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

Chapter 287: The Secret of the Imperial Seal, Su Qi's Resolve The following morning, Su Qi watched contentedly as four cat-like imprints rested on An Ning's legs, reflecting the peaceful slumber of her beloved wife. Su Qi couldn't help but recall An Ning's pleas the previous night, feeling uplifted as she got out of bed. Su Qi slowly removed her pajamas and had just slipped into a pair of smooth, white stockings. She suddenly felt like a character from a picture shared by her QQ group friends—a beautiful girl changing clothes, complementing the taste, while another girl lay asleep in bed. The thought made Su Qi even happier. Remembering the latter part of last night's encounter, where she had thoroughly enjoyed herself thanks to knowing An Ning's every vulnerability, and with the added debuff from the lingerie gift, An Ning had been utterly defeated, even reduced to squeaking “meow, meow” in surrender. Su Qi found the memory amusing. However, Su Qi didn't linger too long over An Ning. Especially when considering that An Ning might team up with Zi Jin, it was clear there'd be consequences for her indulgence. Currently, Su Qi had a question. Despite last night's intense activity, her stamina remained above 80 points. Just before she dressed, both her legs also bore cartoon cat imprints, now wiped away. It took twelve strokes to draw a single cat imprint! Su Qi recalled that just two days prior, she had been bullied by her two wives and ended up with feline imprints too. Yet, back then, her stamina had dwindled to around 50 points. Considering her past experiences, where her stamina recovery was rather rapid, she couldn't dismiss the system's stamina measures as false. Now, she only felt slight leg weakness, but not the kind of soreness from the day she fled their dormitory. All this led her to suspect that her physical condition might not be solely influenced by the system, but rather by something else entirely. The only new item she'd acquired was the mysterious Imperial Seal, drawn from the golden wheel at Green City Complex! Opening the organizer, Su Qi examined the Imperial Seal, finding it still emanating a gentle green glow just like before! Yet, this time, she scrutinized it more closely. Surely such a precious item couldn't merely serve as a household charm—it seemed like overkill for such a purpose. With this thought, Su Qi inquired of the system, confidently asking, "Does this Imperial Seal have any hidden functions?" The system hesitated for a moment before casually responding, "No, no, it's just a household charm, host!" Hearing the system's clear deception, Su Qi grew even more certain of her suspicions! In truth, she had harbored doubts all along. She never considered herself particularly lucky, certainly not the type to win a miraculous prize on a whim. If not the system's meddling, she wouldn't believe it. Considerately, Su Qi planned to ask gently, “System, why did you give me the Imperial Seal?” Before she could, the system interjected, “Host, you won it by your own luck, not something I arranged for you. Please be mindful of your words! Should the central system detect any malpractice on my part, I would have to pay a price.” The system's crisp voice, with its fluctuating pitch, betrayed a hint of nervousness that confirmed Su Qi’s guess—this Imperial Seal was deliberately given to her! But why did the system give it to her? Su Qi wondered since the Seal's apparent function was merely to enhance her stamina recovery. Not waiting long, she heard the system continue, “Host, during your transformation process, I shifted some of your stamina points to intelligence, understanding that you aspire to embody frailer characters. With a stamina value of only 3, combined with a lack of athleticism and irregular diet, you could easily fall ill! Without the Imperial Seal’s restoration properties, your health would likely be compromised.” Hearing this warmed Su Qi’s heart. She realized that despite her current frailty, she hadn't caught the flu even once. Even as a boy, much robust than she was now, she had gotten sick thrice in her first year of college. As Su Qi pondered, the system continued, “The situation is more serious than you think. According to my observations, individuals with a stamina of 3 typically suffer from certain complex conditions. Without the Seal’s support, you'd likely be prone to three particular ailments.” The mention of these ailments alarmed Su Qi. She then understood why the system had firmly advised her to bring along the Imperial Seal before their trip to Zhejiang City. However, if the Seal was so crucial, why hadn’t the system ever informed her of its importance directly? Su Qi was about to ask when the system whispered, “Please don’t draw too much attention to the Seal. Your discussions might alert the central system.” The system’s cautious tone reminded Su Qi of a child fearing parental reprimands. Normally, she'd jest about the system's timidity, given that the 'central system' was mentioned at least thrice. It was evident to Su Qi that the system greatly feared it, yet for her sake, it had risked granting her the prized Imperial Seal! Reflecting that the system, like a lottery employee handing out a first-prize award unlawfully, was risking serious consequences reminded Su Qi of the explosive magic used in Green City Complex's Easter Egg video. When the system assured her she’d be supported even if apprehended for research, it was another heartfelt gesture. To realize that the system had been so dedicated to her welfare all along stirred her emotions. Although not easily brought to tears, Su Qi found herself moved, moisture gathering in her eyes. Simultaneously, she felt overwhelming guilt, as she knew little about the system’s past and had even ignored its yearning for a revival coin, doing nothing for it. Despite the system never pleading its case again, she flinched at her own indolence. Recalling the revival coin valued at a hundred million gratitude currency, Su Qi mused—it was just ten billion yuan, after all! Ordinarily, she would balk at such a large number, yet remembering the system’s immense deceit for her sake resolved her in silence: In this lifetime, she would ensure the system’s resurrection!