Although the system said this You Xiaoxia was also her—another version of her from a parallel world—You Xiaoxia firmly believed they were two distinct individuals, each with independent thoughts and personalities. She already felt guilty for occupying someone else’s body, so offering incense and bowing was the least she could do!
Gazing at the identical face in the photograph, You Xiaoxia inserted the incense into the burner: “I’m leaving now. I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to visit you again in the future, but I hope you’re doing well over there!”
Just then, Lao Liu popped up: [Host, I’ve told you before—in the world of fictional characters, there are no souls after death, so there’s no ‘over there’!]
You Xiaoxia rolled her eyes: [I just want to pay my respects, so mind your own business!]
Lao Liu surrendered: [Alright, alright, you’re the host, so you call the shots! But Xiaoxia, you promised me—once we get to the city, you must gossip as much as possible. Only by gossiping can you earn Guazi. When you’ve saved enough Guazi, I can reward you with gossip perks!]
You Xiaoxia: [There are gossip rewards? You never mentioned that before!]
Lao Liu chuckled: [I wanted to surprise you!]
You Xiaoxia didn’t press the issue. After paying her respects, she locked the door and followed the Song couple to the car, ready to leave Xishui Village.
However, as soon as they reached the alley entrance, they saw the villagers already waiting by the vehicle. When You Xiaoxia emerged, everyone swarmed around her.
“Er Ni, we heard you’re leaving. These are peanuts from our garden—roasted for you to snack on during your journey!”
“Take some tea eggs too. You’ll be taking the train, right? It’s a long ride—tea eggs are perfect for train trips!”
“And here, I brought some dried sweet potatoes. Chew on them when you’re bored on the train!”
…
The villagers were overwhelmingly warm. You Xiaoxia’s eyes welled up with touched tears: [Lao Liu, look at this, just look at how popular I am! I’m welcomed wherever I go!]
The system flattered: [You’re a good person, Host—Lao Liu likes you too!]
The villagers, however, exchanged knowing glances:
“Ah, it’s such a pity Er Ni is leaving. Once she’s gone, we won’t have any gossip to enjoy!”
“Exactly! Without Er Ni, we’ll be back to sitting at the village entrance making up stories like before!”
The villagers had also started hearing You Xiaoxia’s inner thoughts just a week ago. After the initial shock and fear wore off, they quickly discovered the benefits of eavesdropping on her mind.
In just one week, they had devoured gossip from hundreds of households in Xishui Village thanks to You Xiaoxia—it was truly thrilling!
What a shame she was leaving now. They’d genuinely miss her!
After accepting the villagers’ gifts, You Xiaoxia piled her bags into the sedan driven by the Song couple.
Once inside the car, she sighed: [Sigh, we’re about to enter the city. I’m kind of nervous!]
System: [Don’t be afraid, Host. Lao Liu will always be with you!]
You Xiaoxia had read novels in her previous life where systems often threatened hosts with electric shocks, but her Lao Liu was kind and comforting—she was quite satisfied.
Leaning back in the seat, she glanced at Song Ba and Song Ma in the front.
[Song Ba and Song Ma seem fine now, but who would have thought they’d grow to despise their own biological daughter later! Lao Liu, do you think I should lock away my heart early to avoid getting hurt and sad later?]
Before Lao Liu could answer, Mo Pingxin and Song Ankang in the front row exchanged shocked glances.
Would they really grow to dislike their biological daughter in the future? Why?!
Lao Liu explained: [The plot states that You Xiaoxia was constantly compared to Song Linlang, who grew up in the Song family, which made her increasingly insecure and sensitive. She resented Song Linlang for taking her place. After discovering the truth, the Song parents couldn’t bear to send Song Linlang away. Moreover, out of consideration for Song Linlang’s feelings, they never publicly revealed that she wasn’t their biological daughter. This caused You Xiaoxia’s personality to become increasingly extreme, leading her to do many terrible things that gradually made the Song family dislike her. Now that you know the plot, Host, this definitely won’t happen!]
Mo Pingxin’s heart trembled upon hearing this!
She had raised Song Linlang with her own hands, and even after learning she wasn’t her biological child, Mo Pingxin truly couldn’t bear to send her away.
She had originally thought that since their family was well-off, raising one more child wouldn’t be a problem. Besides, the children were already adults. But she never expected people would later compare the two girls!
Mo Pingxin hesitated, glancing at her husband. Should she drive Song Linlang out of the house now or not?!
Unaware of Mo Pingxin’s internal struggle, You Xiaoxia fell asleep shortly after getting in the car. She woke up to find they were already on the highway, though still some distance from the city. Bored, she took out the dried sweet potatoes prepared by the villagers to snack on.
It wasn’t until nightfall that the car finally pulled into the Song family villa.
Since Mo Pingxin had called ahead, the villa was brightly lit, with everyone waiting for their return.
As soon as You Xiaoxia got out of the car, she saw a woman about her age standing at the entrance—tall with delicate features.
[Lao Liu, is that Song Linlang? She really is a big star! Her aura is extraordinary even from a distance!]
System: [Yes, Host. Song Linlang—the malicious female supporting character of this book. She constantly opposes the female lead, competing with her for resources, fame, career, and men. She gets exposed by the female lead later and exits the story.]
Mo Pingxin and Song Ankang, who were just getting out of the car, froze. Heavens, how many things were they still unaware of?!
What did “exit the story” mean? Would Linlang die later?
You Xiaoxia was also stunned: [She’s not the female lead either? Isn’t this a true and false heiress story? If I, the true heiress, am just a supporting character, then the false heiress is also a supporting character?]
Lao Liu wasn’t surprised: [Host, you didn’t read the original text carefully. The true and false heiress is just one element—the actual female lead is someone else. Besides, you’re a Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character with very little screen time, while Song Linlang is the malicious female supporting character—the second female lead type!]
You Xiaoxia understood now—they were all just supporting characters. Did supporting characters need to be ranked? Original author, you’re inhuman!
Also, the original book was millions of words long—tedious and draggy. She really hadn’t had the patience to read it all and had only skimmed the parts related to herself. She never realized she’d missed such important plot points!
While lost in thought, Mo Pingxin and Song Ankang came over and took You Xiaoxia’s hands to lead her inside.
Song Linlang, waiting at the doorway, had initially wanted to run to Mo Pingxin the moment she saw her. But when she noticed Mo Pingxin holding the other girl’s hand, she stopped in her tracks, remembering her status, and felt suddenly awkward.
Ever since learning she wasn’t the Song family’s biological child, Song Linlang first refused to believe it, but later had to accept it upon seeing the DNA test results.
Yet she truly struggled to accept that the home she’d lived in for twenty years and the family who’d doted on her for two decades had all been due to a mistake!
With complicated emotions in her eyes, she watched the family of three approaching her – they were the real family, while she was merely an outsider!
As the girl drew closer, Song Linlang took a deep breath and put on a haughty expression.
So what if she wasn’t biologically related? Her mother had already promised to treat her as her own child anyway. Even without blood ties, her twenty years of affection with the Song family couldn’t be fake!
Thinking this, she crossed her arms, ready to put this true heiress in her place!
“Though you’re the biological daughter, I’m not the one who caused you to live outside all these years. Don’t think you can bully me!” she thought.
“You…” Just as Song Linlang opened her mouth to intimidate the other, she suddenly heard a voice in her mind.
[Oh my god, up close, this false heiress is actually quite beautiful. What a pity though, sigh!]