Chapter 06

Chapter 06

Fu Xiuning had witnessed Level Two Punishment scenes before, but very rarely—only nine times in five years.

Those hosts would usually collapse or faint from the pain, but this was the first time someone wanted to use it to stay awake.

Not wanting to miss the show, he said to Lin Kecheng, "Aren't you going to place your order?"

Lin Kecheng wisely went to the counter.

The system also snapped back to its senses.

"Didn't the Level Two Punishment have no effect on you last time?" it asked.

Xing Shi replied, "I could still feel the pain, but it was too short. Let's make it longer this time."

The system said, "It's only 5 seconds."

Because when the pain reaches a certain intensity, every second feels like an eternity, and 5 seconds is enough to leave a lasting impression.

Xing Shi said, "Then do it a few more times."

The system felt like they weren't discussing the terrifying Level Two Punishment but were instead ordering food.

It was speechless. "This isn't compliant, especially using it to stay awake."

Xing Shi said, "Isn't this compliant? The Level Two Punishment is meant to help the host get closer to Fu Xiuning. I'm asking for it to help me get closer to him, right?"

"..." The system actually found it logical. "You seem pretty awake already."

Xing Shi said, "I’ve already thought this through. Can I do it? If not, I’m not sure how I’ll perform today."

The system hesitated for a moment, seeing Lin Kecheng about to return, and finally relented. "Alright, get ready. Countdown: 3 seconds."

Fu Xiuning's screen displayed brief news articles, something he could stop reading at any moment.

He placed his phone on the table and looked across at Xing Shi. "Are you adjusting well to the company?"

The Level Two Punishment arrived on cue with those words, and the energy surged through Xing Shi's body instantly.

Xing Shi’s face paled slightly, but he remained perfectly composed. "It's fine."

Observing his state, Fu Xiuning was surprised that the punishment seemed to have less of an effect on him. "With all the back-and-forth between school and the company, are you managing to keep up?"

Xing Shi replied, "I'll try to keep up."

Fu Xiuning asked, "Isn't it tiring?"

Without missing a beat, Xing Shi replied, "I’m young, and this is the time to push myself."

The Level Two Punishment had ended, and the system, seeing the host return to normal, was touched—but then the host called out to it again.

Xing Shi said, "Do it one more time."

The system said, "No."

Xing Shi heard Fu Xiuning ask, "Where are you from?" and replied, "C City." Then, turning to the system, he reasoned, "Since we’ve already done it once, what’s the harm in doing it again?"

The system said, "No means no. The interval between two Level Two Punishments is too short, and I’d have to file a report. The main system definitely won’t approve of using it to stay awake, and I’d be penalized."

Xing Shi felt a twinge of regret, but at least he had gotten the answer he was looking for.

The last time, he had a familiar feeling, but he was running at full speed, and the punishment ended too quickly. Besides, it was right after he had transmigrated, and his consciousness still felt like it was floating in another world. He wasn’t sure if it was just an illusion.

This time, it happened again, and he finally confirmed that it was exactly like magic source poisoning.

In the magic world, everyone has a magic core, which generates magic sources that then form various types of magic.

There’s a rare type of mage whose magic source is toxic. If you’re unlucky enough to be hit by their magic, your own magic source gets infected, spreading through your body and causing intense pain—just like the Level Two Punishment.

Xing Shi’s magic core is unique. It can function like a traditional mage’s core, releasing magic sources to form elemental magic, but it can also absorb other magic sources and convert them for its own use.

When his magic source was infected before, he simply absorbed the toxic source and transformed it. He was intimately familiar with this process.

However, now that he’s in a new body, he’s unsure if it will still work, but regardless, this has given him a new angle to study and potentially dismantle the system.

Feeling upbeat, he said warmly, “Boss.”

Fu Xiuning glanced at him. “Hmm?”

Xing Shi unlocked his phone, did something, and then held it out. “Want to add each other as friends?”

Fu Xiuning scanned his QR code and sent a friend request.

Xing Shi accepted it right away, feeling satisfied.

With the threat of "termination" hanging over him, he couldn’t afford to completely alienate the system. He needed to use Fu Xiuning as an excuse to request the Level Two Punishment and maintain contact in the future.

When Lin Kecheng returned, he saw this scene and teased, “You’re both from the same company and are alumni. Why are you only adding each other as friends now?”

Xing Shi explained, “We don’t usually see each other. Today was the first opportunity.”

Lin Kecheng smiled. “Got it.”

Noticing Fu Xiuning’s gaze shift toward him, he said, “Work’s important. You two chat. I won’t disturb you.”

Before leaving, he turned to Xing Shi. “Our Senior is always busy. If you ever have trouble handling something in the future, just come to me. I’ll help you out.”

Xing Shi nodded politely. “Thanks, Senior.”

His system remarked, “What important business could a boss and a newly signed trainee possibly have to discuss?”

Lin Kecheng said, “Whether it’s an excuse or not, I can’t stick around. Didn’t you see Fu Xiuning watching? I need to be tactful.”

The system agreed. “He’ll be a senior next year with fewer classes, making it even harder to see him. You need to act fast. You can’t wait until he graduates, joins his company, and slowly climbs the ranks. That’s too slow.”

Lin Kecheng nodded and picked up the standee on the table. He snapped a photo of the restaurant’s logo and posted it on his Moments, complaining that the food was taking too long. If he was late for class, he asked his friends to cover for him.

Fu Xiuning had run out of amusement with Lin Kecheng and found the newcomer more interesting to study.

He asked, “Have you thought about which direction you want to pursue in the future?”

Xing Shi responded smoothly. “I’ll follow the company’s arrangements.”

Fu Xiuning said, “The company will consider your personal preferences. Do you have any thoughts of your own?”

Xing Shi replied, “Not yet.”

Fu Xiuning nodded and casually chatted about other things while assessing him in his mind.

He enjoys food, stays calm under pressure, is sharp-witted, and seems to have a good temper. However, based on how he acted when the system bound him, he’s actually quite dominant and doesn’t back down easily.

Additionally, it seemed like he could resist some of the system’s punishments, though the reason was unclear.

Xing Shi was also assessing this target of his.

He definitely had a nasty personality, but he liked to pretend to be kind and didn’t act superior as the boss.

While he asked a lot of questions, they all felt casual and didn’t seem to have any deeper intent. For now, it looked like he was just messing with him.

The two chatted for a while longer before the seafood porridge was finally cooked.

The clay pot was placed in the center of the table, packed with generous ingredients that made it look incredibly appetizing.

Fu Xiuning scooped a bowl, and just as he did, a conversation reached his ears.

Lin Kecheng’s system said, "Don’t let that psycho come over, or else…"

It then realized, "You did this on purpose! You deliberately included Fu Xiuning in the photo of the standee so that Shao Jianbo would show up!"

Lin Kecheng said, "I just did it by accident."

The system wasn’t convinced. "I’ve been suspicious of your constant interactions with Shao Jianbo, using the excuse of helping Fu Xiuning deal with potential crises. The more you do this, the more unstable he becomes, and now you’re trying to provoke him into taking action against Fu Xiuning! I’ve told you, if Fu Xiuning dies, we all go down with him!"

Lin Kecheng said, "Then I’ll make sure he doesn’t die. I’ll take the hit for him."

The system went crazy. "What if you die?"

Lin Kecheng said, "Can’t you calculate someone’s attack pattern based on their habits and surroundings, and figure out how to avoid hitting vital areas? Fu Xiuning is notoriously hard to handle, but saving his life might just win him over, don’t you think?"

The system fell silent.

Lin Kecheng said, "Rather than playing it safe with conventional strategies, I’d rather take a risk. When I posted on my social media, I wasn’t even sure Shao Jianbo would see it. I won this round, how about another one?"

The system took a few seconds before responding, "Fine."

Fu Xiuning listened to their conversation without batting an eye.

Some hosts, like Xing Shi, were souls who had crossed over from another world, while others were natives chosen and bound by the system.

Lin Kecheng belonged to the latter category. He used to be very introverted, a transparent extra, but after being bound by the system, he believed he was the chosen one, transforming into the well-rounded person he was today.

Once someone’s perspective shifts from being a participant to a superior game player, new opportunities arise.

Flowers, applause, admiration… With the system’s help, Lin Kecheng had risen to where he was, treating people like disposable game characters, his moral boundaries gradually eroding, and slowly losing respect for life.

Fu Xiuning had seen plenty of people like this before and wasn’t surprised at all.

He glanced across the table.

He had also met many who defied the system. Xing Shi wasn’t the first, and he certainly wouldn’t be the last. No matter how they started, they all eventually changed their tune.

This guy was handling things with ease now, but who knew what he’d turn into in the future.

*Beep*

Current favorability: -9

Xing Shi, lured by the aroma, scooped a spoonful of porridge.

He had barely taken a sip when he heard the notification chime and asked, "Why?"

The system, which had been monitoring Fu Xiuning, immediately snapped, "Because you drank his porridge!"

Xing Shi retorted, "Come on, no one can finish this much alone. What’s the harm in me having a couple of spoonfuls? I used a ladle to transfer it to my bowl; I didn’t drink straight from the pot."

The system insisted, "Put it down! You’re already stuffed, stop eating!"

Without a word, Xing Shi scooped another spoonful into the bowl.

The system exclaimed, "!"

Xing Shi also picked up some seafood, then put it back, and took another sip of porridge while staring at Fu Xiuning across from him.

The system, too anxious to scold him, nervously watched Fu Xiuning.

Xing Shi didn’t notice any change in the favorability and took another bite of seafood before looking up again.

This time, Fu Xiuning didn’t ignore him and looked up, "What is it?"

Xing Shi lifted the bowl, "I’ll have a little more, okay?"

Fu Xiuning replied, "You’re the one who invited me, so go ahead."

Xing Shi shot back at the system, "See, he’s more reasonable than you."

The system sputtered, "Then why did he deduct more points!"

Xing Shi mused, "Maybe the longer he spends with me, the more annoyed he gets. Being too handsome is a curse, sigh."

The system groaned, "Then do something about it!"

Xing Shi sighed, "I’ll give it a shot."

By the end of the meal, the favorability was still at -9.

Xing Shi paid by scanning the code and walked out with Fu Xiuning, only to see a guy entering through the door.

In high-risk environments, he had developed the habit of glancing at any new presence around him.

With that glance, he immediately noticed something off.

The guy’s expression was tense, his eyes set with determination, and his left hand gripping his sleeve, likely concealing a knife in his palm.

Based on Xing Shi’s experience, there was an 80% chance the guy was carrying a knife.

Seeing Shao Jianbo appear, Lin Kecheng immediately rushed forward.

While listening to Lin Kecheng’s system analyze the situation, Fu Xiuning considered how to get rid of Lin Kecheng.

In the blink of an eye, the three of them converged.

Both Lin Kecheng and Fu Xiuning reacted instantly as Shao Jianbo pulled out the knife.

Lin Kecheng was startled and quickly stepped in front of Fu Xiuning to shield him. Meanwhile, Fu Xiuning, with a serious expression, dragged Lin Kecheng to the side, ostensibly to protect him but secretly hoping Shao Jianbo would strike true.

In the next instant, Shao Jianbo had vanished from his spot.

Disarm, grab, and take down... Xing Shi effortlessly pinned the guy to the ground while someone shouted, "Senior, watch out!"

Fu Xiuning: “...”

Lin Kecheng: “Huh?!”

Xing Shi glanced up at the two guys standing in front of him.

Fu Xiuning and Lin Kecheng were still poised to cause trouble, but they were now staring back at him.

They locked eyes in silence for a few seconds.

Xing Shi said, “Stop standing around and call the cops.”