Host, do you want to activate Mind Reading? Bao Linglong asked again.
“Activate.”
Mind Reading has been granted.
After the system spoke, Meng Shining felt a sudden flutter in her chest.
Host, Mind Reading is a passive skill. Activation is random, and it only works on important people.]Bao Linglong reminded her.
“Got it.” Having a golden finger was already enough; she had no right to pick and choose.
The car drove for about forty minutes before slowly stopping in front of a luxury hotel.
Meng Shining got out and linked arms with Meng Ci’an as they entered the venue.
Inside, the crowd was dense. Meng Shining followed Meng Ci’an and greeted people they knew.
“Meng Ci’an.” A sweet female voice came from behind.
Meng Shining turned at the sound and saw a beautiful woman with a bright smile.
Next to her was a tall and upright man.
His eyes were sharp, his eyebrows defined, and his features striking. His expression was calm and indifferent.
Standing beside the woman, he was like winter sunlight, cool and relaxed.
Meng Ci’an stopped, turned, and looked at the woman with gentle eyes, his expression softening.
Meng Shining’s gaze stayed fixed on the man, staring a little too intently.
Siqing looks really good today.
While lost in thought, Meng Shining heard Meng Ci’an’s voice and looked at him in surprise.
Is this Mind Reading? Has it started already?
Meng Shining felt a thrill. If it was passive, could she also hear what this man was thinking?
Her eyes returned to the man. He slightly frowned and nodded a greeting at Meng Ci’an.
“Wenyan, when did you come back?” Meng Ci’an asked politely.
“A few days ago.” The man’s voice was clear and cool.
“Right, your wedding with my sister is coming up soon.” Meng Ci’an smiled faintly.
“What?” Meng Shining was shocked in her mind, then asked the system, “Bao Linglong, am I the only sister of the male lead?”
Correct.
“What about the engagement?” Meng Shining asked next. Her received memories did not include any engagement or connection with this man.
This is the arranged marriage with your villainous counterpart, Jiang Wenyan, heir of the Jiang family.
“Wait, I don’t have any memories of this person in my mind?”
Please wait. I am checking.
Apologies, Host. The memory transmitted to you is not the updated version. The new version will be sent shortly. Bao Linglong said apologetically.
“Are you an intern system? This is unprofessional.” Meng Shining questioned.
Bao Linglong fell silent and transmitted the latest memories to Meng Shining.
The memories were mostly the same, except that Jiang Wenyan, the villain, was added, along with the memory of the original owner marrying the villain and meeting a tragic end.
Jiang Wenyan smiled silently, never once looking at Meng Shining.
This marriage had been arranged when the old master was alive. He had no choice but to accept it. It was just another piece in the family, marrying anyone made no difference.
Meng Shining realized she needed to organize the chaotic memories in her mind.
“Brother, I’m a little hungry. Let’s get something to eat.” Meng Shining released Meng Ci’an’s arm and walked away.
She found a corner to sort through the tangled memories.
A thought flashed through her mind. “Wait, Bao Linglong, didn’t my Mind Reading trigger? Why did I only hear one thought from the male lead?”
Host, your Mind Reading is currently Level One. Each activation can only read one thought.
Meng Shining: ???
Host, you can upgrade Mind Reading by completing check-in tasks. Do you want to start the first task to upgrade?
Meng Shining hesitated. Mind Reading that let her hear one thought every three days was basically useless.
“Start.”
The first round of check-in tasks has started. The duration is seven days. Completing a task each day counts as a check-in.
Task 1: At the banquet, mock the female lead Lin Siqing and pour champagne on her.
Meng Shining took a bite of chocolate cake.
The taste of chocolate filled her mouth, and suddenly a question popped into her head.
If the world only had two foods, and you had to choose one to survive: chocolate-flavored feces or feces-flavored chocolate, which would you choose?
Host, you will run out of time soon.] Bao Linglong reminded me.
“Got it.” Meng Shining hadn’t solved the dilemma yet, but at Bao Linglong’s reminder, she braced herself.
Her gaze locked on Lin Siqing not far away.
“Lin Siqing, you’re just a country girl. What right do you have to stand by my brother?” Meng Shining tried to recall the arrogant words of the original owner.
“Meng Shining! How can I explain…” Meng Ci’an’s words cut off as he saw Meng Shining’s strange expression.
Lin Siqing licked her lips, also confused by Meng Shining’s odd expression.
Jiang Wenyan stood not far off, watching a screen-like object appear above Meng Shining’s head.
On the screen was a small cartoon figure resembling a miniature Meng Shining.
In front of it were two piles of items.
One was a small mountain of chocolate labeled feces-flavored chocolate.
The other was a cartoon pile of feces labeled chocolate-flavored feces.
The little figure stood before the piles, frowning, looking troubled.
All surrounding sounds faded. Only Meng Shining’s soft, puzzled voice remained.
“If I have to choose one, what should I pick?”
The figure scratched its chin, looking at the chocolate pile. “Feces-flavored chocolate? But the taste is the same as eating feces.”
Then it turned to the cartoon feces pile, wrinkling its face. “This thing may taste like chocolate, but it’s still real feces. Eating it is eating feces.”
“So frustrating. What should I choose?” The figure sighed, and Meng Shining sighed too.
Lin Siqing also felt conflicted. If it were her, she wouldn’t know what to pick.
Meng Ci’an lowered his gaze, hiding his surprise and confusion.
Jiang Wenyan curled his lips, amused, watching Meng Shining with the screen above her head.
The figure patted its thighs. “Why do I have to choose? When the time comes, I can just make it myself.”
Lin Siqing imagined the scene and felt a bit queasy.
Host, the task isn’t complete. Why are you daydreaming?
Meng Shining snapped back to reality and tilted the champagne in her hand, spilling it on Lin Siqing’s dress.
“Sorry…” she said reflexively.
Host, mind your character. Bao Linglong reminded me.
“Nonsense.” Meng Shining changed her tone.
“It’s okay, I’ll go change.”