Qin Wang didn’t even think before refusing.
This woman had already made such terrible food right in front of his dad.
If his dad wasn’t around, who knew if she might poison him!
Hearing his answer, Su Qinghe smiled even brighter.
“See? It’s not that I don’t want to make it for you—it’s you who don’t want to eat it.”
[Congratulations, host, hidden task completed: “Refused to cook for the male lead.” Reward: 200 points.]
“??!!”
Su Qinghe was completely stunned.
That came out of nowhere!
So this was a hidden task?
The reward rate was ridiculously high!
Earlier, she had worked so hard on two daily tasks and only earned 200 points total.
Now she just said a few words and got another 200 hidden points?
Then what was the point of her struggling in the kitchen and even getting burned?
In Qin Wang’s eyes, Su Qinghe first smiled happily, then frowned, then looked a bit angry, and finally became somewhat helpless.
The rapid changes in expression made him even more alert, and he instinctively stepped back a few steps.
At that moment, Qin Yu, Su Jianguo, and Su Qingbai came in together, carrying her luggage into the west room and placing it on the floor.
They went back and forth twice before everything was moved inside.
Su Jianguo and Su Qingbai still had to go back to work in the afternoon, so they couldn’t stay long. After a few more reminders, they pushed the cart and left.
After sending them off, Qin Yu showed Su Qinghe around the courtyard, pointing out the kitchen and bathroom.
Finally, he handed her a metal box.
“What’s this?” Su Qinghe asked.
The box had “biscuits” written on it—was it a box of cookies?
“It’s money and ration coupons. Keep it for daily use. If you don’t want to cook, there’s a state-run restaurant nearby where you can take Qin Wang to eat. The flour mill isn’t far either—you can also eat at the factory cafeteria. I’ll inform the gatekeeper, and you can enter by reporting my name.
I’m usually busy at work and may come home late. You don’t need to wait for me at night—just sleep when you’re tired.”
Su Qinghe listened carefully and only asked one question.
“If I lock the main gate from inside, how will you get in?”
“There’s a back door. It locks from the outside. I can come in through there. Don’t worry—it’s a metal door, very sturdy. I had it reinforced. Without a key, it can’t be opened. The courtyard walls are also high, with glass and broken tiles on top, so no one can climb in.”
Even though Qin Yu explained everything, Su Qinghe still wasn’t fully reassured.
She walked around and personally checked everything he mentioned. Only after confirming it herself did she finally relax.
With no more safety concerns, she felt completely at ease.
“Alright! You just go to work without worry. I’ll take good care of myself—and Qin Wang.”
“Mm.” Qin Yu nodded, glancing at his watch. “It’s getting late. I need to go to the factory.”
“Then go! Don’t be late! Work is the most important thing!”
Seeing how serious and slightly anxious she looked, Qin Yu’s eyes carried a faint smile.
The girl might be young, but she had a good sense of responsibility.
Before leaving, he looked at Qin Wang with a stern expression.
“Qin Wang, don’t be naughty. Listen well. I’m going.”
“Got it, Dad.”
When Qin Yu said this, Qin Wang looked very obedient.
But the moment they returned to the house after seeing him off, his expression changed.
“Give it to me!”
He held out his little hand, chin raised, speaking in a commanding tone.
“What do you want?” Su Qinghe asked.
“The box with money and ration coupons!” Qin Wang said matter-of-factly.
“Not giving it,” she replied just as matter-of-factly.
“Why not? That’s my dad’s!”
“I already married your dad. We’re husband and wife. His things are mine. He gave this to me personally—it’s mine now.”
Her words were like a rapid-fire barrage, leaving Qin Wang stunned.
After a long pause, he finally found his voice.
“But my dad said that money and coupons are for both of us to use! Give me my half!”
He gritted his teeth, determined to at least get half.
She lightly tapped his palm.
“No. What do you need money for as a kid? If you want something, just tell me. I’ll buy it for you.”
Children carrying too much money would just become easy targets.
But in Qin Wang’s eyes, she was a completely evil stepmother.
She had just entered the household and already seized financial control!
He glared at her with wide eyes.
This bad woman was definitely trying to control him with food while his dad was away!
He would never submit—even if he starved!
With a huff, he ran back to his room and slammed the door.
Su Qinghe didn’t care.
Kids that age were just annoying little troublemakers.
She was about to go pack when the system sounded again.
[Congratulations, host, hidden task completed: “Take control of financial power and leave the male lead penniless.” Reward: 200 points.]
“???”
Wait a second!
Wasn’t this system a bit… wrong?
She had read plenty of novels before, and normal “raising systems” rewarded you for being nice to the male lead.
But hers?
It seemed like the worse she treated him, the higher the reward.
Was this even a proper raising-the-male-lead system?
She muttered to herself, but the system gave no response.
Either it wasn’t smart enough—or it simply didn’t care.
After thinking through her actions, she realized she hadn’t actually harmed him in any real way, so she set it aside for now.
She could study the system later.
For now, she should unpack first.
She went into the west room and carefully looked around, only to find that both inner and outer rooms were spotless and clean.