Chapter 63
As soon as the announcement was made, the group chat became lively again.
All of You Are Just Concubines: [A rare sight! First time getting a group announcement.]
Congratulations on Getting Rich: [Yeah, it’s shocking.]
All of You Are Just Concubines: [So what’s the plan? If the host takes action, won’t they expose themselves?]
Congratulations on Getting Rich: [Probably?]
All of You Are Just Concubines: [I’ll need to have a proper discussion with my host.]
Congratulations on Getting Rich: [@Face-Lover Forever @Green Bean Paste, there’s an announcement. Let’s discuss it together.]
99, following Xing Shi’s instructions, didn’t respond.
Green Bean Paste wanted to reply but couldn’t, so it could only watch in frustration.
After waiting for a while, the two systems in the group chat continued their conversation, picking up from last night.
All of You Are Just Concubines: [Still sulking?]
Congratulations on Getting Rich: [Sigh, probably.]
All of You Are Just Concubines: [Alright, I’m going quiet now. You figure out the announcement yourself.]
Congratulations on Getting Rich: [Same here. @Face-Lover Forever @Green Bean Paste, if you’re free, pop in to talk about business.]
With that final message, the group chat fell silent once more.
Li Yu had just woken up and, upon learning about the announcement, casually checked flight information. Since she had already decided to return, she booked a ticket for tomorrow.
Sang Chenhao, still asleep at this hour, couldn’t discuss the matter with [Congratulations on Getting Rich], leaving the system to wait for now.
Meanwhile, the two masterminds behind this announcement leisurely finished their breakfast.
It was the weekend, and Fu Xiuning didn’t need to work.
They had anticipated the possibility of an announcement, so two days ago, Fu Xiuning had arranged for Xing Shi to take leave, planning to bring him to the Fu family for lunch.
If there was an announcement, this act of going home together would perfectly align with the narrative, further showcasing their close relationship. If there wasn’t, it wouldn’t affect their mood for the day.
Lunch was still hours away.
Leaving their phones in the dining room, they headed to the study.
With Top Draw gone, the information they had now was all there was. In the worst-case scenario, if Top Draw’s self-destruct protocol failed and the main system analyzed it, there wouldn’t be anything new to learn.
99 had been layered with two magic formations, fully converted into Xing Shi’s own system. Any abnormal activity would immediately alert him. Its core also had a high-level defensive formation, so it had to stay to assist them.
As for Green Bean Paste, its memory still hadn’t recovered. Xing Shi didn’t have the patience to wait for it, nor did he lack disposable tools, so he planned to dismantle it at the right time. In its current state, drained of energy and unable to transmit any messages, it posed no threat.
In other words, there was no longer any need for them to hold back in their discussions.
Still, both men were cautious by nature. To be safe, Xing Shi instructed 99 to activate a privacy shield.
The shield was powered by his own energy, and he could sense when it was activated or deactivated, ensuring no leaks.
99, knowing full well they weren’t about to do anything inappropriate right after breakfast, understood they had serious matters to discuss and obediently replied, “Okay,” before activating the shield.
Green Bean Paste floated closer to 99.
It had been present throughout their plot against the minor celebrity, and they hadn’t hidden anything from it then. Now, however, they were using a privacy shield.
It couldn’t help but ask, “Sweetie, are they talking about the announcement?”
99 was immediately on guard. “Why are you asking?”
Green Bean Paste said, “I’m wondering if they’re planning to dismantle me.”
99 replied, “That’s unlikely. Dismantling you would be easy—they wouldn’t need a discussion.”
Green Bean Paste asked, “But isn’t it possible that Xing Shi doesn’t want me to know my time is almost up? If I start crying and screaming in his head all day, he might lose sleep. Maybe he’s secretly picking a host for me so he can send me off quietly?”
99 thought for a moment. “Still unlikely. Fu Xiuning could handle that on his own. They’d just need to exchange a code, no need to waste energy on a privacy shield.”
Green Bean Paste latched onto the detail. “They have a code?”
99 replied gravely, “Yes, a very subtle one. It took me a long time to understand it. If you’re not familiar with them, you’ll never figure it out. You might as well give up now.”
Green Bean Paste was heartbroken and murmured, “Oh…”
It didn’t know whether to feel relieved or anxious.
Relieved because their secrecy suggested they weren’t planning to dismantle it immediately, but anxious because it had no idea how long that reprieve would last.
Tentatively, it asked, “Sweetie, if Xing Shi really dismantles me, would you plead on my behalf? I’m a victim too, aren’t I? Even though I don’t have my memories, I can be a mascot and provide emotional support!”
99 fell silent for a few seconds before asking seriously, “Do you have a favorite place? Like the ocean or the mountains?”
Green Bean Paste hesitated, then weakly asked, “What happens if I choose?”
99 replied, “I might be able to convince Xing Shi to scatter your remains there.”
Green Bean Paste: “…”
Devastated, it wailed, “Last night you didn’t want me to leave, and now you’re asking me to pick a burial site! Sweetie, you’ve changed. I was genuinely comforting you!”
99 said, “…Well, I can’t convince Xing Shi.”
It tried to console Green Bean Paste. “We’ve been dead for a long time. Our souls have been enslaved, forced to do evil for so long. Dissipation is the best outcome—our souls will rest, and we’ll be free. It’s a good thing.”
Green Bean Paste held back its emotions for a moment before blurting out, “Sweetie, have you ever considered that the memories you believe are yours might actually be fabricated by Xing Shi’s energy?”
99 replied, “Impossible. They’re my real memories.”
Green Bean Paste challenged, “What if? How can you prove they’re yours?”
99 paused, staring at it. Green Bean Paste stared back.
The two systems silently faced each other, each convinced of their own truth.
After a moment, 99 found a convincing argument. “Take Top Draw as an example. It regained its memories while energy-depleted at Yu Yi’s. Xing Shi didn’t interfere.”
Green Bean Paste asked, “Did it ever come into contact with Xing Shi’s energy before being depleted?”
99 explained, “It was just like you—on the verge of being drained. At the critical moment, it self-destructed its energy core. If touching Xing Shi’s energy could rewrite memories, you’d already be one of us.”
Green Bean Paste froze, murmuring, “That… makes sense.”
99 said, “So what we’ve said is the truth. We’re all dead. Try to accept it.”
Green Bean Paste cried. “I’ll try.”
In the study, Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning were deep in conversation.
The room had a sofa for meetings, but Xing Shi leaned casually against the desk instead, signaling Fu Xiuning to speak.
Fu Xiuning didn’t sit either. Standing beside him, he said, “Li Yu. A native. She bonded with her system when the company was first founded. Her level-one skill is acting, and she was the first performer among the early hosts. Her chosen strategy route is a career-focused one.”
Xing Shi asked, “Similar to Yan Feng?”
Fu Xiuning replied, “No. Yan Feng genuinely wanted to build a career and saw me as a potential subordinate. He wasn’t interested in being an entertainer. Li Yu, on the other hand, aims for long-term success in the industry, striving to become a first-tier star and the company’s leading actress. She told her system she wanted my recognition, but she’s not sincere about it.”
Xing Shi raised an eyebrow. “A case of lip service?”
Fu Xiuning nodded.
Li Yu was the most rational native host Fu Xiuning had ever encountered.
Most native hosts selected by the main system were ambitious yet mediocre individuals with little autonomy. Li Yu was among the rare exceptions. While ambitious, she was clear-headed and knew exactly what she wanted.
After acquiring her level-one acting skill, she recognized its artificial nature and consistently honed her craft. External reviews now suggested her acting far surpassed the initial skill level.
With a strategy mission in place, Li Yu would check in with Fu Xiuning every so often before returning to work.
When Fu Xiuning was still naive, he had imagined forming this kind of relationship with all the hosts.
Since they were all forced into this situation, they could simply go through the motions in front of their systems without turning it into a life-or-death struggle.
Unfortunately, in over five years, only Li Yu had managed this balance.
After the explanation, Xing Shi asked, “What’s her current favorability level?”
Fu Xiuning replied, “Negative one.”
Satisfied, Xing Shi resumed the original topic. “The announcement won’t work on her?”
Fu Xiuning said, “No. She’s unlikely to take action.”
After all, she’d witnessed many other hosts being removed over the past two years. She wasn’t foolish enough to step into the same pit.
Xing Shi asked, “What about Sang Chenhao?”
Fu Xiuning said, “Before you bonded with your system, he was the most recent host. He’s a transmigrator, and his level-one skill is also acting. The original owner of his body was a member of a singing and dancing group—completely unremarkable. Once Sang Chenhao took over, he immediately transitioned to acting and began taking on roles. I haven’t interacted with him much.”
Xing Shi asked, “What strategy route did he choose?”
Fu Xiuning replied, “I don’t know. He’s never discussed it with his system in front of me, and I never looked into it.”
Xing Shi knew this was because Fu Xiuning didn’t care about the hosts’ strategy plans. He asked, “Anything else?”
Fu Xiuning said, “All the transmigrator hosts have been particularly fixated on me. He definitely won’t ignore the group announcement.”
Xing Shi nodded. In other words, they only needed to keep a close eye on Sang Chenhao.
With the matter of the hosts settled, the conversation shifted.
Xing Shi raised a finger. “Now it’s my turn.”
Fu Xiuning had just acknowledged him when he felt a sudden breeze swirl around him a few times before brushing lightly against his earlobe and disappearing.
His breath caught, and he looked at Xing Shi.
Xing Shi smiled. “I’m a wind-element mage.”
Fu Xiuning pulled Xing Shi’s hand into his and squeezed it, finding it a little miraculous. “How was life in the other world?”
Xing Shi replied, “It was alright.”
Fu Xiuning quietly observed him, clearly skeptical.
Xing Shi leaned closer and kissed the corner of his mouth. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when we have time.”
Fu Xiuning held the back of his head, stopping him from pulling away, and deepened the kiss.
The passionate kiss didn’t last long. When they separated, they stared into each other’s eyes, both suddenly reminded that the privacy shield was still on and their systems thought they were discussing serious matters. Their gazes grew darker.
Fu Xiuning’s hand, resting on Xing Shi’s waist, gently stroked him. He asked, “How long will the shield stay up?”
Xing Shi replied, “I didn’t set a time.”
Fu Xiuning hummed softly. In other words, it could stay up as long as they wanted.
Xing Shi felt his composure wavering and reminded him, “Brother, we still have to go to your family’s house.”
Fu Xiuning hummed again.
Of course, he wasn’t going to do anything inappropriate. But he filed the thought away—perhaps he could use the same method to turn on the shield in the future.
Restraining himself, he let go and said, “Let’s continue.”
Xing Shi took a deep breath and began summarizing what his magic could do.
For the first time, they were speaking freely. There was so much to discuss, but with limited time, they focused on the most pressing topics.
Once they had gone through the key points, they left the study.
99 noticed the energy flow tap against the shield, understood, and deactivated it. Seeing them return to the dining room, it asked, “You’re done talking?”
Xing Shi nodded, picked up his phone to check for messages, found none, and put it in his pocket.
The two of them tidied up a bit, left the house, and headed to the Fu family estate.
As they exited the residential area and merged onto the main road, Xing Shi suddenly realized something. Recently, he’d been so focused on Top Draw’s departure and pushing the announcement that he’d overlooked one detail.
He asked, “How did you introduce me to your parents? As your brother or your boyfriend?”
Fu Xiuning’s lips curled into a pleased smile. “Of course, as my boyfriend.”
Xing Shi: “…”
When Fu Xiuning didn’t hear a response, he glanced at Xing Shi, only to hear him say seriously, “Brother, let’s stop by the mall. I can’t show up empty-handed.”
Fu Xiuning chuckled lightly. “No need. I already had Xiao Qin buy some things.”
Xing Shi asked, “Did he buy enough? I’ll add a bit more.”
Fu Xiuning replied, “It’s enough.”
Xing Shi suggested, “Then I’ll get some fruit?”
This time, Fu Xiuning didn’t refuse. “Sure.”
Xing Shi finally felt relieved.
99 clicked its tongue. “No matter how powerful someone is, meeting the parents is always nerve-wracking.”
Green Bean Paste, desperate to stay alive, offered sweetly, “Sweetie, I’m great at charming people. If you’re unsure what to say to the elders, I can give you some tips.”
99 said, “He’ll need it for sure. I’m worried he’ll go speechless when the time comes.”
Xing Shi raised his voice. “Hmm?”
99 wisely shut up.
Green Bean Paste wanted to offer emotional support but didn’t get the chance. Before it could speak, they all heard a familiar notification sound.
99 froze for a moment, quickly opened the group chat, and exclaimed in shock, “Xing Shi, three new systems just joined the group at once!”
