Su Tiantian immediately jumped out of bed and walked over to the mirror.
The girl reflected within wore a moon-white soft gauze dress. The layered hem fell like drifting clouds. Her long hair was not arranged into any elaborate style only a slender silver hairpin gathered a small section at the back of her head, while the rest of her dark tresses cascaded down like a waterfall.
Her face was pale to the point of translucence. A sharp, delicate chin made her moist, almond-shaped eyes appear even larger and more vacant.
Most striking were her lips not the healthy red one might expect, but a faint, pale pink instead. They were full, their shape curving enticingly, as though inviting someone to pick them. She was breathtakingly beautiful, yet so fragile it felt as though she might wither in the very next moment.
Staring at this pitifully beautiful face, Su Tiantian felt heartbroken.
“Girl, forcibly twisted melons aren’t sweet!” she exclaimed.
(But they quench thirst.)
The system replied coldly.
Su Tiantian: “……” Fine. You win.
“All right, all right! Even a working stiff’s life is still a life.”
She pursed her lips and forced her facial muscles to cooperate.
She squeezed out an expression that could be summarized as: three parts weakness, four parts infatuation, and three parts stubbornly pretending to be strong a perfect fan-shaped statistical chart of emotions.
Mm. That’s the right vibe.
Just then, a maid announced from outside.
“Miss Su, several elders are waiting in Lingyun Hall. The Immortal Venerable requests your presence.”
Here it comes! Oscar Sweet-Sweet, requesting permission to enter the battlefield!
Supporting herself against the wall (mostly because it really hurt), she staggered step by step into Lingyun Hall.
The pressure inside was so low it could freeze someone to death. Several elders were glaring furiously, their eyes slicing toward her like knives.
With a thud, she dropped to her knees (the force carefully calibrated).
Before she even spoke, tears came streaming down. Her voice twisted and turned with endless emotion.
“Brother Qingzhi… I know I’m not worthy of you. I was deluding myself… I shouldn’t have spread those rumors, but I—I couldn’t control my heart! Ever since the day I saw you, my whole life has only been you…”
As she recited these cringe-inducing lines, she complained silently to the system.
“Who wrote this dialogue? It’s so cheesy! One-star review! Dock their pay!”
One hot-tempered elder slammed the table and stood up.
“Your Excellency! This woman is deeply scheming! She is clearly using favors to coerce you and tarnish your Dao heart and reputation! She cannot be allowed to stay!”
“Exactly! Her foundation is already destroyed no different from a mortal! Keeping her on Yunmiao Peak is completely improper!”
Inside, Su Tiantian nodded furiously.
They’re right! Hurry up and throw me out! As long as you throw me far enough, the electric shock can’t catch me!
But outwardly, she sobbed even harder.
She even secretly pinched her own thigh, making the tears roll down more “sincerely.”
“The elders are right to scold me… it’s all Yao’er’s fault… Yao’er will leave at once and never burden Brother Qingzhi…”
As she spoke, she struggled to stand.
Then she swayed “weakly,” looking as though she was about to (pretend to) faint.
Amid the chaos and the elders’ anguished cries. Just as Su Tiantian felt her acting skills reaching peak performance.
Song Qingzhi, who had remained silent like a snow-capped ice sculpture, finally moved.
He lifted his hand ever so slightly.
Instantly, all sound vanished.
His calm gaze swept over everyone before settling on Su Tiantian’s tear-streaked face (the tears having been forcefully squeezed out).
There was no disgust, no fondness, not even much emotion.
It was more like he was assessing… a troublesome problem that urgently needed resolving.
Su Tiantian’s heart skipped.
That look was about a hundred thousand miles away from anything resembling “love”!
How on earth did the original owner convince herself that he loved her deeply?
Girl, open your eyes! The way this man looks at you is it any different from how he’d look at a rock?!
As if responding to her internal rant, the system suddenly chimed crisply in her mind.
(Ding Detected host inquiry. Broadcasting analysis of key character “Song Qingzhi’s” current psychological state:)
(Motivation for marrying Su Yao:)
(Responsibility: 60% (stemming from moral duty and sect reputation))
(Guilt: 20% (stemming from the fact that the other party’s foundation is completely destroyed))
(Helplessness: 20% (stemming from choosing the lowest-cost solution to quell the turmoil))
(Love: 0%)
(Summary: Current relationship status: “Strategic Responsibility.” Host, please keep up the good work and achieve the “one-sword-through-the-heart” ending as soon as possible.)
Su Tiantian: “……”
Who wants to “keep up the good work” for that?!
After a brief silence, Song Qingzhi spoke.
His voice was clear and cold, like shattered jade, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
“Since matters have come to this, then we shall proceed as she said.”
He paused, as if stating an established fact rather than a life-altering decision.
“In three days, we will become Dao companions.”
The elders: “!!!” Your Excellency, please reconsider!
Su Tiantian: “!!!” That’s it… it’s decided?!
“Sir, are you serious? With ‘Love: 0%’ you’re still agreeing?!”
“Are your principles… flexible?!”
(Task ‘Make the male lead marry you within three days’ completion: 100%. Reward: 10 points.)
The system’s prompt sounded again.
Song Qingzhi stepped down from the main seat.
He stopped in front of Su Tiantian, who was still stuck in the dazed, conflicted state of he actually married me, but he actually doesn’t love me at all.
He didn’t help her up only looked down at her.
His tone was calm and procedural.
“You were severely injured for my sake. I will take responsibility. Yunmiao Peak will not mistreat a lifesaving benefactor.”
See! There it is!
That 60% responsibility and 20% guilt! The system does not lie!
Su Tiantian was still kneeling dumbly when Song Qingzhi slightly bent forward and extended his hand toward her.
His fingers were long and jade-like, joints distinct beautiful beyond reason.
And yet, cold, without a trace of warmth.
(Su Tiantian: Obviously! With 0% love, what warmth could there be!)
As if possessed, she placed her own claw into his.
With a light pull, Song Qingzhi helped her up.
The motion wasn’t gentle more like completing a necessary procedure.
Just when Su Tiantian thought this farce was finally over and prepared to breathe a sigh of relief.
She caught sight, out of the corner of her eye, of a slender figure standing silently by a corridor pillar outside the hall.
It was a young girl wearing inner-disciple robes.
Her features were clear and refined, her aura ethereal, like a white lotus just blooming in the morning light.
She was utterly out of place amid the turmoil inside the hall.
She gazed over quietly, her eyes clear, holding just the right amount of concern and obedient acceptance of her master’s decision.
Bai Weiwei!
The original novel’s female lead!
The future rightful pairing who would eventually win Song Qingzhi’s heart and achieve a happy ending!
Alarms instantly blared in Su Tiantian’s mind.
She’s here, she’s here! The comparison unit has arrived!
Look at that temperament, that gaze so pure, so spotless, so pitifully lovely!
And then look at her own “sickly drama queen” persona…
Lost. She lost right at the starting line!
Sensing Su Tiantian’s gaze, Bai Weiwei inclined her head slightly.
She revealed a friendly, faintly shy smile utterly flawless.
Su Tiantian: “……” Girl, your level is really high.
Song Qingzhi clearly noticed Bai Weiwei as well, but he said nothing, only turning to Su Tiantian.
“Since you have entered Yunmiao Peak, behave yourself.”
He held her wrist, his fingers seemingly casual as they rested on her pulse point.
That position was perfect for detecting the chaotic, disordered energy inside her body—the aftermath of her “severe injury.”
He stepped closer and asked in a calm, emotionless voice only the two of them could hear,
“Are you satisfied now?”
Su Tiantian stiffened, blood rushing backward.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over her suddenly pale yet forcibly composed face.
Then, in that same cool voice, he added slowly,
“Focus on… recovering.”
He enunciated the last three words just a bit more deliberately.
In his eyes, a fleeting trace of scrutiny flashed so quick it was almost impossible to catch as if he were saying:
Let’s see what kind of tricks your “severe injury” can recover into.
Su Tiantian: “!!!”
Help! Is he suspecting something?!
News of the wedding spread through Yunmiao Peak as if it had grown wings.
Su Tiantian now wearing the shell of “Su Yao” was surprisingly calm about it.
At the moment, she was staring gloomily at a table of bland “Spirit Cafeteria food.”
She felt like her tongue was about to fade in color.
Boiled spirit vegetables, steamed jade lotus root, and the only hint of oil a bowl of spirit chicken soup with two goji berries floating on top.
The flavor was so light it made her question her existence.
“System,” she said,
Holding jade chopsticks, poking at the rice grains in her bowl absentmindedly.
Each grain was plump and full of spiritual energy but tasted like chewing wax.
“When you pick hosts, do you not consider the feelings of food lovers? How is this any different from making me fast?”
(The physical body is merely a shell. There is no need to overly concern yourself with cravings. Host, please focus on the mission. Maintaining the persona of ‘foundation destroyed, weak and frail’ is crucial.)
The system replied icily.
“Heh. Easy for you to say.”
Su Tiantian rolled her eyes and muttered softly.
“A life without hotpot, barbecue, or spicy noodles what’s the difference between that and a salted fish? I think the original owner’s injury was caused by cravings…”
She was still grumbling quietly when that familiar, clean, icy aura of snow suddenly drew near.