SFR: Chapter 6

Fu Xiuning had seen the second level punishment before, but it was rare. It only happened nine times in five years.

Those hosts would collapse or faint from the pain. This was the first time someone wanted to use it to wake themselves up.

He didn’t want to miss the fun, so he said to Lin Kecheng, “Why don’t you go order food?”

Lin Kecheng wisely went to the front desk.

The system also came back to its senses.

“Isn’t the second level punishment useless to you?” It said, “You didn’t react last time.”

Xing Shi explained, “I can still feel the pain, but the time is too short. This time, it will be longer.”

The system said, “The time limit is only 5 seconds.”

It was because once the pain reached a certain level, every second was extremely long. 5 seconds was enough to be unforgettable.

Xing Shi said, “Then do it more often.”

The system felt that it wasn’t discussing the second level punishment that frightened countless hosts but ordering food.

It was speechless and choked up. “…This isn’t in compliance with the regulations, including using it to wake up from a nap.”

Xing Shi said, “It is compliant. What is the purpose of the second level punishment? It is to allow the host to capture Fu Xiuning. I want the second level punishment now to capture him. Isn’t it okay?”

“……” The system actually thought it made sense. “Aren’t you quite awake?”

“I analyzed this previously. So is it okay? If not, I’m not sure how I will perform today.”

The system hesitated for a moment. Then seeing that Lin Kecheng was about to come back, it compromised. “Okay, get ready. The countdown is 3 seconds.”

Fu Xiuning’s screen was filled with short news, and he could stop reading at any time.

He put his phone on the table and looked at the opposite side. “Are you adapting to the company?”

The second level punishment came as expected with this sentence. The energy flow instantly filled his body.

The color on Xing Shi’s face faded a bit, but his sitting posture didn’t change at all, and his tone was normal, “Not bad.”

Fu Xiuning observed his condition and was surprised to see that the effect of the system’s punishment on him was decreased. Fu Xiuning asked, “Can you keep up with the progress of going back and forth between the school and the company frequently?”

Xing Shi said, “I will try my best.”

Fu Xiuning asked, “Isn’t it hard?”

“I am young. It is the time to work hard.”

The second level punishment had ended. The system saw that the host’s condition had improved and was very moved. Then it heard the host calling it again.

Xing Shi ordered, “Do it again.”

“No.”

Xing Shi heard Fu Xiuning asked him, “Where is your home?”

He replied, “C City.” Then he reasoned with the system, “It has already been used once. What is the problem with another time?”

The system said, “No means no. The interval between the two second level punishments is too short. I have to write a statement about the situation. The main system will definitely not recognize the reason of waking up from a nap. I will be punished.”

Xing Shi felt regretful. Fortunately, he got the answer he wanted.

He felt a sense of familiarity last time, but he was running wildly at the time and the punishment time was too short. In addition, he had just transmigrated and his soul seemed to be floating in another world. He was worried that it was an illusion.

It happened again today. He finally confirmed that it was the same as the magic source poisoning.

Everyone in the magic world had a magic core. The magic core produced a magic source before forming various magics.

There was a rare type of magician whose magic source was poisonous. If one was unfortunate enough to be hit by their magic, their own magic source would be infected. This would run around the body and cause severe pain. It was just like the second level punishment.

Xing Shi’s magic core was special. It could overflow the magic source like traditional magicians to form elemental magic but also run in reverse and absorb other magic sources for its own use.

If his magic source was infected, he could directly suck out the poisoned source in his body and transform it. He was very familiar with the process.

However, now he had changed his body, and he didn’t know if it still worked. In any case, this provided him with a research idea for dismantling the system.

He was in a good mood and said kindly, “Boss.”

Fu Xiuning looked at him. “Hmm?”

Xing Shi unlocked his phone, operated it, and pushed it forward. “Can you add me as a friend?”

Fu Xiuning scanned his QR code and sent an application.

Xing Shi approved it in seconds and was very satisfied.

There was the ‘erasure’, so he couldn’t make the system too upset. He had to use Fu Xiuning as an excuse to get the second level punishment. This meant they would need to contact each other in the future.

This was what Lin Kecheng saw when he came back, and he joked, “You are both from the same company and are alumni. Why haven’t you added each other as friends?”

Xing Shi explained, “We don’t usually meet, so today is the chance.”

Lin Kecheng smiled. “I see.”

He noticed that Fu Xiuning’s gaze had shifted to him, so he said, “Work is important. You guys chat. I won’t bother you.”

Before leaving, he took care of Xing Shi. “Our senior is too busy. If you have something that you can’t handle in the future, just find me, and I’ll help you.”

Xing Shi nodded obediently. “Thank you, Senior.”

Lin Kecheng said, “You’re welcome,” before going to another seat.

His system complained, “What type of important work can a boss and a newly signed trainee talk about?”

Lin Kecheng said, “No matter whether it is an excuse or not, I can’t stay here any longer. Didn’t you see Fu Xiuning looking at me? I have to know what is good for me.”

The system also understood this truth. “He will be a senior in the second half of the year. Seniors have fewer classes, so it is even harder to see him. You have to hurry up. You can’t really wait until graduation to join his company and climb up little by little. That is too slow.”

Lin Kecheng hummed, picked up the sign on the table, took a photo of the restaurant’s logo and posted it to his Moments. He edited the text to see that the meal was slow. If he was late for class, he asked one of his brothers to cover for him.

Fu Xiuning had found all the fun he could have with Lin Kecheng. In comparison, the newcomer was more worthy of study.

He asked, “Have you thought about which direction you want to develop in the future?”

Xing Shi was very understanding. “Follow the company’s arrangements.”

Fu Xiuning said, “The company will consider personal wishes. Do you have any ideas?”

Xing Shi replied, “Not yet.”

Fu Xiuning nodded. He chatted about something else casually and evaluated the newcomer in his mind.

He liked to eat, wasn’t panicked by changes, had a good brain, and seemed to have a good temper. However, judging from his performance when he was bound by the system that day, he was a strong-willed person who wasn’t afraid of taking tough measures.

He also seemed to be immune to some system penalties, but the reason was unknown.

Xing Shi was also evaluating this target.

It was certain that he had a bad personality, but he liked to pretend to be ‘kind’ and didn’t act like a boss.

Even though he asked Xing Shi a lot of questions, they all seemed to be casually mentioned without any deep meaning. Apart from tormenting him today, there was no other purpose for the time being.

The two of them chatted for a while, and the seafood porridge was finally cooked.

It was placed in the middle and filled with plenty of ingredients, making it very appetizing.

Fu Xiuning scooped out a bowl, and a conversation rang in his ears again.

Lin Kecheng’s system said, “Don’t let this lunatic come over here. He…”’

It realized something as it spoke. “You did it on purpose! You deliberately photographed a little bit of Fu Xiuning when you took the photo of the sign so that Shao Jianbai would come over!”

Lin Kecheng said, “I was just careless.”

The system didn’t listen. “I was wondering why you kept in contact with Shao Jianbai. You used the excuse of helping Fu Xiuning resolve potential crises, but he became more and more crazy. It turns out that you were deliberately provoking him so that he would attack Fu Xiuning! Didn’t I say that all of us will be buried with Fu Xiuning if he dies?!”

“Then don’t let him die. I will block it for him.”

The system went crazy. “What if you die?”

Lin Kecheng told it, “Calculate a person’s attack route through his habits and the surrounding environment. Give a position and method to avoid the vital points. Can’t you do this? You know how difficult Fu Xiuning is. Do you think it will work if I offer him a life-saving favor?”

The system was silent.

Lin Kecheng said, “It is better to take a gamble than to follow the conventional strategy. Previously when I posted on my Moments, I wasn’t sure if Shao Jianbai would see it. I won this bet. How about another one?’

The system was silent for a few seconds before saying, “Okay.”

Fu Xiuning listened to them discussing the details, and his heart was calm.

Some hosts were like Xing Shi, whose soul had traveled through time and space. Other hosts were natives of this world, who were selected and bound by the system.

Lin Kecheng belonged to the latter. He used to be a very introverted and transparent passerby. After being bound by the system, he thought he was the chosen one. From then on, he was reborn and became the versatile person he was today.

Once the relationship between people and the world changed from a participant to a high ranking player, new doors would be opened.

Flowers, applause, and admiration… Lin Kecheng relied on the assistance of the system to get to where he was today. It was like playing games and completing tasks, where everyone could be used and sacrificed. The lower limit got lower and lower, and he slowly lost his respect for life.

Fu Xiuning had seen many such people, so it wasn’t surprising at all.

He glanced across from him.

He had also seen many people who went against the system. Xing Shi wasn’t the first, nor would he be the last. No matter what they were like at first, they would change their faces later.

This kid was doing well now, but it wasn’t known what he would become in the future.

[Ding.]

[Currently favorability value: -9.]

Xing Shi was tempted by the fragrance and scooped a spoonful of porridge.

He had just tasted it when he heard the notification sound. He asked, “Why?”

The system had been paying attention to Fu Xiuning and immediately scolded him. “It is because you drank his porridge!”

“…What is wrong with that? One person can’t finish this amount. What is wrong with me taking a few sips? I scooped it into a bowl with a spoon and drank it. I didn’t eat directly from it.”

The system wasn’t happy. “Put it down quickly. Aren’t you full? Stop eating!”

Xing Shi said nothing. He just picked up a spoon and scooped the porridge into his bowl again.’

The system: “!”

Xing Shi also picked out some seafood. Then he ate a mouthful of porridge and stared at the opposite side.

The system didn’t bother to scold him and looked at Fu Xiuning with fear.

Xing Shi didn’t hear any change in the favorability value. He ate a mouthful of seafood and looked up again.

The system continued to watch with him.

Fu Xiuning didn’t ignore him this time and raised his eyes. “What is it?”

Xing Shi raised his bowl. “I will eat a bit too. Do you mind?”

“You are the one who invited me. Do as you please.”

Xing Shi scolded the system. “See, he is more reasonable than you.”

The system crashed. “Then why did he deduct points again?”

Xing Shi thought about it. “Maybe he has been with me for a long time and doesn’t like me anymore. Being too handsome is also a burden, alas.”

The system wanted to cry. “Then think of a way!”

“I will try.”

After the meal, the favorability value was still -9.

Xing Shi scanned the code to pay the bill and walked out with Fu Xiuning. Then he saw a boy entering through the door.

This was a habit developed from a high-risk environment. He would take a look at any new living things around him.

Then he discovered the problem at a glance.

The boy’s expression was tense, and his eyes were determined. His left hand was holding his sleeve with his palm facing inward.

Judging from Xing Shi’s experience, there was probably a knife hidden inside.,

Lin Kecheng saw Shao Jianbai appear and immediately stepped forward quickly.

Fu Xiuning was listening to Lin Kecheng’s system analysis path while thinking of how to send Lin Kecheng to die.

The three people met in the blink of an eye.

Lin Kecheng and Fu Xiuning saw Shao Jianbai draw his knife and reacted at the same time.

The former was shocked and quickly stood in front of Fu Xiuning. The latter had a serious expression as he grabbed Lin Kecheng and dragged him to the side. It seemed like he was protecting Lin Kecheng, but in fact, he wanted Shao Jianbai to stab him properly.

However, the next moment, their eyes blurred, and Shao Jianbai was no longer in his original position.

Disarm, capture, knock down… Xing Shi pressed the man to the ground with the words, “Senior, be careful.” He easily solved the problem.

Fu Xiuning: “……”

Lin Kecheng: “???”

Xing Shi looked up at the two people in front of him.

Fu Xiuning and Lin Kecheng maintained the posture of making trouble while staring at him.

The two sides looked at each other silently for a few seconds.

Xing Shi said, “Don’t just stand there. Call the police.”