Are You Tempted?

Yu Fuli comforted herself, telling herself that she was just overthinking things.

He turned the air conditioner down a bit, letting the cool air help him calm down.

In any case, the person has been found, is right beside you, appears to be safe and sound, and you still trust him completely.

This is reality.

As for those baseless associations...

Perhaps he really needs to take a good rest recently.

Being so suspicious all the time is not good.

He recalled the explicit warning he received during the Quick Transmigration Bureau's training before setting off—the world of a novel is built around the protagonist. The world's operating logic, energy cycle, and even its very foundation are all closely linked to and inextricably intertwined with the fate of the core protagonist.

The protagonist is both the anchor of the world and the source and bearer of all rules.

Once the protagonist suffers an irreversible breakdown, the small world that depends on him will inevitably collapse and become alienated, just like a building without load-bearing walls.

He had personally witnessed the afterimages of the world following those slight collapses.

The rules are disordered, the logic is reversed, and a sense of chaotic and eerie disorder pervades the air.

It was not simply destruction, but a horrifying distortion resulting from the erosion of the very foundation.

For example, can you imagine a complete reversal of the status between humans and animals? Or, what if the two sides, who were having a peaceful conversation one moment, suddenly pulled out weapons that shouldn't exist and fell into the most primal and bloody battle the next?

These absurd scenes, in a collapsing world, may become a distorted daily reality.

However, this is only a minor breakdown.

Looking out the window at the bustling, orderly street scene with its heavy traffic, Yu Fuli's doubts seemed to gradually dissipate in the face of the normal sight before her.

If Lin Xun, as the core protagonist of this world, were to truly collapse, the seemingly harmonious and orderly scene before us would probably no longer exist.

Perhaps... I was just overthinking it.

Strangely, the system didn't come out to comfort him this time.

Yu Fuli turned her gaze from the window to the boy sitting quietly beside her, her tone returning to its usual gentleness as she softly said:

"Hold on tight, we're almost there."

The car drove into the underground parking lot of a top-tier shopping mall in the city center.

The elevator takes you directly to the well-decorated high-rise, where the gleaming marble floors and soft artistic lighting create a world apart from the messy little supermarket you saw just half an hour ago.

Lin Xun followed closely behind Yu Fuli, his steps somewhat cautious. The worn marks on his old jacket and his faded jeans seemed out of place in this extremely refined environment.

He almost subconsciously shrugged, trying to minimize his presence.

Yu Fuli smiled and patted Lin Xun on the shoulder, pushing him toward a high-end clothing store known for its understated luxury.

Inside the huge glass display case, the latest seasonal styles, with their sharp cuts and expensive fabrics, are on display.

The shop assistant at the entrance was well-trained; his eyes quickly swept over the two people. The one in front had an extraordinary air about him, and his clothes, though seemingly simple, were meticulously tailored; the one behind…

Her perfectly professional smile faltered almost imperceptibly for a moment, but she quickly extended it even more warmly: "Welcome, sir. How can I help you?"

"Choose a few suitable outfits for him, from the inside out," Yu Fuli said succinctly, gently pushing the still somewhat dazed Lin Xun forward. "Suitable for everyday wear, comfort is key."

Lin Xun snapped back to reality, her face instantly flushing red. She hurriedly whispered, "No, no need, teacher! I... I have clothes to wear! Really!"

His hands gripped the hem of his old coat tightly, his knuckles turning white.

The quiet, the fragrance, and even the clothes without clearly marked prices made him feel suffocated and disoriented.

"I know you think you have enough clothes to wear," Yu Fuli softened her tone, winking at him playfully, "but I want to buy you some, is that not allowed? Just think of it as me wanting to play a dress-up game."

He spoke casually, but his actions carried an undeniable force, gently pushing Lin Xun, who was still trying to refuse, towards the waiting shop assistant, while nodding to the well-trained lady.

Given Yu Fuli's status in this world, he only needs to give a command, and countless high-end luxury brands will diligently deliver the latest seasonal products to his home for him to choose from. The clothes he wears on a daily basis are mostly exclusive custom-made pieces by renowned designers.

He was willing to treat Lin Xun well and protect this sapling so that it could grow strong. This was his mission, but it also involved a bit of genuine affection.

But he was not a saint who was completely selfless. He needed Lin Xun to clearly feel this kindness and remember it all.

The shop assistants had already brought out several basic cashmere sweaters and casual pants that looked simple but were actually very well-tailored and made of exquisite fabrics, in gentle off-white and light gray colors.

"Sir, please try these on first; the sizes should fit. This way to the fitting room, please." Her voice was respectful and gentle.

Lin Xun was almost half guided and half pushed into the spacious and bright fitting room.

The door closed gently behind me, temporarily shutting out the outside world's sight and sound.

He stood alone on the soft, thick wool carpet, the clothes in his hands feeling incredibly delicate; his fingertips barely made a sound as they touched them.

His gaze fell on the small tag, the number on which was an amount he could hardly save even after years of hard work.

Lin Xun took off her old clothes, which were faded and worn at the cuffs, and put on brand new and expensive clothes.

The clothes fit him surprisingly well, as if they were custom-made for his body shape; the size chosen by the shop assistant was precise and just right.

All of this was given to him by Yu Fuli.

Others had treated him this well before, but what was the outcome?

Yu Fuli is just like those people.

The fitting room was spacious and bright, with a huge floor-length mirror clearly reflecting Lin Xun's current appearance.

The boy in the mirror was dressed in fine, well-tailored clothes. The soft cashmere complemented his fair skin, and the crisp cut accentuated his slender figure.

However, there was no trace of joy or unease on his face at receiving new clothes; instead, he was shrouded in an almost icy sense of detachment that matched his attire.

The usual timidity and evasiveness had faded from his eyes, revealing an almost indifferent calmness, and even a hint of an indescribable, seemingly innate, condescension.

The person in the mirror now is completely different from the slum boy who was clutching his old clothes in distress outside the store just a few minutes ago.

He simply stared quietly at his reflection in the mirror, at the familiar yet unfamiliar image of himself.

The boy in the mirror suddenly drew a cold, clearly mocking smile.

That smile was completely different from any smile he had ever shown in front of Yu Fuli. It had shed all its gentleness and dependence, leaving only a kind of cruel clarity and self-mockery.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror, a reflection draped in fine clothes yet with a cold expression, and silently mouthed to the image:

"Have you forgotten, Lin Xun?"

"You always were like this."

"Could it be that after pretending for so long, you've almost forgotten what you originally looked like?"

"It's just a tiny bit of charity, yet it's enough to make you waver?"

"Have you forgotten how those people smiled and handed you bread, only to turn around and push you into an even deeper quagmire?"

"What's wrapped in honey is always a poison that corrodes the bones and blood."

He looked at the well-dressed but unfamiliar figure in the mirror and gave a slight smirk.

That smile had no warmth, only a knowing and indifferent expression.

He stood silently facing his reflection in the mirror for a moment, letting the unfamiliar sense of alienation permeate his body.

Then, as if a switch had been precisely flipped, the coldness in his eyes receded rapidly like a tide, replaced by a familiar, moist layer of bewilderment and timidity. His shoulders hunched slightly again, his chin tucked in, and even his breathing became shallower and more uneasy.

He stood alone in the fitting room for a while, as if he needed time to readjust to this body that didn't belong to him.

Only when he felt that his emotions and expressions had been properly restored did he finally, slowly and hesitantly, reach out and push open the fitting room door.

As he walked out, he still didn't dare to look up, his gaze fixed on the tips of his brand-new shoes, as if the gleam of their newness made him feel blinded and disoriented.