There are still five minutes until the hero escapes from marriage. - Chapter 50

On the calm sea, a luxury cruise ship was sailing.

The cruise ship was sponsored by the Wen family. As the largest sponsor of “Your Heartbeat is You,” the Wen family not only sponsored the cruise ship but also an island used as a filming location for the show.

This island was meticulously crafted by Wen Zhao over several years, originally intended for her and Gu Xianting’s honeymoon.

Several drones hovered above the sea, capturing footage from various angles to ensure not a single highlight was missed.

Jiang Yunyun sat at her computer, intently watching the live footage. Originally a die-hard fan of the celebrity couple, she had become obsessed with the gossip since Su Mengyao’s videos were posted online three days ago.

“Your Heartbeat is You” was a live reality show with no dead angles, no director interference, and no script—everything was spontaneous and unscripted.

When the show’s rules were announced, many, including Jiang Yunyun, were skeptical. But knowing that Su Mengyao and Gu Xianting, the two powerful couples, were participating made her uncertain.

After all, what kind of capital could make such high-profile individuals cooperate?

She was now eagerly anticipating the drama!

The live stream was divided into five rooms, one for each couple. At this moment, the audience numbers in the five live streams were evenly matched.

The other three couples included a top celebrity couple, a film emperor and empress couple, and an emperor and empress of the screen couple. With such popularity, it was impressive that the two pairs of ordinary couples could attract so many viewers.

In Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting’s live stream, the atmosphere was quite peculiar. Wen Zhao was handling work on her computer while Gu Xianting sat beside her, shelling sunflower seeds.

Yes, shelling sunflower seeds.

The table was already covered with shells, and the shelled seeds were neatly arranged in a plate.

The bullet comments in the live stream were diverse: some passionately criticized her for being abusive to her husband, others praised her for her actions, some sympathized with Gu Xianting for having a “tigress” for a wife, and others condemned him as a scumbag.

Different perspectives and experiences led to these varied opinions.

Jiang Yunyun was currently watching this live stream.

Wen Zhao was the main character, and soon, other guests would join this live stream as well.

“Get me a glass of water,” Wen Zhao ordered without looking up, which triggered another wave of criticism in the bullet comments.

Gu Xianting hesitated but eventually stood up, walked over, poured a glass of water, and placed it beside her.

He seemed unaffected, but Wen Zhao knew he was likely seething with anger.

Three days ago, after she and the butler went on a trip, 0733 had been kept in the dark, trying to find a way to escape but was watched closely by Wen Zhao’s people, denying him the chance to commit suicide.

He had also tried to communicate with the world consciousness of the small world, but the system was unresponsive.

He  regretted choosing this world and not leaving himself an escape route.

He had entered the small world with Su Mengyao, erasing all traces of his covert actions to prevent the main system from discovering him. This led to his current passive entrapment in the small world.

It was absurd.

This small world lacked gods or supernatural powers, only a mundane, ordinary setting. After taking ninety-nine steps, he had fallen into a pit on the final step.

“You loved Su Mengyao so much, didn’t you? You even crossed over to the small world for her and accompanied her through many worlds. Now, I’m giving you a chance to meet her. Aren’t you touched?” Wen Zhao said coldly and sarcastically when 0733 was brought out of the dark basement.

He wanted to resist but forced himself to stay calm, seeing Wen Zhao’s clearly malicious gaze.

Even though they couldn’t kill him immediately, confining him to this world for decades was only a minor inconvenience compared to his long life. Decades were merely a drop in the ocean.

Once he escaped this body and regained control, he would make this world disappear completely!

Everything here was his shameful black history!

“Zhao Zhao, take a break. You’ve been busy for a while,” he said in a warm, gentlemanly tone, perfectly fitting his persona.

Wen Zhao looked up, their eyes meeting with pretense.

“Are you excited to see your old lover soon?” she asked suddenly as she took the water glass.

“Wow, so fierce? Wen Zhao, you’re quite a woman!”

“Ha, she’s clearly jealous. Knowing he doesn’t like her, she still insists. Isn’t she the mistress?”

“Isn’t the notion that only the unloved is a mistress outdated? Who still says that?”

On the screen, bullet comments flew rapidly.

Jiang Yunyun also wanted to comment, “Wen Zhao, you’re quite fierce!”

She didn’t hide anything at all. This was live, and wasn’t she worried about the potential backlash?

But Jiang Yunyun was now more interested in Gu Xianting’s response.

She saw his smile falter for a moment. “Zhao Zhao is jealous?”

Wen Zhao: Ha.

Her gaze towards him was sharp, as if it were a knife. Jealousy? He might as well be eating a bomb.

The atmosphere became tense, almost as if they were about to come to blows.

Of course, many viewers were thrilled at the prospect of a confrontation.

Just then, the door opened, shattering the tense atmosphere between them. Both of them looked towards the door.

The door was opened by the variety show host, a well-known and successful figure in the industry. He greeted Wen Zhao and 0733, thanking them for the island and cruise ship.

The host then stepped aside to let the other guests enter.

The five live stream screens merged into one large screen.

The bullet comments momentarily went blank.

Everyone held their breath, anticipating the dramatic showdown.

The production team knew what the viewers wanted to see.

Standing at the forefront was indeed Su Mengyao.

This was her second visit to this island. The last time she came, she had been filled with anxiety and nearly had her faith destroyed. She never imagined she would return in this lifetime!

But this time was different!

She walked in proudly and confidently.

As soon as she entered, she saw Gu Xianting standing beside Wen Zhao.

Although not much time had passed, seeing him again felt like a lifetime had passed. She trembled with excitement, her eyes red as all her emotions surged.

At this moment, the bullet comments in the live stream exploded!

The scene of Su Mengyao and Gu Xianting gazing at each other was even made into a short video and posted on Weibo with a poetic caption: “We stand at the closest distance, gazing at the farthest distance of each other.”

People often have a self-destructive curiosity towards forbidden, disallowed relationships. Even if they cannot act on such desires themselves, they secretly yearn for, peep into, and get excited about them.

Otherwise, why would people who are already in relationships, with families and partners, be inexplicably paired together?

Shen Han Feng stood behind Su Mengyao, patting her shoulder to bring her out of her daze. Su Mengyao quickly averted her gaze and took a few steps forward, allowing the blocked door to open.

The four pairs of guests and the show host entered and took their seats on the prearranged sofas.

Jiang Yunyun stared at the big screen, watching the barrage of comments. She felt a peculiar emotion stirring inside her, thinking that the current scene looked somewhat distorted.

The barrage of comments was a chaotic mix. Some viewers were passionately attacking the characters, while others were rooting for or sympathizing with them. Some were even expressing that the scandalous nature of the situation was exciting.

As the host warmed up the atmosphere, asking each guest to introduce themselves, things became more relaxed compared to the initial tension.

When it was Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting’s turn, everyone looked at them, already familiar with the viral videos involving them.

“I am Wen Zhao, and this is my husband, Gu Xianting,” Wen Zhao introduced with a smile.

0733 gave a slight nod to the others. He didn’t know what Wen Zhao’s real intentions were, but he figured that with Su Mengyao here, he would have a chance to talk to her. Perhaps he could find an opportunity to forcibly awaken her, removing any obstacles between them.

He was unaware that Wen Zhao’s true aim was not only to make Su Mengyao remember her past but also to make her recall her original self.

“I am Su Mengyao,” Su Mengyao said, but struggled to continue. She didn’t want to mention her fiancé in front of Gu Xianting.

For some reason, she felt she could not let Gu Xianting know that she had been intimate with Shen Han Feng, fearing it would lead to trouble.

“I am Mengyao’s fiancé, and we are getting married next month,” Shen Han Feng said with a smile, “Maybe by then, we’ll be a family of three.”

Su Mengyao’s pupils constricted. She instinctively looked at Gu Xianting, who stared at her in shock.

“Ah, Mengyao, are you pregnant?” Wen Zhao asked in surprise.

Shen Han Feng embraced Su Mengyao, pulling her close. “Not sure yet, we’ll find out in a while.”

Other guests teased him, wishing him well. However, 0733 was in turmoil, unable to focus. He was overwhelmed by the possibility that Su Mengyao might indeed be pregnant.

This was impossible. How could Su Mengyao, his woman, be tainted by another?

In all the worlds he had guarded, he had never allowed another man to touch her. She was supposed to be his perfect, untainted possession.

He wanted to confront her, but with so many people around, he couldn’t act out his anger. His identity as Wen Zhao’s husband kept him from questioning her openly.

Fans of the Gu Xianting and Su Mengyao pairing were especially vocal, creating a whirlwind of fan fiction and emotional outpourings.

Other pairs seemed like mere background characters, with Wen Zhao and Shen Han Feng portrayed as the main obstacles to true love. The online discourse was obsessed with their flaws and mistakes, highlighting how the public was fixated on every imperfection.

The system subtly guided the conversation online, with many short clips contributing to the drama. The tension seemed to be reaching a peak.

During lunchtime, the guests were tasked with gathering ingredients. They split up to collect food.

Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting went to the vegetable garden, while Su Mengyao and Shen Han Feng went to gather seafood.

System: [The time has come.]

Wen Zhao: [Then let’s begin.]

As Wen Zhao responded, Gu Xianting’s phone beeped with a new message.

0733, despite his reluctance, found himself compelled by Wen Zhao’s persistent gaze. He took out his phone.

The message was a short video that made his skin crawl. His hands trembled as he stared at her with fury.

She smiled maliciously. “Why don’t you take a look? I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

0733’s unease grew, but he reluctantly opened the video.

The video showed two figures intertwined, and he felt like he was seeing something horrifying. He slammed his phone down, eyes bloodshot with rage, staring at Wen Zhao.

Wen Zhao, full of malice, said, “Why are you so angry? It’s not my doing. Could it be that you think it’s dirty?”

He was enraged, trembling with fury. “Wen Zhao! Do you understand nothing!”

His perfect creation was being sullied by others. What pained him most was seeing Su Mengyao’s lack of resistance and even her immersion in the act.

A woman who had sworn love to him, who had shared a night with him, now seamlessly connected with another man. It made him feel like a complete joke.

All the worlds he had accompanied Su Mengyao through had ended in failure. She was merely a flawed creation.

“Perhaps there’s some misunderstanding,” Wen Zhao said with a smile. “You love her, don’t you? Is this what your love amounts to?”

He shot a cold look at her before striding towards the beach.

At that moment, the butler came over to take the vegetable basket from Wen Zhao. “Let’s go, we should also check it out.”

“Okay,” Wen Zhao replied.

The livestream comments were in chaos, with viewers confused about Gu Xianting’s reaction and the mysterious man’s interaction with Wen Zhao.

Wen Zhao and the butler took a shortcut to the beach.

0733, radiating a fierce aura, marched towards Su Mengyao, who was on the beach digging for shells with a shovel.

The comments exploded with anticipation for an emotional confrontation, hoping for a dramatic reunion or passionate scene between them.

Su Mengyao looked up upon hearing footsteps, her eyes lighting up when she saw Gu Xianting. She believed in his love and thought he had come to find her, leaving Wen Zhao behind.

She stood up, “Xianting—”

“Smack.”

Instead of an embrace, he slapped her hard, leaving her stunned. She covered her face in shock, looking at him with disbelief. “Xianting… I’m Mengyao…”

“Did you sleep with him?” He asked directly.

She stiffened, her eyes instinctively dodging. “I… Xianting, those words were just for show…”

“Answer my question!” He interrupted angrily.

She had never seen him like this. Though he sometimes had a bad temper, he had never treated her this way. “I was forced!”

“Mengyao, that’s disappointing,” Shen Han Feng’s voice cut in. “It was mutual. How can you say you were forced? Should I let everyone see if you looked forced at all?”

His words caused the comments to explode.

What did he mean? Was there a recording of them together?

The viewers demanded to see the video, eager to watch.

Su Mengyao’s face turned pale. She almost collapsed, pleading with Gu Xianting. “Xianting, I love you! What happened with him was an accident. You understand, right?”

She tried to justify herself, “And you’re already married. You betrayed me first when you married Wen Zhao!”

“Why?” Su Mengyao asked.

“Because you’ve tainted yourself,” Gu Xianting replied coldly.

Su Mengyao found it absurd. “Why do you say that? Didn’t you also marry someone else? You could kiss and be intimate with others in front of me. Why can’t I? Gu Xianting, how could you change so much…”

“Because that’s who he is,” Wen Zhao stepped forward, standing in front of Su Mengyao.

“Shut up! It must be you, right? Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong?” Su Mengyao was furious. “Wen Zhao, why do you have to tear us apart?”

“It’s not like that,” Wen Zhao suddenly laughed. “I’m actually giving you a chance to be together.”

Su Mengyao thought she was making a joke. “How could that be?”

“Otherwise, why do you think so many people online think you two are a good match?” her smile was radiant and carefree. “I really wanted to use this show to make sure you two ended up together. Otherwise, why would I invest so much money in this show?”

“It’s such a pity,” she said regretfully, though her eyes were almost overflowing with malice. “I wanted you to be together smoothly under the attention of the entire internet.”

At this moment, the internet was almost exploding with reactions. Wen Zhao’s words made everyone’s first reaction disbelief.

She gestured to a spot, and the butler walked over and took her hand. “Look, I found someone who loves me so much that even if I’m married, they still want to be with me without abandoning me.”

Wen Zhao looked at 0733 with undisguised disdain. “In comparison, I think Gu Xianting is trash. It’s best to throw trash in the trash can, don’t you think?”

Everyone: …

The audience watching Wen Zhao and the butler contrasted them with Gu Xianting and found her words correct.

So what’s happening now?

Has Wen Zhao found true love and wants to give Gu Xianting to Su Mengyao?

This taboo love finally has a chance to be together without obstacles, but now they’re rejecting each other?

What a ridiculous reality!

“It’s impossible… How could this be…” Su Mengyao felt it was absurd. Her mind was a mess. Those three days, she had been elevated to heaven, thinking she was being cleared of blame and understood, and that she and Gu Xianting could have a perfect future.

But now, had Gu Xianting changed his mind?

“Don’t you understand yet? He loves you, but he only loves the version of you he wants. Once you don’t meet his expectations or you are out of his control and no longer what he desires, he will discard you mercilessly.” Wen Zhao said calmly, “I’ve always told you that no one in this world can be relied upon, but you never believed me.”

“I don’t believe it…” Su Mengyao looked at Gu Xianting, her eyes full of pleading. He was her only support now. If he denied her, what would her existence mean?

Yet, his gaze towards her was only cold and disdainful.

“Haha… Why? What is this?” She broke down. She was thrown from the closest point to happiness, cast down by the hands of her lover.

Meanwhile, the live stream’s comments were in chaos. Those who were watching were also devastated. How can this be called true love?

Don’t insult the term ‘true love’!

“Because of your character, your purpose of existence is only to live for this man. You must be 100% loyal, 100% devoted. Once you don’t meet this condition, your purpose of existence is lost.” Wen Zhao cruelly exposed all the illusions. “Su Mengyao, think carefully about what you were like before. Your life was not meant to be lived for others. Everyone should live for themselves.”

Wen Zhao: [System.]

System: [Received.]

The live broadcast abruptly stopped.

In Su Mengyao’s mind, memories began to replay frame by frame, as if being forced back into her consciousness.

These memories were extracted from 0733’s mind by the system.

She screamed in agony. She couldn’t stand and fell to the ground.

“I don’t like women being too assertive. Don’t go out to work. I will support you.”

“Be a good wife. Look, everyone envies you, saying you’re pampered by me.”

“I will support you. Just stay at home.”

“You must love me 100%, never betray me. Purity is a woman’s best dowry. You are the purest.”

“You don’t need to become strong. If there is danger, I will save you.”

Sweet words, like threads of sugar, formed a dense net. All edges were smoothed, all personalities removed.

You only need to be obedient, gentle, harmless, pure, understanding, and I will give you everything.

“Ah!” She screamed in pain as the overwhelming memories compressed. She felt like a spectator in a series of sweet dramas.

Sweet? Yes.

But when all this sweetness, in the end, was slapped away mercilessly just because of a laughable impurity, all the sweetness became unbearably nauseating.

She covered her mouth and started retching.

Something began to collapse and disintegrate.

She felt like a domesticated animal, gradually polished according to someone else’s preferences. She didn’t need self, she had no sense of shame, only needed to follow the so-called love. Her mind didn’t need the ability to think, so she became harmless and unable to compete with anyone.

System: [World Awakening Progress 95%]

This announcement echoed in the minds of Wen Zhao, the butler, and Shen Han Feng.

Wen Zhao: [How could it increase so much all of a sudden?]

System: [Because the audience has started to doubt the so-called true love.]

After the world’s script was tampered with, Gu Xianting and Su Mengyao became the main characters, but now their love was crushed by the protagonists themselves, and the world’s script was being questioned.

At this moment, 0733, who had been observing coldly, suddenly looked up.

“What do you want to do?” his voice was cold. “You’re not planning to do world awakening, are you?”

Wen Zhao looked at him calmly. “So what if we are?”

He seemed to have heard a joke. “Do you know what this task means?”

The butler took Wen Zhao’s hand. “It means this world will become a real world, with no distinction between protagonists and supporting characters, and no one needs to sacrifice for the protagonists.”

[World Awakening Progress 97%]

This announcement descended from the sky.

At this moment, everyone heard it.

In skyscrapers, on the streets, in fields…

Almost everyone looked up simultaneously.

The sky turned an eerie shade of indigo, almost unreal in its intensity.

Then, a massive rumbling sound spread from the ground.

[World Awakening Progress 99%]

People panicked and fled. The world seemed to be going wrong.

“Zhao Zhao…” The butler started to say something to Wen Zhao.

But the deafening hum swallowed his words.

0733 sneered. He glanced coldly at the broken Su Mengyao and turned to leave.

These fools. With the world reset, his body would reset too. When that happened, he could escape from the world and destroy it!

Wanting to escape the control of the main system?

Dream on!

The sky suddenly darkened.

At this moment—

[World Awakening Progress 100%]

Everything began to fragment and disappear.

0733 turned into a beam of light and floated upward.

However, at that moment, another weak light collided with him. He couldn’t believe it: “What are you doing, fool!”

[Once, I compromised to save this world.]

[But I found that compromise doesn’t work.]

[I made a mistake.]

[Sorry.]

And this world, the world that allowed it to exist, it liked it very much.

[Goodbye.]

0733’s eyes widened in rage. He desperately tried to escape, but the world’s consciousness went berserk, shattering his energy body.

Countless white lights scattered.

These light particles gently landed on the ground.

It felt like a grand farewell, or a welcoming of a new beginning.

The rain started in the afternoon.

Gu Xianting checked the time. It would soon be time for Zhao Zhao’s class to end.

He grabbed his car keys, took the elevator down to the parking lot, started the car, and drove out as the rain pattered down.

The windshield wipers cleared the rain from the window.

The car stopped at a traffic light.

On the crosswalk, a girl in a white dress was chatting with a classmate, smiling. Their youthful energy made the rainy day seem less gloomy.

The light turned green.

The car continued forward.

Minutes later, the car stopped at the school gate.

He opened his umbrella and got out, waiting at the gate.

It was almost time, and many people were coming out.

The man’s eyes brightened as he walked in with his umbrella.

His steps were large.

Someone walked under the umbrella with him.

The rain grew heavier, but it didn’t matter.

A moment of clear sky under the umbrella was enough.

We come and go among millions.

In the end, meeting you and loving you.

The end.

Translator’s note:

Thank you for reading till the end:)