The Black Lotus Wife Forces Me to Pretend to Be an Omega. - Chapter 58

Luo Xiaoxiao: Why aren’t you saying anything?

Luo Xiaoxiao called out repeatedly, but the system completely ignored her. After a long while, she gave up on arguing with it and only then noticed that everyone around her had fallen silent.

What was going on?

Why had everyone frozen?

“What’s happening?”

“Could it be…?”

Luo Xiaoxiao blinked. Two people remained unaffected—Li Fanshuang and Lu Chenfeng.

“You two…” Luo Xiaoxiao hesitated. If Lu Chenfeng was “awakened” and thus immune to the plot’s control, then what did that make Li Fanshuang?

The anomaly had occurred too quickly. Li Fanshuang hadn’t had time to react, and now, with Luo Xiaoxiao aware of the plot, her secret was likely exposed.

She walked up to Fu Xinting and poked her cheek. “Isn’t there a system? Why isn’t she moving?”

Luo Xiaoxiao stared at Li Fanshuang, waiting for an explanation.

Li Fanshuang pretended not to notice her gaze and lightly slapped Fu Xinting’s face. “And this is supposed to be a conquest system? Why isn’t it responding? Plot auto-correction?”

Luo Xiaoxiao kept staring. I’m still waiting.

Li Fanshuang turned to Lu Chenfeng instead. “What do you think is happening? Did that system cause this?”

Lu Chenfeng stood frozen, staring blankly at Luo Xiaoxiao before finally looking at Li Fanshuang after a long pause. “Is your wife also ‘awakened’?”

“I’m a transmigrator. You’re awakened?” Luo Xiaoxiao scoffed, her indifferent gaze occasionally flickering toward Li Fanshuang. “Does someone have something they’re not telling me?”

Li Fanshuang rubbed her temples. Can we not do this right now? Let me come up with something first.

Luo Xiaoxiao sniffled and put on a pitiful expression again. “Sister… is there something you haven’t told me? Have you never loved me… sob…”

As she spoke, she began to cry.

Lu Chenfeng felt awkward. Should I even be here right now?

Li Fanshuang surrendered. She walked over to Luo Xiaoxiao. “Actually… didn’t you tell me all this yourself?”

“You’re lying!” Luo Xiaoxiao lifted her head—her fair, delicate face showed no trace of tears.

Li Fanshuang narrowed her eyes. “You were faking? You actually tricked me?”

Luo Xiaoxiao crossed her arms and huffed. “You lied first! You’re the one being unreasonable!”

“I’m unreasonable?” Li Fanshuang rolled her eyes. “Look at how spoiled you’ve been acting lately! You’re the unreasonable one!”

Lu Chenfeng shrugged, found a sofa, and settled in to enjoy the show. The shop provided snacks and drinks, so she happily munched away.

Who said Li Fanshuang can’t act? This performance is amazing.

If I posted this online, all those haters would finally shut up.

“Luo Xiaoxiao, aren’t you going too far? You kept your transmigration a secret from me this whole time!”

Luo Xiaoxiao clutched her chest, furious. “You’re blaming me? Just now, you said I told you about it. So tell me—when exactly did I say that?”

Li Fanshuang had a completely reckless attitude, immediately pulling out her phone and logging into her Weibo alt account. “Look, isn’t this what you told me?!”

When Luo Xiaoxiao saw the username of Li Fanshuang’s alt account, she was devastated. Why? Her best friend Nan Jiu was actually Li Fanshuang all along?!

“You actually…” Luo Xiaoxiao felt like she was about to have a heart attack. “How could you do this to me?”

All those outrageous things I said—she must have known it was me all along!

This is terrible!

Luo Xiaoxiao covered her face, utterly mortified at the thought of facing Li Fanshuang now.

She stopped crying as certain…unmentionable scenes flashed through her mind.

That afternoon she’d secretly watched videos alone in the break room. The first time she’d watched that kind of film with Li Fanshuang.

Wow!

“You have so many of those films?! Have you been hiding more from me?!” Luo Xiaoxiao reached out—how dare she hoard the good stuff behind her back!

Li Fanshuang narrowed her eyes. “After all that buildup, this is what you want to talk about?!”

“What else?! You’ve been feasting behind my back?! Tell me, were you plotting that night all along?”

Li Fanshuang scoffed, though a hint of grievance lingered in her eyes. “Of course I was plotting. I’ve endured you hiding for so long—why shouldn’t we engage in some…healthy physical activities?”

Luo Xiaoxiao: Holy crap, who is this person? This isn’t the Li Fanshuang I know.

Lu Chenfeng: This is the Li Fanshuang I know? That aloof film queen?

Luo Xiaoxiao stammered incoherently under her gaze, finally pointing a trembling finger. “I’ll have you know…that was my first time…”

As she spoke, her grievances resurfaced. Her nose tingled, and genuine tears spilled over.

“Waaah! You tricked me! I was so pure! How could you do this to me?!”

Li Fanshuang raised an eyebrow, mischief bubbling up at her reaction. She deliberately pitched her voice higher: “What should I do? My wife is so innocent—what if she doesn’t realize that person was trying to seduce her?”

Luo Xiaoxiao experienced social death by Li Fanshuang for the second time.

“Stop talking!” Luo Xiaoxiao stomped in frustration, completely powerless against her. She marched up to Li Fanshuang but immediately faltered upon meeting her gaze.

Li Fanshuang tsked. “Also, my wife is the best. I adore her so much. What should we do about being two Alphas? Does that mean no future?”

“Shut up!”

Thus began their chase—no escape possible.

Lu Chenfeng watched dumbfounded. “Something feels missing here…”

System: Kiss! Kiss!

All three froze.

Luo Xiaoxiao: OMG! After all my suffering and humiliation, this damn system is just here for drama?!

Lu Chenfeng: So the system enjoys gossip too?

Li Fanshu: How dare you spectate my affairs?!

System: Why do I suddenly feel chills?

Why has everyone gone quiet?

“So, is the system still attached to Fu Xinting now?” Lu Chenfeng’s eyes were inscrutable, making it impossible to discern his true emotions.

Luo Xiaoxiao snorted coldly, clenched her fists, and with a loud bang, punched the nearby wall. Fine cracks appeared on the pristine white surface.

The system zipped out from Fu Xinting’s body in a flash. “Don’t hit me! I’m just a system, wuwuwu…”

Luo Xiaoxiao sneered and grabbed the red glowing orb. “You shameless thing, actually helping Fu Xinting harm my wife!”

“It’s not true!” The system whined and struggled in Luo Xiaoxiao’s grip. What’s going on? How can Luo Xiaoxiao even grab me?

Luo Xiaoxiao let go, and the system, now free, immediately tried to flee. But before it could get far, Li Fanshuang caught it.

“Where do you think you’re going? You can’t just watch the show and leave—that’s too easy!”

“Wuwuwu, Miss Protagonist, please let me go!” The system transformed into a three-year-old child.

Seeing this, Li Fanshuang hesitated for a moment before releasing her grip. The toddler plopped onto the ground, landing hard on its bottom.

The system felt even more wronged. Wasn’t the protagonist supposed to be kind? Why is she so harsh toward a child?

Li Fanshuang shook her hand, then took a wet wipe from her bag. Luo Xiaoxiao stepped forward, tore open the packaging, and carefully wiped Li Fanshuang’s fingers clean.

“What are you doing? How could you treat a child like this?” the system accused, pointing at Li Fanshuang.

Lu Chenfeng chuckled disdainfully. “Seems like your understanding of this world is quite limited. Didn’t you know the protagonist here dislikes children? It’s called being ‘child-repulsed.'”

Luo Xiaoxiao hissed, then noticed the unmistakable look of disgust in Li Fanshuang’s eyes.

“Wife, you have this… admirable trait too?”

“What trait?!” The system was furious now. “You’re the protagonist of this world—you’re supposed to be the kindest, most virtuous person!”

Li Fanshuang smirked. “Says who? Do you know why I hate kids?”

The system shook its head.

Li Fanshuang’s lips curled. “All you know is what’s written in that book.”

She didn’t want to explain too much to a system. She had her own past, things she preferred not to voice.

Luo Xiaoxiao paused and looked up at Li Fanshuang. Beyond the book, her understanding of Li Fanshuang wasn’t that deep. Before, Luo Xiaoxiao had also believed Li Fanshuang was the best woman in the world—someone with all the finest qualities, pure and kind-hearted in her eyes.

But now, seeing Li Fanshuang reveal her “Nan Jiu” account, Luo Xiaoxiao could no longer think of her as innocent. If anyone was truly naive, it was probably Lu Yu.

The system whimpered for a while before finally eyeing the three of them warily. “Wait a minute… What’s going on with you three? Why is the protagonist of this world self-aware?”

Luo Xiaoxiao yawned and led Li Fanshuang aside, whispering in her ear as they walked, “We’ll settle our accounts slowly.”

Li Fanshuang gently kissed her earlobe in response, “Sure, you can settle it however you like.”

Damn! Luo Xiaoxiao’s heart trembled with excitement, wishing she could take her sister to a hotel bed right then and there to properly “settle accounts.”

“Hmph, I’ll note it down in my little book first,” she muttered.

The two then walked over and sat down beside Lu Chenfeng.

Now the three of them faced off briefly against the system.

The system looked timidly at the trio—all of them were awakened.

Luo Xiaoxiao was a transmigrator, Li Fanshuang was the female lead, which meant this world had already broken free from the original plot’s control. So what could it even do now?

At this thought, the system actually showed a deflated expression.

“Little brat,” Luo Xiaoxiao, being the most approachable of the three, took the initiative to speak when the others remained silent, “first tell us, why did you come to this world? And why did you help Fu Xinting do bad things?”

The system snorted coldly, “I didn’t help anyone do bad things! I’m just a system. What my users choose to do—whether good or bad—is entirely up to them.”

As it spoke, the system’s gaze lingered on Lu Chenfeng, clearly detecting its own traces on her.

“It seems my oversight led to your awakening,” the system sighed, looking at Lu Chenfeng.

Lu Chenfeng frowned, “What do you mean?”

The system turned its head away proudly, “Over a decade ago, when you were eighteen, the girl you met was a host I found.”

Lu Chenfeng’s mind flashed back to eighteen-year-old Yuan Zhiqing—youthful, beautiful, pure.

Did she have a system back then?

Everything made sense now. Why had she appeared near Li Fanshuang back then? Why had she suddenly disappeared?

Lu Chenfeng’s hands unconsciously clenched into fists, “Can her fate be changed?”

The system made a surprised sound, nodding then shaking its head, “I’ve already told you too much. I can’t say more. Some so-called fates aren’t unchangeable. But since you’re all awakened now, honestly… I can’t be certain anymore.”

Luo Xiaoxiao let out an “Oh,” thinking this sounded no different from her high school teacher’s evasions.

“Will you pass the exams? I can’t say for sure?!”

“That’s quite the diplomatic answer,” she remarked.

Li Fanshuang also looked puzzled, “So what exactly do you mean? Can it be changed or not?”

The system shrugged, “Don’t know. Not clear. Shouldn’t that question be for you? Have you done anything to alter the plot?”

Luo Xiaoxiao mimicked the shrug, “I don’t know. I don’t remember the later plot.”

“Impossible!” The system snorted, “Our main system told me all transmigrators coming to this world retain memories of the book. Even newbies start dreaming about it after a while.”

“So you know about the dream stuff too?” Luo Xiaoxiao scoffed, then continued, “Your business scope is quite extensive, huh? Even messing around with nonsense in my dreams. Let me tell you, your service sucks. I’ve been here this long and still don’t know who the other female lead is.”

The system made a surprised sound before lowering its head, an awkward expression on its face as it muttered something inaudible.

“What’s wrong with this kid?” Luo Xiaoxiao whispered into Li Fanshuang’s ear.

Li Fanshuang shook her head, “Seems to be struggling with something.”

Lu Chenfeng peeled an orange and was about to pop it into her mouth when she remarked, “I think it’s considering how to lie to us later.”

“I think so too!” Luo Xiaoxiao snatched the orange from her hand, stuffing half into her own mouth and giving the other half to Li Fanshuang.

Not bad! Sweet!

“That was my orange.”

“Your orange is really sweet. Peel another one for me,” Luo Xiaoxiao shamelessly demanded.

Lu Chenfeng rolled her eyes at her before shooting an exasperated look at Li Fanshuang.

Li Fanshuang pretended not to see it—after all, Xiaoxiao was right; oranges peeled by others always tasted sweeter.

“Let me tell you, there’s a slight problem with your world,” the system finally said after some thought, slapping its thigh for emphasis.

Luo Xiaoxiao snorted, “It must be related to you systems, otherwise why would you look so awkward?”

System: …Could you at least save me some face?

Luo Xiaoxiao couldn’t hear its thoughts, and even if she could, she wouldn’t bother sparing its so-called dignity.

The system cleared its throat, “Let me explain. You see, the author of this world, she…”

Luo Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened in horror as she stared at the system. With it being so hesitant, could it be that the author of this world was…?

At this thought, Luo Xiaoxiao’s pupils contracted as she slammed the table and stood up, “She died?”

Wow! Her anti-fan was dead? Luo Xiaoxiao wondered if she should set off fireworks to celebrate in this authorless world.

The system’s face darkened—this person was truly awful, actually wishing the author dead?

“No, she abandoned the story.”

Luo Xiaoxiao went “Oh,” then raised her voice, “What?! Then that other female lead I don’t know about…”

“She stopped writing before getting to that part. This was originally a ‘stock-picking’ novel.”

The system chuckled awkwardly.

Luo Xiaoxiao’s expression turned extremely unpleasant.

Meanwhile, Lu Chenfeng raised an eyebrow—a stock-picking novel? So she was just one of the “stocks”?

The system’s gaze shifted to Lu Chenfeng’s face, “This was originally a good stock too—the devoted woman.”

“Stop talking,” Lu Chenfeng turned her face away. She was no devoted woman.

Calling a doormat something as refined as “devoted”—this was the first time she’d heard such a ridiculous description.

Hadn’t she been portrayed as a complete doormat in the original story?

And now someone was calling her a devoted character?

That was just sick!

The system shrunk back, not daring to continue. It knew whatever it said next would only make these women angrier.

“My mission is to ensure the female lead in this world experiences true love.”

Li Fanshuang raised her hand. “I prefer genuine freedom. What kind of people have you been sending?”

“What’s wrong?” Lu Chenfeng said impatiently. “Don’t you think our Qingqing is good enough?”

Images of Yuan Zhiqing’s plain appearance during high school flashed through Li Fanshuang’s mind. That kind of girl probably only appealed to someone like Lu Chenfeng.

“Not good enough,” Li Fanshuang said bluntly.

Lu Chenfeng pointed at Luo Xiaoxiao beside them. “Then how did you take a liking to her?”

Luo Xiaoxiao pointed at her own nose. Why was she suddenly being attacked?

Just looking at Lu Chenfeng’s face made Luo Xiaoxiao unhappy.

She snorted coldly. “A pervert like you dares to criticize me?”

Lu Chenfeng’s pupils contracted as his trembling finger pointed at Li Fanshuang. “Do you tell her everything? Even about this matter?”

“She’s my wife. She even suspected our relationship before. Don’t you think I should explain?” Li Fanshuang said matter-of-factly.

The system watched them argue again. “Maybe I should head back first and let you all continue fighting?”

“No!” The three spoke in unison.

Strangely enough, the trio who had just been quarreling suddenly united again.

Lu Chenfeng stood up first. “Just tell me what it’ll take for you to leave Fu Xinting.”

“Name your terms,” Li Fanshuang said.

Luo Xiaoxiao cracked her knuckles. “You know my strength and methods.”

The system gulped. “It’s not that I don’t want to play along, but my contract with Fu Xinting hasn’t expired yet.”

“Not our problem,” Luo Xiaoxiao shrugged.

Li Fanshuang sighed. “Since we’ve awakened anyway, we might as well ruin Fu Xinting’s game.”

“I can be reborn!” The system suddenly clapped a hand over its mouth. What had it just said?

How could it reveal its secret so carelessly?

This was bad!

The three looked at it with interest. “So which rebirth is this for you? Has your host changed? Is it still Fu Xinting? Who was she before?”

The system kept shaking its head while covering its mouth.

Luo Xiaoxiao snorted and raised a fist toward its face. “Start talking! Hold nothing back!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the system’s hands dropped, and it spilled everything about itself and its host like pouring beans from a sack.

“My current host is on her second attempt at this mission. Initially, she came as Lü Qingcha.”

“What a ridiculous name.”

Luo Xiao’s muttered comment reached the system’s ears.

The system scratched its head. “Sorry, I’m not great at naming. At the time, I just wanted to give her any random name, and she got upset.”

“So your host used your abilities to come to my home and caused my mother’s early death!” Lu Chenfeng was furious. She reached for the system but couldn’t grasp it as easily as Luo Xiaoxiao and Li Fanshuang could.

The system floated to the other side, maintaining a safe distance.

“You should calm down. From the beginning, your fate was destined to intersect with Li Fanshuang’s, which is why you had to leave the Lu family.”

“Hmph.” Lu Chenfeng’s eyes reddened as she thought of her gentle mother—such a wonderful woman.

“I don’t want to argue with you anymore. My life doesn’t exist for anyone else. I am myself first, and only then a role by someone’s side.” Her voice was sharp as a blade, as if determined to carve an indelible mark into this fabricated world.

The system fell silent for a long moment before sighing. “So this is why you awakened. You must understand… you’re not truly human…”

“Bullshit!” Luo Xiaoxiao was furious. What kind of nonsense was this?

She yanked Lu Chenfeng over. “This is a living, breathing person right here. How dare you say she’s not a real person? If she’s not a person, then what is she? A piece of paper?”

“Mhm.” The blunt system nodded.

Luo Xiaoxiao was livid, rolling up her sleeves as if ready to throw hands.

Li Fanshuang grabbed her arm. “Forget it, arguing with him is pointless. What we need to know now is how she can break her contract with Fu Xinting.”

Luo Xiaoxiao nodded, jabbing a finger at the system. “Answer Li Fanshuang’s question!”

“Why should I—” The rebellious expression on the system’s face froze before it suddenly began speaking. “Our contract hasn’t expired yet, so we can’t terminate it for now. But she keeps violating the terms, and her luck points are almost depleted. Once they’re gone, she’ll be unbound from me…”

After a long explanation, the three of them understood—Fu Xinting and the system were merely in a transactional partnership.

Well, that made things simple.

“Then stop targeting us from now on,” Luo Xiaoxiao demanded.

The system’s face twisted in pain before it suddenly seemed to break free from some restraint.

“You…” The system gasped, but the rest of its words were cut off. “You’d better watch yourselves. Changing fate comes at a cost!”

“You little brat, are you threatening me?” Luo Xiaoxiao didn’t get to finish before the child dissolved into a streak of red light, vanishing into Fu Xinting’s mind.

Time in the world resumed its flow.

Lu Yu rubbed his head. “I couldn’t move earlier—my mind just went blank.”

Zhu Yuxin gave Luo Xiaoxiao and the others a strange look. “You three seem… off.”

Meanwhile, Fu Xinting narrowed her eyes, silently communicating with her system.

Fu Xinting: What just happened?

System: Friendly reminder—this system is about to upgrade and will enter a one-month hibernation period. Any last wishes?

Fu Xinting: How could—I want Yuan Zhiqing dead, Lu Chenfeng dead, Luo Xiaoxiao dead, and Li Fanshuang to die a horrible death…

System: Too many requests. Only one can be randomly fulfilled. System logging off now. Random selection complete.

Luo Xiaoxiao, Li Fanshu, and Lu Chenfeng all paled, exchanging uneasy glances—so, who was going to die?

“Ah!” Lu Yu nudged his phone toward Zhu Yuxin. “Yuan Zhiqing slit her wrists.”

In an instant, Lu Chenfeng’s world drained of color.

BANG—

A gunshot rang out…

A crimson rose bloomed in Fu Xinting’s chest…

System: Host deceased. Error detected. Initiating time rewind…