Chapter 140
Ten minutes earlier.
Xie Mi and Shen Yiqing, having cleared the entire ring toss booth with perfect aim, were quickly stuffing their prizes into a large woven sack.
As Xie Mi struggled to cram the stuffed toys into the almost-bursting sack, she heard Xu Shuangrong’s voice in her ear.
[Xu Shuangrong: It’s about time. You can go take a look.]
[System: Are you sure this move will really work on Liu Woxing?]
[Xu Shuangrong: Since she’s inherently someone who craves freedom, binding her with restraints and labels will humiliate her the most.]
[Xu Shuangrong: I just need to appear at the critical moment when she’s on the verge of breaking; she’ll naturally be grateful to me.]
[Xu Shuangrong: Didn’t Xie Mi also win her favor using the same method?]
She was referring to the mock matchmaking event, where Xie Mi had helped Liu Woxing confront the shallow guys.
If a simulated matchmaking had such a strong impact, then a simulated wedding would surely make Liu Woxing suffer even more.
[System: As expected of you.]
[System: You anonymously bribed the host to change tonight’s game content, and even hinted to Qiu Chengye to take Liu Woxing to see the evening show—all part of your plan.]
Just as Xie Mi was about to lift the sack onto her shoulder, she paused, then casually swung it onto Shen Yiqing’s back.
“Old Shen, hold this for me. I’m going to check out the evening show—got a little itch to scratch!”
Shen Yiqing, nearly flattened by the sack, had just steadied himself when he saw a green-haired figure zoom past.
“…Hss…”
He looked at the eight fully-packed sacks on the ground and fell into thought.
Call for a delivery truck?
…
At the evening show, the venue was silent.
Liu Woxing stared in shock at the suddenly heroic figure. The tight string of tension in her chest snapped, and a surge of emotions nearly overwhelmed her.
Xie Mi, publicly announcing that she had super strength, smirked, then noticed a leftover toy on her lap that hadn’t been stuffed into the sack.
She thought for a moment and handed the slightly ugly Pig Hero doll, deformed due to poor stitching, to Liu Woxing.
“Do you want it?”
“I want it.”
Liu Woxing replied almost instinctively. Realizing it, she quickly composed herself and smiled, taking it.
“Thank you, Teacher Xie.”
“Why are you stammering?”
Despite being watched by everyone, Xie Mi calmly sat in her wheelchair, preparing to leave the stage. She passed Qiu Chengye, whose face was a mix of red, purple, green, and orange, and paused at the host.
She patted his arm and grinned: “Buddy, next time we’ll make money together, okay?”
The host’s face slightly changed; his eyes grew uneasy.
Liu Woxing frowned at the scene, deep in thought.
Xie Mi had caused chaos and then slipped away, leaving not a trace behind.
The warned host dared not continue, ending the interaction segment with an awkward laugh, and the show moved on to singing and dancing performances.
The atmosphere quickly returned to lively.
After leaving the stage, Qiu Chengye complained, a little disgruntled: “What’s up with Xie Mi today? I didn’t offend her, did I?”
Unaware of Xie Mi’s intentions, he thought she had deliberately disrupted him, though he dared not act on his frustration.
Liu Woxing said nothing, staring at the Pig Hero doll in her hands.
She opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated, pressing her lips together.
After several moments of struggle, she finally whispered:
“Teacher Xie is very kind.”
“?”
Qiu Chengye glanced at her suspiciously, not understanding the meaning of her words. Luckily, his attention was soon diverted elsewhere, and he didn’t ask further.
…
From afar, Xu Shuangrong, whose plan had completely failed, watched the scene, her hands slowly clenching at her sides.
[Xu Shuangrong: System.]
[System: What’s wrong?]
[Xu Shuangrong: Tell me, Xie Mi just now—was that a coincidence, or did she know my plan and act intentionally?]
[System: Coincidence, probably. You were so cautious, using a new phone and changing IPs to bribe the host secretly. How could Xie Mi know?]
[Xu Shuangrong: But can coincidences happen so many times?]
[System: You think Xie Mi did it on purpose?]
[System: That would be strange. Where did you slip up for her to notice?]
[Xu Shuangrong: My actions had no flaws; the problem isn’t me.]
[System: So you mean…]
[System: What do you mean?]
[Xu Shuangrong: Are you really only my system?]
[System: Of course I am! Are… you doubting me?!!]
[Xu Shuangrong: If every time you got information from me you passed it on to Xie Mi, then this would all make sense.]
[System: Wake up!!!]
[Xu Shuangrong: From now on, I won’t communicate with you at all.]
[System: I’m a system, not a spy!!!]
[System: Why aren’t you talking?]
[System: Talk to me!!!!]
Hearing the system’s frantic shouting in her ear, Xie Mi silently covered her ears and shook her head.
Quietly, isn’t that brilliant?
Still, Xu Shuangrong was sharp enough to realize the system had a problem—just that her guess was slightly off.
The system was a good system.
The problem lay with her.
…
At nine o’clock, the park festival ended.
As the lanterns were taken down and booths cleared, today’s livestream ended.
“Since it’s a vacation, the schedule is very human-friendly. All guest teachers can go rest. We’ll resume live broadcasting tomorrow morning!”
Director Niu said this, then called the crew to pack up the equipment and leave.
When Liu Woxing and the others dispersed, she refused Qiu Chengye’s offer to escort her and walked in the opposite direction.
She still felt something was off.
The host could not have openly said that on live broadcast, and combined with Teacher Xie’s words “let’s make money together,” this was clearly more complicated.
The festival had just ended; the host had only just left. She could still catch up.
She needed to confront them in person.
