Lin Yu felt like his brain was about to explode.
He racked his memory hard…
Aside from yesterday’s dinner gathering, he hadn’t interacted with the antique-loving older sister these past two days, right?
What the hell happened?
How could his sect friend manage to self-romance him?!
Lin Yu quickly opened his information panel and frantically scanned through it.
No changes in his quests.
But under the "Dao Companion" section, his intimacy level with Shen Buyao had inexplicably skyrocketed to [69% (Red Luan Star Stirred)].
Was there any difference? Well, yes!
For other girls, the sixth stage was always [Red Luan Heart Stirred].
But for Shen Buyao, it was [Red Luan Star Stirred]?
The key lay in that single word—"star"!
So what the hell did this "star" mean?!
Damn system, couldn’t it at least provide a manual?
Without any prior interaction, the antique-loving older sister had spontaneously developed feelings for him that went beyond friendship.
Could it be…
Did she get turned on just by looking at his handsome photo? So excited she couldn’t control herself?
"Xiao Yu, maybe I should still help out?"
"You can tell me what dishes you want to make—I can wash, chop, or prep the ingredients."
Chen Qimeng stood at the kitchen doorway, asking hesitantly.
She was used to cooking for Lin Yu every day.
Now, suddenly doing nothing, just sitting idly while he worked alone, felt unbearably awkward.
Lin Yu snapped out of his thoughts for the moment.
Since he couldn’t figure it out anyway, he’d have to wait until he ran into Shen Buyao at the Ghost Market Street tonight to get answers.
"Qimeng, are you addicted to chores or something?"
"Today, your only job is to eat. I’ll handle everything else."
[Ding!]
[Masterful move! Unprecedented attentive care for your Dao Companion!]
[Reward: 50 Spirit Stones.]
Chen Qimeng leaned against the doorframe, warmth flooding her heart.
Then, as if remembering something, she cautiously added:
"Xiao Yu, when we got back earlier, we said… at home…"
Seeing her hesitate, Lin Yu picked up where she left off:
"Don’t worry, I didn’t forget."
"When our roommate is around, I’ll still call you ‘Auntie’ like before."
"But when it’s just us, I can call you anything, right?"
Chen Qimeng averted her gaze, unable to meet Lin Yu’s intensely assertive eyes:
"Mhm, any… anything’s fine."
Lin Yu happily resumed his cooking.
Tonight, it was just him and Chen Qimeng for dinner, so he didn’t need to make much.
[Phoenix Summoning Rice] and [Kirin Treading on Snow] would be enough for the two of them.
The chicken stewing in the pot was nearly done—just a few more minutes to add the side dishes before serving.
…
About twenty minutes later.
A steaming pot of braised chicken and a refreshing tomato-and-sugar salad were placed on the table.
"You worked hard, Xiao Yu!"
"It smells amazing. I never knew you were such a good cook before."
Chen Qimeng didn’t dig in immediately. Instead, she pulled out her phone and snapped a photo.
She’d also saved a picture of the noodles he made this morning.
Truth be told, Chen Qimeng wasn’t the type to photograph her food obsessively.
But when it was made by Lin Yu, she couldn’t help wanting to preserve the memory.
Just as Lin Yu set down the rice bowls, the front door swung open.
Both of them turned to look—
Antique-loving older sister, Shen Buyao!
Lin Yu was slightly stunned.
At this hour, Shen Buyao should’ve already left for the Ghost Market Street.
Why was she back so suddenly?
This had to be related to the Dao Companion bond.
Her breathing was ragged, as if she’d just sprinted back from outside.
Chen Qimeng greeted her warmly:
"Buyao, you’re back! Did you… not go to the shop today?"
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Xiao Yu just made dinner. Want to join us?"
Though Chen Qimeng would’ve preferred keeping the meal to herself, her nature wouldn’t allow her to skip the courtesy offer.
Usually, people either had already eaten or would politely decline anyway.
But—
Chen Qimeng never expected…
The moment Shen Buyao heard Lin Yu had cooked, her eyes lit up.
Despite having eaten already, she walked over slowly:
"I… actually haven’t eaten yet. This brat Lin Yu can cook properly?"
"Qimeng-jie, would I be intruding if I joined you two?"
Lin Yu: "…"
How bold of you to ask.
If you’re worried about intruding, maybe don’t bring it up?
Also—
She changed how she addressed him?
Before, she always called him "college kid."
Now it was "brat Lin Yu."
Still not exactly polite, but noticeably more familiar.
Clearly, her attitude had shifted!
Seizing the moment, Lin Yu pulled up Shen Buyao’s stats panel.
[Shen Buyao]
[Age: 27]
[Sect Status: Heavenly Artifice Pavilion Elder, Hidden Vein of the Mystic Gate]
[Intimacy with Host: 69% (Sixth Stage, Red Luan Star Stirred)]
[Dao Companions (Soul Cultivation/Body Cultivation): (1/0)]
[(Additional details omitted)]
[Current Quests:]
[Fate Reversal (Urgent QuestNew): The destiny of the Lone Star of Calamity can only be broken by one with the Seal of Authority and Seal of Office. Assist the elder in overcoming her fate’s shackles!]
[Illusory Artifact Competition (Urgent Quest): The Heavenly Artifice Pavilion Elder is deeply obsessed with the field of illusory artifacts…]
[Sleep Schedule Adjustment (Daily Quest): The elder has suffered from chronic insomnia for years. Provide medicinal aids to regulate her qi and blood…]
Lin Yu: "!!!"
The new urgent quest left him speechless.
Lone Star of Calamity?!
Antique-loving older sister?!
And he was the "one with the Seal of Authority and Seal of Office"?
What era was this, still pulling the "fated lover" trope?
Was Shen Buyao really that much of an old-fashioned relic?
So—
The sudden Dao Companion bond was because Shen Buyao went to get her fortune told?!
If not for the system’s quest description, Lin Yu would’ve never guessed that the [Heavenly Artifice Pavilion Elder’s Submission] buff…
meant something like this!
Lin Yu shot Shen Buyao a look: "…"
The usually domineering and fearless Shen Buyao actually avoided his gaze.
Tch.
Where’d all that arrogance go?
Sealed away by superstitious nonsense, huh?
"Skipping dinner isn’t good for your health."
"Buyao-jie, sit down and eat with us."
Thanks to the system’s reminder, Lin Yu took the initiative to invite her.
[Ding!]
[Masterful move! Echoing your Dao Companion’s words is a sign of deep connection!]
[Reward: 50 Spirit Stones.]
[Ding!]
[Masterful move! Caring for your Dao Companion’s health warms her heart!]
[Reward: 50 Spirit Stones.]
Lin Yu: "!!!"
Oh ho?
Double rewards from two Dao Companions at once!
This opened up a world of opportunities…
Shen Buyao replied:
"I’m not really that hungry…"
"Where’s the rice cooker? I’ll serve myself."
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
