Back in her room, Tang Ningshan rummaged through the original owner's memories for any information about Shao Ruihan—but to no avail.
Her face flushed red, then turned green, and finally darkened completely.
"Damn it! How did this girl even grow up? It was her own wedding, and she only found out her husband's name was Shao Ruihan on the day itself. How could she be this stupid!" Tang Ningshan felt like she was going crazy.
"Master, you need to stay calm."
"Stay calm? How can I stay calm when I'm stuck in this mess? Why did she have to die so miserably? And from what I can tell from the memories, she was worn out to death by that man downstairs! Why did you put me in her body?!" Tang Ningshan practically screamed.
"Master, where's your poise? Your calmness? Your dignity? Don't act like a petty shrew." The system's mechanical voice dripped with disdain.
"How would you feel if you were in my shoes? Could you stay calm then?" Tang Ningshan shot back irritably.
"Very well, Master. There's something I need to tell you." The system's tone turned serious.
"..." Tang Ningshan took a deep breath and waited for it to continue.
"Master, please adjust your attitude. Since your original body is dead, your current existence counts as a rebirth. Therefore..." The system deliberately dragged out the last word.
"Therefore what?" Tang Ningshan pressed impatiently.
"Therefore, a new phase of learning has begun. Because you died once, all your previous learning progress has been reset to zero. Additionally, your death has led the system to conclude that your foundational skills were insufficient. Henceforth, the system will assign mandatory learning tasks with increased difficulty. If you fail to meet the required standards, I'm sorry to say—you will face punishment."
"Why do I get the feeling you're secretly delighted about this?" Tang Ningshan picked up on the hint of schadenfreude in the system's tone.
"Master, you're not imagining things. I'm openly rejoicing. Finally, I have a chance to get my revenge." The system made no attempt to hide its glee.
"One more reminder: if you fail to complete a task, the punishment will double each time. If you're eager to experience the pain of childbirth ahead of schedule, I suggest you fail every single assignment."
"Childbirth? What does that have to do with anything?" She was confused by the bizarre connection between failed tasks and giving birth.
"Hahaha! Because each doubled punishment will manifest physically on your body. The first failure will result in a mild punishment—level one pain. By the tenth failure, it will be level ten pain. How does that sound? Care to give it a try?" The system chuckled triumphantly.
"You can disappear now. I don't want to hear your voice anymore." A vein throbbed on her forehead, a clear sign of her frustration. This system was nothing but a tormentor.
"Master, the tasks will start tomorrow. Please manage your time wisely. Farewell, hahaha..." The system's voice faded away in her mind.
There was nothing she could do. She'd just have to face whatever came her way when the time came.
Time passed quickly as Tang Ningshan tossed and turned in her thoughts, and no one disturbed her in the meantime.
Tang Ningshan picked out a formal dress from the wardrobe and put on a light layer of makeup as a sign of respect. Satisfied that she looked presentable, she headed downstairs.
When she saw Shao Ruihan in his dark green military uniform, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The man was undeniably handsome—she'd give him a nine out of ten.
As Tang Ningshan sized him up, Shao Ruihan's eyes were also on her. The lavender dress hugged her delicate, curvy figure perfectly. Her already stunning face, enhanced by the light makeup, was utterly captivating. On her feet were a pair of high-heeled sandals, revealing her fair, tender feet with their small, round toes that looked surprisingly cute. Such a simple outfit only served to make her more charming and alluring.
"Let's go."
Shao Ruihan turned and walked toward the door without the slightest hint of wanting her to link arms with him. Tang Ningshan silently breathed a sigh of relief—she really couldn't bring herself to be that intimate with a man she'd just met, not without feeling awkward.
They got into the car, which drove out of the villa complex and onto a desolate road lined with no buildings in sight.
After about half an hour, the car pulled into an enormous courtyard—so large that the word "courtyard" felt like an understatement. Have you ever seen a yard that could fit hundreds of luxury cars without looking crowded? Some people might have, but Tang Ningshan certainly hadn't.