The system forced me to blow up the female lead's fishpond.

Shen Zhizhi stared wide-eyed at the person kneeling devoutly at her feet, unable to recover for a long time.

It wasn't until Xue Liao looked up at her that she snapped out of her shock and reached out to pull him up from the ground. "Don't kneel before me. What master? I'm not your master."

Bloodshot, his gaze fixed intently on her, "If it weren't for Master's rescue, I would have starved to death here long ago, my body left to rot in the wilderness."

"No, buddy, I only gave you a few lousy steamed buns and you're already expecting me to be your master? That's way too casual!"

Shen Zhizhi's hand, which was holding his, froze, and four or five black lines appeared on her forehead. She was speechless.

Who would have thought that the way people in ancient times repaid kindness was by offering themselves in marriage?

Xue Liao remained silent for a moment, pondered for a while, and his brown eyes flashed with tiny points of light.

He pointed to the steamed bun stall not far away, "Then the master will sell the whole steamer of steamed buns to his subordinate, so that it won't be just a few steamed buns, and the subordinate won't be considered to have randomly recognized a master."

Hearing his reserved and serious words, Shen Zhizhi suddenly widened her eyes, her clear eyes reflecting Xue Liao's solemn face.

No, is this kid really missing a screw in his head?

"I can't explain this to you at all. In short, don't acknowledge me as your master. I am not your master."

Xue Liao's knees felt like they were dry on the ground; no matter how hard Shen Zhizhi pulled and tugged, he couldn't move an inch.

Helpless, she had no choice but to give up and turn to leave.

However, the next second, her clothes were tightly gripped by the blood on the ground, making it difficult for her to move. She was forced to look down.

Xue Liao blinked and revealed an extremely roguish smile. "Master, I want to follow you."

Perhaps fearing that she hadn't understood his words, Xue Liao paused for a moment, then added again, "A life-saving grace should be repaid with one's body. Since you saved me, I am your person. Please take responsibility for me."

Shen Zhizhi:? ? ?

God the hell is responsible!

She realized that she had encountered a scammer, right?

But judging from how slow-witted this kid seems, he's probably easy to fool.

Shen Zhizhi lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then chuckled and moved closer to him, squatting down and awkwardly pointing to the tree in the distance.

"Well then, I like subordinates who are fast. If you run to that tree and pick a leaf, and your speed meets my requirements, I will take you in."

"No!" Xue Liao said decisively.

Then, with a deep look in his eyes, he raised them and said, "If I leave, my master will surely abandon me here, and I will not be able to find him."

Shen Zhizhi's fake smile instantly froze on her face. This guy wasn't as stupid as she thought.

"However, does the master like subordinates who eat quickly?" Xue Liao suddenly raised his eyes and asked quietly.

"..."

A moment later, Shen Zhizhi stared at the last copper coin in her palm with a pain in her heart, tears streaming down her face.

When she looked up again, her lips twitched violently as she stared at the gluttonous boy in front of the steamed bun stall, who was devouring steamed buns one tray after another like a starving ghost. Her eyes burned with fierce fire.

She wasn't wrong; this guy was indeed a con artist, and he had swallowed all the few taels of silver she had left.

Shen Zhizhi suppressed the pain in her eyes.

Fine, as long as they stop bothering her to call her "master," that title makes her feel incredibly awkward.

Shen Zhizhi ignored the Blood Liao who was still feasting ahead and was about to leave when Ya Dan's notification sounded:

[Mission objective is nearing completion; please complete the mission as soon as possible.]

Tsk!

This damn task is never absent, not even from morning till night.

Shen Zhizhi subconsciously glanced at her target, and in just a moment, her peripheral vision swiftly caught sight of a certain figure.

With his dazzling gold thread draped around his body and his eye-catching mink shawl, Chu Tu dressed like a nouveau riche in the entire Nanliyue Star City. Who else could it be but Chu Tu?

Thinking of how angry she had made him that day, Shen Zhizhi immediately shrank back like a quail, preparing to leave in the opposite direction to avoid the danger of running into him.

"Host, you were brave and fearless that day, but don't be so scared that you desert your post today." Ya Dan's voice echoed in your mind.

Shen Zhizhi abruptly stopped in her tracks. Though her expression remained unchanged, her heart pounded like a drum.

Damn it, there's a saying that's true: "Leave a way out for others, so you can meet again in the future." It's just a pity that she was young and impetuous, and realized this too late.

However, we still need to maintain the facade of order.

She flicked a stray hair from her forehead expressionlessly, her tone calm and collected. "Hmph, who's afraid? Who's trying to run away? It's just going to say hello, right? I don't believe he can kill me in front of everyone."

Even as he said this, his teeth were chattering.

Ya Dan glanced at her, secretly despising her, but still kindly gave her some face and didn't expose her.

[Host, tomorrow is Chu Tu's birthday. You must spend this birthday with him.]

Ya Dan's suggestion made Shen Zhizhi suddenly realize the truth.

She remembered that in the original story, Chu Tu's greatest wish was for Shen Qinshou to spend his birthday with him.

However, Shen Qinshou never cared about this matter. On his birthday, she not only did not accompany him, but she also never said "Happy Birthday" to his face.

At most, she would find a maid to embroider a purse for him, send it to Chu Tu, and lie that she made it herself.

This matter was like a thorn in Chu Tu's side.

On his birthday, he would climb the watchtower and watch the people coming and going on the street. He appeared calm on the surface, but his resentment was constantly accumulating in his heart.

It wasn't until later, when he discovered that Shen Qinshou was celebrating Zhang Jiali's birthday at that wonton stall, that the resentment that had been building up in his heart finally erupted and became uncontrollable.

Chu Tu's descent into darkness is largely related to his failure to receive attention from his beloved over the years.

Shen Zhizhi's thoughts cleared up a bit, and she sighed to bolster her courage.

Immediately afterwards, he straightened his chest, looked proud and imposing, and ran straight towards the direction where Chu Tu was.

"..."

In front of the steamed bun shop, Xue Liao chewed on a steamed bun, seemingly focused on eating, but in reality, his peripheral vision was like that of a hawk, firmly locking onto the girl behind him.

Seeing her take a step away, he hesitated for only a moment, but did not get up to chase after her, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

He held the steamed bun in his slender fingers, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes brimming with confidence.

……

Shen Zhizhi jogged to catch up, her eyes fixed on Chu Tu. When she came to her senses, she realized that she had unknowingly followed him into the casino.

Curious, he looked around, but before he could even utter a few words of amazement, he realized with a start that he had lost Chu Tu.

She glanced at the dark, crowded casino, and her small face immediately scrunched up.

Strange, she clearly saw him come in, how could he disappear in the blink of an eye?

Before she could think it through, something even more surprising happened to Shen Zhizhi.

With a whistle, the noisy gambling game suddenly fell silent, and everyone scrambled to escape as quickly as possible.

Shen Zhizhi was jostled about by the dense crowd, but fortunately she managed to grab onto a red pillar to avoid being knocked to the ground.