After Bringing Joy to the Short-Lived Mad Young Lady - Chapter 2

Huh?

The butler looked at Fang Yi with utter disbelief, his hands behind his back frantically gesturing for her to step back and not provoke trouble at such a moment.

A servant carefully picked up the “weapon” that had fallen to the ground. In the dead silence, Fang Yi met Lin Shuxing’s unpredictable gaze and extended her hand. “Need any help?”

Everyone: ?

System: ?

What kind of help could possibly be needed in this situation?

The system screamed internally: I must remind you, this is a lawful society!! Any form of murder is illegal!!!

In her past life, Fang Yi had carved a bloody path through the wasteland world, ascending to the pinnacle of existence. In her straightforward worldview, the victor reigned supreme.

When they first bonded, the system had warned Fang Yi that the task wouldn’t be easy: most villainesses were obsessive, greedy, selfish, vengeful, ruthless, and would stop at nothing to achieve their goals!

Fang Yi listened with great interest. “You’ve listed all the strengths. What about the weaknesses?”

The system was awestruck. From that moment on, it knew it had chosen the right person for its newly assigned role as the “Villainess Wish Fulfillment Agent.”

But that had to be within the bounds of reason and legality!

Times had changed. The mission couldn’t be completed if she ended up behind bars first.

Turning a god-slaying Asura into a law-abiding citizen was no easier than socializing a Tibetan Mastiff.

The system worked diligently, drilling morality and law into Fang Yi like prenatal education, terrified she’d meet an untimely end before even starting.

Lin Shuxing gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the gloom in her eyes dissipating slightly. But her icy tone still starkly contrasted with Fang Yi’s enthusiastic demeanor. “It’s you.”

They had first met at a claw machine arcade.

Fang Yi worked there part-time after school, always stacking the plush toys into towering piles—easy to grab.

At first, Lin Shuxing had only pretended to pass by the shop casually. But after doing so repeatedly, Fang Yi took notice. One day, when Lin Shuxing glanced over, Fang Yi slipped her a handful of game tokens—employee discount, a little perk.

Fang Yi didn’t recognize the high-end custom outfit Lin Shuxing wore, mistaking her for just a shy, quiet girl going through a confusing phase of life.

They never exchanged names, and their interactions were sparse. But Lin Shuxing sewed together two small keychains she’d won, creating a one-of-a-kind “Lucky Star”—the very one Fang Yi now carried with her.

They were strangers who’d crossed paths, yet also felt like long-lost friends—at least, that’s how Fang Yi saw it.

Later, Lin Shuxing stopped visiting that mall, and Fang Yi quit her part-time job to pursue her passion in her chosen field.

The system hopped in place a few times before trembling and retreating behind Fang Yi upon meeting Lin Shuxing’s frosty gaze: Aren’t you old acquaintances? Why does she seem so unhappy?

Ah, right. The stakes of the arranged marriage have changed—from a wealthy heiress to our penniless straw-hut girl now. Tvt

The ignored man slithered back into the scene, his usual facade of refinement and gentleness shattered. Furious, he spat, “What, are you planning to silence me now?”

“She accused me of secretly filming her without any proof! My body was harmed, my dignity insulted! Are ordinary people just supposed to take abuse from spoiled rich girls?”

“On what grounds are you firing me? I’m calling the police—you have to apologize and compensate me!”

His voice grated like nails coated in lard scraping across tiles, repeating the same accusations over and over.

“Please proceed to the living room, ladies. Leave this to me,” the butler said with a slight bow, gesturing politely.

“Give him more money,” Lin Qingwan murmured, her gaze flickering over the bloodstains on the floor. She looked uneasy and added in a hushed tone, “Handle this quickly. Don’t let Mother find out.”

The man’s eyes gleamed at her words, and he grew even bolder. “No! I don’t want money. Lin Shuxing has to apologize. At such a young age, she’s already harming others—who knows what kind of danger she’ll pose to society in the future? I demand to speak with Chairman Lin in person!”

Lin Shuxing narrowed her eyes slightly, the air around her turning icy. The red text on her task list pulsed once more.

“It must be a misunderstanding,” Lin Qingwan said softly. “My sister is just sensitive. You must have done something to make her misinterpret—she’s not that kind of person…”

Lin Shuxing coughed lightly, then flashed a mocking smile. “Misunderstanding? You made a move like you were taking photos and then touched my shoulder. I don’t care if it was a misunderstanding—you deserved that beating. Keep your tail tucked from now on, or next time, a bloody head will be the least of your worries.”

“See? She admitted it! Her attitude is appalling. I’m calling the police!”

“No matter what, she shouldn’t have hit anyone! What kind of girl behaves like this?”

“Don’t believe her? Look at my gallery—it’s completely clean! Check it yourself! There’s nothing there, yet she falsely accused me of taking photos!”

The man’s eagerness was unsettling, his bl00d-smeared face betraying a hint of smugness.

“Ever heard of ‘avoiding suspicion’? Reasonable suspicion isn’t slander.”

Fang Yi studied him for a long moment before taking the phone and saying coolly, “So eager to be investigated? Fine, let me take a look.”

“Fang Yi? So you’re the one who married into the Lin family to live off their wealth?”

The man adjusted his glasses, recognizing a fellow student, and his tone turned sharp as he adopted a lecturing tone. “A young man like you should focus on studying instead of scheming for shortcuts. How long do you think your youth will last?”

Fang Yi leisurely exited the gallery. “Professor Zhao, you boast about being the youngest professor at our school, yet you’ve been stuck in a deputy position for years, begging for promotions. Failed to get your title again this year, didn’t you?”

The man’s face twisted in fury at being exposed. He tried to lunge forward, but the butler held him back, leaving him red-faced. “What are you doing? Photos are obviously in the gallery! Looking through anything else is a violation of my privacy!”

“Without a thorough check, how can we be sure? I’m helping you.”

Fang Yi smirked, adjusted a few settings in the file directory, and pulled up recent files. His expression darkened. “Here’s your so-called innocence—”

Hidden folders, packed with encrypted photo files.

“Those are confidential documents! You have no right to look at them. Give it back!”

The man immediately changed his tune. “They’re research data for a national project. If anything goes wrong, can you bear the responsibility?”

Fang Yi raised an eyebrow. “Wow, a ‘national project’ freshly created six minutes ago? Did you just pull it out of thin air?”

“Care to make a bet? Let’s see if these files really contain state secrets.” Fang Yi glanced at the butler. “Call the police. Easy arrest for them.”

The man let out a derisive laugh. “I’d advise you not to try. If you enter the wrong password, the files will—”

Fang Yi finished for him helpfully, “—be permanently erased.”

The man’s face turned slightly pale. “Since you understand, that’s good. This matter is of great importance. Out of respect for your mentor, I can let you off today.”

Fang Yi flashed a grin, her white teeth gleaming. “But I don’t feel like letting you off.”

This spyware was disguised as a browser interface, and the photos it captured were automatically stored in an encrypted folder using an extremely complex algorithm. There was no way a student could crack it barehanded.

The man’s thick eyebrows knitted together as he scrutinized Fang Yi up and down. Confident in his safety, he adopted a lecturing tone again. “Don’t push your luck! A moment of recklessness could lead to—”

Before he could finish, the servants nearby erupted in gasps.

In the time it took to speak, Fang Yi had already cracked the password, exposing the illicit photos to everyone present.

Fang Yi: “Go on, why stop? Lead to what? Is this your so-called confidential research project?”

The system chimed in, hands on hips: Speak up! My host is asking you a question!

In an instant, the man seemed to lose all his strength. He stared at Fang Yi in disbelief. “How did you do that? Did you know my password? Have you been using this software too?”

Even at death’s door, he still wanted to shift blame.

Fang Yi sneered, about to retort, when the butler pressed down on the man’s chin, abruptly silencing him.

The world fell into complete quiet.

“Mom… why are you back so early?” Lin Qingwan hurried toward the entrance.

“Madam, my apologies. I failed to handle this promptly.”

The butler bowed toward the doorway and waved a hand, prompting everyone to move swiftly and orderly.

“I already know everything,” Lin Lan said, holding Lin Qingwan’s hand and giving it a reassuring pat before casting a disgusted glance at the man being restrained by security. “Take him away. Clean this up thoroughly.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“So you’re Fang Yi?” Lin Lan approached, studying Fang Yi closely, her sharp gaze almost piercing through her.

“Mhm,” Fang Yi replied, her eyes flickering between Lin Lan and Lin Shuxing. She found it fascinating how similar their auras were, especially the faintly mocking curve of their lips.

Are they really not mother and daughter? How strange.

“Lin Shuxing,” Lin Lan said firmly, her sharp gaze unwavering, if not even colder. “I’ve seen the surveillance footage. You acted too impulsively.”

“Is this how I taught you to handle things?”

The atmosphere in the room plummeted to freezing point.

The smile that had just appeared on Lin Shuxing’s face vanished instantly.

Without her usual haughty demeanor, her entire face paled, only to be tinged with a flush of humiliation and anger.

Fang Yi stepped sideways, shielding Lin Shuxing, her tone displeased. “Don’t scold her. She didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Fang Yi, by what right are you asking this?” Lin Lan’s expression remained impassive. “You’re the one who called off the engagement, and now you’re here dictating terms. What exactly do you want?”

The young girl abruptly raised her head, her proud posture trembling. “You called off the engagement? How dare you—!”

She covered her mouth, breaking into violent coughs.

“Sister!” Lin Qingwan quickly rushed up the stairs to support the swaying Lin Shuxing. “Are you okay? Let me take you back to rest.”

Noticing the little bear in Lin Qingwan’s hand, Lin Shuxing bit her lip hard and shoved away the outstretched hand, snarling, “Don’t touch me!”

“I’m sorry, Sister. I forgot. I’ll go disinfect my hands. Please don’t hate me.” Lin Qingwan flusteredly hid her hands behind her back.

“Fang Yi, who do you think you are? You’ve already climbed above your station by attaching yourself to the Lin family, and you’re still not satisfied?”

“Remember, it’s me who doesn’t want to be engaged to you. I. Loathe. You!”

With those words, she turned and walked away, leaving behind nothing but a haughty silhouette.

“Sister…” Lin Qingwan tried to chase after her but was stopped by Lin Lan.

“Xiao Wan, have you finished your homework? Don’t waste your time.” Lin Lan turned her gaze, every movement exuding authority. “Fang Yi, come with me to the study. We need to talk.”

“Oh.” Fang Yi withdrew her gaze from where Lin Shuxing had disappeared, deliberately shoving her hands into her pockets and tilting her chin up at Lin Lan.

The system whispered a warning: Host, this is your future mother-in-law, your benefactor. Tone it down a little.

Fang Yi: She shouldn’t have yelled at Lin Shuxing.

The system: You’re both as bad as each other. Your breaking off the engagement hit her pretty hard too.

Why the silence now?

Fang Yi remained quiet. After a few steps, she obediently pulled her hands out of her pockets.

Inside the study.

Two cups of Da Hong Pao tea steamed gently. Lin Lan rested her chin on one hand, eyeing Fang Yi sidelong.

“Do you think you were being heroic by standing up for Lin Shuxing? That without you, we would have wronged her?”

Fang Yi stared at the teacup for a long moment before speaking slowly, “So what if I do? Either way, you shouldn’t have scolded her.”

The system was shocked: Is that any way to talk to your future mother-in-law?!

Lin Lan narrowed her eyes slightly, then suddenly laughed.

“You really underestimate the Lin family too much.”

“Everywhere except the bedrooms is under constant surveillance. Leaving it to the butler would have been quicker.”

“By getting more involved and tangling with such people, you’re only lowering your own status.”

Her calm, almost cold gaze enveloped Fang Yi like moonlight. “Suppose that person really hadn’t been taking photos, or suppose you couldn’t find any evidence, and his goal was just to extort money—how would you handle it?”

Fang Yi was silent for a moment before asking, “If you knew all this, why did you still yell at Lin Shuxing?”

There was just no getting past this.

Lin Lan raised an eyebrow. “Why should I explain myself to you?”

Even so, she picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and said deliberately, “Shuxing has poor health. Handling things herself when she’s alone is dangerous. She could have just pressed the call button for the butler instead of risking herself. That was foolish.”

“Members of the Lin family don’t need to handle things personally. Do you understand?”

She gave Fang Yi a deep look.

“You at least have some sense of responsibility. Tell me, why do you want to break off the engagement?”

Fang Yi: “Actually, I’d like to know why the engagement happened in the first place, and why it was changed to me.”

“Didn’t your grandmother tell you?”

“No. I don’t understand—my family has no value for a marriage alliance.”

“But you have value.”

Lin Lan’s eyes, the same ones that could decide billion-dollar contracts with a blink, swept over Fang Yi without any intention of hiding the truth. “Your destiny is auspicious, while Lin Shuxing’s birth chart is extremely weak. We need you to counteract her bad luck.”

“You must know how frail children sometimes adopt an old tree as their godmother. Superstitious, yes, but it works.”

Her fingertips lightly tapped the table as she slid a black card symbolizing unlimited prestige and wealth toward Fang Yi, crossing her hands as casually as if she were handing over a scrap of paper.

“In exchange, we’ll take care of your mother and grandmother. This card, along with the property in Yan Garden, is yours now.”

Counteract bad luck?

Since arriving in Z City, it had been a long time since Fang Yi heard such an outdated term. She frowned, thought for a moment, and then asked seriously, “Then why can’t she just recognize me as her godmother?”

System: ?

Listen to yourself—does that even make sense?!

Lin Lan was momentarily stunned but didn’t laugh. “If it were that simple, things would be easy.”

“The diviner calculated that Shu Xing won’t live past twenty-two.”

Fang Yi’s fingers, resting on the teacup, stiffened imperceptibly.

The system couldn’t help but gloat: This is part of the original plot. It’s not like you didn’t know.

“And your fate is special. Logically speaking—”

Lin Lan glanced at Fang Yi but didn’t finish her sentence.

Fang Yi knew what she wanted to say.

She was special—destined for weak familial ties and reborn in a remote village. Locked into her gender, her first two “character creations” had been speedruns, a literal hell-mode start.

It was her mother who, by sheer coincidence, protected her. And her grandmother, revered as the village shaman, defied all opposition to take them in.

None of the three in their family were related by bl00d.

Had even one step gone wrong, she wouldn’t have lived this long.

“You’re the only variable, Fang Yi. All you need to do is accompany her until her twenty-second birthday. I have no other demands.”

“The marriage is only to bind your fates together. We can sign an agreement—it won’t interfere with your personal life.”

“This is just a formal alliance. Lin Shu Xing understands that. Also, I hope you’ll keep our conversation confidential.”

After a long silence, Fang Yi heard her own voice say, “Fine.”

She looked up. “I don’t believe in fate, and I don’t need your money. Consider this fate a gift—she can hitch a ride on mine.”

Accepting the money would mean accepting invisible chains of obligation. There was no such thing as a free lunch.

The Lin family might not have been entirely honest with her. Even if she had nothing worth coveting now, she still had to stay cautious.

The system panicked: No no no, I want it, I want it, I WANT THE MONEY!!!!

Lin Lan gave a slight nod. “I’ll hire you. This is the compensation you deserve.”

“Then it’ll have to be part-time. I have a main job—I’m starting a business with a friend.”

“Good. It’s admirable for young people to be ambitious,” Lin Lan said, idly stirring the tea leaves before asking casually, “With that kid from the Wang family? Are you contributing technical expertise?”

She had clearly investigated Fang Yi inside and out.

“Yes.”

“If you have any questions about finance, you can ask Lin Shu Xing.” Lin Lan checked the time and tapped her wristwatch decisively. “Go now. I have other matters to attend to.”

With a slight wave of her hand, the butler immediately stepped forward and led Fang Yi to the second floor.

The butler pointed out the layout and rooms one by one before stopping in front of a large blue door. Smiling, he said, “I can only take you this far. Beyond this is the family’s private area.”

“Your room is the second on the left. The door across from it is the young mistress’s bedroom.”

“Lastly—”

The butler bowed slightly, wearing an enigmatic smile. “The young mistress is in her rebellious phase. Please take everything she says as the opposite of what she means.”

It sounded a bit like a rule-based horror game. Fang Yi nodded solemnly. “Thank you.”

The butler, sensing she didn’t fully grasp it, patiently elaborated, “What I mean is, the young mistress doesn’t actually dislike you.”

Fang Yi repeated, “Thank you. I know.”

The butler shook his head, as if lamenting her lack of understanding, and left.

Only when her figure had completely disappeared did Fang Yi relax his brows and softly repeat, “I know.”