Chapter 18: Wait For Me to Return

[Host, I’m back!]

The sudden voice in her mind jolted Zhao Xue awake. She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze shifting from hazy to sharp in a matter of seconds.

[You’re back.] Zhao Xue showed no trace of the typical irritability that comes with being woken up.

The System realized it was midnight in this small world and felt a bit sheepish. [Host, did I wake you?]

Zhao Xue shook her head: [No.]

The System was pleased to hear no anger in her voice. It thought to itself: Aside from not following the script, Host actually has a very stable personality.

It had been a bit anxious upon its return, fearing the mission might have failed again. Time flows differently between the Main World and these sub-worlds; while it was gone for only an hour, days had passed here.

The System checked the status: nearly a month had gone by, but the Female Lead’s Death Value hadn’t spiked. It felt inexplicably relieved that it hadn’t hit 99.

Zhao Xue suddenly asked: [System, if I complete the mission, can I stay here and accompany the Female Lead until she’s old?]

The System was taken aback. [Technically yes, but few task-takers waste time in sub-worlds once they’re done. Plus, staying costs half of your mission points.]

[Host, why ask? Have you actually… fallen for the Female Lead?]

Zhao Xue’s lips curled into a faint smile. [I suppose I have, a little.] It was hard to say when it happened—perhaps during their daily routines, a certain kiss, or an accidental lock of eyes. She liked Meng Yao. Maybe it wasn’t “grand love” yet, but she was willing to walk with her until the end.

The System took a deep breath. [Host, the Female Lead is straight. Even if she’s kissing you now, it’s because you can save her grandmother. To put it bluntly, you have utility value. Not to mention, you forced her into this at the start.]

Zhao Xue’s eyes flickered. She got out of bed and changed the subject. [System, I recall you have the ability to interfere with surveillance, right?]

[I do,] the System replied, puzzled by the jump in topics, [but my level is low. I can only maintain it for a very short time.]

[That’s enough.] Zhao Xue dressed quickly, a glint of mischief in her eyes. [Let’s go. We have work to do.]

The System grew wary. [Host, you’re not going to do something illegal, are you?!]

Zhao Xue tiptoed downstairs, her voice light. [Not exactly. Let’s just call it… getting even.]

Bai Jianming’s legs were broken. Inside his own home.

Few people believed it. The surveillance cameras caught nothing. There was simply no trail to follow.

Su Xu’s expression was grim when he rushed to the hospital the next morning. “Jianming, are you absolutely sure?”

Bai Jianming’s face was contorted with malice; the playful smile he usually wore was long gone. “It was Zhao Xue.”

Last night, in a daze of sleep, he had felt someone standing by his bed. Before he could react, his head was covered, he was beaten mercilessly, and finally, his legs were snapped. He hadn’t seen a face, but he was certain it was a woman. That specific fragrance… he had only ever smelled it on Zhao Xue.

Su Xu wanted to believe his friend, but the security at Bai’s residence was top-tier, and the cameras showed no one resembling Zhao Xue. Unless she had scaled the building from the first to the eighth floor—which was humanly impossible.

Still, Su Xu didn’t voice his doubts. He frowned. “I’ll use the Su family’s influence to find out who did this. Should we tell Lin Zhou and the others?”

“No need,” Bai Jianming shook his head. He knew Su Xu didn’t truly believe him. If the roles were reversed, he wouldn’t believe it either. But he knew it was her.

The Bai family wouldn’t exhaust their resources for him over a “ghost” attacker, and the lack of evidence meant Zhao Xue was prepared. He looked at his cast-covered legs, a look of pure hatred flashing in his eyes. He wouldn’t let this go. He wanted Zhao Xue to suffer.

Once Su Xu left, Bai Jianming dialed a number. “Lin Hao, do you want revenge?”

As the surgery date approached, Meng Yao became increasingly restless. The person who was supposed to slash Zhao Xue’s aunt’s hand hadn’t appeared yet, and she couldn’t let her guard down. Her grandmother’s surgery was set for this Sunday.

Meng Yao was wound tight with tension, and Zhao Xue noticed. She stopped pestering Meng Yao for intimacy.

To Meng Yao, however, this looked like Zhao Xue was losing interest. She must be bored of me. Meng Yao tried to ignore the strange ache in her chest and spent more time at the hospital, sometimes sleeping there or skipping class.

Zhao Xue didn’t ask why. Her features were as beautiful as ever, but to Meng Yao, they seemed covered in a layer of frost. She began to avoid Zhao Xue’s gaze.

Zhao Xue’s frown deepened. She felt she had been quite nice to Meng Yao lately. Seeing the girl say a quick goodbye and walk away without looking back, Zhao Xue let out a long sigh.

[Is she bored of you, Host?] the System asked hesitantly.

Zhao Xue looked dejected. [Is this how my first romance ends? With an old soul getting her heart broken?]

System: […] It had watched the replays. It didn’t look like a romance; it looked like a stingy sugar daddy sponsoring a mistress. If it were the Female Lead, it would have slapped the Host long ago.

[You’re really twisting the knife, baby,] Zhao Xue murmured. She thought she’d been doing a great job.

She materialized the System—a soft, white kitten—and let it rest on her lap. Stroking its head, she remarked, [By the way, that interference ability is quite handy.]

The kitten yawned. [Host, please don’t do that again.]

Heaven knew how much the System wanted to give her wings when it saw her climbing the building with her bare hands. It didn’t care about the male lead getting beaten, but the Female Lead was the core of the world. The Host was just too… extreme.

It began to doubt the “ghost” it had bound. Scaling walls, dodging cameras, and jumping from the eighth floor to the first unscathed? Was its Host actually a cat?

“The surgery was a complete success. A few more days of observation and she can be discharged.”

Hearing the doctor’s words, Meng Yao felt an overwhelming urge to cry. After so many resets, her grandmother was finally saved. And it was because of Zhao Xue.

When Zhao Xue returned from the restroom, Meng Yao threw her arms around her.

[Death Value -50] [Death Value: 35/100] [Ding! Mission Complete! 100 Points credited.]

The System was stunned by the massive drop. Is it really that simple? Just cure the grandmother? The goal was to get the value below the safety threshold of 40, which she had now achieved. It realized why the Main System labeled this a “Beginner World.” But then why had the previous hosts failed?

[Ding! Would you like to log out of the mission world?] [No.] [50 Points deducted. Balance: 50]

Zhao Xue rejected the logout without a second thought. [Baby, want to see that Death Value hit zero?] The System was dazed. [I do.]

“Ahem.” A cough came from the side.

Meng Yao snapped out of it and let go, a pure, youthful smile finally gracing her face. “Thank you, Dr. Feng. Thank you so much.”

Feng Yun, Zhao Xue’s aunt, had heard rumors about the two girls but didn’t care. She just wanted Xiaoxue to be happy. “I just did my duty as a doctor,” she said, before turning to Zhao Xue.

“Xiaoxue, how long has it been since you visited your grandfather? You should go see him. The old man isn’t angry anymore; he just doesn’t know how to save face.” Feng Yun smiled meaningfully. “You can even bring your ‘good friend’ along for him to meet.”

Once Feng Yun left, Zhao Xue looked at Meng Yao. The girl had returned to her usual self, yet she was different. After the joy came the apprehension. She remembered every word Zhao Xue had ever said. She wasn’t an ungrateful person; Zhao Xue had helped her immensely, and she couldn’t bring herself to hate her.

Meng Yao whispered, “I’ll move out tomorrow.” She remembered Zhao Xue’s promise: once the surgery was over, she would be free. “Zhao Xue, I just want to ask… do you really not have even a tiny bit of feeling for me?”

Zhao Xue arched an eyebrow, but before she could speak, Meng Yao’s body went limp and she fainted. Zhao Xue caught her.

[System, scan her.] [Female Lead fainted from extreme exhaustion.]

Zhao Xue sighed, holding the girl. “Fainting at the critical moment, really?”

She carried her to a bed and called a nurse for some glucose. While watching over her, her phone rang. It was Zhao Jing.

His voice was thick with suppressed rage: “Zhao Xue, you really treat my words like wind! If you don’t want that student to have an ‘accident,’ get your ass back here immediately!”

Zhao Xue’s gaze turned icy. She didn’t doubt his threat; for people like him, crushing an ordinary person was easy.

She leaned down and kissed the top of Meng Yao’s head. “Wait for me to return. I’ll give you your answer then.”