Chapter 80 - I Don’t Want to Be Turned Into the Female Protagonist by the System

### Chapter 80: Genuine or Fake Bai Miao was playfully toying with the jade seal that Su Qi had left on the coffee table, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. The robust, majestic characters engraved on it exuded an aura of solemnity. Coming from a renowned family, Bai Miao had a fair understanding of jade artifacts. Clearly, this seal was carved from a single piece of jade. Even the dragon head, which served as a handle but was now partly broken, still appeared imposing and vividly lifelike. How could such a fine item end up in Su Qi’s room? It had to be a counterfeit fabricated by some workshop, nearly fooling even her discerning eye. Why not consider if it was genuine? Bai Miao thought to herself, "If it were the real deal, would Su Qi still be living in a rented apartment?" As she gently traced her fingers over the intricate carvings of the jade seal, a pair of delicate hands took it away from her. It was Wang Zijin, who, like Bai Miao, had overlooked this seemingly valuable object. “What’s the use of this?” Wang Zijin asked Bai Miao, ignoring An Ning, who was engrossed in scrutinizing every nook and cranny of the room, attempting to locate traces left by Su Qi. “Not sure. The craftsmanship is fine, though. Looks almost genuine,” Bai Miao remarked, and once again, silence fell upon the room, broken only by An Ning’s search. With a soft ‘click,’ the bathroom door opened, and Su Qi finally emerged, a victorious smile lighting up her face after successfully outmaneuvering the system. The three exchanged bewildered glances. How did a mere bathroom break leave Su Qi looking so triumphant? Surveying the untouched fruits on the table, Su Qi found it puzzling. With a voiceless tone, she said: “Why aren’t you eating? They’re really sweet.” She picked up a pear and took a bite. The juice burst forth in her mouth, spreading sweetness, making her squint her eyes in delight. Seeing Su Qi's innocent, adorable expression, An Ning couldn't help but want to keep her to herself, locked away somewhere she could admire her alone. Su Qi continued munching, but soon realized something was amiss—her jade seal was missing. Had a thief stolen it? She looked around and quickly spotted it resting on the fair, smooth legs of Wang Zijin. There it stood, softly and obediently. Gosh, a bit envious. Wait, how should I explain this? Do I tell the truth? Or claim it’s a fake? These friends are all from affluent families who can surely tell if it’s authentic. As Su Qi racked her brain, the system spoke up: “Just tell the truth. Say it’s the lost jade seal of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the one missing for ages.” “Really?” Su Qi thought the approach seemed too simple. Shouldn’t this story have more layers? Like, an old man lying at her doorstep during a snowstorm, and she saved him with two buns, and then... The system, still brooding over the loss of its 'little fortune,' lacked its previous rigor and had reverted to its cute self out of the bathroom. “Host, as a university student, you wouldn’t have the means to acquire such an artifact. This seal was something we could barely obtain within the system!” Assured by the system’s response, Su Qi felt more confident. She eagerly eyed the jade seal in Wang Zijin’s hands. Seeing Su Qi’s expectant gaze—basically asking why aren’t you asking about this seal already?—Wang Zijin was momentarily thrown off. What was going on? Nonetheless, Su Qi's pressing look compelled her to ask: “Where did you get this seal?” Su Qi felt Wang Zijin was not following the script. Shouldn’t the question be whether it’s genuine? So she could proudly announce it was Emperor Qin's founding jade seal and dazzle everyone. Then, if they were rich enough, she’d sell it to them and become a little wealthy, buying several houses, enjoying dramas, and gaming daily while collecting rent at the end of each month—a life of bliss as a happy recluse. “This jade seal is the lost treasure of Emperor Qin Shi Huang,” Su Qi declared, showcasing the bold engravings by Li Si as if to prove its authenticity, almost dropping it in the process—a move that made Wang Zijin quickly hold her hand in fear of it falling. Her actions scared everyone; dropping the seal was one thing, but injuring Su Qi’s foot was unimaginable. Wang Zijin placed the seal back on the table and asked again: “I didn’t ask what it is. I asked where it came from.” Su Qi felt a bit frustrated. How did the conversation circle back? She looked at An Ning and a silently amused Bai Miao. Shouldn't they be astonished that this jade seal was from the Qin dynasty? Why were they fixated on its origin? Unbeknownst to her, had she stuttered or appeared evasive about its origins, her friends might have believed it genuine. But her straightforward, "This is the real deal, praise me" attitude made it implausible. Could a priceless artifact simply surface in the hands of a financially struggling girl? Anyone with independent thought wouldn’t buy it; a genuine antique requires the weight of history and dust, elements this pristine jade lacked. So, none of her friends believed the seal was real; instead, they were more concerned about how much she had been swindled. Unable to reveal the system’s existence, Su Qi pondered alternatives. Claiming to visit antique markets would be suspicious. A chance encounter with an old man on the street felt more plausible, though worrisome. “An old man on the street sold it to me,” she eventually said, aware it sounded weak. Her friends' looks changed; they now saw a vulnerable girl, potentially preyed upon by con artists. If the old man had ill intentions... “How much did you pay?” Bai Miao asked. Su Qi considered saying it was free but realized it was unbelievable for such a valuable artifact. Remembering the system’s lucky draw cost, she held up one finger. “Only a thousand?” Wang Zijin guessed. Su Qi found it ridiculous—it should be worth more even in a jade shop. But her friends saw it merely as a synthetic counterfeit. Shaking her head firmly, Su Qi replied, “Something this good can’t be just a thousand.” “Guess higher.” “Ten thousand?” An Ning ventured. “Nope, it’s a hundred thousand! For Emperor Qin's imperial jade seal, it’s a steal!” Su Qi hugged the seal, reveling in her happiness. To her friends, it appeared she was blissfully ignorant of being duped. An Ning, who had looked into Su Qi’s game earnings, now had an answer: this girl was broke because she spent her money on fakes. Charmed by her naivety, An Ning resolved to educate her properly in a few days. (Note: Revising previous chapters to soften the system’s harshness. The bunny girl incident has been reworked. Eventually, the jade seal will be handed over to the state since it’s a national treasure. Thank you for your support!)