System: “Isn’t it obvious? She’s here to ask her old sponsor, President Zhang, to lend her money for her sick adoptive mother’s surgery. You’re here to latch onto some rich old guy with no morals. Plus, she has a secret identity. She’s the long-lost daughter of a wealthy family. In the end, she and the male lead will be a perfect match and slap you, the villain, in the face.”
“Ah,” Ming Ming blinked and mumbled, “So the rich girl background’s the real deal. Poor people never win.”
She clicked her tongue. “So am I supposed to bully her?”
System: “Why do I feel like you’re actually kind of excited?”
Ming Ming nodded, humming, “I hate rich people.”
System: …
What she was thinking: I used to tutor five days a week, hand out flyers on weekends, work supermarket promos… and in the end, I got hit by a car. All for nothing.
What good is hard work? Even in this fake world, I still have to play the pitiful side character.
Before I get humiliated, I’m going to enjoy being shameless.
“So, how do I bully her? Is the sugar daddy I’m eyeing the same one she’s looking for?”
A passing waiter came by. She snatched a glass of wine and threw him a flirty wink for practice.
The system was silent for two seconds, clearly displeased.
“So you’re already in character, huh?”
“What does this President Zhang look like? Don’t tell me he’s an old man.”
“He’s walking toward you now.”
A greasy man with a shiny bald head, triple chin, and a nine-months-pregnant belly walked past her.
Ming Ming: “…”
Please no.
I can drop the vanity act.
“Can I just throw wine on the heroine?” she asked sincerely.
“How did you know your next task is to throw wine on her?” The system was impressed. “I told you you were morally bankrupt.”
Ming Ming, a seasoned fan of domineering CEO stories, clenched her fists. “The heroine has to be bullied for the male lead to rescue her! I’ve never gotten to play the villain before!”
“Starting today, I’m her nemesis!”
System: …Fine. Either way, the mission’s on track.
“See that man sitting in the corner at your two o’clock? That’s the male lead, the head of the Huo family, Huo Xiao—also known as Master Huo the Fifth. He’s thirty-three and controls S City like it’s his own chessboard…”
“And he’s connected in both the legal and illegal worlds, right?” Ming Ming squinted in that direction, but sadly, still couldn’t make out a thing.
“…You don’t need to say it out loud. Knowing it is enough. Say too much and we might get locked down.”
“Got it!”
The system continued its introduction: “He’s a living legend in S City. He’s always kept his distance from women—”
Ming Ming burst into laughter. “Oh, I know! Until he meets the female lead, then suddenly he’s all about women, right?”
“…Shut up.” If the system had a face, it’d be wearing a blank, deadpan expression.
Ming Ming couldn’t help but laugh hysterically in her mind. She tried to keep a straight face, lips pressed tightly together, though a few giggles still leaked from the corners of her eyes.
Eventually, she couldn’t hold it anymore. She had to bring her hand to her lips and bite her knuckle to stifle the laughter.
To an outsider, she looked like a pretty young woman holding a glass of champagne in the corner, casually observing the event. Her beauty was like spring in full bloom—smiling, radiant, effortlessly drawing attention.
But inside, she was mentally bickering with the system. “Why do I have to be a side character? Why can’t I be the butler? I want to be the one who says, ‘You’re the first woman the master has ever brought home.’ Hahahahaha!”
The system had had enough. “Get out!”
Hehe. Nothing beats annoying the system.
Ming Ming sipped her drink proudly.
Then she looked around for a trash can.
She really wanted to spit it out.
A girl in a light blue dress came up and greeted her. Ming Ming scrunched her face at her, then squeezed her eyes shut and forced down the sip of champagne.
She forced a smile. “Hi~”
The girl across from her looked like she was holding back laughter.
She whispered, “The orange-colored drink the waiter’s serving tastes way better. Not strong at all, and it has a nice citrus flavor.”
Tears welled in Ming Ming’s eyes. She thanked her profusely. The champagne she was holding was awful.
Instantly, the two girls clicked and began chatting away. After a while, the other girl seemed to spot someone, excused herself, and left.
Ming Ming watched her go, now holding a new glass of orange-flavored sweet wine.
She took a sip, smacked her lips. “There are good people in the world.”
She couldn’t see clearly, but she could feel herself smiling with genuine happiness.
“Wait, you just let her walk away?” The system’s voice rose sharply in her head.
“What else was I supposed to do? She had something urgent. I’m not gonna stop her.”
“But weren’t you supposed to spill wine on her?”
“What? She’s the female lead? Ye Weiran?!”
The system roared, “Didn’t I just point her out to you?!”
“I couldn’t tell! My eyesight’s trash,” she fumbled for an excuse.
The system grumbled angrily. “Damn it, now I have to pay out of pocket. Let me be clear: this is an advance. You’d better reimburse me when you earn some achievements later!”
Ming Ming hadn’t even processed what was happening when she suddenly heard a crisp snap in her mind. In an instant, her blurry world cleared up—her 800-degree nearsightedness was now a perfect 20/20.
Tears welled up again.
“Good people do exist.”
“You see? China’s all about relationships. Even foreign systems have to adapt to the local culture.”
System: “…”
Damn it. Wish I could undo that.
With her new eyesight, the world was bright and sharp. Ming Ming strolled around, happily munching on snacks until she felt a little sick from the sugar.
“Ah, high society,” she sighed contentedly.
Back in the corner, she could finally see the male lead clearly.
Ming Ming quietly wiped her mouth.
“He’s so handsome. Are you sure he can’t be mine?”
“Are you delusional?” the system sneered. “He’s just going to torture you.”
She was mostly joking. He was going to torment her later. Best to keep her distance…
Huo Xiao was just like his name—sharp and dangerous. She hadn’t realized it earlier, but now that she could see clearly, it was obvious. He stood out in the crowd, dazzling and impossible to approach.
No wonder he was the male lead.
Just sitting there, his aura kept people away. Yet people still approached him constantly, every one of them bowing and scraping, eager for a response. Getting a glance from Master Huo the Fifth was already a great honor.
Master Huo didn’t seem particularly fond of the event. He was only here as a courtesy, frowning slightly as he fiddled with a jade thumb ring on his finger.
Suddenly, he seemed to notice Ming Ming’s gaze. He looked straight at her, eyes sharp as blades. She met his gaze without fear, calm as ever.
“Why’s he glaring at me?”
“Maybe he senses the evil in your soul.”
“Pfft. I’m about to give him a chance to play hero and save the damsel!”
She looked away and searched the crowd until she spotted Ye Weiran.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152