[Little Red Riding Hood, let me tell you, please don't give me a task to get into school smoothly. Even if I studied hard for ten years, I still couldn't do it!] Chaoge opened the book and covered her face with it. Exhausted, she collapsed onto the soft bed. She just wanted to stay in this bed forever. To hell with exams and studying!
The system, now forcibly given a name: […Second mission activated. Successfully enter Yuandu Military Academy. Mission reward: 100 points. Mission difficulty: One star. Failure will deduct 100 points, and the system will enter hibernation mode and will not be activated again.]
Some things happen even when you don't want them to, especially when the female protagonist has a terrible father; the chances of this happening are almost 100%.
However, Chaoge resolutely ignored the pile of textbooks at her feet. She felt that it was better to rely on good luck than to expect to become an impossible academic genius. She really didn't believe that anyone in the entire Crystalless Empire could be luckier than her, a transmigrator who won the lottery.
She hasn't left her room for the past few days. Her meals are mainly ordered by the AI and then delivered to her room. There's a door in the wall that leads to her personal bathroom and toilet. As for submitting her enrollment materials and registration, those are directly uploaded by the AI.
Her father hasn't contacted her since that video call, and she doesn't even know if he ever comes home. Her mother, on the other hand, is said to have gone on vacation to a planet and doesn't plan to return anytime soon. Yan Xi, after reporting her to the authorities that day, seems quite satisfied with her turtle-like state and hasn't bothered her personal space.
In short, her presence in this family is practically zero; it's as if she doesn't exist at all.
Since learning that Yan Chaoge's father was just like her own father, Chaoge has been quite satisfied with this state of not seeing each other. She has also become less curious about Yan Chaoge's position in the family, afraid that knowing too much would cause her distress.
She stayed at home for more than half a month.
One morning a week before school started, she threw off the covers, sat on the edge of the bed, looked around at the deep forest surroundings, and looked up. Soft light shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting shadows that stretched as far as the eye could see. The AI, No. 70, had been programmed to be switched off unless she needed it.
She turned her head from side to side, stretched out from under the covers, and fully woke up. She'd felt a tightness in her chest for the past few days, and could only conclude that she'd been cooped up at home for too long and was getting moldy.
[I don't care, I want to go out and have fun! Little Red Riding Hood, do you have any special missions that can earn points and make money at the same time?] This is how Chaoge thought. Ignoring this annoying family, she finally got to experience the future world once, and she couldn't just waste her time experiencing the holographic projection.
System: 【…You're so open-minded.】How come I never noticed before that she was so easygoing?
[Upgrade mode activated. Main questline activated. [Strategy Guide] display bar activated. Main quest step one: Randomly make ten random passersby develop a favorable impression of you. Their avatars will be displayed in the guide. After successfully collecting ten avatars, you will receive 1 Blue Crystal and 1000 points, and the system will level up. Failure to complete the quest will clear system records and enter hibernation mode, preventing further activation.] The system secretly thought to itself that it had finally waited for Chaoge to ask for a quest, and almost impatiently finished speaking this series of words before the display screen popped up in front of her.
Chaoge took a deep breath, wishing she could slap her talkative self to death.
After a long silence, [Little Red Riding Hood, I was wrong. I shouldn't have called you a troublemaker.]
[Hmm?] The system thought to itself, "So you've finally had a change of heart and realized how good I am to you?"
"You're a damn money-loser." Chaoge stared straight ahead expressionlessly, adding the second half of the sentence.
At 8 p.m., when Chaoge went out, the only thing that reminded her to come back early was AI No. 70. Even though she knew that this was an artificial intelligence without human emotions, she replied, "Okay."
Shengshi Entertainment.
Ever since her experience of daring to act like a thug without any money last time, Chaoge seemed to have decided that this place was easy to rip off. And because of her special status, when the lobby manager of Shengshi saw her, he thought to himself, "I can't very well use the excuse that 'your daughter always comes here without money and only drinks lemonade' to complain to the Yan family, can I?"
Despite her thoughts, she maintained her high level of service with a perfect, warm smile, saying, "Welcome to Shengshi. Which level of private room would you like?"
As she spoke, a screen appeared in her palm. It contained records from her AI, which were connected to the club's AI. Through this screen, she could see all the different levels of private rooms, the required permissions, and which rooms had already been booked.
Before Chaoge could speak, a hand appeared behind her and put its arm around her waist. A person rested their chin on her shoulder, and a familiar female voice sounded softly in her ear: "She's with me. Lead the way."
Upon seeing her, the manager's smile deepened instantly. Although Chaoge couldn't discern any difference in her smile, her intuition told her that she was very pleased to see the person behind her.
She didn't even need to turn around to know who it was, because her body honestly exhibited that strange feeling. It was as if an invisible magnetic field surrounded her and was attracting her. For some reason, Chaoge felt that even if this woman were thrown into a crowd, she would recognize her at a glance, no matter what she looked like.
Chaoge reached out to pry open the hand that was wrapped around her waist. The hand touched the peculiar fabric of the glove, which was cool to the touch and she didn't know what it was made of. After grasping her fingers, Chaoge found that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pry her fingers open even an inch. However, the force with which the hand was on her waist was just right so that it didn't cause her any pain.
Just as Chaoge was struggling with the hand that was stuck around her waist, they arrived at the door of the private room. The smiling man who was leading the way was once again asked by Qin Muge to leave.
In the dimly lit corridor, Qin Muge's vibrant red eyes, like wine in a goblet, were captivatingly beautiful, their depth enhanced by the light reflected from the lamp. A faint smile played in her eyes as she watched Chaoge stubbornly resist her hand on her waist, pausing her efforts to open the door. She then rested her head on Chaoge's shoulder, watching her struggle with amusement.
Even Little Red Riding Hood couldn't stand it anymore and reminded Chaoge in her mind: "Since you have so much time to fight, why don't you just tell her to let go?"
Chaoge stopped what she was doing and stood there stunned for two seconds.
...I forgot.
Qin Muge's breath brushed lightly against her neck, causing her to tilt her head uncomfortably. Turning back, she met Qin Muge's red eyes, which seemed to be filled with a smile. She opened her mouth to speak, but the moment her voice came out, Qin Muge straightened up, released her, and, facing the identification area of the private room, began the usual door-opening procedure.
As Chaoge watched her slender figure recede into her mind, the scene of their last meeting flashed through her mind. Logically, after their last encounter, she shouldn't still be paying so much attention to her. Could it be that, without her and Little Red Riding Hood's knowledge, she or her family had offended her? "Excuse me, did I offend you in any way before?"
Qin Muge had long, waist-length, jet-black hair. She wore a fitted casual outfit—a simple white shirt and trousers—more relaxed than before, yet it accentuated her ethereal气质 even more. Hearing Chaoge's question, she didn't turn her head. The scanner lit up green, indicating passage, and the door to the private room opened automatically in front of them.
Qin Muge took the lead and walked inside. Chaoge had no choice but to follow. As soon as they stepped into the room, the door closed automatically. The holographic projection in the room made the environment like daytime. Even though there were stars in the sky outside, it felt like sunlight was streaming into the room. Even the windows and the sunlight streaming in looked real. If Chaoge hadn't been so sure that she had come from that dimly lit corridor, she would have been completely different.
Qin Muge sat down on the black leather sofa, crossed her arms, and looked directly at Chaoge, who was standing with her back to the door. Her smile remained unchanged. Her gaze swept over Chaoge's expression, and seeing the puzzled look on her face, she casually uttered a sentence: "Now tell me, what are you doing here?"
Chaoge believed that although she sometimes missed the point in conversations, she was certainly not capable of ignoring others. How could this woman so confidently ignore her questions and then turn around and interrogate her in an accusatory tone?
"I don't think there's a sign at the entrance of this club saying 'Yan Chaoge is not allowed to enter,' right?" Chaoge stood there, yelling to Little Red Riding Hood that she wanted to break down the door, while answering the question from the person in front of her.
Only now did her mind begin to focus on why, in such a large empire as the Crystalless Empire, the leader did nothing but stare at her all day.
Could you be my long-lost mother?
Little Red Riding Hood: ...Why didn't you first realize that your identity as a time traveler had been exposed?
Qin Muge looked at her and his smile deepened, even carrying a hint of doting. He gently patted the seat next to him and said in an incredibly gentle tone, "Come and sit down."
Chaoge was practically in despair. What on earth did this guy want?! She had only wanted to go out and complete a mission and earn some extra money, so why did she have to run into this guy again?! She would rather be kicked out of the bar for not having enough money for lemonade than deal with this inexplicable fellow!
Qin Muge glanced at her and immediately understood her thoughts from her expression. Her face was full of helplessness, as if to say, "I've been unusually patient, why are you still so disobedient?" She was still wearing gloves, but the color had changed from black to white since Chaoge last saw them. She placed her left hand on the sofa beside her, and once again parted her red lips, her voice much softer than before, yet there was a chilling commanding tone in her words: "Say it again, come here."
Before Chaoge could react, she subconsciously took a few steps toward her, and finally gave up and sat down on the sofa next to her. Her aura was so strong that every hair on Chaoge's body seemed to scream that her territory had been invaded, yet something inside her was screaming 'closer, closer!' This dual feeling inexplicably gave Chaoge an unprecedented sense of irritation.
The next moment, Qin Muge leaned closer, her powerful aura enveloping Chaoge. Chaoge was stunned for some reason, watching as her breathtakingly beautiful face drew closer and magnified, and heard her melodious voice ring out in the room: "You're angry."
Before Chaoge could react, a smile crept into her words, as sweet as honey, and the content of her speech sent a chill down Chaoge's spine: "Yan Chaoge, why are you angry with someone like me who is completely unrelated to you?"
Chaoge couldn't help but meet her smiling red eyes, but at this moment she felt that the beauty in front of her was more like a demon from the abyss of hell.
☆ Chapter 7: The Seventh Evaluation of General Qin
Yan Chaoge, why are you angry with someone like me who is completely unrelated to you?
With just one sentence, an indescribable sense of dread crept into Chaoge's heart. Even her friends might not know about her personality—she never got angry at strangers. At first, she just wanted to make herself more easygoing, but later she genuinely couldn't get angry even when someone she didn't care about pointed their finger at her and cursed at her. Chaoge was such an eccentric person.
But why would someone in this world who seems to have no connection with her know so much about her?
Chaoge's mind went blank, and she just stared at her blankly.
Seeing the incredulous look on her face, Qin Muge chuckled, stepped back a few paces, and sat back in her original seat. Her imposing aura vanished instantly, as if everything that had just happened was merely a hallucination on Chaoge's part. She raised her red lips slightly and said, "Alright, answer my question obediently. Instead of staying home preparing for the Yuandu Military Academy entrance exam, what are you doing here at night?"
He really knows everything about her.
[Does the ruler of the empire have mind-reading abilities? How can she be so terrifying?] The system, which witnessed the whole process from Chaoge's perspective, started to complain in Chaoge's mind.
"Hehe, I think I should be asking you that question." Chaoge controlled her facial expression, multitasking as she mentally replied to Little Red Riding Hood.
Seeing that she still didn't answer, Qin Muge nodded as if he understood, "It seems that answering will make me angry, so you'd better not say anything." He smiled and ended the conversation.
—Thus, in this conversation, with Chaoge remaining a silent listener, General Qin independently completed the steps from 'asking' to 'answering' to 'summarizing'.
"Looking at your face, you seem to want to ask me questions. Whatever you want to ask, my answer is that you don't need to know. If you understand, stand up now, walk out of here, and go home to bed." Without needing to look closely, Qin Muge easily discerned Chaoge's thoughts. She resumed her original sitting posture, not turning to look at Chaoge sitting beside her, and leaned back on the sofa with her eyes lightly closed, as if resting.
Chaoge looked at her profile. The simulated sunlight cast her shadow in a soft dappled light. Her fair skin was flawless, and every line on her face was like the work of a sculptor. Her forehead was half-hidden by her black hair, and the high bridge of her nose left just enough room for her lips to be displayed. Her elegant jawline and neck formed a beautiful angle. Moving her gaze down, she saw the delicate collarbone peeking out from the gap in her collar.
When this person closed their eyes, that powerful and chilling aura completely vanished; they were as quiet as a perfect sculpture, devoid of any trace of human warmth. Chaoge couldn't imagine what kind of environment could nurture such a person.
Upon hearing Qin Muge's words, she almost got up and walked out, if it weren't for the fact that she suddenly remembered that she was still on the mission of earning extra money.
Qin Muge was aware of her gaze, but his expression remained unchanged, and he didn't even pause in his breathing, letting her look at him to her heart's content.
Just as her patience ran out and she impatiently half-opened her eyes, about to ask why she wasn't moving, she saw a smile suddenly appear on her face, the corners of her lips slightly curved, and Chao Ge softly repeated the word from her words: "Home?" The gentle smile that flashed in her eyes made anyone other than Qin Muge think that she was longing for something warm. Only Qin Muge understood that it was her unique self-deprecation.
Qin Muge could even complete the sentence in her mind about this word: Can that kind of place be considered home?
Chaoge smiled again, her expression ambiguous, and shook her head slightly. She was already sitting sideways with her hands on the leather cushions of the sofa. She tilted her head and suddenly said to Qin Muge, "Although I don't know why you nag like my mother and won't let me ask questions, if you can do me a favor, I'll go back to wash up and go to bed."
Qin Muge raised one eyebrow, gesturing for her to speak, a rare gentle smile playing on her lips. Any member of her personal guard who saw her like this would surely exclaim that someone so agreeable couldn't possibly be their queen!
"Can you like me for once?" Chao Ge dropped a bombshell that sounded like a thunderbolt to everyone else!
Upon hearing this, Qin Muge's face initially showed a hint of bewilderment. But after meeting Chaoge's earnest, coffee-colored eyes, he couldn't help but chuckle, revealing a row of neat teeth. He then leaned closer to Chaoge, tilting his head slightly, his gaze half-closed as he looked at her, a silent smile playing on his lips. He spoke calmly and unhurriedly, "Yan Chaoge, you are the first person on this planet to dare to make such a request of me."
...It's an honor. May I present you with a certificate of honor?
#I accidentally achieved the 'number one on the planet' achievement in something, what a joyous occasion!#
【Well done!】The system applauded and made fireworks sounds in Chaoge's mind, sincerely admiring Chaoge for choosing the most desirable target right from the start.
Upon hearing this, Chaoge felt something in her mind suddenly snap. After blinking for a long while, she looked at Qin Muge and asked, "You...you wouldn't happen to be...the legendary General Qin, would you?"
As a proper homebody, one must have the methods to adapt to the gossip channels of the new world! Chaoge still can't forget the gloves that were displayed in all directions on the "Planetary Broadcast" program on the day she arrived.
Yes, her only impression of the supreme leader of the Crystalless Empire was his pair of dark blue, almost black gloves with his logo.
Hearing her strangely punctuated question, Qin Muge's eyes widened slightly, a hint of doubt on her face, as if she were curious about the extent of Chaoge's imagination. She dismissed her guess without hesitation: "No, how could you have such a naive idea? General Qin isn't some random cabbage you can just meet whenever you want. Did you make this guess because I'm prettier than everyone else?"
Chaoge: ...So narcissistic and self-righteous.
【Little Red Riding Hood, do you want to double-check yourself? Is she really General Qin?】Chaoge was speechless in front of Qin Muge, while tentatively asking the Little Red Riding Hood system in her mind.
[Yan Chaoge, I'm telling you this for the last time: the only AI system on this planet that can rival me is the Core Generation 1. I can obtain information on all the other AI systems.] Little Red Riding Hood's voice was very serious. Chaoge knew from its anthropomorphic tone that it was extremely sensitive to such questions about its expertise.
This incident only proves that General Qin's skill in lying through his teeth is top-notch; it's just unclear whether this is a common flaw among those in power.
Qin Muge saw her expression change, finally settling on a helpless look that seemed to say, "Whatever you say." He found it somewhat amusing. Even though he knew Chaoge had discovered his identity, he still professionally played his part, continuing the previous topic as if he hadn't seen her expression at all: "After carefully considering your request, I suddenly find it quite interesting. You can work towards that goal."
...Does this process of careful consideration you mentioned occur when you're narcissistic or lying?
Chaoge blinked, trying her best to control herself from showing any mockery or suspicion. The woman in front of her was a woman who had ruled an entire planet, and her petty-bourgeois mentality prevented her from making sarcastic remarks even when looking at a crazy leader.
"I won't mention any other requests, but first of all, don't let me see any trash riding on your head, understand... What's with that expression on your face?" Halfway through making his demands to the other party without any politeness, Qin Muge noticed Chaoge's conflicted look and raised an eyebrow slightly.
Chaoge was eager to know what skills Qin Muge hadn't maxed out.
Qin Muge gave up on trying to reason with her, fully understanding just how capable this guy was of listening to everything except the important points when he was being obedient. She extended her tongue, tracing the edge of her lower lip, staining her red lips with a beautiful color, successfully drawing the other's attention back. She exhaled softly, leaned close to Chaoge's cheek, placed a hand on her left shoulder, and whispered in her right ear, word by word: "Yan Chaoge, listen carefully to what I'm about to say. Whether you mind or not, whether you're angry or not, don't let me see that trash riding on your head again. Because I'll be unhappy, and you don't want to see the consequences of my unhappiness."
Her thumb pressed against Chaoge's collarbone with a sharp force that caused her some pain, especially when she was once again enveloped by her imposing aura. Even in the temperature-controlled room, she felt a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead from sweat. When Qin Muge unreasonably threw these words into her ear, Chaoge could do nothing but sit there and listen.
It was like falling into an endless abyss; apart from the woman's voice that kept ringing in my ears, I could see and hear nothing.
That conversation was deeply etched in her heart, without any discussion or reason.
Many years later, Chaoge still remembered that night, sitting in a brightly lit room, trapped within the sphere of this person's imposing presence, being ordered around without any room for negotiation—
Yan Chaoge, don't let me see trash riding on your head, because I'll be unhappy.
Soon after, Chaoge personally experienced the displeasure of the empire's rulers and the bloodshed that would ensue. The complex situation and chaotic power dynamics changed along with her change of heart. Only then could Chaoge fully understand why this woman was able to stand at the top of the world.
At that moment, she was merely thrown out a sentence that was neither a warning nor an order, and she was stunned for a long time.
By the time she realized it, her body had already completed the task of 'obediently going home to sleep'.
Even after lying in her warm bed, Chaoge was still not over her meeting with Qin Muge.
Three o'clock in the morning.