The Lei household woke up to confusion.
Not normal confusion…
No, today it was the "THE SKY IS FALLING, RUN!" type.
Because Lei Hua came out of her room looking like she hadn't slept for five centuries.
Her eyes were puffy.
Her hair looked like she wrestled a rooster.
And she carried a giant stack of papers she didn't even understand.
Everyone: "…?"
LEI MING (confused): "Sister Hua… did someone beat you?"
LEI ZHI (concerned): "Should we call a doctor?"
LEI RONG (smirking): "Maybe she finally realized she doesn't belong here."
Lei Hua ignored all of them.
She just marched forward like a zombie general leading her troops.
**INSIDE HER HEAD**
(*I didn't sleep at all!*
*The system said I need to learn court etiquette before next week!*
*NEXT WEEK?*
*Did it expect me to memorize 300 rules in three days?? I'm only a small mortal!!*)
Suddenly—
**THUD!!**
Lei Hua tripped.
The entire stack of papers flew into the air like snowflakes from a tragic drama scene.
Everyone stared.
LEI MING: "…Sister Hua, why are there 50 pages titled 'HOW NOT TO DIE IN COURT'!?"
LEI RONG: "Pff— HAHAHA! You really think YOU of all people can go to court?"
Lei Hua panicked and kneeled, trying to gather the papers, but she couldn't stop her thoughts.
(*If I don't learn this, the Emperor will chop me— no, even worse, he'll make me kneel on frozen beans!*)
RECORD SCRATCH.
Everyone froze.
LEI ZHI: "…Did she just say FROZEN BEANS?"
LEI MING: "Why would the Emperor punish you? What did you do!?"
LEI RONG (eyes widening): "WAIT. SHE'S THINKING OUT LOUD AGAIN!"
The whole family turned into detectives.
Old Granny Lei leaned in.
GRANNY: "Child… why do your thoughts sound… extra loud today?"
Lei Hua stiffened.
(*NOOO why is everyone looking at me— did I say that out loud— no wait they're hearing me AGAIN— HELP—*)
The room burst into chaos.
LEI ZHI: "She said 'AGAIN'— again means it happened before!"
LEI MING: "I KNEW I wasn't hallucinating yesterday!!"
LEI RONG: "Hah! This is too good! Who knew the useless Lei Hua had such entertainment value!"
Lei Hua clutched her papers.
(*Why is my life like this? I transmigrated just to suffer??*)
The family gasped.
They all heard it.
LEI ZHI: "…Trans… what-rated?"
LEI HUA: "AH— NO NO NO I DIDN'T SAY THAT–!!"
Just before she completely combusted, the **Gossip System** chimed.
[DING! Daily Gossip Reward: Someone in this house is plotting something big.]
Lei Hua slowly turned pale.
(*WHY. TODAY.*)
LEI MING: "Plotting what?? Who!?"
LEI RONG (hands behind her back, whistling): "Well well… who could it be?~"
Lei Hua stared at Lei Rong.
Lei Rong stared back.
The Gossip System whispered softly:
[DING. Host, she is the one who knows the secret.]
Lei Hua: (*Oh no.*)
LEI HUA (out loud by accident): "YOU??"
LEI RONG: "ME?? WHAT DO YOU MEAN *ME???*"
The entire family glared at Lei Rong.
LEI MING: "RONG, what are you hiding?!"
Lei Rong panicked instantly.
LEI RONG: "W-Wait! Stop staring, I didn't do anything!!"
LEI HUA (*inner scream*): (*I DIDN'T WANT THIS DRAMA TODAYYYY*)
And then —
**BOOM!!!**
The kitchen exploded in smoke.
Everyone jumped.
A servant ran in coughing.
SERVANT: "The stove… caught fire!"
Lei Hua stared at the sky dramatically.
(*Of course. PERFECT. JUST PERFECT. This is the exact energy of my life.*)
AND SOMEONE ENTERED.
A tall shadow stepped inside through the smoke.
A cold voice said:
"….What is going on here?"
The family turned.
Every jaw dropped.
**LEI YUE.**
She had arrived.
Dressed in travel robes.
Hair like silk.
Aura like a thousand-year-old snow lotus.
Eyes sharp enough to slice diamonds.
Face calm but carrying silent pressure.
Lei Hua blinked.
(*OH NO SHE'S SO COOL WHY IS SHE SO COOL—*)
Lei Yue's gaze moved around the smoky, chaotic scene.
And then she said, coolly:
"…..I was gone for five days. And the house is already falling apart?"
The entire family trembled.
Lei Hua trembled hardest.
(*S-SAVE ME DIVA QUEEN—!!!*)
END OF CHAPTER 8