A stunningly beautiful yet translucent soul floated listlessly in mid-air, her fingers idly hooking the system’s cabbage leaf.
“A Strategy System?” Thinking back to the system’s recent self-introduction, Luo Li raised an eyebrow with a hint of interest.
Hearing this, System Little Cabbage nodded its head repeatedly, the cabbage leaf on its head bobbing up and down.
“That’s right! We are to strategize with people who are destined for a lonely life but possess great Fate Energy. We give him… them warmth, care, and a wife.
We help them achieve a fulfilling life, and in return, we get to leech a bit of their Fate Energy as a gift.”
“We also help the original owners fulfill their lingering wishes to obtain their gift of Merit Virtue.”
“Didn’t you die an early death from overworking, Host? Once you obtain a certain amount of Fate Energy and Merit Virtue, you can extend your life and continue living.
Or you can choose to be reincarnated into a super-duper good life!”
After hearing Little Cabbage’s words, Luo Li shook her head.
“I’m not interested in extending my life.”
What was there to miss about the life of a corporate slave, being exploited day in and day out?
“But traveling to various worlds for fun sounds great. Let’s bind.”
Hearing Luo Li’s first sentence, Little Cabbage visibly stiffened, thinking its first attempt at finding a host had failed.
But when it heard the next sentence, it instantly bloomed with joy and decisively clicked the bind button.
“Okay!”
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on binding. System 1888 Cabbage welcomes you!]
Without further ado, when Luo Li opened her eyes again, the world before her had changed. She was in a quaint, antique-style courtyard.
“Host, be careful!”
But before she could get a good look, she was shoved hard from behind.
In front of her was a pond. As she stumbled forward, Luo Li fiercely grabbed the clothes of the person behind her, pulling them forward with her.
At the same time, the system pulled her back. Using the system’s force, Luo Li regained her footing.
As for that person?
With a flick of her hand, down you go!
“Mmph! Glug glug… Luo Li! How dare you… mmph glug glug… Father will not spare you…”
Watching the purple-clad woman struggling and flailing in the water, Luo Li sneered, clapped her hands, and turned to look around.
Hmm, it looked like it was just her and the one in the water. Not bad, not bad at all.
“Cabbage, give me the plot.”
“Okay!” Just like Luo Li, Cabbage paid no mind to the person in the water.
…The original owner was the legitimate daughter of the County Magistrate’s household. Her mother died early, and her father promoted a concubine to the position of main wife. From then on, the original owner’s situation at home was not as good as before.
Fortunately, the original owner had a good maternal grandfather. With her maternal family, who were the wealthiest in the region, the original owner’s life wasn’t too terrible, even if she wasn’t favored.
But how could a place like the inner residence, which devoured people, ever be peaceful without some fighting?
In recent years, the original owner’s father had performed well in his duties and received a promotion. He was about to be transferred to the capital.
News from an unknown source spread that the princes in the capital, including the Crown Prince, were of age and would begin selecting their consorts.
All daughters of officials of the fifth rank and above were eligible to participate.
The princes and the Crown Prince, before the overall situation was settled, were all future heirs to the throne. Which family’s daughter wouldn’t want to take this opportunity to ‘fly up a branch and become a phoenix’?
Coincidentally, Father Luo would be of the fifth rank after his promotion, and the Luo family currently had only two young ladies: the original owner and the stepmother’s daughter.
If they were to participate in the selection, it would certainly be the two of them.
The original owner inherited her birth mother’s beauty and was exceptionally gorgeous. Because she was a premature baby, her constitution was somewhat frail, giving her the graceful air of a weeping willow swaying in the wind.
Furthermore, she had a wealthy maternal grandfather. No matter how one looked at it, she was a much stronger candidate than the stepmother’s daughter, who came from a performer’s background.
But it was precisely because of this that the original owner invited a fatal disaster.
…Today, the Luo family was on an outing at their estate to celebrate Father Luo’s impending promotion.
The original owner’s older sister—yes, the stepmother’s daughter was older than the original owner.
Her older sister took the opportunity to bring the original owner to this courtyard to chat and enjoy the scenery. After sending everyone away, she caught the original owner off guard and pushed her into the water.
The original owner couldn’t swim, and the water in winter was bone-chillingly cold. Coupled with the fact that she was a premature baby and had been frail since childhood, even if she didn’t die from this, she would fall gravely ill.
Later, the original owner was fortunate enough to be rescued, but her body was damaged as a result. Not only did her illness worsen, but she also developed a “cold body” condition, rendering her unable to ever conceive.
And the original owner’s sister, who had done this, was not only unpunished but, due to certain factors, was successfully selected to enter the Crown Prince’s residence.
When the original owner’s maternal family learned of this, they were naturally furious, but the Luo family had suppressed the news as soon as it happened.
By the time they found out, it was too late. The person was already in the Crown Prince’s residence, and they could not interfere with the Crown Prince’s people, no matter what.
In the end, they could only take the original owner back to their home to recuperate. But because of this incident, the original owner’s illness had already worsened, and she had also become resentful due to Father Luo’s unjust handling of the matter.
After returning to her maternal family’s home, the original owner, burdened by illness and resentment, passed away not long after.
It was only after her death, with her soul lingering full of resentment, that she learned the truth from within the Luo residence.
It turned out that her mother’s death was also the handiwork of the Stepmother, and the original owner’s premature birth was also because of her.
The truth was buried. The murderer’s daughter entered the Crown Prince’s residence and used her schemes to become the Crown Prince’s side consort. After the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she even became the high and mighty Noble Consort.
And her father, who knew everything but chose to be a silent accomplice, also rose through the ranks, eventually reaching the position of Prime Minister.
The mother’s murderer also became the Prime Minister’s wife!
She and her mother had died with grievances, while her maternal family had been kept in the dark all along.
How utterly ironic it all was.
After reading all this, Luo Li clearly felt her emotions becoming unstable as a powerful hatred filled her chest.
It was the original owner’s hatred.
Little Cabbage: “The original owner’s wish is revenge! An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
Although the plot summary was long, in reality, only about half a minute had passed.
She raised a hand and gently patted her chest, calming her emotions.
Luo Li looked coldly at Luo Qingqing struggling in the water and smiled. Her face was clearly pure and gentle, but at this moment, it revealed a hint of bewitching and dangerous allure.
“Understood!”
“Also, our strategy target is at your maternal family’s home. He is the original owner’s cousin, but not a blood-related cousin. He’s an adopted son.”
“Actually, the original owner’s Uncle came to visit today, but he missed you because the Luo family was out on an outing. And since the Uncle had to rush to another place, he couldn’t wait long, so he missed you.”
“However, if we go back now, we can still make it.”
“…Young Miss!” In just that short time, there was already a commotion from outside, attracted by Luo Qingqing.
Hearing Little Cabbage’s words, Luo Li decisively turned around.
Fighting alone in a place full of wolves and tigers?
Forget it. It would be a waste not to use a backer when she had one.
After taking two steps, Luo Li suddenly stopped and looked back at Luo Qingqing in the water.
At this moment, Luo Qingqing had already grabbed onto a courtyard pillar and stood up, hugging her arms and trembling all over, her face pale.
“Cabbage, if she only soaks for this long, will she get sick and die?”
Hearing the host call it so familiarly, Little Cabbage was quite happy. It took a serious look and shook its head.
“Not yet.”
“Oh.”
The moment she finished speaking, Cabbage saw its host turn back, quickly cross the railing, and give Luo Qingqing, who was by the edge of the courtyard in the water, a kick.
In the muddy pond, the silt at the bottom was too slippery to stand on firmly. This kick made Luo Qingqing slip and fall back in, and the sound of splashing in the water rang out again.
After kicking her, Luo Li took a few quick steps, ran out through another small gate, and vanished without a trace.
By the time the Luo family members arrived, all they could see was Luo Qingqing flailing in the water.
“Quick, save her!”
Seeing the scene before her, the Stepmother was extremely flustered. While shouting, she looked around the vicinity.
Not seeing Luo Li’s figure anywhere, she frowned deeply, but her attention was quickly drawn back to Luo Qingqing’s struggles.
“What happened? How were you watching over them?” When Father Luo arrived with Luo Shaoyan, his face also darkened at the sight.
Seeing Father Luo and the others appear, the rescued Luo Qingqing immediately burst into tears. “It was Luo Li! Father, Luo Li pushed me!”
Hearing her daughter’s words, the Stepmother quickly came to her senses. A vicious glint flashed in her eyes as she glanced at the Maid beside her.
“Just, just now, when this servant came over, I seemed to see a figure in yellow running away,” the Maid immediately said upon receiving the signal.
A figure in yellow—hmm, Luo Li was wearing yellow today.
In truth, they had arrived late and hadn’t seen anything, but that didn’t stop them from immediately fabricating a story to push all the blame onto Luo Li.
Although, it was indeed the truth, ahem.
As expected, upon hearing the Maid’s words, Father Luo’s face immediately darkened. Luo Shaoyan also narrowed his eyes, a look as vicious as his mother’s appearing in them.
Author’s Note ↓
This novel is a sweet and doting story, a mutually doting story, double-clean 1V1, and a satisfying read.
The system is a cute, milky, and super well-behaved system.
The male lead’s soul fragments were scattered because he went to repair a collapsed minor world, so all these minor worlds were originally collapsed worlds.
—Welcome, darlings, to the pit. Sending hearts (´ω｀)