“The nutrients provided by a single bottle of nutrient solution are more than ten times what you’d get from all of this.”
Those words made the plate of tomato and scrambled eggs sound utterly worthless. And the term “low-level life form” had struck a nerve with Yu Nianqing. She stood up and asked indignantly, “Do you have any manners?”
“You took my things and gave them to me as a gift. Do you have any manners?” Bo Chen’s gaze fell on the cooked tomatoes.
Yu Nianqing immediately lost her confidence. After all, stealing vegetables really had been wrong of her.
“I… didn’t I share them with you, too? And I bought the eggs myself!”
Bo Chen seemed persuaded by her argument. He nodded, then turned his gaze to her face. “This is the only purebred tomato plant on Kloss Star. Butler Lin originally intended to use it for propagation.”
But now, it had ended up on Yu Nianqing’s plate. Realizing that she had caused serious trouble, Yu Nianqing slowly lowered her head and sincerely apologized to Bo Chen, but his attitude remained indifferent.
Butler Lin explained from the side, “At present, this tomato plant is worth approximately one million star coins. That price only grants the rights to cultivate and propagate it. As an endangered species in the Federation, what you’ve done could attract the attention of the Federation Police.”
They were just a few tomatoes. And that was enough to get the police involved? Yu Nianqing was utterly bewildered. She suddenly realized that, as someone from ancient Earth who had only recently arrived on this planet, she still didn’t understand the various rules of interstellar society.
Seeing Yu Nianqing’s tense, regretful expression, Butler Lin cleared his throat before speaking. “However… if you’re willing to compensate His Excellency for his losses, he may be willing to let the matter slide.”
Good heavens! She had earned no more than a thousand star coins from today’s livestream. How could she possibly afford to compensate him for something worth a million star coins?
“I’m sorry, but I can’t afford to pay you back.” Yu Nianqing told the truth. She felt guilty and regretful about her reckless decision to steal his vegetables.
Bo Chen came down the stairs and sat opposite Yu Nianqing. “Butler Lin, notify the Federation Police.”
“But!” Yu Nianqing exclaimed anxiously. “But I can write you an IOU!”
Her new life had only just begun. She couldn’t let it come to an end so soon!
“A million star coins. How long do you intend to take to pay it back?” Bo Chen asked.
After deducting all her living expenses and accounting for both principal and interest, Yu Nianqing calculated that it would take her around ten years. And that was without factoring in any unexpected mishaps. The more she thought about it, the more hopeless her future seemed.
“Ten years…”
Bo Chen rose to his feet. “Butler Lin, notify the Federation Police.”
Yu Nianqing shot to her feet, slapping the table. Why did this man insist on calling the police at the slightest disagreement?! As the saying went, even if a deal fell through, there was no need to abandon goodwill. This, this…
“Then how long do you want me to take to pay you back?” Yu Nianqing asked, throwing caution to the wind. At worst, she could take up one of the dangerous jobs in the interstellar world.
With his back already turned to Yu Nianqing, Bo Chen’s lips curled up ever so slightly. When he turned around again, his expression was as calm and unruffled as ever.
“Marry me, and you won’t have to pay back a single star coin,” Bo Chen said calmly.
Butler Lin adjusted his glasses. “In that case, as His Excellency’s wife, you would be entitled to use his assets during your marriage.”
In other words, not only would she be free of her debt, but she wouldn’t even have to work for a living!
Yu Nianqing thought to herself that she would never stoop so low!
But… they were offering her far too much to refuse.
Seeing Yu Nianqing hesitate, Bo Chen, who was not exactly a patient man, had no intention of waiting. Butler Lin merely remarked from the side, “Sir, this young lady looks rather delicate. Life at the Federation Police Station might be rather difficult for her.”
“That’s her problem.”
Butler Lin could only nod before using his smart terminal to contact the police.
After struggling with the decision several times, Yu Nianqing finally spoke just as Bo Chen reached the bottom step. “Fine. I agree.”
“But we have to sign an agreement stating that you won’t pursue this matter any further.”
“Of course.”
Butler Lin brought over a holographic screen. Bo Chen pressed his fingerprint against it first, followed by Yu Nianqing.
With technology so advanced in interstellar society, did they still use fingerprints to identify people? What if she…
Yu Nianqing hadn’t even finished forming her little scheme when Bo Chen seemed to see right through her thoughts. “This is a non-invasive DNA extraction.”
“You won’t get away from me.”
Yu Nianqing returned home in a daze. Videos of her making tomato and scrambled eggs had spread all over the Star Network. Little did anyone know that those few tomatoes had sparked a whole “bloodbath.”
Meanwhile, the hashtag 【Yu Nianqing’s Tomato and Scrambled Eggs】 was trending on the Star Network.
Her Star Network account was flooded with comments. Apart from the hundreds of thousands of people cursing her out, Yu Nianqing also came across someone asking what dish she planned to make in her next livestream.
“So she’s trying to whitewash her image now?”
“Apparently, tomato and scrambled eggs is the simplest dish in ancient human cuisine. Does that really qualify her as someone who can cook?”
“If you’re so capable, why don’t you give it a try?”
“What dish will Yu Nianqing make next time?”
Yu Nianqing automatically ignored these comments and posted an update.
Little Expert in Ancient Human Care Tips: Yu Nianqing: Tomorrow’s livestream will feature shredded green peppers and potatoes.
The comment section exploded all over again. What on earth were potatoes?
Yu Nianqing slept wonderfully that night, thanks to her smart terminal, which could automatically regulate the amount of melatonin released during different periods of sleep based on her body’s sleep patterns.
The next morning, Yu Nianqing was woken by the doorbell. When she opened the door, she found Butler Lin standing outside with Xiao Jiu.
“Madam, this is your breakfast nutrient solution.” Inside a cup that looked as though it were made of white porcelain was half a cup of green liquid. Yu Nianqing frowned at the sight.
Xiao Jiu was also holding a tray. “Pretty big sister, you must want to drink the mutant orange juice I squeezed myself even more, right?” His big eyes were full of eager anticipation.
Yu Nianqing looked at the other cup, filled with bright red mutant orange juice that resembled blood. For a moment, she couldn’t decide which one was harder to stomach.
“Thank you… But do you have any milk?” After thinking it over for a long time, she still couldn’t bring herself to accept either option.
The light faded from Xiao Jiu’s eyes, only to brighten again as he immediately asked, “Pretty big sister, which would you rather drink, Black Rock cow’s milk or snake-belly cow’s milk?”
Yu Nianqing: …
She took the cup of breakfast nutrient solution from Butler Lin and drank it with her eyes closed. Its texture was even thicker than yogurt, but it tasted like juice made from some unidentified weeds, complete with unfiltered bits of pulp.
“Madam, Sir is waiting for you next door.”
“Okay. I’ll change my clothes and come right over.” So everything that had happened yesterday was real. At such a young age, she had already gotten married. She had married young and died young… well, not literally died, but she was married far too young!
When Yu Nianqing arrived next door, she discovered that besides Butler Lin, Xiao Jiu, and the man himself, there was also a woman there today. The woman had long, voluminous waves, wore heavy makeup, and had an exceptionally curvaceous figure. She also wore a pair of glasses with thick frames.
Yu Nianqing thought she looked exactly like one of those sexy, mature older women in anime.
“Bo Chen, is this your wife?”
The man sitting nearby gave a quiet hum in response, offering nothing more.
Yu Nianqing’s mind began racing. If her guess was right, then in television dramas, this was usually when a man’s unattainable first love or the woman he could never forget would show up. She would come knocking to provoke the innocent, pitiful woman who was saddled with a mountain of debt and had been forced by circumstances to stay by the man’s side.
“Hello, my name is Ivy. I’m…”