Chapter 21: You... Aren't Quite Up to It!

The system upgrade would take twenty-four hours. Tomorrow was Sunday, and she didn’t need to go to work. Before the upgrade was finished, she had no intention of leaving home.

“Understood, Host.”

“System upgrade preparation underway. Deducting 1,000 points; 13 points remain.”

“System upgrading…”

Ruan Mianmian let out a soft sigh—one million points, gone just like that.

But looking on the bright side, it wasn’t so bad: for upgrading the system, she’d gotten an apartment. If she hadn’t bound herself to the system, relying solely on her own efforts, who knew in what distant year she’d finally be able to afford a place like this?

She also had a limited-edition Hermes bag. If she ever truly ran out of money, she could always sell it.

Besides, after the upgrade, her points and life value would double. She’d only gain, never lose.

She wondered what surprise gift the system would offer her this time.

She was genuinely looking forward to it.

From now on, this would be her home. Ruan Mianmian tidied up, arranging everything she’d brought over in its proper place.

Anything she no longer wanted, she asked the moving company to dispose of. In truth, she hadn’t brought much.

She didn’t feel tired at all, even doing it alone.

When everything was sorted and organized, the place felt much cozier than before.

Having a home of her own brought comfort.

She thought of Li Xiaofei and Fang Yali, wondering how those two were doing now.

She opened the local headlines, but there was no report about last night’s incident at the Yueyuan Restaurant.

Of course, at a high-end place like Yueyuan, even if something bad happened, the owner wouldn’t allow negative press.

Those two thought they’d outsmarted her, but their cleverness backfired. She wondered if they regretted it.

But Li Xiaofei and Fang Yali, whom Ruan Mianmian was thinking about, were hardly repentant.

Last night, after Li Hao had paid their fines and gotten them out, the two stormed out, swearing to ruin Ruan Mianmian.

“That damned woman! It’s all Ruan Mianmian’s fault. I swear I’ll make her pay!” Li Xiaofei spat furiously the moment she stepped outside.

After suffering such a humiliating loss last night—her dignity gone, dragged to the police station—how could she swallow this shame?

Fang Yali’s face was twisted with hatred. “Right, we can’t let it slide. She must suffer.”

Li Hao warned, “You two better calm down. I don’t think Ruan Mianmian is the same as before. Judging by tonight, she’s a lot smarter now—otherwise, you wouldn’t have fallen so hard.”

He couldn’t explain it; lately, Ruan Mianmian seemed to have changed completely, almost as if she’d been possessed by something.

Li Xiaofei protested, “Uncle, am I just supposed to accept this? I refuse!”

“What can you do to her? Everyone knows what happened tonight. You two should focus on how you’ll explain this to your colleagues on Monday.”

Li Xiaofei clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms, yet she felt no pain. In her heart, she swore that Ruan Mianmian would not get away with this.

Fang Yali’s hatred matched hers.

She too vowed to destroy Ruan Mianmian.

……

Sunday morning, eleven o’clock.

Ruan Mianmian was scrolling on her phone when a chime sounded in her mind, announcing the system upgrade’s completion.

“SS-level system successfully upgraded to SSS-level. Congratulations, Host: you have received a surprise gift pack ×1 and a lottery chance ×1.”

“Do the points and life value still double?” That was her main concern—it was a matter of life and death.

“Host, they double. Every upgrade, both points and life value are doubled.”

“Great. Let’s open the gift pack and see what’s inside.”

“Certainly, Host. The gift pack has been opened; please check.”

Ruan Mianmian glanced at the system’s mechanical panel, where it read: Congratulations, Host, you have acquired the Appraisal Skill.

“007, this seems almost fantastical. Is it real?” Ruan Mianmian thought it absurd.

“Host, it’s real. From now on, you’re a master of appraising treasures. Genuine articles and fakes, you’ll see them all; just a single glance and you’ll know.”

“Really? Then I’ll go to the antique market this afternoon.”

She wanted to test the skill—if it worked, she could buy authentic items at low prices and resell them for profit.

“007, I have 13 points left. Convert them all to cash for me; I’m going to the antique market this afternoon.”

“Host, if your points reach zero, the system will crash and stop running. It’s not recommended to spend all your points.”

“All right. I’ll keep 3 points and exchange 10 for cash.”

“Understood, Host.”

Soon, Ruan Mianmian’s phone received a notification: ten thousand yuan had arrived.

She looked at the points report—just 3 points left—somewhat helpless. Points were so easily spent.

“007, don’t worry, I’ll work hard to earn points. I won’t let you crash. Now, let’s do the lottery.”

She was curious about the prizes.

Last time, she’d won a ‘Crow’s Mouth Experience Card’—she hadn’t used it yet. What would she get this time?

“Certainly, Host. The lottery is ready for you.”

Ruan Mianmian tapped the lottery interface.

A single ‘Power Pill’?

“007, if I take this Power Pill, how strong will I be?”

“One punch can kill a bull!”

Ruan Mianmian: “……”

Well… she wasn’t sure if she should call it a surprise or something else.

Better to save it; such items should be used only at critical moments. There was nothing right now that called for such strength.

“007, I don’t get it. Isn’t it supposed to be a surprise gift pack? Why does it always contain just one item?”

Shouldn’t a gift pack have a combination of things? Like the Prosperity Gift Pack, with rice crackers, jelly, mini puffs, little buns…

Several things together—that’s a real gift pack.

She’d opened two gift packs, and both times there was only one item.

“Host, it’s random. I don’t know the specifics and can’t answer your question.”

“Oh, fine. 007, you’re… not quite up to par!”

“Warning: Do not disparage the system, or your life value will be deducted!”

What?

Deduct life value?

Wasn’t this a threat to her life?

“Dearest Little Seven, I’m sorry, I misspoke just now. You’re amazing, the best!”

Her life value was already low—she couldn’t afford to lose any.

Absolutely must not let it be deducted.

But after she apologized, she felt something was off.

She was the host—how could the system threaten her?

A threat, is it?

She could do that too!

Ruan Mianmian chuckled, “007, I’m the host. How can you threaten me? Warning: If you threaten me again, I’ll slack off and stop earning points and upgrading. We’ll go down together!”

“Sorry, Host. I know I was wrong.” The system apologized meekly.

Ruan Mianmian accepted graciously, “It’s all right. I’m a generous beauty; I won’t hold it against you. Just remember, if there’s ever danger, warn me right away. We’re in this together.”

“Understood, Host.” The system was now docile.

After a midday nap, Ruan Mianmian changed her clothes and headed to the antique market, ready to test how effective her appraisal skill really was.