SBCEJM -Chapter 25 A Portable Little Apartment Acquired

The first thing Feng Zexuan did after returning to Tingfeng Courtyard was lock the door.

She spread the stack of banknotes across the table and counted them one by one.

“Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands… One hundred thousand taels! It really is one hundred thousand taels!”

Clutching the banknotes, she rolled around on the bed twice, grinning like a fool.

But after laughing for a while, she slowly sat back up.

The more she thought about it on the way home, the stranger today’s events felt.

Everyone’s reactions had been far too “coincidental.”

【System, tell me the truth. Did outsiders hear our inner thoughts?】

The system replied in an unusually serious tone: 【Report, Host. This system has activated maximum authorization and conducted a full-spectrum scan. No abnormal eavesdropping fluctuations were detected.】

【Our conversations exist on an absolute consciousness level. Unless the other party possesses a system of equal or higher rank, interception is absolutely impossible.】

【Then how do you explain what happened today?】

【Host, this is probably just… a coincidence.】

The system explained:

【Do not underestimate the wisdom of ancient people—especially women like Qi Yanran, who have clawed their way through the business world.】

【Their ability to read expressions and observe subtle details has long been perfected. Even if you don’t say your thoughts aloud, they’re written all over your face.】

【R-Really?】

Feng Zexuan touched her face uncertainly.

【Is my acting really that bad?】

【Yes.】

【…Fine. Maybe I’m just overthinking it.】

Just then—

【Ding! Report, Host! Your gossip points have exceeded one hundred thousand. Conditions for the system’s first upgrade have been met!】

【This upgrade requires ten thousand gossip points. Upgrade immediately?】

Feng Zexuan jolted upright.

【Upgrade? What are the benefits? Let me hear them first. I’m not upgrading if it’s not worth it.】

【The benefits are huge!】

The system instantly switched into salesman mode.

【After upgrading, the system will open a personal portable space just for you! Every future upgrade will expand and improve it!】

【Think about it, Host—a completely private, completely safe little world that belongs only to you!】

【Ten thousand gossip points… that’s expensive…】

Feng Zexuan felt a pang of reluctance.

【My brother still isn’t healed yet! Maybe I should wait until I save up a million gossip points?】

【Host! Think long-term! Raise your horizons!】

The system patiently persuaded her.

【Think about what you could do with a portable space. You could carry your big brother around with you!】

【These past few days, you’ve been hauling Hanlin Academy work back home every day and forcing me to work overtime answering questions for you. If you don’t feel bad for me, I feel bad for my energy reserves!】

【Besides, if you keep skipping work at the Hanlin Academy, someone might sabotage you and report you to the emperor.】

【You could even get your salary docked!】

The moment money was mentioned, Feng Zexuan immediately became serious.

Sensing her shift in attitude, the system pressed on enthusiastically:

【With the space, you can just tuck your brother inside and bring him to the Hanlin Academy.】

【Your office is a private room. Nobody will disturb him. He can slowly familiarize himself with the work and learn in advance.】

【Once his body recovers, he can seamlessly take over, and you’ll finally be free!】

【And while your brother’s working, the two of us can slip away, roam the streets, and feast on gossip from all under heaven. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?】

Every single word struck directly at Feng Zexuan’s heart.

Her eyes lit up instantly.

【Brilliant! System, I didn’t realize you had such strategic vision!】

【Naturally! Please stop looking at me like I’m intellectually disabled!】

【Upgrade! Right now! Immediately!】

【Hehe! System upgrade initiated! Estimated completion time: fifteen minutes. Mild dizziness may occur during the process. Please steady your mind, Host!】

The moment the words fell, Feng Zexuan felt a loud buzz explode inside her head, as though she’d been stuffed into a high-speed washing machine.

The world spun violently around her.

Clenching her teeth, she desperately held onto her consciousness.

Fifteen minutes later, the dizziness vanished abruptly.

【Ding! System Version 2.0 upgrade successful! Portable space activated! Host may enter at any time through conscious intent!】

Feng Zexuan immediately shut her eyes and focused her thoughts.

The next second, the scenery before her changed completely.

Holy crap!

She stared in utter shock.

This… wasn’t this the tiny thirty-square-meter apartment she had struggled for years to buy with scholarship money in her previous life?!

The gray fabric sofa.

The bright yellow beanbag chair.

The fifty-five-inch smart TV.

In the open kitchen sat an induction stove, microwave, and mini fridge.

By the window was her familiar one-and-a-half-meter bed, covered in her favorite Totoro bedding set.

Every single detail matched her memories from before transmigration exactly.

She dashed toward the refrigerator and yanked the door open.

A familiar burst of cold air greeted her face.

Inside were all her favorite snacks and drinks.

Most prominently placed was a bottle of homemade strawberry jam yogurt she had personally made!

Her hands trembled as she unscrewed the lid and scooped a huge spoonful into her mouth.

It was the same taste!

Sweet, tangy, rich, icy smoothness!

The flavor of happiness.

The flavor of modern civilization!

She devoured an entire jar in just a few bites, still licking the spoon with lingering satisfaction.

Then suddenly—

A flash of light appeared where the yogurt had been.

Another identical jar of yogurt materialized out of thin air.

【HOLY SHIT, SYSTEM! I’VE ACHIEVED YOGURT FREEDOM!】

She turned on the television next.

Every single streaming app membership was permanent VIP access.

After fully experiencing the enormous benefits of the portable space, Feng Zexuan finally exited with complete satisfaction.

The moment her consciousness returned to reality, she could no longer contain herself.

Like a gust of wind, she rushed straight into her brother’s Tingzhu Courtyard.

Closing the door behind her, she leaned close to Feng Zekai’s ear and whispered everything about the system upgrade and the portable space.

Feng Zekai’s expression shifted from shock… to disbelief… and finally into stunned understanding.

He took a long while to process it all.

When he finally spoke, his voice trembled slightly with emotion.

“You mean… tomorrow, I can go to the Hanlin Academy… together with you?”

“Exactly!”

Feng Zexuan nodded excitedly.

“I’ll hide you inside the space and bring you there. My office is private—completely safe!”

Before she could finish speaking, Feng Zekai tightly grasped her hand.

His palm was damp with nervous sweat, yet his grip was incredibly firm.

“Good.”

He spoke only a single word, but his eyes shone brilliantly.

Ten years of hard study.

One fall from a horse had destroyed it all.

He had believed he would never again have any connection to the imperial court.

Yet his little sister had forcibly hacked open a path straight to the heavens for him.

The next day, before dawn had even broken—

Feng Zexuan dug out another set of black official robes and laid out a full set of disguise tools, beginning to work on her brother’s face.

“Brother, bear with it. This molding cream is a little itchy.”

“Your eyebrows need to be thicker. Yours are too refined—they don’t have my heroic aura.”

Feng Zekai: Yeah right. As if I’d believe that nonsense.

She remained completely focused, determined to disguise him into another “Scholar Feng.”

And just then—

Outside the door, a series of hurried yet cautious footsteps rapidly approached her room.