Chapter Thirteen: Because I'm More Awesome Than You (Please Favorite and Keep Reading)

“Who are you?” Gu Sihui looked at him in bewilderment.

“You don’t recognize me?” The young man with orange hair widened his eyes, his amber gaze filled with disbelief.

He grabbed Zhu Musheng beside him and pointed at him, asking, “What about him? Don’t you know him either?”

“No, I don’t know either of you,” Gu Sihui replied unhappily, mumbling softly, “Who do you think you are? Mao Zedong? Knowing everyone? So what if you’re handsome?”

“Alright, Ayu,” Zhu Musheng pressed the back of Luan Yingyu’s neck and whispered, “Stop causing trouble.”

Luan Yingyu, having his neck held firmly, slumped slightly but kept talking, “Zhu Musheng, let go of me! Hmph! I know! You must be annoyed and ashamed because I don’t recognize you, right?”

Bai Nanyan paused for a moment.

She had thought Zhu Musheng looked familiar earlier but couldn’t quite place him.

Only when Luan Yingyu called out his name did she suddenly remember why this golden-haired youth seemed so familiar.

Ten years ago, during the rampage of the mutated beasts, it was Zhu Musheng who emerged suddenly, blocking the beast tide and saving the entire Krolaha Empire.

However, it was said that he suffered severe contamination during that battle, barely able to maintain his human form, nearly devolving into a mutated beast, and had been recuperating at Cui Wenmin’s residence ever since.

Zhu Musheng rarely appeared, and gradually, the name “Zhu Musheng” was forgotten.

It was him!

Bai Nanyan’s heart raced with excitement because Zhu Musheng was the sixth beast-husband she had chosen for herself.

She knew exactly how to cure the contamination afflicting him, and only she could rescue him from his suffering.

In the story, Zhu Musheng was attracted to her and became her loyal devoted follower.

Bai Nanyan gazed obsessively at Zhu Musheng’s handsome face, fantasizing about how he would be infatuated with her, mad for her, and fiercely protective at her side, her excitement uncontrollable.

“System, immediately set Zhu Musheng as a new target for pursuit!” Bai Nanyan commanded.

“Are you sure you want to do that? If...” the system hesitated.

“Absolutely, definitely yes!” Bai Nanyan interrupted impatiently.

The system sighed helplessly: “Target Zhu Musheng successfully bound. Currently, his favorability towards you is zero.”

After carefully examining the mutated beast’s corpse, Zhu Musheng glanced subtly in Bai Nanyan’s direction.

“You don’t seem to be a candidate for this exam,” he said slowly, his tone carrying undeniable authority.

No wonder he was the lone wolf who had fought through the beast tide alone. Bai Nanyan felt her soul tremble under his cold gaze.

She stiffened for a moment, almost revealing the system’s existence.

But at the critical moment, the system helped her regain some composure, and Bai Nanyan gathered herself and replied, “I—I don’t know. After finishing the level-three exam, I wanted to leave directly, but somehow I ended up here.”

“The mutated beasts went mad. Why didn’t you run away? Why did you approach them instead?” Zhu Musheng pressed further.

Bai Nanyan looked pitifully at Dai Yeliu and whispered, “I wanted to run, but when I saw Yeliu in danger, my first reaction was to save her.”

“Just you? Why do you think you can handle a frenzied mutated beast?” Zhu Musheng tightened the questioning.

“I... I...” Bai Nanyan couldn’t explain and her eyes slowly reddened.

“Oh come on, Old Mu, why be so harsh?” Luan Yingyu stepped in to smooth things over. “Maybe she’s just kind-hearted, eager to help. Sometimes that’s just how people act—overwhelmed by passion, hard to explain. When you see a friend in danger, even if you’re not capable, you still want to rush in and try, right?”

“Is that so?” Dai Yeliu looked at Bai Nanyan, the coldness in her eyes fading, replaced by a hint of warmth.

Bai Nanyan nodded vigorously, grateful for Luan Yingyu’s intervention.

Cui Wenmin approached after inspecting the exam area. Zhu Musheng noticed and fell silent.

“Congratulations,” Cui Wenmin said without joining the argument, a trace of admiration in his calm expression. “You truly are a prodigy. You’re the only one to pass this exam. I happen to need an assistant. Would you be interested in working by my side?”

Dai Yeliu suddenly looked up, her gaze complex as it landed on Gu Sihui.

[Congratulations, host. Dai Yeliu’s favorability towards you has increased by 5.] The system’s voice rang out. Bai Nanyan secretly rejoiced: [Does that mean the punishment is lifted?]

“Yes.” The system replied, then added, “However, the current favorability is still low. If it grows too slowly, it might be classified as a passive task. Passive tasks still have a chance to trigger punishment.”

Bai Nanyan understood, then suddenly remembered something.

“System, are you sure Gu Sihui doesn’t have another system?” Bai Nanyan asked suspiciously. “Without external help, how could such a useless person pass the level-five pharmacist certification? No, you must help me investigate. I want to know exactly what’s going on with that wretch!”

Bai Nanyan glared at Gu Sihui with anger bubbling like venom.

She had come intending to see Gu Sihui humiliated, but now she was witnessing her become a level-five pharmacist?!

Bai Nanyan simply could not accept that someone she had always trampled underfoot could turn things around.

Her resentment toward Gu Sihui churned maliciously within her.

Gu Sihui, clutching her newly obtained level-five pharmacist certificate tightly, showed no surprise at the invitation.

Given her previous status and mental state, it was impossible she had any contact with an influential figure like Cui Wenmin, nor could she have left any impression on him.

Therefore, Gu Sihui had no idea how rare and precious Cui Wenmin’s invitation truly was.

She instead felt underestimated.

If level-five pharmacist was the highest rank here, and she had passed the exam, wasn’t she a future master in the making? Why would she be reduced to a mere assistant?

Gu Sihui immediately waved her hand disdainfully. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

At these words, Dai Yeliu’s gaze grew even more complicated.

Cui Wenmin was also slightly surprised.

He rarely invited people proactively, and on the few occasions he did, those invited either cried tears of joy or went mad with excitement.

He had seen all sorts of chaotic scenes.

Yet this was the first time someone had refused him.

Cui Wenmin was not one to force others, but this time, his curiosity was piqued.

After a moment’s hesitation, he tentatively asked, “May I know why you refuse?”

Gu Sihui glanced at him, her gaze lingering for a moment on his fingertips, then answered slowly and deliberately, “Because I...” She pointed at herself, then lightly tapped Cui Wenmin as if brushing over him, finishing the sentence with a slow drawl, “...am better than you.”