You're already divorced, why are you so anxious about him becoming a succubus?

Around 6 p.m., the clouds gradually piled up in the sky, blocking some of the early summer heat.

With a soft click of the door lock coming from the entrance hall, Shen Nian pushed open the door and walked into the apartment.

The little girl came home unusually quiet today; even the sweet smile that usually graced her lips was gone.

She lowered her head, changed into her slippers, and hung her canvas bag on the coat hanger. She exuded an indescribable sense of listlessness and silence.

"get out of class is over?" Lu Ci was carrying a plate of freshly stir-fried green peppers and shredded pork out of the kitchen when he greeted him casually.

"Hmm... I'm back, Brother Lu." Shen Nian's voice was muffled. She didn't even look up at Lu Ci before she hurriedly walked into her bedroom and closed the door.

Lu Ci looked at the closed door, scratched his head in confusion, but didn't ask any questions. He turned around and went back into the kitchen to get soup.

Half an hour later, the food was served.

The two sat facing each other at the cozy wooden dining table, but an eerie silence fell over the air.

In Shen Nian's view, this was simply the most agonizing day she had experienced in the past twenty years.

Today at school, she didn't hear a single word of the professor's lecture; her mind was filled with the scene she witnessed in the hotel room that morning.

She picked up her chopsticks and absentmindedly poked at the white rice in her bowl.

"They'll definitely remarry, right?" Shen Nian thought sadly to herself. After all, her sister was so beautiful, had such a great figure, and was so rich. And last night they... had such an intimate relationship.

Once Lu Ge calms down, he will definitely go back to that big apartment and be a good husband.

Even if they don't remarry, with Lu Ge's wealth and resources, he could definitely attract a large number of young and beautiful girls.

He'll eventually find a new girlfriend and move out of this rented apartment.

And what about yourself?

Shen Nian subconsciously belittled herself. She was just an illegitimate daughter who couldn't be presented in public, with a dull personality, unable to say a complete and pleasant sentence, and with absolutely no redeeming qualities.

During this time, Brother Lu treated her well, and was even willing to move into her rented apartment. To put it bluntly, it was only because of her former status as his sister-in-law that he was taking care of her as a pitiful younger sister.

How could anyone possibly have such improper thoughts about her?

The thought that the days when she could come home from school every day and see him busy in the kitchen, and live under the same roof with him, would soon be gone made Shen Nian's eyes sting with tears, and she could only bury her head even lower.

Meanwhile, Lu Ci, sitting opposite him, had no mind at all about the food.

The moment he saw Shen Nian, the main quest that the system had issued that morning uncontrollably popped into his mind.

Make Shen Nian tell him "I like you" in person, and it has to be from the bottom of her heart!

Lu Ci looked up and examined the girl in front of him with such seriousness and detail for the first time.

He used to think of Shen Nian as a pitiful younger sister who needed protection, but now he realized that the system's rating of her as a "9-point beauty" was far too conservative.

Today, Shen Nian changed into a loose-fitting short-sleeved shirt at home and wore a pair of very close-fitting light gray cotton shorts.

Because she was eating with her head down, the loose neckline was slightly tilted, revealing glimpses of her breathtakingly full curves, and her legs, exposed under her shorts, were straight, long, and dazzlingly white.

This contrast between innocence and extreme allure is a killer weapon for straight men.

Lu Ci's Adam's apple bobbed, and he quickly averted his gaze from that expanse of white, inwardly groaning.

She's undeniably beautiful and incredibly alluring, but how am I supposed to complete this mission?!

If it were just for a reward, he could have simply walked up to Shen Nian, shamelessly said, "Nian Nian, could you do me a favor and tell me I like you?"

However, the system's addition of the prefix "sincere" means that any coercion, inducement, or jokes will not work.

He had to make this girl fall in love with him from the bottom of her heart, and then confess his feelings to her sincerely and proactively.

This is absolutely outrageous! He's her ex-brother-in-law!

Each of them had their own thoughts, and the meal felt like chewing wax.

After dinner, Lu Ci took the initiative to clear the dishes.

As the sky outside gradually darkened, he wiped his hands and called out to the closed door of the second bedroom, "Niannian, I'm going out for a walk to digest my food. Do you want to come with me?"

"No... I'm not going, Brother Lu, I haven't finished my PowerPoint presentation yet." Shen Nian's muffled voice came from the room.

Lu Ci sighed helplessly. You can't guess what a little girl is thinking; you'll never figure it out no matter how hard you try.

Lu Ci changed his shoes and walked out of the apartment building alone.

Walking down the street in the evening breeze, he took out his phone and opened a map app.

Besides the troublesome confession task, he also has a side quest to learn a musical instrument.

He searched for nearby music stores and studios on the map and found a highly-rated independent music studio at the end of the commercial street outside the south gate of Jiangda University. It not only sells musical instruments but also provides one-on-one vocal and instrumental lessons.

"Let's go take a look here." Lu Ci put away his phone and strolled along the street.

When he walked to a small upscale shopping area next to the commercial street, he suddenly stopped.

Across the street is a high-end Western restaurant with stylish decor and a high price point.

Because the restaurant's second floor features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Lu Ci, standing across the street, immediately spotted a familiar figure sitting by the window on the second floor.

It's Shen Man.

Shen Man was clearly dressed up carefully at this moment.

She wore an extremely form-fitting haute couture black evening gown, her hair styled in an elegant French updo, revealing her long, fair swan neck.

The dim, romantic light shone on her exquisite, aloof face, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

Just as Lu Ci stopped to observe, a man in a sharp suit and gold-rimmed glasses appeared opposite Shen Man, holding a large bouquet of vibrant red roses.

It was Gu Mingxuan.

Separated by a bustling street and a thick pane of glass, Lu Ci couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could see everything happening inside clearly.

……

When Gu Mingxuan suddenly appeared holding that ostentatious bouquet of red roses, Shen Man was clearly stunned for a moment, and even subconsciously stood up.

A hint of surprise flashed across her face, her brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of hesitation flickered in her eyes.

"Mingxuan, what are you doing?" Shen Man looked at the roses offered to her but did not immediately reach out to take them.

Gu Mingxuan maintained his gentle and refined smile, his tone carrying just the right amount of innocence:

"Manman, don't overthink it. The cooperation with the foreign company was finally finalized today, which is a joyous occasion. I bought a bouquet of flowers to thank President Shen for his hard work. You wouldn't refuse me even this small favor, would you?"

Shen Man's tense expression relaxed slightly. She smiled helplessly, reached out and took the bouquet of roses, placed it on the empty chair next to her, and then sat down again.