The Abusive Novel System Pleads with Me to Resign

Yu Ting's filming had finally gotten on track, and from then on, he was fully occupied with the shoot. Meanwhile, the updates Shen Ying received about his activities became increasingly "rich and entertaining."

Those photos—tsk tsk! If even one were leaked, his fans would be howling with excitement, instantly pushing it to the top of trending searches.

The director, who took these photos daily, was the first to notice that Yu Ting was cultivating an increasingly subtle yet provocative aura.

Furious, he declared, "I’m a world-class director who’s won a Golden Statue. What do you take me for? Some low-budget softcore filmmaker?"

Yu Ting scoffed, "Exactly. The love scenes in your award-winning film are practically a masterclass for adult film directors."

The director snapped, "This is too much. I quit."

Yu Ting smirked, "Hasn’t the film’s budget already been exceeded? Weren’t you just discussing how to convince the already disgruntled investors for more money? I happen to have some spare funds—convincing me is easier than selling your ass at a business dinner, isn’t it?"

"If you won’t even humor me on such a small matter—"

Before he could finish, the director immediately plastered on an ingratiating smile. "We’ll shoot! Right away! How could I ever tire of capturing Teacher Yu Ting’s charm?"

While the director and producers endured humiliation for funding, someone else sought out Shen Ying.

Two sharply dressed professionals knocked on her door and announced, "Miss Shen, Mr. Pei requests your presence."

Shen Ying glanced at the calendar—it had indeed been several days since she’d last collected payment.

She’d nearly forgotten about the job.

Of course, Yu Ting was to blame. If he hadn’t sought her out, she wouldn’t have been distracted by his good looks and neglected her work.

As she followed the two assistants out, she grumbled internally at the system for failing to remind her of her tasks—

"I’ve noticed you’ve really slacked off on work ethic. We’re supposed to be a team, a unit. If you’re this passive, all the work falls on me."

"Oh, so I do all the heavy lifting while you split the salary and commissions? That’s not how this works."

Her words only reminded the system of its pitiful base pay and the near loss of bonuses from the last world.

Silently, it wept.

Pei Ying’s residence was perched atop a mountain, the entire peak part of his private estate.

The main house stood at the summit, with several other distinctively designed buildings scattered below—a private hospital, an observation hall for banquets, administrative offices, and other functional structures.

The car carrying Shen Ying stopped directly at the mansion’s entrance.

The assistants led her inside with utmost deference.

After taking the elevator to the third floor, she arrived at a sprawling rooftop garden terrace where Pei Ying was already waiting.

"Mr. Pei, Miss Shen has arrived."

Once the assistants withdrew, Pei Ying finally turned to Shen Ying. "Your efficiency this time has been rather disappointing."

Shen Ying didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she walked to the edge of the terrace, taking in the breathtaking view and the mountain breeze that refreshed her spirit.

Even the air carried a crisp, invigorating scent of greenery. She inhaled deeply and asked, "The stars must be beautiful here at night, right?"

Pei Ying replied, "If you’d like to see them, you’re welcome to stay overnight. I’ll have a room prepared for you."

Shen Ying neither accepted nor declined. She returned to the sofa, where the panoramic view remained unobstructed even while seated.

In good spirits, she finally addressed the matter at hand. "My apologies. I’ve had some personal matters to attend to these past few days, which delayed the task you assigned."

Pei Ying smirked. "By ‘personal matters,’ do you mean visiting Jiang Liuxu at the hospital or strolling around downtown with Yu Ting and even bringing him home?"

"If I’m not mistaken, I was the highest bidder in this arrangement. Yet, my service has been postponed. Miss Shen, this isn’t what I’d call good business ethics."

Shen Ying didn’t bother questioning how he knew her every move—after all, what kind of domineering CEO in a tragic romance novel wouldn’t have surveillance and control issues?

Instead, she quickly reassured him, "Don’t worry, Mr. Pei. Since you offered the highest price, I’ll make sure the emotional returns you receive far surpass the others."

"At this stage, the order doesn’t matter much anyway. Besides, my meetings with Jiang Liuxu and Yu Ting weren’t purely business. There’s a bit of personal connection there too."

Pei Ying’s expression darkened instantly. "Personal connection?"

"With them?"

"Forgive my bluntness, but outside of your ‘professional dealings,’ how many personal interactions have you even had with them? Most weren’t even one-on-one. How could you possibly develop personal feelings for either?"

Shen Ying shrugged. "We just clicked. Dr. Jiang is emotionally intelligent and a pleasure to talk to—conversations with him are always enjoyable."

"Yu Ting is simple and easy to fool—no, I mean straightforward and honest. It’s only natural to form some personal rapport beyond work, right?"

Coming from anyone else, this explanation would’ve been perfectly reasonable. But this was Shen Ying.

Pei Ying’s gaze turned heavy. From the beginning, the relationships between them had been twisted.

Yet Shen Ying was a rare breed—someone who could openly maintain these warped dynamics with absolute self-interest.

But to suggest that Jiang Liuxu and Yu Ting could develop ordinary friendships with her? Pei Ying found that laughable.

A surge of displeasure and restlessness filled him, even though these emotions made no logical sense.

Still, he sneered, "The two people you find so ‘compatible’ happen to be your sister’s suitors."

"Developing close personal ties with the men your sister is involved with—do you really think that’s appropriate?"

Shen Ying looked at him with newfound admiration. "Mr. Pei, are you monitoring your rivals’ chastity?"

"I thought Jiang Liuxu dragging his rivals along was already the height of nobility, but it seems you’re just as magnanimous."

Pei Ying choked, his face twisting in disgust and frustration.

Shen ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Ying grinned. "We’re all scoundrels here. Let’s not waste time moralizing at each other, alright?"

"It’s awkward. And frankly, boring."

Pei Ying stared into her eyes, realizing no words could shake her resolve.

His irritation only grew.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "Let’s begin. What’s your plan this time?"

Shen Ying switched to work mode effortlessly. "Simple. Last time, you mentioned my sister checking up on me, right?"

"Next, you—or someone you designate—should fabricate details about my life. The more pitiful, the better. The more tragic, the more convincing."

"But it has to be airtight. Meticulously prepared, with tangible evidence to back it up. If needed, I can even pose for some photos—though those cost extra."

"Then, gradually and strategically, feed these ‘miserable’ updates to my sister."

Pei Ying’s frown deepened with each word. When she finished, he asked, "So by leveraging your sister’s concern for you, we increase her interactions with me?"

Shen Ying shook her head. "I’m not done yet. This time, when you report my situation, you’ll need to add your own subjective commentary."

"Make it negative. Full of disdain and condescension—just like at the very beginning. I don’t mind."

Pei Ying reflexively protested, "I didn’t—"

Then he caught himself, realizing the real issue.

His eyes widened slightly, a trace of disbelief lingering. "Why would we do that?"

Shen Ying said, "This way, my younger sister will treat your words as her daily spiritual sustenance, finding solace in them after exhausting social engagements, with her thoughts constantly lingering on the messages you bring."

Pei Ying suddenly stood up, his expression darkening as he retorted, "How could she possibly be happy about this?"

"Shishi is kind-hearted and empathetic. How could she take pleasure in someone else's suffering—especially when it's her own elder sister's?"

"Are you implying she harbors hatred for her own sister? Your assumptions about her are shockingly malicious."

Pei Ying paced irritably before stopping in front of Shen Ying, his presence imposing. "I know there have been many misunderstandings between the two of you."

"And I also know you have little affection for her as a sister." If there had been even a shred of sisterly love, this woman wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to exploit her younger sister for money.

Pei Ying finally added, incredulous, "But you can’t twist your sister into some monstrous figure like this."

Shen Ying looked at him in surprise. "Wait, I thought my professional competence had already earned your approval, which is why you paid such a high price to secure my services."

"Yet here you are, still questioning my judgment?"

"Don’t tell me you think I’m using my work as an excuse to slander my sister?"

Seeing Pei Ying remain silent, his expression clearly agreeing with the accusation, Shen Ying grew displeased. "This is exactly why I hate taking jobs tainted by emotional bias. Clients who lack a clear understanding of their target end up doubting the professional’s expertise."

"Dr. Jiang never questions me like this—no wonder I get along with him so well."

Pei Ying was furious. "So Jiang Liuxu bonded with you over maliciously speculating about Shishi?"

Shen Ying warned, "Listen here, Mr. Pei, you can question my character, but never my professionalism."

"As a relationship consultant, if I didn’t have the ability to dissect a person down to their last thread, how could I have the confidence to take on this job?"

"Or has Mr. Pei forgotten his own situation?"

Pei Ying’s face stiffened as if he’d just run headfirst into a wall. The memory of her and that idiot Yu Ting ambushing him early in the morning with a metaphorical knife was still fresh in his mind.

She hadn’t been in contact with Shishi for years, and given her limited reach, there was no way she could’ve uncovered his own secrets.

Yet here she was, dragging out the most deeply buried, unexamined corners of his heart and using them as weapons against him.

Pei Ying was seething with rage at the slander against the woman he cherished. Had it been anyone else, he would’ve made them pay dearly.

But the terrifying thing about this woman was her mastery in manipulating hearts and minds.

Her skill was so formidable that it left no room for rebuttal, even when he knew he was in the right.

For the first time in his life, Pei Ying found himself unable to counter her, despite being convinced of his own stance.

He could only stubbornly insist, "Apologize to your sister. She isn’t the kind of person you think she is."

Shen Ying replied, "No, it’s you who owes me an apology. Not only have you questioned my professional judgment, but you’ve also accused me of slandering my own sister."

Pei Ying said, "I’ve known her for over a decade. I know exactly what kind of person she is."

Shen Ying countered, "She and I came from the same womb, and as my current primary source of income, my understanding of her surpasses anyone else’s."

"Including her own."

Pei Ying retorted, "Your heart is filled with prejudice and resentment toward her."

Shen Ying asked, "So you believe you know my sister better than I do?"

Pei Ying didn’t respond, but his silence spoke volumes.

Shen Ying nodded. "Fine, let’s put it to the test then."

Pei Ying asked, "What kind of test?"

Shen Ying said, "Simple. We’ll stage a scenario and each predict how my sister will react. Whoever guesses correctly wins."

Driven by competitive pride—or perhaps a desperate need to validate his own judgment—Pei Ying agreed without hesitation.

Shen Ying continued, "Call my sister and tell her that I foolishly trusted someone and ended up as a guarantor for a friend, now drowning in massive debt from loan sharks…"

Yu Shishi had been in relatively good spirits these past few days. After the text message incident, she hadn’t been subjected to any further harassment.

She’d mustered the courage to reach out to Chang Ming, and through careful probing, confirmed that he hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

Jiang Liuxu had also promised to keep an eye out for her, and even Yu Ting, busy with his demanding filming schedule, hadn’t been in touch much lately—nor had he nitpicked her words as usual.

For once, Yu Shishi felt a rare sense of relief.

Just as she was about to call Pei Ying, his call came through.

She answered, ready to exchange pleasantries, but Pei Ying’s grave tone cut her off. "Shishi, I need to tell you something. Try not to panic."

Yu Shishi, already worn thin from recent stress, felt her heart sink at his words.

Pei Ying continued, "Your sister is in trouble."

"She was tricked into acting as a guarantor for someone and is now saddled with an enormous debt. To escape the loan sharks, she’s hiding at a friend’s place for now."

Yu Shishi barely suppressed a laugh. She never thought she’d live to see the day her sister was brought so low.

And to hear it from Pei Ying, of all people.

What must he be thinking? Of course—Pei Ying despised fools with no common sense.

This was truly—

Yu Shishi forced down the smirk threatening to break through and instead adopted a tone of frantic concern.

"What? How did this happen? Is my sister alright?"

Pei Ying replied, "She’s safe for now, but when I offered to repay the debt for her, she refused."

Of course she refused, Yu Shishi thought. That was a given.

Her sister’s pride would never allow her to accept help so easily.

She wondered if her sister had started developing feelings for Pei Ying. If so, his offer of assistance would only humiliate her further.

A long-held bitterness, spanning what felt like lifetimes, finally eased just a fraction. Yu Shishi’s mood brightened considerably.

Then an idea struck her—this could be an opportunity.

Feigning deep concern, she said, "I’ll repay it. I have some savings—it should be enough to cover my sister’s debt."

"I’ll transfer the money to you shortly. Don’t tell her; she’d never agree to it. Just settle it quietly on her behalf."

Pei Ying’s lips curled into a smile as he glanced at Shen Ying, his expression brimming with triumphant confidence.

Yu Shishi added, "Where is my sister now? Is this friend trustworthy? With such a large sum at stake, I’m worried—"

Since the scenario was fabricated by Shen Ying, Pei Ying hadn’t considered these details. He looked to her for guidance.

Shen Ying scribbled an address on a piece of paper.

Pei Ying relayed it without hesitation. Yu Shishi didn’t press further, though she repeatedly expressed concern about the debt before finally hanging up after Pei Ying reassured her.

Not long after, Pei Ying received the transfer from Yu Shishi.

Though her adoptive parents, the Yu family, were well-off, they weren’t the type to casually hand their children millions in spending money.

Most of Yu Shishi’s funds were likely her own savings over the years, and this transfer probably accounted for the bulk of them.

Pei Ying showed Shen Ying the transaction record. "This is the sister you claim takes joy in your misfortune?"

"No one would willingly part with most of their savings just to gloat."

He then attempted to reason with her, "You know the adoption wasn’t your sister’s fault. Maybe it’s time—"

Before he could finish speaking, his phone rang. Pei Ying answered, and whatever was said on the other end made his expression grow increasingly grim.

After hanging up, Shen Ying was still watching him, amused. "Go on, Director Pei. What were you about to say?"

Pei Ying’s face burned with humiliation, as if he’d been publicly slapped.

To test the plausibility of her fabricated scenario, Shen Ying had Pei Ying arrange it in reality.

In other words, with ruthless efficiency, she was temporarily saddled with millions in debt, and the collection process was prioritized.

The address Shen Ying provided was where the original owner of her body had once shared an apartment with a roommate. Though they’d lost touch, the friend still lived there.

Now, Pei Ying’s subordinates reported that moments ago, actual loan sharks had shown up at that address.

Pei Ying’s expression flickered between light and shadow, his silence unsettling.

But Shen Ying ignored him entirely, instead sending a generous red envelope to the former roommate to ease the shock.

Though Pei Ying’s men had swiftly removed the loan sharks the moment they appeared, the sudden sight of burly men at the door had still startled the roommate.

Pei Ying seemed lost in thought, but true to his nature of never shying away, he eventually made a call.

"Who leaked this address?"

His subordinate answered, "We asked. It was someone under Mr. Jiang’s command."

Pei Ying immediately called Jiang Liuxu. "What exactly did you just do?"

Jiang Liuxu could guess there was drama unfolding, but he wasn’t in a hurry—he’d find out soon enough.

Calmly, he replied, "Shishi just called me. She said a stalker who’s been threatening her for a long time had resurfaced, some deadbeat drowning in debt."

"She asked me to pass his info to the loan companies, so he’d be too busy earning money to keep harassing her."

"So I helped."

Pei Ying’s voice was strained. "Did you even verify the deadbeat’s information before stepping in?"

Jiang Liuxu chuckled. "I did. At this point, nothing those sisters do would surprise me."

Then, amused, he added, "You reacted so fast—were you spectating this whole thing?"

"Don’t tell me you’re shocked by the outcome? Don’t tell me you actually thought either of them was a good person?"

As Jiang Liuxu’s voice grew increasingly laced with laughter, Pei Ying felt something fragile inside him collapse.

He hung up, murmuring, "Impossible."

But an inner voice grew louder—hadn’t he seen this coming?

If he’d truly trusted Shishi unconditionally, where had that nagging doubt come from?

And Jiang Liuxu—what was his reason for competing for Shishi’s affection? Because she was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a villain with a pristine reputation.

Jiang Liuxu had long accepted it. Pei Ying was the one who’d turned a blind eye.

Countless clues had been there all along. He’d just refused to dwell on them, refused to acknowledge the truth.

As Pei Ying stood there, lost and conflicted, Shen Ying spoke up beside him.

"Alright, now that my professional competence is proven, shall we get back to planning the job?"

Pei Ying snapped. His head jerked up, his gaze dark as he stared at her. "How can you act so unaffected?"

"How dare you tear down someone’s beliefs and then look down on them?"

Smack! Shen Ying tossed her notebook onto the table, her face twisting with impatience.

"Are we seriously still on this? Such a simple job, and you’ve dragged it out forever. Now that your doubts are cleared, it’s time to move forward. Yet here you are, clinging to the past. Are you even serious about this partnership?"

Pei Ying: "You—"

Shen Ying: "Me what? The back-and-forth between me and my sister is none of your damn business."

"I offered up my own reputation, let you paint me as some pitiable victim, just to create opportunities for you to win over my sister. And now you have the nerve to act aggrieved?"

"Don’t tell me you can’t handle who my sister really is? Does your love come with conditions—only if she fits your moral standards?"

She scoffed. "You’re the one with a wandering heart, yet you demand perfection from her. You claim to have loved her for over a decade, but you don’t even know the real her. The moment she doesn’t match your fantasy, you start whining."

"What kind of love is that?"

Pei Ying staggered under her verbal assault, his face twisting in shame as he looked away.

His mind was in chaos, helplessly following her logic.

Pei Ying reflected deeply. If someone asked him outright whether a woman’s kindness was a major criterion for him in love—

The answer was no. He didn’t actually care if she was a good person.

Yet when the truth was laid bare, the cracks in his heart had widened uncontrollably, impossible to ignore.

Pei Ying struggled to breathe, but he still hadn’t grasped the core issue. Something was fundamentally wrong.

He looked at Shen Ying. How could she wear malice so openly?

Whether it was her cruelty toward others or theirs toward her, nothing seemed off-limits for discussion.

Pei Ying stared at his hands. On his left palm was a deep scar, a remnant from that time.

He closed his eyes, then exhaled in resignation.

Fine. Regardless of how Shishi treated others, she’d once risked her life for him.

That kindness was his alone. Why should he care if she didn’t extend it to others?

Pei Ying took a deep breath. It was time to rein in his thoughts, to focus solely on Shishi.

She was the girl who’d reached out to him in his darkest hour.

Nodding, he said to Shen Ying, "You’re right, Ms. Shen. My previous mindset was deeply flawed."

"Thank you for your guidance. I’ve had an epiphany."

"Our collaboration ends here. Of course, you may keep the payment already given."

"I’ll win Shishi over with my sincerity."

Shen Ying shrugged, unfazed. "Suit yourself."

"But if you ever regret it, Director Pei, my door is always open."

Pei Ying smiled confidently. "That won’t happen. At least not until you and Shishi reconcile."

"I still hope that day comes."

Shen Ying sipped her tea without answering, then said, "Then I’ll trouble Director Pei to arrange a driver for my return."

Without hesitation, Pei Ying signaled the butler, who went to make arrangements.

A maid arrived to refresh their tea and snacks, though the new hire was still clumsy.

She fumbled the tray, sending delicate pastries tumbling to the floor. Cream smeared Shen Ying’s shoe.

"I’m so sorry!" the maid stammered.

Shen Ying waved it off.

Pei Ying glanced over at the commotion—and froze.

Shen Ying wore white calfskin high-heeled sandals that day, the delicate straps accentuating her slender, fair feet.

But marring the perfection was a scar on her left ankle, deep enough to glimpse bone.

The position and shape of that scar were all too familiar to Pei Ying, because Yu Shishi had an identical one on her foot—a wound she had suffered while saving him.

Pei Ying suddenly stood up, his demeanor even seeming somewhat uncharacteristically flustered.

At that moment, the butler returned and approached Shen Ying with graceful courtesy. "Miss Shen, the car is ready. Allow me to escort you downstairs."

Shen Ying nodded. "Thank you, I appreciate it."

With that, she rose to follow the butler out.

But the moment she took a step, her hand was seized.

Shen Ying turned back. "Is there something else, Mr. Pei?"

Pei Ying's thoughts were in turmoil—he didn’t even know what he was doing.

Though he remained silent, Shen Ying, mindful of the substantial sum involved, maintained remarkable patience.

"No rush. Since we won’t be seeing each other again, feel free to say whatever you need to now."

Pei Ying blurted out, "I’ve changed my mind. I do need your guidance after all, Miss Shen!"