Chapter 24: Chapter Morning arrived inside the Xi Manor in a way that felt unusually calm compared to the chaos of the previous night.
Inside the newly assigned chamber of Xi Wenzhe’s residence, Su Yueqing slowly stirred as consciousness returned to her.
Her body still wrapped loosely in soft blankets that smelled faintly of sandalwood and expensive fabric, while her hair remained slightly messy from sleep, scattered across the pillow in an unbothered, almost lazy disorder that made it clear she had no intention of becoming fully awake anytime soon.
Then—
Beep. Beep. Beep.
A sharp system sound echoed directly inside her mind.
[Good morning, Host.]
Su Yueqing did not move.
She only shifted slightly under the blanket, as if trying to escape reality itself.
"...It is too early," she muttered faintly.
The system ignored her complaint.
[Daily status update initiating.]
[Current schedule for Host:]
[Morning: Breakfast with the Xi Family.]
[Midday: Formal introduction to the residence and household recognition.]
[Afternoon: Tea banquet with noble ladies.]
[Evening: Family dinner with the Xi household.]
Silence followed.
Su Yueqing slowly opened one eye.
Then closed it again.
"...I don’t remember applying for employment here," she said flatly.
The system continued regardless.
[Additional update: Favorability points have increased.]
That finally made her pause.
She slowly sat up.
"...What?"
[Multiple Xi family members have registered increased emotional response toward Host.]
[Current cumulative points: significantly above initial baseline.]
[System Favorability Status Panel]
[ Old Madam Xi +20 +5
Xi Jianyu +18 +4
Lin Meiyun. +15 +5
Xi Yunhao +7 +2
Xi Yunchen +8 +2
Xi Lanyin +12 +3
Xi Ronghua +6 +1
Xi Anran +10 +3
Gu Xiang. +2 +1
Gu Zhen +3 +2
Gu Yue +2 +12]
[ TOTAL HOUSEHOLD STATUS: Increasing Stability.]
[ SYSTEM NOTE: Emotional instability still present due.]
[ fire incident, suspicion shifts, and unresolved truth.]
[System evaluation: Host is progressing favorably.]
For a moment, Su Yueqing just stared into space.
Then she spoke very slowly, as though trying to understand a foreign language.
"...Who is liking someone who burnt down an entire residence?"
A pause.
Then she added,
"At least I’m sure they all believe I did it."