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Join the Server“That’s absolutely wonderful, Host! I never imagined Yun Xueshang would conjure up your origins entirely on her own, let alone successfully convince Hua Yan! We can finally remain hidden for a while longer!”
Having observed the two by the river, the little system, which had been fraught with anxiety for so long, immediately burst into cheers.
“…”
“Mn.”
Hua Xiangrong softly hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze lowered. She unconsciously stirred the osmanthus fermented rice wine before her, the spoon clinking gently against the bowl.
Lamplight danced within the glistening liquid, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow.
Then, she suddenly called out in a low voice.
“099.”
“Tell me… are the people in this world truly real?”
“Huh? Host, haven’t I explained this before? Although we are in a novel’s world, this world and everyone within it are, without a doubt, genuinely real.”
Though a little perplexed, 099 responded earnestly.
“This involves complex theories of the multiverse and dimensional planes. Simply put, a novel world automatically comes into existence when the author finishes writing it, forming a complete small world.”
“However, if a novel’s plot contains significant flaws — like the female-lead novel we’re currently in — the world faces collapse due to illogical plot progression. That’s when our System Bureau intervenes, collaborating with transmigrators to rewrite the unreasonable, tragic endings.”
“The System Bureau also gains a vast amount of energy from saving worlds, which helps improve the system world. My salary, and the resources in the Host’s shop, all come from this process.”
“Surely the Host understands now? Even though it’s a novel world, it is indeed a real world, and the people within it are, of course, living beings.”
“…”
Hua Xiangrong remained silent for a moment.
“Yes, alright, I understand. Thank you, 099.”
“You’re most welcome, Host! Answering the Host’s queries is precisely the system’s duty!”
The little system’s voice carried a hint of pride, as if it were delighted to finally be useful for something other than acting as a camera.
“099, I… I was actually wondering if I’ve caused trouble for Mother and the others?”
“Ah? Why would the Host say that?”
099 was utterly bewildered by its host’s unusual behavior today.
“Before, I genuinely treated this world-saving mission like a game, viewing everyone here as NPCs in an open world… That’s why I did something as chaotic as reincarnating as someone else’s non-existent daughter.”
“But in this time, be it Baizhi’s choice, Mother and Niangqin’s conversation, or even your explanation just now, 099, everything has made me realize that this is no game at all.”
“And the people I interact with daily aren’t just NPCs; everyone here is a living, breathing person of flesh and blood.”
She lifted her gaze, glancing at Qu Linglong and Lin Qianqian, who had already begun sipping tea and playing chess nearby. Then, she lowered her head again, staring blankly at the swirling fermented rice wine in her bowl.
“Has my arrival disrupted Mother and Niangqin’s lives, causing them distress? After all, I’m not their true daughter, yet they… they seem to genuinely care for me, genuinely treating me as their own. Is this… unfair to them?”
“No, not at all! Host, you must cheer up!”
The little system immediately retorted.
“We are here to save the world, and you’ve already successfully taken the first step! You saved the people of Yunjing, and you saved Qu Linglong’s life! Host, you are not trouble!”
“Besides, Yun Xueshang and Hua Yan genuinely adore you and treat you as their daughter. You can truly be their daughter and honor them well! There’s absolutely no need to wallow in self-pity!”
“Perhaps before, Host merely approached this with a playful mindset, but now it’s different. You can start now to truly connect with everyone in this world! 099 believes it’s not too late to change, starting now!”
As the little system spoke, it transformed into a tiny blue orb of light, invisible to everyone but Hua Xiangrong. It floated before her, extending its matchstick-like data hands, holding a small data pom-pom, and cheering her on.
“Go, Host! Fight! Fight!”
“…”
“Pfft, thank you, 099.”
Hua Xiangrong chuckled, amused by it, then reached out to pat her own cheeks.
“099, you’re right, I won’t wallow in self-pity! Whether for Mother and Niangqin, or for myself—we are going to save the world!”
“Since they genuinely treat me as their daughter, I will genuinely treat them as my mothers. I will protect them well! As for my true origins, although I haven’t figured out how to tell them yet, I will personally inform them one day!”
“Ah, no.”
She paused, then picked up the bowl of osmanthus fermented rice wine from the table, tilting her head back to drink it all in one gulp.
“They aren’t truly married yet! So I still need to play matchmaker and strengthen their bond!”
“Hua Xiangrong! Fight!”
The small, pink-haired girl stood with her hands on her hips, holding the empty bowl, her eyes sparkling with a bright smile.
***
[I say, Fellow Daoist Qu, what is Rongrong doing?]
Nearby, Lin Qianqian secretly peeked at Hua Xiangrong, who had suddenly stood up, striking a pose and smiling with exceptional brilliance. She quietly transmitted her query to Qu Linglong.
[Uh… I don’t know either. Perhaps, this is just a child’s usual fantasy? Rongrong… was she just fantasizing about defeating a powerful and evil enemy?]
Qu Linglong also looked perplexed, scratching her head as she transmitted her reply.
***
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Hua Yan listened as Yun Xueshang uttered the exact same words as her, and only after staring at her cool, clear face for a good while did she nod, thoroughly pleased.
‘Excellent. This one is as responsible as I am. Given that, once we return to the valley, even if Rongrong isn’t her biological child, she will certainly strive to be a good Niangqin.’
‘Wait… return to the valley…?’
Hua Yan suddenly froze, realizing a crucial point.
“Xueshang, since Rongrong isn’t your child… then your agreement to return to the valley with me was because…?”
The red-haired girl asked hesitantly.
“It was because at that time, I believed Rongrong was your daughter, and having been absent from you and your daughter’s lives for nearly a decade, I felt it my duty to do my best to compensate and fulfill my responsibilities as a mother.”
Yun Xueshang replied candidly.
“However, Yan’er, rest assured, even now that I know the truth, this agreement still stands.”
‘It was for responsibility…’
‘Doesn’t that mean…’
‘—Yun Xueshang didn’t agree to return with me because she *liked* me at all?!’
Hua Yan’s eyes snapped wide open, her face a mask of disbelief.
To be safe, she cautiously probed again.
“Then, then what if, after you return to the valley with me, my grandmother misunderstands our situation and insists that, that we get married?”
“So, Yan’er was worried about this.”
Yun Xueshang nodded in sudden realization, then earnestly stated, “Rest assured, I will explain our relationship clearly to your grandmother and absolutely prevent any marriage from happening.”
Seeing the other party frozen in silence, she gently added, “After returning to the valley, we can also live together respectfully, without truly being wives. I won’t restrict you; if you wish to find another Dao Companion, you are free to do so… I merely wish to stay by Rongrong’s side as a mother.”
Hua Yan: “…”
After a long moment of silence, the red-haired girl turned and walked away without a word.
‘Ahhhhhhh! She doesn’t like me at all! What were all those things I’ve been overthinking these past few days?!’
Hua Yan, her back to Yun Xueshang, bit down on her lower lip, her entire face, including her delicate earlobes, burning crimson. The shame threatened to seep from her skin.
“Eh? Yan’er, wait for me… don’t walk so fast.”
The white-haired girl, her sword on her back, looked bewildered as she chased after the rapidly retreating, graceful figure in the night.
“Get lost! Stay far away from me! And don’t you dare call me Yan’er again!”
You’ve got to see this next! Star Switch Scandal will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : Star Switch Scandal
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