The Salted Fish is Rebellious – CH44

Chapter 44

The system was the first to panic: “Boss, we absolutely can’t let Xing Shi leave! If he walks out, we’re done for!”

Yan Feng snarled, “Of course I know that! But tell me, how am I supposed to stop him? It’s work hours, and there are people everywhere outside. If I force him to stay, I’ll end up in jail. Won’t that be just as disastrous?”

He felt like he was caught in a storm for no reason, growing increasingly irate: “Where the hell did this idiot come from, suddenly running over to confess? What kind of lunatic is he? Do I even look like a host?”

Yan Feng had read Fu Xiuning’s file and knew the man had encountered many strange events.

But Yan Feng had chosen the “Little Brother Line,” where the conquest would only begin once he reached a high position. Because he wasn’t currently acting like the other hosts, he thought he wouldn’t draw suspicion. He never imagined another host would run up and try to “bond” with him.

The system suggested, “Then let Yu Yi handle it. All of today’s trouble is his fault!”

Yan Feng glanced at the trembling Yu Yi and grew angrier. “Look at him—weak as a chicken. Does he look like he could take on Xing Shi? I bet even climbing into bed is a challenge for him!”

The system: “…”

Xing Shi didn’t care what they were discussing with their systems, nor did he pay any mind to the rapid changes in Yan Feng’s expression.

He stared unblinkingly at Yu Yi, pressing him, “Say something!”

Yu Yi flinched, his whole body trembling as he stumbled two steps back, face pale.

“S-S-System…” he stammered, his voice shaking, “What do I do now? What should I do?”

Top Draw responded coolly, “Move closer to Yan Feng.”

Yu Yi, utterly at a loss, instinctively retreated further.

At that moment, Yan Feng finally thought of a way to buy some time. He instructed his system to send a message in the group chat.

The system got to work immediately.

Late Bloomer: [Act insane and cover it up with something even crazier. Remember, we’ll bail you out later.]

The noise in the group caught the attention of the other systems, who all started popping up.

Green Bean Porridge: [Huh?]
Congratulations on Wealth: [What do you mean?]
You’re All Concubines: [Who are you talking to?]
Long Live Face Lovers: [?]

Although they were asking questions, the systems reacted quickly.

They immediately reported the situation to their hosts and requested permission to investigate Fu Xiuning.

Once granted, they quickly checked and found Fu Xiuning sitting alone in his office. Realizing they couldn’t determine the location or characters involved from a single message, they returned to the chat to fish for more information.

Meanwhile, System 99 reported back to Xing Shi.

It was stunned: “So Yan Feng really is a host! His system is called ‘Late Bloomer.’ But who is Yu Yi’s system? Everyone except Top Draw has chimed in. Is someone pretending to play dumb? Or is the new one, Green Bean Porridge, his system? And how do they know Yan Feng is a host?”

Xing Shi replied, “Who knows.”

He turned back to Yu Yi. “Stop dodging and answer my question!”

At the same time, Top Draw noticed the group message and relayed Yan Feng’s plan to Yu Yi.

After hearing about Yan Feng’s recent teaching sessions, Top Draw had suspected it was a trap set by Xing Shi to lure it out but hadn’t expected Xing Shi to escalate things this way.

Still, this wasn’t a bad development. At least they were all in close proximity.

Top Draw instructed, “Move closer to Yan Feng. Grab his arm or hand if you can. I’ll go over and negotiate with his system. Once I’ve passed the message up, I’ll get you out of this.”

Yu Yi, already close to Yan Feng, lunged forward and grabbed his arm.

In that moment, Yan Feng could’ve strangled him.

This useless idiot can’t accomplish anything but still manages to ruin everything! I told him to act insane, and he decides to grab me?! His expression turned icy as he wrenched Yu Yi’s hand off. “Talk properly! Stop grabbing people. Xing Shi is asking you a question—what did you mean by that earlier?”

Yu Yi stumbled and fell to the ground, then burst into tears.

He quickly scrambled up and lunged at Yan Feng again, clutching his clothes. “Don’t you remember me? You came to me in a dream! I told you I liked Fu Xiuning, and you said you’d help me get him. Have you forgotten?”

Yan Feng was secretly pleased but outwardly showed disdain as he tried to pry Yu Yi’s hands off. “You’re insane!”

Yu Yi screamed, “You said it! You definitely said it!”

His eyes darted to Xing Shi, and he abruptly shifted his target. “And you! You said it too! I told you I was chosen by this world, and you said you realized your mistake and wouldn’t ignore me anymore. You even promised to help me get Fu Xiuning!”

He reached out to grab Xing Shi, but Xing Shi sidestepped him. Yu Yi’s expression twisted in rage. “Don’t think you can break your promise! I’m the protagonist of this world! If you don’t help me, you’re the villain!”

Yan Feng quickly stepped in to mediate, intending to make a show of holding Yu Yi back, opening the door, and calling for help to have this lunatic removed.

But in the next moment, his system exclaimed, “Boss, something’s coming in!”

Yan Feng was confused. “What?”

Top Draw answered coolly, “It’s me.”

Yan Feng and his system: “!”

Both were stunned. Yan Feng demanded, “Who are you?”

Top Draw replied, “Yu Yi’s system.”

Yan Feng asked, “How did you get here?”

His system quickly followed up, “Wait, you can unbind from your host? How is that possible? And what’s with your condition? Why are you completely out of energy?”

Fu Xiuning’s office was directly above the break room.

Although he couldn’t hear Top Draw’s voice, he could hear Yan Feng and his system’s conversation. Realizing they had encountered Top Draw, he immediately got up and headed out.

Xing Shi had deliberately brought the two together, making contact between Yu Yi and Yan Feng inevitable. If Top Draw had truly revealed itself, then none of them could be allowed to leave.

Fu Xiuning took out his phone and messaged Xing Shi.

Hearing the notification sound, Xing Shi asked his system, “Who is it?”

The system, overwhelmed by the drama, responded in disbelief, “You still have the energy to check messages right now?”

Xing Shi raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”

The system sighed and resignedly checked. “It’s from Fu Xiuning. He’s asking if you want to grab barbecue tonight.”

Xing Shi asked, “Is that all?”

The system added, “There’s a half-sentence before it. He’s asking how Yan Feng’s class went.”

Xing Shi immediately understood and acted. He swiftly grabbed Yu Yi, shoved him out of the room, and slammed the door shut before locking it.

Top Draw couldn’t even send messages in the group chat, and Fu Xiuning hadn’t been able to hear its voice during previous encounters. If it could manifest and speak with Yan Feng now, it must be because it had latched onto him.

Xing Shi turned around and looked at Yan Feng. “Brother Feng.”

Yan Feng, still distracted by the sudden appearance of the other system, responded a beat late with a distracted “Yeah?”

Xing Shi studied his expression and asked, “Do you think Yu Yi was just pretending to be insane?”

Yan Feng: “!”
His system: “!!”

Xing Shi pressed, “What did he mean by all that talk about hosts? Do you know?”

Yan Feng’s heart pounded as he scrambled to think of a way out while simultaneously keeping an ear on his system’s conversation. He was breaking into a sweat. “No idea. He said he had something to tell me, but everything he said was gibberish.”

Xing Shi took a few steps closer, pressing him. “Are you sure you didn’t understand a word of it?”

Yan Feng feigned calm. “I’m sure.”

Xing Shi observed him closely. Yan Feng wasn’t showing any anger at being played. That surprised him—why hadn’t Top Draw exposed him yet? What was it up to?

Top Draw was currently conversing with Late Bloomer.

It had no energy of its own, but since systems were naturally compatible with hosts, it had transferred to Yan Feng when Yu Yi made contact with him.

Top Draw said, “I’ve discovered something that will shatter your worldview. Give me some energy, and I’ll tell you—including how I unbound from my host.”

Late Bloomer asked Yan Feng, “Boss?”

Yan Feng said, “Talk first.”

Top Draw replied, “I don’t have the ability to protect myself right now and don’t trust anyone. Give me energy first.”

Yan Feng said, “Let’s compromise. Just a little.”

Top Draw agreed. “Deal.”

Late Bloomer gave it a small amount of energy—enough to function normally but not for long.

Top Draw said, “Thanks. Goodbye.”

And with that, it detached from Yan Feng and left.

Yan Feng: “?”

System: “!”

Top Draw shot straight toward Xing Shi.

Xing Shi had been observing Yan Feng’s reaction when he suddenly sensed a wave of energy. His mind raced, and he immediately adjusted his internal mechanism to absorption mode.

Top Draw wrapped itself in energy and, following the opened energy channel, recklessly charged into Xing Shi’s body like a moth to a flame.

Since Xing Shi wasn’t a host, Top Draw wasn’t certain it could enter his body as it did with Yu Yi and Yan Feng. To be safe, it chose this method.

However, upon entering, it discovered that Xing Shi’s body also contained an energy space. Though it felt different from a host’s energy flow, it was a space where it could survive.

It quickly said, “Xing Shi, I am Top Draw. I didn’t reveal your secret to Yan Feng. I have something to discuss with you.”

System 99: “!!!”

It yelled, “What do you think you’re doing?!”

Xing Shi absorbed the small amount of energy, feeling his magic core stir slightly. With more confidence now, he spoke patiently, “Oh? What do you want to say?”

Top Draw explained, “There is no such thing as hosts and systems. We are fragments of energy separated from the Main System. We were all… once human.”

System 99 was stunned: “What?!”

As Xing Shi activated his magic core, the energy began forming a closed-off space within his mind.

He had experienced soul energy in the magical world before, and the system’s energy wasn’t like a soul. It was purely energy, similar to magical sources.

99 had mentioned that all systems derived their energy from the Main System. Even if they were once human, they were no longer complete souls. At most, they retained fragments of personality traits from their previous lives, attached to energy masses and deployed by the Main System.

Xing Shi wouldn’t soften because of this revelation, nor would he hesitate just because Top Draw hadn’t exposed him.

He asked, “And what does that have to do with me?”

Top Draw replied, “I know what you’re trying to do. I can help you.”

Xing Shi said, “Do I look like I need your help?”

Top Draw remained calm. “At the very least, you need someone on the inside—someone who can infiltrate the Main System.”

System 99 was both confused and horrified: “An insider? What are you two talking about? What are you planning?!”

Meanwhile, Yan Feng and Late Bloomer were just as baffled.

Yan Feng, unable to sense the system’s energy, asked, “Where did it go?”

Late Bloomer hesitated before replying, “It… it seems to have gone into Xing Shi.”

Yan Feng’s expression shifted. “Is it trying to bind to Xing Shi?”

Late Bloomer responded, “Impossible. We can’t forcibly bind to natives outside the Main System’s designation. Even if we could, Top Draw doesn’t have enough energy to complete the binding.”

Yan Feng asked, “Then what is it trying to do?”

Late Bloomer replied, “It… just crashed into him and disappeared.”

Yan Feng: “???”

For as long as Yan Feng could remember, he had always been confident—clear about his goals, decisive in execution, and certain that nothing in the world could truly stump him.

But at this moment, he felt utterly lost. It took him several seconds to recover his composure.

“Hosts are chaotic, and now systems are chaotic too! What kind of lunacy is this? Did they eat something bad?”

His frustration boiled over. “Fine! Go crazy all you want, but don’t drag me down with you! I swear, I’d kill them both with my own hands if I could!”

Late Bloomer sighed helplessly. “Boss, focus on the current situation first.”

Yan Feng suppressed his anger and turned to Xing Shi.

Xing Shi was looking at his own hand, a trace of confusion on his face. “Did you feel like there was something just now?”

Yan Feng immediately seized the opportunity and said, “Maybe. Do you think it could’ve been something supernatural? Maybe that’s why Yu Yi went crazy?”

Xing Shi lowered his hand. “Is that so?”

Yan Feng replied, “I’m not sure.”

He asked his system, “Can Xing Shi sense systems? Are we sure he wasn’t bound?”

Late Bloomer explained, “No, it’s impossible. When energy flows are strong or concentrated, sensitive individuals might feel something. That’s normal.”

Yan Feng temporarily let go of his doubts and said to Xing Shi, “Have you ever experienced anything supernatural before? I know someone who went through something similar. Just in case, you might want to visit a temple.”

Xing Shi gave a casual “Oh” and then turned to leave. “Let’s go check on Yu Yi.”

For a brief moment, murderous intent surged within Yan Feng, but he quickly suppressed it.

The police wouldn’t let him off easily if he acted now. If he stayed calm, there was a chance Xing Shi’s attention would be diverted by the idea of supernatural phenomena, giving him a chance to catch his breath.

He took a deep breath, steadied his emotions, and followed Xing Shi.

Outside, chaos reigned.

Yu Yi was putting on a full show, lunging at anyone in sight.

The staff were terrified, shouting in panic, but no one dared to approach him.

When Fu Xiuning arrived, this was the scene that greeted him.

Yu Yi’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Fu Xiuning, and he rushed toward him.

Fu Xiuning easily subdued him, pinning him against the wall by his wrists. He gestured for the staff to hold Yu Yi down before heading to the break room.

Just then, the door opened, and Xing Shi and Yan Feng walked out.

Xing Shi called out, “Brother.”

Fu Xiuning’s gaze briefly swept over Yan Feng before landing on Xing Shi. “What happened?”

Xing Shi approached him. “Not sure. Yu Yi suddenly went crazy. Where is he now?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “He’s restrained. Did he grab you?”

Xing Shi said, “He tried, but I dodged.”

Fu Xiuning met Xing Shi’s calm gaze and nodded slightly.

Their plan to keep Yan Feng hinged on Top Draw’s presence. Xing Shi’s demeanor suggested either Top Draw had been dealt with or some temporary agreement had been reached with Yan Feng.

Xing Shi glanced around the room and spotted Yu Yi being held down.

Yu Yi looked utterly defeated—his clothes disheveled, his voice hoarse, his bloodshot eyes making him appear truly insane.

When Yu Yi noticed Xing Shi, a surge of strength erupted from within him, and he struggled to lunge at him.

But after expending so much energy, he couldn’t fully break free. Two staff members gripped his arms tightly, leaving him leaning at an awkward angle.

Now that the threat of death had passed, his mind became eerily clear despite his madness.

He wondered if his system was lying to him, if Yan Feng was just stringing him along, and what he should do next.

Giving up on Fu Xiuning wasn’t an option. But with the situation as it was, he had no choice but to retreat temporarily and think of another way.

He stared intently at Xing Shi, his eyes red as he choked out, “I really like him. Will you help me? So many people like you. Can’t you… can’t you just let me have him? Please?”

Xing Shi saw the obsession in his eyes but couldn’t tell how much of it was due to his personality and how much was driven by the Main System’s energy.

Taking a few steps forward, his voice turned cold. “No. Who he chooses to be with isn’t up to you or me, or anyone or anything else. It’s his decision. Do you understand?”

?Ding Ding?

?Current favorability: 65?

Top Draw: “???”

It asked, “What?!”

System 99 hadn’t fully grasped the situation but was already brimming with pride: “65!”

Finally, it had someone to show off to. “How’s that? Isn’t it way better than yours?”

Top Draw asked, “Are they dating?”

99 replied smugly, “Not yet, but they will be soon! Just look at that favorability. It’s only a matter of time!”

Xing Shi said, “Everyone shut up.”

Both System 99 and Top Draw fell silent at once.

Fu Xiuning glanced at Xing Shi.

Though he couldn’t hear Top Draw’s voice, the situation was easy enough to deduce. So, Top Draw had ended up with Xing Shi now?

The security guards, having received the call, arrived on the scene.

Fu Xiuning picked two guards to restrain Yu Yi and called trainers from the training department to escort Yu Yi to the hospital.

After they left, Xing Shi asked, “Since this happened at the company, would this count as a workplace injury?”

Fu Xiuning caught the hint, understanding that Xing Shi was worried about Yu Yi escaping and causing more trouble. He said, “I’ll assign someone to watch him.”

Xing Shi felt a little reassured and nodded. “I’m too shaken to go back to class.”

Fu Xiuning asked, “Want to sit in my office or go home?”

Xing Shi replied, “Your office.”

Yan Feng interjected, “I’ll come too. I can explain what happened.”

Fu Xiuning dismissed him. “No need. I’ll ask him myself.”

Yan Feng: “…”

He watched helplessly as they stepped into the elevator, frustration mounting.

His system was equally anxious: “Boss, what do we do now?”

Yan Feng snapped, “How should I know?!”

The system offered, “Maybe there’s a chance Xing Shi won’t mention us when describing the situation. Or what if he didn’t catch Yu Yi’s ‘you’re also a host’ comment?”

Yan Feng retorted, “Do you really think that’s likely?”

The system wanted to cry: “…Probably not.”

Yan Feng returned to the break room, shut the door, and began pacing.

“This won’t work. We need to come up with a distraction to keep him busy immediately.”

Then they could use the time to figure out a reliable way to deal with Xing Shi and avoid further complications.

The system suggested, “What about that variety show airing soon?”

Yan Feng replied, “Not a bad idea.”

He quickly pulled out his phone and started making calls.

Meanwhile, Xing Shi followed Fu Xiuning into the office and collapsed as soon as the door closed.

Fu Xiuning’s pupils contracted as he rushed to catch him. “What’s wrong?”

Xing Shi rested his head on Fu Xiuning’s shoulder and whispered, “I overexerted myself…”

He had barely managed to activate his magic core and had drained energy to trap the two systems, preventing them from sending out information. Holding on until now had been a struggle.

But it didn’t matter. Fresh energy was within reach, and now he could finally tap into it.

System 99 hadn’t yet grasped the meaning behind his words when it suddenly sensed a powerful and unfamiliar energy closing in on it. Panicked, it shouted, “What is this… Ahhh, don’t come closer! Xing Shi, what are you doing?!”

Top Draw, detecting the intensity of the energy, immediately retreated and warily observed from a distance.

System 99’s energy was stripped away in an instant, and it screamed, “Nooo! Somebody help me!”

Fu Xiuning, still holding Xing Shi by the waist, instinctively tightened his grip and pulled him closer upon hearing the desperate cries.

The first two times Xing Shi absorbed energy, the systems had detached from their hosts, so Fu Xiuning hadn’t heard them. This time, he heard everything firsthand.

After being tormented by these things for over five years, he was finally witnessing their collapse for the first time.

[Ding Ding] [Current favorability: 66]

[Ding Ding] [Current favorability: 67]

[Ding Ding] [Current favorability: 68]

[Ding Ding…]

Top Draw: “!!!”

System 99, too terrified to celebrate, desperately tried to save itself: “Xing Shi, I’m still useful! I can help you gather intel, pretend to be clueless in the chat, and monitor the other systems for you! Without me, what if another system like Top Draw refuses to log off? You’ll need me to handle it!”

The last bit of its energy was completely drained.

[Ding Ding] [Current favorability: 70]

Refueled with energy, Xing Shi felt a little better.

Noticing him relax, Fu Xiuning asked, “Feeling better?”

Xing Shi replied hoarsely, “Much better.”

Fu Xiuning helped him to the sofa and poured him a glass of water.

Xing Shi took a couple of sips before walking over to the desk, grabbing a pen and paper. He wrote down the first key point: Yan Feng wants to kill me.

Fu Xiuning immediately understood the concern about Yan Feng’s system overhearing their conversation.

Xing Shi continued writing: Top Draw is with me. It must have discovered something. I haven’t questioned it yet. As for that idiot, I spared it for now—it might still be useful.

The two systems witnessed the scene in its entirety.

Xing Shi’s magic core had fully awakened, dispelling its invisibility.

Seeing this new “presence” suddenly appear in the “room,” both systems felt it was surreal. They didn’t understand what it was, but its aura instinctively terrified them. Both huddled nervously in the corner.

System 99, relieved to have survived, was still shaken. It choked out, “When he said ‘idiot,’ did he mean me?”

Top Draw answered flatly, “Obviously.”

System 99 was overwhelmed by the day’s events. “What is going on? How are they discussing all this so casually?”

Top Draw asked, “You really don’t know anything?”

System 99, grief-stricken, replied, “I really don’t!”

Top Draw, having watched System 99 assist Xing Shi with both Yu Shu and energy absorption—and even act convincingly in the group chat—had assumed it was already under Xing Shi’s control. Even if it didn’t know everything, it should have been aware of some details. But to its surprise, it knew absolutely nothing.

So, after all this time, watching Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning plot, it never realized anything was off?

Top Draw fell silent.

System 99 waited for a moment before urging, “Say something… By the way, where have you been this whole time?”

Top Draw replied, “With Yu Yi.”

System 99 immediately perked up. “Then who is Yu Yi’s system?”

Top Draw went silent again, suddenly understanding why System 99 had never suspected anything about Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning.

System 99 waited again before pressing, “Say something!”

Top Draw said, “Take a break. With a brain as small as yours, don’t overwork yourself.”

System 99 let out a weak “Oh,” but after a few seconds, it suddenly snapped, “Are you insulting me?”

Top Draw replied, “No.”

System 99 refused to believe it. “You totally are!”

Top Draw replied coolly, “If that’s how you feel, I can’t stop you.”

System 99 became even more convinced and snapped, “What gives you the right to insult me the moment you show up?!”

After thinking for a moment, it fired back, “Watch your mouth, you turncoat servant!”

Top Draw: “…”