"Next time, Host Sister shouldn’t let the female lead escape so easily, nya~!"

Su Qingshan ignored the System Maiden.

*Ding!*

"Corruption points detected for current female lead: 30!"

The System Maiden’s voice suddenly turned bubbly and cheerful.

Su Qingshan’s hand slightly paused while twisting the bottle cap.

"Only my chosen host could be this wicked! Subduing enemies without fighting, making the female lead’s corruption skyrocket from afar—confetti rain~!"

The System Maiden’s obsequious cheers echoed in Su Qingshan’s mind, accompanied by imaginary glitter.

Su Qingshan unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and sighed inwardly.

*She hadn’t done anything. Why did that big sister’s corruption points jump out of nowhere?*

"I don’t know either, nya~! A woman’s heart is unfathomable. Who can guess what the great female lead is thinking~?"

The System Maiden shrugged in the void, tone lighthearted.

"Maybe the female lead was infected by Host Sister’s wicked aura! Corruption points rising across distances—Host Sister is so amazing!"

Su Qingshan: "Call me *brother*."

"Host *Brother* is so amazing!"

The System Maiden switched titles without hesitation.

But Su Qingshan noticed something else.

A black interface floated in her vision, covered in tiny text. The moment she focused, the words snapped into clarity in her mind:

**Name:** Su Qingshan

**Gender:** Female

**Identity:** Villainous Dragon Princess

**Reputation (Passive):** 30

She understood most of it—though "Gender: Female" felt jarringly wrong.

"What’s this Reputation? A passive trait? What does it *do*?"

The System Maiden puffed up proudly. "Why, to attract even *spicier* forces of justice, of course!"

Su Qingshan’s slender fingers tightened around the bottle. Veins stood out on her hand.

*Attract forces of justice? To do what? Annihilate me?*

Her head throbbed. Being a Villainous Dragon Princess was headache enough—now she had *villain reputation* too?

Was washing her hands of evil and becoming a good person really so impossible?

The System Maiden breezed past Su Qingshan’s silent fury.

"Since Host Sister excelled at her task, a special reward awaits!"

*Reward?*

A chill slithered down Su Qingshan’s spine.

"Accelerated growth unlocked! P.S.: Helps our baby Dragon Princess mature into an Empress faster—timeline shortened!"

"P.P.S.: I’m *so* amazing—Host Sister should praise me, nya~?"

Su Qingshan ignored the last line and focused inward.

Nothing happened.

Only the icy drink sloshing coldly in her stomach.

She stood before the floor-length mirror, scrutinizing herself head to toe.

No changes whatsoever.

The System Maiden chuckled mischievously.

"No rush, Host Sister~ This gift will prove its worth soon enough, nya~!"

***

"Disaster! Big trouble!"

A childish voice shrieked outside the door.

Gujiajia jolted upright.

Dawn had already broken—she’d tossed sleepless all night, her mind tangled in turmoil.

She still couldn’t convince herself that the serene girl was truly a malicious Dark Dragon.

But now, it no longer mattered.

She flung the door open. A little girl stood there, face pinched with panic, twin braids bouncing.

"Sect Leader! That big bad person is here!"

Gujiajia’s expression hardened. The image of the serene girl vanished from her thoughts.

Only one person earned the title "big bad person" from the children.

This crisis dwarfed everything. Whether the girl was good or evil was a problem for later. If she didn’t handle *this* threat now, she—and the entire Azure Rainbow Sect—faced annihilation.

Icy water splashed on her face. Gujiajia gasped, clarity cutting through the fog.

Before she could dry off, the sharp *click-clack* of high heels approached.

The little girl flinched, hiding behind Gujiajia and clutching her oversized robe, peering out with wide, fearful eyes.

"Little Gu~ You were away the last two times I visited. Hard to discuss things with just children around. Since you’re here today… let’s talk properly."

The "big bad person’s" voice was honey-sweet, gentle—but Gujiajia’s forced smile trembled. Water droplets clung to her cheeks, making her beautiful face look fragile.

Children sensed danger instinctively. Though the elegant woman seemed warm, the kids of the Azure Rainbow Martial Hall feared her.

Whenever she appeared, the Sect Leader had to pay mountains of money—and the "big bad person" wanted to take them all away!

Little Qiuqiu had overheard everything while hiding under the window during hide-and-seek.

"Understood, Sister Wen. Please wait outside. I need to speak with the children first."

Gujiajia’s voice strained to stay calm.

The woman glanced at the small face peeking from behind Gujiajia’s robe. She smiled warmly and nodded.

Her heels clicked crisply on the stone path as she turned away. Black stockings hugged long legs; a form-fitting cheongsam outlined her mature curves.

Gujiajia crouched, smoothing the little girl’s braids. "Xiao Wu, take everyone to the backyard to play. Sect Leader has business with Auntie Wen. And no more calling her ‘big bad person’—it’s rude, okay?"

Xiao Wu pouted. "Mmm… okay."

"Sect Leader! If… if Auntie Wen bullies you, tell us! We’ll help you!"

Warmth flooded Gujiajia’s chest. She ushered the children to the backyard before heading to the main hall.

Sister Wen sat center stage, legs elegantly crossed, sipping tea with practiced grace.

Gujiajia knew the cup held only boiled water.

"Sister Wen."

Gujiajia fidgeted, fingers twisting her robe’s hem. Anxiety coiled tight in her chest.

"Little Gu, I know it’s hard—a young woman raising so many children alone."

Sister Wen didn’t wait for a reply, laying out her purpose smoothly.

"But the rent is three months overdue. I have children to feed too. You understand that feeling, don’t you?"

Shame burned Gujiajia’s cheeks. Sister Wen, the landlord, had been patient. She’d failed her.

"I… I’ll earn the money. I’m sorry."

Sister Wen’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. "Raising two children strains me. How can one young woman manage so many?"

"Still, Little Gu—you exhaust yourself, and the children don’t truly thrive. A proper orphanage has resources no single person can match. You should—"

"Sister Wen! I won’t send them to an orphanage!"

Gujiajia cut her off, voice trembling but firm.