Chapter 1: Binding the System

“So hot, so unbearably hot.”
Lu Mingyue felt as if she were being consumed by flames, restless and agitated, tugging desperately at her clothes.
Her gaze was hazy, fixed on something not far away, as if drawn by an invisible force.
Suddenly, she lunged forward, feeling the cool touch of a man's bare skin, the heat within her easing slightly.
But that brief contact was far from enough. Inside, she felt as though ants were gnawing at her, craving more with fierce hunger.
She paid no mind to her hands, which were now causing havoc on a man's chest.
Huo Zheng, in his sleep, sensed someone approaching. For some reason, his body felt weak.
His training as a scout enabled him to break through those limitations; as the stranger drew near, he swiftly seized her wrists, pinning them above her head and pressing her beneath him.
When he finally saw the situation clearly, his pupils contracted sharply. Grabbing a nearby quilt, he covered the person below, shielding her from exposure.
Lu Mingyue was completely unaware—when the cool object slipped from her grasp, she murmured unconsciously, uneasy and restless.
Huo Zheng, ever alert, realized something was wrong. Wasn’t this the second daughter of the Lu family?
How could they both be in the same room?
There was no time to ponder further. He noticed a cup of cold tea on the table.
Silently apologizing to Lu Mingyue, he picked it up and splashed it over her.
Winter’s tea was icy cold, sliding down her cheeks to her chest, making her shudder and bringing her senses back.
“Who—who are you? Why are you in my room?”
Lu Mingyue clutched the quilt tightly around her, struggling to sit up. Her vision was still blurry, but she could make out a tall figure before her.
“Your room?”
Huo Zheng frowned. Meng Xiaoling had told him this was Meng Jun’s room.
“How is that possible!”
[Ding—]
[Host binding in progress...]
[Binding successful!]
A sharp pain stabbed through Lu Mingyue’s mind. Who was speaking?
[Hello, Host. Congratulations on successfully binding to the Gossip System.]
Gossip System?
What on earth was that?
[Host, please mind your manners. I am not a mere thing, but a highly advanced Gossip System. If there is drama, I will witness it.]
Lu Mingyue scratched her ear; it sounded rather useless.
The Gossip System quickly interjected: [Host, don’t underestimate me. Complete the tasks I assign, and rewards will follow.]
Lu Mingyue only wanted to know why she was here.
She had written a two-thousand-word rant in the author’s comment section, furious at the tragic ending arranged for the original character.
The author retorted, “If you’re so capable, live her life yourself.”
Well, fate had its way—she was now in the book, replacing the original character.
[Forget about rewards for now. Can you just tell me what’s going on here?!]
Lu Mingyue was on the verge of losing it, not noticing Huo Zheng’s curious gaze beside her.
[Don’t worry, Host. Let me upload the plot.]
Seconds later, a flood of memories surged into Lu Mingyue’s mind.
[What the hell!]
She couldn’t help but curse.

She had actually transmigrated into a period novel as the cannon fodder female supporting character.
The original, as the second child in her family, was caught between a father who didn’t care and a stepmother who loved her even less.
Even winter cabbages would envy her misery.
Her biological mother died when she was eight, her father remarried the next year, bringing a stepsister with him.
The following year, the family gained a son, and her already insignificant status sank even lower.
Fortunately, she excelled academically, earning her useless father some face.
Thanks to her mother’s connections, after graduating from high school she became an accountant at the machinery factory, working diligently and earning recognition from her superiors.
Her life could have remained quietly ordinary.
Until one day, she was found lying in bed with her stepsister’s fiancé, Huo Zheng.
In this era, such matters of reputation could ruin a life.
To survive, she had no choice but to marry him.
Huo Zheng’s identity was special—stationed on a remote island in the motherland, with two children at home.
This meant Lu Mingyue would become a stepmother upon marrying him.
After Huo Zheng took her to the island, he was busy with work and neglected Lu Mingyue; the couple spent little time together.
The original character was approached by someone with ulterior motives, falling deeper into their traps step by step.
Huo Zheng never noticed a thing.
In the end, it was the two children who, unable to bear seeing their father deceived, reported Lu Mingyue’s actions to the authorities.
Out of guilt for his wife, Huo Zheng quickly agreed to divorce.
The original thought she could finally pursue happiness after divorce.
She didn’t realize it was only the beginning of her suffering.
That man was an enemy agent sent to gather intelligence. With the divorce, she lost her value, and he sold her to human traffickers for profit.
She was taken deep into the mountains, suffered inhuman torment, and died tragically in a pigsty on a cold winter night.
[What a cruel plot! How could I be so miserable? Not only do I have to marry an old man, but I also get deceived and trafficked.]
Lu Mingyue ground her molars in frustration.
Lost in their discussion, neither she nor the system noticed Huo Zheng’s contemplative expression as he shared the same space.
Huo Zheng glanced at her without a word, certain that the strange voice belonged to Lu Mingyue.
At first, he’d heard a harsh electric noise, thinking he was overtired, but then the so-called “system” appeared.
Lu Mingyue conversed naturally with it, and from their dialogue, he caught a crucial detail: they spoke as if this was a world inside a novel.
As a well-educated materialist, Huo Zheng had never believed in such supernatural phenomena.
China was vast and full of talented individuals—could Lu Mingyue be one of them?
And what about that mechanical voice?
What did they mean by “plot”?
And was he the “old man”?
Huo Zheng was full of questions but dared not ask.
Lu Mingyue pondered carefully; according to the novel’s plot, Meng Xiaoling had feelings for someone else and didn’t want to marry Huo Zheng, the suitor introduced by her stepfather.
Behind the scenes, she set a trap to ensure Lu Mingyue and Huo Zheng were caught together in bed.
This way, she wouldn’t have to marry Huo Zheng and could also get rid of Lu Mingyue, that annoying thorn in her side.
[Fortunately, nothing happened between us. Otherwise, according to Meng Xiaoling’s plan, I’d already be branded as the shameless sister who seduced her brother-in-law.]
Hearing this, Huo Zheng wanted to explain that he and Meng Xiaoling had no official engagement.
As for this being Meng Xiaoling’s plan, he thought for a moment—he had indeed drunk the tea she served before feeling dizzy.
If someone discovered the two of them like this, their reputations would be ruined all the same.

The more you fear something, the more likely it is to happen.
Voices echoed from outside. The two exchanged a glance, faces full of alarm.
Lu Mingyue snapped to attention, hurriedly pointing out the window. “Hurry, jump out!”
Huo Zheng: ?
Seeing him unmoved, Lu Mingyue, ignoring her embarrassment, threw aside the quilt, grabbed his hand, and dragged him to the window.
“You need to jump from here.”
Huo Zheng: ???
He reminded her, “This is the third floor.”
Of course Lu Mingyue knew; but the situation was urgent, there was no time to explain.
“If you don’t want us to be branded, you’d better do as I say.”
Her eyes were dark and resolute, brooking no disagreement.
Huo Zheng pressed his lips together and, without further argument, climbed outside as she instructed.
Almost immediately after Huo Zheng vanished, the door swung open from the outside.
Meng Xiaoling appeared in the doorway, chatting with someone in the living room as she entered.
According to her plan, Lu Mingyue and Huo Zheng would be caught together in bed; she would “accidentally” discover them and, with a show of heartbreak, play the betrayed victim.
Not only would she win sympathy, but she’d also rid herself of Huo Zheng, the twice-married man—perfectly solving two problems at once.
As for Lu Mingyue?
Sorry, she wasn’t part of the equation.
Thus, when she found only Lu Mingyue in the room, she couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.
The commotion brought others from the living room, who stood up and asked, “Xiaoling, what’s wrong?”
Lu Mingyue quickly scrambled back onto the bed.
Before Meng Xiaoling could speak, Lu Mingyue took the initiative, clutching the quilt and coughing heavily with a hoarse voice. “Sister, I know you dislike me. I’ve given you all my money, and I’m about to leave this house. Why did you have to pour cold water on me when I’m sick?”
Two female comrades stood in the doorway, frowning at the scene inside.
Meng Xiaoling stood above the bed, while Lu Mingyue leaned pitifully against the headboard, eyes red, hair damp with tea leaves—a picture of misery.
The two women exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with gossip, and said in unison, “Xiaoling, we have things to do; we’ll be going now.”
Before Meng Xiaoling could call them back, they opened the door and left.
Meng Xiaoling was stunned. She hadn’t laid a hand on anyone; as soon as she opened the door, Lu Mingyue screamed. She was baffled, never expecting this tactic.
No, they couldn’t leave.
Those two had been specially invited to witness Lu Mingyue’s “scandal”—they were infamous for spreading rumors.
Now the scandal hadn’t been confirmed, but instead, news would spread that she bullied her stepsister.
If Brother Weidong’s family heard this and refused to approve their marriage, what then?
She had a family and a fiancé; her reputation couldn’t be ruined.
Before leaving, Meng Xiaoling shot Lu Mingyue a venomous glare.
Little wretch, she’d settle the score later.
Once everyone was gone, Lu Mingyue listened carefully, confirming the coast was clear, then climbed out of bed.
Her first act was to lock the door.
Sitting before the dressing table, gazing at the familiar face in the mirror, she felt a bit dazed.