Chapter 71: Oh No, the System’s Been Discovered!

When Tongtong woke up, she saw a pile of treasures by her bedside.

Looking at the jade pieces thicker than her arm, the gold nuggets larger than her small fist, and the pink pearls bigger than her eyes… all piled up like a small mountain on the table.

The little girl’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Oh my goodness!

Was she dreaming?

She couldn’t even imagine—if all these were hers, how incredibly wealthy Mother would be in this world!

She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn’t seeing things.

Si Muchen cleared his throat, pointing at the treasures and saying generously, “I found all these by the roadside. They’re yours now.”

Tongtong’s eyes lit up, but then she paused.

Wait a minute!

Brother Muchen usually picked up things too, but never this many.

And what about that intense energy fluctuation she felt before she passed out?

She tilted her little head, her dark, sparkling eyes darting around, before finally settling on Si Muchen. She stroked her round chin, scrutinizing him with a piercing gaze.

Si Muchen felt his scalp tingle under her stare and guiltily looked away. “…What are you looking at?”

Tongtong tilted her head, her soft, milky voice carrying an undeniable certainty. “Brother Muchen, you—something’s off!”

Si Muchen’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression cool. “…I’m not.”

He didn’t dare tell his little sister that he’d secretly used the System to steal energy.

Tongtong stared at him for a while longer before suddenly looking away.

Her long eyelashes lowered as the electrical signals in her brain crackled.

Not long after—

[Ahhh! Oh no, oh no! We’ve been discovered!]

The System in Si Muchen’s mind suddenly started screeching like crazy.

Si Muchen: “!”

The next moment, the System sounded like a chicken being choked, its crackling electrical noise growing faint.

[Wahhh… I’m sorry, Benefactor! I won’t steal your energy anymore! I really am sorry, wahhh… It was all my host who forced me to do it!]

Si Muchen: “?”

This damn System sure knew how to shift the blame.

Noticing Tongtong’s gaze on him, he quickly straightened up and stood at attention. “I didn’t!”

Tongtong waved her little hand, and the energy restraints on the System instantly vanished.

Si Muchen could clearly feel the light sphere in his mind sigh in relief.

“So, you’re Brother Muchen’s System?”

[Yes, yes, yes! I’m 996, the Misfortune Transfer System!]

[Wahhh… I’m sorry, little Benefactor! I didn’t want to steal your energy, but ever since I arrived in this world, I’ve inexplicably lost contact with the main system. Without any energy supply, I’ve been in standby mode for years!]

Then, the 996 System chattered away, recounting everything that had happened since it arrived in this world.

Tongtong’s little mouth fell open in surprise, and she gave Si Muchen a sympathetic look.

To end up with such a troublesome System, Brother Muchen was really unlucky.

Si Muchen: “…”

He turned away with a dark expression.

The 996 System trembled nervously, trying to change the subject out of guilt. [Little Benefactor, how did you turn into a little kid? Where’s your host? Your energy is so abundant! Sorry about earlier—I was just too hungry and couldn’t control myself…]

“It’s fine!” Tongtong waved her hand magnanimously. Finally meeting a fellow system, she was actually quite happy. “My host is my mom, but now I’m on my own!”

【Ah! No wonder you actually have a special ability! You’re amazing, big shot! Wow~ How could I be so lucky to become friends with such a cute, kind, and powerful System big shot! I must tell my mom when I get back, 996, I’ve made it!】

“Ah… really? Am I that good?”

Tongtong was immersed in 996’s wave of flattery, squinting her eyes, her chubby little face full of bliss.

Si Muchen twitched his mouth and rolled his eyes.

Bootlicker!

The system secretly hmphed. Who was he doing all this for anyway? Seriously!

The System remained silent, just relentlessly blowing flattery.

【Of course! You are the cutest, most powerful, and wisest System in the world!】

【So, adorable and noble little patron, would you be willing to help poor me and continue supplying me with energy? I will bestow upon you endless wealth and glory~】

Tongtong, dazed by the praise, nodded her little head: “Okay!”

Si Muchen: “???”

Just like that?

Then what about all those days he spent agreeing to the System’s requests, working hard to get close to his sister to steal energy?!

996 proudly gave him a King’s Contempt.

Si Muchen gritted his teeth, thought for a moment, and still reminded: “Don’t transfer too much every day, don’t harm Tongtong!”

【Deal!】 The System agreed immediately, then excitedly started gossiping with Tongtong about other systems.

The two little ones chatted happily.

Si Muchen listened, speechless.

Just then, something astonishing happened to him.

Perhaps because a connection channel had been established between the two systems, their energies resonated peculiarly. Si Muchen suddenly felt a pulling force, and the scene before his eyes abruptly changed!

He was actually standing in an unfamiliar warehouse!

Inside were piled all kinds of goods he had never seen before.

There were also many precision instruments, shelves filled with various medicines, and even computers with blinking signal lights… all things he didn’t recognize.

Pushing open the warehouse door, outside was half an acre of black soil.

Medicinal herbs were planted inside.

Some looked familiar… many were ones he had accompanied Tongtong to find in the mountains.

But the ones here were clearly growing much better than those outside.

“Ah! Brother Muchen, how did you get in?”

Tongtong’s small figure also appeared in the space.

Si Muchen’s dark eyes were filled with shock. He suddenly remembered Gu Yanbin’s miraculous recovery from that near-fatal surgery, and a thought flashed through his mind.

“Tongtong,” he turned to look at the equally surprised little one beside him, his tone certain, “Last time when Uncle was injured, you saved him in here, right?”

Tongtong didn’t expect him to be so sharp. She was stunned for a moment, then nodded generously: “Mm! Brother Muchen, you’re so smart!”

Then she explained about having the space.

After all, today she already knew Brother Muchen’s secret.

They should be honest with each other!

Si Muchen curiously explored the space, especially interested in the military-related books and equipment in the warehouse.

After wandering around for a while, the two finally left the space.

Returning to reality, Si Muchen was surprised to find that only a minute had passed in the real world.

So, the flow of time inside the space was different from the outside?

Tongtong looked at the treasures by the bedside, her eyes sparkling.

“Brother Muchen, did you say earlier that all these are for me?”

Muchen looked at her little miser expression, helplessly nodded, a slight smile curling at the corner of his lips.

Tongtong cheered, waving her little hand to sweep the pile of treasures on the table into her space, her eyes crinkling with joy.

“Brother Muchen, I have to go back now! Mother will worry if she can’t find me!” Tongtong waved at Muchen, then hopped out the window on her short little legs.

Si Muchen: “!”

Even though he knew Tongtong was capable, he couldn’t help but worry.

The Gu family lived in a standalone two-story house, and his room was on the second floor.

What if she got hurt from the fall?

Muchen rushed over and watched nervously until he saw vines catch her and lower her safely to the ground. By the time he breathed a sigh of relief, the little girl had already vanished.

…

Like an agile kitten, Tongtong hopped and skipped toward her dry maternal uncle’s house in the faint light of dawn.

As she passed the large trees in the corner of the yard, she habitually slowed her pace and reached out a small hand to touch the rough bark.

“Grandpa Tree, good morning!”

The leaves of the Old Ginkgo rustled, and a hanging branch gently brushed against her little head.

[Little one, yesterday a young peach tree overheard your grandpa and grandma talking with your Third Uncle. It seems your Third Uncle caused trouble back in his hometown and came to Spring City seeking refuge. They also want him to marry a wife and stay in the city instead of going back.]

Tongtong tilted her head thoughtfully.

Bad Third Uncle doesn’t have his thingy anymore, so he probably can’t get married now.

“Grandpa Tree, do you know what exactly he did wrong?”