Chapter 2

Shi Ye rolled over in bed, her phone screen glowing faintly in the darkness. She stared at the "Goodnight" message Qi Jin had sent, her finger hovering over the reply box for a few seconds before finally deciding not to type anything.

“System,” she asked in her mind, “Are you sure Qi Jin doesn’t know I’m a transmigrator?”

"Based on behavioral pattern analysis, Qi Jin perceives the host as 'Shi Ye, who has undergone a personality change,' rather than 'an external consciousness.' However, the system detected that her interest in the host exceeds the expected value by 37%."

Shi Ye buried her face in the pillow: "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Insufficient data to make a judgment."

She sighed and was about to turn off the light and go to sleep when she suddenly heard a slight noise downstairs. Shi Ye sat up alertly—her parents had gone to the after-party of a charity gala that evening, and at this time, only she and the maid should be home.

"System, can you detect what's going on downstairs?"

"Basic environment scanning functionality is limited. Hosts are advised to check it themselves."

Shi Ye opened the door quietly; the hallway was dimly lit. She walked to the stairwell and vaguely heard noises coming from the kitchen. Could a thief have broken in? Although the Shi family wasn't as powerful as the Qi family, they were still a wealthy family; security shouldn't be a problem.

She casually picked up a blue and white porcelain vase from the display shelf in the corridor—it was quite heavy—and then quietly walked downstairs.

The kitchen light was on. Shi Ye held his breath and looked inside, then froze.

Qi Jin was standing in front of the refrigerator with his back to her, the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up to his elbows, holding a carton of milk in his hand. She seemed to sense the movement behind her, and when she turned around, her face was expressionless, except for a slight raising of her eyebrows.

"You..." Shi Ye put down the vase, "What are you doing in my house?"

"Your father invited me to stay overnight, saying he has something to discuss tomorrow morning." Qi Jin shook the milk carton. "Do you mind?"

Shi Ye then noticed that she had changed her clothes. Instead of her daytime formal attire, she was wearing a set of expensive-looking silk pajamas in a deep blue color, which made her skin appear even whiter.

“I don’t mind, but…” Shi Ye looked around, “Where are the servants?”

“I let them rest.” Qi Jin opened the cupboard and took out two glasses. “Would you like some? They’re hot.”

Shi Ye then realized she was still in her pajamas, her hair was messy, and she was carrying a vase. She quickly put the vase down and awkwardly scratched her hair: "How did you know the layout of my kitchen?"

“I’ve been here a few times.” Qi Jin poured the milk into a glass and put it in the microwave. “Your father likes to talk things in the kitchen, he says it’s more relaxing.”

The microwave hummed, casting a warm yellow light on Qi Jin's profile. Shi Ye leaned against the doorframe, suddenly finding the scene somewhat surreal—the ruthless villain from the original story, who could bankrupt a business rival with a single sentence, was now standing in her kitchen heating milk.

"So," Qi Jin turned and leaned against the kitchen counter, "you usually carry a vase for self-defense?"

Shi Ye's face flushed: "I thought it was a thief."

“Very alert.” Qi Jin’s lips seemed to curve slightly. “But next time you could consider using a lighter weapon. That vase is from the Qing Dynasty; it would be a shame to break it.”

The microwave beeped, and Qi Jin took out a cup, handing one to Shi Ye. Their fingers briefly touched, and Shi Ye felt the warmth of her fingertips.

"Thank you." Shi Ye took the milk, feeling the warmth in his palm.

The two sat down at the kitchen island, neither speaking for a moment. The night outside was dark, with only the occasional sound of passing vehicles in the distance.

"Can't sleep?" Qi Jin spoke first.

"A little." Shi Ye took a sip of milk. "What about you? Does President Qi also have insomnia sometimes?"

“Occasionally.” Qi Jin tapped the rim of his cup lightly with his fingers. “Besides, the mattress in your guest room is too soft; I’m not used to it.”

Shi Ye couldn't help but laugh: "Do you need me to get a firmer mattress? It's only eleven o'clock, there should still be time."

"No need to trouble yourself." Qi Jin glanced at her. "You look different when you smile than during the day."

"How are they different?"

“More…” Qi Jin searched for the right word, “real.”

Shi Ye's heart skipped a beat. She looked down at the milk in her glass, the white liquid rippling slightly on the surface.

“System,” she asked in her mind, “what should I say in this situation?”

"Suggestion: Maintain your character and avoid excessive intimacy. The original owner has an outspoken and direct personality, so appropriate retaliation is advisable."

“What you’re saying, Mr. Qi,” Shi Ye raised his head, a slightly provocative smile on his face, “do you think I wasn’t genuine during the day?”

Qi Jin didn't answer immediately, but just looked at her quietly. The kitchen light reflected tiny specks of light in her eyes, making her usually indifferent eyes appear exceptionally deep.

“During the day, you’re like someone wearing a mask,” Qi Jin finally said. “Although that mask is beautiful, it’s still just a mask.”

Shi Ye gripped the cup tightly. Qi Jin was more perceptive than she had imagined.

"And what about you?" she countered. "Doesn't President Qi wear a mask?"

"I wear it," Qi Jin readily admitted, "but at least in front of you, I've tried to take some off."

The microwave's timer suddenly beeped, breaking the subtle atmosphere in the kitchen. The two looked at the microwave simultaneously, then exchanged a glance and smiled.

“It’s always like this,” Shi Ye said. “It’s been repaired several times, but it still keeps making noises.”

“Mine is the same,” Qi Jin said. “The housekeeper said to replace it, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Things with a few flaws are more memorable.”

Shi Ye looked at her in surprise: "I didn't expect President Qi to be so... nostalgic?"

"I just feel that not everything needs to be perfect." Qi Jin finished the last sip of milk, got up and put the cup in the sink. "Just like people."

She turned to Shi Ye: "Have you chosen your engagement party dress yet?"

Shi Ye almost choked on his milk: "Not yet... I thought it was just a formality and I didn't need to take it too seriously?"

“The media will take pictures, the shareholders will watch, and our partners will give their opinions.” Qi Jin handed her a tissue. “Even if we know in our hearts that it’s a collaboration, we still have to appear impeccable on the surface.”

"So you even have to control the dresses?" Shi Ye took the tissue.

“If you don’t mind, I can have the designer bring a sample garment over tomorrow,” Qi Jin said. “Of course, you have the full right to choose.”

Shi Ye suddenly remembered a scene from the original novel: the original owner had a diamond-encrusted dress made for her engagement banquet, worth tens of millions, but was ridiculed by the media for her "nouveau riche taste". Qi Jin's face darkened on the spot when he saw it.

"System, if I refuse Qi Jin's help and choose the dress myself, will it trigger the original plot?"

"Probability analysis: If the host makes the choice himself, there is a 70% chance that he will choose a style similar to the original work; if he accepts Qi Jin's help, the original plot can be avoided by up to 85%."

Shi Ye sighed: "Alright, let the designer handle it. But I have requirements—no diamonds, no lace, no pink."

A hint of a smile flashed in Qi Jin's eyes: "These requirements are very specific."

“I have my own principles,” Shi Ye said. “Besides, if I’m going to act, why not act well? At least make myself comfortable.”

"Agreed." Qi Jin nodded. "Then, is tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock alright?"

"Okay." Shi Ye glanced at the time. "But now, shouldn't we go to sleep? Doesn't President Qi have to go to work tomorrow?"

"Yes," Qi Jin said, "but staying up late occasionally is fine."

She walked to the kitchen doorway and then stopped: "Shi Ye."

"Um?"

"Thank you for cooperating." Qi Jin's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet night. "I know this is unfair to you."

Shi Ye was stunned. She hadn't expected Qi Jin to say that.

“There’s nothing unfair about it,” she finally said. “It’s just a matter of each person getting what they need.”

Qi Jin gave her a deep look, said nothing more, and turned to go upstairs.

Shi Ye sat alone in the kitchen for a while, washing and putting away the cups. Before turning off the light, she glanced at the microwave—the old thing that always made noise was quietly sitting in the corner, as if nothing had happened.

Back in the room, a system notification suddenly sounded: "Key interaction event detected: Late-night kitchen conversation. Qi Jin's favorability +10, current total favorability: 35/100. World stability index increased by 5%."

"Why has the stability increased?" Shi asked.

"The character interactions are logical and fill in the gaps in the original story. System analysis: In the original work, Qi Jin and Shi Ye lacked in-depth communication, which led to a lack of groundwork for the subsequent conflicts. The current interactions enhance the credibility of the character relationships."

Shi Ye lay in bed, her mind a jumbled mess. Qi Jin's words, "each to their own advantage," kept echoing in her ears, but she had a feeling that things were heading in an uncontrollable direction.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Lin Xiaoyu: "Are you asleep, senior? I forgot to add you on WeChat at the gathering today, so I'll add you now~"

Shi Ye accepted the friend request. Almost immediately, Lin Xiaoyu sent a cat emoji.

"Thank you for coming to the party today, you seem to be having a great time!"

Shi Ye replied: "She is indeed much more relaxed."

“That’s because you were there,” Lin Xiaoyu replied instantly. “I’ve never seen you bring anyone to our gathering before, you’re the first.”

Shi Ye stared at the line of text, unsure how to respond.

“But don’t feel pressured,” Lin Xiaoyu sent another message. “This senior is very kind to the people she cares about, but very cold to the people she doesn’t care about. The fact that she brought you here means you’re special.”

"It's probably because of the engagement," Shi Ye typed thoughtfully.

"No way!" Lin Xiaoyu sent a shaking head emoji. "Senior Shi hates formalism the most. If she doesn't want to, no one can force her. So, Sister Shi, you have to treat her well."

Shi Ye found this a bit strange, but before she could think about it further, Lin Xiaoyu sent another message: "By the way, there's an art exhibition next week. I have two tickets. Do you want to come along? Just the two of us, without my senior."

"System, what's this? The female lead invites the villainous female supporting character to an exhibition?"

"In the original novel, Lin Xiaoyu and Shi Ye had a decent relationship in the early stages, but later turned against each other because of Qi Jin. The current invitation is consistent with the character's logic."

Shi Ye thought for a moment and replied, "Okay, send me the time and place."

"Great! See you next week~ Goodnight!"

Shi Ye put down his phone and was about to go to sleep when there was a gentle knock on the door.

She opened the door, and Qi Jin stood outside, holding a folder in his hand.

“Sorry to bother you,” Qi Jin said, “I just received a document that I think you should take a look at.”

Shi Ye let her in. Qi Jin handed her a folder, which Shi Ye opened and saw several financial statements and project plans inside.

"This is……"

"These are the most critical projects for the Shi family right now," Qi Jin said, walking to the window. "Your father will be talking to me about these tomorrow."

Shi Shu quickly scanned the documents, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper. She knew the Shi family was in a bad situation, but she hadn't expected it to be this bad—all three major projects were losing money, cash flow was almost completely cut off, and several huge loans were about to mature.

“These…” she looked up at Qi Jin, “How did you get them?”

“I have my own channels.” Qi Jin turned around. “The important thing is, what do you think?”

Shi Ye closed the folder: "You want to ask me whether I still insist on fulfilling the marriage contract?"

“I want to ask you,” Qi Jin walked back to her, “whether you understand what you are going to face. Once you are engaged, the Qi family will invest, but the problems with these projects will not be solved immediately. You will need to be involved in management, make decisions, and face the risk of possible failure.”

She looked into Shi Ye's eyes: "This is no child's play, Shi Ye. This concerns the livelihoods of thousands of people, and the survival of your family."

The room was so quiet you could hear them breathing. Shi Ye gripped the folder tightly, the edges of the papers digging painfully into his palm.

“I know,” she finally said, “which is why I need your help even more.”

“It’s not just about financial assistance,” Qi Jin said. “If you’re willing, I can teach you. Business operations, project management, negotiation skills. But the prerequisite is that you really want to learn.”

Shi Ye was stunned: "Why...why did you help me to this extent?"

Qi Jin remained silent for a long time. Moonlight streamed into the room from the window, casting dappled shadows on her face.

“Because I owe you,” she finally said, her voice very soft.

"What?"

"It's nothing." Qi Jin shook his head, his tone returning to calm. "Get some rest. The designer needs to be here at three o'clock tomorrow, don't be late."

She walked to the door, then stopped: "Here's the document for you. Take a good look at it. You can ask me questions tomorrow if you have any."

The door closed softly, leaving Shi Ye alone in the room. She opened the folder and reread the reports, her mood growing heavier with each glance.

“System,” she said, “the Shi family went bankrupt in the original story, right?”

"Yes. In the original novel, Qi Jin withdrew all support after the engagement was dissolved, and the Shi family went bankrupt and was liquidated within three months."

"If I get involved in management now, is it possible to change this outcome?"

"Theoretically feasible. However, the host should be aware that excessive alteration of key plot points in the original work may lead to a decrease in world stability."

Shi Ye closed the file and lay back down on the bed. She stared at the ceiling, countless thoughts flashing through her mind—what did Qi Jin mean by "I owe you"? Why was she helping her like this? How many secrets does this world still hold?

She didn't know how much time had passed before she finally drifted off to sleep. In her dream, she saw Qi Jin standing in a white mist, reaching out his hand to her, but when she tried to grab it, his hand shattered into countless fragments.

The next morning, Shi Ye was woken up by her phone alarm. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, realizing it was already ten o'clock. The folder on her bedside table reminded her that everything from last night was not a dream.

As she went downstairs, she heard voices coming from the dining room. When she went inside, she saw Qi Jin and her father, Shi Zhenghong, sitting at the dining table with several documents spread out in front of them.

"Yeye's awake?" Shi Zhenghong smiled when he saw her. "Come on, President Qi is helping me analyze the project."

Shi Ye noticed the dark circles under her father's eyes; he clearly hadn't slept well the night before. She sat down, and a maid brought in breakfast.

"How did Miss Shi sleep?" Qi Jin asked, his tone as natural as if nothing had happened last night.

"It's alright." Shi Ye took a sip of coffee. "What were you talking about?"

"The development plan for that plot of land in the south of the city." Shi Zhenghong pushed a document in front of her. "President Qi thinks we can adjust our positioning and take a high-end, boutique route, instead of building large-scale residential buildings as originally planned."

Shi Ye flipped through the plan and found many handwritten annotations on it. The handwriting was sharp and powerful, clearly Qi Jin's handwriting.

"These suggestions..." She looked up at Qi Jin, "were all written by you?"

"Some initial ideas," Qi Jin said. "The specifics will depend on market research and cost accounting."

Shi Ye carefully read the annotations, becoming increasingly astonished. Qi Jin not only pointed out the problems with the original plan but also provided detailed solutions and even calculated the expected rate of return under several different plans.

"How could you do so much analysis in such a short time?" she couldn't help but ask.

"It's a habit," Qi Jin said casually. "I'm used to thinking through all the possibilities before I do anything."

Shi Zhenghong watched the interaction between the two, a complex light flashing in his eyes. He coughed lightly, "Um... I have an appointment to play golf with Chairman Wang, so I'll be leaving now. You two can continue your conversation."

After his father left, only Shi Ye and Qi Jin remained in the restaurant. The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

“Your father trusts you a lot,” Qi Jin said.

“He’s just desperate,” Shi Ye said with a wry smile. “Given the current situation of the Shi family, he can only grasp at any possible lifeline.”

"And what about you?" Qi Jin looked at her. "Do you see yourself as a lifeline?"

Shi Ye put down his coffee cup: "Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"The truth."

"I'm scared," Shi Ye frankly admitted. "I'm afraid I won't do a good job, afraid I'll mess things up, afraid I won't be able to save the Shi family."

Qi Jin listened quietly without interrupting.

“But I also know,” Shi Ye continued, “that I can’t do nothing. So, if you’re really willing to teach me, I’m willing to learn, no matter how difficult it is.”

Qi Jin's lips curled up slightly: "Very good. Then let's begin the first lesson now."

She pulled out a blank sheet of paper and drew a simple flowchart: "Any business decision must first clarify three core elements: objectives, resources, and risks. Let's analyze the Chengnan project..."

For the next two hours, Qi Jin explained the basic framework of business analysis in the simplest language. Shi Ye found that he could actually keep up; those originally dry concepts became clear and easy to understand under Qi Jin's explanation.

"You are very talented." Qi Jin said as the explanation came to an end. "Your logic is clear, and your questions are all to the point."

Shi Ye's face flushed: "It's probably because you spoke well."

"No, it's because you learn quickly." Qi Jin closed his notebook. "I've taught many people, but you've made the fastest progress."

She glanced at the time: "The designer will be here soon. Shall we get ready?"

Shi Ye then remembered the dress. She went upstairs to change and did some simple makeup. When she came downstairs, the design team had already arrived, and three stylish young people were discussing something with Qi Jin.

"Hello, Ms. Shi," said the lead designer, a young man with dyed silver hair. "I'm Leo. Mr. Qi asked us to prepare your engagement party dress."

A mobile clothes rack has been set up in the living room, displaying more than a dozen dresses, ranging from simple to glamorous, in various styles.

“These are the initial selections,” Leo explained. “You can take a look and see if any of them interest you. If not, we can redesign them according to your preferences.”

Shi Ye glanced around and his gaze fell on a misty blue dress. It had no excessive embellishments, and the cut was simple, yet the lines were smooth and beautiful.

"This one." She and Qi Jin pointed to the dress at the same time.

The two exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.

“Great minds think alike,” Qi Jin said.

"Then let's take this one," Shi Ye said to Leo.

"Good eye!" Leo clapped. "This is one of my proudest creations; no one has worn it before. Come on, Miss Shi, try it on."

In the fitting room, Shi Ye put on the dress with the help of her assistant. Her reflection in the mirror was stunning—the misty blue color accentuated her fair skin, the fitted design highlighted her slender waist, and the skirt swayed gently with her movements, like ripples on water.

"Perfect!" Leo exclaimed excitedly, "It's practically tailor-made for you!"

Shi Ye walked out of the fitting room. Qi Jin was looking at her phone and looked up when she heard the sound. In that instant, Shi Ye clearly saw the look of amazement flash in her eyes.

"How is it?" Shi Ye turned around.

Qi Jin was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Very good."

It was just two words, but the tone of his voice left no room for doubt.

“As for jewelry,” Leo said, “I suggest keeping it simple: a pair of pearl earrings and a thin chain necklace will suffice. Too much will only detract from the beauty of the dress.”

“Agreed.” Qi Jin walked over, browsed the clothes rack for a while, and took out a dark gray suit jacket. “I’ll wear this.”

It was a unisex suit, its color echoing the tuxedo but deeper. When Qi Jin put it on and stood next to Shi Ye, their reflections in the mirror were surprisingly harmonious.

“Wow,” Leo whistled, “the two of you standing together could totally make a magazine cover. Want to consider it? I know a few editors-in-chief…”

"No need," Qi Jin interrupted him. "This dress is fine. The jewelry will be as you suggested. Is there anything else that needs adjusting?"

“The waistline could be tapered a bit more here,” Leo gestured to the side of Shi Ye’s waist, “to better accentuate the curves. Also, the skirt length might need a slight adjustment.”

"Then I'll leave it to you," Qi Jin said to Shi Ye. "I'm going to the study to take care of some work. Call me when you're done."

After she left, Leo leaned close to Shi Ye's ear and whispered, "Miss Shi, Mr. Qi really cares about you. I've known her for so many years, and I've never seen her put so much effort into anyone's dress."

"Have you known each other for a long time?" Shi Ye asked.

“My teacher is the Qi family’s exclusive designer. I’ve been running errands for the Qi family since I was a child.” Leo said while adjusting her skirt. “President Qi may seem cold on the outside, but he is actually very sentimental. He’s just not very good at expressing himself.”

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Actually, she picked out all these dresses herself. She called me in the middle of the night last night and asked me to bring over all the styles that would suit you. I've known her for over twenty years, and this is the first time I've seen her like this."

Shi Ye's heart skipped a beat.

The dress adjustments took nearly an hour. Just as it was finished, Qi Jin came out of the study, carrying a velvet box.

“This,” she handed the box to Shi Ye, “is for your dress.”

Shi Ye opened the box, inside was a pair of pearl earrings. The pearls were not large, but had a warm luster, set on an extremely delicate white gold base, simple yet elegant.

"It's too precious, I can't..." Shi Ye tried to decline.

"Take it," Qi Jin said. "Consider it... a gift from our business partner."

Her tone was calm, but Shi Ye noticed that her ears were slightly red.

"Thank you then." Shi Ye closed the box. "I will keep it safe."

After the design team left, the two returned to the restaurant. The maid had prepared lunch: a simple meal of three dishes and a soup, all home-style cooking.

“I had them make it,” Qi Jin said. “Your father said these are some of your favorite dishes.”

Looking at the sweet and sour pork ribs, stir-fried broccoli, and tomato and egg soup on the table, Shi Ye felt a warm current welling up in her heart. These were indeed her favorite dishes—or rather, the original owner's favorite dishes. But Qi Jin actually remembered them.

“You know a lot about me.” She picked up a piece of pork rib.

“Basic background checks,” Qi Jin said. “Understanding the other party before cooperating is a fundamental principle.”

"What did the survey results show?"

“The results show,” Qi Jin put down his chopsticks, “that Shi Ye, 22 years old, graduated from the School of Design, likes sweets, hates celery, had a cat but it ran away, and had his parents called in three times in elementary school for fighting.”

Shi Ye almost choked on his soup: "You even know this?"

“Your father is very talkative,” Qi Jin said, a smile flashing in his eyes, “especially when he’s drunk.”

Shi Ye sighed, rubbing his forehead: "What else did he say?"

“I told you that you’re actually very kind, just a little short-tempered sometimes. I told you that you dreamed of being a painter when you were little, but you gave up on that dream. I told you…” Qi Jin paused, “that you don’t really like your current life.”

The restaurant suddenly fell silent. Shi Ye looked down at the rice in his bowl, unsure of what to say.

“He’s right,” she finally admitted, “I don’t really like it.”

"What kind of life do you like?" Qi Jin asked.

"I don't know." Shi Ye smiled bitterly. "Maybe it's simpler. No need for scheming, no need for pretense, no need to wear a mask every day."

Qi Jin remained silent for a long time. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a bright band of light across the dining table between the two of them.

“Sometimes,” Qi Jin said slowly, “when you wear a mask for too long, you can’t take it off. You even forget what you were like underneath the mask.”

Her tone was calm, but Shi Ye could detect a hint of weariness.

"And what about you?" Shi Ye asked, "What's underneath your mask?"

Qi Jin looked at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions. At that moment, Shi Ye almost thought she was going to say something, but in the end, Qi Jin just shook his head.

“I forgot,” she said, and then continued eating.

Lunch ended in silence. After the meal, Qi Jin said he had to leave because he had other business at the company.

“Keep the documents,” she said at the door. “Ask me anytime if you have any questions. Also, there’s a project meeting next Tuesday; you can come and attend if you’re interested.”

"Okay." Shi Ye nodded. "Thank you."

Qi Jin walked to the car, then turned back: "By the way, Lin Xiaoyu asked you to go to the exhibition?"

Shi Ye was taken aback: "How did you know?"

"She messaged me asking if I like modern art." Qi Jin's expression was a little subtle. "She seems to really like you."

"We are just ordinary friends."

"I know." Qi Jin opened the car door. "Have fun."

After the car drove away, Shi Ye returned to her room, Qi Jin's last words still echoing in her mind. She felt that there was something strange about Qi Jin's tone when he said, "She seems to like you a lot."

“System,” she asked, “what exactly is the relationship between Qi Jin and Lin Xiaoyu? In the original story, they were the official couple, but now…”

"Data analysis: In the current timeline, Qi Jin and Lin Xiaoyu are close friends, with no signs of romantic feelings. Lin Xiaoyu shows an unusual interest in the host, for reasons unknown."

Shi Ye lay on the bed, feeling that the world was becoming increasingly complicated.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Lin Xiaoyu: "Sister Shiye, I got the exhibition tickets! I'll pick you up next Wednesday at 2 PM?"

Shi Ye replied, "Okay."

Almost simultaneously, another message popped up from Qi Jin: "I suddenly remembered, I'm free next Wednesday afternoon. Do you need me to take you there?"

Shi Ye stared at the two messages and suddenly felt a headache coming on.

How should she respond?

Just then, a system notification sounded: "New plot branch detected: A love triangle is beginning to form. Please choose carefully, as your decision will affect the subsequent plot development."

Shi Ye buried his face in the pillow and let out a mournful cry.

How many more "surprises" await her in this world?