"What did you just say? I'm dead!?"
Tang Xiyuan stared in utter disbelief at the green, fly-like creature hovering in mid-air before her.
The fly nodded solemnly. "From a biological standpoint, yes."
Tang Xiyuan felt like crying. She had just secured her first full-time position, saved up a little money for the first time in her life, and hadn't even had the chance to spend it. Yet here she was, waking up to a giant talking fly telling her she was dead.
The fly cleared its throat. "That said, there's still a chance to turn things around. I have a task for you. If you complete it, you'll earn the right to return to your own world."
"What task?" she asked without hesitation.
"Before we get to that, allow me to introduce myself properly." The fly puffed up with pride. "Welcome to the Villain Redemption All-In-One Service System! I am System 001, the most experienced assistant in the network."
Tang Xiyuan resisted the urge to swat it. "And how exactly do I accomplish this task?"
"Simple: go back to when the villain was a child, prevent his descent into darkness, and ensure he grows up to be a healthy, functional adult." The fly added cheerfully, "A quick tip: once the task begins, it's do-or-die. If you die accidentally, that's game over. You'll fail the mission and face permanent death."
"And if I die by accident?"
"Accidental death? Don't worry about that; with me around, accidents are highly unlikely," the fly reassured her smugly.
Unwilling to accept her untimely death, Tang Xiyuan squared her shoulders and looked at the floating insect. "Fine. I'll take the mission. When do we start?"
"Now that's the spirit!"
As it spoke, a door as tall as a person appeared before her, glowing with a white light.
"Step through this door, and you'll enter the mission world. I'll be with you every step of the way."
Tang Xiyuan walked up to the door but paused just before stepping through. After a long moment of hesitation, she blurted out, "Why do you look like a giant green fly, though?"
"This," 001 said proudly, "is a premium form I redeemed with top-tier points. Other assistants only dream of using it!"
"You're not staying in this form for the entire mission, are you?"
"Of course I am!" It neglected to mention that it didn't have enough points to change into anything else.
Tang Xiyuan sighed. "Fine. I'll do my best not to swat you." A fly this size probably makes for excellent stress relief…
"!!"
Without wasting another moment, Tang Xiyuan stepped through the door.
When she opened her eyes again, she was standing in an opulent bedroom, the kind she'd only ever seen in TV dramas. Before she could marvel at the luxury, a voice echoed in her head.
[Transmitting memories now.]
Suddenly, a wave of memories flooded her mind.
The original Tang Xiyuan had married Zhong Ming through a family-arranged union, dreaming of a happy and harmonious life together. But reality was far from sweet—Zhong Ming treated her like air. He was handsome, wealthy, and generous with money but never came home.
In a desperate attempt to win his heart, the original Tang Xiyuan resorted to drastic measures, seducing him one night and becoming pregnant with their son, Zhong Youran. She had hoped the child would bind them together.
Unfortunately, Zhong Ming was consumed by his rapidly rising career. Having just taken over his father's company, he had no time to entertain his wife's romantic fantasies. Left alone and humiliated by the gossip of her social circle, Tang Xiyuan's mental state deteriorated.
She took out her frustrations on her son, who bore a striking resemblance to his father. Whenever her temper flared, she would lash out, saying things like, "Why are you so useless? Is this why your father doesn't come home to see you?"
By the time Zhong Youran turned ten, Zhong Ming had taken him back to the family estate to raise him. But the damage was already done—Tang Xiyuan's erratic behavior had left deep psychological scars on the boy.
Years later, Zhong Ming exacted his revenge. After Zhong Youran reached adulthood, he personally sent his mother to prison, ensuring she would never leave. His only comment about her was, "Without my dad, she's nothing but a lunatic."
Tang Xiyuan eventually died in prison, and Zhong Youran, unable to escape his own demons, took his life at the age of 25.
"Handsome, rich, and never home? Plus a seven-figure monthly allowance?" Tang Xiyuan snapped out of her daze, feeling both envy and frustration. Do all rich people take love this lightly?
[Don't forget, your mission is to save the villain.]
The image of the green fly flashed in her mind, jolting her back to reality. [Oh, right.]
Brushing off her thoughts, she stood up with newfound determination. Her eyes sparkled with righteous resolve.
"My dear son, your mom is here!"
It was dinnertime when Tang Xiyuan arrived downstairs. The dining table was empty except for a small boy sitting quietly with his head down. The household staff stood on the sidelines, waiting.
[What's going on?]
[They're all waiting for your permission. Without it, he won't be served dinner, even if he starves.]
Tang Xiyuan sighed. This is going to take some work.
She adjusted her expression into a warm smile. Dressed in a beige knit dress and matching cardigan, her dark hair pinned up with a simple clip, she exuded a soft and gentle aura.
As she approached the table, she decided to sit right next to Zhong Youran.
The boy's body tensed immediately. Fear and rejection radiated from him. Before she could say a word, he jumped off the chair, his small frame unable to avoid stumbling to the floor.
"Little Master! Are you alright?" gasped a maid.
Tang Xiyuan acted faster than anyone else, scooping him up carefully and checking him over for injuries.
The staff stared, stunned. The madam had never done anything like this before!
Zhong Youran squirmed in her arms, his voice trembling with defiance. "Let go! I don't want you to touch me!"
Despite his protests, Tang Xiyuan held on firmly. Her hands moved gently but purposefully as she inspected his knees.
"Mrs. Zhang," she said calmly, "please fetch the first aid kit. He's scraped his knee."
Mrs. Zhang, one of the senior staff, nodded and hurried off, while the other servants exchanged confused glances.
Once the kit arrived, Tang Xiyuan sat on the couch with Zhong Youran in her lap, tending to his injury with delicate care.
The boy watched her with suspicion, convinced this sudden kindness was just a prelude to something worse.
Meanwhile, in her head, Tang Xiyuan asked, [How's my performance so far?]
001 replied, [Not bad. Could use some polishing.]