They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 36: An Idle Mind is the Devil’s Workshop Chapter 36: An Idle Mind is the Devil’s Workshop She trailed off, pretending to search her memory, giving him a chance to join the conversation.

When he didn’t respond, she chuckled lightly to herself and added, “Or maybe it was ‘keep yourself from turning into a stiff board.’ Either way, you should take it seriously.” Four glanced at her over his shoulder, his face unreadable.

Though he didn’t say a word, the tiniest flicker of amusement crossed his eyes before he turned back toward the wall.

“Muscle atrophy,” the man corrected her, his voice clipped and emotionless.

“Oh yeah, muscle atobi, that’s it,” she replied confidently, completely butchering the word.

Four “…” His steps faltered briefly as he repeated her mispronunciation in his head.

‘Muscle atobi?’ A flicker of disbelief crossed his face.

For a moment, he debated whether she was genuinely clueless or just trying to annoy him.

Her next question, however, nearly broke his composure.

“So… is that why you were punching the wall?

To stop the muscle atobi?” she asked with wide eyed curiosity.

He stopped and turned slightly, staring at her as if her stupidity were contagious.

Punching a wall to cure muscle atrophy?

He almost laughed at the absurdity but quickly caught himself.

Without a word, Four turned away, deliberately increasing the distance between them as though her ignorance might physically affect him.

Nnenna raised an eyebrow, watching his retreat.

“What?

That’s not it?

Then why are you punching the wall?

Is this some special therapy technique?

Or are you just mad at it?” Four said nothing, his cold silence acting as both his shield and his response.

impossible,” she muttered with a small

worry, I’ll figure you out

if it takes

had felt earlier was buried

then what is it?” she asked again, trying to probe

Silence.

expression remained impassive, offering no

said with a huff, crossing

want to talk,

just try to move your arms and legs more, that’s physical therapy, isn’t

if it’s something else that’s bothering you, maybe try

trailed off mid sentence, the unfinished thought hanging

her, curiosity flickering

didn’t notice, too absorbed in her own

of her past and present, a web that only seemed to tighten around her whenever she gave

were dark and consuming, clawing at her resolve and leaving a painful throb in her head every time

this life, the Achebe family still didn’t treat her as one of their own, and

knew she was

six years old, she had been taken in, her biological parents nothing more than fading shadows in

no amount of wishful thinking

ached as her heart slowly broke under the

echoed in her mind, tearing through her spirit like a

banish the tears threatening

if the answer had already been etched into her soul

his gaze on

is about to cry?’ Nothing he had done just now warranted this

mulled over the scenario,

her resilience with more intensity

of his icy demeanor was enough to send them stumbling away, retreating

endured at least twenty percent without flinching, standing firm against his indifference

was she tearing up now, when he had

Was it something else?

had he miscalculated this girl

didn’t

the sight of her tears as irrelevant, convincing himself there was no

down, grabbed his phone, and forced his attention