Chapter 2: Defending Su Jingxuan

[System: …I am not an object, uh… I am…]

“What exactly are you? If you have the guts, come out! I've died once before; I'm not afraid of you…”

The system was speechless!

It simply stopped talking and directly transmitted a massive amount of information into her mind.

“Ugh… it hurts, it hurts…” A pounding pain in her head overwhelmed her, making it impossible to comprehend at once. The next moment, she lost consciousness and then opened her eyes.

Despite that, her head still throbbed painfully.

The pain had been so intense she had fainted outright.

When she awoke again, she found new knowledge about the system’s marketplace in her mind.

Complete tasks, earn points, and redeem anything from the marketplace.

But these tasks were unbelievably bizarre.

“System, can you hear me?” She doubted the memories suddenly implanted in her mind. Carefully, she called out.

[I am here, host!]

“Did you give me all these memories?”

[Exactly!]

Luo Yunhe: “…Are you sure I have to be like a shrew, brawling with everyone just to complete the tasks?”

[System: …Yes!]

“I think you should rename this the Shrew Marketplace,” Luo Yunhe muttered in disbelief.

[System: …!!!]

After transmigrating, she had inexplicably been bound to a system marketplace—but this marketplace was so strange.

It forced her, a dignified young lady of noble birth, to act like a shrew, constantly bickering and arguing with everyone until they questioned their own sanity.

Completing tasks was the only way to earn points.

“What can be redeemed here?” Luo Yunhe asked.

[Return to host: Complete tasks, system will randomly open blind boxes; the host gets whatever is drawn. If the host wants specific items, it will require a huge amount of points! Host, the first task has already started; please do your best!]

Curious about the first task, Luo Yunhe closed her eyes. A virtual screen appeared before her, and she tapped on the first task bar.

The task opened, and the details popped up.

[Protect Su Jingxuan]

When Luo Yunhe saw this task, she was stunned.

She hadn’t expected the first task to involve Su Jingxuan.

Although she had only met him briefly, she could tell his mother wasn’t kind to him.

And indeed, Luo Yunhe’s guess was correct.

Su Jingxuan had just entered the kitchen to cook.

Suddenly, noisy scolding erupted from the courtyard.

Luo Yunhe drifted back to awareness, opened her eyes, and looked out the window.

Though weak and exhausted, hearing the sharp voice of that unbearable stepmother stirred a fierce anger within her.

This was the perfect chance to complete the system’s task.

“Did you hear me, Su Jingxuan? After raising you all these years, was it for nothing? Now that you’ve made something of yourself, you dare defy me?

I want meat! Go buy it immediately! If I don’t have meat to eat today, I won’t forgive you!”

The cruel and spiteful voice echoed through the yard.

Suppressing the pain, Luo Yunhe mustered her strength, got off the kang (heated brick bed), slipped on her shoes, and grabbed a handy stick as she stepped outside.

“You’re not allowed to bully my husband!” Her weak yet cold voice rang out, and she swung the stick toward the wicked stepmother.

Without warning, she struck.

“You little wretch, how dare you hit me?”

“You’re the evil stepmother. You’re not allowed to bully my husband! I’ll beat you to death!” Though her movements seemed slow, Luo Yunhe had already anticipated the stepmother’s reaction.

Since her first task was to protect Su Jingxuan, she would see it through to the end.

“I’ll beat you to death!”

“You, little shameless girl, I’m giving you a chance! If I don’t teach you a proper lesson today, then I’m not the mistress of this house…”

The woman’s fury twisted her features; her normally large eyes bulged out in rage, making her look terrifyingly grotesque.

As she spoke, she instinctively stepped left to avoid the stick.

But Luo Yunhe gave her no chance—the stick curved sharply and struck the old woman.

“Bang!”

“Ugh…” A sharp pain radiated from the impact. The stepmother’s face flushed deep red, her venomous glare practically devouring Luo Yunhe.

Having hit the malicious woman, Luo Yunhe felt delight bubbling inside her. She was already planning to give her another harsh blow if the chance arose.

She never let grievances go unanswered.

Old woman, your nightmare has just begun…

How could Su Chen ever tolerate a fool like her challenging her authority? Having been struck, she naturally wanted revenge. She glanced around, searching for a stick.

Hearing the commotion outside, Su Ruyi hurried out and saw her mother suffering. Quickly, she grabbed a nearby broom.

“Mother, here you go.”

Receiving the broom, the old woman charged at Luo Yunhe.

Su Ruyi’s eyes sparkled as she rolled up her sleeves and joined the fray.

She wasn’t there to break it up but to stir the pot—she even planned to take advantage of the chaos to teach Luo Yunhe a lesson.

Su Jingxuan saw the fight erupting outside, dropped what he was doing, and dashed out.

“Mother, stop fighting… little sister, please step back…”

He tried to pull them apart, but privately, he was wholeheartedly protecting his naïve and doting wife.

“Ouch, that hurts…” Su Ruyi felt like her arm was being crushed.

The old woman, hearing her daughter’s screams, flew into a rage.

She spun around and slapped Su Jingxuan’s handsome face.

“You ungrateful wretch, how dare you bully your own sister?”

Luo Yunhe was already struggling to handle two opponents, but when she saw Su Jingxuan get slapped, she didn’t hesitate. Summoning all her strength, she struck the woman’s face fiercely.

“How dare you hit my husband…” Luo Yunhe’s hand tingled with pain from the force of her blow.

Su Chen felt her cheek burning fiercely. She never imagined this little shameless girl would dare strike her. Furious, her expression twisted even more hideously.

She pushed her daughter and Su Jingxuan aside violently, then lunged at Luo Yunhe, tearing at her.

Luo Yunhe fought back without mercy, using cunning tactics. Remembering her task, she mimicked the woman’s moves—pulling hair, scratching the face.

Su Jingxuan tried to intervene but was stopped by Su Ruyi.

“Brother, who do you think you are? How dare you treat mother like this? Have you no conscience?

You should be the one disciplining that daughter-in-law you bought home. Dumb and disobedient; no one complains when she breaks a leg…”

The chaos deepened.