The bad value system is measuring values.

Chapter 34 Strategy

Gu Jinghe: "Can I ask you a question?"

Qiao Xiao: "Go ahead."

Gu Jinghe: "What's your name?"

Qiao Xiao was taken aback. "Didn't I tell you?"

Gu Jinghe shook his head, looking at her with innocent eyes.

"My name is Qiao Xiao."

"The 'Xiao' in 'Qingliu Huanlv Xiao' (clear stream encircles green bamboo)."

"No, the '筱' in my name is 虬户筱骖 (qiu hu xiǎo cān)."

Of all the possible interpretations, she specifically chose the one that meant "pretending to be profound."

Gu Jinghe: "Do you have a name you'd like to become?"

Qiao Xiao: "Me?" His question was surprising; Qiao Xiao hadn't expected him to ask such a question.

"Just call me Qiao Xiao, I don't really like affectionate nicknames." She coldly ended the conversation.

Gu Jinghe lowered his eyes. "I know, I won't. Thank you for telling me my name, Qiao Xiao."

Qiao Xiao looked at the smile he had finally managed to put on, the sorrowful tears that had been hidden between his brows. His smile was like the morning sun, broken and icy, yet it couldn't hide the radiance it should have, like overflowing starlight. His sparkling eyes were like a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

In an instant, Qiao Xiao was stunned by Gu Jinghe's beauty.

Gu Jinghe keenly noticed the emotional fluctuations in her eyes, and a ripple of joy involuntarily stirred within him. He was overjoyed and immersed in this sudden pleasure.

Gu Jinghe felt both unfamiliar and curious about this sudden feeling. He stared intently at Qiao Xiao, as if he wanted to focus all his attention on her, his posture like that of a student eager for knowledge, filled with awe and longing when facing a wise person.

He silently asked himself, "Teacher, what kind of emotions are these that make me so unable to control myself?"

Qiao Xiao avoided his gaze, "Let's eat."

Gu Jinghe lowered his head dejectedly. "Okay."

He stopped looking at her.

She didn't dare look at him.

System notification: "Gu Jinghe's favorability has increased by 15, exceeding the upper limit. Current favorability is 72. Strategy #4 has appeared. Teleport to the scene?"

Qiao Xiao: "It's rumored that we have too little energy right now, so the more plot points we have, the better."

System: "Should we avoid Strategy One?"

Qiao Xiao: "What would happen if we didn't avoid it?"

System: "Nothing will happen. It's for the sake of the plot. The target can ignore the changes in the host."

In the blink of an eye, Qiao Xiao arrived at a dark corridor. The stairs in the corridor led underground, where the air was thin and reeked of a foul stench.

The system prompted: "The current strategy is too difficult. Do you want to continue?"

Qiao Xiao covered her mouth and nose and answered with difficulty, "Continue."

System: "Unlock target number four: Qin Yan."

Qiao Xiao: "This name..."

The smell in the air was truly beyond her tolerance, and Qiao Xiao tried her best to overcome her discomfort.

Going down, there was a sealed iron gate.

"System, let me through this door."

System: "Automatically deduct two points of energy."

Qiao Xiao's pupils widened in shock.

What came into view was a naked man, his ankles chained together like a caged wild beast. His skin was festering and ulcerated. His weak body lay slumped on the glaring white bed, surrounded by used tools. Upon closer inspection, one could see large and small amounts of filth on the bed.

Qiao Xiao: "He's not...already..."

System: "Yes, host."

Qiao Xiao: "Why didn't you let me win him over sooner?! Why not before all of this happened?!"

System: "Then it's him, host."

Qiao Xiao was angry and in pain; she couldn't believe what had happened to him.