Yu Xingwu left the rear mountains on her mount.
Fortunately, she’d run away quickly earlier. Otherwise, according to the original novel’s plot, not only would she have lost her Storage Ring, but she would also have been forced to give up her residence.
But she couldn’t avoid the inevitable forever. Yu Zheng might summon her again at any moment and demand that she hand over her peak and Storage Ring to the female protagonist.
In the novel, even though Yu Xingwu had cried and thrown a tantrum, refusing to give them up, it hadn’t made the slightest difference.
“System, what will happen if I don’t give Yanyun Peak to the female protagonist? Will the system punish me? I’m not going to die again, am I?”
The system replied, “Don’t worry, Host. As long as you maintain your vicious persona and don’t alter the overall direction of the storyline, you’re free to improvise everything else~”
“Your acting earlier was absolutely incredible, Host! I’d give you full marks~”
Yu Xingwu replied, “What’s the point of giving me full marks if they can’t be converted into reward points? Just hurry up and locate Shen Zhuo for me.”
“My top priority is to go simp for Shen Zhuo and earn enough points from him to exchange for a Storage Ring. Then I’ll return to Yanyun Peak and pack everything in the palace into it. I’ll make sure there’s not even a feather left behind~”
Hearing this, the system immediately declared that she was the most hardworking, motivated, and reliable host it had ever worked with.
It quickly located Shen Zhuo, and the host-system duo eagerly hurried off to find him.
…
Zhaoyao Peak, the Direct Disciples’ Residential Courtyards.
There was more than one courtyard reserved for Direct Disciples on the peak. Shen Zhuo’s courtyard was particularly spacious, with simple and understated furnishings.
A peach tree also grew in the courtyard. It was March, and the peach blossoms were in full bloom, filling the air with their delicate fragrance.
When Yu Xingwu arrived, Shen Zhuo was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard. Since the gate was open, she simply walked straight in.
After all, she was supposed to be a spoiled and arrogant Vicious Female Supporting Character. Entering without knocking was precisely the sort of rude, overbearing behavior expected of her.
Shen Zhuo lowered his sword and furrowed his brows. He clearly didn’t welcome Yu Xingwu’s arrival. In fact, he seemed thoroughly displeased.
Especially when he recalled what he’d heard beneath the competition platform that day—Yu Xingwu’s inner thoughts declaring that only a dog would like him and that he should hurry up and get lost.
Shen Zhuo narrowed his eyes, a cold sneer curling his lips. His voice was filled with impatience. “What are you doing here?”
Yu Xingwu hated it when people acted unbearably arrogant in front of her. She had to restrain herself to keep from rolling her eyes.
Remembering why she’d come to find Shen Zhuo, she stepped forward, grabbed the hem of his robe, and refused to let go. Her voice turned sweet and coquettish. “Senior Brother~ I was confined at Reflection Cliff for three whole days. Why didn’t you come to visit me?”
“A single day without you feels like three years, Senior Brother! I’ve missed you so much that I couldn’t sleep at night~ I’m practically lovesick~”
【Hold it in! Don’t throw up! System, how was that? Was I enough of a simp? Even I’m getting sick from how cheesy that sounded. Ugh—!】
The system announced, “Congratulations, Host, on completing your daily optional mission! You have successfully expressed your love to the villain. Mission reward: 200 points. Current balance: 350 points.”
Yu Xingwu was overjoyed. Earning points was ridiculously easy, almost like having money fall from the sky. The only downside was how embarrassingly lovesick she had to act!
Shen Zhuo, on the other hand, wasn’t happy in the slightest. Instead, his expression grew even colder after hearing Yu Xingwu’s inner thoughts.
If he hadn’t heard what she was thinking, he never would have known that someone who openly professed her love for him and had forced him into an engagement actually had no feelings for him at all. Worse still, she felt like vomiting whenever she expressed her affection.
Heh. He suddenly wanted to know exactly what game she was playing.
Shen Zhuo lowered his gaze to the corner of his robe clutched in her hand. Then he studied Yu Xingwu with a sharp, scrutinizing gaze and asked with a faint smile, “Yu Xingwu, do you like me?”
Yu Xingwu froze, nearly bewitched by the devastatingly handsome face that had suddenly moved closer to hers.
But what kind of idiotic question was that? Everyone knew she was hopelessly devoted to him. Wasn’t it obvious enough already?
“Senior Brother, why would you ask me that? Everyone knows I adore you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have begged for this engagement.”
【System, why is that damned villain pretending to be clueless? Is he planning to humiliate me with his words next?! He’s so sinister!】
System: “…”
Shen Zhuo: Sinister… An engagement she begged for… Heh!
Shen Zhuo asked, “Yu Xingwu, you know perfectly well that I don’t like you, yet you insist on throwing yourself at me. What exactly do you like about me?”
Yu Xingwu: “?”
【Listen to that! Just listen to those familiar lines! Are you going to ask me next, ‘What do you like about me? Tell me, and I’ll change it,’ huh? You damned villain! I knew you wanted to humiliate me!】
【What do I like about you? That you’re seriously messed up in the head? That you’re crazy? That you’re wild? That you kill without batting an eye? Fuck! You damned villain, get lost already!】
Yet on the outside, her cheeks flushed pink as she spoke in a sweet, delicate voice. “Senior Brother, I love absolutely everything about you, from head to toe~”
【Ugh… That’s so disgusting. Just kill me already—!】
Shen Zhuo: “…” Heh! Today, he’d finally witnessed the true meaning of saying one thing while thinking another.
Yu Xingwu, are you treating me like some monkey for your amusement?
The system announced, “Congratulations, Host! You have successfully expressed your love to the villain once again. Mission reward: 200 points. Current balance: 550 points.”
Yu Xingwu suddenly felt as though she were withdrawing money from an ATM without even needing to insert a card. For that alone, she was more than willing to become the ultimate simp!
Now that she had enough points, it was time to get down to business.
“Well, Senior Brother, I still have something to do, so I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll come simp for… Ahem, I’ll come visit Senior Brother another day!”
In high spirits, Yu Xingwu was just about to leave when she heard Ye Su’s voice coming from outside the courtyard.
“Junior Sister, why didn’t you tell me you’d been released from Reflection Cliff? You didn’t even respond to my voice message. So you’ve been here with Junior Brother.”
Hearing this, Yu Xingwu finally noticed that her Black Jade Slip was glowing. There was a voice message from Ye Su inside.
“Sorry, Eldest Senior Brother. I didn’t notice it earlier. Did you need something?”
Ye Su nodded slightly, then cast a cold glance at Shen Zhuo. “Master has summoned us to the front hall. I’m not sure what it’s about.”
At that moment, the system’s voice sounded. “Host, your cheap father has brought the female protagonist to Zhaoyao Peak to meet the male protagonist—your master, Sword Venerable Feng Chen.”
“This is the first time the female protagonist will appear before the male protagonist, the second male lead, and the villain. It’s an important plot point where they all meet for the first time~”
【I get it! It’s the first meeting of the main characters, so naturally, I, the Vicious Female Supporting Character and Fake Young Miss, have to be there as a contrast to the female protagonist, highlighting her beauty, kindness, refinement, and good manners!】
【According to the original novel, today’s the day that damned villain falls in love with the True Young Miss at first sight! Come on, come on! Let’s hurry over and watch! There’s juicy gossip waiting for us! Hahaha~】
Yu Xingwu was practically bouncing around like an excited little badger in a melon field[1]吃瓜, literally “eating melon,” is a slang for watching gossip or drama unfold jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3694189_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3694189_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, eager to feast on melon.
Shen Zhuo and Ye Su, however, both froze.
Shen Zhuo: The True Young Miss? The female protagonist? That day, Yu Xingwu had also claimed that he would fall in love with some female protagonist, and at first sight, no less. How utterly ridiculous and absurd.
Ye Su: Surely the “damned villain” Junior Sister keeps talking about isn’t me? If I remember correctly, I’m supposed to be the ultimate backup boyfriend.
As for this True Young Miss and female protagonist… Isn’t Junior Sister the Grand Elder’s daughter?
Could this True Young Miss be the new junior sister she mentioned?
If Master really does accept a new disciple later, that would mean Junior Sister knows everything that’s going to happen in the future.
That day at Reflection Cliff, I heard Junior Sister’s inner thoughts saying that I would turn against her and become her enemy because of the female protagonist.
I’d like to see just what this True Young Miss is capable of, daring to destroy the bond between Junior Sister and me.
Perhaps I should find an opportunity to kill this True Young Miss. That would stop her from causing trouble and upsetting Junior Sister.
References[+]