The Cannon Fodder NPC Went Too Far [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 18
Chapter 18
“Host, let’s now finalize the points from that night. Completion of the key plot point, base score 80 points. Failure to complete the designated ending, minus 20 points… Total score 60 points.”
“Ding dong, the Host actually passed! That’s wonderful!” The little blue ball praised happily, then lowered its voice and muttered: “It would be even better if the male lead hadn’t nearly been killed by the big villain.”
Xia Yu was slightly disappointed. So Shen Tingyu didn’t die.
The system didn’t notice Xia Yu’s expression at all and complained pitifully: “When the big villain shot the male lead, the system thought the mission was going to fail and the Host was going to lose her life. Thankfully, the male lead has great luck. The bullet hit the brooch he was wearing instead of a vital spot, and he was successfully saved.”
“Host, next time you take action, you must hold back the big villain. At least wait until we’ve finished all the plot points before killing him,” the little blue ball earnestly advised Xia Yu, completely unaware of how brutal its words sounded.
Since the last time the female lead was saved and the plot showed no change, System 10086 had taught itself to independently fix all loopholes not explicitly defined in its programming.
That’s right. It was a cannon fodder NPC system, not the male lead’s system. It only needed to focus on its Host and assist her in completing the mission. After the mission was complete, did the protagonist’s life or death have anything to do with the system?
After dealing with the company’s matters, Xia Yu sincerely promised the housekeeper she would never make the same mistake again, and casually asked about the situation at the time.
The housekeeper vividly described the cold and tense atmosphere of the entire Xia household at the time in a few words. Afterward, she looked deeply at Xia Yu and whispered: “Young Head of the Family, although Miss Shen is only your stepmother and has only been with you for a few months, she genuinely treats you like her own daughter.”
“CEO Shen truly cares about you.”
Mmm-hmm. Xia Yu lowered her head, pursing her lips and smiling shyly. Her toes tapped the ground with secret delight.
She knew it. She cared about Shen Zheng too.
She treated Shen Zheng like family.
“Qin Ying, what do children these days like?” Shen Zheng absentmindedly twirled the steel pen in her hand. She couldn’t focus on the words in the document. After frowning and pondering for a moment, she looked up and asked Qin Ying.
Qin Ying found Shen Zheng’s antiquated tone amusing. CEO Shen, please stop calling her ‘child.’ You’re only eight years older, don’t act like you’re from a completely different generation. Don’t ‘care’ for her so much that she actually treats you like her mother. “CEO Shen, you shouldn’t ask me. How about you consult CEO Gu? CEO Gu knows more about these things.” Qin Ying’s eyes darted, and she immediately threw Gu Xiwen under the bus.
Shen Zheng’s eyes instantly lit up, and she immediately made a call.
“Oh, a rarity. CEO Shen is calling my private number. Tell me, what’s the private matter?” Gu Xiwen’s lazy voice came through the phone.
Shen Zheng blinked, vaguely exchanged pleasantries with her for a while, and then obliquely inquired about her romantic history.
Gu Xiwen wasn’t fooled. She chuckled, said “Aiya,” and understood everything: “Since when was CEO Shen so curious about my private life? Your interest lies elsewhere. Do you have someone you like?”
Without waiting for Shen Zheng’s answer, Gu Xiwen continued on her own, enjoying the gossip: “Wow, I actually guessed it right. You’ve fallen for the stepdaughter you’ve been meticulously looking after. You pervert! So you did take the ‘care’ all the way to the bedroom!”
“Gu Xiwen!” Shen Zheng scolded in a low voice. Sure enough, she shouldn’t have consulted this loose-tongued person.
A flush of pink crept up Shen Zheng’s face.
“She’s not my stepdaughter. I signed an agreement with her father to handle those old fogeys of the Shen family. Her father merely entrusted her to my care. Now, I just want to take deeper care of her. Is that wrong?” Shen Zheng lightly cleared her throat, explaining with righteous indignation, her face full of confidence despite the weak logic.
Silence fell over the phone line. Gu Xiwen was clearly stunned by Shen Zheng’s brazen remarks. She truly is a Shen family member, inheriting the shamelessness.
Shen Zheng didn’t feel she had said anything wrong.
Back then, Xia Qiyuan had entrusted all of the Xia family businesses, along with Xia Yu, to her. He had explicitly promised in writing that as long as she could ensure Xia Yu’s safety, she could act as her elder and look after her for life.
Now, she didn’t even want that elder status anymore. She was willing to drop a generation. Why couldn’t she?
She understood Xia Yu’s ambition, she understood her pride. She would accompany her step by step until they stood side by side.
She knew her better than anyone and cared for her more deeply than anyone. If Xia Yu absolutely had to have someone by her side, why couldn’t it be her?
Gu Xiwen was silent for a moment, then slowly shared her methods for pursuing people. Before she could add the caveat that it might not work for them, Shen Zheng immediately hung up the phone.
Gu Xiwen listened to the dial tone and laughed in annoyance. Seriously, using her and then discarding her!
However, abducting their little cub at the Xia family house felt a little improper.
She felt strangely guilty looking at the kind-faced housekeeper who still respectfully called her “Miss Shen.” How about letting Xia Yu stay at her house for a while?
“Xia Yu, I estimate I’ll be busy again these days, so I won’t be returning to the Xia residence. I’ll just go straight to my own home. My place is closer to the company. Didn’t you say you needed to consult me about company matters? Why don’t you also stay at my house for a while to save trouble?”
Shen Zheng asked Xia Yu casually, though the grip on her pen suddenly tightened.
“Okay. Shen Zheng, I’ve never been to your house before!” Xia Yu agreed without a second thought.
Shen Zheng knew almost everything about her life, but she knew almost nothing about Shen Zheng. In fact, she also wanted to understand her better.
Xia Yu smiled brightly and followed Shen Zheng, entering her villa.
The white marble floor was polished smooth. A blue leather sofa sat silently in the living room, without a single wrinkle. A few oil paintings hung on the wall. The entire villa seemed cold and sterile, lacking any signs of everyday life.
Xia Yu explored eagerly, touching and looking at everything, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Shen Zheng shook her head helplessly, leaning against the wall, a gentle smile curling her lips.
“Host, Host, the system remembers that in the later plot, the big villain imprisoned Xia Yu in the basement of a villa. It should be this villa. But I don’t see any signs of a dungeon,” the little blue ball bounced around in her mind, sounding confused.
Xia Yu shook her head. She had just arrived. How would she know?
“It doesn’t matter. There’s no way Shen Zheng would lock me up. I won’t follow that plotline.”
If Shen Zheng dared, she would… she would turn around and lock her up.
“What are you thinking about?” Shen Zheng waved her fingers in front of Xia Yu’s eyes. Seeing Xia Yu snap back to attention, she led her to her room.
Seeing Shen Zheng walk ahead of her, Xia Yu subconsciously reached out, wanting to take her hand from behind.
Shen Zheng blinked, gave a fleeting mischievous smile, and subtly tossed her hair, avoiding her hand.
Xia Yu’s hand grabbed air. She pouted and immediately clasped her hands behind her back. She wasn’t going to hold her hand anymore.
“I had this room cleaned and decorated according to your preferences. From now on, this is your room. You can mess it up however you like.”
Shen Zheng opened the door and entered first. The room was dominated by soft creamy white tones, with a massive crystal chandelier that sparkled brightly. In the distance, a huge floor-to-ceiling window offered a panoramic view of the villa’s exterior at night.
Not to mention the office desk made of precious wood, the white leather sofa, and the giant bear-shaped pillow… such small details clearly showed she was extremely familiar with Xia Yu’s living habits.
“It’s getting late. Get some rest early,” Shen Zheng softly instructed, then turned to leave.
“Shen Zheng!” Xia Yu suddenly called out her name. Her round eyes were fixed on Shen Zheng’s light eyebrows, clearly displeased.
Shen Zheng raised an eyebrow in confusion. Then, as if remembering something, she added gently: “Good night. Have sweet dreams.”
Xia Yu pursed her lips, feeling an inexplicable burst of anger. Her action of stepping forward, waiting for Shen Zheng to hug her, now felt incredibly awkward and ridiculous.
It’s like this again. Shen Zheng is avoiding her again. It’s been days now. How long is she going to sulk?
Hadn’t they already made up? Why had the way they interacted changed? She didn’t like it.
Xia Yu’s bright almond eyes were now wide and round. Her small nose fluttered quickly. She took a deep breath, raised her head, and commanded as if it were her right: “Shen Zheng, I’m afraid of the dark. Sleep with me.”
Shen Zheng froze. Her fingers clenched instantly. Her gentle expression completely shattered. Unconcealed possessiveness burned in her pupils. She swallowed hard, quickly lowering her eyelids to hide her expression. For a moment, she desperately wanted to basely agree.
A light laugh came from above Xia Yu’s head. A cool fingertip gently poked Xia Yu’s forehead.
This little cub! Fearless of everything! When did she become afraid of the dark? Honestly, always trying to act spoiled.
“You’re too old for that. Sleep by yourself.”
Watching Shen Zheng turn and walk away decisively, Xia Yu’s sparkling eyes dimmed slightly. She nervously twirled her fingers.
Everyone says Shen Zheng treats her and looks after her like a daughter. If she genuinely treats Shen Zheng as her mother, would their relationship go back to how it was before?
She could still hug her, hold her…
“Mo… Mother.” The voice, as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, came out muffled from Xia Yu’s mouth. Having finally done what she had struggled with for days, although her face was flushed, Xia Yu felt a huge weight lift off her chest.
Shen Zheng was not as happy as Xia Yu had imagined. Instead, her entire body froze in place. She turned around with a grinding sound, like rusty metal. Her gentle expression cracked into pieces.
That lifeless face suddenly held an inexplicable look of a widow whose spouse had just died and was preparing for perpetual mourning.
God dammit! Who wants to be her mother? Are they really only ten years apart?
What mother wants to press her onto a bed and kiss her, wanting to turn her over and “torment” her?
That damn Gu Xiwen! She’ll never forgive her even after she dies for teaching her this trick!
Shen Zheng was utterly broken.