Amusing Ourselves to Death Arc
Agent 03
If Zero Nine had a physical form, she would definitely come out and say to Shen Yun, “You’re so seductive.”
What kind of theory is this? She herself has gone astray and is now starting to blame others.
Zero Nine: Is her brain just a collection of water, proteins, inorganic substances, fats, and undigested food fibers?
Commonly known as “shi” (a derogatory term), but an elegant AI shouldn’t be so direct.
Zero Nine hasn’t never encountered scum; her first host was both scummy and worthless. But at the very least, they didn’t cross the line like cheating. They played in ambiguous and complicated situations, not giving definite answers, spinning between various men. That’s not good either, but compared to that, what Shen Yun did is simply shameless.
In response to Shen Yun’s inquiry, Xin Lan’s reply was to close the door.
She didn’t want to engage in lengthy arguments with someone whose mind seemed to be a collection of unrelated things. People like that were simply unreasonable, and it wasn’t worth debating with someone who couldn’t understand reason.
She had already done what she needed to do, and now it was time to proceed step by step.
This mission was going to take a long time. Based on the current timeline, it would take at least five years to progress to the subsequent plot.
Five years – it sounded like a lengthy period. The original host had been together with Shen Yun for three years.
Thinking about how Shen Yun pretended to be affectionate towards the original host for eight years and then ruthlessly struck without mercy is truly chilling.
Xin Lan brushed her long hair and tied it into a low ponytail at the back of her head with a hairband.
Some people, you know, even if it’s not just eight years, even if it’s eighty years, they still can’t warm up that heart of theirs. The human heart is sometimes so strange – sometimes so soft, but at other times, so hard.
Xin Lan knocked on the door of the adjacent room. When Zhou Qinqin saw Xin Lan, she was momentarily stunned.
“Sister Lan, why are you here?”
Zhou Qinqin opened the door slightly, stepping aside to make way and let Xin Lan in.
As Xin Lan entered, the other two assistants quickly greeted her.
“Shen Yun has finished filming. I came to check on her and also to have her prepare for the announcement the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh, I see. Should I help you book a room and also arrange a flight for you tomorrow?”
Xin Lan nodded and took a seat on the sofa.
Ah Kun poured her a cup of hot water and placed it in front of Xin Lan.
For the three assistants, if Shen Yun was the queen, then Xin Lan would be the emperor herself. The three of them were cautious and careful, behaving like subordinates being inspected by their leader, not daring to mix anything up.
Xin Lan lifted the paper cup and took a sip of hot water, placing the blanket on the table.
As the water in the cup swayed, the hearts of the three assistants swayed as well.
“How long have each of you been with Shen Yun?”
Zhou Qinqin: “Three years.”
Miaomiao: “Two years.”
Ah Kun: “One and a half years.”
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At the beginning, when Shen Yun wasn’t popular, she only had one assistant by her side. But as time went on and Shen Yun became busier, one assistant couldn’t handle everything, so she acquired a few more.
Zhou Qinqin, Miaomiao, and Ah Kun weren’t the only three assistants Shen Yun had initially, but after a gradual selection process, these three individuals remained by Shen Yun’s side.
They were all brought in by the original host. The original host was at ease with them. But now the situation is different; Xin Lan couldn’t quite tell whose side these three people are on.
“After being with her for so long, do you have any thoughts?”
Miaomiao: “Sister Yun is great!”
Zhou Qinqin: “Absolutely wonderful!”
Ah Kun: “Exceptionally fantastic!”
“Oh?”
Xin Lan raised an eyebrow and swept her gaze over each person.
“I’m pleased with your work attitudes staying like this, but I hope you remember who’s paying your salaries.”
Zhou Qinqin understood and replied, “It’s you, Sister Lan.”
The other two nodded in agreement.
“Alright, I won’t say much more. Go ahead and book a room for me.”
Some things are better left unsaid; nobody is foolish.
“Understood.”
Zhou Qinqin left the room, leaving Miaomiao and Ah Kun sitting there in silence.
In the adjacent room, Shen Yun had a gloomy expression.
After Xin Lan left, her tears hadn’t continued to fall.
She paced anxiously in the room, wanting to smash everything around her, but the last shreds of her sanity held her back from such an outburst.
Xin Lan must have fallen for someone else; that’s why she broke up with her so decisively. Who is that person?
She clenched her fists, determined not to let that schemer trying to climb up to Xin Lan be revealed to her. Xin Lan was hers, and those resources could only be hers.
She struggled to suppress her panic. A breakup with Xin Lan wasn’t a big deal; she could still win her back. They had talked for so long; Xin Lan couldn’t be so heartless.
Besides, even if there was no chance between them, Xin Lan wouldn’t stoop so low as to use personal grudges to suppress her. After all, in terms of interests, they were intertwined.
Shen Yun sank into the sofa, pulling out her phone.
Xin Lan sat on the couch, waiting for Zhou Qinqin to return. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, and the two opposite her pretended to be mute quails, not saying a word.
Miaomiao, being a petite girl, managed to blend into the background, but Ah Kun, being much larger, looked quite comical trying to do the same.
The phone vibrated, and Xin Lan glanced down at it to alleviate the tension for the two across from her.
On WeChat, Shen Yun was constantly sending her messages of apology. Xin Lan decided to enable the “Do Not Disturb” mode, letting Shen Yun play her acting game over there.
After being dumped, the original host wasn’t entirely frantic when facing the targeted attacks. Shen Yun had left behind a lot of evidence of their relationship, and sharing screenshots could potentially help reverse the public opinion a bit.
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However, it seemed that there was someone behind Shen Yun, manipulating things. It was unclear whether they were targeting the original host or assisting Shen Yun, but the original host’s account was suspended. She tried registering new accounts to post, but those posts vanished without a trace, unable to stir any controversy.
In the end, when she realized she had no more options left, she ended it with resentment.
Xin Lan: Record these screenshots and save them for later use.
Zero Nine: OK.
In the realm of technology, the role of systems becomes apparent.
Each system can store files, audio recordings, and similar items. They can exist independently, not stored in any electronic devices in the physical world. Whenever the host needs them, they can be copied.
This method effectively avoids certain risks, such as storing sensitive information on physical devices, which might be seen by others.
The short video clip Xin Lan recorded earlier, lasting a little over a minute, was archived with Zero Nine. Whenever she wished, Xin Lan could have Shen Yun’s plans backfire.
Although Xin Lan didn’t respond, Shen Yun persisted in sending her messages.
Xin Lan glanced at the messages; they were mostly apologies and similar words.
Xin Lan chose not to read them, but Zero Nine, who was connected to her communication device, saw everything clearly and mentally criticized.
Such foolish 【beep——】 were simply too common, a classic example of scum.
Shen Yun’s messages were quite persistent; if Xin Lan wasn’t paying attention, she could have easily received 99 notifications.
Xin Lan opened the chat window, sent a message, and then exited the conversation.
Zero Nine understood what it was seeing but didn’t quite grasp the meaning, feeling perplexed.
Zero Nine: Host, what does “忠孝仁義禮義廉” mean?
Xin Lan: Loyalty, Filial Piety, Benevolence, Righteousness, Courtesy, Integrity.
Zero Nine was confused for a moment, then suddenly realized.
Xin Lan thought that using such insults was relatively light, as it was her aversion to coarse language that made the words seem dirty. Also, such words were easily traceable on social media. She preferred confrontations in person, but it wasn’t the right time for that now.
Just in case Shen Yun’s thought process took another magical turn and she started believing that Xin Lan’s retort meant she still cared about her, that kind of self-indulgent and self-delusional attitude would be utterly disgusting. Xin Lan decided to send this message as a subtle reminder of her disposition, so that the other side would understand and not bother her anymore.
Upon seeing Xin Lan’s response, Shen Yun also felt puzzled. She looked up the meaning of that phrase on Baidu and realized that Xin Lan was sarcastically alluding to her.
Such a sarcastic tone, if taken too seriously, could easily escalate into a larger issue. Shen Yun furrowed her brows and continued apologizing.
By this time, Xin Lan had checked into her room using the key card. She had undressed and gone into the bathroom to take a shower. The original host had hurriedly finished her work and rushed to catch the flight immediately after. She hadn’t rested during the flight.
Xin Lan paid no mind to Shen Yun’s continuous messages. Zero Nine wished she could engage in a verbal fight with the “flower in a prosperous age,” but the conditions didn’t allow for it. So, Zero Nine decided to divert her attention to the forum and read some entertaining rant posts.
After finishing her shower, Xin Lan sat on the bed and began using her iPad to research information. She was looking into the person Shen Yun had a crush on in the original plot.
Currently, she only knew the name of the person. In the original host’s memories, she hadn’t interacted with this individual. Other than knowing that the person was a former child star, there weren’t many other clues.
Even though she hadn’t met the person yet, so Zero Nine couldn’t provide detailed information, she could still use Baidu to search for photos and related content.
For celebrities, privacy often doesn’t exist. A simple online search can reveal information like height and weight, although it may not always be accurate.
Qin Yuyan, female, 24 years old, blood type…
When Xin Lan saw the name, her eyebrow raised. She didn’t know if it was a coincidence, but the female characters she had encountered in her various worlds all seemed to have a ‘Yan’ in their names.
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However, it was unlikely that there was any connection among them. The way these characters had acted and behaved was quite different from each other.
Perhaps it was truly just a coincidence. Xin Lan continued reading, not dwelling on this matter too much.
The young girl was quite beautiful, belonging to the second generation of stars.
Her whole family was involved in artistic creation; her parents were seasoned actors. She started as a child star and had a smooth journey in the entertainment industry.
This was probably one of the most enviable backgrounds in the entertainment industry. There was no need to struggle to acquire resources; they had access to resources since childhood. They were not only beautiful but also down-to-earth, focused on studies, occasionally making guest appearances on variety shows or dramas.
Currently, her fame seemed rather ordinary, and many people didn’t know her yet. However, those with discerning eyes could see that as long as she decided to seriously work in the entertainment industry rather than just play around, her name would eventually become synonymous with popularity.
Xin Lan remembered that the original host had once considered signing someone under her management. However, at that time, she was still in a good relationship with Shen Yun and already had someone under her wing. She didn’t have the energy to take on another person.
Even if she wanted to, she might not be able to win her over. After all, the other person’s background and circumstances were remarkable. The main advantage was her youth and vitality, untouched by the industry’s influence, still adaptable to various roles. Even a top-tier talent agent could easily manage her.
Putting down the iPad, Xin Lan messaged her friends, planning to explore the situation first.
While the original host didn’t plan to sign Qin Yuyan, Xin Lan felt compelled to do so. However, before that, she needed to prepare thoroughly.
It would ultimately depend on whether Qin Yuyan chose her.