Hearing this, Su Dagang and Chen Liping exchanged a satisfied smile.
Compared to before, the weariness and melancholy of hopelessness had vanished from their faces.
Now, their eyes sparkled with vitality, and their expressions radiated confidence.
This was the self-assurance that money brought—a confidence that emanated from within.
Money might not be omnipotent, but life was undeniably harder without it.
Seeing their expressions, Su Yang couldn’t help but feel delighted.
[Ding~ Detecting the host’s joyful mood and appreciation for the present. Reward: 800,000 yuan.]
At the system’s prompt, Su Yang suddenly remembered one important task he had for this trip home—using the attribute-boosting cards on his parents.
Their health was his top priority.
With a smile, he stood up and walked to the water dispenser, turning it on.
"Dad, do we have any tea at home? I’ll have a cup before I head out."
"Of course! I bought some premium Tieguanyin just last week. Let me brew it for you," Su Dagang replied, rising from his seat and heading toward the cabinet by the door.
Su Yang chuckled. "You two shouldn’t skimp on things, okay? Buy whatever you want, and get the good stuff. I’ll send you money regularly."
"No need for that," Su Dagang said with a grin. "The money you’ve given us is more than enough for the rest of our lives. Save yours for your future marriage."
Chen Liping chimed in, "Speaking of marriage, your best friend is already married. When are you going to bring a girlfriend home for us to meet?"
Su Yang rubbed his head sheepishly. "No rush. Right now, I’m focused on making money, and I’m still young anyway."
"No rush? In a couple of years, your friends’ kids will be old enough to run errands."
Su Yang flashed a confident grin. "Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. Besides, with looks like mine, I could find any girl I want, right? Trust me~"
Chen Liping shook her head in amusement. "Fine, fine. Just don’t drag your feet too long."
"Got it~"
Su Yang returned to the couch and sat down. While Su Dagang brewed the tea, he silently asked in his mind:
—System, how many attribute-boosting cards do I have now?
[Five.]
—Five, huh? First, show me my parents’ basic stats. Just the essentials—skip the unimportant details.
[Su Dagang, Age: 48]
[Height: 171 cm]
[Weight: 68 kg]
[Constitution: 66]
[Appearance: 68]
[Physique: 67]
[Chen Liping, Age: 47]
[Height: 158 cm]
[Weight: 60 kg]
[Constitution: 64]
[Appearance: 70]
[Physique: 70]
After reviewing their stats, Su Yang responded mentally:
—Boost my parents’ constitution first. Two points each.
[Confirm use of two attribute-boosting cards on Su Dagang and Chen Liping’s constitution?]
—Yes.
[Processing…]
[Success.]
[Updated stats:]
[Su Dagang’s Constitution: 68]
[Chen Liping’s Constitution: 66]
Satisfied with the changes on the virtual screen, Su Yang nodded to himself.
—Good. That’ll do for now.
‘Next time, I’ll save up more cards and raise their constitution above 70.’
Just then, Su Dagang returned with a teapot and cups. "All set."
He poured tea for the three of them.
They chatted over tea for half an hour before Su Yang checked the time. "Alright, I should get going."
"Already? Did you drive here?" Su Dagang asked.
Su Yang nodded. "Yeah."
"Drive carefully, then. It’s getting dark—safety first," Su Dagang reminded him.
"Don’t worry, I’m a steady driver. Once I wrap up my friend’s business, I’ll take you two house-hunting. Oh, and Dad, I’ll get you a Mercedes too."
This time, Su Dagang didn’t refuse. He smiled warmly. "Sounds good. Just finish what you need to do first."
"Will do. Make sure you two eat properly, okay?"
"We will. Now go on."
Click.
The door closed behind him as Su Yang cheerfully headed downstairs.
Soon, he reached the roadside outside the neighborhood. Just as he was about to get into his car, it struck him that showing up empty-handed might not be the best idea.
Though he and Song Anquan were close enough to skip formalities, it had been years since he last visited his friend’s home—and his parents would surely be there. Bringing a gift would leave a better impression.
Sure, Song Anquan’s parents would welcome him warmly either way, but people’s perceptions differed based on such gestures.
Deciding to act, Su Yang scanned the area but found no sizable stores nearby. He got into his car and searched online, locating a large supermarket two kilometers away.
‘A crate of Moutai and two premium cigarette cartons should do.’
Twenty minutes later, he loaded the gifts into the trunk and set the GPS for Song Anquan’s home.
Song Anquan’s family lived over twenty kilometers away, in a village under Qishan Town on the outskirts of Yangcheng.
Half an hour later, Su Yang turned onto a narrow cement-paved country road.
The path was similar to the one leading to Lu Yun’s place—barely wide enough for two cars to pass.
However, unlike Lu Yun’s mountainous terrain, Song Xiaogou’s area was relatively flat, dotted only with low hills.
As Su Yang drove along the road, vast stretches of green rice paddies stretched on either side. By autumn, the golden harvest would paint a breathtaking scene.
Dusk had settled, the last traces of sunset fading as the Rolls-Royce’s laser headlights automatically activated.
Su Yang hummed a tune, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his left arm resting on the window and his right hand on the steering wheel. Occasionally, a village car would pass by.
Spotting the Flying Lady hood ornament, the oncoming vehicles pulled over to let him through.
Su Yang lowered his window, nodding politely as he sped past.
"Is that a Rolls-Royce?" The driver of one car craned his neck to watch the Cullinan disappear.
His passenger glanced at the rearview mirror. "Yeah. Never thought we’d see one around here. Must be some rich guy visiting family."
"Maybe it’s for Song Haihua’s son’s wedding? A rented wedding car?"
"Oh! Could be."
"Didn’t know they had connections with Rolls-Royce owners. Impressive!"
"Pfft. Probably just rented. People who drive cars like that don’t hang around folks like them."
"True. Let’s go…"
Soon, Su Yang entered the village—a cluster of hamlets collectively called Dahe Village.
Song Anquan’s family lived in Shanghe Hamlet, just over a kilometer ahead.
Slowing down, Su Yang pulled out his phone and dialed Song Anquan’s number.
The phone rang a few times before Song Anquan's somewhat earnest voice came through.
"Hey, bro~"
"Xiaogou, I'm almost at your place."
"Awesome, just waiting for you. We'll eat as soon as you arrive."
Su Yang chuckled. "Sounds good. It’s a bit noisy on your end."
"Yeah, a bunch of relatives are over."
"Oh, I thought it was just your parents."
"Well, the wedding’s coming up, so friends and family are here to help out."
"Got it. See you soon."
"OK, I’ll come out to meet you."
"Alright~"

young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."

] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"

shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]

rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!