The Salted Fish is Rebellious – CH38

Chapter 38

The “zzzz” sound in his mind came intermittently, grating on his nerves. Despite this, Yu Yi was patient—after all, he’d just discovered his origins and acquired a system.

He waited a few seconds and asked, “Is there nothing for me?”

Shangshangqian replied, “Not for now. I still don’t fully understand your situation, so I can’t give you any useful advice yet.”

Yu Yi didn’t blame it. Instead, he shifted his focus to other matters.

Recalling that the system mentioned it was once Yu Shu’s system while explaining the mission mechanics earlier, he curiously asked, “Back on the ship, was that sudden explosion of energy your doing?”

Shangshangqian replied, “Yes.”

Yu Yi asked, “How did Yu Shu die?”

Shangshangqian explained, “He tried to frame Xing Shi as a Host in front of Fu Xiuning. However, the main system has a strict rule: Fu Xiuning must not learn any information related to the mission strategies. Anyone who violates this is eliminated. This rule is imprinted on your soul when you transmigrate, and it’s our job as systems to remind you of it. But he refused to listen and insisted on doing it, so he was obliterated. You must remember this and avoid making the same mistake.”

“Got it,” Yu Yi acknowledged, then continued, “Aside from me and Yu Shu, are there other Hosts?”

Shangshangqian replied, “Yes.”

Yu Yi immediately became more attentive. “How did you recognize me as a Host? Can I conceal or hide this? I don’t want other Hosts to find out about me.”

“It was a chance discovery,” Shangshangqian replied. “I’ve been with you these past few days, but I was in a dormant state.”

When the energy exploded, Yu Yi was present, and the shockwave that hit him triggered a faint but familiar resonance. At the time, the system was on the brink of collapse and instinctively drifted toward him.

After a brief explanation, it added, “There are several Hosts around Fu Xiuning. As long as you don’t make your intentions too obvious or confront him head-on, no one will realize you’re a Host. Our systems can only identify you at the moment of transmigration and bind to you at that time.”

Yu Yi asked, “Then why wasn’t I bound to a system?”

Shangshangqian answered, “I’m not sure about that either. For now, focus on concealing your intentions while interacting with Fu Xiuning. Once I regain my energy, I’ll help you report this to the higher-ups.”

Yu Yi nodded. “Alright.”

Shangshangqian shared the essential information it had on Fu Xiuning, then concluded, “My data is currently unstable, so I’ll need to enter dormancy. I’m not sure how long it’ll take, but I’ll notify you once I wake up.”

“Understood,” Yu Yi replied.

With everything it needed to say off its chest, Shangshangqian fell silent.

But it had lied.

It knew Xing Shi was a Host. Through Xing Shi’s unusual background—something atypical for a Host—it had deduced that Yu Yi’s system must be residing within him.

The worst part was that Xing Shi seemed to possess the ability to absorb system energy and might have even teamed up with Fu Xiuning.

But none of this would be shared with Yu Yi.

With no energy, the system couldn’t bind to a Host, gain favorability points, or even send messages. One wrong step could lead to its demise. Trusting an entirely unfamiliar and uncontrollable Host wasn’t an option—it trusted itself more.

This time, it couldn’t afford to be sabotaged by its Host again.

It had two paths forward.

The first was to have Yu Yi interact with Fu Xiuning as much as possible, hoping this would recharge it. The second was to identify other Hosts through observation and have Yu Yi confront them directly to force their systems to help report information back.

The first option was more theoretical, with slim chances of success, but it didn’t hurt to try. The second was more feasible, but other Hosts were difficult to identify, especially since Yu Yi couldn’t always stay by Fu Xiuning’s side.

No matter how it looked, the situation wasn’t optimistic. Shangshangqian sighed internally and entered dormancy.

The “zzzz” sound in Yu Yi’s mind disappeared. He pondered for a moment, then sent Xing Shi a message:

?You’re probably okay with everything except spicy and greasy foods, right? I’ll bring you something delicious for lunch tomorrow~?

On the other end, Xing Shi unlocked his phone and saw the message.

The system also noticed it, suspicious. “He’s messaging you so often. Don’t tell me he actually likes Fu Xiuning?”

Xing Shi replied, “I just remembered something. Gu Zheng and the others mentioned they held back when they hit me. Do you think that might’ve been true? What if Yu Yi used that incident to try and injure me, so I’d end up hospitalized? That way, he could visit me frequently and see Fu Xiuning more often.”

The system immediately exploded in anger. “That’s so malicious! So he’s sticking to you just to get to Fu Xiuning? Pretending to be your friend while secretly trying to steal your opportunity—what trash!”

Xing Shi thought, This “trash” is actually your real Host. Out loud, he simply said, “Maybe.”

The system grumbled, “Don’t let him visit again—such bad vibes!”

Xing Shi replied: [I’ll be discharged the day after tomorrow, so there’s no need to come.]

Yu Yi: [I’m just bored anyway; it’s no trouble.]

Xing Shi: [Be good.]

Yu Yi: [Alright then. [crying emoji]]

Xing Shi: [Pat pat.]

After sending the message, he saved a screenshot of the exchange. Then he instructed his system, “Go check on Feng Zifan and Yu Yi. If I contact Feng Zifan now, will Yu Yi see his phone screen?”

The system checked and reported, “He won’t see it. After messaging you, he started looking out the window. Feng Zifan is sitting on the other side.”

Relieved, Xing Shi sent Feng Zifan a message: [I need to talk. Don’t let anyone see your screen.]

Feng Zifan responded quickly: [OK. What’s up?]

Xing Shi forwarded the chat log: [My brother said Xiao Yi keeps stealing glances at him and seems interested. Last night, he even came to the hospital alone to see me and got my brother’s WeChat. For now, I’ll assume he’s doing this because of me. He promised not to come to the hospital again, but if he finds another excuse to show up, it might confirm my brother’s suspicions. Keep an eye on him for me. If he comes looking, let me know. If he doesn’t, then it’s just my brother overthinking.]

On the other side, Feng Zifan’s expression shifted slightly.

He recalled Fu Xiuning’s approach at lunchtime, how his presence had felt unusually deliberate, and the cryptic remark, “You’re a smart guy,” which had already raised his suspicions. Now, it all made sense.

He replied: [Got it. Leave this to me. Don’t overthink it—get some rest.]

Xing Shi handed his phone to Fu Xiuning and shared his progress.

Fu Xiuning skimmed through the messages, immediately understanding Xing Shi’s intentions. He praised, “Well done.”

Xing Shi sighed dramatically. “I treated him like a good friend, and it turns out he just wants to use me. Brother, I’m so heartbroken.”

Fu Xiuning had been observing his reactions throughout this conversation. Aware that Xing Shi wasn’t genuinely upset—likely due to his experiences in the otherworld—Fu Xiuning knowingly asked, “What would help?”

Xing Shi tested the waters. “Some ice cream?”

“If the doctor approves,” Fu Xiuning replied.

“They definitely won’t,” Xing Shi said. “But I know my own body. I’ve had this kind of low fever before. Eating something cold actually helps.”

Fu Xiuning studied him, suspecting that Xing Shi was just making excuses for a treat.

Xing Shi met his gaze with a sincere look. “It’s true.”

Fu Xiuning sent a message to the doctor, waited for the reply, and read it aloud: “‘Low-grade fevers can sometimes cause gastrointestinal issues. Ice cream might worsen the strain on your digestive system. If you eat it and have problems later, you’ll be restricted to congee for the next few days. Are you sure?’”

Xing Shi hesitated.

Fu Xiuning, now certain he’d been bluffing, added, “I’ll buy one, but you can only have a single bite, and you’ll need to swallow it slowly.”

Xing Shi’s eyes lit up. “Deal!”

Fu Xiuning opened a food delivery app and handed him the phone to choose.

The system, observing this, clicked its tongue. “A favorability score of 51? He’s really indulging you.”

Xing Shi replied, “He’s always been good to me.”

The system, after some thought, agreed. “So… this is the romance route now, right? He even admitted he likes someone. Favorability scores don’t lie. You two even hugged in public on the ship. If this isn’t the romance route, it’d be such a waste. Don’t tell me that hug was just to provoke Yu Shu—it must’ve sparked something. He even gained points from it—I remember!”

Flipping through the menu, Xing Shi commented, “Mainly to provoke someone.”

He added with a grin, “You’re sharp, though. You caught on.”

The system, proud, replied, “Of course. I’m not dumb. You two used to talk about Yu Shu a lot, mentioning how obsessed he was with Fu Xiuning and how he might target you. You both clearly wanted to get rid of him. Fu Xiuning strikes without warning—he already messed with Lin Kecheng before. Provoking Yu Shu this time wasn’t a stretch. Am I wrong?”

Xing Shi immediately praised, “You’re spot on. A high-intelligence being like you really knows everything.”

Delighted, the system humbly said, “Not everything. Sometimes I get confused too. Next time, just tell me if something’s up. Don’t handle everything alone—we’re a team.”

Xing Shi agreed, “Alright.”

The system advised, “You should tone it down too. There’s no need to personally eliminate other Hosts. Once we win in the end, the main system will automatically eliminate them. Fu Xiuning’s attempt to destabilize Yu Shu didn’t go as planned this time and even led to a supernatural incident. If he keeps this up, he’s bound to get suspicious.”

Xing Shi, feigning innocence, replied, “I can’t stop him from targeting someone. You were there the whole time—he doesn’t confide in me. I just improvise.”

“You could stay out of it and let him handle it himself,” the system suggested.

Xing Shi countered, “But I can’t help myself~”

The system fell silent.

One loved raising monkeys, and the other loved stirring up trouble. How could they not be a perfect match?

After a few moments of speechlessness, it circled back. “So, with a favorability score of 51, this has to be the romance route, right?”

Xing Shi asked, “Is it?”

“It is!” the system exclaimed. “You two are just one step away from breaking the ice. Why not take the initiative?”

Xing Shi refused. “No way. Don’t forget, he’s the passive type.”

His gaze shifted to the person beside him. Though he felt like teasing, he held back when he saw the shopping screen on the phone.

After selecting his ice cream, he handed the phone back to Fu Xiuning.

Fu Xiuning had braced himself for Xing Shi’s antics, only to find nothing of the sort.

Looking at the phone in his hand, Fu Xiuning figured out why. He casually added a few items to meet the minimum order, paid, and placed the order.

Xing Shi looked very satisfied. Adjusting his posture to relax more comfortably, he heard the system mutter, “With a favorability score this high, how passive can he really be?”

He said, “Then let’s witness it together.”

The system responded, “Alright… but if he stops being passive, how will you react?”

Xing Shi froze for a moment, caught off guard by the question.

Fu Xiuning was looking down at his phone, his gaze steady and unreadable.

Xing Shi fell silent. Before he could think of an answer, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

Not rejecting the question outright meant he was considering it.

He was about to salvage the situation when Fu Xiuning reached out and grabbed his wrist, as if checking his temperature.

The next moment, a familiar notification sound chimed.

[Ding Ding] [Current Favorability: 52]

The system was stunned. “Look at that! He can’t suppress his feelings for you anymore. And this time, it wasn’t accidental contact—it was intentional! Is this what a Favorability of 51 leads to? Hahaha!”

Both Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning knew exactly what was going on.

Fu Xiuning gave Xing Shi’s wrist another gentle squeeze before letting go and saying, “Still a bit warm.”

“Mm,” Xing Shi replied.

Fu Xiuning raised his eyes, meeting Xing Shi’s gaze. Their eyes locked for a moment, and once again, the notification chimed.

[Ding Ding] [Current Favorability: 53]

Xing Shi: “…”

System: “!”

Fu Xiuning: “…”

Fu Xiuning, keeping his expression calm, asked, “Want some fruit? I’ll wash some for you.”

Xing Shi replied, “…Sure.”

Fu Xiuning got up and walked away.

The system, seeing the interaction end so abruptly, protested, “That’s it? If you have the guts to increase Favorability, have the guts to stay, too!”

Xing Shi muttered, “I have a headache.”

The system, feeling wronged, silenced itself.

When Fu Xiuning returned with the fruit, his expression was composed.

Xing Shi, now behaving himself, sat quietly, nibbling on the fruit while playing on his phone.

A short while later, the ice cream arrived—along with Qi Changyi, who had just finished work for the day.

Xing Shi knew Qi Changyi had also visited him the previous night and greeted him cheerfully, “Cousin.”

Qi Changyi smiled and responded, then asked with concern about Xing Shi’s condition. Upon learning that he still had a mild fever, he inquired, “Is there anything else wrong?”

“No,” Xing Shi replied.

“Not even nightmares?” Qi Changyi asked meaningfully.

Xing Shi instantly understood what he was implying and pointed to the bedside drawer. “Open that and see for yourself.”

Qi Changyi, curious, walked over and opened the drawer. Inside was an assortment of metaphysical items of every kind and from every system imaginable.

Qi Changyi: “…”

Alright, that looked secure enough.

He silently closed the drawer.

Meanwhile, Fu Xiuning unwrapped the ice cream.

Xing Shi’s eyes lit up as he eagerly reached for it, scooping out a big spoonful.

Qi Changyi, about to ask, “Can you even eat ice cream with a fever?” froze mid-sentence when he saw Fu Xiuning reach out, hold Xing Shi’s hand, and take the spoonful away. Fu Xiuning scraped two-thirds of the ice cream off the spoon before handing it back.

Xing Shi glared at him.

Fu Xiuning said gently, “If you don’t want it, just leave it.”

Seeing Fu Xiuning about to take the ice cream back, Xing Shi grabbed his hand and ate the remaining ice cream off the spoon.

Qi Changyi: “?”

How to describe this? It felt like he was walking down the street and got kicked out of nowhere.

He quietly observed the two of them while asking aloud, “Do you know what’s going on with Yu Yi?”

With ice cream still in his mouth, Xing Shi let out an “Mm.”

Qi Changyi knew Xing Shi was clever and hard to outplay. With Fu Xiuning guarding him, he felt reassured. He nodded and said, “I saw you filmed an MV. Does that mean you’ve debuted? When you’re free, I’ll take you to try a variety show.”

Xing Shi instinctively wanted to decline, but then he thought about the unresolved situation with the other Hosts. He might need to take on another gig, just like with Yu Shu, to deal with them.

He swallowed the ice cream and said, “Sure.”

Turning to Fu Xiuning, he added, “Brother, help me pick one and give me some suggestions.”

Fu Xiuning understood that Xing Shi was likely trying to cross paths with the other Hosts and agreed without hesitation.

Qi Changyi didn’t stay long. After sitting for a short while, he stood to leave, but not before giving Fu Xiuning a knowing look.

Fu Xiuning escorted him out to the hallway.

Qi Changyi lowered his voice and asked, “What’s going on with you two?”

Fu Xiuning, ever calm, simply said, “Take care on your way back.”

Qi Changyi instantly understood.

If there was truly nothing going on, Fu Xiuning would have said so outright. Avoiding the question meant there was definitely something—at least on Fu Xiuning’s side.

Qi Changyi remarked, “I knew something was up when you let him stay at your place. Does Suisui know?”

Fu Xiuning replied with another “Take care” and turned back into the room.

Qi Changyi wanted to press further, but knowing Fu Xiuning wasn’t the type to open up, he gave up and decided to observe on his own.

Xing Shi rested through the night. By the next morning, his temperature had dropped to 37.1, which was almost normal.

Director He and the doctors both sighed in relief. The doctors felt he could be discharged, but Director He, still worried, urged him to stay one more night.

Xing Shi, seizing the opportunity to relax, readily agreed.

Meanwhile, the trainees were starting another day of intense training as usual.

After the second lesson, Yu Yi picked up his water bottle and stood. “I’m heading to the tea room,” he said.

Feng Zifan glanced at him. “You still have half a bottle. Why go now?”

“My stomach doesn’t feel great. I want to drink some hot water,” Yu Yi explained.

Feng Zifan, concerned, asked, “Is it bad? Should I ask the teacher for some medicine?”

Yu Yi shook his head. “It’s nothing serious. I’ll just go fill my bottle.”

With that, he hugged his water bottle and walked out, quickly leaving the practice room.

Feng Zifan stayed silent for a few seconds before getting up himself. He walked to the doorway and peered out, watching Yu Yi’s retreating figure.

After leaving the room, Yu Yi sped up slightly. As he neared the tea room, he pulled out his phone and started messaging while slowing his steps.

A few seconds later, he picked up his pace again and “accidentally” bumped into a boy coming out of the tea room.

His phone fell to the ground, and the water bottle rolled away, though fortunately, it didn’t break since it was made of silicone.

Yu Yi apologized quickly and jogged over to retrieve his water bottle.

The boy, amused, picked up Yu Yi’s phone. His gaze landed on the screen and visibly paused.

Feng Zifan stood at a distance, watching everything unfold.

The boy, Hou Zhang, was a member of Class 2. He was known for being opportunistic.

Feng Zifan admitted that he himself could be opportunistic, but he was self-aware and never aimed for unattainable goals. Moreover, he was tactful and would back off if the other party showed disinterest.

Hou Zhang was different. He was thick-skinned and quick to seize any chance, no matter how small. He often tried to cozy up to Feng Zifan, Xing Shi, and Yu Yi, attempting to join their little group, but Xing Shi had always subtly kept him at a distance.

Yu Yi’s earlier movements—walking alternately fast and slow—suggested he had been distracted by his phone. If he wasn’t genuinely absent-minded, then this collision had been deliberate. Yu Yi had likely chosen this break to fetch water because he’d seen Hou Zhang leave earlier. The only mystery now was what was on Yu Yi’s phone.

Feng Zifan withdrew his gaze and returned to the practice room.

He discreetly observed the two. After the next lesson, Hou Zhang suddenly spoke up.

“I wonder how Brother Shi is doing,” he said. “Should we visit him at the hospital during lunch?”

The others turned to him. One of them asked, “Didn’t they say it was just a mild fever? He should be getting discharged soon, right?”

Hou Zhang replied, “A mild fever bad enough to require hospitalization isn’t a minor issue. Brother Shi has always been good to us. Even when we bug him with gossip, he never gets annoyed. Plus, he’s been trending online and opened his own personal account. If we don’t visit him while he’s in the hospital, won’t that seem ungrateful?”

The group murmured their agreement. They were all in the same class; if they didn’t visit, wouldn’t that make them seem cold-hearted?

Hou Zhang added, “Let’s pool some money to buy flowers and fruit. It won’t cost much. We’ll say a few words and leave—it won’t even take long. Anyway, I’m going, so decide for yourselves.”

The others quickly agreed and then turned to look at Feng Zifan and Yu Yi—the only two who knew Xing Shi’s room number.

Under the weight of their stares, Yu Yi edged closer to Feng Zifan, seeking cover.

Feng Zifan felt like his heart was about to give out.

People aren’t made of stone; who could remain indifferent? Even if his initial approach to Xing Shi had ulterior motives, after spending so much time together, he had long since come to regard Xing Shi and Yu Yi as friends. Given Yu Yi’s introverted and simple nature, Feng Zifan often took care of him, treating him like a younger brother.

And now this “younger brother” was full of surprises.

He took a deep breath and said, “Why don’t I ask him first?”

Hou Zhang quickly objected. “No way! Brother Shi wouldn’t want to trouble us.”

The group chimed in, “Exactly.”

Hou Zhang insisted, “We’ll just stop by for a bit and leave. You can come with us, and we’ll take responsibility for explaining. We’ll say we forced you to come along.”

Feng Zifan hesitated before finally agreeing. “Alright then.”

The group cheered and began discussing what fruit to buy.

Yu Yi turned to Feng Zifan, smiling brightly. “Why don’t we bring something for Xing Shi to eat?”

Feng Zifan nodded and chatted with him for a while. Three minutes before class started, he excused himself to the restroom and quickly informed Xing Shi about the situation.

When the morning classes ended, they all left the company together.

The group first stopped by a nearby food street to grab lunch, then took a taxi straight to the hospital. They planned to buy fresh flowers and fruit from the shops near the hospital.

On the way, Feng Zifan messaged Hou Zhang. Once they arrived, bought what they needed, and were near the hospital, he and Hou Zhang used the excuse of going to the restroom to slip away and meet in private.

Feng Zifan handed his phone to Hou Zhang, showing their chat history with Xing Shi and making it clear this was all a setup. He said, “Xing Shi wants to know what you saw on Yu Yi’s phone.”

Hou Zhang hadn’t expected to be outmaneuvered by Yu Yi. He cursed under his breath, “Sh*t,” and admitted, “It was a chat with his mom. He told her Xing Shi’s dad is Director He, his cousin is Qi Changyi, and his aunt is a producer…”

He hesitated, then awkwardly added, “Alright, fine, I’ll admit it. I was hoping to make a good impression on Director He, but I also genuinely wanted to visit Xing Shi.”

Feng Zifan suppressed his disappointment. While messaging Xing Shi, he calmly replied, “I’ll make sure he knows.”

The two of them rejoined the group, and together they headed upstairs.

Xing Shi had just finished his lunch. Seeing his classmates walk in, he looked genuinely surprised. “What are you all doing here?”

The group smiled. “We came to see you! Thought we’d give you a little surprise.”

Hearing the commotion, Director He came out of the restroom, drying his hands. With a friendly smile, he greeted them, “Ah, are you all Suisui’s classmates? How thoughtful of you. Come in, have a seat.”

When the group saw his face, their polite “Hello, uncle” got stuck in their throats. Instead, they blurted out, “…Director He?”

Director He nodded, still smiling, and continued to welcome them warmly.

The group, utterly confused, walked in and sat down. When they learned that Director He was Xing Shi’s father, the same thought ran through all their minds: With a background like this, why on earth are you training as a trainee?

Xing Shi remained calm under their stunned gazes, watching as Yu Yi naturally gravitated toward him again.

Yu Yi handed him a small snack, his eyes bright with anticipation. “They insisted on coming to see you, so I tagged along. This is for you—everything you usually like to eat.”

Xing Shi accepted it with a smile but didn’t say thank you—after all, he had prepared something for Yu Yi as well.

Yu Yi then turned to Fu Xiuning and greeted him as usual.

Fu Xiuning responded politely but didn’t spare him a glance.

Yu Yi wanted to chat with him more but knew he couldn’t rush things. He restrained himself, sat in the room for a while, and reluctantly left with the others.

By the time they returned to the company, it was almost time for class.

Feng Zifan called Yu Yi into the hallway and showed him the chat history on his phone.

The messages included the entire conversation between Feng Zifan and Xing Shi from last night to now, including Xing Shi’s instructions to keep an eye on Yu Yi and Feng Zifan’s summary of Hou Zhang’s words.

Yu Yi’s expression changed instantly.

Feng Zifan said, “It looks like the boss wasn’t mistaken after all.”

“Xing Shi said that for the sake of your prior acquaintance, he’ll leave you some dignity. We’re all adults, and he doesn’t want to make this too ugly,” Feng Zifan said, looking at Yu Yi with disappointment. “You know what happens when you make him angry, so do yourself a favor and stay far away from us from now on.”

In the hospital room, the system was unhappy with how Xing Shi was handling things. “He almost pushed you down the stairs, and you’re still giving him face? You should let everyone know what kind of person he is!”

Leaning against the headboard, Xing Shi sighed faintly. “I used to think of him as a younger brother. I can’t bring myself to be too harsh.”

The system protested, “Then let Fu Xiuning deal with him! He’s so protective of you—he won’t let this little piece of trash off the hook!”

Xing Shi replied, “Let’s drop it. Give me some time to process this. I still had a bit of hope for him, but now… sigh, I feel awful.”

The system quickly comforted him. “Alright, no more talking about it. Get some rest.”

Xing Shi responded with a sad “Mm.”

Fu Xiuning, sitting nearby and listening to the performance, remained perfectly composed.

While Xing Shi had indeed instructed Feng Zifan to deliver this message, he hadn’t said anything about Hou Zhang or sworn anyone to secrecy.

Hou Zhang, who had spent his life scheming against others, found himself outmaneuvered and humiliated. The more he thought about it, the more furious he became.

He realized that Yu Yi had likely burned all bridges with Xing Shi this time, so he had no qualms about kicking him while he was down.

As Yu Yi and Feng Zifan were still confronting each other in the hallway, rumors that “Yu Yi used Xing Shi to seduce the boss” spread rapidly throughout the entire floor.