Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Shen Liuyun’s laughter turned wild. "Mu Yun, I've come too far to turn back now."

A sudden alarm blared in Shen Muyun’s mind. It was the system: "Warning, warning, Host! Shen Liuyun’s villainy value is skyrocketing, skyrocketing!"

Shen Muyun looked at Shen Liuyun before him, shaking his head helplessly. "Brother, perhaps the next time we meet, we’ll be adversaries."

Shen Liuyun remained seated on the sofa, watching Shen Muyun’s retreating figure, a faint smile playing on his lips.

***

"Lu Huainan, how is the North City land development proposal progressing? I need the detailed information immediately."

Shen Muyun walked, phone in hand, sending a message to Lu Huainan.

"Brother Yun, the development proposal has been sent to your email. I still maintain that tourism is the best option for that area."

Upon reaching his office, Shen Muyun opened his email and reviewed the data from their previous site visit. For a long while, he didn't reply to Lu Huainan.

Considering Shen Liuyun’s attitude, he knew this proposal was a must-win.

The system leaned against Shen Muyun’s desk, smiling at him. "Host, I told you Shen Liuyun was a villain. You didn’t believe me then, but now you see, don't you?"

Shen Muyun grabbed a nearby folder and swung it at the system’s head.

The system deftly dodged, narrowly avoiding Shen Muyun’s attack.

"System, when did you become so nosy?"

"This isn't nosiness. I just sense that the most interesting part is just beginning. Host, would you like to exchange for something? The system store has many new and fascinating items."

Shen Muyun pursed his lips and opened the system interface. The update file was about 1.8 GB—it seemed many new things had indeed been added. The system store was currently under maintenance and inaccessible.

"System, do I have a good chance with this North City plan?"

As soon as he spoke, Shen Muyun felt a wave of absurdity. What could an emotionless system possibly know about such a plan?

The system glanced out the window, a mysterious smile spreading across its face.

"Host, I believe your chances of success are very high. And I’ve noticed you’re really getting the hang of things. Didn’t you want to be the ultimate male lead? Then be ruthless—don’t let anyone walk all over you."

Shen Muyun was slightly taken aback. It did seem that way. After all, his reputation was already in tatters—what more was there to lose?

"Knock, knock, knock..."

A knock sounded at the door.

The system instantly vanished into thin air.

"Come in."

"Mr. Shen, this is from Manager Lu—it concerns the situation with the land in the northern part of the city."

Shen Muyun was startled at first, then smiled. "Just leave it here."

Shen Muyun looked at the document on his desk, his fingertips tracing its edge. Ultimately, Lu Huainan was still on his side. It seemed this plan was nearing completion. If successful, the Shen family’s controlling stake would likely increase significantly. This was an excellent opportunity.

Shen Muyun checked his schedule and meeting log, deciding to revisit the area. Perhaps there was something he had missed before.

Upon arriving in North City, the area had long since returned to its former state, showing no trace of the mudslide.

Shen Muyun walked further into the village along the path, noticing the red placards on the large tree at the village entrance still swaying in the wind. He could even make out Lu Huainan’s.

Wait, something wasn’t right. Wasn’t Lu Huainan’s placard placed higher up before? Why did it seem lower now?

An elder walking by noticed Shen Muyun standing motionless under the tree and gently patted his shoulder.

"Young man, why are you alone this time?"

Shen Muyun turned around and saw it was the same elder he had met before.

"Yes, he’s been busy lately, so I came alone to check things out and see how the development is progressing."

The elder pointed upward at the small placards.

"I don’t know about the development department’s plans, but I do know that the young man who came with you is truly devoted."

Shen Muyun was slightly stunned. What did "truly devoted" mean?

Following the elder’s pointing finger, Shen Muyun looked up and saw that the small red placards where he pointed were tangled together in a clump, as if too many had been knotted.

"These were all hung by that young man who came with you that day."

Shen Muyun’s eyes widened as he looked at the elder. How many times had Lu Huainan returned? And did he really trust the gods this much?

"Young man, his wishes were simply to be with you or to pray for your health and such. What a devoted soul."

The elder spoke as he walked away. Shen Muyun wanted to ask more, but the elder had already gone far, and his purpose wasn't really about this tree.

Shen Muyun walked straight into the village. He had thought the previous flash flood would deal a fatal blow to the village, but unexpectedly, even the streets had been restored exactly as before.

Shen Muyun looked again at the well near the tree. Chilly air seemed to be rising from it.

The place felt strange, yet inexplicably familiar.

The elder at the village entrance moved even faster than Shen Muyun, as if he had been waiting for him.

"Young man, we meet again. Do you remember the legend of this well?"

Shen Muyun nodded.

"Actually, who knows? Perhaps the actor and the general could meet again, just in different identities across different times. It’s just that both of their memories have been completely erased."

Shen Muyun stood frozen. What did the elder mean—past lives? It felt even more insane. Indeed, such ancient villages always had a few people who spoke mysteriously.

He didn’t believe in this, nor in the rumors about the well. Many such myths were fabricated for tourism appeal, with no real basis in truth.

Shen Muyun smiled at the elder. As he walked, his thoughts about this place grew foggy, and he couldn’t make sense of it no matter how hard he tried.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the entrance of the inn where they had stayed last time.

He wasn’t staying here this time—it was just a passing glance. Yet, before Shen Muyun’s eyes, it was as if a montage appeared: the faces of the actor and the general swirled endlessly in his mind. Hadn't the system also taken human form here? Could it be that this village truly held some significance?

"System, come out."

The system flew in a circle and landed steadily on Shen Muyun’s shoulder.

"Host, what is it now? Why are you in such a deserted place again?"

Shen Muyun pinched the system's wing. He wasn't quite sure what to ask, but there were words stuck in his chest, making him feel awkward and uncomfortable.

"Hey, hey, hey, Host Master, what are you doing? The system is very fragile. If it gets damaged, we'll have problems. What do you want to ask?"

Shen Muyun paused. "System, did I know Lu Huainan before?"

The system shook its head like a rattle drum. "Host Master, have you been doing too many tasks and started having hallucinations? Lu Huainan is from this novel, and you crossed over from the real world. How could you possibly know him?"

Shen Muyun thought for a moment but didn't respond.

"Moreover, Host Master, even if you feel some kind of natural attraction, it's more likely you encountered a protagonist like this while reading before, and your memories got mixed up, fusing them into one person."

Shen Muyun shook his head helplessly. "How could that be, System? I can still tell the difference between reality and fiction."

The system blinked. "Well, Host Master, actually, it's not necessarily that simple. For example, you're in the book right now—so is this a real scene or a fabricated construction?"

Shen Muyun was stunned by the question. Indeed, this was the world of the book. According to normal logic, his current feelings should be virtual, but he was living in this world with flesh and blood. Could it be relative?

Seeing that Shen Muyun remained silent, the system blew a breath toward his face. In an instant, Shen Muyun felt drowsiness wash over him. Leaning against a small tree nearby, he grew increasingly sleepy and finally succumbed to sleep's invasion.

Shen Muyun knew he had entered his own dream but refused to believe he couldn't distinguish reality from fiction.

"Hurry up, hurry up! Why are you dawdling today? The masters in the audience are getting impatient."

Shen Muyun pointed at himself and looked at the middle-aged woman in front of him. What was this about?

"What's wrong with you? Why are you so slow? This is your first day performing for that gentleman. If you do well, you might even buy your freedom."

Shen Muyun glanced at his reflection in the bronze mirror and jolted in shock. What was happening?

He saw himself wearing a pink robe with peony patterns and a face painted in traditional opera makeup. What did this mean?

Shen Muyun looked at the curtain ahead but realized he didn't know how to sing opera. What was he supposed to do?

A shadow flashed by the corner of the stage—no need to guess, it had to be the system.

"Stop standing there in a daze. Didn't you learn the piece? Hurry up! This gentleman is not someone we can afford to offend."

Shen Muyun was pushed forward, his steps awkward. How could there be such a ridiculous dream? This was too absurd.

When Shen Muyun was pushed to the front of the stage, there was only one person in the audience. The man wore a smirk that didn't reach his eyes, and Shen Muyun thought to himself—so the saying "money makes the world turn" has existed since ancient times.

The man below, seeing Shen Muyun's stiff demeanor, spoke up.

"Don’t worry, there’s no need to be nervous. It’s just me here. I specifically asked for you. I heard your Qingyi role is quite good. Let’s hear a piece!"

Heavens, how would he know how to perform Qingyi? Wasn't this a dream? How could it have such functions?

Shen Muyun braced himself and began to sing, but the voice that came out the next moment shocked him. It was his voice, yet it was in perfect operatic style. This had to be the system’s doing—it must have been pulling the strings behind all this.

Shen Muyun’s heart hammered away relentlessly, a feeling he couldn’t quite describe, as if something was bound to happen even in the dream.