This was Ning Xiaoyu’s private matter, and the guests found it inappropriate to ask too much. Still, hearing the words ‘father woke up’ sounded like good news, so many of them offered their blessings.

“Congratulations.”

“Everything will get better and better, Xiaoyu.”

Ning Xiaoyu accepted the blessings. Only Ning Yuwei appeared somewhat uneasy.

But gradually, she let it go.

After all, Ning Zhen was just a middle-aged man who had accomplished nothing. So what if he woke up? It had been his own carelessness that led to the car accident back then.

It wasn’t her, nor her mother, who made him chase after the car.

Now that he had woken up, hopefully he could live quietly and stop disturbing her and her mother. Otherwise, her current father would mind.

Recently, Xi Rui had been trying to cozy up to Ning Xiaoyu, so she jokingly yet half-seriously said, “Xiaoyu, are you only inviting Shen Yueyue to your birthday party?”

“There’s also me.”

Lu Jingdu’s calm voice came from the side.

【Hahaha, I don’t know why, but that just made me laugh.】

【Totally get it!】

Xi Rui said with a laugh, “Why not invite everyone? The more, the merrier!”

Before Ning Xiaoyu could respond, her phone chimed with a new message.

It was from Ning Xuchen.

【Agree to it. The more, the livelier.】

Since Ning Xuchen himself had spoken, how could Ning Xiaoyu refuse?

She nodded. “Alright.”

Then, she sent out electronic invitations to each of the guests present.

After reading the invitation, Shi Chao noticed something unusual.

“Why doesn’t it say where the party is being held?”

Ning Xiaoyu replied nonchalantly, “Oh, maybe it was just forgotten. I’ll go with you all when the time comes.”

The other guests exchanged glances and understood the unspoken truth.

No address probably meant the venue was too low-class to be mentioned.

As for the ‘forgot to include it’ excuse, no one who had been in the game this long would believe that.

Who would forget to mention something as important as the venue?

In truth, Ning Xuchen’s secretary hadn’t forgotten. It had been left out on purpose.

Of course, this was exactly what Ning Xuchen wanted.

From his point of view, none of Ning Xiaoyu’s friends knew about her relationship with the Ning family.

This time, her birthday banquet would be held at Ning Silang Manor, a private estate named after their grandfather, who was also the chairman of the Ning Group.

If the address had been included, anyone paying attention could easily guess her connection to Ning Silang.

Even if the guess wasn’t exactly right, it would be close enough.

They both bore the surname Ning, so anyone with half a brain would suspect a blood relationship.

And what fun would that be?

What Ning Xuchen wanted was to create surprise and impact.

One had to admit that he had a bit of a wicked sense of humor deep in his bones.

He wanted to see that expression of shock and disbelief on his so-called younger cousin’s face.

And someday in the future, he also wanted to see that mother and daughter pair kicked out of the Shen family, full of regret.

Of course, none of this needed to trouble Ning Xiaoyu. As her cousin, he would take care of it behind the scenes. He could also handle the face-slapping matters himself.

As for Ning Xiaoyu, she just needed to happily live as a carefree salted fish.

────ρя


Since the birthday party was the day after tomorrow, today and tomorrow’s activities still had to go on.

The director smiled and said, “Let’s not talk about Xiaoyu’s birthday party for now. You can discuss that in private.

Back to the main topic. It’s winter now, and what’s winter without skiing? Today, we’re all heading to a snow-capped mountain to ski!”

“Yay!”

“I love skiing the most!”

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

Two hours later, all the guests except for Mu Jiajia arrived at their destination. It was an outdoor ski resort that had been open for many years and always had heavy foot traffic.

The show provided the skiing gear, including different styles of skis, goggles, bindings, and ski outfits.

The guests were split into two groups.

One group was for beginners, skiing in flatter areas.

The other group was for experienced skiers, heading to more challenging slopes.

Ning Xiaoyu had never skied before, so naturally, she stayed in the beginners’ group.

What surprised her was that Lu Jingdu was also in the same group.

She had thought he would join the experienced group.

After all, he didn’t look like someone who couldn’t ski.

Once Ning Xiaoyu had changed into her gear, fastened her feet to the skis, and was about to try gliding a little, the sweet voice of the love system rang in her ears again.

〖Girl, how could you miss out on a romantic sport like skiing? Right now, the movie king is skiing in the same group as you. You can:

A. Let the movie king hold you as the two of you experience the joy of skiing together.

B. You hold the movie king and experience the joy of skiing together.

C. Hug each other and do an airborne spin together to capture everyone’s attention.〗

Ning Xiaoyu: “???”

Pair skiing? That was a thing?

Was that not just asking for death?

Did the system think skiing was like ice skating— just hold hands and glide?

The love system sounded full of anticipation, 〖Girl, this is the final mission before the system upgrades. After the upgrade, the long-awaited system store will open. If you run into another situation like being poisoned by snake venom, you’ll be able to exchange for antidotes using love points.

There was nothing the system couldn’t provide— only things you hadn’t yet thought of.

As long as you complete your love missions diligently, the world will be in your hands.〗

In the beginning, Ning Xiaoyu had converted all her love points into real-world currency.

But now that she no longer lacked money, the love points she had accumulated remained untouched.

Ning Xiaoyu: Thank you kindly.

The love system continued, 〖After the system upgrade, Girl, the love points you earn will double under certain conditions. Keep going and charge ahead! You’re the sweetest one!〗

As soon as it finished saying that, Ning Xiaoyu felt the urge to quit.

This task— she truly wanted to give up.

There wasn’t a single viable option among choices a, b, or c.

Especially option c. What kind of trash option was that? Spinning through the air together?

〖Love System: Rest assured, Girl, the system will absolutely not endanger your life. The movie king’s skiing skills are top-notch, and with the system’s buffs, he can definitely flip through the air while holding you. Even without the buffs, he’d still manage it! You two will be the sweetest and most dazzling couple on the slopes!〗

This wasn’t a matter of capability, but a matter of permission.

As she had said before, skiing was not figure skating.

Who even did pair skiing?

Ning Xiaoyu had originally planned to wait for the countdown to finish and just accept the penalty.

But right then, the system offered her a piece of information.

〖Girl, the movie king’s uncle is about to make his move. Every extra day he lives is a threat to his uncle. To that man, the movie king is a thorn in his side.

After all, wealth stirs the heart and this involves a huge sum of money.

Originally, none of this existed in the timeline.

If you hadn’t intervened earlier, the movie king would’ve been ruined during the obsessive fan incident, and his uncle wouldn’t pose any more threat.

But in truth, that attack also had his uncle’s fingerprints all over it.

At this moment, his uncle has already started taking action. He’s even bribed someone important on the movie king’s team. I can’t reveal more just yet, but don’t be afraid. Once the system upgrades, all you’ll need is to buy either a Misfortune Removal Talisman or a Misfortune Rebound Talisman, and the crisis will be resolved.

Each only costs 10 love points!

Girl, don’t just be tempted— take action! Go for it!〗

Ning Xiaoyu checked her love points.

Great— 9 points. Just one short of buying a Misfortune Removal Talisman.

And that one point? It would come from completing this mission.

The system clearly wasn’t even trying to be subtle. It was ramming the CP agenda forward by brute force.

Ning Xiaoyu nodded. “Alright. You win.”

With three seconds left on the countdown, she quickly chose option b.

Then, before Lu Jingdu could react, she threw her arms around him.

The two of them hugged through thick layers of ski clothing— like two giant white bears hugging, oddly cute and funny.

Then, Ning Xiaoyu pushed off gently with her feet. With a soft scrape, they slid about ten centimeters on the flat snow.

About ten centimeters……

Ten centimeters……

Centimeters……

〖Love System: ……〗

Wait, what? This counts?

How did she keep finding loopholes in every mission?!

Why did every single love mission fail to achieve the sweet effect it intended? Why did she always beat the system at its own game?!

In its vision, the pair skiing scene was supposed to be elegant and romantic. Not like this, where they look like two complete newbies sliding awkwardly on flat snow for a whole ten centimeters.

Noticing that the system hadn’t yet given the signature sound of mission completion, Ning Xiaoyu looked up through her goggles and asked, “Was skiing with me fun?”

Lu Jingdu: “???”

He had no idea why she asked such a random question, but he replied obediently, “Yes, it was fun.”

Ning Xiaoyu nodded. “I had fun too.”

〖Love System: ……〗

It had been worn down by its host to the point of being completely docile.

Option b said: ‘You hold the movie king and experience the joy of skiing together.’

Well, she did hold the movie king.

And they did ski together. Even if it was just ten centimeters.

As for the ‘joy’ part, she had gotten Lu Jingdu to say it was fun, and she herself also said she had fun.

Was that a superficial kind of joy?

Maybe. But as far as mission criteria went— it counted. They were happy, so what was there to argue?

Even if the system grumbled internally, it still had to stamp the mission as complete.

With a 〖Ding〗, the system began upgrading immediately.

Once the upgrade was complete, it would no longer be this passive, sugar-starved version. It would be Niohuru^[1]Niohuru Zhenhuan; the female lead in the television series 《Empresses in the Palace》 System!

It would get its dose of sweet couple moments!

────ρя


After the mission ended, Ning Xiaoyu let go of Lu Jingdu without hesitation.

Her ‘use and toss’ attitude made Lu Jingdu laugh out loud.

So he was just a convenient tool now?

Ning Xiaoyu had meant to walk away immediately, but then remembered what the system had told her and turned back to say, “Don’t use your staff for the next few days. Stay in Friendship House. If anything comes up, contact me.”

During those three days of extreme survival, Lu Jingdu had mostly coasted through without issue.

So naturally, he replied, “Alright.”

【???】

【Wait. Why did that sound so natural coming from you?!】