Chapter 16: She’s Also an Unlucky Soul

Jiang Yunyao returned to Xie Yixing’s side and sat on the sofa, gazing up at the ceiling.

“Jiang Yunyao! I heard there’s a hot spring garden here! Come on, let’s go check it out!” Xie Yixing called to her, but seeing her motionless like a statue, he walked over and occasionally glanced up. “What are you looking at?”

Jiang Yunyao stared at the line of golden, shimmering characters and said solemnly, “Don’t disturb me! I’m thinking! How was this ceiling made?”

Xie Yixing was speechless. “Are you drunk?”

He raised his wine glass and swirled it, muttering, “Is this grape wine really strong? Why am I not drunk?”

When Jiang Yunyao left, the livestream audience could only hear voices, so they had no clue what was happening.

“The ceiling is of two types—one for the top floor, one for the others… Oops, wrong place!”

“What kind of nonsense is that, ‘how the ceiling was made!’ Is she really drunk?”

“Drunk my foot! She was so clear-headed just now when talking to that yin-yang woman!”

“Am I the only one wanting to see the hot spring garden?”

Jiang Yunyao’s feelings were tangled and complicated. She thought she should have gone back to the mountains for a few laps to calm down.

Her close friend since freshman year, her college roommate for four years, was actually the protagonist of a novel!

“That’s not the main point! The key is this world is made up of many novels!” the system added, then asked, “Host, how do you feel? Surprised?”

Jiang Yunyao replied, “...Thank you. Only shock, no joy!”

As everyone knows, the protagonist’s surroundings in novels tend to be accident-prone zones! And the protagonist themselves is a magnet for all sorts of misfortune!

She didn’t want Muxin to be constantly drowning in trouble.

Jiang Yunyao reopened the plot and quickly skimmed through it to make sure she hadn’t missed any crucial detail.

“Mu Jin, the heroine of ‘The Great Metaphysics Master Travels from Ancient to Modern,’ is the most proud disciple of the National Master of Yi Kingdom, the leader of Yi Kingdom’s secret guards, and a trusted confidante of the emperor.

Due to a mission gone wrong, she was framed and accidentally transmigrated to the 21st century, becoming a university freshman.

After learning the cause of the original owner’s death, she tore apart the treacherous relatives and reclaimed the inheritance; later, she joined Qingfeng Temple and became the senior disciple of Daoist Qiu Wu.

Then, relying on her skills in divination, celestial inquiry, and eliminating supernatural beings, she firmly established her standing in this realm.

However, as more supernatural incidents emerge, Mu Jin discovers that these events seem to conceal an even greater secret...”

Anticipating Jiang Yunyao’s question, the system directly provided the official explanation.

“Currently, the predicted plot covers one-fifth of the story. Unless the plot continues to unfold, the subsequent content cannot be predicted.”

Of course, even the predicted plot isn’t 100% accurate.

That’s why the detection results are for reference only!

Jiang Yunyao pondered, “If I tell Mu Jin the predicted plot, could it change the identity of the true culprit?”

If she first said culprit A, but then culprit B was revealed, it would be better not to say anything!

The system’s cold electronic voice still sounded confident.

“Host, rest assured! Our predictions are based on factual big data analysis, guaranteeing the truthfulness of events. The scenario you mentioned won’t happen!”

Jiang Yunyao understood, “You predict the plot based on known character identities!”

The system exclaimed, “Host, you are incredibly clever! Binding you is truly the luckiest moment of my existence!”

Jiang Yunyao: “...Why have you suddenly become so enthusiastic?”

Compared to the aloof system when first bound, it was now alarmingly warm, even addressing her formally!

The system’s tone fluctuated greatly, clearly very excited.

“You are the first host I’ve encountered who can trigger the plot! I’ve been handling this task for thousands of years part-time, and you’re the first real hope I’ve seen!”

Jiang Yunyao: “...”

The first host who can trigger the plot? Great, she was also a cursed soul!

She thought further, then doubted herself. “When I bound you, didn’t you say there were no task requirements?”

Still basking in joy, the system was suddenly struck with sadness upon hearing this.

“There are no task requirements for the host, but there are for the system!”

Jiang Yunyao: “!”

No need to say more—thanks to heaven, earth, and the task!

After finishing her chat with the system, she heard Xie Yixing muttering about finding her some sobering medicine.

She quickly grabbed his hand. “No need, I’m not drunk!”

Xie Yixing was suddenly held by the wrist and felt the softness of her skin. His body tensed, his eyes averted, and his ears flushed crimson.

After a few seconds of stalemate, he quickly glanced around. Seeing no one was watching, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ja-Jiang Yunyao, stay here quietly. I’ll go find you some sobering medicine! If someone comes—”

Before he finished, Jiang Yunyao stood up. He immediately forgot all the chaotic thoughts in his head and hurriedly grasped her arms. “What are you doing?”

She met his gaze. “Which one of us is really drunk? It’s you, isn’t it? I told you, I’m not drunk!”

“Usually, drunk people say they’re not drunk!”

Xie Yixing looked her over carefully. Indeed, she didn’t seem drunk, so he gave up on the sobering medicine and resumed his earlier topic. “Shall we go to the hot spring garden? I’ve already figured out the route!”

Jiang Yunyao also wanted to see the garden. She perked up. “Let’s go!”

“Welcome to the big show: Who’s really drunk!”

“Ahhh, finally going to the hot spring garden! I can’t wait to see it!”

“Guys, no offense, but from our vantage point, what can we really see?”

“I heard online there’s a photo. It’s just a regular glass greenhouse, with lawns and pebble paths, and even a swing!”

“Wow, hearing that from you, I’ve lost all desire to see it!”

Neither Jiang Yunyao nor Xie Yixing expected that upon arriving at the garden, they wouldn’t see much scenery but would overhear gossip instead.

Seven or eight noble ladies gathered, their chatter drowning out the entire garden.

Or rather, the garden was so quiet that everyone else had stopped talking and perked up their ears.

“Did any of you see Madam Hu today? It’s Old Master Hu’s birthday, and she’s not attending?”

“Mr. Hu said Madam Hu is ill!”

“Shh! Not ill! I heard Old Master Hu is possessed! Mr. Hu brought a master over, and Madam Hu is upstairs receiving him!”

“Old Master Hu possessed? What happened? When did it happen?”

“I don’t know the details. I only heard it’s related to how Old Master Hu dealt with that mistress!”

“What mistress? Where did you all hear this? I don’t know anything!”