which also led to her dying suddenly at home.

Having run three or four laps around the residential complex, Jiang Zhi came out of the elevator, she steadied her rapid breathing, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and saw a boy walking toward her, clutching his stomach, looking uncomfortable.

He was probably going to take the elevator.

Jiang Zhi stepped aside for him, but before she had taken two steps, she heard a "thud" behind her; she turned around and saw the boy collapsed on the ground, his face pale, in great pain.

She hurried over, wanting to reach out and help him up, but he shoved her away hard; in the depths of his blurred, dark eyes flashed a cold disgust.

He clearly felt nauseated by her touch.

Jiang Zhi said irritably: "I only came over to help because you're my neighbor; do you think I enjoy touching you?"

Ning Xun heard her voice, his brows knotted tightly; he tried to sit up, but his stomach pain was obvious, he let out a muffled groan and lay curled up on the ground.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhi helped him up and, with unsteady steps, walked him into the elevator.

While waiting for the elevator to reach the first floor, she dialed the emergency number.

After stumbling to the complex's gate, the nurse on the ambulance lifted him aboard.

All the way to the hospital.

The doctor said: "He has an acute gastric perforation; he needs surgery. Are you his relative?"

Jiang Zhi paused for a moment, thinking that the villain's parents were dead and he had no close relatives either.

She had no choice but to steel herself and nod: "Um, I'm his relative."

After signing the surgery consent form, the boy was pushed into the operating room.