Gu Xiuyuan, a five-year-old boy.
From a young age, he was immersed in the traditional education of a prominent family. While other children his age were learning pinyin, he had already mastered Chinese characters. His social circle was carefully curated by his family, consisting of children with similar temperaments and upbringing.
Regardless of their personalities, these children shared one common trait: they were all polite and well-mannered.
This, however, meant that Gu Xiuyuan was destined to have his worldview shattered when he met Ji Nian.
"You... you... you..."
After instinctively translating his thoughts into Chinese, he realized something was off and reread the situation. His fair skin instantly turned as red as a lobster.
He stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the little girl across from him, who wore an expression of utter disdain.
"You're a girl. Girls shouldn't look at boys'... boys'..."
He stumbled over his words, unable to finish the sentence.
Gu Xiuyuan had been taught many things, including the importance of sex education, so he knew more than the average child his age.
Ji Nian: [HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]
Being lectured by a kid who still spoke in a babyish voice was just too funny.
She had only done it to vent her frustration.
She hadn’t expected him to actually understand.
"Oh, if you don’t want me to look, then move along."
Ji Nian waved her hand dismissively, signaling for him to leave.
Gu Xiuyuan, who had always been adored by his peers, had never been treated like this before.
"You... you speak Chinese."
Ji Nian, holding a jar of fireflies, jumped down, thinking, *Obviously.*
Gu Xiuyuan glanced at the jar of fireflies in her arms, feeling a pang of envy.
But remembering Ji Nian’s earlier demand, he forced himself to look away.
How vulgar! Unbelievable!
In his short life, Gu Xiuyuan had never encountered someone like Ji Nian, who would outright ask to see a boy’s private parts.
Was he just ignorant? Did ordinary children act like this?
Yes, he judged from Ji Nian’s plain clothes and petite frame that she probably came from an average family.
Was she the child of a servant here?
Then why had she refused the money he offered earlier?
"How did you catch those fireflies?"
Despite his embarrassment, Gu Xiuyuan was genuinely curious and couldn’t help but chase after Ji Nian to ask.
Because of Gu Xiuyuan’s presence, the System had wisely taken on the role of guiding Ji Nian. She was in a hurry to return, worried that Zhi Le would be anxious if she couldn’t find her.
Annoyed by Gu Xiuyuan’s persistence, she snapped, "Why do you have so many questions?"
Though young, Ji Nian wasn’t putting on any act. Her irritated tone and fierce glare were genuinely intimidating.
Sure enough, Gu Xiuyuan stopped in his tracks. His eyes welled up with tears, and his voice trembled as he tried to maintain his composure. "Can you... not be so mean?"
He looked pitiful.
Ji Nian, a sucker for pretty faces, immediately softened.
Alright, the male lead was still just a child, not yet the man who would, in the future, destroy the original protagonist to avenge the female lead.
There was no need to take out her anger on a kid who hadn’t done anything wrong.
Besides, if she could build a good relationship with the male lead, she could eliminate a potential threat.
Even though the original plot had changed, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the female lead didn’t like her. She always seemed to avoid her. What if, in the future, some misunderstanding arose, and the male lead went on a rampage for the sake of his beloved?
System: *Heh, I think you just like the way he cries.*
When she spoke again, Ji Nian’s tone and expression had lost their earlier sharpness and impatience.
"Here, take this. Just drip a drop somewhere."
She pulled a small bottle from her pocket and tossed it to Gu Xiuyuan before walking off with her glass jar.
Gu Xiuyuan looked down at the object in his hand. It was an ordinary glass bottle containing a green liquid.
He suspected the little girl was just brushing him off.
After some thought, he decided to follow her instructions. He removed the stopper and let a few drops fall to the ground.
Nothing happened.
The expected disappointment left him feeling deceived and disheartened.
Just as he was about to throw the bottle away and leave,
a miraculous sight made him freeze in his tracks. He stared in awe at the faintly glowing specks of light floating in the air, emerging from the dark woods.
At first, there was only one, but soon more and more appeared, gathering and dancing as they flew toward Gu Xiuyuan.
...
Completely unaware of the impact her gift had on Gu Xiuyuan, Ji Nian was still rushing back.
[You went through so much trouble to make that, and you just gave it to the male lead?]
Making that concoction hadn’t been easy for Ji Nian. Gathering the materials in secret was challenging, and she had to avoid being discovered.
"It’s just a little thing. I can make more."
She didn’t think it was a big loss. The ingredients were just snails, shells, and earthworms. The only tricky part was the diffusing agent, but it wasn’t expensive either.
Compared to what she had created in her past life, this was child’s play.
"Hey! Watch where you’re going, kid!"
A man carrying a heavy wooden box nearly tripped over Ji Nian.
"Sorry, uncle."
Distracted by her conversation with the System, Ji Nian apologized reflexively.
Compared to the secluded garden earlier, she was now in a more bustling area.
Workers in overalls were busy unloading goods, everyone occupied with their tasks.
Ji Nian quickly realized that the boxes contained supplies for the upcoming banquet.
She was looking forward to the feast tonight.
Ji Nian turned to ask a servant, who was directing the workers, for directions back.
As she passed the man she had almost collided with,
her nose twitched slightly.
Ji Nian caught a familiar scent.
Her entire body tensed up.
The System noticed her reaction and asked, [What’s wrong?]
[It’s the smell of OJIU...]
Ji Nian was led away by a nervous servant, her emerald-green eyes beneath her bangs filled with seriousness.
[OJIU is a neurotoxin. Symptoms appear within 24 hours of exposure, including difficulty speaking, slow reactions, and loss of coordination. In severe cases, it can be fatal.]
It wasn’t something good, and it was just one of the many scents Ji Nian had detected in that faint aroma.
She didn’t know what the person had made with OJIU, but it was undoubtedly something dangerous.
The System was shocked: [Aren’t you supposed to be researching hemorrhoids!?]
Ji Nian adjusted her imaginary glasses: [That’s my secondary focus.]
[Didn’t I mention it?]
[I studied toxicology.]
System: [………]
No, you didn’t. All I heard was something about hemorrhoids and rabbit tails before they sent you here.
Ji Nian ignored its reaction.
[I need to find a way to warn the princess about this.]
The System replied dryly: [...You can’t.]
Ji Nian: ?
It sighed and explained: [This is a key plot point.]
[The thing you mentioned is meant for Wei Yang.]
[He accidentally falls victim to an enemy’s scheme. Although his life is saved, his mind becomes unstable. He goes insane, bashing his head against walls and attacking anyone who comes near.]
[In the end, it’s the female lead’s constant care and love, combined with medical treatment, that helps Wei Yang regain some semblance of sanity. This also makes him her loyal protector.]
This is how Wei Yang earned the nickname "Mad Dog."
Ji Nian stopped walking, her expression blank as she stared into the air.
[Are you saying that, just so the female lead can gain another loyal follower, I should ignore a known danger and let an innocent person become a lunatic because of an accident?]
