After the Bigshot Turned into a Gold-Digging Scumbag Alpha - Chapter 23

After Jiang Shuiyun finished speaking, she looked at Yi Jinbai, waiting for her reaction.

Yi Jinbai lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the tabletop. “Doing what one loves, it’s never that easy.”

Jiang Shuiyun sensed that Yi Jinbai was still hesitating, testing the waters. “I know. I will do my absolute best to help you. I believe that one day, your music will receive the honor and praise it deserves. You shouldn’t be trapped in a courtyard forever.”

“You’re encouraging me to leave this place?” Yi Jinbai looked up, her expression one of pure astonishment.

“Yes. Everyone deserves to be free. I was wrong back then.” The conversation was finally getting on track, so Jiang Shuiyun continued following her mental script. “I vaguely remember that I forced you to marry me and kept you locked at home, destroying your dreams of music. But don’t worry, that won’t happen anymore. Go after whatever you want. I want you to become the person you want to be.”

Yi Jinbai stared fixedly at Jiang Shuiyun for a long time. “Are you really Jiang Shuiyun?”

Their conversation ended there, with Jiang Shuiyun falling silent and Yi Jinbai leaving the room. Jiang Shuiyun tapped absentmindedly at her computer. She couldn’t quite pin down Yi Jinbai’s meaning. Was it because she was so different from the original host that Yi Jinbai had become suspicious?

But.

Closing her eyes, Jiang Shuiyun abandoned that line of thought and rested her chin on her hand, focusing on the monitor. Regardless of what Yi Jinbai decided, she would respect it.

It was nearly 11:00 PM when Xi Rong and the others returned. Jiang Shuiyun was still at her computer as she looked at the group of people stumbling in drunk. “So, this is the ‘returning for more training’ you mentioned?”

Jiang Shuiyun’s sudden voice startled them, jolting most of them half-sober. Jian Mang, the most lucid of the bunch, didn’t say a word; he simply walked to his computer, sat down, and opened the game.

“Forget it. Everyone go get some rest. We’ll have extra training tomorrow.”

As the group trudged toward her like slow-moving tortoises, Jiang Shuiyun realized she couldn’t expect a bunch of drunks to actually train. She might as well push it to the next day.

“We just had a bit too much fun and lost track of time. Don’t be mad, Captain Jiang.” Xi Rong guiltily poured her a cup of tea. He had been overjoyed—his original ace team was coming back to life, and he was so happy he could wake up laughing from his dreams. Since he had to keep it a secret, he had no outlet for his excitement. Having finally caught a break, he’d gotten a bit carried away.

Jiang Shuiyun set the tea aside without drinking it. “I’m not angry. It’s fine. Brother Xi, you should head back. Also, starting tomorrow, I want to move the team into closed-door training. You can come back when it’s time to head out for the competition.”

“Ah, alright.” Xi Rong agreed before realizing what was happening. Jiang Shuiyun was effectively kicking him out because she was afraid he’d be a bad influence on the players. “Captain Jiang, this.”

“It’s getting late.”

Jiang Shuiyun shut down her computer and stood up to stretch. Her intent to see him off was unmistakable.

Xi Rong felt his position as manager was truly humble; he’d actually been ousted by his own team. The worst part was that he didn’t dare complain and had to follow this “ancestor’s” lead. “You all get some rest. Keep up the good work tomorrow. My designated driver is still at the door, so I’ll take my leave. See you.”

After seeing Xi Rong out, Jiang Shuiyun looked at the players still standing there. “You heard him. Go.”

“Yes, Captain.”

The group was now fully sober. Closed-door training? This is going to be brutal, they wailed inwardly, yet not one of them stood up to object. At such a critical juncture, no one wanted to be the weak link.

Watching them hurry upstairs to rest, Jiang Shuiyun sat back down at her desk. The game’s upgrade needed to be fast-tracked; it had to be finished before they left for the match.

The next morning, as the first ray of sunlight hit the villa, Jiang Shuiyun, who had been dozing on the sofa with her head in her hand, opened her eyes right on time. Within five minutes, the entire team was assembled, and the “devil training” officially began.

Jiang Shuiyun didn’t hover over them constantly. She gave them plenty of space for independent honing, which allowed her to save time for upgrading the game. The room was filled mostly with the sound of rapid typing and occasional, brief tactical callouts.

From the moment they woke up, the team didn’t stop, playing match after match. It wasn’t until Yi Jinbai came to remind them it was time for breakfast that they finished their round. They rubbed their eyes, stretched their backs, and complained of sore legs—a pathetic sight.

It wasn’t that the training intensity was too high for a morning session; it was simply the lingering effects of the previous night’s hangovers.

After breakfast, the morning flew by. To Jiang Shuiyun’s surprise, Shen Yunyi actually sent people over to move a piano. She was a woman of her word and impressively efficient.

The piano was placed in a dedicated music room. Jiang Shuiyun looked at the stunned Yi Jinbai. “Shen Yunyi sent this over. She said it was for you to practice with. Are you satisfied?”

“I.” Yi Jinbai hesitated. “This is far too expensive.”

“Expensive or not, it’s still just a piano, isn’t it? Since Shen Yunyi felt comfortable sending it, she intends for you to play it.”

Jiang Shuiyun truly didn’t recognize these instruments; she could barely tell what they were, let alone their specific value, though she knew they weren’t cheap.

“Wow! What a cool piano! Sister Jinbai, while we’re training later, you should play some BGM for us from the side. That would be so badass,” Yao Yao Ling interjected curiously.

“No, that would be too tiring.”

Jiang Shuiyun knew Yi Jinbai was bad at saying no, so she spoke up first to shoo Yao Yao Ling away.

“Captain, we’ve been mashing keys all morning, and I don’t see you worrying about us being tired,” Yao Yao Ling teased, aiming at the dynamic between the two. Yi Jinbai’s ears turned slightly red, and she pretended not to hear, focusing on the piano assembly.

Jiang Shuiyun’s gaze shifted from Yi Jinbai to Yao Yao Ling. “Finished lunch? Then continue.”

Yao Yao Ling: Why did I have to open my big mouth?

“Yao Yao Ling!”

The others nearby had heard the command. They hurried over to their computers. Viper, who hadn’t even finished her meal, looked ready to kill Yao Yao Ling for wandering over and causing their training to start early. Yao Yao Ling ducked her head and scurried back to her seat.

Once they started their drills, Jiang Shuiyun waited for the assembly crew to leave before closing the door to the music room. She took a stack of sheet music from an accompanying box and handed it to Yi Jinbai. “Want to try?”

The music room was soundproofed, so Yi Jinbai’s practice wouldn’t interfere with the team’s training outside. Looking at the music in Jiang Shuiyun’s hand, Yi Jinbai was clearly moved. After a moment’s hesitation, she took it.

After organizing the sheets, Yi Jinbai sat poised before the grand piano. she flexed her fingers and pressed down on the black and white keys.

Standing nearby, Jiang Shuiyun watched quietly. From the very first note, Yi Jinbai seemed like a completely different person. The cautious, restrained, and oppressed version of herself vanished, replaced by someone who had broken all her shackles. Her expression was relaxed, joyful, and glowing with confidence. This was her domain; this was her pride.

This was the Yi Jinbai that Jiang Shuiyun wanted to see.

From that day on, the team rarely saw Yi Jinbai in the garden. While Jiang Shuiyun led the drills, Yi Jinbai spent most of her time immersed in the music room. Everyone was tirelessly pursuing what they loved.

The next few weeks flew by. When Xi Rong finally reappeared at the villa, the group felt as though they were being suddenly pulled back into reality, feeling a bit dazed.

“The flight is tomorrow. Everyone get ready. Whether we can stand tall again depends entirely on this battle!” Xi Rong pumped his fist, intending to give his usual pre-match pep talk.

Jiang Shuiyun checked the time. “After this round, everyone take a break. Get plenty of rest, pack your bags, and we leave tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

The team responded without even lifting their heads, their voices thick with an excitement they couldn’t quite suppress. Xi Rong’s earlier impassioned speech had nothing on Jiang Shuiyun’s calm, level-headed command to set out.

Watching them, Xi Rong felt like he could practically retire on the spot. He couldn’t help but think his job was a bit too easy—where else in the world could one find a team this self-sufficient and low-maintenance?

Jiang Shuiyun was also quietly looking forward to the upcoming competition, but there was one last thing she needed to settle before they left.

After a quick word with Xi Rong, she headed out with a USB drive and drove to her rendezvous point with Shen Yunyi.

Shen Yunyi was already there waiting. When she saw her approach, she hurried forward, her face alight with anticipation. “You actually finished it?”

Jiang Shuiyun produced the drive. “Did you bring a laptop?”

“Of course.”

Shen Yunyi was nothing if not prepared. She opened her portable workstation and handed it over.

Jiang Shuiyun plugged in the drive and imported her upgraded version of Interstellar Wars. The moment the game launched, even Shen Yunyi—who considered herself a seasoned veteran couldn’t help but stare with her mouth agape.

The visuals were exquisite. Every frame was polished to perfection, with absolutely no trace of the clunky modeling or stiff animations that plagued previous versions. Every character and environment felt alive, rendered with 360-degree precision that left no blind spots.

This was just the graphical overhaul, yet it already had Shen Yunyi reeling. When Jiang Shuiyun actually started the game and prompted her to try the new tutorial, she felt her entire mind go numb.

The gameplay was silky smooth, offering an unparalleled experience. The new control scheme felt generations ahead of existing market standards, it was as if it had been brought back from a distant galaxy. And this was only the tutorial.

Reluctantly ending the session, Shen Yunyi sat in silence for a long time. She felt that based on this game alone, her decision to partner with her had already paid off a thousand times over. She fought the urge to literally jump for joy.

“Is there a problem?” Jiang Shuiyun asked, waving a hand in front of the “petrified” Shen Yunyi.

She snapped out of it and grabbed her hand mid-air. “Shuiyun, do you have any idea what you’ve created? Do you know what this game represents?”

Jiang Shuiyun pulled her hand back with a look of mild distaste. “I know there’s still significant room for improvement. But given the current technical limitations of this era, this is the highest quality I can achieve for now.”

“No, that’s not it!” Shen Yunyi couldn’t believe her standards were so absurdly high. “I’m saying this is a landmark, era-defining masterpiece! Tell me, how did you achieve this level of visual fidelity?”

“It’s a new algorithmic processing method. By using—” She started to explain, but Shen Yunyi cut her off.

“Wait,” she said, closing the laptop. “Don’t tell me yet. First, we apply for technical patents. Second, we establish the company. Third, using this version as leverage, I’ll fight to get you a share of the Interstellar Wars dividends. Once they adopt this version, we’re set! We won’t just have startup capital; we’ll go from ‘early-stage startup’ to ‘end-game industry titan’ instantly. Don’t say another word, let’s go. I’m calling the lawyers and the specialists right now!”

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became. She understood the industry well enough to know the astronomical value of Jiang Shuiyun’s tech. She tried to pull her toward the door.

“Wait. I have a competition tomorrow.”

Jiang Shuiyun pulled back, anchoring the frantic Shen Yunyi. “Proceed with the business side however you need to. Notify me when you actually need me present. We’ll talk after the tournament.”

“I.”

Shen Yunyi realized that the only thing more shocking than Jiang Shuiyun’s technology was the woman herself. At a moment like this, she was worried about a tournament? An invitational that wasn’t even top-tier? She felt like her head had been corrupted by money and she’d lost her youthful idealism; she simply couldn’t fathom her stubbornness and detached pride.

“Fine,” Shen Yunyi agreed, swallowing her questions. She was afraid that if she pushed, she’d look down on her for being too “crass and mercenary.” Besides, the competition would only last two or three days; it wouldn’t delay things much. It wasn’t too late to set up the company afterward.

What Shen Yunyi didn’t know was that Jiang Shuiyun didn’t look down on her at all. She hadn’t even thought about it. She simply had a habit of finishing what she started to the best of her ability. She hated leaving things half-done.