Bai Youwei stepped into the glowing square. Inside was a blinding white expanse, very similar to the sensation of having just walked out of the labyrinth.

She was carefully surveying her surroundings when suddenly, Shen Mo’s figure appeared before her!

Bai Youwei couldn’t help but startled — then she looked more carefully and realized it wasn’t Shen Mo himself, but a life-sized, three-dimensional holographic projection of him.

“Goodness… gave me a fright…” Bai Youwei muttered.

To the right of Shen Mo’s holographic projection, several lines of information materialized —

【Opponent King. Age: 26. Height: 186cm. Weight: 72kg. Blood Type: A…】

Bai Youwei burst out laughing. “Is this a battle, or a matchmaking profile?”

The system apparently hadn’t anticipated her reaction. The information display stuttered for two seconds, then slowly revealed the remaining details:

【Puzzle Pieces Held: 32】

【Subjects: 2】

【Surrender? Consideration time: 60 seconds. Countdown begins. 59, 58, 57…】

Bai Youwei fixed her eyes on the countdown. The lighthearted feeling from a moment ago gradually gave way to tension.

Would Shen Mo choose to surrender?

Was he, right now, looking at her personal information and hesitating?

Honestly, letting him be king wasn’t so bad…

With his personality, whether he won or lost, he would never abandon her. And as king, he would have a significant advantage in recruiting subjects — he was always trusted and commanded high respect…

But what if something happened to him?

He had teammates, friends, family. Everyone depended on him… he couldn’t afford to be in danger.

And she truly needed — truly needed — this opportunity to be king…

The countdown ticked away, second by second. Bai Youwei’s heart rose, little by little.

A king only had one opportunity to surrender, and it had to be used before the battle began. Once used, the king and all their subjects would be transferred to the opposing king’s side.

42, 41, 40, 39, 38…

Why hadn’t he surrendered yet?

Surely he wasn’t going to wait until the last second just to give her a heart attack?

Bai Youwei grew anxious, unconsciously biting her fingernail, eyes locked on the countdown.

She didn’t want to face off against Shen Mo directly. If Shen Mo refused to surrender the whole time, then she… then she…

Bai Youwei reached out her hand and hovered it over the surrender button.

Was she going to surrender?

31, 30, 29, 28…

Bai Youwei drew a long, deep breath, bit her lower lip, and pulled her hand back.

…Damn it! That infuriating Shen Mo!

Was his male ego flaring up?! Why wasn’t he surrendering?! Was he deliberately playing mind games to force her to become a subject of her own accord?! This infuriating, infuriating, infuriating man — just because she liked him, he was taking advantage of it! Infuriating!!!

*”Ding!…The opposing king has chosen to surrender. Puzzle pieces gained: 32. Subjects gained: 3.”*

Bai Youwei froze.

The system notification sounded again:

*”This battle has concluded. Please proceed to the rest hall and prepare for the next battle.”*

Just… just like that?

Shen Mo’s 3D projection and all the associated information vanished. The surroundings returned to an endless expanse of white.

It had ended too quickly. Bai Youwei felt a little dazed, standing in place for quite a while before turning around and slowly walking out —

Shen Mo was waiting for her outside.

Bai Youwei stared at him, her heart swelling with wave after wave of emotion. She murmured, “You… you surrendered?”

“Mm.” Shen Mo stepped forward and cupped her face in his hands, bowing his head to brush his nose against hers. “Couldn’t argue with you.”

Bai Youwei was stunned. Then she came back to her senses, shoved his nose hard, and demanded fiercely, “Why did it take you so long to surrender?! Were you hesitating?! Were you?! Were you?! WERE YOU?!”

Shen Mo laughed despite himself, steadying her. “No. I was just looking at your personal information for a little longer.”

Bai Youwei: “……”

Shen Mo continued, “So you really are an adult after all…”

Bai Youwei let out a huff. “What — you actually thought I was a minor this whole time?”

Shen Mo smiled and ruffled her hair. “I did. I always thought you were three years old.”

Bai Youwei immediately bared her teeth and launched at him!

—