“I refuse!” Jiang Fei declared.
System: “Refuse what?”
“Refuse to have my entire family wiped out.”
The system pondered for a moment: “The old guard dog at the back gate of Jiang Manor can stay.”
“…” Jiang Fei was speechless for a while. “What if I don’t cooperate? You can’t expect me to work for you without any benefits, can you?”
If the system had a physical form, it would probably be rolling its eyes to the heavens by now.
Among all the transmigrators it had hosted, this was the first time it encountered such a difficult one. Not only had she disrupted the plot right after arriving, but she was also utterly uncooperative.
“Are you trying to drive a hard bargain?” the system asked.
Jiang Fei replied righteously, “I’m just striving to secure the best possible outcome for myself.”
System: “If you refuse to cooperate, the system will repatriate you and replace you with someone more compliant.”
Jiang Fei was delighted. “Wouldn’t that be perfect? If you repatriate me, I can go back.”
System: “Have you forgotten that your original body died in a car accident? After repatriation, you won’t return to your own body but will be trapped in nothingness forever.”
Jiang Fei fell silent, then after a moment said, “Then what benefits do I get if I cooperate?”
“You can live two more years. After the plot proceeds normally and this body dies, I will find you a better body in your original world, allowing you to live happily for the rest of your life.”
Jiang Fei: “Deal!”
The system said: “Good, the mission line has been successfully changed. You only have this one chance to alter it.”
…
Early the next morning, the Jiang family set off for Dingyuan Marquis Manor. A long queue of carriages had already formed in front of the manor’s gates.
After waiting for a while, they finally entered the manor. The residence was filled with guests, brimming with a festive atmosphere.
As a 21st-century sunflower of the motherland, Jiang Fei had never witnessed such a grand occasion. The most she had attended were rural banquet feasts.
In the original book, Yao Shi held great disdain for her daughter Jiang Rufei and seldom brought her to such events. Moreover, since she was merely a cannon fodder character, the author naturally didn’t devote much description to her. Now that she was here, she could only rely on her own wits, emulating the demeanor of a noble lady from TV dramas—that couldn’t go wrong.
Yao Shi glanced at Jiang Fei. “Did you not sleep well last night?”
Jiang Fei nodded. “Thank you for your concern, Mother. I’m just a little nervous.”
Yao Shi looked at her in surprise. This daughter had always been unlikable, as if she had no brains—tongue-tied, dull, and rash in her actions. Apart from her pretty face, she had no other redeeming qualities.
But today, she suddenly seemed to understand propriety. And yesterday, her eloquence was utterly unlike Jiang Rufei, as if she were a different person.
As Yao Shi pondered this, a nobly dressed lady approached them, followed by two maids.
It was none other than the Madam of the Marquis, who exchanged pleasantries with Yao Shi.
Yao Shi then said to Jiang Fei, “I have some private matters to discuss with Madam of the Marquis. The scenery in the manor’s garden is quite lovely—why don’t you take a stroll?”
The Madam of the Marquis also smiled. “The spray snowflowers by the waterside pavilion are in full bloom. I’ll have a maid take you to see them.”
Jiang Fei knew this was arranged for her to meet the third son of the Wei Family. This suited her perfectly—sooner or later, she would marry into the Wei Family, so it was good to meet him in advance and foster some affection. Additionally, she could find an opportunity to secretly identify that lunatic Pei Jing.
Jiang Fei bowed to both women before following the maid away.
After the system finished explaining the mission yesterday, it vanished. It was said the system managed thousands of hosts, and just switching between worlds could spark friction. It likely wouldn’t bother with Jiang Fei for a while—she had to rely on herself.
Jiang Fei thought it over all night. To ensure her entire family died at Pei Jing’s hands, she had to sprint headlong down the path of self-destruction.
Staying alive was hard, but dying wasn’t. Jiang Fei considered cursing that lunatic Pei Jing, spreading slander about him, or taking liberties—she remembered the author described Pei Jing as exceptionally handsome, so a little sacrifice on her part might be acceptable.
But none of that would provoke him to slaughter her whole family. It probably had to involve the female lead for Pei Jing to go berserk.
That left Jiang Fei with only one path: follow the original author’s plan, marry into the Wei Family, torment the female lead—Wei Mingzhen’s younger sister—and make Pei Jing loathe her to the core.
The maid stopped by the pond. “This servant won’t escort you further, Miss. Our Third Master is waiting for you near the snow fountain tree.”
The Dingyuan Marquis Manor was quite spacious. What was called a pond could almost pass for a small lake. One side of the shore featured waterside pavilions and corridors built along the water, while the other connected to garden pathways.
Jiang Fei walked ahead a short distance and froze in dismay.
Half the lakeshore was planted with trees—which one was the snow fountain?
Turning to look for the maid, she found the girl had already vanished.
As she walked, Jiang Fei pondered: “Snow fountain”—the name suggested white flowers, surely not bright red or purple.
She encountered no one along the lake until she reached a tree, where she spotted a young master sitting with his back to her by the water’s edge.
His hair was tied with a jade hairpin, ink-black strands cascading like satin down his back. He stood tall like bamboo in a secluded forest, his silhouette alone radiating an aura of cool detachment.
Jiang Fei glanced up: the tree’s canopy was expansive, densely adorned with snow-white flower clusters. “Snow fountain”—it truly lived up to its name.
The person beneath it must be…
Her foot suddenly stepped on a twig. The man by the lake turned to look.
Jiang Fei stared, her gaze involuntarily fixed on his face.
Eyebrows like distant mountains, carrying a touch of aloof pride; eyes deep as cold pools, seeming to shimmer with starlight yet veiled by a faint haze, making them elusive.
The book only described Wei Mingzhen as “a gentleman, gentle as jade,” but she never expected Wei Sanlang to look like this.
With looks like this, he’s only a supporting male lead? Author, you’ve lost your mind!
The man gave her a brief, indifferent glance before turning away, showing no interest.
To be safe, Jiang Fei took two steps forward. “Might I ask if you are the Third Young Master of the Wei Family?”
The man tilted his head, studied her again, raised an eyebrow noncommittally, then turned back to gaze at the lake.
That expression seemed like a silent confirmation.
He didn’t seem inclined to chat. Jiang Fei stepped aside, mentally calculating: Yao Shi had told her to make a good impression and avoid displeasing Wei Sanlang.
But if he didn’t want to engage, she couldn’t just rush over and fawn over him.
She had no intention of being a devoted wife to Wei Mingzhen anyway—she’d be dead in a couple of years. As long as she married in and maintained appearances, that was enough.
Never one for beating around the bush, Jiang Fei hesitated a few seconds before speaking directly, “Third Master Wei, I am the second daughter of the Jiang Family. Madam of the Marquis sent me.”
Pei Jing paused, tilting his head as he looked her up and down. “Second Miss Jiang, and then?”
Jiang Fei pressed her lips together. “Now that we’ve met, what are your thoughts on our marriage arrangement?”
“Thoughts?” Pei Jing set aside his fishing rod and said, “A bit short.”
Jiang Fei was so choked by this remark that she nearly coughed, almost revealing her true nature of rolling up her sleeves and ready for a fight.
Although this body wasn’t as tall as her modern 174 cm height, it still measured around 165 cm, which in ancient times could be considered slender and tall. How dare he call her short?
Jiang Fei suppressed her temper. “I was only asking for your opinion on this marriage arrangement.”
A faint smile tugged at Pei Jing’s lips, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. “As for this marriage arrangement, I’m not very fond of it.”
Jiang Fei felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze but steeled herself and said, “Marriage is a serious matter, decided by matchmakers… that is…”
She suddenly faltered, unsure how to persuade Wei Mingzhen to accept this marriage.
Although Wei Mingzhen couldn’t inherit the title of heir, he was still the legitimate third son of a marquis’ household. If he truly didn’t want to marry her, there was nothing she could do about it.
But she had to marry him. If she didn’t marry Wei Mingzhen, how could she follow the plot and torment the female lead?
Pei Jing watched her leisurely, noticing her eyes darting around—she was probably scheming something.
After much thought, Jiang Fei decided that sincerity was her only trump card.
She said earnestly, “Marry me. I want to marry you.”