Chapter 236
The system would not be able to unlock permissions or distribute rewards again until it recovered and returned to normal operation.
Suzy understood.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked immediately. "If you need energy, I can help you find it."
If gathering enough energy could shorten the system’s dormancy period, she would do whatever it took.
[No need, Host. But there is one last thing I need to tell you.]
The system’s voice had become noticeably weaker.
[With Wendy’s death, this world’s foundation has already begun to destabilize.]
[Before entering dormancy, I transferred her fate and fortune to you. You will replace her as the new heroine. Because of that, this world will not collapse immediately.]
[However, I was still one step too late. "Order" has already noticed the anomaly within this plane.]
The mechanical voice paused.
For the first time, Suzy thought she heard something close to concern.
[Be careful.]
[They are coming.]
Another pause followed.
Longer this time.
[Host... don’t die.]
Then silence.
The connection vanished completely.
Suzy sat frozen on the bed. The information was so overwhelming that her mind struggled to process it.
What did it mean that the world was collapsing? What did it mean that she had become the heroine?
And what exactly was "Order"?
Who were they?
Who was coming?
It felt as though the system had suddenly torn open a crack in reality and allowed her to glimpse something beyond it.
She could not see what lay on the other side. Yet the mere thought of it sent chills racing down her spine.
Somewhere beyond the darkness, she felt as though a pair of unseen eyes had fixed themselves upon her.
"System? What does that mean?" Panic crept into her voice. "You didn’t explain anything!"
She called out repeatedly in her mind.
Again.
And again.
There was no response. The system had fully entered dormancy.
A cold sensation spread across her scalp. Her thoughts buzzed noisily inside her head.
"What happened?"
The sudden voice startled her.
While she had been lost in thought, Liam had already returned. In his hands was a steaming bowl of noodles.
The rich aroma immediately filled the room. Suzy snapped back to reality and forced a smile.
"It’s nothing."
The system’s warnings were not something she intended to share with anyone.
Not yet.
Her thoughts were still tangled enough as it was.
For now, all she could do was suppress her growing unease.
As Liam approached, the scent of food became even stronger.
Almost immediately, Suzy’s stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.
Heat rushed to her face.
Liam smiled softly.
"Eat while it’s hot. It’s only instant noodles, though. I hope you don’t mind."
"Of course not." Suzy shook her head emphatically.
The smell alone was enough to pull her attention away from everything else.
Liam glanced at her injured arm before making a suggestion.
"Your arm isn’t in great shape right now. Let me feed you."
Suzy looked down at the bandaged shoulder and accepted without argument.
"Then I’ll leave it to you."
Liam carefully lifted a small portion of noodles onto a spoon, added a little broth, blew on it gently, and brought it toward her lips.
The fragrant steam drifted upward.
Suzy opened her mouth and took a bite. The noodles were slightly undercooked.
Surprisingly, they tasted good.
"Is it alright?" Liam asked quietly.
Suzy chewed, swallowed, and nodded enthusiastically.
"It’s really good."
A faint smile appeared in Liam’s eyes.
As he lowered his gaze, a loose strand of hair slipped free from behind his ear and fell across his cheek.
Instinctively, he started to brush it back.
Then he remembered he was still holding chopsticks. His hand paused awkwardly before lowering again.
Something stirred in Suzy’s chest.
Without thinking too much about it, she reached out. Her cool fingertips lightly brushed his cheek. The pad of her thumb skimmed across his cheekbone as she tucked the fallen strand neatly behind his ear.
The gesture was gentle, almost absentminded. Her fingers lingered near the curve of his ear for a brief moment before withdrawing.
Liam froze.
He remained bent slightly forward, motionless as a statue.
Color spread rapidly across his ears. Pink turned crimson. The blush traveled from his ears to his neck in a matter of seconds.
"Your hair fell down," Suzy explained with an innocent expression, though her voice was softer than usual. "It was covering your eyes."
His throat bobbed.
Slowly, Liam raised his gaze. Something unreadable flickered within his dark eyes.
Suzy couldn’t decipher it.
In the end, all he managed was a quiet: "...Mm."
He lowered his head again, picked up another bite of noodles, and continued feeding her as though nothing unusual had happened.
As time passed, the distance between them gradually disappeared.
Without realizing it, they had moved closer and closer.
Suzy’s gaze repeatedly drifted toward his face.
Only then did she notice the faint shadows beneath his eyes.
The dark circles did not make him look haggard. Instead, they lent an unexpected fragility to his already delicate features.
"What are you looking at?"
His eyelashes trembled lightly. He still refused to meet her eyes, focusing intently on the noodles instead.
Suzy ignored the question; she continued studying him.
His eyelashes were long and naturally curled, casting delicate shadows beneath his eyes. His nose was straight and elegant. Viewed from the side, it formed a perfect line. His lips remained lightly pressed together. Thin. Beautiful.
"Liam." Her voice softened.
He glanced up.
Their eyes met briefly.
Then he immediately looked away again. Yet that brief moment was enough. Suzy saw the bloodshot veins hidden within his eyes.
Something in her chest tightened unexpectedly.
"Have you been staying up this whole time?" she asked.
Liam paused.
First he shook his head. Then he nodded.
"I rested."
Suzy pointed toward his eyes. "Those dark circles disagree."
A hint of embarrassment crossed his face.
"I haven’t been sleeping particularly well lately."
Suzy nodded thoughtfully. "I see."
Before she could say anything else, Liam firmly lifted another spoonful toward her.
"Eat first."
He clearly had no intention of admitting the truth.
Suzy chose not to push him. Instead, she smiled.
"Alright."
Her appetite was never large to begin with.
After finishing half the bowl, she felt completely full.
"No more?" Liam asked.
She shook her head. "I’m stuffed. Thank you."
"Then get some rest."
He rose to his feet, picking up the bowl. "I’ll step out for a while."
Suzy watched him walk toward the door.
Just before leaving, he turned back. Finding her still looking at him, he blinked in confusion.
"What is it?"
Suzy hesitated before asking carefully, "Will you come back later?"
For a moment, Liam said nothing. Then he quietly asked, "...Do you want me to?"
A faint sparkle appeared in Suzy’s eyes. "Of course."
For a split second, something brightened visibly in Liam’s gaze. So briefly she almost thought she imagined it.
"I’ll put these away and come back."
With that, he closed the door behind him.
The room fell silent once more.
Lying against her pillows, Suzy found herself thinking again about the system’s final warning.
Order. The collapse of the world. The unknown threat approaching.
Before she could sort through any of it, however, the door opened again, far sooner than she expected.
Liam stepped back inside. This time, he was carrying several things in his arms.
Suzy blinked in surprise.
"You came back fast."
"I brought some snacks for you."
He set them carefully on the bedside table. Every movement seemed oddly deliberate. Then he sat down beside the bed.
Suzy turned her head. Liam was already looking at her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched.
"Do you... want to sleep a little longer?" Liam finally asked.
Suzy laughed.
"I just woke up."
"Then..." He faltered, clearly at a loss.
Liam had never been particularly good at interacting with women. And after what had happened earlier... After feeding her water mouth to mouth... Everything felt inexplicably awkward.
No matter what he said, it seemed destined to sound strange.