“Host, are you really not going to accept my proposal? If you’re willing to not only play Long Aotian’s cannon fodder fiancée but also take on the role of his cheat system, I can fight for more employee benefits for you!” Cannon Fodder System 999 tried its best to sell the idea.
“No way,” Ji Xingzhu replied lazily. She applied her skincare products with deliberate care, her mind completely occupied with how to maintain her own radiantly beautiful and charming face, giving no heed to the system’s words.
Being forced to play the male lead’s troublesome, drama-seeking fiancée was already misfortune enough. She’d have to be insane to take on another massive headache!
That’s right, Ji Xingzhu wasn’t from this world. After dying accidentally in her original world, she transmigrated into this one with the help of the cannon fodder system codenamed 999. It had already been a month since she became this world’s Ji Xingzhu.
This world was based on a male-oriented web novel. The protagonist was a typical “Long Aotian” archetype. He was originally born into a wealthy and powerful family, but unfortunately, his family fell from grace when he was young, and he endured a long period of hardship. Later, through a series of face-slapping events, comebacks, and various romantic encounters, he eventually became the world’s richest man, a veritable legend.
Although Ji Xingzhu was exquisitely beautiful and compared favorably to anyone, she wasn’t part of Long Aotian’s harem in the novel. Instead, she was a villainess meant to be publicly humiliated.
In the story, “Ji Xingzhu” had a childhood engagement to the male lead. But after the male lead’s family declined and they moved away, the two families lost contact for a long time. The Ji family naturally assumed the engagement was null and void.
Unexpectedly, after the college entrance exams, Long Aotian got into the nation’s top university and returned to his hometown. When Long Aotian went to visit his fiancée’s family, the pampered fiancée, raised in privilege, couldn’t accept having a husband from a humble background. She mocked and humiliated Long Aotian to the extreme. The Ji family, fearing Long Aotian would cling to them, also warned and suppressed him at every turn.
Deeply humiliated, Long Aotian left in a rage after uttering threats like “Thirty years the east of the river, thirty years the west; don’t bully the young for being poor.” From then on, he embarked on a journey of face-slapping and rising to the top, becoming someone the fiancée’s family could only look up to.
As for the short-sighted fiancée “Ji Xingzhu,” she initially looked down on Long Aotian in every way. Finally, when her own family’s company faced a crisis, she tried to offer herself to the now-powerful Long Aotian for help. But Long Aotian disdained her and humiliated her severely.
“Ji Xingzhu” had always prided herself on her beauty. Long Aotian broke her pride, leaving her shamed and furious, wishing for death. In the end, the Ji family went bankrupt, and “Ji Xingzhu” ended up who-knows-where. And Ji Xingzhu could only earn her chance at rebirth by playing this cannon fodder fiancée.
Thinking about her destined plotline in this world, Ji Xingzhu couldn’t help but roll her eyes, complaining unhappily to 999, “My fate in this world is already this miserable, and you still have the nerve to try and squeeze more work out of me?”
Cannon Fodder System 999 replied sheepishly, “But… I think playing ‘Ji Xingzhu’ would be no pressure for you at all! Taking on an extra job wouldn’t be a big deal!”
Ji Xingzhu narrowed her eyes dangerously. “What do you mean by that?”
The novel described “Ji Xingzhu” as “spoiled and brainless.” Was this lousy system insulting her in a roundabout way?
Cannon Fodder System quickly performed evasive maneuvers: “What I mean is… you and this world’s Ji Xingzhu not only share the same name and looks, but your backgrounds and life experiences are also similar!”
“In your previous life, you were a dazzlingly successful wealthy heiress, and you’re much smarter than this world’s ‘Ji Xingzhu’! You’ll definitely thrive here without any pressure!”
Ji Xingzhu rolled her eyes again. “Hmph, you know what’s good for you!”
Although she didn’t want to admit it too readily, when it came to this arrogant and domineering fiancée… acting her true self was probably enough.
Ji Xingzhu gazed at her own bright and captivating reflection in the mirror, a slight curve on her red lips, her eyes slightly raised. That innate sense of pride and “drama-queen” energy practically overflowed.
While Ji Xingzhu was captivated by her own beauty, Cannon Fodder System hadn’t given up on persuading her. “Host, the main system’s monitoring has detected some glitches in Little World X. The most important part—the male lead’s plotline—seems to have changed! So, there’s an urgent need for a system to bind with the male lead to guide him back onto the correct plot trajectory.”
“But our company is currently severely short-staffed. We can’t immediately dispatch a suitable system to bind with the male lead, and I can only bind with you… So the best solution is—you go bind with the male lead and pretend to be his cheat system, I’ll assist you from the side, and together we’ll guide the male lead back on track!”
Ji Xingzhu completely ignored 999’s pitch, instead asking with interest, “On what basis did you conclude there’s a problem on the male lead’s side?”
Cannon Fodder System 999’s tone turned grave. “In the novel, during the years when the male lead’s family declined and he moved to that small county town, there should have been a childhood sweetheart by his side. She helped him through the most difficult times and accompanied him as he fought his way back to the capital. But—I discovered the male lead returned alone! And he doesn’t seem to have had any interaction with that childhood sweetheart at all!”
“That childhood sweetheart is a very important character. Now she has no part to play whatsoever. This is enough to indicate a major flaw in the little world!”
Ji Xingzhu dismissed it casually. “What’s there to fear? Even if he lost one childhood sweetheart, this Long Aotian still has countless other beauties waiting for him.”
After all, the Long Aotian in the book was just a big harem-collector who slapped faces all the way to the top. So what if he missed out on one member of his harem? Was that really worth making such a fuss over?
Ji Xingzhu even felt that the childhood sweetheart was lucky enough to have escaped a miserable fate!
“But…” Cannon Fodder System still wanted to argue, but Ji Xingzhu impatiently cut it off again.
“Alright, alright, let’s not dwell on things that are already in the past,” Ji Xingzhu said. “The male lead is about to visit my house soon. You should focus on that instead.”
They were rapidly approaching the first important plot point in the original story—Long Aotian’s visit to his fiancée’s family. Not only was the engagement not recognized, but he was also severely humiliated. This was the starting point of Long Aotian’s determination to rise to power.
Cannon Fodder System immediately grew tense. “That’s right, the male lead is coming soon! Host, have you memorized all the lines you need to say later?”
“Memorized,” Ji Xingzhu replied, her makeup application slow and deliberate, a slightly arrogant smile curving her lips. “Don’t worry, I’ll… definitely give Long Aotian a proper show of force later.”
After a long while, Ji Xingzhu was finally ready. She wore the latest haute couture gown from a famous luxury brand, the vibrant red making her skin appear as white as jade, radiantly beautiful. Her soft, voluminous black hair cascaded loosely, accentuating her exquisitely delicate features.
She didn’t wear heavy makeup, but she was stunning enough, her every move exuding a lazy confidence. Such a vivid, breathtaking beauty was like the most alluring rose at dawn, capable of making everything else fade into the background.
Ji Xingzhu admired her own beauty with satisfaction. “After sending Long Aotian on his way, I absolutely have to go out for a stroll. Can’t let such a beautiful look go to waste.”
No sooner had she spoken than Ji Xingzhu heard 999 shouting frantically in her mind, “Host! The male lead is here! He’s already stepped through your front door!”
Ji Xingzhu raised an eyebrow slightly, mentally calculating that it was about time. She rose gracefully and began making her way downstairs.
Having transmigrated for a month, she was finally about to meet the so-called male lead. Thinking about it, she felt a small thrill of excitement.
Exiting her bedroom, Ji Xingzhu first paused at the top of the stairs, listening carefully. She could faintly hear voices coming from the living room—presumably Long Aotian conversing with her parents. But she couldn’t make out the specifics of their conversation.
Taking a deep breath, Ji Xingzhu walked down towards the living room.
“Dad, Mom, who’s here?”
Following the clear, pleasant voice, a slender, graceful figure descended slowly, coming into view of everyone in the living room.
Ji Xingzhu’s red dress fluttered slightly as she walked, her steps swaying with a captivating rhythm. Although she only wore comfortable slippers on her feet, her pointed chin was slightly raised, like a proud little swan. She somehow turned the home staircase into a runway, the whole person radiantly dazzling.
She could feel that the gazes of everyone in the living room were involuntarily drawn to her.
Standing on the staircase, Ji Xingzhu looked down at the people in the living room. Her alluring peach blossom eyes swept lightly, their shimmering gaze finally landing on the only unfamiliar man.
Unexpectedly, she locked eyes with him.
A pair of deep, pitch-black eyes, seemingly bottomless.
Ji Xingzhu composed her mind and began observing seriously.
There were only three people in the living room. Her parents sat together on the sofa, while opposite them sat the unfamiliar man. This should be the novel’s Long Aotian male lead—Song Qingchi.
To be honest, Ji Xingzhu’s impression of Song Qingchi, the male lead, was very poor. No matter how much System 999 praised him, she believed the male lead was an arrogant, pretentious show-off. But now, seeing Song Qingchi in person, she was genuinely a bit surprised.
If nothing else, this Long Aotian’s looks were truly excellent. Even sitting upright on the sofa, Ji Xingzhu could tell he had a good physique—definitely broad-shouldered, long-legged, and with a straight posture. His face was also handsomely peerless, no wonder he attracted so many admirers in the book.
But… Ji Xingzhu carefully examined the subtle curve at the corner of Long Aotian’s mouth, feeling momentarily doubtful and uncertain.
“Hey, 9, why do I feel this Long Aotian is… not quite the same as the one described in the book?” Ji Xingzhu mused thoughtfully.
Song Qingchi’s smile was light and gentle, softening his sharp, almost aggressive handsomeness. It gave him an air of polite, gentlemanly warmth, yet without being obsequious, merely making him seem as elegant and refined as fine bamboo, dignified and noble.
The pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his nose bridge hid the depths of his dark eyes, making him appear even more refined.
The problem was—the Song Qingchi in the book wasn’t a gentle and courteous person at all!
Long Aotian types always had a touch of middle-school arrogance and pride. Moreover, the book described his visit to the Ji family as tense and confrontational, definitely not as peaceful as this.
999 instantly grew nervous: “I only detected a deviation in the male lead’s plotline. Could it be… his personality has also changed?”
While Ji Xingzhu and 999 were communicating in their minds, her mother, Ji Mingwei, smiled and beckoned to her. “Xiao Zhu, come here quickly! Mom will introduce you.”
Ji Xingzhu obediently walked over and sat down beside her mother, taking the opportunity to openly size up the male lead, Song Qingchi.
“Xiao Zhu, this is Song Qingchi. He’s a few months older than you. His parents and we are old family friends,” Ji Mingwei said affectionately, holding her daughter’s hand as she introduced them. “Qingchi, this is my daughter, Xingzhu.”
Song Qingchi looked at her with a smile and extended his right hand. “Miss Ji, pleased to meet you.”
Following the script, Ji Xingzhu instantly darkened her expression, giving a cold snort and not sparing him any face at all.
Even though “Ji Xingzhu” hadn’t seen her nominal fiancé since he grew up, she knew his name. Upon hearing her mother’s introduction, she immediately understood the identity of the person before her. Already dissatisfied with this engagement, naturally, she wouldn’t give him a pleasant look.
Ji Mingwei felt somewhat awkward and gently tugged at her daughter’s arm, but Ji Xingzhu was spoiled and didn’t listen to anyone. She even glared fiercely at Song Qingchi.
While acting, Ji Xingzhu waited—waited for Song Qingchi to erupt in anger, even turn hostile, due to her contemptuous attitude, just like in the original story, and then unleash a string of harsh threats.
She was waiting for Long Aotian to deliver those pretentious lines from the book, but…
Even after being publicly slighted like this, the warm, gentle smile on Song Qingchi’s face didn’t change in the slightest. He calmly retracted his hand, showing neither embarrassment nor anger, remaining the same polite junior.
Song Qingchi simply didn’t pay any mind to Ji Xingzhu’s rudeness. He merely gave her a tolerant smile before turning back to continue speaking with her parents.
Ji Xingzhu: “… ???”
Ji Xingzhu wore a bewildered expression, feeling the frustration of throwing a punch into cotton wool.
What happened next left her even more stunned—Song Qingchi took out a document and actually began discussing a collaboration with her parents!
“Uncle, Auntie, this proposal is the result of my team’s work over the past six months. If we could have Ji Corporation’s partnership, I believe it would definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort.” Song Qingchi’s tone was very calm. Although he was here seeking investment, his attitude wasn’t servile, only conveying his seriousness and sincerity.
Song Qingchi smiled. “I absolutely don’t intend to use our past ties to pressure you into investing. It’s just that I still remember my father telling me when I was young that Ji Corporation is a company with strong principles and vision, and that you both are far-sighted leaders. So, I’ve always yearned for the opportunity to collaborate with Ji Corporation.”
Song Qingchi pushed the document forward slightly, his smile composed and serene. “I trust in your capabilities and firmly believe Ji Corporation is the most powerful potential partner. That’s why I had the audacity to visit, hoping you two seniors would give me a chance.”
Ji Xingzhu’s mother had clearly already reviewed the documents Song Qingchi brought and was quite taken with them—evident just from the smile she gave him.
Ji Xingzhu’s father, however, seemed somewhat off. Wen Xuzhe, as the son-in-law who married into the Ji family, was usually quite adept at handling social situations, always maintaining a gentle and refined image in front of others. But ever since he learned Song Qingchi’s identity, his expression had subtly changed, and he became more silent afterward.
Nevertheless, Ji Corporation was primarily managed by its matriarch, Ji Mingwei, so Wen Xuzhe’s silent resistance didn’t affect much.
Ji Mingwei greatly admired the project Song Qingchi presented and was very interested. The conversation between both parties became increasingly congenial, and the atmosphere grew more harmonious.
Watching this scene with her mouth agape, Ji Xingzhu hurriedly asked her system, “999, this isn’t right, is it? The plot in the book… wasn’t like this at all?!”
Wasn’t it said that Song Qingchi’s visit was to bring up the marriage arrangement between the two families again? How did it turn into discussing some collaboration? In the book, Long Aotian never collaborated with the Ji family from start to finish!
Moreover… Ji Xingzhu stared dumbfounded at the refined and courteous Song Qingchi before her, sensing a foreboding feeling that things were spiraling out of control.
This Song Qingchi… he didn’t seem “Long Aotian” at all!
Just as Ji Xingzhu was questioning her existence, her mother, Ji Mingwei, took a sip of tea. She glanced hesitantly at Song Qingchi a few times before finally making up her mind. “Qingchi… have your parents ever mentioned the engagement between you and Xingzhu?”
Ji Mingwei was very conflicted. She quite admired this young man, Song Qingchi, and was very interested in the collaboration he mentioned. But the engagement between the two families had always been a thorn in her side. Without resolving this matter, she couldn’t feel at ease interacting with Song Qingchi.
Hearing this, Ji Xingzhu perked up. Here it comes, here it comes! Finally, her scene was up!
Just as Ji Xingzhu was gathering her emotions, planning to stubbornly and unreasonably demand the annulment of this engagement, Song Qingchi instead frowned in confusion. “Engagement? What engagement?”
Song Qingchi clasped his hands loosely over his knees, his posture relaxed and casual. He pondered for a moment, then his brow smoothed, revealing a faint, helpless smile. “Auntie Ji, you’re not referring to that so-called ‘engagement’ arranged between Miss Ji and me when we were children, are you?”
“That was just a joke among the adults. How could I possibly take it seriously?” Song Qingchi replied with a candid smile.
Ji Xingzhu: “…?!”
What’s going on?!