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...What if she really didn't understand the sarcasm?

That couldn't be, was she really that dense?

Or perhaps, she was just that dense?

The taste of the ice cream from the banana split seemed to linger in her mouth.

She had tasted every scoop of ice cream, and even ate one ladyfinger biscuit and a bite of banana.

But that little bear cookie with the smiley face, she hadn't touched it.

The taste wasn't actually that amazing, and Yu Qing couldn't remember why she thought it was so delicious when she was a child; perhaps children just had no resistance to ice cream.

Actually, she seemed like a decent person, too.

Should she apologize to her?

No, no, why apologize? She was the one who forced her to stay up when she didn't want to, and even tried to get physical when she didn't listen; being snapped at was what she deserved.

Xiang Changge was unaware of the internal conflict and struggle happening on the bed in front of her, and Yu Qing's reactions and words didn't seem particularly special to her.

In her view, it was good that Yu Qing got angry and cursed; it was better than her being dead inside, as if nothing could stir her heartstrings.

Since the content she was reading wasn't something she was interested in, Xiang Changge's thoughts began to wander.

"System, you said earlier that you wanted to nuzzle Yu Qing's little face?"

The System, which didn't know why it was suddenly being brought up: "..."

Its electronic voice was laced with a few crackles of static that sounded like a guilty conscience: "W-what, can't I, Tongtong, even think about it!" Thinking wasn't against the law.

"Just thinking?" Xiang Changge asked back, "Do you want to actually try it?"

System: "!"

"What are you trying to do? Don't tell me you're going to say 'you try it on my behalf' next!"

The Plot Rewriting System let out a sharp, piercing shriek as if it had seen a wild boar charging into its vegetable garden: "No, no, no! You are not allowed to do such things to the baby supporting character! The supporting character belongs to everyone!"

Author's note: System: Go away [crying][crying]

Steward Xiang: [lop-eared rabbit head][lop-eared rabbit head]

Little Yu: [question mark][question mark]

-

①② From Suiyuan Shidan

Chapter 17: You actually want me to be a dog for her...

Xiang Changge: "..."

"I'm not you."

She would never do something so impolite and perverted.

System: "...Who are you calling a pervert?"

Xiang Changge looked up at the sky: "So hungry."

The long-suffering System: "Don't pretend you can't hear me!" Not only was she pretending not to hear, but she was also trying to change the subject.

Xiang Changge continued to pretend she couldn't hear.

After a while, the System emitted two beeping, static-filled sounds that resembled human coughing, and then spoke in a drawn-out tone: "8802, what did you mean by what you said earlier?"

Could it be that she really had a way to let it actually nuzzle Yu Qing's little face?

But it was just a system, without a physical body; when it came down to it, it was just a stream of data, or perhaps brain waves. How could it ever truly nuzzle the baby supporting character's little face, wuwuwuwu.

Now Xiang Changge could hear it.

She didn't beat around the bush and said bluntly: "Didn't I ask Yu Qing yesterday whether she wanted to raise a pig or a dog?"

That wasn't just a casual question. Although she did want Yu Qing to be less picky, stop leaving food behind, and eat more, she truly did have plans to get a small pet for Yu Qing.

A miniature pig, a puppy, either would do.

Since Yu Qing felt that there was nothing in this world she was attached to, and therefore had no nostalgia for the world or for life, would letting her raise a small pet and creating a bond for her change her perspective?

After hearing this, the System fell silent, feeling a bit suspicious.

A moment later, the System asked: "You aren't thinking of turning me into some kind of pet, are you?"

Xiang Changge nodded, feeling that the System wasn't actually too dense.

"I've thought about it. Pigs are too smelly when they poop, so that's out. Cats are too aloof, so a puppy is best. They can be clingy and keep people company. Besides, dogs are more intelligent, so it won't arouse suspicion."

"If you can turn into a puppy and stay by Yu Qing's side, you won't just be able to nuzzle her face; you could even lick it. And if we really got her a real dog, we wouldn't know if it would be well-behaved; there are too many uncertain factors."

We wouldn't want to try to heal Yu Qing by getting her a dog, only to end up angering her and driving her away prematurely.

Thinking it over, if this dog could be played by the System, that would be perfect.

The System had intelligence and was on her side. Their "human-system," or rather, "human-dog" cooperation, would surely keep Yu Qing happy every day.

After hearing Xiang Changge's idea, the system fell into silence once again.

A moment later, as if it had finally regained its senses, it exclaimed in shock: "I, Tongtong, a high-intelligence product from a higher dimension—you actually want me to act like a dog?!"

If it had a physical form, it would be jumping up and down on the spot right now, and probably throwing a few punches at Xiang Changge for good measure.

From the past to the present, and into the future, it had never heard of any system acting like a dog for someone!

Is this reasonable? Is this appropriate? Is this even feasible? If word got out, where would it leave the reputation of a plot-rewriting system! It is a system, after all; how could it go and act like a dog for someone!

Xiang Changge remained indifferent to the system's frantic shock, appearing very calm.

Once the system finished speaking, she asked back indifferently: "Is it not okay to act like a dog for Yuqing?"

"Act like a dog for Yuqing?"

The system thought about it again.

"If it's for Yuqing—"

"Acting like a dog for Yuqing is fine, hee hee."

Xiang Changge: "..."

Is this system actually called the "Yuqing-Brain System"? It really feels a bit perverted.

The system: "However..."

Although the two of them—one human and one system—had reached a consensus, there were still difficulties in executing this plan.

The system thought even further ahead: "A dog's lifespan is limited, and it's so much shorter than a human's. In a dozen years or so, wouldn't you have to send me off? It would be very strange if I just kept living forever, wouldn't it?"

Xiang Changge, however, felt it was thinking too far ahead.

"We can deal with future problems in the future. If you can truly win Yuqing's favor, she will definitely find a way to make you live a little longer."

"No matter how much she tries to find a way, I'm just a dog; I can only live for a dozen years at most, right?" If it went on any longer, Yuqing would start to suspect it had become a spirit.

Xiang Changge was very open-minded: "It's fine. By then, maybe technology will have advanced, and you can become a robotic dog."

The system: "..."

Do you think that's reasonable?

But whether it was reasonable or not, it was indeed a very distant matter.

Xiang Changge was multitasking; while talking to the system in her mind, she didn't forget to read poetry aloud. But perhaps her reading was truly terrible; after half an hour, a wide-awake Yuqing turned over and switched to lying flat on her back.

Hearing the movement, Xiang Changge glanced at her and saw her eyes wide open, staring straight at the ceiling.

"..."

Xiang Changge also glanced at the ceiling.

There was nothing there.

Xiang Changge: "...Close your eyes and sleep."

Hearing this, Yuqing turned her head to look over.

With drooping eyelids, dull black eyes, and a pale complexion from an irregular sleep schedule, she looked like a ghost devoid of vitality, or perhaps an office worker who had been working overtime for thirty years straight.

"Can't sleep."

Yuqing, wearing an expression that said life was meaningless, spoke gloomily.

It was bad enough being forced to lie in bed without any sleepiness, but there was also someone by the bedside chanting scriptures like a nest of ants. Those who knew would say Xiang Changge was coaxing her to sleep, but those who didn't might think she was performing a funeral rite.

Was this "bedtime service" really necessary?

Xiang Changge yawned, feeling as though she was about to be coaxed to sleep by herself.

Unfortunately, the person who needed to sleep simply wouldn't.

She closed the book and stared eye-to-eye with Yuqing.

Looking at Yuqing's vacant eyes, Xiang Changge couldn't help but ask: "What do you need to do to fall asleep?"

If she were the one lying there, she wouldn't even need someone to read to her; she could fall asleep in two minutes all by herself.

"You..."

Yuqing instinctively wanted to tell her to leave, but felt that Xiang Changge might not necessarily agree.

When the words reached her lips, she settled for second best and changed them: "Stop talking."

"...Fine."

As long as she lay quietly and cultivated some sleepiness, it didn't matter whether she read or not.

She had come here only to urge her to get to bed and stop doing other things.

Picking up the copy of Suiyuan Shidan she had brought, Xiang Changge lowered her head and began to read in silence.

She really stopped talking?

Then what is she doing here?

Supervising whether she sleeps or not?

When exactly does she plan to leave?

Yuqing stared at Xiang Changge for a few moments.