[I’m spending all my husband’s money]

“Little Fatty, do we have a car at home, the kind that flies?” Tong Yu planned to go out.

“Yes, do you need me to prepare the vehicle for you?” A chubby, barrel-shaped robot slid out from the corner. “Little Fatty” was the name Tong Yu had just given it two days ago, mainly because he simply couldn’t remember its serial number.

“Yes, prepare it quickly.”

“Understood.”

As soon as he spoke, there was a sound from outside the window. Tong Yu stretched his neck to look and saw a dark blue flying vehicle slowly rising from underground, looking sleek and incredibly cool.

“Wow, it really is the Interstellar Era!”

Tong Yu ran over, the car door opened automatically, and he eagerly slipped inside. However, once in, he had no idea how to start it.

But that’s okay, even before he died, Earth had self-driving cars. This was the Interstellar Era, so it surely wouldn’t be a problem, especially since he had a home robot to help.

“Little Fatty, activate the auto-pilot function. Let’s go to the biggest mall nearby,” Tong Yu directly instructed Little Fatty.

Little Fatty’s program had already entered Tong Yu’s light-brain. Hearing the command, it popped up: “Master, my permissions do not allow me to control the flying vehicle. You need to use your spiritual power to start the spacecraft first, then activate auto-pilot.”

“How do I start it?” Tong Yu asked.

“There’s a spiritual connector in the cockpit.”

“What does it look like?”

“That silver metal patch.”

Tong Yu searched and quickly found the metal patch Little Fatty mentioned. It was only the size of a fingernail, circular and very thin. Tong Yu picked it up and placed it next to his temple: “This will connect my spiritual power?”

Tong Yu was quite unaccustomed to something as intangible as spiritual power.

“Yes. Master, you’ve asked me many common-sense questions this morning. Are you feeling unwell? Does Little Fatty need to help you book a doctor?” Little Fatty asked with concern.

“Little Fatty, delete all our conversations from this morning until now,” Tong Yu instructed very deftly.

As a transmigrator, Tong Yu didn’t want his identity exposed, so when the home robot noticed his abnormality, he would immediately make Little Fatty automatically delete that part of its memory.

After putting on the spiritual connector, Tong Yu pressed the start button again.

“Flight preparation beginning, preparation complete. Please confirm destination,” a voice sounded within the flying vehicle.

“That’s advanced!” Tong Yu exclaimed, then instructed, “Go to the nearest mall.”

“There are three nearest malls. Please choose one, host.” A virtual screen appeared in the cockpit, displaying three destinations. Tong Yu picked the one that looked largest and confirmed his choice.

“Destination confirmed: Lan Hai ^[1] Blue Ocean Mall. Auto-pilot activated. Departing.”

About twenty minutes later, the flying vehicle landed in the Lan Hai Mall’s parking lot. Tong Yu got out, beginning his first shopping experience in the Interstellar Era.

He passed by various stores, hearing advertisements for:

“StarCraft V, realistic virtual scenarios, high spiritual power requirement, consumes 60% of spiritual power, mildly stimulates the spiritual sea.”

“Combat Mechs, massive spiritual power release during battle.”

“Sleep Helmet, the latest spiritual helmet, keeps your brain active while you sleep, releasing 50% spiritual power in your dreams, leaving you refreshed upon waking.”

“Virtual Reality Helmet, a completely real virtual world, maximizes spiritual power consumption.”

A virtual world?! Who could resist that?

Tong Yu’s eyes lit up instantly. He became oblivious to everything else and practically sprinted towards the virtual reality helmet store. Before even entering, he asked, “How much is the virtual reality helmet?”

“Sir, are you looking to buy one? May I ask what your spiritual power level is?” The salesperson enthusiastically approached him.

“There’s a spiritual power level restriction to buy this?”

“Yes, using a virtual reality helmet requires a certain spiritual power level. Spiritual power below F-level cannot activate the helmet, so even if you buy it, you won’t be able to use it. E-level spiritual power allows one hour of use daily, D-level allows three hours, and the higher your spiritual power level, the longer you can use it. So, to purchase a virtual reality helmet, your spiritual power level must be at least E-level.”

Having to check spiritual power just to buy something was quite a hassle.

“But I don’t know my spiritual power level.”

“That’s fine, we have testing equipment. Just a quick scan will do.”

“Master, you are a contractor. You don’t need to be tested,” Little Fatty’s voice chimed in.

The clerk stopped reaching for the testing equipment immediately upon hearing this: “You’re a contractor? Then you definitely meet the requirements. For contractors, our store offers a 20% discount. Please choose the style you like, and I’ll teach you how to use it later.”

“Contractors get a 20% discount?”

“Of course! Our company deeply respects those of you who contribute to the planet,” the clerk said sincerely.

To maintain Shui Lan Star’s position in the Interstellar Alliance, the planet needed strong awakened individuals with spiritual power. And the contractors, who helped the awakened individuals, naturally received the same respect.

Although Tong Yu knew about this regulation, this was his first time experiencing it in person.

“But what if my spiritual power isn’t high enough, even with the contract? Then I still can’t use it, right?” Tong Yu felt it was better to get tested.

“You’re joking, sir. As a contractor, your spiritual power is linked to the awakened individual’s. With their spiritual power, how could you not be able to use a virtual reality helmet?” the salesperson replied.

Tong Yu frowned: “Then he still needs to agree for me to link the helmet, doesn’t he?”

“No, you don’t. For contractors, we link to the spiritual contract itself. Just come over here and pick a helmet, and I’ll link it for you right away.”

Tong Yu hesitated for only a moment before following the salesperson to choose a helmet. The allure of the virtual reality helmet was simply too great. Besides, the spiritual contract wouldn’t dissolve for another year anyway. It wasn’t like he was deliberately taking advantage, and it wasn’t as if he’d get off scot-free either—he’d still have to endure that spiritual influx. It wasn’t a free ride, either way.  

He had looked up some information in the past few days and knew that contractors experienced intense headaches, even mental confusion, when enduring the spiritual influx. He wondered if this was why the original owner attempted suicide. But no, that didn’t sound right; from what the original owner’s parents said, it seemed Sheng Jing wanted a divorce, and the original owner was unwilling.

Never mind, it isn’t his business. He is too lazy to think about it.

Tong Yu quickly chose a helmet. After the salesperson helped him complete the linking, they began to teach Tong Yu how to use it.

“Oh, you’ve already established the spiritual channel!” the salesperson exclaimed in surprise.

“Ah, seems so.” Probably something the original owner did.

“Then you should have experience using it!”

“That helmet was bought by someone else; it broke before I could really use it.”

“Then it must have broken right after you got it, as the spiritual channel was closed. The quality must have been terrible,” the salesperson remarked.

“What is this spiritual channel?” Tong Yu asked curiously.

“The spiritual channel needs to be open for you to borrow the awakened individual’s spiritual power!” the salesperson said with an expression that clearly conveyed, “How do you not know this?”

Tong Yu was startled: “Does that mean he has to use the virtual reality helmet with me whenever I use it?”

The salesperson shook their head: “No need for that much trouble. The other party only needs to wear a spiritual connector. The excess spiritual power will automatically transfer over; they don’t need to do anything.”

Tong Yu felt relieved upon hearing this. It would be a hassle if Sheng Jing had to cooperate for him to use this helmet.

“Do you want me to open the spiritual channel for you?” the salesperson asked.

Tong Yu immediately thought of another question: “If this spiritual channel is open, can the awakened individual transmit spiritual power at any time, even if I don’t need it?”

Tong Yu was a bit worried. Although he was prepared to endure the spiritual influx, he felt he should at least be warned beforehand. If it happened anytime, anywhere, wouldn’t he have a headache all the time?

“Of course not! The control over this spiritual channel’s on/off switch is in your hands. You decide when to open or close it. If you don’t agree, the other party cannot transmit spiritual power. Furthermore, forcing a spiritual influx against the contractor’s will is illegal. If that happens, you can directly report it to the Contractor Association,” the salesperson informed Tong Yu. “You’ve just been contracted recently, haven’t you? You should take some time to attend classes at the Contractor Association. To prevent awakened individuals from spiritually abusing contractors, the Contractor Association has enacted many protective regulations.”

“Thank you, I understand. Please continue teaching me the rest.”

“Alright, then I won’t open the spiritual channel for now. You can open it yourself later, it’s the same,” the salesperson continued explaining. “Here’s the beginner’s guide. After you go back, you can read it yourself…”

Tong Yu was extremely satisfied with the virtual reality helmet. Once he understood how to use it, he couldn’t wait to pay and go home.

“Hello, that will be 80,000 star coins in total.”

“Little Fatty, pay.”

“Understood, Master.”

Little Fatty displayed the payment code. The salesperson took the payment device, scanned it, and said: “Exceeded credit limit. Requires Mr. Sheng Jing’s confirmation.”

“Sheng Jing? Why does Sheng Jing need to confirm?” Tong Yu was bewildered.

“That’s Mr. Sheng Jing’s account, of course, he needs to confirm,” the salesperson said.

Tong Yu chuckled awkwardly, then whispered to Little Fatty: “You’re using Sheng Jing’s account?!”

Little Fatty: “Yes.”

“So all the money I’ve spent these past few days is Sheng Jing’s money?”

“Yes?”

“What about my money?”

“You have no job at all. All your income comes from the other owner.”

“…” Tong Yu instantly felt terrible. He sensed the salesperson’s gaze had changed. “Then I won’t buy it.”

“You can’t. You’ve already completed the spiritual binding,” the salesperson said apologetically.

Tong Yu’s face instantly fell.

—-

At the same time, in the research institute, Sheng Jing was conducting research when his light-brain suddenly flashed with a payment request. He glanced at it and frowned. When he and Tong Yu first got married, his personal account was linked to Tong Yu’s, and Tong Yu could use his account to pay at any time. Although Tong Yu spent money without restraint, using up his entire salary every month, Sheng Jing actually didn’t mind much, as he was in the research institute all day and didn’t use much money himself. However, later, Tong Yu became increasingly troublesome, and the only way he could restrict Tong Yu was through star coins. So he changed the settings: 10,000 star coins for household expenses each month, stored in the home robot’s account, and then 90,000 star coins as allowance transferred to Tong Yu each month. Nothing more than that.

Sheng Jing was about to refuse when suddenly, a message popped up.

Tong Yu: [Um… I just bought a virtual reality helmet. It’s already spiritually bound, so I can’t return it. Could you please pay for it?]

When he saw the words “virtual reality helmet,” Sheng Jing’s frown deepened.

It was always like this: after each of Tong Yu’s “episodes,” he would be normal for a period, but only for two or three days. During these two or three days, he would act incredibly considerate, like a qualified contractor, trying his best to help relieve his spiritual power. But after three days, he would go even crazier. Then he would use what he did in those three days to emotionally blackmail him with tears.

Sheng Jing was long tired of it. His spiritual sea was indeed unstable, and he was in so much pain daily that he couldn’t sleep, but he no longer wanted to be manipulated. He originally thought he could endure for just one more month, and his contract with Tong Yu would reach its one-year mark. At that point, even if his spiritual sea was impacted again, he would dissolve the contract. He never expected that instead of being dissolved, the contract was extended by another year.

To be honest, the moment Tong Yu’s spiritual power dissipated, there was a fleeting second when he didn’t want to help him, but ultimately, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Despite his feelings, Sheng Jing still agreed. What Tong Yu wanted to buy was a virtual reality helmet, which was practically standard equipment for contractors. If he refused, Tong Yu could directly complain to the Contractor Association.

“Ding!” Another message came in.

Tong Yu: [Thanks. I’ll pay you back later.]

Sheng Jing glanced at it, not believing a word, and went back to his work.