Just thinking about the ten million yuan soon to be his, Jiang Tao felt over the moon. He happily reported that the mission was complete, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, put it in his mouth, and chewed on it.
Smoke filled the air, and the heavy scent of tobacco gathered inside the room.
In the enclosed space, the smoke had nowhere to go. The nauseating stench mixed with the smell of dust that hadn’t been cleaned in ages, creating an indescribable and eerie odor.
When Jiang Quqi kicked the door open, the smell rushed into her nose and mouth like a sudden release. She immediately bought a mask from the System store and put it on. She broke off a piece of wood from the crumbling doorframe and walked towards Jiang Tao under his terrified gaze.
The cigarette fell from his mouth. Jiang Tao scrambled backward in fear, hiding behind the chair where Qin Jiao was tied up. Trembling, he pulled out a knife and pressed it against Qin Jiao’s neck.
Jiang Quqi stopped about four or five meters away, holding the wooden plank. She smiled and ordered, “Put the knife down.”
Jiang Tao would never dare put it down; this boy’s life was his only bargaining chip.
That bitch Jiang Yan had become like a different person lately. Before, all he had to do was cry and make a scene, and she would give him money. But last time, even after all that, she told him to go to hell! That kick she gave him hurt so badly he could barely get up, and he had to stay in bed for days before he could walk again.
Looking at Jiang Quqi standing there with a wooden plank, Jiang Tao felt the old wound in his chest start to ache again. It was uncanny—when did this woman get so strong?
Jiang Tao hated and feared Jiang Quqi in equal measure. “Y-You give me the money! Once I… get away safely, I’ll let him go!”
Jiang Quqi squatted down to look him in the eye. “You want ten million?”
Jiang Tao trembled, too afraid to answer.
“Jiang Tao, who told you where I live?”
“No answer? Then you’ve wasted your first chance.”
“Second chance: wherever you hurt him, you do the same to yourself, and I’ll let you go.”
Jiang Tao’s hand shook, and the blade nicked Qin Jiao’s neck, drawing a small bead of bright red blood. Jiang Quqi scoffed, “Looks like you couldn’t seize the second chance either.” She urged the System, which rushed over complaining loudly.
*First you want me to search for info, then you want me to buy stuff! Do you think I’m an octopus?! Hmph!*
*Purchased Mist ×1. Please check the inventory.*
*Used Mist ×1.*
*Purchased Hallucinogen ×1. Please check the inventory.*
*Used Hallucinogen ×1.*
Grumpily, the System completed the purchases. In the blink of an eye, the entire room went dark. Then came the sound of wind rushing by, followed by a miserable scream. Within seconds, the light returned. Jiang Tao was screaming in agony—the knife that had been at Qin Jiao’s neck was now plunged into his own left hand. He wailed in pain but didn’t dare pull it out.
Jiang Quqi untied Qin Jiao, and the boy collapsed limply into her arms.
Her heart ached tightly. She carefully asked the System for wet wipes and gently cleaned the dirt from Qin Jiao’s face and palms.
The sirens of police cars and ambulances sounded from outside. Jiang Quqi stood up holding Qin Jiao and said to Jiang Tao, “Was it Song Qinglan who told you?”
Jiang Tao’s pupils shrank violently, momentarily forgetting his pain.
“I knew it,” Jiang Quqi laughed softly. “Jiang Tao, I wish you… a pleasant life.” For this lifetime, she would make sure he rotted in prison until he died.
Dark, endless corridor stretching far beyond sight.
Why… am I running?
What am I afraid of?
A force tugged relentlessly at his clothes. He couldn’t escape; his body was sinking down. Coldness enveloped him like a ghost, devouring his reason and shattering his thoughts.
Escape escape escape escape.
Save me save me save me save me.
I don’t want to die, I want to live. Who is trying to kill me?
“Ah!” He woke up violently from the nightmare. Everything was dim, and he couldn’t see where he was.
Qin Jiao looked around in panic. Only the soft bedding beneath him felt real.
He was back. It wasn’t a dream. Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.
*Click.* The light turned on. Jiang Quqi walked in with a glass of water. She was delighted to see him awake, but instantly noticed something was wrong. She quickly put the water down and sat beside him.
“Qin Jiao?”
Qin Jiao didn’t answer. His eyes were filled with terror and emptiness, and his whole body shook uncontrollably.
Jiang Quqi felt even more regret. She wished she could drag Jiang Tao out of the police station and beat him up again.
Afraid of hurting him, Jiang Quqi moved with extreme care. She slowly reached out and gently placed her hand over his. The coldness that rushed through their touch made her shiver too. Her heart felt heavy. She called out softly, filled with heartache, “Jiaojiao.”
Finally, Qin Jiao reacted. His pupils slowly dilated, and he gripped her hand tightly. Those beautiful eyes were filled with tears as he stared blankly ahead.
“…Sister?”
“Mhm, Sister is here.”
She held his hand firmly in return, hoping to pass some strength to him.
Like finding a safe haven, Qin Jiao’s unease gradually faded. Time passed slowly. After a long while, Qin Jiao asked, “Sister, why don’t you turn on the light?”
Jiang Quqi’s hand trembled. She waved her other hand in front of his face, but Qin Jiao didn’t blink at all. Confused, he asked again, “Sister, can you turn on the light?”
She hated hospitals.
Jiang Quqi reached out to cover his eyes and said gently, “It’s very late. Let’s rest first, okay?”
Usually obedient, Qin Jiao shook his head firmly this time. “Sister, I’m not tired. I don’t want to sleep.”
Jiang Quqi: “Jiaojiao is hurt. You need to rest more to get better quickly.”
“Are we… in the hospital?”
“Mhm.”
Qin Jiao fell silent. When he spoke again, he changed his mind. “Then I will rest. But can my sister stay with me?”
“Sister will be right here beside you the whole time. Go to sleep.”
Qin Jiao refused to let go of her hand. “Hold it.”
“Okay.”
Qin Jiao lay down obediently and closed his eyes. Jiang Quqi sat beside him, frantically searching the System store for medicine. Hundreds of items were listed, but she couldn’t find what she wanted. She turned and shouted at the System, *System, get to work! System, come back here!!!*
It was long past the System’s working hours. To get it to work overtime, Jiang Quqi decisively pressed the emergency button built into the system. At that moment, the System was just about to shut down and defragment its data. Receiving the emergency call, it rushed over from System Headquarters in a flurry. But when it arrived, it saw Jiang Quqi sitting there perfectly fine. It was so angry it almost swore.
*You spent 100,000 just to mess with me?!*
*Dear, this is the EMERGENCY button! It costs 100,000 per press! You CANNOT just play with it!!!* It said the last words through gritted teeth, wanting to carve them onto Jiang Quqi’s forehead.
The System was so frustrated it could spit blood. On the way here, it had imagined a million possible crisis scenarios. It was even ready to call Headquarters for backup if it couldn’t handle it. But in the end… nothing was wrong.
Jiang Quqi was annoyed and cut off its rambling. “Do you have medicine that can treat eye conditions?”
The System was stunned. *What are you doing?*
“Qin Jiao is temporarily blind.”
The System scanned Qin Jiao’s body and said casually, *It’s fine. I checked his stats just now. He’s okay. The blindness is just from severe shock. It’ll go away in a few days, don’t worry.*
“So do you have it or not?”
Startled by Jiang Quqi’s serious expression, the System quickly said yes, but kindly advised her, *Dear, the medicines here can cure any eye disease, so they are very expensive. Are you sure you want to buy it?*
Jiang Quqi held Qin Jiao’s hand loosely with one hand, and with the other, she brushed away his messy bangs.
Even with his eyes closed, Qin Jiao’s brows were furrowed, looking very distressed.
His eyelids kept twitching. Jiang Quqi knew he couldn’t sleep.
“System, this is my fault.” It was her fault that Qin Jiao had to suffer all this. She couldn’t just take it lightly, nor could she turn a blind eye.
The System sighed inwardly, resigned, and gave her the medicine. It watched as Jiang Quqi woke him up gently to take it, then held his hand again to let him rest.
It was often said by seniors that when the host develops feelings for the target, the mission is as good as done. But the subsequent changes are also unpredictable.
Risk level: 10. One wrong move and it could lose its job. Of course, it might also become a famous system.
This was its first mission, so the System couldn’t be sure where this was going. But following the principle of “better small gains than big risks,” it hinted quietly, *Dear, this is just a novel.* She didn’t need to care so much about Qin Jiao’s condition; she just needed to complete the mission.
Jiang Quqi heard it but pretended not to. Having no other options, the System added, *It will take effect in one hour.* Then it logged off with a heavy heart.
Tonight was very cold, just like its heart. Floating around in the System Hall, it suddenly crashed into something bulky rushing by at full speed. The System was sent flying two meters away, its data cables tangled in a mess. It wasn’t until Repair Fairies flew over and straightened them out that it returned to normal.
It was already depressed, and now it feels even worse. It boldly spoke up, *Y-Y-You! Are you a pig?! Do you know who you just bumped into?!*
The other System didn’t look much better. It took a while to recover. *Hello, System 999 at your service.*
Oh great, it met an idiot.
The other System continued chattering, *Hello Host, this is the Supporting Female Character Salvation System. I am System 999, pleased to meet you.*
So it was a Salvation System. That explained everything.
Most Systems in this sector weren’t quite right in the head. Rumor had it their hosts were incredibly bold and skilled. Not long ago, one host had just left the newbie village and completely messed up the plotline of the world, to the point where even the author herself wouldn’t recognize it. Oh right, she also successfully made the little junior sister, who originally loved the male lead, fall in love with the host instead.
Poor thing. The System couldn’t bear to blame it anymore. It floated over and gently rubbed its shell as comfort. Then it thought of its own host, who was still diligently working on her mission, and suddenly felt enlightened.
It’s not like they were falling in love or anything! What was there to fear? It can do this! It will guard the pure and innocent bond between its host and the villain!