After going through the whole circle, Meng Shining felt like her legs no longer belonged to her.
Following Jiang Wenyan, she came face to face with Lin Siqing. Meng Shining looked at Lin Siqing and felt a little embarrassed thinking about how she had flirted with her that night, so she averted her gaze.
Her eyes happened to meet Song Xi’s curious stare.
Song Xi wore a light gray suit with the collar slightly open, revealing a faint glimpse of his collarbone. His peach blossom eyes curved upward as he extended a hand toward Meng Shining. “Miss Meng, hello. I am Song Xi, Xi of Song Xi.”
Meng Shining tugged at the corner of her mouth, silently rolled her eyes, and extended her hand. “Hello, I am Meng Shining, Shining of Meng Shining.”
Song Xi smiled. “Miss Meng, you are very interesting.”
“You are interesting as well,” Meng Shining replied with a faint smile.
She knew from the system that in the original novel Song Xi was described as a playboy, the heroine’s top follower, someone who had schemed against the original protagonist several times. He was the one person the original protagonist hated most.
In the memory, the engagement banquet was far from harmonious. Meng Shining remembered that Lin Siqing had come to her engagement. She would have made a fuss and forced Lin Siqing and Song Xi out, which had angered Jiang Wenyan and Meng Ci’an.
After the engagement, Jiang Wenyan had not appeared until the third day, when he came to warn the original protagonist.
Meng Shining realized this world was like an amusement park revolving around Lin Siqing. Lin Siqing was the sole protagonist. All outstanding people would bow to her.
Male Meng Ci’an was one thing, villain Jiang Wenyan was probably the same.
Why probably? Meng Shining had never found any description of Jiang Wenyan’s feelings in her memories or the original text. She did not know if the author forgot or simply did not give him any.
However, Meng Shining guessed Jiang Wenyan must also like the heroine, otherwise why would he commit the original protagonist to a mental hospital for her sake?
After following Jiang Wenyan to greet most of the important guests, Meng Shining went upstairs to change clothes and take off her high heels. She sat in a corner, casually playing on her phone.
“Meng Shining.” Song Xi, carrying champagne, saw her skulking in the corner and could not resist approaching out of curiosity.
Meng Shining was playing a match-three game. Startled when called, she nearly thought she had been caught slacking.
She looked up and saw Song Xi’s smiling peach blossom eyes fixed on her.
Meng Shining rolled her eyes at him. “What do you want?”
Song Xi sat beside her and when he saw her phone screen, he smirked. “Stuck on a level?”
Meng Shining flipped her phone toward him. “No manners, casually looking at someone else’s phone.”
Song Xi chuckled. “I just have good eyes. Want me to help? I am an expert. I can get you past this level.”
Meng Shining had been stuck for a long time. Hearing him say that, she hesitated slightly.
“No fee, I can definitely get you through.” Seeing her pause, Song Xi continued.
Meng Shining thought for a moment. Since she could not pass anyway, it was better to let Song Xi try than waste her own energy.
She handed him the phone. “Thanks in advance for getting me through this level.”
Song Xi waved casually. “No problem. You should be thanking me.”
Meng Shining watched his hands on the screen.
He did not deceive her. Soon she cleared the level.
After Song Xi finished, Meng Shining took back her phone. “I already thanked you in advance. No need now.” She got up to leave.
“Wait, add me as a contact. We can exchange tips for clearing levels later.” Song Xi called after her, holding up his phone.
Meng Shining hesitated briefly, then handed over her phone. Adding Song Xi meant that if any task involved Lin Siqing, she could get some information through him.
“Scan mine. I will accept it.” Meng Shining pointed her QR code at him.
After scanning, unsurprisingly he received a notification from her Sexy Charming Big Frog account. “Sent. Your name is Sexy Charming Big Frog?”
Meng Shining confirmed. “Yes. Why?”
“Why Big Frog and not something else, like Big Spider or Big Crow?” Song Xi was puzzled.
Meng Shining frowned. “None of your business. You can name yourself whatever you want.”
Song Xi smirked. “Then what do you think I should call myself, Handsome and Dashing Big Crow or Handsome Big Spider?”
Meng Shining thought for two seconds. “You should be called Flirty and Wandering Big Penguin.”
“Why Big Penguin?” Song Xi asked, laughing.
Meng Shining waved her hand and turned to leave. “Think about it yourself. Bye.”
Song Xi watched her back, a handsome curve forming on his lips.
This sister of Meng Ci’an was quite interesting.
The banquet ended.
Meng Shining followed Jiang Wenyan to his villa.
At such events Jiang Wenyan inevitably drank a few more cups. Not enough to get drunk, but his head was still a little dizzy.
Meng Shining leaned her head slightly. Jiang Wenyan closed his eyes and leaned back in the seat as the car moved. Light from outside occasionally flickered across his face.
Meng Shining rested against the seatback, her hand supporting her chin as she silently watched him.
Her gaze moved over his face while thinking about how to complete the task tonight.
Although Jiang Wenyan’s eyes were closed, he could still feel someone watching him. He slightly lifted an eyelid. “Done staring?”
Meng Shining realized she had been caught and quickly looked away. “Who was staring?”
Jiang Wenyan calmly lowered his gaze again and closed his eyes, ignoring her.
Meng Shining looked out the window. She seemed dazed but was actually talking to the system.
“You always say my level is too low. Can I actually level up?” Meng Shining envied the functions and items.
Bao Linglong was startled. Saying the level is insufficient is just to trick the host. Many features are unavailable. Even if they exist, it does not want to open them. Opening features consumes its own energy.
With such an unreliable host, it probably cannot complete the KPI. Leveling up would fail, wasting energy. It is like employees buying coffee for themselves to stay awake.
“Answer me.” Seeing no response, Meng Shining urged.
No upgrade channels available. Upgrade function temporarily disabled. Bao Linglong said perfunctorily.
“You just trick me every day. One day I will report you.” Meng Shining snorted coldly.
Bao Linglong said nothing. It was just a system. It understood nothing.