The year Jiang Ci was sent to live with the Lu family, someone claiming to be a System showed up and told him he was just the villainous childhood-friend male lead in a “childhood friend can't compete with a newcomer” novel.
System: “You're arrogant, selfish, and ridiculously troublesome.
You use the favor between your parents to demand that the gong obey you in everything, tricking him into being your dog.
The gong only takes you in as his little brother out of a sense of duty and because of his parents' teachings. He reluctantly goes along with you, pretending to care for you, while you treat him as your property and won't let him be anyone else's dog. If he does, you throw a tantrum and make unreasonable demands.
The gong has lived under the pressure of you and your parents for years, becoming numb, repressed, and twisted. It isn't until he meets the protagonist shou in his first year of university that he learns what real love is and what it's like to be a normal human being.”
The System continued to tempt him:
“And you, my adorable baby, will one day be cruelly abandoned by him. You won't let go and will do all sorts of terrible things, until you're banished to Africa and die in a slum.
Now, as long as you listen to me, I promise to help you escape the plot and find your way to a bright, beautiful future!”
Five-year-old Jiang Ci tilted his head, only half understanding.
Meanwhile, the gong the System was talking about was on his hands and knees on the floor, eyes sparkling as he slapped his backside and offered to let Jiang Ci ride him like a horse.
Thinking that his childhood friend would abandon him in the future and dump him in a slum, Jiang Ci shouted angrily,
“I-I won't ride you ever again!”
Rumble
His tiny childhood friend looked as if he'd been struck by lightning. He held it in for two seconds, then burst into tears, sobbing loudly.
Seeing the gong cry, Jiang Ci looked around, afraid of getting scolded. His mouth turned down, and he started crying, too.
The System slapped itself hard across the face.
Years later,
With the System's guidance, Jiang Ci avoided the plot and went abroad to study.
At his welcome-home party, the System was certain the gong and protagonist shou had ended up together, and that everyone was heading toward a wonderful future.
Jiang Ci swirled his glass of red wine, catching a glimpse from the corner of his eye of a pair of bloodshot eyes glaring at him from the corner, filled with grievance and sorrow.
Jiang Ci took a sip of wine and smiled gently. “System, I think your predictions might be off.”
Theme: Sweetheart, hehe
