Everyone was getting rather emotional over this game of Monopoly.
Shen Ruxu bought properties all the way around the board, then went bankrupt.
Shen Wenta clutched his money and refused to spend it, solely for the pleasure of watching everyone else panic. Shen Xun managed every property as though he were running a company, while Shen Yi relied entirely on instinct, going wherever the dice took her.
Only Shen Zhizhao sat quietly in the corner, collecting rent every round. By the time everyone else realized what was happening, he had already connected half the board and won decisively.
The others started another game.
Shen Yi was having terrible luck. She rolled low numbers three times in a row and bought two cheap properties, leaving her nearly broke.
She counted the few thin bills in front of her, then glanced at the neat stacks of chips piled before the other three players.
Shen Yi decided to borrow some money.
Shen Wenta was leaning back in his chair. Shen Yi walked over, but before she could say anything, he lifted his eyelids and gave her a look.
“Xiao Yi?”
The slight lift at the end of his voice made it clear that he already knew exactly what she wanted.
“Third Brother.” Shen Yi got straight to the point. “Lend me some money.”
“How much?”
“Five hundred.”
“What’s the interest?”
“We’re siblings. You’re still charging me interest?”
“Even siblings have to keep their accounts straight.” Shen Wenta threw her own words back at her. He pulled out a five-hundred-dollar bill, pinched it between two fingers, and held it up in front of her, flicking it so that it made a crisp snap.
He tilted his head, the corners of his lips curving upward. Under the lamplight, his handsome face practically seemed to glow.
“You really want it?”
Shen Yi felt as if Shen Wenta had “Beg me” written all over his face.
She turned around and walked away without hesitation.
Shen Wenta froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, “You’re that impatient, yet you still expect to borrow money? Other people beg me for ages, and I don’t even help them. How can you just say you don’t want it and walk away?”
“I’m not borrowing anymore,” Shen Yi replied.
The second person Shen Yi went to was Shen Ruxu.
She had barely reached him when Shen Ruxu cheerfully swept all the money in front of him together and stuffed the entire pile into her hands.
“Take it, take it. It’s all yours.” He was as generous as a nouveau riche who had just struck it rich. His amber eyes shone brightly, and he grinned without a care in the world. “If you lose, it’s my loss. If you win, it’s yours.”
Shen Yi hugged the pile of money. “You’re giving all of it to me?”
“Yep, yep.” Shen Ruxu waved dismissively, looking completely unconcerned. “I’d lose it all if I kept it anyway. I might as well give it to you.”
After saying that, he leaned over to inspect Shen Yi’s board, then eagerly began offering advice. “You should move forward here. Don’t buy any more properties—save up for one of the big ones. Trust me, I have experience.”
Shen Wenta said coldly from the side, “Experience from going bankrupt just now?”
Shen Ruxu turned around and glared at him. “I was just unlucky last round.”
“You’re unlucky every round.”
“That’s because Big Brother is too ruthless!” Shen Ruxu pointed at Shen Zhizhao.
Shen Zhizhao looked up and smiled innocently.
Shen Yi carried the money back to her seat, then looked at Shen Xun.
Shen Xun was sitting across from her, the money in front of him stacked in perfectly orderly piles. He had noticed the entire process of Shen Yi borrowing money.
First, she had gone to Shen Wenta. Then she had taken his entire fortune from Shen Ruxu. Now, her gaze was moving in his direction.
The boy was silent for two seconds, as though he had already predicted what was coming. He immediately lowered his head and pulled the money closer, wrapping his arms around it like a squirrel protecting its food.
Shen Yi said, “...Fourth Brother, I haven’t even asked yet.”
Shen Xun replied calmly, “Even if you ask, I’m not giving you any.”
“Maybe I only wanted to borrow a little. I’d pay you back later.” Shen Yi thought he was being incredibly unreasonable. Ever since they were children, Shen Xun had taken games far too seriously. Even when they played Ludo or Monopoly, he insisted on calculating the odds.
“No.”
He paused, then added, “Your ability to repay the loan is questionable.”
“Go to hell, you miser.”
Shen Xun remained unmoved and pulled the money even closer.
The last person Shen Yi went to was Shen Zhizhao.
Shen Zhizhao was leaning back in his chair, twirling a die in his hand as he watched her approach.
“Looking to borrow money?” he asked.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Sure.”
He set the die down on the table and took several bills from the tall stack of chips in front of him. He held them in his hand but did not give them to Shen Yi, instead taking his time.
“Before you borrow it, let’s discuss the terms.”
“What terms?”
Shen Zhizhao lowered his voice, speaking casually. “You currently have three properties, correct?”
Shen Yi nodded.
“I’ll buy thirty percent of the profits from those three properties by lending you the money. From now on, I’ll take thirty percent of all the rent they generate.”
“You won’t have to repay the loan. Consider it payment for that share of the profits. And if you buy any new properties later, I’ll have the right of first refusal.”
Shen Yi stared at him. “You’ve even accounted for the properties I might buy later?”
“No,” Shen Zhizhao said. “I’m just agreeing on the terms in advance so we won’t have trouble later.”
His tone remained even and gentle, without the slightest hint of pressure.
But—
Shen Yi looked at the bills Shen Zhizhao slowly held out to her and suddenly felt as though she were signing away her freedom.
“You’re being way too exploitative.”
“That’s called investment,” Shen Zhizhao corrected her. “Not exploitation.”
Shen Wenta leaned back in his chair and added coolly, “That’s why he wins every game.”
Shen Ruxu said, “...As expected of Big Brother.”
Shen Wenta sneered. “A profiteer through and through.”
Shen Yi stood blankly in front of Shen Zhizhao, still clutching the pile of money Shen Ruxu had given her.
“I’ll just use Shen Ruxu’s money,” she said after a moment of hesitation.
Shen Zhizhao did not take offense. He withdrew the money and smiled. “All right. Come to me after you’ve spent it all.”
“Will the terms be even harsher by then?”
“Of course.” Shen Zhizhao’s tone was as matter-of-fact as if he were stating an undeniable truth. “The later you borrow, the higher the interest.”
Shen Yi frowned. Looking at his gentle face, she suddenly felt that he was even more detestable than Shen Wenta, despite Shen Wenta’s beautiful features.
“You’re too exploitative.” She pointed at him accusingly. “You really should be called Dahei. I hate you.”
Shen Zhizhao: “...”
-
Tomorrow’s update will return to the village arc. I thought of a random idea earlier: Xiao Yi finds a bizarre boyfriend, decides he’s perfect, and prepares to tell her brothers that she’s going to forage for wild greens with her boyfriend...
To be precise, he can’t really be called her boyfriend, and there won’t be any romance. Xiao Yi simply thinks it’s fun and interesting. In essence, he’s just a bizarre man, and he’ll be killed later. Shen Yi’s reaction will probably be something like: “My boyfriend... is dead?” She’ll be mildly shocked, then calmly follow her family home.
This isn’t a continuation of the main story. It’s just a little random idea meant for fun. I feel that everyone else’s reactions would be entertaining too, and this nameless boyfriend will be killed off.
It has nothing to do with the main story or any future developments. It’s just a standalone idea for everyone to enjoy. (Or, if this kind of thing really isn’t your cup of tea, feel free to skip it. I’ll add a warning earlier in the story and another one in the chapter itself. If you’re not interested, you can skip this part of the extra story entirely. It’ll only last two or three chapters anyway.)
Or I might write an alternate route where they were born and raised in the Shen family, but that’s all much later. I’ll finish the homecoming arc first, then write some other content. We’ll talk about everything else once all the follow-up material is done.
