HBWMA -Chapter 39 Rules of the Scripted World

“Ah-choo!”

Jiang Huashan suddenly sneezed for no apparent reason, splattering Shen Zhuang’s face with saliva. Shen Zhi’s eyelid twitched, and he quickly handed over a handkerchief.

“Sorry, Grandpa. I tried to turn my head but I was too slow.” Jiang Huashan sniffed, looking a little embarrassed.

Shen Zhuang waved it off, casually wiping his face, then turned to instruct Shen Zhi, “Go get a coat.”

Jiang Huashan felt a warm feeling in her chest. “Grandpa, you’re so good to me. When I grow up, I’ll definitely be filial to you.”

Shen Zhuang chuckled. “Only now you realize I’m good to you? Then why would you rather make a scene and turn everything upside down than come to me for help?”

Jiang Huashan froze and looked up at him.

Shen Zhuang patted her head. “How many times have I told you? If you’re wronged, come to Grandpa. In my place, you never need to beat around the bush.”

Only then did Jiang Huashan realize—this old man had already seen through everything. He had simply been cooperating with her act earlier.

Seeing her unease, Shen Zhuang quickly added, “Grandpa isn’t blaming you. In the end, it’s because I didn’t do well enough. Xiao Shan, remember this: no matter what grievance you suffer outside, you can always tell Grandpa directly. I’ll back you up.”

Jiang Huashan looked at the kind-faced elder and asked blankly, “Grandpa… will you believe whatever I say?”

After her previous life, once her grandfather passed away, there was no one left to stand up for her. No matter what she said, no one believed her.

After awakening, she hadn’t stopped trying to change others’ perceptions, but nothing worked. Just as the Book Spirit had said, her “labels” had already been fixed. Even if those bad things weren’t done by her, the moment suspicion arose, she would become everyone’s target.

This trip to Xiaying was something she had to take. It was the best opportunity to get closer to Fu Sui’er and bring her into her own camp.

At the same time, she was also worried about Fang Mei. Her instincts told her Fang Mei was becoming dangerous, and she couldn’t leave a ticking time bomb beside her grandfather.

Under the constraints of the “character rules,” she hadn’t been trusted for a long time. Because of that, she always thought that as long as she found evidence, her grandfather would believe her.

But as Shen Zhuang said, it didn’t have to be that complicated. She could just say it directly—her grandfather was more capable and would naturally find a way to solve it.

“Grandpa, will you believe me no matter what I say? Even if it’s completely absurd, even if I have no evidence at all?” Jiang Huashan’s gaze suddenly turned firm, as if she had made some decision.

Shen Zhuang nodded. “As long as it’s you saying it, Grandpa will believe you.”

Jiang Huashan said, “Grandpa, actually I am ***************”

It was censored?!

Jiang Huashan’s eyes widened in shock!

But what shocked her even more was that the world before her suddenly flattened into a two-dimensional slice.

Trees, pavilion, night sky—including Shen Zhuang and Shen Zhi—everything became like a page in a comic book.

The scenery and people turned into paper cutouts.

At that moment, Jiang Huashan suddenly remembered what the Book Spirit had once said: she was the only character in this scripted world who had awakened self-awareness—she had gained life.

She hadn’t fully understood what that meant before, until this moment.

She looked down at herself. She was completely out of place in this world. Her hands were soft and warm, her fingertips pink and glowing with life, while Shen Zhuang and Shen Zhi had become flat paper figures, their expressions frozen in a single frame.

In an instant, everything flickered—and returned to normal.

Mountains and rivers regained their spirit, the night regained its light.

Shen Zhuang still wore his kind and firm smile. “As long as it’s you saying it, Grandpa will believe you.”

It was as if she had returned to the previous second.

Jiang Huashan lowered her gaze and tightly held onto Shen Zhuang’s arm. “Okay. I remember.”

Just then, movement came from outside the courtyard. Shen Zhi went out under the corridor and soon returned.

“Old Master, it’s the Young Miss. She wants to see you.”

Shen Zhuang frowned. “No. Send her back.”

Shen Zhi nodded and was about to leave when Jiang Huashan suddenly grabbed Shen Zhuang.

“Grandpa, it’s so late. Aunt Jiao probably has something important to tell you. Why don’t you meet her?”

Shen Zhuang considered it for a moment, then changed his mind. “Tell her to go to the flower hall.”

“Yes.” Shen Zhi nodded, glancing at Jiang Huashan before leaving.

Jiang Huashan stood up. “Grandpa, you go ahead. I’m going to sleep.”

The guest room had already been prepared. A child like Jiang Huashan didn’t need much worrying about. Shen Zhuang nodded and headed toward the flower hall with his cane.

Jiang Huashan’s bedroom was right across from Shen Zhuang’s. The maids of Qinyuan were all long-serving staff who knew how much the old master doted on this young lady, so they did not dare to be careless. Although it was a temporary room, the bedding and pillows had all been freshly replaced with silk.

As soon as Jiang Huashan lay down, sleepiness surged over her, and she quickly fell asleep.

In her dream, she once again saw that enormous “Scripted World Gate.”

This time she was no longer afraid. She studied it carefully for a moment, then walked up and kicked it.

“Was that you just now messing with me?”

The gate emitted a green glow, and glowing green text appeared in midair:

【Rule of the Scripted World 1: The existence of the scripted world must not be disclosed. If violated, the person who reveals it will randomly gain a negative character label, and the person who hears it will be immediately erased.】

【Reminder: Warning privilege has been used. Next violation will take immediate effect.】

“…Seriously? Why didn’t you say so earlier?!” Jiang Huashan was speechless.

Wait. If there’s one rule, there must be more.

This time she had learned her lesson. She kicked it again.

“What other rules are there?”

The gate glowed green again:

【Once the scripted world is activated, characters explore freely. Rules only appear when triggered.】

“….”

Jiang Huashan pressed a hand to her forehead.

She had only awakened—she hadn’t suddenly grown a second brain. With a system like this, how was she supposed to play?!