Grandpa Zhao lovingly held Qiao Chuchu in his arms: "I always thought you were too shy to speak up, but you're quite reliable when it matters."
Pei Yuan and his brothers approached Old Master Zhao with a wry smile: "Grandpa Zhao, you know Qiao Chuchu has always been clever with her little tricks."
Qiao Chuchu raised her chin proudly: "Big brother wishes he had my wit!"
Pei Yuan snorted.
Old Master Zhao looked pleased: "Seeing you like this puts my mind at ease. But at your age, shouldn't you be dating?"
Qiao Chuchu froze.
The Pei brothers suddenly tensed up.
Pei Yuan chuckled softly: "She's still too young. We don't want her dating yet."
Old Master Zhao was shocked: "Over twenty and not dating? You're more old-fashioned than me, and you're so young!"
Pei Yuan lowered his head with a faint smile: "I just don't trust anyone else with my sister."
Old Master Zhao sighed at his words: "I understand. After your parents passed away, Chuchu became your only emotional support. I know how much you children have always loved Chuchu."
Qiao Chuchu looked at her brothers.
They all had stern expressions, giving her awkward glances without saying more.
She felt troubled too.
When she was little, her brothers doted on her the most. Whenever she got sick, they would be extremely worried and insisted on taking turns caring for her until she recovered.
But after the system's intervention, their once-pure sibling relationship had become what it was today.
Qiao Chuchu lowered her head guiltily.
Suddenly, a cry rang out—
"Look out!!!"
Qiao Chuchu startled, looking up to see a dark shadow rushing toward her, a knife plunging into her forehead!
Qiao Chuchu collapsed!
Her brothers' expressions changed drastically as they rushed to her in panic: "Chuchu!"
"Call an ambulance! Quickly call an ambulance!!"
Pei Yuan stared at her face in shock: "Don't be afraid, Chuchu, the ambulance is coming. Don't fall asleep! Chuchu!! Wake up! Don't sleep!!"
-
"Ah!" Qiao Chuchu screamed as she sat up from the ground, frantically touching her forehead.
Her forehead was empty – no knife was embedded there.
She was dazed, looking around to find herself in a pure white world.
Qiao Chuchu: "..."
Was she dead?
"Yes, you're dead," a small golden ball floated before her: "You were killed by an accidentally thrown knife, dying instantly."
Qiao Chuchu recognized the voice: "Are you the system?"
Golden ball: "Yes."
She burst out in anger: "Were you playing with me? You wouldn't let me jump to my death, but you let me die by a knife, and in front of so many people? You wretched system, you've done nothing but evil!"
But she quickly adjusted: "Whatever, just send me back to my original world. I don't want to waste any more energy, or I might start getting attached."
The system sighed: "Host, you can't go back."
Qiao Chuchu: "?"
System: "To be honest, you weren't in a novel world, but rather one of many parallel universes. The 'novel script' you saw was these people's destiny."
Qiao Chuchu listened in a daze: "Then why did you lie and say it was a novel?"
System nodded: "Describing this destiny as a novel helps dimensional travelers like you understand faster and more conveniently. Besides, Xia Xuechun and Ji Yanchuan are indeed the protagonists of these destinies, with their own halos. Calling them novel protagonists is actually quite accurate."
Qiao Chuchu: "...Then why can't I go back?"
System helplessly: "Because you've been registered as a citizen of this world, and the destinies of everyone involved have become unknown, no longer requiring our system's intervention. I can't stay bound to you anymore."
Qiao Chuchu was shocked: "So- so I died for nothing?"
"No," the system said: "You can't return to your original world due to our system's judgment error. We'll give you ten chances to revive at the time before your death, whether it's minutes or hours before, to save your own life."
Qiao Chuchu grew more confused: "If you say I can't return to my original world, then I won't commit suicide. Why do I need to save my own destiny?"
System: "Because according to our agreed 'script,' you're already dead, host."
Qiao Chuchu felt like she'd been plunged into ice!
The system's voice gradually became deep: "Although the destinies of all characters in the 'script' have begun to change, the story still follows its initial setting. That's why I gave you ten revival chances – you can change your destiny."
Before Qiao Chuchu could say more, she felt her body floating up, pushed forward by a gust of wind!
The system's voice echoed in her mind: [You're both inside and outside the script. If you survive until the grand finale, the death buff on you will disappear.]
[Take care, host.]
Qiao Chuchu gasped, stumbling as she found herself standing beside Old Master Zhao.
Old Master Zhao looked at her puzzled: "What's wrong, Chuchu?"
Qiao Chuchu was completely dazed, seeing the number 10 before her eyes.
10 slowly changed to 9.
Indicating she had nine lives left.
Qiao Chuchu looked around.
She was back to when she was chatting with Old Master Zhao.
Pei Yuan and her brothers were looking at her curiously, not yet showing signs of grief.
Lin Qing stared at her with interest: "Could it be that you're embarrassed because Grandpa Zhao mentioned dating?"
The guests around them chuckled.
Qiao Chuchu searched the surroundings, her gaze settling on a little boy.
The boy was playing recklessly with a sharp dagger, showing off to a little girl: "Cool, right?"
The girl frowned: "How could you bring a knife in here? You'll get scolded by your parents."
The boy dismissed her concerns: "What's wrong with bringing a knife? It's not like it'll hurt anyone. Try and take it if you can!"
He held the knife above his head, running toward Qiao Chuchu's direction, teasing the girl: "Come on, come on!"
Suddenly, the boy tripped, and the dagger flew toward Qiao Chuchu!
Someone screamed: "Look out!!!"
Qiao Chuchu pushed Old Master Zhao aside and caught the dagger with her hand!
The crowd gasped!
Qiao Chuchu gripped the knife tightly, blood dripping from her palm.
She couldn't feel the pain, only an endless sense of relief spreading through her limbs, warming her entire body.
She... survived.
Everyone around was stunned.
Aliali: 6748ac5ec4f3f33ac47c6ad8
Some adults reacted and went after the boy: "How could you bring a knife here? You almost killed someone!"
The boy, realizing his mistake, got up and ran away!
Many people gathered around, exclaiming: "Ah! Miss Qiao is bleeding so much!"
Qiao Chuchu stared at the knife in her hand, still shaken.
Auntie Zhao stood nearby, stunned: "You saved my father, Chuchu."
Qiao Chuchu froze, meeting Auntie Zhao's excited expression: "That dagger was clearly aimed at my father. If it weren't for you, he would have been injured. You saved his life!"
Qiao Chuchu: "No, I didn't—"
Old Master Zhao grabbed her shoulders, overwhelmed with gratitude: "Say no more, child. This old man understands everything. Quick, go get your wound bandaged!"
Old Master Zhao instructed his son: "Go prepare a thank-you gift for Chuchu!"
His son responded: "Yes!"