Chapter 2: Are You Cinderella?

Lin Xiao forced a difficult smile. Growing up in such an environment where boys were everything, only giving birth to sons brought status. No wonder she had once envied the original Ning Ning, who bore a string of sons.

“Do you really think this is normal? Don’t you feel hurt inside? If it’s normal, then why are you crying?”

Ning Ning pressed further, stabbing directly at Lin Xiao’s heart. Lin Xiao fell silent, then lowered her head in self-abasement and whispered:

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Come with me.”

Ning Ning had no intention of understanding. She pulled Lin Xiao into their secret cave, then took out the crystal shoe the system had given her.

“Wow, what kind of shoe is this? It’s so beautiful!”

The moment she saw the sparkling shoe, Lin Xiao forgot her sadness. She held it in her hands, caressing it as if she wanted to kiss it.

“This is a crystal shoe, made especially for Cinderella. Do you know what Cinderella means? It’s a girl from a poor family, unloved by her parents.

This shoe carries a special power. Once you put it on, you’ll be filled with courage—the courage to be yourself, to resist oppression, and to reject unreasonable demands. And you’ll stop chasing after love that was never meant for you. Because no matter who loves you, it will never compare to loving yourself. Do you understand?”

Ning Ning looked straight into her eyes, lowering her voice, her red lips parting. Her words seemed like magic. Lin Xiao half-understood, but suddenly felt a new strength well up inside her. Her heart surged—she really was Cinderella!

“Put it on, Lin Xiao. Put it on, and change your life. Would you be willing to wear such a beautiful shoe?”

Ning Ning asked again, full of persuasion. Lin Xiao nodded without hesitation.

“Of course I would! I’ve never seen such beautiful, shining shoes in my whole life!”

“Then try them.”

Ning Ning squatted down, placed the crystal high heel on the ground, let Lin Xiao hold onto her, and carefully guided her battered foot into the shoe…

Except it wouldn’t fit. The shoe was size 38, and Lin Xiao’s feet were size 39.

“It doesn’t fit.”

The excitement in Lin Xiao’s eyes dimmed instantly. She knew she wasn’t worthy of such a thing. She tried to pull her foot back, but Ning Ning held it down.

“That’s right—it’s meant for you. Cinderella’s shoe was never supposed to fit. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because Cinderella never lets reality defeat her. Even if the shoe doesn’t fit, she’ll find a way to make it fit and walk her own path in life!”

Ning Ning said firmly. Then she suddenly pulled out a pair of scissors, snipped the shoe’s tip off with a few sharp cuts, and turned it into a unique sandal.

“Now try again.”

Without giving Lin Xiao the chance to refuse, Ning Ning slid the shoe onto her foot. It went on easily. Lin Xiao’s eyes lit up in delight as she wiggled her toes.

“I really put it on!”

“So now, do you believe you’re Cinderella?”

“I am!”

“Will you change the life that doesn’t suit you, like Cinderella did?”

“I will!”

“Do you still think it’s normal for your mother to scold you?”

“It’s not normal!”

“Then what should we do?”

“I’ll never look after my brother again. If he falls, he falls. It was never my responsibility in the first place!”

“Exactly. That’s absolutely right.”

Ning Ning nodded in satisfaction. With just one crystal shoe, she had awakened Lin Xiao’s sense of self. That alone was worth it.

Lin Xiao, still flushed with excitement, looked down at her feet again and again. The more she looked, the more convinced she was—she was the destined Cinderella. She could change her life and live as well as Ning Ning did!

“Congratulations, Host. Task One progress +1 +1 +1 +1… Current total progress: 10. Points: 10. Life value: 1. Please keep working hard.”

Just as the system’s voice faded, Lin Xiao suddenly said:

“Ning Ning, why is there only one shoe? Where’s the other one?”

“Cinderella only had one shoe. But she had extraordinary willpower—nothing could stop her from running toward a brighter future. Only by changing her reality and becoming her best self can she earn the second shoe. Do you understand?”

“If you work hard, Lin Xiao, you can earn the second crystal shoe yourself. Do you want to live a better life with your own strength?”

“I do!”

Her emotions surged, and the task progress rose another 2%.

“Here, beautiful Cinderella. This is your reward. Don’t be afraid of your parents’ threats. If they refuse to feed you, so be it. As long as you have hands and feet, you’ll never starve. Do you understand?”

Ning Ning pulled out two tender, fragrant pieces of braised pork.

“Braised pork? For me? But…”

Lin Xiao flinched, shaking her head. She didn’t dare accept. Even in the 1980s, not many families could afford meat. For someone like her, always scolded and beaten, it was impossible.

“You’re worthy of the crystal shoe, and you’re certainly worthy of this meat. Lin Xiao, remember—you are far more precious than any shoe or any food. Do you understand? Others may look down on you, but you must never look down on yourself.”

“I understand. Thank you, Ning Ning!”

Lin Xiao burst into tears. She bit into the pork and let the taste linger in her mouth, unwilling to swallow. So this is what meat tastes like.

“Task One progress +3. Current total: 15. Points: 15.”

One crystal shoe and two pieces of braised pork had just earned Ning Ning fifteen days of life. In the entire universe, that was incredible. Truly, this PhD-level woman knew how to talk.

The two stayed in the cave for a long time before Lin Xiao reluctantly hid away the shoe. They walked out together. Ning Ning was still considering whether to visit other task characters when she ran straight into the original male lead.

“Ning Ning.”

Xing Yuan stood tall, his features sharp and handsome. He greeted her coolly. He expected her to act as before, eager to throw herself at him. Instead, her face darkened as if she had seen a fly. Without a word, she grabbed Lin Xiao and walked away, leaving only her silhouette behind.

Xing Yuan frowned, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face. He thought she was playing hard to get.

“Ning Ning, why didn’t you talk to Brother Xing Yuan? Don’t you like—”

“Xiao, do you know what the most important condition for being Cinderella is?”

Ning Ning cut her off. Lin Xiao’s eyes widened.

“What is it?”

“It’s cutting off all foolish love. To be honest, I’ll admit it now—I’m also Cinderella. I can’t possibly like him anymore. Don’t ever bring him up again. From now on, my goal is to study hard and get into Tsinghua University.”

Ning Ning raised an eyebrow, speaking with utter seriousness. Lin Xiao looked even more confused.

“But didn’t you say Cinderella is a girl unloved by her parents? Uncle and Aunt Ning love you very much.”

“I’m the advanced version of Cinderella. I’ll explain later. For now, just remember—I don’t like him anymore. Got it?”