The tablets in Mu Wanqing’s hand belonged to Shen Yucheng.
For years, he had suffered from mild insomnia.
It was not a serious condition, and the medicine prescribed for him was relatively mild.
She returned the tablets to the bottle and slipped it back into her pocket and then continued working in the kitchen, her movements unhurried as she finished preparing the evening meal.
After an hour she placed the final dish on the counter, everything looked perfectly ordinary, until she took out the tablets from her pocket and crushed into powder.
She than mixed the powder in every dish she prepared.
But she still felt is wasn’t enough so she took out the bottle of baijiu that was supposed to be presented to the guest and mixed some into that as well.
Once everything was ready, Mu Wanqing wiped her hands slowly.
Then…
the front door opened.
The sound immediately echoed through the compound.
A moment later, Shen Yucheng’s excited voice rang out from the entrance.
“Manager Wei!
Come in, come in!
Do not stand on ceremony.
My wife has put a lots of efforts to host you!”
Mu Qinglan’s voice followed immediately after his, “Manager Wei, please come inside.
It is such an honour to have you visit our humble home.” Her voice was warm and enthusiastic.
Far warmer than it had ever been when speaking to Mu Wanqing.
Then she heard an unfamiliar voice and her expression changed slightly.
So he was here.
A faint sneer appeared on her lips.
Without making a sound, Mu Wanqing left the kitchen.
She walked down the narrow corridor and entered her small room and closed the door behind her.
A few minutes later, Mu Qinglan entered the kitchen.
The moment she saw the dishes arranged neatly on the counter, satisfaction flashed across her face.
At least that little bitch was useful when it came to cooking.
But when she looked around and realized that Mu Wanqing was nowhere to be seen, her expression immediately darkened, “Where did that girl run off to now?”
She was about to march toward Mu Wanqing’s room when Shen Yucheng appeared behind her, “Let her be.”
Mu Qinglan turned toward him.
Shen Yucheng lowered his voice, “First, entertain Manager Wei properly.
We can deal with Mu Wanqing later.”
Mu Qinglan frowned, “But…”
“It is better that she does not attend the dinner.” Shen Yucheng’s expression became serious, “Do you think Manager Wei is some gentleman?” A strange smile appeared on his face, “That man is desperate beast.
If something happens during dinner and Mu Wanqing makes a scene, it will only create unnecessary trouble.”
Mu Qinglan stared at him for several seconds.
Then understanding gradually appeared in her eyes, “Old Shen, you are right.”
Shen than hesitated before asking another question, “Old Shen…” Her voice became quieter, “Are you really certain that Manager Wei can help us?”
Shen Yucheng waved his hand dismissively, “Of course.” He sounded completely confident, “Manager Wei has good relationships with people in the housing department.
I have heard that even the department director thinks highly of him.”
His eyes gleamed, “And I have already discussed everything with him.
We already have the letter signed by that old hag.
Mu Wanqing’s grandmother made it clear that we were responsible for taking care of the girl.”
He lowered his voice further, “Legally speaking, we are her guardians.”
Mu Qinglan’s eyes brightened, “And the demolition compensation?”
Shen Yucheng gave a confident smile, “Why are you worrying so much?”
He leaned closer, “As long as the paperwork is handled properly, there is nothing to fear.”
Then his expression became slightly contemptuous, “As for Mu Zhenhai, he is thousands of kilometres away in the capital.
He has never returned to claim anything from this property.”
Shen Yucheng snorted, “Besides, he already signed away his interest in the house to that little girl.”
Hearing this Mu Qinglan remained silent for a moment before she slowly released the breath she had been holding.
The tension in her shoulders disappeared.
“So that is how it is.”
“Then let us make sure nothing goes wrong tonight.” Shen Yucheng smiled.
“Exactly.” Mu Qinglan immediately began carrying the dishes from the kitchen.
Shen Ruoxi soon joined her, carefully arranging the food on the dining table.
Meanwhile, inside her tiny bedroom, Mu Wanqing lay quietly on her narrow bed, staring at the cracked ceiling above her.
Tonight, at least, she had managed to save herself, the thought brought a faint sense of relief.
But the relief lasted only a few seconds.
What about tomorrow?
Mu Wanqing slowly turned onto her side, her brows knitting together.
Mu Qinglan and Shen Yucheng were not fools.
Once they discovered that their carefully prepared plan had been ruined, they would not simply swallow the humiliation and pretend that nothing had happened.
And sooner or later, they would realize that Mu Wanqing knew of all their intentions.
Once that became clear, Mu Qinglan and Shen Yucheng would no longer bother pretending.
Once the masks would come off completely, they would make things difficult for her openly.
And then she would have no choice but to fight them head-on.
Mu Wanqing stared silently into the darkness.
But how?
That was the problem.
She was still seventeen years old, a minor.
She had no money, no influence, and no powerful connections in Shanghai.
In her previous life, she had survived by enduring everything.
This time, she truly wanted to fight back.
But wanting something and having the ability to do it were two entirely different things.
Mu Wanqing had considered calling her uncle.
But every time, she reached the same conclusion.
It would not solve everything.
Her uncle was in the capital.
Even if she managed to escape Shanghai and go to him, what would happen afterward?
Mu Qinglan and Shen Yucheng would still be here, and somehow, just as they had done in her previous life, they might still find a way to take control of the property and the compensation.
That was something Mu Wanqing could not accept.
She would rather die a second time than watch her grandmother’s legacy fall into their hands.
Besides…
her uncle was currently undergoing closed training.
He would remain unreachable until the end of next month.
That afternoon, while riding the subway home from school, Mu Wanqing had gone through the old messages between herself and her uncle.
So even if she wanted to leave Shanghai, she would have to wait.
At least until the end of next month.
Mu Wanqing slowly sat up.
She reached for her phone.
The screen illuminated her small room.
For several seconds, she simply stared at it.
Then she opened WeChat Pay.
¥30.00
Mu Wanqing fell silent.
That was everything she had.
A bitter smile appeared on her lips.
She did not receive a single yuan of pocket money from the Shen family.
During her sophomore year, she had worked part-time jobs whenever she could.
But when she entered her final year of high school, she had quit most of those jobs.
She had wanted to focus entirely on her studies.
Occasionally, on weekends, she still took small delivery jobs and other temporary work to earn enough money for daily expenses.
But she had never been able to save much.
Mu Wanqing sighed softly and placed the phone beside her, “If only I had some money,” she murmured.
Her voice was quiet, “If I had money, at least I would have another way out.”
She closed her eyes and remained completely still, listening carefully.
She wanted to know what was happening outside.
But suddenly
[…Ding Foreign lifeform detected.]
A strange sound echoed directly inside her mind.
Mu Wanqing’s eyes flew open and body stiffened.
Her heart began pounding as looked toward the door, “Who is there?”
No one answered.
Mu Wanqing slowly climbed down from the bed.
Her eyes remained fixed on the door as she approached it.
Every nerve in her body tightened.
Could someone have discovered what she had done?
Had her plan failed?
Had the Shen family already come looking for her?
She pressed her ear against the thin wooden door.
The corridor outside was completely silent.
For several seconds, Mu Wanqing remained frozen in place.
Then she slowly released the breath she had been holding, “Maybe I am thinking too much.” She placed a hand against her chest, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.
Perhaps the stress of everything that had happened today was finally affecting her mind.
With that she was about to turn around, when the voice sounded again.
[Analyzing host…]
[Error…
Host vitals do not match the registered host profile.
Recalibrating.]
Mu Wanqing immediately moved toward the corner of the room.
Her hand instinctively reached beneath her bed.
She had placed a small kitchen knife there earlier.
After everything she had experienced, she had learned one thing.
Never assume that you were safe.
Her fingers had barely touched the handle when a cold blue light flickered before her eyes making her froze.
The light expanded and hovered in the air.
Then, slowly, a translucent panel appeared before her.
It looked like a screen, except there was no phone or computer.
It simply floated in the middle of her room.
Mu Wanqing stared at it.
Her lips parted, “What…
is that?”
The blue panel flickered.
The mechanical voice continued.
[Analysis complete…
Compatibility: 100%.]
Mu Wanqing’s heart pounded violently.
[Binding sequence initiated.]
The blue light suddenly brightened.
Mu Wanqing instinctively raised an arm to shield her eyes.
Then…
Ding.
The room became silent.
A new line appeared across the floating panel.
[The Supreme Wealth Cultivation System has successfully bound itself to the host.]
Mu Wanqing slowly lowered her arm.
Her eyes however remained fixed on the words.
For several seconds, she did not move.
Then another voice appeared.
Unlike the previous cold mechanical tone, this voice sounded deep, husky and authoritative.
[Greetings, host.
System 888 is at your service.
The purpose of this system is simple.
To transform you from an ordinary person struggling at the bottom of society into an individual worthy of standing among the truly wealthy and powerful.
In order to know more would you like to accept the welcome mission?]
Mu Wanqing was not unfamiliar with the concept of a system.
Like many girls her age, she had spent quite a bit of time reading novels during middle school.
Whenever she finished her homework early, she would hide beneath her blanket with and read until her grandmother called her to sleep.
She had read all kinds of stories and had imagined more than once what it would be like to wake up one morning and discover a mysterious system bound to her.
At the time, it had been nothing more than a harmless fantasy.
Yet now, with a translucent blue panel floating before her eyes, that fantasy had somehow become reality.
Strangely enough, Mu Wanqing was not particularly frightened.
After dying once and waking up seventeen years in the past, what else could possibly surprise her?
If someone had told her this morning that she would be reborn, she would have thought they were insane.
Now, she had already been reborn.
Compared with that, having a system did not seem especially outrageous.
However, another thought suddenly occurred to her.
Mu Wanqing’s expression became cautious, “Wait.” She stared at the blue panel, “You are not going to order me to murder someone, burn down a building, rob a bank, or do something like that, are you?”
The system fell silent.
Mu Wanqing’s brows furrowed.
She had read enough system novels to know that not every system was friendly.
There were systems that demanded the host complete outrageous missions.
Some required revenge and some rewarded killing.
Others asked their hosts to steal, deceive, or commit all kinds of crimes.
Mu Wanqing certainly wanted revenge against the Shen family.
But revenge and crime were two different things.
She had no intention of throwing away her future just to satisfy her hatred.
After all, she had already been given a second life.
She was not going to waste it.
The system 888’s voice finally sounded.
[Rest assured, Host.
System 888 is one of the most civilized, lawful, and respectable systems in the entire universe.]
Mu Wanqing raised an eyebrow.
The system continued in a solemn tone.
[This system absolutely does not encourage illegal activities.
Host may rest assured.]
Mu Wanqing nodded slightly, “That is good.” Then she remembered something else, “You mentioned a welcome mission earlier.”
[Yes, would you like to accept it?]
Her expression became suspicious again, “You just arrived.
How am I supposed to complete a mission now?
It is already nighttime.” She paused, then her eyes narrowed.
“And another thing.
If you want me to work for you, where is your sincerity?
Shouldn’t you give me a welcome reward first?”
The floating blue panel remained motionless, she waited for few seconds and when nothing happened, her expression gradually changed.
“Hey…” She leaned closer to the panel, “Do not tell me you are some fraudulent, cheap system that was thrown out by another host and somehow found its way to me.”
The system 888 immediately panicked.
[Host, please do not make such baseless accusations!]
Its previously dignified voice suddenly became hurried.
[System 888 is a legitimate system.
How could I possibly have been kicked out?]
Mu Wanqing narrowed her eyes, “You hesitated.”
[I did not!]
“You definitely hesitated.”
The system fell silent again.
This time, the silence lasted even longer.
Finally, its voice became somewhat embarrassed.
[Well…
there is one small matter that Host should know.]
Mu Wanqing waited.
[You are my first host.]
She blinked, “What?”
[This is also my first time binding with a host.
I am still becoming familiar with the procedures.]
[But Host must not worry.
I am a fully legitimate system.
I will immediately inspect the database and see what welcome reward I can provide.]
Mu Wanqing stared at the screen, “So you really are a novice.”
[Please do not use such words.]
There was almost a trace of wounded dignity in the system’s voice.
“I see.” Mu Wanqing’s lips twitched.
She had somehow imagined that her system would be an all-knowing, mysterious existence.
Instead, she had received a rookie.
A rookie that seemed strangely easy to bully.
She was beginning to wonder whether she had really received a system or merely picked up a lost child from somewhere in the universe.
Several minutes passed.
Then the familiar notification sound finally rang.
[Ding!
Welcome Reward initiated.
Congratulations, Host.
You have received one vial of Memory Enhancement Potion.]
Mu Wanqing looked around, a soft green glow appeared beside her bed and a small glass vial materialized on the wooden table.
Inside was a translucent green liquid.
The moment it appeared, a faint fragrance of medicinal herbs spread through the room.
It smelled of fresh grass, roots, and something faintly sweet.
Mu Wanqing picked up the vial and examined it, “So this is my welcome gift?”
[Correct.]
She turned the bottle beneath the dim light, “Is this one of those mystical liquids that gives me photographic memory?”
The system hesitated.
[Something similar.
It does not grant true photographic memory.
This is not a magical elixir that can instantly transform an ordinary person into a genius.
It is based on an ancient formulation designed to improve memory, concentration, comprehension, and the brain’s ability to absorb and retain information.]
Mu Wanqing listened carefully.
[Furthermore, its effectiveness will gradually increase as the Host improves her physical condition, knowledge, temperament, and various skills.]
“So it is an enhancement rather than a miracle.”
[That is a more accurate description.]
Mu Wanqing thought about it.
It was not as impressive as the magical pills she had read about in novels.
But it was still useful.
Any improvement in her memory and comprehension would be valuable.
“All right.” She looked at the vial, “How do I take it?”
The system gave her the instructions.
Mu Wanqing hesitated only briefly before raising the vial to her lips.
Then she drank it in one gulp.
The amount was surprisingly small, so she swallowed it easily.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then strange sensation suddenly spread through her head.
It felt as though countless tiny ants were crawling beneath her skull.
Mu Wanqing’s face changed, “Ah…” She staggered backward and grabbed the edge of the table.
A sharp dizziness swept over her and her vision blurred.
She immediately sat down on the bed and closed her eyes.
The sensation continued until several minutes passed before the strange pain gradually faded.
Mu Wanqing slowly opened her eyes.
The room looked exactly the same.
Yet something had changed.
She could not immediately explain what it was.
Somehow the outlines of everything seemed sharper.
Mu Wanqing looked around in a daze, “So this is the effect?”
[The initial effect has been successfully activated.]
System 888 sounded rather pleased.
[As Host continues to develop her abilities, the enhancement will become more noticeable.]
Mu Wanqing nodded slowly.
Not bad.
At least it was not a useless reward.
Then System 888 reminded her of something.
[Host, are you ready to accept the welcome mission?]
Mu Wanqing finally remembered, “Oh, right.” Her curiosity returned, “What is the mission?”
The system’s voice became formal again.
[Ding!
Mission One has been activated.]
A blue panel expanded before her.
Words appeared one line at a time.
[Mission: Master the Ancient Chinese Literature and Poetry included in all three years of high school textbooks, including their literary comprehension and analysis.]
[Time Limit: Three hours.]
[Mission Reward: ¥500,000.]
[Additional Reward: Virtual Mastery Room.]
[Unlock Condition: Complete Mission One.]
[Effect: Permanent access.]
Her mouth fell open.
“What?” She looked at the system in disbelief.
“You want me to master three years of high school literature in three hours?
Are you insane?”
[System 888 does not possess mental illnesses.]
Mu Wanqing stared at the panel.
For a moment, she did not know whether to laugh or curse.
Than as she read the reward her eyes immediately widened, “Five hundred thousand yuan?”
Her previous irritation vanished instantly, “You can actually give me money?”
[Of course.]
“And that much?” Her voice became noticeably more enthusiastic.
Five hundred thousand yuan, that was an astronomical amount.
It was enough to solve the immediate problem that had been troubling her all evening.
She would no longer be trapped here with this people.
The system seemed to sense her interest and finally recovered some of its dignity.
Its voice became noticeably more confident.
[Naturally.
System 888 possesses far more capabilities than Host has currently seen.]
It sounded almost boastful now.
[Five hundred thousand yuan is merely the beginning.
If Host works diligently, future missions may reward you with millions, tens of millions, and even billions of yuan.]
Mu Wanqing stared at the blue screen.
Millions…
Billions…
The word itself seemed almost absurd.
Yet just a few minutes ago, she had been staring at a WeChat Pay balance of thirty yuan and wondering how to save herself.
Now, a path had suddenly appeared before her.
It was difficult.
Three hours to master three years of high school literature was almost ridiculous.
But for the first time since her rebirth, Mu Wanqing felt that perhaps fate had not merely given her another chance.
Perhaps it had given her a weapon.
She slowly clenched her fists.
“System 888.”
[Yes, host?]
A determined smile appeared on Mu Wanqing’s face, “Show me what you can do.”
The system paused.
Then its voice became cheerful.
[As you command, Young Mistress.]
[Mission One begins now: 03:00:00]