“Brother was too naive. There’s no such thing as having it both ways in this world.” The red-haired young man’s eyes darkened as he murmured, “Since the Protagonist can’t be killed, locking him up for a decade or so should turn him thoroughly black one day.”
[Host slept through these three years in one go, leaving the System alone in agony, abandoned from start to finish!]
Sniffling sobs echoed again. Xun Ji was speechless.
Ever since he woke up, the System alternated between ecstatic joy, self-pity, and fervent accusations—like it had multiple personalities. Xun Ji seriously suspected it had glitched again.
[Host must promise the System: absolutely no more OOC, no more triggering OOC Punishment.]
“Fine, fine, I promise.” Xun Ji brushed it off.
[No matter how pitiful or miserable the Protagonist is, Host must play the vicious School Bully to the end. No softening!]
“Fine, fine, no softening.” Xun Ji played along. “But we’ve both left Yaoxing Academy. Do we still need to be the School Bully?”
The System choked. [Anyway, be bad-hearted, arrogant, and sour-faced!]
Xun Ji: “…”
Such abstract standards.
“Fine. When the Protagonist shows up, I’ll give it a try.”
[How does Host know the Protagonist will definitely come find you? It’s been two days—no sign of him.]
Xun Ji found it odd too. Under his guidance, Xun Qian had finally tracked Lu Zhou’s whereabouts and specially sent an invitation to the Xue Family. Lu Zhou should have come.
Had something happened?
[Hasn’t Host considered the Protagonist just doesn’t want to see you?] The System whispered slyly. [It’s been three years, after all.]
Xun Ji paused.
Yeah. To him, it was a blink of an eye. To Lu Zhou, it was three real, painful years. What right did he have to assume teenage affection would last? What right to think Lu Zhou would seek him out upon returning?
Xun Ji felt troubled. If Lu Zhou didn’t come, should they still pursue this three-years-late romance?
[But Host, though the Protagonist didn’t come, someone’s been lurking around the villa entrance.]
“Young Master Xun, it’s the God’s honest truth!” He Ming swore to the heavens. “I saw with my own eyes that bodyguard tie up your boyfriend and toss him into an Abandoned Lighthouse by the sea!”
Xun Ji: “…Just say his name. Stop with the boyfriend this and boyfriend that.”
He Ming smartly corrected himself. “Ex-boyfriend, got it, ex-boyfriend!”
Xun Ji: “…” It felt like he was making it worse.
“That lighthouse is surrounded by sea on all sides—you can only approach by small boat.” He Ming gestured exaggeratedly. “And it’s so tall. Lu Zhou couldn’t escape even if he wanted to!”
Xun Ji: “If you saw it, why not rescue him yourself instead of coming to me?”
“I tried to save him.” He Ming defended. “Even though it was just a glance, I’m not the type to stand by!”
Xun Ji nodded approvingly. “Good job. And then?”
He Ming faltered, mumbling after a while, “He was gone…”
Xun Ji puzzled. “Gone? Didn’t you say he couldn’t run?”
“Yeah, impossible to run.” He Ming swallowed. “Unless… unless he got desperate and jumped into the sea…”
Xun Ji: “…”
“When I got there, the lock outside the lighthouse was intact. I broke it open. The dirty room at the top had only a shattered little window… I climbed up and checked—the ledge had plenty of bloodstains…”
He Ming wailed miserably. “Young Master Xun, do you think… Lu Zhou’s already dead?”
If the Protagonist died, the Small World would collapse, so Lu Zhou was at least still alive. But from He Ming’s description—jumping wounded from the high tower into the sea—he was probably close to death.
Xun Ji’s head ached. No wonder Lin Yule had been unusually quiet and obedient these days—he’d been messing with the Protagonist behind his back.
“Young Master Xun, you two had that fling at least. I figured collecting Lu Zhou’s body was your job, so I boldly came to you.” He Ming sighed. “You guys are such a tragic pair of lovebirds.”
Xun Ji: “…Enough. You can go.”
“Oh.” He Ming stood, waving casually. “Right, no need to repay this favor, Young Master Xun. I just like helping out.”
…Why did that sound familiar?
Xun Ji called him back. “Wait. Go find Lin Yule and tell him to fish the guy out for me.”
Lin Yule made the mess; he’d clean it up himself.
“Huh? Me?” He Ming pointed at himself. “Won’t that expose me as the snitch?”
“Yep.” Xun Ji grinned darkly. “He’s a bad one. Might lock the informant in the Abandoned Lighthouse and make you memorize the whole dictionary of idioms.”
He Ming left with a mournful face. Xun Ji wheeled to the elevator for the upper floors.
Xun Ji stayed in a secluded private villa on the island. Xun Qian had equipped it with full recovery facilities, including elevators on every floor of the three-story building.
No stairs to worry about, so Xun Ji didn’t settle for the first floor. He chose the largest, prettiest bedroom on the third.
Night had fully fallen. The distant clamor didn’t disturb the quiet here at all. Only the continuous whisper of waves remained.
Xun Ji pushed open the door. The room was pitch black.
[Host, did you forget to turn off the faucet before leaving?] The System sounded hesitant. [Why do I hear dripping?]
“Hm?” Xun Ji reached for the switch by the door. “Do you? I don’t…”
Drip.
The dripping was right beside him.
The hairs on Xun Ji’s neck stood on end. He opened his mouth to call for help.
But a wet hand clamped over it.
Bone-chilling cold poured down, trapping him in the wheelchair.
A familiar voice, sticky with chill, slithered into his ear.
“Xun Ji, what is the Protagonist?”
![No Redemption for Dark Protagonists [Quick Transmigration]](https://i0.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/quickkk.jpg?resize=151,215 "No Redemption for Dark Protagonists [Quick Transmigration]")
