[To summarize, these two points I’ve just explained are all the tasks you need to complete at the Evening Banquet. As for any unexpected incidents that might occur at the banquet, just respond according to your own character setting and improvise as needed. The System will not intervene too much.]
…It triggers incidents, and there’s even live improvisation?
Upon hearing this, Su Wanli, who had still been worrying over what kind of technique she should use to guide Meng Huange to preserve something, relaxed her knitted brow. She glanced at the White Dumpling in her pocket, which was currently speaking, and asked:
“…You’re saying that at tonight’s Evening Banquet, aside from me, as the Noble Lady, needing to take Meng Huange to join the Bai Family’s event, are there going to be other unexpected incidents?”
Is it a trap? What will I have to do? When will it happen? Since you already have the Drama Script in your hands, can’t you just tell me all the key points at once?
[…Like the System explained at the beginning, playing the villainess requires flexible performance. Please keep an eye on the changes in your Noble Lady value when facing sudden situations, and do your best to adapt on the fly.]
Although the System’s electronic voice was as emotionless and calm as ever, Su Wanli still sensed a hint of hidden meaning within.
Alright, I get it now.
In this Evening Banquet hosted by the Bai Family, even if there’s some unknown trap, as a smart Noble Lady, there are only those two tasks I need to do.
As for everyone else’s plotting behind the scenes, it’s best if I keep myself in the dark. That way, when things unfold, I can react as naturally as possible. That’s what you mean, right?
—
Fine, after all, Meng Huange is the main heroine of this world. As the villainess, I’m just an obstacle on Meng Huange’s path to growth. There’s no need for me to know about all those events that have nothing to do with me.
Even though she understood the System’s logic, Su Wanli still couldn’t help but feel a touch of irritation and indignation in her heart.
…Tsk, just saying, if Su Wanli is to be nothing but a clueless, pitiable Noble Lady, then she’s doomed to be toyed with by the Main Female Protagonist Halo at this Evening Banquet.
After quickly sorting out her feelings, Su Wanli lightly propped up her chin with a hand.
To sum up, at the beginning of this entire banquet, I only need to hold on to two simple ideas—have Bai Fengwei apologize to Wen Qingyan on my behalf, and somehow push Meng Huange onto the stage, so she can shine. However, because of Meng Huange’s all-encompassing talent, I’ll end up creating the perfect platform for her instead.
It sounds simple enough, but as for how to get Bai Fengwei to apologize to Wen Qingyan, Su Wanli still didn’t have a clue. But four days ago, on the second day after she’d met Meng Huange, she’d already promised herself:
—Meng Huange will definitely find a way to make me make a grand entrance at that banquet, and force the person who ruined my reputation to apologize to me in public.
…Although Su Wanli didn’t know what method Meng Huange would use to make a noble young lord of similar background bow his head to her, she believed that since Meng Huange said she could do it, she absolutely could.
Ha, from this perspective, even if I have to embarrass myself at the banquet, as long as Bai Fengwei has apologized to me, then no matter what, I won’t be the biggest joke at the Evening Banquet.
With this in mind, Su Wanli’s mood instantly lightened.
In the end, the only thing I need to focus on is how to give Meng Huange the chance to showcase her talents at the banquet.
That’s even simpler, isn’t it? Just create a hot topic. With Meng Huange’s talents, whatever you point her at will become a sensation.
Heh, I thought the System would assign me some wild and stormy task at such a crucial event as the Evening Banquet, but it turns out everything is something I don’t even have to act on myself, or even think too hard about.
—
Relaxing her tense shoulders, Su Wanli suddenly felt an alarm bell ring in her heart.
Based on my experiences in the past few days, whenever I think a task is too easy, there’s always some hidden plot waiting for me.
Thinking carefully, even though the System said a lot while assigning tasks, it never actually gave me any concrete hints.
Isn’t that odd… Usually, the System would assign me a specific outcome I have to achieve, right? Like asking me to tell the driver to leave early, or making Meng Huange bow her head to me at school…
Feeling the hint of conspiracy, Su Wanli silently pulled the White Dumpling out of her pocket and dropped it onto her desk.
“System, be honest with me. Besides those two tasks, do I have any other missions I need to complete?”
[…No need to worry, Host. As the only daughter of the Sujia, you can attend tonight’s Evening Banquet with a relaxed and happy mindset. If something really does trigger a key event, the System will naturally issue you a related task.]
Tch, still pretending in front of me…
But since the System didn’t answer directly, it means I guessed right—there’s definitely some trick of a task it hasn’t told me about yet.
…Honestly, it wants me to remain ignorant, but at the same time assigns me tasks on the sly. I’d rather you just have me stand around for a couple of hours at the Evening Banquet and be done with it.
Su Wanli raised a finger and mercilessly pressed down on the soft, fluffy White Dumpling.
To be fair, though the System only coordinated with her actions for the first one or two times and emitted a couple of mechanical chirps, the dumpling was really pleasant to the touch. Every time she pressed it, she felt her stress steadily melt away. Of course, it would be even better if it would squeak every time.
[Sorry, Host. I thought you’d already discovered this feature. If you need it, the System can set a default option so that whenever you press this stress-relief tool—cough, the System’s main body—it will emit a corresponding sound effect.]
Let’s not do that. If this dumpling squeaked every time I pinched it, I’d end up with a headache.
…But, you can act cute for me a little right now. Let me vent some frustration.
With a grin, Su Wanli pulled out a sharp Steel Pen from her pencil case and poised as if to jab the tip into the center of the dumpling.
Before she could do anything, a melodious Class Bell sounded from the loudspeaker at the front of the classroom.
“All right, everyone, that’s it for today’s lesson. Make sure to preview the material for next time.”
The Teacher addressed the listless students and then walked out of the classroom, white coat fluttering as she strode towards the door.
“Tch, you got lucky this time.”
Su Wanli snorted coldly, then casually tossed the Steel Pen back into her pencil bag and was about to stand up from her seat.
However, the System, which didn’t understand human language, was still obediently carrying out its previous orders, faithfully acting out the inner voice of the White Dumpling on the desk—
[That was close, thank the heavens! If not for that timely Class Bell, the System would’ve been impaled by that sharp, terrifying Steel Pen and suffered unimaginable pain.]
Su Wanli’s foot slipped, and she dropped right back into her chair.
“I really can’t with you. Your acting’s great, but please, stop performing in the future.”