In the moment when Meng Ran choked, I finally heard that familiar electronic sound from her again.

【Yan Xu, I have chosen you. Are you willing to bind with me? As long as you bind with me, you can become the king of this world and trample everyone under your feet.】

It tempted me in my ear.

And I just took off the blood-stained clothes, cleaned the blood off in the bathroom, changed into a suit covered with a dust bag, and drove back to the city center.

【As long as you bind with me, you can earn points in other worlds. As long as you have enough points, reviving Xie Ning won't be a problem, oh.】

The system tried to convince me.

I paused with my hand on the steering wheel, seemingly swayed by it, and asked, "Why did you choose me?"

【Based on your performance during this period, compared to Meng Ran, you are the true master of manipulating people's hearts. I believe you will become an outstanding strategist.】 The system said.

"So, why didn't you tell her that I've been sedating her all along?" I asked.

Once or twice, I might have fooled the system, but later on, it clearly sensed that I had been using sedatives on Meng Ran, yet it didn't say anything to her. Instead, it watched her continually deplete points for that child.

"Since when did you start wanting to abandon Meng Ran and bind with me?"

The system didn't conceal it either: 【From the moment she wanted to stay for you, a host who developed feelings and wanted to give up the mission is worthless.】

【But you're different. Based on my analysis, your feelings for Xie Ning are very strong, so you don't have to worry about falling in love with the target in other worlds. Plus, you are deep-thinking and good at endurance. Binding with me will make you the greatest strategist in history...】

On the way home, the system incessantly talked to me about its fantasies, and even excitement could be heard in the electronic sound.

I opened the door and walked to Ningning's workbench, where her self-designed wedding dress matching my suit was still placed on top.

"Alright." I agreed to it. "I will bind with you."

【That's great.】 The system was excited.

The next second, I felt a dizziness, and then I saw a virtual image with a virtual panel in front of me.

So, this so-called system is this kind of thing.

【Host, trust me. As long as you listen to me, I will definitely let you see Xie Ning again.】

"Using deception and destroying others' feelings, right?" I pulled out a chair, sat in front of Ningning's workbench, took out a pistol that had long been prepared from the drawer, and pointed it at my temple.

【What are you doing?】 The system was shocked.

I smiled and said, "I heard you and Meng Ran say that if the host doesn't unbind voluntarily, you can't separate from the host. And when you just bind with the host, the mission points reset, which is also your weakest moment. If the host dies at this time, you can't survive either."

The system panicked: 【Don't act impulsively. Don't you want Xie Ning to revive?】

I burst into laughter, with a look of sorrow and madness. "You really don't understand Ningning at all. She would never hurt others for her own happiness! If I did that, Ningning would only feel pain."

"Besides, how can I avenge Ningning without you, the instigator?" I laughed. "You don't think I've been planning for so long just to deal with Meng Ran, do you?"

When it mentioned the past where Meng Ran killed the previous strategist, I already guessed the preference of this system.

It doesn't care whether the strategist is good or bad, or whether the strategist lives or dies. It just wants a stronger and more valuable host.

That's why I set up this scheme, to seize it at the cost of my own body and kill it!

【You...】

Before it could finish speaking, I had already pulled the trigger.

Ningning, this time I finally avenged you.

I reached out my hand and looked at the girl inthe mirror, wearing a wedding dress. Tears streamed down my face as I whispered, "Ningning, I'll join you soon."

But as the trigger was pulled, instead of feeling the impact and darkness enveloping me, I found myself standing in a different place altogether. The virtual world disappeared, and reality returned.

Confused, I looked around and realized I was in a room filled with computer servers and advanced technology. Standing in front of me was a man in a white lab coat, staring at me with a mix of surprise and concern.

"You... you're alive?" he stammered.

"What just happened?" I asked, feeling disoriented.

The man took a deep breath and explained, "You were part of an experimental simulation. We were testing the capabilities of our advanced virtual reality system. It seems there was an unexpected glitch, and you somehow became fully immersed in the simulation."

I struggled to comprehend the situation. "So, everything... Meng Ran, the system, Ningning... it was all just a simulation?"

The man nodded. "Yes, none of it was real. But your emotional responses and actions were genuine. We were studying the human mind's reactions in complex scenarios."

I felt a mix of relief and disappointment. Relief that I hadn't actually killed myself and that Ningning was still alive, but disappointment that the world I had experienced was just an illusion.

"Can I see her? Can I see Xie Ning?" I asked, my voice trembling.

The man hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, she's here. Follow me."

He led me through a series of corridors until we reached a small room. Inside, I saw Xie Ning sitting at a desk, engrossed in her work. She looked up as we entered, and her eyes widened with surprise.

"Yan Xu? What are you doing here?" she asked, a mix of confusion and concern on her face.

I rushed towards her and enveloped her in a tight embrace. "Ningning, I missed you so much. I thought I had lost you forever."

She hugged me back, her voice filled with warmth. "I'm right here, Yan Xu. I'm not going anywhere."

As we held each other, I realized that even though the world I had experienced was an illusion, the emotions I felt were real. The pain, the longing, and the love were all genuine.

Perhaps it was a reminder that our experiences, whether real or simulated, can shape us and teach us valuable lessons. And in the end, it's the connections we make and the love we share that truly matter.

Together, we left the room, ready to face the real world and embrace the future with open hearts.