Chapter Thirteen: Even the System Didn't Expect This

"Phew, Uncle Zhang really is something else. Did you see the way he pushed back just now, as if he could swallow mountains and rivers? If it weren’t for him, I honestly wouldn’t know how we could’ve held the situation together," Mo Shu said, still rattled by the aftermath.

"Forget that for a second. What happened to you today? What was with you and that female reporter? Didn’t you see the way my uncle glared at you?" Wang Yu asked, unaware that if Mo Shu could have confided in him, he would have long since run to his spoiled friend for help.

"I must have lost my mind," Mo Shu sighed, realizing his actions had not only offended Uncle Zhang, but would probably make Wang Yining see him as some kind of pervert.

No one’s life is ever smooth sailing; even someone with a system backing him isn’t immune to setbacks. Mo Shu, who had recently tasted a bit of pride, was now getting a premature dose of reality.

He hadn’t expected that after a night’s fermentation, the press conference incident would stir up a storm online. Logging into his social media, Mo Shu found that many popular outlets he followed had reposted an article titled: "Rookie Racer Publicly Flirts with Beautiful Reporter—Where’s the Line?"

This is outrageous! Why isn’t anyone saying, "Female Reporter Brazenly Slanders Genius Racer—Justice Nowhere to Be Found!"?

Reading the comments below the article nearly made Mo Shu cry with frustration. More than once, he was tempted to reply and argue back, but knowing he’d already caused enough trouble, he decided not to fan the flames and risk making things worse.

He shut his laptop in resignation and buried himself in sleep.

Just as he was about to drift off into dreams, a sharp knocking jerked him back to reality.

So annoying! He pretended there was no one in the room.

"Mo Shu, are you there?" came a soft voice from outside.

Wang Yining!

He shot upright in bed, hesitated, and decided not to open the door. After all, he’d "flirted" with a female reporter right in front of Wang Yining—how could he face his goddess now? Mo Shu groaned in despair, thumping his forehead.

"Mo Shu, I know you’re in there. Open up, I need to talk to you," Wang Yining called again and again, her voice oddly compelling. Unable to resist, Mo Shu found himself inching reluctantly toward the door.

As soon as Wang Yining came in, she grabbed him and pulled him to sit on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed intently on his, her chest rising and falling a little faster than normal—whether from nervousness or hurry, he couldn’t tell.

A goddess invading his bedroom in broad daylight?

Mo Shu blushed, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt like a bashful girl.

There was a certain longing in Wang Yining’s gaze, her lips slightly parted, the subtle fragrance of her perfume filling the room and lending a perfect touch of intimacy to the moment.

Mo Shu was entranced, unconsciously leaning closer.

"Mo Shu, there’s something I want to tell you." At this critical juncture, Wang Yining spoke softly.

"Go ahead..." Mo Shu tried to mask his eagerness, forcing himself to act like a gentleman.

"You..."

"Yes?" He nodded gently, encouraging her to continue.

"Is there a strange voice in your head called the System?"

The blood drained from Mo Shu’s face in an instant. He nearly jumped high enough to vault the windowsill and leap out.

"I—I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked..." Wang Yining faltered, startled by his extreme reaction.

He remembered the System’s warning: if the secret was revealed, it would activate its self-destruct feature. But how did Wang Yining know? Mo Shu was baffled.

Sure enough, in his mind’s eye, a set of dark red numbers began to tick down.

60! 59! 58!

"It’s over, it’s over!" Mo Shu cried out in panic. His bright, promising future seemed about to end right there.

How would the System destroy itself? Would it take him along? Mo Shu had no idea.

He called for the System over and over in his mind, but all he got was silence.

The countdown was nearly halfway through, and Mo Shu was still at a loss. He covered his eyes with trembling hands, and a hot tear slid down his cheek.

"I’m still so young... I don’t want to die."

"Mo Shu... is it really that serious?" Wang Yining asked timidly.

Wait—she was still there! Panic flashed through Mo Shu’s eyes.

What if the System chose to self-destruct in a way that harmed others? He couldn’t let Wang Yining get caught up in this!

He quickly wiped away his tears and started pushing her toward the door.

"What are you doing, Mo Shu? I’m not done talking to you!"

"I’m about to die—I don’t want you to get hurt. Please, just run..." Mo Shu ignored her protests, desperate to save her.

Wang Yining grew flustered—she slapped him across the face in indignation. "If anyone’s about to die, it’s me! Ever since yesterday, there’s been some pervy guy’s voice in my head, making me do tasks. It’s driving me crazy!"

What?!

The world fell silent.

A voice in her head? Tasks? Could it be just like his own experience?

The System! Did Wang Yining have one too?

Was she teasing him? Messing with him? Or just making fun of him? Mo Shu began to doubt his own sanity.

But just then, the countdown in his mind stopped without him noticing, the ominous numbers vanishing completely.

So the System believed her story too?

It seemed she really wasn’t making fun of him. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one blessed—or cursed—with a System.

A sudden cacophony erupted in his mind: "Ding, ding, ding, clang! Thud..." The System seemed flustered as well.

"If I’m not mistaken... are you saying you got possessed by something like a System yesterday too?" Mo Shu wanted to make sure.

"Yeah... I was terrified... I thought I was losing my mind. But then the voice told me to find you, and you—you tried to throw me out..." Wang Yining stood in the middle of the room, cheeks puffed in anger, tears welling in her eyes.

"Don’t cry... please, don’t cry..." Mo Shu rushed over to comfort her.

But the more he tried, the more aggrieved Wang Yining felt. Her heart clenched, and tears spilled over.

Mo Shu panicked. If there was one thing he couldn’t handle, it was making a girl cry—especially his little goddess.

In his desperation, he grabbed a towel from beside his pillow and started wiping her tears vigorously.

"Ugh, is that how you wipe a girl’s tears?" Wang Yining protested, annoyed at his clumsy efforts. She wiped her eyes herself, then looked up with a disdainful expression.

"What did you just use to wipe my tears?" she demanded, eyes wide with shock, stamping her foot.

Was there really so much etiquette involved in wiping tears? Mo Shu glanced down.

At once, he felt as though a thousand wild horses stampeded through his heart, while thunder rolled across his skull in a relentless barrage.

"Waaah—" Wang Yining, who had just calmed to a sniffle, burst into loud sobs again.

Mo Shu pounded his chest in despair. Heaven only knew why he’d left last night’s underwear by his pillow, or why he’d grabbed it, of all things, to wipe Wang Yining’s tears.

But even worse, at that very moment, Zhang Aimin and Wang Yu had arrived at the door, standing frozen in shock.

Zhang Aimin gulped, lowered his head, and walked away in silence.

Wang Yu, meanwhile, grinned, gave a thumbs-up, and called out, "That was quick! Congratulations! Hello, sister-in-law!"

"Wait, it’s not what you think!" Mo Shu rushed out to explain, but all he heard was Wang Yu’s mischievous laughter as he slammed the door and dashed away.