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

# Chapter 359: Host, What's Happening... In the end, Su Qi decided to redeem the Ning Ling Earrings. After all, having one of those scientific anomalies living with her was enough. With a crisp voice, the system announced the successful exchange. Suddenly, a delicately crafted red pouch appeared out of thin air, accompanied by... a stapler? Su Qi stared at the unexpected stapler with some confusion. Did earrings now come with a stapler as a bonus? As she examined the stapler in her hand, the system spoke up, "Host, this is an ear-piercing device, for piercing your ears!" Hearing this, Su Qi belatedly recalled that wearing earrings wasn't like wearing necklaces or rings; she needed pierced ears. The thought of piercing her ears brought back memories of her middle and high school days, where a few fashion-conscious girls would pierce their ears each semester. She had heard them describe the process—like a stapler going 'click'. Just the thought of it made Su Qi's skin crawl with goosebumps. It seemed quite painful. Regretting her decision to get the Ning Ling Earrings, Su Qi hesitated and asked the system, "Is it too late to return them now?" "The goods are non-returnable and non-exchangeable!" the system replied cheerfully. Feeling frustrated at the thought of piercing her ears, Su Qi was relieved when the system added, "Host, this ear-piercing device is completely painless and user-friendly." Reassured, Su Qi examined the ear-piercing device closely and breathed a sigh of relief upon finding no sign of needles or pins. "How do I use this?" she asked the system. "Just press it, and it'll work." Press it? Su Qi was puzzled. Shouldn't she align it with her earlobe before pressing? The action described didn't seem right; shouldn't it be like 'stapling' instead of 'pressing'? Despite the system's vague instructions, Su Qi resolved to press it, wary it might malfunction otherwise. As soon as she pressed down, a sharp pain shot through her ears. It was akin to the sensation of a dentist striking a nerve or quick static shock—intense yet fleeting. Instinctively, she dropped the ear-piercing device, but before it hit the floor, it vanished alongside the pain. That was it? Unable to believe it, Su Qi hesitantly touched her ears but felt nothing out of the ordinary. — Driven by curiosity, Su Qi stood up slowly and walked to the bathroom. There, she examined the tender skin of her earlobes from every angle. To her surprise, there was no trace of any piercing marks. Had she imagined the pain? At that moment, the system's voice chimed in again, "Host, the ear-piercing device is bundled with earrings from the system's store. If you aren't holding an earring purchased from the system, you won't find the 'piercing'." Confused by the system's logic, Su Qi likened it to solving a puzzle. But practice makes perfect, and to test her theory, she opened the red pouch and held one of the Ning Ling Earrings in her right hand. Upon touching her earlobe while holding the earring, she was startled to find a tiny hole. Yet, even in the mirror, there was no visible mark on her ears. Astounded by this discovery, Su Qi pondered how the same system that just talked about science could now execute something so unscientific. It was like a Taoist priest urging belief in science, only to then fly away on a sword. Despite this absurdity, Su Qi was somewhat appreciative of the system's innovation. Not one for jewelry, she was especially grateful that she didn't have to worry about ear-piercing wounds healing. And, of course, a traditional piercing would have really hurt. Initial piercings could become infected if not cared for properly. In comparison, this 'painless method' was remarkably convenient. Plus, her ears bore no marks when not wearing the earrings. Though the system's approach had its commercial motives, Su Qi, as a consumer, surprisingly approved of this strategy. After offering a few more compliments to the system's cute voice, Su Qi turned her attention to the recently acquired Ning Ling Earrings. The earrings weren't opulent like those worn by Su Daji in TV dramas. Instead, they were small and unassumingly elegant, adding a touch of allure. Both earrings were symmetrical and simple in design, featuring a thin gold thread with a tiny pearl. Below the pearl dangled a tassel resembling a fox's tail, shorter than Su Qi's thumb yet eye-catching. As she examined the earrings' tiny hooks, Su Qi couldn't help but feel uneasy. If poked into her soft earlobes, it would surely hurt. However, hesitating wouldn't solve her dilemma. With deep breaths, Su Qi cautiously attempted to put on the earrings for the first time, relying purely on touch to locate the hole. Despite several attempts, she struggled to find it. The ever-observant system couldn't resist teasing her with its sweet, youthful voice, "Host, how come you can't find the spot?" Despite the suggestive comment, Su Qi chose not to retort in case the system searched the web for reasons and ended up corrupted. Finally, after twenty minutes of fumbling, Su Qi managed to find the spot and successfully put on the first earring. With her newfound experience, the second one took only ten minutes. Once the earrings were in place, Su Qi shook her head slightly, reveling in the delicate sway and subtle weight on her earlobes. The fox-tail-like tassels added a touch of charm with every movement. Apart from feeling a tad more refined due to the earrings, Su Qi noticed little else, certainly not the anticipated 'enchantress' aura. Just as confusion mounted, the system’s voice chirped, "Host, try reciting Su Daji's lines from earlier." To her surprise, Su Qi felt no embarrassment whatsoever, even a sense of immersion, as if the dialogue seemed tame. Facing the mirror afterward, she realized the earrings had altered her appearance. Her innocent eyes carried a hint of enticing allure—two disparate elements blending seamlessly. But before she could investigate further, a knock interrupted her. "Sister Su, I’m here!" came the playful, upbeat voice of the young Xiao Xiao. Despite her small voice, it was evident she was thrilled. Opening the door, Su Qi was greeted by the sight of the twin-ponytailed young girl in a pink dress, staring at her dumbfounded. It dawned on Su Qi that she was still wearing the alluring attire of a mystical consort and the Ning Ling Earrings. Amused by Xiao Xiao’s expression, Su Qi gently tapped her tiny nose and led her into the room, asking: "How come you’re so late today?" Rubbing her nose in slight embarrassment, Xiao Xiao clung to Su Qi’s arm, her excitement palpable as she replied, "I went shopping with mom this morning, and she said I can stay over tonight!" As Xiao Xiao spoke, a blush tinged her cheeks, her bright eyes glancing at Su Qi. Sensing an opportunity, and with a glance at the script beside her, Su Qi had an idea. Why not play act like the insatiable King Zhou and Su Daji into the night?