Chapter 100 - I Don’t Want to Be Turned Into the Female Protagonist by the System

Chapter 100: The Usual Saturday Ahhh~ Su Qi immersed herself in the warm water, letting out a comfortable sigh. Sparkling droplets of water roamed freely over her slender body. She smiled wryly as she looked at the toy duck bobbing with her movements. Isn’t this a toy for kids? She often saw it in episodes of "Crayon Shin-chan." Which adult would actually play with one of these? She poked the duck and was surprised to hear it squeak, making her giggle involuntarily. An hour later... Su Qi, with her head tilted, was drying her wet hair with a towel. Having just finished her bath, her skin was still dotted with water droplets that contrasted sharply with her snow-white complexion. But Su Qi’s attention wasn’t on the glistening droplets. Instead, she noticed that her hair had grown at an unnaturally rapid rate. Though she used to sport a gloomy look with her hair obscuring her face, now it was almost down to her shoulders! Maybe she should get it cut one of these days? Yet, looking at her lustrous locks, Su Qi felt it would be a pity to chop them off. She rubbed her hair with the towel a few more times, but it still felt damp. Long hair was certainly troublesome to dry. Deciding to let it be, she shifted her focus to her latest task. The system recommended a dance—‘Dye Yourself in My Colors.’ Given the system's notorious greed, Su Qi believed this wouldn't be a waste of her efforts. She decided to go for this one! "Dye Yourself in My Colors" was practically the debut song of Hatsune Miku, a highly iconic piece. The melody was cheerful, and the dance moves were youthful and vivacious. After drying her body, Su Qi stood before her mirror and mimicked the dance from start to finish. Feeling pleased with herself, she was promptly doused with cold water by the system. “The host’s movements are extremely imprecise, your expression is stiff, far from being joyful, and you can’t keep up with the rhythm. You’re always half a beat behind. Completion rate: 18%,” the system announced. Without a full-length mirror, Su Qi couldn’t identify exactly where she went wrong. Nevertheless, she knew that this task wasn’t going to be simple. “What should I focus on first?” Having skipped two grades in high school, Su Qi wasn’t exactly a top student but had her own effective study strategies. For instance, to improve English scores, one must first identify which area needs work: listening, cloze tests, reading comprehension, or writing. Only by pinpointing specific weaknesses can one make real progress. Otherwise, simply stating, “I want to improve my English scores,” without further classification, would mostly be an empty promise. “Proficiency is crucial. The host should listen to the song multiple times to develop muscle memory in response to the sound. Start by aligning with the beat. Once that’s achieved, refine the movements, and lastly, work on facial expressions. It’s recommended to sing along with the song for a higher score!” The system rationally analyzed. Although it didn’t specify completion rates for each stage, it provided a clear overall direction. After a brief contemplation, Su Qi decided to familiarize herself with the song tonight. Though practice makes perfect, after just three minutes of dancing, her legs felt increasingly weak. A rest was in order. That evening, unexpectedly, Wang Zijin called to check in, showing warm concern. Su Qi felt a warmth in her heart, appreciating the thoughtfulness. They once again confirmed the status of the group chat situation. Learning that it had been disbanded was a relief for Su Qi. As soon as she hung up on Wang Zijin, another call came in from An Ning. Unlike the gentle Wang Zijin, An Ning made Su Qi feel a strong but affectionate presence, somewhat tsundere-like. After ending An Ning’s call, Su Qi was distracted. So, do I now have two girlfriends? ... Saturday mornings seemed to carry a sense of joy, perhaps because there was no work or school. At 8 AM, in the boys’ dormitory, Wang Dongxu and Wu Wei were already awake, each quietly lying in bed with their phones. A silent competition was underway: whoever got up first would buy breakfast. Back in freshman year, Wu Wei and Wang Dongxu had tried playing basketball in the mornings, but soon realized it didn't bring joy, especially since it meant buying breakfast afterward. Some understandings are reached without words. If Su Qi were to see this, she’d likely remark that it’s a real-life version of “The Monk Drinks Water.” Actually, Wang Dongxu had his own thoughts. Realizing he would enter society in three years with a likely 996 (9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week) schedule in a computing job, he felt that this warm bed was worth savoring. At least for now, comfort first. However, if he had followed recent news, he might not think this way. In recent years, particularly this one, the state has taken significant steps to improve happiness by banning 996 work schedules in many companies. Many private business owners found themselves betrayed by their employees. Wang Yun, a master of backstabbing, was currently enjoying breakfast at a local diner. Thinking about the boss’s passionate speech yesterday, painting grand dreams and a promising future, Wang Yun couldn’t help but laugh. Taking a bite of her thin pancake, she thought, "Forget it, I prefer thin pancakes." Breakfast is made in the morning, lunch is eaten at noon, and the boss is taken away in the afternoon. Wang Yun appreciated how the state genuinely cared about workers. Previously, her boss was all about rushing progress. Now, with weekends off and the company undergoing a few days of reorganization, Wang Yun had even checked online to see if this would delay wages. Turns out it wouldn't, and refusal to pay would be illegal, giving workers grounds to report it and further incriminate the boss. Assured, Wang Yun now almost wished her boss would overwork them more, so she could get another paid leave. It was a blooming springtime for workers like her, though this joy spelled trouble for the bosses. Bai Miao’s father, Bai Changshan, chairman of Gracity Group, was currently experiencing a massive headache. The 996 reform greatly impacted their company, and the few remaining hairs on his head had been mercilessly pulled out. Bai Miao, watching her father’s hair-pulling, wondered if he had developed some obsession with it. But she had no choice but to help him out. They couldn’t just let him go bald, could they? Staring at her father, Bai Miao thought a soft, cute little girl would be much more pleasant. Bai Changshan assumed his daughter was finally feeling sympathetic towards him. If he had known her real thoughts, he’d probably be furious. Similarly, An Ning, though her business was insignificant compared to Bai Changshan’s, had no headaches at all. She navigated her various shops in the mall with her high heels. Despite being a student, her professional attire and demeanor were not to be underestimated. Since she usually had a five-day work week, the 996 reforms barely affected her business. Being born after 2000, she valued freedom and understood that empty promises were better left unsaid. Unlike those obstinate old-timers who only knew how to exploit employees, she was an enlightened boss, knowing well that flexible working conditions yield better performance. Speaking of An Ning, Wang Zijin couldn’t be left out. Wang Zijin was having a terrible day. She had an elder sister, Wang Yun, and an even older brother, Wang Zicheng. This morning, she saw that her WeChat Moments post from the previous day had been commented on by her brother. Arrogant Brother: Zijing, your little girlfriend is really cute. Bring her home so I can meet her. Wang Zijin didn't mind at first, but after dealing with student council matters all morning, she saw another message. Arrogant Brother: Sweet sister, I think I’ve fallen in love with your boyfriend at first sight. Smiley face, smiley face. Already frustrated by work, Wang Zijin was infuriated by the message. What nonsense! Has her brother gone mad studying medicine? To "cure" her brother, she contacted several girls planning strategies to attack him stubbornly around the clock. Since you're so idle, let me give you something to do. (Unknowingly, it’s already the 100th chapter. Thank you all for your continuous support. I will strive to do even better in the future. Lastly, please vote for me!) (Readers who enjoy the story can also join the discussion group: Group ID: 866857960)