"Gu Yu has such good judgment? To choose you, Host, as the endorser for Greta!"
System 030 often marveled at its host's boundless charm—everyone loved its host. Of course, as a piece of emotionless artificial data, it also loved its host!
Now things were steadily moving in a good direction: a friendly relationship with Jiang Yuanheng, a CP with Pei Yan, starring in a film directed by an internationally renowned director, and landing a high-end jewelry endorsement...
It had already started fantasizing about a beautiful life where Su Zhiyi still hadn't exposed her identity a year later, successfully won the three million bonus, and it, a useless little system, could coast along with its host—one person and one system earning enough money to retire in a small world!
"This way, Host, you can have CP buzz with Film Emperor Pei, be childhood friends with the Jiang family's young master, and accept the high-end jewelry endorsement from Xinghui Entertainment's CEO." System 030 said, "I can't even imagine how your identity could be exposed now. This time it's foolproof!"
"Gu Yu really has an eye for talent. I admit, I'm truly outstanding."
Su Zhiyi fully affirmed her own excellence, her tone brimming with self-pride. But after affirming her excellence, she shifted tone.
The smug smile on her lips faded, and her voice turned calm: "But it's because he likes me that he's providing me with resources."
System 030: "?!"
The system was shocked.
"Huh? Gu Yu likes you? Why?"
"He could have just contacted the company about the endorsement... but he took the initiative to add me and chat." Su Zhiyi lowered her eyes, her long lashes veiling her tired expression. Slowly, she typed a few casual replies to Gu Yu. "The script for this role is better than any I've had before. His sister is my fan, and I really thought he was considering me for this drama because of her."
"Now, it doesn't seem that way."
After perfunctorily sending Gu Yu a "good night," she exited the chat window.
"If I'm not mistaken, he's probably my fan."
Su Zhiyi relied on her looks. A female star who relied on looks attracted not only female fans but also male fans. She had plenty of male fans, many of whom were boyfriend fans.
They got her into a drama, wanted her to switch companies, provided her with high-end endorsement resources—pure investment with no expectation of return.
That Gu Yu was her fan was already quite obvious.
System 030 listened with half-understanding: "Ah... isn't it bad for a fan and their idol to interact too much? Then Host, are you going to accept the resources Gu Yu sends?"
"Free resources handed to me on a silver platter—why not take them?" Su Zhiyi said indifferently. "Anyway, the mission ends in a year, and I'll be gone."
It was the same approach she took with Pei Yan.
She wanted the excellent resources Gu Yu offered to solidify her persona, and she didn't mind having one more excellent fish in her pond.
If they wanted to be fish in her pond, fine—as long as her pond didn't capsize and her identity wasn't exposed within the year. Let those men compete however they wanted.
After all, she wouldn't take initiative, wouldn't reject, and wouldn't respond.
Su Zhiyi opened the message from another "fish" in her pond.
[Pei Yan: Has Director Zhou talked to you about the new script?]
[Su Zhiyi: Already told me...]
Pei Yan paused for a moment on the other end and quickly detected something off in Su Zhiyi's feigned tone.
[Pei Yan: That sentence seems off. Why the ellipsis? Is there a problem with the script?]
[Su Zhiyi: A little problem...]
[Pei Yan: Tell me.]
[Su Zhiyi: I've never taken a script with kissing scenes. This is my first time acting in a kiss. So technically, it's my on-screen first kiss.]
Pei Yan was silent even longer this time.
[Pei Yan: It's my first time too.]
[Pei Yan: If you're unwilling, I'll talk to Director Zhou. No one will force you to act in scenes you don't like.]
[Su Zhiyi: It's not that I'm unwilling.]
[Su Zhiyi: I'm just curious—even if we're adding romantic scenes, why did you think of acting a kissing scene with me?]
After a long while, Pei Yan replied, answering Su Zhiyi's doubt.
[Pei Yan: I read the original novel, focusing on the Regent and the Princess's storyline. I think there must be feelings beyond familial affection between the two characters.]
[Pei Yan: The original novel didn't fully develop their story. Adding it in is a way to give closure to the original work.]
[Su Zhiyi: Oh! So that's it.]
[Su Zhiyi: You thought about it so much, impressive~]
[Su Zhiyi: For a moment, I thought you were adding personal bias, wanting to act a kissing scene with me.]
[Pei Yan: ...]
Pei Yan was stunned by Su Zhiyi's words. The top of the chat window kept showing "typing..." but no message came out for a long time.
Su Zhiyi curled her lips into a smile, as if she could see Pei Yan, this upright man, blushing from ear to ear after being teased by her seemingly casual words.
Was Pei Yan really that proper? When he actually acted a kissing scene with her, wouldn't he turn red from his neck to the back of his ears?
[Pei Yan: I admit, I do have some selfish intentions.]
[Pei Yan: I want to build feelings with you. I think two people can build feelings by acting together on set, so I wanted to stay a few more days and act in emotional scenes with you. Maybe then you'd come to like me too.]
What an honest answer. It seemed he was determined to win Su Zhiyi over and spend the rest of his life with her.