Chapter 610 - Chapter 610: Chapter 597: Mooching Food and Drinks (1/2)

Chapter 610: Chapter 597: Mooching Food and Drinks

Zhuang Qingning saw Chu Jinnian off to the edge of the village and only returned home after his and Jing Zhao’s horses had vanished from sight. She sat in the courtyard, sipping her tea for a while.

However, the more she drank the tea, the more tasteless it became. She called over Xiangqiao to bring her a fresh pot.

Upon hearing this, Xiangqiao frowned and sighed inwardly.

This was the fourth pot of fresh tea Zhuang Qingning had asked her to replace in just half an hour.

Xiangqiao felt that it wasn’t that the tea tasted bad, but rather that Zhuang Qingning felt empty in her heart after Chu Jinnian’s departure, and thus, found no taste in the tea. She became somewhat worried about Zhuang Qingning.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Qingning, looking downcast, suddenly slapped her thigh, “How could I forget about that?”

“Miss, what’s wrong?” Xiangqiao jumped in surprise.

“No, nothing.” Zhuang Qingning waved her off, “Go and make me some more tea.”

Xiangqiao, seeing Zhuang Qingning’s repeated shocks, worried that she was overly upset and started to worry more. Even when she entered the kitchen, she kept glancing in Zhuang Qingning’s direction.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Qingning deliberately turned her back to Xiangqiao and summoned her system.

[What does the host need?]

Nothing in particular, just wanted to call you out for a chat, see what you’ve been up to recently.

[…] (This sudden concern somehow smells of a plot…)

[The system has not been busy with anything recently…] (Carefully)

It’s clear you haven’t been busy recently since you have been missing for a while and stopped releasing any tasks. Obviously, you must be enjoying your leave.

Are you sure you’re a diligent and ambitious system? I have a feeling you only want to lie down all the time now?

[Ahem…]

[The host misunderstands me. The system has not been issuing tasks lately, not because it’s been slacking off.]

Then what is the reason?

[It’s because of the host’s marriage stone.]

Marriage stone?

Zhuang Qingning blinked in confusion.

Isn’t the marriage stone supposed to bring good luck and simplify tasks or increase the task rewards? It should be an excellent aid, how can it affect the system’s task release?

[During the growth of the marriage stone, it does assist with the system’s operation, but as the stone grows larger, it absorbs a significant portion of the energy required to maintain the system, thereby interfering with the system’s task release.]

Zhuang Qingning thought for a while, her brows furrowed when she raised her head.

In other words, love can hinder career progress to a certain degree.

[…To put it succinctly, yes, that’s the idea.]

Zhuang Qingning lifted the air of resignation that hung around her head and sighed.

I never expected that such a relationship exists between the marriage stone and the system.