“Host, please prepare yourself. Your memories are now being cleared. You will soon leave this small world and return to the system space—”
Memory wipe?
Jin Qiao didn’t think much about it.
Out of habit, she closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, she was already back in the system space. Familiar with the routine, she lay down on the sofa and waited for the system to assign her next mission.
Ever since her inexplicable death, she had been living this kind of stable, iron-rice-bowl working life. Honestly, she didn’t mind it. Work was work no matter where you were.
“So what’s the next mission?” Jin Qiao asked lazily, squinting her eyes.
“The system has detected that the host has met the required KPI quota. Headquarters has issued a reward. You may now take a vacation in a randomly selected small world.”
The moment she heard the news, Jin Qiao shot upright from the sofa, unable to hide her excitement.
What worker didn’t love a vacation?
“A vacation? So I get to choose what kind of life I live? Then I want to be rich, beautiful, and able to spend my days relaxing. And it’d be nice if I had a cute little kid to play with.”
Recently, her social media feed had been full of adorable children, making her heart itch with envy.
Of course, if you asked her to have one herself, she’d pass. Kids weren’t exactly a necessity in life.
“Host’s requirements have been recorded. Any additional requests?”
“Hmm… I think that’s all for now.”
“Understood. Matching a suitable world for you.”
Jin Qiao nodded.
A flash of white light filled her vision.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a luxurious bedroom.
“Host, are you ready to receive your information card?”
Still groggy, Jin Qiao slapped her cheeks a few times and selected “Yes.”
Name: Jin Qiao
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Spouse: Yu An
Role: Vicious Supporting Female Character
Ending: Sent to prison by the male protagonist and dies miserably.
“Wait a minute! Wasn’t this supposed to be a vacation?! Why am I playing the role of a villainess? Are you messing with me?!”
“You requested wealth, beauty, and a child. This world is a perfect match.”
The system’s emotionless mechanical voice answered.
Jin Qiao felt a headache coming on.
A fatal mistake. She forgot to specify that she wanted to live a long life.
“Since the host has no further questions, I’ll be taking my leave. Enjoy your vacation.”
“Oh, and the world’s storyline will be sent to you shortly. Please check it when received.”
Jin Qiao no longer had the energy to complain.
This was nothing like the vacation she’d imagined.
Still, as long as she didn’t actively seek trouble, the male protagonist probably wouldn’t bother her.
Live and let live.
After receiving most of the plot information, Jin Qiao frowned.
Something felt off.
Yu An was the villain’s father?
But the story never mentioned the villain’s mother.
How had she suddenly become the villain’s mom?
Covered in sticky sweat, she felt uncomfortable all over and immediately went to take a shower.
After washing up and changing clothes, she came downstairs and instructed the housekeeper.
“Could you please clean my room?”
Housekeeper Wu froze for a moment.
Since when had Madam spoken to them so politely?
Still, she didn’t dwell on it and quickly led several maids upstairs to clean.
Jin Qiao wandered through the villa like a tourist.
As expected of the wealthiest family in the world—the mansion was absolutely magnificent.
Eventually she strolled into the garden.
As she walked, she suddenly remembered something and pulled out her phone.
She checked her bank balance.
Standing frozen in place, Jin Qiao felt the last shred of hope die within her.
1,068 yuan.
Seriously?
Was there any rich family’s wife more miserable than her?
Wasn’t her husband the richest man in the world?
Couldn’t he spare his wife a little spending money?
She’d looked around her room earlier and hadn’t spotted any black cards either.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Yu!”
Hearing someone greet her, Jin Qiao was in the middle of silently cursing.
In an instant, a bright smile appeared on her face as she turned toward the voice.
Why the lightning-fast change?
A necessary workplace survival skill.
The sudden smile startled Lin Yu, who was holding a little boy’s hand.
Lin Yu studied Jin Qiao carefully.
Meanwhile, the little boy had already slipped free from her grip and stood quietly to one side. He glanced at Jin Qiao before lowering his eyes again, focusing on the doll in his hands.
Jin Qiao didn’t care.
Her attention had already landed on the tiny figure beside them.
She looked the boy over.
His small face was fair and adorable.
The only problem was that he was far too quiet.
Children his age shouldn’t be this quiet.
She walked over and crouched in front of him.
So this was the little villain?
Such an adorable child.
Yet he would later become the heroine’s devoted simp and ultimately sacrifice his own life for her.
What a waste.
Young people really didn’t understand the value of life.
Then again, the side stories mentioned that his mother had never been present during his childhood.
Later, his biological mother even tried to manipulate him using the fact that she’d given birth to him.
Still.
He was ridiculously cute.
Almost unconsciously, she reached out to pinch his soft little cheeks.
Just as her hand lifted, she noticed the child flinch.
He was afraid?
Then why didn’t he move away?
Jin Qiao didn’t know how the original owner of this body had treated him.
But seeing him tremble at her approach told her everything she needed to know.
With a sigh, she gave up on pinching his cheek.
I just wanted a relaxing vacation.
Why does it come with a nightmare difficulty setting?
“Mrs. Yu! What are you trying to do to the young master?”
Lin Yu immediately pulled the boy behind her, glaring at Jin Qiao with suspicion.
The sudden tug nearly caused little Yu Siyi to lose his balance.
Jin Qiao watched him steady himself.
Even then, he said nothing and simply stared at the doll in his hands.
She glanced at Lin Yu, her expression turning serious.
The situation was worse than she’d thought.
That yank definitely hurt.
His arm was probably already red.
Yet he hadn’t made a single sound.
Her opinion of Lin Yu instantly dropped.
Coldly, she asked,
“And you are?”
Lin Yu had long been annoyed by Jin Qiao’s arrogant attitude.
She visited the villa frequently to tutor the young master and had met the lady of the house countless times.
The butler had even introduced her before.
And now she was asking who she was?
“I’m the young master’s tutor. My name is Lin Yu.”
The name immediately rang a bell.
Right—the story had mentioned a tutor.
“Then let me ask you something.” Jin Qiao’s voice remained icy. “Who am I to the young master?”
“You…”
Lin Yu was speechless.
Since when did this woman care about the boy?
From the first day she’d arrived, she’d never seen any interaction between them.
Every time Jin Qiao looked at him, it was with disgust.
Jin Qiao quickly realized Lin Yu wasn’t worth arguing with.
Boring.
She glanced down at her fingers.
These hands would look amazing with a nice manicure.
“Teacher Lin, you’re free to leave for the day. I’ll be taking my son home for dinner.”
Walking forward, she moved Lin Yu aside and effortlessly picked up the little boy before carrying him away without another glance.
Yu Siyi stiffened in her arms.
He had no idea what was happening.
He noticed that his mother kept looking at him.
Immediately, he lowered his head even further, too afraid to meet her eyes.
Like a tiny turtle retreating into its shell.
Back in the villa, Jin Qiao set him down on the sofa.
Without saying a word, she rolled up the sleeve on his right arm.
Just as she’d expected.
The child’s delicate skin was bright red.
Her expression darkened instantly.
Sensing her displeasure, Yu Siyi clutched his doll even tighter.
“Auntie Wu,” Jin Qiao called out, “could you bring the first-aid kit over here, please?”