Shen Yu: It Was Just a Transaction, I Have a Clear Conscience

The Bai Family in Hangcheng.

"Make sure you clean the house properly—I won’t have my son-in-law looking at a mess!"

Bai Tianlong barked orders at the servants, his tone dripping with arrogance.

His two daughters had become the darlings of Mr. Jiang’s inner circle, and their influence had skyrocketed the Bai Family’s status in Hangcheng—lifting them from a second-tier family straight into the upper echelons. Business was thriving, and money flowed effortlessly.

Bai Tianlong knew full well that this prestige came solely from his daughters.

Few could resist the sheer weight behind the name "Mr. Jiang."

It wasn’t just Bai Tianlong—those in Chen Family Village were the same, especially Qin Qiaoqiao’s parents. After Jiang Che became the national top scholar, Qin Qiaoqiao’s once-shrewish mother, Wang Lili, had undergone a dramatic transformation.

Now, she boasted to anyone who would listen about her son-in-law’s brilliance—the national champion.

Once, you couldn’t even hope to reach me. Now, you can’t stop singing my praises.

...

"Mr. Jiang, you’ve finally arrived!"

Bai Tianlong’s face wrinkled into a smile so forced it resembled a withered chrysanthemum when he caught sight of Jiang Che.

Bai Jie stood by Jiang Che’s side, while Qiangwei lingered behind him, clearly harboring little affection for her biological father.

"Patriarch Bai, I’ve brought Qiangwei. I must thank you for bringing such stunning daughters into this world."

Jiang Che wrapped an arm around Bai Jie with his left and Qiangwei with his right—his opening remark cutting deep.

Bai Tianlong’s cheek twitched, his smile strained.

"It’s nothing, um—"

His gaze lingered on Qiangwei, his long-lost daughter. Guilt gnawed at him.

"Daughter… have you been well all these years?"

Jiang Che nearly rolled his eyes—he’d heard this line too many times.

"Old man, ever heard of thinking before you speak? Throw yourself into a warzone for over a decade, then tell me how ‘well’ you’d fare."

The casual "old man" nearly choked Bai Tianlong, but he knew better than to provoke Jiang Che—especially when the man wasn’t wrong.

"I only call you ‘Patriarch Bai’ out of respect for your daughters. Otherwise, you’re just some old geezer, got it?"

"And Qiangwei’s been living well—happily. She’s got a real talent for piano. I’ve already hired her a world-class instructor..."

Bai Tianlong fell silent.

His eyes traced over the daughter he hadn’t seen in years. Since arriving at the Bai Family, she hadn’t spared him a single glance, clinging only to Jiang Che.

She clearly wanted nothing to do with him. And Jiang Che’s message was loud and clear:

Your daughter’s fine with me. Stay out of it.

"That’s good… as long as she’s happy."

Bai Tianlong slumped into the sofa, consumed by regret. Why did I have to be so unfaithful? I already had a wife—why chase another woman?

If not for his philandering, Bai Tianhuai would never have stormed off with Qiangwei. Now, his family was in shambles.

But when his eyes flicked back to Jiang Che, bitterness surged within him.

The young master’s womanizing was legendary among Hangcheng’s elite—rumor had it his harem could form a small army.

We’re both men. Why do you get to play emperor without consequence?

"Qiangwei’s mother… was a pianist too. Her talent must come from her." Bai Tianlong sighed, shoulders sagging.

But Jiang Che had zero interest in his sob story. The only value Bai Tianlong held was fathering Bai Jie and Qiangwei—without them, he wouldn’t even be worth Jiang Che’s time.

...

After leaving the Bai Family, Jiang Che stretched lazily.

"Qiangwei, you really don’t want to return to your roots?"

He pulled her close, fingers combing through her long hair.

The girl nodded firmly. "Before meeting you, Big Brother was my only family. But now… you’re my everything."

Her once-guarded heart had melted under Jiang Che’s relentless affection.

"Heh… you’re too naïve. What if I abandoned you one day?"

"I… I—" Qiangwei froze. The thought had never crossed her mind.

"I’d probably… cry."

Jiang Che pinched her soft, slightly chubby cheeks. "As if I’d ever let that happen."

When it came to romance, Jiang Che was a master. He knew exactly how to play a girl’s heartstrings.

"And you—Bai Jie!"

The named girl flinched, straightening like a soldier at attention—an almost comical sight.

"Stop stealing my underwear! My drawers are disappearing because of you!"

Jiang Che, the infamous villain who crushed protagonists left and right, was utterly powerless against this obsessive little thief.

Even after satisfying her cravings… she’d still sneak off with his clothes. Maddening.

Bai Jie’s face burned crimson, her head bowing in mortification. Steam might as well have been rising from her scalp.

"Pfft—Sis, if you want something, just ask Jiang Che nicely~"

Qiangwei giggled behind her hand, eyes crinkling.

"Stop teasing me!"

......

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a three-story villa…

Shen Yu sat before her laptop, a ginger cat named Huangdoufen curled in her lap.

The screen played action films—

Actual action films. Footage and documents on ancient martial artists from Dragon Country.

"How? Where does this ‘internal energy’ come from? The dantian?"

She closed her eyes, tracing the flow of energy within her body. The sensation was… fascinating.

Truthfully, she had no interest in martial arts. But ever since her system’s main quests collapsed, her first-stage mission had warped into "Solve the Langlands Program—Unify Mathematical Theory."

Now, her second-stage mission demanded "Scientifically Decipher Martial Arts." A headache-inducing task.

Everything in her life—her scholar system, her future—had been thrown into chaos by Jiang Che.

"Jiang Che… just what kind of man are you?"

Hugging Huangdoufen, Shen Yu sank into contemplation.

She’d slept with Jiang Che.

Correction—it was a transaction.

Her body and mind, traded for knowledge from another world.

That’s all it was. A cold, calculated exchange.

…Right?