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Shen Baili: "...You're amazing. Keep it up."

The system: "Will do!"

The bonus chapters had revealed quite a bit. Shen Baili asked, "So if you have enough energy to resist the original plot, we can survive? Will my mom still get cancer?"

"Yes. As long as the system maintains its energy, the host won't be at the mercy of the plot."

"Once my energy reaches 100%, you'll be completely free of the plot. We'll both be free." The system spoke honestly, longing creeping into its voice.

Shen Baili dug her nails into her palm. "I understand."

She kept telling herself: Shen Baili, you can do this. You can change your fate.

You've been doing so well.

Shen Baili wasted no time. "Can you see the two obsessions that lit up?"

If fulfilling obsessions was how she replenished the system's energy, she needed to know what they were.

The system: "No. I can only see their progress."

Shen Baili gained a deeper appreciation of how badly damaged the system was. "...How many obsessions do I have in total?"

Until now, she had assumed she only had one. Reality suggested otherwise.

What is the Obsession System, some kind of saint? Does it grant all my wishes?

The system: "I think it's strange too. You're an exception."

"The more obsessions there are, the more scattered the energy becomes. There shouldn't have been enough to wake me at all."

"I suspect that because you made progress on two obsessions at once, my energy rose so quickly."

Shen Baili: "So you're saying I have two obsessions to fulfill?"

The system: "Unless something unexpected happens, yes."

Shen Baili: "Did the update restore any useful functions? A shop, maybe? Or rewards?"

The system: "I don't have those functions~ But after the update, I can guarantee I won't suddenly go offline while we're chatting."

Shen Baili: "..."

"Strange?" the system said, puzzled.

"What is it?" Shen Baili asked nervously. "Did you discover a new function?"

The system: "I think there's another bug I haven't fixed, but I can't find it."

Shen Baili: "..."

Honestly, I think the whole system is one big bug. There's definitely more than one.

"Class monitor? Shen Baili?"

Shen Baili snapped back to herself and looked at her homeroom teacher, Deng Qin. "I'm here, ma'am."

Deng Qin said, "Baili, take the study monitor and a few boys to the Academic Affairs Office to collect the textbooks."

Shen Baili: "Okay."

The morning passed as she got to know her classmates, familiarized herself with the school, and collected textbooks. School let out early at three that afternoon.

"Where do you two live?" Zhu Zhitao asked Qiao Yi and Shen Baili. "Maybe we're going the same way and can head home together."

Qiao Yi gave them an address. "It's a ten-minute walk for me."

Her home was very close to the school.

"Not the same way, waah." Zhu Zhitao said, "We can't go home together."

Qiao Yi offered, "You can come over to my place sometime. Then you can both come home with me."

Zhu Zhitao: "Yes, let's!"

Then the two of them looked expectantly at Shen Baili. "Baili, where do you live?"

Maybe she lived near Zhu Zhitao.

Shen Baili hesitated, then named a residential complex not far from the Xie Residence.

"My family will pick me up."

Qiao Yi and Zhu Zhitao knew nothing about luxury homes. Only Sang Fang paused while packing her schoolbag.

"Is it far from school?" Qiao Yi had a vague impression of the place.

Shen Baili: "Not too far. My family will pick me up."

They chatted as they walked toward the school gate. Shen Baili spotted Shen Wan at once and ran happily toward her mother. Only after she had gone some distance did she realize she had forgotten to say goodbye. She turned and waved to her new friends. "Bye! See you tomorrow." "See you tomorrow."

After Shen Baili got into the car, Zhu Zhitao stared after her. "Bai Li's mom is so pretty. She looks like a lady from an ancient painting—gentle, poised, elegant, and beautiful."

Sang Fang: "..."

Qiao Yi nodded emphatically. "Mm!"

"Bai Li and her mom both smell lovely."

Zhu Zhitao and Sang Fang turned to her at the same time. "How do you know!?"

Qiao Yi said with absolute certainty, "Because beautiful women always smell lovely."

Zhu Zhitao and Sang Fang: "..."

Shen Baili happily told Shen Wan about her day at school: the friends she had made, running for class monitor, the cafeteria food, the school store, and more. She and her mother always had plenty to talk about. Shen Wan listened with genuine interest, responding and asking questions now and then.

They laughed and chatted all the way back to the Xie Residence. When they got home, they found a guest visiting, with Butler Lin attending to her.

Shen Baili met her eldest brother's fiancée, the legendary female lead.

Sang Ya had almond-shaped eyes, a pert nose, and soft, rosy lips. She was sweet and pretty, dressed in a pink tweed-style outfit. Her long, wavy hair fell neatly down her back, and a glittering diamond necklace rested against her slender, fair neck. Everything about her spoke of a wealthy young woman who was polished to perfection.

Both sides froze when they met.

Shen Wan recovered first. She recognized the young woman from the information she had read.

Sang Ya did not know her, but from Shen Wan's clothes and bearing, she guessed this was Xie Zhiyu's stepmother. For a moment, she did not know how to address her.

Shen Wan could see her discomfort. "You're Sang Ya, aren't you? I'm Shen Wan. You can call me Aunt Shen, just like Zhiyu does."

Sang Ya nodded and said politely, "Aunt Shen, I'm sorry for dropping by unannounced. The medicinal liquor my grandfather made is ready, and he asked me to bring some for everyone to try."

She had chosen the time carefully. How had she still run into someone?

Shen Wan smiled. "That's thoughtful of him. Old Xie has been craving it and talking about it for ages. Please thank your grandfather for us."

"We bought a lot of sea cucumbers from overseas. Take some home with you."

Sang Ya did not refuse. "Thank you, Aunt Shen."

Rankings

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Transmigration into a Book

Power fantasy

Rich CEO

Female Supporting Character Story

Transmigration and Rebirth Romance

Pumpkin Vine

Mind Reading

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