Chapter 5: The Trashy System Wants Me to Earn Money to Feed It

The door opened—it was Auntie Wang.

When she saw Su Qingqing, she paused in surprise. Hadn’t Old Madam Su said Su Qingqing was dead? Why was she standing here perfectly fine?

Suppressing her doubts, Auntie Wang looked annoyed. “What is it?”

Su Qingqing pretended not to notice the disdain in her eyes and said gently, “I need to go to town for something. Could I trouble you to watch my younger brother for a bit?”

Auntie Wang raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have your grandma and aunt-in-law? And since when did you start being so polite and caring for your brother?”

Su Qingqing replied, “Some things happened. I’ve moved out of the Su household.”

Suddenly, she realized why that voice had sounded so familiar earlier—it was Auntie Wang who had taken her back to the Su household from under the phoenix tree that day.

Su Zijin, clinging to her back, peeked out and said in his soft, milky voice, “Auntie Wang, my grandma and auntie were mean to us. My sister brought me home. I like our new home. I don’t like Grandma’s house.”

It was the first time the little one had expressed his opinion so bravely. Before, he had always been timid.

Clearly, a child needs to feel loved.

A child with an older sister is a treasure; a child without one is like a weed.

Su Qingqing silently vowed: From now on, I’ll double my love for this little dumpling.

Hearing the siblings speak, Auntie Wang thought, Maybe Su Qingqing really has changed after her brush with death…

Her gaze softened a little. “Put your brother down.”

Su Qingqing smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Auntie Wang. I’ll leave him in your care.”

With her hands free, she shot off like the wind toward Phoenix Mountain.

The villagers resting by the roadside felt a breeze pass by.

“Huh? Where’d that wind come from? It was so cool for a second!”

Moments later, the breeze passed again.

“Don’t you all think today’s a bit weird? There’s wind one second, then it’s gone the next. Could it be… ghost wind?”

“It’s broad daylight! Don’t talk nonsense.”

A timid voice chimed in, “I… I saw a shadow in the wind. I think it was…”

Before the child could finish, the villagers all suddenly remembered they had things to do at home and hurried off.

Soon, every household in the village shut their doors.

The so-called ghost—er, no, Su Qingqing—was now carrying a wolf on her back into town, completely unaware of the stir she had caused. She only wanted to sell the wolf quickly, fill her stomach, and buy her brother something tasty.

At the wild game trading area in town, she lowered the large grey wolf from her shoulders.

She had sprinted the whole way, so no one witnessed the bizarre sight of a skinny girl carrying a massive wolf.

She’d run the whole way precisely to avoid being seen and causing confusion.

After all, she couldn’t borrow any kind of cart or tool to transport the wolf—so she carried it herself.

Half an hour passed. No one had bought the wolf yet.

Su Qingqing grumbled silently: Ugh, this frustrating ancient world! If only I had my phone or computer…

Suddenly, she felt her consciousness shift. She was in a room—a very familiar one.

It was… her modern-day study. The one where she had been reading the novel before she transmigrated.

Was she home?

Then a cutesy little voice piped up, “Qingqing! You didn’t come home. I’ve been waiting so long! You’re so silly—only now you think of me!”

Who’s talking?

“It’s me, silly! I’m your computer!”

Su Qingqing stared at the computer on the desk, a little creeped out. It was speaking?!

But then again, she had transmigrated… a talking computer wasn’t even that weird anymore.

Curious, she asked, “How can you talk? How did I get in here?”

“I’m not really a computer. I’m a Yuanbao System! Of course I can talk! You were just thinking about a computer, so I sensed it and brought your consciousness here. But your body’s not here—only your mind.”

“Yuanbao System? What’s that?”

“In simple terms, I’m a system that helps you make money.”

At the word money, Su Qingqing’s eyes lit up.

“But don’t get excited just yet! Bringing you to this world took a huge amount of my energy. I’m super weak now and need a lot of money to recover. Once I’m at full power, you’ll be able to physically enter this study again!”

“So, Qingqing, you must work hard to earn money!”

At that, Su Qingqing blew up. So it was this garbage system that brought me to the ancient world?!

“Qingqing! Don’t be mad! I saved your life, remember? If I hadn’t brought you here, you would’ve died!”

“You can read my thoughts?” she asked, alarmed.

“Not really! I can only hear your thoughts when your consciousness is in this room, talking to me.”

That eased her nerves a little.

Before she could ask more, the little voice blabbered on like a megaphone: “Don’t ask me how you died in the modern world—I don’t know either. I was only activated after your death! Right now, you and I are one. If I can’t recover within three years, we’ll both disappear!”

Su Qingqing was nearly driven mad. Oh, oh, oh… Oh your head! First you say you’ll help me make money, and now you want me to earn money to feed you? What a scam system!

“Qingqing! Don’t call me trash in your heart—I can tell, you know! I really am awesome! You’ll see later!”

“For example, I even brought this study into this world with me!”

In truth, it was just because she loved this study. She used up the last of her energy to bring it along. Otherwise, she could’ve spoken to Su Qingqing earlier—but of course she wouldn’t admit that.

Su Qingqing’s mouth twitched. Even making bets with spicy snacks? Why not two packs while you’re at it?

“I can bet two packs too!” the voice chirped.

She was going crazy. What kind of bizarre system is this?!

“Qingqing, from now on, just call me Yuanbao! You can connect with me by thinking the word ‘Yuanbao.’ And when you want to leave this place, just think ‘Love Yuanbao’! I’m super amazing!”

Ugh—“Love Yuanbao”? What a shameless name.

Why don’t you go ascend to heaven already?

Having learned what she needed, Su Qingqing no longer wanted to talk to this bubbly system. Holding back her disgust, she silently thought: Love Yuanbao.

And her consciousness left the study.