Chapter 17: System Upgrade

Pei Yan’s eyes calmly observed Qin Chengyu, noticing the subtle tremble in the hand holding his teacup.

“An old acquaintance, huh…” Qin Chengyu muttered, weighing the words thoughtfully.

After a moment, he took another sip of tea, then looked up and smiled warmly at Pei Yan. “The Qin and Shen families were close for generations. I grew up alongside Huiniang and have always regarded her as my own younger sister. Since Huan’er is Huiniang’s daughter, naturally, she is like a niece to me. This time I came to the capital precisely to deliver a dowry for my niece.”

“I just hadn’t expected that the Marquis and Huan’er would be attacked in your residence. Huan’er even got injured. I was worried, so I rushed to the marquis residence yesterday to visit her, but unfortunately, I didn’t get to see her.”

Every word from Qin Chengyu was carefully measured, subtly probing Pei Yan’s attitude toward Song Huan.

Pei Yan sneered inwardly, his face darkening. “This was indeed my oversight. I never imagined someone would dare launch an assassination attempt in my residence on the day of my wedding. Huan’er was even hurt. Thankfully, her life isn’t in danger, or else…”

He trailed off, but the murderous intent in his expression was unmistakable.

Off to the side, Qin Huai felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to his heart. His face stiffened in an instant.

Qin Chengyu, too, was shaken by the killing intent. But then, unexpectedly, he burst out laughing. “Good! Good! Good!”

He repeated the word three times with evident delight and admiration.

Qin Huai had no idea what madness had seized their village master. What was so “good” about any of this?

Even after Qin Chengyu arranged to visit the marquis residence again the next day and cheerfully saw the marquis out, Qin Huai still hadn’t recovered from the shock. Watching the carriage roll away into the distance, he couldn’t help but ask, “Master, this Pei Marquis is ruthless and vengeful. Do you… really think he’s good?”

Qin Chengyu’s gaze turned distant, as if seeing something far away. At the question, his smile faded. “Qin Huai, the world is full of truths wrapped in lies and lies wrapped in truth. Who can really see through it all? Pei Yan’s reputation is indeed terrible, but Huan’er is already married to him. As long as he truly treats her well, the Qin family is willing to take a gamble on him.”

Qin Huai scratched his head, still confused, “But what if Marquis Pei doesn’t truly treat Miss Huan well?”

Qin Chengyu lightly knocked his head. “Fool! Aren’t you going to meet Huan’er tomorrow? Then just ask her and you’ll know!”

Qin Huai: “…”

***

When Song Huan woke up, the sky was already bright.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes, blinking several times before asking, “Jinyue, what time is it?”

“Madam, it’s just past the hour of Chen.”

Oh, hour of Chen…

Wait—hour of Chen?!

Song Huan shot up in bed. “Quick! To Mingsong Hall!”

That scoundrel Pei Yan told her to come at Chen hour. If she was late, he might skin her alive.

Her face tightened as she hurriedly opened her system interface to check the favorability rating.

System: [“Please wait, favorability is loading…”]

Song Huan: “…System, can you not handle something as simple as checking favorability? Are you lagging now?”

[“Dear user, please be patient. The system was upgraded last night, and this is your first login post-update, so we’re reloading all data.”] 

Song Huan skeptically asked, “Really upgraded? You’re not lying?”

System: [“Dear user, truly. From now on the system won’t disconnect anymore.”] 

Song Huan: “Oh… fine. Not that you’re much help anyway. Can’t count on you when I’m in danger.”

System: “…” (Wants to go offline again.)

Ding—Favorability loading complete.

System: [“Target ‘Pei Yan’—favorability has changed. Favorability +36.”] 

Song Huan froze while getting dressed. “Favorability +36? That number isn’t a mistake?”

System: [“Dear user, the system’s data is always accurate. Please don’t doubt my professionalism.”] 

Song Huan: “…”

It was just “-15” last night when she left. What happened overnight for it to jump by +36?

Could it be she sleepwalked to Mingsong Hall last night and forced herself on Pei Yan?

No, impossible. Even if she tried to take off his clothes, Pei Yan would probably chop her in half.

Song Huan shivered at the thought. She grabbed a damp cotton cloth to cover her face. Stay calm. Stop imagining things.

……

By the end of the hour of Chen, Song Huan was jogging breathlessly to Mingsong Hall.

At the entrance, she noticed a new unfamiliar face beside Pei Chen.

“Madam, the master is waiting for you in the study,” Pei Chen reminded her.

Hearing this, Song Huan paid no attention to the stranger and lifted her skirt to enter Mingsong Hall.

Jinyue followed behind, but just as she stepped forward, Pei Chen blocked her. “Miss Jinyue, please wait outside.”

Jinyue blushed slightly and asked in a low voice, “Is that the Marquis’s order?”

Pei Chen nodded. “Yes.”

Song Huan stopped in front of the study door. Before entering, she checked the favorability score again—still +36.

Good. That gave her confidence!

She knocked on the door.

“Come in,” came Pei Yan’s clear voice, sounding just like when they first met.

Song Huan suddenly felt a chill crawl up her neck. …Mama, what’s gotten into this man?

“Why are you just standing there? Come in.”

The door swung open, and she looked up to see Pei Yan’s dark, deep eyes fixed on her with a faint smile, as if doting on her immensely.

“Huan’er’s here?” At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped beside the doorway.

Hearing the familiar tone, Song Huan’s gaze fell on the old folding fan in his hand—he was tapping it absently, and her eyes lit up. Could this be the master from Shangbao Manor who came to see her yesterday?

She remembered the book described him as—“Qin Chengyu loved to fiddle with an old folding fan in his hand, which was actually broken and unusable, but he stubbornly refused to replace it…”

“Huan’er probably doesn’t remember Uncle Qin. When you were born, Uncle Qin even held you once.” the man said affectionately.

He did hold her once, but back then Qin Chengyu was so nervous he accidentally dropped little Song Huan—fortunately, onto the bed—and she was unharmed. But all the adults in the room were frightened and on edge.

Of course, no one remembered that incident anymore. Qin Chengyu certainly wouldn’t bring it up now.

“Uncle… Qin?” A memory suddenly surfaced in Song Huan’s mind—her birth mother had indeed mentioned someone by that name!

But in her memory, her original mother always told her… Song Huan hesitated, “When I was young, my mother often mentioned a close friend named Qin… Xiaoyu. Are you Uncle Qin?”

“…” Qin Chengyu’s weathered face flushed crimson.

“Ahem, your mother was quite mischievous as a child, always joking around.”

Song Huan: “……” Indeed.

When she reached this part of her memories, she had always thought Qin Xiaoyu was just the original mother’s handkerchief friend, never expecting him to be the famous owner of Shangbao Manor.