With the 20 points provided by the campus belle Wen Li, Shen Juan checked and found he could use 10 points to upgrade one of his attributes, while the remaining 10 points could be exchanged for a 1 million yuan reward.
When he had been kicked out of the Shen family, he had nothing on him. Shen Juan dug into his pocket and found a total of just 36 yuan.
Without hesitation, he first exchanged for 1 million yuan.
[Ding! Detected that the Host has exchanged for 1 million yuan. It has been credited instantly. Please check your account!]
As the system notification ended, his phone received a message.
He took it out and saw that the 1 million yuan had already been transferred into his bank account.
[The Host can freely choose the receiving method at any time, including but not limited to bank cards, WeChat, Alipay, financial accounts, etc. You may also exchange it for equivalent physical or virtual assets, such as gold, jewelry, paintings, stocks, and more…]
[All rewards issued by the system have traceable sources and are absolutely legal and compliant. Please rest assured, Host!]
It had to be said, the system was incredibly reliable.
“Use the remaining 10 points to improve my physical fitness.”
[Ding! The Host has consumed 10 points to enhance physical fitness. Enhancement in progress!]
As the system notification faded, Shen Juan suddenly felt his entire body heat up. It wasn’t uncomfortable. Instead, it felt like being wrapped in a warm, soft cloud.
When the sensation gradually subsided, a warm current surged through his body, spreading into every limb and bone.
It was as if every cell in his body had been cleansed. When he opened his eyes again, he could clearly feel his strength had increased significantly.
He checked his personal panel.
His physical fitness had risen from 20 to 30 points. Although leveling up was still far away, just this difference of 10 points was already astonishing, let alone what it would be like at higher levels.
If he encountered a troublesome campus belle again, he could probably knock one out with a single punch.
By the time Shen Juan left, the heavy rain had turned into a light drizzle. It fell softly on his body, cool and refreshing.
He lived in a rented apartment outside the campus.
After being driven out of the Shen family, the original host couldn’t adapt to the school dormitory, so he had used what little money he had left to rent a one-bedroom apartment.
When Shen Juan opened the door, a wave of alcohol stench mixed with the smell of dirty socks and spoiled leftovers hit him, nearly making him vomit.
He couldn’t help but curse the original host for being so useless.
Getting kicked out of home wasn’t a terminal illness, was it really necessary to give up on life like this?
He went to the bathroom, filled a basin with water, and began cleaning. He wiped down the cabinets, tables, and counters in the living room, kitchen, and bedroom. He threw away all the dirty socks and discarded all of the original host’s clothes.
After mopping the floor and opening the windows for ventilation, the air in the room finally felt fresh.
With 1 million yuan newly credited to his account, Shen Juan lounged comfortably on the sofa, shopping on his phone. He bought a pile of daily necessities and new clothes.
Everything that belonged to the original host, he threw away without hesitation.
Suddenly, a WeChat transfer notification popped up on his phone.
Shen Juan opened it and saw the remark: [Old Fossil].
[Son, I know you’re feeling upset. Your mom and I aren’t capable enough to give you the same life as before. Take these 2,000 yuan for now. When I get my salary next month, I’ll send you more.]
Shen Juan scrolled up through the chat history.
It was all messages from the original host asking for money.
If the amount given was too little, he would curse his biological parents as useless, not even calling them “dad” or “mom,” but referring to them as “old things.”
From the chat, Shen Juan could tell that his biological parents were extremely kind and honest people. Facing the original host’s insults, they only felt guilty for not being able to provide more.
In his previous life, Shen Juan had lost his parents early. He had been raised by his grandparents. When he was seventeen, they passed away one after another, and he stopped his studies, entering society early to work.
The warmth of parental love… he could barely remember what it felt like.
Now that he had come here, he could make up for that missing bond. That alone was a great comfort.
Shen Juan directly returned the 2,000 yuan transfer.
Then he changed the contact name [Old Fossil] to [Dad] and [Mom].
Since he had entered this body, Shen Juan wanted to properly enjoy this new life… family affection, love, career, status…
Dad: “Son, why did you return it? Is it not enough? I know you used to spend money like water, but your mom and I really don’t have that much. Take it first, we’ll think of something else.”
Shen Juan frowned. The original host was truly despicable, making a pair of hardworking parents bow their heads like this just to send him money. No wonder he ended up dead.
Shen Juan directly initiated a video call.
It was quickly answered. A man’s face appeared on the screen.
His skin was dark and rough, his hair messy with hints of gray, and wrinkles lined the corners of his eyes.
He smiled honestly, looking a little flustered. “Son, you… I didn’t expect you to video call me. I just came back from working in the fields. I’m a bit dirty. Wait a moment, I’ll go wash my face.”
“Dad.”
The word felt unfamiliar to Shen Juan, but when he said it, it didn’t feel as difficult as he had imagined.
Shen Donghai froze.
He stared blankly at the screen, his mouth slightly open, his rough face filled with shock.
He couldn’t believe his ears, as if doubting whether he had heard wrong.
“Dad, I won’t ask you and Mom for money anymore. I was immature before. I’ll come home this weekend.”
Shen Juan smiled gently, his tone soft and respectful. Shen Donghai’s eyes immediately reddened.
Tears welled up in the eyes of this hardened man. He wiped them hastily. “Son, you… are you serious? You really want to come back home?”
“Of course, Dad. No matter how rich Shen Tianyi’s family is, it has nothing to do with me. Our home is my real home. Dad, I want to eat lamb dumplings. Is that okay?”
Shen Donghai’s tears fell again, but this time he smiled through them. “You silly boy, of course it’s okay! When your mom gets back, I’ll tell her. Tomorrow I’ll go buy lamb. When you come home, we’ll make dumplings together!”
“Alright, Dad. I’ve also found a part-time job. I’ll work whenever I don’t have classes. I can support myself now. When I come back, I’ll bring you both gifts.”
With the system backing him, making money wasn’t a problem.
He actually wanted to give his parents a large sum immediately, but that would inevitably raise questions about the source. It was better to take it slow and build up gradually.
After the call ended, Shen Donghai remained unable to calm down for a long time.
His heart was filled with both relief and guilt.
He blamed himself deeply. If he had been more capable and able to earn more money, his own son wouldn’t have fallen from a life of abundance to one where he had to work part-time to survive. And Shen Tianyi, whom they had raised for nineteen years, wouldn’t have left without looking back, even going so far as to cut off all ties, afraid they might seek him out again.
In the end, it all came down to money… like a towering mountain that had crushed his spine.