Chapter 47: The Awakening of the NEET Generation – 5

In the end, the girls in Ren Xin’s dorm were made to apologize to her in front of all the teachers and students, and the counselor was ordered to stay home and reflect on their actions.

Ren Xin smiled and said it was fine, just be more careful in the future.

This incident passed, but it also seemed to linger. Those students from impoverished backgrounds who used to feel inferior now stood a little taller. They realized that if there ever came a day when they faced injustice, someone would step forward like a warrior to stand up for them.

So what was there to fear? Nobody says a poor family can’t produce outstanding children. Never look down on a struggling youth!

Book Spirit Number One asked puzzledly, “Ren Xin, I’m curious. Why did you go about it like this? You could have quietly taught them a lesson without drawing any attention.”

Ren Xin replied softly, “I’ve experienced this kind of injustice before, when I watched the original host’s entire life. She felt so wronged at the time, but she didn’t dare say a word—afraid of causing trouble, afraid that without power or influence, no one would help her. A girl crouched on the ground, carefully picking up the mess others left behind—how heartbroken she must have been!

No one knows what that little girl truly lost.

She lost the courage to stand up to the world, the confidence to compete with kids her age. I’m saving her, and saving every stubborn weed like her that still wants to take root here. You’ll see, all it takes is a helping hand, and they’ll grow towards the sun and blossom into the most beautiful flowers!”

Because of the public apology, Ren Xin’s roommates began to ostracize her. She didn’t care at all—she was way too busy, thank you very much.

The school break was coming up, and she needed to make some money for her train ticket home.

Whenever Ren Xin had free time now, she would visit the wholesale market and buy some things that weren’t available back in her hometown, hoping to earn a little money and indulge her hoarding obsession at the same time.

Book Spirit Number One came online again. “Host, you keep stockpiling things, but I never see you use them, so…”

Ren Xin swayed her head as she replied, “It feels great! That sense of satisfaction is even better than what a man can give!”

Book Spirit Number One didn’t understand, but was tolerant anyway.

Before she knew it, it was time for the break. Ren Xin had already bought her ticket, lugging big and small bags as she made her way to the station. She grumbled as she walked.

“Seriously, future starter packs need to come with super strength or something. If the rest of the stuff is useless, at least give me some bang for my buck.”

Book Spirit Number One: “……”

Muttering all the way to the station, she dawdled onto the train and quickly found a hard seat.

Ren Xin kept complaining, “Just to fit the original host’s frugal, hardworking persona, do you know how much I’ve sacrificed? I could’ve just whisked myself home in an instant if I wanted.”

“Host, do you have a Nimbus Cloud or something?”

Ren Xin ignored Book Spirit Number One’s sarcasm and kept mumbling to herself.

After spending a whole day and night on the train, she finally arrived—but there were still a few bus transfers and a stretch of mountain road left before she could get home.

When she got off the train, there was a big crowd. She moved along with everyone else. She hadn’t told her family when she was coming back; her plan was to sell off her wholesale goods first.

Finding the right spot, she set up her stall and started hawking her wares, moving smoothly from one task to the next.

Book Spirit Number One said, “Host, you’re so skilled, it’s kind of scary!”

“Aren’t you just stunned by how charming I am?”

“………”

“Actually, I have quite the backstory myself~”

“You don’t have to share if you don’t want to……”

“Then I won’t say anymore.”

“………”

The items Ren Xin had bought wholesale were all things like hair clips, scrunchies, and cute socks—practical, pretty, and easy to carry, plus there was a wide audience for them.

Sure enough, the nice designs caught the eye of lots of people right away, and with the prices being low, it didn’t even take a few hours before everything was sold out.

With her load halved, Ren Xin shouldered the bags and headed off to buy her bus ticket.

Book Spirit Number One felt that, for someone so down-to-earth, this host just didn’t add up!

— Translator's Notes —

– Nimbus Cloud: A reference to 'Jindou Yun' (筋斗云), the magical cloud used by Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) in the classic novel 'Journey to the West' to travel 108,000 li in a single somersault.

– hard seat: Refers to 'Yingzuo' (硬座), the cheapest and most basic class of seating on Chinese trains, often associated with long, crowded, and uncomfortable travel for those on a strict budget.