Winter nights were colder still.
Outside, the sound of branches snapping could be heard. It seemed to have started snowing again.
The room was warm. No lamp had been lit; apart from the moonlight and reflected snowlight, the only illumination came from the faint red glow of the brazier, which occasionally spat out a spark.
Weather like this made people sleepy.
Su Ning very carefully stifled a yawn, convinced she had done it flawlessly.
The next second—
“You yawned?” The System’s tearful voice abruptly faltered, then exploded. “Tell me, were you not listening to me at all? Huh? You heartless ingrate! Are you even human? I’ve worked myself to the bone—”
“I was listening, I was listening!” Su Ning hurriedly surrendered and tried to placate it. “Yawning is a physiological response. I can’t control it. That doesn’t stop me from listening to you properly.”
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll repeat what you just said. What was it?”
The System was only half-convinced.
“Fine. Go ahead.”
Su Ning cleared her throat. “In the real world, I suddenly passed out for no apparent reason. Lin Sen and the others suppressed the news and barely managed to keep the situation under control. Thanks to Lord System’s keen insight, you found the cause and rushed in to help me after going through untold hardships.”
That was indeed an extremely abbreviated version.
However—
Because of certain “points of emphasis,” the System awkwardly decided to believe her. Then it added, “To be fair, it wasn’t entirely this System’s doing. You, the host, played a part too.”
Its tone grew somewhat complicated.
“Um… what did you do to Huo Xiang?” It had only just arrived and did not know what had happened, but the fact that the barrier surrounding Huo Xiang had weakened so drastically clearly meant that he himself had suffered a tremendous shock.
Su Ning evaded the question. “I was just having some fun. It’s not important… Right, how are things outside?”
The System was speechless.
Still, the matter at hand was more important. It answered seriously, “That’s why I’m so anxious. Lin Sen is managing the situation outside, the robots are protecting your safety, and Su Er rushed over at the first opportunity. Nothing will go wrong for the time being, but you have to leave this place as soon as possible.”
“Someone is trying to take advantage of the situation and harm me?”
Su Ning’s expression turned solemn.
Her thoughts raced as she tried to identify the suspicious person or faction. Was it someone from within the country or from abroad? The government? Or perhaps…
“Wrong,” said the System. “I’m worried you’ll starve to death.”
Su Ning: “…?”
“This place runs on the same timeline as the real world. In other words, you haven’t eaten or drunk anything for nearly two days. Oh, and you haven’t used the bathroom either.”
“What!”
Su Ning was devastated.
She had to remember that she had come here in her own body—her own body!
“Hurry. Get me out of here right now.”
“Not yet.”
The System let out a cold laugh. “I’ve figured it out. That fragment of the outside force sensed that something was wrong and made a desperate struggle. It had some effect. There’s only one way to leave—”
“Use Huo Xiang as the breakthrough point.”
“Kill Huo Xiang.”
The woman and the System spoke at the same time.
Su Ning frowned. “But I’m just a frail, delicate woman with no strength to speak of. How am I supposed to defeat Huo Xiang? What if I fail to kill him in one blow? Then I’ll be in trouble.”
“Don’t worry.”
The battle-hardened System automatically ignored the first half of her sentence and spoke meaningfully. “The fact that this System was able to enter means that I can let other people enter as well…”
“You mean…”
…
The Huo family.
They had talked far too late with the System the night before, and Su Ning had no idea when she had finally fallen asleep. By the time she got up, it was already broad daylight. After asking one of the servants, she learned that everyone in the Huo family ate together.
So she brought Half-Immortal Su and the others with her to the main hall.
A large table sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by people. Everyone was smiling and chatting in low voices, creating a warm, harmonious family-dinner scene. At the sound of footsteps, they all stopped at once and turned to look at her.
Su Ning did not feel embarrassed in the slightest.
She raised her brows and spoke first.
“You’re all being ridiculous! Uncle and the others hadn’t even arrived, and you started eating without waiting for me. Do you not consider me part of the family?”
The Huos were furious.
You were the one who got up late. It was already generous of them not to blame you.
And now you were turning the tables on them?
Afraid that another battle would break out, Huo Xiang hurriedly rose and began coaxing her solicitously.
“Don’t be angry. You must be hungry, right? Come over and eat first. We can talk about anything else after you’ve finished, all right?”
He showered her with a string of soothing words.
Only then did Su Ning reluctantly let the matter go.
But she did not stop making trouble during the meal.
That shameless woman, Su Ning, first complained that she would not eat anyone else’s leftovers. When a fresh breakfast was brought out, she said the porridge was too bland, the steamed buns too greasy, and the toast too sweet. After finally taking a liking to a bowl of noodles loaded with toppings, she announced that she did not eat ginger—
“Then I’ll have the kitchen make another bowl without ginger. Will that do?” Huo Xiang said gently, straining to keep his patience.
“No.”
Su Ning huffed. “I’m hungry. Won’t it take time to make another bowl? The solution is right in front of you… Can’t you just pick out the minced ginger?”
Huo Xiang: “…”
“Hurry up. The noodles are going to get cold.”
Su Ning urged him. After thinking for a moment, she added uneasily, “And remember to use a fresh pair of chopsticks. Otherwise it’ll be filthy. That’s disgusting.”
You’re the disgusting one!
His heart was roaring with fury.
Even Huo Xiang had to spend a long while mentally preparing himself before he finally gritted his teeth and picked out the minced ginger for her. Fortunately, Su Ning did not cause any more trouble, and she even awarded him some favorability and luck.
Su Ning: No need to force yourself. This is genuine, heartfelt satisfaction. It feels amazing.
After breakfast, she brought up the idea of going shopping.
“…Oh, right. You’re coming with me too.”
As she spoke, she turned her face away as though embarrassed.
Huo Xiang nodded indulgently.
“All right. I’ll risk life and limb to accompany you today.”
“That’s more like it.”
Su Ning casually reminded him, “And don’t forget to bring plenty of money.”
Huo Xiang: “…”
So he was supposed to pay for everything, was he?
He had guessed correctly.
Su Ning made a point of choosing only the most luxurious shops. The moment she entered one, she waved her hand grandly.
“Bring out the finest things in the store. I have plenty of money.”
Huo Xiang was already too exhausted to comment.
Under the onlookers’ accusing stares, he repeated the same action over and over.
Take out his money. Take out more money. And then take out even more money.
By the end, he was completely numb to it.
Still, his efforts did pay off—
“Huo Xiang, you’re so good to me. No one has ever spent this much money on me before.”
One sentence.
He froze where he stood, nearly weeping with joy.
All the bitterness he had endured over the past two days surged up at once. Although Su Ning was a beast—a beast capable of switching modes—he had still managed to do it!
When he came back to himself, he discovered that Su Ning had disappeared.
“Sir, that young lady is over there.”
The shop assistant pointed toward a certain direction with an odd expression.
Huo Xiang looked over. At a glance, he spotted Su Ning. Thank goodness—she had not gotten lost. He was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when his gaze was helplessly drawn to the person standing beside her.
What a dazzling, peerlessly beautiful young man!
Looking again, he saw that this handsome man who had stolen everyone’s attention was lowering his head and gazing at Su Ning tenderly and passionately, speaking softly to her as though no one else existed.
Huo Xiang: “…?”
