After finishing breakfast, Lin Tao made a very important life decision.
She was going back to sleep.
The morning sun was warm, the breeze was gentle, and the old wooden chair in the courtyard was surprisingly comfortable. It would be a waste not to take advantage of such perfect sleeping conditions.
Lin Tao stretched lazily and leaned her head against the back of the chair.
Her eyes slowly closed.
Peace.
This was the life she always wanted... Needed even.
Unfortunately, the Ambition Cultivation System had other ideas.
[Host, please remain alert.]
Lin Tao did not open her eyes.
"Why?"
[According to the timeline, the male lead Chen Guoqiang will arrive in the village today.]
Lin Tao hummed sleepily.
"That sounds like a personal achievement for that big idiot."
The system paused.
[Host, you are supposed to meet him.]
Lin Tao replied calmly,
"I am currently meeting my pillow, can't you see? She said while gesturing to thr embroidered pillow she was currently holding."
[Host!
The system yelped in panic]
Before the system could continue arguing, the courtyard gate suddenly opened.
Lin Dashan, Lin Tao's father, walked in carrying a hoe over his shoulder. His clothes were dusty from working in the fields, but his expression brightened immediately when he saw his daughter.
"Tao'er, you're awake?"
Lin Tao opened one eye.
"Good morning dad."
Lin Dashan chuckled warmly.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Very well."
The system could not believe what it was hearing.
The host had just transmigrated into a dangerous cannon-fodder role, yet the only thing she seemed concerned about was sleep quality.
Lin Dashan placed his hoe against the wall and sat down beside her.
"Your mother said you finished the porridge."
Lin Tao nodded.
"It was good."
Her father looked more pleased.
"That's good. Eat more next time."
From the kitchen, Wang Lifen shouted in a playful tone,
"Of course she will! That girl eats more than she works!"
Lin Tao closed her eyes again.
"Working is bad for digestion."
Her father laughed loudly.
"You're really something."
At that moment, the system suddenly spoke again.
[Host, new information detected.]
Lin Tao sighed quietly.
"What now?"
[The male lead has entered the village.]
Lin Tao did not move.
"Oh, congratulations to him."
[Host, you are supposed to interact with him.]
Lin Tao slowly opened her eyes.
"…Why?"
The system almost exploded.
[Because you are the cannon fodder character who likes him!]
Lin Tao considered that carefully.
Then she asked,
"Do I still like him?"
The system froze.
That question had a logical flaw.
Technically speaking…
This Lin Tao was not the same person as the original Lin Tao.
Before the system could answer, a group of villagers' voices could be heard from the road outside.
"Guoqiang is back!"
"I heard he found work in the city!"
"He's really promising!"
Lin Dashan stood up and glanced toward the gate.
"Looks like the Chen family's boy returned."
Lin Tao immediately leaned further back into her chair.
If the male lead was outside…
Then the safest place was obviously inside the house.
The system quickly realized what she was doing.
[Host! Do not avoid the plot!]
Lin Tao rolled her eyes before closing her eyes again.
"I'm conserving my energy."
Meanwhile, outside the Lin family courtyard, a tall young man walked down the dusty village road carrying a small travel bag.
Chen Guoqiang had just returned from the nearby town.
He looked stronger than most of the village men, and his posture was straight. Several villagers greeted him enthusiastically as he passed.
"Guoqiang, you're back!"
"Yes, uncle."
"Did the job go well?"
"It went well."
Chen Guoqiang answered politely, his expression calm and serene.
As he passed the Lin family courtyard, he instinctively glanced inside.
The courtyard was quiet.
Under the orchid tree, a young woman lay in a chair, fast asleep in the sunlight.
Chen Guoqiang stopped walking.
He frowned slightly.
That woman…
Was Lin Tao.
He knew her well.
Or rather, he knew her reputation.
The lazy shrew of the village.
The one who always chased after him.
But something felt... strange.
In the past, whenever he returned to the village, Lin Tao would appear almost immediately.
Sometimes she would pretend to fetch water.
Sometimes she would "coincidentally" walk past his house.
Sometimes she would simply stand in the road and stare at him.
But today…
She was sleeping.
Actually sleeping.
As if his return had absolutely nothing to do with her.
Chen Guoqiang stared at her for a moment.
Then he shook his head and continued walking.
Inside the courtyard, the system sounded extremely anxious.
[Host! The male lead just passed by!]
Lin Tao murmured sleepily,
"…Did he bring snacks?"
[That is not the point!]
"System 996.... Do you believe I'll actually beat you till your codes and software all scramble into jargons? Lin Tao said in a low and threatening tone"
[I'm going offline host]
Lin Tao turned over in her chair.
The sunlight was warm, and the breeze felt nice.
Far away from her, the wheels of fate were beginning to move.
But Lin Tao had already decided something important.
If lying down could solve the problem…
Why bother stand up?
And so, while the male lead officially returned to the village, the cannon fodder responsible for starting the story…
Was taking a nap.
The system suddenly had a terrible realization.
This host might truly destroy the plot.
Without even trying.