Watching the sky outside the hall grow completely dark, Yu Xingwu was beginning to grow restless.
【System, isn’t Shen Zhuo supposed to break off our engagement tonight? Why hasn’t he said anything yet? The banquet is almost over. Don’t tell me he’s forgotten!】
Shen Zhuo: “…” So the main event she was referring to was the broken engagement.
She actually knows I was planning to break off our engagement tonight. And she even seems to be looking forward to it.
Ye Su: “?” Breaking off the engagement… Junior Sister is waiting for Shen Zhuo to break off their engagement? Does she really not like him anymore?
Sword Venerable Feng Chen: “?” As expected, she’s still immature. She falls in love quickly and loses interest just as quickly.
If that’s the main event she’s waiting for, then I’ll simply let her make a scene.
The system stared thoughtfully at Shen Zhuo. “How strange. If the villain isn’t bringing up the broken engagement now, could he be planning to wait until after the banquet?”
【No way! According to the storyline, I’m supposed to be publicly humiliated when he breaks off our engagement! Otherwise, how am I supposed to falsely accuse the female protagonist of seducing the villain?! Are you trying to get me struck by lightning?!】
The system replied, “But judging by the villain’s behavior, he seems to have forgotten all about breaking off the engagement. I’m afraid I can’t help you with that, dear Host. You’re so clever and resourceful, so you’ll just have to think of a solution yourself~”
Yu Xingwu: “…” You useless system! What good are you to me?!
The system announced, “Mission reminder: Cause a Scene at the Banquet. When the villain proposes breaking off the engagement, falsely accuse the female protagonist of seducing him.”
“Friendly reminder: If the mission is not completed before the banquet ends, Host will receive a system punishment.”
Yu Xingwu: “…”
【I’m seriously going to die! You damned villain, hurry up and break off our engagement already! Hurry up and humiliate me! Look down on me with utter contempt! Go simp for your sweet, soft little female protagonist!】
Shen Zhuo: “…” Heh.
As the saying went, inviting a god in was easy; sending one away was another matter.
Yu Xingwu, you’re the one who forced this engagement on me. Why should I break it off just because you want me to? I refuse to give you what you want.
…
Seeing that the banquet was almost over, Yu Xingwu simply couldn’t wait any longer.
She had no choice but to pick up her wine cup, rise from her seat, and walk over to Shen Zhuo.
Using a toast as an excuse, she took the opportunity to remind him. “Second Senior Brother, let me offer you a toast. Senior Brother, isn’t there something you’ve been wanting to say to me?”
【Hurry up and sober up! Think! Remember! Say you want to break off our engagement! Immediately! Right now! Get on with it!】
A faint glimmer flashed through Shen Zhuo’s eyes, and the corners of his lips curved into a slight smile. He replied in a manner that was practically infuriating on purpose, “I have nothing to say to Junior Sister.”
Yu Xingwu froze, feeling as though a thunderclap had exploded directly above her head.
【How can you have nothing to say?! Haven’t you always wanted to break off our engagement?! Have you developed amnesia and forgotten about it?! Damn it!】
“Second Senior Brother, why don’t you think about it a little more carefully?” Yu Xingwu asked, unwilling to give up.
If that damned villain refused to bring up the engagement, how was she supposed to perform her part?
She was completely at a loss!
Shen Zhuo rose from his seat, looking somewhat weary, and bowed toward Sword Venerable Feng Chen, who was seated in the place of honor. “Master, this disciple has had a little too much to drink. I’ll return to my room and rest first.”
Sword Venerable Feng Chen’s eyes darkened with an unreadable expression. Perhaps he was somewhat disappointed that he hadn’t gotten to witness the so-called main event. He waved his hand, signaling Shen Zhuo to leave.
Yu Yuefu clenched her hands tightly.
Why? Why was Shen Zhuo refusing to mention breaking off the engagement?
Why had everything changed after Yu Xingwu became the Fake Young Miss?!
At that moment, the powerful cultivators and talented young disciples from the other sects also began rising from their seats, preparing to bid farewell to Sword Venerable Feng Chen and the Grand Elder.
Yu Xingwu immediately realized that things were going terribly wrong.
If everyone leaves, won’t that mean the banquet is over?! Then won’t I fail my mission?!
The system urged, “Host, hurry up and think of something~! The banquet is about to end!”
【Damn it! Whatever happens, I can’t let that damned villain leave! Screw it, I’ll just have to improvise my own scene!】
Crash!
A sharp, crisp sound rang out.
Yu Xingwu violently smashed the wine cup in her hand onto the floor, right beside Shen Zhuo’s feet.
Tears immediately spilled from her eyes. “I only wanted to offer Second Senior Brother a toast, yet Senior Brother is avoiding me and trying to leave! Then why did Senior Brother drink Yu Yuefu’s tea when she served it to you earlier?!”
“Second Senior Brother, how could you treat me like this?! I’m the one who’s supposed to be your future Dao Companion! Why does she get to steal all of Senior Brother’s attention the moment she appears?!”
“I saw her secretly seducing Senior Brother earlier! She even took advantage of serving tea to touch Senior Brother’s hand! If that shameless woman hadn’t seduced Senior Brother, why would Senior Brother want to break off our engagement?!”
“Second Senior Brother, is the grass really greener on the other side? Has all the love we’ve shared over the years really gone to the dogs? Boohoo~ (┯_┯)~”
Shen Zhuo: “…”
Ye Su: “…”
Sword Venerable Feng Chen: “…”
Everything had happened so suddenly that the entire hall fell silent. The atmosphere seemed to freeze.
Everyone stared at Yu Xingwu as tears streamed down her face, and for a moment, they actually believed her words.
One talented female disciple even whispered, “What a fine True Young Miss she is! She’s only just returned to the sect and become a disciple, yet she’s already seducing her junior sister’s fiancé. How shameless!”
“The Fake Young Miss really is pitiful. First, her father becomes someone else’s, and now her fiancé has been seduced away too. If I were her, I’d simply abandon both the father and the fiancé!”
…
Hearing the surrounding discussions, Yu Yuefu wanted nothing more than to tear Yu Xingwu’s mouth apart.
Yu Xingwu was supposed to be the one humiliated tonight, yet everyone was now criticizing her instead! They had even believed Yu Xingwu’s ridiculous lies!
When had she ever touched Shen Zhuo’s hand? Were these people blind? This was clearly slander!
“Father, Master, Niannian didn’t do anything! Niannian only served Second Senior Brother a cup of tea. I really didn’t touch Senior Brother’s hand! Niannian truly hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“It’s only because Jiaojiao likes Second Senior Brother so much that she’s misunderstood Niannian.”
Yu Xingwu constantly reminded herself to maintain her vicious persona and complete her mission of falsely accusing the female protagonist.
With a fierce, almost crazed expression, she snapped, “Yu Yuefu, stop pretending to be weak and pitiful! It’s because of you that Second Senior Brother wants to break off our engagement!”
“I’m telling you, even if he breaks off our engagement today, don’t even dream of getting your hands on Senior Brother!”
“I’m warning you! You’d better stay away from Shen Zhuo! He’s mine! If you dare seduce him again, I’ll skin you alive!”
Shen Zhuo: “…” If I hadn’t heard her inner thoughts, I would genuinely believe that she loved me with every fiber of her being.
So it’s actually possible for someone to pretend to be in love so convincingly.
Yu Xingwu felt as though every last bit of energy had been drained from her body, but she’d also thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
【System, System! How was that? Did I slander the female protagonist enough? Was I vicious enough? Surely I’ve completed the mission now, right?!】
Shen Zhuo / Sword Venerable Feng Chen / Ye Su / Yu Yuefu: “…?!”
A mission? So everything Yu Xingwu had done tonight was because of some so-called mission?
But who exactly was she talking to? Who was giving her these orders…?
The system announced, “After evaluation, Host’s mission has failed. Reason for failure: The villain did not publicly propose breaking off his engagement to Host. Mission failed.”
“However, since Host did falsely accuse the female protagonist, the punishment will be reduced by half. In three seconds, the system will administer a heavenly lightning punishment. Three… two… one… zero!”
Crack!
The sound of a lightning bolt striking rang out.
Apart from the system and Yu Xingwu, no one else could hear or see it.
And so, what everyone witnessed was this—
Yu Xingwu appeared to be so overwhelmed by anger and distress that she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood before collapsing toward the floor.
Little did they know that she’d actually been struck unconscious by lightning.
Fortunately, Shen Zhuo was standing closest to Yu Xingwu. He instinctively reached out to catch her, only for a figure to suddenly teleport over and beat him to it.