Chapter 461: Chapter 461: Little Wolf Cub
Lu Yujing was still dealing with Sang Ning when the System’s mechanical voice rang in her mind. She curiously asked, "What is this ’Enchanting Effect’?"
The System responded robotically, "Simply put, your current performance-enhancing skill has a seductive ability. Not only can it make others believe you, but it can also compel them to act according to your wishes."
Lu Yujing’s eyes lit up. "Is there really such a great thing? Then can’t I just order Sang Ning to go die?"
"Host, the Enchanting Effect is limited. It only works under the premise of aligning with the other party’s logic and lasts no longer than ten minutes. Please use it cautiously."
Originally overjoyed, Lu Yujing’s excitement was doused like a bucket of cold water poured over her by the System’s warning.
Sang Ning felt that Lu Yujing was acting strange. Ever since just now, her eyes appeared unfocused, her gaze scattered, as though she had drifted into another realm beyond this world.
"Are you alright?" Sang Ning couldn’t help but raise her hand, waving it in front of Lu Yujing’s eyes.
"I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s just that from the fall earlier, my backside still hurts a bit." Lu Yujing’s thoughts were abruptly pulled back by Sang Ning, her heart skipping a beat.
She nearly forgot—Sang Ning was her competitor for the world’s fortune. If Sang Ning suspected her and found out she had bound a System, it would spell trouble.
"Oh," Sang Ning responded flatly. "You should go to the accompanying doctor later and get some ointment for bruising and swelling."
Lu Yujing smiled to mask her earlier panic. "Alright, thanks for your concern, Ningbao. I’ll go in a while."
"Mm." Sang Ning averted her gaze. She had only mentioned it offhandedly anyway.
That strange feeling from before surfaced again. She discovered that as long as she met Lu Yujing’s eyes, she’d unconsciously want to follow her words and draw closer to her.
But this time, Sang Ning was absolutely certain that these weren’t feelings arising from her own will. It felt more like her thoughts were being meddled with, influenced by some magnetic field emanating from Lu Yujing.
What a freaky woman!
Sang Ning immediately dismissed the notion. Lu Yujing was just an ordinary person—what sort of superpowers could she possibly have?
"Sister Sangsang, you’re the best! The show’s reward this time is really great. I haven’t watched fireworks in ages, and now I get to see them with you. Thinking about it just makes me happy." Song Shiye was bouncing around, spinning in a circle in front of Sang Ning.
Sang Ning’s attention on Lu Yujing completely shifted. She shot Song Shiye an amused glare. "It’s just some kiddie stuff—do you really need to be this excited?"
Unlike Song Shiye, the others didn’t consider viewing fireworks from a Ferris wheel as a worthwhile reward. Qin Feng, in particular, felt instantly relieved that his team had been eliminated in the first round upon hearing the juvenile reward.
But Li Haidong wasn’t pleased. Even though he had no interest in such youthful antics, he expressed strong opposition to the reward. "I don’t agree. Can we request a different reward? Xiao Sang and the others worked so hard to win the game, and this reward feels way too perfunctory!"
"Uncle, how can you say that? Tonight marks the opening ceremony of Snow Village’s very first Fireworks Festival. The Ferris wheel is the VIP viewing spot arranged by the production team—a sincere effort, not perfunctory at all," the PD patiently explained, even sounding a little aggrieved.
Afraid that such an excellent reward might be dismissed thanks to Li Haidong, Song Shiye immediately interjected, "Uncle Hai, thank you for your good intentions, but you’ve already lost, so you don’t get a say anymore. As long as Sister Sangsang and I are satisfied with this reward, it’s fine. Sister Sangsang, you don’t have any objections, right?"
Faced with Song Shiye’s eager expression, Sang Ning shook her head. "No objections."
Knowing the production team’s style, she was already grateful they weren’t setting them up somehow. Being able to quietly enjoy a fireworks display was a pretty decent outcome.
"Xiao Sang, how can you have no objections?" Li Haidong protested anxiously.
Snow Village, a Ferris wheel, a fireworks show—every romantic element had been packed in together, and with someone as obedient and handsome as Song Shiye, Li Haidong worried these romantic catalysts might make Sang Ning fall for someone else. What would happen to his son then?
"Uncle Hai, what objections do you think I should have?" Sang Ning countered. At this point, she thought not only Lu Yujing but also Li Haidong was behaving oddly.
"In any case, this reward isn’t acceptable!" Li Haidong hesitated for a moment before failing to provide any compelling reason, ultimately just making himself seem like a troublemaker.
"Uncle Hai, I see right through you. You’re just upset you lost and didn’t get the reward. Don’t worry; when I’m up there later, I’ll take plenty of close-up pictures and share them with you when I’m back." Song Shiye gave a slow, understanding nod, as though uncovering the truth of the matter.
The game’s outcome had already been decided, and regardless of how the guests felt about the reward, the PD didn’t want to waste more time on this segment—they still had other activities to get to. To avoid prolonging Li Haidong’s complaints, they quickly announced, "The warm-up game is officially over. Let’s once again congratulate the winning team! Up next, we’ll begin today’s Snow Village experience activities."
With everything settled, nothing Li Haidong said would matter now. Yet while transitioning to the next activity, he purposefully inserted himself between Sang Ning and Song Shiye.
Since the two of them would be watching fireworks together romantically later tonight, he figured they should at least interact less during the day.
Each time Song Shiye tried to speak to Sang Ning, Li Haidong would stretch his neck out, deliberately blocking Song Shiye’s line of sight toward her.
Wei Lan observed all this and couldn’t help but feel her husband was being ridiculously childish. She walked over, yanking him back, and scolded him quietly, "You’re the elder here; where’s your dignity? Why are you getting into petty squabbles with the younger ones?"
Li Haidong snorted, a smug smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. He lowered his voice and said, "What do you know? I’m acting as a love bodyguard for our son. He’s almost thirty and finally showing a hint of romantic interest. How can I, as his father, not protect it properly?"
Wei Lan couldn’t help but roll her eyes, utterly speechless. "It’s just a fireworks show. Do you have to go this far? If Xiao Sang could be so easily swayed, then we’d have to chalk it up to our son lacking enough charm to win the girl’s heart. Besides, Xiao Song’s feelings are genuine but simply sibling-like. It’s obvious he sees her as an older sister. How can you, a grown man, be so overly sensitive?"
"You don’t understand." Unable to reason with Wei Lan, Li Haidong reluctantly nodded. He knew all too well—the current trend favored "puppy boys," and women found it hard to resist young, handsome guys. Compared to youth, what did his son’s charms even amount to?
Li Haidong didn’t relent in covertly monitoring Sang Ning and Song Shiye. When he noticed that Sang Ning maintained her poised, elder-sister demeanor while communicating with Song Shiye, he finally felt slightly relieved.
There was no issue with Sang Ning for now; the real concern was that puppy Song Shiye might suddenly transform into a wolf cub someday.
