"As long as you like it."
Shen Nanchu appeared utterly unruffled.
The system grew even more convinced its intuition was correct.
"Then I'll raise the bet to 5,000 points of aversion."
5,000?
That works too.
Better than just 1,000.
Shen Nanchu nodded. "Deal."
The system secretly rejoiced at the impending 5,000 aversion points.
Shen Nanchu was a kind-hearted person.
"System, are you sure you won't change your mind?"
"No."
This time, the system wasn't being greedy.
This much was enough.
"Alright."
"No problem."
Shen Nanchu came to a halt, a confident smile playing on her lips.
That smile sent a shiver down the system's spine.
Shen Nanchu stepped forward, heading toward the low-lying vegetation on the right.
Paths are made by walking—where none existed before, footsteps carve the way.
The path Shen Nanchu took next left the system's metaphorical heart in turmoil.
Good grief, Shen Nanchu deliberately chose the most overgrown, densely vegetated areas to traverse.
And she moved with remarkable agility.
Where there was no path before, there remained none after her passage—not a single trace left behind.
An hour later,
Shen Nanchu finally stopped, standing at the mouth of a small valley.
Found it at last.
A bright, self-assured smile spread across her sweat-beaded face.
Pushing aside the vines and foliage clinging to the rock face, she revealed clear traces of pyritization.
This was a mineralized structure.
Shen Nanchu had stored plenty of tools in the system's space.
She pulled out a hammer and began striking the rock with gusto.
The system's sense of foreboding grew stronger by the second.
Without further delay, it started scanning the surroundings from Shen Nanchu's position.
Wish it hadn't looked—what it saw next sent it spiraling into despair.
Meanwhile, Shen Nanchu put away her hammer.
With a quick pry of her fingers, the weathered surface layer of rock peeled away, revealing a dazzling flash of gold—a primary gold vein!
Gold. Found.
All hers.
"System, how much gold ore is left here?"
"Initial estimates suggest around 70,000 tons," the system replied weakly.
"70,000 tons?"
Shen Nanchu was slightly disappointed.
At best, 70,000 tons of gold ore could yield 5,000 kilograms of pure gold.
Who knew so little remained?
After a moment's thought, she said,
"Extract all 70,000 tons and store them in the space."
"Leave the scraps in the mine."
"Oh, and while you're at it, refine the gold and cast it into large gold bars."
Shen Nanchu rattled off three demands in one breath, nearly sending the system to an early grave.
"And the aversion points you lost? Consider them payment for this job."
Those final words were like a beam of light piercing the darkness shrouding the system's face.
The world instantly brightened.
"Y-yes, Host Supreme."
"Mhm. Be more enthusiastic about work next time."
Was Shen Nanchu after the system's measly aversion points?
No. She absolutely refused to admit that the cost of using the system's labor had gotten too high, hence this elaborate scheme to make it happily work for free.
She was such a generous host, after all.
How could the system possibly ask for aversion points now?
(●ˇ∀ˇ●)
Losing the bet meant no aversion points owed—the system's mood couldn't be better, and it threw itself into the task with renewed vigor.
Shen Nanchu found a clean rock to sit on while waiting for the system to finish collecting the gold.
Two hours passed.
Thankfully, she had brought food.
Before leaving that morning, Pei Zhengnian had prepared plenty of delicious treats for her.
Fluffy white steamed buns stuffed with spicy minced meat, fragrant braised pork, and crisp cucumber slices—absolute perfection.
Shen Nanchu ate with relish; the system mined with equal enthusiasm.
By the time she finished lunch, the system had wrapped up the gold extraction.
Mission accomplished.
Shen Nanchu stood and stretched.
Mid-stretch, her arms froze in midair as her ears twitched.
Someone was coming.
Pretty fast too—but who?
In a flash, she leaped up, scaling the rocks with a few agile movements before concealing herself in a high crevice.
Tucked perfectly into the narrow space, she peered through the gaps in the shrubs at the scene below.
Old ginger is the spiciest.
Brilliance? That was Host Supreme's domain.
Even the system had to admire Shen Nanchu's masterful evasion tactics.
Who would expect someone to be watching from above?
The footsteps drew closer.
The first thing Shen Nanchu saw was a pair of long legs.
The pants and shoes were all too familiar.
Pei Zhengnian.
The system glared at Pei Zhengnian in exasperation.
Couldn’t you have come three or four hours earlier?
Trailing behind Pei Zhengnian were two of Shen Nanchu's old acquaintances—Xiong Lei and Sun Xuelin.
The trio stopped at the spot where Shen Nanchu had been sitting earlier.
Xiong Lei sniffed the air vigorously. "Captain, do you smell braised meat?"
Pei Zhengnian didn’t answer. He didn’t just smell braised meat—he also caught the familiar scent of spicy minced pork.
His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings meticulously.
Soon, he spotted the rocks Shen Nanchu had chipped away earlier.
If the system had a heart, it would’ve leaped into its throat.
Shen Nanchu remained as calm as ever, utterly unperturbed.
"Host Supreme, if you don’t want the male lead to find you, we can exchange 10,000 aversion points for a ten-minute invisibility cloak."
"With it, even if he grows a hundred eyes, he won’t see you."
Shen Nanchu’s lips twitched.
"10,000 aversion points?"
"That’s daylight robbery!"
"Looking for a free ride? Dream on."
The system was frantic. "The male lead is following the scent and looking up now."
Shen Nanchu regretted eating that spicy minced pork.
Too fragrant.
Blame Pei Zhengnian—his cooking skills had improved too much.
"Host Supreme, bad news—the male lead is looking right at you."
The system’s voice grew urgent.
"Oh no, he’s spotted you!"
Shen Nanchu didn’t need the system’s warning—their eyes had already locked.
She blinked, sending Pei Zhengnian a playful wink.
If one word could describe Pei Zhengnian’s mood, it was fury.
If two words: sheer anger.
If four: absolutely livid.
"Shen! Nan! Chu!"
"What are you doing here?"
Since she’d been caught, Shen Nanchu saw no point in hiding.
The moment she realized it was Pei Zhengnian, she hadn’t planned to anyway.
"Hey!"
She emerged, waving cheerfully at Pei Zhengnian and the others.
Pei Zhengnian’s face twisted in rage.
"Stay there. I’m coming to get you."
"Sure, stand there and catch me."
With that, Shen Nanchu nimbly leaped down from the heights in a series of swift jumps, finally launching herself straight at Pei Zhengnian for the last one.
Pei Zhengnian, "..."
Xiong Lei, "..."
Sun Xuelin, "..."
