Chapter 59. Puppy Love? The Played-For-A-Fool Kind (12)
After the college entrance exam, Shen Wan was thoroughly liberated from the painful sea of questions, so happy she could almost jump for joy. Every day, she dragged Ji Meng around aimlessly. In a good mood, she once again spent a fortune at the high-level space mall, exchanging for two beautiful dresses for Ji Meng.
Although pink was still the primary color, given Ji Meng’s current age, wearing them didn’t look childish. They were exquisite and fashionable, making Ji Meng very happy. She also took Shen Wan to shopping malls to pick out various pretty accessories. The quantity of accessories selected was noteworthy.
Bracelets and chains were bought in pairs. Hair clips were also bought in pairs. Brooches and necklaces were all purchased for two people.
Shen Wan was elated inside. Had Little Meng come to her senses, actively giving her these items that represented another kind of meaning? She was overjoyed beyond words.
Ji Chensi also noticed that many of the accessories worn by Shen Wan and Ji Meng were identical.
He didn’t think much of it. Two young girls wearing the same accessories was very normal. Even if they wore the same clothes and shoes, it wouldn’t be strange. After all, among close female friends, who hasn’t worn matching items?
Sometimes, 188 really wanted to remind Ji Chensi that while it’s normal for girls to have one or two similar things, when certain representative items are all identical, shouldn’t he suspect that his Little Meng might have ulterior motives? Did he really think his daughter was a simple little girl? She may have experienced some trauma as a child, causing psychological shadows, but that doesn’t mean she’s a fool.
With Ji Chensi’s high IQ, could he really have produced a fool? Even without specific teaching, wouldn’t she learn through osmosis? Based on his observations over the past few years, Ji Meng, that little girl – yes, her, the one who always steals the host’s attention and makes the stingy host willing to spend big money on expensive little dresses for her – is actually a sesame tangyuan, not a solid pearl tangyuan at all.
That girl is particularly cunning. He watched helplessly as the host poured out money in handfuls to buy those useless little dresses. To be honest, he was just jealous.
“188, I’ve been quite happy lately. I don’t have to do questions anymore and can hold hands with Little Meng while shopping every day. I feel like happy days are coming. Have you noticed that Little Meng has been especially, especially nice to me recently? Her little actions are clearly telling me she has feelings for me. Do you think the surprise she mentioned might be a confession?”
[188: “Wan Wan, those many little dresses, spending so much money, even if resold, wouldn’t be worth much. I think, aren’t you short on money? You should be more careful. Don’t buy on impulse. What you buy this year might be out of fashion next year.”]
“But Little Meng seems to like them very much. No amount of money can buy Little Meng’s happiness. I’ll buy her anything she likes. It’s just money, right? At worst, I’ll do more tasks, work a bit harder, but I still want to buy her little dresses.”
188 thought: This woman must be crazy. This is what happens when a miser turns into a love-brain. Yes, that’s exactly it – spending money without thinking, buying whatever the object of affection likes, buying to make them happy. He didn’t want to think about it anymore. The more he thought, the more jealous he became. He was truly insanely jealous. For the first time, he slightly disliked his human-like settings, actually able to feel jealousy.
“188, to thank you for your companionship all this time, I’ve also bought you several skins. Didn’t they just release a limited edition recently? I bought you that limited edition skin. Try it on.”
She bought him skins??
188 was a bit surprised. The sour feeling from earlier completely disappeared. He immediately ran to check the items in the warehouse. Indeed, there were several very nice skins, including the limited edition released this year, just as Shen Wan had said. The limited edition’s main color was green, a fresh green that was truly beautiful. Most importantly, it had a little cat that could pop out, and the page was designed with the cat’s pink little paws. It was really lovely.
188 completely forgot about criticizing Shen Wan and changed into the limited edition skin. Looking at his new interface, he planned to contact other systems next time to show off that he now had a nice skin too, and a limited edition one at that.
[Excited 188: “Wan Wan, thank you! This skin is really beautiful. I love it.”]
“You’re welcome. We’re partners, after all.” Did she really think she hadn’t noticed this guy’s every sentence dripping with jealousy?
If spending money meant spending money, so be it. 188 was so obedient and helpful, doing many things for her without the nagging of previous systems. Indeed, new systems were easier to fool, with much lower IQ than old systems and lacking business experience. She needed to keep him well in check.
[Happy 188: “Wan Wan, do you have anything you want me to do now?”]
“Not at the moment. When I do, I’ll ask for your help.”
[188: “Okay! Feel free to ask for anything. I won’t refuse.”]
Shen Wan propped her little chin, surprised at how easy it was to please 188. In the future, she’d buy him the limited edition skins released each year. It would surely be easier to get him to help with tasks.
“Go play on the forum then. I’m going shopping with Little Meng.”
188 naturally wanted to show off a bit and meet face-to-face with other systems. Of course, the main purpose was to let them see his new skin.
When the results came out, Shen Wan naturally hadn’t failed. After all, she was a high-level space brain, evolved to near perfection, and with Ji Meng constantly supervising her doing test papers, scoring close to full marks was very normal.
She didn’t care about the test results at all. She only wondered what kind of surprise Ji Meng would give her.
After getting the results, Shen Wan would often linger in front of Ji Meng, as if reminding her not to forget about the surprise.
Seeing Shen Wan’s anxious look, 188 didn’t criticize her anymore.
[188: “Wan Wan, you don’t need to be anxious. Maybe your Little Meng is brewing how to give you this surprise? Be patient for a while. She’ll definitely approach you on her own.”] A system with a limited edition skin was indeed different. When he met a few systems earlier, they were all envious of his skin. When they heard his host bought it for him, they were even more envious.
“Little Meng, Uncle Ji has already chosen schools for us. What are your plans now?” Shen Wan looked at Ji Meng expectantly. What about the promised surprise? Have you forgotten, you heartless one?
She had been waiting for so long, yet Ji Meng hadn’t shown any signs.
Ji Meng held her delicate face, blinking her beautiful eyes. “I don’t have any plans. Is there somewhere you want to go? I can accompany you. Now that you don’t have to do questions every day, you must be very bored, right?”
Shen Wan: “No, no, I’m not bored at all.” She certainly didn’t want Ji Meng to pull out some university textbooks and make her study in advance. That would be the death of her.
Ji Meng propped her little chin with one hand and pinched Shen Wan’s cheek with the other. “Then what are your plans? You’ve worked hard these past few years. We should indeed find a place to relax.”
“Oh right, Little Wan, there’s still one thing you haven’t done today.”
Shen Wan was stunned for a moment. “What thing?”
Ji Meng frowned slightly. “You haven’t praised me for looking good today.”
“Little Meng, your beauty doesn’t need praise because you’re always beautiful.” Words of praise now flowed effortlessly from Shen Wan’s mouth without thinking, a skill honed by Ji Meng.
Ji Meng’s face brightened with a smile. “Oh right, I said I’d give you a surprise earlier. Now that you’ve done so well in the exam, I definitely have to fulfill my promise.”
Shen Wan thought: Anticipation rising…
She knew Little Meng wouldn’t forget about this.
Was it a confession? If not a confession, even a small token of love would do. It didn’t need to be particularly precious, although she did love money. But for a token of love, even two small grass rings would suffice, given their special meaning.
Shen Wan looked at Ji Meng with anticipation. Ji Meng didn’t keep her waiting long. She stood up, turned around, and took a box from the bookshelf.
Looking at that box, Shen Wan understood. So it was a token of love? No problem. Once love was established, how far could a confession be? She wasn’t in a hurry. She could wait.
Ji Meng placed the box on the table, opened it in front of Shen Wan, took out the contents, and directly hung it around Shen Wan’s neck.
Seeing Shen Wan’s bewildered look, she pinched her cheek and said, “I’ve discussed it with Dad. Little Wan’s grades are so good, and you’re so smart. It would be a waste of time to just study in university. Besides, someone as smart and talented as Little Wan should definitely work at my dad’s company to avoid being wasted. You’re someone I care about, so of course, you should start from university. By the time you graduate, you might already be an important member of the company. So, Little Wan, you need to work hard and not disappoint my expectations of you.”
Shen Wan had a bad feeling. So, what kind of badge had Little Meng hung on her? Surely not a dog tag?
Ji Meng fingered the badge hanging in front of Shen Wan, her face full of smiles. “I specially applied to Dad for this. It’s a work badge. Look, it has your ID photo on it. It has an embedded chip. To work at Dad’s company, you need a work badge to enter. You not only need to swipe the badge but also scan your face. In the future, you must learn well from the seniors in the company. I went to the company the other day and brought them lots of good food, asking them to take good care of you.”
Shen Wan thought: Can I refuse this “care”?
No wonder Little Meng had asked for her ID photo some time ago. She even asked if she could use her ID photo for something else. She hadn’t thought much of it. Little Meng wouldn’t use it to do bad things or harm her, right?
Little Meng indeed hadn’t done anything bad or harmed her, but why, just as she had been liberated from the endless sea of questions, did she have to make her adapt to the life of a corporate slave in advance? Little Meng, do you have any conscience??
“Wan Wan, you must work hard, okay?” Ji Meng pursed her lips and said seriously, “You need to strive to become more excellent. I really hope you become the most excellent. No matter how long it takes in the future, you’ll always be able to stand by my side.”
Shen Wan held back tears, feeling both excited and sad. She was excited that Little Meng’s goal was to make her excellent, to stand as an equal with her. She was sad because she really wanted to play around in university, not spend her free time wearing this badge and going to work at Ji Chensi’s company.
“Little Wan.”
Shen Wan looked at Ji Meng lifelessly. Was there anything else? Just say it all at once. Don’t think her small frame couldn’t take it. She could bear any blow. So, let the storm come more fiercely. After all, it was Little Meng. In front of the person she liked, she didn’t need principles.
Unexpectedly, Ji Meng grabbed Shen Wan’s hand and suddenly leaned close to her face, making Shen Wan’s heart skip a beat. What was Little Meng going to do in this position?
“Little Wan, are you unwilling? I see you’re not happy, not smiling.”
“No,” Shen Wan forced a smile. “You’re being so considerate of me. I’m so happy I don’t know what to do. How could I not be happy? I’m overjoyed.” Her future job was already arranged. She wouldn’t have to worry for the rest of her life. This could be considered successfully clinging to a powerful person, right? After all, it wasn’t easy to enter the Ji Corporation. She had taken a shortcut. Although it was a bit different from how she had imagined clinging to a powerful person.
“Be happier, don’t be unhappy.”
Before Shen Wan could react, Ji Meng cupped her face and kissed her forehead. “Little Wan, I know you’ve always had a crush on me. But I’m Ji Chensi’s daughter. If you want to marry me, you have to work hard. For example, first infiltrate my dad’s company, master the core of the company, become an indispensable member.”
“If you become outstandingly excellent, when we get married in the future, my dad won’t be able to stop us. And I, I can’t be that excellent. For our future, I can only be useless. When Dad finds out later, he won’t be able to stop us, and it will be too late, because someone has to manage the company. Who better to manage it than our own daughter-in-law?”
Shen Wan thought: She couldn’t quite process this. This sudden confession, if it could be called a confession, why was it so complicated? Her head was spinning a bit.
“Little Wan, the smarter and more capable you are, able to manage the company well and take good care of me, be good to me, the less reason my dad will have to separate us. So, this is my purpose, understand?”
Shen Wan thought: I think I understand now.
Little Meng meant that she, coming from a grassroots background, had to work hard to rise, infiltrate the company, master the core of Ji Corporation, only then could she win the Ji Corporation’s little princess. Even if Ji Chensi objected, he couldn’t stop it because she was too excellent.
As for Little Meng herself, being the Ji Corporation’s little princess, if she were too capable, Ji Chensi wouldn’t worry about her future. If their relationship was exposed, he could unhesitatingly drive her, the grassroots, away or even blacklist her.
So, Little Meng was also expressing that for their future, she, Shen Wan, had to strive upwards.
While she, Ji Meng, only needed to play, shop, learn nothing, and be a freeloader.
Shen Wan frowned, glancing at the smiling Ji Meng, inwardly muttering. Slacking off was one thing, but to put it so nobly? When did this Little Meng turn dark? How had she not noticed that the girl she fell for was actually black-hearted?
“Little Wan, are you hesitating? Could it be that I guessed wrong, and you actually don’t have a crush on me, so you don’t want to go to the company, is that it?” Ji Meng’s smile disappeared, her lips lightly pressed together, her face full of disappointment. Even knowing she was acting, Shen Wan still felt terribly distressed, especially as Ji Meng continued, “But I really like Little Wan so much. So Little Wan doesn’t have any feelings for me at all? If Little Wan doesn’t stay with me, I feel like there’s no hope for my life, I’ll just muddle through.”
“You’re right, I always make you praise me for being beautiful, say I’m the most beautiful, say you’re a bit inferior to me. You must be unhappy, right? Actually, although you are a bit less good-looking than me, not as beautiful as me, in my heart, you’re the most beautiful.” Ji Meng held Shen Wan’s hand. “Since you don’t feel that way, I won’t force you.” With that, she was about to let go of Shen Wan’s hand.
Shen Wan quickly grabbed Ji Meng and said, “When do I start at the company?” Fine, she resigned herself. This Ji Meng really had her completely under her thumb. There was no help for it. Her thoughts might fool anyone else, but they couldn’t fool Ji Meng. Besides, she had never tried to hide it. To receive Little Meng’s confession, to hear her admit that she was the most beautiful in her heart, it was worth it. Even if she had to work hard for a lifetime, she would find it sweet.
“Let’s go next week. Rest for a while, and I’ll accompany you when the time comes. You’ll work, and I’ll watch from the side. When it’s time to eat, I’ll have the hotel send food over, and we’ll eat together. How does that sound?”
Shen Wan: “Good.” What else could she say? Though it would be tiring, Little Meng would always be by her side. She was happy, still very happy.
Ji Meng took out two more boxes from the large box. She opened them with a smile in her eyes, revealing two pairs of platinum earrings. Looking closely, there were tiny engravings on them. One pair had “Meng” engraved, while the other had “Wan.”
“I originally wanted to use rings, but that would be too conspicuous and easily noticed by Dad. It would nip our love in the bud. Your wings aren’t strong enough yet to withstand Dad’s anger. So, let’s use earrings instead. I think they’re quite nice when taken off.”
“Little Wan, let me put them on for you.”
Shen Wan didn’t move at all, clearly indicating she wanted Ji Meng to put them on her. Ji Meng walked to Shen Wan’s side, chose one earring engraved with “Meng” and one with “Wan,” and put them on Shen Wan’s earlobes. She then took out a mirror, held it in front of them, her pink fingers pinching Shen Wan’s earlobe, and said while looking in the mirror, “This is how we make a pair.”
Shen Wan thought: Forget sacrificing free time to work at the company, even if she had to work for a lifetime, she’d be willing!
There was no help for it. She couldn’t resist Little Meng’s gentleness. Especially when she put her hand on her shoulder, touched her earlobe, and said they were a pair, she was completely defenseless. If she had to die in this life, she wanted to die in Little Meng’s arms.
“Little Wan, it’s your turn. Put them on me.”
Shen Wan hurriedly put the earrings on Ji Meng. The two sat hand in hand on the stool, looking at the equally beautiful young girls in the mirror. The two pairs of earrings seemed to be shining, sparkling with the light of love.
188 thought: Finally, this day has come. Indeed, sesame tangyuan and sesame tangyuan are the best match.
After resting for a week, Shen Wan dutifully went to work at the company with Ji Chensi every day. Ji Meng kept her word and accompanied Shen Wan. Her excuse was good – she wanted to learn at the company with Shen Wan. In reality, once at the company, she was the one wandering around aimlessly, occasionally going to the pantry to eat snacks. When Shen Wan was busy, she wouldn’t disturb her, but after eating snacks, she’d return to sit beside Shen Wan, bringing her a cup of coffee.
The company staff naturally didn’t dare to have any opinions. The little princess wasn’t causing trouble, and she even brought them lots of snacks to eat. Such a down-to-earth little princess should of course be doted on. Moreover, the princess’s friend was indeed quite good – hardworking, not lazy, and smart. No wonder she was favored.
188 watched Shen Wan working without any complaints and shook his head. The host had really fallen hard. Ji Meng’s words, learned from who knows where, had charmed the host completely, even robbing her of the ability to think.
Finally, it was time for school to start, and the two went to register at the university. On the day they arrived, both received many glances. One for her excellent grades, the other for her terrible grades, admitted only because her father had donated a large sum of money. It was said that the two were good friends, and everyone envied Shen Wan for being so close to the financial group’s daughter.
Both Ji Meng and Shen Wan were very good-looking, immediately reaching campus belle level upon entering the school. Naturally, there were many who wanted to pursue them. For Ji Meng, they wanted to pursue her but didn’t dare approach considering their own family backgrounds. Shen Wan was different – she came from an ordinary background, had excellent grades, was beautiful, and was said to have a nice personality. She was the ideal girlfriend candidate.
Not even a week into campus life, every time Shen Wan went to class, she would encounter many people asking for her phone number, social media accounts, confessing to her, or inviting her out.
Although Ji Meng didn’t say anything openly, she actually found all these boys irritating. Little Wan was her girlfriend. What right did these guys have to compete with her? Of course, without Little Wan’s consent, this couldn’t be revealed, and it couldn’t be exposed now either.
So, Ji Meng spent some time gathering all of Shen Wan’s pursuers together.
Shen Wan’s pursuers, seeing Ji Meng’s demeanor, felt a bit scared. They didn’t know what improper things they had done to make the financial group’s daughter summon them here.
“Little Wan is very excellent, right?”
The many pursuers nodded. Of course, she was excellent. She was their goddess, the kind of goddess they could pursue.
“Do you know why she’s so excellent?” Ji Meng raised her eyelids slightly. Not waiting for the pursuers to speak, she continued, “Because she’s been working hard since she was young. For three years of high school, I accompanied her through countless seas of questions. And you, with your evil intentions, want to ruin her in university.”
No, that wasn’t their intention. They just wanted to pursue Shen Wan.
“I don’t object to you pursuing Little Wan at all.”
As if. She wanted to kill them.
“Little Wan is already a member of my Ji Corporation. When you can enter Ji Corporation, then you’ll be qualified to pursue her. This request isn’t excessive, is it? Although it’s university, you who only know how to date and waste time, are you qualified to pursue Little Wan?”
It seemed they weren’t.
“Today, spread the word. Only when you can enter Ji Corporation will you be qualified to pursue Little Wan.” Ji Meng stood up. “If anyone doesn’t listen, we’ll talk again.”
The pursuers shook their heads. They didn’t dare. Being warned by the financial group’s daughter with her power, how could they?
Seeing them slink away, Ji Meng walked out of the classroom with a smile, only to see Shen Wan standing at the door. Her smile gradually froze. Had Little Wan been eavesdropping here? How much had she heard?