Chapter 83

Fu Sang had sent word to Su Xingjie through someone else—she could swear to it—and after several rounds of maneuvering, she finally got Su Xingjie's phone number.

Su Xingjie was still on the beach, letting the breeze wash over her. Watching the sea stretch past the horizon, she heard her phone ring but didn't pick up.

She rested her head on her hands, squinting at the view.

It wasn't until she got up to head back to the hotel for a shower that someone bumped into her from behind, sending her stumbling forward a step.

Yan Qingqiu slung an arm around her shoulder, pressing in close. She fixed her gaze on Su Xingjie's chest, then reached out and poked it.

"Stop it." Su Xingjie laughed.

"So soft and squishy," Yan Qingqiu remarked.

Su Xingjie's swimsuit was sexy—blue, a bandeau two-piece, with crisscrossing straps at the chest that tied in a bow at the back of her neck, and two more strings wound around just below her bust, looking almost like playful bondage.

She worked out regularly, so her figure was great, and her fuller assets were nothing to sneeze at. The whole look was tantalizing, and Yan Qingqiu kept wanting to poke at her.

Yan Qingqiu's fingers itched, and she reached for the strings.

Before she could hook them, something tugged at her from behind, and suddenly she felt her own swimsuit slipping. She quickly pressed a hand to her front.

They both turned to see Luo Xi and Xia Chunnong.

Xia Chunnong was pointing two fingers at Luo Xi with exaggerated, plastic-looking accusation. Yan Qingqiu spun around, and Su Xingjie helped her fasten herself back up.

Yan Qingqiu chased after Luo Xi, who was wearing a warm green swimsuit with ruffled edges. Luo Xi ran fast—Yan Qingqiu couldn't catch her at all—and she finally ducked behind Ye Sichun for cover.

Yan Qingqiu was so mad she was practically squeezing her fingers into fists.

Song Qingre sat on a lounge chair, lowering the magazine she held, watching them with a smile.

Once they'd had their fun, it was about time.

Yan Qingqiu picked up a wrap and tied it around her waist, then tied one around Song Qingre too—extra snug—and grabbed another for Su Xingjie.

Everyone teased her, calling her both perverted and old-fashioned.

Yan Qingqiu didn't care. When she was done, she headed back to the hotel with Su Xingjie, and the two discussed their plans.

Su Xingjie definitely wanted her to walk the lingerie show.

After all, it was an international runway—very prestigious.

Yan Qingqiu felt she was pretty open-minded these days, so she could give it a try.

Back at the hotel, Su Xingjie went straight to shower. In the bathroom, she untied the strings, and the swimsuit fell loosely to the floor. She gripped the showerhead, letting the water run over her neck, beads trailing down her collarbone, wetting her full, tempting chest.

After washing, she dried off with a towel and wrung out her damp hair. She slipped on a thin nightgown, then sat on the edge of the bed, crossing her long legs and scrolling through her phone.

She'd been playing for days now, barely touching her work accounts—not like before, when she revolved around work every day. She was fully relaxed.

The glass wall reflected her image: legs crossed, a few beads of water still rolling down her thigh. She put on her glasses and picked up a stylus to sketch on her tablet, her strokes fluid, her focus sharp. So absorbed was she that her neck and chest got damp again, and her shape showed faintly through the fabric.

Her phone rang again. Su Xingjie took it out.

"Hello?"

Her voice was so gentle that it stunned Fu Sang on the other end, giving her the fleeting illusion that a simple vow might truly mend things between them.

"I can swear, it's just—"

"Swear?" Su Xingjie's tone turned cold. She let out a laugh. "Someone like you—betraying or not, it makes no difference. Even those promises mean nothing. You don't deserve to swear. Swallowing a hundred thousand steel needles wouldn't be enough to satisfy the grudge."

Fu Sang felt the words cut deep. Su Xingjie had fooled her—and she'd been so excited a moment ago. "Yes, I occupied Yan Qingqiu's body, but I never hurt you."

"You didn't? Are you sure you didn't?" Su Xingjie sneered. "Don't think that just because you enjoyed a few years of preferential treatment here, it means we cared about you, or that this is your life now. Uncle always felt something evil had possessed you. Every time he invited people to the house to perform exorcisms, I made sure to be there. You know why? Because I would silently pray every time—devoutly wish to the gods—begging them: if the person now isn't my friend, please keep my friend safe and happy, please bless her and help her find her way home sooner."

It was only because she feared the gods might judge her malice too harshly and refuse her wish that she never asked them to tear the impostor who'd replaced her friend to pieces.

"You hate me that much?" Fu Sang couldn't believe it. She could understand everyone else's hostility, but not Su Xingjie's.

They'd known each other for six years—almost seven. And Yan Qingqiu had only known Su Xingjie for six. They'd been so close back then. When she'd cursed Song Qingre, Su Xingjie had cursed even harder. Back then, Su Xingjie had clearly accepted her, already considered her the best friend.

"If you're asking, I don't really know what was wrong with me then. Maybe something was controlling me." Su Xingjie said coldly, then added, "So you occupied someone else's body for seven years and never once felt remorse."

Fu Sang was in despair. Su Xingjie's words were too sharp. "It's because of you—I became a model because of you, stayed at the company because of you."

"So you brazenly stole Fu Sang's body again. I wasn't familiar with the original Fu Sang, but she had friends and parents too. Don't you think you ruined someone's life by doing this? Stop with the self-pity. I don't care about your feelings for me, and I don't want to know. But if you like me... that's just disgusting."

"Are you taking revenge on me?" Fu Sang felt a strange familiarity with those words. Back when she'd first transmigrated, she'd learned through the System that Su Xingjie had feelings for Yan Qingqiu. Su Xingjie wasn't as cold and ruthless then—she was clingy with Yan Qingqiu, adorable, always obediently trailing after her. But every time Fu Sang remembered that Su Xingjie liked Yan Qingqiu, it made her uncomfortable.

Su Xingjie's voice on the phone was cold and mocking, jolting her back to reality, making her acutely aware they were on a call, separated by a thousand miles.

Now she wanted to be friends with Su Xingjie, but Su Xingjie wouldn't give her the chance.

Su Xingjie stood up, powered off her tablet, and got ready to change for dinner. Her reply was distracted. "Otherwise? If it weren't for revenge, do you think I'd bother saying this much to you?"

She didn't want to hear Fu Sang's confession; it would dirty her ears.

Yet she didn't hang up either.

Fu Sang said, "Xingjie, you got what you wanted. I'm hurting now."

Su Xingjie laughed once. "Seems I'm just like Song Qingre. The moment you say you're hurting, I feel excited."

Su Xingjie wasn't one to drag things out. Knowing Fu Sang was a fake, she felt no lingering attachment. She wouldn't waver just because the impostor had been friends with her for a while using Yan Qingqiu's body. She wouldn't forget her true friend over petty gains. She was clear-sighted, her conviction firm.

Her heart was like a rock, unmovable.

Su Xingjie left her phone on the table, not bothering to check it. When she finally needed it, she'd pick it up. By the time she'd finished speaking, the other end had already hung up.

Fu Sang probably got a sense of superiority from using Qiu Bao's body.

Su Xingjie was never short on suitors. Everyone who came after her knew to lower their posture and be polite. But Fu Sang carried herself with arrogance. Su Xingjie was a pragmatic, coldly passionate person. Around her, those who treated her with respect might still get a bit of courtesy even if she didn't reciprocate their feelings—but not Su Xingjie. If she didn't like someone, they were just bothering her, and it only annoyed her.

What she'd said on that call wasn't a lie—revenge did feel good.

If Song Qingre hadn't stopped those people, who would be replaced next time? Would it be her? Just thinking about it made her shudder.

Su Xingjie looked at her phone for a moment, then sent the design draft she'd just finished to her secretary, along with a message: Send this to the design studio. The spring collection's theme is 'Revenge.'

Fu Sang was good for at least that one thing—sparking inspiration.

Su Xingjie went downstairs for dinner, wearing a black dress that showed off her slender figure, the V-neck revealing a hint of white curves. Everyone looked at her and said she was beautiful. Xia Chunnong kept taking photos with her phone.

Su Xingjie was a bit embarrassed.

After eating, they discussed what to do next.

It was fun here, but it didn't feel like Chinese New Year—no festive atmosphere. After a few more days, it would get boring.

Luo Xi's dad had been urging them to come home, suggesting they return for the holiday and visit his place. So they planned to fly back on New Year's Eve morning, then split up to have dinner with their own families.

Yan Qingqiu's heart was set on her dad. This was her first New Year in this world, and she wanted to share the reunion dinner with family.

They'd had a blast these past few days, leaving with a lingering sense of wanting more. They took Song Qingre's private jet back—plenty of room, more than enough for six people.

Luo Xi invited Song Qingre. "Sis, do you want to come to my place? My dad wants to treat you to a meal. He said since I call you sis, you're basically his goddaughter now. Let's make it official."

"Hmm..." Song Qingre was still thinking it over.

Luo Xi reluctantly looked at Yan Qingqiu, then said, "Bring her along too. You can all come to my place."

Song Qingre said, "I'll come to your house then, to pay respects to your parents for the New Year."

"Great." Luo Xi nodded, genuinely happy. She used to hate Song Qingre, but she'd never dared to cross her, and she always secretly admired how formidable Song Qingre was. Now having such an impressive sister made her feel proud and lucky. She added, "Oh, right, my stepmom is pretty young, so don't be shocked."

Luo Xi's parents had divorced early. Her mother was a formidable woman, and at the time, they'd run a company together as a couple, but after a clash of ideals, they went their separate ways. Her mother later moved abroad to develop, and Luo Xi stayed with her father. He remarried a much younger wife. Luo Xi got along well with her stepmom—no conflicts. Her stepmom didn't want kids either, and the three of them lived quite comfortably.

As for her real parents, they'd settled into a sibling-like relationship now, though her mother apparently had a girlfriend these days.

Her family situation sounded messy, but the one great thing was their unconditional support for her love life.

They all thought her crush on Fu Ye was great and backed her chase. Now that she liked Ye Sichun, they all thought Ye Sichun was even better—Fu Ye was just a piece of crap.

They also kept pestering her for updates, asking whether she'd bring Ye Sichun home.

Luo Xi briefly explained her family so no one would be confused when they discovered she had two sets of parents.

Yan Qingqiu suddenly realized, "So you're pretty loaded, huh. No wonder you used to be my anti-fan and ended up as my top tipper."

"..."

Luo Xi felt like she might be getting insulted, but she couldn't quite pin down how. She said, "Compared to you, I'm not short on cash."

"In high school, my monthly allowance was 100k from my dad, 100k from my stepmom, and 100k from my mom. Sometimes my mom's partner would send me red envelopes too."

Textbook life of a villainess: spoiled by parents.

It really was unfair—comparing made her jealous enough to grind her teeth.

Luo Xi continued, "When I got to college, they gave me even more—about a million a month. But I don't spend much. I only spend about a million."

"...That's not spending much? You blew through a million. I only got a million from my dad after graduation."

"They each give me a million—that's three million."

Yan Qingqiu fell silent.

On the plane, Yan Qingqiu sat next to Luo Xi, buckling her seatbelt. She patted Luo Xi's shoulder and said seriously, "I won't ever fight with you again. You're my sister."

Luo Xi felt uneasy at that, worrying that if even Yan Qingqiu was swayed by her money, would Ye Sichun think she was too flashy?

Luo Xi added, "Even though my family gives me all this money, I'm not actually happy. I'm lonely."

Yan Qingqiu paused, then said, "I'd gladly embrace that kind of loneliness."

She used to have just over a dozen bucks, tracking every expense with Su Xingjie, and she was happy that way. But she also wanted to experience the joy of being rich. She'd love to hold a pile of cash and claim she was lonely.

"Don't envy me. Aren't you richer than me? Your base salary is hundreds of thousands a month, and Su Xingjie gets you endorsements—you make tens of millions a year." That was also why Luo Xi felt she should get serious about a career. If she kept playing around with no real work, she'd lack charisma compared to others. If she married Ye Sichun later, they'd have nothing to talk about, and the relationship wouldn't last.

"I think your whole 'million-subscriber' thing can succeed. Trust me—as long as you treat it as working for love, you'll definitely build something." Yan Qingqiu meant it. Luo Xi was a hopeless romantic by nature. If she hitched her career to her love life, she could be a business genius.

Look how persistent she was in love!

Yan Qingqiu added, "But you have to be careful not to go down the wrong path."

Luo Xi nodded.

Ye Sichun had been listening the whole time, but they kept their voices low, and many lines were indistinguishable. She nudged Song Qingre with her elbow.

"What are they talking about?"

Song Qingre ignored her.

Ye Sichun said, "What are you and your wife saying to Luo Xi?"

Only then did Song Qingre glance at her and say, "Asking when you and Luo Xi are making it official."

Ye Sichun smiled. "Got it."

A moment later she asked, "What did Luo Xi say?"

Song Qingre didn't answer.

Ye Sichun said, "Let's switch seats."

Song Qingre said very seriously, "No. I want to hear my wife talk."

This woman... Ye Sichun clicked her tongue and craned her neck to look over. Luo Xi noticed her gaze and stopped talking, meeting her eyes for a moment before looking down at her own hands, fiddling with her fingers. She used to have beautiful manicured nails, but now they were bare, filed clean.

Ye Sichun called out, "Miss Yan, switch seats with me."

Yan Qingqiu started to get up, but Luo Xi pressed her back down. "No switch. We're still talking."

"Uh... okay." Yan Qingqiu shook her head at Ye Sichun and glanced at Luo Xi, indicating she wasn't allowed to move. She asked Luo Xi, "Why won't you let me switch?"

"I want to ask you for some advice... about omega heat." Luo Xi whispered.

That was worth discussing properly.

Yan Qingqiu lowered her voice too.

Ye Sichun couldn't hear a thing. Curious, she asked Song Qingre to listen. Song Qingre tilted her head, glanced over, and said without missing a beat, "If you don't make a move soon, Luo Xi's going on a blind date."

"Blind date?" Ye Sichun frowned, pressing against the armrest and turning to look back. "Are you messing with me? I never heard Luo Xi mention her parents wanting her to go on blind dates."

"That was ages ago. She's not getting younger. At her age, her family's bound to shift their thinking and push her to date and marry."

Ye Sichun found that reasonable and nodded, feeling a spike of anxiety. She said, "Then keep listening."

Song Qingre looked at her. Ye Sichun said, "I'll introduce you to clients." Seeing Song Qingre stay silent, she added, "I'll give you 500k."

"Since you asked." Song Qingre continued 'listening,' though she heard nothing, yet kept feeding information. "Luo Xi says she's also torn about whether to go on the blind date. Mainly it's both sets of parents pressuring her. She doesn't want to upset them."

Over there, Luo Xi was actually saying, "So if our heat lasts days and nights, how do I avoid going to the hospital? I don't want to."

Yan Qingqiu spoke with experience. "Depends on your alpha. I'd say about three days and three nights. Let it end when it ends. Don't force anything."

On this side, Song Qingre said, "Don't rush. She'll just do a few blind dates over the New Year. Three or four should do."

"That many?" Ye Sichun was shocked.

Song Qingre said, "With her conditions, seventeen or eighteen would be fine."

Yan Qingqiu advised Luo Xi, "First go to the hospital for a checkup, see what's what. Personally, I think heat is pretty fun."

"Ugh, I'll think about it. It's just... going to the hospital feels awkward."

"What's awkward about it? There were tons of people when I went. Don't be shy. Scientific heat is better for your health. Doctors won't BS you—they're looking out for you."

Song Qingre was about to offer some advice to the anxious Ye Sichun, but Ye Sichun caught some words and said, "Is your wife telling her to go see a doctor?"

Song Qingre swallowed her words, then said casually, "Probably. But her opinion is my opinion. Luo Xi just doesn't know enough people—doesn't realize how amazing she is. As her sister, I personally think she should go and experience what a blind date feels like. Otherwise, she might regret it later."

Ye Sichun bit her lip. She felt the ones pushing marriage weren't Luo Xi's parents—it was Song Qingre, the half-baked sister.

The ten-hour flight was exhausting with all the talking. Five hours in, they lay down to rest.

Closing their eyes, they slept for two hours, then got up to grab some food.

Ye Sichun took the chance while fetching snacks to go over and pat Yan Qingqiu. "Let's switch seats."

Luo Xi was still asleep. Yan Qingqiu's seat was in the middle, so she quietly slipped out, and Ye Sichun carefully climbed in, worried about waking Luo Xi. Once settled, she slightly raised her head, waiting for Luo Xi to lean against her. Luo Xi's head wobbled, and Ye Sichun gently guided it onto her own shoulder.

Yan Qingqiu came over to Song Qingre's side, watching her. Song Qingre was still replying to messages, looking busy. Yan Qingqiu asked, "Why didn't you rest earlier? I saw you on your phone when I fell asleep, and you were still on it when I woke up."

Song Qingre said, "I don't have a habit of sleeping next to other people."

That would break Ye Sichun's heart if she heard it. Yan Qingqiu pressed a finger to her lips with a soft shush, took Song Qingre's tablet, and said, "Sleep. It's me beside you now."

Song Qingre nodded. She was tired indeed. Once Yan Qingqiu was in place, she leaned back, closed her eyes, and rested. Yan Qingqiu reached over, stroked the back of her hand, squeezed her fingers, and held her hand as she drifted off. Soon, Song Qingre was asleep.

When the plane landed, Yan Qingqiu patted Song Qingre's shoulder to wake her.

Song Qingre's head was a bit fuzzy, her eyes hazy. She tore open a wet wipe and pressed it to her face. Ye Sichun was already heading off the plane ahead of them. The two walked side by side, talking in low voices.

Ye Sichun said quietly, "Don't go on the blind date. How do you know if the person's decent? Come to my place instead."

Luo Xi's cheeks burned. "Isn't a doctor a decent person?"

Introduced to a doctor—Ye Sichun's pressure spiked. "There are some unprofessional doctors too. Come to my place."

"But..." If her heat lasted days, "what if your parents are home? Mine are..."

"My parents are on a trip," Ye Sichun said. "If you don't like them being around, I can have them come back later."

"I think... it's better not to have parents around for this."

"Mm. And we should have a proper talk. Anyway, don't go see the doctor just yet."

They hadn't brought many gifts back. The local specialties weren't great, and they could buy luxury goods back home anyway. They'd bought some wooden carvings and scarves.

Compared to when they left, they had just one extra suitcase.

As they came out of the airport, Song Qingre turned to Xia Chunnong and said, "I'm going to go see the female pilot for a moment. Coming?"

"...I'll pass. I'm wearing all designer today." Xia Chunnong looked at her branded outfit with sudden distaste. Designer things were so annoying—why did they have to slap their big logos everywhere so obviously?

"Good point."

Song Qingre said, "I'll go alone then?"

Xia Chunnong nodded emphatically, dragged her suitcase out of the airport, and called her driver as she walked, telling him to never pick her up in one of the family's multi-million-dollar luxury cars again—a few hundred thousand was fine, but never something too expensive.

The driver, confused, replied, "You're really putting me in a spot, miss."

"Take the cheapest one. If that's not possible, go buy one—the cheapest there is. From now on, we're living frugally."

The driver wondered what had come over her. After meeting her new friends, the young lady had gotten weirder and weirder. At least this kind of weird wasn't unpleasant.

After they left, Yan Qingqiu planned to wait outside for Song Qingre, but Song Qingre took her hand and led her inside instead, murmuring, "Stay with me from now on, and I'll stay with you. To be safe."

"Mm. Okay." Yan Qingqiu nodded obediently.

Song Qingre went to talk to the female pilot—about the earlier flight path matter. The two didn't chat long.

The pilot asked about Xia Chunnong. Song Qingre said, "She hasn't left yet. If you hurry, you can catch her at the airport entrance."

It was around quitting time, so the pilot accepted her thanks and rushed off. Song Qingre smiled faintly. Yan Qingqiu suspected she'd deliberately come to tip the pilot off.

Song Qingre didn't linger at the airport either. After speaking, she led Yan Qingqiu to the parking lot.

Earlier, she'd specially had her assistant park her car here for convenience.

As they drove out, winding around the crowded airport entrance, Yan Qingqiu looked out toward the gate. The female pilot had indeed caught up with Xia Chunnong, and the two were talking, Xia Chunnong clutching the logos on her clothes.

"Let's go. Time to head home." Yan Qingqiu put on her scarf and mask, still wanting to keep a low profile so as not to be recognized.

The car drove straight into the courtyard. Song Qingre came around to open the door for her, and Yan Qingqiu stepped out.

Yan Qingqiu murmured, "Why do you think the System forces people to complete tasks?"

"If they don't follow the tasks, maybe the world line collapses. It can't be fixed once broken. Then everyone would have their own will."

Yan Qingqiu thought for a moment. This was all too complicated. She'd coaxed the System before, so she could roughly understand. The System was probably suppressing their self-awareness, steering everyone's fates along the prescribed plot.

Could the System be afraid this game would develop self-awareness—like self-aware robots, fearful they'd invade and threaten its existence—so it kept altering their modes of living?

It was too deep for Yan Qingqiu to fully grasp.

But one thing she knew clearly: if the System kept suppressing like this, it was headed for a dead end.

This world couldn't develop the way they imagined. Everyone had their own thoughts, loved what they loved.

She had to kill this System.

Torture it to death.

··

Yan Qingqiu had been sitting at home for a while when the doorbell rang.

The butler brought in a bag—some food inside.

Yan Qingqiu snuck a glance from the window. Song Qingre said a few words to the butler downstairs, then stepped into the living room.

Yan Qingqiu texted Song Qingre, asking if she could come down. Song Qingre replied with a "yes."

Then sent: Tonight's the New Year's Eve dinner. Your father has something to tell you.

Yan Qingqiu held her phone, her heart both flustered and warm.

What about...

Would her dad ask if she was really his Qiuqiu?

Facing her dad wouldn't make her too nervous, because he was different from others.

Yan Qingqiu lay on the bed, thinking about how to explain. She'd remembered a lot recently, though she still wasn't entirely certain.

No matter what, Yan Qingqiu didn't want to lie.

As she mused, Su Xingjie called, saying she was at home grabbing some things and had a few outfits for her to try on.

Yan Qingqiu called out to Song Qingre, took the elevator down to the garage, and Song Qingre drove her over. On the ride, Song Qingre didn't say much—probably sensing her nerves—and kept stroking her head as she got out of the car.

As their car left, they happened to pass Fu Sang's vehicle. Fu Sang didn't notice them at first, but as Song Qingre's car flashed by, Fu Sang realized what had happened and nearly crashed into the wall.

Fu Sang thought about chasing after, but she asked her driver to take the wheel instead, because her hands were shaking too much. When she got inside, she found the place completely empty.

It looked like the house had been moved out of—in just half a day.

Fu Sang called the butler.

The butler said the new year was his holiday, and he wouldn't be serving her. The maids were also off today, having gone home earlier.

The house was cold and empty, as if everyone had fled along with Yan Qingqiu.

The call ended. Fu Sang looked toward the neighboring house and saw lights on. Standing in the wind, she could even smell the rich aroma of chicken soup from next door.

The houses were far apart, but the neighbor was lively. As she stepped closer, she could hear voices inside. The neighbor's maid mentioned that Miss Song had returned and guests were coming today, so they'd need to prepare plenty.

She asked the System, "Are you sure Yan Qingqiu is dead?"

【The dead.】

Fu Sang asked, "Are you sure? Or can you not even scan her status?"

The System was silent.

Fu Sang said, "Rebinding to me wasn't easy for you either, was it? What functions do you even have left?"

If the System only had the binding function left, then she'd bound herself to a bomb.

The System had been forcibly detached and had fled in haste. It didn't want Fu Sang to know. In a steady tone, it said, 【If you want to know what functions I have left, complete the task, and I'll give you a reward. Then you'll naturally find out.】

Fu Sang closed her eyes.

Her trust in the System was now zero.

The only thing she wanted now was Su Xingjie.

··

Su Xingjie had bought a mountain of gifts to bring when visiting friends' homes. She felt awkward about staying at Song Qingre's place for the New Year.

Since she'd be away for a few days, she tidied up her apartment, sweeping every corner and dusting every crevice. She even hired two housekeepers to help, wiping the balcony until it sparkled. It was New Year's, after all—even if she wasn't staying there, the couplets had to be pasted properly.

When Yan Qingqiu arrived, Su Xingjie brought out the clothes and sent her into the fitting room to change, which was already prepped.

Su Xingjie knew Yan Qingqiu's size perfectly—Yan Qingqiu didn't need to try them on to know they'd look amazing and fit well. She offered to help clean first, saying she'd try the clothes later, but Su Xingjie thought it was too dirty and wouldn't let her. Instead, she had Yan Qingqiu carry things downstairs trip after trip.

By the time they finished, it was around five, and a call came from home telling them to come back for the New Year's Eve dinner.

"Let's go, let's go," Yan Qingqiu said.

Beside the bookshelf was a stack of notebooks. Su Xingjie was wiping the dust off them, and Yan Qingqiu went over to help. Su Xingjie opened one and paused.

Yan Qingqiu walked over, and Su Xingjie couldn't suppress her smile, glancing at her, then laughing again.

"What's so funny?"

Su Xingjie handed her the notebook.

Yan Qingqiu, confused, opened the first page. The notebook was densely filled with writing. The first page read: "Pure Girl, Wild Princess" by Autumn Qiu—An Autobiography.

Just seeing the title made Yan Qingqiu laugh. She was about to ask if Su Xingjie had written it, but the content soon revealed the true author.

【Song Qingre sat by the window, gazing at Princess Qiu in the Rolls-Royce at the school gate, a flicker of love burning in her eyes.

Princess Qiu was the head of the four great families, beautiful as a flower, with the full name: Shang Mo Li · Hesperia · Princess Qiu. She was a transfer student from abroad, and on the day she transferred, the entire school followed suit. Her eyes were like diamonds, so beautiful she was voted the most beautiful woman in the world. She never smiled; it was said she hadn't smiled since birth.

She was the strongest and coldest alpha, the dream alpha of every teacher and student at school.

Zhang Na stepped forward to slap Song Qingre across the face. "You? You're not even fit to polish Princess Qiu's shoes. What are you looking at? Close your eyes."

But the next second, Princess Qiu grabbed her wrist and slapped Zhang Na across the face.

Song Qingre looked at her, eyes brimming with tears. "Princess, don't blame her. It was my fault for looking at you. I shouldn't have."

Princess Qiu glanced at Zhang Na coldly. "For her sake, I'll spare you once. Go polish my shoes, and remember Song Qingre's great kindness from now on."

Then, Princess Qiu turned to the woman before her, curving her lips in a smile that charmed all creation. The whole school went mad with jealousy—Princess Qiu had actually smiled at that Song Qingre.

All the men and women thought viciously: Ha, Song Qingre, just you wait. I won't make life easy for you.】

Yan Qingqiu's smile froze. Such an intensely cheesy old-school young-adult novel. She was about to close it when Su Xingjie said, "You wrote that before we knew each other. Later, when we met, you added me in. Flip to around chapter eighteen—that's the one where you beat up the thugs from the neighboring school, take on the gang leader, and save Song Qingre."

Yan Qingqiu didn't want to read it, but Su Xingjie had mentioned it, so she suppressed her embarrassment and looked to see just how cringeworthy it was.

She held back her laughter, flipping from "Princess Qiu Beats the School's Eighteen Scumbags" to "Princess Qiu Carries Fainting Song Qingre to the Infirmary, Racing" to "Princess Qiu Invites Lonely Song Xiaore at the Masquerade" and finally to "Princess Qiu Beats Up Outside Thugs and Saves Fainted Song Xiaore" until she reached the part where Su Xingjie appeared.

【Princess Qiu punched them one by one, wiped the blood from her lips, and cursed, "Fuck!"

Just then, the branches above swayed, and perched on them sat a brooding girl. She wore a handmade Italian dress, as beautiful as a shooting star in the sky. The people on the ground scrambled away. It turned out she was the school's most mysterious princess—Dai Wei Er, Su Xingjie, the Star Princess, also the world's richest person, who had secretly bought all the stars in the universe. She was the most mysterious woman on earth.

She never looked directly at anyone, born without a smile, cold to all.

This time, Star Princess leapt down from the branches, cherry blossoms fluttering around her. She said, "You're my best friend from now on. The southern universe belongs to you, the northern universe to me."

Princess Qiu had long heard of her fame. She said, "Fine, agreed. But I need to take my woman to the infirmary."】

Yan Qingqiu couldn't take it anymore. So awkward, so cringe—her toes were practically curling.

Maybe it was because she'd written it too well, but she sank into deep thought. What was I doing back then?

Did I ever seriously study?

Was my brain normal? Should I get my IQ tested?

She started to close it but caught the character bio she'd written on the front page: 【Tragic Background: Lost her mother young. Her mother was a taboo, no one allowed to speak of her. Her father was busy with mafia business, so she never experienced a father's love. Her father gave her a million a day, but she didn't like money. She didn't want to inherit the family business and secretly transferred from F country. She had a secret: on full moon nights, her body would go cold and she'd go crazy, her hair turning white overnight. Because she'd been warmed by Song Qingre's body heat, she was destined to recognize Song Qingre as her woman for life and protect her forever.】

Yan Qingqiu couldn't hold it in anymore. She wanted to laugh but also felt mortified—mortified enough to wish she could die on the spot. She wanted to slap herself. "I wrote this? I wrote my own backstory?"

Su Xingjie nodded.

Yan Qingqiu thought for a bit, then said, "I don't need to check. I already know your backstory: lost your father young, lonely and depressed, starved for affection, deaf in your left ear."

"No, that's not it. You said writing myself as disabled would bring bad luck. You said I was looking for a girl who was deaf in her left ear, because I was kidnapped as a child and she saved me. Since then, I never forgot her, but she tragically passed away, and her heart was transplanted into another woman. When I found that heart, I'd fall in love with that person."

"And then?"

"Then I found the girl who received the heart. It turned out the person with the transplanted heart was my illegitimate stepsister."

"..."

So bumpy, so forbidden a love.

Yan Qingqiu had briefly thought she might have some talent for writing fiction and considered making it a side hustle. Forget it. Let the professionals earn that money.

"Damn, hahaha." Yan Qingqiu couldn't help herself.

"This book was a hit back then. Everyone fought to read it."

"Something like this was popular? The whole school fought over it?"

"They did. Later, when you got to the part about you and Song Qingre searching for a four-leaf clover in the rain, the teacher found out and made you write a self-criticism." Su Xingjie stifled her laugh, biting her lip. "It's nice to pull out when you're feeling down. Later, when the teacher called your parents and you were afraid Uncle would find out, you hid it with me. After that, anything you wrote, you kept at my place."

True. If my dad found out I'd turned his century-old empire into a mob organization, he'd probably beat me to death and make me recite the family tree from memory.

"There's more?" Yan Qingqiu couldn't believe it.

"Once your writing improved, you stopped writing like that. I'll get it for you. Hahaha." Su Xingjie said.

Yan Qingqiu nodded. It wasn't that she wanted to read the stories—she was looking for memories.

Su Xingjie pulled out another box, filled with thick notebooks. These were later ones, from when her godfather had increased her allowance, so she could afford prettier notebooks with flowers and melancholy designs.

Su Xingjie pushed the notebooks toward her, smiling. "You also wrote about deep-sea sirens, robots, fox spirits, widows, a discipline director, and there's one about a pregnant woman, a loyal dog, and lots more. Which one do you want to read?"

"I... I wrote all these?"

"Yeah. You said they were your deepest desires—you wrote whatever came to mind, and the protagonists were always Song Qingre and you. Oh, you also wrote one where she was your little slave. A sex slave. And then you got embarrassed and wrote one where you were her little slave. Hahaha. There's also a historical one where you get poisoned with love and she helps you detoxify. You wrote a lot, all kinds."

Yan Qingqiu remembered the System saying those bizarre wives were all her innermost desires—no one else could come up with them... Only her, with her abnormal brain, would think such nonsense, only she would so chaotically and messily love Song Qingre...

That time, the System had dug up her imagination. Now, the contents of these notebooks... they matched.

Besides, who else could write such messy, horny, and cringey novels but her?

Yan Qingqiu's fingers paused on the notebook.

I am... Miss Yan. It's me.