Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 91

From childhood to adulthood, aside from his grandfather and Da Huang, everyone else treated him with malice, even his parents. Ever since he could remember, his father’s gaze was filled with disgust and hatred, calling him a wretch and a beast. His mother’s eyes showed fear, telling him to stay away and forbidding him from stepping into the main house.

He could only live with his grandfather in their dilapidated house.

Though the house was shabby, it was big. They had a whole room full of books. His grandfather taught him to read and praised him for being smart, even sending him to school.

He thought that once he went to school, his grey days would finally see sunlight.

He believed that scholars, being reasonable people, would understand that his appearance was not his choice and that despite his unusual looks, he had a good heart and wanted to be kind to his classmates.

But when he faced his classmates with an earnest heart, they cooked his beloved Da Huang.

For fifteen years, apart from his grandfather, no one had treated him well. To avoid being mocked or bullied, he had to disguise himself as a forty-five-year-old man at the age of fifteen.

But his mind was not that of a forty-five-year-old. How could he truly fit into the world of adults?

He longed for friends, for conversation, for kindness.

He awkwardly tried to reach out to people, wanting to feel warmth but not knowing how to start. He feared that his appearance would scare everyone away, leading to more ridicule and insults.

He took the money his grandfather gave him and left Yuhang, venturing out into the world.

When he wanted to talk to someone, he would grab a waiter at an inn and recite his studies to them, pretending it was a real conversation.

Then Young Master Lu appeared.

Young Master Lu also liked water management and even said he had to pass an assessment to read the books.

He was thrilled when he heard those words.

An assessment meant interaction between two people, right?

Finally, he could have a normal conversation with someone!

But after seven days, Young Master Lu gave him a test paper instead of engaging in direct questions. Yet, as he filled out the test, Young Master Lu didn’t leave.

Just having someone sit beside him, accompanying him, made him feel the beauty of companionship. In his excitement, he carelessly wrote down his real age: fifteen.

When he wrote those two numbers, he was so scared that his hand almost shook, ready to drop the pen. He was already bracing himself for Young Master Lu to jump up, point at him, and scold him.

He nervously glanced at Young Master Lu with the corner of his eye.

But none of his fears came true.

Young Master Lu still sat lazily in the chair, even munching on a piece of fruit.

When he finished the test, Young Master Lu chatted with him, saying they were destined to be friends.

It felt like he had received all the good fortune of his life in that moment.

Overwhelmed, he poured out his past sorrows, but then regretted it, fearing he had scared away this rare person willing to be his friend.

Yet Young Master Lu’s response was gentle reassurance. The warmth in his voice was something he thought he would never experience.

Until the guest named Qin appeared.

He rudely took Young Master Lu away.

All his hopes and dreams were shattered, crashing down from the heights of joy to the depths of despair.

The new friend he cherished so much wasn’t his alone. This person had other, more significant friends.

Even among guests, the bond between Qin and Lu Tang was stronger than his.

So what did he amount to?

Was Young Master Lu’s offer of friendship just a polite remark? Were his reassurances just a courtesy, a reflection of his upbringing?

Having never received anything, he wouldn’t feel the loss.

But to have something and then lose it…

Dazed, Xie Yu came downstairs, intending to check out. Suddenly, he heard Lu Tang calling him and turned to see her smiling eyes.

Seeing Xie Yu standing there in a daze, Lu Tang walked over and pulled him along. “What are you spacing out for? I have something good to show you.”

Xie Yu asked nervously, “What?”

Would it be bugs?

Would it be a dead snake?

Would it be something filthy and disgusting?

Lu Tang smiled and led him to the table, “Look.”

Whimpering sounds.

On the table stood a fluffy little puppy named Da Bao. Er Bao and Zhou Shu were playing with it. Da Bao would pounce on Zhou Shu one moment and then on Er Bao the next, licking their hands with its little tongue.

The moment this little creature entered Xie Yu’s sight, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

“Da Huang!”

He staggered forward, almost falling against the table.

Er Bao flinched and hid behind Zhou Shu’s leg.

Zhou Shu was also startled, about to shout at Xie Yu, but stopped when he saw Lu Tang’s gesture, looking at her in confusion.

Lu Tang pointed to the kitchen.

Understanding, Zhou Shu, Xu Shen, and Guo Dawei quietly went to the kitchen without asking further.

Standing beside Xie Yu, Lu Tang spoke as gently as possible, “This little dog, does it look like your Da Huang?”

Xie Yu stood there, trembling, staring at the puppy walking around the table without saying a word.

Lu Tang didn’t ask any more questions, standing quietly beside him, accompanying him.

She thought about the system’s reward.

The first physical reward from the system was the Invincible Powder, which perfectly suited Gu Changming.

The second was the identity detector, which was just what Lu Yuchen needed.

The third was the “Complete Water Management Guide,” which now belonged to Xie Yu, Xie Chengnian’s grandson, and her new task was related to Xie Chengnian.

There was also the ingredient detector that identified the opium.

So, every physical reward from the system had a specific use.

[No kidding. Do you think our system—]

“Shut up and know your place.”

[Yes, Host. Have a nice day.]

The little puppy lazily roamed the table, exploring its territory. Being so small, it had no sense of danger and almost fell off the edge.

Lu Tang’s heart skipped a beat, but before she could react, Xie Yu’s large hand was already there, palm up, supporting the puppy’s paw.

The puppy’s soft paw felt the difference in surface, testing the new ground with a scratch. Finding it comfortable, it rolled into Xie Yu’s hand, snuggling up and licking his hand with its little tongue before turning its innocent eyes to Xie Yu.

Xie Yu, as if struck by electricity, trembled and carefully cradled the puppy to his chest as if holding a precious treasure.

“You are giving this to me?” He turned to Lu Tang, eyes shining with hope.

Lu Tang: Uh…

“Yes, do you like it?” She smiled warmly at Xie Yu.

As expected, Xie Yu burst into tears, “I misunderstood you. I thought when you said we were friends, it was just to be polite. I never expected you to really treat me as a friend and even give me a gift. You’re so kind!”

Lu Tang: …

It’s not that big of a deal.