The timing was wrong, and the circumstances were unfavorable. Wen Zhao simply wanted to ask the System if her disappearance would make everything better.
She felt so redundant no matter where she was.
If that didn’t work, she would find another way.
Since she was the one who caused this deviation, Wen Zhao would certainly take responsibility until the very end.
Wen Zhao had been anticipating this for a long time, but the System, which had been silent for just as long, only said: “This approach is inherently extreme. Since you missed the chance last time, perhaps it’s a sign from fate. You should stop thinking about taking this path in the future.”
Ignoring Wen Zhao’s hopes, the System chose to subtly discourage her thoughts.
The woman sitting on the bed was instantly drained of her strength.
Tears spilled from her eyes, one after another.
Once again, her eyes rained down a torrential downpour for Zheng Miaoning.
The orb of light couldn’t help but recall the first time it met Wen Zhao.
The System managed many task-takers. Aside from those it picked up from scenes of unnatural deaths, the rest were thrill-seekers who approached it voluntarily, wanting to experience infinite lives for excitement.
They had diverse personalities.
But they all shared one thing in common: they cherished their lives dearly.
Four years ago, Wen Zhao passed by a car accident scene. The System received orders to seize a soul from the site, and it grabbed Wen Zhao, who was the most “near-death” person in the crowd.
It asked Wen Zhao what kind of female lead she wanted to be, boasting that it had plenty of scripts available.
Wen Zhao said she wanted to be someone reserved—ideally, someone who didn’t even need to breathe.
The System was shocked. “A zombie? Most of my zombies are cannon fodder. A lead who is a zombie… hm, let me look.”
Wen Zhao stopped it, smiling gently as she shook her head, asking in a low voice: “Do you have a knife? I just want to commit suicide.”
“!!!” The System was so startled it practically turned its lights off.
The blurry orb of light turned into a pitch-black gray mist. It rushed back to the scene, circling the area several times before realizing that the task-taker it was supposed to grab had likely already reached the place of reincarnation.
Not only that, but it had also accidentally abducted an extra person.
Returning to Wen Zhao, the System didn’t dare face her.
The dim orb of light was gently cupped by someone’s hands. The System activated its senses; the calm woman it had mistakenly seized showed no sign of impatience. Instead, she asked softly, “Did my request make things difficult for you? Then I’ll change it, okay? Please, keep shining.”
The System, which usually got nagged incessantly by its task-takers if its replies were even slightly delayed, thought: Sob, how can there be such a good person?
It immediately declared: “Aside from suicide, you can make any request, and I will grant it!” If there was a request it couldn’t fulfill, it would go to the cultivation or future worlds to steal supernatural items from its other workers.
“Then let me go back. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful not to scare anyone,” Wen Zhao pleaded.
…So that was why she was the most “near-death.”
Her will to die was unshakeable.
However, that was the one thing the System could not do.
This was the System’s space, the place where it finalized contracts with every task-taker. Anyone brought here could no longer return to their original world.
It also didn’t want to watch this gentle, serene person die.
After playing dead for half a day, the System had a sudden inspiration and asked, “How about this? Is there anyone you particularly want to see?” I’ll kidnap them all for you!
“I was on my way to see her.”
Wen Zhao’s eyes reddened, her voice raspy.
The System fell silent again.
The woman before it was so fragile it seemed a single breath could make her dissipate entirely. After scanning her life history, the System spoke tentatively:
“Look, you wrote a novel, right? Don’t you want to see your protagonist with your own eyes? As far as I know, that book wasn’t finished. Don’t you care what happens to your protagonist after you stopped writing?”
In the System’s view, most people who wanted to end their lives simply lacked the motivation to live.
Based on its years of work experience, this proposal was incredibly attractive to any writer.
The woman across from it didn’t refuse immediately, clearly hesitating.
“Great! It’s settled then!”
The System found the world where Wen Zhao’s novel was set, picked an appropriate moment, and sent her in with a burst of energy.
Floating in the air and looking down, the protagonist of the book was at the center of everyone’s attention.
A young girl with a high ponytail, wearing an expensive school uniform, leaned against a podium covered in flowers, delivering a speech without notes.
Wen Zhao was swallowed by the world’s consciousness, automatically merging into the role of Zheng Miaoning’s classmate.
Seeing the shock and excitement in Wen Zhao’s eyes, the System drifted away, satisfied.
Time to go—that group of troublemakers was looking for guides again.
Two years later, when the System thought to come back for a peek: “…”
The System now standing by the bed watching Wen Zhao cry: “…”
One work error, a lifetime of a guilty conscience.
“How about I try to think of another way for you?”
Wen Zhao shook her head, shedding a few more tears, yet she was still smiling. “No need. It’s too much trouble for you. I can think of a way myself.”
The System had said that in this world, she was above everything.
If that was the case, there would eventually be a way.
Even though Wen Zhao said this, the System didn’t believe her. It insisted, “Then just keep living for now. Leave once your agreement with Qin Zhuyu expires. Don’t die yet, okay? I’m going to steal some things from a few rebellious task-takers and I’ll be back. You must wait for me.”
Wen Zhao looked far too fragile.
She was so fragile that the System, which was usually busy hopping between worlds, stayed there for several days just for her.
In fact, the System’s work group chat was already exploding.
The System was terrified that the moment it left, Wen Zhao would jump.
“Okay, I’ll wait for you,” Wen Zhao nodded.
Before leaving, the System gave her repeated instructions, practically begging Wen Zhao not to die.
Once it left, Wen Zhao turned off the lights in the room.
She had to accompany Qin Zhuyu to class tomorrow; she needed to sleep early.
The System still didn’t understand Wen Zhao well enough. As long as she still had lingering attachments, Wen Zhao was only fragile on the outside.
At least until she resolved the uncontrollable influence she had brought about, Wen Zhao would not irresponsibly end her life.
Except.
In the darkness, Wen Zhao’s eyes were tightly shut, her thick eyelashes trembling uncontrollably.
She just didn’t know how much more “oxygen” the life force derived from these fictional characters could supply to her life.
The Business Administration specialized courses were very dry.
Even so, Wen Zhao could hold the thick professional textbook and listen with great interest, earning a sidelong glance from Qin Zhuyu.
Before the first half of the class ended, the instructor gave a mysterious smile. “I won’t be the one lecturing you during the next period.”
“No way!”
The joy brought by the break bell was instantly dispelled, replaced by a chorus of wails in the classroom.
It seemed everyone had been tormented by “flipped classrooms” lately; just that one sentence was enough to trigger the students’ sensitive nerves.
After teasing the students enough, the teacher added: “And it won’t be any of you lecturing either.”
—That’s a relief.
Everyone, including Qin Zhuyu beside Wen Zhao, let out a sigh of relief.
Even Wen Zhao, whose name wasn’t on the roll, felt the relief by proxy.
As the teacher walked out of the classroom, Wen Zhao clicked her pen and asked Qin Zhuyu, “Is the trauma from the last flipped classroom really that severe?”
“You weren’t there, so you don’t know,” Qin Zhuyu said, looking ten years older at the mere mention of it. She waved her hand dismissively. “If I had known domestic universities were into this stuff now, the me from two years ago definitely wouldn’t have argued with my parents. I would have gone abroad long ago.”
Having said that, Qin Zhuyu clasped her hands together piously. “Anyway, as long as it’s not us going up there to talk, it doesn’t matter who stands up there.”
Qin Zhuyu’s words resonated deeply with the girls in the front and back rows.
The bell for class rang. When the “temporary lecturer” and the instructor entered the classroom one after the other, the expressions of both Wen Zhao and Qin Zhuyu changed.
Exerting her best effort to look calm, Wen Zhao even found the energy to ask Qin Zhuyu: “Now then, do you still think it doesn’t matter who stands up there?”
Qin Zhuyu lowered her head and remained silent.
Wen Zhao understood. If it were her, she wouldn’t want to lock eyes with an enemy who was guest-starring as her teacher either.
Wen Zhao’s gaze toward Zheng Miaoning was complex.
When Zheng Miaoning actually finished the lecture properly according to the PPT without acting impulsively or doing anything strange, Wen Zhao joined the other students in applauding for her at the teacher’s request.
The reason Zheng Miaoning was subbing for this class was that a seminar for outstanding graduates from prestigious domestic and international universities was currently being held.
She was there to go through the motions along with her senior brothers and sisters.
For a positive activity like this that brought honor to her family, Zheng Miaoning’s performance was always appropriate, without the slightest error.
Below the podium, Wen Zhao listened very intently.
Compared to four years ago, Zheng Miaoning had truly achieved substance in her words. Wen Zhao felt very happy, very proud.
The bell rang again. Several students weren’t even eager to get to lunch; they rushed to the podium, crowding around to ask for Zheng Miaoning’s contact information.
Wen Zhao heard them, but she only considerately helped Qin Zhuyu smooth out a twisted backpack strap.
Even though she could feel Zheng Miaoning’s gaze drifting toward her again and again.