Ning Xiaoyu looked annoyed. “I saw something I shouldn’t have. Now I’m going to get a sty.”

The love system countered, 〖How is this something you shouldn’t have seen? This is clearly a massive benefit! And it’s exclusive to you! Isn’t that good enough? If it were anyone else, they’d already be so excited they’d be slapping their thighs in delight!〗

From the very start, Ning Xiaoyu had felt this wasn’t right, especially after catching a glimpse of the movie king’s back and noticing a long scar. That unsettling feeling grew stronger. What kind of circumstances would leave such a long scar? Judging by its color, it seemed to have been there for years.

This wasn’t something a salted fish like her should be investigating.

Ning Xiaoyu sighed. “In historical dramas, anyone who learns too many secrets usually doesn’t survive past the third episode.”

The love system chuckled cheerfully. 〖That depends on your role. If you’re the supporting character, sure, you wouldn’t last three episodes. But if you’re the main character, you could know all the secrets in the world and still live happily ever after.〗

Ning Xiaoyu had never believed she was main-character material.

She didn’t bother arguing and decided to make a choice before the countdown ended.

She initially intended to pick option b, but her finger slipped.

Somehow, unbelievably, she missed option b and selected option c below it instead.

Under normal circumstances, a slip like that wouldn’t matter. Everyone makes mistakes, right? Even the best make typos or choose the wrong option sometimes. But why did it have to happen at such a critical moment?

Panicking, Ning Xiaoyu asked, “I chose the wrong option. Can I change it?”

The love system didn’t hesitate. 〖Of course not, Girl. Since you chose this option, it can only mean one thing— it’s the best arrangement fate has to offer.〗

She hadn’t expected a product of an advanced civilization to speak so confidently about ‘fate’.

Fine. Since she chose option c, she might as well roll with it. She resolved to be more careful next time.

Trying to find some humor in the situation, she thought, At least I didn’t pick option a and have to shout, ‘Hey, Hubby’, at Lu Jingdu.

Instead of rushing to complete her tasks, Ning Xiaoyu decided to tackle the love system’s assignment first. While wandering, she noticed a row of massage chairs nearby.

She had to admit, the villa’s owner really knew how to enjoy life. Even in a swimming pool area, there were massage chairs.

She walked over and noticed there weren’t any drinks nearby, which meant the movie king hadn’t rested there.

Since no one was using the chairs, she decided to sit down on one at the edge.

Unlike public massage chairs that required scanning a QR code for payment, these villa massage chairs were completely free.

No restrictions.

Massage for as long as you like.

Ning Xiaoyu was about to take a photo when a small robot rolled over.

The robot was round and adorable, with blue lights flashing in its ‘eyes’, signaling it was active.

She hadn’t even noticed its presence earlier.

Had it been there all along?

Before she could figure it out, the robot opened its steel stomach with a click.

A childlike electronic voice said, “Please take your snacks.”

Ning Xiaoyu peered inside.

Inside the robot’s stomach were a bottle of milk, a bag of chips, and a pack of dried fruit.

Pointing at herself, she asked instinctively, “For me?”

“For Guest No. 7.”

Glancing at the chair’s armrest, she noticed a number but no QR code. Her chair was numbered 7, so sitting there must have triggered the robot’s hospitality program.

She retrieved the items and said, “Thank you.”

After the robot left, Ning Xiaoyu examined the milk and snacks in her hands with curiosity.

The dates were recent, and everything was fresh.

She’d heard other actors mention how some rich people turned their homes into high-tech havens, completely different from ordinary houses.

When she first moved into the villa, she hadn’t felt anything special.

But the robot’s appearance made the difference crystal clear.

She couldn’t help but marvel, “Being rich is amazing.”

As she admired the snacks, she snapped a quick photo of the movie king swimming vigorously in the pool.

She ignored the love system’s insistent demands to take a closer look at the photo and opened the chips.

Taking a bite, her eyes lit up. “Cucumber flavor? Delicious!”

The imported brand’s packaging had foreign text, but it wasn’t English, so it was incomprehensible to her. To Ning Xiaoyu, it might as well have been ancient script.

Still, the chips were unexpectedly tasty.

As she reached for another chip, the movie king suddenly emerged from the pool.

With a towel in one hand, he wiped the water from his hair while taking a few steps toward her.

Droplets trailed along his defined silhouette, falling to the floor.

“What’s the matter?”

His voice was cool, with a refined texture, like velvet brushing against a microphone— a strange sensation that made her ears itch.

Ning Xiaoyu froze mid-motion.

He must’ve assumed she had something to say since she was sitting there.

“Nothing.” She replied, fixing her gaze downward and avoiding anything she shouldn’t see.

Though she’d caught an unintentional glimpse of his back earlier, she was determined not to look again.

Lu Jingdu nodded and, without further comment, turned back toward the pool. With a smooth motion, he dove back into the water.

The love system protested, 〖You’re heartless! You’re unfair! How can you say ‘nothing’ when you clearly just took a sneaky photo of him?〗

Ning Xiaoyu didn’t deny it.

She had, after all, taken a photo. But it was just the back of the movie king’s head.

Only his most devoted fans could recognize him from that angle.

To be honest, even the back of his head was attractive.

It was perfectly proportioned and utterly captivating.

The love system had only tasked her with capturing this ‘unique moment’ for future enjoyment. It hadn’t specified what to photograph.

So, snapping just the back of his head technically fulfilled the task.

This clever loophole made Ning Xiaoyu feel accomplished.

Plus, it wasn’t intrusive or rude, so she considered the task a success.

As she reviewed the photo, she couldn’t help but notice how thick and healthy his hair looked.

Unlike her own thinning hair, his full head of hair was enviable.

But she quickly set the thought aside. She had some pampering to do!

Opening the bottle of milk, she took a sip and activated the massage chair.

The chair’s rollers began to move gently along her shoulders, back, waist, and legs.

Every pressure point was perfectly attended to.

Feeling her exhaustion melt away, Ning Xiaoyu decided to extend her session if the first ten minutes felt good.

The villa’s massage chair was as luxurious as it looked, and every detail reinforced its premium quality.

As she sipped her milk and enjoyed the massage, she couldn’t help but feel that life, at least for now, was perfect.

The love system, having witnessed everything, was utterly incredulous.

〖Are you seriously enjoying this?〗

Ning Xiaoyu blinked in confusion. “What else would I be doing?”

The love system was so enraged it nearly short-circuited. What else? She had the audacity to ask ‘what else’?

The most sought-after cold fair complexion of the past two years, a physique sculpted like a masterpiece, shoulders broad as the Pacific Ocean, and let’s not even start on that narrow waist and long legs!

That flawless adult male body was right there, not far from her!

Yet instead of feasting her eyes on this visual marvel, she was preoccupied with enjoying a massage?

The love system sighed dramatically. 〖Girl, you have no heart.〗

Ning Xiaoyu wiggled her index finger and replied, “No, no, no. Without a heart, how would I be alive?”

If this scene were witnessed by Lu Jingdu’s die-hard fans, they’d probably be pounding their chests in regret.

Such an incredible opportunity, and it fell to a salted fish like Ning Xiaoyu?

If any other girl had been there, they’d likely have been giddy with excitement, with blushing cheeks and hearts racing out of control. They’d probably sneakily take a photo of the movie king swimming, a picture to treasure for a lifetime!

But unfortunately, the one present was not an ordinary girl. It was Ning Xiaoyu, someone who never played by the rules.

Thus, this beautiful scene was destined to go unappreciated.

In the swimming pool, a strong and graceful figure moved freely, expending excess energy with powerful strokes, sending splashes of water everywhere.

Not far from the pool, in the massage chair area, lay a salted fish. She was getting a massage, sipping milk, and lounging in utter leisure.

The contrast between motion and stillness, between busyness and idleness, was stark.

About half an hour later, Lu Jingdu finished his swim for the day.

Ning Xiaoyu’s massage also ended. During that half hour, she had finished her milk, left some chips uneaten, and barely touched the dried fruit.

Lu Jingdu grabbed a fresh towel and headed to the shower.

Ning Xiaoyu, meanwhile, got up to check the locker doors.

The two crossed paths without a word or a glance. As they passed, Ning Xiaoyu caught a faint, woody scent in the cool air.

There was no eye contact, no conversation, yet the love system was overwhelmed with excitement. 〖I don’t know why, but seeing the two of you in the same frame feels so, so, so heartwarming. Maybe it’s that natural CP vibe. Ahhh, it’s too sweet!〗

Ning Xiaoyu: “……”

Ning Xiaoyu truly thought the love system’s standards for ‘sweetness’ were absurdly low.

────ρя


After completing her task, Ning Xiaoyu took a photo to prove she had done her work properly.

As she was submitting the task, she ran into Ning Yuwei, who was also handing in a task.

Seeing her approach, Ning Yuwei smiled with crescent-shaped eyes and asked, “What’s Teacher Ning been busy with this afternoon?”

Ning Xiaoyu didn’t answer.

Next to Ning Yuwei, Mu Jiajia giggled and said, “It seems Teacher Ning got the last task.”

Ning Yuwei’s pretty face, inherited from her mother, showed just the right amount of surprise. “What was the last task?”

Mu Jiajia shrugged. “What else? Cleaning duties.”

Ning Yuwei exclaimed, “Oh no, that must have been so tough for you, Teacher Ning. I feel bad for you.”

Ning Xiaoyu coolly replied, “If you feel so bad, why don’t you take over cleaning for me tomorrow?”

Ning Yuwei’s smile froze. Mu Jiajia quickly chimed in, “Tomorrow, you might not need to clean!”

Ning Xiaoyu rolled her eyes elegantly, accepted 6 friendship coins from the staff, and walked away.

After she left, Ning Yuwei looked thoughtful. “I wonder where he was this afternoon.”

Failing to find Lu Jingdu in the garden, Ning Yuwei even lingered outside his room for a while.

After nearly half an hour, a staff member informed her that Lu Jingdu wasn’t in his room. Disheartened, she returned to the garden.

She spent the entire afternoon waiting there but never saw the person she wanted.

Her mood soured as a result.

Mu Jiajia tried to console Ning Yuwei, “He’s probably resting somewhere. Besides, if you didn’t see him, no one else would have either.”

Surely Ning Xiaoyu wouldn’t have run into the movie king both in the morning and the afternoon?

That kind of low-probability event was impossible.

But Ning Yuwei’s fragile peace didn’t last long.

Because Ning Xiaoyu made the trending topics again.

This time, a particularly observant viewer noticed something unusual, sparking the buzz.

Speaking of the trending topic, it was worth mentioning the placement of cameras on the reality show 《Hi, My Friend》.

The camera placement was puzzling.

Some places where you’d expect cameras had none, while some seemingly unremarkable spots had hidden ones.

The swimming pool had no cameras, but the path leading to it did.

This particular camera was well-hidden, and few people ever passed by, so its feed was rarely noticed by viewers.

But one sharp-eyed viewer happened to catch it.

Two figures, separated by about ten minutes, passed by the camera.

Normally, no one passed this area. But today, two people did— one a top movie star and the other a barely-known actress. What did it mean that they spent nearly an hour in the same location?

Moreover, they had already trended together before.

The viewer quickly shared her discovery online.

【I’ve studied the floor plan of the villa. The seventh floor only has a swimming pool. They went there around 1 p.m. and left close to 3 p.m. Take a closer look, everyone!】

The post immediately sparked a heated discussion.

【How can this unknown actress keep running into him? There’s no way it’s just coincidence.】

【Is she really a salted fish, or is she playing coy?】

【Calling it now. Either she’s a top-class green tea^[1]pretty and innocent in appearance, but promiscuous, debauched, materialistic, or cunning in nature, a white lotus^[2]a metaphor for a pure, innocent and harmless person; a sarcasm for someone who appears sweet and innocent but is actually corrupt, cunning or deceitful,  or a genuine salted fish.】

【Feels like a schemer.】

Of course, some defended Ning Xiaoyu.

【Xiao Yu isn’t like that.】

【Ning Xiaoyu: Green tea? Not my style.】

【Ning Xiaoyu: Top-class green tea? You flatter me.】

【Ning Xiaoyu: Just a salted fish completely lying flat.】

While all this was unfolding, Ning Yuwei gripped her phone tightly, her fingers pale from the pressure. So, the person who had been with Lu Jingdu that afternoon was Ning Xiaoyu again? She had thought he was resting alone somewhere and blamed her own bad luck for not finding him. She hadn’t expected Ning Xiaoyu to beat her to it again!

As for Ning Xiaoyu herself, she was blissfully unaware.

She sat munching on dried fruit from the robot’s compartment, content and relaxed.