A note from the author:
Let's reduce the word count~
Chapter 15
Current name: Wen Yun
Current survival time: 87 hours
Tea flavor level: 20 points
The next day, as soon as Wen Yun woke up, she casually opened the attribute panel.
She went to bed early yesterday and didn't have time to exchange her tea flavor for life-extending items. After midnight, her survival time was automatically deducted, and she didn't have enough time left.
"I wish you were just a system that allows you to exchange items," Wen Yun couldn't help but mutter.
"Host, in this situation, you can simply use 10 points of Tea Flavor to exchange for a life-extending item," the system suggested. "That way, you'll have a chance to draw a mysterious item."
"That's easy for you to say. Is it so easy to acquire a certain level of 'tea-like charm'?" Wen Yun clicked her tongue. "Even if I transmigrated into a 'green tea' female supporting character, I couldn't possibly use such 'tea-like' language in every sentence! That's too strange!"
Based on her initial understanding of the "green tea persona," tea talk should only be used in response to specific events. The kind of tea talk she recited from a template the other day was a very stiff and low-level superficial tea talk.
It might be one thing to say it three or five times, but if she keeps talking like that, it'll definitely annoy people. Even if she's transmigrated into a wealthy family's heiress, she can't keep courting death like this.
"Why do you insist on accumulating so much survival time before you're willing to draw items?" the system asked, puzzled. "Time is only deducted after midnight every day. Even if you only have 24 hours left, you have plenty of time to spout your witty remarks and accumulate enough survival time, just like the day you first arrived."
“It’s very simple. Survival time is like a bank account, or even more important than a bank account. Without it, I can’t survive in this world,” Wen Yun answered without hesitation. “In addition, when survival time is not plentiful and you know nothing about the details of the card pool, drawing cards is like being a spendthrift.”
Actually, a question had already arisen in her mind—why was this system so eager for her to draw mysterious items? Could it be that the number of times the host drew mysterious items was linked to the system's performance?
The system fell silent in response to her words.
Wen Yun glanced at the time, and was about to exchange all her tea points for life-extending cards as before, when she suddenly heard the system say: "Host's request has been approved, and details of the mysterious item card pool in the shop have been unlocked!"
Then a details pop-up window immediately flooded Wen Yun's face.
Wen Yun clicked her tongue in displeasure, but when she browsed the items in the card pool, she shamefully became tempted.
[Limited-time Piano Level 10 Experience Card], [Limited-time Social Butterfly Experience Card], [3-Hour Invigorating Black Tea], [I Can Understand This Math Lesson!]...
There are abilities that the original owner already possessed but did not inherit, as well as some strangely named but seemingly useful buffs and items.
However, because the gacha pool contains so many different items, it is quite demanding on the luck of those who draw the cards.
After all, some items are useful, but they may not be needed right away, so you have to save them and wait for the right opportunity.
"Would you be willing to spend 10 points of tea flavor to draw a mystery item?" the system asked.
Wen Yun hesitated for a few seconds, then took 10 points of tea flavor to exchange for a life-extending card, extending her survival time to 117 hours.
"Then let's try it once." After she finished speaking, she clicked on the mysterious item.
The card-drawing process was not fancy at all; the dark gray card with a question mark on it quickly flipped over to reveal its true form.
"Congratulations, host, you have drawn the [Blingbuling, Everyone Who Sees You Will Fall in Love] item!" The system notification sounded.
Wen Yun:? ? ?
"What is this thing?!" she exclaimed in shock. "What occasion would you need it for?"
"It will come in handy soon, host," the system said. "This item has no restrictions on the target. Anyone who sees the target will be instantly charmed and their opinion of them will change, with their favorability increasing significantly. This state lasts for 5 seconds."
"What could possibly happen in just 5 seconds..." Wen Yun's words of complaint were only halfway through when she suddenly remembered the upcoming start of the school year and instantly thought of a suitable opportunity to use it. She immediately changed her tune, "You're right, it can indeed be used very quickly!"
-
Wen's parents went out to a meeting again today. Wen Yun put away the new props and got up to go find Ruan Yu to practice.
Today, Ruan Yu actually clipped her bangs up, revealing her smooth forehead, changed into a white tracksuit, and sat in the living room early to wait for her.
Seeing that it was still early, Wen Yun asked, "Qiqi won't be here until around ten o'clock. Shall we go out for a walk?"
She knew that the protagonist was actually more used to exercising outdoors in the morning. After all, having lived in the countryside for so many years, the protagonist would prefer to be close to nature rather than the cold facilities in the gym.
This time, Ruan Yu did not refuse. After saying goodbye to the butler, the two went out and jogged slowly along the path planted with precious flowers and plants towards the mountain near the villa.
"Actually, I still prefer outdoor sports the most," Wen Yun emphasized as she ran. "The air in the mountains is so fresh in the morning!"
“Me too,” Ruan Yu replied with a smile.
The Wen family's villa is located in a mountain villa area. Although the Wen family contributed the most money to the construction of the mountain landscape, the nearby mountains still belong to the community. During their morning runs, the two could often see other residents of the villa area exercising in the mountains.
Some of the residents recognized the original owner of the body. Wen Yun forgot to check her memories before leaving home, and when she passed by them, she was stopped and had to greet them and introduce Ruan Yu to them.
Nine out of ten residents who can exercise on this mountain are wealthy, so facial recognition in advance is essential.
However, perhaps because Ruan Yu's complexion was so unlike that of city dwellers, the residents who bumped into them couldn't help but stare at her a few more times.
Seeing this, Wen Yun's heart was filled with alarm bells. Just to be on the safe side, after bumping into other residents once, she immediately said to Ruan Yu as soon as they were out of sight, "If you mind, we can exercise somewhere else."
"I don't mind," Ruan Yu said with a smile, shaking her head. "This is probably just our daily life as heiresses, right?"
Wen Yun was taken aback, "Huh...?"
"Since it's just a daily routine, I need to face it positively." After saying that, Ruan Yu took a running stance. "Shall we continue, Yunyun?"
“Okay, let’s continue!” Wen Yun snapped out of her daze, agreed repeatedly, and led her forward.
The mountain path wasn't rugged; the two ran a bit and walked a bit, greeting two other residents who were doing their morning exercise along the way. They didn't return to the Wen family villa to take a shower until the sun started to get hot.
After breakfast, the two went back to their respective rooms.
Ruan Yu took out the exam paper and started working on the questions, while Wen Yun contacted Lin Qiqi.
Xiaoyu and I are both at home right now. When are you arriving? Can you give me a definite answer?
Adorable Sweetheart Xiaoqiqi: [Almost there, almost there! I promise I'll be there before 10 PM! No delays!]
Despite her repeated assurances, Wen Yun didn't hear the doorbell ring downstairs until 9:57.
She rushed downstairs, and as soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she found Ruan Yu already sitting in the living room, with Lin Qiqi sitting opposite her, still trying to catch her breath.
"Miss Lin, would you like some oolong tea today?" the butler asked.
"No need, no need, I'll be leaving soon, don't trouble yourself!" Lin Qiqi smoothed her sweat-dampened hair, smiled at Ruan Yu, took out a file folder from her bag, and handed it over. "This is the evidence of my statements in the group, as well as my own account. I've also checked other anonymous posts, but the platform refuses to provide the speakers' information."
"Which group?" Ruan Yu asked as she opened the file.
"Uh... it's a small group that the students in the class created privately. There's no ban on anonymity or alternate accounts, and the teacher isn't involved, so anyone can say anything in the group."
Wen Yun approached quietly, sat down next to Ruan Yu, and looked at the color document in her hand.
"And this is my apology." Lin Qiqi took out an exquisite gift box and placed it on the coffee table. "A brand new, latest model of the Ruiya women's watch, worth 16,888 yuan. Consider it compensation for your emotional distress, please accept it!"
"I don't want your compensation for emotional distress." Ruan Yu didn't even glance at the gift box, quickly skimmed through the account, and said softly, "Please apologize in that group using your real name, and we'll consider this matter closed."
Lin Qiqi was stunned for a full five seconds before she came to her senses and hurriedly waved her hands: "No, no! How can that be!"
"Why not?" Ruan Yu looked at her in confusion.
"I started both waves of controversy, and I indirectly tarnished your reputation!" Lin Qiqi explained quickly. "Even if I were to apologize, I should have apologized in the main group chat!"
Ruan Yu then turned her gaze to Wen Yun, looking troubled: "Yunyun, I've never encountered anything like this before, and I'm not sure what to do. Should Miss Lin apologize to the group chat?"
Wen Yun's heart skipped a beat as she looked at her, vaguely sensing that this was the solution Ruan Yu truly wanted.
Ruan Yu wasn't "indecisive" at all; on the contrary, she was quite clear-headed! The reason she asked in such a simple and innocent tone was probably to test her and Lin Qiqi!
Chapter 16
Upon learning that Lin Qiqi was the one who posted the smear messages, Wen Yun actually wanted to expose her and issue a formal apology.
No one is willing to easily forgive the rumors and slander behind someone's back. Given the chance, everyone wants the culprit to pay the price.
Even though Lin Qiqi is now showing a good attitude in admitting her mistake, the deed has already been done. If it weren't for her intervention as an outsider, the subsequent events would likely still hurt Ruan Yu repeatedly.
“Since Qiqi has said so, then it is only right,” Wen Yun said.
"Yes, yes! You don't want my apology, but you can at least get an official apology in the group chat, right?" Lin Qiqi quickly chimed in, taking out her phone to edit a message as she spoke. "I'll show it to you after I finish writing it, and I'll send it if you think it's okay."
Ruan Yu responded softly and said nothing more.
The message was quickly edited, and Wen Yun glanced at it. She felt relieved because the apology was quite sincere and there were no sarcastic remarks.
After obtaining Ruan Yu's permission, Lin Qiqi posted the apology directly in the class group.
[This message was posted by Lin Qiqi herself. Because I anonymously led the insults against @Ruanyu in other group chats and used a secondary account to spread rumors and slander, causing a very negative impact on her, I hereby issue this formal apology and promise not to do it again. I hope all classmates and teachers will supervise me!]
After posting it, she slightly modified a few words and then posted it again to the "Secret Observation Team," also including a screenshot of the anonymous message record.
The "secret observation team" was discussing which "other group chat" Lin Qiqi was referring to, but the next second they were hit with a bombshell revelation. The group chat, which was originally going to be full of 99+ messages, suddenly fell silent. It was unclear whether they were afraid to speak or didn't know how to respond.
Not long after the apology was sent, Lin Qiqi's phone started ringing and didn't stop for a long time.
Lin Qiqi didn't seem to care much. She lowered her head and muted her phone: "Sigh, it's probably just friends and family who saw the message and came to ask. But I should apologize for what I did wrong. If someone else were to say such things about me behind my back, I would never let them get away with it!"
Ruan Yu ultimately refused Lin Qiqi's watch, even after Lin Qiqi changed her mind and said it wasn't compensation for emotional distress but rather a gift.
Wen Yun could understand her thoughts.
Firstly, Lin Qiqi's past actions have indeed left Ruan Yu, who has lived a full life, with immense psychological trauma, which cannot be compensated by a luxury watch worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Secondly, the agreed-upon compensation for emotional distress turned into a mere gift in no time. It's clear that Lin Qiqi didn't truly understand the problem; perhaps she was only willing to make this so-called compensation, which would damage her reputation, because of the Wen family.
Ruan Yu repeatedly declined, making Lin Qiqi somewhat embarrassed. In the end, she had no choice but to put the watch back in her bag, stand up and say goodbye: "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now. My mom's waiting for me to come home for dinner! See you at school!"
Wen Yun also got up and saw her off to the car. When she returned, Ruan Yu was nowhere to be seen. When she found the guest room, she saw Ruan Yu carefully locking the documents Lin Qiqi had given her into the drawer.
"Are you satisfied with today's result?" Wen Yun asked from the doorway, without going in.
Ruan Yu paused, straightened up, and asked softly, "If I say I'm not satisfied, will you still try to get a different result for me?"
The honorific "you" startled Wen Yun, who subconsciously took a half step back, her heart pounding, but her expression remained calm: "Yes, I promised yesterday that no matter what solution you want, I will try my best to achieve it."
After she finished speaking, she saw Ruan Yu turn her head and stare at her intently. A few seconds later, she heard Ruan Yu say, "I'm satisfied."
Startled, Wen Yun didn't even know how she got back to her room.
Although she knew all along that with her poor acting skills, she would definitely be recognized by the reborn one day, she did not expect that day to come so soon!