The Abusive Novel System Pleads with Me to Resign

The system was dumbfounded, its entire framework crashing into a frozen state.

This was the master of rhetoric it had painstakingly selected after such a long time—the one meant to counter Shen Ying.

Ten minutes. Less than ten minutes, and he had been reduced to tears by Shen Ying.

All the effort it had poured into data analysis and meticulous selection had turned into a complete joke, hadn’t it?

Chang Ming called his accountant to transfer the money to Shen Ying, his voice barely steady, trembling under the strain.

The depth of his psychological trauma was painfully obvious.

As the system reeled in shock, Shen Ying casually struck up a conversation while waiting for the payment—

"So this is the challenge you set for me?" Her voice dripped with indulgent amusement. "Oh, System, you’re adorable."

The system couldn’t take it anymore and burst into tears before sinking into a deep, silent shutdown.

Three other men at the table were just as stunned.

Their gazes remained fixed on Shen Ying’s face, a unanimous chill crawling down their spines.

Judging by Chang Ming’s current state—fragile, barely holding it together—if she had pushed him even slightly further, he might have needed twenty therapists on standby.

Only now did the three realize how absurdly they had underestimated this woman. In some ways, she was truly terrifying.

Amid the heavy silence, Assistant Zhu arrived.

He had been waiting downstairs for his boss and Shen Ying, but instead received a summons to come up.

The moment he entered the restaurant and saw all four gathered at one table, his heart sank.

Shen Ying’s presence had been exposed to the other three.

Still, Assistant Zhu had full confidence in his boss’s ability to handle the situation—until Shen Ying spoke.

"Hurry up with the legal procedures. I’m on a tight schedule."

Chang Ming glanced at Assistant Zhu, his voice weak. "Prepare the contract."

Only then did Assistant Zhu realize something was seriously wrong. The sight of the seven-figure sum made his mind go blank.

For someone like Chang Ming, that amount was nothing. But why was he handing it over to Shen Ying like this, in this situation, in front of these people?

The atmosphere at the table was suffocating. Chang Ming looked utterly broken, traces of tears still visible at the corners of his eyes. Strangely, the other three didn’t immediately seize the chance to mock him.

Instead, they sat in silence, while Shen Ying alone lounged in complete relaxation—as if she were the one in control.

Assistant Zhu almost laughed at the absurdity of the thought. His mind raced, but he still efficiently prepared the contract.

Once Shen Ying signed and secured the money, she turned to Chang Ming. "Care to renew the contract, Mr. Chang?"

"Though this time, it’ll be legally binding—no backing out."

Chang Ming gritted out his response. "Leave."

Shen Ying shrugged. "Since you’re no longer employing me, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to stay in your property."

"Moving alone is inefficient. Mind lending me Assistant Zhu for the task?"

Chang Ming just wanted her out of his sight. "Fine."

Assistant Zhu was stunned. Since when did Shen Ying dictate terms while his boss complied under duress?

What the hell had happened in the half hour he wasn’t here?

Burning with curiosity, he had no choice but to follow Shen Ying out.

Even after she disappeared from view, the three men still felt goosebumps lingering on their skin.

It was the first time they’d encountered a woman who exuded such a dangerously thrilling aura.

As Chang Ming’s rivals, they understood his situation all too well—and could easily imagine themselves in his place.

It was like having the moonlight that once saved you suddenly turn into a blade, flaying you alive. Anyone would crack under that.

But their understanding was merely empathetic. That woman was sharp, ruthless, and knew exactly how to strike where it hurt most. The sheer cunning of it sent shivers down their spines.

Still, her tactics only worked on Chang Ming. His circumstances were unique—none of them would crumble under mere words.

So they didn’t take her threat too seriously.

Jiang Liuxu even teased Yu Ting, "Her acting’s better than yours."

"For those few minutes, I really thought Yu Shishi was sitting right there."

Yu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Ting scoffed. "What’s it to me if she’s a good actress? She’s not sharing the screen with me."

He turned to the others, smirking. "Chang Ming, though—I told you not to be so arrogant. Did you really think your usual tricks would work on everyone?"

"Now you’ve met your match. I salute you for daring to provoke a woman like that. Personally, I’d run the other way."

Pei Ying chuckled. "He brought it on himself. Hiring a lookalike was one thing, but then he went and told her all about Yu Shishi."

"When things went south, it was basically him handing her the knife. Serves him right for getting stabbed with it."

"I never told her anything." Chang Ming, who had been ignoring their taunts, suddenly spoke.

The three men exchanged surprised glances.

Chang Ming spoke in a frantic, almost neurotic tone: "I never mentioned Shishi to her—she only found out about Shishi's existence last night."

"How did she know those things? How did she know what Shishi said? She shouldn’t know. There’s no way she could know."

The three of them were utterly stunned, then began to reflect. They knew each other well enough—Chang Ming was tight-lipped. Aside from Shishi, he never revealed his true thoughts to anyone.

Those private conversations between him and Shishi? Even they hadn’t been privy to them. There was no way Chang Ming would be careless enough to share them with a mere stand-in.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jiang Liuxu asked solemnly, "Where did you find her?"

Chang Ming: "It was just a coincidence."

Pei Ying: "Did you investigate her?"

Chang Ming: "No. Her background seemed simple. At the time, I didn’t think it was necessary."

He had been confident in his own status and influence, uninterested in anything about her.

In fact, he had actively avoided learning more about Shen Ying—the more he knew, the more she would stand out as a distinct person in his mind, and Chang Ming didn’t want that.

Now, he was paying the price for that arrogance.

The other three understood his reasoning, but that didn’t stop them from looking at him like he was an idiot.

Jiang Liuxu said, "Seems like we need to dig into this Miss Shen’s background."

He volunteered, "Leave it to me. My connections will make it easier."

The others had no objections. Just as they reached a consensus, a phone rang.

Chang Ming glanced at the screen—it was a video call from Yu Shishi.

The face of the woman he loved appeared on his phone, but instead of warmth, it sent a jolt of terror through him.

It took him a second to register that this was Shishi, not the face of that woman from earlier.

He took a deep breath, forced a relaxed smile, and answered the call.

Shishi’s bright, cheerful face filled the screen, her hair tousled by the sea breeze against a backdrop of blue skies and ocean.

"Look what I caught!" she said excitedly, holding up a massive crab. "Today’s haul from the beach—lots of clams and shells too. I’m taking them back to cook myself."

"How should I prepare the crab? Steamed? Spicy? Mingming, how do you want it? I’ll eat it for you!"

Chang Ming thought he knew exactly who was on the screen, but when she appeared so vividly before him, he still hadn’t shaken off the fear from earlier.

His breathing grew ragged, his face paled, and the color drained from his lips again.

Shishi’s smile faltered as she noticed his state, her expression shifting to concern—

"What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Her words overlapped perfectly with that malicious voice from earlier, even the look in her eyes was identical.

Chang Ming flinched violently, nearly dropping his phone.

Shishi grew even more worried, and he snapped back to reality, unable to muster a smile as he stammered, "It’s nothing. Just didn’t sleep well last night. Feeling a bit dizzy. I’ll call you later."

He hung up abruptly—the first time he’d ever ended a call with Shishi himself.

The other three watched with amusement. "That bad, huh?"

"Are you seriously going to be scared of Shishi’s face now?"

"Could this actually be a good thing?"

Chang Ming glared at them, seething, while internally reassuring himself.

It was fine. That woman had only left minutes ago. He just needed time to recover. Once he calmed down, he’d call Shishi immediately to apologize.

As he was consoling himself, Jiang Liuxu’s phone rang.

It was Shishi again. Her voice was laced with worry. "Liuxu, has anything happened to Chang Ming recently?"

"I just video-called him, and he looked terrible. I’m really concerned."

Jiang Liuxu glanced at Chang Ming, who realized who was calling.

Jiang Liuxu looked away and answered lightly, "Haven’t heard of anything."

Shishi: "Has he seen a doctor?"

Jiang Liuxu: "No."

Shishi sighed in relief. "Can you keep an eye on him for me?"

Jiang Liuxu agreed readily, and after some small talk, the call ended.

Soon after, Pei Ying and Yu Ting also received calls from Shishi, all expressing concern for Chang Ming’s condition.

The three of them couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at how much extra attention Chang Ming always received. Yet, without discussion, they all chose not to mention Shen Ying’s existence.

As for why—only they knew. Maybe there wasn’t even a reason yet. It was just instinct, something they concealed without thinking.

Meanwhile, Shen Ying was driven back to her apartment by Assistant Zhu.

"Assistant Zhu, could you arrange for someone to pack my belongings? Please be thorough—I don’t want anything left behind."

Though Chang Ming had never paid the original owner a salary, he hadn’t been stingy either.

The apartment was fully stocked with everything from daily necessities to an entire wardrobe of clothes, shoes, and bags—all purchased at his direction.

The original owner of this body had felt uneasy about these luxuries, mostly wearing her own old clothes, so the walk-in closet was practically just for show.

Shen Ying, however, had no reservations. These were all arranged by Chang Ming according to Yu Shishi's tastes—not her preferred style.

But selling them off would bring in a hefty sum, so why not?

Assistant Zhu replied in a businesslike tone, "Understood. Where would you like your luggage moved, Ms. Shen?"

Shen Ying said, "I'm not familiar with this city. Assistant Zhu, help me find a rental. I trust your taste."

"Monthly rent under 200,000, quiet, private, good views, fully furnished. Inspect the place yourself and call me if it’s suitable."

"I’ll stay at a hotel for now. You have my contact, right?"

Assistant Zhu’s face twitched as he forced a smile. "Ms. Shen, my task is only to assist you in leaving here promptly. Your subsequent arrangements aren’t my responsibility."

Shen Ying smirked. "Check with Mr. Chang before answering. I’m sure your boss wouldn’t mind this small favor if it means getting rid of me sooner."

Assistant Zhu, skeptical, actually went to confirm with his boss afterward.

To his surprise, Chang Ming didn’t hesitate to assign him—an elite assistant—the job of a real estate agent.

Shen Ying checked into a luxury hotel and indulged in food and entertainment.

Assistant Zhu worked efficiently, presenting several high-end property options within days, ready for Shen Ying to sign a lease once she approved.

Shen Ying was satisfied. As Chang Ming’s assistant, Assistant Zhu had connections and resources she couldn’t match at this stage.

If she’d gone through regular agents, even with money, she wouldn’t have qualified for these properties.

But Assistant Zhu made it effortless. Pleased, Shen Ying picked the one with the most appealing decor, signed the contract, and moved in from the hotel.

Only then did Assistant Zhu finally exhale in relief.

The system, silent for a long time, spoke up coldly: [See that? Even Chang Ming’s assistant is relieved to be rid of you. The chances of him seeking you out are slim. What’s your plan for Chang Ming’s route?]

Shen Ying laughed. "You underestimate me again, don’t you?"

"With the plot’s inertia, we’re bound to meet. And once we do, I have plenty of methods."

The system scoffed: [Oh? Like what?]

Shen Ying: "For example, if I keep causing trouble, he’ll eventually lose interest in this face."

"But can he let go of years of attachment and feelings? When he realizes he can’t even bear to look at his beloved’s face anymore, he’ll understand that the one who tied the bell must untie it—and come straight to me."

The system retorted: [You call this a ‘romance strategy’?]

What kind of doctor breaks a patient’s leg to create work? Stabbing yourself to treat your own wound?

As a heartbreak system, it was the first time it had been so horrified by a player’s ruthlessness that it wanted to cry for its mom.

Regardless, Shen Ying settled into her new luxury home and resumed her blissfully lazy life.

The system watched, wanting to weep. It would’ve preferred she rested a few days before working—at least then it wouldn’t be this infuriating.

In the quiet meeting room, four men sat around a table, each occupying a corner.

This was Jiang Liuxu’s place. He had summoned the other three, clearly having results from his investigation.

A file lay before each of them. Jiang Liuxu tilted his chin. "Open them. I haven’t looked yet either."

The records weren’t thick, detailing an unremarkable life up till now.

Shen Ying’s first two decades were uneventful—her childhood, adolescence, and youth seemed copy-pasted.

The only recurring theme was poverty and hardship.

Her life was mediocre: average grades, average education, no opportunity for talents due to her impoverished background, no standout moments. Aside from her striking looks occasionally attracting unwanted attention, she was like a drop of water in the ocean—utterly unnoticeable.

The other three nearly dozed off reading, but Pei Ying suddenly shot to his feet—

"Born at Yuzhou Orphanage?"

The others startled. "That’s the orphanage in the neighboring city, right? What’s special about it?"

Pei Ying’s expression darkened. "You know Shishi was adopted by Professor Yu and his wife, correct?"

The three: "...Don’t tell me—"

Pei Ying nodded. "Shishi came from Yuzhou Orphanage."

"This Ms. Shen is the same age as Shishi, right? Then—"

They hurriedly flipped to the birthdate and blood type section—identical to Yu Shishi’s.

Yu Ting was speechless. "She’s… Shishi’s twin sister?"

With such resemblance, matching birth details, and shared origin, there was almost no other possibility.

Jiang Liuxu’s eyes gleamed with interest. "I noticed Ms. Shen has no disabilities or congenital illnesses. In such cases, adoptive parents usually wouldn’t separate twins, would they?"

Pei Ying, however, ignored the question and muttered, "We never knew Shishi had a sister."

Then he dialed a number. Moments later, his phone buzzed with a new contact.

Pei Ying personally dialed the number and put the call on speakerphone. The person on the other end that day was the director of Yuzhou Orphanage, whose tone turned obsequiously polite the moment he realized it was Pei Ying calling.

Pei Ying wasted no time on pleasantries and got straight to the point. After a moment of recollection, the director said, "Shen Ying? She refused it herself. I remember her younger sister tried persuading her for a long time."

"That girl was stubborn—wouldn’t even meet the adoptive parents or let them know she existed. No idea what she was thinking."

Pei Ying hung up and turned to the other three. "If that’s the reason, it makes sense."

"Back then, the adoption process was rushed due to various circumstances. If she deliberately hid her existence, we wouldn’t have noticed."

"We left in a hurry and had Assistant Zhu handle the follow-up paperwork. With the orphanage being in another city, we never looked into it again. Who would’ve thought—"

Jiang Liuxu’s smile deepened. "This discovery is just a happy accident, but what we originally wanted to investigate was how Miss Shen knew so much about Shishi’s affairs, wasn’t it?"

"Does this mean Shishi told her?"

Chang Ming shook his head. "Shishi would never reveal our secrets. Besides, I know everyone she’s interacted with. I’m certain Shishi hasn’t been in contact with Shen Ying all these years."

Yu Ting, impatient, cut in, "Why don’t we just ask her directly?"

Without waiting for objections—the other three were used to his impulsiveness—he dialed Yu Shishi’s number. After exchanging some small talk, Yu Ting eased into the main topic.

He wasn’t foolish enough to ask outright, so he probed carefully, "Remember how you were worried about Chang Ming’s... condition?"

"Today, the four of us met up, and guess what? We saw a woman who looked exactly like you outside."

"I mean exactly—not just similar, but identical."

The moment Yu Ting finished speaking, Shishi’s voice burst with excitement. "Where did you see her? Are you sure you didn’t mistake her? Where is she now?"

Then, as if catching herself, she steadied her voice. "Sorry, I got too carried away."

Yu Ting: "So you know her?"

Shishi nodded eagerly. "Yes, that must be my older sister. I didn’t know she came to X City."

Yu Ting: "You have a sister?"

Shishi: "I’m actually a twin. My sister and I looked exactly alike since birth—no one could ever tell us apart."

Her voice then turned somber. "But I haven’t seen her in over a decade."

Yu Ting: "Why?"

Shishi’s voice cracked. "She cut me off. Wouldn’t reply to my letters or answer my calls. She thinks I betrayed her by choosing new parents."

Her words grew choked with tears. "She... she called me a traitor. She wanted me to stay with her at the orphanage, but I didn’t want to be there. I begged her to come with me, but she refused. She said I wasn’t her sister anymore."

"In the end, I left with Mom and Dad. I abandoned her. I was selfish, I—"

Shishi’s voice shattered into sobs, raw with guilt and anguish.

The four men were heartbroken.

Pei Ying quickly reassured her, "It’s not your fault. I was the one who rushed and forced you to leave."

"Besides, you shouldn’t have been dragged down by her stubbornness."

But Shishi was drowning in unprecedented remorse, her breakdown more distraught than they’d ever seen. They spent a long time comforting her until, exhausted from crying, she fell asleep still clutching the phone.

Chang Ming gritted his teeth. "No wonder that woman is so vicious—she’s been like this since childhood."

Yu Ting was baffled. "They’re twins. How can their personalities be so different?"

Shishi was warm and kind, never one to harm others, but they’d all witnessed Shen Ying’s ruthless ambition.

Jiang Liuxu, however, interjected, "True, but we still haven’t figured out how she knew Shishi’s secrets."

Chang Ming tensed. "You don’t think she’s been secretly watching Shishi all these years, do you?"

Jiang Liuxu chuckled. "You think your family’s security is something an ordinary girl could bypass?"

He then picked up a file. "I had someone track her movements after that day."

"Let’s see... Miss Shen has been living quite comfortably lately."

"She moved into a luxury home, spends her days sleeping, browsing online, or gaming—hm, her gaming account shows she’s lost thousands in mahjong. Win rate: 0%?"

Chang Ming sneered. "Tch. Gamblers never end well."

Jiang Liuxu flipped through more pages. "When she’s not lounging at home, she enjoys exploring new restaurants, shopping, visiting clubs, and hiring male—"

"Male escorts?"

The other three men’s faces twisted in horror. "What did you just say?"

"She’s using Shishi’s face to go to those places?!"