Today marks the third day since I arrived at the Su residence.
After breakfast, Su Wanli had me get into her own sports car and accompanied me into the classroom. Moreover, when I introduced myself, she personally backed me up.
After a brief assessment by Su Wanli’s small group, I successfully infiltrated their secret base—the backup gym equipment room of Baiying Academy.
At noon, as proof of my status as Su Wanli’s confidante, I received a lunch portion from her. I also learned about the two Tasks she assigned me, both of which I successfully completed that very afternoon, further earning her recognition of my abilities.
After class meeting, with the Reward from completing the Tasks, I invited Su Wanli alone to the secret base. There, I swore my loyalty to her once more and asked if I could continue to stay by her side, receiving a noncommittal reply of “Depends on how you perform.”
Though ambiguous, Su Wanli’s attitude towards me had indeed softened compared to the first two days. At this rate, it would only take about another week to gain her full trust.
Before then, my most important Mission remained: helping Su Wanli obtain the invitation ticket to the evening banquet.
That’s roughly how things stand.
Meng Wange pursed her lips, looking at the information she had just recorded, and sighed softly.
A lot happened today, but if you look at it from a completely detached perspective, the words written down become chillingly cold.
Come to think of it, it was nothing more than helping myself out during the self-introduction, getting an extra meal at lunch. Su Wanli even said it herself—that was just the leftovers she had generously given me.
Aside from that, none of it was worth deep reflection, nor should any extra thoughts arise.
Meng Wange closed the Diary, tossed it carelessly back into the drawer, and locked it again.
But how could humans ever fully suppress their emotions?
Just as I promised before, my life, my talents,
and my future—all of it belongs to you. This is what I owe after receiving the Su family’s favor, what you rightfully deserve: the life of Meng Wange.
Heh, even I was almost startled when I said that.
Frankly, how could I be so grateful to Su Wanli just for such a small favor? It was truly too much. Su Wanli, naturally, wore an incredulous expression.
Still, it wasn’t a bad result. There was some resistance, but Su Wanli did accept the paintbrush in my palm. There’s still a chance to deepen our relationship.
Meng Wange lowered her head, staring at her empty palm.
If it hadn’t been for those three interruptions, maybe I really could have held Su Wanli’s hand and seriously taught her to paint in the equipment room.
With her fingertips, stroke by stroke, she sketched her own image on the drawing board,
etching it deeper into her memory.
Meng Wange shook her head and tapped her forehead twice with her index finger.
…Such an extravagant delusion.
In that case, maybe it was for the best that those people interrupted. At least, everything remains under my control.
“Meng Wange, your plan is still to get closer to Su Wanli and earn her complete trust, but if you don’t constantly remind yourself of your own lowliness during this process, you will surely get lost here.”
The words of that black-haired girl in the gym still lingered vividly before Meng Wange’s eyes.
“Meng Wange, I don’t need your life at all. These things are just burdens you want to place on me, burdens in my own life.”
Moreover, if Su Wanli ever senses that I’m a threat to her, I will be immediately cast out of the Su family. Before that, am I really going to remain shackled to her side?
…So dazzling, Su Wanli.
The only daughter of the Su family in South City, the sole heir of the Su Group, Miss Su.
If only I could have the courage she has, the resolute self she embodies, then I wouldn’t be stuck in this dilemma right now.
Come to think of it, on the way back, I might have been a little too immersed in my own thoughts. I wonder if Su Wanli noticed anything strange.
Meng Wange gently stood up and walked to the wall that separated her from Su Wanli, pressing her palm against it.
“Miss Su, if one day I do something unforgivable to you, how would you react? What expression would you show?”
Meng Wange naturally expected no answer from the wall. She sighed silently and was about to pull her fingers away.
But just at that moment, a voice, remarkably similar to Su Wanli’s, suddenly echoed clearly in Meng Wange’s mind.
“Heh heh, when that time comes, I’ll find a way to kill you.”
Jiang Li.
Meng Wange’s body stiffened, standing frozen for a moment.
Of course, the soundproofing in the Su family walls is excellent; this was obviously just Meng Wange’s own hallucination.
…Still, there’s some truth in it.
Meng Wange silently took two steps back, pressing her right hand over her heart.
How could I expect others to forgive what I can’t even forgive myself?
Once this is all over, I’ll apologize to Su Wanli. No matter what punishment she gives me, I deserve it.
Brushing aside that painfully vivid hallucination, Meng Wange sighed, walked to her desk, and opened the curtains wide.
Then she turned on the desk lamp.
Though it was a warm light, she felt an inexplicable chill, as if her heart had grown colder. Was it just her imagination?
She had no time to entertain such restless feelings. If she hurried, maybe she could still finish before 2 AM.
She neatly organized the three notebooks prepared for Su Wanli, placed them into her school bag, then scattered today’s study materials across the desk.
“Meng Wange, don’t overthink things. Right now, the only thing you can truly do for Su Wanli is those few notebooks in your bag, nothing more.”
[Don’t be so hard on yourself, Host. I understand how you feel now.
But the items that can actually be useful require combining various Task Rewards to accumulate the necessary points. Finding such an item for you is already very difficult.]
Su Wanli bit her lip fiercely, staring at the battered Twelve-sided Die in her palm.
“Then open your lousy mall for me to see! Let me choose for myself!”
[Sorry, as I said before, the System’s permissions are unlocked progressively. Until Meng Wange completes four explosive points, the mall cannot be directly accessed.]
“The Female Villain Potion can’t be used without my consent, but Villainess Points sure can be spent recklessly on a bunch of garbage, huh? Just you wait, I’ll figure it out sooner or later. I’ll even cut your wires…”
[Cough, even if there really were items in the mall that could damage the System, I recommend you redeem something else. After all, the System can reboot; once points are gone, they’re truly gone.]
“…Cut? You’re still pushing this point? Believe it or not, I’m going to find Meng Wange right now, get two more explosive points, and pay you back even on credit…”