Xiao Yaozu had just stepped out and was heading toward the examination hall when he noticed numerous scholars either sitting or standing by the roadside, books in hand…
[This atmosphere really resembles the college entrance exams. System, look over there—several of them have graying hair but are still taking the exam.]
[Host, that gray-haired man has already failed eight times.]
[What? Eight times? He’s truly persistent! What about the one next to him with slightly darker hair?] Xiao Yaozu asked curiously.
[He’s not far behind—he’s failed six times and even sold his family’s house to cover travel expenses.]
Xiao Yaozu couldn’t help but admire their determination. As he watched them study, the crowd suddenly stirred…
“Exam essentials scrolls! Five taels of silver each! Don’t miss out!”
The crowd swarmed around the vendor.
“Me!”
“Over here! Give me one!”
[Host, the merchants here are quite shrewd.]
[Where there’s demand, there’s supply.]
Xiao Yaozu stopped one person and asked, “Brother, aren’t you afraid of getting caught selling exam essentials?”
The man glanced at Xiao Yaozu. “Lang Jun, you must be a new candidate this year, right?”
Xiao Yaozu nodded.
“Exactly. I advise you to buy one early if you want to pass. The sellers have connections inside the exam hall, so they usually don’t get caught. Even if they’re discovered, they have ways to escape.”
[Host, be careful. The love-struck one is nearby.] The System’s warning echoed in Xiao Yaozu’s ears.
“Lord Xiao.” Shen Feiyan’s voice arrived before she did.
“Princess.” Xiao Yaozu’s dazzling eyes fixed on Shen Feiyan.
Her previously arrogant demeanor inexplicably softened the moment she met his gaze.
She said somewhat awkwardly, “If you’ve forgotten what I tasked you with, watch your head!”
To Xiao Yaozu, the threat sounded lacking in conviction.
Xiao Yaozu tilted slightly, his blue robes shimmering brilliantly under the Bianjing street sun.
“Princess, threatening a court official is hardly wise.”
His distinctive voice was impossible to ignore.
“How dare you disrespect me!!—” Shen Feiyan pointed directly at Xiao Yaozu’s nose.
[System, do you know where Xu Mingze is?]
[Host, he’s at Tongfu Inn, fishing.]
Instead of retreating, Xiao Yaozu stepped closer. His flawless features loomed near Shen Feiyan, making her instinctively want to withdraw her finger.
But she was too slow—her entire wrist was caught in Xiao Yaozu’s grip…
If a man had pointed at her like that, she would’ve thrown a punch already.
“Princess, I wonder what your dear Brother Xu would think if he saw you like this?”
Shen Feiyan flushed with embarrassment and anger, momentarily unable to break free from Xiao Yaozu’s hold.
“You… let me go!”
Xiao Yaozu released her hand and raised his own.
“Princess, would you dare to accompany me somewhere?”
Shen Feiyan snorted coldly.
“There’s nowhere under heaven that I, Shen Feiyan, wouldn’t dare to go.”
She followed Xiao Yaozu until they arrived at the teahouse… opposite Tongfu Inn.
Shen Feiyan cast a disdainful glance at the place and scoffed, “I thought it’d be some dragon’s den or tiger’s lair. It’s just a teahouse—was all that secrecy necessary?”
Xiao Yaozu remained silent, looking utterly composed as he addressed the waiter beside him.
“A pot of Longjing tea, the pre-rain variety.” Then he added, “The Princess will pay.”
Shen Feiyan’s almond-shaped eyes widened in disbelief.
The tea was ordered by Xiao Yaozu, so why should she pay?
As if reading her thoughts, Xiao Yaozu said unhurriedly, “Princess, you’re asking me to handle this matter. Is a pot of Longjing too much to ask? Or is your dear Brother Xu not worth it?”
Worth it? Of course he’s worth it!
Reluctantly, she pulled out a silver ingot.
Shen Feiyan steeled herself, determined to see what tricks Xiao Yaozu was up to.
Acting as if Shen Feiyan didn’t exist, Xiao Yaozu propped his elbow on the table and gazed out the window at the bustling street.
“What exactly are you doing here?”
When the tea finally arrived, Xiao Yaozu lifted the cup and inhaled its aroma—truly fragrant.
He gently stirred the tea leaves with the white porcelain lid and took a small sip.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Shen Feiyan’s patience wearing thin!
“Xiao Yaozu! Stop putting on an act! Tell me now why you brought me here!”
Xiao Yaozu leisurely set down his teacup, a playful smile curling at the corners of his lips:
“No need to rush, Princess. The show is just beginning.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look~” Xiao Yaozu tilted his chin toward the opposite side.
Shen Feiyan followed his gaze.
Through the window across the street, she saw a scholar-looking man, slick-haired and powdered, leading a young married woman into a private room.
He attentively poured tea for her.
“Sister, you must be tired. Let me pour you some tea.”
The young woman giggled coquettishly and pointed to her shoulder. “Good brother, my shoulder has been a bit sore lately.”
Their behavior was intimate, clearly indicating a long-standing entanglement.
“See that scholar? Doesn’t he look exactly like your Brother Xu?”
“It must be that woman who seduced Brother Xu with ill intentions…” Shen Feiyan shot to her feet and stormed downstairs…
[Host, look at this love-struck fool—even seeing it with her own eyes, she won’t believe it. It’s a severe case.]
[System, do you want to level up?]
Xiao Yaozu suddenly posed a question.
[Of course I do! Host, do you have a good way to help me level up?] The System stopped its virtual hand from munching popcorn.
[Well, there is one method. Collect more data on these love-struck individuals, package it, and send it to the main system. Besides the Gossip System, there must be other romance strategy systems. Then negotiate with the main system—say you want to level up and see what they say.]
[Start by asking for the level-up. If they refuse, ask for a cheat. If they still refuse, demand something useful.]
The System buzzed with electric static—as if trembling with excitement.
Will this work?
It seems feasible.
[Host, what if it still doesn’t work?] The System was still somewhat worried.
Xiao Yaozu had previously seen the System’s code: X7789. There must be many subsystems ahead of it.
[Do you have friends in other subsystems? You can send the data package to them and have your good friends send some gifts in return. Exchanges between friends are normal and don’t count as violating rules.]
The System felt as if it was growing a brain.
[Host, I’ll go organize it right away…]
Then, Xiao Yaozu intermittently heard electronic giggles—”Heh heh heh”—echoing in his mind…
Meanwhile, across the street
“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Shen Feiyan pounded heavily on Xu Mingze’s door. “Brother Xu! Brother Xu!!”
Xu Mingze inside the room was startled by the sudden knocking, hastily straightening his disheveled clothes.
Recognizing Shen Feiyan’s voice, he thought to himself how clingy this particular woman had become since he started flirting with her.
The young married woman beside him giggled coquettishly: “Oh, little brother, you have other admirers too?”
The door opened.
Shen Feiyan looked at the two inside, choosing to glare at the woman: “So you’re the one seducing Brother Xu! Don’t you know he already has someone he likes?”
The woman first examined Shen Feiyan’s clothing from head to toe – the Língluó chóuduàn only worn by wealthy families – then took in Shen Feiyan’s arrogant expression before her eyes shifted thoughtfully.
“You’ve misunderstood, little sister. Lang Jun Xu is like a younger brother from my hometown. We just chatted a bit since we rarely meet in Bianjing.”
“Really?”
The woman shot Xu Mingze a meaningful look. He immediately understood and stepped forward to grasp Shen Feiyan’s hand.
As Xu Mingze held her hand, Shen Feiyan’s anger dissipated somewhat, her gaze softening.
“Brother Xu, is that really true?”
Xu Mingze smiled and nodded: “Of course it’s true, Feiyan. Don’t overthink things.”
The woman chimed in from the side in agreement.
Only then did Shen Feiyan relax, a smile returning to her face.
She looked at Xu Mingze happily and said: “Brother Xu, I knew you wouldn’t do anything to betray me.”She even threw a provocative smile toward Xiao Yaozu in the building across the street.”
Xiao Yaozu raised his cup in a toast to her.
[System, it seems this love-struck fool won’t be cured anytime soon.]
The System, still immersed in the excitement of organizing data packets, casually replied: [Host, let’s not worry about her for now. I need to quickly get these data packets sorted – we might be able to upgrade.]