Chapter 7: Good Things Come at a Price

Ruan Mianmian’s earlier joy had vanished, her emotions reignited. “If this isn’t just squeezing money from me, then what is?”

The grievances and anger she’d bottled up for so long finally broke free. “I work myself to death every month for twelve thousand, and have to hand over five thousand—five thousand!—to the family! My own shabby rental costs three thousand. Food, two thousand. That’s ten thousand gone right there. With the remaining two thousand, there’s my phone bill, utilities, transportation, and the occasional work social. And then Yuan Jinbao always pesters me for a few hundred here and there. I can barely breathe, and you all never consider me!”

Zhao Lijuan was so furious smoke seemed ready to pour from her head. She barked, “What are you complaining about? We told you to move back home. If you lived with us, you’d save on rent and all those unnecessary expenses. But you insisted on living outside.”

Ruan Mianmian let out a bitter laugh, almost choked with rage. “Right, move back home. From here to my company takes over two hours. That’s four hours a day wasted on the road! You really care about me, don’t you?”

Her parents weren’t so kind as to want her home for her sake—it was just so she’d hand over her pay in full. She was certain if she did move back, her twelve thousand salary would become ten thousand in their hands.

She looked at her parents and younger brother, disappointment and sadness in her eyes. “Yuan Jinbao wants a new phone that costs seven or eight thousand, and you buy it without blinking. And me?”

She pulled out her battered old phone and slammed it hard on the table. “I’ve used this for over three years. The screen is cracked and I can’t bear to replace it. Have you ever thought of me?”

The screen spiderwebbed further from her blow. She didn’t care; she wasn’t planning to keep it anyway.

She sucked in a shaky breath, tears prickling but held back with sheer stubbornness. “Yes, you gave birth to me and raised me—I owe you, and I should repay you. But if only you weren’t so biased, if only you didn’t treat your son like a treasure and your daughter like worthless grass, if only every little thing Yuan Jinbao did wasn’t perfect and everything I did was wrong, maybe—maybe I wouldn’t hate you so much, or hate this family!”

She finally shouted out the years of injustice and bitterness she’d carried. She’d had enough. These parents, blinded by their son, she wanted to cut off this suffocating bond for good.

As soon as she finished screaming, she felt a measure of relief.

[Congratulations, Host. You’ve vented your grievances and anger, successfully confronted your parents again. Points +50, Life +5 days.]

Ruan Mianmian, already feeling lighter after her outburst, felt even less burdened when she saw she’d gained another five days of life.

She didn’t want to listen to her parents’ barrage any longer. She stood, grabbed her canvas bag, and left the house that suffocated her.

Zhao Lijuan watched her daughter storm off, suddenly recalling she hadn’t even mentioned the real reason she’d called her back today. She hurried to shout, “Wait! You can’t go, I have something to say!”

Her only reply was the slam of the door.

The heavy bang startled Zhao Lijuan, who clutched her chest. “Did Ruan Mianmian swallow a stick of dynamite today? I haven’t even gotten to the point and she’s already gone?”

She’d called her back for dinner to talk about something specific, but before she could, things had blown up.

How did it come to this?

Yuan Jianguo’s face was thunderous. “Did she look like she’d listen to anything you had to say? Let’s leave it for next time.”

He couldn’t understand what had gotten into the girl today. She’d always been obedient, never dared to resist her parents, but today she’d not only pushed back, she’d pushed back hard. Was she so oppressed she was finally rebelling?

“Dad, Mom, something’s off with Ruan Mianmian today. What’s wrong with her?” Even her younger brother found it strange; his big sister had always been soft, just like her name. She never even dared refuse him.

But today, she’d exploded like a firecracker, blowing up at both parents and him. He’d barely survived the blast.

Yuan Jianguo said, “Let her cool off. Didn’t you hear her say she’s about to lose her job? Maybe things aren’t going well at work and she’s frustrated.”

...

Back at her own tiny rented room, less than ten minutes after leaving her parents’ house, someone knocked on the door.

“Hello, your delivery. Please sign here.”

The courier handed her a large box. As soon as she opened it, she saw it was indeed the Hermès handbag in elephant grey with gold hardware.

The system hadn’t lied.

She didn’t even unwrap it, just glanced at it and put it back in the box. She intended to resell it; being a limited edition, it was sure to fetch a high price.

Someone like her couldn’t carry such a luxury, nor did she dare.

She remembered she still had a raffle chance left. “007, I haven’t used my lottery spin yet.”

[Would you like to use it now, Host?]

“Yes.”

A prize wheel appeared before her eyes. Ruan Mianmian pressed the button.

The prize: ???

What was this?

“System, are you serious? What kind of prize is this? Does it even work?”

She’d won a Cursed Crow’s Mouth Experience Card, valid for one day. Who knew if it was reliable.

[System products are always top quality. Please do not doubt. The effect is guaranteed! Would you like to use it now?]

“No, if it really works as you say, I’ll save it for a critical moment.”

She needed to keep earning points by confronting people, so making enemies was easy. If the Cursed Crow’s Mouth was as powerful as promised, it had to be saved for emergencies.

[Very well. Please strive to earn more points so the system can be upgraded. Many more surprises await you.]

“How many points to upgrade? And will it cost all my points?”

[Upgrade requires five hundred points. It will consume your points, but after upgrading, there will be surprises beyond your imagination. Please work hard to earn points.]

“What? 007, you’re robbing me! Five hundred points is fifty thousand yuan. Upgrading costs a fortune!”

[Quality comes at a price.]

Ruan Mianmian was speechless.

She’d just checked her points summary. Apart from the fifty points she’d exchanged for fifty thousand yuan at the start, she now had 274 points left.

Five hundred was still far away. And since upgrades consumed points, she’d be penniless again.

Fortunately, points didn’t affect her lifespan, or she’d really be out of options.

She took a nap and didn’t wake up until after three in the afternoon. Once up, she decided to go buy herself a new phone at a physical store.

She even ordered a ride-hailing car and planned to go to the biggest domestic brand store.

But while waiting for her car by the roadside, a woman in her forties tried to hitch a ride with her.