Restricted Fantasy I Chapter 194: Beyond the Chessboard

"..."

Feeling the faint gazes coming from all directions, Yan Huan's eyes rolled back slightly before slowly sliding shut.

He looked as if he was deep in thought, but in reality, his soul had already left his body a while ago.

Peaceful.jpg

"ow?!"

However, on his shoulder, Myau-chan tactlessly pressed his paw pads hard against his philtrum, trying to drag him back from the heavenly afterlife into the hell of reality.

"Hiss!"

With his lip throbbing from Myau-chan's claws, Yan Huan was forced to open his eyes once more.

What greeted his sight was still that dead, suffocating atmosphere, silently awaiting his answer.

This was actually not a dream.

"..."

Only at this mont did Yan Huan truly understand the saying, 'Choosing to live requires more courage than choosing to die.'

Since he still had to live, his only choice was to face reality.

Yan Huan's brain instantly went into overdrive, entering bullet ti as he analyzed this unwinnable ga.

It would have been fine if that stubborn woman Heather had just kept her mouth shut, but the mont she spoke, presenting him with a binary choice, she nearly sent Yan Huan flying into a panic.

The question itself was not hard to answer. Searching his sincere heart, Yan Huan genuinely wanted to help Spencer.

But looking at the ominous auras radiating from Sakuramiya Hitomi and Bai Yi, Yan Huan, having abundant experience battling Ye Shiyu, was absolutely certain:

If he said that, the two Modifiers in front of him would likely set off fireworks right in his face.

Boom!

Then what if he did the opposite?

Go against his true feelings and side with Sakuramiya Hitomi and Bai Yi just to pacify the Modifiers?

Right now, Yan Huan was not even considering Spencer's instinct for seeing through hypocritical people. Instead, he focused on just one thing...

If he said that, would he really be doing right by Spencer?

"Sigh..."

Yan Huan couldn't bear to do it, yet he felt completely helpless.

There was another problem now. Yan Huan knew Sakuramiya Hitomi very well, and he didn't think she was the type of person to act so crudely.

She had excellent upbringing. No matter what, she wouldn't lose her composure and launch a verbal assault on Spencer like this.

It was even more impossible for her ntality to be so unstable that her Modifier was starting to glow red.

It was worth noting that Sakuramiya Hitomi's Modifier was the longest hidden among the five hosts.

If he hadn't used the Devil's Mind-Reading like opening a mystery box and stumbled upon a surprise, causing Sakuramiya Hitomi's hidden fetish to beco a major problem, she probably could have kept it hidden forever.

So, how could Sakuramiya Hitomi end up like this now?

Yan Huan narrowed his eyes, and from the corner of his vision, he glanced at Spencer's brilliantly glowing golden hair, which seed to be radiating so bizarre, invisible fluctuation.

Spencer's Modifier...

Instantly realizing sothing, Yan Huan ntally slapped his own forehead.

Spencer had been so obedient recently that Yan Huan had completely overlooked the Modifier on her!

And let's not forget, that ti Spencer forcibly kissed Yan Huan in public in front of the entire school, she had absorbed an unknown amount of NTR energy. Logically speaking, her Modifier had definitely leveled up.

Because of this, even if Spencer didn't have the subjective will to use the Modifier, it didn't prevent it from automatically affecting Sakuramiya Hitomi's state of mind.

Especially at this mont, when Hitomi's mother had gone behind her back to help Spencer, triggering a direct chain reaction.

"..."

However, the situation Yan Huan was facing now was a dead end on both sides; choosing either option would lead to his doom.

So at a ti like this, he absolutely could not afford to get hung up on the surface of the question.

If he honestly chose A or B, his life would be over right then and there.

If three or four Battle Defeat CGs didn't play out in succession tonight, Yan Huan would consider that they had gone easy on him.

He had to think outside the box to find a way to survive.

Sotis, victory or defeat was decided beyond the chessboard.

'A bad move, a standard move, or a brilliant move can never compare to simply throwing your hands up'—this saying perfectly captured the logic.

While Yan Huan spurred his stagnant brain to spin faster, his peripheral vision swept across the scene in an instant, searching for any information he could exploit.

But no matter how hard he thought, Yan Huan couldn't co up with a way to break the deadlock.

He even imagined the extre scenario of a terrifying An Le suddenly bursting into the room and flipping the table.

Just as he couldn't hold back anymore and was about to spout nonsense like "It's all Myau-chan's fault"...

The image of Sakuramiya Lily smiling cheerfully suddenly crashed into his mind.

"I figured that since I had nothing to do in Linn lately, I might as well take the initiative to handle this matter and help you out, Student Yan~"

Wait...

Auntie Sakuramiya!

Yan Huan finally realized that although Spencer's mother had recomnded him, Ye Shiyu, and Sakuramiya Hitomi, the actual gathering was orchestrated by Sakuramiya Lily.

Not only was Ye Shiyu invited by her, but coming here early behind Sakuramiya Hitomi's back was also her doing.

Although he didn't know what her ultimate goal was, Yan Huan was certain of one thing: since she took the initiative to manage this, she definitely didn't want the plan to just fall apart.

Furthermore, while the current offensive mounted by Sakuramiya Hitomi and Bai Yi looked like a two-person front, Bai Yi could essentially be ignored.

The one whose instincts truly couldn't hold back and erupted was Sakuramiya Hitomi. When they arrived, Bai Yi had been trying to stop her, only joining in when she realized she couldn't hold her back.

Two main points angered Hitomi: one was her mother helping Spencer, and the other was Yan Huan helping Spencer.

It was just that now, because that middle-aged hag Heather had stirred the pot, both issues were bundled together and blad entirely on Yan Huan!

Choosing A, choosing B, or trying to bluff his way out to stay alive—all of them led to the gates of injury or death...

The only gate of survival was to start with Sakuramiya Lily!

Auntie Sakuramiya!

Thinking of this, Yan Huan's gaze toward Sakuramiya Lily suddenly beca intensely passionate.

Feeling Yan Huan's gaze, Sakuramiya Lily's smile didn't fade; instead, it grew even sweeter.

"Phew..."

The brainstorming session finally concluded. Yan Huan let out a long breath, then turned to Auntie Sakuramiya and asked,

"Before I answer, Auntie Sakuramiya, could I first ask your reason for helping Spencer?"

It was an unexpected turning point, yet no one in the room interrupted. Hitomi, in particular, looked at her mother in confusion.

Just as Yan Huan had analyzed, as the one launching the attack, Hitomi's mother helping Spencer was a crucial reason for her anger.

In fact, it was the main reason.

"Oh my..."

Sakuramiya Lily looked quite surprised. She rested her folding fan against her chin and explained with a distressed look,

"After all, the person who made the request is an extrely powerful and influential figure. How could I possibly refuse?

"Furthermore, even though CEO Ye Lan was unaware that I invited Student Ye this ti, even if she knew, she'd still have to give President Elvira so face, right?

"Not to ntion, our little Spencer is just so adorable."

As she spoke, the folding fan in her hand suddenly snapped open, hiding her smile.

"Speaking of which, during dinner earlier, when she wasn't paying attention, I kept secretly slipping raw fish slices onto her plate. She thought her Mama was the one giving them to her.

"To avoid wasting food, little Spencer ate every last piece, even though her face was completely scrunched up in bitterness~"

Hearing this, Spencer, who was standing beside Yan Huan, instantly widened her eyes, baring her canine teeth in anger.

"S-so it was you, you weird auntie, who kept giving

those disgusting fish slices!"

"Ahaha, so cute~"

After hearing those words, in Yan Huan's eyes, the exact sa holy light that surrounded Auntie Ye Lan began to radiate from Sakuramiya Lily.

This was a huge help!

Because her words were practically explicitly telling Sakuramiya Hitomi:

"Spencer's family possesses imnse power, so I can only help her. There is no other reason."

This was incredibly helpful in defusing the tense standoff, but these words absolutely could not co from Yan Huan's mouth.

However, what surprised Yan Huan a bit was...

Ye Lan actually didn't know about Ye Shiyu becoming Spencer's tutor?

She had agreed to it on her own?

What was her goal?

Did defeating An Le really restructure her personality into a masochist?

"Mama..."

Upon hearing those words, Sakuramiya Hitomi finally cast an uncertain, shocked glance at her mother, and then at Ye Shiyu beside Yan Huan.

Only then did she awake from that sudden outburst of uncontrollable emotion, belatedly realizing:

If even her own family and Ye Shiyu's family had to compromise when facing Spencer's mother, what about the President?

Her actions just now were undeniably the stupidest possible way of forcing the President to choose between two powerful factions.

It would have been one thing if the Sakuramiya family could contend with the Spencer family, but they simply couldn't. What if the Spencers caused trouble for the President later?

Taking a step back, on the surface, she hadn't even established any formal relationship with the President yet. If she was going to question anyone, she should have questioned her own mother.

'I told you that the mont you left the Sakuramiya household, you turned into a naive idiot!'

In her ears, the voice of the cold Sakuramiya imdiately rang out,

'Do you think the world revolves around you? If the President ends up in trouble because of the Spencer family later, you'll be left regretting it for the rest of your life!'

'Don't be so harsh. Earlier, it seed like she was being influenced by sothing and couldn't hear us speak...'

Inside her mind, the confused voice of the petite Sakuramiya chid in. It seed she was also peering through Hitomi's eyes, examining the surroundings for anything suspicious.

Those two remarks made cold sweat bead on Sakuramiya Hitomi's forehead, and she swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

With Sakuramiya Hitomi temporarily withdrawing part of her offensive, the atmosphere in the room finally eased up a bit.

"I'm sorry, President Yan. Auntie is just a very realistic person. But sotis, being a little realistic isn't a bad thing, right?"

At this mont, Sakuramiya Lily smiled faintly and looked back at Yan Huan, tossing the topic back to him.

"Tell Auntie honestly, does your helping Spencer also have to do with her family background?"

Hearing this, Spencer nervously pursed her lips, her sky-blue eyes hurriedly darting to Yan Huan beside her.

But feeling the gazes from all around, Yan Huan rely cast a surprised look at Sakuramiya Lily.

After confirming sothing, he smiled helplessly and replied with a question of his own,

"Before I t Spencer, the most prominent Eldest Miss I knew was Sakuramiya.

"Auntie, if I were that kind of person, I wouldn't have had a cold war with Sakuramiya right after enrolling, let alone gotten into a massive argunt with her brother at the birthday banquet."

Hearing this, Sakuramiya Lily began to laugh, rubbing the corners of her eyes as she said,

"Hahaha... True, I had completely forgotten about that. You and Jing nearly ca to blows!

"But it's also thanks to your help that a child like Hitomi has beco so much more cheerful..."

Bringing this up made not only Yan Huan but even Hitomi look a bit awkward.

"So, returning to the main topic, unlike Auntie, you are helping Spencer out of your sincere heart?"

Finally, after two rounds of buildup, when Sakuramiya Lily asked the question again, the topic was no longer a fatal trap.

In the first round, she laid out the realistic factors of Spencer's background, making it clear that rejecting the Golden Lion Group could have severe consequences.

In the second round, she brought up the subjective factor of how Yan Huan had previously helped Sakuramiya Hitomi in the sa way, drawing a parallel to make Hitomi and Bai Yi empathize...

Yes, even though Sakuramiya Lily knew nothing about what happened between Yan Huan and Bai Yi, those words absolutely worked on Bai Yi.

Because previously, Yan Huan had also gone all out to help her at the ani convention without expecting anything in return.

And yet, before that, she had used Indifference to pour paint all over his desk.

Therefore, at this mont, Yan Huan could finally state his true answer with a clear conscience.

"Yes, Auntie."

Hearing this, Spencer's eyes began to shimr with light.

Because she could feel that Yan Huan wasn't lying.

Listening to his answer, she took a deep breath, nearly jumping out of her seat in joy.

In front of him, Sakuramiya Hitomi and Bai Yi pursed their lips, their expressions hesitant. Clearly, they weren't taking it too well.

But at the very least, the terrifying threat of the Modifiers exploding was gone.

But at this point, Sakuramiya Lily smoothly changed the subject.

"Does that an what Hitomi and this student Bai said was false?"

"...Not entirely, Auntie."

Those words made Hitomi and Bai Yi freeze for a second before watching Yan Huan continue,

"Spencer has indeed done many wrong things in the past that made a lot of people dislike her, and I'm no exception.

"Whether it stems from objective reasons or subjective ones, these are unchangeable facts."

Hearing this, Spencer embarrassedly pouted, lowering her head to kick at the dust with the tip of her shoe.

But she couldn't stubbornly refute Yan Huan, because she knew that what he was saying was right.

By saying this, he was actually keeping the scales perfectly balanced.

Yet at this point, Yan Huan couldn't help himself and tipped the scales toward Spencer anyway.

"But in private, I've seen her realize her mistakes and sincerely apologize to others; I've seen her put in a trendous amount of effort just to achieve a goal. So, I'm still willing to believe that many hands make light work. With your and Sister Shiyu's help, she will beco better..."

After finishing his piece, Yan Huan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Beside him, Spencer, whose gaze had been dodging away, looked up at Yan Huan again. The hostility that had previously filled her eyes finally softened a little.

Her brilliantly glowing golden hair slowly returned to normal, and the overall tense standoff was finally defused.

In front of him, Sakuramiya and Bai Yi pursed their lips, averting their gazes slightly.

Yan Huan looked at the smiling Sakuramiya Lily in front of him, suddenly feeling as if she was bathed in the holy light of ascension.

Just like Auntie Ye, she was about to join the ranks of the immortals.

This turbulent, unwinnable trap had been ticulously dismantled by Sakuramiya Lily, sentence by sentence, paving a way out.

Although this was only Yan Huan's second ti eting Sakuramiya Lily, he felt a profound sense of mutual understanding with her.

Truly a lifesaver, practically a reborn godmoth...

No, Auntie Ye Lan's status as his godmother was irreplaceable!

Just as Yan Huan seed to have escaped danger, and Heather, seeing the atmosphere calm down, prepared to speak...

The smile on Sakuramiya Lily's face remained unchanged, but she suddenly pulled Sakuramiya Hitomi and Bai Yi into an embrace.

"Student Yan, you just said 'many hands make light work,' and I couldn't agree more~"

"Therefore, I plan to simultaneously employ Hitomi and this student Bai as Spencer's educational tutors!"

"During the ten-day School Trip to Sakura Country later, I will represent the Sakuramiya family and invite everyone in this Study Group to stay at our estate for a few days so you can all study hard~"

Together?

The Sakuramiya estate?!

In his heart, the massive boulder that Yan Huan had just let go of instantly rocketed back up into the stratosphere.

He looked at Sakuramiya Lily in sheer disbelief, suddenly realizing that the woman who had just been bathed in holy light had sprouted devil wings and a pointed tail behind her back.

Crap!

It's a trap!

"Mama..."

Sakuramiya Hitomi froze slightly, turning her head to glance at her mother.

But all she saw was the profoundly aningful smile on her face.

Imdiately, Hitomi realized her intention. She nodded and agreed,

"Since Mama has spoken, I have no objections."

"I..."

Bai Yi was originally a bit hesitant. After all, the other three factions in this group were playing at way too high a level. If she mingled with them, she'd probably get completely crushed the whole ti.

But thinking carefully, she was soone with nothing to lose; she shouldn't fear those who had everything.

So what if it was Ye International, the Sakuramiya family, and the Golden Lion Group?

Even if Yan Huan really doesn't see

that way...

I'm not entirely out of the race!

"Alright, I... also agree to help Spencer."

"Huh?!"

Forget about how displeased the other two were—on Yan Huan's side, Spencer herself found this completely unacceptable.

But at this mont, recalling what Yan Huan had just said, she hesitated again.

'Yan Huan is right. If he's the only one helping , I'll definitely be thinking about that kind of thing every day, and I probably won't be able to study hard...'

'So even if these people are annoying, I can't just focus on throwing a tantrum.'

'I need to be more sensible and put in a little more effort. That way, I won't disappoint Mama and Yan Huan.'

"..."

Thinking this way, the Spencer who had been right on the verge of erupting actually cald back down.

It was just that she continued to secretly glare at the two people across from her, her eyes brimming with hidden defiance.

Great. Now Yan Huan had completely shot himself in the foot.

At this mont, Yan Huan stared at Sakuramiya Lily, who had just transford from an angel into a devil, completely at a loss for words.

If all of these hosts entered the group, the following ten-day School Trip would undoubtedly...

Lead to a grueso death.

But if he didn't step down the path Sakuramiya Lily had offered, he would die right now.

Fine, fine, fine...

Auntie Sakuramiya, so this was your real endga!

"...Ms. Sakuramiya, I can understand your daughter joining the group; after all, she is excellent. But this student Bai... are her grades good?"

Right at this mont, Heather frowned and brought up this point.

Hearing this, Bai Yi's expression imdiately turned incredibly awkward.

That was right. In this room, aside from Spencer, she was the worst academically.

'I'm so sorry my grades are terrible...'

"But, Ms. Heather, are grades the only thing President Elvira wants us to tutor her in?"

Yet Sakuramiya Lily retorted with a perfectly normal expression, instantly choking off Heather's words.

"..."

"Ah, I heard that Spencer also has a rare friend at school nad An Le. Why don't we also..."

"Mama!"

"Ms. Sakuramiya!"

"Auntie Sakuramiya!"

Seeing that she was trying to stuff yet another person in, practically everyone couldn't hold back anymore and hastily shouted to stop her.

It was only because everyone was so vocal that she reluctantly let it go.

Thus, this Study Group centered around Spencer was finally set in stone.

The pilgrimage to Sakura Country for four people and four Modifiers was officially finalized.

Sakuramiya Lily stated that during the School Trip to Sakura Country, apart from the first four days when they had to move collectively with their classes, the Sakuramiya family would cover everything for the remaining six days.

A full six days, moving collectively alongside four Modifier hosts...

Yan Huan didn't show it on his face, but internally, he already wanted to strangle himself.

But overall, the atmosphere in the room was fairly harmonious.

At least on the surface.

Except for the girl standing outside the door with a small white snake wrapped around her shoulder—in her eyes, it was a completely different story.

In her view, the scene inside was practically identical to the suffering Yan Huan perceived.

In fact, it looked even more like hell.

All she saw were three hosts with superpowers surrounding an innocent Yan Huan, eager to tear him apart and devour him.

And yet, because there were people around, she couldn't intervene...

"Calm down! There are three of them in there! Even taking on one is tricky for you!"

"..."

Listening to Little Finger's words, An Le, leaning against the wall, clenched her fists. With hollow eyes, she took a deep breath.

"Your class is also going to Sakura Country later. Don't worry... there will be plenty of opportunities there..."

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"

At that exact mont, the class bell rang out.

By the ti the people inside heard the bell and slowly filtered out of the room...

The corridor outside was already completely empty.

...

...

"Tap... tap..."

After the class bell had rung, the entire school grew much quieter. Only students like them, delayed by other matters, still had the leisure to stroll outside.

Sakuramiya Hitomi went to have a private conversation with her mother, while Spencer and Bai Yi returned to their class.

Because the first-year Class A was located near the corridor connecting the first- and second-year buildings, by the end of their walk, only Yan Huan and Ye Shiyu were left.

It was only as he was about to enter his classroom, noticing that the footsteps behind him hadn't stopped, that Yan Huan suddenly realized Ye Shiyu was still there.

"..."

He paused his steps and turned around to look at the persistently calm Ye Shiyu behind him, feeling a vague sense of surprise.

Speaking of which, the massive conflict today actually ended up focusing primarily on resolving Sakuramiya Hitomi.

And throughout the entire ordeal, Ye Shiyu hadn't spoken a single word, nor had she caused any trouble. She was practically invisible.

"Sister Shiyu, why did you agree to help Spencer behind Auntie Ye's back?"

Amidst his confusion, Yan Huan couldn't help but ask,

"After all, you really hate Spencer, right, Sister Shiyu?"

"..."

Hearing this, Ye Shiyu remained silent for a second before nodding.

"Mm."

"Then why did you still..."

"But, the School Trip location my class voted for isn't Sakura Country."

These words caused Yan Huan to freeze in surprise.

That's right. Ye Shiyu was a second-year student. Unlike the first-years who were all going to Sakura Country, they had a different destination.

"When that Auntie ca to find , she said she would invite the Study Group to play at the Sakuramiya estate, and she even promised to help

discuss it with my mother..."

Before him, Ye Shiyu's expression remained faint, and her voice sounded incredibly gentle in the quiet corridor.

Hearing this, Yan Huan finally realized the real reason.

He widened his eyes, looking at Ye Shiyu as he asked,

"Sister Shiyu, did you choose to help Spencer just so you could go to Sakura Country with ?"

Ye Shiyu tilted her head at his words, not answering imdiately.

She seed a little embarrassed.

But just as Yan Huan smiled awkwardly and prepared to brush past the topic, she suddenly spoke up in a soft voice,

"Yes."

Yan Huan's motion of opening his mouth paused, and he raised his gaze to et her dark eyes.

He saw her looking straight at him as she earnestly declared,

"I want... to go to Sakura Country with you, Xiao Huan."

Yan Huan's pupils contracted. Gazing at her serious face, he was left speechless for a mont.

"..."

"Rustle..."

Until the next second, the spring breeze blew freely, scattering the silence between them...

It also rustled Ye Shiyu's long black hair, playfully brushing it against Yan Huan's face.

Along with the pleasant floral scent radiating from her.