By the artificial lake, the water surface mirrored the bright moon above, rippling gently under the night breeze. Kael Voss stood tall by the shore, his slim, tailored casual outfit fluttering in the wind, clinging to his body to highlight his perfect proportions. At 183 centimeters, with messy, stylish hair and sharp, handsome features, he cut an unmissable figure.
If Jax Cole had never existed, Kael would have been the undisputed male lead. But in his past life, he had been nothing more than a stepping stone—his family's empire collapsed, and his loved ones perished. Thinking of that miserable past, his eyes darkened slightly.
Chloe Reed hurried to the lake and spotted him at once.
He stood gazing at the water, an indescribable aura surrounding him that drew every eye. A few girls passing by whispered to each other while stealing glances at him.
Chloe stepped carefully to his side, her voice small and trembling.
"I… I'm here."
Kael glanced at her, then lifted a bag in his hand and began walking slowly along the lake.
"Let's walk."
Chloe had steeled herself to kiss him quickly and run away.
But seeing his lonely silhouette, she found herself following him without thinking.
The cool night wind brushed against them.
A faint sense of loss lingered in Kael's chest.
"What do you think is the meaning of life?"
Chloe blinked in surprise at his sudden question, then answered softly, "I want to study hard, get a good job, and make my parents' lives easier."
Make their parents' lives easier?
Kael's eyes narrowed.
People lived for themselves and their families. How stupid had he been in his past life, pouring all his heart into Lila? He had let her and Jax Cole destroy the Voss family empire without much effort.
If he couldn't crush those two completely, he would never rest easy.
He feared the tragedy of his past life repeating itself.
Whether it was Jax Cole or Lila Hart, Kael would take everything they had, bit by bit.
Only then could he feel safe.
And the girl before him was one of Jax's hidden possessions.
Chloe stared at Kael's back. The lonely, gentle man from moments ago had suddenly turned cold and dangerous.
He fixed his gaze on her, his eyes sharp enough to make her want to flee.
In the next second, he grabbed her head roughly, his movements brimming with overwhelming masculine dominance. Though they were not a couple, he kissed her fiercely, just like the many lovers by the lake.
In that instant, Chloe's mind went completely blank.
Five long minutes passed before she regained a sliver of sense. She shoved Kael away with all her strength.
"What are you doing?!"
Kael licked his lips, as if savoring the taste.
Chloe covered her entire face, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You… you said just one kiss!"
"Without stopping, it still counts as one," he smiled, crossing out one box on their agreement paper.
Chloe thought he was terrifying—unreasonably, unbearably terrifying.
She stood up, holding back her tears, refusing to cry in front of this devil. She turned to leave.
"Wait."
Kael stopped her. Chloe spun around, her voice sharp. "What else do you want? I've done enough for today!"
"I want to show you something."
Kael handed her the damage assessment report from the auto shop.
It showed the repair costs and depreciation had doubled.
"I thought it would be 20000," he said calmly. "But the shop says it's 40000."
Chloe paled at the paper in her hands, stepping back in panic. Was this monster going to demand more from her? He wouldn't double the agreement, would he?
But Kael did no such thing. Instead, he held out a box toward her.
"For you."
She took it shakily, expecting another agreement sheet with twenty boxes.
When she opened it, her breath caught.
A white Motorola V3.
Kael waved his own phone in front of her—black, the matching pair. "Mine's black. Couple's style. I already saved my number in yours."
"You… you got this for me?"
"Yes."
Chloe froze, then immediately shoved the phone and box back into his hands. "I don't want it!" she shouted, every muscle in her body rejecting it.
At that moment, the Divine Choice System activated.
Option 1: Take the phone back. Gain: Chloe's Disappointment +5, Chloe's Sorrow +1
Option 2: Throw the phone into the lake. Gain: Host IQ -1
Option 3: Force her to accept it. Gain: Chloe's Affection +5, Permanent Host Charm +1
Kael's face darkened as he read the options.
What was wrong with Option 2? It always made him look like an idiot, and it even lowered his IQ!
And this girl was quite the actress—without the system, he might have actually believed she didn't want it.
His voice turned cold and firm. "You don't have a choice."
"Why?!"
"The damage cost doubled. So you have to take it. Or you pay me 40000—forty boxes on our agreement."
"That's not fair!" Chloe stammered, dumbfounded. "No one just shoves things into someone else's hands!"
"So are you going to take it or not?" Kael leaned slightly toward her.
"I… I…"
Her flustered, indecisive expression was painfully cute.
In situations like this, a little boldness went a long way.
Without another word, Kael slung the phone bag over her arm, then reached up and ruffled her thick, fluffy hair into a messy mess.
Chloe's fair face burned, her lips still swollen from his kiss.
She didn't dare resist, letting him mess up her hair.
After a moment, Kael turned and walked down the lake path without looking back, waving casually.
"I'm leaving. Stay out too long, and you'll catch a cold."
Chloe watched his tall, unrestrained figure fade into the streetlights, and sniffled softly.
Maybe she was already a little cold.
She ran back to the dormitory along a different path.
Girls' dorms were always full of sharp eyes.
The second Chloe stepped through the door, every gaze locked onto her.
Her already delicate cheeks flushed bright red instantly.
The roommates smiled mischievously without saying a word.
Chloe waved her hands frantically.
"We're not dating! Nothing happened!"
It was the most obvious denial imaginable.
Everyone exchanged knowing grins.
Even if they weren't a couple now, at this rate, it was only a matter of time.
"Chloe! What's that in your hand? Did your rich boyfriend give it to you?"
Chloe quickly stuffed the phone box under her blanket, pretending nothing was there.
"Nothing! I don't have anything!"
But her roommates were far too curious.
One pretended to climb down to use the bathroom, then suddenly snatched the box out from under her blanket.
A high-pitched scream filled the room.
"Oh my god! It's a phone! It's the brand-new Motorola V3! Did your boyfriend buy this for you?!"
Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
This was 2005, a time before gold-digging trends had spread. Feelings were still pure and simple—couples remembered small ice cream treats and paid each other back.
None of them could believe a boy would buy a girl such an expensive phone.
It was beyond their imagination.
Chloe panicked, reaching to grab it back.
But Lila Hart reacted even more wildly.
She jumped off her bed, snatched the phone box right out of the roommate's hand, and tore it open to see what was inside.
"Hey! That's not yours! Give it back!" the roommate shouted angrily.
But Lila ignored her completely.
She flipped open the box, and a brand-new white Motorola V3 lay inside.
It was the most popular phone among young people that year, especially girls.
It cost 5300, and stock was so limited that buyers often had to pay up to 5500 to get one immediately.
Lila whipped her head toward Chloe, her voice shaking with disbelief.
"Kael… bought this for you?"