After Bringing Joy to the Short-Lived Mad Young Lady - Chapter 1

Stepping through the black gate, a golden courtyard suddenly unfolded before her, brightening the sky with its radiance.

At the center, a musical fountain cast rainbows in the air, while servants, like sprites, emerged from behind pure white stone platforms, forming two neat rows. “Welcome, Miss Fang—”

Fang Yi wore a simple white T-shirt paired with denim shorts, a plush bear clutching a star dangling from her cross-body bag.

“Miss Fang, this way, please.”

The white-gloved butler inclined slightly forward, showing no reaction to Fang Yi’s out-of-place attire.

Her tone was amiable. “We weren’t expecting your visit today. The family head will return for lunch at around 12:10 PM, and we can arrange a meeting then.”

“The young lady is currently in class, but we’ve already scheduled time for you afterward. Have you had breakfast? Would you like to visit the dining room first and wait for a while?”

The system, hiding behind Fang Yi, peered around nervously, its voice tinged with unease: So luxurious… The world of the rich is amazing! Are we really going to reject this engagement? I don’t want to work hard anymore, Host…

Fang Yi replied casually, “Sure.”

The system: Really? That’s great! You’ve finally come around, Host, wuwu…

The butler smiled warmly and changed direction, guiding Fang Yi toward another corridor.

Only then did the system realize: Wait—weren’t you talking to me? They were just being polite, and you actually went to eat?!

As an extravagant breakfast was served in succession, the system gulped, exasperated: Gulp… Eat less, will you? What kind of impression are you leaving? Oh my god!

The Lin family’s enthusiastic hospitality was indeed beyond Fang Yi’s expectations.

After all, she was here to break off the engagement.

When the butler heard her purpose, she simply invited her inside to wait until the family head returned for further discussion.

So composed—unshaken by any disturbance.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Please call for me anytime if you need anything.” The butler smiled and stepped back.

Fang Yi nodded, bringing the food to her mouth while subtly noting the butler’s barely noticeable hand movement.

Left-handed, explosive strength, light footsteps, prefers close combat. Fang Yi concluded inwardly, gaining a new understanding of the Lin family’s formidable power.

Host, I still don’t get it—why are you so set on breaking the engagement? What if you anger the fake heiress and she sends people after you? This is the Lin family’s turf!

Besides, we’re supposed to help the fake heiress anyway. Wouldn’t being engaged make it easier to earn points?

What if—what if you end up with both love and career success?

Dazzled by the Lin family’s overwhelming opulence, the system pitched its voice higher, trying to persuade Fang Yi.

Fang Yi shook her head lightly, dipping her fingertip in water to write the word “variable” on the table. “Those involved are often blind to the truth.”

The system scratched its head in frustration: What does that mean? But we’re already involved!

They were currently inside an old-fashioned, melodramatic novel.

The kind and cheerful true heiress, having suffered hardships for years after being lost, was finally recognized and brought home—only to be envied and hated by the gloomy, sickly fake heiress.

The fake heiress’s original fiancé, after interacting with the true heiress, was deeply moved and resolutely dumped the malicious fake heiress to pursue true love.

On their—her—their shared 22nd birthday.

The true heiress held a grand, century-defining wedding with her beloved, while the ill-tempered fake heiress, who repeatedly trampled on the sincerity of others, was eventually abandoned by everyone and died of illness in a drafty rented apartment.

The biggest problem was—

Fang Yi was bound to the Villainess’s Wish System, and her primary mission target was none other than this notoriously ill-tempered fake heiress.

For eighteen years, the fake heiress rarely made any wishes. Though the mission panel often showed fragmented inputs: I want, want, want…

Such dense repetitions, yet never a complete thought.

Honestly, it was a bit eerie at first—even the system suspected a bug.

But since other missions’ wishes refreshed normally in the corners, Fang Yi had no choice but to accept that this fake heiress was an exception.

Now, that exception had become the biggest variable.

Just this morning, her grandmother had casually mentioned over the phone that she had arranged a marriage for her not long ago.

For no apparent reason, the fake heiress’s original engagement partner had been switched—from the well-matched eldest daughter of the Li family to penniless Fang Yi.

It was absurd, utterly senseless. They hadn’t even met.

“Then go meet her,” her grandmother replied breezily. Fang Yi could even hear the sound of her cracking sunflower seeds.

“The Lin family has an old friend of mine. We checked your birth charts—perfect match, like a fairy-tale pairing.”

Fang Yi, the transmigrator: “Grandma, we should believe in science.”

“Science? What’s science got on me? I was summoning the King of Hell before light bulbs even existed!”

Her grandmother spat out a seed shell and softened her tone. “I’m old now. Who’s going to protect you and your mother in the future? The Lin family head is a good person—their child must be decent too.”

“Just go meet her, get to know the girl. If there’s really no spark, don’t drag it out. Be upfront so we don’t waste her time.”

She had a point.

Half an hour after hanging up, the decisive Fang Yi was already knocking on the Lin family’s door.

She wanted to discuss calling off the engagement before the Lin family made any public announcements, minimizing any fallout.

Though she had transmigrated into a novel, Fang Yi had no intention of being a passive witness to someone else’s life.

To that end, she had willingly racked up a massive debt of system points, opting for a “shallow familial ties” starting setup just to secure a completely independent and free identity—unshackled from so-called “character fate.”

She was herself, and only herself.

No identity, no mission, could dictate her will.

“Miss Fang, please have some tea.”

“Miss Fang, here are some desserts.”

“Miss Fang…”

Servants streamed in one after another, and Fang Yi couldn’t shake the uncanny feeling of being put on display.

Every person who entered stole glances at her from the corners of their eyes, brows slightly raised, their expressions inscrutable.

Fang Yi could guess what they were thinking.

The current timeline was shortly after the true heiress’s return, and their identities hadn’t been publicly revealed yet.

Lin Lan, the family head, had declared the true heiress to be the fake heiress’s younger sister—clearly trying to shield the daughter she had raised for over a decade.

But suddenly switching the fake heiress’s engagement partner, and leaping across social classes at that—from an elite family to someone like Fang Yi—

It was hard not to read into it.

After all, the struggles of the wealthy families were always ruthless. The future family head could only be one.

The fake heiress’s abandonment was only a matter of time.

“Ah!”

A startled gasp drew Fang Yi’s attention. A fluffy head peeked out from behind the mahogany door.

The girl’s eyes sparkled with delight as she cautiously approached. “Hello, are you the one engaged to my sister?”

It might have been an illusion, but she seemed to emphasize the words “my sister” with unusual weight.

Before Fang Yi could respond, the girl had already stepped closer with a bright smile, her sweet voice echoing through the restaurant. “It’s so nice to meet you! You’re a bit taller than I imagined.”

Her gaze swept over Fang Yi with an open curiosity that wasn’t the least bit unpleasant.

“My sister has a bit of a temper, and she’s not in the best health. I’d hate for you to upset her.”

Rising onto her tiptoes to meet Fang Yi’s eyes, she added, “She’s also a bit of a germaphobe. It’d be great if you could disinfect yourself before seeing her—just so you don’t bring any viruses her way.”

“Sorry if that sounds a little rude…” Her eyes suddenly caught on the small bear dangling from Fang Yi’s bag, and she paused. “What’s this?”

Fang Yi found her words baffling but answered anyway. “Are you asking about the species? It’s a bear.”

“Can I take a look? I love plush keychains too—please?”

Fang Yi hesitated under the girl’s gleaming stare but eventually handed over the bear.

This little bear had been a gift from a girl she met while working part-time at a claw machine arcade. She’d grown fond of it and carried it everywhere—they’d even given it a name: Lucky Star.

“It’s so cute,” Lin Qingwan murmured, her eyes curving into crescents as she pinched the bear’s soft cheeks. A hint of melancholy flickered across her face. “Too bad my sister doesn’t like these things. Last time Mom bought me some, she got really mad…”

“I know she only lashes out because she’s not feeling well. They say her health will improve after marriage—is that true?”

Lin Qingwan’s question was earnest, her dimples deepening as she spoke. The system nearly swooned: Ah… what a sweet, family-oriented darling!

Fang Yi stayed silent, watching her quietly.

Lin Qingwan didn’t seem to mind the lack of response. She appeared quite satisfied with Fang Yi, smiling to herself. “I’m so excited! Can I hug you? We’ll be family soon!”

“No need,” Fang Yi said, checking the time. “Sorry to disappoint, but we won’t be getting married.”

“Why not?” In an instant, the girl’s innocent eyes welled up with tears. “We’ll give you so much money—anything you want! You just have to stay with my sister, please—”

Lin Qingwan’s reaction was oddly intense, bordering on desperate.

Everything in this world came at a price—so why were Lin Qingwan and the Lin family so fixated on this engagement?

And what did they mean by her sister’s health improving after marriage? Fang Yi wasn’t some ginseng spirit—who had fed Lin Qingwan such nonsense, and for what purpose?

A frown tugged at Fang Yi’s brow. This sudden arranged marriage felt like luring a girl into becoming the 101st bride of some demon king.

The fake heiress’s wish panel flickered again, crimson text scrolling relentlessly: I want, I want, I want…!

Fang Yi’s temple throbbed—a bad premonition rising in her chest.

She never made wishes in this world, but such intense emotional fluctuations… were they demanding something from her?

As if confirming her suspicions, a deafening crash erupted outside, followed by a man’s agonized scream.

Almost in an instant, the kind-looking butler waiting at the door lunged toward the source with lightning speed, his black tailcoat leaving a blur in the air.

“Murder—!” The man clutched his bleeding head, stumbling down the stairs in panic.

Half of his glasses were shattered, bl00d dripping from his clothes onto the carpet as he frantically threw himself toward the crowd. “Lin Shuxing tried to kill me! I was just teaching her normally, but she looked down on me for being born common, accused me of secretly filming her… When I argued back, she tried to kill me!”

The butler restrained him, swiftly controlling the scene. “No shouting. Calm down.”

“Sister!” Lin Qingwan, clutching the little bear, anxiously chased after him, her voice trembling with tears.

Give it back… the bear…

Fang Yi had no interest in joining the commotion, but with the plushie held hostage, he had no choice but to steel himself and move closer.

The man continued to howl recklessly, yet under the butler’s grip, he became as docile as a ram, huffing and puffing his accusations as if all his strength had gone into his mouth.

A trail of dark red bl00d stained the spiral staircase. The girl standing at the top flung down the crystal trophy in her hand with a loud clang, and a trembling servant immediately handed her a handkerchief.

“Young Miss.”

Lin Shuxing’s proud eyes lifted slightly as she took the handkerchief under the watchful gaze of the crowd, meticulously wiping the bl00d from her hands, her expression brimming with unconcealed disgust.

From her lofty position, she delivered her verdict: “You’re fired.”

Amid the chaotic wails, the girl’s words were icy cold, hitting the ground with an almost audible shatter, like the tinkling of broken glass.

Fang Yi looked up, and his eyes met hers—dark and fathomless.

For a moment, both of their expressions froze.

Fang Yi had imagined their reunion many times, but he had never expected it to happen under such circumstances.

The crowd only saw this “commoner,” so out of place among them, take a step forward, raising his hand in a daze and uttering a greeting so calm it was eerie—

“Hi.”