Chapter 48: Understanding The Target
’DING!’
[TARGET FAVORABILITY +5.]
Xie Rong’s expression remained unchanged beneath the black blindfold.
However, his thoughts quietly lingered upon the notification.
Ever since the system had designated Shen Taotao as the target several days ago, Favorability had increased only a handful of times. Although the system never explained the reason behind each increase, Xie Rong himself had gradually noticed a subtle pattern.
Whenever Favorability increased... It was often after he had done something that seemed to put Wang Gege at ease.
Whether it was resolving a difficult situation on her behalf, preventing others from embarrassing her, or simply making her feel more welcomed within the Xie Residence...
Every increase appeared to follow moments in which her mood noticeably improved.
"This old one has been selling jewelry for more than thirty years." The elderly shopkeeper smiled warmly as he looked at the young couple before him. "Very few husbands would accompany their wives to choose hairpins themselves."
He chuckled softly before continuing, "And even fewer would praise their wives so sincerely."
Wang Gege’s ears immediately turned red.
"T-That’s not..." She instinctively wanted to explain, yet found herself unable to finish the sentence.
Xie Rong, however, remained completely calm. His brows only furrowed ever so slightly.
At that moment, he finally seemed to grasp a possible reason behind the sudden increase in Favorability.
Meanwhile, Wang Gege had already regained her cheerful mood. As though the awkwardness from moments ago had never existed, she picked up another jade hairpin before comparing it with the plum blossom one in her hand.
"This one is pretty too..." She mumbled to herself before absentmindedly holding both hairpins up.
The elderly shopkeeper smiled kindly. "Young Madam truly has a good eye. Those two are among the finest pieces in this stall."
Before Wang Gege could decide between them... Xie Rong calmly said, "Wrap both of them."
Wang Gege blinked in surprise. "Both?"
Xie Rong slightly turned his head toward her. "Both are beautiful." A brief pause followed before he added in the same calm tone, "Since you are the one wearing them."
Wang Gege froze.
The elderly shopkeeper chuckled as he carefully wrapped both hairpins before placing them inside a wooden box.
"Right away, Young Master."
Xie Rong remained standing quietly beside her.
Although his expression remained as calm as ever, his attention had already shifted toward the familiar mechanical voice within his mind.
Moments earlier, the system had rewarded him with another five points of Favorability immediately after he complimented Wang Gege.
The timing had been too precise to ignore.
Naturally, the simplest method of confirming his deduction was to repeat the same action once more.
He waited, one breath after another but the system remained quiet. The bustling sounds of the marketplace continued without interruption.
The elderly shopkeeper finished wrapping the ornaments before respectfully presenting them with both hands.
Wang Gege’s cheeks remained as red as before.
Yet the mechanical voice never appeared.
A faint crease slowly formed between Xie Rong’s brows. His deduction had failed. The words had been nearly identical. Even Wang Gege’s reaction appeared no different from before.
Then why had the system remained completely silent?
Xie Rong found himself unable to understand the pattern. He then quietly turned his face away from the stall before speaking inwardly.
"Gemi..."
The familiar mechanical voice immediately responded.
[HOST.]
"Did you fail to detect the increase?" He asked inwardly, slightly anxious.
[NEGATIVE.]
"Then why was there no notification?"
The mechanical voice paused for several moments.
[HOST IS ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE FAVORABILITY THROUGH REPETITIVE BEHAVIOR.]
[EFFICIENCY: LOW.]
Another notification immediately appeared.
[SUGGESTION.]
[HOST SHOULD PLACE GREATER EFFORT INTO UNDERSTANDING THE TARGET THAN UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM.]
Xie Rong’s brows twitched. "What?"
For perhaps the first time in a long while, genuine annoyance slipped through the calm composure he had maintained ever since arriving in this world.
"What does that even mean?"
The mechanical voice remained silent.
His frown deepened ever so slightly, "Are you playing with this Young Master?"
"Husband?"
A soft voice suddenly came from behind.
Xie Rong’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Only then did he realize, those last few sentences had unknowingly escaped his lips.
He remained silent for several breaths, forcing himself to regain his composure. Then, with remarkable calmness, he slowly lifted a finger and pointed toward a nearby rooftop.
"Mo Yan."
Almost the instant his name was spoken, a black figure descended soundlessly from above before landing beside them.
"This subordinate is here, Young Master."
Wang Gege blinked.
Xie Rong gave a faint nod, although the movement of his neck appeared ever so slightly stiff.
"This Young Master was speaking to him."
Mo Yan’s eyes flickered just a fraction.
Although he had no idea what his master was referring to, years of serving by Xie Rong’s side had taught him one thing, there was no need to ask and there was only a need to cooperate.
"This subordinate heard Young Master’s instructions."
Wang Gege blinked twice before looking at Mo Yan, then back at Xie Rong. "Really?"
"Mm." Xie Rong swallowed a bit.
She tilted her head. "But..." Her expression became increasingly puzzled. "Mo Yan..."
Her gaze drifted toward the rooftop from which he had appeared. "Could you really hear your Young Master speaking from all the way up there?"
Mo Yan remained silent for only a brief moment before answering respectfully, "This subordinate has received professional training."
"Professional training?" She chuckled awkwardly. "Still... you don’t have some kind of device or Blu—"
The remaining word immediately lodged itself in her throat. She quickly coughed into her fist, "I mean... never mind."
Mo Yan looked at her in slight confusion before calmly replying, "We have one, Young Madam."
Wang Gege blinked, "There is?!"
Mo Yan gave a respectful nod. "When this subordinate is carrying out duties outside the residence, the Young Master may contact this subordinate through the Shadow Pavilion."
"The... Shadow Pavilion?" Wang Gege repeated slowly, her expression clearly asking What in the world is a Shadow Pavilion?
"Mm." Mo Yan nodded. "They will immediately relay Young Master’s orders to every nearby operative."
Wang Gege’s mouth slowly fell open.
"So..." She looked at Xie Rong before turning back to Mo Yan. "You mean... if your Young Master wants to find you..."
"This subordinate will know," Mo Yan answered respectfully.
"And if you’re very far away?" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"The nearest operative will relay the message."
"And then another?"
"Yes."
"And another?"
"Yes."
Wang Gege stood there in complete silence.
After a long while, she pinched the bridge of her nose before letting out a helpless sigh.
"I really wish I knew how to invent things." She muttered under her breath, "Then I could have earned a fortune."
Xie Rong tilted his head slightly. "Invent?"
Wang Gege laughed awkwardly. "I mean... create something useful."
She glanced once more at Mo Yan before shaking her head in resignation. "Never mind."
Mo Yan blinked once, unable to understand why Young Madam suddenly looked so disappointed.
Xie Rong, however, quietly remembered every word she had just spoken. ’Invent...’
Although he did not ask further, for some reason, he felt that Shen Taotao occasionally spoke of things that did not seem to belong to this world.