“What did you say? You said there was a mistake? Lu Jinzhi isn’t the one I’m supposed to be pursuing?”
“I’ve been a simp for three years and eleven months. Everyone in the world thinks I’m determined to marry Lu Jinzhi, and now you’re telling me he’s not the target?”
“Ahhh! Say that again, you broken System! I’m going to kill you, you useless piece of junk!”
Qiao Yin was so furious she kept pounding the bed. The finely carved pearwood bed shook violently under her blows.
She didn’t just want to pound the bed—she wanted to smash her head against the bedpost and end it all.
Why was she so unlucky?
Four years ago, after a car accident, she had the misfortune of transmigrating to this unfamiliar dynasty and binding with a strange pursuit System.
The System told her that as long as she successfully pursued Lu Jinzhi, she could gain a new life.
The deadline was four years. If she failed within that time, the System would directly erase her.
To survive, she shamelessly and tirelessly acted as Lu Jinzhi’s simp for three years and eleven months—not three days, not three months, but three years and eleven months!
Today, this damnable System actually told her that she had been pursuing the wrong target! And all the time she had already spent still counted. She only had one month left.
“Only one month left, and you want me to pursue another man?”
“You might as well just kill me now!”
Qiao Yin lay on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably. She really didn’t want to live anymore. It would be better to just die.
【Even if there hadn’t been a bug, with only one month left, you wouldn’t have been able to win over Lu Jinzhi anyway. You might as well try your luck with someone else.】 the System timidly suggested.
“So, I should thank you for that?”
【No need to thank me. Serving the Host is my duty.】
“I thank your entire family!”
【……】
The System fell silent for a long time. 【As compensation, I’ve secured a benefit for the Host and lowered the difficulty of the task. As long as the Host can make the new target develop feelings for her within one month, it will be considered a successful completion of the task.】
With a sudden movement, Qiao Yin sat up in bed.
Previously, the task required the target to fall completely and wholeheartedly in love with her to initiate life-sharing and grant her a new life.
Lu Jinzhi was a cold and unfeeling person. For three years and eleven months, she had cared for him attentively and meticulously, yet she hadn’t even earned a smile from him, let alone any affection.
The damn System was right. Even if she had another month, she wouldn’t be able to win over Lu Jinzhi. It was better to try her luck with someone else.
One month. To make someone develop feelings.
Hmm, worth a try.
“Bang—”
The door was pushed open from the outside. Qiao Yin’s older brother, Qiao Mo, and her maid, Bizhu, walked in, both wearing excited expressions.
“Miss, two strong and capable women who are excellent swimmers have been prepared. Tonight, you will surely be able to die without regrets!”
Qiao Mo patted his chest and declared, “Don’t worry, little sister. As soon as you die, I’ll immediately seize Lu Jinzhi and make him take responsibility for you! If you live, he has to marry you. If you die—pah, of course you won’t die, little sister.”
Today was Lu Jinzhi’s birthday. Just like in previous years, Qiao Yin had gone all out, making a grand spectacle to celebrate Lu Jinzhi’s birthday.
This year, she had spent her entire fortune to book the most famous garden in the capital—Jifang Garden—meticulously arranging a banquet and inviting all the prominent young talents of the city to celebrate Lu Jinzhi’s birthday.With the four-year deadline approaching and Qiao Yin at her wit’s end, she prepared to use her final strategy—the “self-injury ploy.”
She planned to abandon her dignity tonight and confess her feelings to Lu Jinzhi once again. If he rejected her, she would publicly jump into the water and feign suicide, all to achieve her goal of “forcing a marriage.”
This was her last attempt to “win over” Lu Jinzhi.
Even if the System hadn’t malfunctioned, after tonight, she would give up on the mission and spend her final month focusing on other matters.
Such as properly bidding farewell to the Qiao family.
She was the long-lost second daughter of the Jing’an Marquis Estate, having returned to her family only four years ago. Her mother had passed away early, leaving only her father, Qiao Zhendong, and her elder brother, Qiao Mo.
The Qiao father and son felt deeply indebted to her and had lavished her with extreme affection and indulgence over the past four years, granting her every wish.
Especially her elder brother.
During these four years of chasing after Lu Jinzhi, she had endured countless scornful glances and ridicule, dragging the Qiao family’s reputation through the mud and even preventing Qiao Mo from finding a wife.
Yet Qiao Mo had never uttered a single word of blame. Instead, he praised her courage, saying she dared to reach for the highest branch in the capital.
Qiao Yin looked at the two of them, their spirits high, and spoke with difficulty, “The plan has changed. I no longer want to marry Lu Jinzhi.”
Qiao Mo and Bizhu widened their eyes simultaneously: “Has the sun risen from the west?”
Qiao Yin didn’t know how to explain and waved her hand dismissively. “Anyway, from now on, I don’t like Lu Jinzhi anymore. Don’t mention him in front of me—it’s bad luck!”
Bizhu and Qiao Mo exchanged glances, then looked at each other again. Both saw shock, confusion, and… sheer delight in each other’s eyes.
“Miss, are you serious? You don’t like Lu Shizi anymore? What about tonight’s banquet at Jifang Garden? Should we cancel it? But the invitations have already been sent out, and guests are probably arriving by now.”
Cancel?
She had spent real money to book that garden, and she hadn’t even had a proper look at it herself. Who knew if she’d ever have the chance to enjoy it again?
Qiao Yin felt a pang of regret. “No need to cancel. The banquet will go on, but we’re changing the guest of honor. I won’t be celebrating Lu Jinzhi’s birthday anymore. Instead, I’ll be hosting a banquet for General Xie Yu’an of Dingguo.”
Qiao Mo and Bizhu exclaimed in unison, “Xie Yu’an?”
Qiao Yin nodded. “Yes, Xie Yu’an. From now on, this banquet is for him.”
Qiao Mo slapped his forehead and gave Qiao Yin a thumbs-up. “I get it! Little sister, you’re not using the self-injury ploy anymore but switching to ‘playing hard to get,’ right? Little sister, you’re truly a reincarnation of Sun Tzu…”
Qiao Yin: “…What playing hard to get? I’m serious. I won’t waste any more time arguing with you. I’m going to Jifang Garden right now to meet Xie Yu’an.”
After taking just two steps, Qiao Yin was tightly grabbed by Bizhu, who looked at her with alarm.
“Miss, don’t scare me. Lu Shizi has rejected you more than once. At worst, you can start over. Please don’t do anything foolish.”
Qiao Yin was exasperated. “What will it take for you to believe me? This time, it’s not Lu Jinzhi rejecting me—it’s me dumping him!”
Bizhu was taken aback and whispered a reminder, “But Miss, for tonight’s banquet, you never invited General Xie in the first place.”
Qiao Yin was completely dumbfounded.
How could she have forgotten? She didn’t even know Xie Yu’an and had no idea what he looked like.
“Then quickly send an additional invitation to the General’s Estate,” Qiao Yin instructed, but she quickly reconsidered.
“Forget it. I’ll go invite him myself.”
Her future husband—she had to see him with her own eyes.