The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Changes to Take the Black Moonlight Script - Chapter 25.1

Chen Yixun channeled her frustration into her appetite, devouring her dissatisfaction with Wei Yixian through food.

After leaving the private restaurant, she regained her usual cheerful demeanor and asked, “Shiqian, are we heading back to school?”

Shang Shiqian instinctively glanced at Wei Yixian. Seeing that she didn’t interfere again, she nodded. “Yes.”

Wei Yixian finally spoke up, “I have something to do this afternoon, so I won’t be able to take you back.”

Chen Yixun quickly replied, “It’s fine, we can take the subway.”

“I’ve arranged another car for you,” Wei Yixian reminded Shang Shiqian. “Don’t forget to wear your mask.”

With that, she got into her car and left first.

Chen Yixun watched as Shang Shiqian obediently put on her hat and mask and couldn’t help but ask, “You’re really going to listen to her? Isn’t it stuffy wearing a mask in this weather?”

Shang Shiqian explained on Wei Yixian’s behalf, “There’s been a particularly nasty flu virus going around lately. She’s just looking out for me.”

She had missed the peak years of the flu outbreak and lacked antibodies. If she caught the flu in this sweltering heat, it would be miserable.

Chen Yixun had nothing to say to that.

Soon, the driver, Old Ma, arrived in another car and drove them back to East City University.

Instead of returning to the Go Room, they went straight to the chess and card parlor on Wenming Street.

But when they arrived, they found, the parlor was closed!

After asking around, they learned that Wenming Street had received a rectification notice that morning. The neighborhood committee, city management, and the commerce bureau had all taken turns inspecting the area—the scale of it made it seem like some big shot was about to arrive for an inspection.

The nearby internet cafes, arcades, and the chess and card parlor upstairs were all key targets for inspection.

Unfortunately, these places all had certain hidden risks, so they were temporarily closed for rectification.

Chen Yixun: “…No wonder Wenming Street feels so civilized today.”

Not only was the trash cleaned up meticulously, but the shops on the first floor also refrained from displaying goods outside. The cars that usually blocked the sidewalks were now parked neatly, and even delivery riders dared not weave recklessly against traffic.

Shang Shiqian had a sinking feeling. “What about the rental…?”

The owner of a nearby fruit shop who shared the news said, “The community police station and the rental housing service management office have already come by. They’ll definitely tighten up checks on tenant information from now on.”

Chen Yixun felt deeply sympathetic. “Your luck is just terrible.”

Shang Shiqian: …

She smiled. “It’s fine. I still have a place to stay for now.”

Chen Yixun asked, “So what’s the plan now?”

“Teaching Wei Yixian earns me enough to cover living expenses, so I don’t necessarily have to come here for Playing for Stakes. Besides, the rectification of Wenming Street means better safety for people like you who frequent this area. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Chen Yixun felt like she was glowing. “You’re way too emotionally stable.”

“You have a part-time job this afternoon—go back and rest for half an hour to recharge.”

“If I leave, how will you get into school? Aren’t you going to the Go Room to play?”

“I’ll take half a day off too. My brain needs a proper break.”

After parting ways, Shang Shiqian prepared to use the cash she had to take the bus. Suddenly, Old Ma came running out of a milk tea shop and called out to her, “Miss Shang!”

Shang Shiqian was surprised. “Uncle Ma, you’re still here?”

Old Ma gave a dry laugh: “President Wei said she’s keeping your phone for you and was worried you wouldn’t be able to contact me, so she asked me to wait here.”

Shang Shiqian was momentarily stunned, then realized this was exactly the kind of arrangement Wei Yixian would make.

“Where would Miss Shang like to go?”

“Back to Tianhao Garden.”

On the way back, there was something Shang Shiqian had been pondering for a long time without figuring out. She decided to ask the system: “Little Black System, how could such a coincidence happen? Wei Yixian picked me up from Civilization Street yesterday, and today the street gets renovated.”

The system’s automated service responded: 【No answer to this question exists in the database.】

Shang Shiqian said, “Don’t pretend to be in sleep mode. You’ve saved up so much energy normally—using ‘insufficient energy’ as an excuse to avoid my questions is going too far.”

After a long pause, the Black Moonlight System came online with a 【beep】: 【This system’s energy isn’t meant for chatting with you.】

“Who was it that said they wanted more energy to stay by my side?”

【Host, you should also understand us systems. To achieve our common goal, I work from dawn to dusk every day. Do you think it’s easy for me?】

Shang Shiqian: …

This familiar rhetoric was Little Black System about to start listing all its sacrifices next?

Sure enough, the system complained: 【Energy is just like human salaries—it’s gone as soon as you get it. Is a monthly salary over ten thousand little? For those earning two or three thousand, it’s not little at all. But why can’t they save any money? Because expenses are high too!

—Those with houses pay mortgages, those without pay rent. Then there’s food expenses, shopping expenses. Car owners have loan payments and maintenance fees, while others have commuting costs. Social obligations, electricity bills, internet fees, needing ten or eight subscriptions just to watch videos and listen to music…】

“Oh.”

The system paused, realizing she didn’t have these worries, and continued: 【…You’re not actively completing tasks, so the energy you earn each time is as little as mosquito meat. Maintaining your bodily functions requires energy, monitoring the original plot progression requires energy, gathering intelligence daily requires energy, and background operations can’t function without energy. Each individual energy consumption might seem small, but they add up!】

After this analysis, Shang Shiqian suddenly felt its frequent hibernation was understandable.

“Wait, that’s not right—didn’t you say the energy you’ve consumed could sustain me for a month? Why do you need extra energy?”

【There are always additional expenses beyond the monthly rent.】

Shang Shiqian’s lips twitched.

Even your System Bureau has so many fees?

Distracted by this, Shang Shiqian stopped thinking about the Civilization Street renovation.

Back at Tianhao Garden, Wei Yixian wasn’t there, and most of the maids were on leave, making the villa feel particularly quiet.

Pu Feifei came over with a gift box: “Miss Shang, President Wei had this bought for you. See if you like it.”

“For me?”

“Yes!”

“It wouldn’t be Go equipment, would it?”

Pu Feifei was surprised: “How did Miss Shang know?”

Shang Shiqian smiled: “I heard the sound inside.”

She opened the gift box.

Sure enough, inside was a pair of Go stone jars.

The jars were made of spruce wood, containing double-sided pieces of fine porcelain.

Besides the jars and pieces, there was also a 5cm-thick ironwood board, already placed in the tea room.

Shang Shiqian said happily, “I’ve got the chess set for Wei Yixian’s lessons.”

Pu Feifei couldn’t bear to dampen her spirits when she saw how delighted she was.

—Director Wei not only had a chess set hidden away, but his skills were already at a level where he could teach classes.

Though unclear why Director Wei was deceiving Miss Shang, since he was willing to spend an extra hour each day on this and Miss Shang could earn some income from it, why spoil a good thing?

…

Meanwhile, at a small noodle shop in Dongcheng’s city center.

Sun Wei was devouring a bowl of noodles, while Xiao Luomeng, sitting across from him, asked, “Master, did you call me out because you’ve found her?”

Sun Wei slurped a noodle, eating as he spoke, “Found her.”

“Where is she?”

Sun Wei glanced at his disciple and said without changing his expression, “At Wei Yixian’s place.”

“Wei—” Xiao Luomeng paused for two seconds, “Wei Yixian?!”

Sun Wei finished his noodles, gulped down half the broth in one go, then wiped his mouth with a napkin before saying, “You know what kind of trouble you’ve gotten yourself into, right?”

Xiao Luomeng stayed silent for a while before asking worriedly, “Then, Master, are you okay?”

“Nothing much, just got scolded.”

Sun Wei had originally tracked Shang Shiqian’s whereabouts through the Skynet Project under the pretext of investigating a case. Then the higher-ups found out and reprimanded him.

But he knew this was Wei Yixian’s way of warning him.

Support The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Changes to Take the Black Moonlight Script