Chapter 53: Chapter 52: Live with me
The more Lin Anyi thought about it, the more he felt this idea was feasible. In the fight with Alechino just now, he truly experienced the benefits of the simulator. Perhaps betraying Funina in the simulation was nothing, but doing so in reality would be fatal.
As long as he continued to simulate and gain strength, would he still need to fear bad women attacking him in reality? If he could gain direct, permanent strength instead of relying on just 80% of Alechino's power for three minutes, he wouldn't need to worry about her threatening Funina.
If he could obtain more skills like [Turning Clouds and Rain], wouldn't he have already overpowered Alechino and turned the tables?
The more Lin Anyi thought about it, the more confident he became. The fear and uneasiness in his heart were gradually replaced by a newfound fighting spirit.
Realizing this, Lin Anyi saw the simulator not just as a source of persecution but as his golden ticket. "If the simulator hadn't forced me to do those simulations at the beginning, wouldn't I be powerless against Alechino now?"
His mentality shifted completely. Lin Anyi saw hope and possibilities, deciding to dedicate himself more to simulation training. He wanted to accumulate experience and skills to handle the threats of bad women in reality.
As his thoughts cleared, Lin Anyi felt a sense of anticipation building within him.
"The bad woman is taking a shower," he muttered to himself. "She shouldn't notice me. Maybe this is the best time to escape."
Though still bound by the flame chain, Lin Anyi was confident he could break free without Alechino directly monitoring him.
With a focused thought, he equipped Alechino's character card. Driven by its power, the flame chain binding him dissipated instantly, transforming into a ball of flame that hovered quietly in his palm.
Lin Anyi waved his hand gently, dispersing the flame. He quickly gathered the scattered clothes from the bed, putting them on in a hurry to cover up the previous mess. His movements were swift and careful, ensuring he made no noise.
However, contrary to his expectations, Alechino's speed far exceeded what he had anticipated.
Just as he finished dressing and was about to find an escape route, Alechino appeared silently in front of him.
Lin Anyi froze. He looked up to see a dangerous and greedy light flashing in Alechino's eyes, making him tense involuntarily.
"Ah, Alechino?" His voice trembled slightly, betraying his nervousness.
She had already done so much—wasn't she satisfied yet?
What Lin Anyi didn't know was that Alechino wasn't angry at seeing him dressed and ready to escape. Instead, she felt secretly relieved.
Although she had threatened to teach Lin Anyi a lesson earlier, Alechino was actually exhausted and had no strength left to continue punishing him.
Seeing Lin Anyi's actions, she felt this was an opportune moment. She didn't show any anger but instead walked quietly to the bed and began dressing, restoring her usual dignity.
Lin Anyi, unsure of Alechino's intentions, watched her cautiously. As he tried to guess her thoughts, she suddenly approached him, her voice unexpectedly soft: "Anyi, how about staying with me in the future? Don't go back."
"Although Funina is very wealthy, it's all supported by Fontaine's welfare. I'll support you. Stay in my mansion, okay?"
Faced with Alechino's sudden proposal, Lin Anyi instinctively took a step back. His eyes were full of confusion and vigilance as he tried to make sense of her abrupt change.
When Alechino noticed his retreat, a trace of displeasure flashed across her eyes.
"Why? You don't want to?"
Lin Anyi replied with a hint of embarrassment:
"No… I think we should be enemies now, right?"
"You forced me to do such excessive things, and now you're softly asking me to live with you. Don't you think that's strange?"
Alechino frowned slightly at his question, as if weighing how best to explain her contradictory request. She took a deep breath, then spoke with a more sincere tone, attempting to calm his doubts:
"Do you really think we're enemies? Then ask yourself—how much hatred do you still have for me now?"
Her words lingered in the air, like a drop of water falling into the quiet surface of Lin Anyi's heart, creating subtle ripples.
Lin Anyi suddenly felt a tremor in his chest as he realized his hatred for Alechino had indeed dissipated significantly without him noticing. This realization left him uneasy and confused.
"How could this be possible?" His voice trembled, an inexplicable panic welling up inside him.
Alechino, the woman who had once forced him to betray his beloved girlfriend and commit unspeakable acts, should have been someone he hated to the core. Yet, now he found himself unable to hate her.
In fact, in her presence, there seemed to be a trace of tenderness lingering in his heart.
"Could this be Stockholm syndrome?" Lin Anyi wondered, his thoughts spiraling.
On one side, he grappled with the complex feelings he held for Alechino; on the other, he questioned the authenticity of those emotions.
Closing his eyes in pain, he sought answers in the darkness.
Seeing his reaction, Alechino's eyes flickered with a complex light. She reached out, her fingers gently brushing against his chest, as if to touch the turmoil deep within him.
"It's because you have feelings in your heart."
"During our entanglement earlier, you clearly realized that I love you with true feelings—not just desire. How can you still hate me in this situation?"
Her words carried an unmistakable depth of affection and determination, as though they were undeniable truths.
Lin Anyi was struck silent by her unexpected sincerity. His gaze, filled with complex emotions, lingered on her face as if searching for an answer.
But when he saw the affection in her eyes, he wasn't sure if this was the answer he sought. Turning his head away, he avoided her gaze.
His lips parted slightly, but no words came.
Lin Anyi felt an internal struggle unlike anything he'd experienced before. His reason told him to reject her, yet his emotions wavered in response to her sincerity.
In the past, it was easy to label Alechino as a bad woman and remain wholeheartedly hostile toward her.
But now, understanding that her actions were driven by infatuation, he found himself grappling with an entirely new dilemma.
Different causes and effects carried entirely different meanings.