Chapter 06

The system truly hadn’t expected Jiang Lisheng to pull something like this. After a brief pause, it offered a kind reminder: [Host, you still need to pay attention to the character persona.]

Jiang Lisheng really couldn’t stand its cowardly and overly cautious attitude anymore. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes inwardly and replied with a solemn tone: [Hey, let me ask you this. Did I apologize?]

System: […Yes.]

Jiang Lisheng: [And wasn’t I acting all weak and pathetic just like the character persona calls for?]

System: […]

She even dropped to her knees and slid forward—wasn’t that pitiful enough?

Jiang Lisheng: [Once this video is released, the Zhao family will definitely forgive me. As for Zhao Ming, he’s absolutely going to hold a grudge against me because of it. All of this follows the plot exactly. So how can you say I’m not sticking to the character persona?]

As she spoke, the plot progress bar on the interface slid forward, and a prompt appeared indicating the task was complete.

Jiang Lisheng wore a pitiful expression on her face, but inside, she was all smiles, feeling completely at ease.

She had already figured out the system’s evaluation criteria.

For plot points that weren’t described in detail in the original story or didn’t exist at all, she was completely free to improvise.

As for the fixed plot events, there was no need to worry either.

As long as she achieved the intended outcome without breaking the character persona, the process didn’t matter at all.

But “character persona” was, in itself, a very broad term.

May I ask, does her crying softly while hitting someone count as breaking character persona? Not really. After all, she was crying. As for hitting someone, that was just a forced act of resistance. How could the defiance of a weak little girl be considered violent behavior?

By the same logic, is it reasonable for her to apologize meekly while thinking of ways to gain an advantage?

Also reasonable. Completely reasonable.

Because according to the plot and character persona, the dignity of a fragile, innocent female lead outweighs everything. Any money she gains is merely part of the humiliation the wealthy inflict upon a grassroots female lead.

And what she wants is precisely that humiliation.

“Xiao Jiang, about that video… could you delete it?”

As expected, Chairman Zhao immediately dropped his pride and pleaded with Jiang Lisheng to take the video down.

She continued to feign ignorance.

Chairman Zhao turned his head and glared fiercely at Zhao Ming. “This matter, to put it plainly, is this brat’s fault. He brought this on himself. But… if this gets out, it won’t look good no matter how you spin it, whether for you or for Xiao Ming. Old Jiang, don’t you agree?”

Chairman Zhao had completely lost his earlier arrogance, now trying to use Jiang’s identity as a father to pressure Jiang Lisheng into compromising.

Jiang Lisheng had never counted on Father Jiang to take her side, nor had she really intended to release the video.

She lowered her lashes, gently pressed her lips together, and said meekly, “I’ll listen to whatever my dad says…”

Father Jiang glanced at Jiang Lisheng.

Thinking of the footage in the video and the insults Zhao Ming had hurled, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t angry.

But in the business world, taking things personally wasn’t worth much.

He put on a show of magnanimity and said, “Kids get into petty fights. As long as it’s talked through, it’s fine. Shengsheng, just delete the video.”

Jiang Lisheng couldn’t help but sneer inwardly, but she didn’t resist. In front of everyone, she really did delete the video. As she deleted it, she muttered softly under her breath, “As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up, then it wasn’t a waste of my entire allowance spent on getting this footage.”

Seeing this, the adults all let out a collective sigh of relief.

Only Zhao Ming still looked full of resentment.

Zhao’s father caught the implication in her words and asked, “You mean… you bought that surveillance footage with money?”

Jiang Lisheng clutched her phone and blinked.

“Yes. I was worried people might misunderstand me and Young Master Zhao, so I went to the convenience store lady to buy the surveillance. I spent all the few hundred yuan of allowance I’d saved up.”

As she spoke, she lowered her head in disappointment, looking like a pitiful little thing.

The Zhao family had heard a bit about this recently recovered daughter of the Jiang family.

There were rumors that she wasn’t treated well at home, but they hadn’t paid much attention at the time.

Now seeing her in person, the girl was thin and frail, dressed in an ordinary-brand outfit. It seemed her life in the Jiang family wasn’t exactly easy.

Madam Zhao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, and a trace of pity welled up in her heart for the girl.

“This whole incident was ultimately my son’s fault. Zhao Ming, apologize to Xiao Jiang.”

Zhao Ming’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you say?! You want me to apologize to her—”

Chairman Zhao snapped sharply, “Apologize!”

Zhao Ming’s brow twitched. His palm, resting on the armrest of his wheelchair, clenched tightly. He held out against his parents for only a few seconds before finally giving in. With great reluctance, he lowered his head to Jiang Lisheng. “I’m sorry. There, happy?”

There was no way Jiang Lisheng could accept that. If she did, wouldn’t that break the plot?

She said nothing, simply stared silently at the screen of her phone.

The girl was thin and frail, her posture cautious and restrained, her presence barely noticeable.

The Zhao couple couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. After exchanging a glance, Madam Zhao stood up and walked over to Jiang Lisheng. “Xiao Jiang, come with Auntie for a moment.”

Her voice was gentle, and the look on her face was far removed from the arrogance and disdain she had shown upon first meeting.

Jiang Lisheng’s lashes trembled. She obediently stood and followed her.

Madam Zhao led her all the way to the jewelry room.

This room displayed a large number of luxury goods Madam Zhao had acquired through high-priced auctions. Several bankbooks were also kept inside the safe.

Casually, Madam Zhao picked out a few pieces of jewelry designed for young girls and handed them over. Then she took Jiang Lisheng’s hand and placed a card on it. “There’s a bit of money in here. The password is the last six digits. Think of it as compensation for Xiao Ming offending you. As for the jewelry… let’s call it a welcome gift.”

She said “compensation,” but in truth, it was hush money.

That so-called “bit of money” probably didn’t fall below six figures.

See? Here it was—the humiliation from the wealthy toward the grassroots female lead.

Jiang Lisheng restrained her excitement and the urge to reach out eagerly. She lifted her head, her face filled with innocence and stubbornness, as though unmoved by money. “Auntie, Young Master Zhao didn’t offend me. Someone like me… he definitely wouldn’t be interested in me anyway…” As she spoke, she bit her lip and lowered her eyes, perfectly embodying the image of a sensitive and self-abasing girl from a rural town.

“And these things are far too valuable. I really don’t dare to accept them…” Jiang Lisheng said softly. “If Nuonuo sees them, she’ll definitely think I stole them again.”

Madam Zhao narrowed her eyes slightly at that. “Nuonuo?”

“Mm.” Jiang Lisheng nodded. “At the last banquet, someone gave me a gift, and Nuonuo told Mom that I stole it. But I really didn’t…”

As she spoke, the tip of her nose turned red, and grievance welled up within her.

Jiang Lisheng knew that these lofty, high-society people all looked down on her, a girl from some remote countryside.

But at the same time, her self-abasement, sensitivity, timidity, and weakness would all become her weapons.

Zhao Ming was pursuing Jiang Nuonuo, and Madam Zhao was also very pleased with her.

Jiang Nuonuo took full advantage of this, and in the days that followed, she often instigated the Zhao family to target Jiang Lisheng. Among the transmigrators who had entered her body, four out of ten had ended up in Zhao Ming’s hands.

— How pitiful.

Since that was the case, why shouldn’t she strike first?

Who didn’t know how to act pitiful to win the favor of adults?

Thinking this, Jiang Lisheng secretly lifted her eyes again.

On Jiang Lisheng’s otherwise plain face, the only thing that could truly be called stunning were her eyes.

Dark, bright, and crystal clear.

Her eyelashes were thick and long—not exactly curled—but densely shaded her glass-like pupils. At first glance, one would think they looked pure, and immediately after, sincere.

Madam Zhao suspected nothing and pushed the items over without hesitation. “It’s fine. Just take them all. If there’s ever a misunderstanding, Auntie will explain it for you. Besides, these things aren’t worth much anyway.” She paused briefly before continuing, “Auntie just hopes… that you absolutely won’t tell anyone else about this. You and Xiao Ming are both still in high school. If word gets out, it might affect your studies and wouldn’t be good for your reputations either.”

Jiang Lisheng nodded sensibly. “Don’t worry, Auntie. I won’t say anything.” She naturally gathered the pile of items into her arms and even reminded her kindly, “But Auntie, motorcycles are still too dangerous. It’s better not to let Young Master Zhao ride one again in the future.”

Hearing her say that, the smile on Madam Zhao’s face finally held a bit of genuine warmth. “You’re a good child. As for Zhao Ming, it’s our fault for not disciplining him properly. Don’t worry, Auntie will make sure he’s taught a good lesson. I won’t let you suffer unfairly for nothing.”

Jiang Lisheng nodded and said sweetly, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Madam Zhao’s smile widened a little more. The more she looked at the girl, the more obedient she seemed—except—

Her gaze shifted upward. “Your hair…”

Jiang Lisheng flicked the bright red ponytail behind her head, her eyes drooping slightly, looking troubled. “I had a friend who was diagnosed with leukemia. Before her chemotherapy, she wanted to dye her hair, so I dyed mine with her…”

The system couldn’t help but complain, [Making up an imaginary friend, are we?]

Jiang Lisheng ignored the system and continued fabricating her story. “Later on, she passed away. I wanted to dye it back, but the salons in the city are all too expensive…”

As soon as Madam Zhao heard this, she truly felt a surge of sympathy. “Shengsheng, are you free this afternoon?”

Perfect. She had just been upgraded from “Xiao Jiang” to “Shengsheng.”

Jiang Lisheng nodded. “I’m free.”

Madam Zhao beamed. “Auntie happens to be getting her hair done too. If you don’t mind, come with me.”

How could Jiang Lisheng possibly refuse? She agreed enthusiastically on the spot.

Madam Zhao had been fretting over not having a companion, so when she heard this, she was genuinely delighted. Without a second thought, she snatched back the pile of items from Jiang Lisheng’s arms. “In that case, don’t take these. They’re all old things. Auntie will take you shopping for new ones.”

Jiang Lisheng: “?”

Jiang Lisheng: “??”

Wait a second!

She didn’t mind whether they were old or not!!

In the end, under Jiang Lisheng’s reluctant and sorrowful gaze, Madam Zhao dragged her downstairs without giving her a chance to protest.

Upon learning that Madam Zhao was taking Jiang Lisheng out shopping, Chairman Zhao didn’t say much. Instead, it was Father Jiang who looked genuinely surprised—probably because he hadn’t expected this daughter he had always looked down on to actually catch Madam Zhao’s favor.

**

Jiang Lisheng spent the entire morning accompanying Madam Zhao for her hair appointment and full-body spa treatment. In the afternoon, she was taken to a luxury boutique.

A wealthy society matron truly spared no expense.

On top of wanting to make up for things and keep Jiang Lisheng quiet, Madam Zhao spent money on her without the slightest hesitation.

Just in clothing alone, she bought her twenty to thirty outfits, along with several matching pieces of jewelry.

Jiang Lisheng played her part graciously, accepting everything without protest, and never forgetting to compliment Madam Zhao’s impeccable taste and refined eye with each selection.

Jiang Lisheng’s sweet words and flattery worked wonders—just a few phrases were enough to have the wealthy lady thoroughly charmed.

If Madam Zhao had started all this for the sake of her son, by the end, the money she spent was entirely out of her own willingness.

At eight in the evening, Madam Zhao personally drove Jiang Lisheng home.

The night was deep and still.

The lights of the Jiang family villa were brightly lit, casting a quiet glow over the peaceful evening.

Madam Zhao held Jiang Lisheng’s hand. “I just got a message. The brand has already delivered the clothes. If there’s anything else you’re short on, be sure to let Auntie know.”

After speaking, she gave Jiang Lisheng another once-over. The more she looked, the more pleasing the girl’s makeover seemed to her.

Madam Zhao had no daughter of her own and had never known the joy of dressing one up. But after today, she had found a bit of that delight and was even reluctant for it to end.

Jiang Lisheng smiled, her eyes crinkling sweetly. “Thank you, Auntie~” She added sincerely, “This was my first time shopping with an elder. When you were picking out clothes for me, it felt just like how a mother would. I’ve never experienced that before.”

Her once-red hair had already been dyed black and cut short.

The ends brushed her collarbone, and her light bangs framed her narrow, delicate face.

This hairstyle shortened the center portion of her face, making her features appear more youthful, while also highlighting the best parts of her appearance.

Her eyes were large, and she looked well-behaved, resembling the obedient girl described in the original novel.

Elders especially liked this kind of harmless, obedient look.

What’s more, throughout the entire day, Jiang Lisheng had behaved with grace and thoughtfulness. In both speech and action, she had fully pleased Madam Zhao.

Hearing her words now, Madam Zhao felt another brief pang of sympathy. “It’s all right. If I’m not too busy in the future, come keep Auntie company at home. It’s getting late, hurry on in.”

“Okay. Auntie, be careful on your way back.”

“Mm.” Madam Zhao turned to call out to the driver. “Uncle Sun, help Shengsheng bring the things in from the trunk.”

Jiang Lisheng stopped her. “Auntie, there’s no need to trouble yourself. I can carry everything in on my own.”

She said goodbye, got out of the car, and took the many bags the driver handed her. Smiling sweetly, she stood there and watched the sedan drive away into the distance.

Once the car was completely out of sight, the innocence in her expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a clear and sharp gaze.

Jiang Lisheng turned to look at the European-style villa standing tall under the moonlight. Now that she had already taken full advantage of the outside opportunity, how could she let go of the juicy target right here at home?

Tightening her grip on the bags, she held her head high and strode confidently through the front door.