Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Oh hey, isn’t that her rich patron!

Qian Qi changed into clean clothes in the warehouse, wrapped the Thunder Lion’s horn in waste paper, then stuffed it into an empty tin box.

As she tied the bundle, her gaze slid to the Light-Brain on her wrist, which was ruined beyond recognition, and she felt gloomy. When the Magibeast tide chased her, she had protected the Tuban Fruit in her hands, so her already old Light-Brain got bitten and wrecked. Still, she didn’t lose out; she smashed all the beast’s teeth [hands on hips, proud].

She wondered if something this broken could still be fixed and how much it would cost. She didn’t have a single coin on her, and even getting back to school was a problem.

Scratching her head in annoyance, Qian Qi went back to the Dean’s office.

Seeing her, Xiang Wen Yun stood up at once and said with worry: “Qi Qi, where did you go? You were gone so long I thought you’d left.”

“Just wandered around a bit,” Qian Qi said after a soft cough. Her eyes flicked over the slight redness at the corners of Xiang Wen Yun’s eyes, and she rubbed her neck before asking: “Um, Dean, could you lend me some money? I’ll pay you back as soon as I get back.”

“You’re out of living expenses, aren’t you,” Xiang Wen Yun said with a helpless shake of the head. “I asked you before and you still tried to act tough. Hold on, I’ll transfer it to you.”

“Ah, well, I was hoping for cash,” Qian Qi added with another cough.

Xiang Wen Yun paused, didn’t pry, and said: “All right, wait here.”

She stepped out and soon came back with a bag, handed it to Qian Qi, and said with a gentle smile: “The money’s inside. When you’re out, don’t skip meals. You’d look even better with a little more weight.”

There were also two sets of clothes in the bag. Knowing Qian Qi didn’t like bright colors, she had chosen simple white short shirts.

Qian Qi touched the clothes, then looked up and said: “I’ll head out now.”

“Okay,” Xiang Wen Yun answered softly. She was about to fetch some fruit when Qian Qi bolted for the door and slipped away as fast as a rabbit.

“This child,” Xiang Wen Yun murmured with a helpless smile, watching Qian Qi’s retreating back as she whispered: “Who knows when I’ll see her again…”

Qian Qi asked for directions, took one subway ride, and finally found a mall that fixed Light-Brains. Awakeners had high status in this world, but most people were still ordinary. Even with tech like Light-Brains, folks still used cash for the subway and the mall.

She stepped inside. A wave of cool air washed over her. She looked left and right and quickly locked onto a Light-Brain shop.

Even in another world, stores selling communication gear still set up right at the first-floor entrance.

She strode in. A clerk hurried over with a bright, polished smile and asked: “Sir, what can I help you with?”

Qian Qi went quiet for a beat, then asked: “Do you do Light-Brain repairs?”

The smile on the clerk’s face faltered. She gestured perfunctorily toward the back, then walked off.

Qian Qi scratched her head and walked deeper into the store. In a corner she found a tiny desk with a hand-lettered sign: Light-Brain Repairs.

She hurried over, placed the torn-up Light-Brain parts on the desk, and asked the repairman: “Uncle, can this be fixed?”

The repairman glanced at the pile of shards, then at Qian Qi’s fierce-looking face, and almost thought she was here to cause trouble. But the hope in her eyes was real, so he said with regret: “This broken? How am I supposed to fix it? Buy a new one.”

Qian Qi’s face fell at once.

Seeing her “get fierce,” the repairman’s heart jumped. He quickly added: “I mean, sure, it can be repaired, but you’ve got a lot of ruined parts. Replacing them will cost about the same as a new one. Trust me.”

He looked so sincere that Qian Qi hesitated, then nodded.

The clerk, who had slipped back to eavesdrop, rushed over again with that showroom smile and said warmly: “Sir, looking for a new Light-Brain? We’ve got lots of new models!”

Qian Qi gave the clerk a slightly stunned look. Goodness, a kindred spirit from another world. This clerk could really read the wind just like her.

But sadly…

“I want the cheapest one,” Qian Qi asked honestly. “How much is it?”

The clerk’s smile froze again. Still, a sale was a sale. She led Qian Qi to a counter and pointed at the old Light-Brain models inside, saying: “These are the cheapest.”

Qian Qi checked the price. The cheapest was 6,000. Xiang Wen Yun had only given her 1,000, and she had already spent 7 on the subway.

“Can I use it first and then pay?” Qian Qi pointed at her pocket. “My Light-Brain is smashed, so I can’t pay right now.”

The clerk’s smile collapsed. She suspected Qian Qi wanted something for free or thought she was trying to scam her, and said: “Sir, you need real-name registration to activate a Light-Brain. Once it’s opened, it’s a secondhand device.”

Who knew if Qian Qi had money in her account? If she bound it and then refused to pay, what then?

Qian Qi hadn’t expected that rule. With a regretful look at the models in the case, she said: “Then forget it…”

Maybe she could buy a phone? Did this world even have phones? Or go look for a secondhand Light-Brain.

Money didn’t grow on trees. She had to save where she could.

Just then, a delighted voice called out behind her: “Boss Qian Qi!”

Her ears pricked up. [Her rich-person radar beeped to life.]

Oh wow, she knew that voice!

She turned and saw Classmate Wang jogging over. She hurried to meet him halfway.

“Classmate Wang,” Qian Qi said in a lively, rising and falling tone, as if she’d spotted a generous spender. Her hand was already diving toward the Defense Fruit in her pocket: “I’ve got…”

Before she could finish, Classmate Wang stopped in front of her, eyes wide and clear as he asked excitedly: “Boss, what are you doing in my store? Buying a Light-Brain?”

“Huh?”

Qian Qi caught the key point at once. She looked up at the fancy decor and asked: “This is yours?”

“Haha, not mine,” Classmate Wang said quickly, waving his hands. “It’s my family’s. You didn’t know? We run a chain of Light-Brain stores.”

He pointed to the most central, most luxurious display. “See that latest model? My uncle’s lab developed it.”

Qian Qi thought: Oh ho.

She grinned. So Classmate Wang wasn’t just rich. His background was impressive too. No wonder she had picked him as a patron. Excellent eye.

She wiped her face and put on a mildly troubled look: “Truth is, my Light-Brain broke. I want to buy a new one.”

Meaning, with our friendship, could she take delivery now and pay later?

“I see! You should have said so earlier!” Classmate Wang thumped his chest and said with swagger: “I’ll get you the latest model right now. Free!”

Qian Qi: [!!!]

She glanced up at the new flagship, eyes going shiny. “Oh my! Isn’t that too much? You’re being too kind.”

Classmate Wang instantly understood her tone and said: “What’s too much? If you hadn’t shown up in time with that Hemostasis Potion, I’d be dead by now. How could I be standing here?”

“A life-saving debt should be repaid with, ahem, with the latest Light-Brain! Please don’t be polite with me.”

He nearly slipped, then pointed at the clerk and ordered: “Hurry and pack the newest model for Boss Qian Qi!”

The clerk’s already-stiff smile turned into a look of panic. She carefully boxed up the latest Light-Brain, handed it over with trembling hands, and apologized: “Honored customer, I’m so sorry about just now…”

“What happened?” Classmate Wang’s face darkened at once. “Did you judge Boss Qian Qi by her clothes and assume she couldn’t afford a Light-Brain?”

Qian Qi, who indeed could not afford one, thought: […you didn’t have to stress that I look poor! Also, this is the Guangdong rich rustic look, okay? Learn some fashion.]

“Your clerk was doing her job,” Qian Qi said. She didn’t think the clerk had done anything wrong and didn’t care about little things. She tapped the Light-Brain and added: “Thank you for this.”

For her, saving money was the big deal. Building the right ties with a small patron was even bigger. Small patrons lead to big patrons, big patrons lead to a bunch of big patrons, and a bunch of big patrons lead to a sweet, comfortable retirement.

“Classmate Wang, I just got my hands on something nice,” Qian Qi said, waggling her brows. “You know.”

“Oh, I know,” Classmate Wang replied, catching on at once. He mimed the same brow waggle and pointed toward the back room. “Come on, we’ll talk inside.”

Ten minutes later, Qian Qi walked out of the store, very pleased, with an extra 30,000 in her account.

After she left, Classmate Wang also stepped out of the back room, tightening his grip on the item in his hand. He told the staff: “If this boss comes again, pack the newest model for her right away and put it on my tab.”

A life-saving debt was hard to repay. The Wang clan would not miss the chance to befriend a real boss over a little profit. The more favors they sold her, the better they could cling to her big, sturdy thigh.

Enough talk. His second grand-uncle was entering a D level Dungeon tomorrow. He had to sell him the Defense Fruit before that.

Hmm, what price…

Let’s do a family discount. 100,000.