CH 45

The fastest speed at which one can get exposed.

“That’s right.” The system very proudly pointed at the book in its hand: “This is a masterpiece that I purposefully scraped from a certain renowned literary website of the twenty-first century. With numerous readers and positive reviews, this self-help book guarantees the experience of a stay-at-home vacation. A must-read for successfully flirting with the subject of one’s affections.”

The system’s words were filled with pride. As Bai Zhi listened and listened, he felt that something was not quite right.

“But…uncle.” He spoke up: “Every time you recommend something to me this confidently, I always end up getting pitted.

“I definitely won’t be fooled again.”

Hearing this, the system’s hand that was holding the small apron trembled slightly: “Nephew you’re actually doubting me!”

Bai Zhi nodded very unashamedly.

“You–!” A certain mature single system who felt that its own dignity had suffered a severe challenge was so infuriated it immediately leapt three feet high:

“How can something I prepared so carefully have issues, the issues are all on you, if it were someone else then I swear everything would have been fine.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course!”

“Then…” Bai Zhi licked his lips: “Isn’t it better to have someone else wear the maid’s apron?”

“Hn, fine then.” The system said disdainfully: “Just fine someone we both trust to wear it.” 

“Easy peasy.” Bai Zhi tilted his head: “Isn’t there someone like that in front of me?”

System: “En?”

……

The next day.

The sunlight shone through the treetops, filtering through the crowded leaves. Gesius led his white horse to the river to let it drink water. He was just planning on resting a bit before continuing on his journey to save the princess when a swishing noise came from behind him.

He immediately became alert. In the blink of an eye, he drew his sword and looked behind him, his tone carrying several hints of warning:

“Who’s there?”

A foot slowly extended from the tree behind him that was as thick as several people. Gesius narrowed his eyes, and before he could go closer, a fat round body rolled out.

With a face willing to face death, the system casually straightened its wig and smoothed out the wrinkles on its small floral apron. Twisting its waist and tossing its head as if it were dancing, it walked up in a flurry:

“Hello, I am a maid, and my name is Dora. My master and I were just passing by and wanted to be friends with you so that we could travel together for the rest of our journey.”

Gesius looked at the “maid” in front of him who was as wide as she was tall. The corner of his mouth twitched indiscernibly:

“Your…master?”

Bai Zhi, who was hiding behind the tree, had cautiously extended his head and had been motionlessly watching the development in front of him. Hearing Gesius say these words, he instantly darted out, coughed a few times, and said:

“Hello, I am a florist of the small town Ceci, my name is Bai Zhi, I am twenty-two years old this year, I am single, and I have a house but no car.”

Gesius who felt that this sounded familiar somehow: “…”

“You guys…do you know where I am going?” Gesius furrowed his brow, saying: “The place I’m headed to is the evil dragon’s lair, it is exceedingly dangerous there.”

“What a coincidence, we are too!” Bai Zhi instantly said: “We heard…we heard that the evil dragon has the best blossoms in the world, we’re going there to chase after those.”

Gesius withdrew the sword in his hand, thought for a while, and didn’t feel that anything was off. So he simply nodded: “…Alright.”

However, a few hours later, Gesius would regret this decision.

This self-proclaimed florist Bai Zhi had no eyes for flowers at all. Instead, he seemed quite interested in this knight that he was half-acquainted with, asking after his well-being and talking endlessly. He was so attentive it was like he was plotting or something.

As for the maid with the strange appearance, Gesius’s felt very complicated.

Over the course of their journey, this maid had stepped and tripped because of her dress nine times, gotten her dress dirty while eating four times, and ripped her dress from excessively large movements two times. All in all, it was as if… as if she wasn’t a normal person.

It seemed like there were problems in several places.

Strange.

The quick-witted commander of the knights keenly became aware of something.

On the other side, Bai Zhi and the system remained completely unaware that they were about to be exposed and were still naively doing their best to perform.

The system held up its tattered dress as it walked, glanced at the pitch-black sky, and quietly whispered in Bai Zhi’s ear:

“In a while, let’s find somewhere where I can change into another dress.”

Bai Zhi didn’t understand: “Systems can also be shy?”

“Of course not.” The system said as if it were obvious: “I am afraid that I will be noticed. If that happens, our performance will be seen through, silly.”

Bai Zhi had a sudden realization: “I understand!”

So Bai Zhi and the system took the opportunity to leave their original position while Gesius was sleeping. Just as the sound of the two people’s footsteps faded away, Gesius opened his eyes and stared directly in the direction Bai Zhi left in. His expression flickered and he then slowly drew his sword and followed, walking soundlessly behind Bai Zhi.

Bai Zhi and the system assessed the surroundings for quite a while before determining that there was no one in the vicinity. The system simply took off its dress nimbly, pulled out another one with a whoosh, and proceeded to change into it.

Bai Zhi crossed his legs and watched his uncle’s on-stage costume change with great interest. Just so that he wouldn’t forget, Bai Zhi asked a question:

“Uncle, why do you have so many dresses?”

Hearing this, the system patted its chest proudly: “I prepared these for my future romantic partner of course!” 

“Okay then.” Bai Zhi picked up a bell on the ground that had been thrown aside by the system. He shook it before extending his tail and hanging the bell on it.

“Uncle, look, isn’t the sound nice?”

“It sounds nice.” The system complimented him very sincerely: “If you walk back like this, we will just end up getting noticed, eh?”

Bai Zhi: “…Okay then, I’ll drop it.”

After saying this, he reluctantly put down the small bell.

From his position behind a rock where he had been quietly spying on them, Gesius’s eyes widened.

His eyes definitely had not deceived him.

In that moment just now, the thing that had appeared behind this florist…

That was the tail that belonged only to the evil dragon.

Startled and shocked, Gesius couldn’t help tightening the grip around his sword.

What was the evil dragon doing following him?