The Number-One Male Lead Who Does Not Like to Eat (44)

Charles’s personality emerged for only a fleeting moment before being suppressed back down by Xiu.

Xiu became visibly volatile, pulling Si Jiu into his arms without a word, as if he longed to shroud her completely within his own being. Si Jiu felt a complex mix of emotions, leaning toward a sense of reckless resignation. One day, when she finally reached the Central City, she would track down this madman and demand to know how many fish he kept in his brain to be capable of such maddening antics. He was not only sabotaging her but also destroying himself in the process. Was this even human behavior?

Oh, right. Perhaps he wasn't human to begin with.

"Host, my rigorous scientific deduction suggests that the catalyst for the switching between Xie Yu’s personalities is sleep."

Si Jiu was currently troubled. Xiu was too difficult to control; he was constantly manifesting his possessiveness and his intent to "eliminate" Lin Yang and Qi Yan, whose whereabouts remained unknown. Si Jiu had exhausted all her efforts, even going so far as to sell her body and soul (not really) just to soothe him slightly. But this was not a sustainable solution. Just as she was nursing a headache, the system provided a timely answer.

"Are you sure?"

The system immediately let out a whimpering sound: "Host, please don't doubt my professional capabilities. I reviewed the daily logs of Xie Yu’s recent behavior. I am certain that ever since Xiu emerged and stole your first time, Xie Yu realized his second personality had awakened."

Si Jiu was slightly stunned. So that was what he meant by "last night doesn't count, let's do it again"? Damn it!

The system continued to passionately defend its credibility: "It was from that moment on that he stopped sleeping. Do you remember? I told you before, he stayed up all night just staring at you."

"I see."

"Ever since then, he hasn't slept. Later, when you two were at odds, I didn't pay much attention to him. But having analyzed it just now, when you saw him yesterday and today, his mental state was actually in a terrible decline. He was talking to you, and then suddenly, Xiu emerged. It’s because he hadn't slept for too long and simply collapsed from exhaustion."

"So I need to find a way to coax this guy to sleep?"

Si Jiu snuck a glance at Xiu, who was resting his head on her lap, waiting for her to stroke his hair. She felt it was a daunting task. "I don't think he’ll be willing to listen to me, and he’s definitely guarded against this. He knows everything about Xie Yu’s side of things; he won't fall for my tricks."

The system clicked its tongue. "Even if he is a more powerful personality, he shares the same body as Xie Yu. Just watch, he can’t hold out much longer."

How many days can a person go without sleep? It might vary from person to person, but the human body has its limits. According to the system, this was a normal, mundane plane; there were no "immortal cultivators" who could go without food, water, or sleep for months or even years and remain perfectly fine.

The system was reliable this time. By noon, Xiu had fallen asleep due to sheer physical necessity. Si Jiu did not rush to wake him. It wasn't that she feared the person who woke up wouldn't be Xie Yu, but rather that he truly needed a proper rest. Fortunately, Xiu had been on the bed in the bedroom before falling asleep, sparing Si Jiu the trouble of dragging him there. She tucked the quilt around him and brushed his face. In his sleep, he looked unexpectedly docile, with a faint shadow of Shen Huai.

Thinking of the childhood experiences Xiu had described, Si Jiu felt a tightness in her chest. She couldn't help but poke his cheek and whisper, "Why do you always set yourself up to be so miserable? Is it to gain my sympathy? You’re quite cunning, aren't you?"

The system hesitated, "Emmmmm..."

"If you have something to say, say it."

"Actually, you know how the World Will is very hostile toward outsiders, right?" To prevent the host from thinking the Big Boss was just playing the pity card (even though he clearly was), the system decided to reveal a little. "So, for him to follow you into the same plane and become your mission target, he must have paid a very heavy price. Host, do you understand what I’m saying?"

Even if she didn't understand, there was nothing more it could say. With the anti-leak protocols in place, it couldn't speak further even if it wanted to. *Sigh.*

Si Jiu suddenly realized: "So every time he has no memory, and almost always has a tragic background or life story, is that the reason? Is the World Will targeting him?"

"Uh... yes." The system felt a bit guilty. Given the Big Boss's true strength, the World Wills of the three thousand worlds were nothing more than a light drizzle to him! Though... she still hoped that when the host eventually learned the truth, she wouldn't kick the Big Boss to the curb in a fit of rage.

*Big Boss, I can only help you this much. Amen.*