Salted Fish is a Rebellious Person – Chapter 07

There was a police station in the university town, so the police car arrived quickly.

Shao Jianbai was handcuffed and taken away, while Xing Shi and the others followed to give their statements.

Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning ended up in the same police car. Xing Shi recalled how the boy had hurled insults at Fu Xiuning, and his curiosity burned to ask the reason. However, realizing that a policeman was in the car with them, he swallowed the question.

But after some thought, Xing Shi figured that Fu Xiuning would give him the same story he gave the police. So, he asked directly, “Senior, do you know that person?”

Fu Xiuning had just experienced an assassination attempt, but his demeanor was as composed as ever. He showed no panic, unease, or anger. His noble temperament remained intact, exuding calm and elegance.

He glanced at Xing Shi.

The hosts whose souls had traveled through time all had mysterious origins. Fu Xiuning had already noticed Xing Shi’s agility when he reached for his hood earlier, but he hadn’t expected him to be this capable.

“Yes,” Fu Xiuning replied. “His name is Shao Jianbai. He’s also a student at our school.”

After answering, Fu Xiuning slipped into the role of the grateful victim. With a concerned tone, he asked, “Thanks to you today. You’re not hurt, are you?”

“No,” Xing Shi replied plainly.

But his curiosity for gossip remained. “Do you two have a grudge?”

Fu Xiuning explained, “He’s liked a girl since high school, but that girl likes me.”

Xing Shi had expected something more dramatic, but when he heard it was such a mundane reason, he felt let down. “That’s it?”

Fu Xiuning continued, “That girl’s personality was just as extreme as his. When she was pursuing me, she resorted to violent means and caused a lot of trouble.”

He sighed softly, as if lamenting the situation. “In the end, her behavior backfired, and she ended up in a vegetative state.”

This was the status of the previous host.

It was because Fu Xiuning had dealt with her that the main system was able to bring in new hosts, including Xing Shi.

Fu Xiuning smoothly changed the topic. “This whole situation was a big deal. Don’t you know about it?”

Xing Shi, who had deliberately been half-hearted in his efforts to complete tasks to frustrate the system, had only a rough understanding of Fu Xiuning’s background. He hadn’t dug deep into the details.

Feigning sudden realization, he exclaimed, “Oh, her! I’ve heard about her. So, the boy likes her?”

Fu Xiuning watched Xing Shi’s performance with a calm expression and nodded. “Yes. Shao Jianbai blames me for everything and hates me for it.”

He glanced at the police officer in the car and added, in a puzzled tone, “I don’t spend much time on campus. The last time I saw him, he was just cursing me from a distance. I don’t know what happened to push him to this extent today.”

Xing Shi speculated, “Maybe the girl’s condition worsened, and he got angrier the more he thought about it?”

He then asked the key question: “But how did he know you were eating there?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “We’ll find out soon enough.”

At the police station, Lin Kecheng handed his phone to the police with a wry smile.

“It’s my fault,” he said. “I accidentally took a photo of Senior Fu. Shao Jianbai contacted me, asking if he was there. I told him he’d already left, and he didn’t reply after that. I thought I’d fooled him, but he still showed up—and with a knife.”

The restaurant’s surveillance footage, coupled with the chat records, made the situation clear.

The records showed that Lin Kecheng had been in contact with Shao Jianbai. Lin Kecheng claimed that he had been trying to persuade Shao Jianbai to let go of his hatred, as a way of repaying Fu Xiuning for his support.

The police didn’t press further and let them leave after taking their statements.

Outside the police station, Lin Kecheng approached Fu Xiuning, his eyes red and his face full of guilt. “Senior, I’m so sorry. I… I almost caused you harm.”

Fu Xiuning often dealt with hosts who brought trouble to his life. Sometimes he solved their problems directly, and other times he let them fall into their own traps.

He had hoped to see Lin Kecheng’s plans backfire more dramatically, but today’s chaos and Lin Kecheng’s visible distress were enough to satisfy him.

With a gentle tone, Fu Xiuning reassured him, “You meant well. Just don’t act so rashly next time. Fortunately, nothing serious happened today. If something had, it would have been too late for regrets.”

Lin Kecheng, looking deeply remorseful, said, “I wasn’t thinking clearly. I just couldn’t bear the thought of him hurting you.”

He turned to Xing Shi and added, “Junior, thank you so much for today. Let me treat you to a meal sometime.”

Xing Shi responded modestly, “I just picked up a few tricks from watching short videos. I didn’t expect them to actually work.”

Lin Kecheng cursed inwardly. He had spent so much time provoking Shao Jianbai, driving him to the brink of madness, only for Xing Shi to neutralize him in an instant. Now Shao Jianbai would face sentencing, and the pawn he had worked so hard to manipulate was rendered useless.

Still, he forced a grateful expression and said, “It must have been fate that you came across those videos.”

The three of them took a taxi back to campus.

Fu Xiuning had his car parked there and planned to return to the company.

Xing Shi, too lazy to attend his afternoon class after all the excitement, decided to tag along with his boss.

Lin Kecheng also had classes but chose to escort them all the way to the parking lot.

Fu Xiuning, expecting Lin Kecheng to continue his act, smiled faintly and comforted him again. “Don’t dwell on it. Today’s events had nothing to do with you.”

Lin Kecheng watched the luxury car drive away, his heart full of mixed emotions.

He asked his system, “Has his attitude toward me improved?”

The system, equally puzzled, replied, “It seems like it, but the favorability value hasn’t changed.”

Lin Kecheng reasoned, “They’re probably still suspicious of my contact with Shao Jianbai. Once the police investigation clears me, Senior Fu will realize my actions were purely instinctive and selfless.”

The system agreed, “When he understands that you shielded him out of reflex, his opinion of you will definitely improve!”

Lin Kecheng smiled confidently. “Exactly.”

Meanwhile, Lin Kecheng’s system joined its small group chat.

The group was made up of six systems, all bound to different hosts. While cooperation wasn’t forbidden, the competitive nature of their missions made them wary of each other. Conversations were rare, and identities were kept vague.

Lin Kecheng’s system sent a message:

God Feeds Me: [Having a capable host is such a relief.]

Other systems quickly chimed in.

You Are All Concubines: [Oh, I’ve heard that before. Hosts like that don’t last long, though. They all leave in the end.]

Come From Behind: [How much favorability have you gained so far?]

You Are All Concubines: [It’s a secret.]

Gong Xi Fa Cai: [What about the new system? Why haven’t they spoken up yet? How’s it going?]

Come From Behind: [Let me guess. Starting at -5, right?]

System 99, holding its pitiful -10 in silence, finally replied with one word:

Long Live Face Control: [Hmm.]

The other systems began offering advice, urging patience and slow progress.

System 99 angrily closed the chat and turned to Xing Shi. “Why?”

Xing Shi, confused, asked, “What?”

“You saved Fu Xiuning!” the system cried. “Why didn’t he give you extra points?”

Xing Shi said simply, “He’s a pervert.”

The system asked, “Aren’t you mad?”

Xing Shi, recalling his turbulent life in the magic world, replied calmly, “This is just the beginning. You’ll understand more when you’ve seen the world.”

The system: “…”

At the company, Fu Xiuning led Xing Shi into the elevator.

He asked, “What classes do you have this afternoon?”

“Dance and acting,” Xing Shi replied.

Fu Xiuning looked at him thoughtfully. “Which one do you like better?”

“If I had to choose, dance,” Xing Shi said.

The system chimed in, “See? He’s asking because he wants to give you resources for saving him!”

Xing Shi scoffed internally. “I’d rather he just treat me to a fancy meal.”

The system: “…”

With a “ding,” the elevator doors opened.

Fu Xiuning stepped out first, his expression unreadable.

As Xing Shi walked away, the familiar sound of a notification rang in his mind.

[Beep Beep]
[Current Favorability Value: -10]

The system was too stunned to speak.

For the first time since arriving in this world, it roared in frustration:

“No! You just saved him! He must be sick—!!!”