…Painful torture?
Su Wanli pushed the dining cart with her left hand while scrolling through the handheld console’s screen with her right, trying to pick a game that seemed appropriate.
That wretched System! All it wanted was for Meng Wange to play games with her for a while. How was that considered torture? By saying such things, it was clearly just trying to give her an unnecessary psychological burden!
Furthermore, what was with the “Get out of the house if you don’t clear the game” part? Weren’t the System’s tasks supposed to eventually benefit the Heroine? Even if Meng Wange spent the entire afternoon clearing a game, how would that help her future?
However, despite her internal complaining, Su Wanli had to admit—the System’s words didn’t seem entirely baseless.
When she had brought the White Porridge back to the room earlier, Meng Wange’s face had been pale and her expression dazed. A faint flush stained her cheeks and earlobes, and fine beads of sweat hung from her forehead.
Even though it was midday, she was huddled under the blankets, looking completely drained of energy.
Although the Awake Value provided by the System had remained above fifty, something was clearly wrong. Seeing was believing, and her current state was certainly not good.
And yet, Su Wanli was going to make someone in that condition keep her company all day…
Even if it was just playing games, it was a bit too much.
But the Task had already been issued, and she didn’t have the power to refuse. Tasks only refreshed once a week.
The only thing she could do now was try her best to pick a game that was easy to clear.
Su Wanli bit her lower lip softly, her fingertips sliding back and forth across the screen.
‘…It’s so hard to choose.’
Racing, side-scrollers, fighting games…
None of them looked like the type a complete beginner could easily clear.
Besides, her situation was different from Meng Wange’s.
Games she found difficult might actually be simple for the other girl; conversely, things she found easy might be more challenging for a novice.
Before she knew it, Su Wanli had pushed the cart back to her bedroom door.
‘…Forget it. If the difficulty is hard to judge, I’ll just pick something she might like.’
Based on her observations over the past few days, she would probably like…
…Would she?
What kind of games did Meng Wange actually like?
Even though they had spent so much time together and Su Wanli’s gaze had rarely left her, the girl’s personal preferences remained blurry.
The only things she could be sure of were sweets and fireworks.
Judging by stereotypes, would she like casual games involving dress-up, cooking, or interior design?
But those kinds of games usually didn’t have clear completion conditions…
On the other hand, the image of defeating a Demon King and standing atop the Royal City—
Long hair fluttering in the wind, raising a goblet symbolizing victory with a smile on her face…
…No matter how she thought about it, that suited her aura much better.
For a moment, Su Wanli even had the vivid hallucination that she was the head of the Demon King sitting on the table.
“Miss Su, welcome back.”
“Why are you standing at the door? Did something happen? Do you need me to help you push the cart in?”
That voice was so real it made her shiver.
“Whoa?!”
Su Wanli jumped in startle.
In front of her wasn’t some imaginary Hero, but Meng Wange, dressed in a white shirt and standing at the door with a smile.
Hearing her exclamation, Meng Wange raised an eyebrow slightly.
“…Whoa?”
At the same time, the System’s cold electronic voice rang in her ear—
**[Female Villain Value decreased to 89]**
…Damn it, I lost my composure.
She hadn’t even started “taking her to play games” yet, and her Female Villain Value had already dropped to an awkward middle ground.
That cursed System, deducting points for such small things…
And this Halo Heroine in front of her was the same. Not only was she naturally gifted, but her timing for interrupting someone’s thoughts was impeccable, catching her exactly at the moment where fantasy overlapped with reality.
Su Wanli ground her teeth and let out a cold snort. She pushed the cart past her, leaving her with nothing but a haughty view of her back.
“Hmph, why are you mimicking me? I’m just not used to having an extra person in my room all of a sudden.”
“You really have no self-awareness, acting like it’s only natural to loiter in my room without leaving. If I weren’t in a good mood today, I would have kicked you out long ago.”
“I apologize, Miss Su. I overstepped my bounds,” Meng Wange replied softly, her tone calm.
She hesitated for a moment, appearing to have made a decision. “Once I’ve finished lunch, I’ll return to my own room and stop disturbing you.”
“…”
Su Wanli froze, accidentally biting her tongue.
‘Wait, I said the wrong thing!?’
“Cough, cough cough…”
She quickly cleared her throat, trying to salvage the situation while feigning composure.
“That’s not what I meant. Given your status, there’s no need to be so formal. As my personal maid, staying by my side is your duty to begin with.”
She kept her back to Meng Wange, waving a finger dismissively.
“Besides, I am kind-hearted. I can’t stand seeing the people around me running around while sick.”
“Since you still have a fever, stay right where I can see you. I don’t want you staying in your room alone and burning a hole through the Sujia bedsheets.”
…That should have smoothed things over, right?
Su Wanli turned around and happened to meet Meng Wange’s half-smiling gaze. Noticing her fluctuating Female Villain Value, her heart instantly tightened.
She hastily added another line:
“Do you understand? You are not allowed to leave my room until at least 8:00 PM tonight! Otherwise… face the consequences!”
“I understand, Miss Su.”
Meng Wange shrugged slightly, responding with a hint of a smile.
“As for the leftovers from breakfast, I’ve already packed them back onto the cart. Do you need me to push it downstairs and give it to Zhang Ma?”
“…Who told you to touch that?”
Su Wanli’s face darkened.
“I told you to stay in the room! Give me the cart, I’ll push it down myself!”
Without allowing any room for argument, she pushed Meng Wange aside, took the cart with the morning’s leftovers, and headed straight downstairs.