Free Web NovelChapter 433: Chapter 433: Raven Tresses
Zhao Zhixun understood what Xu Yanxi meant. "So, you need a man who’s passionate and proactive?"
Xu Yanxi thought for a moment. "That’s about right. But it’s difficult. I’m like a glass of lukewarm water, and I don’t want to find another one. Do you know what I mean?"
"I get it," Zhao Zhixun said, naturally understanding her point. "What you’re asking for is something many people would find difficult to provide these days. Especially since you aren’t lacking for anything, your standards for a relationship are even higher."
"Of course. We’re all adults with our own pasts, so it’s hard to throw yourself into a relationship so wholeheartedly anymore." Xu Yanxi wasn’t disheartened. "So I’ll just let fate decide. But I won’t jump into a new relationship lightly."
"But once I’m in one, I won’t end it lightly—not unless my partner makes a major mistake."
"Like cheating?" Zhao Zhixun added casually. "I asked Daozhen about it."
"That man will say anything, won’t he? But it doesn’t matter." Xu Yanxi chuckled. "Yes, I’m not the ’virtuous wife and loving mother’ type. I won’t be focusing all my attention on a partner or family in the future. He’ll have to accept that."
"I don’t see a problem with that," Zhao Zhixun said after a long moment of thought. "Having a job you love is a wonderful thing. Besides, a family isn’t a one-person responsibility. It takes effort from both people to make it stable."
"Just imagine our future... leaving for work together, building a family together..."
Xu Yanxi shot him a glance. "Counselor, I haven’t agreed to anything. I barely know you. It’s a bit early to be planning our future, don’t you think?"
She didn’t find Zhao Zhixun’s words presumptuous. Then again, perhaps she’d had so many shocks today that she couldn’t be bothered with such things.
Zhao Zhixun seized the opportunity to ask her out. "In that case, would you like to go on a date with me? It’s the only way we can get to know each other better and decide whether we should take things further."
It was as if the evening breeze had swept away some of Xu Yanxi’s rationality. She heard her own voice echoing in the night air, "Alright. Let’s start with a few dates."
Tan You, of course, paid no mind to Xu Yanxi’s romantic developments. She was far too busy. When would she have time to keep up with the love lives of others? In her eyes, whether Xu Yanxi was dating or getting married was unimportant. Her only concern was for her students.
To be honest, the twenty students she had mentored pursued a wide variety of professions. Especially later on, they became domineering CEOs, doctors, lawyers, teachers, streamers—all sorts of careers. There were even a few who were passionate about engineering.
Observing their lives, Tan You felt that she herself had benefited greatly. After all, it was already incredibly difficult for her to master a single subject in one world; how could she possibly flourish in every field at once?
* * *
Having completed her mission in that world, Tan You returned to the real world. Because she had completed two missions back-to-back, she was still asleep in the shade of a tree by the lake when she came to. No one knew that in that fleeting moment, she had experienced nearly a hundred years.
She lazily prodded the Beauty System and said softly, "Settle the mission results."
The Beauty System’s electronic voice rang out almost instantly. "Mission evaluation: S+. Host has received a basic reward of 5 Energy Points and a bonus of 7 Energy Points for an A-level or higher rating."
"Client Xu Yanxi gave a double S-level evaluation. The main system has awarded an additional 2 Energy Points. Host’s current Energy Points balance: 51."
At the same time, Tan You’s personal status panel unfolded before her eyes:
Appearance: 87 (Perfect Bone Structure, Flawless Jade-like Skin, Eyes Like Autumn Pools)
Spiritual Power: 66
Intelligence: 61
Physique: 40
Charm: 35
Energy Points: 51
Beauty Value: 34 (Unavailable in current world)
All stats are based on a 100-point scale. The system reserves the right of final interpretation.
Tan You looked over the stats. ’My spiritual power went up by two points, and my charm did as well. Not a bad haul.’
Tan You couldn’t be bothered to investigate how she was acquiring Charm points anymore; she simply couldn’t figure out the criteria. In any case, Charm wasn’t very useful right now, so she didn’t give it much thought. What she really wanted was more Intelligence Value.
Tan You rubbed her fingers together. ’An Intelligence Value of 61... I really am just a painfully average person. Why is it so hard to get a little smarter?’
Seeing Tan You fall silent, the Beauty System sidled up to her, its large almond eyes practically glued to her face. The meaning in its gaze couldn’t have been more obvious, and Tan You certainly understood what it wanted.
She leaned to the side slightly. "Alright, let’s do the prize draw. By the way, is it possible to get an Intelligence Value boost from it?"
The Beauty System gave its usual spiel. "The more you pull, the better your chances! Host, with your luck, you’re sure to win a grand prize!"
Tan You wasn’t about to be fooled. With a straight face, she unhesitatingly rejected the system’s prodding. "Let’s do one ten-pull. I’ve never felt so rich before."
"However, your ’grand prize’ and what I actually want are two different things. I’ll stick to what I said before: I’ll consider more pulls once I have 200 Energy Points."
The Beauty System practically drooled as it stared at Tan You’s 51 Energy Points. "Host, you have so... many... Energy Points."
’It was dying of envy. It had no way to earn Energy Points on its own, so it could only try to squeeze them out of Tan You. Luckily, the host was fairly agreeable and had even let it save up a small stash.’
The moment it heard Tan You wanted to do a ten-pull, the Beauty System grew excited. A large prize wheel appeared before her with a SWOOSH. In an instant, Tan You’s 51 Energy Points dwindled to 43, the transaction so fast it was as if the system feared she would change her mind.
Tan You’s expression remained calm. ’I have to give the little system a taste of sweetness now and then,’ she thought. ’Only then will the little guy put its heart into helping me. Even though I rely on it less now that I’ve learned about computers, all my tech skills are useless in places without an internet connection.’
’In those situations, the system will be a great help. Not to mention, it’s a good conversation partner for staving off boredom. It provides plenty of emotional support, so I’m happy to humor it.’
Just as Tan You was mulling this over, all ten cards flipped. The instant she saw the dazzling golden light, she squinted. She knew at a glance that she had pulled what the Beauty System would call a "grand prize," but what she considered a useless skill.
’Let’s see,’ she thought, ’was it going to be Ink-Black Tresses or a Perfect Figure?’
"Host, you pulled Ink-Black Tresses! Your luck is incredible! You’re the system’s chosen one!" the little system’s voice, tinged with excitement, chirped before Tan You could even finish her thought.
Tan You sighed. ’Knew it. A useless skill.’ She glanced at her Appearance stat again. After "Perfect Bone Structure," "Flawless Jade-like Skin," and "Eyes Like Autumn Pools," a new title had been added: "Ink-Black Tresses."
And her Appearance value had increased by one point, from 87 to 88.
