Waking Up as Qian Xunji

When Lin Qianxun opened his eyes, he found himself staring straight into a pair of huge, sparkling eyes.

The eighteen-year-old girl's face was close at hand, her fair skin tinged with a faint blush.

Her well-tailored Saintess Robe outlined curves that were still youthful, yet already beginning to blossom.

"Teacher, what's wrong?" Bibi Dong blinked.

Lin Qianxun—no, he should be called Qian Xunji now—felt his brain crash on the spot.

Just last night, he had stayed up all night complaining about the plot of Douluo Continent. When he woke up, he had become one of the most hated villains in the entire story.

The pathetic Pope fated to be sent to his grave by his own disciple.

But wait...

He carefully studied the girl before him.

Her gaze was as clear as that of a female college student who had just graduated.

Most importantly—Yu Xiaogang!

That theory master Bibi Dong could never forget had not appeared yet!

"Teacher?"

Bibi Dong's cheeks reddened beneath his stare. She awkwardly looked away. "Wh-what are you looking at?"

Qian Xunji snapped back to himself and blurted out, "I was looking at why my disciple is so pretty."

The air suddenly fell silent...

Bibi Dong froze where she stood.

Her teacher, who always wore a stern face and trained her until she questioned her entire life, had just... complimented her looks?

Qian Xunji also realized something was wrong and hurried to patch things up.

"Cough, cough."

"I mean, today is your eighteenth birthday."

Still petrified, Bibi Dong nodded blankly.

"Tonight, your teacher will take you around Spirit City."

"...Huh?"

"What? You don't want to?"

Qian Xunji felt uneasy. Had he gone too out of character?

"I-I do." Bibi Dong nodded. "Thank you, Teacher!"

"No need to thank me. It's what a teacher should do."

"I'll come find you tonight."

"Ah... okay."

She gave him a dazed salute, turned around with the same arm and leg moving together, and nearly tripped over the threshold when she reached the door.

Watching the girl flee in embarrassment, Qian Xunji finally could not hold back his laughter.

The next second, a translucent panel suddenly appeared before his eyes.

["Douluo: Change the Ending" System successfully bound!]

[Newbie Mission: Overturn the original plot and prevent Bibi Dong from falling into darkness]

[Current Progress: 0%]

[Warm Reminder: Host, please maintain your character setting. Excessive out-of-character behavior may arouse suspicion.]

[Of course, the occasional "personality shift" can be explained as... a midlife crisis.]

Qian Xunji: "..."

A midlife crisis, my ass!

He rubbed his chin and looked out at Spirit City's bustling streets beyond the window. A bold plan gradually took shape.

In the original story, Qian Xunji had forcibly kept Bibi Dong by imprisoning her, only to raise an enemy who would never rest until one of them died.

So what if he took a different approach?

With delicious food, shopping trips, and meticulous care... what if he pampered the future Rakshasa God into a lovesick fool devoted to him?

That actually sounded kind of interesting.

Night fell, and Spirit City was ablaze with lights.

Bibi Dong stood at the entrance to her chambers and changed outfits three times.

In the end, she chose a simple light-purple dress. She looked herself over again and again in a crystal mirror, nervously clutching the hem of her skirt.

Her teacher had never concerned himself with such trivial matters, much less accompanied her on a shopping trip.

Had the sun risen in the west today?

Or was this... some new kind of training?

A test of her focus in a noisy environment?

"Dong'er."

A gentle voice called out. Bibi Dong looked up and froze again.

Qian Xunji had shed his signature Pope Robe and changed into simple casual clothes embroidered with silver patterns.

His golden hair was loosely tied behind his head, with a few stray locks falling over his forehead. He actually looked... rather dashing?

"What are you spacing out for?"

"Let's go."

"Okay..." The lovestruck girl came back to herself, lowered her head, and followed beside Qian Xunji.

Spirit City's night market was livelier than expected.

Enticing aromas drifted from snack stalls, while street performers drew waves of applause.

"Two candied hawthorn skewers." Qian Xunji took out some soul coins.

"Teacher, those are too childish..." Bibi Dong said quietly.

Qian Xunji suddenly realized that he had forgotten he was supposed to be the lofty Pope.

"But if Teacher buys them, I might eat one."

"Then I'll buy them for you."

After buying the candied hawthorns, Qian Xunji stuffed them into her hand without giving her a chance to refuse.

Bibi Dong bit into one. The sweet-and-sour flavor melted across her tongue.

She secretly glanced at the person beside her.

"Dong'er, try this."

Qian Xunji then handed her a meat skewer. He was carrying sesame flatbread, rose cakes, honey-preserved berries... He looked like a walking snack rack.

"Teacher, you've been..." Bibi Dong could not help saying, "very strange today."

Qian Xunji took a bite of sesame flatbread. "Your teacher was wrong before. I was too harsh."

"From now on..."

"You should smile more, eat more, and be happy."

Bibi Dong's nose suddenly stung.

Since childhood, she had been chosen as the Saintess and burdened with heavy responsibilities.

Everyone had told her to be strong, dignified, and a model for Spirit Hall.

Only today had someone told her to be happy.

"Teacher."

"Did you... suffer some kind of shock?"

Qian Xunji choked on his sesame flatbread and coughed violently.

[Warning! Character deviation level too high!]

The system panel flashed frantically.

"Cough, cough. Your teacher simply came to an understanding all of a sudden."

He spoke nonsense with a perfectly serious expression. "The path of cultivation requires a balance between exertion and rest."

"Starting today, on every monthly rest day, your teacher will take you out for a walk."

Bibi Dong's eyes lit up again. "Really?"

"Of course."

"When has your teacher ever lied to you?"

The two walked along the canal, where soul lanterns carrying prayers floated over the water.

Qian Xunji bought a lotus lantern and handed it to Bibi Dong. "Make a wish."

Holding the lantern, Bibi Dong closed her eyes with a devout expression.

Qian Xunji watched her, and an uncomfortable feeling suddenly rose in his heart.

In the original story, no one had ever taken this girl's wishes seriously.

She wished to be with Yu Xiaogang, only for the original owner of this body to tear them apart.

She wished to protect Spirit Hall, only to end up abandoned by everyone.

She wished to become a god, only to descend into madness amid loneliness.

"I've made my wish."

Bibi Dong opened her eyes and gently pushed the lantern into the water.

"What did you wish for?"

"Teacher, it won't come true if I say it out loud."

On the way back, Bibi Dong grew sleepy and leaned her head against the carriage window.

Moonlight fell across the sleeping girl's face, peaceful and beautiful.

[Mission Progress Updated: 10%]

[Achievement Unlocked: "The First Step of Pampering"]

[Reward: God-Level Culinary Arts (includes the complete theoretical guide Win Her Stomach, Win Her Heart)]

The next second, an entire culinary encyclopedia appeared in Qian Xunji's mind, every step of countless dishes perfectly imprinted within it.

The system really got him.

He sighed and looked up at the night sky.

In the original story, Qian Xunji died at Bibi Dong's hands, while Bibi Dong died at Tang San's hands. Each met a worse end than the last.

But things were different now.

Since he was here, those tragedies would never happen again.

Yu Xiaogang?

Go cool off somewhere else.

Tang San?

Be a good little filial son.

"Teacher..." Bibi Dong murmured in her sleep.

"Hmm?"

"You're so fierce..."

Qian Xunji could not help laughing as he draped his coat over her.

The carriage stopped at the entrance to Spirit Hall.

Under the clear moonlight, Qian Xunji carried Bibi Dong—who had already been woken up but was still pretending to sleep—toward the Saintess Hall.

Bibi Dong's body was stiff as a plank in his arms.

Though she looked calm on the surface, a raging sea had already risen in her heart.