Each character has an accompanying illustration.
The setting of this book is a parallel world, and its customs and values are different from the real world. Please do not project your own reality onto it.
Any imaginative inferences or speculations made by readers are unrelated to the author.
There will be no dragging; the story gets straight to the point from the second chapter!
It was ten o'clock at night.
Xu Zimo, looking utterly exhausted, pushed open the front door with heavy steps, only to be met by a string of words laced with dissatisfaction and irritability: "Why are you only just getting back now? I'm practically starving to death..."
Looking up, he saw his wife, Wang Pingping, leaning languidly on the sofa, her eyes flickering with displeasure, yet still exuding a captivating charm. She wore a ice-silk loungewear set, and though the clothing was loose, it cleverly outlined her graceful figure, revealing the allure of a married woman in every gesture—a truly captivating young wife.
In contrast, Xu Zimo, at thirty, appeared somewhat bloated from frequent socializing. His height of 1.8 meters coupled with a weight approaching 170 catties made him seem a bit hefty. Coupled with his lack of money to spend on himself, he looked shabby and greasy.
Xu Zimo was content with his current life.
He had a stable job, and although his income wasn't high, earning 12,000 yuan a month was still quite comfortable for life in Star City.
His parents bought the matrimonial home, he bought a 190,000 yuan Buick LaCrosse, and he had a beautiful wife at home. In the eyes of outsiders, he was at least very happy.
"Why didn't you order takeout?"
Though tired, Xu Zimo still moved towards the sofa.
What do men earn money for out there? Isn't it for a wife, children, and a warm home? A beautiful wife was his motivation to strive.
"Where's the money to order takeout?"
Wang Pingping disdainfully pushed him away with her foot, her face full of disgust, not allowing him to get close. "Look how fat you've gotten. Hurry up and make dinner. Are you trying to starve me to death?"
Xu Zimo was a bit puzzled; he transferred his salary to Wang Pingping every month, so how could there be no money even for takeout?
However, seeing her not looking well, Xu Zimo said nothing and dragged his tired body towards the refrigerator again.
Listening to the clatter from the kitchen, Wang Pingping shifted her body in disgust, turning her back to the kitchen, and opened a certain app to post:
"Sisters, my husband is thirty, and his monthly salary is only 12,000. Is this normal?"
The comment section quickly exploded.
"Sister, your husband's salary is too low, isn't it? My husband is only 26 this year and earned 36,000 last month!"
"12,000? And thirty years old? Are you sure you're not joking? My Best Friend's husband makes more than that just from side jobs!"
"Change him quickly. This kind of man has no ambition. What future can you have with him?"
"Sister, don't let a man drag you down. Cut your losses quickly!"
Wang Pingping looked at the comments, and a tide of grievances and unwillingness surged within her. The more she read, the more she felt that marrying Xu Zimo was a huge loss.
Initially, she valued his steady and family-oriented nature, and the fact that his parents owned a house. But now? Her Best Friend's husbands either earned hundreds of thousands to millions annually, or their families owned several properties. At the very least, they were civil servants with an iron rice bowl.
And Xu Zimo?
Not only was his salary low, but he also lacked any romance. Other husbands would surprise their wives on various holidays, whereas her life was as calm as stagnant water, devoid of any anticipation.
He at least gave him five hundred pocket money every month, and he only knew how to buy cigarettes and gas?
If he had any thought, after a few months, he could have prepared a small surprise for her, couldn't he?
Just as she grew increasingly angry, her phone screen suddenly lit up. It was a call from her younger brother, Wang Qiang.
Wang Pingping immediately sat up straight, her tone softening: "Hello, Xiao Qiang, what's up?"
"Sister, I'm still short thirty thousand for my wedding photos. Didn't you say you'd transfer it to me today? I've already booked with the studio, and we're shooting tomorrow," Wang Qiang's boisterous voice came through the receiver.
Wang Pingping's face stiffened.
She had just transferred the remaining 50,000 yuan in her card to her brother this afternoon, telling him to use it for a down payment on a car for convenience, so he would look good in front of his future wife.
Otherwise, she wouldn't even have money for takeout.
She glanced at Xu Zimo, who was busy in the kitchen, and her heart stirred. Her voice carried a hint of urgency: "Xiao Qiang, don't rush. Your sister is having a bit of trouble here. Your brother-in-law's salary hasn't been paid this month yet; it'll probably be a few more days."
"What? A few more days? How can that be!"
Wang Qiang immediately became displeased. "Sister, I've already made all the arrangements. You quickly tell Brother-in-law to find a way, or else my wedding photos with Xiao Li will be ruined!"
Wang Pingping hung up the phone, unable to hide the anxiety on her face. She took a deep breath and shouted towards the kitchen: "Xu Zimo, when is your salary coming this month? I remember you have a bonus this month, don't you?"
Xu Zimo was just ladling pork rib soup into a clay pot. Hearing her, he turned around, wiped his hands, and explained helplessly: "The boss is on a business trip and won't be back for two or three days to sign. That's how it is with small companies, the process is slow. The bonus will be paid along with it."
"How can that be!"
Wang Pingping suddenly jumped up from the sofa, rushed to the kitchen doorway in a few quick steps, hands on her hips, her voice becoming sharp. "Xiao Qiang is waiting for money for his wedding photos! You hurry and tell your boss to transfer the money over first!"
Xu Zimo's brows furrowed into a knot. He put down the spatula and his voice also sank: "Pingping, can you be reasonable? The boss is on a business trip, and I'm not his biological son, how can I demand it? Besides, for Xiao Qiang's wedding photos, don't we still have savings in our card?"
"I don't have any money!" Wang Pingping's voice rose several octaves, tinged with guilt and exasperation. "I gave all the money to Xiao Qiang! He's getting married, he needs to buy a car, he has a lot of places to spend money! You're a grown man, can't you even come up with the money for your brother-in-law's wedding photos?!"
Just as Xu Zimo was about to retort, his phone rang urgently. He pulled out his phone and saw it was his father calling. His heart sank; his father rarely called him proactively unless it was an emergency.
He answered the phone, and before he could speak, his father's anxious voice came through the receiver: "Zimo, your mom... she suddenly fainted and is now in the emergency room at the Second Hospital. The doctor said her condition isn't good, and they want you to come quickly!"
Xu Zimo's head buzzed, and he felt dizzy.
His mother had always been in poor health, but he never expected it to suddenly become so serious. He abruptly looked up at Wang Pingping, his eyes filled with anxiety and worry.
"Dad, I'll be right there! Don't worry, I'm coming!"
Xu Zimo hastily hung up the phone, grabbed his car keys, rushed to Wang Pingping, his voice tinged with a plea: "Pingping, my mom is seriously ill and hospitalized. I need to get to the hospital quickly. Can you... can you transfer me ten thousand yuan? I don't have much cash on me, and there's only a little pocket money left in my card. Will you come to the hospital with me to see her?"
When Wang Pingping heard "ten thousand yuan" and "go to the hospital," her face instantly turned ashen. She took a step back, as if Xu Zimo carried some kind of virus.
"What do your parents' illnesses have to do with me? Don't they have money? Didn't you say they have a pension?" Wang Pingping's voice was as sharp as a knife, cutting through the previously warm air.
Xu Zimo's heart was violently wrenched, a sharp pain. He tried to suppress the surging anger in his chest and explained: "Pingping, my mom is critically ill. As her only son, how can I not go? The money for our matrimonial home was also paid by my parents. They are old now and in poor health, I..."
"Don't talk to me about the matrimonial home! The matrimonial home is the matrimonial home, and illness is illness!"
Wang Pingping cut him off, her tone resolute, "I don't have money! All the money I have I gave to Xiao Qiang! He's getting married, shouldn't I, as his sister, help him? Your parents have medical insurance and pensions; they'll take care of it themselves! I wouldn't be of any help if I went!"
Xu Zimo looked at the indifferent woman before him, and the last shred of warmth in his heart was completely extinguished. He felt an unprecedented sense of despair and anger. He wanted to roar, to question, but he knew now was not the time. His mother was still waiting for him at the hospital.
He took a deep breath, suppressing all emotions, picked up his car keys, and rushed out the door without looking back. Downstairs, he pulled out his phone and dialed his college friend Li Ming: "Old Li, I urgently need money. Lend me twenty thousand for now; my mom is seriously ill and hospitalized..."
It wasn't until two in the morning that his mother's condition stabilized. Xu Zimo was then persuaded by his father to go home and rest.
Dragging his weary body back home, Xu Zimo opened the door. The living room was a mess, with several half-eaten takeout containers on the dining table, and a strong smell of seafood permeated the air. He immediately spotted the logo on the containers—Xu Ji Seafood.
Xu Zimo's anger instantly flared. His mother was still in the hospital, her life hanging in the balance, and he himself was frantic trying to scrape together money. Yet this woman had ordered hundreds, even thousands of yuan worth of seafood takeout at home!
He walked to the dining table, picked up a takeout container, his hand trembling slightly: "Wang Pingping! What is the meaning of this?! My mom is still lying in the hospital, and I'm frantic trying to get money, and you're eating this at home?!"
Wang Pingping emerged from the bedroom at some point. She was wearing a silk nightgown, her hair disheveled, her face still hazy from sleep. Hearing Xu Zimo's accusation, she instantly bristled, all traces of sleepiness gone.
"Why are you yelling?! What's wrong with me eating some seafood? I worked hard waiting for you at home, shouldn't I eat something good? What does your mom's illness have to do with me? I'm telling you, I wanted to eat seafood today! What, are you going to control me even if I eat some seafood?!" Wang Pingping's voice was even louder and sharper than Xu Zimo's, filled with hysterical anger.
"I control you? What do I control you for?!"
Xu Zimo was trembling with rage, pointing at the leftovers on the dining table, his voice filled with disappointment and despair. "Look at you! Look at what you've done! My mom is critically ill in the hospital, you don't give a single cent, you won't even go to the hospital to see her! You gave all the money to your brother, and now there's no emergency money at home! You still have the nerve to blame me?! You still complain about my low salary?!"
Wang Pingping's eyes reddened. She pointed at Xu Zimo's nose, her voice trembling, on the verge of tears: "Xu Zimo! Don't think I don't know what you say about me behind my back! I'm telling you, I've had enough! I've had enough of you, this useless man with a twelve-thousand-a-month salary! Which of my Best Friend's husbands doesn't earn hundreds of thousands or even millions a year? What hope do I have in this life following you? I'm telling you, this life is unlivable! Divorce! Let's get a divorce!"
"Divorce?"
Xu Zimo looked at the hysterical woman before him. He suddenly felt an unprecedented weariness. In these seven years of marriage, he had given his all, but what did he get in return? Endless complaints, unreasonable demands, and coldness and selfishness in his parents' time of crisis. He felt a bone-chilling coldness, from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
He looked at Wang Pingping's face, distorted by anger, and suddenly everything felt bland and meaningless.
"Okay." Xu Zimo's voice was very soft, yet it carried an undeniable resolve. "If you want to divorce, then divorce."
The moment his words fell, a cold, mechanical voice abruptly sounded in his mind, as if exploding directly in the depths of his soul, making his scalp tingle.
"Ding! Detecting that the Host has decided to divorce, the magnate/tycoon system activation countdown has begun..."
Xu Zimo suddenly froze, thinking he was too tired and hallucinating. He rubbed his temples, trying to clear his head.
"Countdown: 3, 2, 1..."
"Congratulations, Host, the magnate/tycoon system has been successfully activated!"
"Mission: Complete the divorce procedures to receive the Newbie Gift Pack (Newbie Gift Package) and unlock all system functions."
Xu Zimo's pupils suddenly constricted. He stared blankly at Wang Pingping, who was still chattering on with complaints, completely unaware of the stormy waves raging within him at this moment.
He wasn't hallucinating! This voice was terrifyingly real!
Divorce? A magnate/tycoon system?
An incredible surge of ecstasy, accompanied by a hint of bewilderment, instantly swept through his exhausted body.