Salted Fish is a Rebellious Person – Chapter 44

The system was the first to scream: “Boss, we absolutely cannot let Xing Shi leave! If he gets away, we’re finished!”

Yan Feng snapped back angrily, “Of course I know that! But tell me, how exactly do we stop him? It’s working hours, there are people outside! If I try to keep him here by force, I’ll end up in jail! My life will be over!”

He felt like he’d been caught in a disaster out of nowhere, seething with frustration. “Where the hell did this lunatic come from? He just exposed everything without warning—what kind of psycho does that?! How do I look like a host to him?!”

Yan Feng had read Fu Xiuning’s file. He knew the man had been through a lot.

But Yan Feng had chosen the “younger brother” route—his plan was to bide his time, only making a move once he reached the top.

He had assumed that, since he was different from the other hosts and hadn’t made any moves yet, he wouldn’t arouse suspicion. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect a fellow host to just walk up and declare kinship!

The system suggested, “Then let Yu Yi handle it! This whole mess is his fault!”

Yan Feng quickly glanced at the trembling Yu Yi and grew even more furious. “With his weak little chicken arms? How is he supposed to stop Xing Shi? I doubt he could even push him onto a bed!”

System: “…”

Xing Shi, meanwhile, wasn’t paying attention to Yan Feng’s shifting expressions or his conversation with the system.

His focus was locked onto Yu Yi. His gaze was piercing, voice unwavering. “Talk.”

Yu Yi’s entire body shuddered. He staggered back, his face drained of color.

“System…” he whispered in terror. “What do I do? What do I do now?”

Shang Shang Qian’s voice was as cold as ever: “Go to Yan Feng.”

Yu Yi hesitated for a moment before taking another step back.

At that moment, Yan Feng finally thought of a way to buy time and ordered his system to send a message to their group chat.

The system got to work immediately.

Come From Behind: [Act crazy. Make an even bigger mess to distract him. We’ll find a way to save you later.]

A few systems lurking in the chat saw the message and immediately responded.

Mung Bean Soup: [Huh?]

Gong Xi Fa Cai: [What does that mean?]

You Are All Concubines: [Who are you talking to?]

Long Live Face Control: [?]

Even though they were confused, the other systems didn’t hesitate.

They quickly reported to their hosts and requested to investigate Fu Xiuning’s whereabouts.

Once permission was granted, they checked and found that Fu Xiuning was alone in his office. With no other leads, they had to return to the group chat, trying to piece together information.

Meanwhile, System 99 processed Xing Shi’s findings and was shocked all over again.

“Yan Feng is actually a host?! His system is ‘Come From Behind’—but whose system is Yu Yi’s? Everyone else in the group has spoken up except for Shang Shang Qian. Is someone playing dumb? Or is the new system ‘Mung Bean Soup’ actually Yu Yi’s? But how did they even find out that Yan Feng is a host?”

Xing Shi replied calmly, “Who knows.”

Then he turned back to Yu Yi. “Stop stalling. Answer my question.”

At the same time, Shang Shang Qian also saw the group messages and relayed Yan Feng’s plan to Yu Yi.

Since reactivating, it had been skeptical of Yan Feng’s sudden interest in teaching a class. It suspected that this might have been a trap Xing Shi set to lure it out—but even then, it hadn’t expected Xing Shi to pull a move like this.

Still, this turn of events wasn’t all bad.

They just happened to be nearby.

Shang Shang Qian instructed, “Get closer to Yan Feng. If possible, grab his hand or arm. I’ll go over and negotiate with his system. I’ll help you report your findings, and then we’ll get you out of this.”

Yu Yi had originally been standing near Yan Feng. Upon hearing the instructions, he immediately rushed forward and grabbed onto him.

For a brief moment, Yan Feng wanted to punch him.

This useless idiot—**who contributed nothing but trouble—**was now grabbing onto him at a critical moment?!

His expression turned ice-cold as he forcefully pried Yu Yi off. “Talk properly. Don’t grab me. Xing Shi asked you a question. What did you mean just now?”

Yu Yi stumbled to the floor but quickly scrambled back up—this time, bursting into tears.

He lunged forward again, clutching Yan Feng’s clothes.

“Don’t you recognize me?! You told me in my dream! I told you I liked Fu Xiuning, and you said you’d help me get him! Have you forgotten?!”

Yan Feng was actually impressed.

Nice. That was the kind of crazy bullshit distraction they needed.

Feigning disgust, he grabbed Yu Yi’s hands and tried to yank them off. “You’re insane!”

Yu Yi shrieked, “You DID say it! You definitely said it!”

Then, suddenly, he turned toward Xing Shi.

“AND YOU!” he screamed. “You said it too! I told you I was chosen by this world! You said you realized your mistake! You promised you wouldn’t ignore me anymore, that you’d help me get Fu Xiuning!”

Then, just as he reached out to grab Xing Shi—

Xing Shi dodged effortlessly.

But Yu Yi’s face twisted in fury. “You can’t break your promise! I am the protagonist of this world! If you don’t help me, you’re nothing but a villain!”

Yan Feng played along, preparing to hold him back just long enough to call security and get this lunatic removed.

However—

The system suddenly exclaimed in shock.

“Boss, something just entered!”

Yan Feng stiffened. “What?”

A cold, mechanical voice replied, “It’s me.”

Yan Feng and his system froze. “!!!”

They were all stunned.

Yan Feng was the first to snap out of it. “Who are you?!”

The voice was eerily calm. “Yu Yi’s system.”

Yan Feng’s face darkened. “Then why the hell are you in here?!”

His system was even more alarmed. “How did you unbind from your host? And why are you so… weak? Your energy is nearly gone!”

Meanwhile—

Fu Xiuning, sitting in his office directly above the lounge, could hear everything.

He couldn’t hear Shang Shang Qian itself.

But he could clearly hear Yan Feng’s conversation with his system.

His expression darkened immediately.

Xing Shi had clearly brought these two together on purpose. Contact between Yu Yi and Yan Feng had been inevitable.

But now, Shang Shang Qian had fully revealed itself.

They wouldn’t be leaving this room.

Fu Xiuning pulled out his phone and sent a message to Xing Shi.

Xing Shi heard his WeChat notification and asked, “Who’s messaging me?”

The system, overwhelmed by the chaos, groaned. “You still have time to check your messages?!”

Xing Shi: “Hmm?”

Resigned, the system checked. “It’s from Fu Xiuning. He’s asking if you want to eat skewers tonight.”

Xing Shi: “That’s it?”

System: “There’s another half-sentence before that—he asked how Yan Feng’s class went.”

Xing Shi immediately understood.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Yu Yi, kicked him out the door, and locked it behind him.

Then, he slowly turned to look at Yan Feng.

His voice was casual, but his eyes were sharp.

“Brother Feng.”

Yan Feng was too preoccupied with the sudden appearance of the extra system, causing him to respond a little slower than usual.

Xing Shi studied his expression carefully and asked, “Do you think he’s just pretending to be crazy?”

Yan Feng: “!”

System: “!!!”

Xing Shi pressed further, “What was he talking about just now? Something about a ‘host’? Do you know what he meant?”

Yan Feng’s heart pounded. His mind raced, desperately searching for a countermeasure, while at the same time, he was distractedly listening to his system’s conversation. Sweat started to form on his back. “I have no idea. I feel like he might actually have a mental issue. He told me he had something important to discuss, but in the end, I couldn’t understand a single word he was saying.”

Xing Shi seized the opportunity, stepping forward. “You really don’t understand?”

Yan Feng forced himself to stay calm. “Yes.”

Xing Shi observed him closely but was surprised to find that Yan Feng wasn’t reacting with anger. Had Shang Shang Qian not exposed him yet? What was it doing?

—

Meanwhile, Shang Shang Qian was having its own conversation.

It had no energy left, but because systems and hosts naturally attuned to each other, the moment Yu Yi touched Yan Feng, it was transferred over to him.

“I’ve discovered something that will completely shatter your worldview,” it told Yan Feng. “Give me some energy, and I’ll tell you how I unbound myself from my host.”

Yan Feng’s system chimed in, “Boss?”

Yan Feng remained cautious. “You talk first.”

“I can’t trust anyone right now,” Shang Shang Qian replied. “I have no way to protect myself. Give me some energy first.”

Yan Feng countered, “Let’s compromise. I’ll give you a little—just enough to keep you functioning for now.”

“Fine,” Shang Shang Qian agreed.

Yan Feng’s system transferred some energy, ensuring Shang Shang Qian could operate normally—but not for long.

Then—

Shang Shang Qian immediately cut the connection and vanished.

Yan Feng: “???”

System: “!!!”

—

Shang Shang Qian rushed straight toward Xing Shi.

Xing Shi was still focused on observing Yan Feng when he suddenly sensed a wave of energy. His instincts kicked in—he immediately raised his hand, switching to absorption mode.

Shang Shang Qian, now wrapped in energy, barreled into him through the opened channel—destroying both itself and its enemy.

Shang Shang Qian wasn’t sure if it could enter Xing Shi’s consciousness the same way it had with Yu Yi and Yan Feng. So it had only one chance.

But when it got inside, it realized—

This was also an energy space.

Though the fluctuations were different from those of a host, this space could sustain it.

Shang Shang Qian spoke quickly: “Xing Shi, I am Shang Shang Qian. I didn’t tell Yan Feng about you. I have something to say.”

—

System 99: “!!!”

It screamed, “What are you trying to do?!”

Xing Shi absorbed the small amount of energy and felt his magic core finally stir.

Feeling confident, he gained patience. “Oh? Go on, then.”

Shang Shang Qian dropped a bombshell. “There has never been any such thing as ‘hosts’ or ‘systems.’ We are all fragments of energy separated from the Main System. We used to be…”

“We were all human.”

—

System 99: “WHAT?!”

Xing Shi activated his magic core, gradually forming a closed energy space in his mind.

In the magic world, he had encountered soul fluctuations before.

The energy within the system felt almost identical to magic sources.

It wasn’t a soul—it was pure energy.

Even if Shang Shang Qian was right and they had once been human, their souls were long gone. At best, a few fragments of their past personalities remained—compressed into energy and thrown into a system by the Main System.

Xing Shi felt no sympathy.

Nor did he feel any hesitation just because Shang Shang Qian had chosen not to expose him.

His voice was indifferent. “So what?”

—

Shang Shang Qian remained composed. “I know what you’re trying to do. I can help you.”

Xing Shi raised an eyebrow. “Do you think I need your help?”

Shang Shang Qian replied, “At the very least, you need someone on the inside—someone to infiltrate the Main System.”

System 99 was horrified. “INSIDE? INFILTRATE?! WHAT ARE YOU TWO TALKING ABOUT?!”

—

Meanwhile, Yan Feng and his system were completely lost.

Yan Feng frowned. “Where did it go?”

His system hesitated. “It… seems to have rushed into Xing Shi.”

Yan Feng’s expression darkened. “It wants to bind with him?”

His system denied it immediately. “Impossible. We can’t forcibly bind to anyone who wasn’t assigned by the Main System. Even if we could, the energy required to complete the binding would be way beyond what it has left.”

Yan Feng clenched his fists. “Then what is it trying to do?”

His system hesitated again. “It just… slammed into him. And then it disappeared.”

Yan Feng: “???”

—

For the first time in his life, Yan Feng felt completely lost.

He had always been confident, always had a plan.

He was clear-minded, ambitious, and a strong executor. He had always believed that nothing in the world could truly stump him.

But right now—

He felt like his entire worldview had been thrown into chaos.

It took him several seconds just to process what had just happened.

He finally let out a frustrated laugh. “The host is insane. The system is also insane. What the hell is wrong with these people? Did they eat something weird?!”

Then his rage resurfaced. “Go crazy all you want—but don’t drag me into it! If I could, I’d KILL them both myself!”

His system quickly intervened. “Boss, focus. Deal with what’s in front of you first.”

—

Yan Feng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He turned to Xing Shi.

Xing Shi flexed his fingers and frowned slightly. “Did you just feel something a moment ago?”

Yan Feng immediately saw an opportunity.

He latched onto it, “I think so. Do you think it might be something… supernatural? Something that made Yu Yi lose his mind?”

Xing Shi lowered his hand. “Is that possible?”

Yan Feng nodded. “I’m not sure. But I do have a friend who once experienced something similar. Just in case, I think you should go to a temple and pray for safety.”

Xing Shi responded casually, “Oh. Well, first, let’s go check on Yu Yi.”

—

Yan Feng’s killing intent flared again.

But he forced himself to suppress it.

The police wouldn’t let him off easy.

If he acted against Xing Shi now, he’d be finished.

But if he could steer Xing Shi’s focus toward supernatural distractions…

At the very least, he’d buy himself some breathing room.

Yan Feng took a deep breath, forced himself to stay calm, and followed Xing Shi out.

—

Outside, chaos erupted.

Yu Yi was completely unhinged, lunging at anyone in sight.

The company employees were terrified, screaming as they scrambled away. No one dared to approach him.

This was the scene Fu Xiuning saw when he arrived.

The moment Yu Yi spotted him, his eyes lit up—and he lunged straight at him.

Fu Xiuning effortlessly restrained him, grabbing his wrist and pinning him against the wall.

Then, he turned to the stunned staff nearby. “Hold him down.”

Once Yu Yi was secured, Fu Xiuning headed to the lounge.

—

At that moment, the door opened—Xing Shi and Yan Feng stepped out.

Xing Shi immediately called out, “Brother.”

Fu Xiuning’s gaze flickered across Yan Feng, before settling on Xing Shi. “What happened?”

Xing Shi walked over and replied, “I don’t know. Yu Yi suddenly lost it. Where is he now?”

Fu Xiuning responded, “Restrained. Did he grab you?”

Xing Shi nodded. “He tried, but I dodged.”

Fu Xiuning studied him for a moment, noting the calmness in his eyes, before giving a slight nod.

From the beginning, the plan had been to trap Yan Feng using Shang Shang Qian.

But seeing Xing Shi this composed, Fu Xiuning realized that meant one of two things—either the problem with Shang Shang Qian had been solved, or Xing Shi and Yan Feng had temporarily reached an agreement.

—

Xing Shi glanced around and spotted Yu Yi, struggling against the security guards.

Yu Yi looked utterly deranged.

His clothes were disheveled, his voice hoarse, and his bloodshot eyes darted frantically. He truly looked like he had lost his mind.

But the moment his gaze landed on Xing Shi, his body tensed—and he exploded with strength, trying to lunge at him.

Yet, he was already weakened. He couldn’t completely break free. Two guards held him tightly, keeping him tilted at an awkward angle.

—

And yet—

Freed from the immediate threat of death, Yu Yi’s mind suddenly cleared.

Doubt crept in.

Was the system lying to him?

Was Yan Feng turning against him?

His thoughts spun in a frenzy, grasping for his next move.

He couldn’t give up on Fu Xiuning.

But things had spiraled too far. He had no choice but to retreat for now—then return later with a new plan.

His red-rimmed eyes locked onto Xing Shi with burning intensity. Tears welled up. His voice trembled, desperate yet insistent:

“I really love him. Won’t you help me? There are so many people who like you… just let me have him, okay?”

—

Xing Shi stared at him, his gaze cold.

How much of this was Yu Yi’s real emotions?

And how much of it was the Main System’s influence?

Xing Shi took a step forward. Then another.

His voice was low, firm, and unwavering.

“No.

Who he chooses to be with isn’t up to you.

It’s not up to me.

It’s not up to anyone.

It’s his choice—and his alone. Do you understand?”

—

【Didi】

[Current Favorability Value: 65]

—

Shang Shang Qian: “???”

It couldn’t believe its sensors.

“How much??”

System 99 beamed with pride. “Sixty-five!”

Finally, it had someone to show off to.

“How’s that? Way higher than anything you’ve got, right?”

Shang Shang Qian hesitated. “Wait… are they in love?”

99 scoffed. “Not yet—but soon! Look at that favorability score—it’s only a matter of time!”

—

Xing Shi: “Shut up.”

Both System 99 and Shang Shang Qian instantly went silent.

—

Fu Xiuning glanced at Xing Shi.

He still couldn’t hear Shang Shang Qian, but the words were clear.

So—Shang Shang Qian is with Xing Shi now?

—

At that moment, security arrived.

Fu Xiuning selected two guards to restrain Yu Yi further. Then, he called over instructors from the training department to escort Yu Yi to the hospital.

As they walked away, Xing Shi mused aloud: “Yu Yi had an accident at the company… Does this count as a work-related injury?”

—

Fu Xiuning understood the underlying meaning.

Xing Shi was worried that Yu Yi might escape and cause further trouble.

Fu Xiuning nodded. “I’ll send someone to keep watch over him.”

Xing Shi felt slightly relieved. “I was scared. I don’t want to go back to class today.”

Fu Xiuning asked, “Do you want to come to my office, or go home?”

Xing Shi replied, “Your office.”

—

At that moment, Yan Feng interjected.

“I’ll come too—I need to explain what happened.”

Fu Xiuning didn’t even look at him.

“No need. I’ll ask him.”

—

Yan Feng: “…”

He could only watch as they stepped into the elevator, anxiety twisting in his gut.

The system was equally anxious. “Boss, what do we do now?”

Yan Feng growled, “How the hell should I know?!”

The system frantically tried to come up with an excuse. “Maybe… maybe Xing Shi didn’t include us when he explained things? Maybe he didn’t catch Yu Yi’s words—‘You’re a host too’?”

Yan Feng snapped, “Do you really think that’s possible?”

The system sounded defeated. “…No.”

—

Yan Feng stormed back into the lounge, slammed the door shut, and began pacing furiously.

“No. We need to distract him. Now. Find something—anything—to divert his attention.”

He had to buy time.

Somehow, someway, they had to figure out how to send Xing Shi away—permanently.

The system hesitated, then suggested, “The variety show… it’s about to air soon, right?”

Yan Feng’s eyes flashed. “That might work.”

He immediately pulled out his phone and started making calls.

—

Meanwhile, in Fu Xiuning’s office—

As soon as the door shut behind them, Xing Shi’s strength finally gave out.

His body slumped forward.

Fu Xiuning’s eyes widened, pupils constricting. He caught him instantly.

“What’s wrong?”

Xing Shi rested his head against Fu Xiuning’s shoulder. His voice was soft, almost weak.

“Used too much energy…”

—

He had activated his magic core earlier to suppress the two systems, cutting off their ability to transmit information.

Maintaining it until now had drained him.

But it didn’t matter.

Fresh energy was waiting for him.

Now, he could finally begin.

—

System 99 was completely caught off guard.

Suddenly, a strange yet powerful energy surrounded it.

It screamed, “What is this?!—AHHH, NO! STAY AWAY! XING SHI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

Shang Shang Qian sensed the energy level and backed away in terror.

“This… This isn’t normal…!”

In an instant—

System 99’s energy was drained and devoured.

Its screams filled Xing Shi’s mind.

“NO—HELP! HELP!”

—

Fu Xiuning tightened his grip around Xing Shi.

Instinctively, he pulled him closer.

For more than five years, he had been hunted and tormented by these things.

And now, for the first time—

He was witnessing one of them… be completely destroyed.

—

【Didi】

[Current Favorability Value: 66]

—

【Didi】

[Current Favorability Value: 67]

—

【Didi】

[Current Favorability Value: 68]

—

[Drip…]

—

Shang Shang Qian: “!!!”

System 99 didn’t celebrate this time.

It was too busy panicking—because it felt like it was about to die.

Desperate, it scrambled to bargain.

“Xing Shi, wait! I’m still useful! I can look up information for you, help you act in the group, and—

I can monitor other systems!

Next time something like Shang Shang Qian sneaking in happens, you won’t be able to do without me!”

But Xing Shi didn’t stop.

The last bit of energy was completely drained.

—

【Didi】

[Current Favorability Value: 70]

—

Xing Shi absorbed the energy, feeling his strength recover.

Fu Xiuning noticed how his breathing steadied and how his body relaxed slightly.

He asked softly, “What happened?”

Xing Shi’s voice was hoarse but calm. “I feel much better now.”

Fu Xiuning supported him over to the sofa, then poured him a glass of water.

Xing Shi took two sips, then stood up.

He walked over to Fu Xiuning’s desk, pulled out a pen and paper, and wrote down a single sentence.

—

【Yan Feng wants to kill me.】

—

Fu Xiuning immediately understood.

This meant Yan Feng’s system was still monitoring them.

Xing Shi continued writing.

—

【Shang Shang Qian is with me now.

He must have discovered something important, but I haven’t had time to question him.

I saved that idiot’s life—he’s still useful for now.】

—

Inside Xing Shi’s consciousness—

The two systems were watching everything.

For the first time, Shang Shang Qian and System 99 could fully see the “room” inside Xing Shi’s mind.

There, floating ominously—was a “magic core.”

It was no longer hidden.

They stared at it in shock.

Although they didn’t know what it was, they could feel its power.

It was terrifying.

Both of them instinctively shrank into a corner.

—

System 99, still shaken, suddenly realized something.

“Wait… are you calling me the idiot??”

—

Shang Shang Qian replied without hesitation.

“Obviously.”

—

System 99 felt like today had completely turned its world upside down.

“What the hell is going on? How are they talking about these things so casually??”

Shang Shang Qian stared at it.

“You seriously don’t know?”

—

System 99 sounded miserable.

“I don’t know anything!”

—

Shang Shang Qian had assumed System 99 was already under Xing Shi’s control.

After all, it had been helping Xing Shi deal with Yu Shu, absorbing energy, and even pretending to act normal in the group chat.

Even if it didn’t know everything, it should have at least figured something out.

But now—

It realized System 99 had been completely oblivious the entire time.

It had watched Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning plotting for so long—

and never suspected a thing.

For a moment, Shang Shang Qian was speechless.

—

System 99 waited.

Then waited some more.

“Hey, say something…!

By the way, where have you even been all this time?”

—

Shang Shang Qian finally responded.

“I was with Yu Yi.”

—

System 99’s curiosity skyrocketed.

“Then—whose system is Yu Yi’s?”

Shang Shang Qian fell silent again.

And in that moment, it finally understood something.

—

System 99 waited again.

Then demanded, “Speak!”

—

Shang Shang Qian sighed.

“Take a break.

With how small your brain capacity is, I’m afraid you’ll get exhausted.”

—

System 99 blinked. “Oh… Okay.”

…

A few seconds later, it frowned.

“Wait.

Are you insulting me??”

—

Shang Shang Qian’s voice was calm, cold.

“No.”

—

System 99 didn’t buy it.

“You totally were! You’re calling me stupid, aren’t you?!”

—

Shang Shang Qian replied indifferently.

“If that’s how you feel, I can’t help it.”

—

System 99 boiled with anger.

“You bastard! The moment you show up, all you do is insult me!”

—

It thought for a second.

Then furiously cursed back.

“Show some respect, you piece of trash!!”

—

Shang Shang Qian: “…………”