The system started acting cute: “Oh, you have no idea how dramatic this story gets until you reach the climax—there’s the body double trope, mistaken identity, all of it.”

Alice Carter said coolly, “Tell me how to make you shut up.”

The system ignored him, enthusiastically promoting, “And this book is full of the currently popular ‘chasing wife at the crematorium’ trope! There’s the loyal and steadfast general from the old country, the mysterious and aloof high priest from Chu, the rakish playboy from the capital, and even the tyrant sitting across from you. At first, they all look down on and despise the protagonist, tormenting him both physically and emotionally. But in the end, every single one of them falls hard, and after falling in love with the protagonist, they go crazy begging for forgiveness when they can’t have him. It’s so satisfying.”

Alice Carter grabbed it, trying to find its mouth: “Where’s your mouth? Let me shut it for you.”

The system twisted left and right, trying to break free: “What are you doing, getting all handsy! I’m just giving you a little spoiler about the future.”

Alice Carter: “Can’t you just let me be a lonely wandering ghost?”

The system, shaped like a flame, sprouted a tiny shoot from between his fingers: “This is a stock-picking novel—knowing the ending in advance helps you pick the right CP. Don’t you want to know what happens to the tyrant across from you?”

Alice Carter rolled his eyes: “Nope.”

The system began a tug-of-war: “Let me tell you a secret, William Clark ends up loving the deepest and suffering the most. Serves him right, after how he treated the protagonist at first. He was brutal and twisted, did all sorts of things to the protagonist—so infuriating. Don’t you want to see him chase after his love?”

Alice Carter snorted: “No. And wasn’t it your protagonist who climbed into his bed on his own? With a plot full of villains like this, just shut up already, it’s an insult to my intelligence. Hey, is this your mouth?”

Alice Carter finally found a tiny vibrating button in the center of the writhing flame.

The system froze.

Alice Carter pressed his fingertip to that spot, blocking it.

The system could only make muffled “mmm mmm mmm” sounds, unable to speak, trembling with rage.

“If you’d shut up sooner, you wouldn’t have to suffer like this.” Alice Carter gave a lazy chuckle, slouched in his seat, and flicked the system’s flame head. “If you don’t get involved in this world, you won’t get upset. I have zero interest in William Clark’s ending.”

“But I’m interested.”

A soft laugh came from across the table.

“Hm?” Alice Carter: “System, you can still talk?”

System: “Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm.”

Alice Carter raised an eyebrow: “Not you, then—”

Wait.

If it’s not the system, then…

Suddenly, everything fell silent.

Alice Carter’s body went rigid, and the struggling system in his hand froze as well.

Still holding the flame, Alice Carter stared blankly upward.

Across from him, the young emperor who had been reading with his head down finally put down his book and looked over.

Black hair like a waterfall, snow-white robes, a face like a blossom.

William Clark rested his chin on his hand, tapped the table lightly, curled his lips into a smile, and his voice turned tender and lingering, like a lover’s whisper: “Go on, let him speak. I want to hear my ending too.”

But his tone was cold, so light it seemed it could slice through the glassy moonlight.

2. Zhaixing Tower (Part Two)

Alice Carter: “……”

System: “……”

Alice Carter was so startled his hand jerked, releasing his grip on the system.

The system regained its ability to speak, but was so shaken it couldn’t say a word, trembling violently as it dove into Alice Carter’s sleeve.

William Clark looked up lazily at the boy across from him, unsurprised to meet a pair of wide, shocked eyes. The boy’s pupils were a light brown, like agate, clear and shining, with slightly rounded corners, his emotions written all over his face. His hair was messy, and he wore a loose gray robe. After a long moment, he finally stammered out a low, “Shit.”

William Clark could hear? Could see? What had he just been talking about with the system?

Recalling the conversation, Alice Carter wished the ground would open up and swallow him.

Stupid system, you’ve really screwed me over. I’ve never been this embarrassed, not even when I was alive.

But he quickly collected himself, thinking fast. He was a ghost now, a vengeful spirit—shouldn’t William Clark be the one who’s scared and at a loss?

Calming down, Alice Carter yanked the cowardly system out of his sleeve and set it on his head. Under the faint blue glow of the flame, the boy’s handsome, clean face took on a sinister cast.

“You can see me?”

William Clark gave a soft laugh, but said nothing.

Alice Carter stared at him darkly, then imitated the “gray-robed elder” from novels, letting out a couple of creepy chuckles, lowering his voice, hunching his back, and rasping, “Little one, you can actually see me. You really are a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. Do you know who I am?”

“……” The system, forced to stay on his head, was completely baffled. Who are you?

William Clark watched him with unhurried composure, his smile gentle and refined.

Alice Carter rasped, eyes full of malice: “Little one, let me tell you the truth. You’re violent and cold-blooded, with countless lives on your hands. Heaven is watching, and retribution is inevitable. I was drawn here by the resentment of the dancer who died unjustly today—think of me as your karma.”