Pay Up!

"Brother Ping, how is it? Did you also apply to Jiangnan Interstellar Academy? That way, we can keep hanging out together in the future~"

A cloyingly sweet voice drifted over from the side. Tang Ping looked up to see Zhang Min standing by his desk, her hands cupped against her cheeks, her knuckles flushed a faint pink.

That was the pose she habitually used to act cute. She was wearing a pink dress from the "Star Dream Series" that had just been released last month, with tiny fluorescent patterns embroidered along the hem that shimmered under the classroom's simulated starlight; her large eyes seemed to brim with moisture, curved into a slight arc.

Looking like this, anyone who saw her would think she was a simple, harmless young girl.

Nearby classmates glanced over on the sly, and even his seatmate, Zhang Qiang, nudged Tang Ping with his elbow, his eyes carrying the implication that "you lucky dog, you've hit the jackpot."

After all, Zhang Min had always maintained an image of being "gentle and kind" in class, and she had often helped Tang Ping bring breakfast and organize his notes. Those who didn't know better all assumed the two were already a couple.

Tang Ping, however, simply withdrew his gaze from the light screen, his tone flat and devoid of any ripples: "No, I chose Galaxy Warrior University, which is being built through a partnership between the Luo Family and the Silver Blue Empire."

"Ah?" The smile on Zhang Min's face froze instantly, and the moisture in her large eyes condensed at a visible speed; the next second, her eyes turned red.

She lowered her head, her two pale, slender fingers twisting the hem of her dress into a knot, her voice carrying a trembling, aggrieved tone: "Brother Ping, are you... are you going to abandon Min'er? Didn't we agree to work hard together at Jiangnan Interstellar Academy and join the Luo Family's subsidiaries in the future?"

As soon as these words were out, the murmurs around them became more pronounced. Some people looked at Tang Ping with "bewilderment" and even a hint of "condemnation." In their eyes, Tang Ping was turning his back on the beauty right in front of him to pursue the unattainable "Galaxy Warrior University"—he was simply being ungrateful.

Tang Ping nodded, his tone remaining calm: "That's right. A man has to pursue a better life, after all. You can't stop me, can you?

Oh, right, there's one more thing. The money you've borrowed from me over the years—remember to pay it back in the next few days. Otherwise, once I go to Galaxy Warrior University, I might not be able to find you anymore."

He raised his wrist, revealing an old-model smartwatch with worn edges. It was a memento left behind by his parents, and he had worn it for three years without replacing it.

His finger tapped lightly on the watch face, and a clear voice rang out: "Xiao Ai, help me organize all the records of money Zhang Min has borrowed from me over the years. List them as a bill in chronological order and send a copy to her personal terminal now, so she doesn't get them mixed up.

Also, set a reminder: if she hasn't paid me back in three days, generate a lawyer's letter template and send it to me."

"Understood, Master. Accessing financial records... Bill generated, sending to user 'Zhang Min's' terminal..." The electronic voice of the smartwatch echoed crisply through the classroom, shattering the previous whispers.

Within seconds, Zhang Min's personal terminal suddenly emitted a "beep" notification sound.

She froze for a moment, instinctively raising her hand to tap it open. A pale blue virtual light screen instantly unfolded before her, densely packed with loan records:

[April, 2266 AD: Borrowed 50,000 Silver Blue Coins for Dragon Blood Crystal procurement fees;

June, 2267 AD: Borrowed 1.2 million Silver Blue Coins for Telekinesis Training Device fees;

January, 2267 AD: Borrowed 80,000 Silver Blue Coins for younger brother's school admission facilitation fees...]

Every entry was marked with the date, purpose, and transfer receipt. The total sum on the last line hit everyone's eyes like a heavy hammer:

Total: 2.08 million Silver Blue Coins

"Hiss~" A collective gasp of cold air instantly filled the classroom.

One had to know that the annual rent for an entire street of shops on the most prosperous "Starlight Commercial Street" in Jiangnan City was only a little over a million.

"Did I hear that right? Zhang Min borrowed that much money?"

"My god, the clothes she wears and the training resources she uses were all bought with money borrowed from Tang Ping?"

"She used to always say Tang Ping wasn't good enough for her—turns out she was using him as an ATM!"

The murmurs instantly turned into open discussion, and looks of mockery and accusation fell squarely on Zhang Min.

Her complexion turned from white to green, then from green to purple. Her fingers trembled as she scrolled through the numbers on the light screen, and tears fell onto the desk like broken beads. Her voice turned into a sob: "Wuwuwu! Tang Ping, I hate you!"

After saying this, she covered her face, stumbled back to her seat, and slammed onto the desk with a "thud." Her shoulders shook violently, and her crying leaked through her fingers, sounding as aggrieved as if she had suffered a great injustice.

Tang Ping smiled slightly: "It's fine if you hate me, just remember to pay me back."

Scum girls deserve to eat dirt!

"Tang Ping, how could you be like this!" An angry voice suddenly rang out. Zhang Min's seatmate, Liu Wu, stood up abruptly and pointed at Tang Ping's nose, shouting in reproach.

"We've been classmates for so long, and Minmin has always been so good to you. Now you're forcing her into this state just for a bit of money? Do you have any class at all!"

Tang Ping raised his eyes to look at him, his tone calm as he retorted: "Oh? Are you planning to pay her debt for her? 2.08 million—transfer it to my terminal now, and we'll call it even."

Liu Wu's face instantly turned the color of a pig's liver. His finger hung stiffly in mid-air, and he stammered, unable to say a word: "I... I..."

"If you don't have the money, mind your own business." Tang Ping withdrew his gaze, not bothering to look at him again.

At this moment, Zhang Min's best friend, Li Feifei, also stood up, pointing at Tang Ping's nose, trembling with rage: "Tang Ping, don't go too far! Minmin was so good to you in the past.

On your birthday, she specifically picked out a limited-edition energy belt for you; your dorm was as messy as a pigsty, and she went to help you clean it every week; she was even willing to give up a better school just to be with you and apply to the same university!

To treat her like this now—you're a heartless, ungrateful wretch! I never want to see a classmate like you again for the rest of my life!"

These words moved the surrounding classmates, and even those who had previously accused Zhang Min began to hesitate; after all, everyone had seen the "kindness" Li Feifei spoke of.

Tang Ping couldn't help but laugh: "A limited-edition energy belt? I remember that was a discounted item. The original price was only 8,000 Silver Blue Coins, and she even wore it herself for half a month before giving it to me.

Cleaning the dorm every week? In the entire semester, she went a total of three times, and each time she messed up the training notes I had left on the table."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the pale-faced Li Feifei, the coldness in his tone deepening: "Since you think she 'sacrificed' so much, I'll be generous. I'll waive the 80,000 remainder on the bill. Consider it compensation for that belt and labor fees for her cleaning the dorm.

80,000—a cleaner in Jiangnan City wouldn't earn that much in several years. Zhang Min is making a killing!"

"As for classmate bonds?" Tang Ping's gaze swept over the silent crowd in the classroom. "To be honest, once I go to Galaxy Warrior University, most of the people in this class won't have any contact with me in the future, so don't try to use 'classmate bonds' to hold me hostage.

Oh, except for Liu Hui. If any of you hold a university graduation banquet, don't call me. I'm not interested."

His tone shifted, and he suddenly looked at Li Feifei, a meaningful smile curling the corner of his mouth: "Oh, right, Li Feifei, I remember you also borrowed 150,000 Silver Blue Coins from me last year, saying you needed to buy nutritional supplements for training. You still haven't paid that back, right?

Xiao Ai, organize Li Feifei's loan records as well and send them to her terminal. Remember to remind her to pay it all back in three days."

"Understood, Master. Li Feifei's loan records have been compiled and are being sent..."

Li Feifei's face turned deathly pale in an instant, as if all her strength had been drained away; she staggered back into her seat, her eyes filled with disbelief.

The classroom fell completely silent, and everyone looked at Tang Ping with eyes full of awe; this boy, who had previously seemed honest and easy to bully, seemed to have transformed into a completely different person.

Tang Ping, however, paid no mind to the gazes of the crowd, simply looking down at the admission confirmation button for Galaxy Warrior University on his screen and tapping it lightly with his finger.

"Beep~" A pale blue light flashed, and a notification popped up on the screen: "Application submitted successfully."

Universe, here I come!