Self-Reliance

Han Wenwen turned her head away, her fox-like face puffed up angrily. "Hmph! I'm never speaking to Lin Zhengran again! One sentence from you made me look like a clown all the time."

Lin Zhengran looked bored. "Why do you keep pretending to be cute? But now that you've moved out to rent a place, are you planning to become completely self-reliant?"

Han Wenwen's expression returned to normal. She lowered her hands and crossed her legs, suddenly smiling wearily. "Yeah, I have to make something of myself. Although my aunt and uncle said they could support me until I graduated from Middle School, and I could keep asking them for money, I..."

She smiled sweetly. "But I really feel too embarrassed to keep staying at my uncle's house. That feeling of living under someone else's roof is really uncomfortable. Besides, for the happiness and harmony of my uncle's family, as an outsider, I should take the initiative to leave."

She held a finger beside her mouth, looking very cheerful. "Just think about it. Even my mother didn't want me when I was little, but my uncle brought me home. In my heart, it's hard for me to repay my uncle for that kindness. Now he has a girlfriend,

and my aunt is pregnant, so how could I shamelessly keep staying at his house and asking them for money? If I had even a little sense, I shouldn't keep burdening them."

Lin Zhengran hummed in response, but he knew this little fox was still too young. "If I were you, I'd probably do the same. But judging from the place you rented, money won't be easy to earn."

Han Wenwen blinked her Fox Eyes, looking quite confident. "This is the Internet era. Even if you don't have a job, there are plenty of ways to make money. There are lots of avenues for getting money. Didn't I earn these five hundred yuan by posting an Outfit Guide for girls?"

Outfit Guide? Lin Zhengran remembered how she had secretly played with her phone for quite a while, including that day on the sports field. So that was what she had been doing online.

After she finished speaking, she leaned her upper body toward Lin Zhengran. "Lin Zhengran, are you worried that I'll go astray? Don't worry. I won't follow my mother's old path. Even if I starve to death, I won't do that kind of thing."

Lin Zhengran actually knew nothing about her mother's affairs. This time, Han Wenwen had let it slip herself.

He let out a long breath. "Do you want me to help you?"

Han Wenwen looked surprised. "Help me? How? You're not planning to lend me money, are you?"

"Of course not. In a week. I have to practice singing with Jiang Xueli this week. A week from now, I'll come back to see you. Then I'll teach you how to make money. As long as you sincerely want to follow me, you'll definitely earn more than you would on your own."

Han Wenwen stared at him blankly. She wouldn't have believed such words if they had come from another boy, but for some reason, she didn't doubt Lin Zhengran at all. She smiled. "Okay, then thank you, Lin Zhengran. Oh, right! You have to keep what I just said a secret, okay? Don't tell anyone else. As payment for helping me rent this place, keeping my secret, and teaching me how to make money, I'll treat you to lunch today. How about hot pot?"

"Don't worry. I don't have a habit of telling other people's secrets."

"I thought so. Otherwise, how could Lin Zhengran have kept it from me until now? Then..." Han Wenwen shyly bit her lip.

"Since you've already helped me this much, could you help me one more time? Help me carry some of my things when we go back later? There are some things that I really can't carry by myself as a girl."

Han Wenwen tugged at Lin Zhengran's sleeve and wheedled, "Zhengran Gege~ please~"

Today, you discovered that the Demonic Cult's Enchantress was trying to leave the Demonic Cult and venture into the martial world alone. However, her cultivation was still shallow, and she was at least self-aware enough to know her limits.

Considering that she had given you several Elixirs and Famous Medicines along the way and had helped Fairy He, you chose to lend her a hand by temporarily finding her a place to stay and teaching her a cultivation technique. In return, she said she could give you a bowl of Flame Blood-Transformation Soup.

Flame Blood-Transformation Soup was a secret technique of the Demonic Cult. It caused excruciating burning pain in the mouth when consumed, but afterward, it greatly increased one's cultivation and possessed the rare ability to temper the body.

Flame Blood-Transformation Soup... hot pot? Lin Zhengran held up four fingers. "I can help, but you have to treat me to four hot-pot meals."

Han Wenwen blinked. "Four meals? But I don't have that much money..."

"You don't even have enough money for four hot-pot meals? Then how were you planning to live this summer? Earn money and spend it immediately?"

Han Wenwen gave a sheepish grin.

Lin Zhengran helplessly stood up. "You really are one bold fox. Forget it. Just prepare the soup base, and I'll buy the ingredients."

"Mm! Really? Lin Zhengran is so handsome! Don't worry, once I have money in the future, I'll definitely treat you to a proper feast!"

Han Wenwen followed Lin Zhengran, and the two of them went to school to move her belongings.

With Lin Zhengran's current strength, carrying that large bundle of bedding was no different from carrying a bottle of mineral water.

Han Wenwen was utterly stunned. "Lin Zhengran is so strong... It feels like you could lift me up with one hand."

By the time they had brought everything to the Rental House, laid out the bedsheets, and finished tidying up, it was already four or five in the afternoon. The little fox certainly had quite a complete set of belongings.

There was everything imaginable: an electric kettle, a Small frying pan, a hair dryer, and all kinds of other things.

It seemed this fox had wanted to move out for a long time. She had already bought quite a lot of daily necessities.

He placed the Small frying pan on the table, then opened the hot-pot soup base they had bought and put it inside.

Han Wenwen placed all the ingredients Lin Zhengran had brought into the pan, then took two cans of beer from her bag and handed one to him.

"Here, one can each."

Lin Zhengran accepted it casually, but he looked at the beer in his hand curiously. "Wait a second. That girl He Qing doesn't drink this with you in the dormitory on Saturdays and Sundays, does she?"

Han Wenwen, who was standing beside the bed and about to change clothes, froze. Sweat slowly beaded on her forehead as she turned around. "Of course not. Little Qing Qing would never drink this sort of thing. Besides, I just bought it. It's my first time drinking it."

With that, Han Wenwen took her dress into the Restroom to change.

Before closing the door, the little fox glanced at him with her Fox Eyes. "My clothes got too dirty while moving. I'm changing into a dress and a new top. Lin Zhengran, don't peek."

"I'm not that bored." He picked up a slice of meat with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

Han Wenwen blinked. This guy seems to have never gotten embarrassed no matter how much I tease him.

Is that really normal for a boy going through puberty?

You and the Demonic Cult's Enchantress consumed a pot of Flame Blood-Transformation Soup together. Your cultivation increased greatly. Strength +3, Physical Strength +1.

A week later, Han Wenwen's uncle and aunt came to the Rental House. They were extremely shocked to see that Han Wenwen had managed to find a place by herself and even pay the deposit.

The adults signed the contract with the landlord. During the process, the couple secretly tried to leave Han Wenwen some money—five thousand yuan—but Han Wenwen refused, saying that she could already earn money online and would ask them if she ran short.

Although Han Wenwen didn't want it, the couple seemed to feel that they owed Wen Wen something, so they left the money behind anyway.

Han Wenwen stood at the Corridor entrance and waved at them with a bright smile. "Goodbye, Uncle and Aunt! I can manage on my own, so don't worry."

Her uncle and aunt waved back and left. As they went downstairs, Han Wenwen stood by the window and looked down. Her uncle, aunt, and their newborn baby sat happily together in the car, a joyful family.

A smile also appeared at the corners of Han Wenwen's lips. "I hope that after I leave, Aunt won't argue with Uncle anymore. Their family of three should have better and better lives."

But perhaps some things were simply too coincidental. Early the next morning, after Lin Zhengran finished dealing with Jiang Xueli's matters, he went to see Han Wenwen.

He planned to teach her some ways to make money, only to discover that the little fox had unexpectedly come down with a fever.

When she opened the door for him, she looked dazed and lethargic. She greeted him weakly, "Lin Zhengran, you're here..."

She failed to keep her balance and collapsed straight into Lin Zhengran's arms.

Thanks to the generous reader "A Dog That Loves to Eat" for the 100 Qidian Coins.

And a bow of thanks to all the generous readers who voted monthly tickets.

I saw someone asking about the rules for extra updates earlier, so I'll explain. It's mainly because I need to follow the recommendation schedule, so I can't update too much right now. But as a reward for everyone's votes, I'll release a long run of explosive updates after the book goes premium.