Chapter 04
Deeply Admired
The system quickly replied: “Due to a system bug during the host’s transmigration, some parts of the plot have been adjusted to ensure the host can successfully complete the mission.”
Ding Li was stunned. “System, do you dare say that again?”
Adjusted the plot?
Who gave you the nerve? Who gave you the creativity?
Ensure completion of the mission?
So now the main storyline isn’t centered around the original plot, but around me completing tasks?!
Ding Li nearly coughed up blood. “System, are you serious? I’m here to play a minor role, not to compete for first place!”
Damn it!
What terrible luck!
Becoming the center of the plot all of a sudden—does that mean if I fail the mission, I’ll die horribly?
Ding Li hovered on the edge of exploding. Damn it, System, let’s just perish together!
The system continued: “Current scenario: ‘Soul-Devouring Demon Vine.’ Please complete the main storyline with the mission as your objective.”
Ding Li was furious at this stingy, toothpaste-squeezing system. “System, can you be more specific?! I don’t want a scene summary—I want a strategy! Do you even understand? Can you act like a professional system?!”
The system made a “zzz” sound and, after a while, said: “The Soul-Devouring Demon Vine has the ability to disturb the mind and trap people in memory illusions. After being parasitized, people turn into vine puppets, reliving their deepest fears in illusion until they are tortured to death.”
No wonder…
Now Ding Li understood where those miserable screams came from.
“Then how do we deal with it?” She needed to understand the cause. It couldn’t just appear and spread silently, right?
But this time, the system didn’t even make a sound. It just played dead.
After waiting a long time with no response, Ding Li cursed, “…idiot system!”
After Lu Qianchuan finished speaking, his junior brother added, “Perhaps it’s not just that.”
Lu Qianchuan was clearly surprised.
The junior brother said, “This thing only appears at night. During the day, there are no clues. We’ll have to wait until night.”
Ding Li asked nervously, “Is it that scary?”
Lu Qianchuan glanced at her, as if he wanted to say something.
The junior brother snorted. “If you’re scared, you can go back to Cangyun Mountain now.”
What nonsense are you saying?! I’ve already come this far—how am I supposed to go back now? I can’t even fly on a sword, am I supposed to walk back?!
Ding Li shrank back. “…That’s not what I meant.”
Lu Qianchuan sighed. “Junior brother, stop scaring her.” Then he turned to Ding Li. “Miss Ding, don’t be afraid. I haven’t introduced him yet—this is my junior brother, Xiao Wenjing.”
Ding Li: “……”
She froze.
What did you just say?!
Xiao Wenjing???
A pure and innocent girl shattered on the spot…
At this moment, Ding Li had only one thought—
I surrender. Please spare me!
Fearless Ding Li, after transmigrating into the role of the scheming second female lead and enduring all kinds of misfortune, had finally encountered a massive thunderbolt—
She had met her natural enemy: the cannon-fodder second male lead, Xiao Wenjing!
Xiao Wenjing appeared straightforward on the surface, but in reality, he was like a gloomy male ghost.
But no one knew his true nature—
Except Ding Li.
By her calculations, Su Xiangqing should be about sixteen now, and Xiao Wenjing was two years older. Because of his exceptional talent, he had been noticed by the sect leader at first glance during the entrance trials and accepted as a direct disciple.
Chu Zilan and Lu Qianchuan had followed the sect leader since childhood, and for many years, no new disciples were accepted.
Until Xiao Wenjing appeared.
Now, two years later, he stood far above the rest of the disciples.
However, despite being fellow disciples under the same master, Xiao Wenjing’s behavior was completely different from Lu Qianchuan and Chu Zilan.
If Lu Qianchuan and Chu Zilan were role models—powerful and righteous—then Xiao Wenjing was the opposite.
He was a genius, but eccentric. He never formed close relationships and acted unpredictably.
Though many disciples admired him, none dared get close.
In Ding Li’s eyes, this was perfectly normal.
Xiao Wenjing only wore a good-looking exterior—inside, he was sinister and scheming, definitely not a good person.
In the original novel “Crossing the Green Tea to Love You,” Xiao Wenjing didn’t appear often. Each time, he showed up when the female lead was in trouble—solving everything silently without asking for anything in return.
On the surface, he embodied the noble idea of a second male lead devoted to the heroine.
In reality, he was just a plot tool.
The book barely described his personality or past.
But!
That silent devotion was only toward the female lead.
Toward Su Xiangqing—the scheming second female lead—it was a completely different story!
From the moment Su Xiangqing appeared beside Chu Zilan, Xiao Wenjing had been wary of her.
On the surface, he refrained from acting out of respect for Chu Zilan.
But behind the scenes, he was constantly trying to kill her.
When Su Xiangqing tried to sow discord between Lu Qianchuan and Chu Zilan, Xiao Wenjing had already targeted her several times—once breaking her arm, once injuring her leg, and once pushing her off a cliff.
She had nearly died.
And at the beginning of the novel, when readers were criticizing Su Xiangqing, the author had reassured them—
She would die a miserable death.
Ding Li inferred that Su Xiangqing would definitely die at Xiao Wenjing’s hands.
Maybe even in the newly updated chapters after her transmigration.
If Su Xiangqing framed Chu Zilan, how could Xiao Wenjing let her go? He might even lock her in a dungeon and use her for experiments.
After all, Xiao Wenjing was skilled in dark and forbidden arts.
Just thinking about it made Ding Li’s scalp tingle.
Damn it—being turned into a test subject was definitely not fun.
When Ding Li looked at Xiao Wenjing again, her mindset had completely changed.
Before, she thought he was handsome.
Now, she felt like she must’ve been blind.
After Lu Qianchuan finished the introduction, he noticed her expression changing repeatedly and grew confused.
Ding Li hurriedly said, “Oh! So it’s Immortal Master Xiao! I’ve long admired your name! I’ve heard of your glorious deeds even down the mountain—truly admirable!”
Lu Qianchuan smiled.
Xiao Wenjing let out an “Oh?” and asked, “What deeds? Let’s hear them.”
What’s wrong with you?! I was just being polite and you took it seriously? What should I say—tell you you’re a cannon-fodder second male lead?!
Ding Li silently raised her middle finger in her heart, while nervously edging closer to Chu Zilan.
Chu Zilan glanced at Xiao Wenjing. “That’s enough, junior brother.”
Xiao Wenjing snorted and said no more.
Ding Li sneered inwardly. So obedient to Chu Zilan—does he even like you back? Look at yourself!
The group continued down the long street. It was dusk, and for some reason, a thin layer of mist had begun to rise.
The previously faint screams were now becoming clearer.
Lu Qianchuan said, “Let’s go check on that person first.”
Xiao Wenjing said nothing.
Ding Li carefully grabbed Chu Zilan’s sleeve and followed closely behind.
However, just as the four of them turned a corner along the street, the sound suddenly disappeared.
