After researching for a while, Jiang Xiaoman finally figured out the so-called "interdimensional trading device." Simply put, it was a system that connected different dimensions. He could trade with owners of trading devices from different dimensions, and the only way to trade was through bartering. The number of dimensions that could be accessed depended on his fan value.
For example, with today's fan value of 100*, he could only activate the system and opening the first dimension required 1,000 fan value. The second dimension required 10,000 fan value... and so on. The higher the fan value, the more dimensions could be opened.
*In the previous chapter, there was a mention of the mechanical voice stating, "Fan value has reached twenty. Dimensional Trader activating." However, in the current context, the text refers to a fan value of 100. This seems to be an inconsistency or error on the part of the author.
Jiang Xiaoman felt both joy and worry about this. He was happy because with this trading device, maybe he could exchange for valuable things or miraculous elixirs, and then his mother would be saved. But he was also very unsure if he could accumulate that much fan value...
After pondering for a long time and not coming up with any good ideas, he looked at the time and realized it was already half-past ten. He quickly grabbed his things and hurried to the hospital.
By the time he arrived at the hospital, it was already eleven o'clock. Jiang Mama was still awake. When she saw him entering quietly, a faint smile appeared on her haggard face. "Xiaoman is here."
Seeing his mother's withered appearance, Jiang Xiaoman couldn't help but feel distressed. His eyes welled up with tears, almost on the verge of crying. He held back the bitterness in his heart and pretended to complain, "Mom, why haven't you slept yet? Didn't I tell you not to wait for me? You still need to undergo dialysis tomorrow. How can you not rest well?"
Jiang Mama smiled and said, "I already slept for a while. I just woke up before you came in."
Knowing that his mother was lying to him, Jiang Xiaoman still pretended to be reassured and said, "That's good. Mom, please go to sleep quickly. I'll set up the folding bed and go to sleep."
"Okay." Although she said okay, her eyes were still fixed on Jiang Xiaoman. She continued to watch him until he finished setting up the bed and lay down before slowly closing her eyes. A tear silently slid down her cheek.
Seeing Jiang Xiaoman working so hard, earning money during the day and returning to the hospital late at night to accompany her, Jiang Mama couldn't help but feel heartache and self-blame. She knew that she had burdened her son, but seeing Xiaoman's desperate efforts for her, she couldn't give up her own life. She was afraid that Xiaoman couldn't bear the pain of losing her. They depended on each other. Her life was not just her own.
The next day, after accompanying his mother through the dialysis session, Jiang Xiaoman received a phone call from an unknown number.
"Hello, is this Mr. Jiang?"
A clear and pleasant female voice came from the phone. Jiang Xiaoman inexplicably felt a sense of nervousness. He nodded, then realized that the other person couldn't see him and quickly replied, "Yes, it's me."
"I saw the rental information you posted. May I ask when would be a convenient time to view the house?"
Jiang Xiaoman was taken aback for a moment before remembering that he had posted a rental listing on a housing website a month ago. Because of the unfavorable location and the old condition of the residential complex, there had been no inquiries. He himself had given up hope, but he didn't expect someone to actually call and inquire.
He nodded eagerly, "Oh, it's convenient! I can do it anytime!"
"Then how about now? I'm already here."
"Ah? Okay, okay, I'll be right back. Please wait!"
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Xiaoman briefly informed Jiang Mama and hurriedly left. There was no other choice. At this moment, he needed money so desperately that he didn't want to miss any opportunity.
When he returned home, he indeed saw a young woman standing at the door. Just from her back, he could tell she was a beauty, dressed appropriately and elegantly, completely out of place in the shabby surroundings. Jiang Xiaoman suddenly felt a sense of inferiority. Firstly, he felt that his home environment was not up to her standard, and secondly, there was a sense of shame in exposing his most embarrassing side in front of the opposite sex.
When the woman heard footsteps, she turned around. Her exquisite features once again amazed Jiang Xiaoman, intensifying his feelings of embarrassment.
"Mr. Jiang?"
"Um... it's me." The other party's expression was cold and indifferent. Jiang Xiaoman answered with a stiff scalp. He now felt that this deal was unlikely to happen. The other party might not have carefully read the information and could be angry about being deceived... Jiang Xiaoman was lost in his wild thoughts and opened the door recklessly, "Please... come in and have a look."
The woman stepped into the house, looking around. The house appeared rundown from the outside, but inside, it was extremely clean and tidy, exuding a warm and cozy atmosphere. Even the old-fashioned curtains were spotlessly clean without any dust or stains. It was evident that the owner of the house took great care of it, or rather, was someone who loved life deeply.
"Hello, I'm Su Wenqing. Please take care of me in the future." Wen Qing extended her hand towards Jiang Xiaoman, her face still devoid of expression, giving off a cold impression.
Jiang Xiaoman almost thought he had misheard and couldn't believe it. "You, you want to rent this place?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
Jiang Xiaoman hurriedly shook his head, "No, no, I just didn't expect that you would be willing to live here. I mean... this place is so run-down... Anyway, let me help you tidy up the room."
Jiang Xiaoman couldn't conceal his joy on his face. He had already given up any hope and had even prepared himself for scolding. He never expected the other party to agree to rent so readily, which happened to resolve his urgent need.
He was actually penniless, struggling even to afford meals. He didn't know when he would receive the money from his livestream, and he also didn't know when he could activate the first dimension on the trading device he had just obtained. He originally planned to sell the house, but his mother vehemently disagreed. He knew she wanted to leave him with some assets so that he wouldn't end up on the streets. However, he would rather be without a fixed residence than lose his only family. It was only because his mother had pushed him to the point of desperation that he had to comply.
Renting out the house was also an attempt to alleviate some financial pressure, but he had been unable to find a tenant. That's why he reluctantly embarked on the path of live streaming, even resorting to cross-dressing. Now that the house was rented out, it temporarily relieved his urgent need, but his mother's surgery expenses were still uncertain, and he had to continue with the live streaming.
Wen Qing took out a stack of cash and handed it to Jiang Xiaoman. "One-month deposit and three months' rent, a total of 4,000 yuan. Please count it."
Jiang Xiaoman somewhat shyly accepted it without counting and directly put it in his pocket. An 18-year-old young man always had a stubborn sense of pride and some indescribable thoughts in front of a beautiful person of the opposite sex. It might not necessarily be admiration, but he definitely didn't want to expose his most embarrassing side to her.
After a brief tidying up, Wen Qing moved into Jiang Xiaoman's home. The Su family had already been informed, and they gladly agreed to her desire for independence.
In the evening, Wen Qing heard a knock on the door accompanied by a hesitant and slightly anxious voice, "Sister Wenqing, I... I've cooked dinner. Would you like to have some together?"
Su Wenqing was three years older than Jiang Xiaoman. In the short span of half a day, Jiang Xiaoman had loosened up a bit and lost the initial stiffness.
Wen Qing pushed open the door, and Jiang Xiaoman stood at the entrance. A slight blush adorned his handsome face, which made Wen Qing chuckle. It seemed that he was even shyer than most girls.
At the dining table, Jiang Xiaoman prepared two dishes and a soup. Wen Qing knew what he usually ate, so she naturally understood that he had made an effort to improve their meals. She didn't hesitate and sat down without refusing.
Seeing that she didn't mind, Jiang Xiaoman happily served the food.
After they finished eating, Wen Qing spoke up, "You have good culinary skills. I'll cover the cost of our meals. Let me pay for your three daily meals as well."
"No, there's no need..."
"If you don't want to, it's fine. I can order takeout."
Jiang Xiaoman's face turned red in a hurry as he explained, "No, that's not what I meant. I meant you don't have to cover the meal expenses. Eating doesn't cost much, and I already charge you a high rent..."
Wen Qing immediately snapped up 3,000 yuan without giving Jiang Xiaoman a chance to object. "It's settled then. If you take the money, I'll eat. If you don't take the money, I'll feel bad about freeloading."
Jiang Xiaoman, helpless, reluctantly accepted the money. When he held it in his hands, he realized that Wen Qing had given him quite a thick stack of bills. "It's too much..."
"It's not too much. After deducting the expenses for groceries, the rest is your service fee for cooking, washing vegetables, and doing the dishes. I can't let you do all that work for free."
...
After some refusal, Jiang Xiaoman couldn't resist Wen Qing's insistence and had to go along with her.
After dinner, Jiang Xiaoman returned to his own room and began preparing for today's livestream. He was afraid that Wen Qing would discover his cross-dressing livestream, so he locked the door and placed a chair behind it. He really didn't want her to see his true self during the livestream, fearing that she would consider him a pervert.
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, Wen Qing closed the door and embarked on her own path of playing tricks.
"Do you want to truly live? Do you understand the meaning of life?"
Gu Qingcheng unlocked his phone and suddenly received a message. Thinking it was a prank from someone, he didn't pay much attention to it.
Feeling annoyed, he threw his phone aside, furrowing his brows. His sharp and handsome profile, illuminated against the light, appeared even more three-dimensional and profound.
Yesterday, his mother mentioned his marriage again. This time, she had set her sights on the only daughter of the Su family—beautiful, gentle, well-educated, and from a suitable background. Naturally, she would make an excellent wife. However, for some unknown reason, he inexplicably felt displeased. This displeasure wasn't directed at Su Wenqing. In fact, from childhood to adulthood, he couldn't develop any affection for the women around him. He always felt that women represented trouble, including his own mother. Being with women was far less comfortable than being with men.
In an instant, a fleeting thought crossed Gu Qingcheng's mind, too fast for him to grasp. He shook his head, perhaps it was time for him to get engaged. After all, he wasn't young anymore, and since he didn't have anyone he liked, it didn't matter who he married. Both options were for the sake of his parents and elders' happiness, which was all that mattered.
Just as he was thinking that, his phone on the table rang, and the screen displayed "Mom."
"Hello? Chengcheng, I sent you a few more photos. Take a look and see which one you like. The Su family's proposal is off the table. It seems they already have someone they like. We can't interfere with their happiness, right? But the Su family is quite sincere. They didn't deliberately hide anything for their own benefit, trying every means to climb up to our family..."
Gu Qingcheng remained noncommittal, whether it was sincerity or an excuse for rejection, he saw through it better than his own mother. During their last meeting, the young lady from the Su family had an unmistakable look of infatuation. He didn't believe she wasn't interested in him. However, regardless of why the Su family rejected the proposal, he was relieved to be rid of one troublesome matter, even if it meant the process of absorbing the Su family's industry would be a bit more complicated.