Xinyi re-planned her schedule to fit in time for experimentation.

She prioritised increasing her competency in cultivating, with the hope of reaching the state of constant cultivation. If she accomplished that, she would stop feeling like she was wasting time doing things like sleeping, eating, and cooking.

Another month passed.

Nothing stood out, except for ZiYao's sudden friendliness towards her in the past week.

ZiYao had been coming by for lunch no matter how sickly Xinyi acted. She would help Xinyi up and feed her. If the day was nice, ZiYao would even support her to walk to the stone table in the courtyard.

The entire time, ZiYao faithfully kept up small talk.

Then, when she found out that Xinyi had stopped being tutored since the time she was bedridden at 13, ZiYao generously taught Xinyi the different forms of art.

Lunch was always sumptuous, which Xinyi felt no qualms about finishing. ‘Since it's given, I might as well take it. It'd be a waste if they throw it away.’

She did not worry about being poisoned. She believed in her newfound knowledge of poisons and antidotes. She could even use her knowledge to kill people if she wanted to. She had only continued to cook for herself because she had tailored her diet for her body's state and constitution.

Despite ZiYao’s advances and acts of generosity, Xinyi steeled her heart and kept her guard up, especially when BaoBao had given a new tip around the same time as ZiYao’s appearance.

[Prevent becoming a cripple.]

She still had no idea how ZiYao's arrival would lead to her becoming crippled, so she could only play safe.

One day, ZiYao broached the topic that Xinyi had long been waiting for her to broach.

ZiYao lamented how evil and haughty HuiShan was and how she was made a victim of HuiShan's bullying. She played the perfect white lotus image, lightly dabbing the corners of her doe-like eyes with her light pink silk handkerchief.

When she saw the blank look on Xinyi's face, she was instantly displeased.

The change in her expression was very subtle and normally unnoticeable, but Xinyi caught it because she was prepared for it.

"Don't you feel aggrieved?" ZiYao probed.

"Mm... For you, I guess." Xinyi pretended to admit softly.

"If only something could be done about it..." ZiYao sighed helplessly.

‘So, she’s making me a scapegoat for whatever scheme she’s cooking up. If I was still bedridden, how would this have taken place? Is this part of the original development or was there a change because of my actions? Did I originally get crippled from this or something else? If there was an original scapegoat, can I push the responsibility back?’

BaoBao had long disconnected their thoughts to avoid getting a headache.

Meanwhile, silence dragged out between the girls. ZiYao had been waiting for Xinyi to jump at the chance to help her get even.

"Do you have any ideas?" ZiYao eventually asked.

“Second sis?”

Xinyi looked at her with the same apologetic expression she always wore around ZiYao. "I don't know. I can't do anything. I'm just another lowly concubine's daughter."

"Well, then, if I think of anything, can I rely on my dear second sis to help me?" ZiYao looked at her with puppy dog eyes.

"I may be your second sis, but you're the main wife's daughter. I don't think there is anything I can do that you can't do..."

ZiYao gritted her teeth and took a slow measured breath before continuing gently, "After all that I've done for you... And taught you... There must be something you can do for me. It doesn't have to be something I can't do."

Xinyi decided to act dumb all the way through. "Why would you need someone to do something that you can do?"

‘My god, is there only water in her brain?’ ZiYao was barely holding it together.

"Because working together is always better than working alone. There are plans that take more than one person to work."

"Then, wouldn't it be better to find someone else more qualified? I'm pretty sure I'd just mess it all up."

"I believe in you, second sis."

"Sorry, but please don’t... I don’t want to disappoint you. I'd really hate to mess anything up after all that you've done for me..." Xinyi made use of her "good willed" actions against her. Now, it was because she treated her so well that Xinyi refused to pull her down.

"I'm really unqualified... You should not place such high hopes on me..."

"I guess I wasted all my effort teaching you then?" ZiYao said with a tight smile.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Please pardon your worthless sister."

ZiYao did not say a word more and left the courtyard in a huff. Her maids hastily cleared the dishes then chased after their young miss.

Xinyi relaxed her stiff shoulders and closed her eyes. She finally regained her peace and quiet.

BaoBao appeared on the chair beside her. He looked the same, except that he was now the size of a two year old boy, thanks to Xinyi's improved spiritual energy.

He laid the side of his face on the table and looked up at Xinyi with sad eyes. "The way you talked so badly about yourself... Don't you feel pathetic? Instead of putting yourself down like that, why not just dominate over everyone?"

Xinyi opened her eyes only slightly. "If you want that approach of clearing missions and worlds, then you've bound with the wrong host."

BaoBao sulked even more. "Even though I do prefer that, I still don't think I chose wrongly. I still want you as my host."

Xinyi's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

The more time they spent together, the better she understood him. In her eyes, he was just like an innocent baby with the factual knowledge of an adult.

She also noticed how he progressed from being avoidant to initiating an interaction with her. Well, she was also careful about not spooking him again with talk about emotions.

She broke into a gentle smile and rubbed his head. "You silly. What's so bad? It's all just an act. I don't think THAT lowly of myself."

BaoBao froze with his eyes as wide as saucers. Xinyi’s expression had brought forth a warm pleasant feeling that quickly unfurled within him and made him want to dive into her arms to ask for more.

[What’s this? Is there something wrong with me?]

Despite the scary possibility that he might be malfunctioning, BaoBao found himself not wanting to leave, which further baffled him.

[Could this be… Am I feeling something?]

While BaoBao stayed frozen, Xinyi returned to her activities.

[Ah… I'm starting to understand why they’re so strict about not getting involved with emotions. They really are dangerous… Oh no...]

BaoBao realised that he may have understood too late. He could not imagine himself leaving Xinyi now.

Two days later, Zhang Yong visited again.

Like before, he came here after meeting HuiShan. His visit shocked many people, including Xinyi and BaoBao. The frequency of his visits was unprecedented.

‘This is going to bring me some unwanted attention again. Is the plot trying to fix itself?’

"How's practice coming along?" Zhang Yong put on an amiable smile while he assumed a defensive stance.

Xinyi quickly inferred that they would be fighting using their fists this time and wasted no time in commencing her attack.

With some battle experience from before, coupled with her studying, she was less straightforward in her attacks and used more feints. She tested the water a few times before going for a real blow.

Now that she was less predictable, Zhang Yong was forced to raise his guard and take the fight more seriously.

It did not take ZhangYong long to locate and strike her weak spots. Each time, he stopped at the last moment.

Then, they would automatically reset the match. They did not need to exchange any words for Xinyi to understand that she would have died or be fatally injured.

Overtime, Xinyi was increasingly annoyed and frustrated that she could not last a few exchanges before he struck a deadly blow.

However, she persisted on. The sense of crisis it gave her could be the catalyst she needed for her growth.

She did her best to learn all her weak spots, to modify and correct her moves, and prepare the next move in anticipation of having her weakness discovered.

Before she knew it, ZhangYong returned to a relaxed state as abruptly as he had arrived. "I'll see you again."

Then, he took his leave without waiting for a response.

Xinyi could only blink and helplessly shake her head.

‘Coming and going as and when he wants. Not even a full grown man and already acting so high-handedly…'

Xinyi dropped down to the ground and began cultivating. Having been at peak focus for the entire match, Xinyi was too drained to rest elsewhere.

As soon as BaoBao saw Xinyi open her eyes, he knew that she was done cultivating for now. He appeared on her lap, jumping up and down. His eyes sparkled more than usual and there was a wide grin plastered on his face.

"He said he’ll see you again! He said he’ll see you again! He’s coming back for you! He's definitely interested! And you didn't have to do anything to hook him!”

BaoBao laughed joyously. “How great things are going for us!"

After some time, he registered Xinyi’s lack of response and enthusiasm. His excitement cooled as he paid attention to her again.

Again, Xinyi was already planning her next course of action. She had not been paying him any attention. This triggered his memory and he asked, “Is ZhangYong's attention a sign that something bad will happen…?"

Xinyi's face brightened up a little at his correction. "Good job, you're learning.”

BaoBao felt strange. Her praise made him all warm and fuzzy, but her hypothesis made him feel like sinking. Feeling this conflicted was complicated.

Xinyi softened her tone further and responded to BaoBao’s earlier hype, “I don't deny that his actions can be easily construed as interest in me. Even if it is, I bet that it's platonic. Yet, even this platonic interest could bring me trouble…"

BaoBao’s spirits slowly lifted. They were actually having a proper discussion about ZhangYong’s feelings for her. However, Xinyi's following words doused him in cold water again.

"BaoBao, seeing as how you're always so excited regarding ZhangYong, I should warn you first, no matter how many times he comes here, no matter how interested in me he may seem to be, nothing can or will happen between us. Don’t build your hopes so high up only to disappoint yourself at the end of it all.”

BaoBao deflated so much that Xinyi patted his head with a wry smile, hoping to provide some comfort. Then, she squished his chubby face which felt as soft as fresh mochi. "I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news all the time."

BaoBao shook his head, then asked through his still-squished cheeks, "But… Why? How are you so sure?"

Xinyi calmly explained. "Some things can't be changed. I already have my hands full with changing the fate of the body I inhabited. I have even less power to change the fate of another. Didn't you see how strong my love for my sister was? How strong my bond with her was? Yet, it could not stop her from carrying out her role as the villainess.”

Xinyi sighed upon that recollection. “Let's say ZhangYong and I share the same depth of love and bond, it won't be able to overcome the feelings he has for HuiShan and his fate as the couple's silent protector.”

BaoBao frowned and looked down at the ground.

"If you still don't believe me, just wait and see. Something will happen in time to come."

BaoBao had no skin, but it crawled all the same. The way she talked seemed off and ominous. The look in her eyes was dead too. [Had it always been like that...?]

Thinking back on all their past interactions, BaoBao finally noticed a detail that he had always overlooked till now. Xinyi’s eyes did not shine even when she spoke of her sister nor when she smiled. She was just... Being.

[What does this mean? Why is she like this? Is there a way to change it?]

Being as clueless as he was about this subject, it could only mean one thing. [This has something to do with emotions... I need to learn about emotions then I can understand what’s going on with her and maybe do something about it.]

A new burning sensation spread within him. It was hot, energising, and empowering. His mind churned like the way Xinyi’s did when she thought up countless hypotheses.

BaoBao had not yet realise how this would make him develop differently from other systems. Whether this was a good or bad thing could only be known in the far future.