Chapter 9: I, Ling Qiong, Send Money! (9)

The protagonist was just about to slip that twenty million into their pocket and head out to enjoy themselves. After all, money acquired from an NPC had to be spent quickly to be safe.

Yet Lu Wenci couldn’t understand. “Why do I have to go too?”

“Of course you do. I’m not familiar with this place,” Ling Qiong replied, tilting her head slightly. “Do you have a car?”

Lu Wenci shook his head. Living in a place like this, how could he possibly afford a car?

Ling Qiong sighed. How pitiful—he didn’t even have a car. Back in her day, whenever she went out, she was always surrounded by an entourage.

Lu Wenci suspected she wasn’t unfamiliar with the area at all—she just needed someone to carry her things.

So Lu Wenci followed Ling Qiong shopping and witnessed the speed at which she burned through money. In her hands, twenty million was no more than a fleeting sum.

He played the role of a pack mule, and in his current down-and-out state, no one recognized him. Still, his good looks drew the eyes of passersby; quite a few even wanted to strike up a conversation. But as soon as they saw the young lady at his side, they backed off.

By the time they returned to his place, Ling Qiong was completely transformed, with a new wardrobe and even a car. She twirled her car keys, humming some tune as she walked ahead of him.

As Lu Wenci opened the door, he couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going home?”

Ling Qiong seemed startled, clutching her chest. “You want me to go home and get beaten?”

“That’s not what I meant… Where are you going to stay, then?”

“At your place, of course.” Wasn’t he the target? She still had to nurture a relationship with him—where else would she stay?

How did that saying go… The pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first.

Her reasoning was so brazen that Lu Wenci was at a loss for words.

After a while, he found his voice again, uncertainly asking, “My place?”

Ling Qiong kept her hand pressed to her chest, her expression theatrically sorrowful. “I’ve run away from home—I’m homeless. You have to take me in.”

Her soft, sweet voice was anything but a request.

“My place…” Lu Wenci gestured at the room. “There’s only one bedroom. How am I supposed to take you in?”

The girl’s eyes curved with a smile. “I don’t mind you sleeping on the sofa.”

This is my house, thank you very much.

“I went through a lot to get you out of that hotel, even ended up offending that President Wang. Now I’m homeless and didn’t even bring my ID. If I go out, I’ll have to sleep on the streets. Shouldn’t you take me in? You can’t just be ungrateful!”

There was such a pitiful look in her eyes that anyone would feel sympathy for her.

Lu Wenci thought to himself—someone carrying around a two-million-dollar check couldn’t possibly end up on the streets. Even after her spending spree, she still had plenty left.

Did she not even bother to make her lies sound convincing?

Lu Wenci wasn’t cold-hearted by nature. Even knowing there was no way Ling Qiong would end up on the streets, after what she said—plus the favor from the hotel—how could he refuse?

“All right… fine.”

Chu Zheng immediately beamed. “You really are a good person.”

Lu Wenci was speechless.

He had thought having someone else in the house would be a hassle. But aside from giving up his bedroom, he didn’t find it all that troublesome. Most of the time, the girl was quiet as a cat.

Ling Qiong was hiding from the Su and Shen families, who were still searching for her. President Wang had apparently learned about the video and her identity from Sister Mei and hadn’t caused trouble, nor had Sister Mei appeared.

Lu Wenci had no stable work and had to seek his own opportunities. Fortunately, luck was with him—he landed a role in a film.

“I have to go shoot a scene,” he told Ling Qiong.

She wore a white nightgown, her hair sleek and falling over her shoulders, a few strands curling in front. Like a wandering soul, she emerged munching on a slice of bread. Hearing this, she paused and asked, “What role? Lead?”

How highly did she think of him?

“No.”

“Second male lead?” He shook his head.

“Not even the third? What’s wrong with that director? With your looks, even as a decorative prop, people would watch.”

He couldn’t tell if she was complimenting him or not.

“I’m heading out,” he said, leaving as Ling Qiong finished her bread on the sofa.

[Drawing cards can help the target land better roles~] The familiar system prompted her to spend again.

Ling Qiong pulled out another slice of bread, nibbling like a hamster.

[Dear, you really should try drawing cards—it’ll solve everything!] the system coaxed. [You won’t be deceived or lose out.]

Ling Qiong snorted. As if.

Just thinking about that compendium sent a chill through her.

She had to control herself—not a single cent more!

But recalling the compendium, she opened it out of curiosity. Card 2618 had changed.

No longer was it the hallway. Now, it showed Lu Wenci sprawled on a snow-white bed, long legs bent, shirt rumpled and slightly pulled up to reveal a trim waistline. One slender hand rested on his belt, the other raised above his head. His half-lidded eyes swept over with a dazed, alluring gaze.

The scene was even more provocative than when Chu Zheng had witnessed it herself.

What a divine boy—someone worth keeping—

[Dear, want to draw a card?]

Ling Qiong took a deep breath. “Will all the cards change like this?”

[Yes, dear. Once unlocked, they all do. It’s very exciting—don’t you want to try?] The system’s tone even grew bashful.

She wanted to.

Inside her mind, her dark and light selves began to argue.

Dark Ling: Such an adorable boy—of course I want to keep him! Spend!

Light Ling: Don’t spend a thing! It’s a trap to lure you into wrongdoing. Wake up!

Dark Ling: This game is all about raising cuties like him. It’s normal gameplay.

Light Ling: Don’t listen—stand your ground. Not a penny!

The debate grew fiercer, until Ling Qiong, shaking her head, thought—just ten draws, what could it hurt?

She still had over eight million left, and there was a half-off discount on ten draws.

It seemed reasonable enough…

She opened the main page, followed the system’s instructions to top up, and clicked the draw button.

Two minutes later.

Ling Qiong coldly closed the page and flopped onto the sofa.

Ten draws, and nothing but disappointment.

If she tried again, she was a fool.

After lying there for a while, boredom set in. She decided to go check on her target.

She got Lu Wenci’s address, drove over, and wandered around outside the film set. She vanished for a bit, and when she returned, she had a work badge in hand. Taking advantage of the crowds, she slipped inside.

The production was filming a spy drama. At that moment, they were shooting a scene with the male lead, who, after his identity was discovered, was evading pursuit and ran into a theater. On stage, someone was performing an opera.