Xiao Qi looked at Gu Chengyu's resolute and desperate expression, feeling both anxious and furious. He spun in place twice, then stamped his foot hard, shouting in a flustered and exasperated rage:
"No! I can't just watch you throw yourself away like this! Come on! I'll go find someone to help!"
Space twisted.
The next moment, they were back at the System Bureau.
Xiao Qi rushed in noisily, yelling, "Chief God! Chief God! Something terrible has happened! Come out and save him!"
Space rippled, and a young man dressed in a modern suit, looking like an elite professional, appeared. His features were handsome, but his eyes held an aloofness that transcended his age.
He was the administrator of the System Bureau, who liked to be called the Chief God by his subordinates, though in reality he was a deity dispatched from the Upper Realm.
He frowned with displeasure. "This is the System Bureau. Such shouting and commotion is unbefitting of your status, Young Master..."
Before he could finish, his gaze fell upon Gu Chengyu, and the lifeless Su Qianqian in his arms.
Xiao Qi followed his gaze, sighed helplessly, and looked back at the Chief God. "This is a potential War God candidate from the Upper Realm. He can't just be lost like this."
"Is there a way to save her? Name your price, anything."
"Look, if it works, the System Bureau can gain a degree of autonomy in maintaining the stability of the minor worlds, without having to report every single thing to the Upper Realm."
The Chief God's eyes flickered.
Autonomy. That was an enormous temptation for the System Bureau, and for him personally.
Now that the esteemed Young Master had personally given his word, saving her would essentially seal the deal.
He pondered for a moment. "We can start over one more time."
"Start over?!" Xiao Qi was stunned for a second before anger flared up within him.
"What's the damn use of starting over! The big shot's divine soul is bound to hers! If the favorability still doesn't reach max next time, and the Heart-Link Bond doesn't activate, she'll die in two years, and the big shot will be finished along with her! What kind of solution is that?"
The Chief God shot him a disdainful look, then glanced at Gu Chengyu, who was silently holding Su Qianqian, his tone sarcastic:
"A clueless brat who doesn't understand love, a lofty, emotionless Dao master, plus a clueless sword spirit who's a half-baked amateur..."
The fact that the girl's favorability even reached 99% was a complete fluke, entirely due to sheer dumb luck and brute-forcing it with genuine feeling.
"And you expect to succeed on the first try? Wishful thinking."
Xiao Qi was left speechless, his face red with anger.
The Chief God continued coldly, "This is the only way right now. If you don't want them both to die, do as I say."
Xiao Qi stiffened his neck. "But..."
“But what?” the Chief God cut him off, giving him another unceremonious roll of the eyes, utterly speechless, exasperated beyond words by someone who had taken up this profession halfway questioning a professional. Was an amateur really questioning a professional here?
"Haven't you noticed that in the last minor world, that girl named Su Qianqian was actually quite aggrieved?"
"Wronged?" Xiao Qi's eyes widened in disbelief.
The big shot practically spoiled her rotten! He would give her the moon if she asked for the stars, canceled an arranged marriage for her without a second thought, and dealt thoroughly with anyone who bullied her! Where was she wronged? I never even saw her cry!
"Hah." The Chief God let out a cold laugh. "She was sensible and soothed her own feelings. That doesn't mean she wasn't aggrieved inside."
"You privileged lot, born noble and used to having everything your way, are always so self-righteous. You think giving the best is love, but you never bother to ask what the other person truly wants, never lower your head to see if they're truly happy."
"Leaving it to you? Even if you restart ten times, a hundred times, that girl won't survive, and you'll still drag down the Young Master's friend here."
The Chief God's gaze finally settled on Gu Chengyu, carrying an impersonal indifference.
"If you don't want to die together, this time, all of you, including you, Young Master, must follow my instructions completely."
Xiao Qi was fuming from the Chief God's repeated eye rolls and scolding, his blue hair seeming to dim slightly.
But looking at Gu Chengyu's stubborn, silent profile, he could only swallow his anger and grudgingly accept it.
This was his first acknowledged friend!
He couldn't just stand by and watch him vanish in such an absurd way, for a girl who didn't even love him that much.
Gu Chengyu lifted his head. His deep gaze met the Chief God's for a moment before he slowly nodded and uttered a single word: "Okay."
