Chapter 6: The Child Who Tried to Scam Her
Lin Xiaohe hid in the alley behind Fúqì lái Internet Cafe.
She gasped for air, her face burning as if on fire; what just happened was too embarrassing.
If she had said those words to a handsome young man, Lin Xiaohe could still explain that she was just being flirtatious.
But the object of her words was the burly Cheng Ge, and Lin Xiaohe felt her mouth was defiled!
“Lin Xiaohe, I’m connected to the Star Domain Network!”
Lin Xiaohe felt a dizzy spell, and when she opened her eyes again, she was already in a sea of stars.
Identity verification passed, user 741741 successfully logged in.
After a cold, mechanical female voice, Lin Xiaohe felt as if she had transmigrated again.
This time, she was wearing a black robe, wrapped tightly from head to toe, and a clown mask covered her face.
Xin Bao was stuck on her head, its two leaves comfortably unfurled.
In front of Lin Xiaohe was a virtual screen with thousands of channels to choose from; each channel offered different content and had different fees.
Since she was freeloading anyway, Lin Xiaohe directly sorted by price and chose the most expensive one!
User 741741 has chosen to enter the Kepler Star System Central District. The fee is 3000 star coins per second. Have a pleasant time.
Tsk tsk, so expensive!
Fortunately, she didn't have to pay for internet access.
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than Lin Xiaohe felt a pulling sensation dragging her downwards.
In the blink of an eye, she found herself on Central Street.
Central Street was lined with shops, bustling with people, and anything bought here could be delivered to your doorstep by the Star Domain Express Company.
Lin Xiaohe casually walked into a shop selling nutrient solutions, thinking about improving her meals.
The cheapest strawberry-flavored nutrient solution cost 2100 star coins.
“I'm not worthy, goodbye!” Lin Xiaohe squatted by the roadside, looking around like a country bumpkin.
She was troubled, wondering what kind of business opportunity she should look for.
On the large central screen, mechs fought fiercely, accompanied by an incredibly passionate voiceover: The 138th Mech Competition, Kepler Star System Qualifiers, registration is about to begin! The champion will win a 100 million star coin prize!
Lin Xiaohe indifferently shifted her gaze; she had never even touched a mech, so this competition had nothing to do with her.
Suddenly, a colorful luxury hovercar descended into the Central Plaza, and a chubby little boy got out of the car, sitting alone on a street bench.
What pure and clear eyes! He looked like a rich fool at first glance.
Lin Xiaohe's heart stirred, and her feet, against her will, walked towards the little boy.
“Xin Bao, it’s time to show what you can do!”
“Okay, Lin Xiaohe.”
…
“Ah. My poor Xin Bao! You died such a tragic death, my heart aches, it aches so much I feel like I’m going to die.” Lin Xiaohe slid into a kneel, tremblingly cupping Xin Bao, which lay sprawled at the boy's feet, with both hands.
Under the boy's frightened and bewildered gaze, Xin Bao's two small leaves twitched twice like chicken feet, then drooped limply, finally becoming motionless.
It vividly portrayed its unwillingness before death and its reluctance to leave its owner.
“Ah, my Xin Bao! Who killed you?!”
Thinking of not being able to repay the debt, which would lead to her whole family dying, Lin Xiaohe cried a river of tears, her sorrow overflowing.
Dong Yuxuan pursed his lips and whispered, “I brought a Sky Eye.”
Hmm?
Lin Xiaohe's crying stopped. What's a Sky Eye?
Dong Yuxuan: “It can record everything around me in 360 degrees without blind spots.”
Oh my god!
Lin Xiaohe was furious. She had only heard of cars having dashcams, but never a child carrying a recorder.
Your family controls you so strictly, and you don't even resist?!
Dong Yuxuan squatted down and poked Xin Bao's small leaf with his finger.
It tickled, but Xin Bao held still.
Dong Yuxuan boldly touched the straw again.
The two small leaves quickly wrapped around the straw tightly.
Xin Bao cried out in grievance: Lin Xiaohe, this little fatty is molesting me. Waaah, I'm dirty, I'm not clean anymore.
Before Lin Xiaohe could comfort Xin Bao, she met Dong Yuxuan's bright, sparkling eyes.
Dong Yuxuan was incredibly excited: “A Star Dust Plant Manipulator! You must be a Star Dust Plant Manipulator!”
Huh?
Lin Xiaohe was utterly bewildered.
Because of the mask, Dong Yuxuan didn't notice Lin Xiaohe's surprise.
His eyes seemed to twinkle with stars, his hands clenched into fists, vigorously waving in the air, his face filled with uncontrollable excitement.
“Haha, I knew it, I must be a favored child of heaven. Did you spot me in the crowd at first glance?”
Lin Xiaohe nodded mechanically. How could she not spot him at first glance? There was only one luxury car emitting colorful light.
Dong Yuxuan seemed to be infused with endless power, his whole person energized, his eyebrows raised high, his eyes full of fanaticism: “Do you really want to get to know me?”
Lin Xiaohe nodded expressionlessly. Of course, she did; she wanted to scam him.
Dong Yuxuan's eyes were filled with tears, and he choked with sobs: “I knew it, gold shines wherever it is. Finally, someone has discovered my extraordinary talent and exceptional innate qualities! I'm not a waste, not a joke of the Dong family!”
A thought flashed through Lin Xiaohe's mind, and she asked Xin Bao telepathically: “What is a Star Dust Plant Manipulator?”
Xin Bao, a top-tier hacker in the virtual network, gave the answer after just a second of searching.
The Federation's single-combat system is divided into two main categories: mech-based and manipulation-based. Mech-based accounts for ninety-nine percent, while manipulation-based is rare, including exotic beast manipulators and Star Dust Plant Manipulators.
Exotic beasts and mutated star dust plants are already very difficult to deal with, and those that can develop sentience are the strongest among the strong. An A-grade or higher mech squad wouldn't last ten minutes against them!
To summarize, exotic beast manipulators and Star Dust Plant Manipulators are the big shots among big shots, requiring at least SSS-level physical and mental strength.
They are incredibly powerful, extremely rare, mysterious, and prefer not to show themselves. People of insufficient status don't even know of their existence.
Lin Xiaohe sighed slightly. Forget it, she couldn't impersonate a Star Dust Plant Manipulator to make money; it would be too easy to expose her, and once exposed, the trouble would be immense.
“Little fatty, I…”
Dong Yuxuan's face was flushed, and he shouted loudly, straining his neck: “I'm willing!”
Willing to do what?!
Lin Xiaohe quickly said: “You've got the wrong person, I'm not a manipulator.”
A hint of hurt flashed in Dong Yuxuan's eyes; he sniffed and said firmly: “I know, this is your test for me! Let me introduce myself first.”
“My name is Dong Yuxuan, and I live in the Second Star Ring. My family cultivates land, with only over 2800 planting stars. All the natural fruits and vegetables in the Second Star Ring are supplied by my family. There’s an old ancestor in the family who is a Star Dust Plant Manipulator, but he has been in seclusion for a long time.”
Dong Yuxuan took a deep breath: “I’ve been studying farming knowledge since I was young, I have a hundred acres of experimental fields, and I once grew B-grade wheat.”
“I’m finished, Master, please take me as your disciple!”
Lin Xiaohe sneered. They were both farmers, but he only had a mere 2000-plus planting stars, while her own family's land was as much as 50 acres!
The Dong family was nothing special after all.
Lin Xiaohe admitted she was jealous, extremely jealous, the kind of jealousy that turns you into a lemon spirit!
She said coldly and mercilessly: “You've got the wrong person, I won't take you as a disciple.”
What could she teach him? How to fail at scamming people?