Chapter 84 – The Enchanted Forest: You Are My Exclusive Love (01)
[Finalizing points calculation. Main mission: Successfully separating the male lead, Shao Licang, from the female lead, Tan Qingqing—Reward: 1,000 points. Side mission: Assisting in the research and development of a zombie virus cure—Progress: 25%, Reward: 100 points. The punishment world has concluded. Host, please take this as a lesson.]
The cold mechanical voice finished reporting the completion of the apocalypse world. Bai Tang, however, was already eager to move on to the next world.
“Qiu’er, let’s go. Next world!”
“Wait, Tang Tang, don’t you need to rest for a bit?” The system hesitated. Seeing Bai Tang’s unwavering determination, it ultimately decided not to tell him about Shao Licang’s suicide. No need to make Tang Tang overthink and get upset.
“No need, initiate transfer.”
When Bai Tang opened his eyes again, he found himself in an ancient-looking room.
However, this ancientness was different from that of traditional historical worlds—this one leaned more towards a raw, primitive kind of antiquity.
Taking a deep breath, Bai Tang felt every pore in his body relax. The air smelled exactly like the forest he used to live in.
“Tang Tang, here comes the plot~”
A book appeared, its cover an emerald green, almost entirely covered by a hand-drawn forest scene. In the center stood a man and a woman embracing each other, and at the very top, in bold and ornate script, was the title: “The Enchanted Forest: You Are My Exclusive Love.”
Having already experienced three worlds filled with ridiculous names and cliché plots, Bai Tang and the system remained completely unfazed—calm and composed.
Bai Tang’s thoughts: I wonder if Ah Cang will be in this world… If he is, will he still be the male lead?
System’s thoughts: There’s no couple Tang Tang can’t break apart. There’s no male lead Tang Tang can’t turn. Let’s have a moment of silence for the female lead… Three seconds is enough.
This world was set in a Western fantasy setting, and its story went as follows:
The male lead, Daniel Giles, was born into an alchemist family. His parents were both renowned alchemists.
In recent years, dark magic had begun spreading across the continent. The Giles family discovered that the Lord of Marsh City was secretly colluding with the Ghost Clan. Refusing to help the lord refine forbidden materials, they were ultimately persecuted. The entire Giles family was massacred, with only the young male lead surviving—he had been away on a trip at the time.
As for the supporting male lead—Bai Tang’s original identity in this world—his family, the Bai Clan, had long been close allies of the Giles family. While the Giles family specialized in alchemy, the Bai family pursued magic. Seeking a purer form of magical practice, the entire Bai family had moved deep into the forest to live in seclusion.
The Giles family suffered a great calamity. While traveling, Bai Tang’s parents found the wandering Daniel Giles and brought him back home, raising him with great care.
Daniel devoted himself to rigorous training, determined to avenge his parents. Meanwhile, after spending so much time together, Bai Tang gradually fell in love with Daniel Giles.
Dark magic continued to spread rapidly across the continent. In recent years, the Lord of Marsh City, in his pursuit of greater power, had allied himself with the Ghost Clan, losing his sanity and becoming their puppet. The people of Marsh City suffered under his rule.
To defeat the city lord, Daniel had to forge a weapon capable of counteracting dark magic. The most crucial material for this weapon was the Key of the Elves, a treasure belonging to the Elven race living in the Misty Forest.
It was in this forest that the male and female leads met.
The female lead, Kelly Posey, was a skilled swordswoman. She had also come to the Misty Forest in search of the Key of the Elves to craft her own weapon.
To obtain the Key of the Elves, one had to pass the elves’ trial. Thus, the male and female leads settled in the forest to undergo the test.
During the trial, Daniel was deeply moved by Kelly’s gentleness and attentiveness, while Kelly, in turn, was drawn to Daniel’s determination and strength. Slowly, love blossomed between them.
Meanwhile, Bai Tang, worried about Daniel’s prolonged absence, secretly snuck away from home without his parents’ knowledge, venturing into the Misty Forest to find him.
Upon arriving, Bai Tang witnessed the growing intimacy and understanding between Daniel and Kelly. Overcome with jealousy, he began throwing petty tantrums and clinging to Daniel.
Though Bai Tang’s family had saved Daniel, his sharp and confrontational nature starkly contrasted with Kelly’s warmth and understanding. Not only did the elves in the forest grow to dislike him, but even Daniel himself began to grow weary of Bai Tang’s possessiveness and arrogance.
With Kelly’s help, Daniel finally obtained the Key of the Elves and secluded himself to focus on crafting his weapon. Bai Tang, however, grew increasingly resentful of Kelly.
As Daniel’s potential to defeat the city lord spread across the continent, a prophet’s vision of Daniel’s victory caused a stir.
Fearing that his rule would be challenged, the city lord sent people to capture Daniel.
Unable to find him, the city lord kidnapped Bai Tang and Kelly instead.
The city lord couldn’t determine which of the two was most important to Daniel, so he first tried to extract information with sweet words and deceit.
Bai Tang, true to his naïve and gullible nature, had been feeling miserable. He had been neglected by Daniel, disliked by the elves, and had generally been having a rough time. Without thinking, he vented all his grievances to the city lord.
This allowed the city lord to confirm that Kelly was the one Daniel truly loved. He then interrogated Kelly through force and threats, hoping to extract Daniel’s whereabouts from her.
Once Daniel forged his weapon, he confronted the city lord in a battle to the death.
The city lord brought out both Kelly and Bai Tang, forcing Daniel to choose between them. Daniel chose to save Kelly, and Bai Tang was killed on the spot by the city lord.
After a fierce battle, Daniel successfully defeated the city lord and drove the Ghost Clan out of Marsh City. However, dark magic continued to spread across the continent. Daniel vowed to eradicate the Ghost Clan completely, and Kelly joined him on this long journey.
“Sigh~” Bai Tang let out a deep sigh. Why does every naïve supporting male character in these worlds always end up dead?
“Don’t worry about those details~” the system chimed in. “Our main mission is to break up the male and female leads!”
“But… the leads in this world are actually doing good things. And honestly, the supporting male character brought this upon himself…” Bai Tang hesitated. Was it really necessary to break them up?
The system checked the data and calmly stated, “The male lead is Shao Licang.”
“Break them up! Absolutely!” Bai Tang immediately jumped up.
Ah Cang is here too! How wonderful~
The system sulked as it closed the database. “Why does that guy keep following us…?”
Bai Tang stepped outside. The house was made of wood, and the fresh air and warm sunlight greeted him.
The wind rustled through the forest, its whispers carrying through the leaves as golden light filtered through the canopy, swaying gently with the breeze.
Bai Tang spread his hands wide, savoring the essence of the forest.
Since his parents were out, he had a sudden idea—he transformed back into a little squirrel and frolicked freely through the woods.
Bai Tang spent the entire afternoon happily playing in the forest. As dusk approached, the system reminded him that his parents had returned with the male lead. Only then did he rush back to his room and put on his clothes.
He peeked out the window, spotting his parents walking alongside a boy around thirteen or fourteen years old. His golden hair gleamed under the setting sun, but a sorrowful aura enveloped him.
As Bai Tang’s parents led the boy inside, Bai Tang hurriedly ran out, only to crash headfirst into Daniel.
“Ow~~” Bai Tang whined, rubbing his reddened little nose. At just nine years old, he only reached Daniel’s chest. His pouty lips quivered as he cried out in pain.
“Tang Tang, no being reckless,” his mother chided. “Apologize to Daniel.”
“I-I’m sorry~” Bai Tang mumbled, his soft, childish voice laced with pitiful innocence.
When the boy lifted his head, their gazes met.
Deep, dark eyes stared back at him—filled with unspoken accusations.
Accusations? But Bai Tang had never met him before… so why did he feel so familiar?
He suppressed the strange sense of déjà vu in his chest, raised a hand, and ruffled the boy’s hair—just as he had imagined. Soft and fine, just as expected.
Suddenly, Bai Tang wrapped his arms around Daniel, resting his head against the boy’s chest. His small ears, hidden within his soft brown hair, pressed gently over Daniel’s heartbeat.
“I like this big brother~”
I like this big brother~
I like…
A shiver ran through Daniel’s entire body as Bai Tang embraced him, a tingling warmth spreading through his heart. Still grieving the loss of his family, he had no time to process what this strange sensation was—he only knew that it filled him with warmth.
“I like Tang Tang too.” That was his name, right? Tang Tang—his aunt had just called him that. It really suited him.
“Really?” Bai Tang tilted his head up, his bright eyes sparkling like stars, overflowing with hopeful joy.
“Mm, really.” Daniel tapped Bai Tang’s pink nose, finding the child utterly adorable. He couldn’t help but smile.
“Hee hee hee…” The little boy giggled as he threw himself into Daniel’s arms. Then, with a pout, he complained, “You’re not hugging me back~”
“Hug…” Daniel indulged the child’s clinginess, lifting him up in his arms.
“Tang Tang, stop being so mischievous,” Bai Tang’s father chided. He loved his son, but loving a child didn’t mean spoiling them. He refused to let Bai Tang develop bad habits, so he sternly reprimanded him.
“It’s fine,” Daniel reassured, nodding at Bai Tang’s father. He then secured Bai Tang properly, supporting his small frame with a hand under his legs.
Bai Tang, as if by instinct, wrapped his little legs around Daniel’s waist.
Hugging Daniel’s neck, he blurted out in his sweet, childish voice, “Do you want to sleep with me?”
The system, which had been recharging its energy, almost choked on a mouthful of machine oil—Tang Tang, you’re still a kid! You’re only nine years old!!!
Daniel’s steps faltered. Staring at the round little face so close to his, his feelings grew complicated.
Just how many people had this child said such things to?
Daniel was not a child anymore—he knew exactly what such words meant, even if he had never experienced anything firsthand.
Bai Tang, however, turned toward his mother and shouted, “Mother! I want to stay with Brother!”
Bai Tang’s mother chuckled softly as she set down her luggage. She turned to Daniel with an apologetic smile and said, “Daniel, I’m sorry. I was going to prepare a room for you, but Tang Tang has been spoiled by us.
“He’s been timid since childhood. Last year, we started making him sleep alone to help him overcome his fear, but every night, he’d run to our room in the middle of the night, knocking on the door and crying about being afraid of the dark. He simply refused to sleep alone…”
Hearing this, Daniel—who had unknowingly been holding his breath—finally felt his suspended heart settle. He smiled gently and declined Bai Tang’s mother’s offer.
“There’s no need to go through the trouble. I can share a room with Tang Tang.”
The child in his arms let out a crisp, cheerful laugh. Even though this was their first meeting, Bai Tang was already clinging to him with complete trust. The feeling was… subtle, yet inexplicably pleasant.
“Mother, I’m taking Big Brother to our room now~” Bai Tang excitedly kicked his legs, happily directing Daniel toward the room at the end of the hallway.
Author’s Note:
Bai Tang (purely curious): “Do you want to sleep with me?”
Every new world starts with an overload of sweet moments—are you ready?