Chapter 1926: After the Rewind, Love You Again 01

I hate you.

I love you.

You will always belong to me.

——

The forest cabin at dusk is not as wonderful as imagined.

The eerie red light shone through the lattice window; Jin Chen, who had just woken up and still hadn't figured out the situation, immediately sensed an unavoidable killing intent.

"Haven't decided who to team up with yet?" the youth said, pushing up his frameless glasses, mocking: "Jin Chen, you actually didn't unconditionally choose me."

Jin Chen: "……"

Hey, who are you?

Jin Chen remained silent, then looked at the other two people who wanted to team up: a smiling double‑tailed girl and a handsome, aloof silver‑haired youth.

"I choose……"

【Wait! Don't choose yet—for your own safety, I suggest you pretend to faint right now!】

The trembling, soft voice sounded scared.

Two seconds later, Jin Chen, who had only spoken half his sentence, fainted.

Three people: "……"

Is he dead?

If not dead, give him another stab.

【Transmitting plot memories……Transmission successful!】

In this world, there is such a kind of person.

They have outstanding looks, keen wit, enjoy plundering resources, aim to constantly climb higher, and can use anyone, even close relatives.

Those harmed or used by them lose everything at best, or suffer family ruin and death at worst; they are collectively called the stepping stones on the protagonist's path to success.

Finally, one day, fortunes turned, and the stepping stones became villains.

Villain One: Ruan Fu, male.

A researcher whose feelings were deceived by the protagonist.

The protagonist obtained Ruan Fu's family heirloom and important data from the Imperial Research Institute from this romance, then sold them at a sky‑high price to an underground organization.

Ruan Fu tried to turn the tide but failed, was instead stabbed three times, severely wounded, and fell into the seabed.

Villain Two: Ji Luo, female.

The protagonist's childhood‑friend neighbor, after the protagonist teamed up with her ex to seize her millions‑worth fortune, she was expelled from the Empire and became an unprotected black‑household.

Villain Three: Yun Zaozao, male.

The protagonist's research‑institute roommate had his crucial research results plundered, was then framed as a thief, expelled from the industry, and ended up on the streets.

Villain Four: Cheng Chuan, male.

One of the founders of the protagonist's company, whom he considered his closest friend, helped the protagonist with many shady online dealings thanks to his networking skills.

The protagonist wanted to cleanly climb into the Empire's political circle, then pushed all those shady dealings onto him; he was ultimately sentenced to three years in prison and had all his property confiscated.

Villain Five: Gao Kai, male.

An unlucky passerby.

When the protagonist was being hunted, he was inexplicably used as a human shield on the street, shot dead, buying the protagonist a chance to escape.

【And you are this protagonist.】

Jin Chen: "……"

Don't you want to hear what you're saying?

Why am I such a damned person?

In Star Calendar Year 520, a holographic game swept the Empire; selected players entered the game with their real‑world appearance while their bodies fell into a coma.

Clearing the game awards thirty billion star coins; failure means death, and each cleared stage grants half a month of rest.

The holographic death game has existed for nearly ten years, and so far only two players have cleared it.

The Empire's ordinary residents know nothing of this, while the five villains, having made a comeback, happen to be drawn into the game together with Jin Chen, sharing a single goal:

Kill Jin Chen.

【Host, hang in there—you can do it! Pixiu Lord is with you!】

——

Death Game Novice Stage: "Cabin in the Twilight"

Jin Chen lifted his head from the corner shadows and matched the three people he had just considered teaming up with against the villains.

Former roommate Yun Zaozao, unlucky childhood‑friend Ji Luo, and ex‑lover Ruan Fu.

What's worse, his wife is none other than Ruan Fu—the major villain who deceived his feelings, was stabbed three times, and fell into the seabed.

Jin Chen felt his life was in grave danger.

【Villains detected in this world—Blackening Value triggered!】

【Villain Ruan Fu's Blackening Value: 100!】

【Villain Ji Luo's Blackening Value: 85!】

【Villain Yun Zaozao's Blackening Value: 90!】

【Main mission requirement: Eliminate all villains' Blackening Values and alter their tragic fates.】

【Side mission requirement: Stay alive.】

Jin Chen: "……"

After tens of seconds of mental preparation, Jin Chen finally rose from the corner, instantly drawing everyone's gaze in the cabin.

As the protagonist, Jin Chen possesses absolutely outstanding looks and demeanor; just standing there makes him the center of attention.

But this buff is obviously not a good thing at present.

Yun Zaoyao walked over first, rather intimately patting the dust off Jin Chen's shoulder, "Have you decided who to team up with?"

Ji Luò still smiled harmlessly, twirling a strand of hair with her fingertip, "Jin Dage, I'm also looking forward to your answer."

Jin Chen nodded sincerely, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, and said very earnestly, "I've decided."

"Let's form a team of four."

"Being the protagonist means keeping the water level."

Ruan Fu, who was playing with a dagger by the window, let out a cold laugh; her silver hair was tossed by the wind outside, obscuring her beautiful, glimmering brows and eyes.

His gaze toward Jin Chen was murky and icy, mixed with killing intent.

"Are you sure?"

Jin Chen smiled at him more sincerely, "Of course."

"Or do you prefer that we team up alone?"

Ruan Fu was stabbed by that overly dazzling smile, gripping the dagger in her hand, the hatred in her eyes shocking, "You'd better pray you don't end up alone."

I'll try my best.

Jin Chen thought, when in doubt, just play it safe.

Ji Luò glanced doubtfully at Ruan Fu, then looked at Yun Zaoyao beside her, guessing which of the two was Jin Chen's ex.

The undercurrents among the four surged, unnoticed by the other new players in the wooden cabin.

【Ding dong!】

The game prompt tone came online.