The Heart System Chapter 610

Upon opening the door, I stepped inside. Ivy was already seated at one of the small tables by the window, a mug emitting steam from black tea warming her hands. Her attention seemed entirely captured by her phone, her thumb gliding languidly across the screen. She was so engrossed that she didn't notice my arrival at first. Nevertheless, she appeared considerably improved compared to our last encounter. Her eyes were no longer red and puffy, her makeup was neat, and the overwhelming exhaustion and effect of alcohol seemed to have receded.

The memory of her breakdown in my car that night, however, remained vivid. Her sobs had wracked her entire body, and for a fleeting moment, I was unsure how to comfort her beyond simply holding her. Chase had evidently left a significant mark. My sincere hope was that she would eventually find her way out of her despair rather than succumbing further.

I approached her table and took the seat opposite her.

Ivy looked up, registered my presence, and promptly silenced her phone, tucking it away into her pocket. She let out a soft breath through her nose and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"You're finally here," she remarked. "I got tired of waiting, so I arrived ahead of time."

"Well, this place is practically next door to your apartment," I replied, leaning back in my chair. "You don't have to deal with the traffic I do."

"That's true enough," she conceded, tilting her head slightly. "What are you getting to drink?"

"Haven't decided yet. What about you, black tea?"

"Yes," she confirmed.

"Then I'll have the same."

I raised my hand slightly. A server, after completing another order nearby, noticed and approached our table.

"Could I also have a black tea, please?" I inquired.

"Certainly," the server replied with a polite smile. "I'll bring it right away."

"Thanks."

As she departed, I settled back in my seat once more.

I wondered if Ivy actually remembered our kiss that night. I was still completely uncertain. Each time I looked at her, the question lingered: was she acting as if it never happened, or had she genuinely forgotten due to her intoxicated state?

A part of me considered using Hypnosis to extract the truth, but that thought quickly vanished. I was determined to avoid sinking any further into the role of the villain. After the system's punitive response for saving Robert, I had learned my lesson. Continuing to accumulate "bad boy" points was not beneficial.

Speaking of which, actually...

I picked up the shop's menu while Ivy gazed out the window.

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SHOP [Page 2]

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• Hypnotic Perfume (100c)

• Time Stop (500c)

• 500 Dollars (150c)

• 1 Ability Point (500c)

• 1 Mastery Point (600c)

• Desire Aura (200c)

• Reputation Point +30 (300c)

• Mastery Evolve (2500c)

• Random Skill (4000c)

• Dungeon (80000c)

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Damn it. Three hundred credits is all I have now. The price hike still irked me immensely.

"My mother," Ivy suddenly interjected, pulling me from my thoughts about the menu. "Did she... say anything when you brought me home?"

"No," I replied, shaking my head. "Why do you ask?"

She let out a small scoff and averted her gaze. "Just wondering."

"Hmm."

The waitress reappeared, placing the tea before me. I offered a quiet thanks before taking a sip. It was bitter and potent, certainly enough to jolt someone awake.

As Ivy looked down into her own cup, I used nearly all my remaining credits to purchase reputation points, channeling them directly into my reputation bar. Frankly, I had expected it to at least bring me back to neutral, but it seemed the system considered my recent actions too questionable for such a swift recovery.

Nevertheless, the subsequent notification displayed a slightly improved status.

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REPUTATION SYSTEM

VILLAIN░░░░░███░░░░░░░░ HERO

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Current Reputation: BAD

- More EXP gain when cheating

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At the very least, the severe penalty for my actions was now removed. That alone justified the expense. I could finally engage in a decent act without the system threatening to empty my account again.

Although... losing the enhanced Pleasure stat passive still stung.

"Are you alright?" Ivy inquired, her brow furrowing slightly. "You keep zoning out."

"What?" I blinked. "Yeah. Just feeling a bit worn out."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep."

Another notification materialized before me the instant I closed the reputation interface.

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CURRENT STATS

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◆ Strength: 30

⤷ Crushing Presence (▩▩▩▩▩)

◆ Charm: 20

- Manipulative Charm

⤷ Honeyed Words (▩▩▩▩▩)

⤷ Gaslight (⏹☐☐☐☐)

⤷ Emotional Charisma (☐☐☐☐☐)

⤷ Seductive Allure (☐)

◆ Libido: 20

⤷ Endless Vigor (⏹⏹⏹⏹⏹)

◆ Pleasure: 40

⤷ Sensory Overload (☐☐☐☐☐)

⤷ Erogenous Insight (⏹)

⤷ Bliss Multiplier (▣▣▣▣▣)

◆ Luck: 10

──────────────────

◆ Passive Skill: On a Roll

──────────────────

0 Unused Ability Points

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It stung. My pleasure was capped once more due to the reputation adjustments. Pleasure at ninety percent felt like an unfair advantage in life. I desperately needed credits again, which meant quests.

While pretending to sip my tea casually, I discreetly opened the quest log.

"So," I began, aiming for a natural tone as I surveyed the semi-transparent menus visible only to me. "How are you feeling now?"

"Better," Ivy replied, giving a slight shrug. "I think. You?"

"Same response here."

"Mmm."

An old quest remained visible.

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- Quest Available

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- Title: Probing

- Task: Invite Amelia to your place.

- Reward: 750 EXP

──────────────────

- Accept Quest? [Yes] [No]

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That one would have to be postponed indefinitely. Amelia and I hardly spoke anymore since I left the company.

Then, another quest notification appeared beneath it.

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- Quest Available

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- Title: Drunken Girl

- Task: Talk about the kiss with Ivy.

- Reward: 750 EXP, 2500c

──────────────────

- Accept Quest? [Yes] [No]

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I gazed at the notification for a moment. Easy money, but incredibly awkward. What if she genuinely had no memory of it? I'd come across as a complete creep. Yet, twenty-five hundred credits was a significant sum.

I accepted the quest, immediately regretting the decision.

"I... uh..." I coughed lightly, feeling uneasy. "I'm not sure if you recall or not, but..."

Ivy's eyes widened as she looked up at me abruptly. Oh. She remembered.

Her entire demeanor shifted in an instant. Her shoulders tensed slightly, and she quickly averted her gaze.

"Regarding that night," I continued cautiously, "you kissed me in the car."

Ivy squeezed her eyes shut with such intensity it seemed she wished to vanish. She then buried her face in her hands, emitting a low, muffled groan.

Her ears were already flushed a deep red.

"Well," I murmured, feeling the awkwardness intensify, "I suppose that answers my question."

"Please, just stop talking," she mumbled from behind her hands. "Oh my god."