Chapter 79

In a foreign land, heavy snow blanketed the ground, with light flakes drifting from the sky. The snow here was deeper than back home, and the weather even colder.

Her calves had gone almost completely numb from the cold. Yan Qingqiu let out a helpless whimper, her eyes scanning her surroundings—everyone passing by was a foreigner.

"Don't be like this. We're a team. If another host comes, do you think Fu Ye will like her? Do you really think he'd still chase after her in a burning-love-redemption arc?" Yan Qingqiu tried to negotiate with it. The harder she tried, the more condescending the System became, as if it couldn't wait to bind itself to Fu Sang and leave her brain behind.

System: 【Do you think Fu Ye still likes you now? You've already driven him to cut out his own gland.】

Yan Qingqiu had plenty of messy rationalizations. She patiently explained: "None of that was done by me. I have my own grievances that I can't voice. As long as I explain it clearly to him, he should be able to understand, right? If he can't understand me, then he has no right to say he loves me."

【Understand?】

The System laughed. 【Whether it was you or her, the two of you have already destroyed his dignity as a man. It's equivalent to turning him into a eunuch. Do you think he'll ever forgive you? If someone destroyed your dignity as a woman, would you still love them?】

Yan Qingqiu would probably just stab the person to death outright.

She suddenly realized—Fu Ye most likely wanted to kill her now.

Yan Qingqiu said, "Eunuch then. But he's still a male lead. I believe he still has charm. I don't despise him now. Really, just send me back directly. Don't you have teleportation functions? And you don't have to give me any rewards—just give me my passport and visa, that's all I want. I don't care about any other rewards right now. I'm a person without identity, no food, no drink—I'll die here. If not, at least send me back. I can go back to my original world. I'm done playing with you all. I want to go home."

She rambled on about all sorts of scenarios.

The System said: 【Initially, I did want to cooperate with you properly. But every time I told you not to speak out loud, you spoke out loud every single time, as if you were deliberately passing information. Do you think I can still trust you? Also, I'm not sending you back right now. I have to abide by the laws of this world. Since you haven't completed your tasks, I can only treat this as your mission failure. In the future, if you're lucky enough to survive, you might remain in this world. But you'll have to endure hardship—no identity, no history, a lifetime of loneliness, and a miserable death like that.】

After hearing this, Yan Qingqiu looked frantic. She paced in circles on the spot, unsure whether to step down the stairs or run back. Her eyes darted around too. She felt she ought to act out disbelief—besides fear, she also needed to seem utterly heartbroken.

She bit her lip, pretending she couldn't accept being abandoned.

She called Song Qingre's name. No response.

Then she started calling out to the System. "Maybe I just got lost. If I wait here for her, she'll come find me."

Thinking of her dream, she remembered how she'd always been waiting for someone at the orphanage.

So she mimicked that posture from back then—stubbornly refusing to believe she'd been abandoned, her eyes fixed on the outside, yet her feet not daring to take even one step forward. She firmly believed someone would come to pick her up.

The System sneered: 【Give up. You still harbor illusions about Song Qingre?】

Yan Qingqiu pretended not to hear it, deliberately calling out, "System, why do you keep going on and off? Is she watching me? Is she wondering whether I have a System? Does she care about me..."

The System grew sensitive too and sharply cut her off: 【Host, please don't panic. Watch your surroundings. And don't speak out loud! If you speak out loud again, I may activate the punishment mechanism!】

Yan Qingqiu let out a whimper. "I can't hold it in anymore. I'm so scared."

"I'm all alone in this foreign country. I have no money, no phone, no visa. I don't even know where the embassy is. You won't help me. What am I supposed to do?!"

The System's tone was icy. 【See if there's anyone from your country around.】

Yan Qingqiu had already checked long ago. "There's no one, no one! I've told you so many times. I came on a private plane. I haven't seen a single person from home here. I haven't even seen a commercial flight land. What godforsaken place have I ended up in?"

The System jabbed at her brain.

【Now you regret it? Where's all that spirit you had when you were provoking me? I told you before, and you wouldn't believe a word. You insisted on blindly trusting her. Now you're regretting it—but it's too late.】

A tear or two slipped down Yan Qingqiu's cheeks. Her eyes were red, and she sniffled. "I was at a loss then. I didn't dare trust anyone. Now I really do regret it. Please don't leave me. First send me home, get my passport back—please, I'm begging you."

The System stayed silent, and she could sense it gloating. In its eyes, Yan Qingqiu's end was death.

Now that Yan Qingqiu had fallen to this state, it was absolutely delighted.

Its voice was mixed with an electronic buzz, eerie and unnatural.

Like a ghost's wail from a horror movie.

Yan Qingqiu stood there for a moment, then took off her hat.

The System was extremely confident. It thought of itself as a hot commodity that everyone wanted to possess.

In reality, it wasn't even as good as a phone. Everyone loves a phone, but it was universally despised.

Yan Qingqiu dared to bet that the System was so disgusting, even Fu Sang—unless she had brain damage—wouldn't like it.

The System gloated: 【What, planning to use your hat to beg for food?】

Yan Qingqiu ignored it. The System should be able to scan where Song Qingre was—after all, it just needed to use a simple process of elimination. The blind spot it couldn't detect would be Song Qingre's location.

Yan Qingqiu said: "If you won't help me find Song Qingre, then I'll just wander around here calling out to you. I believe she definitely hasn't left yet."

Yan Qingqiu put on the look of someone terrified, at the end of her rope. Clutching her hat, she turned back. She knew where Song Qingre was. She walked forward two steps and called out to the System.

The System could hear her voice at that moment, but it pretended not to. Yan Qingqiu kept wandering in circles, calling out every so often.

Her voice echoed through the empty hall. She'd call out twice, get no response, and without even having to act, her negative emotions rose and genuine fear followed. Eventually she stopped calling and muttered to herself: "I can't call out to her now. If she realizes I'm looking for her, she'll run even faster. As long as I find her and grab onto her, she'll definitely take me with her. System, are you still there?"

Her phone was tucked in her pants pocket, the call still connected. But when a message came in, it vibrated gently against her fingers.

The feeling was like tapping out a telegram in a spy movie.

She stayed alert, feigning fear.

She wandered aimlessly through the unfamiliar country until she entered Song Qingre's safe zone.

The phone vibrated twice in succession.

Yan Qingqiu's understanding with her was razor-sharp. She deciphered what Song Qingre meant.

Song Qingre was saying: You can come find me now.

Yan Qingqiu quickened her pace. Song Qingre had bought two cups of hot coffee. Seeing her, Yan Qingqiu felt a surge of excitement and wanted to rush over and hug her. Her fingers inside her pocket clenched tighter and tighter until her knuckles ached.

Song Qingre raised her arms, exposing her waist. Now there was nothing for Yan Qingqiu to hold back. She hurried over, wrapped both arms around Song Qingre's waist, and buried her face against her chest. Through the layers of clothing she couldn't smell her pheromones, but she could feel a sweet warmth.

"Thank you. I really like this gift." Yan Qingqiu said in a low voice.

Song Qingre smiled with restraint, her long, slender eyes blinking slightly. She tilted her head and asked, "Why did you take your hat off? It's colder here. Be careful not to let your ears frostbite." She looked at Yan Qingqiu's eyes—they shimmered with moisture, sparkling and clear like transparent crystal beads.

Yan Qingqiu put her hat back on, a hint of petulance in her voice. "If you really had left me here alone, I'd have to go begging. I'd have to live a wandering life, suffering alone in a foreign land." That's what the System had said.

Song Qingre didn't directly comfort her. Instead, she let out a soft laugh, her tone gentle as she said, "How could I bear to do that?"

Then she asked, "You've been talking so much—are you thirsty?"

Yan Qingqiu had indeed been talking for a long time, her lips chapped. She let go and reached for the coffee in Song Qingre's hand. The coffee was hot, and Song Qingre's palm had turned red.

Yan Qingqiu blew on it for her, then asked, "Where's Xing Xing?"

"She's buying little trinkets."

Originally Su Xingjie had been standing with her, but Song Qingre had signaled her away. If the System noticed Su Xingjie was there, the act would ring false.

Yan Qingqiu took a sip of the coffee, holding it in her hands. When the third cup was ready, Song Qingre led her over to find Su Xingjie.

Su Xingjie was at a souvenir shop in the back, buying armfuls of stuff. Seeing them, she said, "Pay for it."

Song Qingre handed her the coffee and went straight to the register.

Yan Qingqiu was shameless about it too, happy to drain Song Qingre's wallet. "I don't have money either. Remember to pay for mine."

Song Qingre nodded generously, then said, "There's a bank ahead. We can exchange currency."

Actually, there was no need to exchange cash directly. This world was quite developed—you could apply for currency exchange right on your phone. People with high incomes like them used internationally accepted gold cards. It was just that the shops here were too small to swipe their cards.

For the bigger stores outside, there was no need to exchange currency. It wouldn't cost her much anyway.

·

After buying everything, they walked out of the service hall. The driver outside respectfully opened the car door and said, "Boss, please."

Sitting in the car, Yan Qingqiu took off her gloves and flexed her fingers—they were almost out of strength. Her heart was still racing with tension, and she didn't know which question to ask first.

Yan Qingqiu tilted her head, curiously eyeing the watch on Song Qingre's wrist. Her heart rate looked steady. Yan Qingqiu said, "Can I borrow it for a bit?"

Song Qingre unbuckled the watch and handed it to her. Yan Qingqiu pressed the strap against her own wrist—she could still feel the warmth of Song Qingre's skin on it, hot to the touch. Her heart rate had already exceeded normal levels.

Song Qingre said, "That excited?"

Yan Qingqiu nodded. "This is the biggest strategic breakthrough."

Yan Qingqiu didn't fully understand her strategy, but for her, this outcome was enough to weep for joy. She just had to hold back at the moment, so she didn't cry. Yan Qingqiu especially hated the feeling of being manipulated, and despised a constrained life to her very core. The first time she'd heard the System's voice in her head, she'd felt nauseated.

She played with it for a while, then returned the watch to Song Qingre.

Song Qingre rolled up her sleeve, and Yan Qingqiu carefully helped her fasten the clasp. Soon, the excited heart rate subsided.

Yan Qingqiu lowered her head to touch the watch face, then looked up and smiled softly at her.

She thought, Song Qingre is really clever.

She was naturally a lazy person, her brain slow to turn. But now she could actually unbind from the System and lie around being taken care of... it felt wonderful.

The car drove on and pulled up directly at the hotel.

It was nearly dusk by now. The houses in the snow were beautiful—topped with a red Christmas hat, the base shaped like a red cup.

Beside them were round snowballs and big red apples.

Behind them stretched a green pine forest, branches strung with lights.

Song Qingre took the key from the staff member. She'd just inserted it into the lock when a little bird popped out from the window, its body glowing. It chirped, "Welcome to West Island Cabin. Hope you have a wonderful time."

Yan Qingqiu was startled, stumbling back a few steps and looking up. She raised her phone to film, and the bird cooperatively came out three times.

After recording the video, they went inside.

The fireplace crackled with burning firewood. In the corner stood a pine tree hung with snowballs and lights, with a few gift boxes beneath it.

Yan Qingqiu was curious, wondering if she could open them.

Song Qingre added more wood to the fireplace. The flames crackled, and the temperature inside slowly rose.

Beside the living room was a bookshelf, a red-plaid sofa, and a wall clock.

The furnishings weren't complicated—simple yet cozy.

The kitchen beside it was spotless. Su Xingjie went over, saw everything was brand new, and gave it a quick rinse before boiling a pot of water.

In the small room next to the living room, Yan Qingqiu found candy—that room was stocked with sweets, biscuits, and all sorts of food. She unwrapped a milk candy and popped it in her mouth; the flavor was rich.

She brought some out and gave each of them a filled chocolate.

Song Qingre took off her down jacket and laid it on the sofa. She was wearing a simple sweater now, clean in style with no decoration, making her figure look long and lean. She sat on the sofa looking at her phone and asked, "I'll take you out to eat soon. Do you want to rest a bit, or go straight there?"

Su Xingjie's water was almost done boiling; the kettle bubbled and steamed. She sterilized the cups too and said, "Wait a bit. Let's have some water first. I'll check where the nearest ER store is and have them send over clothes tonight. I'll send pictures to the group chat, and you can pick."

Song Qingre took out her phone first and sent her the restaurant's address.

Yan Qingqiu opened an international roaming package on her phone. The data drained like water, the balance disappearing in a whoosh.

As she fiddled with it, she asked, "Is it okay for me to send messages and post updates right now? Will I be discovered?"

Song Qingre said, "It's fine. It'll just think I'm using your phone to post. If you went abroad and didn't send a single message, people back home would start worrying—that would look even more suspicious. In its impression, I do things without leaving a single loophole."

Yan Qingqiu thought she made sense and nodded.

Su Xingjie didn't know what they were talking about. "Don't say in other people's eyes—even in my eyes, that's the case. This morning I had no idea you were taking us abroad. Even at the airport, I didn't react until the last minute."

Song Qingre smiled faintly, not trying to take credit.

·

The snow resort on West Island had snow all year round, with bitingly cold temperatures. The snow on the ground was thick—step into it and it came up to your calves.

They chose snow boots and headed out, the snow crunching beneath their feet.

Near the cabin was a moon pool—a warm hot spring.

The three of them went to eat first. They discussed that if they were still tired after, they'd rest first and soak tomorrow; if not, they'd go in today.

Yan Qingqiu glanced at the group chat they'd made. While they'd been on the plane, the others had been chatting up a storm.

At first, Xia Chunnong had no idea the three of them "cold-hearted" ones had already flown abroad. She was frantically asking about what to wear in the group.

Then she said: "If you don't reply to me, I'll have to go alone. Sisters, save me! My lifelong happiness depends on you all!"

Despite her sincerity, the three older sisters still didn't reply. All she got was Yan Qingqiu's cryptic fashion guidance.

Xia Chunnong was a month younger than Luo Xi, making her the youngest of them all. She had a cute face, and her special skill was photo editing—which also meant she was especially vain. Yan Qingqiu was curious whether she'd actually dress like that. If she went to meet her online date wearing that outfit, her reputation would be set for life.

Little Spring Flower, hahaha.

They hadn't spoken in the group since, and they didn't know how it went.

Yan Qingqiu's curiosity was killing her.

The restaurant served local cuisine and was on the rankings.

The three of them were genuinely hungry. When the appetizers came, they didn't bother taking photos—they just dug in.

Once all the main dishes were served, Su Xingjie pulled out her phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to the group.

Luo Xi was the first to surface: 【So you guys really went abroad? And you didn't even tell us!】

Ye Sichun: 【What about the trip we'd planned together?】

Song Qingre: 【When I called you this morning, you couldn't get out of bed. Who told you to stay up so late having fun yesterday?】

Ye Sichun: 【Don't talk nonsense. We just chatted a bit. Where are you guys? We'll come find you later.】

Song Qingre said: 【I'm here for a couple days. If it's fun, I'll send you the address.】

Ye Sichun: 【Oh right, where's Yan Qingqiu? Why haven't I seen her?】

Su Xingjie was about to reply, but Song Qingre pressed a finger to her lips, shushing her softly—meaning she shouldn't send messages from her own phone.

Su Xingjie didn't understand. Yan Qingqiu whispered to her, "I'm playing missing. Don't leak my whereabouts. When appropriate, just say I'm not with you."

As long as everyone cooperated, they'd pull it off.

Su Xingjie didn't know what they were up to, but if it benefited them, she was willing to help.

Yan Qingqiu watched them messaging and kept biting her finger, itching to say something herself. She felt the group had lost all its energy without her.

Sigh.

Su Xingjie could tell what she was thinking and handed her the phone.

Yan Qingqiu grabbed it eagerly and typed: 【Where's Little Spring Flower? Where'd she go? How did her blind date go?】

Luo Xi: 【It's because of her that I'm looking for Yan Qingqiu!】

Yan Qingqiu laughed, biting down on her fork and wolfing down food. Su Xingjie typed: 【How did the online meetup go? Successful?】

Xia Chunnong spoke up: "Heh."

Su Xingjie: 【Did you wear it?】

Unable to resist, she cut the laughter and went straight for the real question.

"My clothes are all designer brands. Where would I get something like that? I was already wearing the plainest, simplest thing I own!"

Xia Chunnong sent a voice message. A few seconds later, she sensed something wrong. Staring at the chat interface, she swiped her fingers up, then pressed the voice button again and said, "Who changed my nickname to Little Spring Flower?"

Yan Qingqiu had just drunk a bowl of the local cream soup and was warm all over. She really wanted to send a voice message, but Su Xingjie opened a voice changer.

Yan Qingqiu thought about it—better to play it safe. She typed: 【The name Little Spring Flower is so cute. I think it suits you perfectly. We're doing this for your own good. Think about it—what if one of us slips up and calls you by your real name in front of her? Then you're busted, right? You'd lose your beauty. So from now on, we'll call you Little Spring Flower. It's for your own good, for the sake of your love.】

Xia Chunnong wanted to argue, but she had to admit it made sense.

Su Xingjie was a cold-natured person, rarely chatting with anyone, usually only handling work matters. Coming from her, the words carried weight.

All of today's curiosity was focused on how the blind date went. Yan Qingqiu asked: 【So what happened after that?】

Luo Xi replied. Because of the dog poop incident yesterday, she'd been acting aloof and barely spoken, but she must have been unable to hold it in anymore.

Today it was she who accompanied Xia Chunnong. Both of them had dressed down to the plainest possible, wearing nothing but lipstick.

She sent a voice message: "She didn't dare speak the whole time, terrified she'd let it slip that she can speak Mandarin. She stood at the airport for ages. The female pilot bought her coffee and cookies, but the way she looked at her—it was like she was asking, 'Are you mute?'" Luo Xi burst out laughing. "What's worse, the pilot actually went and bought a writing board for Chun Chun to write on! Then the pilot would say something, and Chun Chun would write a few characters back. They communicated like that for two hours—no wait, a whole day!"

Listening to the voice message, Yan Qingqiu couldn't hold it in either and burst out laughing. She pounded her fist on her chair, laughing until her heart gave a little ache.

She asked: 【Why not just send messages?】

Luo Xi sent another voice message:

"Because Chun Chun's phone is the newest model with an amazing camera! And—I haven't finished—the pilot said another thing: 'Even though you can't speak Mandarin, your written characters are really beautiful.'"

"HAHAHAHA! Damn it! I couldn't hold it in at that point. I ran to the bathroom and laughed for three solid minutes. Everyone who came in must have thought I was crazy."

Luo Xi said, "Honestly, I almost blurted out something along the lines of: 'Little Flower is a hardworking girl, she practices writing with a tree branch by the village entrance.'"

Xia Chunnong roared furiously in the group: "Stop it! Everyone shut up!"

"Hahaha—hic—sorry, I really can't take it." Yan Qingqiu laughed so hard she got the hiccups, couldn't stop, grabbed the cup beside her for a sip, hiccupping in pain but still unable to resist laughing along with everyone.

【So let me just ask—at the time, why did you think to say you were Xia Chunhua from the village, about to marry Tieniu?】 Yan Qingqiu couldn't figure out that logic. How did she come up with that?

Xia Chunnong was aggrieved. Everyone was laughing at her, and to make it worse, she wanted to laugh at herself too. "Look at her credentials—how could an ordinary person match up? Rich and single, a lifelong virgin at that. Even romance novels couldn't write a character that perfect. So I figured this scammer was trying to scam me. I've been around the scene for years and never met anyone so naive. I just wanted to end the conversation, make her understand how poor I am, and tank her sales numbers."

Su Xingjie said, "Who knew she'd actually believe it? And everything she said turned out to be true."

"...If it weren't for today, I still wouldn't believe it. I'd already planned that if she was some naive young woman running a scam, I'd give her a sum of money to go straight and never pull this kind of con again. But who knew..."

"HAHAHAHA."

"Stop laughing! Don't you want to hear the rest?! I was so humiliated today. So humiliated."

"And then? What happened next?"

"Finally, after dinner, she said she'd drive us back," Xia Chunnong said. "I got excited and blurted out that our village doesn't have a helipad, so her plane might not have anywhere to land."

Yan Qingqiu was about to laugh again when Xia Chunnong said seriously, "She said she could drive as well as fly."

"HAHAHAHA," Yan Qingqiu nearly choked. She asked Su Xingjie and Song Qingre, "I'm dying. Really, why is this so funny—hahaha—you guys are hilarious. But honestly, do you think she believed it or not?"

Xia Chunnong waited a moment before sending: "Xixi helped me decline. Said our village just struck gold and the roads were too bumpy for driving. She didn't push it, said she'd treat us to a meal next time. But when she left, she took the cabbage I'd bought from the supermarket."

Yan Qingqiu nearly laughed herself sick.

She thought to herself a hundred times what a shame it was that she hadn't recorded it all. If they got together someday, they could look back on this and savor it.

How sweet. This love story was moving enough to make you cry.

··

The first day abroad was spent laughing. On the second day, Yan Qingqiu held her phone and scrolled through the chat history—she could laugh at it all over again.

These past few days, she'd laughed so much her facial muscles ached. When she woke up in the morning, her cheeks felt stiff. Why was everyone so funny?

So comedic. She was having such a great time with them.

In the morning, the weather was warm and pleasant. Yan Qingqiu lazed in bed.

Su Xingjie had no pressing work—just exchanging messages with people at her company, saying she was abroad and couldn't handle anything, so don't bother her. She slept in too.

Yan Qingqiu scrolled through the group messages again, lying on her stomach laughing—not just at Xia Chunnong, but at Fu Ye too. Song Qingre was lying beside her, feeling the bed tremble.

Thanks to Luo Xi's stunt, Fu Ye's name had been trending for a long time. Fu Ye had desperately tried to explain himself, saying he'd just been hit with mud.

Netizens: They threw mud at you, why didn't you pick it up and throw it back?

That question left him with no answer.

Later, another trending topic came up: The Fu and Yan Families' Marriage.

Yan Qingqiu tapped in—it was from a gossip source. The families hadn't said anything directly, but eager media had exposed most of it.

It said the Yan family had found their long-lost daughter. The real miss had returned home, and the one before had been a fake all along, now kicked out.

Yan Qingqiu leaned against the headboard. She'd already changed her clothes and was tossing around on the bed. "She's the fake. I'm the real one."

"What's fake can never be real." Song Qingre leaned against the headboard, answering, "She's just an impostor. Not as good-looking as you. Not one bit like the Yan family's young miss."

"I agree. I'm naturally beautiful."

"And she's marrying Fu Ye. You don't have to."

"Right." Yan Qingqiu held up her phone, pointing at Fu Ye and Fu Sang with her finger. She snuggled close to Song Qingre and thought she felt really warm. "Two days. They only gave two days."

Song Qingre didn't nod directly. She said, "The two of them taking wedding photos together—they definitely won't look as good as me."

"That's for sure." Yan Qingqiu was thinking about the registration photo. She said regretfully, "If only I'd known Xia Chunnong back then. I could've had her edit my photos."

"I'm talking about wedding photos," Song Qingre said.

Yan Qingqiu fell silent, like a little seal that blew a bubble and dove under the covers. Song Qingre propped her chin on her hand. Before long, the seal slowly surfaced again. Yan Qingqiu's eyes landed on her, and she said, "So... are we married first, love later?"

"Didn't you like me before we got married?" Song Qingre spoke bluntly, her words stabbing right into Yan Qingqiu's heart. "I always felt like you liked me back then. Your eyes were always on me, the tension between us practically thick enough to pull into threads."

Yan Qingqiu's face flushed. She pressed a finger to her cheek, tapping it lightly.

She rolled over and could see Song Qingre's face, Song Qingre lying on her side.

"But I don't know if you like me," Yan Qingqiu said. "Liking someone feels like gambling."

"Mm... if I've done all this and you still can't tell how deeply I love you, then I've been done a terrible injustice. You should know—I've been falling for 25-year-old Qiuqiu every single day." Song Qingre said softly, "After so long, I heard my own heartbeat again, and I realized I'm head over heels for you."

The heart rate had gotten past the dangerous, tense stage, hit a hundred, and was still climbing. Amazing.

Her first love, treated so gently. Her heart was beating beyond all count now. To be confessed to so early in the morning—her heart was about to explode.

"Stop with the sweet talk." Yan Qingqiu's ears were red, flustered. She didn't want to confess their feelings to each other so early. She still wanted it to be more romantic, to say it properly at the right moment. She pinched her own ear, then turned away. After she pinched it, Song Qingre reached out and pinched hers too.

Song Qingre reached over and wrapped her arms around Yan Qingqiu's waist, holding her tight. "I really like this way you express your feelings. It lets me know I'm loved fiercely."

Yan Qingqiu's face flushed crimson. She bit her lip. Damn it.

In the early morning, both of them were very awake.

Song Qingre kept holding her waist, and Yan Qingqiu couldn't help releasing her pheromones. Song Qingre pressed her shoulder, gently inhaling her scent.

Earlier, the System had told her that when Song Qingre went into heat, she'd become very frenzied. Yan Qingqiu wondered if it was because she refused to let it out, refused other omegas' pheromones, that she ended up like that.

Yan Qingqiu released wisp after wisp of pheromones, teasing her repeatedly, and Song Qingre was hooked.

Yan Qingqiu wanted to tease her more, but was pushed back down.

Song Qingre leaned in close, brushed her hair aside, and sank her teeth into her gland. "Feed it to my mouth."

So filthy. Yan Qingqiu was about to lose it. Her pheromones spilled out uncontrollably, rushing straight into Song Qingre's mouth.

Not behaving at all.

They lazed around until eleven before getting up properly.

Song Qingre took them sightseeing around West Island. There was the world's largest ski resort here. Yan Qingqiu had envied Ye Sichun and Luo Xi's elegance at the ice rink before—now she could try it herself.

She suited up in her gear, and Song Qingre taught her how to play. Su Xingjie could already ski, so she bought her equipment and went straight to join a race.

Yan Qingqiu first took out her camera, trudging along with difficulty, stepping into her skis and recording Su Xingjie. Su Xingjie wore goggles, ski poles in her hands, moving at breakneck speed—especially when she charged off the high bridge. She was like a taut bow.

Drawn taut, released—you could hear the sound.

"So cool." Yan Qingqiu looked toward the snowy mountain, watching Su Xingjie in awe. Su Xingjie didn't come in first, but she took off her goggles and waved at Yan Qingqiu.

Su Xingjie was still smiling brightly, hair plastered to her cheeks, goggles gleaming like snow. She'd clearly had a great time.

Yan Qingqiu looked at Song Qingre. "Can you ski?"

"Once you've got it, I'll go play. Come on, give me your hand."

Yan Qingqiu gave her hand. Song Qingre was patient, teaching her step by step on flat ground. When Yan Qingqiu fell, she brushed the snow off her and comforted her—it was fine—then kept guiding her.

In two hours, Yan Qingqiu learned, heading down the slopes slowly on her own, sometimes landing on her butt.

Song Qingre pulled out her phone and replied in the group: 【Good, this place is nice. You all can come.】

She sent the address too.

Yan Qingqiu was curious—what if the System found out?

Song Qingre didn't seem worried at all. "Yesterday I didn't tell them because I was afraid you wouldn't learn to ski in time. If they'd all come and you still couldn't do it, you'd just be watching them play. That wouldn't be fun."

"Yeah." Yan Qingqiu felt the same.

If she couldn't ski, she'd just have to watch others and do nothing herself. That would make her uncomfortable, sour inside.

Once she learned, Yan Qingqiu practiced on her own, camera hanging around her neck. She skied herself, filming Song Qingre and Su Xingjie as they raced.

Unfortunately, they took first place several times but got no prize.

She went and bought local colorful gourds, handing them out as awards.

As night fell, they went to see the ice sculpture exhibition. The whole venue was strung with colored lights. Beside it was a large docked cruise ship built by the local scenic area, and they went aboard for dinner.

Looking up, they could see the stars. The sky even showed a greenish-purple aurora.

Beautiful.

Su Xingjie was good at photography and posted a bunch of pictures on her Moments. The group back home responded quickly, saying they'd come play tomorrow.

They asked the three of them to pick them up at the airport.

Xia Chunnong was troubled. She wanted to come but didn't dare. 【What if I fly abroad and the pilot finds out I'm not actually from a village?】

【Oh, and that female pilot is really my type. She's my ideal woman. Last night she texted me, saying she loves how simple and honest I am.】

Yan Qingqiu replied using Song Qingre's phone: 【Here's what you do—if she asks, say you thought you'd meet her just by getting on a plane. Who knew you'd accidentally fly overseas without seeing her once? Trust me, say that, and when you go back, she'll personally fly over to pick you up and say, 'Chunhua, you've touched my heart with your innocence.'】

Xia Chunnong looked at the message and thought the excuse was flimsy. But it was from Song Qingre, so she immediately felt it was extraordinary. The words were so artistic, she was stunned.

Xia Chunnong: 【As expected of the great artist. If this works out for me, I'll put you at the head of the table.】

Song Qingre: 【As expected of someone from the village.】

The day passed quickly in fun and games, and it was soon time for the deadline the System had set.

Yan Qingqiu was still worried she might slip up.

Song Qingre, on the other hand, didn't seem worried at all. She got up and hired a guide, taking them sightseeing. In the afternoon, she drove to pick up Ye Sichun and the others.

It was colder in the afternoon, so Su Xingjie didn't come along. She went to the ER store instead.

"When the time comes, we'll cooperate well. It said two days, but it'll probably give you three, or even four," Song Qingre analyzed as she drove. "You might need to act. It'll be a little rough."

"It's fine. I'm not afraid of hardship." Yan Qingqiu was just as eager to get rid of the System. "Tell me, and I'll act my heart out."

Song Qingre said, "When the time comes, I'll act like I'm about to kill you. I'll take you to a room, dimly lit. I'll blindfold you with black cloth, and you just have to look terrified."

She looked at Yan Qingqiu. "It's very simple."

Yan Qingqiu didn't speak, squinting her eyes.

If she had a choice, she wouldn't let Yan Qingqiu know it was her mental space. But to truly get rid of the System, they couldn't just act—it had to be real.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." It had become very well-behaved now.

The car stopped at the airport entrance.

Song Qingre leaned toward the passenger seat and stroked her cheek. "Don't be scared. It's just a fake room. I won't pull off your blindfold. I'll just act like I'm going to kill you, and it might feel scary to you—but that's the only way that thing in your head will really believe it." Her voice was gentle, afraid of hurting her precious one.

Yan Qingqiu pursed her lips. "It's not that I'm worried about that. It's mainly... I've gotten used to you being fierce and mean." She was a little embarrassed. This was a big deal, so she felt she had to be clear. What if she slipped up and ruined everything? "It's just... if you get too intense... and I can't hold back and go into heat—what do we do?"

Song Qingre fell silent too. Going into heat in her mental space?

Her breathing grew heavier.

"Mm?"

She'd never thought of that.

Yan Qingqiu's face flushed crimson. Would she think I'm a pervert?

She felt she couldn't be blamed. It was mainly because... well, mainly because she knew Song Qingre was a villain, a big degenerate, a murderous maniac—and that just... opened her appetite...

Wah, she couldn't help wanting something filthy. She wanted to be done in by a beautiful degenerate like her.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Yan Qingqiu asked. Seeing Song Qingre's expression shift and her pupils darken, she quickly said, "I'm just talking. Maybe I can hold it in—"

Before she could finish, Song Qingre pressed her hand to her face, covering her vision. Her palm was cool. Yan Qingqiu closed her eyes, savoring the touch.

Song Qingre said, "If you can't hold it in... then I'll just have to use my spiritual power to fuck you to death."

Yan Qingqiu shuddered, her nose twitching.

Song Qingre said, "You need to hold it together. If I go feral, it'll be dangerous."

"Mm... We're already famous back home. We can't end up in the hospital abroad too. That would be so humiliating."

Song Qingre exhaled, thought for a moment, and said, "That 'end up' of yours is quite cleverly worded..."

"..."

But that's not what I'm getting at.

"Are you even listening to me?" Yan Qingqiu asked.

Song Qingre said, "I heard you. We've got first-time experience now, so we won't end up in the hospital again. Don't worry."

But you better not go into heat in my mental space.

Otherwise, we'd really make fools of ourselves abroad.