Suddenly, a mechanical voice sounded inside Shen Yuebai’s mind, startling him so much that he nearly cried out.
[Host, I am the Spend-Money-Spend-Money-Spend-Money System 003.]
Shen Yuebai immediately slipped deeper into the shadows and, keeping close to the dark wall, hurried back toward the small courtyard.
[What’s your function?]
He had read plenty of novels before—he understood what a “system” was. But a Spend-Money-Spend-Money-Spend-Money System? The name alone sounded extravagantly expensive.
[As long as the host has money, you can purchase anything from me.]
[Anything? Let me see.]
The moment the words left his mouth, a blue screen appeared before his eyes. The interface was simple and clean, displaying countless items arranged in rows, each followed by a price.
The range of goods was astonishing. If one could imagine it, the system shop probably sold it.
Naturally, the prices varied just as widely.
For example, a steamed bun cost one wen¹. Meanwhile, a starship was listed with a price followed by an absurd number of zeros.
So many zeros that Shen Yuebai’s liver trembled at the sight. In his entire life he had only seen so many zeros in one particular place.
Now he himself had become one of those zeros.
None of that mattered, however. Shen Yuebai quickly noticed the wallet icon on the screen. When he tapped it—
Empty.
Not a single coin.
[You should find someone else. I’m dirt poor—I can’t afford anything.]
With heavy steps, Shen Yuebai walked through the courtyard gate.
[Silver, gold, and jewelry can all be deposited. The exchange rate is one to one: one tael of silver equals one thousand system credits.]
Listening to the system’s explanation, Shen Yuebai scrolled through the interface. The first categories were basic necessities—food, clothing, housing, and travel—and these were relatively cheap.
The farther he scrolled, the more expensive the items became, especially the high-tech products.
His previously heavy footsteps grew lighter.
Pushing open the door, Shen Yuebai strode to the bedside in two quick steps and stared at Lu Shuyan with bright eyes.
“Do you have money?”
Lu Shuyan paused. He had thought Shen Yuebai had rushed in because something serious had happened. Instead, the man was asking whether he had money.
“You think I have money?”
Shen Yuebai choked on his words. Fair enough—given how poorly this man was treated in the household, he might not even have a single coin.
Shen Yuebai took out a steamed bun and tossed it over.
“Make do with this.”
Lu Shuyan looked at the cold bun in silence.
Shen Yuebai snorted. “What, the Young Master can’t stomach buns? If you don’t want it, forget it.”
“I never said I wouldn’t eat it.”
Lu Shuyan took a bite. His expression revealed neither dislike nor discomfort. “Having a bun at all is already quite good.”
Shen Yuebai picked up the teapot, then set it down again with a sigh.
Lu Shuyan lowered his gaze and fell silent for a moment. Then, with trembling fingers, he fumbled beneath his pillow for quite some time before finally placing several copper coins on the bedding.
“This is all I have.”
Shen Yuebai stepped over, picked them up, and counted.
Only ten coins.
“Nothing else?”
His eyes involuntarily drifted toward the pillow.
Lu Shuyan shifted his body slightly, expression unchanged. “Nothing.”
His monthly allowance had always depended on other people’s moods. Sometimes receiving even half a tael of silver was already considered extraordinary luck.
“Well, it’s better than nothing.”
Weighing the coins in his palm, Shen Yuebai turned and walked out.
The door closed.
Lu Shuyan withdrew his gaze, lowering his eyes as he slowly chewed the cold bun.
Outside, Shen Yuebai rummaged through the system shop for items he could actually afford.
Ten copper coins.
He deposited four of them and purchased two bowls of red-date millet porridge, still steaming hot.
Holding one bowl in each hand, he kicked the door open with his foot.
“Coming through! Two bowls of hot porridge—one each.”
Seeing Lu Shuyan still gnawing on the cold bun, Shen Yuebai snatched it away and placed the warm bowl into his hands.
“Hurry and eat while it’s hot. Red-date millet porridge—good for the stomach and great for replenishing blood and energy.”
Lu Shuyan stared at the steaming bowl in his hands in astonishment.
“This…”
Shen Yuebai took a sip of his own porridge.
“What ‘this’? Just eat.”
As expected from system products—the taste was excellent. Fragrant, sweet, and pleasantly soft.
Lu Shuyan lowered his eyes, a thoughtful glimmer passing through them. Just now he had heard no movement outside. So where had this porridge come from?
When Shen Yuebai saw he still wasn’t eating, he raised an eyebrow and placed a steadying hand beneath Lu Shuyan’s.
“No strength? Want me to feed you?”
“No need.”
Lu Shuyan stopped thinking about it and lifted the bowl to take a sip. The warm, fragrant millet porridge slid down his throat, bringing long-absent warmth back into his body.
This was the only hot food he had eaten in a very long time.
Whatever the reason, he was grateful to the young husband before him.
He raised his eyes and saw Shen Yuebai happily eating his porridge.
Although Shen Yuebai’s complexion was somewhat sallow and his cheeks thin, his handsome features were still evident. His peach-blossom eyes sparkled with lively amusement, and when he smiled, a small dimple appeared at one corner of his mouth, softening the slyness in his expression and adding a touch of charm.
Shen Yuebai walked over and sat on a chair, eating while thinking.
According to what those two people had said earlier, within a few days his cheap husband would be sent back to the countryside.
And naturally, the newly married husband who had just entered the household would likely be sent along with him.
Judging from Lu Shuyan’s life in the residence, Shen Yuebai felt he needed to start making plans early.
While he was still in the mansion, he had to find a way to earn some silver.
Even though his abilities meant he would never starve, he had no intention of starting completely from scratch.
After finishing the porridge, Shen Yuebai reluctantly rinsed his mouth with the cold water from the teapot. Then he removed his outer robe, climbed onto the bed, and stepped over Lu Shuyan to the inner side.
“Call me if something happens.”
He wrapped himself tightly in the blanket, leaving only his head exposed while tucking the other side of the quilt beneath his body.
“I can still take care of myself,” Lu Shuyan said.
“You?” Shen Yuebai scoffed. “Walking already looks like hard work. Suit yourself. I’m going to sleep. Today’s been exhausting.”
He turned over and quickly fell asleep with his back facing Lu Shuyan.
Watching Shen Yuebai’s back, Lu Shuyan felt deeply puzzled.
Why did this man show no sign of worry or anxiety?
Was his calm composure the result of careful planning—or did he truly not care at all?
Thinking of the bowl of porridge, Lu Shuyan considered that perhaps his little husband really did have some sort of plan.
By dawn, Shen Yuebai had slept deeply.
Since the apocalypse began, he had never enjoyed such peaceful rest.
Stretching lazily, he got up from bed. As he stepped over Lu Shuyan, he noticed the man’s eyes were still closed and his face frighteningly pale.
Shen Yuebai instinctively placed a finger beneath his nose.
Feeling the faint breath there, he finally relaxed.
If the man was going to die, he couldn’t die now. At the very least, he had to leave this place first.
“I’m not dead yet.”
Lu Shuyan opened his eyes, a trace of helplessness in them.
Shen Yuebai showed no embarrassment at all.
“With the way you’re breathing—more out than in—I obviously needed to check.”
Lu Shuyan could not help laughing.
It seemed his little husband was truly afraid that he might die suddenly.
Which made sense. If he died, Shen Yuebai would become a widower—and likely lose control over the rest of his life.
Seeing there was not even water for washing, Shen Yuebai frowned.
“Are they trying to kill people here? No food is bad enough, but there isn’t even water to wash your face? Is this household so poor they can’t spare a basin of water?”
Lu Shuyan replied calmly, “Whether water or food arrives depends on their mood… and whether they remember this courtyard at all.”
Shen Yuebai snorted.
“You really are just—”
The rest of the sentence died on his lips as he looked at Lu Shuyan’s frail body.
Lu Shuyan gave a bitter smile.
“I know what you were going to say. I’m a useless cripple. Since I’m already dying, why did you agree to marry me for a chōngxǐ wedding?”
“My brother and sister-in-law sold me to your family,” Shen Yuebai replied. “It wasn’t voluntary.”
Lu Shuyan had already suspected as much.
“Then… would you be willing to leave here with me?”
“What do you mean?” Shen Yuebai asked.
“My father’s transfer order has already arrived. He will soon depart for the capital.”
Suppressing the itch in his throat, Lu Shuyan continued, “As you can see, my body cannot endure a long journey. It is very likely that I will be sent back to the ancestral countryside to recuperate.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the itch in his throat overwhelmed him.
He began coughing violently, his body bending like a drawn bow. His face flushed red from the lack of air.
Shen Yuebai frowned deeply and quickly stepped forward, patting his back.
Soon Lu Shuyan turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood. The coughing gradually subsided.
“Tuberculosis?” Shen Yuebai asked.
Lu Shuyan let out a long breath and laughed bitterly.
“If it were tuberculosis, that would actually be fortunate.”
He steadied his breathing before continuing.
“My body worsens with each passing day. I will ask my father to allow me to return to the countryside to recuperate so I won’t delay his departure for the capital. After we leave this place, I will give you a letter of divorce. Then we will each go our separate ways in future marriages. I won’t drag down the rest of your life.”
“That actually sounds pretty good,” Shen Yuebai said. “Didn’t expect you to be so righteous.”
Lu Shuyan’s lips curved into a bitter smile.
“So… you agree?”
“I agree.”
Shen Yuebai nodded.
Looking at Lu Shuyan’s cool and handsome face, he felt a bit regretful.
Such beauty—yet completely untouchable. What a tragic waste.
Just then, sounds came from outside.
Through the open door they saw an unfamiliar elderly maid enter with two servant girls, covering her nose with a handkerchief and wearing an expression of disgust.
A young servant followed behind carrying a wooden bucket.
He poured water from the bucket into a basin, then left without even acknowledging Shen Yuebai or Lu Shuyan.
“Young Master,” the old maid said, “this is today’s medicine. Madam specifically instructed that it be taken while hot.”
At her glance, one of the servant girls brought a bowl of medicine from a food box and handed it to Lu Shuyan.
“Thank you for Mother’s concern,” Lu Shuyan said with shame-tinged gratitude, though he did not drink immediately. “It is my weak body that prevents me from personally paying respects and thanking her.”
The old maid’s sharply arched brows lifted smugly.
“It’s good that the Young Master knows that. Hurry and drink it so we can report back to Madam.”
Lu Shuyan’s hands trembled as he lifted the bowl.
Just as it neared his lips, his strength failed.
The bowl slipped from his hands and shattered on the floor. Brown medicinal liquid spread across the ground, releasing a strong bitter smell that made Shen Yuebai frown.
“Young Master!”
The old maid shrieked like a strangled chicken.
“This medicine was specially prepared by Madam for you! How useless must you be to fail even at holding a bowl!”
Shen Yuebai frowned.
Lu Shuyan glanced at him.
Shen Yuebai discreetly rolled his eyes and remained silent.
“Indeed, I am useless,” Lu Shuyan said weakly. “Now I cannot even hold a bowl.”
His lips trembled. His expression mixed bitterness, panic, and despair.
Seeing this, the old maid’s eyes shifted.
“Never mind. I’ll inform the kitchen to prepare another bowl.”
Then she turned to Shen Yuebai, who stood there like a wooden post.
Her thin, raised brows twisted sharply.
“Young Madam, you are the Young Master’s husband after all. Why don’t you attend him while he takes his medicine?”
Shen Yuebai lowered his head and curled his lips.
This old hag really knows how to bully the easy targets. Just you wait.
Lu Shuyan said calmly, “My husband has only just arrived. It is understandable that he does not yet know the routines. Mama Li need not blame him.”
Mama Li covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed.
“Oh my, the Young Master is truly married now—already protecting his husband.”
Lu Shuyan seemed slightly embarrassed.
Watching him, Shen Yuebai found it rather amusing.
Who would have thought this serious-looking man could act so convincingly?
“Young Master, the Master and Madam are waiting in the front hall.”
Since his parents were waiting, Lu Shuyan already had a faint guess about what this meant.
“My husband,” he said softly, “help me up so I may dress.”
He threw aside the blanket and struggled to stand.
But the moment he did, dizziness and weakness flooded him. His legs nearly gave way.
Shen Yuebai quickly supported him.
With Shen Yuebai’s help, Lu Shuyan changed into thin clothing. Almost half-carried by Shen Yuebai, he slowly shuffled out of the courtyard and headed toward the front hall.