Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Several More Simps Are Lining Up Outside to Enter the Harem

Ling Yuexi was completely stunned.

"Jiang Yunnuan, have you no shame? You were the one who shamelessly insisted on giving us all those things! We couldn’t even refuse them! And now you’re demanding them back?"

’How could she have the nerve to say that?’

Jiang Yunnuan: "..."

’She was, in fact, embarrassed. But poverty left her no choice. Who could she blame for being so poor?’

"So what? Back then, I was interested in your brother. That’s why I gave you gifts. But now I’m not interested in him anymore, so of course, I have to recoup my losses."

"Here. I have records of everything I’ve given you over the years. It all adds up to over twenty million Star Coins, plus a ton of Cultivation Resources. The Cultivation Resources alone are worth at least thirty to forty million Star Coins. I’m not asking for much. Just give me back fifty million Star Coins."

At this, Jiang Yunnuan gritted her teeth, her heart aching all over again at the loss.

’That damn spendthrift, the original owner! She gave Ling Ze so much in less than a year. No wonder the cultivation of my four beasts of burden has regressed instead of improved. She practically bled them dry!’

"You’re being ridiculous, you ugly freak! I’m not giving you any Star Coins! I absolutely refuse to indulge your shamelessness!"

Having said her piece, Ling Yuexi turned to leave in a rage, only to have her arm seized in a tight grip.

’I went to all the trouble of tricking her into coming here. I haven’t gotten what I want yet. How could I possibly let her leave so easily?’

"Not giving them to me? Ling Yuexi, you’ve got some nerve. Let me tell you, if you don’t pay me back today, I’ll post screenshots of all those records on the Star Network. I’ll even livestream and tell every netizen in the Empire how you and your brother ganged up to swindle me out of my money and resources."

"On top of that, I’ll go to Jiang Wanwan and your men to demand payment. Tell me, if I keep harassing and pestering them, what will they think of you and your brother?"

"When this whole thing blows up, what will everyone else think of you and your brother? Jiang Wanwan values her reputation above all else. To protect it, do you think she might initiate a Contract Termination with Ling Ze and cut all ties with him?"

Of course, these were just empty threats, but they were particularly effective on Ling Yuexi.

Just a few taunts from Jiang Yunnuan with no one else around had already made her feel unbearably ashamed and disgraced. If this were all made public, with an added smear campaign, how could she possibly endure it?

She stomped her foot furiously and spat out,

"You... you’re awful! Damn you! It’s just fifty million Star Coins, right? Fine, I’ll give it to you! But you have to promise you won’t pester my brother anymore, you won’t post any of that stuff on the Star Network, and you definitely won’t go to Sister Wanwan or my men!"

"Deal."

Jiang Yunnuan agreed with a broad smile, but a flicker of worry soon followed. ’This young lady had agreed quickly enough, but fifty million was no small sum. Could she actually come up with that kind of money?’

As it turned out, her worries were needless.

Ling Yuexi’s fathers were all tycoons in their respective fields, and her husbands were all immensely wealthy. Even more absurdly, she had a line of simps waiting to join her "harem." She made just a few calls and easily came up with the fifty million.

The scene filled Jiang Yunnuan with envy, jealousy, and sheer hate.

’We’re about the same age. Look at her, and then look at me... or rather, the original owner. A father who died in battle, a mother who abandoned her, four Contractors who want to kill her, and her own ugly, useless self.’

’Sigh... how can the gap between two people be so enormous?’

"Young Miss, can you transfer the money now?"

Jiang Yunnuan snapped out of her daze and couldn’t help but press the issue.

Ling Yuexi snorted. "I can transfer the money, but how can I trust you not to keep trying to ruin my brother’s and my reputation after you get the Star Coins?"

"You’re a smart girl, you know transfers leave a record. What are you worried about? Or how about this: I can write you a receipt and even record a video of me deleting my records for you to keep. If you’re still not reassured, then just tell me what you want. I’ll do whatever it takes."

"Young Miss, I just want to recoup my losses. The livestreaming, harassing Jiang Wanwan and your men... those are just tactics to collect what’s owed to me. It’s not that I want to make an enemy of you. I promise, as long as I get my money back, I will absolutely stop bothering your brother from now on..."

For the sake of fifty million, Jiang Yunnuan swallowed her pride and laid on the flattery. After nearly twenty minutes of assurances, cajoling, and persuasion, she finally managed to convince Ling Yuexi.

But Ling Yuexi had one condition: in addition to the receipt and the recorded video, Jiang Yunnuan also had to delete all records of the gifts. Naturally, Jiang Yunnuan agreed without hesitation.

And so, a few minutes later, DING! Her Light Brain received a deposit notification. Staring at the long string of digits in her new balance, Jiang Yunnuan was so happy she could fly.

’Wow, that’s so much money! I’m rich!!!’

After reveling in her newfound wealth for a while, Jiang Yunnuan went to the official website of the Empire’s largest Flying Car dealership and ordered a purple Flying Car—the same model as Ling Yuexi’s.

Then, she logged onto the Empire’s online mall and went on a shopping spree.

The Flying Car was fully autonomous. It didn’t require a driver’s license or manual operation. After purchase, there was a process to bind the vehicle to the owner’s Light Brain ID. Once bound, the owner could use their Light Brain to summon the car, which would fly to their location on its own.

The Light Brain ID was pretty incredible. It served as your national ID, your bank card, your phone number, your driver’s license, your property deed, and even your student or professional ID. It adapted to whatever domain you were in—a truly universal, all-in-one identifier.

One ID per person, for life.

As the sky grew darker, and having had her fill of joyriding, Jiang Yunnuan finally decided to head home.

As her Flying Car entered the villa’s grounds, she immediately spotted three men standing in a neat row on the steps.

At the bottom of the steps was a mountain of packages, large and small. Apparently, the things she’d bought online that afternoon had already been delivered by drone. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

’That was incredibly fast. Five stars for efficiency!’

In her mind, Jiang Yunnuan silently gave the delivery service a thumbs-up.

"So, what do you think? Isn’t my car cool?"

She stepped out of the car, taking off her sunglasses with a smug look at the three men. A flicker of astonishment crossed their faces. Si Xie walked down the steps, his gaze shifting from the Flying Car to her.

"You damn woman, it really is you. Did you rob a bank?"

Half an hour ago, when drones arrived with deliveries, they assumed it was a mistake. They came out to refuse the packages, only to find that the recipient’s name on every single one was Jiang Yunnuan.

That was shocking enough, but just as they finished dealing with the packages, another Flying Car pulled into the courtyard.

They thought someone had come to the wrong house again, but it turned out to be this damn woman.

Si Xie knew their financial situation all too well.

This damn woman probably couldn’t even scrounge up one thousand star coins. How could she possibly afford all these packages and such a flashy Flying Car?

He couldn’t think of any other explanation besides robbery.

"What are you talking about?"

Jiang Yunnuan was speechless. "If banks are so easy to rob, why don’t you go try it?"

Si Xie: "..."

"Then what’s the deal with the car and all these packages? Explain yourself. I have no desire to be dragged off to the mines because of you."

If the Contract Master commits a crime, the Contractors are held jointly responsible.

’He had no intention of taking the fall for this damn woman.’