The tender voice was particularly grating, like a small beast driven to a dead end, frantically displaying its aggression.
Even though Shin was mentally prepared, he was still startled by the sound.
He quickly let out a dry chuckle on the phone, his tone guilty, "Uh, what, just kidding, I guessed it was Haruko. I'm not here for Ichiko this time, I'm here specifically for you!"
Shin seemed to know how to handle the situation. Before Haruko could have her next outburst, he quickly said, "You like Ichiko, right? Ichiko and I have a good relationship. I can be your inside man and help you win over Ichiko, how about it?"
Haruko's hoarse tone did not lessen because of this, "You have a good relationship?"
"Uh, cough cough, I mean, the relationship of ordinary friends. I swear I've never liked Ichiko!"
"But you just said you wanted Ichiko to be your girlfriend!"
"Oh dear, that was my second personality acting up. Why can't this mouth be controlled?"
Along with the voice, there were two crisp sounds of slapping. "Regarding Ichiko, let's have a serious and rational talk, how about it?"
Haruko knew she wasn't a yandere and had excellent emotional control.
Rationality took over her brain. She sat down on the sofa, deciding to drop the act, and asked, "What do you mean by joining forces?"
Shin said, "Actually, you know Ichiko's true identity, right?"
Haruko paused, and subconsciously asked in return, "True identity?"
"You don't know?"
Shin's tone also carried clear surprise. His decision to risk abandoning Ichiko and choosing Haruko was something he had thought about for a long time.
Why did this decision sound a bit unreliable now?
Haruko realized something and quickly said to Shin, "Wait a moment."
With that, she quickly opened the System page. "Kai, I want to see the table of contents of the original novel."
To be honest, Ichiko had the tragic female lead background typical of those from a classic Tomato Orphanage. Haruko hadn't found anything useful from the original host's memories.
She really didn't know that Ichiko had any hidden identity.
After searching through the table of contents, she finally saw some clues in the entries between Chapter 650 and Chapter 700.
50 chapters would cost a total of 250 emotion points.
If she could get Shin's help with this, for her current self, that was small change!
Haruko decisively purchased it, and the content of the original novel flooded into her mind like a memory.
She suddenly understood.
This section was also a very melodramatic female-oriented plot.
Because Ichiko angered Sento by being involved with the Divine Doctor male lead, and Sento was set up as a top-tier Vinegar Jar (jealous person) in the book, to punish Ichiko, he made her live in his doghouse and bullied her in various ways.
After all, with the CEO persona, many female readers liked this popular trope of a delicate wife being doted on intensely.
But anyone who writes novels knows that conflict creates interest; sweetness is just a seasoning.
Coincidentally, at this time, Ichiko's life mystery was solved. She was actually not an orphan but had a War God Father abroad.
The War God Father returned and, upon hearing that his daughter was living in a doghouse, was furious and sent out ten thousand mercenaries!
The Father and the male lead Sento became enemies, leading to another round of love, hate, and mutual slaughter.
Shin appeared less in this plot, but Haruko could deduce Shin's purpose based on the cause and effect.
He wanted to use Ichiko's father's power to help him reclaim his position as the Si family heir!
As expected, in the eyes of such people, so-called friends are just exchanges of interests.
However, if that's the case...
Ichiko is mine.
Her father, who dotes on his daughter, will also be on my side.
I also have the System and can read the original novel. Helping Shin is not a problem.
Following the principle of promising big first, Haruko picked up her phone and said to Shin, "You're talking about Ichiko's father's matter, right? I know."
"You really know!" Shin's voice relaxed. "Haruko, you've been acting so strange. I guess you want Ichiko to fall hopelessly in love with you, right? I can help you."
"Normally, I can lurk by Ichiko's side, guide her, and help you win her over. In return, after you win over Ichiko, you will use her father's power to help me return to the Si family, how about it?"
"This is a good cooperation, isn't it? Her father will still need some time before returning to the country. Before that, I will fully help you. If you think I'm also problematic, you can just not help me later, and you won't have any loss!"
"Moreover, you alone dealing with Sento are isolated and helpless. Although my power isn't great, I can divert some of his energy."
It must be said that Shin's proposal was hard to refuse.
As a rational character who also studied psychology, he had a firm grasp of Haruko's current situation.
After saying this, Shin began to calculate in his heart.
Although Haruko was an uncontrollable yandere, after two interactions, he had gradually found her weakness.
That was Ichiko!
As long as he kept using Ichiko as an excuse, he could pull at her rationality, guide her actions, and after probing her bottom line...
Such an easily angered lunatic was much easier to control than the intelligent Ichiko.
However, this thought had only just appeared when he heard Haruko's doubting voice on the phone, "Will you really listen to everything I say?"
Shin pushed up his glasses, a sharp glint flashing. "I, Shin, always keep my word."
"Then... what's the price?"
As Haruko's faint voice sounded, Shin was startled. "What price?"
"This transaction isn't equal," Haruko's voice sounded as if it had lost its initial normalcy. "Without you, I can still win over Ichiko. I like her, and she will only like me!"
Shin quickly said, "I can also help you contain Sento, and besides, there's that guy Inari. With me here, I can better help you sort out Ichiko's social relationships and situation. This is already an exchange."
"But, I don't like you saying you wanted Ichiko to be your girlfriend~"
"In the alley, and just now on the phone, you didn't think I forgot, did you?"
"She's mine..."
"She's mine."
"She's mine!!!"
"Saying such things, you expect me to believe you?!"
Her voice became increasingly cold, even carrying a hint of the hoarse roars only small beasts make.
Shin reached up and touched the side of his face. That scar was left in the alley back then and hadn't faded yet.
He had thought the matter would be over.
Unexpectedly, Haruko still remembered it!
Shin closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then let out a long sigh and asked, "Then what do you want me to do? I swear I don't like Ichiko. Saying those things was all to test you for Ichiko. All of this... was ordered by Ichiko!"
"I won't allow you to talk about Ichiko like that!"
"She would never do such a thing!"
Haruko's tone was cold and firm. "You must have misled her!"
As soon as these words came out, Shin was so angry he almost smashed his phone.
Yandere, yandere!
This is simply impossible to communicate with!
Suddenly, Haruko said coldly, "One finger."
Shin was stunned, not hearing clearly. "What did you say?"
Haruko said hoarsely, "I want one of your fingers as a gift for you to apologize to Ichiko!"
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