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

System: "You got it!"

The bonus chapter 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?"

"That's right. 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 said honestly, unable to keep the longing out of 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 well all along.

Shen Baili wasted no time. "Then can you see what the two lit-up obsessions are?"

If fulfilling obsessions was how they replenished energy, she needed to find out what they were.

System: "No. I can only see their progress."

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

Until now, she had assumed there was only one. Reality said otherwise.

What is the Obsession System, some kind of saint? Is it going to grant every wish I have?

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

"The more obsessions you have, the thinner the energy gets spread. There's no way you should have been able to wake me."

"My guess is 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?"

System: "Barring any surprises, yes."

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

System: "I don't have those features~ But after the update, I can guarantee I won't suddenly disconnect while we're chatting."

Shen Baili: "..."

"Strange?" the system said, puzzled.

"What is it?" Shen Baili asked nervously. "Did you find a new feature?"

System: "I think there's still a bug I haven't fixed. Why can't I find it?"

Shen Baili: "..."

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

"Class Monitor? Shen Baili?"

Shen Baili snapped back to attention and looked at her homeroom teacher, Deng Qin. "Yes, ma'am?"

Deng Qin said, "Baili, take the academic representative and a few boys to the Academic Affairs Office to pick up the textbooks."

Shen Baili: "Okay."

The morning passed as she met her classmates, got to know the school, and collected textbooks. Classes ended 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."

She lived close to the school.

"Not on my way, waaah," Zhu Zhitao said. "We can't go home together."

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

Zhu Zhitao: "Yes, let's!"

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

Maybe she lives near me?

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

"My family's picking me up."

Qiao Yi and Zhu Zhitao knew little about luxury homes. Only Sang Fang paused while packing her schoolbag.

"Is it far from school?" The place sounded vaguely familiar to Qiao Yi.

Shen Baili: "Not too far. My family's picking me up."

They chatted as they headed 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 said dazedly, "Baili's mom is so beautiful. She looks like a lady from an ancient painting—gentle, graceful, poised, and gorgeous."

Sang Fang: "..."

Qiao Yi nodded emphatically. "Mm!"

"Baili and her mom both smell lovely."

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

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

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 never ran out of things to talk about. Shen Wan listened with genuine interest, responding and asking questions now and then.

They laughed and talked all the way back to the Xie Residence. When they arrived, they found a guest visiting, with Butler Lin seeing to her.

Shen Baili met Eldest Brother's fiancée, the legendary female lead.

Sang Ya had almond-shaped eyes, a pert nose, and soft, rosy lips. Pretty and innocent-looking, she wore a pink tweed outfit. Her long curls fell neatly down her back, and a sparkling diamond necklace rested against her slender, fair neck. She radiated the polished air of a beautiful, wealthy young woman.

At first sight, both sides froze.

Shen Wan recovered first. She recognized Sang Ya from the information she had read.

Sang Ya did not know Shen Wan, but her appearance gave her a fair idea that she was Xie Zhiyu's stepmother. For a moment, she did not know what to call her.

Shen Wan saw her discomfort. "You must be Sang Ya. 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 to drop by unannounced. The medicinal wine my grandfather was making is ready, so he asked me to bring some for everyone to try."

I chose this time so carefully. How did I still run into someone?

Shen Wan smiled. "That was thoughtful of you. Old Xie loves that wine. He's been looking forward to it. Please thank your grandfather for us."

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

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