NOVPUBShen Ying’s net worth in this world added up to a couple hundred million.
Aside from the contributions from Zhong Chen and three others, the recent surge in Zhu Corporation’s stock due to the announcement of a major project had brought her another windfall.
It was only then that the system belatedly informed her that her funds had been unfrozen and were now available for use.
Shen Ying sighed helplessly, “Well, I guess I can’t rely on my past achievements to change my circumstances right from the start in this mission world.”
“But I haven’t heard from you lately. Where’ve you been?”
The system had anticipated her question and replied dryly: 【Host, there’s no need to concern yourself with my whereabouts. I simply realized I was too prone to letting emotions interfere with my work, leading to unnecessary conflicts with my assigned host. So, I imposed a self-silencing measure.】
The explanation made sense. In the previous two worlds, the system’s emotional fluctuations had been extreme, and without restraint, it risked burning out prematurely.
But Shen Ying suddenly said, “You’ve taken on another host, haven’t you?”
The system nearly short-circuited in panic and hurriedly denied: 【No! Absolutely not!】
Yet inwardly, it was uneasy. No matter how capable she was, surely she couldn’t deduce the actions of a non-human entity? Moreover, their communication was telepathic—even with her formidable skills, she shouldn’t be able to see through its secrets.
But after its denial, Shen Ying let out a melancholic sigh. “System, you actually have another partner now.”
“I always thought we were deeply bound, partners who could trust each other with our lives.”
The system couldn’t help but retort: “Partners? You’re rolling in wealth while I’m barely scraping by on minimum wage with zero performance bonuses?”
The moment it spoke, it realized it had practically confessed and quickly backtracked: “I only said that to express my frustration with your lack of cooperation. It doesn’t mean I’m admitting to your accusation.”
Shen Ying, however, pressed on. “Stop hiding it. I was wondering why you’ve been so nice this time, assigning me a world with zero difficulty.”
“Turns out it was just to keep me placated while you slip away from my missions.”
“System, you know, if you want to slack off with a clear conscience in a company, you have to know every rule inside out and exploit them.”
“I distinctly remember that systems and hosts operate on a one-to-one basis.”
The system hastily replied: “Since you know that, you should understand I’d never break the rules.”
Shen Ying remained unfazed. “While a system can’t be assigned to another host, it can temporarily substitute for another system if that host’s original system becomes unavailable for any reason.”
That clause was originally part of your system's disclaimer, but when paired with another host rule, things get interesting.
“Namely, if special circumstances lead to two or more hosts appearing in the same world and their missions conflict, the consequences are solely the hosts’ responsibility.”
Shen Ying’s tone was laced with amusement. “Don’t these two rules together leave quite a bit of room for maneuvering?”
“If, by the mission’s end, only one host remains, the temporary system automatically becomes the official system for the surviving host—completely within procedural compliance, right?”
The system broke out in a cold sweat, utterly at a loss for how to respond.
Internally, it cursed this lazy troublemaker for how thoroughly she’d mastered the rules just to slack off.
The loophole it had painstakingly figured out for its own future had been exposed almost immediately.
What if she reported it? While the game administrators might appreciate its efforts to eliminate a slacker, the rules—given the brutal nature of the missions—heavily favored hosts in trivial matters.
Even the game had to follow protocol.
Just as the system was sparking in panic, Shen Ying added, “But this is just speculation. Without solid proof, I won’t draw any final conclusions.” 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
Though it didn’t know why Shen Ying was letting it off the hook, the system exhaled in relief, feeling as if it had narrowly escaped disaster the moment it reappeared.
After giving the system a good scare, Shen Ying acted as if she’d forgotten the matter entirely and resumed her leisurely, carefree life—playing the immortal while treating high schoolers like easy marks.
That day, Zhong Chen, as usual, was about to escort Shen Ying home when a phone call pulled him away at the last moment.
Zhong Chen explained, “It’s the old lady. She’s summoning me home immediately. She usually can’t be bothered with me, so it must be something big.”
“I’ll have Yun take you home. Call me when you get there.”
Shen Ying waved him off, signaling him to hurry back.
On the road, Xiao Yun brought up an old matter again. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you alone lately.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask—have you thought about what I mentioned the other day?”
Shen Ying looked at him with a faint smile. “Your brother and I have already made up.”
“You can’t use your single status as an excuse now, can you? Aren’t you worried about how he’d feel?”
Xiao Yun lowered his head, his usual melancholic, detached demeanor tinged with a decadent allure.
He said softly, “Chen has always been the most domineering among us. He’s incredibly willful, prioritizing his own feelings above all else.”
“So you can imagine how many times I, Jia Le, and Zhao Xi have had to accommodate him over the years.”
“This time, it’s his turn to accommodate me.”
Shen Ying nodded, not bothering to ask why Xiao Yun was willing to betray his brother for her.
After a pause, she said hesitantly, “Your proposal is thrilling, but someone like him is truly once in a lifetime.”
Xiao Yun immediately reassured her, “Don’t worry. When it comes to romance, I won’t be any less generous than Chen.”
Only then did Shen Ying nod. “Then give me some time to think about it.”
But Xiao Yun wouldn’t accept such a vague answer. He asked bluntly, “How much time do you need?”
Shen Ying: “An hour. I’ll give you my answer in an hour.”
Even Xiao Yun was taken aback by how short the deadline was. He’d expected her to string him along, but she’d given him what was practically an on-the-spot response.
Naturally, Xiao Yun was pleased things were progressing smoothly and agreed with a nod.
By the time they finished talking, they’d reached their destination. Xiao Yun escorted Shen Ying to the elevator before turning to leave.
Shen Ying took the elevator up, returned home, entered the passcode, and opened the door.
The moment she stepped inside, she was hit by an uncharacteristically cold, rigid atmosphere.
Walking further in, she saw a woman seated in the center of the spacious, well-lit living room.
At first glance, the woman appeared to be in her early thirties—a stunning beauty. But no one who saw her would focus on her looks first.
Her commanding presence, the aura of someone who wielded power, made anyone who met her gaze feel an overwhelming pressure, leaving them awed and intimidated.
For instance, Father Shen and Mother Shen, though in their own home, sat silently across from her, not uttering a word.
Clearly, they were completely subdued.
When Shen Ying entered, Mrs. Zhong’s gaze swept over her. Though seated, her scrutiny felt like a lofty figure looking down from the clouds.
Then she spoke: “Miss Shen, this is our second meeting. A pleasure.”
Shen Ying tossed her schoolbag onto the sofa and sat down casually, responding to Mrs. Zhong with a smile. "Last time we met, Mrs. Zhong didn’t seem quite so talkative."
"You’ve come all this way today—there must be something important on your mind. Feel free to speak plainly. Your son is still waiting for you at home."
A flicker of interest flashed in Mrs. Zhong’s eyes. It was rare to see someone so utterly unfazed in her presence.
Judging by the girl’s demeanor and the things she’d uncovered in her investigation, this was no naive fool.
In fact, during their first meeting, she hadn’t even remembered this girl. It was only through recent inquiries that she realized this was the same girl who had appeared in her home that day, looking like she’d been wronged.
Mrs. Zhong’s instincts told her something was off, so she conducted a thorough investigation. What she found was that, aside from greed and ill intentions, this girl had real cunning.
Zhong Chen and the other three families’ children, though young, weren’t so inexperienced that just any woman could manipulate them.
Mrs. Zhong nodded. "Since Shen Ying is someone easy to talk to, this should be straightforward."
"Let me be blunt—I want you to break up with my son. Given your intelligence, I’m sure you’ve already foreseen how this relationship will end."
"That’s why you’ve been so brazen in your demands. So why not skip the middle steps?"
"Name your price. How much will it take for you to leave my son?"
Before Shen Ying could respond, Mother Shen stood up abruptly.
Pointing at Mrs. Zhong, she snapped, "How dare you waltz into our home and talk down to us like this?"
"Don’t think your money can buy everything. Get out—you’re not welcome here."
Mrs. Zhong remained unruffled. "Mrs. Shen, let’s not waste time with pointless words."
"Millions in cash, countless luxury gifts, even this apartment—your daughter’s relationship with my son is far from some pure, innocent romance."
She extended a hand behind her, and a bodyguard promptly handed her a checkbook with careful deference.
"Name your price. Considering Shen Ying’s skill and the considerable gains she’s already made, my offer will reflect that."
Mother Shen was having none of it. If the boy’s mother had come here personally, it meant Zhong Chen was deeply infatuated with her daughter.
Why would she trade a goldmine for peanuts? Besides, from what she’d observed lately, Zhong Chen was a rare find—sincere, devoted, and free of the usual flaws men had with women.
Even without his family’s wealth, he’d be a catch.
So Mother Shen declared firmly, "Absolutely not—"
But before she could finish, her daughter spoke up. "Five hundred million."
The number nearly stopped Mother Shen’s heart. Five hundred million—that was an astronomical sum!
Mrs. Zhong’s eyebrow twitched, then she gave Shen Ying an amused look. "You’ve got nerve, I’ll give you that."
Shen Ying smiled back. "The fact that you didn’t refuse outright means the price is within your range."
Mrs. Zhong leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze fixed on Shen Ying. "Five hundred million is nothing, but that money could be spent elsewhere to achieve the same result."
"For example, hiring a good lawyer would cost less than one percent of that to strip you of everything you’ve gained."
"So tell me, Shen Ying—why should I spend such a fortune on you?"
Shen Ying responded lazily, exuding a confidence so audacious it unsettled even Mrs. Zhong. "Because I’m worth it."
She picked up a newspaper from the coffee table—Father Shen still kept the habit of buying them.
Flipping to a specific page, she pointed to a photo of a distinguished middle-aged man.
He was a late-blooming scientist whose research patents were now fiercely contested by major corporations.
Naturally, the Zhong family’s financial power gave them the strongest advantage in the bidding war.
Shen Ying said, "This man is a fraud. The true inventor of this patent is someone else—someone your resources could easily uncover."
"The technology isn’t fully developed yet. This impostor lacks mastery of its core. If Zhong Corporation partners with him while the real genius slips away, your technological lead won’t last long."
"I trust this gift is enough to convince you to spend that five hundred million on me."
Mrs. Zhong’s expression shifted. While corporate rivalries weren’t secret, this was hardly the kind of thing a high school girl should know about.
This deal was too critical to take risks.
Besides, verifying her claim would cost little. Even if it was just a girl’s wild speculation, confirming it wouldn’t hurt.
Without hesitation, Mrs. Zhong signed the check and a gift contract, then left immediately, already instructing her assistant before she’d even stepped out the door.
At the threshold, she turned and gave Shen Ying a long, searching look. "I hope you’re not playing games with me, Shen Ying."
Once Mrs. Zhong was gone, Shen Ying turned to find her parents staring at the check in stunned silence.
Ignoring them, she pulled out her phone and sent a message to Xiao Yun:
["Alright, I agree. Let’s start dating."]
