Chapter 13

Wen Shuangmu had been locking herself in her room right after meals these past few days.Han Chuqiu, worried that her daughter might be troubled, sent Wen Bingyi in to bring Wen Shuangmu some fruit and investigate. As soon as her son came out, she eagerly pulled him to sit on the living room sofa and asked, "Did your sister chat with you about anything? Did she mention if she's been feeling down lately?"

"She's reading world classics," Wen Bingyi dutifully reported. "She also asked me to bring her another bottle of yogurt."

Hearing this, Han Chuqiu realized her worries were unnecessary. She got up to fetch yogurt from the fridge, handed it to Wen Bingyi, and said, "Tell your sister not to study too hard."

At that moment, Wen Shuangmu was sitting cross-legged on her chair, hugging the "world classic" Wen Bingyi had mentioned, her brows furrowed into a Himalayan mountain as she read.

Today, Wu Xiaoqi was unusually quiet, claiming to be undergoing a system version update.

Wen Shuangmu, lacking someone to vent to, managed to find some enjoyment by focusing on the novel's plot itself.

About ten minutes later, a voice resonated in Wen Shuangmu's head:

"Ding dong! System update complete. A new tutorial checklist awaits the host's signature!"

Wu Xiaoqi was brimming with excitement, but Wen Shuangmu didn't respond.

After an awkward silence, Wu Xiaoqi couldn't help but speak first: "What is the host reading?"

"A quick transmigration novel," Wen Shuangmu answered distractedly, flipping to the next page. "Why do all the systems in these stories have point malls for welfare redemption, while yours is so casual without any structure?"

Wu Xiaoqi: "...Didn't I just go for an update?"

Wen Shuangmu's eyes lit up as she closed the book and tossed it onto the table: "Let me see."

Wu Xiaoqi opened the mall page and explained: "The point mall requires the host to bind a cultivation target before it can be unlocked. The previous prize quiz was actually a rookie benefit I sent to the host through irregular operations."

"Is that so? You're so nice."

Wu Xiaoqi: "..."

Could you be any more perfunctory?

Wu Xiaoqi seriously continued: "From now on, Lu Jing's villain points will be converted into usable points for the host in real-time, allowing the host to purchase corresponding function cards in the mall. Currently, the host has 40 points. 2 points can peek at the novel's comment section once, 5 points can unlock 200 words of the current plot chapter, 10 points can redeem a karate black belt enhancement card, 20 points can redeem an 'I am a singer' or 'I am a dancer' card, 30 points can redeem a Qiankun Danuoyi card, and 40 points can redeem a Time Magic card... There are also some daily small props available in the mall for 1-10 points each, with functions not listed here in detail. The host can check them out herself."

Wen Shuangmu silently flipped through the brick-thick quick transmigration novel on the table: "5 points for only 200 words of plot, do you know how many words are in a chapter?"

Wu Xiaoqi: "The host can buy several plot unlock cards to unlock the entire chapter."

Wen Shuangmu smiled: "I only have 40 points in total. If the original author writes filler content, do you think my points grow on trees?"

Wu Xiaoqi consoled: "The host needn't worry about points. System tasks are mainly divided into main tasks and side tasks. The main tasks revolve around hindering the plot development between Xia Zhili and Su Qiyan, linked to villain points. Completely breaking up Xia Zhili and Su Qiyan equals 100 villain points, considered task completion. Side tasks are triggered based on the plot, with the final reward points determined by the task difficulty coefficient. The host can accumulate points through numerous side tasks."

Wen Shuangmu felt reassured and satisfied. She scrolled through the mall interface, finding most function card names easy to understand, but—

"What's this Qiankun Danuoyi card for?"

Wu Xiaoqi gave an example: "Suppose Su Qiyan is having a wet dream about Xia Zhili right now, the host can replace the object with herself."

Wen Shuangmu: "...You're so dirty."

Wu Xiaoqi chuckled: "Young and frivolous, you know. It's the same in reality. If the host wants to experience what Su Qiyan does to Xia Zhili in his copywriting, you can use the Qiankun Danuoyi card when the event occurs to replace the wall-pinning object with yourself."

Wen Shuangmu couldn't quite imagine that scene. She coughed and changed the subject: "What about this Time Magic card? Can it traverse time at will?"

Wu Xiaoqi explained: "The Time Magic card can be subdivided into three functional types: time acceleration card, time deceleration card, and time freeze card. Each card can only be used once. Due to the high point cost, it's advised that the host use them cautiously."

Wen Shuangmu had more or less grasped the mall mechanism: "Give me a plot unlock card now."

With a "ding", Wen Shuangmu's points decreased by 5, and a plot unlock card appeared in her inventory.

Wu Xiaoqi asked: "Does the host want to use it now?"

Thinking of herself as a wealthy person with 40 points, Wen Shuangmu said generously: "Go ahead."

Wu Xiaoqi loaded the file, and within seconds, a chapter filled with mosaic appeared before Wen Shuangmu's eyes.

Wu Xiaoqi said: "This is the third chapter of the novel corresponding to the current time node. The host can decide which part she wants to unlock."

Wen Shuangmu didn't rush to make a decision. She flipped through two quick transmigration books on the table for reference. After careful consideration, she said: "Don't these authors always know how to end chapters on cliffhangers? The chapter endings are usually the plot climax points, so give me the last part."

Wu Xiaoqi precisely extracted the last 200 words:

[The people at the booth saw Zhou Yu come in alone and immediately teased:

"What's going on, Brother Yu? Didn't you say you were going to bet on confessing at noon? Why isn't the little fairy with you? Don't tell me the great romance master suffered a crushing defeat."

"The little fairy didn't show up."

Zhou Yu rubbed the back of his neck and sat down in the space the others had cleared for him.

"Oh, this freshman little sister has quite the self-control."

"Maybe she's playing hard to get..."

Zhou Yu didn't respond. In his mind flashed those bright, defiant eyes from outside the alley. With unclear emotions surging in his eyes, he chuckled softly and said in a voice only he could hear: "But I met a spicy little pepper..."]

"!!!"

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"Why did you show me something so spicy!"

"Don't tell me the author describes me like that too!"

Wu Xiaoqi innocently replied: "This involves spoilers. The host will know when she unlocks the chapters related to herself."

Wen Shuangmu felt she could never look at chili peppers the same way again. She banged her head on the table twice: "Wasted my 5 points and gained a psychological shadow."

She asked: "Does the mall sell any degreaser?"

Wu Xiaoqi: "Yes, but it costs 3 points."

"...Never mind then."

Wen Shuangmu still felt a bit upset: "No, unlock another part for me. This time, from the middle."

With another "ding", her points decreased by 5 again.

Wen Shuangmu chose carefully, looking through the mosaic shadows to find a paragraph that seemed to contain a lot of information.

[Mingli had a long history, with plane trees and ginkgo trees lining both sides of the alumni road, towering and forming dense forests.

The cicadas chirped noisily in the summer, and the heat shimmered.

The sprinklers on the lawn turned on, water droplets scattered, reflecting dazzling thin light, adding a touch of coolness.

Xia Zhili walked along the road under the green shade. Not far ahead was a school creative products store, crowded with students inside and out.

...]

"Why is it all environmental descriptions?"

Wen Shuangmu gave up halfway through and leaned back in her chair.

Wu Xiaoqi said: "The essence of campus novels and even contemporary romance lies in atmosphere creation. Environmental description is the most basic and useful technique."

"I think you're just making excuses," Wen Shuangmu mercilessly exposed. "This game is unplayable. Do whatever you want, I quit."

Wu Xiaoqi persuaded: "Don't give up, host."

"With this unlocking method, we can't get any useful information," Wen Shuangmu looked up at the ceiling. "Let's just end it all. Hurry up and kill me, I don't want to do this villain task anymore."

Wu Xiaoqi, not having completed this year's KPI, naturally wouldn't let Wen Shuangmu fall: "It won't be like that, host. When it comes to crucial plot points, I'll still give the host some small hints. If we don't waste points on these daily chapters in the future, we'll slowly save up, right?"

Wen Shuangmu heard the assurance she wanted and was reluctantly satisfied, but still felt a bit sore about the 10 points she had just wasted.

"Didn't you say I could earn points by completing side quests? What kind of quests?" Wen Shuangmu applied what she had just learned from the quick transmigration novel about the study god system space. "Do I need to complete some test papers, or memorize a few passages from 'Xiaoyao You' and 'Chibi Fu'?"

"Host is already a top student, memorizing texts would be like giving away free points."

Wu Xiaoqi said, "Side quests can only be triggered by relevant plot events, and their appearance is quite random. Host needn't worry, just wait patiently."

"Fine then." Wen Shuangmu picked up the quick transmigration novel on the table and continued reading. She deliberately poked at the pages while addressing Wu Xiaoqi, "Look, other people's systems can directly view the original plot, and every task is laid out clearly. But with ours, we have to spend points to unlock, and then I'm left guessing on my own."

"Can't be helped," Wu Xiaoqi replied. "The purpose of our 6868 system isn't to be a cheat code for the host's path to happiness, but to provide minimal guidance."

Wen Shuangmu: "6868?"

Wu Xiaoqi: "That's right. If the host prefers cheat codes, you'd actually be more suited to the 001 system. That was our first-generation system, created with the sole principle of—just have fun. However, the new era emphasizes self-reliance, so these first-generation systems have been completely phased out and can only handle behind-the-scenes management tasks."

Wen Shuangmu: "..."

Impressive.

At the Lu family villa.

Xia Yun brought a glass of juice and placed it on Lu Jing's desk.

Noticing the pile of new books stacked in the corner of his desk, she asked curiously:

"Son, why haven't you been reading works by Tiancan Tudou and Mao Ni lately?"

Lu Jing replied, "I've switched to a new author."

"Oh? Which one?"

Lu Jing flipped to the cover to confirm the pen name: "Teacher Xihe."

"How is this author?"

Lu Jing thought for a moment and said, "She doesn't seem very good at writing villains."

Yes, Xihe is me, *dog head emoji*