Chapter 3

Jack Avery: "..."

What a mess! If it weren't for his lifelong habit of maintaining a poker face, the disdain on "Little Cyrus's" face at this moment would surely pierce the vampire's heart like a cross.

"Feeling shy?" The silver-haired man was not only handsome but also quite unconventional in his thinking. "Little Sein is really adorable."

Jack Avery couldn't help himself. "Put me down."

"Don't be so cold." The silver-haired man blinked his deep red eyes. "Have you missed me after half a month?"

The goosebumps all over Jack's body probably missed him—they were jumping with joy!

"Is this anger?" The silver-haired man teased him. "Is it because I disappeared for half a month?"

Jack Avery: ... Good, he didn't need to say anything. The other party had already filled in the blanks for him.

"Alright, don't be angry, darling." With that, he even leaned down, locking eyes with Jack. Overflowing with affection, he uttered sweet nothings, "From now on, I'll be by your side every day, only guarding you, only looking at you, only loving you."

Jack's heart clenched, feeling a sense of foreboding. Sure enough, the silver-haired man's locks fell, and he actually leaned in for a kiss...

"Don't." Jack pushed him away.

Because of this refusal, a chill suddenly filled the air around them. The heavy curtains moved without wind, the candlelight at the bedside began to sway, and the warm room felt like an icy dungeon. The man in front of him seemed as lifeless as an ice sculpture.

This was bad.

Jack knew he had made a mistake. But how could he accept a kiss from a man? If he spat it out on the spot, the consequences would likely be even worse.

"I..." Jack Avery's voice trembled with nervousness. His eyelashes fluttered as he bit his lower lip, uncertain of what to say.

This appearance, in the eyes of the silver-haired man, became another adorable sight.

In an instant, the ice melted, and spring replaced winter. The silver-haired man softened his gaze and exuded a warmth akin to morning mist. "I missed you too much." His finger gently brushed against Jack's chin. "Forgot my manners."

They had rules between them?

Jack had never eaten pork but had seen pigs run. In an instant, he made countless associations—this man was probably the legendary vampire. Just by looking at his triggering red eyes, it was clear he wasn't human. Then there was his sudden appearance and icy body, both abnormal.

Was he the vampire who slaughtered Gail's brother (or sister) mentioned in the newspaper? If so, things would be very complicated!

Regardless of whether he was or not, this vampire had numerous connections to Cyrus Hall. Lovers? Prey? Or was Sein unable to resist and had to submit to him? It was hard to say.

At this moment, Jack didn't want to provoke him. In this seven-day survival task, the silver-haired vampire was undoubtedly a major variable that needed to be guarded against.

Jack nodded along with his words, trying to appear obedient.

The silver-haired vampire smiled. "Don't be afraid, little Cyrus. I've waited for so long; a little more time won't make a difference."

Jack breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he had barely managed to fool him.

At this moment, there came a gentle sound of footsteps from outside the door. Reluctantly, the silver-haired vampire said, "I'll leave now."

Jack couldn't wait for him to leave immediately. "Hmm."

The silver-haired vampire took his hand and kissed the back of it. "Darling, don't forget our agreement."

Agreement? Jack Avery had no idea what agreement he was talking about!

"Hmm." Jack nodded, wanting to get rid of him as soon as possible.

A childish joy appeared on the face of the silver-haired vampire, and his voice became even more ambiguous. "Little Cyrus, I really want to have you right now..." Before he could finish his sentence, as if afraid of scaring Jack, he indulged, "Alright, I'll wait for you."

Jack Avery: ...

Probably not wanting to be seen by anyone, as the footsteps approached the door, the silver-haired vampire disappeared abruptly, just like when he had arrived.

Finally relieved, Jack relaxed all the tense muscles in his body when he saw Lucas, the butler.

Lucas was holding a candlestick and, seeing Jack still awake, asked, "Young master, can't you sleep?"

Jack rubbed his eyes and said, "Just had a dream."

Setting down the candlestick, Lucas sat beside the bed and said consolingly, "Don't be afraid, everything in dreams is fake."

Dreams may be fake, but reality is real. Jack was afraid the vampire might come back, so he asked, "Lucas, can you stay with me tonight?" If there was someone else around, that person probably wouldn't show up.

The butler was slightly taken aback, his blue eyes narrowing, and his voice becoming much softer. "How can my lowly status befit staying in the master bedroom..."

Jack earnestly said, "With you here, I'll feel much safer."

This sentence ignited a flame in Lucas's eyes. His usually meticulous demeanor was somewhat disordered, and his tone changed. "Young master..." His voice was so tense as if someone was choking him. "You are truly a worthy angel."

Just wanting someone to accompany him to prevent a vampire attack, Jack: ?

The next second, the butler returned to normal. He spoke gently, "Young master, you should sleep. I'll be here, guarding you against all nightmares and disturbances."

Jack originally wanted to say—The bed is so big, wouldn't it be nice to sleep together? But thinking about the butler's demeanor just now, he didn't say it.

Forget it... At this moment, with such strict class distinctions, he shouldn't make any more mistakes.

Jack retreated back into the covers, but even after closing his eyes, he didn't fall asleep immediately.

He was accustomed to lying in bed every day and recalling what had happened during the day. In the past, it was just a recap of the games he had played and his various earnings, but today, he had a lot more to remember.

Evelyn Chase was pregnant, and he inexplicably found himself in such an incredibly realistic game, with the task of surviving seven days.

He didn't dwell on Evelyn's situation or why he ended up here. He left more of his thoughts for the present.

——The game's title is "Love Left or Right", and the game overview describes it as a sweet romance game. Now, a person with emotional conflicts with Cyrus Hall has appeared, and it's the vampire.

From his words, it can be inferred that they have known each other for a long time, and there are even rules and agreements between them. The rules can be guessed, probably meaning no intimacy before a certain moment; as for the agreement? No one knows.

Jack Avery analyzed seriously and came up with a possibility: Do they have to continue this chaotic relationship with the vampire in order to survive the seven days? Will refusing him lead to death? So, is this a question of integrity and survival?

Jack felt a deep malice. In fact, he seriously underestimated...

While Jack was earnestly contemplating how to complete the task and clear the game, he was unaware that his loyal butler Lucas, who had been entrusted with immense trust by him, had been admiring him fondly all night long.

"Young master, you are so noble and sacred." The butler bent down and kissed his fair hand. "I am so fortunate to have gained your favor, despite my lowly status."

If Jack hadn't fallen asleep so early, he would definitely have re-evaluated his "loyal and devoted" comrade, the butler.

The next day, when Jack opened his eyes, he found that the small line of text in the lower right corner of his vision had changed to: "Task Progress: Day Two."

Hmm... managed to bluff through the first day.

Because Lucas had stayed overnight, he personally attended to Jack's washing and dressing in the morning. Jack wasn't used to being touched by others, but if he had to dress himself, he was afraid he wouldn't figure it out all day.

Fortunately, Lucas was deft and didn't make any unnecessary contact, quickly helping him dress neatly.

Today's clothes were completely different from yesterday's, but the style was similar, with gorgeous white shirts, intricate accessories, and lace-adorned hats, except for the long tailcoat and sturdy boots, everything else seemed like something a girl would like.

Jack had a natural lack of aesthetic sense and couldn't distinguish between beauty and ugliness, only whether something was pleasing to the eye or not. Looking at himself now, he gave himself a rating of a hundred percent displeasing.

However, Lucas sincerely praised, "Young master, you are born for nobility, born for elegant attire."

Jack Avery: ... Forget it, it's only seven days, don't worry about these details.

In the morning, there was a music class. When Jack saw the vintage piano, he was afraid of exposing himself, but fortunately, his body had memory. He placed his fingers on the keys and spontaneously played a beautiful melody.

The music teacher praised him like reciting poetry for an hour, and finally, class was over.

After class, the butler Lucas asked him, "Count Aix has sent an invitation, inviting you to lunch together."

Count Aix? Who is that again?

Jack Avery didn't want to go, but he was also worried that not going might cause some unexpected trouble.

Seeing his hesitation, Lucas suppressed the fervor in his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Do you not want to go?"

Jack turned to look at him. "Can I not go?"

He was seeking the opinion of his personal butler, but unexpectedly, Lucas couldn't contain his excitement. His thin lips trembled slightly, his voice hoarse, "The young master has the right to refuse anyone."

Jack sensed something unusual and asked tentatively, "Is that true?"

Lucas replied solemnly, "You don't have to do anything you don't like."

That's... Jack thought about it seriously and finally decided not to go.

"I won't go then," Jack gave his answer.

Lucas's eyes lit up, unable to contain his excitement. "I'll go and inform..."

The butler hurriedly left, leaving Jack Avery alone in the vast garden, feeling inexplicably cold. It was early spring, and he was wearing so much, so why did he feel cold?

Illusion? Soon, Jack felt a piercing cold wind.

He looked up in astonishment and saw that the sky had changed color. The noon sun was obscured by dense clouds, and a sinister wind blew in. The blooming flowers in the garden lost their luster, and even the lush green grass seemed to wilt as if frostbitten.

"Why refuse?" Accompanied by a gloomy male voice, the silver-haired vampire appeared out of thin air. He was wearing a dark cloak, his long hair flowing unnaturally, his frost-white face devoid of blood, only his red eyes gleaming like crimson moons.

"Don't you want to be with me?" The silver-haired vampire's lips curled up, forming a sweet smile. "How could that be? My little Cyrus, how could you not want to be with me?"

As he spoke, a silver longbow appeared in his hand.

Jack Avery's pupils contracted. Arrows whistled through the air and pierced his heart.

The silver-haired vampire embraced Jack, covered in blood, and whispered softly, "My little Cyrus, you can only belong to me."

Jack Avery: ...

It didn't hurt at all, just too bewildering!

What's going on? Why did he kill someone at the drop of a hat? Refuse him? When did he refuse? Is the silver-haired vampire Count Aix? But he just didn't go to dinner, that's all. Is it necessary to kill someone?

Jack Avery chose the privilege of fatal injury without pain, so even though his heart was pierced, he didn't feel any pain. However, another prompt had appeared in the lower right corner of his vision: Please reload as soon as possible. After the body dies completely, reloading will be impossible.

Jack can't afford to delay and chooses to reload.

"[Do you want to reload to the most recent checkpoint?]"

Jack Avery: Yes.

With a dizzying sensation, Jack Avery opened his eyes again and found himself back to twenty minutes ago, with the voice of the butler Lucas ringing in his ears, "Count Aix has sent an invitation, inviting you to lunch together."

Jack Avery: ... Can't I just go?

Lucas stared at him and asked, "Do you want to go?"

Could he not go? Jack Avery knew that this was probably an important clue in the game. He couldn't refuse, so he nodded and said, "Arrange a carriage for me, I..."

"Do you want to go?" the butler repeated, his voice somewhat ethereal.

Jack sensed the tension in the air and turned to see Lucas's blue eyes turn deep black, like swirling abysses of despair.

Jack Avery: ...

"Do you want to see him?" the butler Lucas laughed nervously, "You truly love him, don't you?"

Jack Avery: !!! What's going on now?

Lucas approached him, his voice incredibly gentle, but his expression was manic. "Why, an angel like you, seduced by the devil?"

Jack opened his mouth, only to feel the icy blade against his neck.

In the next moment, he saw his own body.

The butler held his head, affectionately kissing his forehead. "If it's destined to fall, why not..."