【Ding! Warm reminder: The protagonist’s current Blackening Value: 20%.】
Xun Ji looked at the System Panel with satisfaction. Marriage was truly wonderful—the Blackening Value had dropped faster than he had anticipated. It seemed that after the wedding ended, he needed to find some time to properly say goodbye to Lin Yule.
【Why did the Host do that just now?】 the System asked in confusion.
Earlier in the Rose Garden, when Xun Ji had discarded his School Bully persona and spoken to Lu Zhou purely based on his own intentions, the System had issued a sharp warning as expected.
【OOC Warning! OOC Warning! Please mind your words and actions, Host! Otherwise, OOC Punishment will be triggered!】
“Save it up,” Xun Ji said to the System blaring nonstop in his mind. “From now on, no more reminders for OOC. Accumulate the punishments and redeem them all at once later.”
Before the System could retort, he threatened, “Last time, you merged the punishments without any warning and made me lose three years of task time. I still remember that debt. Don’t tell me you can’t accumulate them!”
System: 【……】
System: 【The Host’s request is reasonable. 500 Points required to apply for delaying OOC Punishment. Confirm payment?】
……He knew the stingy System wouldn’t agree so easily.
Xun Ji: “Pay.”
【Application approved. Current Points: 3141.】
The System looked distressed: 【Delaying the punishment might result in even greater harm to the Host, like last time.】
“That’s a problem for the future.”
It would be after he left Lu Zhou anyway. Even if the punishment was severe by then, it didn’t matter—he was leaving this world regardless. OOC Punishment was always a hassle. Since he had made a promise to Lu Zhou, he couldn’t keep pretending to be the School Bully forever.
Xun Ji wheeled himself to the wedding venue in his wheelchair. Yu Fangbai was being dragged over by Yan Qian, who tugged at his sleeve.
“Young Master Xun, why are you only arriving now? The guests are all waiting,” Yan Qian said, looking around. “Where’s Lu Zhou?”
“He went to change clothes,” Xun Ji replied.
Earlier in the Rose Garden, Lu Zhou had made himself all disheveled again—his pants were covered in dust from kneeling the whole time. Xun Ji hadn’t minded, but Lu Zhou had insisted on changing into a clean, neat outfit.
“Change clothes?” Yu Fangbai sneered coldly. “Making everyone wait for him? He hasn’t even entered the Xun Family yet and he’s already putting on airs. Does that mean we all have to call him Young Master Lu from now on?”
“Who provoked him?” Xun Ji asked Yan Qian. Yu Fangbai’s face looked horribly dark, like he was ready to devour someone.
Yan Qian looked troubled and whispered, “We saw Luo Xunan just now. I barely managed to pull him away.”
No wonder. Xun Ji suddenly understood and quietly instructed, “Keep an eye on him. Don’t let those two run into each other.”
Yan Qian pulled a face. “That might be tough. There aren’t that many people here…”
As they spoke, cheers erupted from the guests’ seats. Everyone looked up into the sky.
Several medium-sized drones laden with balloons and streamers were towing a Giant Photo Frame, flying slowly toward them. In the center of the frame was a photo of Xun Ji and Lu Zhou taken a few days earlier, adorned with flashy wedding blessings.
“So romantic,” Yan Qian said sourly. “Young Master Xun must have put a lot of thought into this for him.”
Although Xun Qian and Lu Zhou had handled the entire wedding, with Xun Ji barely involved, he didn’t contradict Yan Qian.
“Alright, go wait with the guests. Lu Zhou should be here soon,” Xun Ji said. He was about to wheel forward when his hand suddenly paused.
【Host! Host! What happened?! How could this be?!】 the System screeched sharply.
Xun Ji was dumbfounded too. He stared incredulously at the System Panel in his mind. Just moments ago, a System notification had popped up.
【Ding! Warm reminder: The protagonist’s current Blackening Value: 0%.】
【Your Blackening Task progress is slow. Keep up the good work.】
Several minutes earlier.
Inside the Ancient Castle, Lu Zhou finished dressing neatly and pushed open the door.
He had just washed his face and looked much more spirited, though his steps were still a bit unsteady. The words Xun Ji had said in the Rose Garden kept echoing in his ears, like a dream too beautiful to be real.
Lu Zhou rubbed the ring on his finger, as if only that could give him a moment of peace.
“Lu Zhou?” Someone called from behind.
Lu Zhou turned around and greeted politely, “Principal Kong, hello.”
Kong Jing smiled warmly. “It’s been three years. I never thought we’d meet again at your wedding.”
When his mother was still alive, Lu Zhou had heard about this principal from her and knew he had been able to attend Yaoxing Academy thanks to her. Three years ago, after he was expelled for participating in the Hunting Shadow Game, Principal Kong had contacted him first and helped arrange his transfer. She was his mother’s friend and someone who had genuinely helped him.
Lu Zhou bowed slightly to her. “Three years ago, I let down your kindness. I’m truly sorry. Thank you for your help. If there’s ever anything I can do for you in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Kong Jing’s eyes filled with affection. “You’ve always been a smart and strong child. Your mother would be so happy to see you like this now.”
She seemed to remember something and reached into her handbag.