The Male Lead I Wronged Has Blackened
CHAPTER 10: I Can Help You
Hearing the system notification, Si Yao was completely dumbfounded. What did she even do? How did her favorability suddenly drop by ten?
Was the system broken?
【Points -5. Current target favorability is -1005. Remaining points: 0.】
The system continued to report her progress, and she felt an instant urge to curse.
The points she had just earned were gone again. So everything she worked for… was basically for nothing?
Jiang Shuo had already returned to his icy expression. Si Yao looked into those cold eyes and felt like the complicated emotions she saw in him outside the door had been nothing more than a fleeting dream.
He said she was bewitching people with lies.
Si Yao remembered that in the past, he had said the same thing.
He had said, “Si Yao, if you continue to spread deceit and confuse others, I will take your life.”
Back then she had done a few questionable things.
But now? She hadn’t said anything wrong. Was the male lead allowed to just accuse people for free?
“What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever deceive anyone?” Si Yao protested.
“Heh.”
Jiang Shuo merely let out a soft, mocking laugh. He sat in the main seat of the private room, his right hand resting on the table as his long finger tapped against the surface. His sharply defined jaw tilted slightly upward as he looked at Si Yao, amusement flickering in his eyes. His tone carried an unmistakable teasing lilt.
“Si Yao, I was entangled with you for three years. Do you think I wouldn’t know what kind of person you are?”
Her words back at the Yun clan had been flawless, each sentence polished and precise.
But they could not fool him.
This so-called “I’m after him as a person” was nothing but the start of another malicious scheme she had cooked up for him.
After all, no matter how talented or brilliant he was, no matter how handsome or dashing he looked, he had never caught Si Yao’s eye.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shuo felt a pang of self-mockery, though he didn’t show it.
Jiang Shuo’s gaze was filled with scrutiny as he looked at Si Yao. He truly wanted to know what she was after. “If you tell me honestly what your goal is, I might consider letting you walk away.”
Si Yao would never defend him for no reason.
Faced with Jiang Shuo's questioning, Si Yao's heart tightened. Her eyes inadvertently met Jiang Shuo's, then she hurriedly looked away.
Jiang Shuo's gaze darkened slightly, a cold smile curving his lips.
Sure enough, he had guessed correctly. Si Yao's momentary panic was unmistakable; she truly had ulterior motives.
He knew she wouldn't stay obediently by his side.
“I…” Si Yao had no idea how to explain. She did have ulterior motives. She followed him to farm affection points and push the plot back on track. Jiang Shuo wouldn't believe her if she said that.
Besides, in Jiang Shuo’s heart, she had always been the wicked woman, especially after what happened back then…
The memory made her eyes dim. Because of that incident, she absolutely didn't want to try and win over Jiang Shuo.
【Target's Favorability -10】
Just as Si Yao was thinking about the past, the system’s voice rang again.
Hearing the alert, she nearly broke down. Inwardly she ranted at Jiang Shuo’s ridiculous mood swings. His affection dropped so fast she could work herself to death and never catch up!
Jiang Shuo also felt bewildered. This strange voice seemed to announce numbers according to his emotions.
The atmosphere froze in place. Panicking, Si Yao jabbed at her system in her mind. “Farming Jiang Shuo’s affection is too hard. Can you please give me another mission to earn some points?”
【Apologies, Host. Only by completing the current daily task can new daily tasks be issued.】The system sounded heartbreakingly sincere.
【Friendly reminder: When the target's favorability towards the host is lower than or equal to -1111, the host's soul will be forcibly erased from this world.】
After answering her question, the system leisurely delivered a death sentence.
Si Yao: “?”
So it means either pursue the target or die?
【Once you agreed to pursue the target, Jiang Shuo, this extra condition was considered accepted as well.】
Si Yao nearly exploded. “You didn’t tell me that back then!”
System:【……】
【Host, ignoring the target for an extended period may decrease their favorability.】The system ignored her outrage and calmly issued a reminder.
Before the system’s voice even faded, another chime followed:【Target's favorability -20, target's current favorability towards the host is -1035】
Si Yao: “…” She was doomed.
Jiang Shuo quietly listened to the strange voice.
It sounded like it was speaking to someone. Was it talking to Si Yao?
What were they talking about? Target, affection values, soul erasure. Was someone trying to erase Si Yao’s soul?
Whenever he was in a bad mood, that strange voice always mentioned something about “affection values.”
It really did seem to react according to his emotions. As long as he felt unhappy, those odd words and numbers would appear.
After observing things closely these past few days, Jiang Shuo had finally pieced together a rough idea.
His final conclusion was simple: Si Yao was being controlled by some strange voice, and that voice could dictate her actions.
【Please gain the target's favorability as soon as possible.】
As if to prove Jiang Shuo’s suspicion, Si Yao instantly swept away all her panic. Her small face turned serious. “I know I was wrong. Ten years ago, it was my fault.”
“If you trust me, I can help purge the poison that has already seeped deep into your body.”
Si Yao lifted her gaze and looked straight at Jiang Shuo. Her eyes were clear and firm. She spoke with unshakable confidence, as if the toxin that had tormented Jiang Shuo for years was nothing more than a minor inconvenience to her.
“Just you?” Jiang Shuo’s eyes held nothing but doubt.
“Ever since the day at Xuan Yang Sect when I fed you that pill, have you not felt your core lighten and your spiritual energy flow more smoothly?”
Jiang Shuo frowned, thinking it over.
That day Si Yao claimed she had given him poison. After swallowing it, he had indeed felt unbearable pain. Yet when he woke up, his limbs and bones felt unexpectedly refreshed.
Could it be that what he swallowed… was not poison?
Seeing Jiang Shuo sink into thought, Si Yao knew he was putting the pieces together. Her lips curved as she watched him. “Believe me. I can help you.”
【Target's favorability +10. Task complete. You have earned 5 points. Because the host used the system’s strategy plan, reward granted: cultivation increased by one minor realm.】
The system’s voice chimed again, delivering her completion notice. Si Yao finally let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Jiang Shuo’s affection was no longer dropping.
Her cultivation rose from early Foundation Establishment to mid-stage.
She hadn’t expected the system’s strategy plan to be this useful. As long as she followed the system’s method to win Jiang Shuo over, her cultivation would keep rising.
Watching Si Yao quietly breathe out in relief, Jiang Shuo’s lips curved faintly and a spark of interest lit his eyes.
It seemed his guess had been correct. Si Yao was trying to please him, all to raise this so-called affection value.
But what exactly was she aiming for?
Jiang Shuo could not figure out her purpose. Yet instead of irritation, something else stirred within him. He began to look forward to it. To what Si Yao might do next, all for the sake of earning his affection.
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