Im guessing the one following lin is the real mastermind
But as for why they are going round and round, not sure what they are trying to achieve. All might be relate to the human trafficking case
They are too scared to reveal what they know since they dont know each other had gone back to the past....☹
And always keeping things themselves
Zhourong wants the throne for baiman and she thought baiman still love the ninth prince
Baiman thought zhourong only wants power and doesn't love her enough
I feel like I've read similar novel.
One where mc is general in military who goes in to virtual world as canon fodder npc villainess to save her wife (scientist). And somehow the wife always kills the agents and loop the world.
The loop, the killing all the agents, but is love interest.. very similar
I can only say the story is complex and I see same pattern here lol
Usually story like this....
After the red string gone, mc start to realised that she like the senpai. But the red string changed to someone else. It fulfills mc wishes that she like someone without string. Build up drama create urgency for the mc (if she not do anything her senpai will be taken from her). Then another drama and peak conflict then bam resolved and they got together. LOL this is just how I imagine it, not spoiler
Wait I just noticed....
On chap 52, mashiro and nagisa sleep using tshirt but when wake up they only using undershirt? Hmmm