If time could go back to last week, Xu Chuyao would definitely tell the desperate self who struggled to survive, barely making it out from a formidable enemy’s clutches, “You can rest easy now.”
Of course, she didn’t have that kind of magic, but the events from that day truly remained in her heart—no more heart-wrenching struggles, no fear of being exposed. She finally caught a massive windfall on the protagonist.
8150 Counter Villain Value!
If you want to talk about five-minute miracles, this was one for the ages.
Xu Chuyao carefully checked the income log. The initial 800 points were a small spike, then in the following minute, things gradually plateaued, showing the girl had braced herself, her tolerance higher. But after a minute, the numbers suddenly spiked again, showing her endurance was breaking, and it just kept climbing, surging at the end, with a final drop in the last moment before the five minutes were up, gifting her a whopping 1200 points—more than the first burst.
Judging by the data curve, one minute was the psychological limit for the girl. Usually, she’d have pounced by then. But since there was an agreement this time, she actually managed to hold out the full five minutes before taking action.
Xu Chuyao couldn’t help but think, if it weren’t for Shen Ning’s sudden stroke of genius to propose that five-minute pact, she didn’t know how long it would have taken to rake in this much. She was truly grateful for that. Just thinking about it, Xu Chuyao couldn’t help but—
“Thank you, Tang Li Shan.”
Laugh out loud.
“Why are you laughing!?” Shen Ning snapped, fuming. “You better not get cocky today!”
But as soon as the girl wanted to let go of her girlfriend’s hand, freeing it up for other uses, the Broken Shadow immediately warned: “No, don’t! You can’t use your hands, or the Mission will fail!”
The Mission requirements said, no other tools allowed for the whole process—no hands, ropes, or even wind chimes—only the grindstone.
“Why are you worrying about completing Missions now?” Sexually Repressed Shadow stomped her feet at the edge of the world. “Don’t listen to her! Forget Missions for today, teach Xu Chuyao a good lesson first!”
Broken Shadow: “But think about it. If you don’t do the Mission today, all the suffering you endured will be for nothing.”
Sexually Repressed Shadow: “If you don’t teach her a lesson now, that’s truly suffering for nothing!”
Milky Ning Reflection: “Just now, Xu Chuyao said she was looking forward to it, so you need to fulfill her expectations…”
Three voices bickered at her ears, like an angel, a demon, and an instigator, making the girl’s mind a tangled mess.
After a brief struggle, she made her decision—still wrapping her hand around her girlfriend’s little hand.
Hold it in! Mission first.
As for the actual operation, she didn’t need any tutorial videos, because Sexually Repressed Shadow was right. As long as any two girls get close enough, they’ll figure it out themselves.
Slippery as a mackerel, the supporting role becomes the shark.
This was a new kind of comfort. After the usual wild storms and flashes of lightning, this return to the basics felt like suddenly leaving the magical battlefield of magical girls and strolling into a quiet country lane—a gentle and pleasant feeling.
How did it feel? Well, even though she’d been held down for several minutes, Xu Chuyao thought Shen Ning hadn’t really started yet. But a quick glance showed the girl gritting her teeth, a thin sheen of sweat gathering on her white face—turns out she was really putting in the effort.
She tried, and tried hard, but somehow the strength was always just a little off.
Xu Chuyao quietly examined the situation, finding that the core problem was—
“Shen Ning,” the Big Thunder girlfriend said sweetly, “why not let go? I promise I won’t move, really.”
With both her hands holding Xu Chuyao down, she really didn’t have any spare strength left.
But hearing this, the girl only paused for a few seconds, then began to grind even faster, and sure enough—[Counter Villain Value +500].
Xu Chuyao laughed softly, peeling back a corner of her lip, thinking, I was just being considerate, why are you getting mad?
Ah, protagonist.
Facts proved there was a reason traditional stone mills were replaced by hand tools and high-tech machinery. Although her girlfriend was very hardworking, Xu Chuyao’s feelings still fell a bit short.
“Would you consider tying my hands with a rope next time?”
[Counter Villain Value +4200]
“What happened to your wind? Why aren’t you blowing anymore, even a little would help!”
[Counter Villain Value +4200]
“If it’s really not working, let Mi Xiaolu give you an on-site tutorial?”
[Counter Villain Value +4400]
Half an hour later, the exhausted girl finally let out a long breath.
Yes, it was very difficult, but Shen Ning still managed to hold on until the end. No matter what her girlfriend was whispering into her ear—“How long is this going to take, you’ve even pulled up my sheets,” “I’m so lucky, how about you”—she refused to give up.
[Congratulations, host, on completing the Five-Star Mission: Grinding King!]
The assistant…
The girl narrowed her eyes and fell silent.
The assistant can wait. Right now, she was like a wild horse that had broken free, a mad wave breaking out of its cage, a warrior who had loosened her bindings.
Xu Chuyao was still humming, looking at her account’s balance, with just over ten thousand left—most of it earned just now. She couldn’t be happier, already planning how to use it—whether to draw singles one by one or go all out on a ten-pull.
But when she looked up, she saw her girlfriend bearing down again, and this time, she wasn’t using her hands to hold her in place.
“Shen Ning, what are you doing, didn’t we finish already? You want to go again? Wait, no, wait, stop—!”
Across the room, on the upper bunk, Mi Xiaolu yawned softly, pulling her little blanket up over herself.
What exactly happened?
She didn’t know. All she knew was that half an hour earlier, Dream Demon King Lin from another dorm came charging at her Big Thunder roommate, and for the next half hour just pinned her down. Of course, everyone had their own way of doing things, but after it seemed to be over, Shen Ning went in for another round, her hands flying, as fierce as a gale.
It was like the first half-hour was a timed solo event, and now the unlimited brawl had begun.
“Lesbians are scary,”
she mumbled, closing her eyelashes.
Anyway, Big Thunder wouldn’t be changing roommates anytime soon, and it was hard to graze quietly, so she might as well
Zzzz…
“Ah, right, Mission rules only forbid using other methods during the Mission. They never said you could only do it once on Mission day. It’s pretty smart to finish the Mission first, then go back to business as usual.”
After everything was done, the girl lay on her girlfriend’s bed to rest, listening to her soft breathing, and occasionally a little hum, like she’d been drawn into a sweet dream.
Meanwhile, the Shadows were reviewing the battle results on the wall, especially Sexually Repressed Shadow, who, after a long speech, slapped her companion on the back:
“What’s wrong, Broken Shadow? Why aren’t you saying anything? Weren’t you always so chatty before? Speak up!”
Broken Shadow didn’t want to say anything, just let out a long, mournful sigh. She never expected that after so much effort persuading Shen Ning to give up the Mission, it all got thrown off track by just a few words.
Fine, Xu Chuyao should talk a little less next time.
After the final calculations, everyone’s attention finally turned back to the System rewards, urging the girl to hurry and take a look.
[Congratulations, host, on completing the Five-Star Milestone Mission. Reward 1: One stage upgrade, Three-Stage Late Peak – Cultivation Peak of Third Rank.
Description: You are now a top ranker among the Three Defense Great Nation, a half-step away from the Fourth Stage. Go show off a little.]
This wasn’t a surprise, practically a guaranteed reward, but Five-Star Missions always had more. Shen Ning kept reading.
[Reward 2: Inspiration Enlightenment (Three to Four)
Description: What is the Fourth Stage? Many people never even get close in a lifetime, but with this boon, you can catch a glimpse of the secrets through the cracks in the door.
Effect: Please study Four Defense knowledge. After a brief study, all your skills will be enhanced, and you’ll have a small chance to add a Fourth Stage special effect in actual combat.
Explanation: Before this, you could only be considered a top master of the Third Rank. With this, you’re truly stepping into the Fourth Stage!]
Shen Ning didn’t quite get all the effect descriptions, but after reading the last paragraph, she understood—the reward would make her the strongest among all those below the Fourth Stage.
That was truly worthy of a five-star rating, though she’d still have to spend some time learning from the experts.
The girl glanced out the window—it was deep into the night. She gently covered her girlfriend with the blanket, quietly climbed out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and returned to her own dorm.
Xu Chuyao didn’t open the reward gift until noon the next day. Mi Xiaolu kindly brought her lunch and even set up a little tray so she could eat in bed.
No other meaning, it’s just that after seeing what happened yesterday afternoon, Mi Xiaolu figured her roommate probably wouldn’t be getting out of bed to eat any time soon.
“If that’s what you think, you’re underestimating me,” Xu Chuyao said with a little pride. “You know, even though it looks like I lost last night, if you break it down, I was the true winner.”
Mi Xiaolu paused, chopsticks in hand, a little surprised. “You won?”
How could that be possible?
“First of all, look—the first round, she went first, so I won, right?” Xu Chuyao wiggled her finger, analyzing for her roommate. “Of course, the second round, I admit I lost.”
Mi Xiaolu nodded. “So that’s 1:1.”
A tie then, so how could you say you won?
Xu Chuyao chuckled softly, her eyes full of confidence: “You think 1:1 is the final score? Let me ask you, at the end, was she the one who got pushed away, and did I send her off quietly?”
“… Didn’t Shen Ning just go back to sleep?”
“Don’t worry about what she went back for, just tell me—did she run or not, and did she leave on her own?”
So out of three rounds, Xu Chuyao won two!
The Big Thunder girl raised her hands triumphantly. “Any questions?”
“No, none at all.”
After lunch, Xu Chuyao lounged comfortably at the head of the bed, closed her eyes, and began her lucky draw.
Last night’s win was a big one. Now to see what she could get with those ten thousand-plus Counter Villain Value.