Yan Mu’s body took several months to recover, during which time Qiao Fu was almost constantly by her side. For this usually distant couple, these months brought a touch of the warmth usually found between ordinary spouses.
Qiao Bai Lian played the role of the third wheel several times, even interrupting their intimate moments twice, which made Qiao Fu so angry he considered disowning his daughter.
The forces behind the academy were led by a collateral branch of the Qin family. Qin Fu had even participated in the academy's inauguration ceremony. With the Qin family's downfall, the academy underwent a thorough investigation. Following the initial probe, over a dozen more individuals were apprehended for their past involvement in abuse, oppression, indecency, and sexual assault. The most severe offenders were sentenced to death, while the others received sentences of ten years or more.
This sweeping crackdown revealed the darkness beneath the veneer of prosperity, sparking similar investigations across the country. While some might have overstepped, it was argued that only such an extreme measure could rectify deeply entrenched wrongs. Such transformations, however, always required time.
The efforts of these individuals not only brought justice to many but also ignited a powerful counterattack of light in places consumed by darkness, significantly hindering the generation and evolution of monsters.
In the original plot, only Zhou Qingbie had uncovered a fraction of these truths, which were later suppressed by interested parties, never to be mentioned again.
The current situation, at least, bought them several decades.
As for what fortune would bring, that remained to be seen.
With nothing else to do, Yan Mu roped Zhuo Lin into helping with some minor company matters.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chong Yan, now a champion of justice, purged the filth hidden in the shadows. With his cultivation as a Ghost King, the unparalleled support of Zhuo Lin, who dared to defy the Heavenly Dao, and Zhou Qingbie, the beloved daughter of the Heavenly Dao, his endeavors were incredibly smooth.
His mindset also underwent a significant transformation. Previously, he believed the greatest punishment for such individuals was death, preceded by torture and followed by the consumption of their souls.
Later, witnessing Zhou Qingbie uncovering their crimes, seeing them fall from grace, ostracized by their peers, weeping with regret in court, receiving severe sentences, and counting down the days to their demise in prison, he found this approach to be superior.
He had previously offered them a quick end, but this new method allowed them to truly atone for their actions while still enduring their punishment.
Thus, he became Zhou Qingbie's powerful asset in her investigations.
He eradicated evil completely. To better combat the forces of darkness, Zhou Qingbie needed to ascend to higher positions. With his assistance, she thrived, reaching the pinnacle of her life much faster than in the original plot.
And then, Zhuo Lin found her.
“These are all men you’ve been close to recently. Which one do you like? Pick one.”
Zhou Qingbie was startled.
She assumed Zhuo Lin was jealous because she was taking up too much of Jiang Chong Yan's time. She quickly explained, "There's nothing between him and me. He's just helping me out a little. We don't need to do this, do we?"
"Choose!"
Zhou Qingbie had no choice but to take the photos and examine them one by one.
Zhuo Lin was not actually jealous.
Jiang Chong Yan reported his daily activities to her. Apart from occasional worries about him escaping, Zhuo Lin had no other concerns.
Choosing a man for Zhou Qingbie was a requirement from the Heavenly Dao.
She had incapacitated Qin Xiuran, the male protagonist, and the world’s stability was temporarily maintained by Zhou Qingbie, but it wasn’t enough. Although the Heavenly Dao had lost the battle, it had presented several demands, including the cultivation of a new male protagonist.
Cultivating a male protagonist required favorable timing, location, and human relations. The simplest and most convenient method Zhuo Lin could devise was to arrange a match for Zhou Qingbie.
The individuals she had selected were all those with strong inherent luck, surpassing ordinary standards in appearance, family background, intelligence, and ability. Two of them were even geniuses in their respective fields.
Zhou Qingbie reviewed them. While she didn't have a particular favorite, she didn't strongly object either.
"Have you chosen one? If not, I'll have people continue searching."
Zhou Qingbie: "...These are all quite good, but I don't have much contact with them normally. I'd like to get to know them first."
Zhuo Lin nodded. "Alright."
Zhou Qingbie expected "getting to know them" to involve her initiative. However, the next day, Zhuo Lin directly notified her to go on a blind date.
Zhou Qingbie attended with trepidation.
The first one didn't work out.
The next day, another was arranged.
The third, fourth day…
Zhou Qingbie had to reorganize her schedule, dedicating two hours each day to blind dates.
One thing puzzled her: the men she went on dates with all came from excellent family backgrounds, possessed attractive appearances, and some were exceptionally outstanding. She wondered why they would agree to go on blind dates with her.
So, on the eighth date, she couldn't help but ask.
Her companion was the son of an internet magnate, his peach-blossom eyes filled with affection. Upon hearing her question, his gaze flickered with charm, saying, "Miss Yan recommended you, so of course, I'd come. Besides, I'm quite satisfied with Ms. Zhou. If possible, I hope we can develop our relationship further."
Zhou Qingbie: "..."
Putting aside everything else, the man was undeniably handsome.
Most of the people around her were rough and unrefined. It was rare to encounter someone so good-looking and engaging. She didn't feel repulsed and nodded in agreement.
For the next period, she paused her blind dates and began dating the man.
Zhuo Lin was, of course, pleased with this development.
She requested some benefits from the main system. In exchange, no matter what kind of man Zhou Qingbie liked, she could find him and arrange for him to participate in blind dates.
As the female protagonist of this world, Zhou Qingbie possessed not only the protagonist's halo but also lacked nothing in terms of her own qualifications and capabilities. Whether driven by personal gain or influenced by her charm, she was easily liked by others.
Soon, the two were engaged.
With this matter resolved, Zhuo Lin also found time to hold a wedding ceremony with Jiang Chong Yan.
Then, they lived a long life, both peaceful and magnificent.
Her current body would eventually die, and the future Jiang Chong Yan had envisioned, where they would continue to be together as ghosts, did not come to pass.
The moment she detached from the world, his fragmented soul reassembled within Zhuo Lin's sea of consciousness.
The system, devoid of its initial excitement, declared: "Congratulations, Host. Mission accomplished."