Night had already settled heavily over the Xi Manor, and most of the estate had fallen into deep silence.
Lanterns outside the corridors still burned faintly, but inside the courtyards everything was quiet. Servants had long returned to their quarters, and even the wind seed softer, as if it did not want to disturb the sleeping manor.
In Su Yueqing’s room, the atmosphere was even calr.
She lay on the bed without a single care in the world, one arm resting loosely over her waist while the other hung slightly off the edge. Her breathing was steady, but not fully deep enough for proper sleep.
It was the kind of rest that ca from exhaustion, not peace.
Then—
A sharp chanical voice suddenly broke the silence.
[Villain scene detected. Villain scene detected.]
Su Yueqing’s eyes snapped open halfway, her brows already pulling together in irritation.
"...You again," she muttered under her breath, her voice thick with sleep and annoyance.
The system did not respond to her tone at all.
Instead, it continued in its flat voice.
[Host is required to enter the kitchen and prepare midnight snacks.]
Su Yueqing slowly sat up, blinking like she was trying to understand sothing very unreasonable.
"...Midnight snacks?"
She leaned back slightly, rubbing her forehead.
"I am a lawful wife of the Xi family, not a wandering chef."
The system continued without hesitation.
[If host goes to the kitchen, heroine will be given an opportunity to enter, burn down kitchen area, and fra host.]
There was a short pause.
Then it added again, very calmly:
[Standard villain developnt sequence.]
Su Yueqing stared into space for a mont.
Then she let out a slow breath, half tired, half annoyed.
"So your solution is for to go and cook... so she can burn it down and I get blad?"
[Correct.]
Su Yueqing blinked once.
"...You really sound proud of that."
The system did not answer that part.
Instead, it repeated.
[Villain scene must be completed.]
Su Yueqing dropped back onto the bed for a second like she was considering ignoring it completely.
For a mont, she stayed still.
Then she sat up again, this ti slower, more reluctant, her hair slightly ssy from sleep.
"...I am tired," she said plainly.
[Villain system requires participation.]
She narrowed her eyes at empty air.
"You know, in my last world, systems like you used to at least pretend to respect personal boundaries."
[This system is optimized for efficiency.]
Su Yueqing scoffed softly.
"Efficiency, yes. My suffering is very efficient."
She finally swung her legs off the bed, moving slowly like soone forced to wake up for work in the middle of the night.
Her steps were unhurried as she walked toward the table, pouring herself a cup of water first before doing anything else.
Only after drinking did she finally speak again.
"So tell ," she said lazily, "how many villain points did I get for sleeping peacefully?"
[Five villain points deducted earlier for lack of conflict engagent.]
Su Yueqing paused mid-sip.
"...I was asleep."
[Correct.]
"...And you punished for not causing trouble in my sleep?"
[Correct.]
She stared at the cup in her hand for a long mont.
Then she exhaled slowly through her nose.
"I am starting to think you enjoy this more than I do."
The system answered imdiately.
[Host is mistaken.]
Su Yueqing placed the cup down carefully.
"Sure."
She stretched her neck slightly, finally looking more awake now, though her expression still carried clear reluctance.
"Fine. Five points. That is all I have?"
[Yes.]
She tilted her head slightly.
"...And if I refuse this kitchen mission?"
A short pause.
[Heroine will still proceed to execute fire incident independently.]
Su Yueqing clicked her tongue softly.
"So either I go and suffer directly, or I stay here and suffer indirectly."
[Correct.]
She walked slowly toward the door, then stopped again, turning her head slightly toward empty air.
"...Before I go," she said, her tone suddenly sharper, "you are not going to tell about favorability points again, are you?"
There was another brief pause.
Then the system responded, slightly too calmly.
[Host has not asked about favorability points.]
Su Yueqing narrowed her eyes.
"...You were about to bring it up."
[No.]
She sighed deeply, as if already regretting everything about her life choices.
"I am going to the kitchen."
She pushed the door open with one hand.
But before stepping out, she added quietly, almost like a warning to the system itself:
"If anything else tries to wake up tonight, I am burning sothing myself."
Then she walked out into the silent corridor, looking extrely unwilling, half asleep, and fully annoyed at the concept of destiny itself.
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