System, You Didn't Say the Villain Can Read Minds! - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

◎Had enough chat?◎

System: System search in progress… Search complete. The original book did not mention whether the original host could awaken an ability. This may be a new setting added when the Book Repository adjusted your character.

Mo Jiu: So, what is my ability?

It can block the movement of both humans and anomalies, and even directly control their limbs, whether alive or dead, but it’s ineffective against non-living things. What exactly is this ability?

She thought the system would have the answer, after all, she was an NPC.

Everything about an NPC, including appearance, personality, and abilities, was pre-set, and the system would know it with a simple search.

However, to her surprise, the system responded: I don’t know. The setting is irrelevant to the mission you need to complete, so I cannot access the information.

Mo Jiu: Huh?

Mo Jiu: Fine then.

Mo Jiu: Then tell me why you went offline for a period again?

It suddenly went on strike, came back online without an explanation, and immediately issued an OOC warning, giving her no chance to question it.

The system’s answer shocked her again: Huh? I went offline? When? I only rebooted once after the villain gave up on killing you?

Mo Jiu: Then you definitely don’t know that the shelter had a power outage, right?

System: What! The shelter had a power outage?

Mo Jiu: Hiss—Could it be that the Book Repository had a power outage, causing both you and me to go offline… No, that’s not right. If that were the case, the whole world should have shut down. Why was Yun Wenzhou able to find me in the dark after the power outage?

System: Wait, allow me to analyze!

Mo Jiu: …

Mo Jiu: You take your time analyzing. I’m going to cook.

Mo Jiu looked at the time displayed on the screens throughout the shelter and decided it was time to prepare dinner.

She closed the room door and headed for the kitchen.

Yun Wenzhou followed her all the way, silently listening to her inner thoughts.

I wonder if the chefs will be willing to listen to me.

I have to face that bald guy again. Ugh, so annoying.

Although Ye Lan is overly enthusiastic, she’s actually not bad. She genuinely goes after monsters, and she genuinely saves people in danger.

Yue Xinghe is pretty, but in a game, I’d treat her like a daughter. As for a wife, it should at least be someone like Yun Wenzhou, right?

Yun Wenzhou’s steps halted.

She almost lost control when she heard Mo Jiu praising Ye Lan and Yue Xinghe in her mind.

But.

As for a wife, it should at least be someone like Yun Wenzhou, right?

As for a wife…

Wife…

Aaaah!

In an instant, the disappointment of being pulled out of her embrace, the frustration of not utilizing her combat power, the annoyance of Ye Lan stealing her thunder, and the resentment of being disliked by Yue Xinghe—all of it completely vanished into thin air.

Yun Wenzhou walked behind Mo Jiu, looking at her back. Even without physical contact, intertwined gazes, or verbal communication, she could feel the connection between them.

That feeling of being cared for, of being held in her heart.

The sense of security that even if the whole world turned against her, she wouldn’t be alone.

It was as if she were a phantom, and her Sister was the only human who could see her.

Or, she was a ship drifting in endless darkness, unable to find the shore, but catching the light from a lighthouse.

Sister truly resembled a lighthouse in the dark night, guiding her direction in this chaotic world, supporting her mind that could collapse at any moment.

Yun Wenzhou couldn’t imagine a world without Mo Jiu.

A world like that might as well be destroyed.

Mo Jiu arrived at the kitchen and first looked around.

There were quite few people in the kitchen. She wasn’t sure if they hadn’t all arrived yet or if there were difficulties in recruiting.

By the way, I haven’t seen that bald guy. Did he switch jobs in a fit of pique?

Mo Jiu didn’t dwell on it and quickly assigned everyone tasks—who was responsible for prepping ingredients, who was responsible for cooking, which dish to cook, and how to cook it.

Yun Wenzhou watched her work quietly. Her expressionless face and her pair of beautiful but sharp eyes constantly kept an eye on Mo Jiu’s surroundings. Outsiders would think she was Mo Jiu’s exclusive bodyguard.

And she essentially was.

Yun Wenzhou disliked this world but loved her Sister.

So, as long as I can protect Sister, what does anyone else’s life or death matter to me?

At 5 PM, the dining hall opened.

Mo Jiu was frantic only at the very beginning, but she quickly found her rhythm and became relaxed.

Many people held low expectations for the shelter’s food—as long as it was edible. But precisely because of this, when the food tasted far better than they expected, they were all amazed.

[Holy cow! The shelter’s food is this delicious?]

It’s incredible that I can eat something this good in the shelter!

I don’t know if I’m here to take refuge or on vacation.

Yun Wenzhou listened to these compliments about the food but didn’t feel happy. She only felt that their tongues and stomachs didn’t deserve the delicious food prepared under her Sister’s guidance.

After guiding everyone and confirming that the food was sufficiently delicious and consistent, Mo Jiu finally started cooking herself.

Just then, Ye Lan entered the kitchen and immediately showered Mo Jiu with compliments: “Jiu Jiu, you’re amazing! You’ve made the shelter’s cafeteria feel like a five-star restaurant, no, a ten-star! It’s too delicious! How am I supposed to eat anything anyone else makes now?”

“Not that much, not that much,” Mo Jiu humbly replied while feeling smug inside.

Yun Wenzhou, on the other hand, watched Ye Lan warily.

Ye Lan entered the kitchen during dinner time, of course, not just to express her appreciation for Mo Jiu’s cooking skills.

Her true goal was—

Win her trust, starting with compliments! I must get this powerful support on the team!

Her interest in Mo Jiu was purely an appreciation of her ability, with no other kind of personal intention.

Yet, this still set off loud alarms in Yun Wenzhou’s mind.

After all, just because Ye Lan had no personal intentions toward Mo Jiu, didn’t mean Mo Jiu had no intentions toward Ye Lan.

Mo Jiu did have an intention toward Ye Lan, but not what Yun Wenzhou imagined—being attracted by Ye Lan’s looks and strength—but rather:

System: Host, this is a great opportunity to foster a relationship with the female lead! Earning the female lead’s trust is the best way to create friction between her and the villain!

Mo Jiu: Does it really have to be like this? This makes me feel like I’m ganging up and bullying someone.

System: You’ve hit Yun Wenzhou before.

Mo Jiu: …True.

System: Therefore, the mission is: ‘Enjoyable Conversation.’ Start chatting with the female lead and make her laugh heartily! Time limit 10 minutes. Please perform well, Host!

Mo Jiu: You…

Mo Jiu, who was currently cooking, really wanted to drag the system out of her head and burn it.

It issues missions without even considering the timing. Couldn’t it wait until she was finished working?

However, this mission shouldn’t be too difficult.

Since the mission had been issued, and Ye Lan was conveniently nearby, then.

“Ye Lan, what two characters are in your name?” Mo Jiu proactively started chatting with Ye Lan.

“The ‘Ye’ from ‘fading nightfall’ (夜色闌珊), and the ‘Lan’ from ‘magnificent waves’ (波瀾壯闊).” Ye Lan replied.

“Wow, that’s meaningful. I’m the ‘Mo’ from ‘don’t touch me’ (莫挨老子), and the ‘Jiu’ from ‘nine oxen couldn’t pull me back’ (九頭牛都拉不回來).”

“Hahahahaha! Really? Was that the intent when your parents named you?”

System: Mission complete… but Host, could you take things a little more seriously?

Mo Jiu: I am being very serious, okay.

Look how happily Ye Lan is laughing?

Mo Jiu mentally responded to the system. Just as she was about to continue chatting with Ye Lan, Yun Wenzhou suddenly spoke: “We don’t have parents.”

She looked coldly at Ye Lan, not hiding her hostility: “Had enough chat? If not, I’ll talk to you.”

Ye Lan turned and met her gaze.

Their eyes locked. For a moment, there was tension and friction.

Flames burned in Ye Lan’s eyes. It was her determination to gain Mo Jiu as a combatant and her annoyance at Yun Wenzhou’s repeated interference. The fire in her eyes was the will to fight.

If I fought her, could I make her submit? I really want to fight, but no, this isn’t what Mo Jiu wants to see.

Yun Wenzhou’s gaze was as cold as ice. If looks could kill, Ye Lan would have died countless times. The coldness in her eyes was genuine murderous intent!

If my Sister didn’t dislike me killing people, you would be dead right now.

The people around them focused on chopping and cooking, seemingly concentrating, but they were reacting to the confrontation between the two.

However, the internal reactions only reached Yun Wenzhou. Ye Lan was completely unaware of them.

If they’re going to argue, can they go argue outside? Don’t mess things up in the kitchen!

Why are irrelevant people allowed in the kitchen? Someone needs to come and kick them out!

Having nothing better to do after eating? I haven’t eaten yet!

The various thoughts from different people engulfed Yun Wenzhou. All the complaints turned into dark clouds, hanging over her head, obscuring the light that fell upon her.

It was the same here.

Everywhere was the same.

No one welcomed her.

Was it truly her problem?

Should she not express her dislike for Ye Lan so directly? Must she watch Ye Lan and her Sister happily chat while she is left ignored on the side?

Must she silently endure, just like at home?

Why?

If escaping that place still meant having to suffer like this, then what was the point of escaping?

Mo Jiu sensed the shift in atmosphere and quickly spoke: “Xiao Zhou, calm down. She didn’t do it on purpose. She doesn’t know what we’ve been through.”

As she spoke, she instinctively put down the spatula, raised her hand, and pinched the back of Yun Wenzhou’s neck. She only realized it was inappropriate after she did it, and quickly changed her position, placing her hand on Yun Wenzhou’s back instead.

Even though the character setting and missions had changed, some habits remained.

At home, Mo Jiu often pinched the back of Yun Wenzhou’s neck, not in a way that sought to kill, but with a dominant yet gentle gesture, like lifting a mischievous kitten.

Her habit remained, and Yun Wenzhou’s memory hadn’t vanished. After being pinched like that, her eyes instantly cleared, and her face even showed a momentary confusion.

Mo Jiu’s hand lightly pressed on her lower back, and she said to Ye Lan: “We really don’t have parents. Moreover, the ‘parent’ concept is not a pleasant one for Xiao Zhou, so she’s having a bit of an emotional reaction. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Hearing this, the fire in Ye Lan’s eyes faded. After a brief moment of stunned silence, she looked ashamed: “I see… I’m sorry, I didn’t know… I’ll be careful in the future.”

Crap, I messed up. What do I do now?

Ye Lan glanced at Mo Jiu, then at Yun Wenzhou, who stood rooted to the spot as if Mo Jiu had cast a paralysis spell on her. She realized that to win over Mo Jiu, she couldn’t just focus on Mo Jiu alone.

Their relationship is deeper than I thought. I have to win over both of them.

No, maybe I should try to win over Yun Wenzhou first?

Thinking this, Ye Lan looked at Yun Wenzhou, attempting to say something comforting.

Before she could speak, Yun Wenzhou glared at her: “If you don’t want to die, stay far away from my Sister.”