Back on Earth, I am the only cultivator.

......

Mencheng, inside an old residential building.

The evening news was playing on the television in the living room, its blue glow illuminating the faces of several people around the dining table.

At the dining table, Jiang Chuxue's younger brother, Jiang Tao, was stuffing large mouthfuls of meat slices from his plate into his mouth, chewing them noisily, as if no one else was around.

Her father, Jiang Guoqiang, took a sip of baijiu (Chinese liquor), looked at Jiang Chuxue who was standing silently to the side, and couldn't help but scold her:

"Chu Xue, you need to hurry up with your relationship with Zhang Wei! Now that you're engaged, you should get the wedding done as soon as possible."

Jiang Chuxue lowered her head, holding the water glass in her slender hands, without saying a word.

Seeing his daughter's lifeless state, Jiang Guoqiang was immediately displeased and slammed his wine glass heavily on the table.

"What kind of attitude is this? I'm talking to you! The IOU for five million is still in Zhang Wei's hands. Once you get married, you'll naturally become a family, and the debt won't have to be repaid."

Jiang's mother sat to the side, serving Jiang Tao meat while chiming in with her own words:

"That's right, Chu Xue."

"Your younger brother is getting married and buying a house in two years. If this five million yuan is tied up in our family, we'll never be able to make a living!"

"As the older sister, you need to think more about this family and your younger brother!"

"Mom, I want to make my own decisions about my marriage!"

Jiang Chuxue bit her lip, her voice barely audible, yet carrying a hint of determination.

"Make your own decisions? How are you going to pay us back if you don't marry us?!"

Jiang Guoqiang's eyes widened, and he pointed at Jiang Chuxue's nose, cursing.

"Zhang Wei is now a billionaire boss; it's your good fortune that he's interested in you! What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for?!"

Jiang Tao finally managed to swallow the meat in his mouth, rolled his eyes, and yelled:

"Sis, can you please stop being so dramatic?"

"Viagra has already agreed. As long as you register your marriage with him, that school district apartment in the city center will be transferred to my name, along with my BMW!"

"Are you trying to kill me by saying you won't marry me now?"

Faced with her family's questioning and accusations, Jiang Chuxue simply bit her lower lip tightly, lowered her head, and remained silent.

She looked at the Coca-Cola ring on her right hand, her fingertips gently tracing the interwoven patterns of bright white and bright brown.

Wu Fan put it on her by himself last night.

Just thinking of that figure in the old school uniform who could hold up the sky for her filled her with boundless courage.

Just then, a local emergency news report suddenly came on the television:

"Zhang Wei, the actual controller of Dawei Technology, is suspected of illegal fundraising and tax evasion, with the amount involved reaching hundreds of millions of yuan."

Police announced today that Zhang Wei was found dead in his residence last night, having committed suicide out of fear of punishment. His parents have been criminally detained on suspicion of assisting in concealing assets and money laundering. The case is under further investigation.

"Clatter!"

The chopsticks in Jiang's mother's hand fell directly to the ground.

Jiang Guoqiang had just picked up his wine glass when he froze on the spot.

With his mouth half-open, he didn't even notice the liquor in his glass spilling onto his trouser leg.

"Zhang Wei is dead?"

"It's over, it's all over!"

Jiang's mother slapped her thigh suddenly, her face turning ugly.

"The creditors are the Zhang family. Now that the Zhang family is gone, all their debts will be liquidated by the banks and the courts!"

"The authorities will come on behalf of the Zhang family to collect the debt and force us to pay it back!"

Jiang Guoqiang tugged at his hair, his breathing rapid.

"That's five million! We couldn't pay it back even if we sold ourselves!"

Jiang Tao, who was eating meat with gusto, also became anxious upon hearing this. Before he could even swallow the meat in his mouth, he started shouting, spitting as he spoke:

"Dad! Mom! What about my downtown wedding home? What about my BMW?!"

He turned his head, his eyes filled with anger:

"It's all my sister's fault! She insisted on dragging her feet on getting a marriage certificate with Zhang Wei. If she had done it sooner, this debt might have been forgiven, and we could have even taken the opportunity to swindle money from the Zhang family!"

"Now look what's happened! Zhang Wei is dead, and we're left with a five million yuan debt!"

"Jiang Chuxue, you wicked woman, you've ruined my whole family!"

Jiang Chuxue looked at her panicked parents and then at her selfish and mean-spirited younger brother, and her eyes reddened.

From beginning to end,

Not one of them felt sympathy for Zhang Wei's death, nor did anyone care whether she had almost fallen into a fire pit.

All they cared about was the deal that would have wiped out their debts, and the house and car they hadn't gotten.

"All you do is cry! What a loser!"

Jiang Guoqiang looked at Jiang Chuxue, whose eyes were red, and angrily cursed.

"Zhang Wei's dead, can't you find me another rich guy?!"

"There are plenty of rich people in Mencheng!"

"With your looks, if you were just willing to take the initiative, lower yourself and go along with them, you could easily find a sucker willing to pay, and that five million would be easily covered for us!"

"dad!"

Jiang Chuxue felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head.

"Do you know what you're saying? You're trying to sell me out."

"Shut up! What do you mean by 'selling'? It sounds so awful!"

Jiang Guoqiang slammed his hand heavily on the table:

"If I hadn't raised you, would you have grown up to be so beautiful? Would you be where you are today?!"

"Now that the family is in trouble, what's wrong with you, as a daughter of the Jiang family, making some sacrifices for this family and for your brother?!"

"If your brother can't get married, our Jiang family line will end!"

"Yeah, sis, how can you be so selfish?"

Jiang Tao sat to the side, picking his teeth with a toothpick while rolling his eyes and making sarcastic remarks:

"At worst, I'll just find someone older. As long as they have money to help us pay off our debts and can buy me a house, it doesn't matter who you marry. Are you really going to just stand by and watch us end up homeless?!"

"One shouldn't be too selfish!"

Jiang Chuxue looked at the three familiar yet utterly unfamiliar faces.

At this moment, she finally gave up completely.

This place is a cannibalistic abyss that drains her marrow and strips her of her dignity.

"I will not agree."

Jiang Chuxue slowly stood up, her tone more resolute than ever before, and tears finally streamed down her face.

"You've gone too far! I'll beat you to death today, you unfilial daughter!"

Jiang Guoqiang flew into a rage, raised his hand, and slapped Jiang Chuxue hard across the face!