Chapter 3 · I Act Cruel, He Acts Weak, We Get Rich

Just then, that cold, mechanical voice echoed in my head again.

The System: [New mission assigned.]

[Mission scenario: A heavy rainstorm.]

[Mission content: Kick Alex, who's burning up with a 104°F fever, out of the house and make him stay in the rain all night.]

[Reward: 10 million dollars.]

[Punishment: One hour of electric shocks.]

Alex and I shared a look, and both of us were completely speechless.

10 million dollars?

The System was really spending big this time.

I rubbed my chin and glanced at Alex. "Are we doing this?"

Alex grabbed his phone and checked the weather app.

He said, "Thunderstorm tomorrow."

He paused, and then looked up at me, his gaze intense.

He said, "Let's do it."

"But..." he switched gears, "this time, I want seventy percent."

I was speechless. "Alex, don't push it. It's just a bit of rain. You're seriously trying to raise the price?"

He drawled, "A 104°F fever and stuck in the rain all night? That's hazard pay. I deserve extra."

I didn't know what to say.

Alright, he won.

The next day, the sky was gloomy and heavy, looking like a storm was brewing.

Alex really threw himself into playing sick.

I spent a long while pressing a hot towel to his forehead. His skin was burning up, and his cheeks were flushed an unnatural red.

When I checked his temperature, it was exactly 104°F.

Seriously, he was the best actor indeed. His acting was absolutely legendary.

While I was giving Alex water, I couldn't help calculating in my head.

Even if Alex got seventy percent, that was still 3 million for me.

Not bad.

Alex coughed weakly, his voice hoarse as he spoke. "Chloe, I feel so awful."

His eyes were red and teary as he looked at me, and he looked like a big dog that had been abandoned in the rain.

My heart was about to melt.

Alright, I'd gently send him out in a bit.

He wouldn't get hurt.

I soothed Alex softly, "Alright, just hang in there a little longer."

By nightfall, the wind was roaring outside, and huge raindrops were pounding against the windows.

The moment had finally come.

I took a deep breath, getting myself into character.

In the next instant, I threw the water cup to the floor with a loud crash, the noise slicing through the room.

I shouted, "Alex, stop faking it!"

I ripped the covers off and hauled him out of bed.

I continued, "Got a fever? Then get out of here! Don't die in my place and bring me bad luck!"

Alex staggered as I dragged him to the door, clutching "weakly" at the doorframe. He gasped for breath, begging, "Chloe, it's pouring outside. I feel so awful... Please, don't kick me out..."

His voice was choked with sobs, and hearing him made my heart twist.

Wow, he was such a good actor.

I coldly pried his fingers off the doorframe, one by one.

I said, "Begging me? Do you even have the right to beg?

"You're nothing but a servant I own. When I tell you to get out, you do it!"

With that, I used every ounce of strength to shove Alex out the door.

Then I slammed the door hard.

The world was quiet again.

The System: [First stage of the mission complete.]

[Host, keep up your villainess persona and make sure the target spends the whole night drenched in the rain.]

I leaned against the door, listening to Alex banging desperately and howling in pain outside.

Seriously, enough already. If he kept this up, the neighbors were gonna call the police.

I pulled out my phone and sent him a message. [Go to the garage. There are clean clothes, cold meds, and some late-night snacks in the Rolls-Royce.]

Alex texted back right away: [Roger that.]

Me: [Make sure you toss your wet clothes in the car to dry. Don't actually catch a cold.]

Alex: [Alright, alright, bossy pants.]

I put my phone down and went to take a shower, feeling great.

Just imagining an hour of electric shocks was enough to freak me out.

Milking the System for easy cash was so much better.

But just as I stepped out of the shower, someone started pounding on the doorbell like crazy.

I frowned. Who could that be?

When I looked through the peephole, I was shocked to see Vivian and my parents standing there.

All three of them were soaked to the bone, looking like drowned rats, but they stood at my door with that self-righteous look on their faces.

Vivian was the loudest. "Chloe, open the door! I know you're in there. How could you treat Alex like this?"

My dad chimed in, yelling, "Open up, you ungrateful brat! We're not leaving until you learn your lesson today!"

I was speechless.

Seriously, did these idiots have a tracking device on me or something? How did they always show up right on cue?

Whatever, I ignored them and turned around to head back to my bedroom.

But just then, the System's warning rang out in my head.

[Warning! Warning! Major story characters detected.]

[Host, open the door right now and humiliate Alex in front of them to cement your role as the villainess.]

[If you fail the mission, you'll get twice the punishment.]

I stopped in my tracks.

Double punishment? Two hours of electric shocks?

Damn it!

Resigned, I walked back and yanked the door open.

Chapter 3

Just then, that cold, mechanical voice echoed in my head again.

The System: [New mission assigned.]

[Mission scenario: A heavy rainstorm.]

[Mission content: Kick Alex, who's burning up with a 104°F fever, out of the house and make him stay in the rain all night.]

[Reward: 10 million dollars.]

[Punishment: One hour of electric shocks.]

Alex and I shared a look, and both of us were completely speechless.

10 million dollars?

The System was really spending big this time.

I rubbed my chin and glanced at Alex. "Are we doing this?"

Alex grabbed his phone and checked the weather app.

He said, "Thunderstorm tomorrow."

He paused, and then looked up at me, his gaze intense.

He said, "Let's do it."

"But..." he switched gears, "this time, I want seventy percent."

I was speechless. "Alex, don't push it. It's just a bit of rain. You're seriously trying to raise the price?"

He drawled, "A 104°F fever and stuck in the rain all night? That's hazard pay. I deserve extra."

I didn't know what to say.

Alright, he won.

The next day, the sky was gloomy and heavy, looking like a storm was brewing.

Alex really threw himself into playing sick.

I spent a long while pressing a hot towel to his forehead. His skin was burning up, and his cheeks were flushed an unnatural red.

When I checked his temperature, it was exactly 104°F.

Seriously, he was the best actor indeed. His acting was absolutely legendary.

While I was giving Alex water, I couldn't help calculating in my head.

Even if Alex got seventy percent, that was still 3 million for me.

Not bad.

Alex coughed weakly, his voice hoarse as he spoke. "Chloe, I feel so awful."

His eyes were red and teary as he looked at me, and he looked like a big dog that had been abandoned in the rain.

My heart was about to melt.

Alright, I'd gently send him out in a bit.

He wouldn't get hurt.

I soothed Alex softly, "Alright, just hang in there a little longer."

By nightfall, the wind was roaring outside, and huge raindrops were pounding against the windows.

The moment had finally come.

I took a deep breath, getting myself into character.

In the next instant, I threw the water cup to the floor with a loud crash, the noise slicing through the room.

I shouted, "Alex, stop faking it!"

I ripped the covers off and hauled him out of bed.

I continued, "Got a fever? Then get out of here! Don't die in my place and bring me bad luck!"

Alex staggered as I dragged him to the door, clutching "weakly" at the doorframe. He gasped for breath, begging, "Chloe, it's pouring outside. I feel so awful... Please, don't kick me out..."

His voice was choked with sobs, and hearing him made my heart twist.

Wow, he was such a good actor.

I coldly pried his fingers off the doorframe, one by one.

I said, "Begging me? Do you even have the right to beg?

"You're nothing but a servant I own. When I tell you to get out, you do it!"

With that, I used every ounce of strength to shove Alex out the door.

Then I slammed the door hard.

The world was quiet again.

The System: [First stage of the mission complete.]

[Host, keep up your villainess persona and make sure the target spends the whole night drenched in the rain.]

I leaned against the door, listening to Alex banging desperately and howling in pain outside.

Seriously, enough already. If he kept this up, the neighbors were gonna call the police.

I pulled out my phone and sent him a message. [Go to the garage. There are clean clothes, cold meds, and some late-night snacks in the Rolls-Royce.]

Alex texted back right away: [Roger that.]

Me: [Make sure you toss your wet clothes in the car to dry. Don't actually catch a cold.]

Alex: [Alright, alright, bossy pants.]

I put my phone down and went to take a shower, feeling great.

Just imagining an hour of electric shocks was enough to freak me out.

Milking the System for easy cash was so much better.

But just as I stepped out of the shower, someone started pounding on the doorbell like crazy.

I frowned. Who could that be?

When I looked through the peephole, I was shocked to see Vivian and my parents standing there.

All three of them were soaked to the bone, looking like drowned rats, but they stood at my door with that self-righteous look on their faces.

Vivian was the loudest. "Chloe, open the door! I know you're in there. How could you treat Alex like this?"

My dad chimed in, yelling, "Open up, you ungrateful brat! We're not leaving until you learn your lesson today!"

I was speechless.

Seriously, did these idiots have a tracking device on me or something? How did they always show up right on cue?

Whatever, I ignored them and turned around to head back to my bedroom.

But just then, the System's warning rang out in my head.

[Warning! Warning! Major story characters detected.]

[Host, open the door right now and humiliate Alex in front of them to cement your role as the villainess.]

[If you fail the mission, you'll get twice the punishment.]

I stopped in my tracks.

Double punishment? Two hours of electric shocks?

Damn it!

Resigned, I walked back and yanked the door open.