Chapter 23: A Lady of Action, Not Words

Ji Sisi silently repeated those four words in her heart, feeling a sudden urge to draw a blade against the system.

It was the first time she had ever heard of a "system"—a tool meant to serve as a golden finger—that could actually fail a "check-in."

[System, how could you be so tactless? How can a check-in at a designated location possibly fail?]

[Host, I have already informed you. You need to identify the hidden trigger for the check-in point.]

The check-in system maintained its aloof facade, clearly unfazed by the disdain of a mere host from this low-level plane.

Fine. Ji Sisi decided not to engage in a war of words with the system. It was useless anyway, and she had always believed in the philosophy of "actions speak louder than words."

While maintaining a polite and courteous smile for Chu Xiao, Ji Sisi pondered the situation. A hidden trigger—it seemed the key to this lay with Chu Xiao herself.

Ji Sisi felt completely bewildered.

The incident happened in an instant. Children in the compound usually had better conditions, often playing in groups with toys in their hands. It was common for people to be outside playing ball, and coincidentally, someone had made an errant, overly forceful throw. A basketball came flying straight toward them, aimed directly at Chu Xiao’s face.

Chu Xiao was standing sideways and had failed to notice the danger. Before she could react, Ji Sisi had already pulled her back with a forceful tug. Chu Xiao looked up just in time to see Ji Sisi cleanly and decisively reach out to swat the ball away.

Immediately after, Gu Yu, who in her eyes had always been calm and wise, rushed forward in a panic, cradling Ji Sisi’s wrist and asking, "Are you stupid? Why would you use your hand to block it? Does it hurt?"

There was a profanity she wanted to utter, but Chu Xiao felt her idealized image of Gu Yu shatter completely; men were simply not as reliable as her fellow women.

"I'm fine," Ji Sisi replied to her husband first, before turning to check on Chu Xiao. "Are you alright?"

Chu Xiao shook her head instinctively, and after thanking her, she suddenly hugged Ji Sisi. She whispered into her ear, "You are a wonderful person. Honestly, I’ve always felt that Gu Yu doesn't deserve you."

With that, Chu Xiao turned and left without saying another word to Gu Yu.

What kind of strange plot twist was this?

Ji Sisi had no time to ponder it further, as the system notified her that she could now check in.

[Check-in.]

[Ding-dong! Congratulations to the host for successfully checking in at a hidden point. You have received one super gift pack.]

A super gift pack?

Ji Sisi was genuinely surprised. She knew that when the system actually put in the effort, it could be quite generous. She wondered what kind of good things this super gift pack would contain.

However, she had no time to investigate now. Gu Yu was right in front of her; if she zoned out for too long, she would give herself away. Besides, after what just happened, her favorability toward Chu Xiao had increased, reminding her of the girl’s true identity. It was no wonder she could act as the vicious supporting female character in the novel, sabotaging the protagonists; Chu Xiao was the beloved daughter of County Magistrate Chu, a true princess of the compound.

"A-Yu, you... was it really appropriate to treat Chu Xiao like that just now?"

After all, after they were driven out of the Gu family home, it was County Magistrate Chu who hadn't just arranged their lodging, but also had tables, chairs, pots, and pans sent over for them.

Gu Yu played dumb. "What do you mean by appropriate or not? Don't misunderstand. I had a serious matter to ask Chu Xiao for help with. Sisi, wait here for a moment. I have something good to bring you."

With that, Gu Yu also turned and walked away, leaving Ji Sisi standing there alone.

But from the look in his eyes earlier, Ji Sisi understood: Gu Yu likely realized Chu Xiao’s intentions and had acted that way on purpose. Honestly, Ji Sisi felt even more deeply that Gu Yu was truly a good man. If he hadn't passed away in the original book, there would have been no room for Dong Pengfei to become the male lead.

Ji Sisi knew that in that period novel, Dong Pengfei had succeeded in his business ventures mainly because he lived in the compound and built a wide network of connections. In reality, both the original owner and Chu Xiao had contributed significantly to his success.

Just as she was considering whether to open the system inventory to check the luxury level of the super gift pack, she saw Gu Yu pushing a bicycle toward her.

At a single glance, Ji Sisi understood. "You didn't buy this, did you?" The bike didn't look brand new.

Gu Yu’s eyes crinkled with a smile. His wife was indeed sharp. He whispered, "I scavenged some parts and assembled it myself."

Ji Sisi: ...

"A-Yu, is there anything you can't do? You're amazing."

She had originally thought that if she could get a bicycle ticket from a station check-in, she would already be doing well. It turned out she had encountered a true master. Even with a ticket, buying a bike would cost one or two hundred yuan, but Gu Yu had done it for almost nothing.

Just then, Gu Wei and Gu Ning came out and happened to witness the scene.

"Big Brother, where did you get a bicycle?"

The Gu family did have a bicycle, but it had been brought home by their second uncle, and besides him, only Gu Jie was allowed to ride it. Gu Wei had often looked at the bike with envy, only to be met with malicious mockery and suppression. He had never dared to express his longing for a bike to his mother or his brother. After all, a bicycle was a very valuable item at the time.

His sister-in-law had often mentioned that once they earned some money, they had to buy a bike to make things more convenient for the family. He hadn't expected his brother to bring one back so soon; his sister-in-law was truly the best. Gu Wei decided that in his heart, his sister-in-law was the best person in the world, second only to his own mother.

Gu Yu thought, "Are you kidding me? I'm the one who brought the bike home, and the credit goes to your sister-in-law?" Still, he was pleased that his younger siblings liked Sisi. After all, his leave wouldn't last long, and he would need Sisi to take care of the family afterward.

Gu Yu told his brother that he had assembled it himself from parts and that he could build another one when he had the chance.

"With a bicycle, you can go around the streets and sell things."

Now, people were openly running small businesses, unlike before when they had to be constantly on guard. Since Ji Sisi had suggested doing business to make money, Gu Yu wouldn't be like those in the compound with steady jobs who looked down on self-employed individuals. Wasn't it more important to ensure his mother and younger siblings were fed and could continue their studies?

Gu Yu pushed the bike toward his brother, but Gu Wei was afraid of damaging it and held it with both hands, not daring to ride it.

"It's alright, Xiao Wei, I'll teach you."

Although it was a standard heavy-duty bicycle, Ji Sisi’s current physique was strong and her stamina was high, so riding it would be no problem at all.

"But, sister-in-law, I don't know how," Gu Wei said, his face flushing red. "What if I break it while I'm learning?"

"You won't. I'll teach you."