Jun Zishu laid into the nutrition pod, her consciousness entering a private transit space.

She had passed an interview and a written exam not long ago, so she can finally lie here and begin her internship.

She was interning as a fate changer in the Department of Transmigration.

She had been a businesswoman on Earth before she died. After concluding a business negotiation, a driver under the influence of alcohol accidentally hit her with his car.

Car accidents were a common misfortune that frequently happened around the world. Even so, Jun Zishu never thought that she would meet with such a tragic end.

After she died, she originally thought she would meet the rumored lord of the underworld. However, that did not happen. Instead, she received a notice.

The notice stated that so long as she passed three tests, she could intern as a fate changer and continue living for the time being. Once her internship ended, she could become an official employee and live for however long she wanted.

Jun Zishu didn’t wish to die yet, so she accepted the offer and smoothly passed the three tests. Now, she was lying in the provided nutrition pod and was ready to start her internship journey.

“Welcome to the System Space. This is System No.28, ready to serve you wholeheartedly.”

Suddenly, a creature resembling a fairy fluttered her translucent wings and hovered in front of Jun Zishu, the fairy using a crisp, childlike voice to speak to Jun Zishu.

“Um… Are you System No.28?”

“Yes!”

“You must’ve guided many hosts before, then.”

“No, you are System No.28’s first client!”

“Is that so… Do all systems come in your shape?”

“Not at all, but isn’t my appearance cute?”

After saying so, System No.28 twirled around in the air before lifting her skirt and curtsied to Jun Zishu.

“Cute,” Jun Zishu sincerely complimented, causing the system to nod with joy.

“Host, give me a name. It’ll be a nickname exclusively for your use.”

“Two-Eight, then.”

A simple and straightforward name.

“Huh?”

Arthritis Will Disappear In 3 Days With This Remedy

Volmix

Ads by Pubfuture

System No.28 did not think that the beautiful lady in front of her would give her such a tasteless name.

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought of a name for myself,” System No.28 said. “Call me Little Fairy.”

“…If that’s what you want, so be it, Little Fairy.”

“Thank you, Host!”

Little Fairy was delighted, the wings on her back fluttering happily.

“I will be residing in your spiritual sea while we are in the mission world, Host. Let’s enter our first world.”

“Mhm.”

When Jun Zishu opened her eyes again, she found that her surrounding environment had completely changed. Now, she was no longer lying in the cramped nutrition pod. Instead, she was sitting inside a bumpy carriage filled with stuffy air.

[Host, I will be transferring this world’s information to you now. The person whose destiny you need to change this time is Ning Qinghuan, who is also your current body’s elder cousin sister.]

Mhm.

[By the way, Host, have I told you about your assigned role?]

Why?

[The Department has determined that you are more suited to become a life mentor based on your personality. In addition, to give you an easier time approaching your mission targets, you will always be granted the role of your target’s younger or older cousin sister for all future missions.][1]

Okay.

Jun Zishu was quite satisfied with her assigned role. After all, she would have an easier time approaching her mission targets.

Life mentor, is it? Well, misleading people is my strong point.

Jun Zishu was known as the Golden Mouth in the business industry. She strongly adhered to the principle of utilizing her mouth instead of her fist to do business. She was the type of person who could bleed others of their money and make them think that they had gotten a good deal.

At this time, the information that Little Fairy mentioned finally arrived in Jun Zishu’s mind.

If Jun Zishu had to regard her mission’s backstory as a novel, her mission target would be the novel’s cannon fodder.

Ning Qinghuan was General Ning’s daughter. The members of the Ning family’s past three generations similarly served as generals for the empire, and even Ning Qinghuan’s elder brother and uncles belonged to the army. Simply put, every male in the Ning family was a serviceman.

Meanwhile, Ning Qinghuan and the empire’s fifth prince were childhood friends. At the age of 15, the fifth prince proposed to Ning Qinghuan, and Ning Qinghuan became the fifth prince’s consort.

If things proceeded smoothly from this point onward, Ning Qinghuan wouldn’t have needed any saving. Jun Zishu also wouldn’t have given Ning Qinghuan the label of cannon fodder.

Originally, with Ning Qinghuan’s background and brains, she should’ve been a great help for the fifth prince in securing the throne, and she would’ve become the empire’s next empress. Yet, Ning Qinghuan’s fate ended with disfigurement and suicide.

Ning Qinghuan’s fate was wrong. So, Jun Zishu’s job as a fate changer was to reverse this tragic fate.

While Ning Qinghuan wasn’t prohibited from meeting a tragic fate, the idiotic ending she met was simply too inconsistent with the brilliant mind she possessed. It was as if someone had forcibly lowered her IQ for her to stumble into the silly fate she had.

Meanwhile, the root cause of Ning Qinghuan’s downfall was the fifth prince’s true love. That woman was the fifth prince’s Juliet. To avoid the other members of his harem from targeting that woman and others from finding out his true weakness, the fifth prince deliberately pampered Ning Qinghuan and used her as a shield for his true love.

Unfortunately, Ning Qinghuan remained ignorant of the fifth prince’s superficial pampering. She had long since fallen for the fifth prince’s sweet words of love, so she foolishly sacrificed many things for the man. Eventually, though, she came to her senses and noticed that something was amiss.

However, when Ning Qinghuan tried to deal with the fifth prince’s true love, not only did she meet with failure, but the fifth prince had even crippled her arms and legs. To make matters worse, the fifth prince’s Juliet had even “accidentally” spilled hot tea onto Ning Qinghuan’s face. And because Ning Qinghuan didn’t receive the necessary treatment in time, she ended up being disfigured.

With how proud of a person Ning Qinghuan was, there was no way she could tolerate being crippled and disfigured. Hence, she chose to commit suicide.

Jun Zishu shook her head and sighed when she finished reading through the information. In her opinion, Ning Qinghuan was both pitiful and foolish.

According to the provided information, Ning Qinghuan had noticed problems in the fifth prince’s behavior many times before. However, she would always dispel her suspicions after receiving a few of those so-called sweet words of love.

Tsk. Do all women go blind once they fall in love?

[That shouldn’t be the case, which is also why we are here to rectify this problem.]

The system’s loli voice sounded in Jin Zishu’s mind.

Jun Zishu tapped the back of her left palm with her right forefinger, a plan taking shape in her mind. If she wanted to change Ning Qinghuan’s fate, she would have to distance Ning Qinghuan from the fifth prince.

Two-Eight, that fifth prince and his true love shouldn’t have something like a protagonist’s aura supporting them, right? Or something along the lines of ‘the world will belong to them in the end.’

[Those things only exist in the Counterattack Division. Our Fate Changing Division is different. Also, call me Little Fairy.]

System No.28 re-emphasized her name.

Okay, Little Fairy. But aren’t we all fate changers? What’s the difference?

[The Counterattack Department’s fate changers will attach themselves onto the cannon fodder’s body. Then, they will battle against those with the protagonist’s aura or cheats and reach the peak of life. So, they are different from us.]

Okay, I understand.

According to the world’s setting, so long as Ning Qinghuan did not wish to marry the fifth prince, then she wouldn’t have to marry him.

In that case, Jun Zishu felt that her job would be simple. All she needed to do was help the little girl recognize the fifth prince’s scummy side and live the rest of her life in peace and happiness.

Everything was A-OK.

The body Jun Zishu currently occupied was called Jun Wan’er, who was Ning Qinghuan’s younger cousin. Such a person never appeared in the original plot. This was because Jun Wan’er had a frail constitution, and she had died of illness before she could reach the Ning manor.

Jun Zishu let out a few coughs as she pulled apart the carriage’s curtains and looked out the window.

“Miss Cousin, what’s the matter? Are you feeling unwell?” a man riding a horse along the carriage asked with a concerned expression.

Jun Wan’er’s mother was the younger sister of General Ning’s wife, who had married a merchant. However, bandits raided the Jun manor not long ago, and only Jun Wan’er survived the encounter.

General Ning was a kind person. Although Jun Wan’er was only the daughter of his wife’s younger sister, when he heard of this matter, he had promptly sent his subordinates to bring Jun Wan’er to the Ning manor.

Despite their mothers being blood-related sisters, Jun Wan’er and Ning Qinghuan weren’t actually related by blood. This was because Jun Wan’er was adopted. Jun Wan’er’s adopted mother was incapable of bearing a child, so she adopted a child from one of her husband’s concubines. The woman had initially intended to adopt a son, but all of her husband’s concubines ended up giving birth to daughters.

However, the people from General Ning’s manor didn’t know of Jun Wan’er’s origins. They all thought that she was birthed by the younger sister of General Ning’s wife.

Shaking her head, Jun Zishu looked ahead and said, “I’m alright. How long until we reach Uncle’s house?”

“Soon. We should reach it before nightfall,” the man from the Ning manor replied with a smile. The man had a relatively good impression of this “Miss Cousin” before him. Despite having a pitiful life story and a frail body, she still treated everyone around her politely. She was a very likable young lady.

Jun Zishu nodded in response to the man’s words and let down the curtains.

Jun Wan’er was 13 years old this year, and so was Ning Qinghuan. Though, Ning Qinghuan was four months older than Jun Wan’er.

When Jun Zishu thought about how she could meet her mission target tonight, anticipation welled up within her.

…

When Jun Zishu alighted from the carriage, she saw a man holding a lantern and standing by the manor entrance. Judging by the man’s attire, he should be the chamberlain of the Ning manor.

“You’re here, Miss Cousin. I am the manor’s chamberlain. The master and madam are already waiting for you inside, so please follow me.”

Jun Zishu nodded but did not speak. She didn’t look around as they walked through the manor, either. Instead, she quietly kept up with the chamberlain.

“Uncle, Auntie.”

After entering the main house, Jun Zishu gave a customary greeting to the man and woman sitting in the house. Then, she glanced at the little girl standing aside.

The little girl wore a red dress, and she had bright eyes and pearly teeth. The girl had an exquisite look, and she exuded the air of someone belonging to a wealthy family.

She should be Ning Qinghuan.

Jun Zishu lowered her head and revealed a timid look to Ning Qinghuan. In her mind, though, she had a relatively favorable impression of this beautiful girl. She was also determined to become friends with Ning Qinghuan. After all, only by getting closer to the mission target would she have a greater influence on the other party.

“You are Wan’er, right? Come here, you pitiful child. You will be staying here with us from now onwards. That girl there is your elder cousin. Qinghuan, come here.”

Madame Ning pulled over her daughter and introduced her to Jun Zishu.

“Greetings, Big Sister Qinghuan.”

Jun Zishu spoke in a cautious voice, the corners of her mouth curving up only slightly as she looked at Ning Qinghuan. As a 13-year-old girl who had just lost both her parents, it was only right for her to be cautious of everything.

“Greetings, Little Sister Wan’er.”

Ning Qinghuan curiously observed the younger cousin she was meeting for the first time. A few days ago, her mother had already told her that one of her younger cousins would be moving in with them and becoming her playmate. She also heard that this cousin of hers had a pitiful life story and that both of the girl’s parents had met an unfortunate demise.

From what Ning Qinghuan could tell, this cousin of hers looked very weak, as if she would fall at the slightest gust of wind. Her cousin’s complexion also looked pale, evidence that the girl wasn’t in good health.

Ning Qinghuan honestly disliked fragile little girls. She typically avoided playing with such girls since she felt they would break with the slightest touch.

She looks like a rabbit, soft and white. She looks like she will be docile and harmless, Ning Qinghuan thought as she caressed her chin and observed how her cousin was looking at her.

However, what Ning Qinghuan didn’t know was that this rabbit knew how to eat people.

TL Notes:

[1]you will always be granted the role of your target’s younger or older cousin sister for all future missions:

Just a heads up: This is a lie. Jun Zishu won’t always play the role of a cousin.

Madam Ning had assigned Jun Zishu to stay in the same building as Ning Qinghuan. To be precise, Jun Zishu would be staying in the room next to Ning Qinghuan’s.

Madam Ning’s arrangement showed that she didn’t hold any contemptuous thoughts against Jun Wan’er’s identity. Combined with the treatment she had received from the Ning family thus far, Jun Zishu found the family quite friendly and likable.

Ning Qinghuan led Jun Zishu to her room. Then, she pointed at the room next door and said to Jun Zishu, “Little Sister Wan’er, that room is yours. The servants have already tidied it up, so you can go in by yourself.”

“Very well, Big Sister Qinghuan.”

Seeing Ning Qinghuan disappearing into her room, Jun Zishu found that this little loli was very cute.

Subsequently, after settling into her new room, Jun Zishu laid down on her bed and began conversing with the system in her mind.

Little Fairy, do you have any system abilities?

[For example?]

Something like a pain sensitivity reduction or a protagonist’s aura.

[I’m sorry, but I do not offer the second service you mentioned. Otherwise, we systems could just complete the missions ourselves instead of hiring employees. As for the first service mentioned, we do provide that, but there is a limit.]

Little Fairy spoke in a solemn tone, making it seem as if she was behaving seriously.

What’s the limit?

[As you are currently an intern, you get to enjoy up to a 10% reduction in pain sensitivity. That benefit will increase to 30% once you become an official employee, and 50% if you become an excellent employee.]

Little Fairy’s voice changed to one filled with enthusiasm, causing Jun Zishu to feel inexplicably joyful.

Then, what benefit do you get for following me around?

[Huh? Nothing. It is the job and mission of the various systems to guide and assist fate changers like you. We do not require any benefits. Every system is equal, and there is no distinction in quality between us. Our authority is only limited by our hosts.]

Understood. Are there any other functions you have?

[The query function, location function, and surveillance function are popular functions as well.]

Okay.

Then, Jun Zishu shut her eyes and went to sleep for the night.

…

The next day, Jun Zishu woke up to

Little Fairy, what’s going on outside?

[The mission target is dealing with something. Hurry up and get dressed, Host. Let’s go outside and watch the fun.]

Jun Zishu opened the doors to her room. Then, when the maid outside saw her, the other party quickly left to retrieve the toiletries.

After experiencing the inconvenience of ancient times and the corrupt feeling of being served by others, Jun Zishu made her way downstairs.

Currently, Ning Qinghuan stood on an elevated platform in the courtyard with an ugly look on her face. She also held a long and slender whip in her hand, nimbly manipulating it from time to time.

Meanwhile, two maids knelt before Ning Qinghuan, crying while wiping their tears with their sleeves.

Despite being only a 13-year-old girl, Ning Qinghuan could already exude an extraordinary aura.

“Miss Cousin.”

One of the maids standing aside greeted Jun Zishu. The maid’s words also attracted Ning Qinghuan’s attention.

“You’re here, Little Sister Wan’er? Take a seat first. I’ll play with you once I’m done questioning these two,” Ning Qinghuan said, her expression relaxing a little when she looked at Jun Zishu. However, when she turned back to the two maids, her expression instantly turned cold again.

“Mhm, mhm.” Jun Zishu nodded and obediently took a seat by the courtyard table. Then, she began snacking on the plate of pastries on the table while waiting for Ning Qinghuan to finish.

“You created such a problem for me as soon as my cousin arrived. Are you trying to make our General’s manor look bad in front of others? Speak up. Who stole it?” Ning Qinghuan demanded.

Subsequently, the two crying maids began accusing one another, the sight not at all pleasant.

“I hate liars the most. I’ll give you two ten more minutes to come clean. I’ll spare you if you confess, but if you refuse to admit it…”

After saying so, Ning Qinghuan flicked her whip against the ground, the whipping sound giving the two maids a scare.

Jun Zishu stopped eating after finishing two pieces of pastry. The pastries were too sweet and greasy for her taste.

Shortly after Ning Qinghuan voiced her threat, one of the two maids gritted her teeth and confessed.

“Please forgive me, Young Miss. My mother is seriously ill. I thought you wouldn’t care, so I took the pendant… It is all my fault, Young Miss. I will work hard to redeem the pendant for you in the future…”

The maid repeatedly kowtowed, giving off a relatively pitiful look.

While Jun Zishu was sipping on some tea, she saw Ning Qinghuan suddenly turning around to look at her. Confused by the action, she beamed a smile at the girl. Then, Ning Qinghuan turned back to the maids again.

Huh? What is this little girl trying to convey? Jun Zishu found herself unable to understand Ning Qinghuan’s actions.

[I don’t understand her, either.]

Little Fairy said before falling silent.

Afterward, Ning Qinghuan took a seat at the table and had someone verify the maid’s story. Then, sometime later, the servant she sent off returned and whispered something into her ear.

“Alright, you stand up,” Ning Qinghuan said to the innocent maid. Then, she looked to the head maid standing beside her and said, “Shaoyao, compensate her with some money.”

After saying so, Ning Qinghuan turned to the thieving maid and said, “As for you, although your original intention of saving your mother was good, I dare not keep an unfaithful servant like you. Shaoyao, dismiss her. You don’t need to return the pendant, either. I’ll just treat it as the cost of saving a life. You can also keep the remaining money.”

Despite being only thirteen, Ning Qinghuan appeared very capable. She knew how to adequately hand out incentives and dole out punishments. Jun Zishu felt that Ning Qinghuan would flourish if she became the madam of a house. Yet, despite having such capabilities, she still lost herself to fake feelings.

“Little Sister Wan’er, you haven’t had breakfast yet, right? I’ll have the kitchen prepare something for you.”

“No need, no need, Big Sister. I’m already full.”

Jun Zishu was telling the truth. She wasn’t afraid of troubling others. Instead, this body of hers had an unexpectedly small appetite. She was already 80% full after having only two pieces of pastry and a cup of tea.

“Really? But I only saw you having some pastries…”

“Really. My body hasn’t been well since childhood, so I always have a small appetite.”

“Oh, I see. Even so, feel free to tell me whenever you’re feeling hungry.” Ning Qinghuan nodded, thinking that this cousin of hers was pretty easy to raise.

“Alright.”

“Cousin, what do you think of the way I handled that servant just now?” Ning Qinghuan suddenly asked, her fingers subconsciously pinching the hem of her sleeves.

“Hmm? I don’t have any opinions about it. I think Big Sister did very well.”

Jun Zishu shook her head. What opinions could she possibly have of the situation? Or did Ning Qinghuan want her to clap for her in praise?

“Don’t you think that maid is pitiful?”

Say what?

Little Fairy, does she want me to say that the maid is pitiful? Or is it the other way around?

[I don’t know, either.]

The hearts of children are truly difficult to read.

After hesitating for a moment, Jun Zishu shook her head and said, “Although it is pitiful that her mother is sick, this doesn’t give her the right to steal from others in broad daylight. Her actions are wrong. You have already shown her plenty of mercy letting her off with just that, Big Sister.”

No one needed to be responsible for the misfortune of someone unrelated to them. Saying that billionaires needed to help unacquainted beggars was just emotional blackmail. A person could help others if they wanted to, but they weren’t obliged to do so. However, as most people had a sympathetic heart, they would often choose to help others when able to.

“It’s good if you think that,” Ning Qinghuan said, happily patting Jun Zishu on the shoulders. Then, she rolled her eyes and continued, “I thought you would be someone like Pei Xiuyun.”

“Who’s that?” Jun Zishu asked with a confused look. Inwardly, though, she already knew who Pei Xiuyun was.

Pei Xiuyun was the fifth prince’s true love. She was also a hypocritical pseudo-Virgin Mary.

“A detestable person. You’ll meet her in the future. You and her look quite alike.”

In Ning Qinghuan’s opinion, Pei Xiuyun was a hypocrite who had something wrong with her head. Meanwhile, both Jun Wan’er and Pei Xiuyun had a sickly and pitiful appearance. Both of them were also delicate beauties. So, it was inevitable for Ning Qinghuan to think that Jun Wan’er and Pei Xiuyun were the same types of people.

After looking through the information that Little Fairy provided, Jun Zishu found that she indeed looked quite similar to Pei Xiuyun.

“Here, I’ll give you an example. If she saw me behaving like that just now, she would react like this…” Ning Qinghuan said before clearing her throat. Then, putting on a frail look and making an orchid gesture, she bitterly looked at Jun Zishu and continued, “Big Sister Qinghuan, how can you be like that? She’s just forced by circumstances and trying to be filial. How can you punish her for that?”

Jun Zishu couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the girl’s performance.

“She’ll even cry and say… Ugh, nevermind…” Ning Qinghuan said, making an unbearable expression. Then, when she saw a hint of liveliness and loveliness appearing on her younger cousin’s face, she asked, “Hey, Cousin, you won’t act like that, right?”

“No, I can’t possibly behave like that.”

Jun Zishu hurriedly shook her head. She wasn’t that type of girl.

“Good, then. Now that’s more like my little sister. Let’s go; I’ll take you out for some fun,” Ning Qinghuan said as she grabbed Jun Zishu’s hand and led her out of the courtyard.

Meanwhile, through their brief conversation, Jun Zishu finally understood why Ning Qinghuan lost to Pei Xiuyun when it came to winning the fifth prince’s heart. Although Ning Qinghuan was smart, she had a straightforward personality. On the other hand, most men preferred demure, beautiful, and sympathetic women.

Jun Zishu’s current body was very frail. After walking around under the sun and being blown by the cooling breeze for a short while, she started experiencing dizziness and headaches. Seeing this, Ning Qinghuan had her return first to rest.

Jun Zishu obediently obliged and returned to her room to lie down. However, even after resting until lunchtime, she didn’t have any appetite, so she drank some medicine and returned to sleep.

The next time Jun Zishu woke up was when Little Fairy called out to her in her mind.

[Host, Host, you need to get up quickly. According to the original plotline, Ning Qinghuan will be falling into the courtyard’s pond soon. You should get ready to call for help.]

Jun Zishu immediately got out of bed and put on her clothes.

The capital city they currently resided in was located inland, so most of the residents here didn’t know how to swim. When Ning Qinghuan fell into the courtyard pond in the original plot, it had taken some time before a servant who knew how to swim came to her rescue. Hence, Ning Qinghuan had ended up suffering in the water for quite some time. Moreover, as it was currently early spring, the water’s temperature was still frigid. As a result, Ning Qinghuan’s body suffered from minor complications after this incident.

As soon as Jun Zishu arrived downstairs, she heard a loud splash followed by Shaoyao’s panicked screaming.

“Someone, help! The young miss has fallen into the water!”

As soon as Shaoyao finished shouting, she saw a figure suddenly jumping into the pond.

“Ah! Miss Cousin! Someone! Anybody! Help!”

[Are you mad, Host?! This body of yours might know how to swim, but you’re currently sick!]

Shaoyao wasn’t the only one losing her mind. Little Fairy lost her mind over Jun Zishu’s actions

[Host! Host! What are you thinking?! You’ll catch a cold this way! You’ll fail the mission if you die!]

This development caught little Fairy off guard, and she didn’t know what she should do in this situation.

I know, so shut up.

After jumping into the water, Jun Zishu took a moment to locate Ning Qinghuan before swimming in that direction. Even though the cold water soaking her body made her feel incredibly uncomfortable, Jun Zishu persisted.

A successful businessman needed to have an adventurous spirit and the courage to take risks. Otherwise, he would never know what miracle he could achieve if he didn’t take a leap of faith.

According to Jun Zishu’s analysis, she needed to secure an important position in Ning Qinghuan’s heart and gain the ability to influence the girl’s life if she wanted to complete her mission. Meanwhile, the first step to do so would be to change the outcome of the situation in front of her.

Hence, Jun Zishu did not hesitate in taking action, even though this action of hers carried hints of a gamble.

Jun Zishu was gambling on the fact that her body would survive this situation and that her actions would move Ning Qinghuan’s heart.

Jun Zishu had indeed come to save Ning Qinghuan. However, she also knew that her current body lacked the ability to actually rescue Ning Qinghuan out of the pond.

Rather than saving Ning Qinghuan, Jun Zishu was only trying to show others her courage and selflessness. Although Jun Zishu knew that her actions came with risks, the closer she was to death, the greater her returns.

While Jun Zishu was making her way to Ning Qinghuan, the latter struggled to stay afloat. Despite being in great pain and on the verge of death, Ning Qinghuan did her best to keep herself awake and stayed afloat when she heard Shaoyao’s cries for help.

Then, amidst her struggle, Ning Qinghuan suddenly saw someone frantically swimming toward her.

That’s…Wan’er?

Ning Qinghuan was shocked. She couldn’t understand why her delicate cousin had come into the water as well. Was the girl looking to die?

Eventually, Jun Zishu reached Ning Qinghuan and quickly extended a hand, saying, “Big Sister, hold onto me.”

After sensing Ning Qinghuan grabbing onto her hand, Jun Zishu pulled the girl toward herself and wrapped her other arm around the girl’s waist. Then, she began swimming back to shore with all her might.

Meanwhile, when Ning Qinghuan looked at Jun Zishu, she saw that her little cousin looked to be in a terrible state. Not only had the girl’s face turn white as a sheet, but even her lips had changed colors to purple. Yet, despite this being the case, Ning Qinghuan noticed that her cousin’s eyes remained bright and clear.

“What did you jump down for?! Don’t you know that you’re sick?!” Ning Qinghuan chided while mimicking Jun Zishu’s paddling motions. However, she could also feel that strength was rapidly leaving her body.

“But I couldn’t help myself when I saw you like that, Big Sister,” Jun Zishu said. Like Ning Qinghuan, she, too, was running out of strength, and her paddling arm was moving slower and slower. “I no longer have a family, so Big Sister is very important to me.

“Big Sister, I think…I’m running out of strength.

“Sorry… I think I ended up creating more trouble.”

Jun Zishu’s voice grew softer and softer each time she spoke. Only through looking at the ripples coming from her submerged mouth and arms could one tell that she was still struggling.

“Why are you still talking when you’re already in such a state?!”

Finally, the servant capable of swimming arrived. Then, he jumped into the water without hesitation and dragged the two little girls out of the pond.

After being rescued, Ning Qinghuan remained conscious. Jun Zishu, however, was already half-unconscious.

At this time, Madam Ning had also arrived at the scene. Seeing the two drenched girls, she commanded, “Quick! Quick! Call the doctor! Dry off my daughter and my niece and change their clothes!”

Meanwhile, when Jun Zishu thought about how she was saved, she breathed out a sigh of relief before fainting.

Little Fairy was rendered speechless by this scene.

While Little Fairy found it comforting to have a host who was willing to go to such lengths to complete a mission, she couldn’t help feeling that more such incidents were bound to happen in the future.

Though, when she recalled Jun Zishu’s rescue performance just now, she couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. If one wasn’t in the know, one would probably be led to think that Jun Zishu and Ning Qinghuan were blood-related sisters who shared a close relationship.

Jun Zishu woke up with a dizzy head around midnight. However, she couldn’t open her eyes as her eyelids felt incredibly heavy. Her head also buzzed incessantly, making her feel very uncomfortable.

Little Fairy, will this body survive?

[You won’t die, but you’ll need to stay in bed for some time. You currently have a fever.]

What about the mission target?

[She’s in a much better state than you. She’s even keeping watch by your bed right now.]

Ning Qinghuan originally already had a much tougher body than the average girl, so she recovered from the incident in no time. However, Jun Zishu’s efforts had also played a significant role in her recovery.

In the original plotline, Ning Qinghuan had already drowned and sank to the bottom of the pond by the time the servant came to her rescue. As a result, the cold invaded and weakened her body. Sometime later, she also suffered an injury. The two injuries might not seem problematic when separated, but the two combined made it difficult for Ning Qinghuan to get pregnant.

Now that Jun Zishu had bet her life to save Ning Qinghuan, not only did the girl get to avoid that tragic fate, but she also recovered back to health in no time at all.

Unfortunately, Jun Zishu didn’t get to enjoy such a speedy recovery. She had nearly thrown her life away because of her weak body, so she was currently in a perilous state.

Ning Qinghuan didn’t expect Jun Zishu to end up in such a terrible state, either, so she was shocked when she heard the doctor’s prognosis. Now, she sat guard beside Jun Zishu’s bed, waiting for her cousin to wake up.

Did she tell her parents about the words I told her in the pond?

[No, she only told them that you saved her. What’s wrong? Are they not allowed to find out?]

Those words of mine were mainly for my cousin to hear. A little girl is much easier to fool than an adult. If her parents find out about my words and ask me about them, I’d have to put on another act to maintain my character’s setting.

[I see. By the way, Host, can you please inform me beforehand the next time you are going to do something so dangerous? I thought you wanted to resign from the job for a moment there. You really gave me a scare.]

You’ll never understand the deep friendship my cousin and I share.

[What an actress you are. This Little Fairy is in awe of your capabilities.]

Don’t worry. I’m treating this job very seriously; I won’t recklessly play with my life. Everything is within my expectations. If I accidentally die, then all I can say is that I went too far.

[Not only did your words not comfort me, but they even made me more afraid.]

What happens if I fail the mission?

[You are allowed one restart for each mission, but doing so will negatively affect your internship evaluation. Even after you become an official employee or an excellent employee, failures will still negatively affect you.]

I didn’t manage to ask my superior before, but must I head to the next world as soon as I complete a mission?

[No, we provide employees with breaks. As you are currently only an intern, you won’t receive a salary and can only stay in the employee dormitory. However, once you get through your internship, you will start receiving a salary, and you can buy houses and cars and strive for a wealthy life.]

Before Jun Zishu had time to understand the Department of Transmigration’s world, she had completed her tests and was rushed to start her internship. Hence, she still wasn’t aware of the Department’s situation. However, she managed to understand the Department’s world after asking Little Fairy about it. In a sense, the Department’s world was similar to the world she came from.

Jun Zishu stopped chatting with Little Fairy after satisfying her curiosity. However, as her body’s current state didn’t allow her to open her eyes, she quickly fell asleep again.

The next time Jun Zishu opened her eyes, she found Ning Qinghuan sitting on the side of her bed.

“Little Sister Wan’er! You’re finally awake! Shaoyao, quickly go and call Mother here!”

Ning Qinghuan sighed in relief and gently caressed Jun Zishu’s forehead.

“Thank goodness your fever faded. Do you know how long you slept? Three days! Three whole days! When the doctor came to check up on you, he said that if you couldn’t get through this fever, then you might really…”

Ning Qinghuan never thought that this younger cousin of hers would go to such lengths to save her despite the two of them only knowing each other for a day. Seeing Jun Zishu in such a state now, Ning Qinghuan felt laden with guilt.

“I’m fine, Big Sister. Look, aren’t I awake now?” Jun Zishu weakly said. Then, she looked toward the water jug on the nearby table and continued, “Big Sister, I want to drink water.”

“I’ll pour a cup for you,” Ning Qinghuan said before momentarily leaving Jun Zishu’s side and returning with a cup of water. Then, she asked, “Do you have strength left? Can you drink it by yourself?”

Jun Zishu nodded.

Ning Qinghuan then passed the cup to Jun Zishu and watched her cousin sip the water. Amidst her observation, she couldn’t help but find Jun Zishu’s appearance to be exceedingly cute and lovable.

“That day… Why did you say that?”

“Hmm?”

“Why did you say that…I’m important to you?”

Ning Qinghuan had been pondering over Jun Zishu’s words for the past few days. She couldn’t help but wonder why Jun Zishu had jumped into the water to try and save her despite knowing that she might lose her life in doing so. Was her cousin doing so to win her family’s favor? But the girl could still do so without having to risk her life. The girl was practically gambling with her life by taking such an action. There should be no way the girl was this crazy and desperate to win her family’s favor.

Ning Qinghuan’s guess was, in fact, correct. Unfortunately, she was unaware of Jun Zishu’s deep-seated motives and goals. Hence, she found her conjecture to be absurd.

“Because…I want to stay by Big Sister’s side. I liked you the first day I entered the manor. I don’t have anyone to rely on. I am very grateful to Uncle and Auntie for adopting me, and I know my status, so I don’t dare ask for a lot. I only ask that I can follow Big Sister. Also…” Jun Zishu let her words trail off, a faint blush appeared on her pallid complexion. Then, she softly glanced at Ning Qinghuan and continued, “Also, I admire Big Sister a lot. I think Big Sister is very amazing.”

“I’m not that amazing… Cough, cough…”

Ning Qinghuan turned away in embarrassment. She had never received admiration from a girl of her age before. She never really bothered interacting with the other girls in the capital since they had different preferences and no common conversation topics.

“Don’t worry. You can keep on following me so long as I remain in this manor. Nobody will dare to bully you. You and I will be sisters from now on. If you have any requests, feel free to tell them to me.”

“Mhm. Big Sister is the best.” Jun Zishu nodded, portraying the look of an infatuated girl.

Jun Zishu had dealt with many people before. So, she knew that befriending some people required her to follow after them and go along with their wishes, while others required her to actively compete against them to attract their attention. In Ning Qinghuan’s case, the best way to deal with the girl would be to play along with her.

Despite being young, Ning Qinghuan had a big temper, was stubborn, decisive, and bold. If she were born a man, she would probably grow into an individual resembling her father and elder brother. If it meant being able to secure a place in Ning Qinghuan’s heart, Jun Zishu was willing to take even a blade to the gut.

“Rest for now. I’ll go get the kitchen to prepare some porridge for you. You haven’t eaten anything proper for the past few days already.”

“Mhm, mhm.” Jun Zishu obediently nodded.

After Ning Qinghuan closed the doors and left, Jun Zishu relaxed her expression and laid back down on the bed.

Meanwhile, Little Fairy, who had been spectating the entire conversation, started applauding excitedly.

[It’s such a waste that you didn’t work as an actress in the past, Host.]

Jun Zishu smiled but did not comment. After all, she used to be labeled as a “sly fox” in the business industry, and she had been known as a woman with a thousand faces.

Hence, putting on an act was child’s play for her.