CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: MAKING PEACE WITH THE SYSTEM

Yue Chen’s face turned white from Yue Ning’s words.

Meanwhile, there was a cunning smirk on Yue Ning’s face. It wasn’t everyday she could annoy her little sister.

"Just you wait, I won’t let you get away with this," unable to give a proper comeback, Yue Chen could only resort to threats.

"I’ll be waiting for you. Don’t forget to bring on your A-game," Yue Ning remarked with a sharp glint in her eyes.

Yue Chen scowled at her, stomped her feet before walking away.

"Sister-in-law, you were awesome just now." Huo Yan praised her with utmost sincerity.

Yue Ning, on the other hand, smiled lightly. She touched the tip of her hair, feeling shy from the compliment.

"How do you even cope with her? I would have gone crazy if I lived with her," Huo Yan asked, making a disgusted expression.

"I pretended that she didn’t exist," Yue Ning gave a vague reply. After all, she hadn’t really spent time with Yue Chen ever since she transmigrated into the novel.

Huo Yan chuckled. "That must have been quite hard for her."

"She will survive," Yue Ning laughed.

Meanwhile, Yue Chen had a horrible expression as she approached a man.

"Chen, why do you look so down?" Kang Beichen asked.

"It’s my good-for-nothing sister, Yue Ning," she answered, taking her seat angrily.

Kang Beichen’s eyes narrowed as he noticed the venom burning in Yue Chen’s gaze.

"What did she do this time?" His voice was low, deliberate, as if coaxing a confession.

"She humiliated me in front of others," Yue Chen seethed, her nails digging into her palms. "She thinks she can trample over me just because Huo Feng is married to her."

Kang Beichen’s heart itched a bit. He hated hearing the woman he loved mention another man’s name, especially when it was someone he couldn’t compare to.

Sensing his silence, Yue Chen immediately clarified. "You know that I don’t like Huo Feng, but my sister’s attitude can be quite annoying, she is different, and she continues to get on my nerves."

A slow smirk curved on Beichen’s lips. He leaned closer, his tone laced with mockery. "And you’re going to let her continue with that?"

"Of course not!" Yue Chen snapped, her pride stung. "I won’t stop until I wipe that smug smile off her face, and let her know what her place is."

Beichen chuckled, dark amusement dancing in his eyes. He brushed a strand of her hair back, his voice low enough to make her shiver.

"Then let me help you, Chen. If she wants a game, we’ll make sure she learns what losing really means."

Yue Chen’s lips curled into a triumphant smile. For the first time that day, her heart raced with excitement instead of anger.

"What do you plan to do?" She asked, excitement dancing in her eyes.

"You’ll find out soon enough. I will never let anyone treat the woman I love badly," Kang Beichen vowed.

"I love you Beichen." Yue Chen confessed, stars in her eyes as she uttered those words.

"The feeling is mutual," he responded, taking her into his arms while a dark glint flashed through his eyes. He was plotting something, and it would be dangerous.

Meanwhile, Yue Ning who has no idea she was being plotted against went home with Huo Yan.

"Sister-in-law, I’ll be in my room," Huo Yan informed her, and she nodded in agreement.

’Host, you need to begin your main mission,’ the system spoke up softly, gaining Yue Ning’s attention.

Yue Ning narrowed her eyes as the system’s words echoed in her mind. Main mission. To save Huo Feng from a tragic death.

"You dare to bring that up now?" she snapped coldly. "After tricking me like a fool, you expect me to listen?"

To Yue Ning, she wasn’t bothered by the removal of the points. She was only angry since the system lied to her.

The system’s tone softened, almost cautious. ’Host, that wasn’t betrayal. It was a lesson. If you cannot distinguish between friend and foe, you will never change Huo Feng’s fate. You know how his story ends.’

Yue Ning’s hands tightened at her sides. Of course she knew. She recalled how the author had described Huo Feng’s blood-soaked ending. It was carved into her memory, a tragedy she had vowed to overturn the moment she woke in this world even before she knew of the existence of the system.

"You think I need to be reminded?" She asked bitterly. "Every time I look at him, I remember. And it makes me more determined than ever. But you—" her voice dropped, sharp as a blade, "you double-crossed me. Don’t mistake my silence for forgiveness."

The system was quiet for a beat before replying, its tone stripped of its usual arrogance and pride.

’Then let this be my vow, Host: I will never deceive you like that again. My only purpose is to help you save him.’

Yue Ning studied the empty air, as though she could stare it down. Then, slowly, she exhaled.

"I’ll hold you to that. But hear me clearly, system, if you ever try to play me again, I’ll find a way to tear you out of my soul, even if it kills me."

Understood, the system whispered, ’then let us begin again. Because Kang Beichen and Yue Chen are already moving their pieces. If you want to protect Huo Feng, you can’t afford hesitation.’

A cold light flickered in Yue Ning’s eyes. "Good. Let them come. This time, I’ll be ready."

’Thank you Host for trusting me again,’ the system showed its gratitude.

Yue Ning scoffed. "I am just giving you the benefit of the doubt. I am also aware that I might not be able to save Huo Feng without your help."

"I just want to say that I wasn’t angry with the points deduction, but because you lied to me," Yue Ning finally explained the reason for her anger.

’Your anger is totally justified. Rest assured, that was the first and last time,’ the system assured her.

"It had better be. I wasn’t joking when I said if it happens again, I’d look for a way to make you detach from me," she warned, and the system burst out laughing.

There was a small smile tugging at her lips. This was probably the first time she would hear the system laughing.

"I just remembered, you gave me a skill, didn’t you? I want to see it," Yue Ning commented.

The white holographic panel appeared again, and in the skills bar, Yue Ning could see one panel completely.

"Intelligence skills, huh?" She mused with her hands on her chin.

’Do you want to activate it?’ The system asked.

"Uhn, activate!" She responded. She was eager to see what she could do with these skills.