A System’s Secrets and a Ghost’s Old Desires

“So that’s how it is…”

Fu Ziqing walked slowly beside Ming Zhong. Hearing his words, she didn’t press him about his childhood. Instead, she asked, “You mentioned earlier that this started recently. So, have any strange things happened to you lately?”

Ming Zhong maintained his steady pace, a peculiar expression on his face. “You said I had a lump in my head. Well, you know what? I genuinely suspect there’s something strange going on in my brain.”

“Oh?”

“For the past half-month, I’ve consistently heard a voice in my head around three in the morning…”

Ming Zhong recalled the sound, glancing at Fu Ziqing. He made sure to add, “I can’t tell if it’s male or female.”

“Oh.”

Fu Ziqing responded nonchalantly, her focus clearly elsewhere.

“What does that voice say?” she asked, tilting her head.

“The voice says something about detecting an ‘anomalous field fluctuation,’ then it starts to analyze it. Once it’s done, it generates these ‘timed missions’ for me, complete with descriptions, rewards, and difficulty levels. After that, it just keeps repeating, ‘Do you accept the mission?’”

A vexed expression crossed Ming Zhong’s face as he complained, “It’s like a debt collector, incessant and relentless, making it impossible for me to sleep properly.

Anyway, it was around the time this voice started appearing that I began seeing strange things around school.”

Fu Ziqing’s eyes were wide and round, her small mouth slightly agape, a look of astonishment on her face.

Seeing her reaction, Ming Zhong grew a little nervous. He quickly clarified, “I wasn’t saying Senior Sister is a strange thing. Senior Sister isn’t… uh… I mean, Senior Sister is different… right, a special ghost… no, that’s not quite it. I actually think Senior Sister is more like a person…”

The more he spoke, the more flustered Ming Zhong became.

Fu Ziqing suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha.”

“You’re a bit silly,” Fu Ziqing chuckled softly, making a motion as if to poke Ming Zhong’s head.

“Thank you.”

Ming Zhong’s panic subsided, and he grinned.

“Hehehe…”

Suddenly, Fu Ziqing floated in front of Ming Zhong, drifting backward as she stared at him with curious eyes.

Ming Zhong continued his slow advance, the ghost and the human facing each other, maintaining a distance of about a meter.

He instinctively warned, “Senior Sister, watch your back.”

Fu Ziqing smiled. “Thank you. You should watch your step, don’t just stare at me, okay?”

“Mm…”

Ming Zhong lowered his head slightly.

Fu Ziqing retreated step by step, her gaze fixed on Ming Zhong, causing his head to sink lower and lower.

“Do you read novels?” Fu Ziqing suddenly asked. Before Ming Zhong could reply, she added, “Web novels.”

“Those things take a lot of time, don’t they?”

Ming Zhong looked up, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He couldn’t fathom why Senior Sister would suddenly ask about this.

He was quite diligent in his studies; his few leisure activities mostly involved binging anime with Wang Fatty.

“I see…”

Though Ming Zhong hadn’t directly answered, Fu Ziqing knew he definitely hadn’t read any. She sighed, “What a studious and good child.”

No wonder this young man hadn’t realized what an incredibly rare opportunity had fallen upon him.

Fu Ziqing knew that “System-style” web novels in this world had already begun to take shape about seven years ago.

Back then, Huai Xiang Yuan hadn’t been sealed. She had even discovered girls secretly reading “System-style” quick transmigration novels on their phones under their blankets late at night.

Bored, she had watched alongside the girl for a while. However, she had no interest in the BL novels the girl was reading. So, while the girl was in class during the day, Fu Ziqing would “borrow” the phone hidden in her closet and surf the internet daily.

It was the era of transition from 2G to 3G internet, and the mobile video industry was just beginning. Therefore, Fu Ziqing mainly spent her time reading novels online, browsing forums, and occasionally getting into arguments with people.

It was a remarkably joyful and carefree period, so much so that she even forgot to scare people for fun.

She still remembered avidly following a hugely popular male-oriented “System-style” novel back then. It told the story of a high school student from a poor family, with an ordinary appearance and bad grades, looked down upon by teachers, and despite his gentle and kind nature, often bullied by classmates.

One day, he saved a drowning alien, who then implanted a system in him. From then on, empowered by the system’s enhancements, the protagonist mastered all sorts of incredible skills. With a cold smirk, he’d relentlessly slap down various villains, and with a mere tremor of his imposing physique, beauties would flock into his arms.

She had been so bored back then that she devoured such novels with relish, reading for entire days. Consequently, the girl would wonder every night why her phone’s battery was always so low.

Recalling these memories, Fu Ziqing’s eyes suddenly lit up.

Five years!

She hadn’t touched a phone in five years!

Though she had seen the little fatty playing on his phone last night, Fu Ziqing had been caught up in the joy of her freedom and the fact that someone could finally see and hear her. Compared to that, a phone seemed less important.

But now…

“Ming Zhong, Ming Zhong! Where’s your phone?”

She looked at Ming Zhong with an eager expression.

“My phone? It’s in the dorm room,” Ming Zhong replied.

Then he asked, “Can Senior Sister use a phone?”

“Of course!”

Fu Ziqing tossed her head. With her ability to manipulate objects, using a phone would be far more convenient and quicker than merely using two hands.

“Quick, quick, quick! Let’s head back to the dorm room!”

Fu Ziqing urged, floating backward for a short distance before turning around. She had been to Ming Zhong’s dorm room last night and remembered the way, so she led the way with light steps.

“Let’s…”

Ming Zhong repeated the word, looking somewhat dazed, before finally breaking into a smile and quickly following her.

Driven by Fu Ziqing’s eagerness, they reached the dormitory building in just a few minutes.

Fu Ziqing floated into the dorm building first, with Ming Zhong close behind.

In the ground floor lobby, as Ming Zhong passed the dorm supervisor’s window, he instinctively glanced inside.

Aunt Zhang sat at the table inside the window, eating her meal. Beside her, a little girl named Linlin was also engrossed in her food, holding a small bowl.

As if sensing Ming Zhong’s gaze, the little girl suddenly looked up, revealing an innocent smile.

“Good afternoon, Big Brother!”

“Hello, Linlin!”

Ming Zhong responded with a smile.

Aunt Zhang also looked up and smiled at Ming Zhong, then gently patted Linlin’s head before returning to her meal.

Fu Ziqing also noticed the scene. She drifted to Ming Zhong’s side, a nostalgic and gentle smile gracing her lips.

“So polite, how adorable!”

Ming Zhong secretly cast a glance at Fu Ziqing. Seeing her gentle, absorbed expression, he couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.

Does Senior Sister like children…? he mused inwardly.

At that moment, Linlin’s gaze actually fell upon Fu Ziqing’s face.

It was only for a brief instant before she waved her small hand at Ming Zhong, her voice sweet and clear.

“Goodbye, Big Brother!”

“Mm, goodbye, Linlin!”

Ming Zhong waved back with a smile, then turned to leave.

He didn’t notice Linlin’s subtle action.

Fu Ziqing, trailing behind Ming Zhong, had already subtly furrowed her brow.

Though it had been only a fleeting moment, she had felt it.

Fu Ziqing turned her head, looking back towards the dorm supervisor’s window.

The little girl, still engrossed in her meal beside her mother, was diligently finishing the food in her small bowl.

Was it a trick of the light?

No!

It was definitely not a trick of the light!

Fu Ziqing was certain: that little girl had absolutely seen her!

As Ming Zhong ascended the stairs, Fu Ziqing remained silent for a moment before suddenly asking, “Isn’t she in school?”

“Senior Sister probably doesn’t know, does she? Chuanbei Middle School opened an affiliated primary school the year before last, right next to Chuanbei Middle School,” Ming Zhong whispered in response.

The rest of the way was quiet.

They arrived at Ming Zhong’s dorm room door. Just as Ming Zhong was about to push it open, Fu Ziqing spoke from behind him.

“She saw me.”

Ming Zhong’s hand on the door paused. He turned to look at Fu Ziqing.

“Really?”

Yet, his expression showed little surprise.

Fu Ziqing nodded.

“You don’t seem surprised?” Fu Ziqing questioned, observing Ming Zhong’s reaction.

Ming Zhong leaned closer to Fu Ziqing, lowering his voice. “Linlin is closely connected to the so-called missions from the voice in my head.”

“What kind of missions exactly?”

Fu Ziqing’s interest was piqued.

“It’s…”

Just as Ming Zhong was about to speak, the dorm room door suddenly swung open.

“Oh! Ming Zhong’s back.”

The lanky Wu Daqing emerged from the room, carrying an empty cup of instant noodles.

“Mm.”

Ming Zhong, unable to continue their conversation, simply nodded. Seeing Wu Daqing’s retreating back as he went to dispose of the noodle cup, Ming Zhong kindly reminded him, “Daqing, you really should eat fewer instant noodles.”

Wu Daqing looked back and laughed.

“Okay! Okay!”

“Sigh…”

Ming Zhong let out a sigh.

“He always agrees so readily, but then he eats instant noodles almost every single meal,” he muttered softly.

“We all suspect he’s ‘addicted to instant noodles.’”

It was clear he was genuinely worried that his dormmate’s health would suffer from a prolonged diet of instant noodles.

“It’s his own business. Your concern is enough; meddling too much might just strain your relationship,” Fu Ziqing consoled him.

Ming Zhong nodded.

He understood this well. There had been times before when he purposely didn’t bring instant noodles back for Wu Daqing, substituting them with bread instead. Yet, Wu Daqing would still go out and buy instant noodles himself, leaving everyone feeling rather disheartened.

Once inside the dorm room, Fu Ziqing no longer seemed concerned with the mission details. Instead, she kept winking at Ming Zhong.

Ming Zhong understood her meaning and immediately went to retrieve his phone from the wardrobe with a smile.

The moment Ming Zhong pulled out his phone, Fu Ziqing instantly bristled.

“This is your phone?!”

She pointed at the silver flip phone in Ming Zhong’s hand, her eyes practically bugging out of her head.

“Where did you pick up this antique, a flea market?”

Seeing Ming Zhong open his mouth but remain silent, Fu Ziqing pressed on.

“Uh…”

Ming Zhong’s hand, holding the phone, stiffened slightly, and his expression turned blank.

“Can’t you bear to get a better phone?” Fu Ziqing asked, frowning as she poked Ming Zhong’s dazed shoulder through the air.

“For me, being able to make calls is enough…” Ming Zhong murmured softly. Realizing Senior Sister had lost interest in his antique phone, he quietly put it back into the wardrobe.

“Never mind. I’ll figure out a way to buy one myself later.”

Fu Ziqing’s enthusiasm waned. This guy was practically an ‘old relic’ himself, truly uninteresting.

“Ming Zhong, wanna watch some anime?” Wang Fatty suddenly called out from over there.

“No, I have a math test this afternoon,” Ming Zhong replied.

Then, unexpectedly, he picked up a stool and moved over.

Fu Ziqing had already floated over ahead of him!

“Didn’t you say you weren’t watching?” Wang Fatty asked, looking at Ming Zhong strangely.

Ming Zhong said calmly, “I suddenly realized that since it’s a math test, watching a bit won’t hurt.”

“Heh heh!”

Wang Fatty gritted his teeth and sneered. He knew Ming Zhong was good at math, but the guy’s pretense was truly irritating.

Ignoring Wang Fatty, Ming Zhong tapped the play button on the phone screen.

The passionate and exciting opening theme blared.

Ming Zhong secretly glanced at Fu Ziqing.

Fu Ziqing happened to look at him at the same time, and Ming Zhong immediately smiled.

“What are you grinning stupidly about?” Wang Fatty asked.

“Nothing.”

Ming Zhong gazed at the phone screen, yet his mind was clearly elsewhere.

He was thinking that it was indeed time to get a new phone.