After the meal, He Lingyun still left the space to Lu Zhiyao and her brother.
Lu Zhiyao was a bit puzzled—her personality had changed so much, but her brother Lu Zhiheng didn’t seem to notice at all.
In fact, Lu Zhiheng was thinking back to what the family had told him: his sister’s temper had changed a lot in recent years, almost like a different person. If it weren’t for the birthmark confirming her identity, they might have suspected she had been switched at birth.
Talking to her now, she showed none of the spoiled, stubborn, or unreasonable traits the family had described. She was just like she had been four years ago when he was still in Kyoto.
No matter what, this was his sister. She was getting engaged, their parents weren’t around, and as the eldest brother acting as the head of the family, he had to ensure she was well taken care of.
When he learned she had twisted her ankle recently, he checked her over and only relaxed when he was certain she was fine.
“You… you’re still just a child. How can you get engaged so early?”
“Big brother, it’s just an engagement, not marriage. Does that mean if I get engaged, I’m not your sister anymore? Or not a Lu family child?”
“That’s impossible. Don’t overthink. Even if you get married and have kids, you’re still a Lu!”
“Exactly. So getting engaged just means there’s one more person to take care of me, to love me!”
“You win. As long as you’re happy! Your brother will always stand behind you. If anyone dares to hurt you, I’ll break their legs.”
Lu Zhiyao thought: the original her was never satisfied. She had such a wonderful brother but still chased after a man who didn’t love her. That’s just the fate she deserved.
That night, Lu Zhiheng stayed at her side. The west courtyard had a small kitchen, and generally, they didn’t eat with Grandpa and Grandma He. Apart from the monthly rent, Lu Zhiyao managed her own meals and firewood.
This was better—different tastes would make eating together awkward anyway.
The next day, Lu Zhiyao went to work, and her brother followed. He knew his pampered sister would struggle with the hard labor.
Yet she adapted even better than he expected. He felt both relief and a pang of sorrow—his little sister was growing up and wouldn’t be able to rely on him as she once did.
Soon, Zhao Shijiao noticed this man and recognized him immediately. In her previous life, he often appeared on television—he was Kyoto’s top commander, the grandson of General Lu, and Lu Zhiyao’s own elder brother, Lu Zhiheng.
Seeing Lu Zhiyao happy with Pei Feng on TV last time, Zhao Shijiao realized Pei Feng’s family was also a military lineage, but his future achievements would pale in comparison to Lu Zhiheng’s.
Suddenly, Zhao Shijiao considered changing her target. Though Lu Zhiheng was older and married, older men could still be kind. Divorce was possible, and after all… he had ‘improperly touched’ her!
[Host, please note. An irregular system has been detected on the woman in front-left!]
Lu Zhiyao’s system issued a long warning.
“An irregular system? Front-left? That’s… the female lead, Zhao Shijiao, isn’t it?”
[Correct. This system isn’t within our programming. Such systems are usually incomplete, relying on absorbing human qi or luck to maintain functionality. Side effects are severe, and failure to complete missions or absorb enough luck can cause serious consequences.]
“Do you know what kind of system that is?”
[Luck-based. It absorbs either the host’s qi or the luck of others with strong fortune.]
“That’s… evil. What should I do?”
[You don’t need to do anything. Even if the luck system approaches you, it cannot steal your qi. We will forcibly interfere.]
“Alright, but what if she tries to harm my brother or He Lingyun?”
Lu Zhiyao looked at Zhao Shijiao suspiciously—she seemed focused on her brother! But her brother was already married with children.
[Host, your own luck has already influenced those close to you. Any schemes by that system will fail.]
“That’s good. If she tries anything, how would I explain to my sister-in-law?”
The system didn’t reply further—it had to report the irregular system to the main server. This system was absorbing not just personal qi but national fortune, causing the current unrest.
Lu Zhiyao’s family had already been exiled to the frontier due to this situation, so she didn’t know the full scale.
“Zhiyao, your ankle’s healed! It’s been a while since I last saw you!”
Zhao Shijiao approached Lu Zhiyao. Everyone nearby found it strange.
“Hello, are you also an educated youth? I was resting for more than half a month because of a foot injury.”
With that, everyone realized: yes, this Lu Zhiyao had been recovering in her room, never seen by Zhao Shijiao, yet this newcomer acted overly familiar.
“I… I just wanted to say hello.”
“Excuse me, I don’t know you. How come it seems like we’re so familiar?”
Zhao Shijiao had no sense. In her previous life, they were close, but in this one, they hadn’t even met. Acting as if they were sisters made her look ridiculous.
[What’s going on with Zhao? Lu Zhiheng doesn’t know her, so why act so familiar?][Not sure, she’s been resting at home all this time.][Did Zhao specifically come to find her?][She must be exhausted, yet still had the energy to show up?]
The crowd’s discussion twisted Zhao Shijiao’s face with frustration.
She asked her system: “System, why isn’t Lu Zhiheng doing as I want?”
[Host, I’m not sure. System energy is insufficient and needs maintenance.]
“Maintenance? What do you mean, system?”
She didn’t realize: this was Lu Zhiyao’s system, generating energy to force Zhao Shijiao’s luck system into dormancy.
The luck system had sent a ‘luck package’ to Lu Zhiyao—her qi was transmitted to it, even allowing Lu Zhiyao to subtly manipulate Zhao Shijiao, sometimes in crazy ways.
Later, Lu Zhiyao discovered that all the events in the book had been influenced by Zhao Shijiao’s luck system.
Unable to harm Lu Zhiyao, Zhao turned her attention to Lu Zhiheng.
“Sir, I just wanted to get closer to Zhiyao and be friends. Why are they saying such things about me?”
Zhao’s fake teary-eyed expression made Lu Zhiheng instinctively step back.
Seeing that look on a stranger, he only thought the woman was crazy.
“Miss, proper boundaries exist between men and women. Don’t cling to me—I’m married. This behavior is unacceptable.”
Lu Zhiheng had no chivalrous tendencies toward strangers. His respect and care were reserved for his wife, mother, and sister.
The crowd immediately burst into laughter.
[Is Zhao trying to seduce Lu Zhiheng? Look at her now—who would want her?][Exactly. A silly little girl, shameless.][Where’s her shame?][If this were my daughter, I’d beat her.]
Their words pierced Zhao Shijiao’s ears. Unable to bear it, she covered her face and ran off.
By the riverside, her face twisted in rage. She wanted to rip Lu Zhiyao apart. That cursed woman had been so happy in her previous life—this life, she wouldn’t allow it.
She vowed to snatch Pei Feng from Lu Zhiyao.
At present, Pei Feng hadn’t yet developed feelings for Lu Zhiyao.
Though Lu Zhiyao had been persistent before, she hadn’t gone to Pei Feng recently. Zhao assumed it was because of her injured leg—but once healed, Lu Zhiyao would surely chase him again.
The thought of Pei Feng possibly being with her first excited Zhao Shijiao immensely.