Chapter 16

On the way back to the educated youth spot, Song Wanyue suddenly remembered—she could’ve just bought things from System 66 instead of going to Grandma Xie’s to buy an old hen.

Clearly, she still wasn’t used to having the space and the system around.

66 had just returned from a meeting at the System Bureau, and when Song Wanyue arrived back, she ran right into it.

She checked the time—already 5:30. She hurried into her space to buy pots and pans, killed the old hen, and put it on the stove to simmer. It was going to be delicious.

The girl bustled about happily.

While washing the chicken pieces, she glanced at her reflection in the water—and froze.

The original host was this beautiful?

She used to have a cute baby face, friends were always pinching her cheeks.

But now, after this transmigration, she had a stunning beauty.

Without hesitation, Song Wanyue ordered a mirror from the system and looked herself over from left to right.

She was very satisfied.

Enchanting and radiant, flawless and fair-skinned, delicate as jade. The kind of beauty with sharp, fox-like allure—but with a soft, approachable temperament. A bright, dazzling beauty with an easygoing personality.

66 teased her: “Wanyue, staring at yourself? Satisfied with that face?”

“Very satisfied. 66, you’re back—does the System Bureau also hold meetings?”

66’s pure white body trembled: “Of course. The myriad worlds need us. We need merit and other energy. Whenever a small world runs into trouble, we’re summoned for meetings.”

Song Wanyue suggested: “66, how about you stay by my side? You could turn into a cat, a dog, a fox… That way you can enjoy human food and watch the fun out in the open.”

“Can you transform?”

66 looked at her warily. “What do you want from me? I can transform—into a warm body, very cozy. Do you want me to be your pet?”

“Not a pet—a family member. 66, you’re the closest to me besides my parents. You know I’ve grown up without real family, I lack a sense of security. If you stayed by my side, I’d feel safe.”

This way, 66 could help her openly too. She was a genius for thinking of it.

She sensed 66 softening. It had helped her from the beginning. And besides the space, she had no combat ability and couldn’t afford a bodyguard yet.

66 asked suspiciously: “You’re not trying to take advantage of me, are you? Let me be clear—I’m not selling myself. But if you treat me as family, that’s acceptable.”

Song Wanyue pulled out money to tempt the system: “How about this, 66—if you stay with me, I’ll give you a share of every penny I earn. I really need you for my sense of security.”

Might as well coax it—if it didn’t work, so be it.

Either way, she was already ahead in this life.

66 was tempted by the smell of chicken soup in the air. Hesitating, it said: “Fine—but I want half of the money. And I get to eat whatever’s in your space. No stopping me.”

Other hosts had invited it before, but they’d been stingy—no food, no money, just wanted free labor. Not worth it.

Now, its body had been modified so it could actually eat.

Song Wanyue’s eyes rolled: “Ninety for me, ten for you. You can eat whatever you want.”

How often would she even face danger, anyway?

66 bargained: “Sixty-forty.”

Song Wanyue sighed: “Eighty-twenty. And if my life’s ever in danger, you have to help me. You know I have zero fighting power.”

The space was handy, but she had no way to protect herself.

66 relented: “Fine. What do you want me to become?”

Song Wanyue grinned: “A dog. Turn into a little white dog. I’ll say I picked you up on the roadside. Then you can follow me back to the capital.”

How cute would that be?

If it were a wolf, it would be even better—but that would draw too much trouble.

With a flash, 66 transformed into a small white dog. “As you wish.”

Wait—had it just gotten tricked into being her bodyguard?

A puppy would grow into a big dog. This was basically selling itself.

66’s bright mood collapsed in an instant.

“Song Wanyue, you tricked me?”

Song Wanyue clapped her hands. “We made a deal—you’re not losing out. Think about it—if I had fighting skills, you wouldn’t even get a cut of the money. You’re making a killing. Helping me with tasks is your honor. Once you grow up, you’ll be majestic and handsome.”

As a puppy, 66 looked very cute—just like the little mutts in the village. At this time, fancy dogs like golden retrievers were almost unheard of.

“All right then, keep an eye on the chicken soup. Let it simmer another hour, then it’ll be ready. I need to go make dinner—it’s my turn tonight.”

She had no intention of sharing the soup. Too expensive—five yuan for one hen.

Two or three meals and it’d be gone.

Tonight, she planned to cook extra meat dishes for herself. She needed to build her strength—this body was too malnourished.

When the others returned to the educated youth spot, dinner was already prepared.

Not seeing anyone in the kitchen, Yang Liu shouted: “Wanyue, you cooked dinner, right? Where are you? You okay?”

Hopefully she hadn’t collapsed from exhaustion.

Song Wanyue, freshly washed in her space to get rid of the chicken soup smell, answered: “I’m fine. Just went to my room to grab something. Everyone wash up and eat.”

Luckily, she had the original host’s memories. Her cooking skills were average but passable, and with simple ingredients no one questioned her. If she couldn’t cook at all, people might think she was possessed.

This way, once she returned to the city, her parents would only think their daughter had grown up and learned new skills.

At dinner, Song Wanyue clearly felt Chen Jiefang’s gaze on her.

She almost forgot—this man was Zhou Shanshan’s lapdog. Even after she married, he still wouldn’t give up.

The original host’s looks were striking—sharp, delicate features, a beauty so bold and dangerous that most men would fear they couldn’t handle her as a wife.

Song Wanyue frowned: “Comrade Chen, why do you keep looking at me? Did Zhou Shanshan tell you bad things about me?”

Even after moving out, they still wanted to disgust her?

Fine. She’d just grant Zhou Shanshan her wish—and send Chen Jiefang straight to her bed.

If they dared send a minion after her, did they really think she was easy prey?

Chen Jiefang frowned. “Shanshan said you set her up—that you forced her and Gu Dahai together to disgust her, so that she couldn’t leave the Gu family and couldn’t return to the city.”

In truth, he didn’t really believe it. Ever since Zhou Shanshan married Gu Dahai, Song Wanyue had grown distant. Anyone could see she had matured, less naïve, harder to fool.

Such a sudden change—there had to be a reason.

Back then, the two were inseparable. Now they’d gone their separate ways, though without openly breaking.

Song Wanyue asked: “So, Zhou Shanshan claims I did it to disgust her, to keep her trapped? Why doesn’t she admit she wanted to hurt others? You’re so close to her—would you help her harm us?”

People’s feelings for a first love were complicated—she’d need to be cautious around him.

“And another thing—Zhou Shanshan divorced Gu Dahai. Even with that marriage certificate, so what? The capital is still there. The universities are still there. Zhou Shanshan has legs—if she wanted to, she could run. A husband and children can’t stop her.”

Song Wanyue saw it clearly—Zhou Shanshan was even more ruthless than Gu Dahai. She probably knew something about the Song family’s background. Her grandparents had been merchants. Even though most of it had been donated, some wealth must’ve been kept.

No one was foolish enough to give it all away.

Liu Jiaojiao chimed in: “Exactly. Chen Jiefang, you’re bewitched by her tearful act again, aren’t you? But Zhou Shanshan stole her man. Everyone knows Gu Dahai was already engaged to Liu Dagang’s little sister, Liu Lili. The families were just waiting to set a wedding date.”

“But as soon as Zhou Shanshan came down to the countryside, she hooked Gu Dahai away.”

“They’d been engaged for a year! And you still think Zhou Shanshan is simple?”