Actually, after returning home that day, Ruan Qing'an wasn't sure if Lu Ke had listened to her, but at least he had agreed to it in person, so Ruan Qing'an assumed he had.

Regardless, Lu Ke didn't insist on tutoring Ruan Qing'an anymore. Instead, he continued his studies at his own pace, and his overall condition visibly improved.

Whether Lu Ke gets extra lessons or not is no longer important, because Ruan Qing'an has already used the excuse of extra lessons to find a way to change his public image.

For the rest of the time, Ruan Qingan studied on his own and took extra classes. He seemed to have been through a huge setback and had become a completely different person, starting to study seriously.

...

"The original owner's predetermined fate has deviated by 100%."

Amidst the bright June sunshine and the noisy cicadas chirping outside the window, the most important college entrance examination for high school seniors across the country came to a close—

Wearing her school uniform, Ruan Qing'an raised her hand to slightly shield her eyes from the glaring sunlight. After leaving the examination hall, she took a piece of chewing gum from the younger boy waiting at the door.

She chewed gum, raised her hands and folded them behind her head, and strolled slowly through the crowd, a relaxed and carefree smile on her lips.

As if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart, Ruan Qing'an felt as if all her burdens had been lifted, and said softly, "It seems that it's finally coming to an end..."

After she finished the college entrance examination and left the examination room, Ruan Qingan heard x09's voice in her mind.

According to Ruan Qing'an's previous idea, the key to changing the original owner's tragic fate was to avoid getting involved in the love triangle between Chen Siyue, Zhou Zihang, and Lu Ke, thus avoiding the ending of going to jail.

Furthermore, if one wants to completely sever ties with the predetermined fate, then the original owner's entire life would have to be different. Therefore—

The original owner, who hadn't even taken the college entrance exam and had already been imprisoned for taking the blame, eventually passed the exam and had a different life. Isn't that the most striking contrast to the tragic fate in the original story?

x09 whispered in her mind, "Yes, the moment you finish the test and hand it in successfully, the task's progress bar will be full."

"I wonder, x09, how would you rate my performance in this mission?"

"To be precise, host, the way you complete tasks is completely different from other new task takers. If we were to give a rating, it would mean comparing you with them."

x09 paused, then laughed and said, "Let Chen Siyue give up her depravity and try to bravely escape her family; let Zhou Zihang stay away from Chen Siyue to avoid disaster; and let Lu Ke focus more on his career."

"To be honest, host, you are truly a kind person. You are not only changing the original owner's tragic fate, but also saving other people. This is not something that other new mission takers would do."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Qingan retorted, "So, x09, do you think what I did was right or wrong, and how many points would you give it?"

x09 just chuckled softly, his deep and magnetic voice always sounding so calm and composed, but at this moment it carried a hint of indulgence, as if he was quite helpless about Ruan Qing'an's insistence on praising him.

When the sun shines brightest, the girl's eyes and brows are filled with smiles, and the smile on her lips seems even more dazzling than the sunlight.

In her mind, x09 whispered, "I will not judge your right or wrong, host. My purpose in being is only to assist and support you. Any action you take is correct in my eyes."

"The only thing I can do is teach you how to survive better in the Administration and how to complete your mission better, which means... providing my assistance for any of your actions."

"Whether you want to save everyone or destroy everyone, I will not comment on you within the limits permitted by the Administration."

Then, x09 changed the subject: "As for the score? You are just my host, so you should always be a perfect score in my eyes."

Ruan Qing'an froze as she chewed her gum. After a long while, she finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, her leaden eyes filled with amusement: "You're very good with words, x09."

x09 did not answer, but a low, husky laugh, as elegant as a cello, echoed in Ruan Qing'an's mind.

Just as Ruan Qing'an and his underlings were about to leave, a voice suddenly called out to him.

"Sister Ruan!"

"Lu Ke?"

Ruan Qing'an was taken aback and turned to look at the school gate. Lu Ke was running quickly toward her.

Lu Ke had excellent grades and should have left long ago, but Ruan Qing'an didn't expect that he would wait here after leaving the examination room and walking out of the school gate until Ruan Qing'an came out.

The henchmen following behind Ruan Qingan exchanged bewildered glances, but after realizing what was happening, they quickly stepped in front of him.

"Hey, Lu Ke, what do you want to do?!"

"Alright, everyone move aside. What can he do with that little body of his?"

Ruan Qing'an, who was being protected at the back, couldn't help but complain, and then slapped the back of the head of the underling in front of him: "Move aside, go away."

Although he was being shunned, the younger brother just chuckled and scratched his head, then pushed the others around him away, leaving only Ruan Qing'an and Lu Ke behind.

The two of them arrived at the edge of the alley, where few people passed by, making it exceptionally quiet.

Ruan Qing'an leaned casually against the wall, looked up at Lu Ke and asked, "What's up? Did you need something? How did the exam go?"

"It should be alright, I guess."

Lu Ke touched his nose, a little embarrassed, and said, "Sister Ruan, I have done as you said, studied hard for the exam, and tried my best to become better."

Before Ruan Qingan could answer, he seemed to have mustered all his courage and said earnestly and loudly, "If, if it were possible..."

"When I receive my acceptance letter from my dream university, could you give me a chance to pursue you?"

Ruan Qing'an, who was chewing gum, stopped. She looked at Lu Ke as if she were a little surprised, but was also burned by the seriousness in the boy's eyes.

Ruan Qing'an's heart stirred slightly, but when she thought that she was only staying here for the mission, she probably wouldn't stay any longer after the mission was completed.

If that's the case, why bother adding unnecessary trouble for others?

Thinking of this, Ruan Qing'an's heart wavered for a moment, but she became firm again. She shook her head and said, "No, I will go abroad. Lu Ke, you don't need to wait for me."

"But I—"

"I'm not going to say anything more. Don't worry, you'll meet someone better."

After saying that, Ruan Qing'an didn't give Lu Ke a chance to struggle. She straightened up, turned around and waved her hand, then strolled away along the alley, and her underlings quickly followed.

Lu Ke originally wanted to chase after her, but seeing Ruan Qing'an's figure gradually receding into the distance, getting further and further away from him, he suddenly felt a strong sense of powerlessness.

Will I really meet someone even better...?

Deep within the alley, amidst the rising and falling footsteps, Ruan Qing'an kept her eyes half-closed, lost in thought.

But x09 seemed to have seen through her momentary wavering and suddenly spoke up: "Host, it is very important not to get too involved in emotions in the mission world."

"You will experience far too many worlds and far too many emotions, host. Do not be moved by such emotions, nor develop any attachment to people, for you will eventually leave."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Qing'an gave a wry smile: "Is no one acceptable?"

x09 spoke slowly and deliberately: "If you don't want to suffer, then please don't indulge yourself."

"Then—x09, are you human?"

"..."

After a brief silence—"No, host."