Chapter 2: Playing Dead Online

As soon as she opened her eyes, she was greeted by a pale teal canopy. The air was filled with the faint scent of medicine, a trace of charcoal, and an overwhelming aroma of burning incense.

Song Huan took a breath and immediately choked, triggering a fit of coughing. A delayed wave of pain surged into her brain—the wound on her neck felt as if it were being ripped open.

Damn broken system!

It brought her back here without a single warning—she thought she had been too outrageous and was about to be forcibly destroyed!

Song Huan didn’t dare make another sound. She slowly raised her hand to cover her mouth.

She was someone who accepted fate quickly—knew when to fight for her interests and when to accept the inevitable.

After all, a twisted arm can’t win against a strong thigh, and an egg can’t crack a rock.

When under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head…

As Song Huan was thinking this, the system suddenly popped up with a message: her soul was undergoing a second fusion with this body, but the fusion rate had only reached 90%.

This was part of the system’s exchange mechanism: it had exchanged 10% of her fusion rate to alter the depth of the wound on her neck—preventing her from dying of excessive blood loss.

System: [“Welcome back. Your wound will heal in 15 days.”] 

Song Huan: “What do I need to do to reach 100% fusion?”

A 90% fusion rate was risky—it made her vulnerable to shady characters and righteous exorcist-types.

System: [“Fusion rate can be exchanged through two methods: ‘Lifespan’ and ‘Affection Value’. Reply with keywords for details.”] 

Song Huan: “Lifespan.”

System: [“One year of lifespan can be exchanged for 1% fusion rate.”] 

The total lifespan that could be earned in this book world was 100 years. In other words, as long as nothing unexpected happened and she diligently completed tasks from now on, she could live another hundred years.

But Song Huan wasn’t that greedy. Living to sixty or seventy would be enough for her.

So, if she had 100 years’ worth of life in her account right now, she wouldn’t mind spending ten to reach full fusion.

Reality check: She didn’t have it.

With a sigh, Song Huan pulled up her lifespan data. Seeing that she had a month’s worth of time left, she finally exhaled in relief. At least this damned system had a shred of conscience.

If it were like last time, with only half an hour, she would’ve quit on the spot!

Next, she checked the second method: “Affection Value.”

System: [“Affection Value refers specifically to this mission’s target, ‘Pei Yan’. For every 1% increase in Pei Yan’s affection for you, the system will gift you 1% fusion rate.”] 

Gift?

So if Pei Yan’s affection for her reached 10%, her soul would be fully fused with the host body?

Having been scammed once before, Song Huan didn’t quite buy that this system would be so generous.

Song Huan: “Are you sure it’s a gift, not an exchange? You won’t tack on extra conditions later after I earn it?”

System: [“Clearly labeled. No deception.”] 

“…”

Song Huan decided to trust it—for now.

Besides, seducing Pei Yan was the main goal anyway. Even if the system didn’t give her fusion rate, she wouldn’t lose anything.

She closed the system chat box and opened the mission screen.

Expired Missions:

– “Have the mission target Pei Yan lift your   veil”

– “Drink cross-cupped wine with the               mission target Pei Yan”

Together, those missions would’ve earned her six days of life value…

Song Huan clutched her chest—instant heart attack.

She reopened the system chat.

Song Huan: “If I pull the veil back down now and let Pei Yan lift it, and pour two cups of wine for us to drink together, can I still complete those missions?”

“…”

Dead silence. The system ghosted her again.

It felt worse than having meat snatched from right under her nose.

Devastated, Song Huan opened the Daily Missions.

First task: Daily sign-in — adds 15 minutes of life.

Song Huan signed in immediately. Easy. Practically free. Her mood improved a little as she scrolled down to check the rest.

•  ‍  ten replies from Pei Yan → +10 days
•     Hug Pei Yan once → +1 month
•     Kiss Pei Yan once → +3 months
•     Sleep with Pei Yan → +1 year

Song Huan: “…??”

They really jumped straight into hugs, kisses, and “go all the way”?

A chill crept up her spine. No doubt about it—this damned system was trying to kill her.

She’d read the whole novel, after all. Though the original host died immediately on screen, Pei Yan was a central villain throughout. How could she not know what he was like?

Some people look decent on the surface but are complete psychos behind closed doors.

Pei Yan lost his father at age nine and inherited the title of heir in the same year. He spent ten years in the military, fighting bloody battles across the land. His hands were soaked in blood, and he became addicted to killing—moody, vicious, unstable… one moment he could be smiling, the next he’d slit your throat.

He also hated being touched—especially by women.

In the book, there was a side character who fell for his looks.

Nothing wrong with having a crush. But she had to go and publicly proclaim she’d marry no one but Pei Yan. Worse, she bribed a servant in his household to climb into his bed…

She died.

Eyes gouged out. Feet chopped off. And even then, she didn’t so much as touch the hem of Pei Yan’s robe.

The servant? Torn apart by five horses.

The chill spread down Song Huan’s spine again. Nope. No kissing, no hugging, no anything! She valued her life too much.

“Madam, you’re awake?”

A maid appeared, stepping past the screen with a bowl of medicine. She caught sight of Song Huan blinking and frowning on and off.

Song Huan turned to look—a gentle-looking maid walked over. Her manner was calm and composed. Upon seeing Song Huan awake, her expression barely changed. She curtsied with the medicine in hand.

“This servant is Jin Yue. The Marquis sent me to serve you and attend to your daily needs. Madam, would you like to drink your medicine first, or should I send someone to fetch the Marquis?”

Her tone was soft and respectful—not a trace of disdain.

Compared to the servants Song Huan had brought from the Song household, she was on a whole other level.

Song Huan waved her hand. Her throat hurt too much to speak, and seeing Pei Yan now would only risk triggering a mission. Best to keep her distance for now.

Just as she finished waving, someone burst through the door, rushed past the screen, and shouted at Jin Yue:

“Sister! Sister! Bad news! The Song family couldn’t find the Marquis, so they barged into the back courtyard! What should we do?”

Jin Yue’s brows furrowed. “Jin Le, don’t be so flustered. You should’ve greeted Madam first upon entering the room.”

“Huh? Madam’s already awake?” Jin Le craned her neck and saw Song Huan blinking and smiling weakly at her.

Her cheeks turned red in an instant. She stepped back, her voice suddenly timid and soft like a buzzing mosquito. “Jin Le… greets Madam.”

She looked like a child—barely reaching Jin Yue’s waist. Probably eight or nine years old, with a round face and rosy cheeks. Very cute.

Song Huan had a soft spot for cute kids. Her eyes lit up. If not for the wound on her neck, she might’ve pulled the girl in for a hug and a kiss. But for now, a smile would have to do.

Jin Le peeked at her nervously. Seeing the smile, she grew bolder.

“Madam… do you want to see Lady Song and Second Miss Song?”

Song Huan: …Sorry, no idea.

The last time she transmigrated here, she barely had time to “die on screen”—she didn’t even get to download the host’s memories.

This time? Worse. With her fusion below 100%, she couldn’t access the host’s memories at all!

Not knowing who was friend or foe, Song Huan decisively shut her eyes—playing dead again.

Jin Le blinked. “Madam? Are you okay?”

Jin Yue, being sharp, caught on immediately and gestured to Jin Le not to speak further.

Just then, Lady Song and Second Miss Song entered the room. Several marquis estate servants followed, trying to stop them, but once they were inside, the others respectfully stayed outside.

Jin Yue and Jin Le stepped out from behind the screen to greet them.

But before they could even finish bowing, the Song women shoved them both out the door and locked it behind them.

Jin Yue was stunned. She never imagined they’d dare behave this way. By the time she reacted, she was already outside.

“Jin Le, quickly—go to Mingsong Hall and fetch the Marquis!”

“The Marquis?” Jin Le hesitated, not wanting to see him. “Brother Pei Xi already went to get him.”

“Please, Jin Le,” Jin Yue said urgently, “go again and tell the Marquis what’s happened here.”

Pei Xi wouldn’t have known how aggressive the Song women would be. The Marquis might not come otherwise.

Jin Yue wanted to go herself, but the Marquis hated women approaching him. She probably wouldn’t even make it past Pei Chen. Only Jin Le—a child—had a chance.

Jin Le, ever obedient to her sister, nodded after a moment’s hesitation. “Okay, Sister. I’ll go right now.”

And off she ran, full speed.

Inside, after the girls left, Song Huan peeked open her eyes and saw the Song women quickly lock the door behind them. Her jaw dropped, then she snapped her eyes shut again.

Only one possibility could explain this—they knew Pei Yan was a total psycho and were secretly top-tier martial artists here to rescue her.

But remembering how the Song family was wiped out by Pei Yan later in the story…

Yeah. Unlikely.