Volume 3: Favorability vs Heartthrob Value
“Now, do you remember?” the mysterious voice rang out again.
Liang Sheng nodded with a bitter smile. Things she hadn’t wanted to recall had still flooded back into her mind.
“Why can’t I remember what happened afterward, or some important things from my original life?” Liang Sheng asked.
“Uh…” The mysterious voice suddenly faltered. “Well, it’s just that the system… the system had a little glitch. Probably because…” The voice trailed off into a mumble.
Liang Sheng silently cursed this damn system a thousand times in her heart. She pressed on. “Who’s in charge of the system?”
The mysterious voice sounded distinctly lacking in confidence. “It’s… it’s me…”
“What?” Liang Sheng exclaimed in surprise, looking around. The world of memories had shattered into fragments, leaving nothing but swirling mists and a vast expanse of white.
“Where are you?”
The system replied, “I can’t take form yet.”
“Then why didn’t you come out earlier to help me recall the past?” Liang Sheng swung her fist angrily at the empty air.
“Hmph!” The system’s voice turned indignant. “You think I wanted to? It’s because you couldn’t get the job done, leaving me short on energy.”
Liang Sheng’s mind raced, and she suddenly thought of favorability. Without hesitation, she blurted out, “Favorability? The system? Does it have something to do with how high or low favorability is?”
“Yeah, not bad. You’re not completely hopeless.”
Liang Sheng was left speechless. The atmosphere fell quiet.
The system sounded a bit awkward. She softened her tone and began her introduction. “I’m System 006, in charge of favorability. My code name is Kazuko. My name in life was Akino Kazuko.”
The formal introduction drew a gasp of admiration from Liang Sheng. But two words caught her attention: “in life.” So this system used to be human? How had she become a system?
“What do you mean by ‘in life’…?” Liang Sheng probed cautiously.
Kazuko replied in a carefree tone. “Do you remember those memories about friends that you saw in the sea, the ones that weren’t yours? Those were mine.”
“Oh…” Liang Sheng drew out the sound, gazing at the empty air with sympathy.
“Ugh, why are you looking at me with that gross pity? You’re way more pathetic than I am,” Kazuko teased.
Then her voice grew serious again. “Didn’t you always wonder if Su Ze had any special abilities? I’ll tell you now.”
“Wait, wait, wait. I have another question.” Liang Sheng waved her hands to interrupt. “How do you know my inner thoughts? Wow—you’re a pervert who peeks into people’s private feelings!” Her voice grew increasingly suspicious.
“Pah!” If Kazuko could take form, she’d be red-faced with rage. “You think I want to? You’re bound to me. And how do you keep interrupting like that? Do you even want to know the truth?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Liang Sheng nodded frantically.
Kazuko took a breath and said mysteriously, “Heh heh. There were originally six of us systems. Two were deliberately destroyed, one self-destructed, and three remain: the Favorability System, the Heartthrob Value System, and the Devotion Count System.”
“What’s the difference?”
Kazuko’s voice turned grumpy again. “Stop interrupting. I was just getting to that. Favorability isn’t limited to lovers—friends and family can have high favorability toward you too. But Heartthrob Value and Devotion Count? Those are strictly for romantic partners.” She paused deliberately, as if waiting for Liang Sheng to praise her system’s broad coverage.
Liang Sheng rolled her eyes, her face full of disdain. “Huh? That’s it? That’s all? Your system is way too vague then—who knows what kind of feelings they have for me?”
Kazuko felt like she’d taken ten thousand points of damage. She was so mad she nearly grabbed Liang Sheng by the throat—until the girl cried out “Ancestor!” and she let go.
Rubbing her neck, Liang Sheng rasped, “What about Su Ze? Which system does he have?”
Kazuko feigned surprise. “Oh! You actually guessed Su Ze has a system? So you’re not totally dumb after all. Sigh… Don’t take it personally, but with that dumb, lovestruck look on your face…”
“Come on already! Are you capable or not? Can you stop pausing halfway every time? It makes me so uncomfortable!” As soon as the words left her mouth, Liang Sheng felt they sounded off.
“Hmph, I hate it when women say I’m incapable,” Kazuko grumbled.
“Su Ze has the Heartthrob Value System. Ours are all similar, but his is way more powerful.”
Liang Sheng eyed the empty air with contempt. “Tch, look at his, then look at you. Tsk tsk tsk…”
The barrage of “tsks” nearly set Kazuko off again, but Liang Sheng quickly changed the subject. “Why is yours weaker than his? What’s the difference?”
“I don’t know why his is so much stronger…” Kazuko’s voice turned sullen. “I’m puzzled too!”
“Let me send you back to the real world!”
“Wait!” Liang Sheng suddenly remembered a crucial question.
“Did you bring me from that other world to this one?”
“Huh? What? What are you talking about? What other world?” Kazuko’s voice filled with confusion.
“Don’t lie!” Liang Sheng grew agitated, shouting at the empty air. “Then why did I see such high favorability from me toward Su Ze? I swear, I don’t like him at all!”
“And you’ve been with me the whole time, seeing and hearing everything, right? When he asked why I don’t like him, that means the heartthrob value he sees from me must be low, so he subconsciously muttered it to himself. How do you explain that? Why are they different?” Liang Sheng ranted on.
Kazuko was thrown for a loop by the outburst. “Maybe… it’s not romantic like, but just friend-like?”
“Impossible!” Liang Sheng shot back. “I especially hate his type—playboy, two-faced, using women!”
“This…” Kazuko was stumped. She thought hard, feeling like her circuits might fry.
“You don’t know I’m a transmigrator?” Liang Sheng pressed.
“What’s that? How could there be transmigration in this world? It’s a modern scientific society—no way something so fantastical happens.”
I don’t buy that for a second, you stupid system.
Liang Sheng laughed in exasperation. “Are you an idiot? This system of yours is already beyond science!”
“Ah… you’re right!” A sudden realization dawned. Liang Sheng abruptly realized the Golden Finger System was just as unreliable.
“So, have you upgraded now?” Liang Sheng tossed out the key question.
Kazuko snapped her fingers smugly. “Of course! You’ll see all the upgrades when you get back to reality. And…”
“I get it,” Liang Sheng said shrewdly. “The higher the favorability, the stronger you get, right?”
Kazuko nodded in satisfaction. Without further ado, she snapped her fingers again. Liang Sheng’s eyes snapped open, and she found herself back in the real world.
Song An’an heard the noise from inside the room and burst through the door, arms laden with bags big and small. Liang Sheng looked closely and saw they were stuffed with lunchboxes and snacks.
Like a tiger pouncing down the mountain, Song An’an launched herself at Liang Sheng with a whoosh of wind, nearly knocking the breath out of her. This girl was ferocious!
Liang Sheng squinted and noticed a ton of new info had appeared in Song An’an’s profile.
“Name: Song An’an
Age: 16
Height: 156 cm
Weight: 44.5 kg
Looks: S
Hobbies: Cooking, ballet
Traits: Chef, little crybaby
Features: Blushes easily, clingy
Wife material overflowing
Family: Father—fashion designer
Mother—translator
Favorability toward Su Ze: 65
Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 168”
Oh wow! It had upgraded big time—not just piles of info, but now it showed numbers over 100 too.
“Have you gained weight?” The question came from the depths of her soul. Indeed, Song An’an was a pound heavier than before.
Song An’an fell silent.
Looking at the favorability, Liang Sheng fell silent too.
She’d been avoiding certain issues, like her feelings toward other girls. She’d always craved recognition and love because, due to her family, she’d never gotten it from her mother.
She admitted that seeing others’ favorability toward her skyrocket was incredibly satisfying. Every time she pleased them and watched the numbers rise, a wave of joy hit her. It meant they liked her—no matter what kind of like—as long as they felt affection for her, she was over the moon.
Song An’an waved a hand in front of the dazed Liang Sheng and asked timidly, “A-Sheng, are you still feeling bad? Are you hungry? I made you lots of yummy food—it’s super nutritious!”
She pulled out a pink lunchbox and opened it. Crispy fried shrimp, tender crab meat, golden corn—Liang Sheng swallowed hard several times, her stomach growling in response.
“An’an, your food looks amazing. I’m starving—can I have a few bites?”
Song An’an’s eyes curved into crescents with joy. “Yes! Eat up, A-Sheng—don’t wait or it’ll get cold.”
“I-I’ll feed you, A-Sheng.” Song An’an clutched the spoon hesitantly, stealing glances at Liang Sheng, afraid of rejection.
Liang Sheng agreed readily. Why not? Gourmet food plus a beauty—who wouldn’t kill for that?
Song An’an’s heart bloomed with happiness. She was the type of lovestruck girl who’d count the money if Liang Sheng sold her.
The cozy moment was interrupted by noise at the door.
Gu Yuqi and Lu Ziqing pushed it open and entered.
Liang Sheng quickly focused her eyes and scanned their profiles.
“Name: Lu Ziqing
Age: 16
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 50 kg
Looks: SS
Hobbies: Violin, shopping
Traits: Tsundere, gap moe
Features: Family loaded, spends like water
Young miss temper, mouth says no but body says yes
Family: Father—provincial governor, Mother—mayor
Grandfather—retired soldier”
