A New Script

Rouge and powder.

Their greatest purpose was to cover the marks time left on one's face.

And Bibi Dong was recommending these things to the still-young Tang Yuehua. Her intention was obvious.

You're old. If you don't start using something, how can you compete with my youthful, collagen-filled, all-natural skin?

Tang Yuehua understood the hidden meaning and ground her teeth in anger. The only pity was that she couldn't do anything to this Saintess of the Spirit Hall—not even mock her.

But...

As one of the only two people among the three who currently had a brain,

Tang Yuehua naturally noticed that Bibi Dong's gaze lingered on Lu Mingchuan several times more than it did on her.

You want Lu Mingchuan to stay here? Let's see if I'll let you get your way.

Although she didn't know why Bibi Dong wanted Lu Mingchuan to stay in the Spirit Hall, Tang Yuehua wasn't about to let Bibi Dong have things her way so easily.

"Mingchuan, since Her Highness the Saintess has something to do, how about I teach you some things Her Highness the Saintess definitely doesn't know?"

As Tang Yuehua spoke, she shot Bibi Dong a flirtatious wink that clearly said, You know what I mean.

[Things I don't know?]

[Are you kidding me? Is there anything the two of you know that I don't? I know you two as well as the Creator does—even better than you know yourselves.]

[That's the skill of an off-the-rails Best Actor.]

Lu Mingchuan raised an eyebrow.

Did they really think he'd been restarting the script over and over just for fun?

Was there anything about these two women that he didn't know?

Both women blushed with embarrassment when they heard him.

That bastard's words were far too suggestive.

What did he mean, he knew them better than they knew each other?

"All right, little sister Yuehua, stop teasing Mingchuan." Bibi Dong put an arm around Tang Yuehua's shoulders. "You're going to keep the domain active with me all day."

Tang Yuehua's mouth fell open wide enough to fit an egg.

You want a useless person—with only nine levels of Soul Power, no less—to keep a domain active for an entire day?

Even a workhorse wouldn't be treated like that!

Bibi Dong, have a conscience!

But under the tyrannical might of the Spirit Hall's Saintess, Tang Yuehua had no choice but to stay. She nodded bitterly. "Right, Mingchuan. The Saintess and I hit it off at first sight. You should go home by yourself."

Lu Mingchuan shrugged. He hadn't planned on going to Moonlight Pavilion with Tang Yuehua anyway.

Wasn't going home better? Why would he want to go to that place where you got sleepy as soon as you walked in?

"Fine by me. I'll head off, then."

Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang's plotlines had already fallen apart this badly, but whatever. He could draw a new script identity from his System now.

Soon, he'd be facing these protagonists with a new identity.

Without another word, Lu Mingchuan turned and left.

Bibi Dong shifted her gaze from him to Tang Yuehua, whom he'd praised.

Maybe I can win her over.

Although she wasn't the right gender, she had neither talent nor strength. No matter how capable her clan was, they wouldn't treat her particularly well.

After all, she was one of the only two people he'd praised as being smart, even after being insulted by him so many times.

"Yuehua, Mingchuan's left. Why don't you come to my room? How about a little private chat between sisters?"

Tang Yuehua's eyes were full of refusal, because she sensed a strange emotion.

But under Bibi Dong's tugging,

she could only let herself be dragged along.

Outside the Spirit Hall, Lu Mingchuan stretched.

He gazed at the familiar guards with a rueful expression.

Goodbye, my hardworking buddies. Next time, I might not be your Young Master Lu anymore.

Maybe you'll have to call me Little Lu.

He headed toward Lu Mansion.

"Steward!!"

"Young Master!!"

Old Butler spread his arms, trying to hug Lu Mingchuan.

Lu Mingchuan immediately shoved him away with the back of his hand.

"Steward, what's with that attitude? What kind of decorum is it for two grown men to hug each other?"

Lu Mingchuan shook his head. This Old Butler really was something.

Old Butler froze in place, hugging himself as he stepped back. "Young Master, I'm normal too, you know."

Unreliable. This butler was completely unreliable.

Lu Mingchuan didn't know whether Old Butler would be reliable after his script identity changed.

"Get some sleep, Steward. Maybe you won't be a steward tomorrow morning."

After saying that, Lu Mingchuan headed to his room, leaving Old Butler behind, utterly bewildered.

As soon as he entered his room, Lu Mingchuan called up the System.

"Didn't you say there were still a few days? How come it's ready in less than a day?"

[This identity is relatively simple. Compared with your current identity, it's a little simpler. When you wake up tomorrow morning, you'll see a whole new you.]

Lu Mingchuan had no objections to what the System said.

As a gatekeeper, he had a gatekeeper's plotline.

Other identities had their own plotlines too. He was fine with any of them.

"What about the script? Let me see it."

[You'll be able to see the script after your new identity loads tomorrow. It hasn't started yet today.]

Lu Mingchuan's anticipation for tomorrow soared. This was his first time seeing a new script load.

He leaped onto the bed and flopped down, letting out a contented sigh.

[Martin, Martin, every morning when you wake up.]

[Hehe... Tomorrow morning, I'll get to be the amazing Martin too.]

Spirit Hall, Saintess's room.

Though Bibi Dong and Tang Yuehua were both inside the domain, the moment they heard Lu Mingchuan's thoughts, their hearts—calmed by the domain—came alive again.

Who was Martin?

Just from his name, both women thought he sounded like someone from the Star Luo Empire.

But Lu Mingchuan had called him amazing, so he must have some kind of special ability.

They just didn't know how amazing he had to be to make such an impression on Lu Mingchuan.

[Sigh, Dongzi, Huazi, tomorrow you won't be able to see me...]

Bibi Dong immediately puffed out her chest.

What did that guy mean?

Was he going to pack up and run away?

Could someone have bullied Lu Mingchuan while she wasn't around, leaving him heartbroken and wanting to leave?

But that didn't make sense. With Lu Mingchuan's current reputation as a spoiled young master, there was no way anyone would bully him.

Tang Yuehua was thinking too. Lu Mingchuan had seemed to be pondering something while they spent time together today. Could he have been thinking about leaving?

Then her hopes for the future would have no real advantage. Without Lu Mingchuan's thoughts, she'd have to go back to being the useless talent who only ran Moonlight Pavilion.

[By then, you'll only see the new me.]

[Huazi, you were right. You can only teach me lessons in calming my mind today. Tomorrow, you won't have to teach me anymore.]

Tang Yuehua and Bibi Dong squeezed their eyes shut.

They were deeply conflicted about Lu Mingchuan's thoughts.

They had no idea what he meant, and they didn't care about any of it.

The only thing they needed to care about was something they couldn't go ask him about right now.

All Bibi Dong could do now was meditate until dawn and see what happened.

As for everyone else—namely, Tang Yuehua, who had to keep the domain active—

today was all about sacrificing herself to keep the Saintess company.

That evil little brat from the Spirit Hall.