Heartbroken.
This was a full 20,000 points of aversion value—not 2,000, not even 200.
The system was devastated, feeling like it could summon an El Niño phenomenon all on its own.
While the host, Shen Nanchu, basked in sunshine, the system was drowning in a storm so fierce even passing ants needed umbrellas.
Wahhh~~~
[Aversion value +20,000]
Jackpot, jackpot, absolute jackpot!
Shen Nanchu’s joy skyrocketed to the heavens. She was half-convinced she’d ascend on the spot and become a citizen of Planet Happiness.
Watching her host’s uncontainable glee, one could only imagine the system’s psychological shadow area.
"Host," the system’s voice was tinged with grievance, "did you predict every single one of Zheng Tongwei’s moves from the start?"
"Yep," Shen Nanchu replied with a mischievous grin.
"Then why didn’t you tell me?" The system was crumbling.
"You never asked!" Shen Nanchu feigned innocence. "Besides, don’t you have data to rely on?"
"……" The system fell silent.
After a pause, it tried again. "Host, how did you know what Zheng Tongwei would do next?"
"Fundamentally, Zheng Tongwei and I are the same kind of person. Unfortunately for him, he’s not as clever. How could I not guess his next move?"
This was exactly why Shen Nanchu had sized Zheng Tongwei up the moment she laid eyes on him in the mountains.
"System, why do you think Zheng Tongwei insisted on staging this whole family-splitting drama in front of me? And why drag me into it?"
The double whammy of questions nearly short-circuited the system’s CPU.
"Host, I don’t know."
Shen Nanchu smiled knowingly.
This was the brilliance of human intuition—something data could never replicate.
"No reason other than to infiltrate the Pei Family."
Zheng Tongwei wanted to exploit this spectacle to win sympathy from Shen Nanchu and the Pei Family, making it easier to cozy up to them.
As for his true motives?
Shen Nanchu had already pieced most of it together.
The only question was whether Zheng Tongwei was sent by a friend or an enemy.
Either way, given how much aversion value he was generating, Shen Nanchu felt he deserved a chance.
Lowering her lashes, she hid the cunning in her eyes.
"Sure, no problem."
"Comrade Zheng, I heard you’re also from the capital, right?"
Zheng Tongwei nodded.
"Living expenses in the capital aren’t cheap."
Shen Nanchu’s smile was dazzling, yet for some reason, it sent a chill down Zheng Tongwei’s spine.
"Raising someone as distinguished as you must’ve cost your family a fortune."
Father Zheng and Mother Zheng eagerly agreed.
"Yes, yes, absolutely!"
"We spent so much on him."
Zheng Tongwei shot his parents a warning glance.
"In that case, Comrade Zheng, how about you give each of your parents a hundred a month?"
Shen Nanchu was grateful for Father Zheng and Mother Zheng’s enthusiastic cooperation.
Wang Jianguo and Wang Chaoying gasped.
Did raising a child in the city really cost that much?
Was Shen Nanchu miscalculating?
"I’m sure someone as capable as Comrade Zheng can manage it."
[Aversion value +50]
Zheng Tongwei was nearly driven mad with frustration.
Why wasn’t Shen Nanchu following the script he had envisioned?
Originally, he thought fifty yuan at most would be enough for each of these two old folks.
But now, Shen Nanchu had doubled the amount in one go.
Zheng Tongwei could only bitterly laugh at his own expense.
Shen Nanchu turned to Father Zheng and Mother Zheng.
"What do you two think of this arrangement?"
Getting an extra hundred yuan for nothing—how could Father Zheng and Mother Zheng refuse?
"Good, very good."
"Comrade Shen, you’ve spoken well indeed."
Now, even if Zheng Tongwei wanted to object, he couldn’t.
In the end, he gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement.
This family division was truly something!
While some rejoiced, others lamented.
Zheng Tongwei felt a pang of regret, but since his primary goal had still been achieved, he consoled himself to let it go.
"Now that the family is divided, it wouldn’t be right for me to keep living at home."
"Village Chief, I’m someone who prefers peace and quiet."
"Could I rent that small shack next to the cowshed?"
The small shack next to the cowshed?
That roofless, dilapidated hut?
The only redeeming quality of that place was its proximity to the Pei Family.
Wang Jianguo didn’t think much of it.
"Comrade Zheng, why don’t you pick another place?"
"That shack by the cowshed has no roof. You’d have to spend money to fix it up—hardly worth the trouble."
But Zheng Tongwei wouldn’t hear of it.
"Village Chief, it’s fine."
"I’m a light sleeper. If there are neighbors around making noise, I won’t be able to rest."
Wang Jianguo gave Zheng Tongwei a once-over.
The pale-faced young man had dark circles under his eyes—clearly, he hadn’t been sleeping well.
"Besides, I’ve got some savings. Fixing up the place won’t be a problem."
With Zheng Tongwei insisting so firmly, Wang Jianguo could hardly refuse.
And so, the small, rundown shack by the cowshed was rented out to Zheng Tongwei.
Finally at ease, Zheng Tongwei turned to Shen Nanchu with a smile.
"Comrade Shen, looks like we’re neighbors now."
"As the saying goes, ‘A near neighbor is better than a distant relative.’ If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask."
This was Zheng Tongwei extending an olive branch.
"Sure, no problem," Shen Nanchu replied cheerfully.
Both of them had their own hidden agendas—now, it was just a matter of who outmaneuvered the other.
System: "Host, this Zheng Tongwei is up to no good. We shouldn’t stay so close to him."
Shen Nanchu: "The monk may run away, but the temple can’t run with him."
System: "..."
Shen Nanchu: "Besides, free labor is free labor. No reason to waste it."
System: "Fair point."
The system rolled its eyes at Zheng Tongwei’s smug expression.
Oh, you little—
You cost me 20,000 points of loathing value. Just you wait!
I’ll be watching you 24/7, from every angle, without missing a single detail.
Don’t let me catch you slipping, or my host will make you regret it.
Hmph!
(￢︿￢☆)
Meanwhile, Shen Nanchu took a rare moment to size up Zheng Tongwei.
Today’s little drama had given her a glimpse of his capabilities.
A free laborer with brains and connections?
Not bad.
Now she could rest easy.
...
Achoo!
Zheng Tongwei, still basking in his secret delight, sneezed twice in a row.
On such a sunny day, why did it suddenly feel so chilly?
Too pleased to dwell on it, he happily lost himself in visions of his glorious, triumphant rise to the top.
A road of no return.
