She turned to the System.

"We need to find out more about this Chen Yifan. Where is he stationed? How long will he be in the region? What are his actual resources and connections?"

The System checked his information. "According to the plot data, he’s temporarily assigned to this district to oversee some administrative matters—tax collection audits, dispute resolution, that sort of thing. He’s staying at the magistrate’s compound. He’s supposed to be here for about a month."

"A month," Heena repeated. "That’s more than enough time for him to become seriously involved in household politics if Maya plays this right."

She thought for a moment longer, then made a decision.

"I need more information before I can plan how to handle this. What exactly did Maya and Chen Yifan’s first meeting look like? Where did she fall? How did they interact?"

The System consulted the plot again. "She tripped in the market district while looking at some fabric stall. He helped her up, noticed she seemed upset about something, and being the gentleman scholar type, he expressed concern. She played the suffering wife role—mentioned her husband’s poor health, her worries, her difficult position. He was sympathetic and offered kind words."

"So their connection is based on him seeing her as a victim who needs protection and support," Heena summarized.

"Basically, yes."

Heena stopped pacing and looked at the System seriously.

"Then we need to make sure that if he hears about ME, about the household situation, about what’s really happening here—he hears it from credible sources before Maya can paint me as the villain."

She began formulating a plan.

"The merchant assembly in three days—Samuel mentioned there would be some local officials attending this time because of new trade regulations. Chen Yifan might be there in his official capacity."

The System nodded. "That’s possible, yes."

"Then I need Samuel to introduce me properly, establish my reputation with the merchants and officials present. Make it harder for Maya to later claim I’m just a scheming servant with no legitimacy."

Heena’s mind was already racing ahead, planning multiple contingencies.

"And I need to investigate Maya’s background before Chen Yifan becomes too invested in her supposed tragic story. If I can find proof that she’s not the innocent victim she claims to be, I can use that to counter her narrative."

The System looked worried. "Host, you’re taking on a lot simultaneously. The investigation into Maya’s parents, dealing with the male lead situation, managing the household politics with the old Master’s decision deadline approaching—"

"I know," Heena said. "But they’re all connected. Maya’s past might explain her present behavior. Understanding her motivations might help predict her next moves. And if Chen Yifan is going to be her new weapon, I need to know everything about both of them."

She looked toward the direction Maya had gone, that mysterious smile still fresh in her memory.

"Two more days until I can visit Maya’s parents. Three days until the merchant assembly where I might encounter Chen Yifan. One week until the old Master’s deadline for his decision about Samuel taking over business operations."

Heena smiled grimly.

"Busy week ahead. Good thing I work well under pressure."

The System sighed. "Host, sometimes I think you actually ENJOY these complicated situations."

Suddenly, Heena’s face froze mid-thought, and then a sly smile flashed across her features as she turned to look at the System and said with exaggerated sweetness, "Enjoy? Of course I enjoy it! Like, all the nonsense garbage worlds that transmigrators get thrown into—used plots, recycled twice over, tossed at me like trash. So of COURSE I enjoy dealing with them!"

Her voice dripped with sarcasm so thick it was practically visible.

The System immediately shuddered, looking around nervously and making absolutely sure NOT to meet her eyes.

Suddenly, that sweet smile turned absolutely predatory as Heena said in a deceptively gentle voice, "System..."

It was such a sickeningly sweet tone that it actually made the System shudder with fear. He immediately blurted out in a panicked rush: "Host, I have NO money! Please, I haven’t gambled for the past few days! And it wasn’t me who broke your lipstick!"

This time, Heena froze completely.

"Excuse me?"

Hearing that dangerously quiet question, the System realized exactly what he’d just accidentally confessed, and he frantically covered his mouth with both paws, eyes wide with horror.

Then Heena looked at him with slowly raising eyebrows and said with ominous calm, "So it WAS you who broke my famous lipstick. Is that what you just said?"

She took a step closer.

"You DO realize how EXPENSIVE that was, right? Do you have ANY idea how hard it is to get quality cosmetics in these primitive worlds?!"

Heena was literally growling by the end of that sentence.

The System immediately took several steps backward and said desperately, "Host! Host, wait! You were saying something important earlier! About the male lead! Shouldn’t we focus on that?!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Hearing that pathetic attempt at distraction, Heena nodded slowly and said, "Yeah, I WAS saying something important. But before we continue with that discussion..."

She cracked her knuckles deliberately.

"We need to have a little conversation about respecting other people’s property."

"Host, NO—!"

---

’’[Ten Minutes Later]’’

God, it was absolutely brutal.

After a full ten minutes of "educational discipline," tears were literally falling from the System’s eyes as he covered one side of his face—which now bore a very clear five-finger handprint from where Heena had slapped him.

On the other hand, Heena’s palm had turned bright red from the impact. She shook it out, wincing slightly, then looked at the pathetic crying System and said, "Now. Listen carefully."

Hearing that command, the System nodded miserably, even though tears were still streaming down his little lion face.

Heena settled back down and said casually, "What do you think would happen if that old man found out that his wife is cheating on him?"

Suddenly, the System’s eyes widened in shock, and he looked at her and said, "What?! Host, she’s NOT cheating yet! She’s literally just MET this Chen Yifan guy! They’ve had one encounter where he helped her up from a fall!"

Hearing that technical objection, Heena looked at him with an innocent smile and said, "Well, it’s not really my place to make judgments about what happens between married couples, is it? I’m just going to fulfill my duty as a good, filial daughter-in-law who cares about the family’s reputation and her father-in-law’s wellbeing."

Hearing that suspiciously virtuous statement, the System looked at her with dawning comprehension and said slowly, "So you mean... you’re going to tell the old Master that Maya is cheating... but you’re NOT going to actually say she’s cheating?"

Heena’s smile widened. "Exactly! I’ll just... share some concerning observations. Plant some seeds of doubt. Let his own paranoid mind do the rest of the work."

"But Host," the System said, still confused, "why would you even WANT to tell that old bastard anything? Aren’t you trying to avoid him?"

Hearing that question, Heena looked at the System like he was the stupidest creature in existence and said, "Why the HECK would I go tell him PERSONALLY? Do you think I’m a crazy person who wants to have direct contact with that disgusting old predator?"

The System blinked. "Then... how are you going to—"

"YOU’RE going to do it," Heena interrupted cheerfully.