I'm in Morioh, just joined a chat group for cute girls.

【Oblivionis】: @WeatherForecast, have you arrived home yet?

After sending the message, she stared at the screen nervously.

101228з○9㈧

Almost instantly.

[Weather Forecast]: We've arrived.

Xiangzi breathed a sigh of relief and his fingertips flew across the screen.

【Oblivionis】: The story you gave me... I read it. Why does it feel so disjointed? The first half was... somewhat coherent, but the second half... it just has this indescribable, strange feeling.

[Weather Forecast]: As I said, this is a "story" about you that I saw in another world. Of course, the author of this "story" was criticized by all the viewers because of the terrible ending. You're not the only one who thinks it's strange.

Upon seeing this message, Xiangzi finally found a resonance for the absurdity in his heart.

At this moment, the other people who had been lurking in the group also came out.

【Marin】: Huh? What story? Xiangzi-chan's future? I want to see it too!

【Devil Muscle Rin】: A story that you two have both thoroughly complained about? I'm a little curious.

【American Scythe】: The future? Hmph, shouldn't the future be something that we ourselves either crush or shape?

【Oblivionis】:……

Driven by the curiosity of his fellow group members, Xiangzi hesitated for a moment, but still took pictures of the contents of his notebook, organized them into a file, and uploaded it to the group.

She noted: "For reference only, proceed at your own risk."

File uploaded successfully.

The group fell silent for a moment, with only the notification "XXX is reading" flashing continuously.

About ten minutes later.

【Marin】: ? ? ?

【Devil Muscle Rin】: ? ? ? What is all this nonsense? It seemed to make sense at the beginning, but then suddenly... everyone's become a saint? It's all so incoherent.

[The Crimson Executioner]: ...The plot twist was abrupt. It felt like it was forced to end just to conclude the story.

[Flower Pillar]: Indeed... It feels like the character's inner conflict hasn't been truly resolved; the "reconciliation" button has just been forcibly pressed.

[American Scythe]: My view differs from yours. What is meant by the "dark side of the Toyokawa family" mentioned in it? This part is not elaborated on at all.

Vishdel's question hits the nail on the head.

【Oblivionis】: I don't know either.

[Weather Forecast]: That plot point seems like it was leaving a cliffhanger, but actually the author hadn't even figured out how to write it, so they just left it there. Commonly known as "digging a hole and not filling it."

Chapter 153 Jotaro: Whose treasure did you rob?

【Devil Muscle Rin】: So it's just a completely terrible story with a terrible ending! Xiangzi, don't let this kind of thing affect you.

As Xiangzi watched the scrolling discussions on the screen, the anger and unease that had been building up in her chest dissipated considerably amidst the complaints. She typed a line, each word filled with resolve.

[Oblivionis]: Anyway, I already know this awful future. I will absolutely not let it happen. I will create a... better future.

【Marin】: Supporting Xiangzi-chan! Keep it up! ?（'ω'）?

[Flower Column]: If you need any help, feel free to let me know anytime.

【Devil Muscle Rin】: Hmph, it may sound naive, but it's always good to have this intention.

Just as the atmosphere in the group was getting lively, Xiangzi suddenly felt a strong sense of hunger.

She then realized that she had barely touched her chopsticks at the restaurant in order to maintain appearances and save money.

She stood up and walked towards the small, secondhand refrigerator in the corner of the room.

When she got back from her part-time job today, she specially bought a discounted meal online to have as a late-night snack.

She opened the refrigerator door.

The refrigerator was completely empty.

The bento box, which should have been there and consisted of a few cheap side dishes and rice, was gone.

Xiangzi froze in his tracks.

She searched the small refrigerator in disbelief, glanced at the top of it, and finally collapsed to the floor.

...It was stolen?

Who would... steal a discounted meal from a shared restaurant?

A huge, indescribable sense of grievance and helplessness instantly overwhelmed her.

It was more devastating for her than learning about that awful future.

The future can be changed, but the hunger we face right now is real and cruel.

She picked up her phone, her fingers trembling, and sent a message in the group chat.

【Oblivionis】: bad news.

【Oblivionis】: Damn it, my pre-ordered meal was stolen! Who could be so mean as to steal my pre-ordered meal!

After the message was sent, the atmosphere in the group instantly switched from a passionate and inspirational scene to a more realistic one.

【Marin】: Huh?! It got stolen? Xiangzi-chan, didn't you eat enough for dinner? I didn't see you eat much.

Xiangzi felt a lump in his throat as he read Haimeng's message.

【Oblivionis】: ...ate only a little bit.

[Weather Forecast]: You're at the age where you're growing, so you can't stop getting nutrition.

Upon seeing the message from Gu Ye, Xiangzi could no longer hold back.

She hugged her knees, buried her face in them, and her shoulders shrugged slightly.

The light from the phone screen reflected a single tear that slid down the corner of her eye.

【Oblivionis】: The money I got from trading jewelry last time is almost all gone. If I don't cut back on spending tonight, I'll really be starving next week...

Toyokawa Shoko's tearful lament was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples throughout the chat group.

That line of text, written in a tearful voice, made everyone watching the screen feel her helplessness at that moment.

That wasn't the coldness of producer Oblivionis, nor the elegance of the eldest daughter of the Toyokawa family; it was simply the most genuine lament of a starving, desperate sixteen-year-old girl.

The group chat was silent for a few seconds.

[Weather Forecast]: Oh, I see.

Gu Ye's message broke the silence.

[Weather Forecast]: Why don't we just go straight back to the Toyokawa house?

Go back to the Toyokawa family?

Bow down to that man?

She almost immediately snapped out of that self-pity, replaced by a surge of anger at being offended.

She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and tapped the screen hard with her fingers, as if she wanted to pierce the phone.

【Oblivionis】: I don't want to bow down to my grandfather!

【Oblivionis】: Everything the Toyokawa family has, everything I've lost, I will take it all back with my own hands, honorably and honestly! Not through his charity!

These words were full of determination and arrogance, just like Xiangzi's usual style.

[American scythe]: Tsk, that's really troublesome.

Vishdale’s message carried an undisguised impatience.

[American Scythe]: You're the only designated heir of the Toyokawa family, right? Since that old man is making things difficult for you, why don't you find a way to remove him and take the throne yourself? Power isn't something you can just grab; you can't expect it to fall into your lap.

[Devil Muscle Rin]: Hey, W! Don't try to solve problems with your Sarkaz mercenary mindset, okay? This is a society governed by law!

【American Scythe】: Huh? Rule of law? Isn't that just an excuse to protect you weaklings? The strong make the rules, and the weak obey them. If she were strong enough, the Toyokawa family would be hers by now.

Vishdel's speech was filled with the primal law of the jungle, making the atmosphere in the group somewhat tense.

Looking at the debate on the screen, Gu Ye could understand Xiangzi's feelings.

Instead of engaging in the argument, he changed his approach and sent a message directly to Xiangzi.

[Weather Forecast]: Since we're in the same world, I can help you exchange the treasure you obtained from your last mission for an equivalent amount of money.

[Weather Forecast]: Furthermore, I guarantee that no one will question the source of this money. Even if it is investigated, it will all be legitimate and legal.

She stared blankly at the words, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

That treasure... it was spoils she obtained from another world during her last group chat mission.

Boxes of gold coins, countless diamonds, rubies and sapphires, and all sorts of exquisite jewelry.

She knew it was a huge fortune that could turn her life upside down.

But precisely because it was so valuable, she dared not touch it.

In this era of information transparency, for an ordinary high school student to suddenly produce a pile of ancient treasures of dubious origin and try to cash them in is tantamount to walking into a trap.

The best outcome would be being treated like a madwoman, the worst outcome... she dared not think about it.

So that batch of treasure has been quietly lying in her chat group warehouse in the form of red envelopes.

Now, Gu Ye says he has a solution.

【Oblivionis】: Really... is that okay?

Her fingertips were trembling, and even the words she typed were uncertain.

[Weather Forecast]: No problem.

These three simple words carry a convincing power.

[Weather Forecast]: However, such a large and rapid conversion into cash may result in a loss of about 10% of the value. This is not money laundering, but simply the necessary cost of quickly disposing of assets. Of course, if you are not in a hurry to convert all your wealth into cash, you can take your time and obtain equivalent wealth.

Xiangzi barely thought.

Slow? She can't wait even a day longer.

She was fed up with hiding in dark corners, living in fear for a discounted bento box.

【Oblivionis】: Please convert all of it into money for me as soon as possible.

[Weather Forecast]: Yes.

After replying, Gu Ye began operating on the chat group interface.

He found the huge red envelope sent by Xiangzi that he had kept for a long time, and clicked "Claim".

System notification: [You have received Oblivionis's red envelope for the weather forecast.]

Almost simultaneously, in Gu Ye's room in Morio Town, a small mountain of gold coins, jewelry, and various exquisite ornaments appeared out of thin air in front of the not-so-large desk.

The golden light instantly illuminated the entire room, giving the posters on the wall a luxurious sheen.

Gu Ye calmly looked at the treasure mountain in front of him, took out his phone, took a picture of it, and then dialed a number.

The phone rang a few times before being answered, and a calm but slightly impatient male voice came through.

"it's me."

"Jotaro, good evening, sorry to bother you."

Gu Ye leaned back in his chair. "There's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

"explain."

Jotaro Kujo on the other end of the phone spoke succinctly.

“I have a batch of gold and silver jewelry that I need to dispose of, and I want to cash it out through the SPW consortium’s channels.”

As Gu Ye spoke, he sent over the photos he had just taken.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, clearly someone was looking at the photos.

Then, Jotaro's voice rang out again, this time with a hint of barely perceptible surprise.