Chapter Nine: The System (Please Subscribe~ Please Keep Reading~)

“Nan Yan, it seems your sister isn’t quite as you described her,” Dai Yeliu said with a faint smile in her eyes. “I actually find her rather interesting.”

A shadow flickered across Bai Nan Yan’s eyes, but she quickly composed herself and said, “Perhaps she learned of your identity by accident and is deliberately putting on a show in front of you. As for my sister... sigh.”

Bai Nan Yan gave a bitter smile. “She’s always been particularly stubborn and deliberate when it comes to provoking me. You’re my friend and not ordinary by status; it’s not impossible for her to try to snatch you away from me.”

Dai Yeliu frowned slightly, feeling Bai Nan Yan’s words were off somehow, though she couldn’t pinpoint why. Usually carefree and spontaneous, she simply gave up trying to understand and gently comforted Bai Nan Yan, “Don’t worry. I’ve spent so much time with you, but I’ve only met her a few times. I’m definitely on your side.”

“Really? You’re so kind, Yeliu,” Bai Nan Yan said, touched.

Dai Yeliu gave her a reassuring look, then noticed the proctor for the Level 5 Pharmacist exam had already entered the examination hall. She quickly lifted her foot to follow.

“Yan Yan, I’m going in first. I won’t chat anymore.”

“All right! Good luck with your exam! You can do it!” Bai Nan Yan sincerely wished her well.

Dai Yeliu turned back with a radiant smile, bent her arm, clenched her fist, and pressed down hard—a silent mouthing of “Let’s do our best together.”

***

Once Dai Yeliu entered the exam hall, the gentle smile on Bai Nan Yan’s face completely vanished.

“System, check Dai Yeliu’s progress on the strategy,” she said inwardly.

Soon, a cold mechanical voice with a hint of helplessness sounded.

“Host, I informed you ten minutes ago. Dai Yeliu’s strategy progress remains at sixty percent with no change.”

Bai Nan Yan sighed softly, replying, “It’s not that I’m cautious, it’s just that Gu Sihui really is different now from before. I…”

She hesitated, then suddenly asked, “System, are you sure I’m the only one bound to this system?”

“Of course,” the system replied without hesitation. “Only one system binding per book—that’s the industry rule.”

“Then how do you explain Xi Mo’s strategy value dropping yesterday?” Bai Nan Yan was puzzled. “Something’s definitely off with Gu Sihui. This has never happened before.”

A hissing sound of electric current came through as the system seemed to glitch.

After a moment, the electronic voice resumed. “Host, there’s no need to be overly cautious. After all, she’s just a spiteful secondary antagonist. Even if there’s something wrong with her, her fate will only end in death.”

“But…” Bai Nan Yan was about to say more when the system interrupted, “You are the author of this book. You alone decide their endings. Don’t you know what ultimately happens to Gu Sihui? Host, a petty villainess is nothing to fear. You should focus on how to get through the upcoming exam smoothly.”

Then the system’s cold voice took on a slightly more cheerful tone. “May I recommend the ‘Perfect Custody’ service for redemption with points? No 888, no 88—just 80 points to take home now. ‘Perfect Custody’ is your best helper for exams and promotions.”

“That’s so expensive!” Bai Nan Yan winced. “I already spent 30 points last time exchanging for purple-grade healing medicine for Xi Mo. I only have 81 points total. If I give you 80, I’m left with just one!”

“Don’t worry, host. There’s another plot point to leverage,” the system said promptly. “During Dai Yeliu’s exam, she will make mistakes and may be attacked by a rampaging beast. You’ll appear just in time, saving her through your beast husband. The system estimates this event will raise Dai Yeliu’s affection for you by at least 3% and award 30 points.”

Bai Nan Yan’s eyes flickered with inner struggle. “Can’t it be any cheaper?”

“No,” the system refused coldly, then offered another option. “Or, host, you can choose to pass the exam on your own.”

Bai Nan Yan fell silent.

She wasn’t naturally gifted in medicine, and before transmigrating, she was a high school dropout hanging out with a gang of girlfriends on the streets.

Back then, she loved reading novels, fantasizing about the pampered, wealthy, carefree heroines tailor-made for herself.

At the time, web novels were popular, so she jumped on the trend and wrote one, saturating the heroine—herself—with all the most beautiful words.

Not only that, she gave herself five powerful, handsome beast husbands who showered her with endless love.

To add conflict, she even wrote a brainless villainess who was constantly humiliated by the heroine, growing furious and incompetent, ultimately dispatched by the beast husbands with a single knife each.

Because the book was both melodramatic and delightfully satisfying, it quickly gained a massive readership, earning Bai Nan Yan a substantial fortune.

With money in hand, she indulged recklessly—drunken nights in bars, raving till dawn became routine.

But her life of debauchery came to an abrupt halt the day she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

At first, she just felt unwell and had frequent nosebleeds, but the diagnosis was a harsh wake-up call, instantly sobering her from drunken stupor.

Yet she refused to believe it—she was the center of the world! As the beloved heroine adored by all, how could she have cancer?

It must be malpractice or a scam because of her wealth!

Furious, Bai Nan Yan took a knife, slipped into the crowd, and stabbed the young female doctor who gave her the diagnosis.

As warm blood flowed, a twisted sense of exhilaration flashed through her heart.

But she was soon caught by police summoned by onlookers.

Her mind was chaotic—this was her world, and she was the heroine! Even if she killed someone, so what? They deserved it! How could she be punished?

When the verdict came, diagnosing her as mentally ill and ordering forced confinement to a psychiatric hospital, Bai Nan Yan lost it again.

She secretly cut her wrists with a hidden shard of porcelain and left a cursed suicide note.

When she opened her eyes again after death, she was overjoyed to find herself truly inside the book she had written, now the heroine!

Overcome with delight, she dreamed of a blissful life with her beast husbands.

But something went wrong. After transmigrating, her beast husbands grew distant, and the merman beast husband even escaped her control by unknown means.

She was seriously injured, and it was at this time the system appeared, promising that as long as she maintained the heroine’s persona and completed the strategy tasks, she could continue to enjoy a beloved, adored life like in the book.

Without hesitation, Bai Nan Yan agreed immediately.