Chapter 75: 75: The Bluff System

The system was unhappy, “Host, although you often call me a ‘damn thing,’ I am a system, an artificial intelligence, not a puppy.”

Xu Ying’s eyes twinkled as she cajoled, “System, you just don’t understand. In our human world, dogs are the most loyal and closest companions to humans.

The reason I bought this dog-patterned skin for you is that I consider you my best friend. Are you saying you’re not loyal to me?

Could it be that we’re not the best of friends?”

The system felt its brain wasn’t up to par, as if it actually was so.

“Thank you, my dear host. I really like this dog-patterned skin, so why don’t you buy it and give it to me now?”

Xu Ying was almost laughing herself silly inside, and immediately purchased the dog-patterned skin for the system.

“System, put on the skin and let me see how it looks, will you?”

The system, excited and elated, switched to the new skin. If it had a physical form, it would certainly have been shaking its hips and dancing.

Nevertheless, the screen flashed with an image of a dog holding a stick and gyrating its waist in a wild dance.

“Thank you, my dear host.”

“System, what’s this about an upgrade, and what changes will occur after the upgrade?” Xu Ying asked curiously.

“System upgrades will bring many improvements. For example, right now the system has an exchange feature in the store that lets you swap items in your space that don’t fit for equivalents, or turn extra money into points.

But, if upgraded, the system will directly open store functions, and the host can purchase items in the store.

The store comes from the future and has many high-tech products, all of which are very beneficial to the host.

Of course, these high-tech products will be of higher quality as the system’s level increases.”

“How to upgrade?” Xu Ying grew curious.

“You don’t need 9998, you don’t need 8888, and you don’t need 6668.”

“Then how much is needed?”

“Only 999 yuan.”

“Close system,” Xu Ying said ruthlessly.

“Yingying, I’m off to work now. You don’t get off until seven, right? Our supply and sales co-op has just received a new batch of defective goods, including floral fabric, soap dishes and soap, and ceramic basins. Would you want any?

Sister Qiu Ye said that if you want some, we could both help you get more,” Gu Fuying said.

These days, Xu Ying had also started working, and Second Brother Xu was working too. Qiu Ye said Xu Ying probably wanted to buy many things and wouldn’t miss out now that she had money.

She specifically asked her to see.

Sure enough, as expected, as soon as Xu Ying heard this, she hurriedly nodded, “I’ll take them.”

Their family currently had only one ceramic basin shared for everything from washing faces to feet. They also had just one bar of soap in the house which, apart from her use, everyone else was reluctant to use.

The floral fabric could be used too; she could make a dress for her sister-in-law.

Her sister-in-law hadn’t got a new dress since she joined the family, and the floral patterns were too youthful and not suitable for her mother. So, she would not buy it for her mother.

“Are there any electric kettles? I’d like a few,” Xu Ying asked. Winter was approaching, and the house had a total of only two kettles, one in her room and one in her mother’s. The rest of the people didn’t have any.

“Yes, but at most I can get you two,” said Fuying.

Xu Ying nodded, that was fine.@@novelbin@@

She’d give one to her sister-in-law and one to Second Brother Xu. Just right.

After eating and drinking her fill, Gu Fuying went off to work. Huo Chen sat in the restaurant and told Wu Qingsong to head back first; he would wander around the area a bit more.

Wu Qingsong had no other business, and though he hadn’t made much money today, it was still money, after all.

He strolled around, bought some pastries for the kids, and went home.

Huo Chen sat in the restaurant, waiting until Xu Ying got off work.

“Huo Chen, why are you still here?” Xu Ying was full of astonishment, wondering if she had been too busy to notice he was there all along, or if he had left and then come back.

But Huo Chen had been there the entire time, watching Xu Ying busy herself, occasionally frowning, occasionally grinning like an idiot all on her own.

She had changed a lot from the Xu Ying of before—could it be that people really had sudden realizations when facing death?

Then why hadn’t the sons of the Huo Family?

Huo Chen’s eyes burned with anger as he thought of the harm that his grandmother and he had suffered at the hands of several members of the Huo Family. He was like an enraged lion, ready to bite at any moment.

“Huo Chen.” Xu Ying called out to him again.

That finally snapped Huo Chen out of his memories.

“I just went out for a walk and thought you’d be getting off work soon. It’s getting late, and it’s not safe for you to be alone, so I thought I’d walk you back.”

Xu Ying nodded upon hearing this, as the sky was indeed growing dark after seven o’clock.

But having lived through the apocalypse for those years, she was no stranger to the dark.

Still, not wanting to refuse his kind offer, Xu Ying packed up her things and took her metal lunchbox, ready to leave work.

Gu Fuying and Qiu Ye had already come by the restaurant at six o’clock when they got off work. After dropping off some things for Xu Ying, they had left.

Xu Ying blinked and pointed to her belongings: “Huo Chen, can you help me carry these? Thanks!”

Huo Chen looked at the pile of items on the table and picked them up as if they were a basket.

Gao Guihua was surprised when she saw this and quickly clocked out with the younger girls.

Only when Huo Chen left the restaurant did he realize his bicycle was gone. He silently cursed Wu Qingsong a few times, but that didn’t change the fact that the bike was missing.

“What are you staring for?” Xu Ying, looking at him standing motionless at the door, asked in confusion.

Huo Chen admitted awkwardly, “My bike was taken by a friend of mine.”

Woah, this guy even has a bicycle. Who says the Huo Family is poor? Xu Ying felt like hitting someone—the notion of being poor with a bicycle was ridiculous!

“No worries, my bike is here. You can ride it and take me along,” Xu Ying said, making room for him.

Huo Chen, at over 1.8 meters tall, riding a woman’s bicycle, looked bizarre, to say the least.

But Xu Ying didn’t notice this. She hopped on the bike; sitting on the rear seat was uncomfortable for her, but at least she didn’t have to pedal for so long.

Huo Chen pedaled in front, trying to keep the bike going steadily.

The county roads were a bit better, but as they approached the rural roads, with their pits and bumps, the ride became less smooth.

Xu Ying nearly fell off; her hands instinctively grabbed the hem of Huo Chen’s clothes.

This unexpected touch caused Huo Chen’s face to turn instantly red, his hands froze on the handlebars, and even his legs became clumsy, his breathing uneven.

“Huo Chen, this road is bumpy, go slower,” Xu Ying still instructed from behind.

Her soft voice made it hard for Huo Chen to keep his composure. He pedaled fiercely, directing the bike straight toward a stone bump on the side of the road, inevitably going over a small rock.

Xu Ying’s bottom lifted off the seat in shock, causing her to quickly wrap her arms around Huo Chen’s waist.

Firm waist, robust muscles, smooth lines—the texture was quite nice.

Shamelessly, Xu Ying took the opportunity to feel a bit more, while Huo Chen, overwhelmed, ended up crashing the bike, tumbling over with her.

“Are you, you, you okay?” Huo Chen stammered, unable to speak smoothly.

He had never been so close to a woman in his life, let alone holding a waist or even touching a finger.

Xu Ying, with a scowling face, held her arm—which was skinned—and groaned, “It hurts like hell, Huo Chen, how did you ride that bike? You nearly killed me.”

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