A Rogue Meets a Greater Rogue
Leaving the communal building, Shen Ting walked under the scorching sun with her backpack, following the roadside for just under five minutes before stopping at a bus station.
It was the afternoon, and though it was a weekend when many were out for leisure, the heat kept most people away from the bus stop.
Near the bus sign, a few rowdy young delinquents stood around, smoking and laughing loudly. Shen Ting instinctively kept her distance, silently standing on the opposite side of the bus stop.
The bus arrived quickly. Shen Ting boarded after the group, finding an inconspicuous seat in the sparsely populated bus and placed her backpack on her lap.
As she settled in, her thoughts returned to the system that had called itself Venus 001—an unexplainable phenomenon beyond the bounds of science. It was so shocking that even now, recalling it sent a shiver down her spine.
However, it had claimed to be an appearance-modifying system. Could this mean it could help her change her hideous appearance?
Turning her head, the reflection in the bus window faintly outlined a face.
A hard, square face with small, fierce eyes devoid of beauty, barely visible eyebrows, and a nose so flat it seemed as if it had been struck by a brick. Thin lips, sharp and cruel, tinged with a ghastly dark purple.
Shen Ting knew she was ugly. She had often cursed her parents for bringing her into the world looking like this.
But as she matured, she came to terms with it. After all, they had given her life. Even if they had failed in raising her, it was enough that they had brought her here.
In her previous life, Shen Ting's greatest wish was to save up enough money for cosmetic surgery to make herself beautiful. But before she could gather the funds, the person she had always considered a friend had killed her.
In the haze of her dying moments, Shen Ting had sworn fiercely—if she had another life, she wouldn't ask for wealth or health, only beauty. Just beauty!
Perhaps fate had finally smiled upon her. Though she hadn't been reincarnated, she was reborn at the age of fifteen and had even gained a system—a system that could change her appearance.
"Venus 001," Shen Ting murmured softly.
[Host.]
The familiar mechanical voice echoed in her mind. Shen Ting's body stiffened, still unaccustomed to the feeling of something inhabiting her thoughts. She swallowed nervously and asked in a low voice, "Was everything you told me true? Can you really change my appearance?"
[Apologies. This system is in the experimental phase. You are the first to experience it. The system cannot guarantee success, but there is a 96% chance of improvement.]
Ninety-six percent... That was already high. In her current situation, Shen Ting would try even if there were only a fifty percent chance.
"When can you begin the transformation?"
[At any time.]
Shen Ting's lips trembled. No one could understand the depth of her emotion upon hearing those words. Just the thought of no longer being bullied for her looks made her want to cry. Over the years, she had endured so many scornful glances and insults because of her appearance.
[Warning: A group emitting excessive negative energy has entered a three-meter range. Initial assessment: hostile intent. Host, please be cautious.]
Shen Ting, lost in her thoughts, snapped her head up instinctively. The group of thugs from earlier now stood before her. One of them, upon seeing her face, sneered exaggeratedly.
"Damn! Thought we had a beauty here, but she's ugly as hell. Let's go, boys," the leader cursed, his face twisted in disgust as he turned to leave.
Shen Ting stared coldly at them. One of the men glanced back, catching her gaze and immediately bristled with anger. "What's with that look, huh? Want me to beat you up?"
"Being ugly is still better than having an ugly soul," Shen Ting replied, her voice steady. Perhaps her rebirth had granted her courage, for she stood up and faced the thugs without a trace of fear.
Why should she silently endure their insults? If anyone was ugly, it was them—with their arrogant postures and repugnant expressions.
"You ****, you asking for it? How dare you talk back!" One of the men stepped forward, his menacing stance threatening to strike if she said another word.
Shen Ting's body shook with anger. If she had a weapon in her hand, she would've smashed it over his head without hesitation.
"What's going on here? A whole group ganging up on someone?" A rough, youthful voice cut through the tension.
The thug with the yellow-dyed hair froze, a sycophantic smile spreading across his face as he turned.
"Brother Hong! I didn't even notice you were on the bus. My bad, my bad!" Yellow Hair grinned fawningly at the tall, lean boy in black.
Hong Xi held an unlit cigarette between his lips, his messy black hair falling carelessly over his forehead. His sharp eyes glinted with a dangerous light, and a mocking smile tugged at his mouth as he kicked Yellow Hair lightly.
"You're doing well for yourself, huh? Got a whole gang of lackeys now. What, planning to start your own crew?"
Yellow Hair took the kick without flinching, pulling out a lighter from his pocket with a sheepish laugh. "No way, Brother Hong. I still need to follow your lead. Here, let me light that for you."
Hong Xi pushed his hand away. "Quit smoking. What were you doing just now?" His eyes flicked to Shen Ting, who was still seething with anger.
Yellow Hair, sensing no desire from Hong Xi to stand up for the ugly girl, told the truth.
"So, you're bullying someone because they're ugly?" Hong Xi raised a brow and smacked Yellow Hair's head loudly.
"Beauty and ugliness are decided by their parents. What kind of man picks on a girl? Why don't you come spar with me sometime, huh?"
Yellow Hair's face twitched. Today was just a string of bad luck, running into this unpredictable guy.
"I was wrong, Brother Hong. I'll apologize right now." Bowing and scraping, Yellow Hair turned to Shen Ting and muttered a half-hearted apology.
Shen Ting knew this was the best she could expect from him. Just then, the bus announced her stop. Slinging her backpack over her shoulder, she ignored Yellow Hair and walked over to the person who had helped her.
"Thank you," she said solemnly before stepping off the bus.
Hong Xi watched her frail figure disappear, frowning slightly. Something about her didn't seem like a typical fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl—her eyes were too calm.