“..Su Xiaoli, don’t be afraid, these are all just movie special effects.”
After the female lead in the movie let out an incredibly soul-stirring scream, the entirety of Su Xiaoli’s body slid down under her seat, and after hesitating for a moment, Meng Huange still reached out her right hand and gently patted Su Xiaoli’s head.
“You… What nonsense are you talking about, I-I’m not afraid!? It’s just that the sound was a bit too loud just now, and it made my hair ornament accidentally fall to the floor. I just bent down to look for it, that’s all…”
Su Xiaoli silently swallowed, forcing her heartbeat to calm down, then moved her hands away from the top of her head and placed them on her lap, softly humming twice.
“..Well then, that scary part, is it over now?”
Meng Huange glanced at the movie screen, then nodded at Su Xiaoli.
“Yes, it’s already over.”
Good, as long as it’s over, as long as it’s over.
If she kept showing such a disgraceful look in front of Meng Huange, who knows where her villainess dignity would fall.
“Heh, how pitiful, actually missing such an exciting scene just to pick up a hair ornament that’s not even worth a few coins. Honestly…”
Su Xiaoli made up an excuse for herself, then calmly lifted her body from the floor, preparing to get back onto her seat.
But before she could even settle onto the chair, a sharp, piercing scream from a woman suddenly sounded right next to Su Xiaoli’s ear. A charred, black claw reached out from the screen, tearing the female lead’s image into shreds.
Even Meng Huange couldn’t help but frown this time, gently patting Su Xiaoli’s mouth.
“Well, this really is… Miss Xiaoli, this film seems… Miss Xiaoli?”
Su Wanli took a deep breath, gritted her teeth fiercely, and glared at Meng Huange.
“..Didn’t you just say that part was over? Why did it pop up again just like before!?”
“The previous scene was the female lead recalling her last death directly to the camera, so there was a bit of repetition.”
Meng Huange explained calmly, then tilted her head as she looked at Su Xiaoli, who was once again sliding under her seat.
“..So, are you—”
“It’s just that I didn’t hold the hair ornament properly, so it accidentally fell to the floor again, so I have to get down and find it…”
Repeating her earlier excuse, Su Xiaoli returned to her seat, closed her eyes, and pressed her fingertips firmly against her eyelids.
…How can this be happening? Why is this happening?
She thought it was just a simple jump scare—if she didn’t look or listen, it wouldn’t frighten her that much.
But she never expected the film’s creator to be so underhanded. The earlier parts were quite gentle, with the female lead entering a lavishly decorated old house in the sunlight, soothing music playing, and then suddenly, at the most unexpected moment, a shocking face appeared. Paired with the 30-surround sound system in the theater, even if she covered her ears tightly, the female lead’s sharp, soul-piercing scream could cut through the eardrums and drill right into one’s brain.
The more she tried to stay graceful and composed, to maintain her poise, the more violently she reacted when actually scared…
Su Xiaoli gathered her messy hair and tidied it up, then patted her chest gently and sighed in the darkness.
…What a pity, she’d come to watch a horror movie on purpose just to observe more of Meng Huange’s expressions, but in the end, her own fox-like act was exposed thoroughly by Meng Huange.
After confirming that she was fine, Meng Huange straightened her back again and continued to focus seriously on the huge screen at the front of the theater.
…This person is watching so intently, is she really not even a little bit scared?
No way. Even the couples in the back row who just came for fun got startled and jumped twice. Meng Huange is usually steady, that’s fine, but when watching a movie, can’t she at least scream honestly once for my sake! Even if you’re the haloed protagonist of a grand fate, don’t waste your talent where it’s unnecessary!
At this rate, she couldn’t observe any new expressions from the female lead, and only her own villainess persona was endlessly suffering.
[Drip, when the Host desperately needs help, the System will always appear right on time.]
HS38
Without paying any attention to Su Wanli’s silent complaints, the System started its explanation on its own.
[According to monitoring, the Host is preparing to use the tactic of making the famous female lead embarrass herself in public in the theater by capturing her frightened and panicked expression. This will serve to insult the female lead’s character.]
[Using this kind of malicious act as a method, with the main goal being to make the female lead lose face, as a true villainess, this is absolutely standard behavior.]
[Therefore, to encourage the Host’s first self-motivated villainous scheme outside of a mission, the System has specially prepared a surprise for you.]
(This means you now have the authority to use the “Ignore Distance” function of the Villainess Bullying Handbag!)
First of all, I don’t even want to mess with the female lead, so I don’t need any authority from you.
Besides, Villainess Bullying Handbag… Wait, could it be that prop with titanium alloy chains and pig iron knuckle gloves?
Recalling the previous two times she’d used the handbag, Su Xiaoli rolled her eyes coldly.
But, “Ignore Distance authority,” you mean even if the handbag isn’t with me, I can still access the bullying prop?
[That’s right, just check your left uniform pocket now. Inside, you’ll find a brand-new, deep-level tool generated for you by the Villainess Bullying Handbag.]
Su Xiaoli hesitated, but still tried to slip her left hand into her pocket—
This shape… Is it a pair of glasses?
[Correct, this time the prop we’ve prepared for you is this pair of “3D Pear Demon Glasses.” As long as you put them on, the System can forcibly replace the image on the screen in the other’s vision with the scene they fear most in their subconscious.]
…The scariest scene in the subconscious? That’s not too…
I don’t want Meng Huange to be terrified out of her wits. I just want a little payback for her teasing me in the dessert shop just now!
[Please rest assured, Host. The scenes that appear in dream limits won’t be anything beyond human endurance. For most people, it’s like waking up the day after winning 12 billion, only to find you have to pay a billion in taxes. That kind of heartbreak.]
…That actually might be a bit beyond my limits. Don’t let these glasses land on my face.
Su Xiaoli took the glasses out of her pocket and rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
But… the images that appear won’t be anything too bizarre, just something Meng Huange fears in her subconscious?
After all, watching movies is about experiencing emotions hard to feel in real life. If this current horror is too boring for Meng Huange, it’s my responsibility as the proposer to try to make it more fun for her, right?
…But, how should I get Meng Huange to put on these glasses?
Watching Meng Huange focus intently on the movie, an idea flashed through Su Xiaoli’s mind.
Got it! System, generate another pair of glasses for me, with no effects at all—just a placebo!