Strategy to Capture That Scum Gong

Chapter 207 - Only By Giving Up Can You Get What You Want

Translated by Eve

Edited by Serefina

15. Only By Giving Up Can You Get What You Want

Lu Ting stared at Xie He. Not only had Xie He remembered this place, he had even preserved it....Lu Ting’s eyes softened. It felt like he had gone back in time. Back then, he had sat in front of Xie He nervously. He had known the other person so well but he had been forced to pretend like the other was a complete stranger.

Gradually, he had been able to carefully get closer to the other....

Just as Lu Ting felt overwhelmingly touched, he heard Xie He ask, “For how long had you been secretly watching me back then?”

A flash of awkwardness flickered thtough Lu Ting’s eyes. He coughed into his fist but he didn’t dare lie. “Three years.”

Xie He’s voice was airy and he seemed lost in thought for a moment. “Three years....”

How could he forget that day?

In the beginning, he had been very wary. Lu Ting had also only done this on impulse. He hadn’t been completely genuine. It had been a planned encounter. However, things had ended up heading in a completely unexpected direction....

In the end, Lu Ting had fallen in love with him and Xie He’s wariness had gradually faded. Slowly, he had let this man into his heart.

That day had also been Xie He’s birthday. Neither of his parents had remembered. He hadn’t expected anyone to remember. He had pretended he didn’t care but the him back then...how could he not care?

Then, someone like this had appeared. This person remembered his birthday and every holiday. He remembered every little thing, big or small....He was obviously a clumsy person but he had protected Xie He with a sincere heart. Actually, Xie He didn’t need to be protected. But still, he had let Lu Ting protect him.

What he needed was probably someone like this, someone who would love him wholeheartedly without any reservations.

He had calmly and rationally watched as this person gradually fell for him, as the other gave him everything he wanted....What Xie he needed was never momentary love or a moment of impulse...but long-term, unchanging companionship. What he needed was someone who could support him, someone he could rely on, and someone for whom he could do the same.

If you can give me that, I will give you what you want.

Xie He tapped on the table and smiled at Lu Ting. “I was really surprised that you came back.”

Maybe he hadn’t understood why in the beginning, but after encountering so many hosts, there was no way he wouldn’t start thinking about the process. Those people that left had never come back either. They had all been in a rush to complete their mission and leave.

They had thrown his world into disorder but they had not felt any sense of responsibility.

If the first person that had come hadn’t been Lu Ting, if Lu Ting hadn’t come back...what direction would his world have headed in?

Lu Ting’s gaze was gentle and his voice was low. “I had not known whether I’d be able to come back.”

Xie He murmured, “That’s right....”

Nothing was certain. Lu Ting hadn’t known if he could come back and Xie He hadn’t known if he would fall in love with someone else. Everything had been uncertain....In the end, he was nothing but an ordinary person, a bug from an E-ranked world. Even if he gave it his all...there would still be times where he would be hesitant.

Like this time. He didn’t know if he would regret making this choice. That was why he was hesitating.

But he couldn’t give up like this....

It was such a rare chance. If one of them were to have given up, they would never have been able to see each other again.

Could humans overcome a God? Even if they could, they had to be given the opportunity...an opportunity to be freed....Otherwise, all their struggles would be for naught as they would be nothing but an ant fighting against the stream of fate.

Furthermore, Xie He had never been one to give into his weakness and hesitation or let go of an opportunity that he had worked so tirelessly for.

He had never been a willful person.

Xie He looked at Lu Ting and smiled. “Did you know? Actually, I’ve always been grateful that you had come to my world.”

Lu Ting looked back. This was the first time he had heard Xie He say such a thing to him. After hearing about everything, Xie He was still able to say that he was really happy that Lu Ting had come to his world. This was also how Lu Ting felt.

I am very happy to have been able to come to your world and meet you.

Xie He’s long and narrow phoenix eyes held a faint smile. A flash of determination flickered through his eyes. He slowly said, “You don’t have to worry about me. I won’t disappoint you. I will always win. I will continue to win.”

The person he loved the most had always been himself. No one could sway him. Not even Lu Ting.

Lu Ting was startled for a moment. But he quickly understood what Xie He meant. After some time, a relieved smile appeared in his eyes. At this moment, he really didn’t worry anymore. He trusted that Xie He would be able to make a good decision.

“I know.” Lu Ting chuckled.

Aside from making fun of Lu Ting, 666 hadn’t chatted with Lu Ting much. He thought that things were good like this. Regardless of how this ended, at least Lu Ting could be with the person he loved. Their life was very happy. Although he said ruthless words, he was actually really happy for Lu Ting.

He had even started to think that Xie He really loved Lu Ting....But when he heard Xie He say this, he felt all of his data begin to shake with fury!

【666：Are you stupid? Or are you stupid? Do you understand what he’s saying? He said that he’s going to win! It didn’t matter before, but you’re together now. How can he say something like this so calmly?】Xie He made 666 feel both extreme fear and anger. He was even more terrifying than Lord God.

【Lu Ting：This is what I wanted from the start—for him to win. He hasn’t been influenced by me and is still calm and rational. Isn’t that good?】

【666：Have you gone mad? Do you know how low your chances of survival are? It all depends on him....】666 was both furious and upset. They knew of a method but they couldn’t say it out loud because of Lord God’s tight surveillance. If they said it out loud, their last hope would be dashed...But even if Xie He knew about it, even if their analysis was completely accurate, that still didn’t guarantee that Lu Ting would survive. There were countless mishaps that could occur!

666 had run the calculations countless times. Things didn’t look good for Lu Ting at all!

Xie He was a regular original inhabitant of a lower plane. He wasn’t a god! He wasn’t even a high level host! He was powerless! Even if he was really smart, he was still really weak right now!

&#k3010;Lu Ting&#kUU1J;I’m fine. As for you, have you managed to get 444 yet? Your skills are terrible. You’re even worse than me.&#k3011;

&#k3010;666 was furious&#kUU1J;You’re about to die and you’re still concerned over who I’m courting? In any case, I can just find another host after your death. With my level, I can have any host I want. Anyway, I won’t ever choose a host as stupid as you again!&#k3011;When he had bound to Lu Ting, he had been a new system that had just left the factory. In a blink of an eye, nearly a thousand years had passed&#k2026;.

【Lu Ting：Liu zi, you’re being too pessimistic. I haven’t died yet. I might not die either. I believe in Xie He.】

【666：Hehe, you trust him that much?】

【Lu Ting：Yes.】

666 decided not to speak to Lu Ting anymore. Who cares if he died? Later, when he meets with 444 again, he’s going to badmouth Xie He a lot! Xie He had never really trusted or cared about 444, had he? He only toyed with 444 like the other was a pet. But 444, that idiot, was completely devoted to Xie He and worshipped him like a god!

They were both idiots!

Xie He didn’t speak with Lu Ting. He could tell that the other was currently fighting with 666. He took the menu calmly and began to order.

After some time, the waiter brought the dishes over. There were also two exquisite little cakes.

Xie He pushed one of the cakes over to Lu Ting and smiled. “For you.”

Lu Ting didn’t really like sweets as he still looked down at the cake, he couldn’t help but smile. “You even remembered this.”

Xie He nodded. “My memory has always been very good.”

..............................

The two of them finished lunch but didn’t head home. Instead, they went to a love hotel. Before they even made it to their room, things were already getting heated. Xie He kissed Lu Ting hard and they were both busy tearing each other’s clothes off.

They were like animals that had succumbed to their most basic instincts. They yearned for each other, yearned to be inseparably linked.

..............................

Xie He’s eyelashes fluttered and his eyes were glossy. He looked very seductive. He threaded his fingers through Lu Ting’s hair and craned his neck up to kiss him. He let out a low, hoarse chuckle. “Let’s go on a trip. I’m on vacation now.” I’ll take you to see my world.

Lu Ting hugged Xie He and smiled. “Okay.”

After he said that, he lowered his head to plant a kiss on Xie He’s neck. He wanted to continue. “One more time?”

Xie He snorted. “Move.”

Lu Ting could only give up. He massaged Xie He’s waist and then said excitedly, “I’m not really familiar with your world. You should lead the way.”

Xie He glanced at him. “I’ve already made all the arrangements.”

Lu Ting’s expression seemed to say that he would do whatever Xie He wanted. He looked really happy. He was like a kept man. However, he didn’t feel ashamed of that at all. “When are we heading out?”

Xie He said, “Tomorrow.”

After saying that, Xie He gave his assistant, Fang Nan, a call. He had him prepare all their things to be sent over. They hadn’t brought anything aside from money. It was an impulsive vacation.

..............................

Although it was an ordinary E-ranked world, it was still a complete world. There were different countries, different people, and different cultures and customs.

If Xie He hadn’t experienced everything that he had, he would never have expected that this world was fake. No, that’s not right...to the people of this world, it was all real. Their world was real. Their lives were real....They could also experience all the emotions life had to offer.

But in Lord God’s eyes, they were nothing but energy that could be recycled.

Their vacation was free and relaxing. They went to many different countries.

After a bit over a month, they went back to their country. However, they didn’t go home. Today, they had come to a really famous tourist attraction. Xie He leaned against the railings and peered out into the fog and mist. They were on a really tall mountain. In the early morning, it looked like a place where immortals would reside.

He turned to flash a smile at Lu Ting. “What do you think of my world?”

Lu Ting sincerely said, “Although it’s really ordinary, I really like it.” He had gone to many crazy and bizarre worlds. He had seen all sorts of grotesque and wondrous sights. Compared to those worlds, Xie He’s world was nothing much. But it was precisely because it was ordinary that it had a sort of power that could move him....It was ordinary, but very real.

Everything here felt so real.

It was the place he missed the most out of all the worlds he had transmigrated to...and that was because he had a peaceful life here with the person he loved.

Xie He nodded. “I also really like it.”

To Xie He, this is the place he grew up in. This was his home...But when it came to leaving or staying, he didn’t need to think before making a decision.

If he wanted to be free, if he wanted to get stronger, he had to give it all up.

He had to give up his world and the person he loved.

【Ding, the target Xie He’s Favourability Value +1. The current Favourability Value is 99.】

Lu Ting was startled but he laughed soon after. “This time, your Favourability Value’s risen really quickly. Last time, it took me seven years to get it to 99. This time, I reached 99 in less than seven months. You must really love me.”

Xie He didn’t deny it. He didn’t laugh. He only slowly nodded his head. There was a heavy, complicated look in his eyes.

Actually, he had no right to mock Lu Ting’s previous indecisiveness. He knew that sometimes, making a decision was a really difficult thing to do.

It was because he understood this that he knew Lu Ting didn’t have it easy. That was why he had been willing to give the other a chance, to let him come back and give him what he wanted....

And right now, Xie He faced the same difficulty. When someone had to make a choice, when they were faced with the person they loved, they would worry about potential losses. It was really difficult to stay completely rational.

Xie He knew that they could not continue on like this. He would soon lose control over his Favourability Value.

When he didn’t care about someone, it was easy to turn on or turn off his affection for them. But when he really cared about someone...he no longer had absolute control over his emotions. Emotions were the most complicated thing in the world. Even if it was Xie He, not even he dared to call himself completely heartless.

“Let’s go home.” Xie He smiled slightly. His profile was lit up by the sunlight, making it look like it was covered in a mysterious light.

Lu Ting seemed to have lost himself to his thoughts as he stared at Xie He. A long time later, he nodded.

They slowly descended the mountain and then boarded the return bus. The two of them kissed as if they were the only two people around. Anyone could tell with a single glance that they were a couple passionately in love.

Xie He had sent 444 out to play and 666 didn’t want to bother with Lu Ting anymore. Everyday, 666 pondered over how to get 444 to stop obeying Xie He.

Xie He and Lu Ting were both quietly enjoying themselves. This trip had been like their honeymoon.

In the morning, the sun was still high in the sky. But when afternoon came, dark clouds suddenly filled the sky and a storm kicked up.

The bus shook as it wound down the mountain road. Because the rain was too heavy, a boulder suddenly fell down from the top of the mountain! The road was slippery and the bus suddenly served off the cliff!

The people on the bus all screamed in fear!

Lu Ting’s reaction was faster than anyone else’s. He held Xie He tightly in his arms, using his body to shield the other from the force of impact!

Xie He didn’t move. He let Lu Ting hold him. But his gaze was calm, as if everything was going as planned....His Favourability Value was at 99 now. This was Lord God forcing him to make his final choice.

That’s fine. It was time to make his decision.

The bus flipped several times before it finally stopped on top of a tree. Lu Ting looked at Xie He with concern in his eyes, afraid that the other was hurt. He nervously asked, “Are you okay?”

Xie He smiled. “I’m fine.”

Lu Ting nodded. He then pried apart the deformed window and carried Xie He out.

Lu Ting took a few steps, confirmed that Xie He was fine, and then placed him down before falling to the ground.

Although Lu Ting’s bloodline was very strong, it was restricted in this world. For the sake of protecting Xie He, he hadn’t bothered to think of himself. He ended up with many broken bones that had ended up stabbing into his organs. He was injured and bloodied all over.

Xie He knelt on the ground. He pulled Lu Ting’s upper half to rest on his legs, caressing the hair on the other’s forehead. He calmly said, “You’re going to die soon.”

Lu Ting coughed out a mouthful of blood and smiled. “It was going to happen sooner or later.”

There was no emotion in Xie He’s eyes, only darkness. His tone sounded numbed. “Do you blame me?”

Lu Ting said, “I have never blamed you.”

Xie He stared at him, his voice carrying a sliver of apology, as if he was trying to give some meaningless explanation. “I just thought that this was the most profitable outcome....If I died, you wouldn’t be able to keep living. But if you died, I would still live on.

“We’ve paid so much. If neither of us live, then it’d be too much of a loss.”

Therefore, I’m really sorry but I can’t give you that last Favourability point.

Lu Ting didn’t have the energy to nod anymore. He just said, “That makes a lot of sense. You’ve always been good at business. You’re better than me in that.”

When Xie He heard this he chuckled. “You’re the stupidest person I’ve ever met.”

Lu Ting didn’t enjoy hearing that. He couldn’t help but retort, “If I was really so stupid, I would have died outside a long time ago. I wouldn’t have been able to come back alive.”

Xie He pursed his lips slightly and bore into Lu Ting’s eyes. A moment later, a sliver of tender warmth appeared in his eyes. “All right, fine.”

Lu Ting was satisfied with that. He felt tired and sleepy...but he was afraid that he wouldn’t get to see Xie He again. Therefore, he forced himself to keep his eyes open. He couldn’t bear to shut his eyes.

Who knew how much time passed before they heard the distant siren of the ambulance.

When Lu Ting heard this, he sighed in relief. He smiled at Xie He. “Someone’s coming. You’ll...be fine....”

Xie He said, “I know.”

Nothing will happen to me because I will definitely win.

If you die, I’ll win.

But don’t worry. I’ll get revenge for you. I will revive you....Wait for me.

Xie He lowered his head and planted a loving, lingering kiss on Lu Ting’s lips. His voice was quiet and raspy. “There’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you. But I had always been afraid that you’d get too full of yourself so I never told you.”

Lu Ting couldn’t help but feel curious.

Xie He pressed his lips against the other’s ears and slowly said, “If you had told me the truth back then, I would have waited for you.”

Lu Ting looked at Xie He in disbelief. A moment later, a content smile filled his eyes, as if he had no more regrets in his life. There was a smile on his lips too. He just smiled at Xie He like this silently. And with that, he breathed his last.

【Ding, the capture mission of this world has resulted in failure. 1,000,000 experience points have been deducted. The current balance is -994,361. The soul erasure sequence has been initialized....】

【666：Damn it, damn it, damn it! Activating the host emergency protection mechanism! Dormant protection activated!】

【Erasure sequence blocked. Erasure sequence blocked....】

666 felt like his data was boiling. He was clearly just a system but he was in pain, like he was breaking apart. He had even fallen ten levels in order to activate the host emergency protection mechanism. However, this would only postpone the erasure procedure for ten days....

666 wanted to speak but he couldn’t say a thing. He fell dormant alongside Lu Ting.

【Erasure sequence blocked...in progress...blocked...in progress...】

【Erasure sequence backup plan initialized....】

Xie He couldn’t hear any of this. He slowly looked up and closed Lu Ting’s eyes with his hands. He then heard the system notification.

【Ding, the host has succeeded in avoiding capture. 100,000 experience points awarded.】

【444：Host dada, it’s over?!】666 had suddenly disappeared and then he had heard the system notification that said Host dada’s mission was completed. Therefore, he had rushed back. However, when he saw the situation in front of him, he started crying.

【444：Host dada, were you in an accident? Why did Lu Ting die? (ㄒoㄒ)/~~】

【Xie He：Mn.】

【444：Wah, he died, why don’t you care, ah? /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~】Weren’t they really in love back then?

【Xie He：Because weakness is the most useless thing in the world.】

【444：QAQ】I don’t understand....

Xie He let go. His hands were completely covered in blood. He took off his jacket and covered Lu Ting with it. He ran over to the paramedics calmly and said, “He’s dead and I’m fine. Go rescue the people in the bus.”

The paramedics looked at Xie He but didn’t ask anything more with the situation being so dire. They quickly ran past him. There were many injured people awaiting rescue. At this time, they really couldn’t waste any time on a dead person. They would save as many as they could.

【Xie He：Baby, help me exchange for the escape medicine.】

【444：Host dada, you want to exchange for the escape medicine? Σ( ° △°|||)︴】

【Xie He：Yes.】

【444：QAQ Host dada, you don’t want me anymore...?】

【Xie He：How could that be?】

【444：But you want the escape medicine, ah! /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~】Wah, it hurt more than death. Host dada didn’t want him anymore!

Xie He was silent for a while. He then gave his command in a cold voice.

【Xie He：Do the exchange.】

【444：QAQ】

【444：Okay...500,000 experience points in exchange for the escape medicine. Exchange complete. It has already been used....QAQ】

Xie He felt something stream through his body. For a moment, he felt like he was in a different space, completely separated from this world. That subtle bond between them had also been broken....

From now on, he was an independent, unrestricted existence.

【Ding, the system number 444 is currently being uninstalled. It is currently being uninstalled....】

【444：Wah! Host dada, I don’t want to go. I’ll be good. I won’t cry so easily anymore!】

【System 444 is currently being uninstalled....】

【444：I won’t be absent-minded anymore! I won’t go out to play! I will work very earnestly! I won’t disappoint you, ah! QAQ】

【System 444 is currently being uninstalled....】

【444：Wuwuwu, I don’t need an allowance anymore either....】

【System 444 has been successfully uninstalled.】

Xie He shut his eyes. His head was completely silent. He couldn’t hear a thing.

It was like everything before had been nothing but a dream and he had...finally woken up.

The author has something to say:

Don’t worry, we’ll get a happy ending next chapter~

Eve: UMMMMMMM! Wow. Yes, this author really doesn’t let go of any chances to give us angst???? I was sad with Lu Ting BUT I WAS SOBBING WITH 444. MY POOR BABY. He was like a little child begging his dad not to abandon him wuwuwuwu. Well, at least I can guarantee they’ll all get a happy ending. BUT STILL. WHAT HURTS HURT.

sere: AHHHHHH ONE LAST RIDE D’: NOOOO BABYYYY is ok tho the good parts come soon!!