331. Money is omnipotent.
Tao Wanbi sarcastically remarked, "This has caused a frenzy among some men. They've exposed me and my sisters, and are excitedly spreading rumors and slander."
They said that I and my sisters were all prostitutes, and that I had ambiguous relationships with many thugs...
"They photoshopped our faces onto all sorts of filthy videos and photos, even photoshopped funeral portraits... It's absolutely disgusting."
The room fell silent.
After a long while, the system asked softly—
[Then, you were chosen by me and transported here?]
"yes.
“Sometimes I think, if I can really complete the mission and go back, the first thing I’ll do is find my friends, give them some money, so they don’t have to do odd jobs anymore, don’t have to live in dilapidated houses anymore, can eat properly, and have a decent life.”
“As for my mother…” Tao Wanbi paused, then sighed in despair, “I guess I’ll still want to help her.”
"Even though she didn't protect me back then, even though she spoke up for my dad on the news, even though I know she may never be grateful to me, I still want to give it a try."
“I still want to take her out of that house, so that she doesn’t have to suffer my dad’s temper anymore, and doesn’t have to watch my brother become that kind of person.”
This idea is incredibly foolish.
Your mother knew perfectly well that your father was trying to push you into a pit of fire, yet she tacitly approved of it and even helped him.
After the incident, she didn't say a single word in your defense; instead, she sided with your father and blamed you.
Even if you go back to help her, she won't be grateful. She might even think it's your duty, and could even help your brother leech off you and drain your savings.
You will only suffer injustice and disappointment once more in the end.
You could even be murdered by them.
"I know……
“I know it’s stupid, I know she probably won’t change, and I know I might get hurt again.”
"But I had no choice. After all, she was my mother. She was the one who would give me the last bite of steamed bun when I was little, and who would stand in front of me to take the beatings for me."
Even if she changed later, even if her love was selfish, I still couldn't completely ignore her.
But you also need to live for yourself.
The system began to misunderstand Tao Wanbi.
You've already suffered so much, finally escaped that family, and finally have a new opportunity. Why go back to suffer again? If you help her, who will help you?
"I don't know." Tao Wanbi shook her head, her eyes vacant.
"Maybe it's because she protected me when I was little. That kindness is like a rope that ties me down, making it impossible for me to break free completely."
Even knowing there's a pit ahead, I might still be tempted to jump in and try to pull her out.
The system went silent again.
It gave up trying to persuade Tao Wanbi, and it also gave up trying to understand the complex emotions of humankind.
It began to restore its true nature and strive for its goals—
You can do this.
[Complete the mission and you'll return with 100 million. With that money, you can do ten or a hundred times more than you do now, whether it's to repay kindness or to exact revenge.]
Think about it. When you get back, first find those friends and share some money with them.
[It doesn't need to be much, just enough for them to buy a decent house, enough for them to learn a skill, enough for them to stop eating five-dollar noodles at the night market, and enough for them to stop doing those exhausting, low-paying odd jobs.]
They protected you back then, and now you're protecting them—that's true repayment.
As for a response...
[Back then, your father forced you, a junior high student, to marry a divorced man in his forties whom you had never met. He beat and verbally abused you, treating you like a commodity to be sold. Your mother tacitly approved of all this and even sided with your father in condemning you on the news.]
They've gone too far, don't you want to retaliate?
[Once you have money, you won't have to fight him like before, and you won't have to be afraid of him hitting you anymore.]
You can hire the best lawyer to bring up his past actions and make him pay for them.
You could even pay to single out those who are cyberbullying you and hire lawyers to deal with them.
If you're still not satisfied... well, if you want, with that much money, you can even hire a hitman.
As for your mother... you can buy a house in your big city and bring her over.
It's not about begging her to go with you, but about showing her that you are her support, letting her know that it was her loss when she abandoned you.
Even if she still wants to go back to that house and still wants to protect your brother, that's okay.
[Host, you must know that money is everything; money can buy so much love.]
If you are rich enough, many, many people will come to love you.
You don't need to care whether their love is real or fake; all you need to do is give money and receive affection in return.
[Host, once you complete the task, all your problems will be solved.]
Tao Wanbi's fingers slowly tightened and rested on her knees.
She had secretly thought about what the system was saying.
At that time, she hoped that if she could complete the mission and get the money back, she would make those who had bullied her pay the price and make her friends live a good life.
But later, as she repeatedly messed up tasks and received negative feedback, she gradually forgot about the idea and even began to doubt whether she was capable of changing anything at all.
[Host, don't give up. You still have your own life.]
The system continued.
With this money, you'll never be looked down upon again; those who once looked down on you will kneel down and lick your boots.
You are now completely free.
You can study whatever you want, whether it's high school or university, and choose whatever major you want.
You can go wherever you want, buy whatever you want to eat, and buy whatever clothes you want to wear, without worrying about money or being reluctant to spend it.
You could find a city where nobody knows you, buy an apartment with a balcony, and get a cat.
[I get up every morning to eat breakfast, go to class or do what I want during the day, and watch TV shows when I get home in the evening.]
You no longer need to live in fear, no longer need to suffer injustice, and no longer need to be at the mercy of anyone. This is the life you should be living, isn't it?
Tao Wanbi stirred but didn't speak. However, the light in her eyes grew brighter and brighter, and her previous confusion and despair were slowly replaced by anticipation.
She recalled her days in the county town, lying on the bed in a dilapidated house with her friends, secretly fantasizing about such a life.
No need to run, no need to hide, there's food to eat, books to read, and a little place of your own.
That's what you thought at first, right?
The system asked, its tone carrying a hint of certainty.
When you first received the mission, your hope was to use your own abilities to earn the money, change your life, change your friends' lives, and make those who bullied you never dare to bully you again.
Tao Wanbi finally nodded: "Yes, that's what I thought at first. But after messing things up one after another, I forgot about it and didn't dare to think about it anymore."
It's not too late to think about it now.
The system breathed a sigh of relief.
The palace banquet is just ahead, and the male lead is inside. This is your last chance.
[It's not for me, it's for yourself, for your friends who protect you, for your parents to see, and for living the life you want.]
Tao Wanbi took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and the tears and pain she had felt before seemed to have turned into motivation.
She raised her chin, her tone no longer dazed, but full of drive: "Yes, it's not too late. Let's go to the palace banquet! Whether we succeed or not, I'm going to give it my all. Even if we don't complete the mission in the end, I don't want to have any regrets."
"If it works out, I'll take the money back and live the life I want, repay those who deserve it, and make those who deserve to pay the price!"
That's right!
Let's go!
"good!"
Tao Wanbi responded, straightened her clothes, pushed open the door, and strode out.
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