I’m a simple person. A practical person. I could never be the "Vicious Second Lead" my system demanded. That’s why I was genuinely pleased when Grayson Pierce, the second male lead in this absurd little drama, asked me to marry him. It meant I would finally be free of the system’s ridiculous missions. Five years into our marriage, we were a portrait of polite domesticity. We were also roommates. Grayson had an allergy—not to me, specifically, but to women in general, or so I assumed, given he had never touched me. It was New Year’s Eve. I was busy prepping vegetables in the massive, sterile kitchen, when I overheard the staff talking. “I’d love to switch to the main house and look after her,” one maid whispered, her voice conspiratorial. “I heard the bonus is hundreds of thousands.” “That’s the heir’s golden girl, though,” the other replied. “They’ll only hire experienced baby nurses for her.” I chimed in, setting down the peeler. “Wait, seriously? That much? I’d apply for that job myself.” The two women froze, their faces draining of color as they stammered out, “Mrs. Pierce.” A long-dormant roar echoed in my mind. It was the System. “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?! I am furious with you. Absolutely livid. I’m binding you to a new system.” In three days, I would activate the Heroine Power-Up System. 1 Grayson found an excuse to leave the moment dinner was served. “Emergency call with the London office,” he muttered, picking up his car keys. His father, Mr. Pierce, immediately challenged him. “I personally signed off on a company-wide holiday memo—no one is allowed to work tonight.” “Fine. A friend is having a crisis. Needs me to talk him off a ledge.” My mother-in-law, Mrs. Pierce, shot back, “Which friend? Give me the number. What kind of person doesn’t call their own mother on New Year’s Eve?” Grayson shot me a look of frantic, silent appeal. I knew the drill. “It’s my fault,” I interrupted smoothly. “I asked him to go.” My sister-in-law, Penelope, narrowed her eyes. “And what could you possibly need?” I pressed a hand to my stomach. Every eye at the table immediately swung to me. “Finally... is it true?” Five years of marriage and no pregnancy had been a constant source of anxiety for Mrs. Pierce. She secretly suspected her son had a congenital defect. “I’m starving,” I said, shattering the tension. “I want those little dumplings from the shop downtown, and they close early. I sent him to get them.” “Are you kidding me? This table is piled high with food! Sit down!” Mrs. Pierce was indignant. But Grayson didn't sit down. He took advantage of the chaos, bolted out the door, and didn't look back. The roar of his imported sports car outside was deafening. I let out a slow, quiet breath of relief. That was worth at least ten grand of my annual allowance. “He wouldn’t be going to see your sister, would he?” Penelope’s voice was laced with suspicion. The “sister” she referred to was Lila Vance, the girl my parents adopted, and the official heroine of this story. Lila was the ultimate package: the sweet-faced, well-educated darling, fluent in five languages, an accomplished artist, and blessed with the requisite, world-stopping beauty. The moment I, the biological daughter, was brought home, I knew I was just filler—a plot device. But the System insisted I bind to the Vicious Second Lead module. I’m a simple person. I couldn't do it. The System ordered me to push Lila down the stairs. Before I could even raise a hand, I tripped over my own feet, tumbled down the staircase, and broke my leg. Before I could even cry, Lila was already weeping torrents of sympathetic tears. Everyone assumed I’d tried to push her and failed miserably. They blamed me. But the System was the only one who didn't buy it. It would administer an electric shock every time I failed a "vicious" mission. The past was truly exhausting. I quietly stood up to wait on my mother-in-law, pouring her water. “Don’t get upset, Mom. Getting angry only hurts yourself.” Mrs. Pierce glared at me. “On a holiday, Cassidy, maybe just keep your mouth shut.” I obediently closed my lips. Suddenly, I heard a ping in my mind, a sound I hadn't heard in five years. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “Ping—System online!” “Host, five years, and you are still so stup—id. I can’t take it anymore!” I immediately apologized in my mind. “Please, I really don’t want to be the Vicious Second Lead.” The System went quiet for a long time. Long enough for me to sit down and finish a whole section of the New England lobster platter. “Fine. This time, I’m giving you the Heroine Power-Up System.” “Will it let me eat well, drink well, and play well?” “Yes. And sleep well, too.” 2 The System informed me it would need three days. The Main God system required multi-layer approval. “No problem,” I replied. “Take your time. You’re the professional.” The System flashed a hot red. “Can you please be a little more assertive?” I was lying down on my comfortable, three-meter bed. The slick silk sheets were perfectly smoothed by the maids, without a single wrinkle. “I’m quite comfortable with my life right now.” “Host! You are hopeless! Your husband ran off to see his golden girl on New Year’s Eve, the same girl who stole your parents and your fiancé. And you’re perfectly calm?” I padded barefoot across the plush carpet. Chewie, my little golden retriever, whined, rubbing against my leg, following me into what had once been a small reception room, now my personal study. I picked up a heavy tome and opened it randomly. “The life I have now is more than I ever dreamed of back then,” I said. “I’m perfectly satisfied.” And I truly was. Grayson didn’t love me, but the money was guaranteed. The Pierces didn't like me, but the money was guaranteed. My ex-fiancé, now my brother-in-law, didn’t like me, but he paid me off. The money was guaranteed. My parents thought I was a bad seed who tormented their adopted daughter, but I still held stock shares and received dividends. The money was guaranteed. “System, I’m just a simple person.” “Unacceptable. You wait. Your power is coming soon.” 3 Grayson didn't return all night. New Year’s Day was the family's annual pilgrimage to the Ancestral Temple. At 5:00 AM, still dark out, Mrs. Pierce woke me and ordered me to find him immediately. “Otherwise, don't think about showing your face at the Temple!” I didn’t bother to remind her that in five years, I had never once been invited to the Temple. By 6:00 AM, I was waiting outside Lila Vance’s house, having a thorough conversation with the security guards. Through my persistent efforts, Brendan Sterling, my ex-fiancé, finally stumbled out the front door, looking disheveled. “When Grayson married you, you promised you’d stop making trouble,” Brendan said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “What’s the drama now? Lila was upset all night and just finally got to sleep.” Brendan’s gaze softened slightly. “It’s New Year’s Day. Why aren't you with the Pierces? Are you… are you remembering our old promise?” I vaguely recalled him promising that if I didn't want to spend New Year's Day with the Vances, he would take me to see the ocean and the sunrise. But honestly, I'd never held onto that promise. I shook my head. “What promise? No idea. I’m just here to deliver a message to Grayson. His mother wants him home for a meal.” Brendan looked stunned. “That’s it? You waited at my gate for two hours just for that?” I put down the book I’d been reading, realizing the sky was fully bright now. “Yep. Brother-in-law, can you pass the message along? I won't go inside. I wouldn't want Lila to catch a whiff of my presence and have a respiratory episode.” Lila had a chronic condition: she claimed to be allergic to me. Since she refused to take allergy medication, there was little I could do. I rolled down the window and told the driver to pull out. I had completed the mother-in-law’s mission. The heat in the car was starting to feel oppressive. But the driver didn't move. He never listened to me. Five minutes later, Grayson rushed out in a pair of sweatpants, yanking the car door open. “Let’s go. Don’t wake Lila.” I politely inquired about Lila’s health. He immediately tensed. “You said the System would be gone after we got married. What are you planning to do to Lila now?” They always saw me this way, and I found it exhausting. If Lila hit a wrong note on the piano, it was because I had sneezed. I got it. She was the destined heroine. I sighed and picked up my book again. “I told you, I’m a simple person. I'm not doing anything.” 4 Once they had all left for the Temple, I was home playing the "carrot and tissue" game with Chewie. My dog always ignored the carrot and tried to steal the beef jerky I held in my hand. As the sun began to set, a flurry of people rushed into the house. I offered to take their coats and fetch them hot tea and biscuits. “We’re taking your dog,” Grayson announced. “Lila wants him for a few days. She says her house feels dull.” I tensed, holding Chewie tighter. “No.” Grayson tried to pry my hands open. “Let go. It's just for a few days. What are you afraid of? You think I’ll eat him?” “You can take me over to keep her company, but you cannot take my dog!” Lila had already stewed the turtle I’d raised, butchered the rabbit I’d bottle-fed, and killed my bird, Gugu. I said seriously, “You won’t eat him. But Lila will.” Grayson signaled someone to bind my hands while he forcefully took Chewie from my embrace. “You killed Lila’s turtle, let her parrot go, and cooked her rabbit. And she never said a single bad word about you. Now she asks to borrow your dog, and you throw a fit? You should be taking this up with your System. You’re the Vicious Second Lead, the bad seed.” “Why won’t you believe me? I am just a simple person.” Grayson glared at me with disgust. “Lila is pregnant. For the sake of her child, I’m letting this go. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so easy on you. I thought these five years would have taught you a lesson.” I lunged forward and wrapped my arms around Grayson's leg. “I'm begging you for one thing. Don’t take Chewie.” He pried my fingers apart. My hands had lost their strength, having been broken three separate times. The fight was over. I lowered my head. “My allowance for the month, and the fee for helping you run off on New Year’s Eve. Settle it now.” Grayson muttered a curse and transferred a check for a hundred thousand dollars to my account. “You will bring Chewie home, or I will not let this go.” Chewie whimpered at me as he was carried out. Once they left, Grayson locked me in the house. I immediately divided the money among several orphanages and remote education funds, a small New Year's gift for the kids. Then I pulled out the dense book I hadn’t finished. “See, System?” I said to myself. “My life is actually quite comfortable.” 5 My childhood wasn’t comfortable. I grew up deep in the mountains. I had three older sisters and one younger brother. A classic, poor family structure. My sisters were married off young for dowry money. The chores all fell to me, and my parents’ only outlet for frustration was me. I desperately wanted to go to school, but I had neither the time nor the money. I barely scraped by until I was eighteen, covered in bruises and scars. Luckily, the Vances found me before I was married off. That was the first time I ever left the mountains. “So, System, they’ve at least given me money now. What could I possibly have to complain about?” I finished a compressed food bar and fell asleep in the rocking chair. When I woke up again, Grayson was lightly slapping my face. “Lila is here to see you.” I blinked sleepily and smelled the distinct aroma of cooked meat. I shot up, my forehead cracking against Grayson’s chin. He yelped in pain. “Chewie! Where is Chewie!” Grayson rubbed his jaw, annoyed. “The dog is with Lila. What’s wrong with you?” Lila approached, holding a steaming bowl of food. “Cassidy, I saw you hadn't eaten all day. I brought you some late-night stew.” I lunged, grabbing the bowl and frantically sifting through the meat chunks with my bare hands. I didn’t stop until I saw a few unmistakable strands of golden fur. “You killed him! Give me back my Chewie!” Grayson wrapped his arms around my waist and restrained me. “Are you out of your mind? I personally watched the cook make that lamb stew! Lila was right—you’re still the same crazy person you were five years ago.” Lila stood at a distance, laughing softly. She mouthed a word at me: Idiot. I collapsed onto the floor. “Chewie is okay. That’s all that matters.” “It’s just a dog! If he was stewed, he was stewed. Don’t you dare glare at Lila! If you scare her, you don’t have enough lives to pay for the baby in her belly!” “Lila, let’s go. This crazy woman isn’t worth your time.” Lila hooked her arm through Grayson’s and they walked away. “System, now that I have the Heroine System, will Chewie come back to me?” “Absolutely!” 6 On New Year’s Day, the Pierces were waiting in the grand hall for distant relatives to visit. Mr. Pierce, in a traditional suit, was enthroned in the center, leaning on his elaborate cane. I was “rewarded” with a bright red dress and stood near the back, serving as background décor. Grayson sat dutifully next to his father, trying to sweet-talk him. “Dad, you promised me two condos in the downtown building. Why haven’t the deeds been transferred? Lila has been asking for a place to store her clothes.” Mr. Pierce threatened to strike him with his cane. “Once your wife gives me a grandchild, then you can go back to spoiling your mistress. Until then, I won’t interfere.” But his father still had a soft spot for Lila, the girl he’d watched grow up, and eventually agreed to transfer the properties. When all the guests had arrived, Mrs. Pierce pointed at me and ordered me to play the piano for entertainment. I looked at my hands, the fingers that had been broken three times, and silently sat down at the grand piano. “That’s awful,” a distant aunt whispered. “Isn’t she Lila’s sister? Lila plays so beautifully.” Mrs. Pierce shot me a disgusted look. “Exactly. And she can’t even hold a pregnancy.” At that moment, Grayson’s young cousin ran up to me, asking where Chewie was. Before I could answer, Lila appeared. She cupped her hands over her stomach and smiled sweetly. “He’s in her belly, silly.” The child screamed and burst into tears. The adults swarmed around, accusing me of terrifying the boy. I kept quiet; I knew that if I opened my mouth, they would only double down on their accusations. I quietly tried to sit down, but Mrs. Pierce pointed toward the kitchen, demanding I go help out. I sighed. The kitchen was fine. It was quiet. Grayson grabbed my arm. “With all these relatives here, where do you think you’re running off to be lazy?” Grayson’s younger male cousin darted out and started snapping photos of me on his phone. “I’m putting this online! Let everyone see this high-society wife, ha ha ha, who behaves like this.” Grayson snatched the phone and slammed it to the ground. “Stop taking pictures! That’s your sister-in-law!” The small child was crying, the older one was shouting, and the supposedly pregnant woman was clutching her stomach. The room descended into chaos. I bent down to pick up the expensive camera, thinking it was a shame to waste such a good item. The cousin stomped on it. At that moment, the System announced: “Host! Your system has been approved!” The front doors of the hall burst open, and bright winter sun streamed in. “My child! You’ve suffered so much. We finally found you!”
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