Chapter 85

Song Qingre had planned this from the very beginning: get Yan Qingqiu unbound from the System, and let all those messy tasks fall on Fu Sang.

But would she really let them succeed?

How could that be possible?

Since they were unbound, she'd make sure Fu Sang had to complete the tasks, yet couldn't. Whether the System punished her or the System itself got punished, she didn't care. She would deliver her own punishment—she wouldn't let them off easy.

Song Qingre wasn't that kind-hearted. She never forgot Yan Qingqiu's words: "I don't want to die." If her precious Qingqiu would die from a failed task, then Fu Sang would die from a failed task too. She would punish these people—let them die.

Not just Fu Sang—the System absolutely could not be allowed to live either.

Song Qingre's eyes narrowed slightly. Every step she took was like walking on thin ice, each foot on a frozen edge. If the ice broke, she'd fall too, she'd get hurt. She didn't like an ending where both sides lost. She only wanted to win—she had to win.

In just a few seconds, her aura shifted. It turned cold and sinister. She wore thick-heeled boots today, standing in the courtyard at nearly six feet tall.

Even the wind had to weigh itself before blowing past.

Song Qingre's fingers landed on Yan Qingqiu's hair, gently stroking it. "If you can't figure it out, you don't have to," she said. "I'll handle it."

She was used to being the executioner. She knew that feeling, and she didn't want Qingqiu to so much as touch a drop of blood.

Yan Qingqiu said, "I've already figured it out."

The System had said Song Qingre was trying—constantly testing—to pry it loose. Song Qingre wanted to kill the System, to protect her completely.

"Last time you helped me through the plot, were you testing how to make the System fail?"

Song Qingre nodded. More or less. She'd also been testing how the System judged the heroine, working through every detail slowly. She wasn't afraid of slow or hard. She'd discovered that the so-called System was also connected to the local database, which was why Fu Sang had to steal Qingqiu's identity.

Stealing Qingqiu's things.

Back then, she hadn't known anything, and she'd let them burn all of Qingqiu's belongings. Every time she remembered, it hurt.

It just so happened... they'd walked right into it themselves.

Song Qingre took a deep breath, trying not to look frightening. She clenched her fingers, the cold air in her nose steadying her.

"Then I know why you had me keep doing the second-stage tasks," Yan Qingqiu said seriously, letting out a soft sigh. She reached out and took Song Qingre's hand. "I'm sorry. I actually suspected you were trying to get freaky and deliberately making me do the tasks."

"Hm?" Song Qingre glanced at Yan Qingqiu, her lips moving. For a split second, a flicker of "compassion" stirred in her, wanting to tell Yan Qingqiu the truth—that the first part was right, and the second part was indeed her tricking her.

She blinked. Yan Qingqiu continued with her well-reasoned argument, counting on her fingers: "See, if I'd finished the second stage early, Fu Sang's task would fail, and the System might try to come back and bind me. But if it saw I'd already completed the second stage, and I'd already had another alpha's child, it would have no leverage. Binding me would be meaningless."

Yan Qingqiu was moved by her own words. "So you were looking out for me all along, afraid I'd get caught by the System again. Thank you."

Song Qingre's eyes lowered slightly. In a sense, Yan Qingqiu's thinking had coincided with hers.

That was the excuse Song Qingre had made up last time—if Yan Qingqiu ever asked, she'd say it word for word.

Song Qingre patted her hair, feeling no guilt whatsoever as she said matter-of-factly, "Qingqiu, you don't need to be this smart from now on. Otherwise..." She always felt a tiny pang of guilt when deceiving Qingqiu, like this freak of hers was slowly developing a sense of shame—which just made her want to be even worse.

"So I got it right, then. You wanted to use this to deliver a fatal blow to the System, right?" Yan Qingqiu's eyes unconsciously showed a hint of admiration.

That thread of shame was swallowed whole in that instant.

She liked it when Yan Qingqiu looked at her like that.

Song Qingre nodded without a care in the world. "Yes."

"I knew it." Yan Qingqiu felt she understood now. Song Qingre walked every step meticulously, never minding the trouble, never regretting it, just wanting to protect her well.

Like in summer, when she'd just arrived—back then, Song Qingre had wanted to develop a relationship with her, but held back hard because of the System in her head, never messing around with her.

"Don't go alone into danger. Whatever it is, remember to bring me along," Yan Qingqiu said seriously. "No matter what, you have to take me with you from now on. I don't want to lose you after I come back, you know?"

Song Qingre nodded.

Yan Qingqiu looked at her. Song Qingre wore a red-string earring on one ear; the wind blew and it swayed gently. Song Qingre rose on her toes and lightly touched her lips to the earring.

After the kiss, Yan Qingqiu's cheeks flushed slightly. She tucked her fingers in her pockets, too embarrassed to look at Song Qingre.

Song Qingre also lowered her head. Yan Qingqiu knew she was about to kiss her ear, so she lifted her shoulder slightly, letting Song Qingre's lips come closer.

Song Qingre whispered in her ear, "Qingqiu, we're at Luo Xi's house."

"..." Yan Qingqiu jolted. She didn't dare turn around.

"Tsk. Shameless," came Luo Xi's voice.

"Xi Xi!" Luo Xi's father barked sternly.

Yan Qingqiu was even more embarrassed. Luo Xi's father was right there too. She was facing away from the living room, and now she felt so many eyes on her back.

Why didn't Song Qingre warn her?

Song Qingre was so bad.

Song Qingre chuckled softly, looking over her shoulder. "Sorry about that," she said. "She was just helping me fix my earring. Don't laugh at us."

Luo Xi said, "No problem. I laugh every day."

Yan Qingqiu clenched her fist. She was at Luo Xi's house—she couldn't get angry, couldn't lose her temper. She held back, forcing herself to. Yan Qingqiu, you have to hold it in.

Yan Qingqiu pumped herself up frantically: no conflict with Luo Xi.

She turned her head and flashed a grin at Luo Xi, a smile so twisted it was almost cruel. "It's fine," she said. "I don't argue with her. She always picks fights with me, and I never talk back. I know she's all bark, no bite."

Luo Xi stood at the door, stunned speechless. She was playing the sweet girl, wasn't she?! Deliberately! And worst of all, her parents actually believed it—her dad kept nodding along, saying yes.

"Come eat, then. The table's already set. Hope it suits your taste. Xi Xi's mom cooked everything herself."

"Thank you, Auntie," Song Qingre said.

Luo Xi's stepmother smiled and led them into the dining room.

Once inside, Luo Xi muttered, "Yan Qingqiu, you were so fake just now. Dripping with tea."

"Thanks for the compliment." Yan Qingqiu pinched her sleeve and sniffed it—a faint perfume. She'd been around Song Qingre so long that she'd inevitably picked up her scent.

They sat down to eat, Yan Qingqiu in the middle, with Su Xingjie on one side and Song Qingre on the other. Luo Xi's father politely brought out some liquor.

Song Qingre declined. "I'll be taking them out later, so I probably shouldn't drink today. Sorry about that."

"No problem, no problem. I'll have juice with you. Girl, go grab that bottle of grape juice upstairs."

Luo Xi went upstairs to get it. Luo Xi's father lowered his voice and asked, "Qingre, what's Ye Sichun really like?"

Yan Qingqiu leaned in to listen. She was curious too today—why hadn't Ye Sichun come? She'd been holding back from asking because she didn't want to lower Ye Sichun's score.

Song Qingre said, "She's my friend. I've asked her—she likes Luo Xi. A few days ago I told her Luo Xi was going to a blind date, and she got really nervous. She's been fussing over herself at home for days."

"No wonder. Yesterday morning I got five bottles of fine wine—that Corolla red wine—scared me half to death. And she sent a luxury watch to your godmother. I asked Xi Xi, but she wouldn't say who sent it."

Yan Qingqiu thought the wine name sounded familiar. Song Qingre had some at home last time—twenty bottles or so.

Song Qingre smiled. "She begged me for that wine."

"Well..." Luo Xi's father chuckled. He'd just been worried his daughter was too clueless about romance, getting strung along by someone. He didn't know Ye Sichun well, and earlier Fu Ye had spread rumors that Ye Sichun had loose morals and messed around. That had made him uneasy.

Song Qingre said, "If she gives it, just accept it. Don't praise her either—let her get anxious. Sooner or later she won't be able to hold back. I know her character. If she likes Luo Xi, she'll love her wholeheartedly. She'd never fool around."

Luo Xi's father nodded.

"She's got good prospects. Her parents are in business..."

"I don't care about prospects," he said. "We have everything. As long as she treats Luo Xi well."

Song Qingre said seriously, "You should still care about that. If the two are on equal footing, it'll last in the long run, and little Xi will live well."

"That's true." Luo Xi's father could tell Song Qingre genuinely had his daughter's best interests at heart, truly treating Luo Xi like a little sister.

"Sometimes you two should teach Luo Xi too," Song Qingre added. "If something upsets her or she's not satisfied, she should tell you, and you can help her decide. She can't be like before, throwing caution to the wind when she likes someone."

"Mm-hm, that's true." Luo Xi's father nodded.

Luo Xi came down with the juice. She'd heard everything from upstairs. She didn't say anything, just smiled at Song Qingre a little sheepishly, then poured her a glass. Yan Qingqiu pushed her own cup over too.

Luo Xi's father had known them before, mostly through Luo Xi cursing them out for being shameless and stealing Fu Ye. Back then, he hadn't liked them much either.

He'd always wanted to find a way to make them pay. Now that he'd gotten to know them deeper, he felt it was all Fu Ye's fault—that man was too good at stirring up trouble, not faithful, turning three good girls into sworn enemies.

Luo Xi's father ran a big business, on par with the Fu family.

At the table, the conversation brushed against the Fu family's affairs. After dinner, Luo Xi took Yan Qingqiu upstairs to play, and Song Qingre chatted with Luo Xi's father.

Luo Xi's father knew about Song Qingre's conflict with the Fu family, and took the initiative to say, "I'm looking to offload a few projects with the Fu family right now. Anything you need help with?"

It was plainspoken—he was offering to help her take down the Fu family.

That was the business world: fortunes changed in a day. Whatever she wanted to do, she could do it with his help.

They'd put things on the table, keeping it real, no beating around the bush.

When Song Qingre had walked in calling him "Godfather," that had already made her intent clear—they were family, and they'd stand on the same front.

Song Qingre said, "I don't actually have designs on the Fu family. It's like this—I've propped up a few people inside the Fu family. If anyone stops listening, you step on them for me."

"You don't want to get inside the Fu family?" Luo Xi's father asked.

"No such plan. I still prefer being an artist, but..." Song Qingre smiled slightly. "I'm an artist who likes money."

Luo Xi's father laughed. "I thought it was something big, that you were going to fight your way in and seize power. Setting up two puppets is easy. I'll keep an eye on it. Don't worry."

"It's just that Fu Zhenguo still sits at the helm of the Fu family. He's got a hard spine, tough to crack." When it came to serious matters, he couldn't help himself. He held up a cigar and asked Song Qingre if she minded.

Song Qingre stared at the cigar in his hand and said, "Let me see." She took one, held it between her fingers, and sniffed it. She didn't light it, and she had no habit of smoking. She said, "Godfather, can you get your hands dirty?"

"Dirty?" Luo Xi's father frowned slightly. He'd played plenty dirty in his youth. He'd built his business from nothing, and he was known as a scoundrel—not exactly a good man.

Song Qingre opened her phone and found a recording. She set the phone on the table, and a very familiar voice came out.

"We agreed you'd marry Luo Xi, squeeze some shares out of her father, then sweet-talk Luo Xi into giving you some shares too. Wouldn't the Luo family be yours to call? But no, you had to mess around with that woman. What good are Yan family shares?"

"How many times do I have to say it, Luo Xi doesn't like me anymore. She changed her mind. She's not wholeheartedly in love with me. How am I supposed to go find her? She threw stuff in my face. How can I still be with her?"

"Can't you use some dirty tricks? You don't like either of them anyway. Find a way to make something happen with her. That girl's simple-minded—you coax her a bit, won't she be yours? Would that old fox Luo Heng really not hand you something? Then when you're bored, just dump her. I'm telling you now—if you can't get a single thing out of the Luo family, I'm not handing you the company. They're avoiding us now, and maybe they'll try to take us down later."

"I know, I know. Stop saying it every day. Let me get through this marriage first. I won't let Yan Qingqiu off easy, and the Yan family better not expect to be fine either..."

The recording wasn't done, but Luo Xi's father couldn't take it anymore and hit pause. Was the Fu family treating his daughter like some plaything?

"Damn that Fu Zhenguo. The old bastard's looking for death." Luo Xi's father wasn't some refined man. He hadn't come from civility. It was only in the last couple years, after marrying a young wife, that he'd dressed himself up like a cultured man. He bit down on his cigar and took a puff. "And here I was treating him like a brother, thinking he genuinely wanted good ties between our families, thinking about an alliance through marriage."

This recording must have been made by someone close to them—it was very clear. It showed Song Qingre had wormed her way into their inner circle early on. Luo Xi's father looked at Song Qingre, asking what she had in mind.

Song Qingre said, "The Fu family's core secretarial team is my people."

She continued unhurriedly, "But I'm an artist. Some things I can't do well—they'd dirty my hands. I wonder if Godfather can handle it."

She made her meaning clear enough: she had the Fu family's core team, but some things were too dirty for her to do. If Luo Xi's father was willing to act, she'd hand it over.

Song Qingre's words were a little cold, as if saying her hands were clean, that she was an artist who stood above it all—unlike Luo Xi's father.

But when Luo Xi's father looked over again, she had a cigar between her fingers, and it seemed to say: we're all the same—flashy on the outside, rotten within. Let's take down the Fu family together.

Luo Xi's father had always seen her as a junior, just a young girl with a few tricks in romance.

Luo Xi's father slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. Luo Xi's stepmother came out with her arms crossed and scolded, "Old Luo, there are kids in the house. How can you still be smoking? Not afraid it'll bother them?"

"It's fine," Song Qingre said with a smile. "I've seen this cigar abroad a few times. Expensive, with a unique aroma when smoked. It looks charming on you, Godfather."

Luo Xi's father just laughed at the compliment. "Only an artist can talk so sweetly."

The words that needed saying were said. The rest could be inferred. Smart people had a habit of not putting things too plainly—they hid their desires and motives carefully. You guessed what you guessed, and if you didn't, you'd be in for a surprise.

Song Qingre stood up. "Then I'll head upstairs to see the girls, Uncle."

"Go ahead." Luo Xi's father put the cigar away. He stood and took a couple of steps, as if thinking about something. Song Qingre walked up the stairs, halfway up, when Luo Xi's father said, "By the way, what were you doing abroad all that time?"

Luo Xi's father had looked into what she did abroad before and found no trace of her—like she'd vanished into thin air. Back then, he'd taken her for a scheming girl with no real ability and a few tricks. Now he realized he'd been wrong. His vision just hadn't been broad enough.

Song Qingre answered, "Setting up."

"You were planning to take down the Fu family back then?"

"No." Song Qingre said softly, "From the first moment I saw Fu Ye... I wanted him dead."

Her voice trailed off low at the end. Luo Xi's father might have heard it, or might not have. Song Qingre didn't care. She kept walking down the hallway.

After playing around with everyone for so long, her true nature had been well hidden. She'd let a little of it slip just now, and the mood hadn't settled yet.

Song Qingre took a long time to compose herself before knocking on the door.

That afternoon, she took Luo Xi and the others out for fun. In the evening, she dropped Luo Xi off at home, but she didn't go inside, because Yan Fu had called them home for dinner, and she was afraid Luo Xi's parents would insist on keeping them.

Yan Fu hadn't gone out today. He'd been going through lists. The Yan family's happy occasion was near—Fu Sang was registered under his name, his "daughter"—and he had to do something to keep the media from gossiping. Song Qingre took off her coat and set it on the sofa, then went over to help him look.

"The wedding's pretty grand," Song Qingre said lightly, flipping through the pages slowly. The guest list was full of the rich and powerful—the entire business world had been invited, including some friends she knew.

Yan Fu said, "She wanted it big herself. Said she wanted a grand wedding. She's paying for it herself."

Yan Qingqiu snorted coldly. The male and female leads, of course—they'd want a grand wedding. Totally normal. It had to be a wedding of the century. But Fu Sang was really throwing money around to match the plot... no wonder people used to call her a simp.

Even a dog would shake its head at that.

Yan Fu asked, "Are you all going?"

Yan Fu didn't really want to go. Let her get married. He wanted to see what face she had to go through with the wedding.

Yan Qingqiu looked at Su Xingjie, and Su Xingjie looked at Song Qingre.

Su Xingjie said, "I don't really want to go. Fu Sang keeps pestering me. If their marriage goes badly, rumors might spread that I'm the third party."

Song Qingre was still flipping through the guest list, slowly, languidly. It was hard to tell what her next move would be.

---

On the ninth, the Fu and Yan families were joined by marriage.

The event was grand. The wedding took place on the Fu family's own turf—the mountaintop estate. All the celebrities of the world were invited.

Fu Sang wore a handcrafted wedding gown that cost sixty million, bought with her own money. In the days leading up to the wedding, she'd marketed and bragged that it was the wedding of the century, even inviting a number of media outlets.

She also said she and Fu Ye were true love, and that Fu Ye doted on her.

The press releases were over the top. If it weren't for today's netizens loving gossip and having sharp tongues, they'd have done a global livestream.

Only they themselves knew—the media were paid for, completely spinning the story in their favor.

As for the celebrities and bigwigs who came, they were there for the Fu family's sake, completely baffled by this messy love affair.

Anyway, the plastic woman and the eunuch of a man were happy with themselves; everyone else couldn't care less. The gift money was just the price of a circus ticket.

Word had it they'd married because an AA pairing couldn't have kids, and since Fu Ye was crippled anyway, outsiders wouldn't really think he was impotent.

Fu Sang held Fu Ye's arm, smiling like a flower just blooming in early spring. She gathered her mermaid-style gown and caught sight of Yan Qingqiu at once. Her expression stiffened.

She froze in place, frantically calling the System.

The System responded with a single "System," but when Song Qingre walked in from behind, it went silent—as if it had gone offline.

Fu Sang called out many times: 【System, System, didn't you say she was dead? Why is she still alive?】

The System still didn't speak. Fu Sang shouted aloud, "Didn't you say you killed Yan Qingqiu? Why is she still alive?"

As soon as she finished, she felt everyone staring at her, all eyes full of surprise, not understanding what she was doing. Fu Sang took a deep breath, tried to force a smile, and found she couldn't make one.

Fu Ye pulled at her, lowering his voice. "What the hell are you saying? Whose face are you trying to lose?"

Fu Sang said, "Why is Yan Qingqiu here? Isn't she dead?"

"Dead? She's perfectly fine, isn't she? She even went traveling before, I saw her in Xia Chunnong's moments," said a guest nearby, looking at them with a strange expression. He thought to himself: could the bride really be so vicious as to want Yan Qingqiu dead? He looked at Fu Sang oddly.

Fu Sang wanted to speak, but Fu Ye pulled her away. He was calmer than she was, dragging her toward the dressing room inside. "Are you insane?" he asked.

Fu Sang bit her lip hard. The System had told her Yan Qingqiu was dead. Now Yan Qingqiu had shown up right in front of her, and her System still couldn't come online.

What was going on? She didn't want trouble—she just wanted to finish the task quickly, divorce Fu Ye, and live the life she wanted.

Fu Sang's face wasn't changing daily like it used to now. The System didn't dare move, saying it would wait until Yan Qingqiu was completely gone, everyone had forgotten her, and then make one big change all at once.

With the earlier internet scandal raging so hard, many people came today just to stare at Fu Sang's face. The crowd snapped photos of her from every angle, occasionally turning to Yan Qingqiu too. Yan Qingqiu wasn't afraid of being photographed at all. She grabbed a milky-white chair and sat on it backwards, propping her chin on her hand. Shoot however you like. She even deliberately pinched her own cheek—this face was one hundred percent natural, and she had that kind of confidence.

Fu Ye looked over and hated Yan Qingqiu deeply. He said to Fu Sang, "Don't forget, this is a contract wedding. You're supposed to replace Yan Qingqiu for me. You're supposed to help me kick her out of the house. If you dare lie to me, we'll cancel the wedding right now."

Fu Sang treated his words as hot air. They were using each other from the start—she just wanted to finish her task. Now Fu Sang knew full well that Yan Fu would never kick Yan Qingqiu out. The one getting kicked out would be her.

"I know. I won't let her off."

Just as she finished speaking, she heard the System come online.

She had no time to answer Fu Ye. She quickly asked the System.

"What was that just now? Why did you suddenly go offline?"

Fu Sang couldn't hear Fu Ye's words. She said, "Didn't you say Yan Qingqiu was dead? What happened just now? Why didn't you answer when I called you?"

Fu Ye stared at her in horror. Who was Fu Sang talking to?

"System, System, are you there?"

Before she could finish, she saw Song Qingre walking over. Song Qingre wore an orange-red straight-shouldered coat, the hem reaching her calves, with a red-string peace pendant on her ear. She used to always dress in black, giving off a twisted and sinister feel, but now she wore other colors—and still, you couldn't see the slightest softness in her.

It was a madman with color, dazzling to the point of being overbright.

Fu Ye's breathing tightened. The feeling of his missing gland at the back of his neck surged up again.

Fu Sang felt it physically—like being skinned alive, agonizing.

"Happy wedding," Song Qingre said with a slight smile. "You two are remarkably in sync when it comes to being afraid of me."

"Security! Security! Who let her in? Didn't I say she was banned from entering?" Fu Ye demanded.

Security looked troubled. "Mr. Luo brought her. He said she's his goddaughter."

"Goddaughter?" Fu Ye looked her up and down, shocked. How had Song Qingre latched onto the Luo family and become a goddaughter? Through her green-tea act?

Song Qingre was truly unscrupulous.

Song Qingre kept smiling, standing quietly. The peace pendant on her ear swayed gently.

Song Qingre looked at Fu Sang's head and said to Fu Ye, "Did you know there's something weird in your wife's head?"

"Shut up!" Fu Sang glared at her.

Song Qingre pressed a finger to her lips and looked at them gently. "Okay."

Song Qingre had just come to offer her blessings. When she finished speaking, she turned and left, wearing dark brown boots with thin pointed heels.

The two pairs of eyes followed her, watching her take a seat at the Luo family's table.

Fu Ye had just been scared out of his wits by her, and then he heard Fu Sang beside him call out, "System, System, why are you silent again?"

A thought popped into Fu Ye's head unbidden: did I marry a lunatic?

"Who exactly are you talking to?"

Fu Sang pressed her fingers to her brow.

She couldn't help but complain inwardly: why was Fu Ye so useless and still the male lead? Song Qingre had immediately guessed she had help, accepted that this world was abnormal, and grown more twisted by the day. But Fu Ye was a dense fool who'd never suspected a thing. He was truly stupid. Back then, she'd even thought the male lead's clear head might help her, lend her a hand.

Talk about wishful thinking.

Now Fu Ye was a far cry from the setting that had made her swoon: the supposedly brilliant mind, the strongest alpha, the world's richest man.

A stray dog picked from a trash can was better than him.

She bit her lip and turned her head away, ignoring him.

The bridesmaids, hired as models and not close to her, watched them trembling. They felt both of them were a little off.

Fu Sang had someone redo her makeup and forced down the fire in her chest. She had to hold it in. No matter what, she couldn't trust these people—they were all trying to stop her marriage.

That had to be it. Hold it in, hold it in.

She reminded herself over and over: don't overthink, don't fall for any tricks.

The Fu family members came in with stiff faces, urging her to come out and toast the guests.

Fu Sang said yes and walked out smiling, asking her assistant, "Has Yan Fu arrived?"

The assistant was startled to hear her address her own father by name.

The assistant said, "Not yet. Shall I call to hurry him?"

"No need." Fu Sang wasn't too bothered. In the original plot, by the time she got married, Yan Fu should have been dead. According to the original story, she and Fu Ye would fall in love, the vicious supporting female Song Qingre would rush over to stop it and accidentally kill Yan Fu, and as he lay dying, Yan Fu would regret everything, hand her over to Fu Ye personally, and approve the marriage.

The System had said that once she completed this stage, the world's data would refresh, and they could wrench the plot back on track—the ones who should die would die, the ones who should disappear would disappear.

She'd already decided what reward she wanted: to have the System delete Su Xingjie's memories.

Make Su Xingjie remember only her—or turn all her memories of Yan Qingqiu into memories of Fu Sang.

She came out again and swept her gaze around. She only saw Yan Qingqiu, not Su Xingjie. She really wanted to ask why Su Xingjie hadn't come.

Fu Sang kept looking toward Yan Qingqiu's side. Wasn't Su Xingjie supposed to be inseparable from her? She didn't want Su Xingjie at her wedding, but she also wanted to see her, to hope she'd come.

She toasted table by table until she reached Yan Qingqiu. Yan Qingqiu was seated at the Luo family's table. Fu Sang gritted her teeth and asked, "Where's Xingjie?"

Yan Qingqiu didn't answer.

Fu Sang said, "When I finish my task and marry Fu Ye, I'll win Xingjie back."

"Win her back? Who gave you that face?" Yan Qingqiu found her amusing—standing there marrying a man while scheming over Xing Xing in her heart.

But then Yan Qingqiu noticed something. "Your task is to marry Fu Ye?"

Fu Sang didn't respond. Yan Qingqiu frowned. "You've been deceived."

"Deceived about what?" Fu Sang tilted her head to look at her, standing right beside her. "What do you mean? Are you saying my task is fake?"

Yan Qingqiu wasn't stupid enough to tell her about her own task.

"Did Song Qingre trick you?" Fu Sang said. She thought Yan Qingqiu was lying to her at first, but Yan Qingqiu said it with such conviction, looking at her like she was an idiot.

Every time she'd completed a small task, the System had reminded her. It couldn't be wrong.

Yan Qingqiu looked at Fu Sang, Fu Sang looked at her. Yan Qingqiu decided not to argue.

She couldn't figure out why the System was lying to Fu Sang. She didn't want to keep talking to Fu Sang. She went to find Song Qingre and said quietly, "The System's task for Fu Sang is different. Earlier the System told me my task was to have a child with you. Why is hers about getting married?"

Song Qingre sat at the wedding table nearby. She glanced at the messages on her assistant's tablet and her brow twitched. "What did you tell her?"

"I told her her task was wrong."

"Oh." Song Qingre said, "I know what's going on. The System might be trying to kill her, to bring in a new transmigrator. It deliberately gave her the wrong task, and when she fails it, she dies."

"Is that so." Yan Qingqiu felt reassured. Now she understood—the System had been deceiving Fu Sang just like it had deceived her. "Good thing I'm smart and can see through lies. I never believed a word the System said."

"Right, our Qingqiu is the smartest."

Yan Qingqiu nodded. "I didn't say much either. I was afraid if she knew the task was fake, she'd refuse to get married on the spot." She looked at Song Qingre again. "I've always trusted you."

Song Qingre lightly tapped her fingers on the table, watching her look up at her with that silly, trusting face. She didn't... feel guilty at all. If anything, she wanted to sleep with her even more.

She said, "But Fu Sang will think I tricked you."

"Then she's really dumb. At a time like this, what would you get out of tricking me?"

"Oh, the benefits would be enormous," Song Qingre said.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Yan Qingqiu didn't understand. Song Qingre said patiently, "It's like this—the System offers her plenty of perks. She won't be able to resist following it."

"I see." In a way, 365 wives really were an enjoyable prospect—especially when she thought back to those novels she'd written, where the protagonist bought a simulation semi-bionic wife. At night, the robot turned on by itself, walked to the bed, pinned her down, tore at her clothes, grabbed her legs, and did this and that. In the story, the protagonist struggled and said, "Hey, let go of me!" And the robot said, "Not allowed. I've detected a 99% sexual need in my master. I must satisfy my master."

Then she was forcibly bedded by the robot she'd bought.

Her throat was hoarse from crying, and the robot said again, "I've recorded my master's joyful expressions, saved for my master to watch as a video when she's lonely."

Oh god, oh god.

She appraised Song Qingre's face—sharp features, beautiful as a work of art, perfect as a 3D model. If she turned her into a robot... Thinking back on those scenes she'd seen before, it was really hot...

Song Qingre picked up the glass on the table and spun it with a flick of her wrist.

Was Qingqiu starting to suspect something again?

Yan Qingqiu quickly looked down. Dangerous... She thought, if the day ever came that Song Qingre turned into a robot and did it, it would be thrilling.

Think, think, think. She wanted to sleep with her.

Fu Sang's wedding was lavish. The bulk of the money came from the Fu family. Yan Fu didn't pay a cent. Whatever the bride's side needed, Fu Sang paid for herself.

The bridesmaids were models she'd hired, not close to her—they were purely there for the cameras, smiling as hard as they could into the lenses.

By evening, Fu Sang and Fu Ye stood toasting before the champagne tower.

Song Qingre walked over and took a glass. Fu Sang kept her poise, still smiling at them. Song Qingre raised her glass to her and said, "At midnight, the false princess will show her true colors."

The guests dispersed at eleven. Those with close ties to the Fu family stayed to play cards.

Song Qingre had drunk, so driving was out. They sat in the back without moving, waiting for the driver. The Luo family came to tap on the window and say goodbye.

Song Qingre nodded from the back seat. The driver still hadn't arrived—perhaps Song Qingre hadn't called.

"Forget it, I'll drive," Yan Qingqiu said, moving to the front. Song Qingre followed into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt.

Song Qingre said, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Yan Qingqiu thought to herself: watching someone else get married makes me want to get married too. And I have urgent business. She drove as slowly as ever. The Fu family's wedding venue was on a mountaintop, and the road down was lit by just a few streetlamps. All their face had gone into the ceremony.

It was pitch black all around. She drove even slower.

Their car crawled away, and the System came online immediately.

Fu Sang couldn't wait. She ignored Fu Ye, who was untying his tie in the room, and went straight to the System: "The wedding's over. Hurry, hurry—"

Fu Ye shot her a glance. "You're pretty eager. Why so impatient?"

"Quick, submit my task for me." Fu Sang bit her lip and urged the System.

System: 【Please don't rush, Host. Submitting now!】

【Congratulations, Host. You have completed the second stage's tasks: 1. Reunite and get engaged with the male lead, 2. Get the marriage certificate with the male lead, 3. consum... Wait. I suddenly can't detect the female lead's status.】

"What do you mean?"

【It shows no female lead exists on my end. Every time I submit, it lags. Please wait... wait.】

Fu Sang couldn't wait. "What the hell are you doing? Am I not the female lead? Did you bind me by mistake? System? Headache... you..." Her head felt like needles piercing it, throbbing numb. No, she couldn't take it anymore.

【Wait, wait. Let me bind you again. I just submitted the task, and the binding succeeded. If the female lead is wrong, there may be a program error. I myself...】

【Con, con, consum... mate..."】

"Consum what? Say it! Mate what? System?"

Fu Sang asked urgently, but before she could finish, someone grabbed her wrist. Fu Ye glared at her, his nerves bristling. "Who are you saying can't get it up?! Who's impotent?!"

Fu Sang didn't want to deal with him at all. She yanked her hand free and kept calling, "System? The task? Submit it now."

She was scared. Scared as Yan Qingqiu had said—that what she'd done was a fake task and the System was just stringing her along now.

"I'm asking you, who are you talking to?" Fu Ye was getting frazzled by her too.

Her mind was now filled with a harsh electronic noise so loud it hurt her eardrums. She hugged herself and crouched down. Fu Ye quickly backed away. Fu Sang's head felt like it was about to explode. No—it felt like the System was about to explode. It kept stimulating her brain. Had the task failed? No, it wasn't her task failing—it was more like the System failing.

【System program error. The successfully submitted task has been found to contain an error.】

【Unable to scan female lead status... status... The female lead's identity has di... di... disappeared. This world has no female lea... lea...】

【Lea lea lea lea lea...】

That last word repeated over and over, like nails scraping endlessly against a chalkboard. The screech hurt so much she collapsed to the ground, slamming her forehead into the floor.

The System seemed to have crashed. Make it stop. Her head was about to split.

Fu Ye was terrified. He grabbed his phone and dialed 120, demanding an ambulance. When asked what was wrong, he couldn't say clearly, "It's like a mental breakdown—she's talking nonsense and banging her head on the floor..."

At midnight, the sound of the ambulance pierced the night.

Yan Qingqiu drove very steadily. In the car, she cautiously kissed Song Qingre on the lips—her first time doing it in a car, so she was a bit shy. Her fingers slowly undid a few buttons on Song Qingre's chest, touched the lace edge of her bra, and was about to go further when she heard the ambulance sirens. She quickly pushed away. "Oh no, the cops are coming to get me."

Song Qingre looked at her. Then she pressed the hidden compartment in the car and pulled out a black tie. She looped the soft tie around Yan Qingqiu's neck and slowly drew her closer, until Yan Qingqiu stumbled forward, breathing quick. She could see the half-lace pattern on Song Qingre's chest. Song Qingre commanded, "Continue."

Yan Qingqiu undid her buttons and pulled the lace aside.

Then Song Qingre tied the knot of the tie again.

Their lips and tongues met slowly. The seats creaked with movement.

Yan Qingqiu straddled Song Qingre, who lowered the seat back.

The ambulance siren sounded again. Its headlights washed over the inside of their car. As the ambulance doors slowly closed, Yan Qingqiu caught a glimpse of Fu Sang lying inside, clawing at her hair like a wild woman.

Song Qingre gently pulled the tie tighter around Yan Qingqiu's neck, her thumb pressing against Yan Qingqiu's throat, drawing her head down. Song Qingre bit Yan Qingqiu's ear, breathing hard, her voice unsteady... she suppressed her own pounding pulse and said, "Aside from me, no one will ever catch you again."