Seeing the message Shuyu sent, Tiedan screamed: “AAAAAAAHHHH!”
Tiedan: “Yubao, you’re amazing! Si Yiheng must be totally wrapped around your finger now, huh?”
Shuyu curved her lips and gave another OK gesture, as if saying this was no big deal.
Tiedan was instantly smitten all over again by little Shuyu—what a proud, pleased little kitten she was.
Tiedan had realized something: as long as Shuyu didn’t have to go out and pick fights, she could handle anything. Once she got familiar with the work, she’d even tackle tasks with incredible boldness.
Their “Mining Division” in the Inter-Dimensional Travel Bureau needed exactly this kind of talent!
Tiedan was already thinking of putting in a formal recommendation to recruit her.
Sending photos was nothing at all, so of course Shuyu was bold. This time she only had to send pictures—no voice messages required.
For Shuyu, speaking face‑to‑face with someone was the ultimate difficulty level.
Talking on the phone was Level Two difficulty.
Sending voice notes was Level Three difficulty.
Sending photos was Level Four difficulty.
Typing to chat was only slightly difficult.
In the laboratory.
Si Yiheng received another message from Shuyu.
Two messages, to be exact.
He unlocked his phone and opened the image. In an instant, that hand seized all his attention.
The girl’s hand was wrapped in layers of delicate lace, making it look even paler and more slender—like a gift carefully wrapped and presented.
Si Yiheng stared at the hand for a very long time.
Only then did he close the picture and see the new message she had sent.
Little Fish Swimming Along: Brother, do you think my hand is pretty?
Si Yiheng turned the screen off, then on again, then off once more—repeating the motion twice.
Finally, he typed a single word.
Si Yiheng: Yes.
Over on the other side, Tiedan screamed again: “AAAAAAAHHH! Yubao, the male lead is so reserved yet passionate deep down—he just said your hand is beautiful!”
Shuyu blinked slowly, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. Her fair little face remained perfectly serious. “No, it just means he has normal taste.”
Shuyu truly believed anyone would find that photo beautiful.
She didn’t see anything wrong with it. In her original world, she had learned to display beauty openly and appreciate it openly as well.
Tiedan: “AAAAAAAHHH! Yubao, you’re such a natural innocent!”
The male lead was secretly smitten, and Yubao was completely oblivious.
Why did this dynamic feel so fun to watch?
But Shuyu was only following the storyline—she absolutely must not develop real feelings along the way.
Tiedan quickly regained her sense: “Hurry up and ask him for money!”
Shuyu got right back to her task and tapped away on her screen.
Little Fish Swimming Along: Do you want to see more of my hands?
Si Yiheng stared at that line for a moment, and the corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.
Si Yiheng: ?
Little Fish Swimming Along: [Image.jpg]
Little Fish Swimming Along: [Image.jpg]
Little Fish Swimming Along: [Image.jpg]
Shuyu sent a whole bunch of photos—all luxury brand accessories from this world that Tiedan had compiled. The price tag for just over a dozen pairs of gloves added up to more than five million.
Little Fish Swimming Along: Time to pay up. 🐱 Kitten reaching out for red envelope
Si Yiheng wasn’t surprised at all that Shuyu was asking for money again.
It was as if she had some kind of mission; she would pop up at random times every day just to ask him for money.
Si Yiheng: Transfer: 6,000,000.
Tiedan shrieked again: “Yubao, we are absolute geniuses at this! We hit the jackpot every single time—we were born to be money‑miners!”
“Yubao, Si Yiheng sends money so easily… aren’t you starting to fall for him?”
Shuyu replied softly, “I can tell the difference between heart palpitations and actual attraction.”
She analyzed logically: “Si Yiheng is just a big, easy mark. As long as someone is his girlfriend, he’ll probably give them whatever they ask for.”
Even though they had only chatted briefly online, Shuyu had already formed a clear impression: Si Yiheng never shirked his responsibilities. So long as you didn’t cross his bottom line, he wouldn’t refuse you—but he wouldn’t take you seriously, either.
To put it simply, their relationship was just “the money‑miner and her ATM machine.”
Tiedan: “An ATM is a great thing—way better than a piggy bank!”
That gave Shuyu an idea. She changed Si Yiheng’s WeChat nickname to “ATM”.
Afterward, she blinked slowly, looking curious: “What’s a piggy bank?”
Tiedan explained playfully: “You know how some guys nowadays? They spend money on their girlfriends while dating, but after breaking up, they sue to get it all back. That’s what a piggy bank means—save little by little, withdraw it all at once.”
Shuyu was utterly shocked. “There are men like that?”
Tiedan: “Right?! So shameless, huh?”
Shuyu thought it over calmly. “Well… at least it’s not loan‑sharking.”
Tiedan: “What does loan‑sharking have to do with it?”
Shuyu rested her chin in both hands and spoke earnestly. “Loan‑sharking means if they spend money on you, they make you pay back double the amount later.”
Tiedan nearly burst out laughing—Yubao really was quick to learn and apply what she heard.
While the two of them were chatting away, Si Yiheng sent a polite message.
ATM: Have you found a place to stay yet?
Si Yiheng waited a long time, but got no reply from Shuyu.
He decided to test the waters and sent a red envelope.
Tiedan reacted instantly: “Baby, your ATM just sent you a red envelope—go claim it right away!”
Shuyu was quite excited too; after all, this was the first time—correction—the first time Si Yiheng had ever sent one on his own initiative.
She tapped to collect it… and the amount popped up: 1 dollar.
Shuyu: “?”
Tiedan: “?”
Shuyu mumbled, “Dan… why did my ATM suddenly turn into a piggy bank?”
Tiedan: “Ask him what’s going on!”
Shuyu tapped the screen again.
On Si Yiheng’s end, a meme appeared: Kitten staring, head full of question marks.
Si Yiheng pressed his knuckles to his lips, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
ATM: Just testing something. If I went broke and had no money left, would my girlfriend still talk to me?
Shuyu felt a headache coming on, but she stuck to her professional code as a money‑miner: when a patron tests you, you must respond with sweet words.
Little Fish Swimming Along: Of course I would! I’ll love you forever! 🐱 Kitten holding a heart
Si Yiheng’s smile didn’t fade.
ATM: Go on and enjoy yourself, little liar.
Little Fish Swimming Along: 🐱 Kitten nodding
Once he was done replying, Si Yiheng went straight back to his experiments. The research project he was leading had reached a critical stage; he simply didn’t have the time to pamper Shuyu or fulfill all the duties of a boyfriend. Sending money was the easiest way to reassure her.
And he didn’t see anything wrong with spending money on her. As long as Shuyu remained his girlfriend, he felt it was only right that he support her.
Si Yiheng worked straight through until late the next afternoon, before finally heading home.
Standing at his front door, he found Shen Qinghan waiting there. His expression turned cold. “What are you doing here?”
Shen Qinghan lifted the bag in his hand. “Can’t I come check on you? Hurry up and open the door—I know you completely forget to take care of yourself once you’re buried in experiments.”
In truth, Shen Qinghan had come to find out if Shuyu was actually living with Si Yiheng. He didn’t think Si Yiheng would ever be interested in someone like her, but it never hurt to confirm.
Si Yiheng unlocked the door and let him in. Shen Qinghan glanced around the apartment.
The decor was strictly black, white, and gray—sparse, empty, and cold, with no trace of warmth or everyday life.
Shen Qinghan felt relieved. Just as he’d thought—Si Yiheng would never let Shuyu move in.
Si Yiheng claimed he valued his career and preferred women who were quiet, unassuming, and boring. But the truth was, even if he met a truly boring woman, he’d never be interested. That was the weakness of all men: they said they liked obedient girls, but what they really wanted was someone beautiful and obedient.
Si Yiheng had no idea what Shen Qinghan was thinking. He glanced at his phone—still no new messages.
He was just starting to wonder why Shuyu hadn’t come asking for money yet today, when a notification popped up.
Little Fish Swimming Along: There? Wanna see my legs?