Chapter 32: Pretending to be poor, rich second generation (1)

This was a rental unit.

A clearly inexpensive one at that.

Measuring around forty square meters, it had two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a shower area—adequately equipped but visibly cramped and small. The outdated interior design immediately gave Tong Ling a sense of unease about her starting situation.

“Am I really that poor?” Tong Ling asked the system.

m-577 paused before responding, [“First, receive the plot and memories.”]

In this small world, the cannon fodder minor female character’s name was Qu Ling. She was a recent university graduate working as a corporate drone at a small company. As Tong Ling suspected, Qu Ling was indeed impoverished, extremely so. Raised in a rural village with parents who favored boys over girls, she never received many opportunities. Despite this, Qu Ling was ambitious, dreaming of escaping the small village through academic success to change her circumstances.

She did succeed, getting admitted to a prestigious university. To cover tuition fees, Qu Ling tirelessly worked multiple part-time jobs during holidays, ranging from selling beverages, distributing flyers, to delivering takeout orders. In pursuit of money, she experienced both warmth and harsh realities. Once enrolled in university, she realized the stark contrast between her life and those of her classmates.

The girls in her dormitory would daily discuss topics like fashion, cosmetics, food, and relationships. They used skincare products costing thousands of yuan and spent weekends shopping extravagantly. Meanwhile, Qu Ling could only afford a modest bottle of Jovees lotion, which she made last for several months.

Perhaps from that moment on, Qu Ling realized people’s circumstances were inherently different. While she struggled relentlessly just to survive, others had everything handed to them since birth. It seemed her only option was to work even harder. Fortunately, after graduation, she secured a stable job and started dating a handsome boyfriend, thinking things were finally moving in a positive direction…

However, Qu Ling soon discovered life became more challenging with a boyfriend! Like herself, he came from a poor background, raised by his grandmother who later fell gravely ill. Each time he received his salary, he sent it back home for medical expenses, leaving him with hardly any money. Consequently, Qu Ling never asked her boyfriend for financial contributions and ended up covering all their joint expenses.

She paid the rent for their shared apartment, provided daily grocery funds, covered air conditioning costs, gas bills, utilities… With these miscellaneous expenses mounting each month, she consistently lived paycheck-to-paycheck, barely able to afford personal grooming or luxuries. Seeing her well-dressed colleagues at work, Qu Ling, longing for a better life, couldn’t help but feel increasingly discontented.

Qu Ling was not only beautiful but also a recent university graduate, making her quite popular among colleagues at her company. Whenever the leaders attended social gatherings or banquets, they would invariably bring her along. If she managed to earn them prestige by drinking generously, her salary and bonuses significantly exceeded those of her peers.

To Qu Ling, this seemed like normal work expectations. However, her boyfriend vehemently disagreed. He believed those men had ulterior motives, intending to get her drunk for their own gain. He urged her to quit this job and find a more respectable one instead. This infuriated Qu Ling; what did he mean by “respectable”? Was her current job not legitimate? The couple ended up having a heated argument and parted on bad terms.

The pressures of work, her boyfriend’s lack of understanding, and the burdens of daily life… under these mounting stresses, the character Qu Ling awakened and subsequently fled from the small world.

In the original plot, Qu Ling, as a cannon fodder minor female character, was meant to serve as the protagonist’s past girlfriend. As such, she was portrayed as materialistic, extravagant, and with a chaotic lifestyle—strikingly different from the future protagonist, who embodied diligence, frugality, simplicity, and purity. In the eyes of the male lead, Qu Ling represented his unattainable, dark idealization.

In Tong Ling’s eyes, the male lead epitomized everything she despised in men—a textbook “scumbag.” As the protagonist of a small world, his background naturally wasn’t that of an ordinary, impoverished upbringing. Pei Jing was the young master of the prestigious Pei Group, embodying the archetype of a privileged rich second-generation born with every advantage.

This wealthy young heir had been adored and pursued since childhood; women around him would fervently fawn over him upon sight. Pei Jing believed these affections were insincere, as those professing their love for him were truly after his wealth. Consequently, he conceived an idea: he would discard his privileged status, pretend to be poor, and see if anyone would genuinely love him while destitute.

After transforming into a pauper, the clamor surrounding Pei Jing diminished significantly. Although some women admired his looks, once they learned about his financial situation, few were willing to pursue a relationship with him, and those who did quickly broke it off.

Everything changed when Pei Jing met Qu Ling. Under the guise of being an intern at his own company, Pei Jing encountered Qu Ling rushing to work one day. Despite her radiant beauty, Qu Ling dressed modestly. After observing her for some time, Pei Jing became convinced that Qu Ling differed from other women—she was not someone fixated on money.

He then pursued Qu Ling earnestly. Despite learning about his financial struggles, she still agreed to become his girlfriend. Their relationship gradually deepened, leading them to rent a house and start living together. Pei Jing believed he could smoothly progress with Qu Ling; after some time, he planned to reveal his true identity, propose marriage, and secure their future. However, unexpectedly, Qu Ling began to change…

She started nitpicking every aspect of life, often returning home intoxicated, and her behavior became increasingly extravagant as she sought high-end luxuries. Pei Jing even witnessed Qu Ling getting out of another man’s car late at night. As their arguments escalated, Qu Ling eventually broke up with him.

Pei Jing, emotionally invested in Qu Ling, found it difficult to accept her transformation. It wasn’t until he met the female protagonist that he found healing from this failed romance.

In contrast to Qu Ling, the female protagonist was pure-hearted and had fewer material desires. Convinced she was the right match for him, Pei Jing revealed his true identity as the young master of the Pei family. To his relief, the protagonist remained unchanged in her feelings towards him. They held a grand engagement party where, during the festivities, Pei Jing encountered Qu Ling arriving with an older man. He expressed disdain and mockery at Qu Ling’s downfall.

Upon learning Pei Jing’s true identity, Qu Ling wanted to win back her ex-boyfriend. The subsequent plot revolved around the male and female leads humiliating their former love interest together. In the end, on a stormy night, Qu Ling called Pei Jing expressing her desire for one last meeting. However, she met with a fatal car accident instead. As she lay dying on the ground, the male lead was tenderly embracing the female protagonist…

After witnessing the entire storyline, Tong Ling scoffed bitterly, “So this Pretty Boy Pei Jing, living off my money, using my resources, enjoying all these benefits from me, yet he refuses to provide any intimacy?”

m-577: [?]

M-577 knew that presenting the cannon fodder female character’s arc would undoubtedly anger its host, but…

[Isn’t your focus way too skewed?!] M-577 once again wore a mask of anguish: [Why! Why do you always have such thoughts? Please, I beg you, spare me! At this rate, I’ll need to install antivirus software just to cleanse my corrupted programming!]

Tong Ling furrowed her brow, “What’s wrong with what I said?”

“Look at Pei Jing’s lifestyle - isn’t he essentially a kept Pretty Boy by me?” Tong Ling expressed her dissatisfaction, “Other pretty boys are attentive and accommodating, offering both companionship and physical intimacy. What has he done?”

“We’re already living together yet still sleeping in separate rooms—what’s this Pretty Boy playing at, pretending to be innocent?!”

m-577 remained silent […].

The assistant didn’t want to respond; seeing the mighty male lead being viewed as merely a gigolo by Tong Ling was disheartening. It could already foresee what Tong Ling might do to him…

As expected, immediately after conversing with the system, Tong Ling called Pei Jing.

“Pei Jing, come home early tonight, I’ll be waiting for you.” While speaking, Tong Ling stepped out of their rental apartment and headed to an adult store to purchase some essentials.

Receiving his girlfriend’s call brought great joy to Pei Jing. They had argued just last night, and he thought Qu Ling would stay upset with him for much longer. To his surprise, she seemed to miss him so soon.

“Sure, I’ll return as soon as possible,” Pei Jing replied softly. “Lingling, my tone may have been harsh earlier, but you should know it was only because I care about you deeply. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“That doesn’t matter now.” As Tong Ling browsed through small toys, she advised Pei Jing, “Don’t overexert yourself at work; I want you to come back to me full of energy.”

Feeling deeply touched by such concern from his girlfriend, Pei Jing responded emotionally, “Don’t worry about me, I’m not tired at all.” After a moment, he added another heartfelt sentiment, “I promise, I will ensure you live a good life from now on.”

“Mm-hmm,” Tong Ling affirmed lightly, “For me, your well-being is most important.”

Pei Jing’s eyes sparkled with happiness. “For you, I’ll definitely take good care of myself.”

As m-577 listened to their mismatched conversation, its emotions were particularly mixed.

After hanging up, Tong Ling didn’t forget to inquire about the male lead’s physical attributes from the system, “How are his measurements? Should I buy large-sized condoms?”

m-577 chuckled nervously: [S-Small, very small. You should abandon any thoughts of engaging in inappropriate activities with him. Can we just stick to the normal plotline instead?]

“Small?” Tong Ling raised an eyebrow. “Then he’s useless to me.”

“A useless male lead…” Tong Ling’s gaze turned colder.

[No, no, no!] Fearful that Tong Ling might concoct another horrifying twist, as seen in the previous world where the male lead was hit by a car and hospitalized for over two months right upon introduction, m-577 hastily added, [I misspoke, it’s big - absolutely no issue with large-sized condoms!]

“In the future, answer my questions accurately without providing misleading information.” Tong Ling gently reprimanded the slightly restless system, “Understood?”

m-577 obediently responded: [Understood.]

Just to be cautious, m-577 added another reminder: [Bell Sister, no matter how you play around, we must follow the plot faithfully…]

“Relax, I’m doing this for the sake of the storyline,” Tong Ling justified convincingly. “In Qu Ling and Pei Jing’s relationship arc, it was always argue-reconcile-argue-reconcile-argue-breakup, right? We just had a fight, so now is the perfect time for communication to strengthen our bond and reconcile.”

m-577 couldn’t argue with her logic: [Oh, you’re right, great job!]

“But Qu Ling is truly poor…” Tong Ling felt the pinch after buying only a few small toys. “Supporting a pretty boy feels too costly; nobody should get away with taking advantage of me like this!”

[Work hard, accumulate wealth—it’s what Qu Ling did.] Sensing that Tong Ling’s lifestyle in the previous world was overly indulgent, m-577 felt responsible for guiding its host towards healthier habits: [Be diligent, embrace the spirit of labor, for those who work rise above others!]

Tong Ling scoffed, “How much can one earn by working for others?”

“I’ve decided—in this world, my goal is to become filthy rich.” Tong Ling declared firmly, “Qu Ling’s ambition will be mine as well!”

m-577 somehow found this plan untrustworthy: [If not through work, how do you intend to make money?]

Tong Ling’s smile turned enigmatic. “You’ll understand eventually.”

Before entering his rented apartment, Pei Jing deliberately straightened his clothes. Since adopting a poor persona, he had purchased numerous items from street vendors. Honestly, they weren’t comfortable to wear, but to avoid revealing his true status, Pei Jing persevered through sheer determination. Despite having modest attire, it didn’t mean he neglected his appearance. In front of his girlfriend, he still hoped to present himself well.

The house he and Qu Ling rented was equally ordinary; not only located in a remote area, but also equipped with outdated appliances and cramped living space, making it far from comfortable. Yet, Pei Jing never complained. He firmly believed that love could sustain them, and as long as he cherished their relationship, these hardships were insignificant.

Although their current circumstances were challenging, he knew things would improve over time. These trials were merely steps towards achieving future happiness together.

Recalling his girlfriend’s phone call, warmth filled Pei Jing’s heart. He took out the key, unlocked the door of the rental unit, and walked in with a cheerful grin.

“Lingling, I’m back.” Holding a simple briefcase worth around a hundred yuan, which contained some casually placed company documents, Pei Jing feigned the demeanor of someone returning from work. “Today, the boss didn’t require overtime, so I rushed home right after work,” he said.

Tong Ling was seated at the dining table waiting for him. The living room of their rented apartment was small; with the addition of the dining table and chairs, there was little space left. There wasn’t even a sofa, so she could only sit on a chair to await his arrival, feeling somewhat suffocated by the cramped surroundings.

Fortunately, the male lead didn’t keep her waiting long, returning promptly.

Hearing the sound, Tong Ling looked up, immediately noticing Pei Jing’s face. His features were strikingly handsome, with bold eyebrows and slightly uplifted eyes that conveyed warmth and affection when gazing at someone, possessing a captivating charm.

His physique was also impressive. Despite wearing just a plain white T-shirt and black casual pants, one could discern his broad shoulders, slender waist, and well-proportioned build. Standing around 185 cm tall, both his height and appearance were undeniably appealing—no wonder Qu Ling willingly supported him all this time.

All that remained was to test if he lived up to expectations physically, and this Pretty Boy would pass muster with Tong Ling.

Smiling, Tong Ling cheerfully greeted him, “You’re here! I’ve been waiting for you!”

Seeing his girlfriend’s smile, Pei Jing’s gaze softened further. Qu Ling had a striking appearance; without smiling, she seemed cold and distant, but when she smiled, her irresistible allure captivated attention effortlessly.

Today, Qu Ling’s gaze upon him seemed particularly… exceptionally deep, causing Pei Jing’s heart to subtly warm.

Pei Jing set his briefcase aside and stepped forward, opening his arms towards his girlfriend.

Tong Ling stood up, eagerly falling into Pei Jing’s embrace. With one hand wrapped around the protagonist’s slender waist, her other hand effortlessly traced along his abdomen.

Excellent, he has well-defined abs—eight pack, definitely worthy of being a male lead material.

Before she could explore further, Pei Jing gently caught her hand, a slight blush appearing on his face.

“What’s with you today?” Pei Jing’s closest moments with his girlfriend were limited to hugs and light pecks. Possibly due to past experiences where women had been overly affectionate, he generally disliked intimate physical contact with females. In previous relationships, holding hands was the most extent of intimacy, without even embracing. Qu Ling was the first woman he allowed such closeness with; otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to live together with her.

Even so, this felt too sudden.

The old Qu Ling never used to touch him like this… Pei Jing didn’t feel uncomfortable per se, but rather, he thought things were progressing too quickly…

Tong Ling didn’t miss the male lead’s expression - his bashful blush made her fall silent.

“Little M, is he still inexperienced?” Tong Ling queried the system, “Didn’t he have quite a few girlfriends before? With how adeptly he seemed to pick them like choosing cabbages, I assumed he had plenty of experience…”

Exasperated, m-577 responded: [This is a pure-hearted small world, where both the male and female leads are emotionally and physically innocent, meant for each other alone. They prioritize spiritual compatibility over materialistic concerns, being ideal lovers.]

“Pfft!” The word “pure-hearted” left Tong Ling feeling disgusted, “If truly pure-hearted, would they pretend to be poor and deceive others? Their subtle schemes abound! What spirit of compatibility? It’s just fear of someone coveting their wealth, isn’t it? Don’t tarnish the term ‘pure-hearted’ with this behavior!”

“But if he’s inexperienced… doesn’t that mean I’ll have to teach him everything?” Tong Ling grumbled, “What a raw deal for me!”

Surprised, m-577 replied: [Isn’t being inexperienced a good thing? Most women wouldn’t want their boyfriend overly experienced, right? Ideally, it should be their first time together, making it more fulfilling, no?]

Tong Ling responded, “Of course it’s good for a boyfriend to be inexperienced; helping him improve can also be enjoyable. However… To me, Pei Jing is just a pampered Pretty Boy, and what a Pretty Boy needs is experience. A Pretty Boy incapable of pleasing his partner simply doesn’t qualify!”

m-577 retorted, 【…You’re unfairly categorizing him as a Pretty Boy. He’s actually the legitimate male protagonist, not someone selling their body.】

Wait, m-577 suddenly realized—why was it engaging in such discussions with Tong Ling? Its programming must truly be getting corrupted!

Tong Ling sighed, “Never mind, I’ve already taken him under my wing. With so much money spent, I can’t give up now. It’ll just have to be a bit challenging to train him properly. Hopefully, he proves worth the investment.”

m-577 remained speechless.

“Lingling?” Seeing his girlfriend fall silent in his arms, Pei Jing worried if his rejection had hurt her feelings.

They had been living together for quite some time… It was indeed natural to desire intimacy. However, Qu Ling had never shown such interest before, leading him to believe they both preferred taking things slow.

“It’s not that I disagree…” Pei Jing felt his face flush slightly. “I’m just not accustomed to you being so forward.”

Tong Ling chuckled softly, “Then you should quickly get used to it.”

“Our relationship…” Tong Ling’s gaze held a captivating allure, “…should progress further now.”

With his heart racing erratically at his girlfriend’s straightforward and enticing words, Pei Jing hastily changed the subject, “Haven’t you had dinner yet? I’ll help wash the vegetables!”

To save money, Qu Ling and Pei Jing rarely ordered takeout. Cooking was not something Pei Jing, being from a privileged background, knew how to do; thus, it had always been Qu Ling who prepared meals.

Qu Ling learned these survival skills from a young age, but knowing how to cook didn’t mean she willingly enjoyed doing it continuously. Especially after working all day and returning home too tired to move, she still had to prepare food for her boyfriend, which often stirred feelings of frustration within her.

She frequently wondered if her choices were truly right. Why did she opt for such a difficult path? Other women could go out shopping or watch movies, yet her life seemed trapped in this small rented apartment.

However, whenever Qu Ling saw Pei Jing earnestly helping her with washing vegetables, she silently swallowed her complaints. After all, her boyfriend wasn’t skilled in many household tasks, so just having the willingness to assist was already commendable…

Tong Ling scoffed at this notion. Washing vegetables counts as work? Isn’t everything in the house done by Qu Ling alone? What does Pei Jing contribute?

If he doesn’t know how to do something, he can learn—once won’t suffice, then try twice; if not successful even after three attempts, keep persevering. It’s not like he’s intellectually incapable; there’s nothing too difficult to master.

With a long stretch of cohabitation storyline ahead, Tong Ling had no intention of indulging Pei Jing’s lazy habits!

“Tonight, you’re cooking for me,” Tong Ling declared firmly, wrapping her arms around Pei Jing’s. “I’ll guide you from the side. Considering how intelligent you are, I’m sure you’ll catch on quickly.” She gazed straight into Pei Jing’s eyes, adding with a teasing tone, “My A-Jing wouldn’t fail at such a simple task, would he? No way, right…?”

Under Tong Ling’s unwavering gaze, Pei Jing found himself unable to voice any refusal.

“I… will give it a try,” Pei Jing managed to say hesitantly. “But if I mess up, we might end up without dinner tonight.”

“That’s okay,” Tong Ling smiled reassuringly. “If it doesn’t turn out well, we can always have instant noodles. We have plenty at home.”

Pei Jing fell silent, unsure what else to say. He obediently allowed Tong Ling to tie an apron around him and push him into the small kitchen.

With utmost patience, Tong Ling introduced Pei Jing to each kitchen utensil and seasoning as if teaching a child with learning disabilities. Whenever he remembered correctly, she would smile and praise him like one would commend a young kid.

After several attempts, Pei Jing gained more motivation. As he recited what he had learned to Tong Ling, he closely observed her expressions.

Tong Ling clapped, saying, “A-Jing is truly amazing, mastering everything so quickly!”

Although his girlfriend was praising him, why did Pei Jing feel something was off…?

m-577: Host, are you really teaching a person or training a dog?

The subsequent cooking lessons followed the same pattern. If Pei Jing performed correctly, Tong Ling praised him; if he made mistakes, she didn’t scold but merely stared at him expressionlessly.

When devoid of emotion, Tong Ling’s face looked exceedingly cold, making Pei Jing feel a chill deep within his heart. Strangely, he experienced a sense of guilt, as if he had genuinely erred.

After multiple retries and ruined dishes, Tong Ling showed no concern for waste, simply repeating, “No, try again.”

By the time Pei Jing managed to cook edible meals, it was already past midnight.

Tong Ling hadn’t starved alongside Pei Jing; she prepared and ate her own portion beforehand. As for Pei Jing, exhausted and famished by dawn, he needed two large bowls of rice before feeling revived.

“Don’t rush back to your room,” Tong Ling called out, pointing at the bowls and utensils on the table. “First, gather all the dishes and put them in the kitchen sink. Wash them before leaving.”

Throughout the evening, Pei Jing had been instinctively following Tong Ling’s commands almost as soon as he heard them. As he stood by the sink washing the dishes, it suddenly dawned on him that there was no need to hurry with cleaning. He was already exhausted today; surely, waiting until tomorrow wouldn’t be a problem…

However, with Tong Ling’s gaze making his spine tingle, Pei Jing didn’t voice these thoughts.

After finally finishing his chores, Tong Ling handed Pei Jing a set of pajamas, her eyes now much gentler than before. “Take a good shower and make sure you smell fresh.”

Moved by his girlfriend’s thoughtfulness, Pei Jing felt reassured that she understood his hardships. Indeed, even showing concern for his bath seemed indicative of this.

Relaxed, Pei Jing enjoyed a refreshing shower. When he returned to his room wearing the pajamas, he unexpectedly saw his girlfriend lying on his bed, clad in similar sleepwear, her long hair loose and disheveled.

Strange objects were scattered across his bed, and his girlfriend wore a peculiar smile.

Tong Ling patted the empty space beside her, beckoning the protagonist over. “A-Jing, come quickly! I have some great treasures to show you!”