Meng Ci’an frowned at Meng Shining, who was speaking freely, wanting to say something but held back. It was useless, he thought. Tomorrow he would have her see an etiquette teacher.
After returning home, Meng Shining didn’t greet Meng Ci’an and went straight to her room.
She quickly took a shower.
Lying on her bed, she let out a comfortable hum. No matter when, she loved her bed.
After a long day, Meng Shining fell asleep quickly.
Early the next morning, even before opening her eyes, she heard the system’s mechanical voice.
Task 2: Publicly mock Jiang Wenyan’s incompetence at the dinner table.
Meng Shining opened her eyes, puzzled. Why mock him for being incompetent? In what way is he incompetent? Sexually or otherwise?
Host, you ask too many questions, Bao Linglong said helplessly. The task wasn’t issued by it, so how would it know?
You’re useless. Isn’t the system in novels supposed to know everything? Are you a defective model that got left behind? Meng Shining questioned.
Bao Linglong emitted a sharp alarm sound in anger, giving Meng Shining a headache.
Can you turn off that noise? Does anyone even get to live with this? Meng Shining complained.
Which dinner table are we talking about, and to what extent should I mock him? She thought aloud.
Check-in tasks are daily tasks, meaning this task must be completed the same day, Bao Linglong explained.
Then how do I know if I will even have dinner with Jiang Wenyan today? Meng Shining asked again.
Why don’t you just kill me? Bao Linglong’s voice sounded more helpless and on the verge of collapse. You’ve been the host with the most problems I’ve ever experienced.
Bao Linglong, you’re hopeless. You can’t handle these questions. Are all the systems in your department as useless as you? Meng Shining complained again.
Bao Linglong went silent. It had no desire to interact with her at all.
Feeling hungry, Meng Shining got out of bed, did a quick wash, and went downstairs to check for breakfast.
Meng Ci’an wiped his mouth, looked at the late-arriving Meng Shining, stood, and said, Tonight at 7, have dinner with the Jiang family elders at Yuntinghui. Don’t be late, and control your mouth at the table.
Meng Shining sat down, biting a piece of bread. Oh!
I’m going to the company. Dad and Mom will arrive in the afternoon. Don’t wander off today, Meng Ci’an reminded me.
Oh! Meng Shining replied.
After speaking, Meng Ci’an didn’t linger and left the dining room.
After finishing breakfast, Meng Shining returned to her room, drowsy, and took a nap.
She slept until the afternoon.
She was awakened by a loud, exaggerated voice.
Baby Ningning, still sleeping? Oh, my baby is so good, still asleep.
Meng Shining rubbed her eyes, sleepy, looking at a well-maintained woman in front of her.
Mommy? she tentatively called, following the original character’s usual speech.
The woman’s eyes lit up. She leaned down and kissed Meng Shining on the forehead. Mommy’s baby, you’re so good. Oh, I’ve missed you so much. Have you missed Mommy?
Meng Shining felt awkward. Her parents had died when she was very young. She had been raised by relatives, living alone in her parents’ house as an adult, making a living writing BL novels. This intense familial affection felt strange to her. I missed you.
Get up and get ready. Mommy brought you lots of gifts. Change and come down to open them. Mommy is going downstairs first, the woman said, stroking Meng Shining’s head lovingly.
After the woman left, Meng Shining asked curiously, Why did the original character, with such a spoiled upbringing, end up in a mental hospital? Didn’t her parents oppose it?
Host, can you just pay attention to the memories instead of asking everything? Bao Linglong said exasperatedly.
Meng Shining then remembered she could access memories.
In the memory, the original character staged an abduction of the female lead. To make it realistic, she pretended to be abducted with the female lead. Her parents fell ill upon learning their daughter had been kidnapped.
Later, the ransom demanded by the hired people far exceeded what the original had planned, turning the fake abduction into a real one.
Her concerned parents went to pay the ransom secretly without Meng Ci’an knowing and died in a car accident on the way.
The original character was rescued, but her most beloved parents were gone.
The female lead revealed the true abduction to the grandparents and other elders.
The elders, angry that their children died because of her, held resentment toward the original character.
Thus, her confinement to a mental hospital was unopposed by her family.
After seeing the memories, Meng Shining clicked her tongue. The original character truly didn’t know the blessings she had.
After changing clothes, Meng Shining went downstairs.
Meng Deyou’s expression softened the moment he saw her. Baby, come quickly. Daddy and Mommy bought you so many gifts. See if you like them.
Meng Shining looked at the pile of gift boxes, eyes wide.
Is this how rich families give gifts? She loved it.
She opened the gifts one by one, smiling until her eyes curved. Thank you, Daddy, Mommy. I really like them.
Meng Deyou and Ji Yao exchanged glances, surprised. Their picky daughter had no complaints this time.
While we weren’t home, did your brother bully you? Meng Deyou asked.
Shaking her head, Meng Shining said, No.
If he does, tell Daddy, and Daddy will punish him, Meng Deyou said, stroking her soft hair, feeling his heart melt.
Okay, Meng Shining smiled sweetly, long-unfelt affection bringing tears to her eyes.
After some preparation, it was time to leave.
The driver was already waiting. Meng Shining held Ji Yao’s hand, thinking about how to mock Jiang Wenyan’s incompetence at dinner that evening.
The car arrived at Yuntinghui at 6:45.
Meng Shining took a deep breath. She had no plan yet and would improvise at dinner.
Led by the waiter, the three entered the most luxurious private room.
Meng Ci’an was already there, chatting with the Jiang family at the tea table.
The meeting was mainly about engagement details, so only the parents, the parties involved, and Meng Ci’an were present.
Hello Uncle, Auntie, Meng Shining greeted the seated middle-aged couple sweetly.
Wen Xian, seeing the obedient Meng Shining, hurriedly stood and hugged her. So long without seeing you, Shining, you’ve grown even prettier.