The sound of the system did not fluctuate…

　　But it reminded Qin Qingqing of the plot she had just checked.

　　It turned out to be the part about “the son fainted from hunger and was later kicked out of the house by his father”!

　　From then on, the father and son, together with their stepmother next door, started a happy life as a family of three; and Qin Qingqing embarked on the “broad road” of picking up garbage.

　　To be honest, Qin Qingqing was skeptical about the ending where his mother had to pick up trash at such a young age.

　　After all, she has hands and feet, how could she end up in such an outrageous situation…

　　unless–

　　”Unless, this is something that the kid’s father did.”

　　Qin Qingqing’s lips twitched.

　　Lu Bai was tortured by the original owner for many years; his only good son was almost starved to death by the original owner.

　　After he forced the original owner out of the house, he was still furious; he used his connections to destroy all her ways of making a living…so that the original owner had to “pick up trash” to survive.

　　This is very domineering.

　　But now, it is she who has to bear Lu Bai’s wrath for the original owner!

　　She is so innocent…

　　“…”

　　The system does not agree with the host’s speculation.

　　but–

　　No explanation.

　　He just spoke in a mechanical voice: “You don’t have to do it.”

　　”Um?”

　　Qin Qingqing exclaimed in surprise.

　　Then I heard the system say in a chilly voice——

　　“Electric shock punishment. I’m ready.”

　　“?!”

　　“Do it, do it…”

　　Qin gently sat up from the bed, holding the bird’s nest, while opening the translucent screen that only she could see…

　　Memorize the lines.

　　The damn Zhou Bapi^[1]Stingy system always threatens her with “electric shock punishment”. What else can she do except complete the task?

　　Thanks to the blessings from the previous life.

　　Qin Qingqing’s acting skills are not great, but they are enough; her ability to memorize lines is also very good…

　　She quickly closed the system’s task interface.

　　Get up and go downstairs…

　　Push the plot.

　　Then, she was looked at with strange eyes by the servants of the Lu family.

　　”?”

　　Qin Qingqing frowned nobly.

　　A glare flew towards the leading butler.

　　”!”

　　The butler and the servants behind him scattered in an instant.

　　During this time, Qin Qingqing also vaguely heard…

　　Someone murmured.

　　”Who said just now that the lady’s temperament has changed drastically today and she is very kind?”

　　”I think… it’s still good!”

　　”The new guy is cheating me!!!”

　　“…”

　　Qin paused for a moment before looking at the newcomer who was… so frightened that she was frozen in place.

　　Suddenly, my heart softened and I couldn’t continue acting.

　　”What are you standing for?”

　　”Go…help me call the young master.”

　　She winked at the newcomer, and her tone instantly returned to normal – light and kind, even… a little playful.

　　”Thank you~”

　　After saying this, she quickened her pace and sat down in the restaurant.

　　The newcomer was left with red cheeks – see! She was right, the lady was super beautiful and super kind!

　　*

　　The restaurant has already prepared hot and delicious meals.

　　But–

　　Qin Qingqing didn’t have time to eat for the time being.

　　She recalled the prescribed plot lines over and over again…

　　When I looked up, I saw a pale but handsome face.

　　She was stunned.

　　Only then did I react——

　　Opposite her, the pale-faced, frowning young man was her adopted son.

　　His face looked pale because he hadn’t eaten anything for three days.

　　His brows were furrowed because he could easily guess that the woman had called him here not to find out about his “skipping the exam and fighting” but because she had thought of a new way to mistreat him.

　　As soon as this thought came to the boy’s mind, he saw the person opposite him moving his red lips and was about to speak.

　　There was obvious contempt on her face, her chin raised high, and her eyes full of disdain… as if the person in front of her was not her son, but a pig or a dog.

　　perhaps……

　　In her eyes, he was worse than pigs and dogs.

　　Lu Liye curled the corner of his mouth in self-mockery.

　　Qin, who had already entered the “role” and was about to follow the plot, was stunned.

　　Why did he look so sad before she even opened her mouth?

　　[System, is my expression… too much?]

　　She sought the system’s advice out of guilt.

　　The system answered her very satisfactorily.

　　[No!]

　　[The host was indeed an actress in her previous life. She showed the original owner’s harshness to the fullest!]

　　[……]

　　For some reason, Qin Qingqing felt even more guilty.

　　but–

　　The system is urging progress again.

　　[So, let’s move on to the plot, shall we?]

　　Qin gritted her teeth and put on a proud face against her conscience.

　　Speak out.

　　”Lu Liye, you’ve been hungry for three days. Do you know your mistake?”

　　Lu Liye raised his eyes instantly and stared at her intently…

　　There was a rising sense of hostility in his eyes.

　　ridiculous!

　　He had clearly guessed her purpose, but still, at a time like this… it was sad.

　　So he had to disguise himself as being full of anger.

　　”!”

　　Qin Qingqing had originally been paying attention to her adopted son’s condition while feeling guilty. Now… she had a good look at his violent temper.

　　Her face turned pale—she was frightened!

　　Another close call…

　　Forget about your own mission.

　　However, she was afraid of the system’s “electric shock punishment”.

　　So…

　　Just keep talking.

　　”Heh…you still don’t admit your mistake? Then you won’t be allowed to eat for the next five days.”

　　After she finished speaking, she did not forget to overturn the food in a noble and cool manner according to the system’s notes.

　　”Bang–“

　　The food was knocked over to the ground by her.

　　But she didn’t know…

　　At this moment, I don’t have any “noble and cool” temperament.

　　Instead, her face turned pale, her fingertips trembled, and she lowered her head uncontrollably… to avoid someone’s increasingly violent gaze…

　　She got scared again.

　　Her condition was worse than that of her adopted son who had not eaten for three days and was scolded.

　　Lu Liye discovered her abnormality.

　　He looked down…

　　He fell on her slightly trembling fingertips, and his brows furrowed.

　　What new way of mistreating him was this?

　　[How miserable…]

　　[System, he wouldn’t be so angry about my actions just now that he would… kill his mother?!]

　　At that time, Qin Qingqing had only this one thought left.

　　She reached out again reflexively——

　　Grabbed a handful of sweet fruit candies from the table.

　　[No! I have to survive…]

　　This time, she completely forgot about the mission.

　　She even smiled sincerely the moment she looked up at Lu Liye.

　　“Um, that…”

　　”You are not allowed to eat, but you can have snacks… Have a candy first?”

　　Lu Liye:?