Can't Even Afford the Electricity Bill, Miserable, Miserable, Miserable

When Lin Li bought this TV, he had checked many user reviews online, all saying the brand's quality was excellent and it would last a decade or more without issues.

When Lin Li bought this TV, he'd looked up tons of user reviews online, all saying the brand's quality was excellent and it would last a decade or more without issues.

But now, after less than a year of use, it wouldn't turn on? Everyone else's worked fine, but his was broken—could his luck really be that bad?

But now, less than a year in, it wouldn't even turn on? Everyone else had no problems, yet here he was—could his luck really be that rotten?

Luckily, the TV was still under warranty. Just as Lin Li was about to contact customer service, his eyes suddenly fixed on a spot on the TV.

Luckily, the TV was still under warranty. Just as Lin Li was about to contact customer service, his eyes suddenly fixed on a spot on the TV.

Normally, there was a small light there. When it was on, it meant the TV was receiving power.

Normally, a tiny light glowed there; when it was on, it meant the TV was getting power.

Now that little light was off, which meant... no way! The power was out at home!

Now that little light was off, which meant... no way! The power was out at home!

To verify his suspicion, Lin Li immediately got up and flipped the light switches in the house.

To confirm his suspicion, Lin Li immediately got up and flicked the light switches.

"Click, click, click..."

Click, click, click...

He tried several switches, but none of the lights turned on.

He tried several switches, but not a single light came on.

"Just my luck."

"Just my luck."

Lin Li muttered under his breath, then picked up his phone and opened the electricity bill payment app. It showed he was two months overdue, owing a total of 375 yuan, and his power had been cut off.

Lin Li muttered under his breath, then picked up his phone and opened the electricity bill app. It showed he was two months overdue, owing a total of 375 yuan, and the power was currently cut off.

"So it really was cut off for non-payment!" Confirming his guess, Lin Li scratched his head, then quickly opened another app on his phone.

"So it really was shut off for nonpayment!" Confirming his guess, Lin Li scratched his head, then quickly opened another app on his phone.

The "U-Speed Recycling" backend system prompted: Your items are being processed, please wait patiently.

You Speed Recycling's backend system displayed: "Your items are being processed. Please wait patiently."

This was bad. The rabbit beast and boar beast were still being processed, so he wouldn't get paid anytime soon. He was completely broke, and soon it would be dark, plunging the house into pitch blackness.

This was bad. The Rabbit Exotic Beast and Boar Beast were still being processed, so no money yet. He was flat broke, and soon it would be dark, plunging the house into pitch blackness.

Even worse, his phone battery was down to just fifteen percent.

Even worse, his phone battery was down to just fifteen percent.

These days, having a phone die on you was a huge blow for anyone.

These days, having a phone die on you was a massive blow to anyone.

To illustrate how important phones were, just look at a recent news story.

How important was a phone to people now? Take a recent news story he'd seen, for example.

A patient on the operating table, still groggy from anesthesia after surgery, raised his right hand and mimed scrolling on a phone in midair.

A patient on the operating table, still groggy from anesthesia after surgery, actually raised his right hand and mimed scrolling on a phone in midair.

Staring at the fifteen percent battery, Lin Li's mind immediately jumped to ways to conserve power.

Staring at the fifteen percent battery, Lin Li's mind immediately jumped to conserving power.

He opened the phone's settings, dimmed the screen brightness, and locked it.

He opened the settings, dimmed the screen brightness, and locked the phone.

As long as he didn't touch it, the phone in standby mode could last another seven or eight hours.

As long as he didn't touch it, the phone in standby could last another seven or eight hours.

Broke as he was, paying the electricity bill was out of the question. The only way out was to wait.

Broke as he was, paying the bill was out of the question. The only way out was to wait.

Wait for "U-Speed Recycling" to sell his prey and get the money—then everything would be fine.

Once You Speed Recycling sold his haul and the money came through, all his problems would be solved.

"Damn... I never thought I'd end up unable to even pay an electricity bill." Lin Li slumped on the sofa, muttering gloomily to himself.

"Damn... I never thought I'd end up too broke to even pay the electric bill." Lin Li slumped on the sofa, muttering gloomily to himself.

"Ring ring ring..."

Ring, ring...

He'd just resolved to save battery until the money from "U-Speed Recycling" came through, when someone called.

He'd just been thinking about saving battery to last until You Speed Recycling's payment came in, when someone called.

"Who's that? Don't they know calls drain the battery?" Lin Li grumbled, picked up the phone, saw it was Su Yue, and answered.

"Who's that? Don't they know answering calls drains the battery?" Lin Li grumbled, reaching for the phone. Seeing it was Su Yue, he answered.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Hey, what's up?"

"Lin Li, an old man in my neighborhood went fishing by the river and caught a lot. I ran into him on my way back, and he gave me several snakehead fish. I'm planning to make fish soup tonight—want to come over and try some?"

"Lin Li, an old man in my neighborhood went fishing by the river and caught a bunch. I ran into him on my way back, and he gave me several snakehead fish. I'm planning to make snakehead fish soup for dinner—want to come try some?"

"Sure! I'll be right there." Lin Li agreed immediately.

"Sure! I'll head over right now." Lin Li agreed without hesitation.

As for his injuries... his bruised right arm had healed faster than he expected.

As for his injuries... the bruising on his right arm had healed faster than he'd expected.

His left hand was bandaged, so he couldn't see how it looked. He'd just make up some excuse.

His left hand was wrapped in gauze, so no one could see the actual state of it—he could just make up an excuse.

After hanging up with Su Yue, the battery dropped to fourteen percent, but Lin Li no longer worried about the phone dying.

After hanging up with Su Yue, the battery dropped to fourteen percent, but Lin Li no longer worried about the phone dying.

He was heading to Su Yue's for dinner anyway, so he could charge his phone while mooching a meal.

He was about to head to her place for dinner, and he could charge his phone while mooching a meal.

Should he bring a charger...? No, Su Yue had one at home.

Should he bring a charger... nah, Su Yue had one at home.

Phone chargers were all universal these days. Bringing his own to a dinner invite would just feel weird.

Phone chargers were all universal now; bringing his own to a free dinner would just feel weird.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Knock, knock, knock.

"Coming!"

"Coming~"

With a click, the door swung open!

The door clicked open with a creak.

Su Yue, with her stunning figure like a blooming rose, appeared before Lin Li.

Su Yue appeared before Lin Li, her figure sizzling like a blooming rose.

She was wearing a blue strappy dress today—simple and clean, with no extra accessories.

Today she wore a simple blue spaghetti-strap dress, clean and unadorned with extra accessories.

Though plain, the dress hugged her curves perfectly, showcasing her chest, slender waist, and long legs.

Plain as it was, its snug fit hugged her curves, the fabric clinging to her body and perfectly showcasing her bust, slender waist, and long legs.

Under the light, her silhouette was even more alluring and captivating.

Under the light, it accentuated every dip and swell, making her look stunningly alluring.

Lin Li was completely stunned. Su Yue knew exactly how good she looked in this outfit.

Lin Li was completely dumbstruck, and Su Yue knew exactly how good she looked in that outfit.

Before he arrived, she'd checked herself in the mirror several times in her room. Seeing him so dumbstruck now, she felt a sweet joy, like honey spreading in her heart.

Before he arrived, she'd checked herself in the mirror several times in her room. Seeing him so dazed now, her heart swelled with sweetness, as if coated in honey.

"Hey... Lin Li, what happened to your left hand?" Su Yue suddenly noticed the white medical bandage on his left hand and asked with concern.

"Huh...? Lin Li, what happened to your left hand?" Su Yue suddenly noticed the white medical gauze wrapped around it and asked with concern.

Snapping back to reality, Lin Li raised his injured left hand, flexed it casually, and smiled as he recited his prepared excuse.

Snapping back to reality, Lin Li raised his injured left hand, flexed it casually, and smiled as he recited the excuse he'd prepared.

"I cut it while chopping vegetables at noon. It's nothing serious—I've already applied ointment. It'll be fine in a few days."

"I cut it while chopping veggies at noon. No big deal—I've already put some ointment on it. It'll be fine in a few days."

"Oh, how clumsy can you be! Cutting yourself while chopping veggies..."

"Geez, how clumsy can you be? Cutting vegetables and still hurting yourself..."

"Isn't it normal to accidentally cut yourself while cooking?"

"Cutting your hand while cooking—isn't that pretty normal?"

"Who told you that? I've been cooking for years and never cut myself."

"..." Lin Fei fell silent, silently grumbling inside... You're just naturally gifted, how can I compare to you!

"Alright, the fish soup is almost done, come on in!" Su Yue didn't suspect Lin Li's made-up excuse. She muttered to herself, then turned and bent over to pull out Lin Li's indoor slippers from the shoe cabinet.

The form-fitting clothes she wore made this casual bending motion incredibly alluring.

"Prosperity, civility, freedom, equality, justice, integrity... Hmph, no petty scene like this is going to beat me."

Lin Li quietly recited the Heart Calming Incantation from another world under his breath, while turning his head away to avoid looking at Su Yue.

"Lin Li, what are you mumbling about?" Su Yue placed the slippers in front of him, looking at him with confusion.

"Nothing." Lin Li quickly slipped on the slippers and hurried toward the kitchen.

Watching Lin Li's flustered retreat, Su Yue's pretty face finally couldn't help but break into a sly, fox-like smile.