Baihe Fan

Chapter 12: A True Directionally-Challenged Person

The reticent and aloof Shen Han maintained her usual calm expression.

She merely raised an eyebrow slightly as she walked into the living room.

“Secretary Zhuang.” Shen Han’s voice called out as she walked closer.

Su Mi, who had been engrossed in her work, looked up and saw Xu Nanqiao and Shen Han together, mirroring Secretary Zhuang’s slight surprise.

Indeed, Shen Han rarely came downstairs at this time.

Could it be… has she had an epiphany? Does she not want Xu Nanqiao to leave?

Su Mi glanced between the two with a subtle, peculiar smile and then flashed a bright grin.

“Sister, Nanqiao, good afternoon. Today’s session ended so quickly. You two must have had a pleasant time together… hmm?”

As she spoke, she had the system display the antagonist’s blackening value, intending to note the fluctuations before and after each reading session.

When she saw the black-and-red number, Su Mi couldn’t help but let her voice waver, barely concealing her surprise.

Why is it 82%?!

The first reading session had dropped the blackening value by 10%. Last night’s value was 87%, so it had only dropped by 5% this time, half as much as before.

If the blackening value increases at a consistent rate, won’t this world be doomed in a few months?

Su Mi felt almost despairing.

She looked up at Xu Nanqiao with eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Xu Nanqiao, a bit flustered by the intense gaze, stammered, “It was… okay, I guess.”

Su Mi then turned to Shen Han.

Shen Han wore an ivory white suit today, with her long black hair casually pinned up. A few strands hung loosely on the left side of her forehead, and a thin, long wooden bead earring dangled from her right ear.

Though she was impeccably dressed, she seemed perpetually under the weather, and her expression was gloomy. One could easily tell she wasn’t in a good mood.

Shen Han raised her eyes at Su Mi’s remark, raising an eyebrow in a half-smile, half-sneer, “What, do you want to read too if it wasn’t enjoyable enough?”

Great, now she’s involving me.

Su Mi, feeling intimidated by Shen Han’s dark, penetrating gaze, shrank back and quickly shook her head.

Shen Han had uncharacteristically followed them downstairs today. Perhaps the reading session wasn’t enjoyable, and she was in a bad mood, wanting to spend more time with Xu Nanqiao to “medicate” her heartache?

In that case, she and Secretary Zhuang would just be third wheels here.

Su Mi had a moment of inspiration.

She tugged on Secretary Zhuang… or so she thought but found she hadn’t caught hold of anything.

Secretary Zhuang had already stood up without her noticing.

Though she didn’t understand why Secretary Zhuang suddenly stood up, Su Mi followed suit.

She tried to naturally shift the conversation, saying, “No need for me to read. I’m nowhere near as good as Nanqiao. Oh! Since you two want to read, I’ve been sitting for a while and feeling a bit stuffy…”

As she spoke, she looked back at Secretary Zhuang with bright eyes, “Secretary Zhuang, you mentioned earlier that you could show me a beautiful sunset here. Now that I have some free time, I’d love to see it. Shall we?”

Secretary Zhuang’s usually stoic face showed a hint of shock.

He opened his mouth, almost blurting out, “I…”

Su Mi, with a sweet smile, grabbed Secretary Zhuang’s sleeve, saying, “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Under the somewhat puzzled gazes of Shen Han and Xu Nanqiao, Su Mi forcibly dragged Secretary Zhuang out of the room.

Once they were outside, Secretary Zhuang subtly freed himself from Su Mi’s grip.

He meticulously smoothed out the wrinkles in his grey suit caused by Su Mi’s tugging.

Secretary Zhuang cautiously said, “Miss Su, I’m merely Miss Shen’s assistant. Please refrain from…”

Su Mi: …

How can you be so unperceptive, aren’t you a personal secretary?

She walked a few steps away from the mansion with Secretary Zhuang before whispering, “Don’t you think my sister is quite special to Nanqiao?”

Secretary Zhuang asked, puzzled, “Special?”

Su Mi nodded, hinting, “Think about it. Isn’t her mood always influenced by Nanqiao? Every time Nanqiao comes over, her mood improves a bit. She doesn’t have any other Omegas around. Do you understand?”

Secretary Zhuang still looked puzzled, “Understand what?”

“…” Su Mi was speechless, saying, “Nothing, just that Nanqiao should be unique to my sister.”

Secretary Zhuang seemed to partially understand but shook his head.

He said, “You can be more confident. I believe you are also unique to Miss Shen.”

Su Mi almost froze in shock.

According to the original plot, if she was the primary sycophant by Shen Han’s side, then Secretary Zhuang was at least the major eunuch in charge.

How can this person have such poor sensitivity? Is his emotional intelligence lower than mine?

He can’t even tell who Shen Han favors and likes.

Su Mi paused and asked, “Don’t you think it’s been a long time since you’ve seen Sister so happy except in front of Nanqiao?”

Say it, that classic butler line from CEO novels!

Secretary Zhuang: “Has Secretary Shen ever been ‘that’ happy?”

This conversation is going nowhere.

Feeling stumped, Su Mi could only sulkily follow Secretary Zhuang towards a corner of Nanyuan.

Nanyuan, built along the mountains, had landscaping akin to a large park. As they walked, they even saw assisted walking bikes that could be scanned and ridden using optical brains.

Compared to regular bicycles, these bikes could connect to optical brains and project maps and other information onto a screen in front of the bike.

Secretary Zhuang explained, “This can only be connected to with authorization. It has detailed maps of Nanyuan, and the sunset viewing spot is here.”

He pointed to a spot on the edge of a green area.

Secretary Zhuang carefully helped Su Mi set up the projection and destination. Just as he was about to prepare his own, his optical brain received a call.

Maybe it was a work matter.

Su Mi, absorbed in exploring the map of Nanyuan, suddenly heard Secretary Zhuang returning with an apologetic tone, “Sorry, Miss Su. I have to head back. An important document has arrived, and I need to sign for it.”

Su Mi: “Then… can I go by myself?”

Secretary Zhuang: “Of course. Just follow the map and the marked route. Nanyuan’s security is excellent. You’ll be safe.”

Once Secretary Zhuang’s figure disappeared around the bend, Su Mi looked around and realized she was now alone.

In early spring, the trees were budding with fresh green leaves, creating layers of greenery against the clear blue sky before sunset.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of plants and flowers.

Su Mi felt quite happy.

Shen Han and Nanqiao were spending time alone together. The blackening value should decrease more by the time she leaves, indicating the mission was progressing steadily.

She could also enjoy a leisurely ride in this beautiful garden.

Humming a tune, Su Mi rode the assisted bike slowly along the mapped path.

The spot Secretary Zhuang marked for sunset viewing was at a fountain square. The guided route was very smart, even projecting a virtual arrow in front of the bike.

Su Mi rode for a while, then suddenly exclaimed.

“System, are you there?” She stopped, stabilizing the bike with one foot on the ground.

System: “^^.”

Su Mi asked, “Can you help me see which way to turn at the upcoming intersection? I feel like I’m getting further away…”

System: “Host, if you’re heading southeast, you should…”

After a brief pause, the system’s characters appeared one by one: “Turn around.”

Su Mi: “…”

She scratched her face and asked, “Really? I thought I went the wrong way.”

System: “Yes, your destination is in the southwest corner of the map, but you’re heading southeast towards the exit of Nanyuan.”

Su Mi nodded, “Makes sense. I just realized that at the downhill corner ahead, you can see the entrance gates of Nanyuan.”

She pointed to the towering iron gates visible above the greenery along the wide asphalt road.

Even a blind person could see that continuing would lead out.

The system and Su Mi fell into silence.

System: “Have you always been directionally challenged?”

Too blunt!

Su Mi: “More or less.”

Since the world’s optical brains could fully take over driving routes, Su Mi had never been exposed.

However, the assisted bike required human pedaling. Following the virtual guide in the winding paths of Nanyuan’s garden, Su Mi lost her way after just a couple of turns.

Nonetheless, Su Mi remained optimistic.

“The sunset is still half an hour away. Even if I miss it, I’ve enjoyed the bike ride today,” Su Mi reassured the system, adding, “Plus, this flaw doesn’t affect the mission. Don’t worry.”

The system responded with a series of pauses, then a smiley face: “Don’t worry, Host. 622 is just a bit surprised.”

Su Mi said, “No one’s perfect.”

As she pedaled, she told the system, “I thought I’d overcome this flaw. Isn’t being directionally challenged a brain cell issue? Since I transmigrated, my brain cells should be the original character’s, so the original character should also be directionally challenged, right?”

Unexpectedly, the system denied it, saying, “No, Host. This body now entirely belongs to you. You can think of it as an exact replica of your original body, so the original cannon fodder wasn’t directionally challenged.”

“And, Host, you’re still going the wrong way,” the system politely reminded her.

Su Mi: “…I’ll change direction.”

She quickly hit the brakes, just as a long black business car approached and stopped beside her.

Su Mi blinked, watching the rear window roll down, revealing the familiar face of the antagonist, Shen Han. Her eyebrows were like flying clouds, her deep eyes resembling a sickly beast.

Their eyes met, and Shen Han didn’t say a word, yet it felt like she had conveyed everything.

Under Shen Han’s steady gaze, Su Mi’s mind went blank.

“…”

Secretary Zhuang was right. Shen Han really had moments of joy?

Feeling embarrassed at being caught, Su Mi instinctively raised her hand and waved like a beckoning cat.

“Sis, Sister?”