Chapter 33: Pretending to be poor, rich second generation (2)

Pei Jing didn’t fully grasp his girlfriend’s words, but he wasn’t foolish. Just by her anticipation of him, he could already sense what this implied.

Pei Jing couldn’t recall how he managed to walk inside and sit down, following his girlfriend’s instruction to take a seat beside her. In this situation, retreating was not an option; otherwise…otherwise it would be far too embarrassing for him.

Despite having no experience, he had to maintain a composed facade…

Although mentally prepared, Pei Jing felt extremely stiff, barely daring to meet the gaze of the woman before him. He had never seen his girlfriend like this before.

Qu Ling had always been beautiful, with a charm that maintained a certain distance between herself and others. Previously, Pei Jing thought this distance was ideal, as he himself was reserved by nature. Their interactions seemed perfectly comfortable in this manner.

However, upon seeing Qu Ling now, Pei Jing’s thoughts changed.

This breathtakingly gorgeous side of his girlfriend was unseen elsewhere.

Perhaps she revealed this aspect only to him. Under her intense gaze, Pei Jing experienced a newfound sensation.

Shouldn’t he take the initiative and do something? As soon as this thought crossed his mind, he noticed his girlfriend’s fingers reaching towards him.

His thoughts were disrupted.

As his girlfriend’s cool voice resonated, Pei Jing felt compelled to obey her commands; his hesitation and unease swiftly vanished. These unprecedented experiences left him with no choice but to compliantly follow, unable to even consider refusal.

Upon realizing the host’s intentions, m577 already knew what would unfold next. It refrained from making a fuss this time, as the host never took its concerns seriously anyway. Now, m577 silently hugged its round body tightly, patiently waiting for the game to conclude.

In fact, amidst their voices, it internally conducted various assessments, such as:

If the host asked if the male lead didn’t like something and he responded with a non-committal grunt, it absolutely meant he did like it.

The saying goes that women often say one thing but mean another, yet m577 found it more fitting when applied to men.

For some reason, every man who initially appeared quite proper before the host eventually turned out rather peculiar.

Pei Jing was especially notable in this regard.

At first, the male lead of this small world couldn’t even utter a sound, but later…

A hint of despair crossed m577’s gaze. Why… why is the male lead always so disappointingly weak-willed?

Pei Jing didn’t want to be so feeble-minded either, but his thoughts had long become a chaotic mess.

Occasionally, a thought would flash through his mind: Why is my girlfriend so skilled? Isn’t she proficient in too many things?

“My A-Jing is truly amazing.”

Tong Ling gently patted Pei Jing’s cheek, her words directed at his dazed expression. “There’s still so much you need to learn; don’t disappoint me.”

Pei Jing couldn’t clearly hear what Tong Ling was saying, nor could he focus on anything else at that moment.

However…

“How utterly useless.” Tong Ling let out a cold snort and relentlessly taunted the exhausted Pei Jing, “I barely felt anything before you gave up?”

m577 couldn’t discern exactly what its host had done, but how could the male lead of this small world be incapable? The first time being unexpected…that was quite normal, right?

Unaware that it was common, Pei Jing seemed deeply hurt by Tong Ling’s scornful gaze. Anxiously, he exclaimed, “I can do it, I’m capable!”

Only then did Tong Ling offer him an encouraging look. “Good, let’s try again.”

The second attempt was noticeably better than the first, lasting longer without any mishaps due to excessive excitement. However…

“A-Jing, is your health not quite good?” Tong Ling furrowed her brow, her eyes filled with concern and disappointment. “With how you’re performing…you really need some nourishment…”

Was he not performing well enough? Perhaps due to the unique male pride in such matters, Pei Jing feared leaving any unfavorable impressions on his girlfriend.

“Give me another chance…” Despite being exhausted tonight, drained by his girlfriend’s peculiar items, Pei Jing dared not request a break. If he did, how could he face her in the future with any dignity?

”…Alright,” Tong Ling murmured softly, “it depends on your performance.”

During their third attempt, as if fearing any displeased expression from Tong Ling, Pei Jing felt so tense that his throat tightened.

Tong Ling watched him silently.

Pei Jing lowered his head, patiently preparing for a fourth round.

Throughout the night, Pei Jing was like a wound-up clock, never pausing for a moment. Eventually, all sensations seemed distant; he lay back, dazed and unsure what had just transpired.

Only his girlfriend’s voice echoed in his ears: “What should we do? A-Jing, you’re so useless. Who else would want you besides me?”

Pei Jing wanted to object, but he couldn’t move, while his girlfriend sat beside him, visibly energized. This forced Pei Jing to doubt whether he truly…wasn’t quite up to par.

The emotional blow was immense, leaving Pei Jing filled with a sense of defeat. Even in his sleep, he could hear his girlfriend’s disappointed sighs echoing in his dreams.

As the system aware of the truth, m577’s virtual eyelid twitched: [Host, is it really necessary to torment him so much? You’re clearly exhausted too!]

In the sea of consciousness, Tong Ling held up a prop cigarette, gesturing for m577 to light it. “Exhausted? I’ll feel better after this smoke.”

[This prop is meant to help you relax mentally, not for smoking!] m577 regretted allowing Tong Ling to discover the cigarette’s unintended use. Who would have thought that a post-activity cigarette would turn into a pre-activity one? Wouldn’t it be better to channel that energy into advancing the plot instead? How come humans are so interested in these activities?

[And… won’t the male lead be completely devastated by this setback?] m577 muttered while lighting Tong Ling’s cigarette: [He did quite well for his first time, yet you left him like this…]

“He owes me far too much; he must make amends promptly,” Tong Ling replied. “Besides, considering how much money I’ve spent on him, isn’t it reasonable for him to compensate more?”

m577 remained silent, at a loss for words.

While Pei Jing lay unconscious, Tong Ling took the opportunity to search through his phone.

As usual, Tong Ling used fingerprint unlock to access Pei Jing’s phone and browse through various information. True to his reputation as a master at feigning poverty, his account balance was shockingly empty—perfectly embodying the principle “as long as I have no money, you won’t get a cent from me.”

“How does he even survive…” Tong Ling exclaimed, astonished. “He doesn’t leave any allowance for himself, what a tightwad!”

Seeing that even its host couldn’t exploit Pei Jing financially, m577 suppressed a laugh: [At home, he relies on Qu Ling, and at work, he never needs to spend much. Host, it’s best not to bother; you won’t squeeze much out of him.]

Tong Ling sifted once more through Pei Jing’s contacts and social media apps. His incredibly simple social circle starkly contrasted with typical affluent second-generation youngsters outside. It made sense, given Pei Jing’s peculiar mindset; most people wouldn’t naturally gravitate towards him.

After reviewing the information, Tong Ling stuffed the phone back into its original place. Pei Jing’s room lacked any valuable items either. She pondered briefly before finally turning her attention to the briefcase he had brought home.

Only upon examining the documents within the briefcase did a smile finally appear on Tong Ling’s face.

“Finally, something of value.” After photographing the documents, Tong Ling took a shower, changed her clothes, packed up, and stepped out of the room.

[Host, aren’t you going to rest?] m577 glanced at the motionless male lead lying on the bed, then looked at Tong Ling, full of energy and ready to leave. In that moment, it empathized with the male lead’s sense of defeat. Indeed, he couldn’t compare - truly couldn’t.

“I’m off to improve my lifestyle.” Tong Ling turned back for one last look at the cramped rental unit. “This place is only suitable for Pei Jing.”

“And a rich woman deserves a spacious home.”

m577 initially thought when Tong Ling mentioned improving her lifestyle, she meant going out to earn money. Yet what followed was…

[H-How many credit cards did y-you apply for?] As m577 watched Tong Ling visit bank after bank, securing multiple cards, she quickly amassed a substantial credit limit.

Qu Ling had excellent personal credit and a stable job, making her a highly desirable customer for banks issuing credit cards.

With the trend of advanced spending, even various mobile apps offered loan services. Obtaining a quick influx of cash wasn’t difficult at all.

However, the previous Qu Ling had never considered borrowing money this way. She was grounded and practical; even if she lived paycheck to paycheck, she wouldn’t resort to loans. While taking out credit could improve her immediate circumstances, she worried about repayment later. Without the means to clear her debts swiftly, maintaining a stable job seemed like the best option she could envision.

Tong Ling, on the other hand, was different.

She possessed an inherent adventurous spirit. Borrowing money wasn’t just acceptable for her; her true expertise lay in achieving gains without initial investment—essentially getting something for nothing.

“I think this office building is quite nice,” Tong Ling said as she stood before a commercial tower. “Having my company located here would also make it more prominent.”

m577 continued its astonishment: [Company? What company do you have?]

“We’ll need office space, registration, interior design, and creating a logo…” Tong Ling meticulously planned each step. “Looks like I’ll be very busy for some time.”

Tong Ling didn’t feel overwhelmed at all; tasks like these were as routine to her as drinking water or eating meals.

She didn’t rush to resign from her current job either. There were still several company events she intended to attend, seeing them as excellent opportunities to promote her own budding business.

m577 watched as Tong Ling leased office space, giving it a simple yet elegant interior design. The furniture was chosen for its affordability, but with a coat of natural wood finish, it appeared quite refined.

After completing company registration and hanging up the logo, m577 observed Tong Ling hiring a batch of inexpensive employees online. These staff members had minimal responsibilities; they simply needed to clock in regularly while performing occasional tasks assigned by Tong Ling. Due to the easy-going nature of their work, the employees were deeply grateful to their boss, Tong Ling, fostering a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere throughout the company.

Once the company’s facade took shape, Tong Ling invited several bosses she had met at social events to visit her workplace.

“I didn’t expect Miss Qu’s company to be so well-established. Working as a regular employee would truly be underutilizing your talents,” remarked one man who initially admired Qu Ling’s appearance but now focused on her wealth.

Tong Ling smiled, showing no hint of shyness from the compliment. She graciously responded, “Working at other companies allowed me to gain valuable experience. There is still much I need to learn about operations. If not for the substantial inheritance left by my grandfather, I wouldn’t have had the courage to venture out myself.”

“Having ambition is commendable for young people,” another executive praised her. “Miss Qu, I firmly believe your career prospects will be promising.”

One’s business acumen can often be gauged by observing their interactions and approach to dealing with others.

The executives rarely encountered someone as young and adept as Tong Ling, naturally leading them to have high expectations of her potential.

After exchanging pleasantries, Tong Ling got straight to the point, saying, “Actually, I have a project currently under development. Once completed, it has the potential to significantly alter the market landscape.”

“However, being a novice with limited experience, handling such a large-scale project alone is beyond my capabilities, frankly speaking.” Tong Ling addressed the group before her, “I trust each of you as reliable individuals, and I propose we collaborate on this project together. Not only would this reduce risks, but also ensure shared profits.”

These seasoned businessmen were not easily swayed by mere words from Tong Ling; they needed tangible evidence to consider her proposal seriously.

Tong Ling handed out pre-printed documents to each person, “As far as I know, the Pei Group is also highly interested in this project. I will find ways to secure their investment, which would greatly enhance our project’s prospects.”

“Pei Group?” The mention of such a prestigious name lit up the eyes of the bosses. “Miss Qu, can you indeed attract funding from the Pei Group?”

“These documents contain internal plans from the Pei Group,” Tong Ling smiled. “To be honest, the young master of the Pei family is my boyfriend.”

The bosses examined the materials in their hands and found no issues. Realizing that Miss Qu, standing before them, was the girlfriend of the Pei Group’s young master… her value became immeasurable.

“Miss Qu is the girlfriend of the Pei Group’s young master?” Curiosity piqued, as the young master of the Pei Group was notoriously low-profile, rarely seen even within their social circles.

Tong Ling tucked stray strands of hair behind her ear, her smile sweet. “A-Jing isn’t comfortable with too much attention, so we’ve never publicly disclosed our relationship.”

“If Miss Qu truly secures funding from the Pei Group, we’ll definitely participate in this project, no matter what it takes,” one of the bosses stated.

The others nodded in agreement. “With the Pei Group as investors, we have nothing to worry about. We’ll definitely need to thank Miss Qu for involving us later.”

Tong Ling finalized the arrangements with them, her expression delighted as she escorted the group out of the company.

Having observed everything from start to finish, m577 marveled at its host’s audacity: [Truly, one’s boldness determines their success. Your shell company only has a business proposal; there’s nothing else yet. And you still dare to bring people on board?]

“With the Pei Group’s name involved, I’m confident they won’t resist,” Tong Ling replied assuredly.

[But securing funding… can you actually obtain it?] m577 poured some cold water on her optimism: [Don’t forget who Pei Jing is - do you think he’d willingly part with his money?]

Tong Ling clapped her hands, signaling the employees to clock out for the day. She picked up her purse and gracefully walked out of the office building, swaying slightly. “This isn’t just about him handing over money; it’s about making a deal.”

“Once Pei Jing realizes that I’m not after his wealth and sees a suitable investment opportunity for his company, he will know what to do.”

Ever since his relationship with his girlfriend deepened, Pei Jing felt that something had changed between them.

It wasn’t that his girlfriend was any less caring, but rather, he often found himself unsure how to face her…

The experience from that night left Pei Jing somewhat apprehensive. Initially, he felt comfortable and even delighted, but failing to satisfy his girlfriend later made him feel inexplicably inferior before her.

It’s not that he hadn’t tried to regain confidence, but whenever facing his girlfriend, he found himself powerless against her influence. This led to repeated instances of embarrassment, leaving him now with a constant sense of weakness…

“A-Jing~” Upon hearing Tong Ling’s voice, Pei Jing swiftly climbed out of bed and rushed to the door like a flash, offering her slippers.

Tong Ling, visibly tipsy, kicked off her high heels, embraced the rushing Pei Jing, and playfully pinched his cheeks. “A-Jing, have you been good at home?”

Pei Jing wrinkled his brow, overwhelmed by the alcohol scent on her breath. He wanted to be upset, yet her affectionate gestures softened his heart. All he could do was quickly support her and carefully guide her to a chair.

“I want water, burp~” Tong Ling tapped the table insistently, demanding, “Water, I need some water!”

Pei Jing hurriedly fetched a glass, waiting until it cooled to a suitable temperature before handing it to her.

“Feed me.” Tong Ling opened her mouth, winking at Pei Jing.

Resigned, Pei Jing patiently guided the cup to his girlfriend’s lips. Just as Tong Ling took a sip of water and he was about to sigh with relief, she started fussing again.

“Did you stew the soup I asked for today?” Tong Ling leaned on the table, resting her chin in one hand, and posed the question.

Upon hearing this, Pei Jing’s face flushed red.

“I-I did…” His cheeks nearly smoked at the thought of the ingredients his girlfriend had brought home.

“Go bring out the soup,” Tong Ling said. “I’ll watch you drink it.”

Pei Jing desperately wanted to persuade Tong Ling to abandon the idea of making him take nourishing supplements, but his own inadequacy prevented him from rejecting her request. Moreover, the ingredients were truly expensive; Pei Jing couldn’t fathom how much of her salary Tong Ling had spent on them, so he dared not waste them.

As Pei Jing drank the thick deer broth right in front of Tong Ling, he knew that yet another sleepless night likely awaited him.

“You’re already quite drunk, maybe we should skip tonight…” Pei Jing’s voice trailed off.

Tong Ling gazed at Pei Jing and suddenly smiled. “Tonight, I want you to personally perform a show for me using those toys I bought.”

Pei Jing couldn’t fathom how his relationship with his girlfriend had deteriorated to this point. Embarrassed, he chided her softly, “Qu Ling! Wh-what do you think I am?”

Recently, Pei Jing found himself constantly exhausted at night and catching up on sleep during the day. He even stopped going to work, staying home every day.

He learned to cook, sweep floors, and maintain household cleanliness.

After eagerly awaiting his girlfriend’s return, she showed up heavily intoxicated, clearly having consumed excessive amounts of alcohol. Upon opening her mouth, she immediately made such a demand!

Despite loving her, Pei Jing felt it was becoming too much…

“You’re the one I’m supporting,” Tong Ling asserted confidently. “I take care of you; why can’t I simply see what pleases me?”

As she spoke, she slammed her purse onto the table. “Pei Jing, I treat you so well, yet you can’t fulfill this small request? Are you tired of being with me? I hustle tirelessly for your sake outside, only for you to treat me like this?”

Under Tong Ling’s scolding, Pei Jing instinctively wanted to apologize. However, when he saw the Hermès bag in her hand, his eyes widened significantly.

“Where did you get this bag?” Considering its exorbitant price, how could his girlfriend afford it? As Pei Jing recalled her intoxicated state, numerous suspicions suddenly arose in his mind.

Has she taken a wrong path? With her striking beauty, there must be many individuals eyeing her, tempting her with money and lavish outings. Could she have succumbed to such enticements?

Once these thoughts surfaced, all the overlooked details rushed back to him. His girlfriend’s appearance had subtly changed; she no longer wore her old dresses, leaving early each day and returning late, always evasive when questioned about her activities outside. The quality of meals she brought home steadily improved, significantly elevating their standard of living over time!

How hadn’t he noticed earlier that what his girlfriend wore and used far exceeded the typical standards for someone from an ordinary family?

Upon closer inspection, Pei Jing saw that Tong Ling was wearing a Chanel dress, and her high heels were a popular Jimmy Choo model—items well beyond luxury. How could she possess such extravagances? It seemed impossible!

Tong Ling’s gaze flickered momentarily before she raised her voice louder than Pei Jing, saying, “These are all fakes, just replicas! I bought them for work appearances!”

“A knockoff?” Pei Jing picked up the bag for closer inspection. While he may not be well-versed in dresses and shoes, luxury handbags…he had seen plenty of genuine ones. The bag his girlfriend held, from its leather quality to the engraving, stitching to metal hardware, was unmistakably authentic!

“This is real! Why are you lying to me!” As Pei Jing recalled how hard he worked at home, the sense of injustice swiftly transformed into raging anger. “Are you that consumed by vanity? These items are beyond your means. Who gifted them to you? Have you betrayed me? Tell me!”

Tong Ling adopted a defiant stance, refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing. “How do you know it’s real? I’ve already said they’re fake; are you doubting my word?”

“I’ve seen genuine luxury goods! This one is definitely real!”

“Being so poor, how could you possibly recognize luxury items?” Tong Ling sneered. “Pei Jing, can’t you even craft a believable lie?”

Furious, Pei Jing nearly considered revealing his true identity. To him, these luxury items were insignificant; he never cared much about flaunting wealth.

“Do you really need me to take this to an authentication service before you’ll admit the truth?” Pei Jing decided to give his girlfriend one last chance. If she couldn’t provide a reasonable explanation, then…

Just thinking about the word “breakup” made Pei Jing’s heart ache.

Tong Ling fell silent at this point.

Pei Jing awaited her explanation.

M577 recognized that its host was following the plotline; the extravagance of the cannon fodder female character often led to arguments with the male lead. However, recalling how things had escalated to this state, m577 felt a buildup of grievances it desperately wanted to vent.

[All these clothes, shoes, and bags are genuine… but they’re all rented.] M577 had never encountered someone so adept at projecting wealth while meticulously budgeting. Items borrowed today would be returned tomorrow—appearing as a wealthy heiress on the surface, yet hiding an unknown pile of credit card debts…

Even repaying the loans involved shifting funds from one source to another, accumulating more debt each time. M577 suspected that its host might soon end up on the credit blacklist. To make matters worse, the host also owned a shell company, intending to engage in fraudulent financing schemes…

Could its host get arrested? Would completing the task in this world still be possible?

Tong Ling rested her forehead against her hand, seemingly out of options. “Since you insist on an explanation, I have no choice but to tell you.”

“Pei Jing, I did deceive you.”

Pei Jing clenched his fists tightly. Was his girlfriend about to break up with him? Could she no longer bear his financial situation?

Tong Ling said, “These luxury items all belong to me. Recently, for business purposes, I started using them again from my past.”

“I lied to you; I’m not from a poor mountain village. My grandfather is a nobleman in country F, and I have inheritance rights. I didn’t want you to value me solely based on my status, so I concealed this from you for so long…”