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The Salted Fish is Rebellious – CH4

Chapter 4

The system glanced absentmindedly at the time.

Some hosts remained at a solid -5 favorability from start to finish, yet in just two hours, its host had taken Fu Xiuning’s favorability from -5 all the way to -15—with only a few words exchanged.

Is there even a chance to recover from this after such a first impression?

Xing Shi was completely unaware that he’d set a new record.

In the deathly silence of the room, he said, “Teacher, I’m finished.”

The trainees, subjected to an unexpected spiritual cleansing, clapped out of sheer inertia. The sparse applause soon faded into silence again.

The vocal instructor, trying to steady her emotions, asked, “What’s the name of that song?”

“I forgot,” Xing Shi replied. “It’s a mountain song. The locals all know it. They say it’s their spiritual totem.”

The crowd: “…”

Sure, we believe that. Definitely spiritual… maybe something their ancestors sang during battle.

“Do you have a recording of the original?” the instructor asked.

“I sang it exactly as the original. No alterations,” Xing Shi said.

The vocal instructor fell silent, unwilling to recall his singing or the melody. The dance instructor interjected, “Have you ever learned to dance?”

“No,” Xing Shi replied.

The two teachers exchanged a glance and signaled that he could return to his seat.

As Xing Shi sat back down, the system had finally regained its composure.

It’s fine, the system thought. Once classes start, the host can learn what he’s lacking.

But then it remembered this was a stubborn mule of a host who might not take training seriously, punishment programs didn’t work on him, and the beginner’s lottery had given a “Better Luck Next Time.” What am I supposed to do?

It tentatively submitted a request to the main system for another lottery spin. The request was denied, leaving it in despair.

Xing Shi, noticing its silence, asked, “Did my singing break you?”

“I’m online” the system replied morosely.

Hearing its tone, Xing Shi remarked, “I’m curious—are you an AI or something else?”

The system perked up. “I’ll answer that if you answer one of my questions. We both have to be honest.”

“Deal,” Xing Shi said casually.

“We’re high-dimensional bits of intelligence” the system explained. “Part machine, part biological, with powerful computing abilities, independent thought, and limited emotions.”

So they can be dismantled or killed, Xing Shi concluded.

“My turn,” the system said. “There are multiple routes to win over Fu Xiuning: love, friendship, loyalty, submission, mutual respect, or even a parent-child dynamic. Which one would you pick? And be serious.”

Xing Shi pretended not to notice how the system took his eventual cooperation with Fu Xiuning as a given. It wasn’t worth arguing over.

Since all hosts shared the same target, Fu Xiuning was clearly a key figure. Interacting with him was inevitable—no persuasion needed.

He replied honestly, “That depends on his attitude. If he’s nice, I’ll take the friendship route.”

Xing Shi had plans to dismantle the system. If Fu Xiuning was willing to cooperate, they could become allies and take down the system together.

The system, recalling Fu Xiuning’s track record, asked, “And if his attitude is bad?”

“Then I’ll be his dad,” Xing Shi said without hesitation.

If he took down the system single-handedly, Fu Xiuning would have no choice but to call him “dad.”

System: “?”

Sure, the parent-child route was an option, but was Xing Shi even aware of how many hosts Fu Xiuning had crushed?

Still, the host had finally started talking business, so the system decided not to discourage him. Instead, it eagerly latched onto the idea: “Alright, let’s start with the friendship route.”

Fu Xiuning, impassive, had been listening the whole time. After watching the sixth trainee’s performance, he stood and left the room.

He had shown up today expecting the system to introduce a new host among the trainees. Now that he’d confirmed it, there was no reason to stay.

The other trainees exchanged furtive glances at Xing Shi.

The boss had stood next to him before the assessment, stayed for his performance, and left shortly after watching just one more person. It was hard to believe there was nothing between them.

Feng Zifan, knowing Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning had only just met, felt a pang of regret. If he hadn’t left earlier, maybe he could have struck up a relationship with Fu Xiuning too.

When all 16 trainees had performed, Xing Shi, unsurprisingly, ranked dead last.

Once the results from the other two practice rooms came in, he remained firmly at the bottom.

But the teachers seemed optimistic about him.

Trainees required rigorous training before debuting, so starting with a weak foundation wasn’t a dealbreaker. Today’s assessment was just to separate those with experience from those without, simplifying future instruction. A month later, the comprehensive evaluation would test vocals, dance, acting, appearance, and camera presence. With Xing Shi’s outstanding looks, as long as he trained hard, he’d eventually move up to the top class.

Next came the dorm assignments.

The dorms were two-person units with a bunk bed, desk, private bathroom, and slightly more space than university dorms. Extra amenities included a fridge, floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, and a mirrored wall for practice, creating a mini training area. The building also had communal laundry rooms, a gym, and recreational spaces.

Roommates were assigned randomly, but trainees could negotiate swaps and report changes to the company.

Many trainees, having met during earlier stages, wanted to room with familiar faces.

Xing Shi, needing a bed for convenience during training, didn’t care who his roommate was. Coincidentally, his new roommate was another “recruit,” like him, with no acquaintances. They decided to stick together.

Feng Zifan and Da Zhuang stopped by to check out his room but didn’t bring up switching. Instead, they gathered their friends to go out for dinner.

Xing Shi noticed someone reaching to pat his shoulder out of the corner of his eye. His muscles tensed, and he sidestepped instinctively. The other person’s hand fell short, and before they could react, Xing Shi asked what they wanted to eat, effectively redirecting their attention.

As evening fell, the city came alive.

Skyscrapers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, lights sparkling brightly. The streets bustled with people and traffic.

Not far from the dorm was a mall. Xing Shi followed the group, listening to car horns and shop music, catching faint hints of food aromas. It felt like stepping into a vast, peaceful dream.

He stopped at a roasted sweet potato stall.

The system reminded him: “That’s pretty filling, and you’re about to have hot pot.”

Xing Shi pulled out his phone. “What’s my payment password?”

The system stopped arguing and told him.

Xing Shi bought a sweet potato, broke it open, blew on it, and took a bite.

The piping hot sweetness flooded his taste buds. Grounded in its vivid reality, he gazed at the lively night scene before catching up with the group.

The company gave them three days to settle in.

Only the recruits and confident second-round trainees brought all their belongings. Most others needed to return home or have their items shipped. For now, many stayed in hotels. After dinner, the group dispersed.

It was then Feng Zifan and the others learned Xing Shi was a student at a prestigious university. The awe and envy in their eyes were unmistakable.

Xing Shi smiled as he bid them farewell and returned to his school.

Z University’s undergraduate dorms were four-person units with the same bunk-and-desk layout.

Through the system, Xing Shi quickly identified his three roommates and found his bed.

Taking a book off the shelf, he flipped through a few pages before swapping it for another. This time, on the title page, he saw a signature—bold and sharp, etched with confident strokes.

It looked remarkably similar to how he signed his own name.

The same name, the same face, and similar handwriting—what were the chances of it all being a coincidence?

Had he transmigrated to a new world, or… come back to his original one?

Ever since he had ended up in the magical world, Xing Shi’s past memories had grown blurry, leaving him with only some general knowledge to remind him he came from a modern society. Now, having crossed over again, he still couldn’t recall much.

“System,” Xing Shi called.

“Yes?” the system responded.

“Do you know where I came from?”

“I don’t,” the system admitted. “That’s private to the host.”

“Then do you know why I transmigrated?” Xing Shi asked.

“Not really,” the system replied. “I’m only responsible for supervising hosts on their missions…” It paused as a thought struck. “You’re probably suffering from memory loss, right?”

It explained further: “The soul is an energy form. During the transmission process, some energy is inevitably lost. The side effect is varying degrees of memory loss. Most transmigrated hosts experience this. Some recover their memories over time, while others don’t.”

“But don’t worry,” it added enthusiastically, “we have Memory Pills in the store. They can help you retrieve all your memories from birth to the present. You just need to earn enough favorability points to exchange for them.”

Xing Shi gave a calm “Mm” and placed the book back on the shelf.

Three days passed, and the trainees began their training.

Besides their professional skills, they also had to study languages, art, and other cultural subjects, with schedules packed tightly.

Among this batch, only three trainees—including Xing Shi—had to juggle both academics and training. Within two weeks, one of them was already considering taking a leave of absence, unable to cope with the stress.

The system, initially worried that Xing Shi might give up, was surprised when he didn’t complain once.

Not only that, he occasionally skipped less critical classes to attend company training sessions, which the system found genuinely touching.

The only downside was that they hadn’t interacted with Fu Xiuning since.

Fu Xiuning didn’t live on campus and only visited Z University for classes or specific matters. Encounters at the company were rare as well, leaving the friendship route with zero progress.

After lunch one day, Xing Shi, as usual, sought a sunny spot to lounge.

“Your dorm is just ahead,” the system reminded.

Xing Shi stayed put, eyes closed. “Ate too much. Need to rest.”

“…Then why eat so much?” the system muttered.

Xing Shi didn’t answer, content to soak in the sun.

Knowing further comments would go ignored, the system wisely kept quiet—until it perked up suddenly. “Fu Xiuning is walking this way!”

Xing Shi pretended not to hear.

Seeing his complete lack of reaction, the system couldn’t hold back anymore: “What’s your deal? I’ve told you about Fu Xiuning’s location multiple times, but you never approach him. What about the friendship route?”

This time, Xing Shi responded. “If Fu Xiuning were someone who could be won over with small talk, you’d only need one host. Why send so many?”

“Then what’s your plan?” the system pressed.

“First,” Xing Shi said, “don’t bother me.”

The system: “…”

Swallowing its frustration, the system fell silent. Realizing Fu Xiuning was about to pass by, it decided not to look, lest it grow even more irritated.

In the past two weeks, Fu Xiuning had seen Xing Shi four times.

The first time was during lunchtime. From his car, he had spotted someone sprinting toward the school gate. By the time he drove closer, he realized it was Xing Shi, grinning brightly as he rushed to collect a food delivery.

The second time was in the company cafeteria. Xing Shi’s tray held empty dishes along with four dessert boxes. Having already finished one box, he was happily enjoying the second. Desserts were rationed due to body image standards for trainees. Xing Shi’s abundance of sweets likely came from others dieting and giving him their share.

The third time was at a side gate of Z University. Fu Xiuning had business nearby and noticed Xing Shi seated at a bustling street food stall, slurping noodles with his head down, fully absorbed.

And now, today, was the fourth time.

At a small park in the residential area of campus, Fu Xiuning saw someone sitting on a bench.

Xing Shi was slouched lazily, his hands tucked into the pockets of his baseball jacket. The hood of his sweatshirt covered his brow, and his legs were slightly spread.

Next to him on the bench was a stray cat, its eyes half-closed and front paws tucked neatly as it lounged in solidarity. Sunlight spilled over them, creating a warm and tranquil scene.

Fu Xiuning paused mid-step, his inner mischief bubbling to the surface.

Why does the host look more relaxed than me?

With that thought, he walked toward Xing Shi.

The Salted Fish is Rebellious

The Salted Fish is Rebellious

Score 9.1
Status: Completed Type: Author: Artist: Released: 2024 Native Language: Chinese
Xing Shi unexpectedly ended up in a magical world, and had a truly miserable time of it. But his luck wasn’t half bad. One day, when he opened his eyes, he found himself back in normal human society. Tears streamed from his eyes, and he decided to enjoy life to the fullest. Right at that moment, a voice rang out in his mind. [System 99, successfully bound to host] Fu Xiuning, one day, suddenly gained the ability to hear the voices of systems attached to other people. Those systems and their hosts all shared one common goal: to seduce him. They gathered around him, none with good intentions. He toyed with them, abusing one batch after another like a cat batting at mice. Then, that day, he heard the all-too-familiar opening line— [System 99, successfully bound to host] [Host, please follow the instructions to conquer your target, or face annihilation] Fu Xiuning smiled inwardly, considering how to handle this one. But then, he heard the conversation that followed. Xing Shi: “Great! noodles with soybean paste!” System: “Host…” Xing Shi: “It smells like noodles with soybean paste!” System: “Host, please…” Xing Shi: “Ahhhhh, noodles with soybean paste!” System: “Are you even listening to me?” Xing Shi: “Shut up. Today, no one can stop me from eating my noodles!” System: “Initiating Level One Punishment Program. Countdown: 3 seconds.” Xing Shi stood there, unmoving. A moment later, he asked sincerely, “Is it still not done? Don’t tell me your sense of time is different from ours?” System: “?” Fu Xiuning: “?” The system seemed to freeze. “You’re not hurt?” Xing Shi: “Oh, so that means it’s over already, huh? That’s it?” He beamed, “Then I’m going to buy my noodles with soybean paste now. Bye-bye~” The system became a bit disordered: “…Wait, why aren’t you hurt?!” ------ DISCLAIMER This will be the general disclaimer for the entire lifespan of this novel. Panda Translations does not own any IPs (intellectual properties) depicted in this novel. Panda Translations supports the authors efforts by translating the novel for more readers. The novel is the sole property of the original author. Please support the author on the link below Original translation novel: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=7008029

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