Chapter 32

"'Cooking Guide'?" Xia Xi blinked and prodded the food in her bowl with her chopsticks. "Can it instantly boost my cooking skills?"
"Erm," The system hesitated, its voice growing softer and less confident. "Your skills will improve gradually over time."
"Gradually? That could take forever." Xia Xi snorted coldly. "I don't think your 'Cooking Guide' will be of much use to me. Let's continue our previous topic, the original host's identity in this world and the world's setting,"
"No, no, host, you've misunderstood." The system grew anxious and quickly explained, "What I mean is, this 'Cooking Guide' can quickly help you master basic cooking skills, but more advanced techniques will require you to accumulate experience bit by bit, relying entirely on your own understanding."
Xia Xi pursed her lips upon hearing the system's words. Though reluctant, she followed its lead and changed the subject. "Is it really that useful?"
"At least it won't burn the food."
Xia Xi: “...”
Choked by the system's remark, Xia Xi lowered her head to glance at her own cooking, then curled her lips defiantly. "Even if my dishes don't look great, they at least taste decent, the 'Cooking Guide' doesn't seem all that important to me. If my cooking skills are lacking, I can improve them gradually. One day, I'll be able to make a delicious meal for myself. So, do you really think a ‘Cooking Guide' is enough to bribe me into letting you off the hook?"
The system fell silent for a long moment.
"Host, I know you're angry that I didn't tell you about this world's settings, but I had no choice," the system sighed. "I don't have the authority to disclose unknown details about this world. You must find the answers yourself. The moment you uncover them, the data will be uploaded to your character panel, officially unlocking new character roles and granting access to basic information."
"So, you're saying I have to figure out this world's settings on my own?"
"Yes. In fact, the moment you arrived in this world, its framework changed entirely. It's now developing in a completely different direction from the predetermined storyline, so no one knows what the future holds."
Hearing this, Xia Xi narrowed her eyes and immediately seized the key point. "System, I don't need you to tell me what will happen in the future. Right now, I just want to know: What is the relationship between the Yan family and Xia Xi? If Xia Xi is a child of the Yan family, why does she bear the surname Yan? Why did she choose to become an actress? Did the original host know Lu Yisheng before?"
"Sorry, insufficient permissions. No comment."
"Sorry, insufficient permissions. No comment."
"Sorry, insufficient permissions. No comment."
After the icy mechanical voice finished speaking, that infuriating system, for some inexplicable reason, started emitting a series of "beep beep beep" sounds, making Xia Xi frown involuntarily.
"Quiet!" Her voice carried suppressed anger.
This is definitely intentional!
In her fury, Xia Xi nearly cursed out loud, though it was understandable. Anyone encountering such a frustrating system would feel the need to vent.
She took a deep breath, narrowed her eyes, and said, "System, you're doing a fantastic job. Do you realize you're testing my limits?"
"Host, I truly don't have the authority to answer these questions. Please don't make things difficult for me." The system, recognizing the situation, immediately softened its tone upon sensing Xia Xi's genuine anger. "Host, how about this: I'll not only give you the ‘Cooking Guide' but also throw in a ‘Guide to Sewing'?"
Xia Xi narrowed her eyes and let out a light chuckle. "What use are these two books to me? Am I supposed to become a chef or a tailor?"
Hearing this, the system paused in surprise. It hadn’t expected its host to see through its usual tricks and couldn’t help but ask, puzzled, "Then what do you need?"
"What do I need?" Xia Xi’s mind raced at the question, and she responded with a faint, amused laugh. "Well then, do you have any books on improving singing techniques here?"
Xia Xi was certain the system wouldn’t reveal the answers she truly sought just yet. So, she decided to take a roundabout approach, focusing first on her immediate struggle, the persistent challenge of singing.
"Yes, of course. So, host, for books on singing techniques, would you prefer beginner-level ones or more advanced ones?"
It seems there’s quite a variety, far more than I expected. But that suits me just fine.
Xia Xi narrowed her eyes again, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "System, it looks like you’ve got quite a few good things here!"
She paused briefly before continuing, "Then bring out all the books on singing techniques. Let me take a good look and decide which one I want."
"Alright." Though the system’s voice carried a hint of reluctance, it ultimately agreed. It had a feeling that if it refused again, the host would surely make it "regret it."
As soon as the system finished speaking, several books materialized out of thin air on Xia Xi’s desk.
Introduction to Singing Techniques, How to Sing Moving Songs, Voice into the Heart, The Art of Sound,
The selection was indeed rich and diverse, covering everything from beginner basics to master-level performances.
Casually picking up one of the books, Xia Xi began flipping through it idly. As she read, she tapped her fingers lightly on the edge of the desk. Time slipped by unnoticed. Initially, she had only intended to learn a bit more about music to support her participation in Cross-Border Singing, but to her surprise, the system’s books turned out to be unexpectedly engaging. By the time she became immersed in the charm of music, the sky outside had already grown dark.
"Host?"
Having waited for quite a while, the system noticed that Xia Xi showed no signs of stopping her reading of Introduction to Singing Techniques. It called out to her softly, but Xia Xi only furrowed her brows slightly in response, showing no intention of putting the book down. The system tried again, a little more gently.
"Host, have you decided which book you want?"
This time, Xia Xi heard it. She pursed her lips, a trace of displeasure crossing her face. After all, no one enjoys being interrupted when they’re deeply engrossed in something.
Frowning, she glanced at the food that had gone cold and then at the books spread out before her. "What did you say just now? I didn’t catch it."
"Host, have you decided which book you want to choose?" the system repeated its question, this time with the utmost politeness.
Xia Xi glanced at the books laid out on the table but said nothing. She gently stroked them with her hand, thought for a moment, and then said, "System, I don’t want to make a choice. These books aren’t of much use to you anyway. How about I borrow them from you instead? Let me read them all and return them afterward. What do you think?"
"Borrow?" The system’s voice carried a hint of confusion.
"That’s right, borrow." Xia Xi narrowed her eyes and continued, "I’ll borrow books from you, one system coin per book. That way, you can earn some money, and once I finish reading, I’ll return them to you in perfect condition. The books will still be yours."
Xia Xi paused briefly. "System, you’re not losing out at all."