The Abusive Novel System Pleads with Me to Resign-Chapter 39

Gao Yingli was referring to the incident where Shen Ying was lured away by a single text message.

With her intelligence, it was impossible for her not to see the trap, yet she still went—proving she was willing to return with Lu Linwei.

Digging deeper, the so-called engagement announcement photos and her father’s sudden competitive urge to outdo someone in a ridiculous game—these flaws were all subtly guided by her for Lu Linwei to discover.

This was what Gao Yingli found hardest to accept.

He looked at Shen Ying and asked, “Why?”

Shen Ying didn’t question how he’d found her here. Instead, she answered frankly, “Because I’ve already won.”

A wave of indescribable desolation rose in Gao Yingli’s heart. His smile faltered slightly. “I never said you won before this.”

Shen Ying met his gaze. “You think I could succeed but couldn’t tell whether I’d won?”

Impossible, Gao Yingli thought. It was effortless for her to see through people.

He had been relieved that the outcome depended on his subjective feelings, believing that as long as he didn’t admit it, he could keep her by his side for one more day.

But she had already noticed his affection from the start.

From the very beginning, he never stood a chance—not even the possibility of cheating.

Gao Yingli’s voice was strained. “This was a game between the two of us. How could you decide the result without hearing me admit it?”

Shen Ying’s eyes held a deeper meaning. “Saying it out loud would just be awkward.”

“We agreed from the start that this was just a game—no after-sales service. What you should’ve done was rein yourself in before it was too late.”

Gao Yingli: “You think I could’ve stopped myself by then?”

Shen Ying didn’t respond, making it clear—no after-sales meant exactly that.

Gao Yingli was filled with regret, wishing he could go back and slap his past self for being so arrogant.

Now, all he could do was lower his pride and plead with the “customer service”: “I’m requesting a post-sale service upgrade.”

Shen Ying lazily replied, “After-sales is fully booked. One customer at a time.”

Gao Yingli: “Then switch the current customer to me. I promise I won’t complain about the service quality as long as you take me.”

Shen Ying gave him a look that said you’re being unreasonable. “And what if the current customer complains and demands a refund?”

Gao Yingli scoffed, utterly unconcerned about other customers’ rights. “Where would they even complain? You’re a private business—no platform fees or regulations. Who’s going to hold you accountable?”

“Shen Ying, show some of that ruthless merchant spirit of yours. Someone’s trying to outbid you, and you’re just going to sit there?”

Shen Ying had to admit, in some ways, he truly saw through her.

But she remained righteous. “No, you’ve misjudged me. I’ve always believed in earning money ethically.”

“Taking bribes to cut in line? That would go against my conscience.”

Gao Yingli: “You have one of those?”

Shen Ying was offended. “I don’t? Then why, when I could’ve just robbed people, did I insist on signing employment contracts?”

“Don’t let appearances fool you—I’m actually a very principled person.”

Gao Yingli burst out laughing. “That’s exactly why I like you. Shameless yet self-righteous—we’re a perfect match.”

He moved closer, lowering his voice as he leaned in. “See? I don’t have any illusions about you.”

“I see all your actions without any sugarcoating. And even then, I can still say ‘I love you.’ If that’s not true love, what is?”

“Lu Linwei isn’t like that, is he? In his eyes, you’re probably still some pure, innocent little thing.”

“But sooner or later, his rose-tinted glasses will shatter. When he sees you for who you really are, do you think he’ll handle the gap well?”

Gao Yingli was doing his best to manipulate her, for once restraining his usual insults—too much hostility would reveal his desperation.

But Shen Ying just shrugged, unfazed. “So what if he can’t handle it?”

Gao Yingli choked.

Right. That idiot Lu Linwei had already been whipped into submission—why worry about that now?

And with her skills, if Lu Linwei ever tried to back out, she certainly wouldn’t be the one suffering.

Gao Yingli took a slow breath. Provocation wasn’t going to work.

She feared nothing and could handle any outcome—that made her untouchable.

His mind raced before he finally exhaled and softened his tone.

“Choose me instead. You like me too, don’t you?”

Shen Ying smirked. “What makes you say that?”

Gao Yingli’s voice turned dangerously alluring.

“That night at the club, when you poured champagne on me—you couldn’t take your eyes off me.”

Gao Yingli possessed a leader’s charisma—his words were intoxicating, pulling Shen Ying back to that moment.

The venomous young master, usually so dangerous, had been reduced to a flustered mess under her gaze.

Shen Ying still remembered the way the golden champagne had cascaded over his skin—like syrup dripping over ripe fruit, tempting her to take a bite.

Her only regret was not being an employee of an R19 game company.

If not for the system’s strict warnings about maintaining a harmonious society (even virtual ones were under scrutiny), would she really be reduced to this?

Just as her thoughts wandered, Gao Yingli suddenly said, “You touched me that night, didn’t you?”

Shen Ying stiffened.

He continued, “I felt hands all over me. Isn’t that harassment? Undeniably harassment.”

“Sure, I was provoking you that night, but I’m not actually a male escort.”

“I’m a respectable CEO. You can’t just take advantage of me and walk away.”

Shen Ying quickly denied it. “Don’t go spreading rumors. I’m a law-abiding citizen—no criminal record. Don’t lump me in with the usual suspects from anti-vice raids.”

Gao Yingli: “You mean the kind of ‘law-abiding citizen’ who orders four escorts at once?”

Shen Ying: “Say what you want, but I never laid a finger on you. Got any proof? You said yourself it was just a feeling, right?”

Gao Yingli: “With you, even having that ‘feeling’ is evidence enough.”

He then ordered, “Close your eyes.”

Shen Ying hesitated but complied.

The next moment, her hand was pulled forward and pressed against something firm yet warm—a chest, its heartbeat steady beneath her palm.

Gao Yingli’s voice was smug. “There. Now you’ve touched me.”

Shen Ying scoffed. “Trying to trick me? Your chest isn’t this bony.”

When she opened her eyes, she saw her clueless younger brother, Shen Yao, standing there, face red with embarrassment.

“I-I’m still growing! I’ll get muscles later!”

Ignoring the boy’s pride, Shen Ying turned to Gao Yingli. “See?”

Gao Yingli smirked. “How would you know how I feel unless you’ve touched me before?”

A flicker of guilt crossed Shen Ying’s face as Gao Yingli tightened his grip on her wrist.

“I remember you bragging about your ‘skills,’ didn’t you? So deft I wouldn’t even notice you doing it right in front of me.”

"Really? Oh, a true master can steal someone’s underwear and put it back on without them noticing. With skills like that, is groping a couple of times really that technically challenging?"

Shen Ying: "Don’t flatter me—I haven’t reached that level yet."

Gao Yingli: "That night, you distracted me way too many times."

"Whether it was the champagne, the alcohol, the ice, the noise—oh, and let’s not forget, you even found an excuse to hit me."

"Just from what I can recall now, there were at least dozens of instances. Even if you’re not at the ‘stealing underwear’ level, how many chances did you take to cop a feel?"

Shen Ying, of course, would never admit it: "What kind of twisted accusation is this? Just because I have the capability to commit a crime, you’re pinning it on me? Innocent until proven guilty, you know."

Gao Yingli straightened up, assuming an authoritative stance, his tone serious: "I, Gao Yingli, am the current CEO of the Gao Group."

"A nationally and globally renowned young entrepreneur, one of the world’s top 100 most influential figures, a leading taxpayer in the country, a driving force behind economic development, a provider of countless jobs, a celebrated philanthropist who has rescued countless children from hunger and offered free vocational training to countless women."

"And now, a man of such stature has had his purity violated—and you want me to presume innocence?"

Shen Ying opened her mouth, but all her words condensed into one sentence: "Then go call the police."

She was being deliberately obstinate, but Gao Yingli had even thicker skin.

Hearing her response, he immediately pulled out his phone and dialed—

"Hello, 110? I’d like to report a case. I was sexually harassed at XX Club. My name is Gao—"

Before he could finish, Shen Ying snatched the phone and hung up: "Are you serious?"

"You think my recent engagement trending topic isn't spicy enough? That the so-called 'ex-classmate and coworker' revelations are too lukewarm, so you want to fan the flames?"

Gao Yingli raised an eyebrow: "Ah, right. You’re still getting married."

A look of sorrow crossed his face: "The one who violated me just walks away, preparing for her wedding like nothing happened. Meanwhile, the victim—me—is still trapped in that night, unable to move on."

"Without even an explanation."

Shen Ying: "You’re escalating this, aren’t you? First it was ‘touching,’ then ‘groping,’ and now it’s ‘violating’ you?"

Gao Yingli: "For someone as chaste as me, there’s no difference."

"Besides, I’m not afraid of making this public. Let the entire internet judge this matter."

Shen Ying sucked in a breath: "So you’re doubling down on shamelessness, huh?"

"I didn’t even press charges for your kidnapping. Why are you coming after me for harassment?"

A smug look flashed across Gao Yingli’s face: "So you admit you took advantage of me?"

"You still won’t confess—how is this any different from being roofied and assaulted while unconscious?"

Before Shen Ying could retort, Shen Yao, who had been listening in horror, suddenly asked: "Sis… did you really take advantage of him?"

Shen Ying smacked him: "No."

Shen Yao exhaled in relief: "Then let him call the police. If he doesn’t, he’s a coward. Our Shen family has a spotless reputation—what do we have to fear?"

"I should sue him for abuse instead. He planted thirty personal trainers around me!"

Gao Yingli turned to Shen Yao, his expression sincere: "I have two younger brothers—one half-brother, one stepbrother."

"But sadly, neither is close to me, and both were raised poorly. One’s an idiot, the other’s a scoundrel. It’s the greatest regret of my life."

"How I wish I had a kind, honest younger brother who shared a deep bond with me. So you’re my only hope now."

Shen Yao, soft-hearted, was swayed by his tragic backstory: "B-but… Mr. Gao, what does that have to do with me?"

Gao Yingli gave him a warm look: "No need to be formal with your future brother-in-law."

Shen Yao gasped, turning to his sister: "My brother-in-law is Lu Linwei, right?"

He even pulled out his phone to check the engagement announcement—wasn’t it still there?

The poor kid was too young to understand how quickly adult relationships could change.

But Shen Ying was silent, her gaze fixed on Gao Yingli.

Gao Yingli, who had been pressing his advantage, felt his triumphant smirk slowly fade under her stare.

After a long pause, he finally muttered, unwilling to concede: "So what is it about him that you’re so attached to?"

"Is it because he’s dumber than me?"

He meant it as a jab, but Shen Ying’s expression shifted to one that said, Wow, you figured it out?

Gao Yingli’s frustration flared—anger at being toyed with, bitterness at being cast aside, and the stubborn refusal to let go.

Shen Ying spoke softly: "Go home. Don’t neglect your work."

This time, Gao Yingli didn’t push further. But as he left, his eyes held a new resolve.

Shen Ying spent the afternoon at the arcade with her clueless little brother, bought him bags of snacks, and dropped him off at school before returning to the Lu residence.

The moment she stepped out of the car, she sensed something was off.

The entire estate carried an atmosphere unlike any other day.

Though always opulent, tonight it was draped in an unmistakable layer of exquisite romance.

The path leading inside was lined with flowers and twinkling lights, transforming the mansion into a dreamlike castle.

This enchanted trail led straight to the breathtaking glass conservatory.

As Shen Ying followed the floral markers, she found Lu Linwei waiting inside.

He turned to face her, his gaze deeper and more tender than ever.

Clichéd as such scenes were in novels, nothing could prepare her for the real-life impact of such lavish, meticulously crafted beauty.

Lu Linwei’s attire was less formal than usual—still dark-toned, but with three shirt buttons undone.

His collarbone, bathed in soft light, gleamed like polished jade.

His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his forearms. That small deviation from his usual restraint felt like he’d torn half of his aloof demeanor away himself, eagerly waiting for someone to shred the rest.

Shen Ying’s pulse quickened. If Gao Yingli had attacked her with sound earlier, Lu Linwei was now assaulting her with visuals.

Tch. These two dogs fight dirty.

Lu Linwei asked, "Did you have fun today?"

Shen Ying nodded. "It was great. The restaurant didn’t disappoint, and the arcade was a blast."

Lu Linwei pulled out a chair for her. "Good. No annoying flies bothering you?"

Shen Ying: "Lu Linqi? He was surprisingly well-behaved."

"Finally met the legendary Madam Huang today. Just like you said—an impressive woman."

"Your cousin’s grown up a lot under her guidance. Though he’s too embarrassed to face you right now, so he asked me to thank you."

Lu Linwei scoffed. "I wasn’t talking about him. I know exactly how he’s doing—that idiot doesn’t count as a ‘fly.’"

Shen Ying knew exactly who he meant. After studying him for a moment, she smiled. "You’ve improved today."

"Since you clearly knew I had met with Gao Yingli, yet didn’t confront me immediately—instead, you waited until I returned."

"And it doesn’t even seem like you’re here to interrogate me."

Lu Linwei took a deep breath. "I reflected on it last night after returning to my room. I realized I’ve been too paranoid."

"But the root of that paranoia lies in the deceit I grew up with, the betrayals from those closest to me. None of that was ever your fault, yet you’ve had to bear the consequences."

"It’s always been you accommodating me. Even when you were kidnapped, you were still thinking about my problems. If I can’t even trust you, then who else is left for me to trust?"

Shen Ying nodded. "Good, you finally understand."

She never shied away from taking credit where it was due.

Lu Linwei had initially thought saying these words would be unbearably embarrassing, but under the mounting pressure from his romantic rival, he could no longer afford to hold back.

The hardest part was starting—but once the words were out, the rest flowed naturally.

He continued, "So, I wanted to discuss something with you."

Shen Ying nodded again. "Go ahead. Given our relationship, as long as it’s not about money, feel free to ask."

Lu Linwei hesitated before saying, "...I want to terminate our employment contract."

Shen Ying looked at him. "You want to call off the engagement?"

"What? No!" Lu Linwei’s voice rose sharply, his expression one of disbelief. "How could you even think that?"

Shen Ying shrugged. "Well, hasn’t our employment relationship already been upgraded to an engagement?"

Lu Linwei eyed her warily, as if afraid she might bolt the moment he spoke.

Even though they were in his own home, he couldn’t help but grab her hand, making sure she was firmly within his grasp.

Only then did he cautiously say, "I want to upgrade our marital relationship."

Under Shen Ying’s gaze, Lu Linwei’s expression flickered with a rare moment of vulnerability.

He quickly steeled himself and mustered his courage. "I love you."

"I don’t want our marriage to be just another contractual obligation."

Cupping her face in his hands, he laid bare his heart for the first time. "Bringing you back under the pretense of repaying a debt was never the real reason. I was terrified of Gao Yingli continuing to harass you."

"I couldn’t stand the thought of him getting to you first, even if his intentions were malicious at the time."

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"I didn’t agree to the employment contract because I needed a companion. I just needed an excuse to keep you close. You’re the one who saved me—your sacrifices made this twisted arrangement seem less shameful."

"I didn’t reluctantly upgrade to a girlfriend contract because of our elders’ misunderstanding. The truth is, when I heard our relationship being mistaken, I was secretly happy."

"I didn’t want you to deny it. And I couldn’t bear the thought of you one day telling me you wanted to be with someone else. If money could eliminate that risk, I’d gladly pay any price."

"I didn’t propose because I felt it was time to have a wife. It was because, when I almost lost you, I realized I could never leave the happiness you’ve built around me."

"I want to stay in that happiness for the rest of my life."

"I was arrogant—even my proposal was disguised as a contract upgrade, just to hide my own pride and cowardice."

"I was afraid of offering my heart again only to be rejected. But—"

Lu Linwei finally admitted, "What kind of sincerity was that, when I started by looking down on you?"

At ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍this moment, he seemed utterly fragile, as if he had carved out his own heart and laid it before Shen Ying, awaiting her judgment.

Yet even if she might cast it aside, Lu Linwei spoke clearly, earnestly, without a trace of hesitation: "I love you!"

The moment those three words left his lips, a notification chimed in Shen Ying’s mind.

[System: Congratulations, Host. You have successfully completed the final romance route in this world, achieving a perfect ending.]

Despite the supposed joyous occasion, the system’s voice sounded listless and drained.

Shen Ying asked, "What happens after the mission is complete? Do I leave this world immediately?"

She hadn’t even gotten to enjoy anything yet—wouldn’t it be a waste to leave now?

The system replied weakly, "No. This game prides itself on its humanitarian principles."

"Because usually—usually players endure immense suffering during missions, the game grants them a period of enjoyment after completion."

"That is, for the remaining lifespan of your in-world body, you may choose to stay or leave at your discretion."

Now Shen Ying understood. Since the game was notoriously brutal, with players suffering nonstop until the happy ending, they were given time afterward to bask in the rewards.

Otherwise, players already on the verge of quitting would only grow more resentful, likely giving up after just a few worlds.

They needed time to heal before moving on to the next grind.

Shen Ying was pleased. "Good, good. I knew all that hard work would pay off eventually."

[System: ...]

Hard work? More like shameless slacking. Just thinking about how this woman had extorted, manipulated, and effortlessly tamed her targets for months—only to now enjoy decades of luxury and romance—made the system feel like the game had been utterly scammed.

And they still had to pay her wages!

Now reassured, Shen Ying turned her attention back to Lu Linwei, who was still watching her anxiously.

She smiled. "Is there anyone around the greenhouse?"

Lu Linwei blinked, confused. "No. Why?"

Did she think he’d let anyone else overhear such embarrassing words? He’d cleared the area long ago.

Shen Ying continued, "Then make sure no one comes near tonight. The glass walls aren’t exactly private."

At first, Lu Linwei didn’t grasp her meaning. Then his eyes lit up.

But doubt quickly crept in—what if he was misreading things again, like last night when his hopes had been dashed?

Yet when she pushed him onto the sofa and unbuckled his belt, he realized—this was really happening.

To avoid any unexpected complications, Lu Linwei ensured the transition from engagement to marriage was executed with ruthless efficiency.

No one could miss his eagerness, and many marveled at Shen Ying’s ability to inspire such devotion.

Without compromising the wedding’s grandeur, he expedited every step, even ignoring Gao Yingli’s repeated attempts to interfere.

On the day of the ceremony, as Shen Ying walked toward him, Lu Linwei’s joy and anticipation peaked.

But just as the priest asked if they willingly took each other as husband and wife—the church doors burst open.

Gao Yingli strode in, dressed in a suit even more lavish than the groom’s, carrying an enormous bouquet of roses.

It was almost a perfect reenactment of Lu Linwei’s nightmare months ago. His blood boiled with murderous rage.

He glanced at Shen Ying in panic, then sighed in relief—at least she wasn’t running toward Gao Yingli like in his dream.

Gao Yingli approached Shen Ying and addressed the tense crowd. "Relax. I’m not here to cause trouble."

He handed her the flowers. "I won’t make this difficult for you. Congratulations."

Shen Ying accepted the bouquet with a smile. "Thank you."

Lu Linwei grudgingly admitted the man had finally said something decent.

Then Gao Yingli added, loud enough for all to hear:

"Three years of pain, five years of separation, seven years of temptation."

"I’ve got plenty of chances. What’s the rush?"

With that, she blinked at Shen Ying and said, "I'll be waiting for you to get divorced."