Walking out of the audition venue, Zhu Xingtong was overjoyed.
Now that the role was secured, the System should be approaching Zhong Ying any day now, right?
“It should be within the next two days.”
The arrival of the “Great Female Lead System” would mark the true beginning of Zhong Ying’s ascent to the pinnacle of her life. And this world was merely the starting point for her “Cub”!
……
On the other side, Zhong Ying had already boarded a car sent by the company and was heading back. She didn’t say a word the entire way.
Tang Qi assumed she was simply too immersed in her character to snap out of it yet. But only Zhong Ying knew that within this short hour, her worldview had been utterly shattered!
[‘Dominant Tycoon Falls for Me’ System is identifying target… Target confirmed. Host Zhong Ying has a 99% compatibility rate with this System. Automatic binding successful.]
Zhong Ying: “…” What on earth?
[Hello, Host! This is the ‘Dominant Tycoon Falls for Me’ System. Congratulations on winning the System’s favor!]
[Conquer the Tycoon and stride toward the peak of your life! Money? Houses? Status? Naturally, these are all just a word away for a Tycoon. The path to becoming a winner in life starts with making the Tycoon fall in love with you!]
Zhong Ying: “…”
‘Dominant Tycoon Falls for Me’—this sounded exactly like a “sugar baby” system.
However, she was shocked to find that systems actually existed in this world. Furthermore, this system’s values were questionable. Reaching the peak of life by relying on a tycoon instead of one’s own hard work?
Zhong Ying thought expressionlessly, “I don’t need any system.”
Climbing the ladder by “eating soft rice” (living off a woman)? No, she preferred using her own strength to get what she deserved.
[Detecting Tycoons in the Host’s vicinity… Detection complete. Determining the current optimal target for conquest—Zhu Xingtong, Chairman of Little Star Group. Do you accept the conquest mission for this world?]
“System, are you doing this on purpose?” Why did it have to be Zhu Xingtong?
[Please understand, Host. This is the highest priority Tycoon selected based on your current emotional state and reality. If the Host refuses, the System will re-select a different Tycoon for you.]
Zhong Ying: “…”
“If I accept, what do I need to do?”
[Increase your favorability with the target. Once favorability reaches 80 or above, the conquest is successful. At each stage, the Host will receive rewards to improve herself. While conquering the Tycoon, the Host will also reach the peak of her life. It’s a guaranteed win!]
Zhong Ying frowned. She understood, but she didn’t want to accept it. Her relationship with Zhu Xingtong shouldn’t be bound by a “conquest” system. Even if they had a relationship, it should be something purer than that.
“Xiao Ying! Your phone is ringing.” Sister Qi’s shout pulled Zhong Ying back to reality.
She glanced at the caller ID; it was an unknown number.
“Hello, is this Miss Zhong Ying?” A woman’s voice on the other end was trembling slightly, but it wasn’t a voice Zhong Ying recognized.
“Who is this?”
“I’m Liu Jinyao. I want to say I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to treat you that way at the audition today. I just… my brain was a bit muddled. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!”
Zhong Ying: “…”
This was unexpected. Someone with Liu Jinyao’s arrogant and domineering personality was actually calling personally to apologize?
“Miss Zhong? Are you still there? I’m truly, truly sorry!”
“It’s nothing. I didn’t take it to heart.”
“That’s wonderful.” The woman let out a massive sigh of relief. Then, she added cautiously, “Miss Zhong, could you please pass a word to President Zhu? I’ve really learned my lesson this time. Please ask her to forgive me too, okay?”
Zhong Ying: “…”
What did Zhu Xingtong do this time?
“She won’t do anything to you,” Zhong Ying said.
“That’s great! Thank you, Miss Zhong! I’ll treat you to dinner next time.”
“Dinner won’t be necessary. Let’s leave it at that.”
Hanging up, Zhong Ying lowered her gaze.
[System Analysis: If not for Tycoon Zhu, there was a 99% probability that the Host would have been harassed by Chen Zhang and Liu Jinyao.]
[If not for Tycoon Zhu, there was a 100% probability that Chen Zhang, acting as the investor, would have given the role to Liu Jinyao. There was also a 50% probability the Host would have been rejected for the role of ‘Jiang Ci’ simply for being too beautiful.]
Zhong Ying said nothing. She only thought to herself: So, I’ve received her help again.
Surprisingly, there was no resentment in her heart. Instead, thinking of that “fierce-but-cute” patron of hers made her heart feel warm.
“I’m telling you, you’re not allowed to bully my Cub!”
She could almost hear her saying that.
[So, Host, do you understand now? You have talent, but you still need a Tycoon.]
Zhong Ying: I don’t like “eating soft rice,” but if the rice is given by Little Treasure Zhu… on second thought, it’s quite good for the stomach.
……
Zhu Xingtong remained completely unaware that Zhong Ying now had a system.
In her view, the hardest part was over. Now she just had to wait for Zhong Ying to skyrocket to fame with The Actor. Aside from being dragged to the gym by Zhong Ying every day, Zhu Xingtong returned to her carefree lifestyle.
Munching on spicy strips (la tiao) and scrolling through the latest entertainment news, life couldn’t be better!
【Little Star Group Makes a Powerful Entry into Entertainment: Their First Olive Branch Goes to This Movie!】 【Auditions for ‘The Actor’ Conclude: The Female Lead is Actually Her!】 【Latest Character Posters for ‘The Actor’ are Out! Come and See!】
Clutching her phone, Zhu Xingtong suddenly asked, “Cub, are your character posters out already?”
“Mhm, they are.” Zhong Ying sat on the sofa looking at her tablet, not forgetting to remind her: “Little Treasure Zhu, don’t eat spicy strips on the sofa.”
“I’m finished!” Zhu Xingtong swallowed the last bits in two quick gulps and leaned in toward Zhong Ying. “What are you looking at?”
She glanced at the screen and was instantly horrified.
《The Tycoon Conquest Plan of System X》?
Is this… a novel?
“You’re reading a novel? A romance novel? Since when did you have this hobby? Why aren’t you reading your script? You aren’t my hardworking Cub anymore!” Zhu Xingtong’s eyes widened; “heartbroken” couldn’t even begin to describe her feelings!
“Wait, is this actually a new script?” she asked seriously, propping her head up like a curious hamster.
Zhong Ying rubbed the head resting against her wrist. “No, it’s just a novel. I’ve recently developed a slight interest in System-themed romance novels.”
System? Huh? System?!
Zhu Xingtong sensed something immediately. She sat up cross-legged and asked carefully, “Why the sudden interest in systems?”
“I was wondering… the settings in these novels, like systems—could they really exist?” Zhong Ying asked.
“Of course they can’t exist! Hehe.” Zhu Xingtong smirked inwardly. But we’re inside a book too—my book!
She was certain that the Cub asking this wasn’t a coincidence. The “Great Female Lead System” must have found her!
“Why are you smiling so stupidly…?” Zhong Ying patted her head. “Why are you suddenly so happy?”
Zhu Xingtong gave a little whine. “You wouldn’t understand! You just don’t!”
“With that brain of yours, I doubt many people could understand,” Zhong Ying said bluntly.
Zhu Xingtong: “!!!”
“Are you praising me or insulting me?” Zhu Xingtong looked up, dazed.
“If you can’t even tell if I’m praising or insulting you, could you be any stupider?”
Zhu Xingtong: “???”
[Tycoon Zhu Xingtong’s favorability -1. Current favorability: 99.]
Zhong Ying sighed. “Even though you’re stupid, you’re quite cute.”
Zhu Xingtong: “!!!”
“Don’t think that just because you called me cute, I won’t settle the score for you calling me stupid!” Zhu Xingtong glared at her with “fierce” eyes. “Cub, I’ve realized you’ve changed! I’m your patron! You’d better think carefully! You can only praise me, not insult me!” Her cheeks were slightly flushed, though it was unclear if it was from anger or shyness.
[Tycoon Zhu Xingtong’s favorability +1. Current favorability: 100.]
[Daily Task ‘Increase favorability slightly every day’ completed. Host receives 10 Gold Coins.]
The system notification flashed past her ears. Zhong Ying looked at the translucent 【Favorability: 100 (MAX)】 hovering above the girl’s head and couldn’t help but sigh once more.