TMLSG -Chapter 40 Husband

While Tang Zhen was discussing with the system how to subtly bring up a breakup with the male lead, Ren Yanjing’s cousin was sharing gossip about him in the family chat.

Ren Yan’er: “In the middle of the night, acting as a messenger, making sure little Tang doesn’t ignore A-Jing, hahaha.”

Ren Yanli: “Sis, what gossip is it?”

Ren Yan’er: “A-Jing must’ve upset little Tang. Since he’s not here, he could only send me to soothe her. A-Jing, this is as far as I can help you.”

A senior family member, a little older, suddenly chimed in: “This young lady is so spoiled by attention?”

Ren Yan’er, knowing some elders might not understand, hurriedly explained: “Little Tang isn’t spoiled. She has a very good personality. Third granduncle, you don’t know how beautiful she really is. Honestly, seeing her lifts my mood. With a beauty like that, a little delicacy is totally understandable.”

Otherwise, even if she was acting on Ren Yanjing’s request, she wouldn’t have been so willing to make this late-night trip.

Ren Yanli: “I testify—my sister-in-law is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”

Ren Yan’er: “The first time I saw her, I thought, how can a real person look this amazing? I didn’t think anyone could impress me more—but then I saw her a second time, and she truly did.”

Who would believe it? Little Tang was already top-tier beautiful, yet she was the kind whose looks grow on you—the more you see, the more attractive.

Ren Yan’er summarized: “Third granduncle, if you met her, you’d like her too.”

The next morning, Tang Zhen learned from classmates that Zhou Xusi had donated a building to the school, and there would be a ceremony with students delivering flowers as representatives.

Tang Zhen hadn’t even processed the news when her homeroom teacher notified her that Zhou Xusi had specifically requested her to present the flowers.

Tang Zhen: …

000 sighed. 【Xiao Zhen, this male supporting character is acting strange now. I’ve reported the situation to headquarters; they want me to upgrade the system.】

Tang Zhen: “Can you still talk to me while upgrading?”

【No, but the upgrade only takes six hours. I’ll be back immediately.】

After saying that, 000 temporarily went offline.

Since entering this story, Tang Zhen had always had 000 by her side. Now, with it temporarily gone, she felt a bit unaccustomed.

Tang Zhen didn’t understand why Zhou Xusi would donate a building to her school.

But she was never one to overthink things; if she couldn’t figure it out, she wouldn’t dwell on it.

The ceremony was long, and Tang Zhen was mostly lost in a fog, occasionally catching the words “Mr. Zhou Xusi,” but everything else drifted past her ears.

After some time, she heard the announcement: “Student representative, please come up and present the flowers.”

She quickly picked up the bouquet beside her, held it with both hands, and walked up to Zhou Xusi to hand it to him.

Zhou Xusi maintained his usual mature and composed demeanor. Apart from a few in-the-know staff and Tang Zhen herself, no one knew he had specifically requested her to present the flowers.

The moment was captured by a dedicated photographer, and it would soon appear on the school’s official website along with the press release.

After the ceremony, Zhou Xusi took the initiative to stop Tang Zhen: “Let’s have a meal together.”

The school officials exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of their relationship.

To avoid misunderstandings, Zhou Xusi explained: “This is my sister. Her mother… is my stepmother.”

The officials nodded in understanding:

“Oh, that makes sense.”
“Ah, so they really are siblings.”
“No wonder you two get along so well.”
“Mr. Zhou, then you go ahead and eat. We’ll discuss your appointment as a special faculty member another time.”

Once there were no outsiders nearby, Zhou Xusi looked at Tang Zhen. “Have you been avoiding me lately?”

With 000 offline, Tang Zhen had to handle the situation herself. She nodded. “Yes.”

So honest, and Zhou Xusi’s eyes carried a hint of amusement. “Why?”

Tang Zhen sighed. “Before, when you came at night in the Rolls-Royce to pick me up, someone secretly took photos. The photos were posted on the campus wall. Many people misunderstood our relationship.”

Zhou Xusi apologized immediately: “Sorry, I didn’t think it through.”

Actually, it wasn’t a matter of poor planning. They weren’t on the same household registration, and Zhou Xusi knew Tang Zhen’s mother was trying to matchmake them, so that night he had acted intentionally.

He just didn’t expect that Tang Zhen already had a boyfriend.

The good news: their relationship was short and shallow, so there wasn’t much emotional attachment.

Zhou Xusi remained graceful. “Then you decide the place for this meal. Consider it my way of apologizing.”

Tang Zhen braced herself and went to have a modest “feast” with Zhou Xusi in the school cafeteria.

Rather than going out to a restaurant, the cafeteria was simpler and safer.

Zhou Xusi was busy, and after lunch he left—whether to the company or to discuss the special faculty appointment with school officials, she didn’t know.

Tang Zhen didn’t care.

Her only concern was when 000 would come back.

Luckily, six hours passed quickly.

Once the six hours were over, her mind was filled with the system’s lively voice: “Good afternoon, dear host! 111 at your service.”

111?

Tang Zhen was momentarily confused. “Aren’t you Sanquan?”

111 chuckled. 【I am, but I’m now the upgraded 000. You can think of it as a new version. Xiao Zhen, you can now call me Santiao.】

As long as it was still Sanquan in essence, the name didn’t matter. Tang Zhen quickly adjusted her reference: “Santiao.”

111 sounded pleased. 【Xiao Zhen, nothing happened while I was gone for six hours, right?】

Tang Zhen told it about Zhou Xusi.

Then she hesitated: “I feel like he might like me a little.”

111, upgraded and brimming with confidence, replied: 【Don’t worry, the male supporting character isn’t that important. All we need is to extinguish his feelings for you.】

The solution: have the male supporting character encounter the female lead first.

Tang Zhen blinked. “How do I do that?”

She hadn’t really expected an immediate opportunity—but one came sooner than she imagined.

Three days later, Ren Yanjing returned to the country.

Tang Zhen went to pick him up with his cousin.

What she didn’t expect was that Zhou Xusi also returned from abroad that day.

Although they weren’t on the same flight, the two of them arrived at the airport almost back-to-back.

Ren Yanjing was surrounded by the coach and teammates; Zhou Xusi was accompanied by his assistant, secretary, and bodyguards.

Both were completely surrounded, making it impossible for either to be ignored.

At one moment, Ren Yanjing and Zhou Xusi’s eyes met—both cold and distant.

After three days, Tang Zhen finally received a long-awaited system mission:

【Mission 16: Express affection to the male lead to make the male supporting character give up.】

111 declared confidently: 【Xiao Zhen, let’s put the male lead aside for now. First, make sure the male supporting character is completely out of the picture.】

Express affection to the male lead?

How could showing closeness convince the male supporting character to give up entirely?

Tang Zhen didn’t overthink it.

Her sole goal now was to snuff out Zhou Xusi’s tiny spark for her.

She wanted, more than anyone, to prevent the story from collapsing.

So when Ren Yan’er teased, “Look, A-Jing is looking at you! He’s walking toward you,” Tang Zhen ran to Ren Yanjing and, in a voice loud enough for Zhou Xusi to hear, said: “Husband~ you’re back.”