Su Qingtang flopped into her bed after a long day. She then decided to take out her books to do some self-study like a model student. She carefully chose between all the books in her bag before decisively choosing to study her most dreaded subject first before she attempted to do anything else. She resignedly picked up a math textbook.
"Host what are you doing?" The system had watched for a while but couldn't figure out why the host had decided to take up studying. She normally hated to study and only studies what she needed, which explained her mediocre grades even though she had superior intelligence. It was quite the headache to get Su Qingtang to do anything with her naturally lazy disposition, so this development came as a bit of a shock to it. "Did I somehow miss something?"
"Indirectly competing with Xingshen. Its been a while since I have seen such a good student. I want to see if I can beat him at studying." She replied vaguely, before asking the system to order take-out for her. The system immediately understood. Su Qingtang liked competition and pushing herself to the limits when she set herself full speed ahead at something. The only problem she had was finding motivation to do anything. She somehow found the motivation to study through Wen Xingshen's hardworking attitude. "It's quite nice to have decent competition. Highly motivating."
The system sat in silence as it watched her read her books like a story book with great interest as her expressions constantly changed. It was actually an interesting thing to do. Sometimes she fell into a state of complete and utter confusion until enlightenment dawns on her and her expression morphs to one of understanding as she continues reading. It was like an interesting movie.
The doorbell snapped her out of her spell.
Su Qingtang placed the book on the table beside her. She pitter pattered to the door in her house slippers and takes her takeout. She feels the pinch as her wallet thins even more. Su Qingtang had never felt this broke in all of the lifetimes she had ever lived!
"Host? Why are you over there sulking over your money woes when you can just ask Mother Su for your allowance in advance? She would definitely not refuse you."
"I want to do this by myself without my family protecting me behind the scenes. Wouldn't it be defeating the purpose of not telling them if I don't want them to get curious." Su Qingtang explained as she dug in to her bowl of rice while occasionally sipping some of the piping hot soup. "At the end of the day, their daughter has died as she committed suicide. Damaging their family beyond repair. I'm trying my best to keep them from the despair by pretending to still be their daughter but nothing will change the fact that I never was their daughter and never will be. No matter how much anyone would wish I was."
"Then why don't you get a job?" The system quickly changed the topic. It didn't like it when the host acted too sensible. When ever she did it seemed like a blanket of gloom covered the entire atmosphere.
"Doing what?" Su Qingtang completely gave up on the topic and continued eating with vigor. She seemed to really like the taste of the takeout, why didn't it always taste this good?
"Stone gambling." The system suggested. The host was definitely not like the other hosts it had had. Who had milked it dry of all the resources it had to offer. Su Qingtang was independent and didn't like owing favors at all. Sigh. Suddenly the system felt a bit useless.
"I don't have time to be flying around the country for that and Jiang Shu will get suspicious. How will I even explain having stone gambling skills. Gambling skills are not something someone can pick up off the street, you know."
"Antique shopping." The system was sure it could help her find valuable antiques. With its vast knowledge no scam could hide from the light of day.
"I have no interest in antiques. Even if I did how am I supposed to even find a buyer? Meeting with buyers could also form problems and… Totally troublesome." Su Qingtang was to lazy to even formulate her reason and properly explain herself. The system sighed resignedly. While its colleagues had such adorable hosts why did he end up with such a lazy and unmotivated host?"
"Hacking." Quick money as easy as hacking into outdated firewalls. All piles of code were child's play to the system, an advanced pile of codes with knowledge far beyond their technologically backward grasp.
Su Qingtang goes strangely silent before she opens her mouth to refuse. "Definitely not." The firmness in her voice was unmistakable and the system unconsciously acquiesced.
The system doesn't ask as it understands the host probably doesn't want it to. The host never liked talking about her past too much. "Why don't you get a job in the entertainment industry? This should be easy enough."
Su Qingtang pauses her eating in confusion. "Don't I already have one? Why would I need an extra acting gig to stress myself out?" Su Qingtang had no energy to juggle school, and two acting gigs. She could barely manage as it is, ok. As a very idle person she wouldn't subject herself to unnecessary pain.
"I mean an extra job like a singing or something. There's a singing competition where you can get a sizeable amount of money and a recording deal not to mention the level of exposure."
Su Qingtang contemplates for a bit before she decisively nods. "Sign me up, System."
The system was offended. "How can you order the system to do menial tasks such as ordering takeout and signing up for simple competitions? Its simply a waste of my awesome capabilities."
Su Qingtang ignored the system and went back to her books. Why pay attention when the system was all talk and had no actual useful capabilities.
The system that was shot in an open wound: "..."