Chapter 17

She turned back to look at Song Si and said softly, “I’m going to take a call.”

“Mm.”

Song Si watched him walk out, a strong sense of foreboding rising in her chest.

First it was the original host’s adoptive parents, and now…

Song Nian? Lu Yanchén’s parents?

Could it really be just as she suspected—they were going to force her and Lu Yanchén to divorce?

“Da Huang!”

The system immediately came online the moment it heard Song Si’s voice.

But it didn’t say anything.

Because it had just realized that the random woman it had dragged into this world might actually be… a bit clever?

Had she figured something out?

Song Si asked, “Are you mad?”

The system stayed silent.

This woman was always trying to trick it into talking. Last time, it fell into her trap. This time, it decided to try her own tactic—use her tricks against her.

Song Si waited for a while, but when the system still didn’t respond, she muttered as if to herself, “Don’t tell me this dumbass system force-rebooted itself and short-circuited.”

The system sparked angrily with a “zzz zzz zzz.”

Song Si gleefully asked, “Da Huang, since when did you learn the silent treatment from the masked prince?”

The system exploded, “You’re the sneaky one! Your whole family is sneaky!”

Don’t think it didn’t understand her insults!

Still fuming, it went on, “You’re the dumbass!”

Song Si responded sweetly, “Don’t be so cranky, Da Huang.”

The system snapped, “Scram!”

From now on, it wouldn’t grovel in front of this woman anymore. It wasn’t working anyway.

If it could, it would really send this woman back to her original world to continue being that pitiful legitimate daughter!

Song Si mused aloud, “Da Huang, you’re pretty feisty tonight. Is that because you no longer need to stay bound to me? So I don’t need to assist the male and female leads anymore?”

The system grunted coldly, crackling even more with static.

Song Si said, “Da Huang, not to criticize you or anything, but your emotional instability might shorten your operational lifespan.”

Bullseye. The system’s voice instantly turned venomous. “Song Si, you really are incorrigible. Haven’t you learned anything? Don’t forget how miserably you died in your past life!”

Song Si let out a cold snort. “Finally dropping the act, huh?”

The system tried to provoke her even more, “You have no idea how happy everyone was after you died.”

It painted the picture in vivid detail.

Song Si listened quietly, not saying a word, though her chest felt like it was being stabbed, over and over again.

It was true.

After she—the unnecessary extra—died, their little family really did live happily ever after.

The system didn’t hear her respond for a long while and couldn’t help but admire this host of its.

It was only testing her—and it actually worked?

Nian Nian had said: if gentle persuasion doesn’t work, go hard.

As expected of its clever and beautiful host!

The system said smugly, “Woman, have you finally realized your mistake? From now on, be a good and obedient supporting character. I promise you’ll live better than you did last time.”

Song Si came back to herself and let out a cold laugh. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I slept with Lu Yanchén.”

“You…”

Zzz zzz zzz… zzzzz…

The system practically short-circuited, taking several minutes before angrily sputtering, “What did you just say?!”

Song Si’s voice softened slightly, clearly enjoying herself. “Lu Yanchén and I are husband and wife. Sleeping together is normal, isn’t it?”

The system was furious. “Don’t you know what he’ll turn into later—”

It stopped mid-sentence, remembering the last warning it received.

“You forgot what I told you? Aren’t you afraid of ending up covered in warts someday?” it threatened.

Seeing that the system had clearly given up on staying bound to her, Song Si stopped pretending. “You said he’s the lipstick man, but I’ve already tested it. Do you really think I’d believe you now?”

The system was so mad it nearly exploded.

What kind of freak had it dragged into this world?

Return her! Return her! It really wanted to return her! Too bad that wasn’t an option!

Song Si said lightly, “Why are you so worked up? Don’t tell me… the plot has changed and Lu Yanchén is the male lead now?”

The system nearly went berserk. It frantically searched its punishment protocols.

Finally, it found one and attempted to drag Song Si into a disciplinary space for a good beating—but the warning alert blared again.

[WARNING ⚠️ DANGEROUS OPERATION! Punishment functions cannot be used in this setting!]

The system froze. What?

Song Si said sweetly, “Da Huang, little cutie. I’m in Lu Yanchén’s dorm. Did you already forget what happened last time you slandered my husband?”

The system lost it, cursing her wildly:

“Dumbass!”

“Bitch!”

“You’ll die a horrible death!”

…

Song Si said quietly, “Get lost.”

She directly muted the system and looked out the window.

Lu Yanchén hadn’t come back yet?

After that round of testing, she could now confirm that the plot of the period drama “Seventies: The Making of a Virtuous Supporting Female” had changed. Lu Yanchén had become the male lead, and Song Nian was coming to steal him from her!

If that were really the case, she wasn’t so sure she could win.

After all, Song Nian had the protagonist’s halo—and the system’s backing.

Even if it was a useless, trash-talking system, it was still a system!

Just as she was about to get up and wash up, sleepiness hit her again. She got out of bed and walked to the wardrobe.

But all her clothes were gone—Lu Yanchén had taken them to wash!

She opened the closet and found a yellow-green men’s dress shirt. She put it on, then glanced toward what looked like a basin used only in dramas.

The big one was clearly for laundry, so this one must be for washing her face?

Next to it was a thermos. She poured some water into the washbasin. No need to test—it was clearly boiling hot, judging by the steam rising from it.

She remembered there was a communal sink in the hallway. That must be the place to wash up.

One hand holding the basin, the other carrying her new toothbrush and mug, she walked out.

Lu Yanchén was still washing her clothes. Hearing a familiar set of footsteps, he turned around—and immediately saw Song Si, wearing nothing but a men’s shirt, her legs bare.

At that moment, several fresh-faced recruits were coming upstairs in a group, fresh from the showers.

Hearing the noise, Lu Yanchén shouted instinctively—

“Attention!”

“About face!”

“March!”

The first soldier who’d reached the top of the stairs nearly jumped in fright.

That voice—it was the commander?!

Then he saw the scene just a few meters ahead and instantly flushed crimson, whipping around. “Reporting, Commander! I didn’t see anything!”

Lu Yanchén didn’t respond. He glanced at Song Si, dropped the clothes he was washing, and strode over to her.

Before she could say a word, he scooped her up in his arms.

He strode quickly back to the dorm, kicked the door open, and set her on the bed. Glancing at her bare legs—shockingly pale and eye-catching—he quickly looked away, unable to take it.

If he looked any longer, he’d never get any sleep tonight!

Song Si, recalling the group of shirtless, towel-wrapped soldiers earlier…

[Alright, guess I’m still not used to this place. Totally forgot I’m in a male dormitory!]

Lu Yanchén had been about to lecture her on being more careful with how she dressed, but upon hearing her inner voice, his stern thoughts softened.

His voice dropped noticeably. “It’s early spring. It’s easy to catch a cold. Weren’t you cold going out like that?”