Chapter-06Â
The Innate Bootlicker Physique
Inside the bar.
Pei Nianâan handed Yu Zhi a glass of wine, only to see Yu Zhi holding the drink in one hand and clutching her backpack tightly with the otherâlike a mother hen protecting her chick.
Pei Nianâan shot her a look of disgust.
âWhy are you holding onto that shabby bag like itâs treasure? Whatâs the point of hugging it all night?â
âHow can you call it shabby?â Yu Zhi grinned cheekily. âThis bag carries all the love youâve given me, Sister Pei~â
Pei Nianâan shuddered, feeling goosebumps prickle up her arms. She frowned.
âDonât talk nonsense. I only love Brother Chengnian.â
Yu Zhi pouted. This rich young lady was truly the definition of a hopeless romanticâcompletely immune to reason.
Looking at the bustling crowd in the bar, Yu Zhi felt uneasy as she patted the bundle of cash in her bag.
I canât keep carrying this around every day⊠but if I deposit it, the system will automatically take it to pay my debtâŠ
Her eyes drifted to the âwalking ATMâ beside herâ
No, wait, the villainess heiress!
A lightbulb went off in Yu Zhiâs mind.
âSister Pei,â Yu Zhi leaned closer. âCan I trade you some cash for a WeChat transfer?â
Pei Nianâan looked at her like she was an idiot. âHow much?â
âOneâten thousand.â Yu Zhi raised one finger, flashing her sweetest smile.
At the number, and then glancing at Yu Zhiâs bulging bag, Pei Nianâan finally caught on.
âYu Zhi, are you out of your mind?â Pei Nianâan raised her voice. âYou want to exchange my money with me for the same money?â
The nearby rich kids burst into laughter.
Yu Zhi scratched her cheek awkwardly. âNever mind, Iâll just exchange it at the convenience store laterâŠâ
Pei Nianâan rolled her eyes, tapped a few times on her phone, and said, âDone.â
Yu Zhiâs phone chimed.
She opened WeChat and saw a 10,000 yuan transfer. Her eyes lit up.
âThank you, Sister Pei! Youâre my fairy goddess!â
She hurriedly unzipped her bag. âThe cash is right here, Sister Pei, youââ
âUgh, just keep it!â Pei Nianâan waved her hand like swatting a fly.
âWho wants your stupid bag? Keep the cash; ten thousand isnât even worth the trouble of picking up.â
Yu Zhi: â!!!â
The others burst out laughing.
Unbothered by their judgmental stares, Yu Zhiâs eyes sparkled.
âSister Pei, youâre so generous!â
She hugged her backpack tighter, grinning ear to ear.
So this is what it feels like to live around rich people? To bask in the glory of wealth?!
It was simply too wonderful!!!
When Yu Zhi got home, it was already past 1 a.m.
She tiptoed through the door, only to find the living room light still on.
Shao Jinghe was curled up on the couch. Hearing the sound, she jolted awake.
âXiao Zhi, youâre backâcough, coughâŠâ She got up quickly, suppressing her coughs. âMom left you some dinner.â
Yu Zhi looked over to see a bowl of soggy noodles with a fried egg floating beside it.
Shao Jinghe fished a sausage out of her pocket and pressed it into Yu Zhiâs hand.
âYour dadâs asleep. He doesnât know. Eat quickly!â
Holding that sausage, Yu Zhiâs throat tightened.
Shao Jinghe suddenly doubled over coughing, her thin shoulders shaking.
Yu Zhi rushed to hand her a glass of water.
After two sips, Shao Jingheâs voice turned hoarse.
âXiao Zhi, finish eating and go to bed early. Youâve got school tomorrow.â
She turned to leave.
âMom,â Yu Zhi grabbed her hand. âI have some money now. Let me take you away from here, okay?â
Shao Jinghe froze for a moment, then looked at Yu Zhi and gently shook her head.
âXiao Zhi, keep your money for yourself. And donât ever let your father find outâŠâ
âI know! I wonât give him a single cent.â Yu Zhi squeezed her motherâs hand.
âI can take you out right now. We can rent a placeâjust the two of us, far away from him. Please?â
Shao Jingheâs eyes reddened, but she pressed down Yu Zhiâs hand firmly. Her voice trembled, yet remained resolute.
âI canât, Xiao Zhi. This illness⊠I canât go without the medicine. I wonât drag you down.â
Then she turned and went back to her room.
Yu Zhi stood silently in the living room, staring at the bowl of noodles topped with chopped scallions.
Then she looked around the tiny apartmentâless than sixty square meters, small enough to see everything at a glance.
She sighed and sat down at the table.
[System]: So, when are you planning to move out?
Yu Zhi replied: Iâm not. If I leave, Shao Jinghe wonât survive.
She didnât have any real bond with the original hostâs parents, but since she was now living as Yu Zhi, sheâd fulfill the responsibilities that came with it.
At 6:30 a.m., the alarm blared like a death sentence.
Half-asleep, Yu Zhi dragged herself out of bed.
Sheâd checked her class schedule the night beforeâfirst period was piano, and Professor Zhou, who taught it, was notoriously strict. Skip class once, and youâd fail.
After rushing through her wash-up routine, she grabbed her bag and ran.
By the time she reached campus, it was nearly eight. She sprinted toward the music building, clutching her bag.
The piano classroom was already filled.
Yu Zhi took a seat in the back and stared at the piano in front of her, anxiety creeping in.
There was only one problemâshe had no idea how to play.
Seriously? she thought. I was a tone-deaf office worker in my past life, and now I have to take piano class?
She called out in her mind:
Hey, System! Got any quick way for me to learn piano? Iâm not the old Yu Zhiâwhat if they find out Iâm faking it?
[System]: Let me check.
After rummaging around noisily, it finally replied:
[System]: Found one! Skill Exchange Card.
Yu Zhiâs eyes sparkled. Use it! Quick, use it!
[System]: Youâre broke. The card costs 1,000 yuanâyou canât afford it.
Yu Zhi: âŠYouâve got to be kidding me. So I have to pay off my debt before I even get a cheat?
System, are you expecting me to relearn piano from scratch? You still consider me human?
The system hesitated, then said thoughtfully:
[System]: Hmm, you have a point. Rules are dead, people are alive⊠and I am the one who makes the rules.
[System]: Okay, how about thisâif you win Pei Nianâanâs favor, youâll earn âAffection Points.â You can use those to exchange for items. Deal?
Yu Zhi: Perfect! Youâre such a good baby, System! Mwah!
The system flushed red from the praise.
As expected from my chosen hostâborn with an innate bootlicker physique! it thought.
So sweet-tongued⊠I almost want to give her free Affection Points right now!
In the classroom, the students began practicing one by one, the overlapping piano sounds creating a chaotic mess.
Yu Zhi sneaked a look at the girl beside her, trying to copy her movements.
Useless. She couldnât understand a thing.
Just then, Pei Nianâan strolled in, yawning, and sat beside her.
Yu Zhi immediately greeted her:
âGood morning, Sister Pei!â
Pei Nianâan groaned, âWhatâs good about it? Itâs a bad morning.â
Yu Zhi instantly nodded in agreement.
âSister Pei is absolutely right!â