The Salted Fish is Rebellious – CH57

Chapter 57

99 cried, “We’re all comrades-in-arms, but there’s no love at all!”

“They toyed with my emotions, devoured me, chewed me into scraps, and then sent me off to deceive others. You don’t even bother to comfort me,” it accused, “You’re all heartless!”

Xing Shi corrected, “I have a heart.”

99 retorted, “Your heart? Is it made of hot water?”

After saying that, it paused for two seconds, then abruptly stopped crying. “Oh, I get it. You do have a heart—it’s just not for me. Fine, I forgive you. After all, you have a Brother.”

Xing Shi responded, “Mm.”

Top Draw: “…”

99 huffed angrily, “We can’t let the main system get away with this. It’s too despicable!”

Seeing that it had calmed down, Xing Shi finally asked, “How much do you remember? Do you recall the process of being devoured?”

99 said, “I remember a bit. At the time, I think I was with my host, and suddenly there was this force trying to pull me away. But I didn’t physically move—just felt like something inside me was being drained. After that, I blacked out. When I regained consciousness, it was pitch dark all around me. That state lasted for a while, and then I became a system.”

Xing Shi thought to himself that this aligned with his earlier speculation about the energy pathways.

There was likely a hidden energy thread tied to the target of a strategy. Once the target was successfully “conquered,” this thread would transform into a channel for the main system to absorb energy.

Fortunately, the threads on their side had already been severed by him.

He asked, “Was the pitch-dark place inside the main system?”

99 tried to recall. “I’m not sure. Maybe. It felt chaotic.”

It then asked Top Draw, “Do you have any memory of this?”

Top Draw replied, “None.”

Either it had lost its memory, or as a host, its soul energy was too weak to last as long as the target.

99 remarked, “Having no memory is a good thing. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.”

Top Draw looked at it and gave a soft “Mm.”

After chatting about the past, 99 started asking about what had happened during its dormant period.

Top Draw summarized the events in a few short sentences.

99 immediately perked up. “So the next person you’re targeting is Chai Xiaoyu? Are you sure he’s a host?”

Top Draw replied, “Barring any surprises, yes.”

99 became highly motivated. “Great! I’ll help out!”

Xing Shi didn’t tell it that Fu Xiuning was the one handling this matter.

After finishing his shower, Xing Shi changed into his pajamas and headed to the living room.

A moment later, Fu Xiuning also emerged, holding a blanket in his hands.

The weather had turned colder, especially after a rain shower earlier in the day. The temperature inside the house was noticeably lower than in the previous days, so keeping warm was important.

The two didn’t discuss Chai Xiaoyu any further. Instead, they picked out a movie, snuggled under the blanket together, and quietly started watching.

99 observed this cozy scene and commented, “The only good thing the main system ever did was probably sending you into this world… No, wait, that’s impossible. If it had sent you, you’d just be another part of it.”

It then asked, “So how did you get here?”

Xing Shi replied, “I don’t know. Maybe it was destined.”

99 enthusiastically agreed. “Exactly! A fateful encounter, like something out of a story!”

Xing Shi responded, “Mm!”

Top Draw: “…”

99, feeling that its broken little heart was completely healed, couldn’t help but push things further. “Why don’t you two go watch in the bedroom? It’s much warmer under the covers. Sitting on the sofa will only make your feet cold.”

Xing Shi had to admit he was a bit tempted by the suggestion, so he nudged Fu Xiuning with his shoulder. “Brother.”

Fu Xiuning tilted his head slightly, signaling him to speak.

Xing Shi asked, “Is there a TV or a projector in the bedroom?”

Fu Xiuning immediately understood the underlying meaning of the question, his gaze deepening slightly. “No.”

He never kept too many electronic devices in the master bedroom, nor did he have a habit of watching movies there. Looking at Xing Shi, he said, “I’ll pick a guest room tomorrow and turn it into a media room.”

Xing Shi replied, “Okay.”

Fu Xiuning took his hand, interlacing their fingers, and turned his attention back to the screen.

The next day was Sunday, and Xing Shi still had to go to the company for training.

As the boss, Fu Xiuning didn’t need to work. Instead, he started researching audio-visual equipment.

Once he started, the list of changes he wanted to make kept growing.

When Xing Shi came home that evening, he noticed that one of the guest room beds was gone. According to Fu Xiuning, it had been replaced with a smart adjustable bed that would arrive the next day. Some of the other equipment had already been delivered, and the rest was scheduled to be installed soon.

Xing Shi had assumed it would just involve setting up a projector, but clearly, his Brother had a more elaborate plan in mind.

He commented, “We don’t watch movies that often.”

Fu Xiuning replied warmly, “I know. It’s no trouble.”

Xing Shi didn’t try to persuade him further. Instead, he leaned against him and played on his phone.

When the media room was finally finished, Xing Shi encountered Sang Chenhao at the company.

Li Yu and Sang Chenhao had finished their work. The former had gone on vacation somewhere and hadn’t returned yet, while the latter briefly appeared in front of Fu Xiuning and exchanged a few friendly words with Xing Shi before being called away by a friend.

Xing Shi didn’t feel regretful, as his attention recently had been focused on Chai Xiaoyu.

Since their last hotpot outing, Chai Xiaoyu had been messaging Xing Shi every two days.

The messages were about personal updates and amusing things he’d come across. Each chat was short and ended quickly, never becoming intrusive or annoying.

Before he knew it, another weekend arrived. Chai Xiaoyu asked if Xing Shi had time to hang out.

Xing Shi showed the chat to Fu Xiuning.

Fu Xiuning gave a soft “Mm.” “Go ahead.”

Xing Shi asked, “What about you?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “I’ll go too.”

Xing Shi glanced at him, tossed his phone aside, and leaned in to ask in a low voice, “What’s your plan?”

Fu Xiuning leaned in even closer, teasing, “If I told you, it wouldn’t be any fun. Just wait and see.”

Xing Shi held his gaze for a moment, then nodded, deciding to observe for himself.

Knowing that Xing Shi had training and couldn’t always take time off, Chai Xiaoyu chose to meet in the evening for dinner.

His reasoning was sound—he’d heard from colleagues that a new Thai restaurant at the Cultural Plaza was quite good. Since it was close to Xing Shi’s company, he thought it would be a good spot to try together.

The only downside was the lack of private rooms, though there were booths that offered more privacy than the main dining area.

Xing Shi didn’t mind and readily agreed.

Chai Xiaoyu, worried about the crowds, arrived a little early.

By the time Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning arrived, Chai Xiaoyu was already seated at their booth. The three of them ordered a few signature dishes and started chatting.

Chai Xiaoyu unlocked his phone and showed a photo to Fu Xiuning, saying helplessly, “I had my mom take these, but the quality isn’t great, so I didn’t send them to you. Next time I go back to school, I’ll stop by home and retake them.”

Fu Xiuning immediately spotted the photo of a dinosaur costume and opened it.

The costume covered the wearer from head to toe, leaving only a small face visible, with a tail trailing behind. It was undeniably adorable.

After scrolling through the other photos, Fu Xiuning said, “Send them all to me.”

Chai Xiaoyu sent them all and, upon hearing that Xing Shi wanted them too, sent him a copy as well.

99, looking at the pictures with Xing Shi, exclaimed, “Wow, so cute and so pretty!”

Xing Shi said sincerely, “Agreed.”

99 continued commenting while viewing, “So good-looking even as a kid. No wonder he’s so likable—even Fu Xiuning…”

It trailed off. After having too much fun shipping the couple, it suddenly thought deeper and couldn’t help but say, “Xing Shi, once we take down the main system, let’s set up a tombstone for the original owner of this body.”

Top Draw: “…”

Xing Shi said, “You’re so considerate.”

99 didn’t catch the subtle tone in his words and sighed, “It’s the least I can do. After all, we’re all victims.”

When the first dish arrived, Xing Shi turned off his phone.

Fu Xiuning, now in possession of the photos, returned to his possessive demeanor. In line with his previous behavior, he left no room for Chai Xiaoyu and Xing Shi to chat for too long.

Xing Shi couldn’t hear the exchanges between the host and the system, so he had no idea what was going on with Chai Xiaoyu. Observing quietly, he noticed that Chai Xiaoyu’s gaze toward him seemed tinged with worry.

He thought about it for a while. After they finished eating and returned home, he said to Fu Xiuning, “I feel like he’s worried about me.”

Fu Xiuning replied, “Maybe.”

Xing Shi asked, “Is it because of you?”

Fu Xiuning patted Xing Shi’s head, indicating that his guess was correct.

Xing Shi quickly deduced Fu Xiuning’s intentions—was he planning to act like a psycho and force the other party to make the first move?

He decided they would discuss it further at home that evening.

Fu Xiuning walked him back to the company, watching him enter the elevator before heading alone to the underground parking lot.

He found his car and returned to the Cultural Plaza.

Chai Xiaoyu was standing by the roadside, waiting for him.

During the meal earlier, Fu Xiuning had messaged him, saying he wanted to tell Xing Shi about their childhood encounters to create a romantic surprise. He hoped that Chai Xiaoyu, his playmate from those days, could be part of it.

Chai Xiaoyu naturally agreed without hesitation. By the time Fu Xiuning arrived, he was still chatting with his system. He believed that Fu Xiuning hadn’t mentally manipulated Xing Shi yet, and Xing Shi might genuinely be able to save him. All they needed to do was get Xing Shi’s attention and then assist him.

The system’s main objective, however, was to complete Fu Xiuning’s strategy and achieve a 100-point favorability rating. The system couldn’t let Xing Shi take the biggest share of the credit.

But it understood the principle of “haste makes waste” and didn’t argue with its host, planning instead to brainwash him little by little through daily interactions.

With the system’s approval, Chai Xiaoyu felt emboldened. He even climbed into Fu Xiuning’s car without any nervousness, smiling as he asked, “What kind of surprise are we preparing?”

Fu Xiuning said, “They’re still setting it up. You’ll see when we get there.”

Chai Xiaoyu nodded and looked out the window as they got on the highway. “Is it far?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “I picked a spot by the seaside.”

Chai Xiaoyu silently thought the location was fitting. When his system told him to occasionally start a conversation, he hesitated for two seconds before asking, “Brother, what’s your relationship with my boss?”

Fu Xiuning said calmly, “We’re lovers.”

Chai Xiaoyu had already guessed this and wasn’t surprised. Instead, he praised, “You’re a perfect match.”

Fu Xiuning responded, “I think so too.”

Chai Xiaoyu considered his words carefully and, half-jokingly, tested the waters. “My boss is so handsome, and he’s going to be a big star in the future. Lots of people will like him. Will you feel any pressure?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “No. I trust him.”

Chai Xiaoyu, not being the most tactful person, gave a blunt piece of advice. “I’ve seen some celebrities who get married, and because their husbands can’t handle it, they gradually appear in public less and end up unhappy, stuck at home all the time.”

He spoke earnestly, “Brother, don’t become that kind of person.”

Fu Xiuning let out a soft “Mm.”

Chai Xiaoyu’s spirits lifted, and he told his system, “There’s hope! My boss really can save him!”

The system replied, “But sweetheart, people like him always present a flawless image to the outside world, don’t they?”

Chai Xiaoyu asked, “Really?”

The system explained, “Exactly. Think about your recent interactions. He clearly doesn’t like you, but his attitude toward you on the surface is impeccable, isn’t it? That’s why we can’t let our guard down.”

Chai Xiaoyu said, “Alright, I’ll keep observing.”

Fu Xiuning ignored the conversation entirely and continued driving toward the outskirts.

Meanwhile, Xing Shi had just started class when he noticed his Brother’s personal assistant, Xiao Qin, had arrived.

He left the practice room and asked, “What’s up?”

Xiao Qin said, “The boss has a dinner engagement tonight and will need to drink. He wants you to pick him up.”

Xing Shi’s heart skipped a beat. “When should I leave?”

Xiao Qin replied, “Right away. The location is quite far.”

Xing Shi’s hunch was confirmed, and he immediately told Xiao Qin to lead the way.

99 was puzzled. “Didn’t he just finish eating? He’s already off to a second round?”

Top Draw also seemed a bit surprised, not because Fu Xiuning had social engagements, but because of the speed at which he was moving.

Xing Shi pulled out his phone and called Fu Xiuning, but as expected, there was no answer. He called out to his system, “Where is he? Do you know his destination?”

99 quickly checked and reported, “He just got on the highway, but there’s no navigation active.”

Xing Shi said nothing more and quickly entered the elevator.

His Brother had been living such a peaceful life lately that Xing Shi had almost forgotten about the “crazy” side buried deep in his bones.

Top Draw, knowing that tonight’s plan involved resolving the situation with Chai Xiaoyu, admired Fu Xiuning’s efficiency. It even offered a rare bit of comfort: “He promised not to do anything dangerous.”

Xing Shi asked, “Are you sure his definition of ‘not dangerous’ is the same as a normal person’s?”

Top Draw thought back to Fu Xiuning’s exploits over the years and fell silent.

99 was confused. “What’s that supposed to mean? What are you two talking about?”

While driving, Fu Xiuning casually chatted with Chai Xiaoyu, displaying great patience throughout.

When they exited the highway and began winding along a mountain road, nearing the planned location, Fu Xiuning finally initiated a topic. “The reason I asked you to come along tonight is that there’s something I wanted to say to you.”

Chai Xiaoyu, having chatted with him for a while and feeling relaxed, said, “Sure, go ahead.”

Fu Xiuning spoke gently, “You’ve been messaging Xing Shi every few days lately, constantly asking him to hang out. It’s been bothering me.”

Chai Xiaoyu’s expression instantly froze.

His system was also startled.

Although it had planned to convince its host that Fu Xiuning’s obsessive possessiveness was an issue to be solved, it hadn’t expected him to actually be like this!

According to the intel, Xing Shi had been living a normal life—he’d even traveled to shoot a variety show. Fu Xiuning had acted perfectly ordinary, showing only that he cared deeply for Xing Shi, with no signs of abnormality.

But on second thought, it made sense.

Fu Xiuning had been under strategy for over five years, living a miserable existence. Now that he’d finally encountered someone he genuinely loved, it was only natural that he’d want to hold onto them tightly.

The system hurriedly urged, “Quick, explain yourself! Say you meant no harm!”

Chai Xiaoyu replied, “Would it even work if I explained? Shouldn’t I be calling my boss to warn him to run right now?”

The system said, “You could, but you need to keep him calm first, sweetheart!”

Taking a deep breath, Chai Xiaoyu forced a stiff smile. “Brother, my boss and I are just friends. I admire him as a fan does. You even said you don’t mind lots of people liking him, remember?”

Fu Xiuning said, “Mm, I did say that.”

Chai Xiaoyu and his system both felt slightly relieved. The former thought there might be room to talk and was about to add a few more words of explanation when Fu Xiuning spoke again.

“I was just joking.”

Fu Xiuning’s tone didn’t change at all, still sounding like a gentle older Brother. “What’s wrong? Did you take me seriously?”