Chased You, You're Cold; Married, Why Cry?

"What did you say? I got it wrong? My target isn't Lu Jinzhi?" "I've been a fawning dog for three years and eleven months, the whole world thinks I'd marry no one but Lu Jinzhi, and now you tell me he's not the one I should be courting?" "Ah, say that again! You damn system! I'm going to thrash you, you piece of junk!" Qiao Yin, infuriated, kept pounding on the bed, the finely carved pearwood bed shaking under her blows. She wanted to bash the bed, even more, wishing she could just bash her head against the bedpost and end it all. How could she be so unlucky? Years ago, due to a car accident, she had the misfortune of transmigrating to this strange dynasty and was bound to a bizarre courting system. The system told her that if she managed to win over Lu Jinzhi, she could be reborn. The deadline was set for years, and if she failed within that time, the system would erase her. Desperate to live, she shamelessly became Lu Jinzhi's fawning dog for three years and eleven months - not three days, not three months, but three years and eleven months! Today, this damned system suddenly tells her she's been courting the wrong person! And the time she's already spent counts, leaving her with only one month left. "Only one month left, and you want me to court another man?" "Just kill me now!" Qiao Yin lay on the bed, crying her heart out, truly wishing she were dead. 【Even without a bug, you wouldn't be able to win over Lu Jinzhi in a month. You might as well try someone else.】 The system said timidly. "So, I should thank you now?" 【No need to thank me, serving the host is my duty.】 "Thanks to your whole family!" 【……】 The system fell silent for a long time before saying, 【As compensation, I've secured a right for you, reducing the difficulty of the mission. As long as the host makes the new target fall for you within a month, the mission will be considered complete.】 With a kip-up, Qiao Yin sat up from the bed. The original mission required the target to fall in love with her wholeheartedly to initiate life sharing, allowing her rebirth. Lu Jinzhi, a man cold in demeanor and heart, had not even smiled at her for three years and eleven months, let alone shown affection. The system was right; even with another month, she couldn't win over Lu Jinzhi. She might as well try her luck with someone else. One month, to make someone fall for her. Alright, let's give it a shot. "Bang—" The door was kicked open, and Qiao Yin's elder brother, Qiao Mo, along with her maid Bi Zhu, entered excitedly. "Miss, two good water ghosts are ready, tonight you'll surely die without regrets!" Patting his chest, Qiao Mo said, "Sister, rest assured, the moment you die, I'll immediately grab Lu Jinzhi and make him responsible for you! Alive, he must marry you; dead, well, sister, you won't be dead, of course." Today is Lu Jinzhi's birthday, and like the previous years, Qiao Yin took it upon herself to celebrate his birthday grandly. This year, she spent all her savings to book the most famous garden in the capital, Ji Fang Garden, meticulously arranged a banquet, and invited all the notable young talents of the city to celebrate Lu Jinzhi's birthday. With the deadline approaching and running out of options, Qiao Yin prepared to use her last strategy - a bitter trick. She planned to abandon her dignity and confess to Lu Jinzhi once more tonight; if he rejected her, she would jump into the water in public, seeking death to force a marriage. This was her last 'courtship' attempt at Lu Jinzhi. Even without a system bug, after tonight, she would give up the courtship mission and spend her last month on other things. Such as properly saying goodbye to the Qiao family. She is the second daughter of the Jing An Marquis family, who had only returned to her family years ago. With her mother passed away and only her father Qiao Zhen Dong and her elder brother Qiao Mo at home, the Qiao men felt indebted to her and spoiled her rotten these years, granting her every wish. Especially her elder brother. During these years of her unrequited pursuit of Lu Jinzhi, she faced ridicule and brought shame to the Qiao family, even affecting Qiao Mo's marriage prospects. But Qiao Mo never blamed her, instead praising her courage for reaching for the highest branch in the city. Facing the excited duo, Qiao Yin struggled to speak, "There's a change in plans. I no longer wish to marry Lu Jinzhi." Qiao Mo and Bi Zhu were stunned, "Has the sun risen from the west?" Qiao Yin didn't know how to explain and simply waved her hand, "From now on, I don't like Lu Jinzhi anymore. Don't mention him in front of me, it's bad luck!" Bi Zhu and Qiao Mo exchanged glances, both seeing shock, confusion, and... ecstasy in each other's eyes. "Miss, are you serious? You don't like Lord Lu anymore? Then what about tonight's banquet at Ji Fang Garden? Should we cancel it? But the invitations have already been sent out, and guests are probably arriving by now." Cancel? That was her hard-earned money spent on the garden, which she hadn't even fully enjoyed yet. Who knows if she'll have another chance to enjoy it? Qiao Yin, feeling the pinch, said, "No need to cancel, the banquet continues, but the celebrant changes. I no longer wish to celebrate Lu Jinzhi's birthday; I want to host General Xie Yuean." Qiao Mo and Bi Zhu said in unison, "Xie Yuean?" Qiao Yin nodded, "Yes, Xie Yuean. From now on, this banquet is for Xie Yuean." Qiao Mo slapped his forehead, giving Qiao Yin a thumbs up, "I get it! Sister, you're not using the bitter trick but 'playing hard to get', right? Sister, you're truly a reincarnation of Sun Tzu..." Qiao Yin: "...What playing hard to get, I'm serious. I won't argue with you anymore, I'm going to Ji Fang Garden to see Xie Yuean now." Qiao Yin had only taken a few steps when Bi Zhu tightly grabbed her hand, looking at her anxiously. "Miss, don't scare me. Lord Lu has rejected you more than once; it's not a big deal to start over. Don't be foolish." Qiao Yin was exasperated, "How can I make you believe me? This time it's not Lu Jinzhi rejecting me; it's me dumping him!" Bi Zhu paused, then softly reminded, "But Miss, you didn't invite General Xie to tonight's banquet at all." Qiao Yin was dumbfounded. She had forgotten; she didn't know Xie Yuean at all, not even if he was round or flat. "Then quickly prepare an invitation and send it to the General's mansion." Qiao Yin instructed, but then thought, "Forget it, I'll go and invite him myself." Her future husband, she had to see for herself.