「It's been several episodes already but the romance between Shushu and the male lead has been smooth-sailing without any hardship,」the round ball circled around the girl who's subtly showing an expression of annoyance.「Come on, Yue, do your job. There's a reason why we sent you here with your memory intact, you know?」

The girl forced a smile, knowing her image was at stake here considering her every words and actions are being monitored by the developers and viewers. "It's not like I haven't been trying, but that NPC doesn't even have an ounce of interest in the male lead. I can't manipulate someone to feel jealous for something they don't have their desire on."

「Then can't you try something else? You have been in the entertainment industry for several years, surely there's something you have learned through that years of experience?」

Yue pressed her index on the ball's surface in irritation, forcing a smile that looked rather threatening. "Instead of relying on me to come up with something, why don't you ask for Mr. Zhong's help instead? What's the use of having him as the scriptwriter?"

「Mr. Zhong is busy scolding the maintenance teams to fix the error on that villainous NPC, and the boss seldom comes to monitor things around here. We can only rely on you.」

Yue scoffed at the negligence caused by the authorities of the studio. At this point, is Ms. (L/n) even trying to make a profit out of this virtual game? But then again, that woman was the only one who has access to the advanced technology of the virtual world, so like it or not, she's the only one that can provide this kind of entertainment to the publicーprobably why she isn't nervous of losing viewers.

"Nyaa~"

The actress's eyes flickered to the source of sound, which is the kitten, who was surrounded by Shushu and her classmates. Apparently, that girl had appealed to the headmaster to let her raise that little thing at school, and being the lovable girl that she is, as expected, her request was accepted and now, even her classmates have taken the role of caregivers, even going as far as to make an unofficial meeting just to decide who will scoop its poop on which day.

"Hehe, it's licking my fingers, how soft."

"Stay still. I'm going to snap a pic and send it to our school forum."

"Move aside. Yours Truly here has spent all his savings just to buy this little thing a Royal Canin. Now, be grateful and meow for me."

"Fuck, we have been friends for two years and you can't even afford to buy me a strawberry milk yet you bought this little thing a Royal Canin? You cat slave!"

Yue watched their friendly banter from afar. The way those NPCs, including Shushu, circled that kitten, full of excitement and youth as they tried to come up with a suitable name for their new pet, Yue couldn't help but silently lament her age. As an adult woman who has been exposed to the hardship of the entertainment industry, she found their energy rather enviable and exhausting.

「So Yue, got any idea?」

The said girl stared at the kitten who was eating its treat fervently before glancing back at the round ball.

"Listen, I'm not stupid. I know what that old man was aiming for when he made this plot, and now that the chosen villainess disobeys the script, I'm not going to take her role and become the scapegoat for Shushu's love story. I may be well-known for my role as a villainess but I also have my own image to maintain, but if you insist on giving me the right to divert the plot to how I want it to be, then naturally, I won't refuse." The actress sighed, staring at the edgy book she's holding. "Just don't expect much from me."

「Don't you think you have been skipping school too often lately?」Kai hesitantly asked as he let you bury your face in his soft cotton belly. Although it was too small to fit your face, you don't seem to mind as you make him lay sprawled on top of your face.「Is there some kinda calming drug buried in my body that I'm not aware of? Because why else would you keep making me lay on your face?!」

If Kai had a human body instead of a doll's, you could have seen him sweating and blushing like a mess. Alas, you could only hear his angry, nagging tone, but even that is cute enough for you.

"You know, I have been asking myself lately; why do I have to go school?" You ignored his struggled to get off your face as you pressed his back so he can't escape. "My future is fix, and school is not fun at all. No one would care if I go or not, and staying here with you feels more meaningful than anything else, but..."

You sighed, raising his body so your eyes would meet his buttons one. His soft body that used to be mangled, now stitched back to its normal form, dangled in the air.

"Why is it that I badly want to see my classmates when I'm not even close with them? Or hear the principal's boring speech? Or throw my cap in the air like everyone else during graduation?" Your other hand pressed against your chest while your eyes never breaking eye contact with the doll's. "Tell me, Kai, if what we assumed so far is correct. Is this urge coming from my own desires, or is it just the result of being controlled?"

It's probably because of the plot, was what Kai wanted to answer but that would be equivalent to throwing you into the deep pool of abyss while you were barely hanging on to sanity.

「I don't know. Your feelings are not for me to decide,」because the last time he did, he end up falling off the rooftop. Kai was quite traumatized.

You sighed and drop him back onto your face. Kai tried to struggle with his cotton body but failed obviously.

「Let go of me! I need to feed the animal!」

You grumbled but obediently let go. You watched with little interest as the doll went to fill up the bowls with the newly bought food for the trapped animals in your house. It was strange how the doll had little to no strength when it comes to escaping from you yet it can pull that 1.2 kg bag of food with ease, but then again, what part of this is normal?

Then, as if to stale for time, the tattered doll went to clean up the litter box.

"Kai," you called out sleepily, your voice laced with drowsiness. "Once you're done, come back here. I can't feel at ease if you're not by my side."

Kai was so startled by your words that he fumbled with the scoop, accidentally dropping the clump of litter he was shoveling. His gaze flickered toward you, taking in your half-lidded eyes and the way you patiently waited for him in bed-a sight that tugged at something deep within him. You looked so much like Ms. (L/n) that, for a brief moment, his non-existent heart almost felt like it was beating again.

Flustered, he quickly averted his eyes.

"...Okay."