The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: A Sudden Scapegoat

After finishing her homework, Ji You sent it off immediately to Professor Ye Hong’s laboratory. By now, it was the deep of the night, and although she had originally planned to join a big competition on the Alliance University’s internal network, considering the time, it seemed unfeasible, so Ji You decided not to go.

Before going to sleep, Ji You checked her account balance and was in high spirits after seeing her points balance.

But as soon as she saw the balance of her credit points, she immediately felt depressed.

Having been crammed with studies these days, Ji You estimated that it would take at least five or six days before she had the time and energy to craft a Soul Device. So after some thought, she entered her own Star Network store.

This tiny store, no more than 10 square meters, had now become extraordinarily bustling, with countless people entering with hope and leaving in disappointment every day. The prosperity of this small shop had also driven the commercial boom of a nearby street.

In short, all the merchants on the street right next to Ji You’s shop had made a good profit, all grinning from ear to ear.

When Ji You entered the shop, there were still quite a few people lingering inside and outside. She almost couldn’t squeeze in as a visitor, but after thinking about it, she entered quietly using her shop owner’s identity.

A shop owner who doesn’t want to attract attention can hide the message of their entering the shop. Thus, no one noticed her presence.

Many of the customers lingering inside the shop sat down on the ground and started boasting and chatting:

”Do you guys think the Master will come online today?”

”No way! Absolutely impossible!”

”If you know the Master won’t come online, why do you still stake out here?”

”There’s always a chance, right? As long as there’s a sliver of hope, I’ll never give up.”

...

Clearly, there were countless people at the scene who shared this sentiment.

Watching this scene, Ji You touched her chin and wanted to say that even if she did come online, since she wasn’t selling anything, these people’s stakeout would be pointless.

Sigh!

They truly are a bunch of pitiful yet adorable people.

”I wonder, is there anyone here who got lucky and bought a Soul Device last time? How was the effect after using it?”

”Is there anyone willing to resell? Even if the Soul Device has been partially used, that’s fine, I’m willing to buy it for 3.5 million!”

”3.5 million? Aren’t you underestimating the Master? I’m offering 3.8 million!”

”3.8 million? Aren’t you ashamed to offer so little? I’m willing to pay 4 million!”

”5 million! Brand new! Unused! I’ll take as many as you have!”

...

Ji You: ”...”

Ji You felt depressed.

Adorable my foot, just go to hell, all of you.

million, that must be an overinflated price, but since there are people willing to bid it up so high, it shows that there are plenty of wealthy tycoons among her Soul Device audience! Big fat sheep!

To prevent another tragic loss from undervaluing her Soul Devices, Ji You decided that she would definitely not casually list Soul Devices for sale anymore, which made it necessary to contact Cheng Yu for an appraisal. But right now, with no Soul Devices on hand, it wasn’t urgent.

”Sigh! When will the Master release new items? I’ve been waiting countless days and nights, eating and sleeping poorly. Whenever I have a moment, I stake out here, but I still haven’t caught the chance.”

”Sigh! I really want to know the exact time. Waiting without any set date, my 200-pound frame has dwindled down to 80 pounds.”

”Sigh! If only there could be an announcement of when the new items will drop, that would be great.”

...

pounds?

Down to 80 pounds?

Ji You took a look at the big guy who spoke and thought to herself, your 80 pounds sure are bulky.

After some thought, Ji You decided to satisfy everyone’s request and quietly changed the store’s announcement: [Busy with personal matters, new product release time to be determined.]

In order to maintain the persona of a cool and aloof Master, Ji You kept the content of the announcement very concise. After writing it, she prepared to log off.

And then—

The crowd around surged suddenly, clearly, many people had noticed that the shop announcement had been updated, and left messages one after another:

”Master! Master! Can you give us a heads-up before the next new product release?”

”Master! Master! Which day exactly will the new products launch? Can you announce it in advance?”

”Master! Master! Just give us a specific time, it must be specific, okay?”

...

Ji You thought for a moment and casually picked a reply: ”Sure.”

After saying that, she went offline.

Shop bulletin board:

”Ah... Does this mean the Master is online now?”

”Ah... Master! Master! Look at me, I’m your little darling! Please dote on me...”

”Ah... Master! This is the closest I’ve ever been to the Master, I’m moved!”

Netizens squatting on the site speculated that the Master might still be online and instantly everyone got caught in a whirlwind, sending out their fulsome flattery like it was free, pouring buckets of it to attract the Master’s attention.

And then—

The Master couldn’t see it, the Master went offline, the Master went to bed on time, and became a well-behaved baby who sleeps at the right time.

Waking up refreshed, Ji You continued her routine of jogging around the dormitory, but today was a bit odd as she noticed that she wasn’t the only one up early jogging around the dorm.

Behind her, there were more than a dozen students.

Ji You: ”???”

How curious.

Was the sun rising from the west?

No, that’s not possible. There is no sun here.

Ji You ran a lap and finally couldn’t help but turn to a male student passing by face to face, and out of curiosity asked, ”Hey, dude, may I be so bold as to ask why you are here running laps?”

The male student showed a hint of grievance on his face and said, ”It’s your fault.”

Ji You: ”???”

Ji You quickly waved her hands and said, ”Bro, that’s not true, don’t talk nonsense! I refuse to carry this pot that dropped out of nowhere.”

The student, panting from the run, finally caught his breath and said, ”Classmate! What’s wrong with enjoying life? Why must you run every day without fail? It’s fine that you run, but why drag me into it?”

Ji You: ”...”

The student, full of resentment, ran off.

Ji You: ”...”

Could it be that jogging is really such an annoyance?

Behind her, a flamboyantly dressed girl glanced at Ji You, hesitated for a moment, before saying, ”It’s a long story, to put it simply, we self-funded students, living our decadent lives, were caught red-handed by parents visiting the school. They couldn’t stand our debauchery and just happened to see you running early in the morning, so—”

The girl paused, then continued, ”You can guess what happened next, right? My dad said, look at that self-paying student running in a tank top, how energetic, lively, and cute, how inspiring and hardworking, start running with her from tomorrow, no running no allowance!”

What’s an allowance?

It’s the pillar of these self-paying students’ lives!

It’s the foundation of their hedonistic dreams.

The girl’s lips twitched with frustration and said, ”My dad is even more ruthless, he decided to give me allowance for each day I run! From now on, my living expenses will be counted by the number of days I run... Seriously! What’s the use of running?! An hour of training in the training room would be better.”

After saying that, the girl looked at Ji You with her large eyes full of grievance, then dragged her weary body and ran off.

Ji You: ”...”

This really is an undeserved pot of blame falling from the sky.