Be careful what you wish for at Yonghe Temple!

As the car barreled towards him, a thought flashed through Cheng Leyan’s mind.

Just hours ago, he had been full of energy at Yonghe Temple, passionately wishing: “I hope to get rich, to make a fortune, to have lots of money! Please, dear gods, let the money come to me from all directions!!”

He even reported his name, address, and ID number to avoid any mix-ups—truly devout.

But then he remembered the usual practice at Yonghe Temple…

Someone had wished for a soldier boyfriend, and a few days later, her brother joined the army.

Someone else wished to lose weight, only to discover a health issue that led to surgery and a 20-pound drop.

Another wished for unexpected wealth and was promptly laid off, their unexpected wealth was a severance package.

Yonghe Temple’s effectiveness was undeniably striking yet indifferent.

So, Cheng Leyan carefully added a caveat: “If I can’t get rich now, no worries, dear deity, just let me be wealthy in my next life!”

He bowed three times.

Full of confidence, he waited to strike it rich, but ended up facing this car accident.

When he regained consciousness, his head throbbed as if split open by a boulder.

So, was this sudden wealth just the compensation from the accident???

What a scam!

But… he had been diligently crossing at a pedestrian crosswalk, clearly the other party was at fault, so maybe he could get a good compensation.

Thinking about money, his heart itched with anticipation.

A few years back, he had racked up a massive debt of 3 million, with 800,000 still to be paid. After years of scrimping and saving, his desire for money had grown to an absurd level.

As he thought about the compensation, he gathered his strength and slowly opened his eyes.

To his surprise.

He wasn’t in a hospital but in a lavish and unfamiliar room. The décor was luxurious and extravagant, with antique vases exuding an air of gravitas, and the crystal chandelier was blinding.

In the mirror opposite, a lively face reflected back—it was his, intact. At the moment, he was lounging on a soft and comfy sofa, holding a phone engaged in a call.

A gentle and deep male voice came through the receiver: “Yanyan, my darling, I know you feel wronged, I know you’re unhappy, I understand. How can I not feel pained when the one I love is forced to marry a vegetative person?

“But all this is for our future. Although we can’t be together openly now, we’re both working towards the same future. So, hang in there a bit longer, stay with the Rong Family, alright?”

At first, Cheng Leyan was listening, but slowly, his attention was completely captured by something on a shelf.

It was a golden apple, gleaming brilliantly.

Having worked in a gold shop, his intuition told him it wasn’t gold-plated or gilded—it was solid gold.

The voice on the phone continued: “…Baby, can you give me another million? Don’t worry, in a few months, I’ll repay everything once the money comes in, and it’ll also be the start-up fund for our little family. Hello? Baby? Are you still listening? Hello?”

Of course, he wasn’t listening. Cheng Leyan had already tossed aside the phone, leaping to the shelf in a few strides, taking down the golden apple. After a look, he found the “Pure Gold 999” stamp.

He gasped: Pure gold! It’s really pure gold!

And it weighs at least two pounds!

With gold prices above 700, this apple is worth at least 700,000!!!

The previous headache vanished completely. Cheng Leyan’s waist ceased to ache, his legs stopped hurting, his heart fluttered as if a little bird was nestled inside.

After being single for 25 years, he felt an intense and shocking sense of love.

Love! This is love!

Dad, can you see, Dad, I’m in love!

If this is a dream, please let me never wake up!

As he gazed tenderly at the golden apple, already humming the Wedding March, the door beside him slowly opened.

Cheng Leyan turned, meeting eyes with a man in a butler’s uniform standing at the door.

Their gazes locked.

The butler calmly asked, “Young Mistress, what are you… doing?”

Cheng Leyan: “I’m getting married. Are you here to attend my wedding?”

Butler: ?

“Hmm?” A question mark slowly appeared above his head.

Just as Cheng Leyan was about to say, “Brother, what are you doing in my dream,” he heard a voice in his mind. A bit stunned, he then replied seriously to the butler: “Ahem, what I’m doing isn’t important. What’s up?”

The butler said, “Young Mistress, sorry, I intended to knock, but the door wasn’t locked and opened right away.”

Cheng Leyan: “No worries. Also, you can call me ‘Nai,’ or ‘Nainai,’ or even ‘Big Nai,’ but could you not call me ‘Young Mistress’? That title makes me feel a bit awkward.”

Butler: “Okay, Young Mistress. Noted, Young Mistress. Young Mistress, Madam is on her way, about ten minutes away. Today is her birthday, and she will soon return to the old residence for the family banquet. Time is tight, please head downstairs to wait for her.”

Cheng Leyan: “Oh, okay, let me tidy up, I’ll head down right away.”

The butler respectfully withdrew, standing in a secluded spot, frowning, feeling that things were not as straightforward today: The Young Mistress seemed odd, like a completely different person. Not exactly the same, but we’ll say two different people.

The butler was only recently transferred here a week ago, but he’d already grasped the “Young Mistress’s” temperament: flattery and fawning towards Madam, domineering and demanding towards servants.

Very hard to please.

Like earlier when he accidentally opened the door, he’d certainly have been scolded before; there’s no way he’d be treated so amicably.

So, what’s the deal now?

And, marriage? Who’s he marrying?

Could it be the apple in his hand?

Has the Young Mistress gone delusional?

The butler was filled with questions.

Inside the room, Cheng Leyan sat on the sofa clutching his new-found love—the golden apple—and in his mind, said: [We only have five minutes, quickly tell me what’s going on—did you just say you’re a system?]

In his head, a slightly timid mechanical voice replied: [Yes, yes, hello Host, I am your system, ID 419. I’ll be assisting you in this world, please take good care of me.]

Yes, it was precisely this voice in his mind that stopped Cheng Leyan from continuing to indulge in the “dream wedding.”

419 quickly explained, and Cheng Leyan soon understood the situation.

His wish at Yonghe Temple had come true in a bizarre way: after the car accident, he ended up in a wealthy family novel as a Young Mistress.

He really did get rich, but…

This…

Cheng Leyan nearly fainted.

It truly was “in the next life”!

Divine beings at Yonghe Temple, even if my wish was difficult to grant, you didn’t have to play me like this!

It would’ve been better to just get hit and compensated!!!

Just some money would’ve been enough!!!

And the book Cheng Leyan ended up in? It’s called “Prison of Love,” an old-school Danmei novel where the main couple’s drama is endless, with an antagonist thrown into the mix.

The antagonist has a one-sided love for the main character, his personality paranoid, ruthless, and twisted. Even after the main character rejected him, he went on to engage in a series of legally gray acts, including the whole dark room ordeal—crazed indeed.

Most of his derangement stems from a tragic childhood. His biological dad, named “Rong Wangzhi,” was the eldest young master of the wealthy Rong Family, and the current leader of the new generation. But when he was very young, Rong Wangzhi got into a car accident and became a vegetative state.

The antagonist’s stepfather married in to dispel bad luck and was left to care for him. Unfortunately, the stepfather was a scumbag, and the antagonist endured all kinds of abuse, physically and mentally from a young age.

The first thing he did as an adult in power was to stuff his stepfather into a dog cage.

A cramped dog cage less than a meter high and wide; one could only crouch, unable to move. Thrown into a dark room, isolated from the world with no sunlight. Living conditions were brutal—it was torture. The stepfather suffered, went mad, and finally bit his tongue to end it all, dying after 137 days in the cage.

Now, Cheng Leyan has become that vicious stepfather.

Cheng Leyan: …

Only four words echoed in his mind:

Dog, Cage, Alert, Warning.

Cheng Leyan: [System, I only have one question: has this “Cheng Leyan” already started abusing the antagonist brother?]

System: [Hold on, Host, let me check… um, it should have already started… probably?]

Cheng Leyan: [“Probably,” what do you mean by “probably”? I hope it’s not too late for me to run away! Divorce, immediately divorce, and then I’ll escape to the ends of the earth, somewhere they don’t even have dogs!!!]

The system panicked: [Don’t, Host! If you leave, it’ll… it’ll… let me check what’ll happen. Give me a moment, just a minute, please!]

Cheng Leyan was a bit speechless: […System bro, is this your first day on the job?]

The system sounded distressed and hopeless: [I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, I didn’t choose this, I was in the R18 team before, I only know about steamy stuff and nothing else, wuwuwu, I didn’t know why they moved me to the plot team, I’m so sorry, Host!!]

Cheng Leyan was utterly bewildered.

What kind of a pitiful start is this!

“R18 team,” is that what he thinks it is? But he didn’t want to delve deeper; he just wanted to run away in the middle of the night before the dog cage situation.

He looked at the first love in his hands. Still glittering gold, noble and beautiful, a love destined to be without result since it belongs to the Rong Family—not him. Sigh.

Reluctantly, he put down the golden apple, quickly headed downstairs, and approached the butler standing in the main hall: “Butler, um, I just remembered I have some urgent business at the end of the earth, so I need to leave. Please pass on my birthday wishes to Madam and let her know I’ll come back to handle the divorce—”

Before he could finish, a commanding and clear female voice erupted: “Divorce? Cheng Leyan, were you talking about divorce?”

Along with the sound of high heels striking the floor, a lady rushed in.

She appeared to be in her 50s, well-maintained, her hair in a bun, exuding an aura of authority. Having worked in luxury stores, Cheng Leyan had an eye for these things. The jade bracelet on her hand was priceless, the bag she had was a rare Kelly made from exotic hide, worth no less than 600,000 even without the added costs.

Without doubt, this was Mama Rong.

Cheng Leyan earnestly said: “Mama Rong, I understand you were hoping my fortune could bring happiness, but you’ve seen all this while—it clearly hasn’t worked. I don’t want to delay Rong Zi either; divorce would be best for both—”

Once again, interrupted, this time by a cheque thrown in his face as Mama Rong asserted: “This month’s living expenses, one million.”

She lifted her chin: “Even if there’s a divorce, it’s up to us, not you.”

One million.

One. Mil. Lion.

Cheng Leyan clutched the cheque, examining it again and again, unable to tear his gaze away.

He thought: Is this love? It feels like (once again) I’ve fallen in love.

Dad, I (once again) fell in love! Did you see, your son (once again) fell in love!

Where’s the officiant, where’s the wedding ring, where are the flowers, where’s the Wedding March!?

I want to marry this cheque right now, immediately, forever!!!

Seconds later, when he looked up again, he was a changed man.

His eyes were alight with excitement, a smile spread across his face, and emanated “happiness,” surrounding himself in pink bubbling air.

He exclaimed with enthusiasm: “Mom! You’re here! No need for gifts, just your presence makes me uneasy. Oh, people say no reward without effort, this money feels undeserved, truly! Please, come sit, let me kneel for you.”

Mama Rong: ?

Mama Rong: ?????

Suspiciously, she said: “You, you, you, what do you want? Kneeling for what?”

Cheerfully, Cheng Leyan declared: “To kneel and show my gratitude! Mom, you introduced me to such a great match, a love that terrified my bones, a partner for life. If I don’t kneel twice for you, my heart won’t be at peace!”

Strategically, Mama Rong leaned back, staggering two steps back: “Don’t come over here! What are you kneeling for, get up, don’t call me mom, I don’t have a son like you!”

Cheng Leyan didn’t take it to heart, remaining passionate, vibrant, and spirited: “Once a mom, always a mom. I’ve decided; you are my mom! Mom, why are you still standing, come, have a seat.”

Enthusiastically, he guided Mama Rong to the sofa.

A few minutes later, in front of Mama Rong lay a cup of floral tea and a few plates of snacks; nearby, incense softly burned, and by her side, a warm towel. Her high heels were swapped for soft fluffy slippers, and a cozy pillow placed behind her.

During all this, Cheng Leyan’s expression was warm yet not overbearing; affable yet not greasy; heartfelt yet not sycophantic, striking a perfect balance, naturally giving someone a “he really cares about me” feeling.

And it didn’t end there, Cheng Leyan began to—massage Mama Rong.

Yes, massage, standing behind her, skillfully kneading her shoulders.

While massaging, he said: “Mom, tired, huh? Let me ease it for you, okay? Mom, your shoulders seem strained! No worries, I’ll work it out. You’ve been working too hard, really. As your children, it’s our responsibility to take care of our mothers. It’s just what we should do.”

Mama Rong was dumbfounded. She didn’t know how this had all happened.

Neither did the surrounding butlers, servants, or even 419 in Cheng Leyan’s mind.

The system was utterly stunned and finally couldn’t help but weakly ask: [Host, aren’t you thinking of running away anymore?]

While expertly massaging, Cheng Leyan leisurely replied in his mind: [System, let me tell you a story.

[Once upon a time, there was a kid named Xiao Ming. His parents gave him very little pocket money, so his biggest wish was: if only he could have 100 yuan every day, wouldn’t that be great.

[A decade later, Xiao Ming grew up, and his wish came true—he actually got 100 yuan every day!]

Confused, the system asked: [Huh?]

Cheng Leyan: [He became a man with a monthly salary of three thousand.]

The system couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Cheng Leyan: [So, System, you see, many people earn three thousand a month, while I here, am looking at a month with a 1,000,000 salary. What’s there to run away from, am I crazy to quit? One million! One mil-lion!!! Hahaha, hahahahaha!]

Laughing crazily.

The system fell into thought.

This host seems… very fond of money.

It remembered overseeing many R18 main characters before; if those points earned were converted into money, how much was it again?

It asked again: [So, what’s your plan now…?]

Cheng Leyan: [Of course, I’m keeping this job. Mom came in so aggressive today, probably wanting me to pack up and leave. Luckily, I worked in a massage parlor before, even had a stint in a butler café, remembered my skills, see? Now ain’t I settled down Mom, hehe.]

System: [Host, just how many jobs have you done!?]

Cheng Leyan: [Numerous, at my peak I had five jobs a day. System, there’s no easy word in an adult’s world. Oh, wait, I had a previous job that might be useful now.]

System: [What’s that?]

Cheng Leyan: [I worked at Haidilao! I learned two essential skills there!]

Immediately, eagerly he said to Mama Rong: “Mom, is it your birthday today? I didn’t prepare a gift, so how about I perform a sing and dance for you?”

Mama Rong, still absorbed in the massage, absent-mindedly said: “What? Sing what?”

Cheng Leyan: “The song, yeah! ‘Say bye to all troubles, say hi-hi to all joy! Dear, dear happy birthday, every day is wonderful~’”

When he finished singing, he added with eagerness: “Just singing is boring, needs dancing for atmosphere. I’ll give you a sing and dance!”

Mama Rong’s eyelid twitched: “Stop there. I’ll give you ten thousand yuan to stop now.”

Instant delight flooded Cheng Leyan: Can money really come that easily!? Is getting rich this effortless with wealthy folks? 

He swiftly replied, “Mom, I can also do the flying noodle trick, let me show you and make some longevity noodles!”

Mama Rong was exasperated: “Are you really making money off this now!?”