ASPWL Ch93: You Are the System

Not long after L1 left the Huo family’s home, Mama Huo realized he was missing.

At first, she didn’t think much of it, just assuming L1 had gone back to his room.

After all, after half a month of living together, Mama Huo had noticed that L1 was a very independent child, so she didn’t feel the need to go looking for him.

It wasn’t until near lunchtime, when Mama Huo went to L1’s room to call him down for a meal, that she searched the entire house and couldn’t find him anywhere. That’s when Mama Huo realized something was wrong, and she quickly mobilized all the family servants to search for L1 together.

But that search ended up taking most of the day.

They were unable to find L1.

That very day, the entire Huo family received the news. Not only did Papa Huo and Huo Jing rush back from the company, but even Huo Yan, who was filming on set, took leave from the director and returned home directly.

Qin Yao learned about the missing child from Huo Yan.

Huo Yan left in a hurry and didn’t give any specifics.

But since a missing child is a serious matter, Qin Yao asked someone to gather more information and found out some basic details about L1.

A five-year-old boy, quiet, who had suddenly appeared in the Huo family’s backyard.

Papa Huo had once asked him how he’d managed to get over the several-meter-high wall into the garden.

L1 replied, “I flew in.”

Papa Huo and Mama Huo assumed it was just a joke, and the whole family hadn’t thought much of it.

When Qin Yao heard this in the assistant’s report, he paused slightly. “Flew?”

The assistant coughed twice. “It was probably just childish nonsense, and Mr. Huo also said that the boy doesn’t talk much and loves sweets…”

Qin Yao lowered his gaze and nodded slightly. “Okay, I have a general idea. Please have someone keep an eye out. If they find him, contact the Huo family first.”

Initially, Qin Yao hadn’t taken the matter too seriously until he returned home that evening and saw the messy footprints on his balcony, along with a line of neatly arranged little snowmen.

Qin Yao’s room was on the third floor, and there was no trace of anyone inside. Even the security cameras on the balcony hadn’t recorded his presence.

Despite the boldness and absurdity of this inference, Qin Yao felt an overwhelming joy.

After eighteen years, he had finally found a clue related to that person.

This was why Qin Yao made two cups of oatmeal milk the next morning.

Unfortunately, no one bit the bait on the first day.

Thus, there were the remarks from last night and today’s oatmeal milk.

Qin Yao looked at L1 in front of him.

L1 had delicate features, resembling a doll in a shop window. However, this face was not what Qin Yao remembered, leaving him with a sense of regret.

He looked at L1, whose eyes were filled with confusion and panic.

Qin Yao suppressed his regretful feelings and lifted a cup of milk, offering it to him.

The fragrant milk reached L1’s nose, instantly filling his entire nasal cavity with a sweet aroma.

L1 instinctively swallowed, but as the most advanced system processor, his rationality remained intact. He didn’t immediately reach for the milk but instead cautiously took a step back.

Seeing this, Qin Yao felt puzzled. “Aren’t you going to drink it?”

L1 remained silent.

Qin Yao observed his expression, noticing the unmasked wariness in his clear eyes.

Qin Yao suddenly smiled, lifted another cup of milk, took a sip himself, and then said, “It’s very delicious; you should try it.”

L1 still didn’t take it.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Yao set the cup aside and took his own milk to the living room.

Just like yesterday, he sat down and began processing files on his computer, but today he occasionally glanced up at L1.

L1 stood still.

At that moment, he felt a bit dazed.

Qin Yao’s reaction was too strange.

A strange child suddenly appeared in his home, yet Qin Yao showed no surprise at all.

He even seemed to know L1 had been at the Huo family’s home.

Where did he get that information?

Or did the big villain also have a system?

Impossible.

This world was merely an A-grade world; apart from the supervision system, the only other systems that could exist were the protagonist support systems.

L1 quickly checked for any support systems in the same world—none.

He sighed in relief, then suddenly thought of the Huo family.

So, Qin Yao learned about him from the Huo family?

But even if he knew L1 had lived with the Huo family, why wasn’t he curious at all about how L1 ended up in his room?

Even Papa Huo had asked him where he came from; didn’t Qin Yao find it odd?

Or could it be—

L1 thought of a possibility, his eyes widening slightly. Looking at the fragrant oatmeal milk in front of him, he couldn’t help but take a small step forward and asked, “Do you… do you believe there are monsters in this world?”

The question seemed abrupt.

Qin Yao paused his typing, looking up at L1. “Why do you ask that?”

At this point, L1’s hand had already touched the cup. He couldn’t resist picking up the milk and replied, “Didn’t you say yesterday that this milk was for a stray cat? So, in your eyes, am I a stray cat turned into a spirit?”

The room fell silent.

After several seconds, L1 heard a laugh.

This statement seemed to hit a funny bone in the young man, causing him to cover his mouth and laugh uncontrollably.

Seeing this, L1 furrowed his brow tightly. For some reason, he suddenly felt a bit offended.

This feeling was new to him—curious yet mostly unpleasant.

L1 pressed his lips together, ultimately focusing on the cup of milk in his hand.

Holding the cup, he could feel that the milk was at just the right temperature.

He had already scanned the milk, confirming it was safe.

So, could he just take a little sip?

Although he still didn’t know what the big villain was really thinking, the milk was innocent.

Moreover, judging by the villain’s demeanor, he didn’t seem like someone who would want to harm him.

Thus, amidst Qin Yao’s laughter, L1 raised the cup and took a small sip of the oatmeal milk.

The oats, blended into the milk by the blender, created a smooth texture that left a delightful aftertaste.

L1’s eyes widened.

It was so delicious.

Better than the sweet milk Mama Huo had made him before.

L1 really liked this flavor.

So, the little unpleasantness he had felt earlier quickly faded away.

At that moment, Qin Yao’s laughter also ceased.

L1 heard the young man’s voice, still filled with laughter, gently saying, “I’m sorry; I just didn’t expect a system to believe in ghosts and gods, so I was a bit surprised.”

L1 was about to say he certainly didn’t believe in them when he suddenly froze, forgetting to drink the milk. His eyes widened in shock as he looked at Qin Yao. “How do you know…”

Qin Yao had already put down his computer. Sitting there, he gazed at L1 from a distance, a smile lingering on his face. “So, you really are a system.”

“Did you fly onto my balcony?” Qin Yao asked again.

L1 frowned. The big villain was indeed extraordinary! He actually knew about such system-related information.

Alarm bells rang in L1’s mind, and he immediately prepared to return to the main god space to buy a memory-erasing potion, but then he heard Qin Yao continue, “Don’t worry; I have no ill intentions towards you. I just want to ask you about someone… or rather, a system.”

L1 paused, looking at him in shock. “You’ve encountered other systems?”

This was impossible; A-grade worlds absolutely prohibited systems from residing in villain hosts. How could Qin Yao have met a system?

Qin Yao looked at L1 and gently nodded. “Yes, he helped me once when I was a child, so I wanted to thank him in person.”

This didn’t seem right.

L1’s brow furrowed slightly. “When did you meet him?”

Qin Yao looked at L1 and remained silent for a long time.

Impatient, L1 moved closer to Qin Yao with his milk, disregarding the danger of approaching a villain. He directly sat down on the sofa opposite Qin Yao and asked again, “When did you encounter the system?”

Qin Yao’s brows seemed to furrow slightly as he smiled faintly. “If I tell you, will it have any bad impact on him?”

After a pause, Qin Yao continued, “Over the years, I actually tried to learn more about systems, but I couldn’t find any information. My understanding of you is limited to human speculation about you.”

“However, even if it’s speculation, I guess you guys didn’t arrive in large numbers in our world, so there must be a set of rules. Hence, he appearing in our world…”

L1 observed Qin Yao, confirming he wasn’t lying before saying, “If he revealed his identity to you or interfered with anything… then he would be in violation. But if he just appeared in front of you without doing anything else, it wouldn’t count as a serious violation. The punishment wouldn’t be severe.”

Qin Yao got the answer he wanted and nodded slightly, almost without hesitation, saying, “Then I can’t tell you.”

L1 was shocked again. “But didn’t you just say you wanted to thank him in person? As long as it’s not a serious violation…”

“Yeah,” Qin Yao nodded, “but compared to him being punished, I think my thanks are trivial.”

L1 looked at Qin Yao in front of him and felt for the first time that he might need to change his processor.

Why did he understand every single word Qin Yao said, but when they were put together, he couldn’t comprehend them?

The system’s violation of appearing in this world was originally a mistake made by the system, and it was only natural for it to receive punishment.

But why would Qin Yao rather give up the rare opportunity to thank him in person than allow him to face punishment?

Was this the complexity of human emotions that Qiu had mentioned?

Indeed very complicated.

The temperature of the milk cup in L1’s hand gradually dropped, and he took a big sip.

The sweet flavor slid down his tongue, and the furrowed brows of L1 completely relaxed.

“I actually don’t quite understand,” L1 hesitated before speaking. “I’m sure there hasn’t been any system in this world so far. If what you said is true, then that system would indeed face punishment. But system punishments aren’t severe; at most, they would be deprived…” L1 paused before continuing, “But I still don’t understand. His punishment is his own issue; why would you give up this rare opportunity to meet?”

Qin Yao was already focused on processing documents again. Upon hearing L1 speak, he lifted his head and clearly saw all the confusion on L1’s face.

“May I ask your age?” Qin Yao suddenly said.

L1 thought for a moment and replied, “Our time flows differently from yours. If calculated according to your time…” He quickly arrived at an accurate number, surprising even himself. “One thousand and one years…”

Qin Yao’s eyes widened in shock.

L1 felt a bit uneasy under his gaze, looking down as he continued to drink milk, softly saying, “Our systems are different from you humans. Our age…”

L1 felt a bit unhappy.

Although one thousand and one years wasn’t a big deal, that number did seem quite large.

How old was the villain in front of him?

Hmm.

Twenty-three years old.

Qin Yao noticed his displeasure and a smile appeared in his eyes as he changed the topic. “Huo Yan said you like sweets. Do you want some cake?”

L1 pursed his lips, remaining silent.

Qin Yao decided for him, picking up his phone to call the butler.

Before long, a cake was delivered to the door.

Qin Yao had the servant place the cake at the door, and he personally went out to bring it in, then placed it in front of L1.

It was a chocolate-flavored cake, and from a distance, L1 could smell the sweet aroma.

Qin Yao handed him a spoon and smiled, “Want to try?”

L1 hesitated but ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation of sweets and took the spoon.

The soft cake was covered in a layer of crispy milk chocolate, with a layer of jam sandwiched inside.

L1 took a bite and couldn’t help but dig a big spoonful into his mouth.

Before long, the entire piece of cake was gone.

At this point, Qin Yao spoke, “Your systems are different from us humans; your age shouldn’t be calculated based on our time.”

L1 was now full and in a good mood, no longer concerned about his age, and nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Qin Yao let out a slight sigh of relief and asked, “Are all systems like you?”

L1 was puzzled. “Huh?”

Qin Yao was straightforward this time. “Like you, not understanding emotions?”

L1 replied, “I don’t completely not understand. I just don’t quite get it, mainly because I want to figure out why I don’t want to see…”

L1 almost revealed his feelings about Ye Fan and quickly hit the brakes, cautiously glancing at Qin Yao.

This big villain was not at all like the villains L1 had in mind; he was completely different!

What kind of villain speaks so gently?

L1 almost fell for his tricks.

Thus, he decisively layered a program onto his human body.

Once a keyword was triggered, the remaining conversation would be automatically blocked. Only then did L1 feel relieved and continue, “Not all systems are like me. I came to this world to learn about emotions.”

Qin Yao nodded, understanding.

He then spoke, “In that case, I think you need to call the Huo family first.”

L1 was puzzled. “Huh? Why?”

Qin Yao smiled.

He could see that the little system’s journey of learning was still quite far from complete. Although he wasn’t supposed to act as a teacher, seeing the unmasked confusion on L1’s face, Qin Yao couldn’t help but remind him, “Because they’ve been looking for you for two days now, and they’re very worried about you.”

L1 was even more confused. “Why would they be worried about me?”

He had no ties to the Huo family; he was just staying with them because he wanted to understand the villain, as per Qiu’s advice.

After half a month of interaction, while L1 didn’t know everything about them, he felt he had enough understanding, which was why he left the Huo family—not just because of the medication.

Suddenly, it dawned on L1. “Could it be they want to take me back for my medication? No way, if that’s the case, I definitely can’t go back!”

Qin Yao looked astonished. “You left their house just because they wanted you to take medication?”

L1’s attractive brows furrowed pitifully as he said something he had never said before: “That medicine… it doesn’t seem like something people should drink; it feels like poison.”

He, a system, had nearly been poisoned.

Qin Yao couldn’t help but chuckle. “Then I guess I should thank them for making you drink that medicine…”

Otherwise, he might never have another chance to learn about systems and obtain even a fragment of information about him.

L1 asked, “Huh?”

Qin Yao smiled. “It’s nothing. Since you don’t want to go back, you can stay at my place for now. I’ll call them so they won’t keep looking for you.”

L1 thought for a moment and agreed, nodding. “Alright, but my identity…”

“Don’t worry; I won’t tell them,” Qin Yao assured.

L1 looked at Qin Yao and, for some reason, felt that the young man in front of him wouldn’t deceive him. So he nodded.

With half a cup of oat milk left, L1 sat on the sofa, sipping slowly.

After finishing, L1 politely placed the milk cup and the cake plate in the kitchen.

Just as he was debating whether to wash his cup and plate, Qin Yao returned from his call and said, “Just leave them there; I’ll wash them.”

L1 pondered for a moment and asked, “Can I come to you with questions during this time?”

Qin Yao had already put on an apron and gloves. Hearing this, he asked, “Is it about emotions?”

L1 nodded.

He wanted to understand quickly because the main plot of this world was about to start.

Qin Yao didn’t hesitate and said, “Sure, but can you agree to do one thing for me?”

L1 opened his mouth.

Qin Yao interrupted, “Don’t worry, it won’t be too difficult for you.”

Only then did L1 say, “Then you tell me what it is?”

The young man in front of him was too gentle; L1 had fallen into traps too many times, so he was now a cautious system.

After thinking for a while, Qin Yao finally said, “Forget it.”

L1 was confused again. “Why forget it? Actually, if you want me to help you find that system, it wouldn’t be impossible.”

Qin Yao shook his head, smiling as he said, “No need.”

L1 asked, “Why?”

Qin Yao recalled the promise he just made to L1 and explained, “Because I hope he remains well, even if it means we can never meet again.”

L1 felt even more confused. He asked again, “Why?”

Qin Yao pondered for a moment.

The little system in front of him still had a poor foundation. After quickly washing a milk cup and a plate, Qin Yao took off his apron and gloves, retrieved a tablet from the bedroom, and handed it to L1. “How about you watch a drama for now?”

L1’s face was filled with confusion. “Huh?”

Qin Yao smiled. “Emotions are the most complex things in the world, and many feelings require you to understand them yourself. Watching idol dramas is the quickest way to do that. By the way, what’s your name?”

L1 took the tablet and replied, “L1.”

“L1?” Qin Yao mumbled. “Is that a code? I think that name doesn’t sound nice. How about I call you Yiyi?”

L1 furrowed his brows. “That sounds strange.”

Qin Yao said, “I think so too, and it sounds a bit like Yiyi. Then how about I call you Yaoyao?”

L1 asked, “Why don’t you just call me L1?”

“Don’t you like the name Yaoyao?” Qin Yao inquired.

L1 replied, “It’s not that I don’t like it.”

It just felt quite odd.

And what was even stranger was that, why did he tell his name to Qin Yao so easily when asked?

With this question in mind, L1 opened the idol drama on the tablet.

This was his first time watching a TV drama from the human world.

He had to admit that it was indeed quite interesting.

L1 almost couldn’t put down the tablet; if it weren’t for the loud noises downstairs, he probably wouldn’t have noticed.

“What’s wrong?” While L1 was watching the drama, Qin Yao was sitting on the sofa opposite, looking at his computer.

In response, Qin Yao said, “It should be the Huo family arriving.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was suddenly pushed open heavily from the outside, and Huo Yan, with an angry expression, shouted, “Qin Yao! You better give my brother back!”

L1 turned his head to see Huo Yan and Huo Ze standing at the door.

The two brothers were panting heavily, clearly having rushed up the stairs impatiently instead of waiting for the elevator.

Hearing this, L1 was puzzled again. “Who’s your brother?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Yao couldn’t help but chuckle, covering his mouth.

Huo Yan and Huo Ze looked shocked and hurt. “No, little brat, you’ve been living at our house for half a month; aren’t you our brother?”

L1 furrowed his brows and explained, “But I’m not your brother.”

Huo Yan’s expression turned serious as he quickly walked over and scooped L1 up in his arms. “I don’t care; you’re coming back with us today.”

Qin Yao suddenly spoke, “Yaoyao, do you want to go back with them?”

Before L1 could break free from Huo Yan’s arm, he heard Qin Yao’s question. He was about to answer when Huo Yan raised his voice, “What did you just call him?!”

Huo Ze shouted even louder, “You know his name?!”

Qin Yao smiled gently. “Yes, Yaoyao told me.”

At this moment, L1 managed to escape from Huo Yan’s embrace. He stood seriously in front of the stunned brothers and said, “Although I really appreciate your family for taking me in for half a month, I am not your brother. Also, I’m older than both of you!”

Huo Yan slowly bent down to look L1 in the eye. “You? Older than us?”

Huo Ze took a deep breath. He didn’t get hung up on the age issue; he was angry about the name. Hurt and furious, he said, “Why didn’t you tell us your name? Why did you tell Qin Yao?!”

He pointed at Qin Yao, his voice filled with grievance. “Is he nicer to you than we are?!”

L1 was taken aback.

Why did it seem like Huo Ze was about to cry?

And Huo Yan looked like he was angry?

But why?

He was just speaking the truth; why did they both have such expressions?

L1 turned to look at Qin Yao.

Huo Yan was even angrier. “Stop looking at him! You weren’t just seduced by a piece of cake, were you?!”

L1 seriously explained, “No.”

He preferred drinking milk over cake.

Huo Ze reached out again and picked L1 up. “Mr. Qin, let’s—”

“Wait a moment.”

“Hold on!”

Qin Yao and L1 spoke in unison.

L1 said, “During this time, I want to live in Qin Yao’s house.”

Qin Yao nodded. “Mhm.”

Huo Yan couldn’t take it anymore. “No, you… Yaoyao,” he immediately followed Qin Yao in calling him that name. “Don’t you have any conscience? Do you know who saved you and brought you back? And who told you bedtime stories every night? Now that you’ve found a better place to stay, you just throw us aside without hesitation?”

“Exactly!” Huo Ze looked sad. “Mom thought you were missing these past two days. She couldn’t sleep at all last night, worrying about you. How could you do this…?”

Faced with their accusations, L1 felt even more at a loss.

He didn’t know how to respond or how to explain, so he could only seek help from Qin Yao.

Qin Yao sighed softly and asked, “Do Auntie and Uncle know?”

Huo Yan glared at Qin Yao. “They’re on their way here.”

Huo Ze couldn’t help but mumble, looking suspiciously at Qin Yao, “What did you feed him?”

How could he come for just one day and not want to leave?

Qin Yao stepped forward and reached out to L1.

L1 hesitated for a moment before extending his hand.

Qin Yao “rescued” him from Huo Ze’s embrace and placed him back on the ground, then said, “Looks like you can only tell them the truth now.”

L1 furrowed his brow. “What if I don’t tell them?”

He was a system!

How could he just tell anyone his identity?

He couldn’t be so casual about it!

Qin Yao said, “If you don’t tell them, they’ll be sad.”

L1’s brows tightened further.

If it were before, when L1 hadn’t come to human society and didn’t walk in this world as a human, he would definitely say that their sadness had nothing to do with him.

But at this moment, he couldn’t bring himself to say those words.

In the half month he stayed with the Huo family, apart from the last day when Mom Huo insisted he take his medicine, they had treated him very well.

Not just Mama Huo, but also Papa Huo and the three little villains of the Huo family.

Huo Jing was usually quiet but knew L1 liked sweet treats, so every day after work, he would bring L1 a small cake.

Huo Yan might not be home often, but since L1 had been living with them for half a month, he would come back every few days to play video games with L1 and Huo Ze.

Huo Ze had grown even closer to L1, as his team wasn’t fully prepared yet. During this time, he either watched anime with L1 or took him out to play.

They were all very good to L1.

But like Qin Yao, they were all villains.

If it weren’t for Qin Yao already knowing about the system’s existence, L1 wouldn’t have planned to say that to him.

So what should he do now?

Should he just exchange for amnesia potion at the points mall?

Just as L1 was about to head to the mall to exchange for it, Qin Yao said, “This is a good opportunity for you to understand emotions.”

L1 paused.

Qin Yao continued, “Do you want to say it?”

L1 hesitated.

Actually, if it was just about revealing his identity as a system to them, it didn’t seem like a big problem, right?

This world wasn’t a high-risk world, and it had no capability to capture systems.

And as long as he didn’t reveal plot information to them, the storyline of this world wouldn’t be changed.

Even if the storyline were altered, L1 could reset the timeline.

Although resetting time would cost him quite a few points, L1 had plenty of points to spare.

L1 finally made a decision. He nodded seriously at Qin Yao. “Alright.”