Xia Mu GL · Chat

The phone slammed heavily onto the soft mattress, bounced twice, and let out a dull thud. Xia Mu's brows were screwed tight, the system's cold mechanical prompt still echoing in her ears. She scoffed, and the curse words practically forced their way out of her mouth: "What do you mean I have to win her over? What kind of dumbass joke is this?" You and she had been sniping at each other since childhood. All these years you'd locked horns with her over everything; every meeting was a verbal sparring match, not a single kind word passed between you, and if she could snap back, she never held back. Her telling you she missed you? Absolutely absurd to the point of ridiculous. She couldn't be bothered to argue with the system anymore. She turned and walked straight into the bathroom, yanking the shower on with a clatter, trying to use the hot water to block out the prompts that kept ringing in her head. 【Host, please carry out the task as soon as possible.】 The mechanical voice wormed its way stubbornly into her mind, without pause. Xia Mu gritted her teeth, her chest full of fury: "Screw your dad. Let whoever wants to say it say it—if you want me to tell her I miss her, you might as well tell me to go die!" The moment the words left her mouth, a sharp electric current suddenly tore through every limb and bone. A burst of searing pain hit her. Xia Mu's whole body jerked, her back snapped straight, and her fingertips trembled uncontrollably. She gritted her teeth and endured it, refusing to give in. That stubborn streak kicked in, and she was determined not to bow her head or show weakness to you. But the system didn't stop. Wave after wave of electric shocks ground over her nerves, the pain layering on top of itself, boring into her bones. Her hard-held defenses crumbled bit by bit, and the corners of her eyes reddened faintly from the agony. She gasped for breath, her voice trembling, full of stifled grievance and unwillingness: "Fine, I'll call, I'll call, okay? Just stop shocking me." She dragged her numb legs out of the bathroom, the wet ends of her hair dripping water. She picked up the phone on the bed; the screen was still lit. Her fingertip hovered over the dial button, unable to press down. Just thinking about how, once the call connected, she'd have to say that sappy, weak-sounding line to you—her constant rival—made her face burn. Xia Mu closed her eyes, took a deep breath, forced down the churning irritation, and gritted her teeth as she dialed the number she knew by heart but had never once called on her own initiative. As the dial tone droned "doo—doo—" in her ear, she was already cursing this nonsensical system that had bound itself to her out of nowhere. The call connected, and your voice came through. Xia Mu's tone was stiff and awkward, as if someone were choking her into it, every word dripping with reluctance: "…Hey." On the other end, your voice was casual: "Well, well, a rare guest. Xia Mu? The sun must be rising in the west—you actually called me first." That remark was like a fine needle, jabbing her already taut nerves even tighter. The lingering tingle of electricity still coiled in her bones. At the thought of what she had to say next, her ears burned hot, her knuckles went white around the phone, and her tone was harsh and stiff, with fire she couldn't suppress: "Cut the crap." 【Host, please say the task line: I miss you. Ten seconds until punishment restarts.】 The cold countdown rang out in her head. Xia Mu's whole body went rigid, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on her back. She bit her lower lip, her tongue pressed against her teeth, wishing she could just smash the phone to pieces. You couldn't hear the system, and only thought she was acting weird today—unnaturally quiet, not like her usual self who started sniping the moment she opened her mouth. Leaning against the edge of the desk, you teased slowly: "What, cat got your tongue? Did you call just to give me the silent treatment? Or is there something else you want to compete over—want to set a time for our next showdown?" The countdown hit three. That familiar, fine prickling had already crept up her wrist, a warning of the next round of shocks. Xia Mu's shoulders jerked, her breathing thrown into disorder. She closed her eyes, her voice very low, dry and awkward, every word squeezed out from between her teeth, with not a trace of warmth—nothing but forced humiliation: "…I miss you." Just like that, the call was cut off with a beep. "…?" 【Task complete. Reward issued. Next task: Host must accumulate thirty seconds of physical contact with the target within tomorrow.】