She closed the system panel with satisfaction and stretched lazily, feeling thoroughly pleased.
Although the affection score could not be calculated for the time being, her persona as a "top-tier gamer" had been successfully established, and the connection was now secure.
Over the next few days, she settled into a routine—and rather luxurious—"homebody" lifestyle.
By day, she relaxed in the villa, tended to by the servants, watching movies, getting spa treatments, and researching public information about her other targets to lay early groundwork.
By night, especially during peak hours in *Doom Era*, she logged in punctually.
Sure enough, almost every time she went online, a party invite from [Damon] popped up instantly, accompanied by a short, urgent message: Hurry up!
Damon Vega truly seemed to regard her as his permanent "rank-up carry." His attitude had gradually shifted from domineering demands to casual, familiar calls.
Elena Bennett kept up her cold, pro-gamer image. She rarely spoke unless necessary, issued short, precise commands, and played with sharp, flawless mechanics.
Only when Damon Vega tilted and made mistakes would she use her altered, cool neutral voice to correct him bluntly: "Slow reaction. Ability used too early."
Strangely enough, Damon Vega grew more and more accepting of such unapologetic pointers.
At first, he would talk back and protest: Mind your own business!
Later, he would just grumble: Got it!
Recently, he even took the initiative to ask: How do we play the next team fight?
An awkward but steady "gaming buddy" bond, built entirely on respect for her skill, was forming quickly.
That night, after another exhilarating win streak, Damon Vega was in an excellent mood.
[Damon]: Nice, dude! You're on fire today! At this rate, we'll hit top ten in no time!
[Stray]: Yep.
[Damon]: Hey, you do anything besides play games? Wanna go out? I'll buy you drinks. I know some great spots.
She typed quickly, replying in her usual aloof tone.
[Stray]: Busy. I don't like crowds.
[Damon]: Wow, boring. How about… you like racing? A new track opens out of town next week. I'll take you for a ride. It'll be thrilling!
Racing? It suited Damon Vega's flashy personality perfectly.
Elena Bennett hesitated deliberately before replying:
[Stray]: We'll see. Not sure if I'm free.
[Damon]: …Fine! Hit me up whenever you wanna go out! I, Damon Vega, know all the fun places!
Damon Vega…
He had voluntarily given his real name, probably just out of habit.
But it meant that, in his mind, whoever was behind the ID "Stray" had become a "friend" he was willing to meet offline.
[Stray]: Yep. Logging off.
She exited the game sharply once again, leaving Damon Vega wanting more.
After closing the game, Elena Bennett stretched.
The Damon Vega thread was now stable.
Next, she could turn some attention to her other target.
She hadn't "made her presence known" in days. She wondered if her nominal brother had grown used to her absence.
She opened the system panel, her gaze landing on the name Julian Ford.
[Target 1: Julian Ford]
[Current Affection: -3% (Dislike)]
It had risen another three points.
Evidently, her decision to "move out of the Ford house" was still having a lasting effect.
Elena Bennett closed the panel, picked up the fresh juice prepared by Housekeeper Clara, and settled comfortably into the soft leather sofa.
The timing was right. It was time to give him a little surprise.
But how could she appear before him "by accident"?
Lying in wait at his usual restaurant? Too inefficient and unpredictable.
"System," she called mentally, "retrieve Julian Ford's public schedule or private plans for the next few days. A social gathering with multiple people, if possible."
[Retrieving recent activity for target (Julian Ford)… retrieval complete.]
[Tomorrow evening, Julian Ford's closest friend, Gavin Chase—heir to the Chase family—is hosting a party at Twilight. Julian Ford has confirmed attendance.]
Twilight? And hosted by Gavin Chase?
A sharp glint flashed in Elena Bennett's eyes. This was a perfect opportunity.
Gavin Chase had been Julian Ford's best friend since childhood. Outgoing, popular, and well-connected, his parties were always lively and crowded.
An "accidental encounter" in that setting would seem completely natural, not forced at all.
"This is it," she decided immediately.
She then walked into the massive walk-in closet. Lights flickered on, revealing rows of neatly hung, tag-still-on new-season clothing and dazzling jewelry.
Housekeeper Clara had prepared everything thoroughly. The closet had casual wear, evening gowns, and every style, all tailored perfectly to her figure.
Yet facing the luxurious wardrobe, Elena Bennett frowned slightly, her fingers brushing over the garments as she struggled to choose.
What image should she present to Julian Ford tomorrow?
Continue the innocent, delicate "daisy" persona… or transform into a striking, glamorous rose?
Both approaches had pros and cons.
The innocent route was safe but unlikely to stir strong feelings in him.
The glamorous route carried risks but could yield unexpected reactions.
A completely different Elena Bennett would shatter his fixed impression and spark the instinctive curiosity of a man.
Elena Bennett stood before the full-length mirror, studying her reflection.
Her complexion had regained its glow after days of rest. Her eyes, holding the calm and calculation of another soul, looked especially clear and sharp.
Suddenly, an idea struck her.
Why choose one? She could create a unique image somewhere in between.
Her gaze scanned the closet and settled on a simple slip dress that hugged her curves elegantly.
Champagne was not too plain, nor too flashy.
"I'll take this one," she said, taking the dress down. She then picked a pair of simple pearl earrings and a delicate clavicle necklace.
For makeup, she would skip dramatic eyeliner and red lips. She would focus on a dewy, flawless base and defined eyes, with a soft mauve lip tint to enhance her complexion without being aggressive.
She wanted him to see her beauty—but to understand clearly that she had dressed up not for him.