The Abusive Novel System Pleads with Me to Resign

The Qiao residence was usually bustling with people. Apart from Qiao Mingyue's family of five, Qiao Mingfei also lived there most of the time, as she was well-liked by her cousins and practically served as Qiao Mingyue's personal assistant.

Over a hundred staff served the Qiao estate, yet the entire mansion was eerily silent at this moment.

Ever since Lu Linwei had personally stormed the company to humiliate the Qiao family, the atmosphere had become unbearably oppressive.

That night, after returning home, Qiao Mingyue locked herself in her room and went on a violent rampage, smashing everything in sight.

At first, everyone assumed her fury would subside in a few days, but after the initial outburst, she only grew quieter as time passed.

Only when Qiao Mingfei was certain her cousin had calmed down did she cautiously open the door.

There, lying on the lavish bed, was a disheveled figure—hair tangled, face pale, eyes hollow—staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Qiao Mingfei spoke softly, "Sister? The kitchen just made soup, your favorite flavor. You should have some."

Qiao Mingyue remained expressionless. "Get out."

A flicker of worry and sympathy crossed Qiao Mingfei’s face as she silently set the soup aside. "Please try to eat something later. You haven’t had a proper meal in two days."

Qiao Mingyue closed her eyes and turned away, but just then, the phone on the nightstand rang.

She ignored it, but Qiao Mingfei caught sight of the caller ID and immediately reached to reject the call.

The caller persisted, dialing again.

After a single ring, Qiao Mingfei hung up once more.

This repeated several times until finally, the despondent Qiao Mingyue snapped, "Who is it?"

Qiao Mingfei hesitated. "It's Miss Huo and Miss Liu."

"Probably just inviting you out shopping."

Qiao Mingyue let out a bitter laugh. "Do you actually believe that?"

She had been forced to kneel before a woman she wouldn’t have spared a glance in the past, and how many witnesses had there been in the room?

Even if the Qiao family could silence their own, what about the Lu and Gao families?

Born into privilege, Qiao Mingyue had always been the one others fawned over. Even among the few who could rival her in status, none matched her in beauty, pedigree, favoritism, or inheritance share.

But no matter how unshakable her pride seemed, it could all crumble in an instant—especially when forced to kneel before someone who had never even deserved to look up at her.

The reality was unbearable, and now those who had once envied her were undoubtedly relishing her downfall.

With a broken smile, she said, "Shopping? They just want to see the great Qiao Mingyue, who groveled before some penniless nobody."

Qiao Mingfei hurried to her side in consolation. "Sister, this wasn’t your fault."

"Uncle had his reasons, but he shouldn’t have disregarded your dignity like that. Those things weren’t even your doing—what could Lu Linwei really prove?"

Qiao Mingyue’s voice cracked. "So they threw my brother under the bus instead?"

Tears streamed down her face. "He made mistakes, but only because of me. If I hadn’t complained so much, he wouldn’t have lashed out at that woman just to defend me."

They had simply underestimated how much she meant to Lu Linwei.

A shadow passed through Qiao Mingfei’s eyes before she gently pressed, "Then you *have* to pull yourself together—for his sake."

"Sister, I didn’t want to add to your pain, but... things aren’t going well for him."

"Lu Linwei certainly didn’t keep his disgrace a secret. By now, everyone knows your brother hired men to kidnap that woman, failed, and had to kneel in apology."

"For you, this is just a blow to your pride. For him, it’s far worse."

"The shareholders are furious, questioning how the future leader of the Qiao family could kneel to the Lu family. And though Lu Linwei promised not to retaliate under those terms, he’s clearly still targeting us. The shareholders blame your brother for all the recent losses and instability."

Qiao Mingyue’s face twisted in rage. "How *dare* they—"

Qiao Mingfei hesitated, as if weighing whether to continue.

"Tell me everything," Qiao Mingyue demanded.

"Well... the fact that your brother failed multiple times against that woman has made the shareholders—and even the family—question his competence."

"Your second uncle’s sons have been meeting with the shareholders rather frequently lately."

Qiao Mingyue shot up from the bed, hurling objects in blind fury before collapsing back onto it, drained.

"It’s my fault. He was already struggling, and my selfishness ruined him."

Qiao Mingfei quickly clarified, "I didn’t tell you this to make you blame yourself, but to *motivate* you. If you recover, he can focus on fighting back without worrying about you."

"He’s still most concerned about *you*."

Qiao Mingyue stared blankly, her thoughts unreadable.

Qiao Mingfei, however, knew exactly what she was thinking—she wouldn’t have become her cousin’s most trusted confidante otherwise.

Then, gently, she suggested, "Sister... why don’t we go stay at the island Uncle bought for a while?"

"I heard the estate is stunning, with beautiful beaches and breathtaking night skies. Let’s leave all this behind and just... relax for a few days."

At first, Qiao Mingyue didn’t react. Then, suspicion flashed in her eyes.

"That island’s in the South Pacific."

"Why are you suddenly pushing me to go so far? You hate complications—this isn’t like you. Did Father or my brother put you up to this?"

A flicker of panic crossed Qiao Mingfei’s face before she smoothed it over. "No, I just... thought it’d be nice."

Qiao Mingyue stood, forcing her to meet her gaze. "The truth. *Now.*"

Qiao Mingfei bit her lip, then relented. "It’s... Lu Linwei."

"He’s planning to announce his engagement to Shen Ying."

Qiao Mingyue swayed, as if struck.

In their world, engagements were never casual. Once the announcement was made, that woman would instantly gain access to some of the privileges reserved for the future Mrs. Lu.

No matter how desperately Qiao Mingyue wished to prove her devotion to Lu Linwei, he had chosen *her* instead.

Now, stripped of dignity, drowning in humiliation, with her brother’s position hanging by a thread—Qiao Mingyue felt like her entire life had become a cruel joke.

Strangely calm, she waved a hand. "Leave me."

"Sister—"

"Go. I’ll call if I need you."

Reluctantly, Qiao Mingfei stepped out, glancing back in feigned concern until the door closed.

The moment she was alone in the hallway, her expression eased.

She knew exactly how to manipulate Qiao Mingyue—and how to break her.

Downstairs, General Manager Qiao sat, looking exhausted.

As Qiao Mingfei descended, he asked, "How is Mingyue?"

Qiao Mingfei shook her head: “She still refuses to eat. You know how strong her pride is—and right now, she’s drowning in guilt for dragging you into this.”

General Manager Qiao waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not her fault. She’s always been too stubborn. If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known she was being humiliated repeatedly behind the scenes by that woman.”

Qiao Mingfei smiled. “You’re both just looking out for each other. It’s simply bad luck. But I believe if you and my sister stand together, united, there’s no difficulty you can’t overcome.”

Hearing this, General Manager Qiao gave her a grateful smile and patted her shoulder. “And with you, the three of us together—that’s how it should be. For now, I’ll leave Mingyue in your care these next few days.”

Qiao Mingfei’s eyes shimmered with emotion as she nodded earnestly in promise.

See? She wasn’t someone with real influence. Yet even as a marginalized figure in the family, she could stir up a storm—exploiting information asymmetry, playing on human biases, and whispering just the right provocations.

Best of all, once the chaos unfolded, she could retreat into the shadows. No one would suspect her involvement—not even her cousin.

After all, someone as arrogant as him would never admit to being swayed by a woman. He’d believe every decision was his own, merely influenced by a casual conversation with his younger cousin.

That very night, a blood-curdling scream tore through Qiao Mingyue’s room.

The entire Qiao household was roused. Chairman Qiao and his wife rushed in, still in their night robes, only to find their daughter lying in the bathtub—her wrists slit, the water stained crimson.

It was the maid who had noticed the door slightly ajar, the lights still blazing at such an ungodly hour. When her knocks went unanswered, she ventured inside.

Thank heavens she did.

Chaos erupted in the Qiao residence, but thanks to the early discovery and the family’s private medical resources, Qiao Mingyue’s life was spared.

Already overwhelmed by the crisis plaguing the Qiao Group, Mingyue’s suicide attempt became the final straw.

Once she stabilized, Chairman Qiao summoned his son to the study.

“You’ve seen it yourself. Whether it’s the Qiao Group’s predicament or your sister’s state, we can’t afford delays. We’re ill-prepared, stuck on the defensive—and the longer this drags on, the worse it gets. It’s time to turn the tables.”

General Manager Qiao frowned. “How? Holding the line is hard enough as it is. Lu Linwei hasn’t left us any openings.”

Chairman Qiao smirked coldly. “Without him, opportunities will appear.”

Perhaps it was no surprise that General Manager Qiao had no qualms about ruthless methods.

But while he harbored a willingness to disregard laws and morals, he lacked the decisiveness to strike with overwhelming force.

His father, Chairman Qiao, was different. Targeting Lu Linwei came with immense risks, but success would instantly reverse their fortunes.

The eyes fixated on the Qiao family would snap toward the Lu family instead. Once the dust settled, not only would the Qiao Group recover, but they might even carve a hefty chunk from the Lu family’s empire.

With desperation, greed, and Mingyue’s near-tragedy as the catalyst, Chairman Qiao resolved to gamble.

And if they were going to gamble, failure was not an option.

While the Qiao family plotted in secrecy, Lu Linwei was busy making one thing official.

During their confrontation with the Qiao family, he’d referred to Shen Ying as his “fiancée” to bolster her standing.

Now, he couldn’t shake the habit.

Shen Ying had raised objections: “Mr. Lu, our contract only covers the ‘girlfriend’ tier, doesn’t it?”

“‘Fiancée’ is a whole different price point.”

Lu Linwei feigned nonchalance. “Just a slip of the tongue. Force of habit.”

Shen Ying raised an eyebrow. “Your family’s habits form in a single day?”

“Of course,” he countered smoothly. “I’ve always been a fast learner—thanks to my exceptional muscle memory. My adaptation speed far exceeds the average person’s.”

Shen Ying sighed. “Then I suppose being ‘too smart’ isn’t always good. Picking up the wrong habits too quickly just means extra effort to unlearn them.”

Lu Linwei’s expression soured. The truth was, he had no intention of unlearning this one.

He knew exactly what she was doing—playing dumb to force him to speak first.

Normally, he’d sooner die than give her the satisfaction of toying with him again. But the helplessness and guilt from that day still gnawed at him. No matter how fiercely he retaliated against the Qiao family, it couldn’t absolve his own perceived failure.

So he decided to let go of pointless pride.

“Tomorrow night,” he told Shen Ying, “you’re accompanying me somewhere.”

Since it fell under her job scope, Shen Ying readily agreed.

*

The following evening, Lu Linwei brought her to a cliffside castle restaurant overlooking the sea.

The moment Shen Ying stepped out of the car and took in the scenery, she nearly laughed.

She quipped to her system, “Ah, classic angst-novel foreshadowing. Could they make the ‘falling off a cliff’ trope any more obvious?”

Her system, no longer bothering with pretense, replied: 【This plotline carries genuine danger. Are you prepared?】

Shen Ying shrugged. “What danger? It’s just a smooth job transfer. The boss will handle all the paperwork. I’ll stroll in empty-handed.”

The system: 【...】

Just shameless.

The restaurant had been reserved entirely for them, every detail meticulously arranged.

A breathtaking floral arch, ethereal veils draped under a canopy of faux starlight, soulful music, and the warm flicker of candlelight—

The sheer, money-fueled romance lifted Shen Ying’s mood. After savoring the gourmet meal, she raised her champagne flute, its gilded rim reflecting the fireworks exploding over the ocean outside.

Amid the bursts of color, Lu Linwei seemed to use the noise to mask his own awkwardness.

He slid a ring across the table. “Miss Shen Ying, I’d like to upgrade our professional arrangement.”

Shen Ying glanced at the dazzling gem, then back at him. “I don’t sign prenups.”

Lu Linwei’s jaw twitched. “...I’m not asking you to.”

His ears reddened as he added, “But all rights and obligations in this relationship will follow real-world standards.”

For a moment, Shen Ying studied him, a flicker of regret passing through her. Such a tantalizing man—shame the plot couldn’t wait a little longer.

If she’d known he’d look this delectable tonight, she might’ve tweaked the script.

Then again, good things were worth the wait.

So she stood gracefully. “I’ll be right back—just need the restroom.”

Lu Linwei watched her go, smugly thinking she must be flustered. His earlier embarrassment melted away, confidence surging back.

*

On her way out of the restroom, Shen Ying was—predictably—intercepted by two burly men.

After a brief, pitying glance at their physiques, she offered no resistance as they escorted her toward the cliffs.

But as they passed through a grove of trees, an ambush struck from above.

The two men were swiftly subdued, dragged away, and their traces erased. Another group took over, seamlessly replacing them.

From the shadows emerged a woman near-identical to Shen Ying in height, build, and attire, who continued the path toward the cliff’s edge.

By the time Shen Ying boarded a speedboat, the castle’s lights flickered abruptly—then plunged into darkness. The ensuing chaos faded into the distance behind her.

After transferring vehicles twice and traveling for several hours, Shen Ying found herself in an unfamiliar island manor.

The place was undeniably breathtaking, with a dazzling night sky that made it feel almost surreal.

Shen Ying was escorted into the estate by several people and led to the garden, stopping beside the swimming pool.

Gao Yingli slicked back his wet hair and stepped out from the pool stairs.

Shen Ying watched intently—his shoulders, chest, sculpted abs, the V-line, his hips, his legs.

Was there a bonus scene before the main plot even started? Shen Ying was overjoyed.

A servant draped a bathrobe over Gao Yingli, who casually tied it and sat in a nearby chair, gesturing for Shen Ying to do the same.

His tone was indifferent as he said, "Take a seat. No need to rush—we have plenty of time."

"After all, as far as the outside world is concerned, you're already dead."

Shen Ying disagreed. "Not quite. Given Lu Linwei's stubbornness, he won’t believe I’m dead without seeing my corpse."

Gao Yingli scoffed. "You know him well. True, I can deceive him temporarily with a trick, but I can’t exactly produce a body with matching DNA."

"For now, this is enough. Watching that fool suffer brings me joy. Though it’s a shame his luck holds—even after all this, the Qiao family still couldn’t finish him off."

Shen Ying mused silently: *No need to envy that. Both the male lead and the main antagonist are blessed with strong plot armor. Without the contrivances of the story, the Qiao family wouldn’t have stood a chance.*

The same logic applied to Gao Yingli. People like him were difficult to manipulate within her system.

From this, Shen Ying had already formed a rough judgment about the profit model of the tragic romance system.

Noticing her calm demeanor, Gao Yingli smirked. "You don’t seem surprised at all."

"My subordinates reported earlier that you cooperated so smoothly it was almost eerie."

"But then again, compared to the kidnapping incident before, today’s affair must seem rather underwhelming. No wonder Miss Shen remains unshaken."

Shen Ying shrugged. "Well, your people have been nothing but polite, neither rough in speech nor action. What’s there to panic about?"

"Though I am curious—how did you manage to hitch a ride on this scheme?"

Gao Yingli didn’t bother hiding it. "That idiot from the Qiao family—loosen him up with some alcohol, and he spills everything."

He didn’t even need to know the full details. By keeping a close eye on Lu Linwei’s recent movements, he could deduce when and where the Qiao family planned to strike and prepare accordingly.

Gao Yingli added, "What I don’t understand is how Lu Linwei could be stupid enough to fall into such an obvious trap."

Shen Ying looked at him, her smile carrying a hint of something deeper. "Don’t worry, Mr. Gao. One day, you’ll understand."

*As an antagonist with equal screen time as the male lead, did you really think you’d escape the whims of the plot?*

Gao Yingli, however, misunderstood her meaning.

He leaned in closer, narrowing the distance between them. "Miss Shen, your earlier words have left me unsettled."

"I must admit, you’ve stirred my competitive spirit. Once that happens, I can’t let go until I have a definitive answer."

"So, Miss Shen—show me."

Shen Ying knew exactly what he meant but played coy. "Oh, come on, Mr. Gao. Are you seriously trying to mooch emotional validation off me for free?"

"Even Lu Linwei said you’re the type who struggles to trust women. You’re guarded against nearly everyone. For someone like you, genuine romantic feelings are rare."

"In other words, Mr. Gao, you can’t experience the sweetness of love on your own. It’s a luxury even your wealth can’t buy. And yet, you expect me to hand it over for nothing?"

"Isn’t that a bit too shameless?"

Gao Yingli showed no shame. "Ah, so this is the logic you used to brainwash Lu Linwei into showering you with money."

"But you seem to forget—your little scheme only worked because that fool was in love with you. He didn’t want to leave a bad impression, like being cheap, in your eyes."

"I, however, am different." He smirked confidently. "I couldn’t care less about how you perceive me."

"So you’re right, Miss Shen. I *am* mooching."

Shen Ying shrugged. "Fine. Given my current lack of options, it seems you’re not interested in discussing a formal employment arrangement."

"In that case, for this job, I’ll handle the process but not the aftercare—deal?"

Gao Yingli, still oblivious to the impending disaster, gestured for her to proceed. "By all means."

Shen Ying stood up. "It’s late today. We’ll start tomorrow. Have you arranged accommodations for me?"

"Though I won’t accept subpar lodging. Also, am I allowed access to all facilities in the estate? What’s the meal standard? If you’re not paying me, shouldn’t other benefits compensate?"

"After all, my last employer was Lu Linwei. As his competitor, surely you wouldn’t let me downgrade, would you?"

Gao Yingli replied smoothly, "Oh, I would."

He smiled, clearly enjoying himself. "Miss Shen, you haven’t yet demonstrated value that matches your arrogance. The highest privileges are out of the question."

"However, I do encourage people to fight for what they can get."

"Until I say otherwise, you’re on equal footing with the staff here. They’re not obligated to serve you, nor should they provide you with extra comforts."

"But if you can work your so-called irresistible charm and make them fall in love with you, willing to give you everything—I’ll turn a blind eye."

His words were dripping with mockery, yet Shen Ying merely nodded, feigning reluctance. "Fine."

Seeing her pout, Gao Yingli felt a surge of satisfaction and relaxed further.

He returned to his room to shower, made a few work-related calls, and went to bed without sparing another thought for Shen Ying.

The next morning, Gao Yingli woke up on schedule, dressed, and stepped out of his room—

Only for the neighboring door to swing open at the same time.

Shen Ying emerged in silk pajamas, smiling at him. "Good morning."

"Your bed is quite comfortable, Mr. Gao. I had the loveliest dreams all night."

Gao Yingli: "..."

The room next to his was reserved for the most distinguished guests, furnished to match the master suite. Given his reclusive nature, it was practically unused.

The staff couldn’t possibly have misread his attitude toward this woman.

So why had they placed her there?

But the surprises didn’t end there.

Gao Yingli took his seat at the dining table—

Only for Shen Ying to plop down directly across from him without hesitation. The nearby steward made no move to stop her.

Gao Yingli stared at her in disbelief.

Then breakfast arrived.

His own meal was simple and modest, but the spread before Shen Ying was extravagant—an embarrassing contrast that made him look like an unwelcome guest in his own home.

The woman continued smiling and said, "Why are you staring at me? Eat your breakfast—don’t stand on ceremony. If it’s not enough, I can share some of mine."

Gao Yingli set down his fork and called out to the staff still bringing her dishes: "Where’s the chef?"

The chef arrived in the dining room shortly after. Gao Yingli demanded, "What’s the meaning of this?"

Even without explicit orders, the kitchen staff shouldn’t have been foolish enough to do something like this.

The chef hesitated for a long moment before finally straightening his neck and declaring, "The moment I laid eyes on Miss Shen, I was captivated by her warm smile, stunning beauty, graceful demeanor, and kind-hearted nature."

"I couldn’t focus on anything else all day—I just wanted to dedicate my finest culinary skills to her. I’ve fallen deeply in love with her, utterly entranced by her charm, unable to free myself."

"Mr. Gao, I apologize, but I... I simply couldn’t refuse Miss Shen’s requests. My hands moved on their own."

Gao Yingli: "..."

What the hell—

He turned a frosty glare toward the housekeeper in charge of the guest rooms. "And you?"

The elderly man, who had watched Gao Yingli grow up, now trembled slightly as he admitted, "I, too, have fallen for Miss Shen."

Gao Yingli looked at Shen Ying, only to see the woman raise her head from the mountain of delicacies before her.

Grinning, she said, "I told you my charm is irresistible. You just refused to believe me."