Salted Fish is a Rebellious Person – Chapter 49

Xing Shi slowly ate his snacks and interrupted their conversation: “How is it?”

Shang Shang Qian replied, “Everything is going according to plan.”

It then briefly outlined Yan Feng and his team’s strategy.

99 sighed, “They think they can kill someone with such a weak plan? Keep dreaming.”

Having witnessed Xing Shi’s skills firsthand, Shang Shang Qian knew that Yan Feng’s methods wouldn’t work. Even if Xing Shi were clueless, their plan would likely fail—let alone with him being well-prepared.

It added, “I left before they finalized the details, so I’m not sure if they’ll make any last-minute changes.”

Xing Shi said, “It’s fine.”

Finishing his snacks, he grabbed a napkin to wipe his hands. Then, he instructed, “Stay still.”

As soon as he spoke, 99 and Shang Shang Qian felt a surge of energy surrounding them.

99 immediately screamed, “Ahhh! Xing Shi, what are you doing?”

Xing Shi replied calmly, “Just getting to know you two a little better.”

Shang Shang Qian instantly understood—he was preparing for the future capture of the system.

Having gotten used to the energy within his own body, Shang Shang Qian remained calm.

99, on the other hand, was terrified. It could feel the overwhelming energy circling around it, as if ready to devour it at any moment. Panicked, it pleaded, “Xing Xing, calm down! I can still be useful!”

Xing Shi warned, “If you keep yelling, I might accidentally tear you apart.”

99 immediately muted itself in fear.

Xing Shi carefully examined them, circling around them several times before retracting his energy.

Meanwhile, Yan Feng was having his own confrontation with his system.

Shang Shang Qian had deliberately left before they finished discussing their plan, intending to deepen the conflict between Yan Feng and his system.

Yan Feng, unaware of what had transpired, assumed Shang Shang Qian had left entirely. He continued reviewing the details of their plot with his system but noticed an unusual delay before it responded.

Suspicious, he asked, “What were you doing?”

The system hesitated before answering, “Just watching it leave.”

Yan Feng pressed further, “Didn’t you hear me calling you?”

The system admitted its mistake, “I did, but I reacted a bit slowly. I’m sorry, boss.”

Yan Feng narrowed his eyes. “It wasn’t just ‘a bit’ slow.”

The system quickly explained, “I’ve never had to deal with another system sharing a host’s body before. I got distracted for a moment. That was my fault. I shouldn’t have let emotions cloud my judgment at such a critical moment.”

Yan Feng scoffed, “You’d better not be plotting against me.”

The system swore, “Never! I am completely loyal to you, boss!”

Yan Feng snorted but decided to let it slide for now.

After a two-hour drive, they finally arrived at their destination.

The area boasted breathtaking scenery and a cooler temperature compared to the city, making it a perfect getaway spot.

Since it was the end of summer vacation, many tourists had flocked there to make the most of their break, creating a lively atmosphere.

The group disembarked and carried their luggage to the hotel lobby.

Fu Xiuning, having arrived earlier in his private car, gave up the king-size bed room that Yan Feng had booked for him, letting his assistant use it instead. Then, he personally booked a double room in the presidential suite, where he would be staying with Xing Shi.

Yan Feng was secretly pleased about saving a week’s worth of hotel expenses and promptly took the trainees out for some water activities.

The first stop was white-water rafting.

The course started high up in the mountains, featuring fast-moving currents and rocky edges along the riverbanks.

Most of the rafts were built for two people, but Yan Feng, in charge of buying the tickets, deliberately selected a larger raft under the pretense that it would be “more fun and lively.”

After counting the group, he boarded the same raft as Xing Shi, hoping to stage an “accident” and knock him into the water. With no surveillance underwater and the rocky terrain below, there was a decent chance of making it look like a fatal accident.

Before heading out, Fu Xiuning had asked Xing Shi about Yan Feng’s plan in their room. However, Xing Shi, wary of his favorability score skyrocketing, had only replied vaguely, “You’ll find out when the time comes.”

Now, sitting beside Xing Shi on the raft, Fu Xiuning glanced at Yan Feng, quickly deducing his intentions.

Yan Feng, meanwhile, carefully assessed their positions and felt he had chosen the perfect setup.

His system was equally excited, whispering, “As expected of you, boss! You really know how to pick the best opportunity! This is just a test run. If it doesn’t work out, no worries. Boss, don’t be nervous.”

Yan Feng sneered, “Who are you talking to? Why would I be nervous?”

The system immediately backtracked, “Not you, boss! It’s me—I’m the one who’s nervous—”

Before it could finish, a notification rang in their ears.

[Ding!]

[Current Favorability Score: -6]

Yan Feng: “???”

System: “!!!”

The system was horrified. “What’s happening?”

Yan Feng glanced at Fu Xiuning and saw him observing the other people on the raft. A realization struck him. “Does he think we’re intruding on his alone time with Xing Shi?”

The system also noticed Fu Xiuning’s expression and was momentarily speechless. After collecting itself, it consoled Yan Feng, “It’s okay, boss. This is just a one-time drop. It’ll go back up with time… wait, no! If Xing Shi actually dies because of us, the score might plummet even further!”

Yan Feng scoffed, “Who cares? Once I take control of everything, the points will go up again.”

The system chimed in eagerly, “Yes! The boss is mighty as always!”

At that moment, the raft was pushed into the rapids.

As soon as they launched, a series of steep drops sent waves crashing over them, drenching everyone on board.

Yan Feng was pleased. He spotted another rough patch ahead, pretended to lose his grip, and flung himself forward—aiming directly at Xing Shi.

Just as he was about to crash into him, his momentum was halted mid-air.

Fu Xiuning, who had been seated next to Xing Shi, had casually lifted a long leg and pressed against Yan Feng, stopping him from moving forward.

Then, with a slight push of his foot, he kicked Yan Feng backward.

The people around them quickly reached out and grabbed hold of Yan Feng to steady him.

Fu Xiuning gave a simple command: “Hold on tight.”

Yan Feng swallowed his frustration, suppressing the anger in his eyes. Instead, he forced a nervous chuckle and said, “The water flow is too strong, it caught me off guard.”

Xing Shi chimed in, “Brother Feng, be careful. Hold on properly.”

Yan Feng clenched his fists but nodded, pretending to comply.

After every rapid section of the river, there was a brief stretch of calm water.

These areas became social hubs where rafters engaged in playful water fights, even with strangers.

Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning naturally drew attention. Their presence was so striking that they stood out immediately, making it hard for anyone to notice Yan Feng at all.

Even among the chaos, Yan Feng could only stand to the side, seething.

Naturally, Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning became the prime targets of a playful water fight. During the commotion, someone recognized Yan Feng, making the atmosphere even livelier.

Yan Feng saw another opportunity.

Feigning enthusiasm, he actively splashed back at others but held onto his plastic water scoop tightly. The moment they left the buffer zone and entered the rapids, he let go and “accidentally” lost his balance again.

This time, Fu Xiuning reacted quickly.

He reached out and grabbed Xing Shi, pulling him in.

But Yan Feng’s momentum was too strong, and he had no time to stop himself.

In the next moment, he sailed past them, plunging straight into the water.

At the same time, he heard a familiar notification.

[Ding!]

[Current Favorability Score: -8]

The raft surged forward, ignoring the passengers’ startled cries, quickly drifting several meters downstream.

Yan Feng was soon pulled out of the water by lifeguards stationed along the riverbank and was placed onto another raft with a group of trainees waving at him from behind.

Unexpectedly gulping down a mouthful of water, he was beyond furious.

His system hurriedly consoled him, “It’s fine. This method was risky from the start. Whether Xing Shi faints and drowns or suffers a fatal head injury, it’s difficult to control. If anything goes wrong, we’d be held accountable. If we fail, we’ll just have to let it go. Besides, if Xing Shi only gets slightly injured, it could disrupt tomorrow’s plans.”

Yan Feng was fuming. He had never felt this foolish before—so unbelievably stupid.

Seeing that he remained silent, the system continued, “Tomorrow is the main event. Just focus on having fun today.”

Yan Feng gritted his teeth. “And if I get dodged again tomorrow? Or worse, knocked into the water again… Wait, where’s my water scoop?”

The system hesitated before replying, “It must have fallen into the water with you and floated away.”

Yan Feng snapped, “I bought that with my own money! Why didn’t you remind me?!”

The system: “…”

At such a critical moment, who was supposed to care about a plastic scoop?

Since the rafts were guided solely by the river’s flow, there were no paddles. The trainees had to rely on fate to reunite with each other downstream.

Xing Shi watched Yan Feng flounder in the water and figured that, if all went well, he wouldn’t be returning to their raft anytime soon.

Without the troublemaker, he was finally free to enjoy himself.

Soon, they reached another buffer zone—this one even larger and more crowded than the previous one.

Unsurprisingly, Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning were once again the main targets of playful attacks.

Unbothered, Xing Shi fought back without hesitation.

At first, the other rafters hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate to pelt them with water. But when they saw how eagerly Xing Shi retaliated, they joined in with even greater enthusiasm.

Fu Xiuning watched as water splashed at him from all directions. He silently glanced at the lively person beside him.

At that moment, he caught sight of someone accidentally letting go of their water scoop, sending it flying toward them.

Reacting swiftly, he reached out, pressing the back of Xing Shi’s neck and pulling him into his arms.

Xing Shi, blinded by the barrage of water, instinctively buried his face into Fu Xiuning’s shoulder to shield himself.

Both of them were wearing life jackets, creating a barrier between them.

But Fu Xiuning still felt satisfied.

Earlier, their focus had been entirely on Yan Feng, leaving no room for distractions. Now, however, with the warmth of Xing Shi against him, he couldn’t help but swallow involuntarily.

[Ding!]

[Current Favorability Score: 89]

99: “!”

Shang Shang Qian: “…”

Xing Shi’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly straightened up, avoiding Fu Xiuning’s gaze.

Fu Xiuning, too, withdrew his hand, reining himself in. Hearing a nearby rafter call for more scoops, he silently handed over one to them.

The rafts were once again pulled along by the river’s current, continuing their descent.

By the time they reached the bottom of the mountain, the two of them had distanced themselves from each other.

After changing into dry clothes, Xing Shi stepped out of the locker room and headed toward the service area to buy some water. At the entrance, he noticed a row of electric rocking chairs.

Spotting a Lazy Sheep rocking chair among them, he turned to Fu Xiuning and asked, “Want to sit on it?”

Fu Xiuning glanced at him calmly.

Xing Shi added, “You don’t have to play with it—just sit for a bit.”

Fu Xiuning remained unmoved. “It’s pointless.”

Xing Shi insisted, “If you do it for me, it might have some value.”

Fu Xiuning looked at him silently.

Xing Shi met his gaze earnestly. “I’m your younger brother. Just consider it an early birthday gift for me.”

Fu Xiuning held his stare for a few seconds before turning and walking away.

There was no way he would sit on that thing. The most he would tolerate was standing next to it.

Xing Shi seized the opportunity and quickly took a photo.

Fu Xiuning froze for a second upon noticing the movement.

[Ding!]

[Current Favorability Score: 87]

Xing Shi: “!”

99: “!”

Fu Xiuning: “…”

Shang Shang Qian: “…”

Xing Shi gave a thumbs-up. “Not bad.”

Then, with utmost sincerity, he asked, “Brother, are you sure you don’t want to sit down?”

Fu Xiuning glanced at the rocking chair beside him and imagined the scene.

If he sat in public, Xing Shi would definitely take another photo. Worse, this little menace might even print it out and frame it at home.

[Ding!]

[Current Favorability Score: 86]

Fu Xiuning firmly replied, “No.”

Xing Shi, realizing that Fu Xiuning had mentally already sat in that chair, knew this was his limit.

After experimenting over the past few days, he had confirmed that no matter how much he annoyed Fu Xiuning, his favorability score would never drop below 86.

Satisfied, he put his phone away and rejoined the main group.

By then, it was noon, and they found a farmhouse restaurant nearby for lunch.

News that celebrities had arrived quickly spread. The restaurant owner, thrilled by their presence, immediately offered them a discount and eagerly asked for photos.

Finally catching a break, Yan Feng seized the moment. Maintaining his signature cool demeanor, he nodded and took a group photo—even posing for a solo picture with the owner.

The trainees watched enviously. “Brother Feng is amazing!”

Yan Feng declared, “You’ll have the chance to do this in the future too.”

The main reason for his excessive spending this time was Xing Shi’s presence. The other reason was the system persuading him to win people over.

With the mentality of “These people will all work for me in the future”, he openly poached talent right in front of Fu Xiuning. “Train hard, work hard, and you’ll have everything. If you ever face difficulties after debuting—things you don’t understand or struggle with—you can always contact me.”

The trainees responded enthusiastically, “Got it!”

Fu Xiuning, unfazed, acted as if he didn’t understand Yan Feng’s intentions. Calmly and methodically, he rinsed both his and Xing Shi’s dishes with hot water before handing one to Xing Shi.

They were dining in a private room. By the time they stepped out after their meal, the outside was crowded with tourists. A significant number had come specifically for them—especially internet influencers eager to gain traction by taking photos with them.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, they left quickly and returned to the hotel.

Yan Feng didn’t plan anything for the afternoon. One, if he stirred up too much trouble, it would be noticeable. Two, the recreational facilities were too expensive, and he refused to be taken advantage of.

Now that they were being mobbed, he had an excuse. “We should split up in the afternoon—too many of us together draws too much attention.”

Then he added, “You all got up early this morning, so do whatever you like this afternoon. If you’re tired, rest in your rooms. If you want to explore, go ahead—just be mindful of safety. Get a good night’s sleep. We’re climbing the mountain tomorrow morning.”

Everyone agreed and dispersed.

The room Fu Xiuning booked had the best view in the hotel. Since neither he nor Xing Shi were sleepy yet, they sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying the scenery.

Leaving their phones to charge in the bedroom, Xing Shi quietly explained what Yan Feng had planned for tomorrow.

Yan Feng had a mix of obsessive and illegitimate fans. Using a small alternate account, he leaked tomorrow’s schedule to them. His goal was to create chaos on the mountain and, in the commotion, push Xing Shi off a cliff—all while blaming it on the fans.

Fu Xiuning glanced at him and asked, “Do you still want to go?”

Xing Shi replied, “I can go later.”

Fu Xiuning nodded, satisfied.

After napping, they took a stroll around the area.

The mountain environment was peaceful, and—if not for certain annoying factors—it would have been the perfect retreat.

For dinner, Fu Xiuning avoided eating with Yan Feng and the others. Instead, he found a specialty restaurant and drove off with Xing Shi.

—

The next morning, everyone gathered in the hotel lobby at the agreed time.

Yan Feng scanned the crowd but didn’t see Xing Shi. He immediately called him.

Fu Xiuning answered. “You guys go first. We’ll come later.”

Yan Feng insisted, “It’s fine, no rush. We’ll wait for you. There’s a temple at the top—pretty popular. We can all go worship together.”

Fu Xiuning’s tone was unwavering. “Go ahead without us.”

Before Yan Feng could say another word, Fu Xiuning hung up.

One person, one system: “!”

Yan Feng stared at his phone, stunned, as if struck by lightning.

They had planned everything meticulously, considered every detail, but in the end—the main target didn’t even show up.

The system asked hesitantly, “Boss… what do we do now?”

Trying to salvage the situation, Yan Feng told the trainees from Class 2 to call Xing Shi instead.

The response they received was identical. “The boss told us to go ahead.”

Now, even the trainees started persuading Yan Feng to move on.

Yan Feng was boiling with rage but had no choice but to maintain his composure.

With a dark expression, he started walking up the mountain in silence.

The system cautiously reminded him, “Boss… the fans must already be here. You should be careful.”

Yan Feng ignored it completely.

Still trying to recover from the setback, the system suggested, “Maybe we can wait for them at the summit and find another opportunity?”

Yan Feng snapped, “Those two are as cunning as foxes. Where the hell am I supposed to find another opportunity? You want me to humiliate myself like I did yesterday?!”

The system immediately jumped in to console him, “Boss, don’t say that! You’re amazing! Everything you do is genius!”

Yan Feng growled, “Shut up!”

Then, frustrated beyond measure, he yelled, “Enough with the ass-kissing! Wasn’t it your idea to recruit this group of people?! Look at this mess! The money is gone, but the target is still alive!”

The system fell into complete silence.

Yan Feng stormed forward, head down—only to be instantly surrounded by fans.

However, this wasn’t part of the plan.

According to their original arrangement, the fans should have waited for him at the designated spot. But instead, they had walked down on their own.

Scanning his surroundings, Yan Feng realized the scenic area was well protected. There were guardrails everywhere, making it difficult for anyone to “accidentally” fall.

Even if Xing Shi had come, their plan might not have worked.

Now seething with rage, he finally snapped at the obsessed fans.

The fan was caught off guard. Then, equally furious, they cursed him out on the spot.

Sensing things were escalating, the trainees rushed over to break them apart. It took a long time before they were successfully separated.

The system tried to calm Yan Feng down. “Boss, you need to relax and be mindful of your public image.”

Yan Feng barked, “Oh, sure. My life’s about to be over, and I should worry about my public image?!”

After a few seconds of silence, the system hesitantly suggested, “Boss… if nothing else works, maybe we should just hire someone?”

Yan Feng rejected the idea immediately.

It wasn’t about money.

If he paid someone to do it, he’d be handing them leverage over him.

The Fu family was too powerful in this region. Fu Xiuning was a complete psychopath. If the hitman couldn’t withstand Fu Xiuning’s retaliation, they might sell him out to save themselves.

At that point, what would be the difference between this and Xing Shi’s leverage over him now?

He didn’t trust anyone to handle this—only himself.

The system tried again. “It’s okay to spend some money now. You can earn it back later.”

Yan Feng retorted, “This isn’t about money.”

The system paused. Then, cautiously, “Then what is it?”

Irritated, Yan Feng grumbled his concerns aloud.

“That’s easy!” the system chirped. “Just hire professionals to make it look like an accident. If we handle it ourselves, we might slip up and take the blame.”

Yan Feng narrowed his eyes. “How ‘professional’ can they really be?”

The system tentatively suggested, “I could search the dark web?”

Yan Feng scoffed. “Tell me how to log in, and I’ll check it out myself later.”

The system sighed internally. Ever since Yan Feng discovered they could drain souls for energy, he had grown wary of them and refused to accept help easily.

At this rate, who knew when the host would finally let go of his grudge?

“Fine,” the system said. “I’ll show you later.”

—

By the time Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning started climbing the mountain, a video of Yan Feng screaming at his fans was already on the verge of going viral.

Fu Xiuning received a call from the public relations department. When he heard they were planning to shift public opinion toward blaming the sasaeng fans, he simply responded with a “Hmm” to indicate his agreement.

After hanging up, he searched for the viral video online. As he watched the chaotic scene unfold, his expression remained indifferent. Then, he turned and strolled slowly toward the temple.

Once there, he asked the trainees about Yan Feng’s whereabouts. After getting an answer, he gestured for Xing Shi to find Feng Zifan while he walked off alone.

—

Yan Feng had just finished sincerely worshipping the God of Wealth when he stepped out of the temple and immediately spotted Fu Xiuning waiting in the courtyard.

At the same time, he heard a system notification.

【Didi】
[Current Favorability Value: -10]

System: “!!!”

Yan Feng gritted his teeth. “He must be insane!”

Fu Xiuning’s voice was calm. “The PR team just called me. Come with me.”

Yan Feng was already irritated by Fu Xiuning’s commanding tone but forced himself to hold back his temper and followed him to a quiet spot outside the temple.

The area was sparsely populated, with only a few low trees covered in red prayer ribbons swaying in the breeze. Fu Xiuning casually studied the ribbons, appearing uninterested in Yan Feng.

Yan Feng, growing impatient, broke the silence. “Those people were sasaengs. The whole industry despises them. Public opinion won’t turn against me.”

Fu Xiuning nodded slightly, his fingers brushing over one of the prayer ribbons. He turned it in his hand, his palm positioned just right to partially conceal his lips as he murmured, “Then explain the host situation.”

One person, one system: “!!!”

Yan Feng froze as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him. His entire body went cold. His voice came out stiff, “What host?”

Fu Xiuning tilted his head slightly, watching him. “You mean you don’t know?”

Yan Feng forced himself to remain calm. “No idea, boss.”

As he quickly scanned for a scapegoat, he thought of Yu Yi and immediately added, “I only heard that term from Yu Yi once, but wasn’t that just his crazy talk?”

Fu Xiuning’s tone remained indifferent. “I don’t think it’s crazy at all. In fact, it’s rather interesting.”

Yan Feng felt his heart drop.

Fu Xiuning continued, “I already have a few people in mind as potential hosts. I plan to gather them all for a chat.”

One person, one system: “!!!”

If that happened, the hosts would immediately report everything to the main system.

They would all be finished.

Yan Feng let out a forced chuckle, his voice unnaturally light. “Boss, what are you even talking about? I have no idea what’s going on.”

Fu Xiuning smiled faintly. “You’ll understand soon enough.”

He released the ribbon and looked at Yan Feng gently. “Next time you run into a sasaeng fan, don’t overreact. There’s no need to take it so personally.”

Then, without waiting for a response, he brushed past Yan Feng and walked away.

—

Yan Feng stood frozen.

This wasn’t about sasaeng fans anymore.

His entire body was covered in cold sweat. Panic surged in his chest as he quickly called for his system.

—

The system, however, remained silent.

As a part of the main system, it instinctively resisted severing ties with it. But at this critical moment—a life-or-death situation—it had no choice but to make the most logical decision.

Just like now.

Fu Xiuning already knew about the hosts. At any moment, he could summon them and unravel everything. There was no time for damage control.

Yan Feng’s favorability had already dropped to -10. He had a short temper and was suspicious of the system.

There was no saving this anymore.

—

Yan Feng clenched his jaw. “I’m calling you. Are you deaf?!”

Ignoring him, the system quickly set up multiple barriers, then blew up its own energy storage without hesitation.

—

A silent explosion detonated within Yan Feng’s mind.

Pain.

His entire body convulsed violently. A searing pain tore through his head. He reached up instinctively—his fingers came away stained with blood.

He had a nosebleed.

—

Meanwhile, Xing Shi was watching everything.

He had never taken his eyes off Yan Feng, ready to step in the moment something happened.

Seeing Yan Feng suddenly stagger, blood dripping from his nose, he immediately moved toward Fu Xiuning, pretending to look at Yan Feng in surprise.

“Brother Feng, what’s wrong?”

Fu Xiuning turned at the sound of his voice. Without hesitation, both of them stepped forward to support Yan Feng just as he collapsed.

The surrounding onlookers, who had been observing the celebrities from afar, gasped and rushed closer.

Feng Zifan and the other trainees were nearby. Seeing the commotion, they ran over in alarm.

—

Xing Shi’s hand pressed against the back of Yan Feng’s head, as if helping to support him.

In reality, he was doing something else.

He could feel the overflowing energy from the exploded system. Carefully, he absorbed it, analyzing the fragments to ensure nothing vital remained that could allow the system to reassemble itself.

They had gone through great lengths to set this up.

This wasn’t just about taking down Yan Feng’s system—this was an experiment.

They planned to modify this system, infuse it with Star-Time Energy, and send it back into the main system as a Trojan horse.

If, after a period of observation, the main system still didn’t issue any alerts, then it would prove that the system had lost complete contact with the main network.

—

Meanwhile, the system itself was in chaos.

Everything had spiraled out of control.

It had miscalculated.

It had assumed that by severing its connection to the main system, it would avoid punishment and gain free will.

It had assumed that by absorbing Yan Feng’s soul energy, it could recharge and continue operating independently.

It had even hoped that, given time, it could seek out other systems, band together, and hunt down Fu Xiuning as revenge.

But reality was cruel.

The moment it detonated, it realized:

1. It had no energy left—without power, it couldn’t activate its soul absorption feature.
2. A close-range explosion meant that the first casualty was itself.

Everything was a mess.

The system felt its data collapse, its structure disintegrating, its consciousness fading into darkness.

—

In the final moments before it completely lost awareness, one last thought crossed its mind:

“You bastards… I CAN’T ACCEPT THIS!”