Can you just stay away from my brother? If you're desperate for a man, I can pay to get you a few.
Sang Ning fully snapped this time and threw her phone across the room. She took back what she said earlier.
Quitting the industry, it has to happen!
Two million Weibo followers, all of them trolls. What's the point of playing this game? She didn't want to wake up every day just to outwit and battle haters.
As she was fuming, the thrown phone started ringing at the worst possible time. Sang Ning picked it up; it was her agent.
"Sis, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that 'Encounter in Countryside' sent over an invitation for you. The bad news is that you have to bring a family member to the recording."
'Encounter in Countryside'?
Wasn't the original owner of this body killed while filming this show?
She had tried to push Chu Xi off a cliff during a blind spot on camera, but Chu Xi sidestepped slightly, and due to exerting too much force, she ended up throwing herself off the cliff instead. Dead, just like that.
The thought of it was such bad luck that Sang Ning immediately refused her agent: "Thanks for the invite, but I've already decided to quit the industry."
Not giving the agent a chance to lecture her, Sang Ning hung up and shut her phone off.
And then, the icy mechanical voice reverberated in her mind.
"Host, you've already been bound to the Top Star Development System. It's too late to quit now."
…
Sang Ning was speechless but didn't take the System's words seriously.
"Oh? I've spoken publicly about quitting. Whatever you're saying now is too late."
The ignored System grew a little agitated: "Host, I advise you to take your words back. Your current Health Point is at 0; you need to focus on completing tasks seriously in order to survive in this world."
Sang Ning rolled over: "Whatever. I've already died once. I know how it goes. I don't mind dying again anyway."
"Oh, really?" The System's voice turned eerie. "The lower your Health Point, the worse your luck. You could face an accidental death at any time. The methods of dying are diverse—and very painful."
"Hold on, do you know how I died in my previous life?"
"Fell off a cliff and smashed into pieces."
"And that wasn't painful enough?"
"You think that scares me?"
Sang Ning didn't take the System's words seriously at all.
"Is that so? Then allow me to let the Host experience the most 'peaceful' way to die."
The moment the words left the System, Sang Ning felt a scorching hot sensation surge through her body, as though her internal organs were being roasted by a raging fire. Beads of cold sweat broke out on her forehead, but the pain was so excruciating she couldn't even make a sound.
Sang Ning gritted her teeth in silence, and the System began to panic—did it just encounter a tough nut to crack?
If she'd rather endure pain and die than accept the tasks, the System itself might face destruction!
Unable to win her over with brute force, the System decided to switch tactics, attempting to appeal to her emotions and morals, coaxing her into cooperation.
Just as it was about to speak, Sang Ning's weak, broken voice interrupted it.
"I'll take the task… Since I'm… such a life-loving… hardworking person."
"As they say, better to scrape by alive than die pathetically…"
System: …
Well, okay then. It had clearly overestimated Sang Ning!
Also, is that really how the saying goes?
The System didn't waste more time. After a brief moment of silent indignation, it began explaining the task rules to Sang Ning.
"You can survive in this world once your Health Point reaches 100. To increase your Health Point, you need to accumulate Weibo followers. For every ten million followers gained, you earn 10 Health Points. Gain one hundred million followers within a year, and you reach the 100 Health Points needed to stay alive.
If you fail to meet the follower growth goal within a year, all the Health Points you've earned will be cleared, and you'll completely disappear from this world."
"Damn it!" Sang Ning cursed furiously, "You bastard! Are you trying to keep me alive, or kill me off?"
If she remembered correctly, even the female lead Chu Xi had only amassed 90 million Weibo followers, and that was over the span of nearly three years.
Chu Xi ranked third in follower count. The second place belonged to the original novel's top male star, who had 110 million followers.
Ranked first was some big-shot mogul with 150 million followers. The novel barely mentioned him, only describing him as China's apex business tycoon with global influence, capable of shaking up the world economy with a few casual words. He was everyone's idol, a figure so powerful he could effortlessly gain over a hundred million followers without posting a single Weibo update.
She wasn't some business mogul, nor was she the top male lead. Growing one hundred million followers in a year—was that even a task meant for humans?
The System, however, didn't see anything wrong with it.
"Host, I believe in you. Based on AI analysis, you have the strongest follower-gathering potential out of all Book Traversers. Why else would you have been placed in the entertainment-industry story?"
"Besides, the road to success is always paved with challenges. If you never push yourself, how will you know you're not capable?"
"Get lost!" Sang Ning yelled impatiently.
She really had no patience for this motivational nonsense.
The System, sensing Sang Ning's irritation, decided to leave well enough alone and replied meekly, "Alright, I'll stay quiet for now. Best of luck, Host."
If she wanted to grow her follower count, maintaining exposure was key. Looks like quitting the industry was out of the question.
Unwillingly, Sang Ning powered her phone back on and called her agent: "'Encounter in Countryside,' right? I'll do it."
Her agent sighed quietly to himself; this lady sure was as mercurial as ever. Truly impossible to deal with.
Fearing Sang Ning might change her mind again, he quickly responded: "Sis, the filming starts tomorrow. You should come by today to sign the contract."
"Fine, I'll come now."
Hearing Sang Ning confirm, the agent finally relaxed. Once the contract was signed, maybe she wouldn't dare to back out anymore.
After ending the call, Sang Ning felt something was off.
Filming starts tomorrow, yet the contract would only be signed today. Was the production team seriously invested in having her as a guest?
But whatever, a free opportunity shouldn't be wasted.
She got ready to head out and sign the contract, but as soon as she got up, the sound of chaos erupted from the living room.
"Sang Youming, you've grown bold, haven't you? Using a house fire as an excuse to trick me—you know how good my Mahjong hand was today?"
Hu Zhi was chasing Sang Youming around the living room with a broom while Sang Chuan clapped and cheered from the sidelines.
"Mom, you're truly getting younger by the day. With a hundred-meter sword, I bet you could still wield it!"
Sang Youming was fuming, his beard bristling as he dodged Hu Zhi's attacks, all the while pointing at Sang Chuan and yelling: "You little punk! Feeling itchy, huh? Believe it or not, I'll beat you up!"
Sang Chuan stuck out his tongue, made a goofy face, and exaggeratedly mouthed: "You can't catch me!"
Sang Youming wanted to grab him and thrash him hard, but Hu Zhi was closing in. He raised his hands in surrender, hoping to calm her down.
"Honey, the house fire was fake, but Xiao Ning really is back. She's sleeping in the bedroom now—can you take it easy? What if you wake her up?"
Hu Zhi halted her rampage, tilted her chin slightly, and snorted dismissively.
"Back? Didn't she say she'd never recognize us in this lifetime? How's it possible she returned?"
"Even if she's back, so what? I'm her mother. Does she dare say—"
The word "no" lingered unsaid on her lips, as Hu Zhi's voice suddenly cut off mid-sentence.