Chapter 5

The car rolled slowly along the road, the dense canopy of roadside trees gradually giving way to the bustling traffic of the city. No matter how leisurely Yang Mu drove, this stretch of road inevitably came to an end.

She pulled up gently at the hospital entrance and gazed at Jiang Li, who was sleeping soundly. Yang Mu’s eyes brimmed with an intense, inescapable affection.

The obedient profile of Jiang Li’s sleeping face lay before her, utterly vulnerable. She seemed completely unaware of her actions, leaving herself open to whatever Yang Mu might do.

Staring at the temptation laid out right in front of her, Yang Mu felt a surge of desire. Her gaze upon Jiang Li grew hazy with obsession.

Her fingers lightly unbuckled the seatbelt. Yang Mu rose from the driver’s seat and leaned slowly toward Jiang Li, her movements as gentle as possible for fear of waking her.

Just as she was about to bend down, a series of blaring honks erupted from outside the car—one after another, startling enough to make anyone jump.

Jiang Li’s eyelashes fluttered, her eyes on the verge of opening in the next instant. In a panic, Yang Mu twisted around and slammed into the steering wheel with a thud. A sharp pain shot through her waist, but she ignored it, scrambling back into her seat.

Lately, Jiang Li had been fretting over her first task and hadn’t slept well at night. With it finally complete today, a weight lifted from her mind, and she had drifted into a deep slumber.

The harsh honks jolted her awake. A veil of sleepiness still clouded her eyes as she murmured in a soft, drowsy voice, “Are we there yet?”

That tone sent a delightful itch through Yang Mu’s heart. She replied gently, “Yes. Do you want to rest a bit longer in the car before heading up?”

Jiang Li shook her head. She still had the so-called “day trip” from the system on her mind and needed to get back to check it out.

Turning to flash a crescent-moon smile, Jiang Li said gratefully, “I’m heading off now. I’ll treat you to dinner sometime soon.”

Yang Mu nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll be waiting anytime.”

Jiang Li opened the door and stepped out, bending down to reveal a glimpse of her delicate collarbone. “See you,” she said softly.

Almost the moment Yang Mu’s car pulled away, 123’s voice chimed in abruptly.

【Little Li Li, I’ve got bad news. The plot line has deviated.】

Jiang Li frowned and headed toward the hospital, asking as she walked, “Why would the plot line shift out of nowhere? Those usually only happen in high-level worlds.”

【Because Yang Mu was reborn.】

Jiang Li’s eyes widened in shock. “Isn’t that the rare 10% chance cause for plot deviation? And it’s happening on my first mission?”

【Yes. Also, there’s a key change in the plot I need to mention. If things go as expected, this reborn Yang Mu is different from the one in the original story—she likes you.】

Recalling what she’d just witnessed, 123 paused before adding hesitantly, 【And… she might be a little off.】

Jiang Li went silent.

She didn’t need to ask what “off” meant. For the yandere system to call someone abnormal, Yang Mu had to be an out-of-control factor.

Furrowing her brow, Jiang Li quickened her pace toward her office. Along the way, colleagues greeted her now and then, and she responded with sweet smiles and nods.

The hallway was mostly empty. The elevator she took was vacant.

Leaning against her chin in thought, she realized that if Yang Mu was reborn, it explained her insistence that Luo Yihuan had been acting strangely lately.

But their meeting today hadn’t shown anything unusual. Was Luo Yihuan just that good at masking it?

The elevator doors opened. Lost in her thoughts, Jiang Li didn’t notice the woman waiting outside her office until she arrived.

She hurried forward. “Hello. What can I do for you?”

The woman had her hair neatly pinned up, dressed in a sharply tailored black suit and high heels. Her features were pleasantly attractive, and she carried a faint, elegant fragrance.

“Hello. I’m Wen Li, the deputy director of the Marketing Department at Luo Corporation.”

Wen Li’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes narrowing slightly as she met Jiang Li’s gaze and introduced herself.

Marketing Department? Jiang Li was surprised. First Yang Mu from the same department today, and she’d even visited Luo Corporation’s chairwoman. Luo Group was everywhere today.

Keeping that thought to herself, Jiang Li unlocked her door and invited her in.

She gestured for Wen Li to sit on the nearby sofa, then brewed a cup of tea and placed it on the coffee table. A gracious smile curved her lips. “The tea is a bit simple—please forgive the humble hospitality.”

Wen Li sat with perfect posture on the sofa, legs crossed. She shook her head lightly in polite refusal, exuding an air of refined poise.

Straight to the point, Wen Li looked at Jiang Li, who sat smiling warmly across from her, and got down to business. “I wonder if Miss Jiang would be willing to take on a marketing project from our company?”

Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear to look more professional, Jiang Li tilted her head in confusion at Wen Li’s words. “I’m a psychologist. Shouldn’t your marketing projects involve celebrities?”

Wen Li had clearly done her homework and addressed Jiang Li’s doubts methodically. “We understand your concerns, but please hear me out. The project we’re launching is the Charity Project. It focuses on children who’ve suffered domestic abuse in the past—kids who need help now but can’t overcome their fears.”

“While celebrities bring massive traffic, they can’t truly connect with the children. What we need is someone who can speak directly to them, giving those kids courage and hope in words they can understand.”

Wen Li made a compelling case. For children too scared to seek help after abuse, the barriers were often psychological. Inviting Jiang Li made perfect sense.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Li asked, “For this Charity Project, if these abused children step forward and need financial aid, will Luo Corporation cover it fully? What about ongoing support?”

She spoke deliberately, her usually soft, innocent eyes sharpening like a blade straight to the heart of the matter.

Wen Li subtly studied the woman across from her. Jiang Li’s expression was grave, her clear amber eyes seeming to pierce through any filth or deceit. Her lips pressed tight, her posture rigid with utmost seriousness.

The air stilled as they locked eyes in a silent standoff.

Jiang Li knew Wen Li was a businesswoman; Luo Corporation wouldn’t run this project out of pure altruism. But since it was framed as a charity effort, she’d fight for the best terms for those children.

“Of course, we will,” Wen Li replied.

The tension broke with a soft laugh as she watched Jiang Li’s earnest, taut expression. Wen Li relaxed her posture and offered a genuine smile.

It seemed she’d found a psychologist who truly cared about the kids.

“If you’re not comfortable with a verbal promise, we’ll include specific clauses in the contract we sign today.”

Jiang Li agreed readily, her eyes lighting up with pleasure. She took the contract from Wen Li and pored over it carefully, consulting 123 on anything unclear.

Finally, under Wen Li’s watchful gaze, Jiang Li signed her name with decisive flourish.

Wen Li tucked away the contract and pulled out her phone from her bag. Meeting Jiang Li’s eyes, she explained, “Let me outline the work you’ll need to collaborate on soon.”

Realizing she needed notes, Jiang Li started toward her desk, but Wen Li anticipated her. “Why don’t we add each other on WeChat? I’ll send it directly to you.”

Settling back on the sofa, Jiang Li smiled and nodded at the poised, considerate woman across from her. “Just call me Jiang Li, Director Wen.”

“Alright, Jiang Li.”

Switching fully into work mode, Wen Li’s smile faded as she referenced her phone. “Our first event is the day after tomorrow, from around 8 a.m. until lunch. You’ll join our chairwoman to visit the children at Shore Lake Orphanage. In the morning, prepare a speech—the dean will discreetly gather the kids with abuse histories in one room.”

“After the visit, we’ll provide a documentary of the entire process within two days. Then, you’ll do an interview at Luo Corporation headquarters.”

“The interview format and time are TBD, but we’ll notify you as soon as they’re set.”

Having laid out the schedule, Wen Li looked at the attentive Jiang Li, who nodded along, and asked, “Does that work with your availability?”

Jiang Li shook her head; the timing was fine. Her only question was, “The chairwoman you mentioned—is that Luo Yihuan?”

Wen Li nodded, adding thoughtfully, “Yes. Luo Corporation is now fully under Chairwoman Luo Yihuan’s management.”

【Ding. Detecting approach to a major plot node. Second task issuing soon.】

The alert sounded in her mind, and Jiang Li’s lips pressed together as her eyes widened. She hadn’t even checked her reward from the first task, and now the second was coming?

“123, I haven’t seen my day trip yet. How is the second task already here?”

123 explained, “This is just an early warning based on your current scenario. If you alter your plans, the task will change accordingly.”

Jiang Li mulled over Wen Li’s schedule: just three locations—the orphanage, Luo Corporation, and the interview site.

Remembering the yandere system’s first task command, the smile slipped from her face.

In a corner of the orphanage, before the children, on her speech platform—she’d have to say those embarrassingly cheesy words to Luo Yihuan.

In Luo Corporation’s lobby, Luo Yihuan’s office, passing colleagues—she’d have to utter words tantamount to harassment.

During the interview, from a separate room, before countless onlookers—she’d have to spout something utterly unhinged.

…

The mere thought dimmed the sparkles in her eyes.

Just give her an oversized coffin filled with formalin to lie in, heavens.

【Good luck, Little Li Li.】

123’s tone carried a hint of schadenfreude, as if it could already picture her mortified state upon completing the next task.