My Heart's Voice Shakes the Storyline

Hu Lihua was startled, seeing the dark surroundings. She panicked. Her heart raced as her eyes darted around wildly. Was there a wandering ghost appearing?

Hu Lihua: [Who? Who's talking?]

System: [Master! Boohoo… finally, you can hear me!]

Hu Lihua: [Who are you? Why can I hear you in my head? If you're a wandering ghost, you've got the wrong person! I've never killed anyone! Maybe the person you're looking for is in the Xiangyu Pavilion!]

System: [Master, I'm Xitong! I'm the system that followed you into this novel.]

Hu Lihua: [Xitong? System? Ah! Amazing! Turns out I have a system!]

Hu Lihua couldn't hide her excitement. She wanted to jump out of bed and leap around to express her joy. But she feared her actions might frighten Xixi, who was waiting outside. Hu Lihua quickly took a deep breath to calm herself.

Once she was calm, she asked again, a wide smile on her lips.

Hu Lihua: [Now, tell me. What's your function? Can you give me superpowers? Do you have a storage space? Or… will you give me tasks with rewards?]

Xitong: [... I can give you gossip.]

The smile on Hu Lihua's face froze. The corner of her lips twitched slightly upon hearing Xitong's response.

Hu Lihua had read several novels about systems. The systems in novels always provided tasks and rewards, storage spaces, or superpowers that made their owners unbeatable. But… she got a system that could only gossip with her? What kind of system was this?!

Xitong: [Master, I can hear your thoughts!]

Hu Lihua sighed softly upon hearing Xitong's protest. Now, even her private thoughts could be overheard. How was she supposed to live in the future?

Hu Lihua: [Xitong, can you really only gather gossip? Nothing else?]

Xitong: [Master, rest assured, you'll love the gossip I dig up!]

Hu Lihua pouted. Well, enjoying someone else's gossip wasn't bad either. Who didn't like gossip? Fine, let's give it a try!

Hu Lihua: [Can you see what Hu Rui'an is doing right now?]

Xitong: [Of course!]

After that, Xitong's voice disappeared for a moment before returning.

Xitong: [Master, that girl still can't sleep. Due to the cold and her anger, she coughed all night. Looks like your life will be more peaceful for the next few days!]

Hu Lihua: [Has she made any new plans to attack me?]

Xitong: [Not yet.]

Hu Lihua sneered. Good, even better if she stayed silent forever!

The sun had barely risen, but Hu Lihua was already walking out of Yufeng Pavilion with Xixi. Truthfully, she wanted to sleep longer, but Xixi wouldn't let her.

Every morning, they had to go to Ronghua Pavilion to pay their respects to Old Madam Hu. Yesterday, they had caused trouble for Hu Rui'an, and Old Madam Hu would likely give Hu Lihua a hard time today to vent her frustration for her beloved granddaughter. Xixi was worried they'd be late, making matters worse.

When Hu Lihua arrived, she saw Song Xiuyan and Hu Zhangwei already seated at the dining table. However, Old Madam Hu was nowhere to be seen.

"Your daughter greets Father and Mother," Hu Lihua greeted politely.

"Hua'er, you're here. Come, sit next to Mother," said Song Xiuyan.

"Yes, Mother," Hu Lihua replied as she sat next to Song Xiuyan.

"Hua'er, did you sleep well last night?" Hu Zhangwei asked with a warm smile.

Hu Lihua turned and stared at Hu Zhangwei blankly.

[Did the sun rise in the west today? Why is he being so kind to me? Oh no! This is scaring me!]

The corner of Hu Zhangwei's mouth twitched slightly. Hold it together, Hu Zhangwei! Changing the relationship overnight isn't easy!

Realizing herself, Hu Lihua calmly responded, "Father, thank you for your concern. Your daughter slept very well last night."

"She obviously slept well last night! She must feel very satisfied after tormenting An'er. What else could disturb her sleep?!" A sharp woman's voice suddenly interrupted. Moments later, an old woman entered the dining hall, followed by an elderly servant.

The three people already seated immediately stood up and greeted Old Madam Hu. After bowing, they were about to sit again when Old Madam Hu's voice interrupted.

"Who gave you permission to sit? Remain standing!"

Hu Lihua looked up and saw an old woman with an aura of nobility staring at her sharply.

"Grandmother, did I do something wrong?" Hu Lihua asked calmly, standing by her chair.

Old Madam Hu snorted. She sat down and glared at Song Xiuyan with displeasure. "Is this the good daughter you've raised? She has a black heart!"

"Mother-in-law, it was just a misunderstanding yesterday. Please don't be angry," Song Xiuyan replied.

"Misunderstanding? Do you think I'm a fool?! Who in this residence doesn't know Hua'er deliberately kicked An'er?" Old Madam Hu snapped.

"Mother, don't get angry. Please think of your health," Hu Zhangwei urged.

Old Madam Hu turned sharply to Hu Zhangwei. "Are you defending her now?"

[Ugh… Old Madam Hu is so unreasonable. My father and mother are right! If she doesn't control her emotions, she'll have a stroke sooner than expected!]

Old Madam Hu: "??!"

Who just cursed her to have a stroke?! She looked around but saw no one speaking. Yet, the voice felt familiar. Was she hallucinating?

Song Xiuyan and Hu Zhangwei exchanged subtle glances as they noticed Old Madam Hu's confusion. Meanwhile, the servants remained expressionless, as though they hadn't heard anything.

Hu Lihua: [Xitong, can you check my grandmother's gossip?]

Hu Zhangwei and Song Xiuyan frowned slightly. Who's Xitong?

Old Madam Hu, however, froze when she heard that voice again, clearly in her head. Grandmother? That voice called me Grandmother? Was that Hu Lihua?

Old Madam Hu turned and stared sharply at Hu Lihua, who was quietly gazing at the floor.

Hu Zhangwei and Song Xiuyan strained to listen, but no other sound followed. Then, Hu Lihua's voice came again moments later.

Hu Lihua: [Oh… turns out she had diarrhea all night, leaving her legs weak. No wonder she looks so bad-tempered today!]

Hu Zhangwei and Song Xiuyan turned and saw Old Madam Hu's face turn pale. She looked terrified as she stared at Hu Lihua.

How did Hu Lihua know I had diarrhea all night?! And why didn't her lips move while speaking?!

Old Madam Hu turned away, only to meet the pitiful gazes of Hu Zhangwei and Song Xiuyan.

Wait! Could they hear what Hu Lihua was saying too?!

"Did… did you hear… Ah!" Old Madam Hu suddenly choked.

Hu Zhangwei quickly grabbed Old Madam Hu's teacup and handed it to her while whispering, "Mother, don't say anything."

"Grandmother, are you alright?" Hu Lihua asked, feigning concern.