From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

As soon as Madam Qin finished speaking, Yan Rugo's face lit up with a bright smile, like a kitten that had stolen a fish, her heart filled with joy.

However, this joy was quickly interrupted by a murmur, like the chill of early winter wind, instantly cooling her heart.

"I heard that there will be even more formidable opponents participating in the next event, and they are all said to possess extraordinary skills!" Upon hearing this, the noble ladies in the crowd immediately began to whisper among themselves, their eyes flashing with complex emotions—jealousy, curiosity, and anticipation, a mixture of feelings.

A gloomy atmosphere immediately settled over Yan Rugo's heart.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and she clenched her fists so tightly that her fingertips almost dug into her palms.

Can she handle this new challenge as easily as she has this time?

She told herself that she absolutely could not let her guard down.

People around him showed different attitudes toward the rumor.

Miss Su raised her eyebrows haughtily, while Madam Qin smiled kindly, but a thoughtful look appeared in her eyes.

Master Bai, on the other hand, had a learned demeanor, as if he were pondering something in his mind.

Young Master Hua's lips curled slightly, and his eyes gleamed with schadenfreude, as if he was waiting to see Yan Rugo make a fool of herself.

Yan Rugo took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner turmoil.

She turned her head and whispered to Xu Yun, "I..." Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly realized that the system might be able to help.

She silently pleaded, "System, give me some advice on how to deal with this new opponent."

However, the system's response was somewhat hesitant: "I'm sorry, due to the previous malfunction, the information I can provide at the moment is very limited..." Yan Rugo's face instantly turned pale, and she felt a wave of despair.

The system malfunction meant she lost a crucial asset, making the mission even more difficult.

A hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes, and though her lips parted slightly, she couldn't utter a word.

The nobles around her seemed oblivious to her change, continuing to immerse themselves in their own discussions.

Yan Rugo felt an unprecedented loneliness, as if the whole world was against her.

Just when she was about to give up, Xu Yun's gaze met hers, and Yan Rugo felt a warmth in her heart, as if she had grasped a lifeline.

She nodded slightly, secretly resolving that no matter what, she would give it her all in this challenge.

"Ruge, don't be afraid, we'll face this together." Xu Yun's voice was deep and warm, like a ray of light piercing through the gloom and pointing her in the right direction.

Yan Rugo took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and looked ahead with a determined gaze.

No matter how dangerous the road ahead, she will not back down.

She is ready for the new challenge.

Xu Yun's actions were indeed somewhat unexpected. Unlike male protagonists in other novels who would directly provide resources to help the female protagonist gain an unfair advantage, he simply offered quiet emotional support.

This made Yan Rugo feel a bit like when she was playing a game and her teammates not only didn't carry her, but also said, "Come on, you can do it."

A nameless anger surged up in her heart instantly, and she puffed out her cheeks, looking like a little hamster that had been provoked.

But she quickly calmed down. Xu Yun, this guy, looks like a little white rabbit, but he's actually smarter than anyone else.

There must be a reason for him to do this.

After careful consideration, Yan Rugo realized that relying on others was risky; she realized that she still had to rely on herself.

She couldn't help but roll her eyes. Fine, she'd listen to him this time.

The young ladies and gentlemen around them glanced back and forth between the two of them, as if they were looking at some strange gossip.

Some of the bolder ones had already started whispering and speculating about the nature of their relationship.

In the days that followed, Yan Rugo practically transformed into a learning machine.

She studied day and night, and could recite three hundred ancient poems off the top of her head.

His fingers flew across the pages, his eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night, and even while eating, his mind was filled with the lines, "The spring river rises with the tide, and the bright moon rises with the tide."

During the day, I practiced facial expression management in front of the mirror, and at night I had to recite poems in my mind. I practically turned myself into a master of reciting.

When Master Bai happened to pass by and saw how diligently Yan Rugo was working, his beard couldn't help but twitch, and his eyes were overflowing with admiration.

The young ladies and gentlemen around Yan Rugo stared wide-eyed at the change in her, as if they had witnessed something unbelievable.

It turns out that Yan Rugo, when rolled up, is so dazzling and eye-catching, she is simply a dark horse that has emerged out of nowhere in the world of poetry.

Just then, Yan Rugo suddenly stopped writing, a slight smile playing on her lips. She gently put down the completed poem.

Xu Yun frowned with heartache as he looked at the mountain of poems piled on Yan Rugo's desk. This girl is such a little rascal.

He quietly placed the chilled fruit tea he had prepared beforehand next to her, and then gently took the book from her hand and replaced it with a more relaxing casual book.

He knew that studying required a balance between work and rest.

"Ruge, take a break, look at these, relax." Xu Yun's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze in March, lightly brushing against her tired face.

Yan Rugo looked up and saw the concern in Xu Yun's eyes. Her heart warmed, and a surge of warmth flowed through her body.

She took the fruit tea, and the cool sweetness slid down her throat, instantly dispelling the fatigue of the past few days.

She looked at Xu Yun, a smile unconsciously appearing on her lips, her eyes filled with emotion.

This guy, although he seems like an innocent little rabbit on the surface, can be quite a sweet and caring person at times.

The young ladies and gentlemen around couldn't help but murmur with envy at the sight, and the air was filled with the sweet and sour smell of romance.

These two are a match made in heaven, their sweetness is off the charts!

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the next poetry gathering will be held.

Although Yan Rugo was still a little nervous, her face showed a confident expression that said, "I'm all set."

During this period, she put in a lot of effort, arming herself from head to toe.

Madam Qin took Yan Rugo's hand and took an exquisite sandalwood box from the maid, handing it to Yan Rugo. "Rugo, this is what I prepared for you. I hope it can help you at the poetry gathering."

Yan Rugo opened the box, inside was a paperweight carved from the finest jade. The jade was warm and lustrous, and the carving was exquisite. It was clearly very valuable at first glance.

This is no ordinary paperweight; at certain angles, it can emit a faint fragrance that has a refreshing effect.

Yan Rugo looked up in surprise and gave Madam Qin a grateful look.

Madam Qin is giving her premium gear!

With this treasure, she's sure to dominate this time.

Yan Rugo took a deep breath, gripped the paperweight tightly, and felt a surge of power within her. She straightened her back, her eyes gleaming with confidence. This poetry gathering was going to impress everyone.

She arrived at the poetry gathering, where the place was bustling with activity and lively atmosphere.

The atmosphere today seems more tense than last time. It seems that the arrival of a new opponent has brought a lot of pressure to everyone.

Just as she was looking around, a clear, cold voice came from not far away.

"Today's poetry gathering has attracted quite a few promising young talents."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a woman dressed in a plain-colored silk dress walking slowly towards them.

She moved with light steps, possessed a cool and aloof demeanor, and exuded an air of arrogance between her brows.

She held a silk fan in her hand, waving it gently, as if it had its own background music and the aura of a protagonist.

Yan Rugo looked at the talented Lin and couldn't help but feel a little nervous.