Chapter 102
Chapter 102: Can’t Afford It? What Are You Yelling For? Pathetic.
Bai Mu Yuan blurted, “One billion per person? Why don’t you just rob me?”
She really dared to ask for the sky. If they weren’t on this ship, he would’ve slammed the table and cursed her out.
Even Sui Xuan Chu—Imperial Crown Prince of the Zhen Lin Empire, the highest-status person in the room—felt like his roommate had reached into someone’s pocket and grabbed whatever she pleased.
Cheng Xiao Ting and Huang Da Zhuang and the others stared, mouths hanging open like they could swallow duck eggs.
They’d thought Sister Tea might ask for tens of thousands at most. She went straight to a billion. Thirteen people—thirteen billion.
They wouldn’t even dare to dream of money like that.
Jiang Tea Tea snapped back, “Senior Bai Mu Yuan, you’re the one who told me to name any price. You said you had money. You said you could pay.”
“I named a price. Now you can’t take it out. And you’re still acting high and mighty, like I should be grateful you’re ‘giving’ me the honor of clearing your mind sea.”
She clicked her tongue. “If you’re broke, just say you’re broke. No one laughs at that. But pretending to be a big shot is disgusting.”
Bai Mu Yuan forced himself to stay calm. He knew where he was; he couldn’t raise his voice here.
He lowered his voice anyway, teeth grinding. “Jiang Tea Tea, let me remind you—asking for one billion per person is called extortion.”
Jiang Tea Tea raised her voice on purpose. “You have no money, but you told me to name a price. I named one, and now you call it extortion?”
“Sui Xuan Chu—tell me. Under the Empire’s laws, what counts as extortion? Does what I did count?”
Sui Xuan Chu answered instantly, eager to educate. “Roommate, that’s not extortion. At most, it’s a voluntary deal that fell through, and someone got angry and tried to frame you.”
“Under Empire law, false accusation is a crime. Light cases get fines and detention. Serious cases can mean exile—three to ten years.”
He turned to Bai Mu Yuan, voice sharpening. “Senior Bai Mu Yuan, this is the Commander-in-Chief’s ship. Every corner has surveillance. If you accuse Jiang Tea Tea and she reports you, the Ministry of Justice can request the footage from the Commander-in-Chief.”
“And then the Commander-in-Chief will see your face. Your words. Your behavior.”
Sui Xuan Chu let the threat hang without stating the obvious. His look said it all: Think carefully.
Bai Mu Yuan understood. He forced a smile, jaw tight. “Jiang Tea Tea, Sui Xuan Chu… listen to yourselves. I just think one billion per person is too much.”
“How about this—Jiang Tea Tea. One hundred thousand star credits per person—”
Cheng Lin Yue cut in like a blade. “Senior Bai Mu Yuan, what are you yelling bargain prices for?”
“According to data, the entire M31 star system doesn’t have a 3S-rank plant-type psychic power healer—especially not one this young.”
“She named a price. One billion per person is high, sure. But you don’t get to insult her with one hundred thousand.”
“Market rate: a 3S plant-type healer calming ability backlash is one price. Clearing mind sea blockage is another. Guaranteeing a rank-up is a third. Add them together and it won’t be lower than five million star credits—and you’d still have to queue.”
“You’re offering one hundred thousand and you don’t want to wait? The nerve.”
Cheng Xiao Ting and Huang Da Zhuang and the others fell silent, dazed.
Healers cost that much?
Then when Sister Tea said she’d treat them later… hadn’t they basically picked up the biggest bargain in the universe?
Maybe they should go home and talk to their families about scraping together money for her. It was embarrassing to take that kind of favor for free.
Jiang Tea Tea glanced at Cheng Lin Yue, impressed. Of course the one in the Healing Department knew the real market—unlike her, who only knew how to demand blood and flesh.
Bai Mu Yuan’s face shifted from green to white and back again. He scrambled for an excuse.
“We came from the same competition. First and second place—shouldn’t we get a discount? Don’t you think so, Jiang Tea Tea?”
Jiang Tea Tea’s gaze turned chilly. “A loser is a loser.”
“We have no relationship. Even real brothers keep accounts clear. You had no money and you still tried to frame me for extortion. Apologize.”
Sui Xuan Chu gave a heavy grunt of agreement. “Yeah. Apologize. Or my roommate calls the police.”
Huang Da Zhuang and the others piled on. “That’s right. No treatment. Apologize, or Sister Tea reports you. We’re witnesses.”
“And your people are witnesses too. Guess whether your teammates and the third-place squad will ruin their own futures to lie for you.”
Bai Mu Yuan’s teammates tugged at him urgently, begging him to apologize and stop making trouble. He was the white dragon clan’s prized young elite; he couldn’t afford a stain.
Finally, he swallowed his rage and forced the words out. “I’m sorry, Jiang Tea Tea. I spoke without thinking. I apologize. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Even while apologizing, he tried to salvage his goal.
“I still sincerely want you to calm our backlash and soothe our mind seas. If the price is within a reasonable range—higher is fine—we can accept it.”
Jiang Tea Tea waved him off. “Be more polite next time. Watch your mouth. I’ll forgive you this once.”
“As for calming backlash and soothing mind seas—forget it. I’m not officially certified yet. I’d hate to treat you and mess you up.”
“You want 3S-rank plant-type healer certification?”
Chong Ming’s voice came from the canteen entrance.
Everyone at the table shot to their feet—tense, stiff, starstruck—except Jiang Tea Tea and Sui Xuan Chu.
Chong Ming walked in and stopped at the head of the long table. His gaze landed on Jiang Tea Tea as he repeated, “Jiang Tea Tea, do you want 3S-rank plant-type healer certification?”
Jiang Tea Tea shrugged. “Sure, or not. People who trust me will trust me. People who don’t, I don’t need them.”
Chong Ming nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll have the relevant department approve it. They’ll certify your account on Starnet.”
Jiang Tea Tea stared. “Just like that? No extra requirements?”
The corner of Chong Ming’s mouth lifted faintly. “My bodyguard—Deputy General Xia. You calmed her backlash and cleared her mind sea in ten minutes, and she rose from 5S-rank half-upgraded to 7S.”
“That kind of result isn’t something any healer can achieve. Your ability and treatment level are worth special handling.”
Now Jiang Tea Tea understood why Sui Xuan Chu claimed his uncle was infinitely tolerant of the excellent.
She could feel it—fully.
And she understood something else, too. Old Loach was determined to broadcast her “persona” to the world. To let all of M31 know the Zhen Lin Empire had a 3S-rank mutant plant-type healer.
Lucky for her he didn’t know about the cubs. If he knew she was the one who’d slept with him…
She wasn’t sure she’d keep all her branches.
Bai Mu Yuan had noticed on the training ground how close the Commander-in-Chief seemed to Jiang Tea Tea—sitting nearby, watching fights, discussing them.
Now Chong Ming was personally pushing her certification through.
Bai Mu Yuan regretted being too impatient, too eager. He’d failed to get close to her and offended her instead.
He needed a way to fix that—fast.
Cheng Xiao Ting and Huang Da Zhuang and the others looked even happier than Jiang Tea Tea did, eyes shining like they were the ones being certified.
Other cadets stared at Jiang Tea Tea differently now, regret twisting their guts. Why hadn’t they been friendly when the Commander-in-Chief wasn’t here? Why hadn’t they left her a good impression?
Jiang Tea Tea said to Chong Ming, “You already have my information. Handle the certification. Just have someone tell me when it’s done.”
“It will be done before you disembark at the capital planet,” Chong Ming replied. “You can check it yourself.”
Jiang Tea Tea nodded. “Fine.”
She sat back down. She wasn’t hungry, but the food did look good.
Chong Ming assumed she was hungry and addressed the room. “All of you excellent cadets—no need to be tense. Sit. Eat as you like.”
The head chef brought nutrient fruit juice, nutrient fruit, and a few special stir-fries.
Thirty people sat along the long table. Chong Ming took the head position, able to read every expression.
Everyone else ate carefully, afraid and thrilled, barely daring to move. Jiang Tea Tea and Sui Xuan Chu didn’t hold back—chopsticks flying, juice in hand, eating with shameless speed.
Huang Da Zhuang and Cheng Xiao Ting and Zhang Ting Zhou watched them, then started eating too—still sneaking glances at their idol, but gradually gaining courage.
To be fair, the Commander-in-Chief’s ship canteen really did serve better food than the school cafeteria.
Bai Mu Yuan’s squad loosened up as well and began to eat.
Jiang Tea Tea, soothed full by Chong Ming’s mental pressure, didn’t feel hungry at all. She filled up after eating far less than a normal female.
Chong Ming watched her stop. Even her sips of juice were small and restrained. His brow furrowed. “Jiang Tea Tea, is the food not to your taste?”
The moment he asked, everyone froze, utensils hovering midair. Their eyes bounced between the two of them.
Jiang Tea Tea ignored the attention and looked at Chong Ming, chin lifting with sharp satisfaction.
“It’s fine. I’m just timid. I’m afraid if I eat too much, someone will insist I’m sick, drag me to a healer—and send me straight onto an anatomy table.”