101 sighed. “Maybe you’re right, host. But unfortunately, we’re not the author. We can’t change the ending—or fate itself.”
Though it was a system, it ultimately worked for the Heavenly Dao.
Its name was just a prettier label.
The next morning, Lin Zhao got up early. She had no habit of eating breakfast.
After washing up, she grabbed her bag and left.
By the time she arrived at school, students were already coming and going at the gate. Lin Zhao walked slowly, heading straight for the teaching building.
Just as she reached her classroom door, she saw the original Lin Zhao’s two little followers leaning against the corridor railing, perfectly made-up and striking poses.
Seeing her, they immediately hurried over, faces full of obsequious smiles. “Zhao Zhao, you’re up early today! We thought we’d have to wait forever for you.”
Lin Zhao’s eyes flickered with a trace of disdain. Great, she thought. First thing in the morning, and she already had to deal with these two nuisances.
If it were her own body, she wouldn’t even bother replying. But now, in the original Lin Zhao’s body, she couldn’t act recklessly.
Her face remained expressionless. She murmured a faint acknowledgment and stepped toward the classroom.
The two followed quickly, flanking her on both sides, chattering nonstop. “Zhao Zhao, we heard you went to see that little wretch Xu Ning yesterday. Did she make you mad again?”
One spoke over the other, throwing insults casually: “Xu Ning’s just a curse! Always frowning, looking pitiful—makes everyone uneasy. Always pretending to be so innocent, as if someone’s bullying her. What an attention-seeker.”
“Exactly! Only you are patient enough to even bother with her. That poor, fake-pure brat isn’t even worth tying your shoes. Disgusting to look at.”
The more they spoke, the crueler the words became. Even Lin Zhao, not their target, felt a chill crawl down her spine.
They twisted truth and lies so skillfully to malign Xu Ning that anger surged up in Lin Zhao’s chest.
She forced it down, stopped walking, turned to look at them, then went straight to her seat, resting her head on her arms. “So noisy,” she muttered.
The two froze, exchanged glances, and cautiously leaned closer. “Zhao Zhao, are you not in a good mood? Did that little wretch Xu Ning make you angry? Want us to catch her this afternoon and give her a taste of your wrath?”
Lin Zhao, head down, let a faint mocking curve touch her lips. “Yeah, mood’s awful. Imagine having two mosquitoes buzzing around you all day, whining nonstop. Annoying, isn’t it?”
The girls blinked, confused. “Mosquitoes? Where? Zhao Zhao, are you seeing things?”
Lin Zhao couldn’t even. She had zero desire to explain further, burying her head deeper in her arms, ignoring them completely.
Gradually, the classroom quieted. Students settled, books flipped open, conversations started softly.
Before she realized it, the morning passed. Lin Zhao left the classroom and headed toward Xu Ning’s class.
She wanted to check on Xu Ning.
Walking briskly, she reached the classroom but saw many students still inside. She scanned the room quickly—no Xu Ning.
Frowning, Lin Zhao thought: Xu Ning was usually introverted, spending most of her time reading. Why wasn’t she here?
She searched everywhere Xu Ning might be, yet couldn’t find her.
Stopping, she whispered into the air, “101, where is Xu Ning now?”
After a long pause, 101’s voice finally came, groggy as if it had just woken up. “Huh? Who’s Xu Ning?”
Lin Zhao rolled her eyes. “The female lead from the original book. Xu Ning. Forgot?”
101 was silent for a moment, then remembered. “Oh, Xu Ning. Right, the female lead.”
It paused to carefully recall the original plot before saying slowly, “According to the story, Xu Ning should be with Gu Zhuoxiao right now.”
101 then asked, “By the way, why are you looking for her?”
“You tell me? You gave me this mission and already forgot it?” Lin Zhao’s face darkened. “Where are they? Gu Zhuoxiao hasn’t… done anything to her, has he?”
After checking the plot details, 101 said slowly, “Behind the teaching building, in the small grove. In the original story, Gu Zhuoxiao called Xu Ning there intentionally. The author didn’t go into details, but it doesn’t look good.”
Lin Zhao didn’t hesitate. She turned and ran toward the grove behind the teaching building.
She ran fast, her uniform skirt fluttering in the wind. Her only thought: get there quickly, she couldn’t let Xu Ning get hurt.
The grove was isolated, surrounded by tall, dense trees that blocked much of the sunlight. It looked gloomy and few students ever came here.
As Lin Zhao entered, she heard a voice she recognized—it was Gu Zhuoxiao.
She sped up, following the sound, and saw him pressing Xu Ning against a tree. One hand held her wrist tightly, the other grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him.
Xu Ning’s eyes were red, tears brimming but refusing to fall. She struggled desperately, but she was no match for him.
“Let go of me… let go…”
Gu Zhuoxiao didn’t release her. Instead, he leaned closer, his expression lewd and sinister. “Let go? Pretending to be so high and mighty, were you not good at pretending before? Why stop now?”
“You, poor and weak, should consider it a blessing I even notice you. Don’t waste your face,” he sneered, his breath hot against her skin, making her gag and struggle harder.
His smile twisted darker as he bent down, attempting to kiss her lips.
Lin Zhao’s chest surged with fury. She shouted, breaking the grove’s eerie silence: “Gu Zhuoxiao! What do you think you’re doing here?!”
Gu Zhuoxiao froze, surprise flickering across his face. “Zhao Zhao? How… how are you here?”
Xu Ning turned at the sound too.
Without waiting for him, Lin Zhao stepped forward, raising her voice: “Gu Zhuoxiao, let her go!”
He smirked, tightening his grip on her chin. “We’re just playing. Why are you butting in? Jealous?”
Lin Zhao felt a wave of disgust, but her face showed feigned grievance. She stepped closer. “Jealous? Don’t pick on people without connections just for fun. If word gets out, doesn’t that tarnish your precious reputation? How do you think your classmates would talk about you, Big Young Master Gu?”
She subtly gave Xu Ning a glance.
Gu Zhuoxiao raised an eyebrow. “This is between me and her. None of your business.”
Lin Zhao ignored him and swept her gaze around the grove, speaking in a quiet, warning tone: “It’s remote here, sure—but what if someone passes by? If word gets embellished and reaches your elders… it won’t be pretty.”
His expression darkened.
Though not rich herself, Lin Zhao knew enough: rich heirs cared about family reputation above all. If this blew up and reached the elders, he’d be scolded and lose face.
Still defiant, he said, “It’s just fun. Who cares about gossip?”
Lin Zhao snorted. “Plenty of idle people, especially about things like this. Gossip spreads faster than anything.”
She stopped lecturing and just looked at him, warningly: “Let her go. Don’t humiliate yourself like this—or your family’s name suffers.”
Though reluctant, Gu Zhuoxiao finally gritted his teeth and released her. He sneered, “Lin Zhao, don’t meddle.”
He glared at Xu Ning one last time before turning and leaving the grove, kicking a tree as he went.
What a lunatic.
After he left, the grove fell silent, save for Xu Ning’s quiet sobs.
Lin Zhao’s anger melted into concern. She stepped lightly forward, her voice softening: “It’s okay… he’s gone. Are you… alright?”
Xu Ning didn’t answer. Her shoulders shook slightly as she tried to hold back her tears.
Lin Zhao reached out, wanting to pat her shoulder.
She wasn’t good with comforting words—this was all she could do. But the moment her fingers brushed Xu Ning’s uniform, Xu Ning recoiled.
Lin Zhao’s hand froze midair.
She mumbled apologetically, “Sorry… I forgot you dislike being touched.”
Xu Ning stared at her oddly, then took another step back. She bent slightly, giving a shallow bow, and walked away without another word.
Just like the first time they met, no conversation passed between them.