Regardless of the system’s original purpose, the request it made played right into Yan Jin’s hands, motivating her to work even harder and strive to improve.

“Yuanyuan, listen to me.” Yan Jin, determined, ruffled Yu Shu’s hair, “Since I’m going to take the imperial examinations anyway, I might as well set my goal a little higher.”

Yu Shu heard the hidden meaning in Yan Jin’s words and pouted, “But you will be very tired.”

“It will be very tiring.” Yan Jin smiled slightly, “But when I think about how you can boast to your friends on the building when I become the Number One Scholar parading through the streets on horseback, that the Number One Scholar riding below is your wife-master, I’m filled with motivation.”

“Nonsense!” Yu Shu said solemnly, “I’m not the kind of person who loves to show off his other half!”

Seeing that Yu Shu’s attention was diverted, Yan Jin teased with a smile, “Have some confidence, you are that kind of person.”

“I’m not that kind of frivolous person.” Yu Shu rubbed Yan Jin’s neck with his chin, “Someone as smart as you will definitely become the Number One Scholar. When you parade through the streets on horseback, if I mention you to my friends on the building, I will just be stating facts, not praising you, let alone showing off.”

“I dislike showing off affection the most.” Yu Shu asserted, “I specifically told Ah De about how you used up all those carnations when responding to my confession; after we officially got together, you specifically suggested informing our parents; even when reading, you didn’t forget to give me kisses… I only mentioned it briefly, that’s all.”

Yan Jin: “…You call this not showing off affection?”

Every little thing that happened after they got together, except for what shouldn’t be known by a third person, was all told by Yuanyuan!

She herself didn’t even remember doing these things with Yuanyuan.

“What’s there to show off about affection.” Yu Shu disdained, “Like last night Xiaoxiao, you knew I had a nightmare and immediately ran over to comfort me, I didn’t even tell Ah De about this.”

Yan Jin: “…Yuanyuan, can you search your conscience before speaking?”

They haven’t even gotten out of bed yet, how could Yuanyuan possibly run out and tell Ah De about this?

“I always speak with a clear conscience.” Yu Shu declared righteously, “Showing off affection is something only immature people would do.”

“A mature person like me keeps even the biggest joys hidden in my heart.” Yu Shu nodded with great confidence, “When out and about, I won’t make a peep, that’s how mature, steady, and trustworthy I am.”

[I admire Yan Jin for keeping a straight face. Unlike me, I’m already rolling on the bed laughing.] [The funniest part is that Yu Shu truly believes he is mature, steady, and reliable.] [Let me tell you a joke, Yu Yuanyuan says he hates showing off affection.]

The parents, who were originally feeling sentimental, couldn’t help but be amused by Yu Shu’s smug little expression.

“Yuanyuan is truly both delicate and adorable.” Yan Jin’s mother, who already liked Yu Shu, saw this scene and couldn’t stop smiling, “Yuanyuan is so cute, and he actually became a part of our family. I would smile in my sleep even if I were dreaming.”

“Both the palm and back of the hand are flesh, you can’t be biased, Mother-in-law.” Yu Shu’s mother had a gentle expression, “I just love our Xiaoxiao, steady and smart, speaking in a soft and gentle voice. Pleasing to the ear and warming to the heart.”

Yan Jin’s father lowered his head and silently took a sip of tea.

As expected of the mother who raised Yu Yuanyuan, just like Yu Yuanyuan, she had a heavy filter for Xiaoxiao.

Speaking in a soft and gentle voice, making people feel warm at heart when hearing it.

These adjectives had nothing to do with Xiaoxiao.

Even he, as Xiaoxiao’s biological father, didn’t dare to praise Xiaoxiao like this.

Yan Jin and Yu Shu talked for a while longer, but in the end, neither could convince the other.

They were both considering things for each other, but they couldn’t bear to see the other suffer, so they were at an impasse for the time being.

[The two hosts can agree to both conditions simultaneously.]

The system spoke up.

[If both conditions are satisfactorily completed, the two of you will receive a surprise gift.] [Because the prerequisite conditions are not easy to fulfill, this surprise does not have any additional conditions attached.]

Yan Jin and Yu Shu exchanged glances.

Yan Jin was the first to speak, “Can you give us a slight hint about what punishment we will face if we don’t complete it?”

[A punishment that will make the hosts tremble in fear.] [For example, making host Yu Shu write a 3 million word heart-wrenching, cliche-filled novel in three days.]

Yu Shu, who could only write fluffy stories and at most write 30,000 words in three days, immediately gasped.

[For example, making host Yan Jin go to the market alone, greet every person, quickly establish friendships with them, and have dinner together with the new friends in the evening.]

Yan Jin, who disliked crowded places, didn’t enjoy greeting strangers, and especially disliked having meals with a bunch of people, felt the world instantly turn dark.

[This punishment is actually much easier than I imagined. But for Xiaoxiao and Yuanyuan, this is probably a hellish level of difficulty.] [Their expressions with eyes almost popping out from fright are too funny hahaha.] [For a moment, I can’t even tell whose punishment is slightly more severe.]

…

[The system is too ruthless, firmly grasping the things they fear the most. It truly deserves to be named a punishment that makes one “tremble in fear”.] [Although it’s a bit inappropriate, I, who lacks virtue, really hope they fail. That way, I can see their extremely suffering appearance when they receive the punishment.]

Originally, Yan Jin was very determined and confident that she could become the Number One Scholar, but after hearing this punishment condition, Yan Jin subconsciously recoiled.

Although her love for Yuanyuan was clear as day, this punishment was really too terrifying!

But she had just solemnly promised Yuanyuan, going back on her word now would greatly impact her credibility in Yuanyuan’s heart.

Yan Jin turned her head, wanting to discuss with Yu Shu, but found him deep in thought.

Yan Jin was curious, “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking about the outline for a cliche-filled, heart-wrenching novel.” Yu Shu’s fingers subconsciously moved, “Pouring a few more pots of cliches should be enough to make up 3 million words.”

“Should it be a bad ending where the two are forced to separate despite being destined for each other; or a bad ending of life and death separation where one dies and the other lives; or a more wrenching bad ending where both die.”

Yu Shu became more and more engrossed as he thought, “If both die together, it could be considered a different kind of happy ending, so a life and death separation might be better.”

Yan Jin: “We haven’t necessarily failed yet, Yuanyuan, why are you already preparing?”

Could it be that she also needed to find a market to practice courage?