Chapter 112: The System’s Threat

 

[Yes.]

The system replied with just one word.

For some reason, hearing its answer gave Xu Zhizhi an odd sense of relief.

It made sense. Only someone with a certain level of dysfunction could come up with a criminal assistance system like this.

If its creator didn’t use it, it was meaningless to create it in the first place.

Watching the ambulance speed away, taking the Li father and son with it, Xu Zhizhi’s expression became calm.

[Host, I must say, I admire you. Of all the hosts I’ve had, only you have come this far. Only you managed to guess that I’m the system’s creator.]

“Uh-huh, got it. So let’s just leave it at that,” Xu Zhizhi replied, suddenly feeling weary. She realized her emotions had been manipulated.

Originally, she just wanted to slack off and earn some money, but over time, fame and fortune lured her in, causing her to lose many chances to be a slacker.

She felt unhappy. And now, with the system threatening her, she was even unhappier.

When she was unhappy, all she wanted to do was give up.

Unfortunately, the system didn’t know what Xu Zhizhi was thinking. It was eagerly anticipating her breakdown.

[Have you decided? Where will you begin, Host? Why not immerse yourself in the role? Once you do, it won’t hurt as much. You’ll even have a reason for your crimes and it won’t feel so painful.]

The system, like a fisherman casting a net, watched its prey caught and spoke in a calm, detached tone.

Qin Su sensed that something was wrong and grabbed Xu Zhizhi’s hand.

Her gaze shifted from the ambulance to Qin Su. “It’s fine, don’t worry, nothing will happen.”

Earlier, she had been shaken and stunned upon realizing the system’s true nature. Now, she had recovered her composure and appeared calm.

When Xu Zhizhi wanted to act, no one could see through her performance.

Qin Su frowned, feeling uneasy, but since Xu Zhizhi seemed fine, he didn’t press further. “If anything happens, tell me. I’ll visit the hospital later to check on Li Jiahang. His behavior was highly unusual.”

Qin Su had some suspicions but didn’t dare share them with Xu Zhizhi, fearing it would frighten her. She was incredibly smart and he didn’t want to confirm her worst fears.

No matter how strong Xu Zhizhi seemed, in Qin Su’s heart, she was someone who needed protection.

It wasn’t that Xu Zhizhi was weak and needed to be sheltered, but he believed anyone facing such circumstances deserved to be shielded from evil.

Protecting her was his duty.

Especially since Xu Zhizhi was the one he loved.

“I understand. I won’t run away from this,” Xu Zhizhi said firmly.

Qin Su gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before leaving with his classmate in the police car.

Feng Jie stepped forward and hugged Xu Zhizhi. “Zhizhi, let’s go home.”

“Okay,” Xu Zhizhi replied softly.

“Let’s go back. Li Jiahang might be a psychopath, unable to handle reality and stimuli, which is why he went mad,” Chu Lu said coldly, showing no sympathy. She thought it was better to pity Xu Zhizhi than Li Jiahang.

Being in the entertainment industry, Xu Zhizhi had suffered a series of unfortunate events, earning her the title of the ultimate unlucky person.

Everyone headed back. Chu Lu announced in the group chat of the production crew that filming would be paused due to the director’s unresolved personal matters.

Since the incident had happened outside, no one in the crew knew the details. They simply discussed the director’s issues briefly and filming was temporarily put on hold.

Xu Zhizhi, uninterested in socializing, returned with Feng Jie.

The next day, Chu Lu, accompanied by a lawyer, confronted Li Feng.

Li Feng was initially resistant, but Chu Lu mentioned his attempt to frame Xu Zhizhi as a thief. She said coldly, “I never thought you would do something like this. In my mind, you’ve always been an upright person.”

She had spent a sleepless night investigating the crew members, making calls, and using her connections to dig into the security company’s background.

The conclusion was clear. Li Feng had deliberately tried to frame Xu Zhizhi.

She couldn’t comprehend what Xu Zhizhi had done to provoke him to the extent of risking his lifelong reputation.

“You’re defending Xu Zhizhi. Do you even know what kind of person she is?” Li Feng sat on the hospital bed, his eyes stubborn. “If she isn’t stopped, if her true nature isn’t revealed early, do you know what kind of damage she could cause?”

He was convinced that Chu Lu’s unwavering belief in Xu Zhizhi’s goodness stemmed from her ignorance of Xu Zhizhi’s true nature.

Chu Lu laughed in disbelief. “I don’t know what nonsense you’re talking about. I just want to tell you to face reality. I’m willing to leave you some dignity. Sign the contract to terminate your role and leave the crew.

“If you refuse, I’ll reveal everything I’ve found.”

Li Feng’s face was red with anger, his chest heaving violently. “Chu Lu! Don’t forget, I have connections and money in the entertainment industry. If we fight head-on, we’ll both lose. I must stay in the crew to ensure Xu Zhizhi doesn’t cause trouble. Leaving is not an option.”

“What are you so fixated on?” Chu Lu asked, confused.

Li Feng looked down. “You can take over as the director and I’ll become the assistant director. That’s the most I can concede.”

Having spent decades in the entertainment industry, he knew Chu Lu couldn’t act recklessly.

The system had told him that Li Jiahang’s madness was temporary and that treatment would help him escape punishment for now. If Li Feng completed his mission, the system would erase everyone’s memories of the incident. However, the rewards would be limited. After redeeming medicine to heal Li Jiahang’s legs, everything else would go to the system.

Li Feng didn’t care about the rest. He already had fame and fortune. Anything extra was unnecessary.

He agreed to the system’s terms without hesitation.

Even without the system, he would have sought revenge against Xu Zhizhi.

Stepping down to the assistant director role was a compromise he believed Chu Lu would accept.

Chu Lu considered his proposal and Xu Zhizhi’s situation before replying, “Fine. But there’s an additional clause. If you endanger anyone else, you must voluntarily give up everything and leave the crew.”

“Deal,” Li Feng agreed immediately.

Chu Lu had her lawyer prepare the agreement. She sat on a nearby couch, staring at Li Feng. “Do you know why I’m agreeing to this?”

Li Feng remained silent.

Chu Lu chuckled bitterly. “Li Feng, stop deceiving yourself. After all these years in the entertainment industry, you still can’t judge people? I don’t know why you’re so biased against Xu Zhizhi, but everything that’s happened is because of your prejudice. If you don’t change, you’ll only sink deeper into this abyss.”

Xu Zhizhi had taken down renowned actors, award-winning veterans, and even teenage delinquents. Some were sentenced to years in prison, others to death.

If Li Feng insisted on self-destruction, Chu Lu could already predict his fate.

“I won’t,” Li Feng replied firmly.

It was hard to persuade someone determined to walk toward their doom.

Chu Lu’s eyes turned cold.

After a brief standoff, the lawyer returned with the signed and sealed contract. Both parties signed the supplemental agreement.

Once the signing was complete, Chu Lu turned and walked away without a word, leaving no trace of sympathy for Li Feng.

Li Feng watched her back, his lips pressed tightly together, his hand clenched on the blanket, his gaze unwavering.

[All of this will disappear, like a dream,] the system said.

Li Feng nodded firmly. “Good.”

Xu Zhizhi received the news in the afternoon.

Chu Lu’s directing skills were comparable to Li Feng’s, though their areas of expertise differed. After wrapping up other matters, Chu Lu quickly started studying the filming process.

The task wasn’t too challenging, as filmmaking principles were largely universal.

The next day, the crew announced personnel changes.

By the third day, Chu Lu declared that filming would resume.

She was a tough leader, preferring to move forward steadily rather than waiting indefinitely. The team would spend two weeks adjusting before accelerating progress.

As for Li Feng, his health forced him to step down as assistant director.

Chu Lu showed him some leniency by keeping certain details private.

Xu Zhizhi guessed it was out of pity, pity for his son’s condition, and that Chu Lu wanted to preserve his dignity.

That was likely the case. Most people couldn’t completely detach their emotions when dealing with former friends.

Maintaining appearances was the most common choice.

What intrigued Xu Zhizhi the most was why Li Feng persisted.

His son had already gone mad, yet he remained determined to frame her. His obsession was truly remarkable.

She was also curious about what the system was plotting. Hadn’t it already cornered her? Did it plan to push her even further?

Xu Zhizhi glanced at Li Feng, her curiosity deepening.

After work resumed, everyone acted normal on the surface, though speculation ran rampant. Changing directors was a big deal in the entertainment industry, the kind of explosive news that everyone talked about.

Still, the director, assistant director, and lead actors all seemed calm.

Feng Jie was particularly pleased, smiling brightly as she leaned close to Xu Zhizhi and whispered, “Director Chu is amazing!”

Li Feng was a well-known director in the industry. Incidents like this, or even worse, weren’t unheard of for directors. For Li Feng, it would have been just another storm to weather.

No one expected that by the next day, news of Li Feng being replaced would spread.

“He really is impressive,” Xu Zhizhi chuckled softly.

At that moment, Li Feng approached her. “Get ready for your scene.”

As the assistant director, notifying Xu Zhizhi to prepare for her scene was now part of his job.

Xu Zhizhi nodded and stood to head toward the set, but she noticed Li Feng hadn’t left.

She turned to him. “What is it?”

“Xu Zhizhi, you must be feeling pretty smug right now. But I’ll tear off your mask. You won’t stay carefree for long,” Li Feng said, his voice hoarse and laced with resentment.

Xu Zhizhi tilted her head, her eyes scanning him up and down. “Oh? I’ll be waiting.”

She cast him a dismissive glance before walking onto the set.

The scene was set in a foreign country, built on location rather than filming abroad. The crew had opted for a constructed set, as the difference in cost was minimal, and shooting overseas would have been slightly more expensive.

Xu Zhizhi changed into clothing with a hint of foreign flair, while the carefully chosen extras took their places.

The scene involved a casino. After selling the porcelain vase, Wen Yang fled abroad. When she let her guard down, she was kidnapped and extorted.

That period marked one of the most miserable times in Wen Yang’s life, apart from her eventual imprisonment. Stranded in a foreign land with no understanding of the language and a guide who was part of the extortion gang, she hit rock bottom.

With her passport confiscated, she had no choice but to beg on street corners.

Wen Yang was a character defined by her tragic fate, with the tenacity to claw her way back up by any means necessary.

She was the type to resort to underhanded methods yet work tirelessly to survive. On a deeper level, she represented a character whose outwardly ‘feel-good’ story was built on a foundation of tragedy.

Her tumultuous life, filled with ups and downs, evoked both astonishment and reflection on the unpredictability of existence. The film, ‘The Game of Choice,’ symbolized how her decisions were reckless, like a game. Yet the consequences of her seemingly ordinary choices were what ultimately led to her tragic end, something preordained from the start.

As Xu Zhizhi positioned her movements for the scene, she pondered those thoughts.

In the scene, she crouched by the roadside, watching people speaking a foreign language and studying their words and behaviors.

In the gambling city, where the spirit of betting thrived in every corner, Wen Yang absorbed the local language and picked up gambling skills, gradually becoming proficient.

This time, she learned the language, worked on building connections, and strategized how to retrieve her passport and money to leave the country.

The scene primarily focuses on dedicated learning, a depiction of meticulous study and steady progress.

After deciding on the movements, the set came to life when Chu Lu called ‘action.’

Wen Yang sat in a corner, with the camera weaving through the set before finally finding her. In front of her was a bowl and she held a stick, trying to figure out how those foreigners spoke.

Her awkward pronunciation gradually improved, transitioning from rough and clumsy to smooth and natural.

Nearby was a man who used scams to gamble, one of those infamous tricksters.

He had been her temporary shelter for days, allowing her to avoid being homeless. Although she hadn’t mastered much of the language yet, she had already figured out most of his cheating methods.

Still, there was plenty to learn from his tricks and some techniques were beyond her grasp.

The plot was a classic one. The two of them bantered while alternating between setting up stalls and begging.

Wen Yang sneered at the man’s dream of playing in a big casino, mocking his timid nature, saying he’d be devoured clean if he ever tried.

At that moment, three burly men approached.

The leader was bald, with rolls of fat, a bushy beard covering his face, and tattoos across his 1.9-meter frame. The sheer presence of the group was intimidating.

“I paid the stall fee,” the young man quickly said.

One of the men sat in front of him. “I heard you’re pretty skilled. Let’s play a game.”

The man slapped a stack of cash onto the table.

The young man’s expression changed slightly. “I… I don’t have anything to bet.”

“Lose, and we take a hand. Win, and you take the money and come with us,” the man said bluntly.

The young man hesitated, unwilling to gamble, but one of the men already reached out his hand with his expression deceptively friendly.

Reluctantly, the young man began shuffling the cards with practiced ease.

“We’ll keep it simple,” he said quietly. “Highest card wins.”

As the young man shuffled, Wen Yang sat nearby, choosing not to intervene just yet.

When it came time to deal, one of the men reached out, intending to cut the deck.

The young man objected.

Sensing the rising tension, Wen Yang stepped in, saying, “Let me. I don’t know how to gamble.”

She spoke in broken language, glancing between the two men.

Reaching out, she took the deck and clumsily cut the cards, a rough attempt that clearly showed her lack of skill.

The man stared at Wen Yang. Her nervous demeanor seemed to convince him and he nodded in agreement.

Wen Yang finished cutting the cards and dealt them out.

Both sides peeked at their cards, lifting the edges slightly to check.

Their gazes shifted to Wen Yang, then back to each other.

“Reveal them!” the young man said, his lips trembling.

In the tense atmosphere, they flipped their cards over.

The young man’s hand was a straight flush, but it was smaller than the burly man’s straight flush. In other words, he had lost.

The burly man smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice as he drew out a knife.

“Let’s get it over with,” he said, holding the knife menacingly.

“Wait, why not consider me instead?” Wen Yang interjected, her expression naive. “I dealt the cards, yet you didn’t notice me swapping them. Why not consider me?”

Her speech was slow, but the man understood her perfectly.

The young man instantly understood Wen Yang was stepping in for him. But she didn’t know how to gamble, so how could she possibly handle this?

The man holding the knife hesitated for a moment. “…Alright!”

He tossed the stack of money in front of Wen Yang, smirking as he said he’d come to find her later that evening.

The young man was about to speak but was silenced by Wen Yang’s sharp gaze.

Once the men left, Wen Yang scooped up the money and stuffed it into her clothes. “You’re coming with me. Be my translator and teach me how to gamble.”

The young man, stunned by her straightforwardness, froze for a moment. Then, under Wen Yang’s expectant stare, he reluctantly agreed.

Though hesitant, he didn’t dare refuse. Wen Yang clearly had more nerve than him and perhaps more skill.

For instance, he hadn’t even noticed her switching the cards earlier.

Grabbing the money, the two quickly left.

On the way, the young man couldn’t resist asking, “How did you switch the cards?”

Wen Yang glanced at him. “Just memorize them.”

He froze, realizing Wen Yang had an extraordinary memory.

Watching her stride confidently ahead, he snapped out of his daze and hurried to catch up.

Sunlight bathed the two of them, creating a scene with an almost artistic beauty.

“Great! That’s a wrap!”

Chu Lu called out enthusiastically, her satisfaction evident.

The short scene had taken an entire day to shoot but the results were impressive, better even than what Li Feng had been achieving.

Seeing the footage, Chu Lu felt confident that she could handle the project. Initially unsure of herself, she now believed she was up to the task.

The key, however, was Xu Zhizhi. Her performance was phenomenal, with every movement and expression perfectly executed.

Chu Lu didn’t have to micromanage. Her focus was simply on camera angles and overall execution.

While frequent retakes were exhausting, the progress was undeniable.

Xu Zhizhi sat aside, gradually easing out of character. Chu Lu took the thermos from Feng Jie’s hands and handed it to her, speaking gently, “Take your time. Once you get used to it, it won’t feel as overwhelming. I’ll keep an eye on the set. It’s safe here.”

“Mm…” Xu Zhizhi murmured softly, her voice low as she accepted the cup, trying to suppress the emotional turmoil inside.

Feng Jie sat beside her. After Chu Lu’s reassurance, she announced that the crew could take a break. The night scenes could be postponed until the next evening and there was no need to rush.

Xu Zhizhi rested for a while.

After about twenty minutes, she finally managed to fully shake off the character.

But before she could even relax, the system began to act up again.

[Xu Zhizhi, aren’t you planning to act? Are you too afraid of committing crimes? Fine, then I’ll bind myself to Li Feng instead. You and Li Feng have a grudge, so even if he dies, it won’t weigh as heavily on your conscience. We’ll take it step by step. Later, I’ll move on to your friends, family, and loved ones.]

The system sounded oddly reasonable as if it were proposing a deal.

In truth, Xu Zhizhi knew exactly what it was up to. To her, it was like a butcher brandishing its knife, eager to slaughter her.

She pondered for a moment and asked the system curiously, “What exactly did you say to Li Feng? What do you want him to do?”

High-stakes negotiations were often simple and direct, like this moment.

In the past, Xu Zhizhi wasn’t sure the system would answer, but now, with its true motives exposed, she suspected it might reveal something.

Villains often met their downfall due to excessive talking. From Xu Zhizhi’s perspective, it wasn’t entirely about leaving room for the protagonist to counterattack. Sometimes, villains just couldn’t resist boasting or venting.

[I kept him around as a tool for you to practice on. Isn’t that good? He’s heard plenty about you and is full of hostility. Watching you two tear each other apart will be quite entertaining.]

Xu Zhizhi: …

The logic was simple, crude, and utterly infuriating.

To the system, they were mere animals pitted against each other in a fight.

It only held Xu Zhizhi in slightly higher regard, investing more effort in her because she seemed more likely to win.

She glanced at Li Feng, thinking silently, ‘I won’t do what you say. Whatever you want from me, I refuse.’

[You want Li Feng dead? Didn’t expect you to be so ruthless, Xu Zhizhi.]

Xu Zhizhi considered for a moment before replying, “You want Li Feng dead. You’re the one taking action. It has nothing to do with me.”

[You can save him, as long as you follow my instructions.]

“No. I won’t commit crimes to save anyone. Killing someone and then saving another person I know, what’s the point of such an unnecessary trade?” Xu Zhizhi retorted.

A deathly silence fell between them.

Xu Zhizhi decided to give up resistance, baffling the system. It couldn’t comprehend why she suddenly seemed devoid of compassion.

If Xu Zhizhi could hear the system’s thoughts, she would have told it that her actions stemmed from true kindness, not pretense.

On the way back, the system remained silent.

Xu Zhizhi knew it hadn’t given up. It simply hadn’t expected her to react the way she did.

What was initially a tense standoff now carried an indescribable sense of absurdity.

In the system’s expectations, Xu Zhizhi shouldn’t have had that expression.

Based on the previous situation, she should have been anxious, desperate, and on the verge of breaking down, begging it to spare her and reluctantly agreeing to its terms.

After all, she had risked herself multiple times to save others.

Now, her indifferent attitude almost made it seem like she didn’t care if Li Feng died.

The system concluded it might have been too lenient.

[Ding! System binding to a second host: Qin Su.]

Xu Zhizhi’s hand paused mid-blow-dry. After a brief moment of thought, she resumed.

Behind her, Feng Jie sighed and snatched the dryer from her.

As her assistant, Feng Jie couldn’t believe how little Xu Zhizhi cared about looking polished, even down to her hair.

Xu Zhizhi let Feng Jie handle her hair while she stared at her phone, unsure how to approach Qin Su about the development.

For the past two days, she had appeared calm but she knew deep down she wasn’t as composed as she seemed.

She had been pondering endlessly about what to do.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

Feng Jie set the dryer aside and opened the door to reveal Qin Su.

Xu Zhizhi, sitting cross-legged on the couch, turned her head to look at him.

Qin Su strode toward her, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. “No matter what, don’t compromise. I’d rather be seen as a madman.”

“Qin Su…” Xu Zhizhi opened her mouth slightly, only managing to say his name before he covered it with his hand.

He stared into her eyes with unwavering determination. “If it’s real, I want you to save me and to wake me up. But I don’t want you to compromise for us. Don’t…compromise…”

Qin Su’s body seemed to tremble under some unseen force. He clenched his lips tightly, swallowing the metallic taste rising in his throat and gave her a nod before smiling and walking away quickly.

It all started so abruptly. Feng Jie picked up the dryer but froze as she watched Qin Su stagger out of the room.

Xu Zhizhi lowered her head, her face void of expression.

She stared straight ahead, her mind in utter chaos.

Stay calm. Stay calm, Xu Zhizhi. Think about what Qin Su said.

[Madmen… All of you are madmen…]

The system’s angry voice echoed in her mind.

Xu Zhizhi clenched her fists tightly, her body rigid, her face cold and silent as she closed her eyes.

Qin Su left, escorted by his family’s car. Whatever he said to them remained unknown to the outside world.

Even Feng Jie sensed something was wrong. Watching Xu Zhizhi immerse herself completely in her acting, Feng Jie felt an ominous foreboding.

[Three days later, Xu Zhizhi, your mother will be selected.]

The system’s mechanical voice carried a tone of gritted teeth.

At that moment, Xu Zhizhi was playing Wen Yang. She and the young man had just been picked up in a car, heading to the casino that would change their fates.

Malicious thoughts swarmed in her mind, and she felt herself losing control.

[Malice Points +102]

[Malice Points +231]

[Malice Points +289]

The overwhelming surge of Malice Points relentlessly attacked Xu Zhizhi. Her rationality felt as fragile as a thread, seemingly on the brink of snapping at any moment.

 

 

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Xu Zhizhi: Dealing with you perverts is honestly exhausting. I’m a lawyer. Can I apply for emotional compensation?