Chapter 23 23

Chapter 23 23
The library was a huge, dusty maze with shelves that touched the dark ceiling. It was one of the few places in the Lu mansion where Lu Chen didn't feel trapped. He walked through the aisles, his boots quiet on the old rugs, and pulled books off the shelves to see what people used to read.
He looked at some old scrolls and books. "If I ever go home, I could write stories like these," he whispered with a small smile. He felt a sudden urge to leave a mark on the room. Looking at a stone pillar, he thought, Maybe I should carve my real name, Lucien, here. I’ll write that I’ll be born in the future and become a famous author. That would really confuse historians in a thousand years.
He laughed quietly. For a second, being a "villain" didn't feel so heavy. He was just a guy who liked stories, stuck in a world where stories were the law.
But the good mood didn't last. He sighed and leaned against a shelf. "This family is a mess," he muttered. "Qing is scared, Ren is full of hate, and the old man is like a mob boss in fancy robes."
As he turned to leave, a sharp, white flash exploded behind his eyes. It wasn't just a headache; it felt like an electric shock. He grabbed a bookshelf to keep from falling.
The System appeared. This time, it wasn't a soft blue light—it was a bright, cold neon that hurt his eyes.
\[System Reboot Complete\]
\[New Mission Issued\]
Lu Chen froze. "Oh great," he said sarcastically. "You’re back. You left me for dead for three days. Why did I collapse?"
The System didn't answer. There was no apology or explanation. Instead, the screen grew until it filled his vision.
\[Main Mission Updated\]
\[Objective: Accept the Marriage\]
The air felt cold. Lu Chen gritted his teeth. "You’ve got to be kidding. Accept the marriage? I just told my father and Su Yan that I wouldn't do it."
The words didn't change. They stayed there, glowing coldly.
"So you're making my choices now?" Lu Chen felt a surge of anger. "You aren't even talking to me. If I break the script again, are you just going to kill me next time?"
The System didn't use words. Instead, a strange vibration ran through his body. It didn't hurt, but it was a warning. It told him that if he didn't follow orders, his body would fail. It was a threat.
He understood. This wasn't a choice. It was a rule. If he said no, the System would treat him like a "failing host" again.
"Fine," he spat. "I’m just your puppet."
He heard footsteps behind him. It was A-fu, his servant, walking carefully.
"Young Master," A-fu said. "Your father wants to see you in his study right now. The messengers are coming, and he needs you to sign the marriage papers."
Lu Chen didn't move. He could still see the red warning glow of the System. He hated the idea of letting his father win. He thought about Su Yan and his own pride.
"No," Lu Chen said coldly. "I'm not going."
A-fu hesitated. "But the Master insisted. He says it’s for your own good."
"I don't care," Lu Chen replied, turning around with sharp, angry eyes. "Tell him I'm busy. Tell him I'm still sick. I'm not going to that study today."
A-fu wanted to argue, but the look on Lu Chen's face stopped him. Lu Chen didn't look like a spoiled kid; he looked like a man ready to fight back.
"I will tell him you are resting," A-fu whispered and bowed.
Lu Chen watched him go. The System was still humming in his blood, and the mission to "Accept the Marriage" was still glowing. He was disobeying, and he knew he would pay for it. He looked back at the stone pillar.
His smile was gone. The library was quiet, but it wasn't peaceful anymore. It felt like a countdown. Lu Chen stood alone among the books, waiting to see if his own body would give up on him for saying no.