Chapter 3
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After Chu Lishu left, Lin Qingyang promptly dismissed Shuncai. He needed some time alone to gather his thoughts and make sense of the situation.
Regarding the original plot, Lin Qingyang’s understanding was limited, and he had to rely on the memories of the original body. However, there seemed to be a problem with inheriting those memories.
Lin Qingyang: “System, why are the original body memories so fragmented and chaotic?”
System: 【The host has completely inherited the memories of the original body without any malfunctions.】
It was perplexing. Why would the memories of a seemingly normal person be scattered like a puzzle with missing pieces?
For instance, he wanted to comprehend why a dignified legitimate son of a Grand Marquis’s residence would have conflicts with a poor, distant cousin who sought refuge. However, he couldn’t find a clear reason in the jumbled memories.
According to the chaotic memories of the original body, excluding tonight’s events, in the three months since Chu Lishu entered the Marquis’s residence, there were countless incidents initiated by the original body against him. He simply was a thorn in the eyes. Even the most hated half-brother of the original body wouldn’t receive such a VIP-customized service.
Could it be jealousy over Chu Lishu being more handsome? The original body was openly gay, and he didn’t have any feelings for women, so there was no jealousy of good-looking men. Envy of academic achievements? Well, if that were the case, the original body would have a lot of people to resent, being an academic underachiever himself.
Or perhaps it was a case of infatuation, a subtle hint followed by rejection, leading to wounded pride and anger? But that didn’t add up, as the original body had initiated the harassment before even considering such a deranged plan, indicating a clear intent to humiliate Chu Lishu.
Lin Qingyang’s brain hurt from pondering, and suddenly, he realized how foolish he had been. Why bother overanalyzing the life logic of an original cannon fodder? Wasn’t the existence of cannon fodder meant to increase the difficulty of the protagonist’s life, elevate the male lead, and pave the way for later characters to show up? Once cannon fodder antagonists encounter the male lead, their intelligence is bound to be unreasonably and illogically diminished.
What he should be concerned about now is his own future. Just as he was contemplating this, the voice of the system echoed in his mind again.
【Ding! Novice Mission completed. Character upgraded to ‘Courting Death Cannon Fodder,’ and the Exchange Shop is now open.】
Originally, he was the ultimate courting death, and now he’s just courting death?
Lin Qingyang’s mouth twitched. It seemed like things weren’t getting any better. Even if he hadn’t committed any major mistakes, his current role still indicated that his life was far from secure in the future. Improving his relationship with the male lead was also challenging. The paranoid male lead was not easily trusting, and even if he became a sycophantic follower, it was just a matter of minutes before the male lead would be willing to sacrifice him if needed. Whether too far or too close, both were dangerous. What a dilemma!
Lin Qingyang was temporarily at a loss, so he could only start exploring the so-called system.
During moments of concentrated consciousness, he could see a virtual interface. On the left, a long list of boxes displayed character information, resembling a personal resume.
Name, identity, gender, age: 17, height: 175 cm, still growing, weight: 160…
160!
Lin Qingyang was shocked, his consciousness recoiled, and he quickly found a mirror in the room. Oh God, he… he had never experienced this kind of ‘solid’ feeling with his usually slender physique. While he had felt some unusual fatigue in his body before, he hadn’t realized that he had turned into a chubby person. He had always thought it was a side effect of transmigration. Now, looking at himself in the mirror, he finally understood. The original body was not only overweight but also unhealthy.
With sunken, lifeless eyes, dark circles underneath, a lack of strength in his floating footsteps, and rapid panting if he walked too fast, it was a typical case of a pampered lifestyle. Between the eyebrows, he even gave off a greasy and sleazy feeling.
The tragic thing was that upon closer inspection, the facial features were the same as the Lin Qingyang from his previous life. Lin Qingyang, who prided himself as the “grass of the medical ward,”[6] hadn’t expected to have such an unbearable side.
Losing weight! He must lose weight! He never had the chance in the past life, but now that the conditions allowed, he had to get his body into a healthy shape!
Apart from some basic data, there was one thing that caught Lin Qingyang’s attention.
Sexual orientation: Female.
It seems that along with his arrival, the original body’s sexual orientation has also changed. Fortunately, this aspect is not enforced. Perhaps one day, after completing the missions, he could have a romantic relationship in ancient times and find a wife.
Looking at the middle column on the interface, there is system data.
The character has been upgraded to ‘Courting Death Cannon Fodder’, and there’s a progress bar, with only a small portion filled at the beginning.
Based on the understanding of the recent events, it seems that the character’s title will change continuously as missions are completed.
Lin Qingyang asked the system, “What’s the use of this character title?”
System: 【Apart from being related to the current life completeness of the host, the final definition of the character will determine the host’s future life trajectory. For example, if you continue to be a cannon fodder, even if you complete the plot progress, the probability of unexpected death in the future will be higher than that of ordinary characters.】
Hearing this, Lin Qingyang solemnly admired. It’s equivalent to an option for rebirth. Before obtaining his freedom, he must strive to pave the best path for his future!
The second item is plot progress: 1%.
Lin Qingyang asked the system, “Does reaching 100% mean I will gain freedom?”
System: 【Yes. Here, 100% means surviving until the male lead successfully ascends to the throne. The progress changes not only with time but also with the completion of missions.】
Lin Qingyang was instantly relieved. He was afraid the system might play tricks on him and make him accompany the male lead until the original ending. That would truly be a lifetime of anxiety and dedication.
The third item is account points: 10 points.
Lin Qingyang understood this routine. Opening the rightmost section of the interface, he found that all items in the Exchange Shop were indeed marked with points.
This should be his trump card as a transmigrator. He needed to carefully examine what could be useful.
A quick glance revealed an unexpected pattern – all of them were pills? A mobile pharmacy?
The items at the forefront were basic modern medicines, like cold medicine and fever reducers. They required relatively few points, probably out of concern that transmigrators might struggle with adapting to the ancient climate and fall ill before even starting their missions.
However, the further he looked, the more intriguing the items became. Pills with scores reaching into the hundreds or thousands carried a magical aura, sparking Lin Qingyang’s curiosity.
For instance: Truth-Revealing Pill: 100 points, Goodwill Pill: 300 points, Dream-Entering Pill: 500 points…
Lin Qingyang thought he might really need the Goodwill Pill, hoping to make the male lead more affectionate towards him and possibly ensure an easier survival. However, when he saw the required points and then looked at his meager account, Lin Qingyang wiped away an invisible drool. “System, how come there were no points rewarded for completing the mission just now?”
The system timely explained: 【The Novice Mission was used to unlock the store. In the future, completing missions will reward points. These points can be used to exchange for items in the system’s Exchange Store. Failing a mission will deduct points, and if the points fall below zero, the character will die. Special note: Some specific missions, if failed, may cause the plot progress to pause, and the world will stagnate. Please pay attention to this.】
Lin Qingyang: …Damn it! I used to think that missions were only related to various data, and success or failure wasn’t a big issue. I didn’t expect it to be connected to my life. These 10 points represent my precious life, can I dare to spend them? What does the world stagnating mean, is it destruction?
Lin Qingyang didn’t dare to think too much about it. Anyway, he knew he had to complete the missions the system assigned to him.
Since he didn’t have enough points, Lin Qingyang didn’t delve further into the pills he couldn’t afford for now. He would focus on what he had learned.
One thing that made Lin Qingyang feel fortunate was that when he encountered a life-threatening situation, the system would provide a prompt. This was indeed the most significant advantage the system offered him.
Lin Qingyang was not greedy. After understanding the value of his newly regained life, he chose to cherish it. So, for now, he decided to stay away from the male lead for a couple of days, allowing him to recover and adapt to his new identity.
…
The Marquis An Nan’s residence hosted a large extended family. Since the grandmother at the top was still alive, the three brothers below had not yet established separate households. The extended family of dozens of people lived in the ancestral residence. The house was spacious, and each family mostly minded their own business behind closed doors.
The eldest son inherited the title of Marquis An Nan and currently held a position in the Ministry of Works, enjoying the emperor’s favor. Consequently, the second and third brothers also did well for themselves. Externally, the family appeared prosperous, but internally, each member had their own struggles.
As the eldest legitimate son, Lin Qingyang should have an unshakable prestigious position among his siblings in the Marquis’s residence. However, due to issues in the maternal family, Lin Qingyang’s situation in the Marquis’s residence became delicate.
The main household, including the grandmother, had their meals together. When Lin Qingyang arrived, everyone looked at him with some discomfort. After all, Lin Qingyang was known for never being able to get up early, no matter how many times he was told.
Lin Qingyang naturally did not immediately display respectful manners. Instead, he awkwardly bowed before taking his seat. He needed a gradual transition for his character.
After Lin Qingyang took his seat, servants came to set more dishes. The table was filled with exquisite dishes, much tastier than the hospital food he used to have. However, he dared not eat too much; he had to control his food intake from now on.
The young man in a navy blue brocade robe sitting next to him couldn’t help but speak, “It’s a three-day break from the Imperial Academy. Second Brother, why are you up so early?”
“Once I wake up, I get up,” Lin Qingyang replied indifferently, adopting an attitude of not wanting to engage with people. This person was none other than his younger half-brother, Lin Qingxu, who was a year younger than him. Lin Qingyang had always treated him this way, and he had gotten used to it.
“It’s rare for Second Brother rarely to get up so early. How about we study together later?” Lin Qingxu smiled and suggested.
Before Lin Qingyang could respond, a crisp female voice interjected with dissatisfaction, “Second Brother doesn’t have time to study with us.”
Lin Qingyang followed the voice and saw a cute girl dressed in smoke purple brocade, wearing a robe and skirt. She had twin buns on her head and bangs that reached her eyebrows. However, the girl’s face displayed undisguised annoyance as she looked at Lin Qingyang with caution, as if afraid that he would agree to study together. This girl was Lin Qingyang’s full-blooded younger sister, Lin Qingwei.
On the side, there was another girl with a similar attire holding Lin Qingwei’s hand, whispering, “Fourth Sister, don’t say that. It’s good for everyone to study together, right, Second Brother?” This girl was Lin Qingxu’s full-blooded younger sister, Lin Qingyao.
Marquis An Nan had three daughters and two sons. The eldest daughter, Lin Qingyang, and Lin Qingwei were born from the same mother, making them legitimate siblings. The eldest daughter was already married. Despite being full-blooded siblings, the relationship between Lin Qingyang and his sisters was strained due to his usual spoiled behavior and discreet interest in the same gender, causing even his full-blooded younger sister to dislike him. On the other hand, his relationships with his half-siblings, born from another mother, were a bit closer.
“Oh, I’ll pass. You can do as you like,” Lin Qingyang refused directly, not wanting to deviate too much from his character. It wasn’t the right time to repair relationships.
“Is there something else Second Brother is busy with?” Lin Qingxu continued with a smile, his eyes gleaming with cunning excitement.
Lin Qingyang looked at Lin Qingxu suspiciously, about to speak, but suddenly one of the elders at the table, noticing that the younger ones had been chattering, inquired about what they were talking about.
“What are you discussing?” the Marquis An Nan asked.
Lin Qingxu immediately presented a respectful explanation, “We were thinking of inviting Second Brother to study together, but it seems that Second Brother has something to attend to and doesn’t want to join us.”
The statement was technically correct, but Lin Qingyang couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
For a moment, Lin Qingyang didn’t react, and then he heard his grandmother, seated in a high position, speak, “Yang’er[7] is not a child anymore. Instead of focusing on studying, what could be keeping him so busy? As the legitimate son of the Marquis’s family, does he truly not want to be a prince’s study companion in the palace?”
Marquis An Nan also became displeased, setting down his chopsticks heavily and scolding, “Humph! All you think about is indulging in idle pursuits. Just a few days ago, you were punished to kneel in the ancestral hall, but it seems the lesson didn’t stick. After the New Year, the imperial academy examination will begin. If you can’t be selected as a prince’s study companion, you’ll continue kneeling in the ancestral hall for me! Don’t embarrass our Marquis’s family outside.”
Lin Qingyang: … He hadn’t even said anything yet, and these people were already busy assigning him guilt? It seems his previous unimpressive character had truly taken root deeply.
“Lord Marquis, calm your anger. Yang’er surely wants to study; perhaps he is willing but lacks the ability, with aspirations beyond his reach.” A woman seated beside Marquis An Nan spoke softly, her gentle tone seeming to soothe the tense atmosphere. “Fortunately, we still have Xu’er to help. Xu’er has been performing well at the academy. As long as Xu’er becomes a prince’s study companion, our Marquis’s family won’t lose face.”
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