Chapter 14: Year-End Bonus

Song Huan, an ordinary cooking enthusiast, seemed to gain an unexpected halo when standing next to Master Li.

She saw the undisguised hunger in Chen Hu’s eyes as he looked at the food, and a sense of accomplishment welled up inside her. It was like a mother who had prepared a table full of dishes and received praise from her ravenous children…

A sudden, irrational thought flashed through her mind—should she make a giant pot of food for a hundred people?

No, no, cross that out immediately!

That was a dangerous idea!

Over a hundred mouths to feed? She’d collapse in the kitchen before the meal was done.

Shivering at the thought, Song Huan quickly refocused and scooped the stir-fried vegetables out of the wok. She even set aside a portion just for Chen Hu.

By now, the water in the pots had already come to a boil. The kitchen had several large iron pots for cooking rice. Earlier, she had filled them all with water. Estimating the proportions, she began adding the rice that Jin Yue had washed—each pot was enough to feed over twenty people. It would take at least half an hour to finish cooking.

So before she began stir-frying, she had already cooked a small pot of porridge in an earthenware pot just for herself, Jin Le, and Jin Yue. It was almost done now.

The aroma of porridge was already in the air. Song Huan reached over to pinch Jin Le’s chubby little cheek and said: “Let it simmer a bit more, then we can head back.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Hu gave Jin Le a look of deep envy.

He wanted a taste of food from the small stove too.

Well… maybe not from a small stove, but at least he could mooch a meal.

When Song Huan left the kitchen, Chen Hu stared at the stir-fried veggies she had saved for him, eyes full of gratitude.

Madam is really good to us…

***

Song Huan never expected that a simple plate of stir-fried greens would win Chen Hu over.

After returning to Huichun Courtyard and finishing dinner, she dutifully went to the study to sit for a while.

She held a scroll in her hands and appeared to be reading seriously… while actually messaging the system.

“What’s the deal with the master of Shangbao Manor?”

“The original host didn’t know him. I’ve gone through her memories several times and couldn’t find a trace of this Master Qin.”

“Did you forget to transfer some of the original host’s memories to me?”

Song Huan tapped on the system window several times.

This time, the system was online and replied quickly—but irritatingly so.

[“Dear host, you’ll need to discover the character ‘Master Qin’ on your own~”]

[“Dear, the original host really didn’t know ‘Master Qin’.”] 

[“You’ve already received all the original host’s memories. Please be rest assured~”] 

Song Huan: “…” Dear your face!

Frustrated. She wanted to punch the system.

As if sensing her thoughts, the system sent another message: [“Dear host, we have good news for you~”] 

Song Huan: “Speak.”

System: [“As the year draws to a close, we’ve launched a special joint promotion. Each host has one opportunity to purchase any item at 70% off.”] 

Song Huan: “…So your system has year-end sales goals too?”

System: [“Dear, it’s just a special year-end benefit. Each host only gets one chance~”] 

“For example, if you wanted to know the cause of the original host’s death, that would now be available for 70% off.”

Song Huan: “Yesterday when I asked, you said there was no discount.”

System: [“Dear, the event just launched at noon today, so there really wasn’t a discount yesterday~”] 

Song Huan: “Hmph. I don’t believe you, you rotten system!”

System: [“Dear, your reply format is incorrect. Please try again~”] 

Song Huan: “…” Pulling this stunt again.

Still, using only nine days’ worth of life value to learn the truth about the original host’s death… not a bad deal.

Of course, Song Huan had suspected that Madam Song and Song Yun were responsible. But after inheriting the original host’s memories, she found no trace of them harming her.

So a suspicion remained just that—not the truth.

It left Song Huan deeply puzzled.

If the original host really was murdered, and it wasn’t the Song family’s women… then who was the killer?

“I want to use my life value to buy the truth about the original host’s death.”

System: [“Okay, dear.”] 

“Please wait…”

[Ding— “Are you sure you want to spend nine days of life value to purchase the truth?”]

[Please reply YES or NO.]

Song Huan: “Yes.”

Ding—

[ host, congratulations! Purchase successful.]

[The truth of the original host’s death is loading… please wait…]

Upon seeing this message, Song Huan raised one hand to rest on her forehead, looking like she was deep in thought.

Ding—

[Truth loaded.]

Suddenly, a wave of fragmented memories flooded her mind — vivid and intense, like watching a high-resolution movie where the storyline barely connected.

This “truth” was long.

After sorting it out, Song Huan realized it began not long after the original host’s birth.

Only this time, the perspective wasn’t from the original host—it was from a somewhat chaotic, third-party observer’s point of view.

Many people appeared in this story.

A beautiful, gentle woman — whom Song Huan recognized as the original host’s mother, Shen Huiniang.

And a handsome, upright-looking man — her father, Song Chenghai.

From the day the original host was born, Song Chenghai disliked her.

The first memory fragment showed him attempting to drown the baby during her one-month celebration.

Before she could delve deeper, the scene suddenly jumped to the moment when Song Chenghai strangled Shen Huiniang… both of them had seen the little Song Huan standing outside the door.

Shen Huiniang’s eyes were full of fear and concern, while Song Chenghai’s eyes burned with murderous intent.

Just before she died, Shen Huiniang whispered something into his ear…

The scene was silent, and her lips were pressed so tightly to his ear that Song Huan couldn’t even read her lips.

So was Song Chenghai the one who killed the original host?

Song Huan flipped through the scenes, her eyes gradually turning red.

The next scene showed the night before the wedding.

The original “Song Huan” held the medicine Pei Yan had given her — but couldn’t bring herself to take it.

She didn’t want to die.

But the people who wanted her dead… kept coming to “check on her.”

Madam Song, Song Yun, and Song Chenghai…

Song Huan clenched the scroll in her hands.

So the entire Song family… were all her enemies.

…..

“Madam, the Marquis is here.”

Just as Song Huan was deep in thought, Jin Yue’s voice rang out.

Huh?

What!

Still caught up in her emotions, Song Huan looked up — eyes red like a startled bunny.

Pei Yan frowned and said with disdain, “What kind of romance novel were you reading?”

Song Huan sniffled and closed the book. “It was a really touching story.”

Pei Yan didn’t respond. Instead, he glanced at Jin Yue and Jin Le. “You two may leave. No need to serve tonight.”

Jin Yue understood immediately. “Yes, my lord.”

The clever little Jin Le looked at Song Huan with deep sympathy—Madam was probably about to be bullied by the Marquis…

Alas, she was too small to help.

Song Huan: “…!?”

Her eyes widened, and she nervously adjusted her clothes. No way…

Could Pei Yan… have that kind of intention?