: Our Family is Rich

In the evening, Jin Yu and Mu Ming arranged to meet at a family-run restaurant, the one they often ate at.

Jin Yu arrived first, using magic to conceal her face, so no one recognized her.

She first ordered the dishes that Mu Ming used to eat most often, and then ordered some of her own favorites. Then she watched the clock hands ticking away, thinking about how to talk to Mu Ming later.

Five minutes before the agreed time, Mu Ming arrived on time. He looked around the store several times but didn't see Jin Yu until Jin Yu waved to him.

Mu Ming remained as usual, his face revealing neither joy nor anger. Even though he was about to go on a trip, he showed no extra emotion.

"I've already ordered the food. What else would you like to add?" Jin Yu pushed the menu over.

Mu Ming glanced at the vegetables and shook his head. "That's all."

In that case, let's get down to business.

"Why do you suddenly want to go on a trip?" Jin Yu asked directly.

"Didn't I say this morning that I wanted to go for a walk?"

That's not the reason Jin Yu wants to hear.

"That's all?"

"Otherwise what..."

"When did you earn such a large sum of money?"

Because that remittance of over 120,000 came all at once, not earned little by little.

Although it was confirmed that the transfer was through legitimate channels, Jin Yu still couldn't understand where Mu Ming got the ability to earn so much money.

It's not that I'm being too harsh on Mu Ming, but he's just a high school dropout with no one to rely on.

Mu Ming: "Recently."

"Could you tell me how you earned it?" Jin Yu asked with a smile.

Mu Ming frowned slightly and remained silent, only staring at Jin Yu, whose eyes were gleaming—the source of the money was not something he could easily disclose, as he hadn't had time to discuss it with Li Huanhuan and couldn't use her as a shield.

Seeing his appearance, Jin Yu vaguely became certain.

She suspected from the beginning that it was Mu Ming's "friend" named Li Huanhuan who was behind it.

Through his conversations with Mu Ming over this period of time, Jin Yu could also see that their relationship was extraordinary.

Generally speaking, Jin Yu felt she should be happy that Mu Ming had formed a close relationship with a decent and outstanding girl.

The problem is that Mu Ming is good-looking but otherwise useless. He is inconsiderate, comes from a poor family, and doesn't even go to school.

Besides himself, who else could put up with him?

Good looks alone wouldn't attract a girl like Li Huanhuan. Perhaps it was a momentary impulse that led them to get along, but since they belong to different social classes, it's unlikely they'll end up together.

Even when they were together, Mu Ming was undoubtedly the passive and weaker party, since the other party had a higher social status.

Considering that the other party is a magical girl, she might not be a bad person, but that's about it.

Jin Yu is now terrified that Mu Ming's "legitimate income" comes from Li Huanhuan.

While being kept by a sugar daddy isn't exactly honorable, what Jin Yu doesn't want to see is that Mu Ming, having gotten used to a "good life" with Li Huanhuan, has developed a distorted view of money.

A distorted view of money can cause all sorts of trouble—a typical example being a gambler.

If possible, Jin Yu still hopes that Mu Ming can grow up to be a normal adult.

At least don't let Li Huanhuan hurt you.

"It's okay, it's okay, it doesn't matter if you don't want to reveal it." Seeing that Mu Ming's face showed some displeasure, Jin Yu quickly waved her hand and said.

"This money was a reward from someone I gave advice to online, but I won't go into the details. In short, it was definitely earned by me," Mu Ming explained.

"Is that so...?"

Jin Yu nodded with a smirk, his narrowed eyes fixed on Mu Ming, but he still couldn't see any trace of lying on Mu Ming's face.

Offering suggestions online... well, how should I put it? The reasoning is too bizarre, and even if I provide evidence, I don't think anyone would believe me.

"Because it's a lot of money, and you're still young, I'm just afraid... afraid you'll be scammed."

"fine."

Jin Yu carefully observed Mu Ming's expression, unsure whether he was genuinely angry or just pretending.

When the dishes were served, Jin Yu noticed that he showed no signs of touching his chopsticks, which made her even more uneasy. She continued to serve him soup and vegetables as if it were a natural thing, hoping to prolong the dinner.

"Let's eat, let's eat," she said with a forced smile.

Midway through the meal, the atmosphere at the table finally eased up a bit.

This was probably the most comfortable meal Mu Ming and Jin Yu had ever had.

He prefers to eat alone, it's quieter. He especially dislikes eating with girls.

Li Huanhuan chatters incessantly during meals. When asked to be quiet, she deliberately chews loudly, showing no grace of a rich girl. It's better to just listen to her rambling.

Although Jin Yu is not yet old enough to be a gossip, she already has the traits of a long-tongued woman, and she keeps talking about it during every meal.

I don't know what happened to me today. I muttered a few words before eating, and then I was quiet the whole time.

I wish this could continue until the end.

"Just wondering, how much money do you have left after buying the ticket?"

Mu Ming sighed inwardly; it seemed he had been wishful thinking.

"There should still be over two hundred left."

The train ticket was really expensive, but luckily it didn't completely drain him dry.

Two hundred is not much, but once we get to Qishan, there will definitely be other ways to get through these ten days or so.

Therefore, Mu Ming wasn't too worried.

But the other person doesn't think that way.

"More than two hundred???" Her voice suddenly rose an octave, then she awkwardly covered her mouth, lowered her head shyly, and only coughed lightly twice after the surrounding gazes had shifted away.

"If I remember correctly, you're going to stay there for more than ten days, right? Even if you sleep under the bridge every day, two hundred yuan won't be enough to feed you."

"There's always a way out," Mu Ming said casually. If all else fails, he could always beg for food at the Qishan City General Bureau.

Jin Yu was annoyed that he hadn't planned his spending at all since he'd just "become rich," but she asked him aloud:

"Wait... are you going on vacation or wilderness survival? Vacations are much more expensive than usual; two hundred dollars isn't even considered much!"

"Isn't there a type of travel called budget travel?" Mu Ming asked rhetorically.

"Where did you hear that? People who can afford travel tickets don't travel on a shoestring budget."

"Too."

Mu Ming nodded in agreement, acknowledging that budget travel was indeed not feasible in this world.

Budget travel is limited to the local city, but... if you don't even leave the city, how can that be called tourism?

"So, what are you planning to do?"

"What? How do I do it?"

"As for money, there's food, clothing, lodging, and transportation. After a trip to Qishan, I'll probably need to buy some things. My total assets are barely over three digits. Even if I go on vacation, I probably won't have a very comfortable time."

Why are you still dwelling on this topic? Anyone who didn't know better would think that it was Jin Yu who went on vacation instead of you.

"I have my own plans."

Mu Ming didn't know the specifics of the plan.

"Is that your way of making money?"

"Uh, um."

I can't count on copyright fees for now, but I can take some time to do some illegal work.

"But... making money by giving advice must be very unstable, right? What if the advice is bad, or there are no clients? Then there'll be no money, won't there?"

"Don't worry about this, it's only been ten days or so."

Mu Ming wanted to end this pointless conversation.

"How can anyone not care about this?"

Jin Yu suddenly leaned closer, looking at Mu Ming with displeasure, her eyes reflecting Mu Ming's puzzled gaze.

If it were someone else, Mu Ming would either leave or tell them to shut up and eat in peace.

But it happens to be the guardian.

"Once I reach level four, I'll take on some freelance work on the forum and then cut off the funding to the orphanage," Mu Ming decided.

Once you are financially independent, you will be much less constrained. Then you can gradually repay the kindness of the orphanage, and once you have done so, you will be completely free.

Although the debt of gratitude for raising children is hard to repay, it doesn't mean that Jin Yu has to interfere in everything.

Seeing that Mu Ming didn't respond, Jin Yu took out her phone and fiddled with it for a bit.

Almost simultaneously, Mu Ming received a message:

[...account deposit...]

Upon seeing the amount, Mu Ming's eyes widened slightly, then he frowned and said, "You don't need to do this."

"Why? I'm your guardian. Shouldn't I give you some financial support when you go out to play?" Jin Yu retorted sharply, as if she were saying something that was a matter of course.

Anyone who didn't know better would think they were a family.

Mu Ming wanted to say something, but Jin Yu cut him off even faster:

"It's better to be frugal on the road than to be stingy on the trip. This is your first time traveling, so it's best not to skimp on your food. This money is mainly for food and lodging. If there's anything you particularly want, just let me know, and if it's reasonable, I'll give you extra money."

"Okay, thank you."

Having said that, Mu Ming didn't refuse; he had always been open to sweet talk.

Who doesn't want a peaceful and comfortable life? If it weren't for that unlucky beast that caught him and robbed him, he would be enjoying a rosy campus life right now.

He was in a better mood now. He had been worried about how to bring up the "approval" with Jin Yu, since it was true that he had taken advantage of her kindness.

Ultimately, he was still in a weak position. If Jin Yu really got angry, he wouldn't have much of a way to deal with her.

"There's no need for you and me to say thank you."

Under the table, Jin Yu nudged Mu Ming's toe.

"But while you're having fun, don't forget where home is." She chuckled and continued:

"Also, you need to know who you can take money from and who you can't. Remember that."

"Um."

Although I don't understand why she said that at all, it doesn't matter.