Fake Cannon Fodder A Becomes a Sensation in Romance Variety Shows - Chapter 75

Xiao La said:

Wen Huiyun.

You almost certainly cannot complete the “Final Mission.”

The Final Mission is the karmic knot between the host and the transmigrated world.

Completing the Final Mission means unraveling that knot, freeing oneself from the management bureau’s control, and returning to the normal cycle of reincarnation.

That night on the rooftop of Lianlian Mansion, Jiang Yining told Wen Huiyun this.

Wen Huiyun asked, “Xiao La never mentioned the Final Mission to me. The system assigned me a second task is that the Final Mission?”

Jiang Yining shook her head. “No. System spirits never proactively inform hosts about the Final Mission unless the host specifically asks. Moreover, initiating the Final Mission requires certain conditions.”

Wen Huiyun: “What conditions?”

Jiang Yining replied, “Have you played games before? Hidden missions don’t need to be actively unlocked. They’re triggered passively.”

“If I had to name a condition.

It would be to find your obsession.

And to break it.

But Wen Huiyun, your problem is that you don’t believe you have any obsession in this world.

So the tasks the system spirit assigns you next will revolve around uncovering your obsession, helping you explore your inner self.

The system is a contradictory and merciless existence.

It exploits you to harvest spiritual energy, yet it cannot defy the rules governing this world. So it deceives you while also pushing you toward the truth.”

On the eve of the Lunar New Year.

Xiao La informed Wen Huiyun that the mission to increase the female lead’s favorability had ended. It congratulated her on completing the novice host tasks and unlocking the full transmigration system.

Then it assigned her a new mission:

Rank among the top three internet-famous food critics of the year.

–

In the distance, the colorful lights of the amusement park shimmered.

Playful glimmers danced across the windows of the RV.

Two shadows leaned close together.

Ye Zhuoyan pressed her cheek against Wen Huiyun’s back, listening to the sounds of her stomach and the rhythm of her heartbeat.

Ye Zhuoyan repeated her question once more: “What is the system? Tell me.”

Wen Huiyun turned around to face her.

Their eyes met.

Sincerity reflected in their gazes.

Wen Huiyun clasped Ye Zhuoyan’s hands and pressed them against her chest.

Beneath the softness, a fiery heart pulsed.

Each beat resonated in Ye Zhuoyan’s palms.

“Zhuoyan, the decision for every word I say next lies in your hands.”

Ye Zhuoyan’s eyes clouded with confusion, her breath growing quiet.

Wen Huiyun said, “Your choice will determine whether I can live out this lifetime.”

In Ye Zhuoyan’s pupils, Wen Huiyun saw her own reflection.

The clamor of the amusement park was muffled beyond the RV windows.

Inside, the world belonged only to them.

Silence enveloped everything.

Only Wen Huiyun’s low voice remained.

“You asked me what the system is.”

“The system is the rule by which the gods govern this world.”

“This rule brought me from another world to your side.”

“This rule can also erase me from this world, taking me away from you forever.”

Because Ye Zhuoyan’s memories would be stripped away.

Or worse Ye Zhuoyan might be purged by the Book Management Processor, and the entire story would reset.

“People in this world cannot know the rules that itself is part of the rules.”

“But now, the gods have given me two choices.”

Wen Huiyun unfolded Ye Zhuoyan’s hand and placed a clenched fist in her palm.

“First, you can know that I came here from another world this is all I can confess.”

“Second, I can tell you the rules of this world. But then, you will lose your memories, and I will face divine punishment.”

“Alright, Zhuoyan, that’s all I have to say. Now, the choice is yours.”

“My fate is in your hands.”

Ye Zhuoyan enveloped her fist, his pupils trembling. “If I keep pressing, you’ll leave, won’t you?”

Wen Huiyun didn’t know either.

If they truly violated the rules, even if Xiao La erased Ye Zhuoyan’s memories, would the Book Management Processor still hold them accountable?

If it didn’t, Ye Zhuoyan would forget some of their shared experiences, forever incomplete.

If it did, the processor would eliminate the bug, restarting the entire book. Wen Huiyun would then follow the same path as Jiang Yining meeting Ye Zhuoyan again, getting to know her anew, recreating their memories.

Either way, it would mean Wen Huiyun had left.

Any missing moment with Ye Zhuoyan couldn’t be called a lifetime.

It would mean leaving.

Tears shimmered in Ye Zhuoyan’s eyes, filled with fear and urgency.

Wen Huiyun said, “Yes.”

“Zhuoyan, the choice is yours whether to walk this lifetime with me.”

Ye Zhuoyan’s tears fell. “Based on what you’ve said, can I assume Jiang Yining wasn’t originally from this world either?”

Wen Huiyun nodded.

The draft world and the transmigration world had inherently different plots.

Even in Jiang Yining’s previous seven lifetimes within this book, each storyline had diverged at most, they could be considered parallel worlds.

Ye Zhuoyan clung to her. “So she also knew the rules of the gods, which is why you could only share this secret with her?”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

Wen Huiyun wrapped her arms around Ye Zhuoyan’s slender waist. “I know it’s hard for you to believe all this. I also know how far-fetched it sounds, like a scam. But Zhuoyan, this time, I’m truly betting the rest of my life betting that you’ll trust me.”

“I believe you!”

Ye Zhuoyan cupped Wen Huiyun’s face, pressing their foreheads together, her warm, shaky breaths brushing against Wen Huiyun’s skin.

“Wen Huiyun, I trust you unconditionally.”

“Remember this. I don’t care where you came from. I only fear that you’ll leave me.”

“I don’t care which world you belong to. I just need you to breathe the same air as me.”

“I don’t care how many secrets you have. I’m just selfish, if anyone gets to know them, it has to be me.”

Wen Huiyun closed her eyes, nodding repeatedly.

Tears streamed down like rivers.

At this moment, she knew.

She had won the bet.

She had bet on Ye Zhuoyan’s trust.

She had bet.

That Ye Zhuoyan loved her.

A soft, warm dampness brushed Wen Huiyun’s eyelids.

Ye Zhuoyan kissed her eyes. “I won’t ask anymore.”

“I’ll never question the rules of this world again.”

“It doesn’t matter. None of it matters, Huiyun.”

“Wen Huiyun, I can’t live the rest of my life without you.”

“I can’t make milk that smells so sweet. I can’t get the heat right for steamed shad fish with honey wine. I can’t pick up the blankets kicked off in dreams. I can’t tell if the sensor light’s out because the bulb’s broken or the touch control’s faulty. I can’t make the vanilla mix taste only of vanilla.”

Wen Huiyun froze, carefully leaving space around Ye Zhuoyan’s abdomen.

“Y-Yanyan, you, you’re not p-pregnant?”

That couldn’t be, they’d never even had that kind of romantic relationship.

Ye Zhuoyan wiped her tears and pinched Wen Huiyun’s lips. “No! I meant in the future.”

“Honestly, you ruined the mood just when it was getting emotional.”

Wen Huiyun held her gently, swaying slightly, planting soft, lingering kisses on her cheeks and neck.

“Sorry, baby, it’s all my fault. Let me make it up to you. I’ll give you some sweet milk.”

Ye Zhuoyan pulled her close. “Are you sweet too?”

Wen Huiyun lowered her head. “Hmm?” Her face flushed. “I wouldn’t know.”

“Can I find out tonight?” Ye Zhuoyan’s teary eyes sparkled.

Wen Huiyun picked up the warm cup, her lips curving. “Drink this first.”

“But, it probably isn’t as sweet as you.”

Ye Zhuoyan froze for a moment, then lifted her delicate foot and pressed it lightly against Wen Huiyun’s leg.

“Annoying.”

Wen Huiyun leaned against the bed and kissed Ye Zhuoyan’s lips.

Thank you for believing in me, Zhuoyan.

I love you.

The week-long RV trip had begun.

Four pairs of guests set off from four different starting points, each following a unique route to experience different local customs and scenery, eventually meeting at the camping grounds of the famous scenic spot, Mingyuejian.

The director introduced the four routes to the audience:

Cheng Xiaoming and Jiang Yining’s Lightning Romance Route, passing through bustling commercial districts and suburban markets.

Gu Rufeng and Mi Tao’s Fresh Romance Route, winding through niche cultural streets and various exhibition halls.

Liang Yuan and Ke Yuxin’s Deep Romance Route, traversing historic old towns and memorial centers.

Wen Huiyun and Ye Zhuoyan’s Innocent Romance Route, exploring food streets and natural scenic areas.

The camera panned to each pair of guests.

Everyone was already on the road.

Cheng Xiaoming drove while Jiang Yining swayed her bare legs in the back, brewing hangover soup. The loose collar of her pajamas slipped to one side, revealing a shoulder.

“Do you remember what drunken nonsense you said last night?”

At a red light, Cheng Xiaoming asked.

Jiang Yining blinked her peach-blossom eyes, looking utterly clueless. Did she seem like she remembered?

“Fine, forget it. Let me ask you something else.”

“Go ahead.”

“You always drink when we’re alone. The second date, hide-and-seek, after the New Year’s gathering those few days and last night.”

Jiang Yining looked away.

Cheng Xiaoming stepped on the gas.

“Jiang Yining, are you using alcohol to mask your pheromones?”

“Keep guessing. I drink because I like it.”

Cheng Xiaoming turned the steering wheel. She wouldn’t push further.

At first, she couldn’t tell the difference between faint pheromones.

But later, she could. No matter how fragrant the alcohol, it couldn’t compare to the sweetness of Jiang Yining’s scent.

Jiang Yining was always so effortlessly sweet to her.

At a highway rest stop, the RV parked.

Mi Tao got out to check the water reserves and sighed. “Xiao Feng, we’re out of water, just as I thought.”

Gu Rufeng said, “You grab the hose. I’ll go pay. Wait for me to refill it, don’t you dare try to do it yourself.”

“Please, the water tank’s so heavy. I’ll wait for you.”

They decided to grab breakfast at the rest stop’s convenience store.

The mountain slopes were lush, the air crisp.

Mi Tao held a steaming panini, her smile radiant. “Watching the sunrise, breathing fresh air, eating a warm breakfast, it’s perfect.”

Gu Rufeng gazed at the morning sun. “Yeah. Here’s hoping we can see a sunrise like this again next year.”

The same golden light, the same you by my side.

Meanwhile, at another highway rest stop, another pair wasn’t having such a pleasant time.

Ke Yuxin scowled. “The black tank is full!”

The black tank was the RV’s waste disposal unit.

It needed to be emptied regularly into public restrooms.

Liang Yuan was inside the supermarket buying boxed meals.

She had cooked for two days straight, but Ke Yuxin was impossibly picky complaining the shrimp wasn’t fresh, the cabbage wasn’t sweet enough. Liang Yuan had had enough.

No more cooking. Microwave meals it was.

<input> “When it’s full, empty it,” Liang Yuan said.

Every time, she was the one who dealt with the black water tank. She never asked Ke Yuxin to do it alone, but Ke Yuxin never once offered to help.

The same went for refilling the water.

Ke Yuxin was incredulous, her voice rising an octave: “You’re not seriously asking me to do it, are you? Yuan-jie, since when do alphas make omegas handle dirty stuff?”

“…”

“Are you even an alpha? You’ve got no sense of responsibility at all. The whole country is watching you can’t bully me like this.”

Liang Yuan said, “I forgot to buy something. Wait for me a second.”

She turned back into the convenience store and stood there, spacing out.

She just wanted to be alone for a moment. Even a brief half-minute of peace was healing for her.

The RV adorned with little pink flags continued its cheerful journey.

A plush Pinky-chan doll sat on the dashboard.

Wen Huiyun parked the car by the food street.

They had already left the main urban area of City A and were now in District I, closer to the seaside.

“Yanyan, there’s no rest area here, so it’s hard to cook. Let’s just grab some takeout for lunch.”

“Sure, I think the poached dishes at that restaurant look pretty good.”

They ordered a few dishes to go.

Nearby, an elderly woman selling fried seafood called Wen Huiyun over.

“Young lady, here with your sweetheart on a trip?”

Wen Huiyun glanced at Ye Zhuoyan, who was waiting for their food. “Mhm.”

The old woman stirred the squid rings in the oil with a large skimmer. “Buy my squid rings, and I’ll teach you how to woo a girl. Guaranteed she’ll love you even more after eating them hugging and kissing you all over.”

“…”

Wen Huiyun watched the squid rings sizzle in the oil. So greasy, Ye Zhuoyan wouldn’t eat this.

She took a step back, avoiding the splattering oil. “Granny, you’re at this age, and you’re still talking about kissing?”

“What, old folks can’t kiss? See that granny selling mochi across the street? That’s my wife. We kiss every day when we get home been doing it for 45 years, never missed a day.”

Wen Huiyun looked. Uh.

“Here, young lady, give me your hand.”

As she spoke, the old woman picked up a cooled squid ring. “Let me show you how to eat my squid rings.”

Wen Huiyun stared at her ring finger, surprised.

The old woman slid the squid ring onto it, smiling kindly. “Now you know how to feed your sweetheart, right?”

Wen Huiyun smiled. “Granny, I’ll take a portion. Thank you.”

Wen Huiyun walked back to the restaurant with a small bag of squid rings.

“Zhuoyan.”

She held up a squid ring between her thumb and forefinger.