Before her eyes was an intense, high-stakes boxing match, and in her ears roared a chorus of fervent, feverish cheers. This completely unfamiliar scene scared away any last trace of Ji Xingzhu’s drowsiness.
Her nerves taut, she quickly scanned her surroundings, and her heart dropped with shock—this environment was definitely not some legitimate boxing arena.
Was Song Qingchi participating in an underground fight?!
Even though Ji Xingzhu had mentally prepared herself, knowing Song Qingchi differed greatly from the male lead in the original book, this sight still left her stunned speechless.
Simultaneously, a wave of irrepressible guilt surged within her.
Song Qingchi was truly a ruthless character! If her little charade of pretending to be a “golden finger” system was ever exposed…
Soon, she had no energy left for idle thoughts, because Song Qingchi’s opponent threw another fist straight at his face. Ji Xingzhu’s heart instantly leapt into her throat.
What followed was Ji Xingzhu enduring, in a dizzying daze, a fierce boxing match from Song Qingchi’s first-person perspective. Even though she existed only within his consciousness and couldn’t suffer any real physical harm, she was still utterly terrified.
That violence of flesh striking flesh, the damp stickiness of sweat and blood mingling in the air… this immersive sensation was both alien and oppressive.
It finally ended with Song Qingchi pinning his opponent firmly to the ground.
In that moment, a deafening roar of cheers erupted throughout the venue, all the spectators shouting a single name in unison.
“Ares—”
“Ares!!!”
Song Qingchi released his opponent and slowly rose to his feet. He was clearly exhausted; even his spine lacked its usual straight-backed posture. Yet, he still towered, exuding a pressure as deep as a still lake and as imposing as a mountain.
Here and now, he had shed the civilized veneer of suits and leather shoes, laying bare the arrogance and ferocity ingrained in his very bones. The silver mask reflected a dazzling light, but even brighter were those dark, sharp, and penetrating eyes.
He faced the frenzied adulation of the crowd like a king accepting the homage of his subjects.
Feeling the male lead’s frantic heartbeat and ragged gasps for air, Ji Xingzhu felt a kind of drained, suffocating sensation.
In her daze, a thought surfaced: Was “Ares,” the name the crowd chanted, Song Qingchi’s English name? Or merely an alias he used for these underground fights?
Ares, the God of War…
A fitting name for a madman like Song Qingchi.
Even after Song Qingchi left the ring, Ji Xingzhu’s mind remained somewhat chaotic.
A white towel draped around his neck, Song Qingchi wiped away sweat as he walked toward the backstage area. His black hair was completely soaked with perspiration, plastered wetly against his forehead, half-hiding his sharp eyes and brows.
The silver mask concealed his expression, leaving only the palpable aura, sharp as a blade, that emanated from him. He sidestepped several people approaching to congratulate him and exited quietly, his posture languid and casual, like a lion inspecting its territory after a victorious hunt.
Soon, he was back in his private dressing room.
Ji Xingzhu snapped back to attention quickly. Perfect timing—right after Song Qingchi’s fight, she needed to log in and make her presence known. The atmosphere in this underground fight club was far too oppressive, making her extremely uncomfortable; she wanted to make a swift escape without a moment’s delay.
Just as Ji Xingzhu was steeling herself to speak, when Song Qingchi opened the door to his dressing room, her eyes widened in surprise.
Inside the room, on the sofa in the lounge area, sat a woman. Her figure was slender and graceful, her features delicate and beautiful. Dressed in a pale-colored qipao, she seemed like an elegant lady who had stepped out of the misty waters of Jiangnan.
The moment she saw Song Qingchi, her eyes instantly brightened. She rose gracefully to her feet, gliding forward with a gentle smile, her voice melodious and pleasant. “Qingchi, congratulations on your victory.”
Ji Xingzhu’s spirits instantly perked up.
Was this one of the harem members from the male lead’s original story?
It was a shame Ji Xingzhu was currently just a system. If she had a physical form, the gleam of gossip in her eyes would surely be shining brightly. She instinctively held her breath, secretly observing the interaction between Song Qingchi and the woman in the room.
Song Qingchi casually removed the silver mask from his face and tossed it onto a nearby sofa with a motion full of nonchalant ease.
Without that fierce, imposing mask, his aura softened considerably. The corners of his lips lifted into his signature gentle smile as he politely acknowledged the qipao-clad beauty’s congratulations. “Thank you.”
Witnessing this instant change in demeanor, Ji Xingzhu: “…”
She couldn’t help but secretly grumble to System 999, “Is this scummy male lead made of trash bags or something? He’s so good at putting on an act!”
One moment he was an utterly violent human beast, and the next he transformed back into a courteous, refined young master. Ji Xingzhu truly wanted to know which version of Song Qingchi was his most authentic self.
The Cannon Fodder System tried to speak up for the male lead. “It’s called emotional control!”
“Tch.” Ji Xingzhu pressed menacingly. “Whose side are you on?”
Cannon Fodder System: “…Yours. Whatever you say is right.”
“That’s more like it.”
As for Ji Xingzhu’s comment comparing him to a trash bag, Song Qingchi didn’t seem offended in the slightest. On the contrary, the gentle curve of his smile deepened a fraction further.
If Ji Xingzhu knew this man could smile unperturbed while she was mocking him, she would certainly fly into a rage and curse him for having no shame.
The qipao beauty offered a bottle of water with a smile. Song Qingchi accepted it and thanked her politely.
She smiled and said, “This quarter’s dividends have already been transferred to your account. The profits are quite good.”
“Oh, and several fighters have expressed interest in signing contracts with us. There are also people wanting to invest in this venue. What are your thoughts on that?”
Song Qingchi pondered for a moment before saying, “Send me the relevant documents, and I’ll give you my decision after I’ve reviewed them.”
The qipao-clad woman readily agreed. They discussed a few more business matters, maintaining a professional distance between them without a hint of ambiguity.
Ji Xingzhu: “…!!!”
Eagerly, Ji Xingzhu gossiped with 999 again, “Niney! Isn’t this gorgeous woman part of the scummy male lead’s harem? I thought once they closed the dressing room door, things would get fiery.”
Song Qingchi: “…”
Song Qingchi was in the middle of assigning tasks to the qipao woman, but his speech hit a subtle, almost imperceptible hitch. Fortunately, he smoothly continued without anyone noticing that fleeting flicker of something odd in his expression.
Cannon Fodder System 999: “…I beg you to be serious! Haven’t you realized the gravity of the situation yet?”
“Based on what this woman said, the male lead is actually the behind-the-scenes owner of this underground fight club, ahhh!” 999 was on the verge of a meltdown. “This is something that never existed in the original story!”
“And! Shouldn’t the male lead be down on his luck, struggling financially, only improving his situation after joining the dating show? Why is he handling business deals involving nine figures right now? Damn it!” Even 999 was driven to swear, showing just how frustrated it was.
Ji Xingzhu, however, didn’t care about any of this in the slightest. After all, she was just a temporary fill-in worker; she could muddle through casually. Who would genuinely worry about the male lead with real feeling?
But out of a tiny shred of camaraderie, Ji Xingzhu half-heartedly tried to comfort 999. “It’s not like it’s the first day you’ve known the plotline is off the rails. What’s there to make such a fuss about? Take it slowly. We’ve already convinced the scummy male lead to join the dating show; that’s a successful first step!”
“Sigh, you don’t understand,” 999 lamented, sounding world-weary.
Ji Xingzhu thought for a moment and said seriously, “How about I bankrupt the male lead right now? Get him back to the state he should be in according to the original story—having absolutely nothing!”
Song Qingchi, who was taking a sip of water, nearly choked. The gentle curve of his smile froze strangely. After a long moment, he twitched the corner of his mouth speechlessly. Facing his subordinate’s concerned look, Song Qingchi waved a hand dismissively, indicating he was fine.
His fiancée… certainly had a unique train of thought, Song Qingchi mused silently.
Cannon Fodder System was also choked up for a second: “…That’s really not necessary.”
His host was so brave, so stubborn. This fearless, reckless mental state was truly on par with the malicious fiancée from the book…
The duo continued secretly observing the male lead and the qipao beauty discussing business. They didn’t blink, but indeed found not a single hint of anything fishy.
Ji Xingzhu marveled, “Isn’t the male lead supposed to be someone who thinks with his lower half? He’d actually let go of such a stunning beauty?”
Cannon Fodder System felt a bit gratified and even a little proud: “Actually, the male lead being different from the original also has some advantages. For example, the current male lead is quite dedicated, definitely not the playboy you described!”
“Pah!” Ji Xingzhu scoffed disdainfully. “Does he even deserve the word ‘dedicated’?”
“Meeting a female subordinate shirtless right after a fight, not even bothering to put on clothes,” she stated righteously. “No matter what, he’s a man with an engagement. This kind of behavior shows no respect for male virtue. What decent woman would want such a flighty man?”
Song Qingchi: “…”
The words Song Qingchi was about to say got stuck in his throat again. He cleared his throat with a fist against his lips. After a pause, he finally managed a smile and said, “Apologies, let’s continue.” His tone held a touch of something peculiar.
And Ji Xingzhu was still going.
“Upholding male virtue is everyone’s responsibility.”
“A man who doesn’t cherish himself is like wilted cabbage.”
Song Qingchi: “…”
Song Qingchi smiled… Song Qingchi found it a bit hard to keep smiling.
He abruptly stood up and walked straight into the bedroom. When he came out, he was wearing a bathrobe, the collar pulled tightly shut.
After sitting back down on the sofa, Song Qingchi even offered a seemingly casual explanation: “It’s a bit chilly.”
Ji Xingzhu: “Heh, obviously feeling guilty! And of all things to wear, a bathrobe? Hiding and hinting, playing hard to get—definitely trying to seduce someone!”
Song Qingchi: “…”
Cannon Fodder System 999: “…Don’t be so ridiculous!”
Song Qingchi slowly rubbed his temples, appearing somewhat pained.
The qipao woman asked with concern, “Are you tired? You seemed a bit distracted during our conversation too. Perhaps I should come find you later. I was too hasty.”
Song Qingchi’s “distraction” had nothing to do with being tired from the fight. The real culprit was still chattering away incessantly in his head.
But Song Qingchi didn’t explain. Instead, he took the opportunity to stand up and see her out. “Alright, we’ll talk another day then.”
With a smile, he politely and courteously escorted her out.
As the door closed softly, the large dressing room fell quiet. Song Qingchi paced back to the sofa and sat down, his posture relaxed and languid, lacking the earlier seriousness of discussing business.
The gentle smile on his face gradually faded. After a long while, he sighed somewhat helplessly and asked in his mind, “Looking for me? Is there something you need?”
Ji Xingzhu was taken aback, instantly tense. “How did you know I was here?”
Song Qingchi let out a light chuckle, replying with complete composure, “I heard your scream during the match.”
Ji Xingzhu: “…Oh.”
Anyone who opened their eyes to find themselves in a boxing ring would struggle to stay calm, okay?!
But she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, she had thought Song Qingchi could hear her private conversation with 999; her heart nearly leapt out of her chest. Turns out he just heard her scream during the fight. Ji Xingzhu felt a sudden wave of reassurance.
Immediately after, she pressed on: “Host, what were you doing just now? Underground fighting? Is this underground fight club yours? Are you very rich right now?”
There were too many mysteries surrounding Song Qingchi, and Ji Xingzhu fired off several questions at once.
But Song Qingchi was a shrewd character, not so easy to handle. He brushed them off with a few nonchalant remarks, leaving Ji Xingzhu unable to extract a single useful piece of information.
Infuriated, Ji Xingzhu grumbled to 999 again: “A turtle swallowing a steelyard weight—what a black-hearted bastard!”
Song Qingchi felt he had built up some resilience by now. At the very least, he could maintain a calm, faint smile upon hearing Ji Xingzhu’s varied and creative insults.
Ji Xingzhu had originally just logged in to make her presence known, a sort of punch-in for her second job. Now, seeing that she couldn’t pry any useful information from Song Qingchi and there was no more interesting drama to watch, she simply turned and logged off.
Confirming that his fiancée, who was prone to secretly cursing him out at the drop of a hat, had left, Song Qingchi relaxed his body against the sofa. He let his mind drift slightly, his deep, dark eyes calm and still. After a long moment, as if remembering something, he shook his head with a light chuckle.
·
After a period of intense preparation, “Love on the Journey” was about to start filming very soon.
One morning, Song Qingchi was still deep in sleep when he was awakened by a familiar mechanical voice.
“Hey, wake up, stop sleeping!” Ji Xingzhu showed no remorse for disturbing someone’s sweet dreams, urging him repeatedly.
Song Qingchi pushed himself up from the bed. The blanket slid down his body, his pajamas slightly disheveled, the collar open to reveal delicate collarbones and a fair, firm chest.
The first thing he did upon waking was—swiftly pull together the collar of his pajamas, covering himself up completely.
Actually, Song Qingchi used to be accustomed to sleeping without pajamas. But ever since being bound to a “system,” he had never done so again…
“Why so early today?” Song Qingchi’s voice was hoarse from waking, but his tone remained as gentle as ever.
The mechanical voice carried a rare hint of excitement: “Because today is a very important day! I reminded you long ago!”
Song Qingchi furrowed his brows slightly, stroking his chin pensively for a moment before cautiously saying, “Today’s the 3rd… it’s the day I have a dinner appointment with Director Li.”
Ji Xingzhu: “…”
Ji Xingzhu gritted her teeth: “Song. Qing. Chi.”
She was utterly furious. If she had a physical form right now, she’d have beaten up this scummy male lead at least once. “It’s the day the dating show starts filming! Didn’t I tell you earlier? You still dared to make a dinner appointment with someone else? Did you take anything I said to heart?!”
Song Qingchi winced lightly, rubbing his temples which throbbed from the sudden volume increase, quickly cutting off her tirade. “Alright, alright, of course I know what day it is. I was just joking with you earlier.”
Ji Xingzhu rolled her eyes. “You think you’re funny?”
She secretly made a fierce vow to 999: “This scummy male lead is becoming more and more disrespectful. Just wait, I’ll teach him a lesson later!”
Then she turned her glare back on Song Qingchi: “Get out of bed right now! Wash up! Wait for the production crew to arrive!”
Song Qingchi sighed helplessly. Ever since discovering the little secret of this “system,” observing her had become the greatest source of amusement in his otherwise dull and tedious life.
Sometimes he couldn’t help but tease her a little, though this spoiled young lady’s temper was indeed a bit hard to handle…
Song Qingchi was very efficient and quickly got ready. Soon after, his doorbell rang.
Just as he was about to go answer the door, Ji Xingzhu stopped him first.
Ji Xingzhu said very seriously, “Host, this dating show is very important for you. You must seize the opportunity, outshine all the other male guests, and become the most popular one!”
Song Qingchi raised an eyebrow. “So?”
Ji Xingzhu: “You have no idea how to look cool. I’ll teach you!”
“In a moment, when you open the door, first lean sideways against the doorframe. Put one hand on the opposite side of the frame, show your profile to the camera. Then look up, touch your chin, then look down—showcase your sharp jawline!”
“Finally, look slightly up at the camera—and give it a wink.”
“Heheh, won’t that just captivate everyone?”
Song Qingchi: “…”
More like traumatize everyone…