Arc 1: First Time Being A Matchmaker (Chapters 1-38)
As the sky gradually brightened, occasional stifled coughs echoed in the dimly lit room. Two girls dressed as maids stood outside the door, looking anxious.
“The doctor still hasn’t arrived? The Eldest Young Master won’t let us in, and Master is not at home. What should we do about the Eldest Young Master…”
One of the two maids interrupted her, “Bah, bah, bah, don’t speak nonsense. The Eldest Young Master’s fate is guided by the heavens. Xiao Tao, you must not speak such nonsense again.”
“I’m talking nonsense, sister, please don’t blame me.” Xiao Tao pretended to cover her mouth, but her eyes revealed a hint of dissatisfaction. The Eldest Young Master’s condition was well-known in the house, but these two silly maids believed in the doctor’s comforting words, thinking the Eldest Young Master would have better days.
The hushed discussions outside reached the ears of Li Shu, who was sitting on the bed expressionlessly, his eyes filled with frost. Anyone who suddenly discovered their thousand years of cultivation were lost in an instant, and that their body was deteriorating as if it could perish at any moment, would not have a pleasant expression.
[I…I can explain! Really!] 1314 cowered in a corner, shivering. It never expected to overturn when binding the second host.
1314 graduated with honors from the System Academy. It thought it could achieve great things, but it never expected the first mission to end in disaster. After finally getting a second chance, it bound the wrong host—a host who had just emerged from a mountain of corpses and blood. What a miserable system.
[Can you tell me what’s happening now?]
Before being brought to this world by the system, Li Shu was dealing with an endless stream of assassins. A group of cultivators somehow learned about his seclusion and infiltrated the closed-door cultivation site to kill him. Those people’s methods were vicious, attacking one wave after another. Li Shu had to pause his breakthrough to deal with them.
When he was brought into the system’s space, Li Shu was already bloodthirsty and his sanity was almost gone. 1314 knew things had gone wrong when it brought him the system space, but the contract was already made, and it was too late to back out.
1314 stumbled through an explanation to the host, [Host, this is how it is.]
[So, you saved me?] Li Shu lowered his eyes, contemplating. He had no memory of the time in between the moment he went berserk and entered the system space to the time he entered this small world. He also had no impression of the sudden addition of this little thing in his mind. So, how reliable were its words?
[No… that’s not the case.] A strange survival instinct made 1314 reluctant to claim credit, [Even without me, the host could have escaped the danger.]
[Is that so? If that’s the case, how do I go back?] Even if he reached the Nine-Tailed realm, Li Shu couldn’t break through the world barrier. He wondered how the small entity in his sea of consciousness achieved this. Even though it was not that strong, it could safely take him into another world?
[The host can only return to the original world after completing the mission.]
Sure enough, Li Shu knew things wouldn’t be so simple. How could a pie fall from the sky? [Tell me, what is this mission?]
[Host, the mission is very simple.] 1314 hesitated, casting a cautious glance at the host. Unable to discern the host’s expression, it continued, [Just help the male and female protagonists connect their red threads so that they can be happy together.]
[If they’re the main characters, why would they need me to connect the red threads?] Li Shu had seen it before in his original world. The protagonists usually had a predestined bond, no matter what hardships they encountered along the way, they could be resolved smoothly and usher in a beautiful ending. So, why would someone be needed to connect their red threads?
Hearing this, 1314 smiled bitterly, [Logically, according to the world’s plot, we’re not needed. But unexpected things can happen. Some crucial supporting characters in certain worlds prematurely die for unknown reasons, disrupting the normal flow of the world. These small worlds we enter are evolving and inherently unstable. Any issues at this point can cause considerable trouble in the world’s operation, and, in severe cases, the small world might collapse.]
[At this time, we need to intervene. The system transports the host into these potentially unstable worlds, playing the role of supporting characters who died prematurely. We perfect the plot, ensuring the world can continue to function properly. Because I’m the Matchmaker System, the role the host has to play usually involves emotional conflicts with the main characters. At the same time, with the host’s catalyst, the main characters can achieve a happy ending.]
[Oh, I see. What happens if the mission fails?]
[If the mission fails, the system will initiate a reset plan. To protect the small world, the system will forcibly rewind time, restarting the mission. However, this approach has significant drawbacks. If done frequently, the host may be assimilated by the small world, and he will die together with the world.]
1314’s voice was chiling. Its first host was carefully selected but was eventually trapped in a cycle of reincarnation within a collapsing small world. It barely made it back to the main god space and got a second chance.
This time was its last chance. If the host turned out like the previous one, it might have to start over again. No, it might not even have the chance to start over.
So, this time can only be a success.
[Host, after completing the mission, there will be corresponding rewards. Besides, the host can return to the original world in his prime state, even break through the original barriers to reach the realm you desire.]
After hearing the last sentence, Li Shu’s initially indifferent expression changed slightly and his pupils contracted. He had to admit, this self-proclaimed Matchmaker System named 1314 had hit him right where it hurt. He had lingered at a certain realm for a long time; otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to go into seclusion. He was in seclusion but someone took advantage of this and he almost fell onto the demonic path.
He closed his eyes, concealing various emotions. Under 1314’s anxious gaze, he nodded slowly, [Okay.]
1314 let out a breath. The host’s agreement meant the most challenging step was accomplished. Before this mission, it made many preparations and even consulted with seniors to gather experiences. It believed that as long as the host agreed to complete the mission, this time would surely not end in failure.
Outside the house, a light drizzle began. In the mist, a maid dressed in green walked through the corridor with hurried steps.
“Doctor Lin, please check on my young master quickly. He has been feverish all night.”
Behind the maid in green was a kind-hearted old doctor, followed closely by a medicine boy carrying a medicine box and holding an umbrella.
Doctor Lin stopped in the corridor, stroking his beard. “Don’t worry, let me take a look.”
Upon hearing this, the maid Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief and pushed the door open. “Doctor Lin, please.”
“No need.” Doctor Lin waved his hand and stepped into the room.
The room was filled with a dull musty smell, mixed with an ever lingering medicinal scent, which was not a pleasant combination. The medicine boy following Doctor Lin’s showed a slight change in facial color, but quickly recovered. Doctor Lin was accustomed to it and didn’t even frown, walking straight to the bedside.
Layers of bed curtains obscured the view inside. Qinghe slowly approached, stood by the bed, and whispered, “Eldest Young Master, Doctor Lin is here.”
There was silence in the curtains.
Qinghe felt anxious, and called softly, “Eldest Young Master, are you awake?”
“Um, awake.” Soon, a response came from the man inside the tent. The voice was not loud, and had a slight hoarseness.
Qinghe lifted the bed curtain, and another maid approached, holding an outer garment. Qinghe took it and intended to help the man put it on but was stopped by his voice, “No need.”
Backing away with the garment, Qinghe silently retreated to the side, giving space to Doctor Lin.
The young man was leaning on the headboard, only wearing inner clothes. His face was pale but it did not diminish his elegance. Especially those eyes, they were slightly upturned at the corners, shining with a captivating allure and full of an irresistible charm. He extended his hand, palm facing up, “Doctor Lin, please.”
“You’re quite cooperative this time.” Doctor Lin snorted softly, then sat at the bedside and carefully took the young man’s pulse.
Li Shu didn’t speak, sitting quietly on the bed with his eyes lowered. He was digesting the plot provided by the system.
In the system’s words, this world evolved from a tragic and sadistic story. After experiencing physically and mentally abusive plots, the male and female protagonists finally got together. However, due to the male lead’s violent and suspicious nature, they continued to torment each other even after being together, which didn’t meet the world’s definition of a happy ending and the small world was constantly on the verge of collapse.
The person who was treating him was Dr. Lin, the former chief physician at the Imperial Medical Academy. After an incident with Concubine Mu, he voluntarily resigned and left the Imperial Medical Academy. Later, at the request of the original owner’s mother, he stayed In the capital to treat the original owner.
The original owner had been weak and sickly since childhood, and without his mother’s care, it would have been difficult for him to survive in the Left Prime Minister’s mansion.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be in this body now.
Doctor Lin withdrew his hand. There was a fleeting unusual expression on his face but he quickly adjusted his expression. “It’s okay, it’s just that the old prescription can’t be used anymore. I’ll write a new one. In the future, follow the new prescription for medication.”
“Thank you, Doctor Lin.” Qinghe handed over the paper and pen with a calm expression. Though she appeared calm, as if changing the prescription was just a normal thing, the quick flash of hatred in her eyes meant that this matter was far from normal.
“Doctor Lin, is there anything special my young master needs to pay attention to in the future? Should he separate from the household in terms of diet?” Qinghe asked in a low voice while grinding the ink.
This clever and loyal maid prompted Doctor Lin’s sympathy, so he intentionally raised his voice. “Your young master is not in good health. There are many taboos in the new prescription I’ve written. In the future, it’s better to separate his diet from the household.”
“Understood.” Knowing Doctor Lin’s good intentions, Qinghe smiled gratefully.
Seeing this, Doctor Lin sighed inwardly. This master-servant pair didn‘t have an easy time in the mansion, but he was just a doctor. It was hard to help him even if he wanted to.
Li Shu was half lying on the bed, his brows furrowed in discomfort. This body was too weak, he had never felt like this before. He was so uncomfortable that he wanted to immediately drag out the culprit who caused this situation and beat them up.
The air pressure was getting lower and lower, and 1314, afraid the host might act on his thoughts, immediately spoke up to interrupt: [Host, calm down. Violence is not advisable!]
At that moment, there were footsteps outside the door. With a bang, the door was pushed open. A sixteen or seventeen-year-old young man walked in surrounded by attendants. He covered his nose with one hand, and his face clearly displayed the word ‘disgust’, “Oh, big brother, what’s wrong with you again? Can’t people have peace early in the morning? Whether you treat this illness or not, it’s the same. Why waste time on this? Just don’t treat it.”
“Third Young Master, you…”
“Shut up,” before Qinghe could finish her words, Li Yang sternly rebuked her, “How dare a servant interrupt this young master when he’s talking?”
“Get out!” Li Shu was already feeling uncomfortable, and now someone had the audacity to collide with him.
Li Yang was stunned, “What nonsense is this sick guy talking about? Do you know, I…”
“I said, get out.”
Li Shu raised his head, his eyes cold. It was clearly the usual face, but it made Li Yang shudder.
Who’s that ML ?