Chapter 8 My assassination funds are back!
The next morning, Yun Zhan woke up with a sore back and aching muscles. The hard bed made him feel uncomfortable all over. He grimaced and stretched his limbs while habitually cursing this damn transmigration in his mind.
Just then, his fingers accidentally touched a cold, hard object on the pillow.
"Huh?" He picked it up in confusion and his eyes widened instantly!
It's his jade pendant! The one he reluctantly traded for the chicken yesterday!
The jade pendant lay intact in his palm, gleaming with a warm luster in the morning light streaming through the broken window.
Yun Zhan sat up abruptly, examining the jade pendant from all angles, as if afraid he was dreaming. After confirming it was genuine, he clutched the pendant tightly to his chest, his lips trembling with excitement.
"It's back... my little money... oh no, my family heirloom is back!" He almost cried tears of joy. This was crucial funding for his future escape plan! The feeling of losing it and then finding it again was even happier than finding money on the street!
[Host, please mind your image. It's just a jade pendant, look at your pathetic self.] System Xiao Qi's cold electronic voice rang out at the opportune moment, carrying obvious disdain.
"You know nothing!" Yun Zhan immediately retorted, rolling his eyes at the system in his mind. "This is called strategic reserves! It's the foundation for my survival in this strange world! Do you think everyone is like you, a string of code that doesn't eat, drink, or spend money?"
[This system truly has no need for such mundane things. However, for the host, as an emperor, to value gold and silver so much is truly beneath his dignity. Tyrant Points +1.]
"You tyrant my foot! I'm a fallen phoenix, worse than a chicken! No, I came here to assassinate the phoenix..." Yun Zhan muttered, carefully putting the jade pendant back into the closest place in his bosom, and patting it to make sure it was safe.
His "overjoyed and almost tearful" state was witnessed by Yan Linye, who was passing by outside the window.
Yan Linye had gotten up early on purpose to see if Yun Zhan had woken up. At this moment, he saw the boy clutching the jade pendant tightly, looking at it with such preciousness as if he had found the most important treasure in the world, and the softest part of his heart was gently touched.
Sure enough, this jade pendant held great significance for him. Seeing his excitement, he must be grateful that I had redeemed this "family heirloom" for him.
An indescribable sense of satisfaction and joy filled Yan Linye's chest. He felt he had done the right thing; seeing Yun Zhan so happy made him feel even better than winning a battle. A smile unconsciously crept onto his lips, and even his steps became lighter, as if he could plow two more miles of land today!
Yun Zhan was completely unaware that there was an overthinking "creditor" outside the window. He carefully put away the jade pendant, got up in a great mood, and even the steamed buns he ate today didn't seem so hard anymore.
Since the "start-up capital" has unexpectedly returned, and Yun Zhan has not yet come up with a new, reliable, and cheap "assassination" plan, he decides to lie low for now and take the opportunity to observe this chosen one up close and look for weaknesses!
So, for the next few days, Yun Zhan started "follower" mode.
Yan Linye went to the fields to check on the growth of the crops, and Yun Zhan followed him eagerly, claiming that he was "experiencing the hardships of people's lives." In reality, he couldn't understand anything about the lush green seedlings and almost stepped into the paddy field, but Yan Linye quickly pulled him back.
Yan Linye was explaining simple principles and words to the children at the charity home. Yun Zhan squatted in the corner and listened. As he listened, he started to doze off, his head nodding little by little. In the end, he almost fell over, and Yan Linye had no choice but to help him straighten up.
Although Yan Linye and his subordinates would avoid discussing matters in the name of core secrets, Yun Zhan would always find some bizarre excuses to sneak in. Yun Zhan would pretend to study the cracks on the wall, but in reality, he would be eavesdropping. Unfortunately, all he heard were things like "the East Village needs to repair the canal" and "the refugees who have come from the West need to be settled," which had nothing to do with his imagined "rebellion plan."
However, after Yun Zhan's repeated visits, Yan Linye not only didn't find him annoying, but also felt that having such a lively and simple-minded little brother by his side made life much more interesting. Although he often ended up making things worse, it was all unintentional and forgivable.
For example, right now, Yan Linye is practicing martial arts in the courtyard, his movements agile and his punches fierce. Yun Zhan sits on a stone stool next to him, munching on a cornbread while watching intently.
Of course, he wasn't admiring the martial arts skills; he was mentally ranting and evaluating them:
"Wow, those moves, that power! If he were a boxer in modern times, he'd definitely win a gold belt!"
"Oh no, my fighting power has increased again! Damn that 'perfect tonic soup'!"
"System, if I rush over and kick him now, would that count as an assassination attempt? How many points would I get?"
[Host, I advise you not to court death. Calculations show your chances of successfully rushing through are less than one in ten thousand, and your chances of survival are less than one in a thousand. This system doesn't want to find a new host so quickly.]
"Tch, boring!"
After Yan Linye finished practicing a set of punches, he calmed down, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. He turned his head and saw Yun Zhan sitting there, eating a cornbread while staring at him... in a daze? His eyes were fixed on him, filled with a complex mix of emotions that Yan Linye couldn't understand (actually a mixture of jealousy, scheming, and sarcasm).
Sunlight shone on the boy's fair face, his cheeks bulging from being stuffed with food, making him look like a little hamster stealing a bite. Yan Linye found it both amusing and endearing.
He walked over and casually wiped the crumbs from Yun Zhan's mouth with his sleeve, his voice gentle and smiling: "What are you looking at? So engrossed?"
"Huh?" Yun Zhan snapped back to reality, feeling the touch of Yan Linye's fingertips unintentionally brushing against his cheek, and the overwhelming male hormones that were too close, carrying the scent of sweat and sunshine. His face flushed red instantly, and his heart skipped a beat.
"No... I didn't see anything!" He jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, stammering, "I... I'll go see if lunch is ready!" After saying that, he ran away without looking back, his back view looking like he was fleeing in panic.
Yan Linye stared blankly at Yun Zhan's hastily running away, then chuckled and shook his head. This Brother Yun Zhan is really strange; what's there to be shy about when we're both men? (Yun Zhan: I'm not shy! I'm just feeling guilty and scared by you!)
He raised his hand and looked at the fingers that had just wiped Yun Zhan's mouth. The delicate, warm touch seemed to linger on his fingertips, and a strange ripple stirred in his heart that he himself had not noticed.
Yun Zhan, who had run far away, leaned against the wall, panting heavily. He touched his still-burning cheeks and screamed inwardly, "System! Did he just touch my face?! Is this considered sexual harassment?! Can you deduct his luck points?!"
[…Host, the target's behavior is classified as friendly interaction and cannot be penalized with deducting luck points, especially since this system has no authority to deduct their luck points. It is recommended that you focus on your core mission.]
"Focus my ass! His level is too high! I almost got captured!" Yun Zhan said, filled with grief and indignation.
One person thinks the other is innocent, cute, and easily embarrassed, while the other thinks the other is sophisticated and full of tricks. This bizarre "sweet" daily life continues to unfold chaotically amidst this huge cognitive bias.
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