Chapter 5

After Li Shiyu lost her job, she didn’t look for another one. Instead, she spent a large chunk of her savings to rent an apartment in my upscale neighborhood.

She scrutinized the luxury brands that appeared in my videos, meticulously replicated my cosmetics and designer bags, and desperately tried to break into the local circle of wealthy ladies.

She looked pretty good, and with all those name brands, she could really put on a show.

At first, some people did talk to her.

But once they realized she was all looks and couldn’t actually help them with anything, they kept their distance-people like her had no social value.

Li Shiyu was frantic, running in circles, and finally, one day, she couldn’t help but get herself completely drunk.

She wandered the neighborhood like a lonely ghost until a security guard spotted her.

Just as he was about to escort her out as a suspicious person, I stepped in and stopped him.

Li Shiyu sobered up a bit, glanced up at me:

“Oh, it’s you…”

I squatted down and sat her on a stone bench by the grass: “How’s your social life going lately?”

She squinted at me and snorted coldly:

“Not well.

“The tricks I used with you don’t work at all on those wealthy ladies…”

I made a show of listening intently:

“Really?”

Li Shiyu tried to steady herself, leaning against the pavilion column, counting off on her fingers as she complained to me:

“Mrs. Li in the townhouse has assets worth over a billion, and she’s always asking about business opportunities, trying to bring in clients for her husband…

“Sister Hu from the villa area only talks about her children’s education-Cambridge summer school, Ivy League offers…”

She waved her hand and hiccupped: “I don’t understand any of it, and I can’t help at all. I got kicked out in no time!”

I let out a long “Oh-“.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me about this before?” Li Shiyu’s eyes reddened. “You made me think those wealthy ladies have it easy every day. I quit my job without preparing for anything…”

I lightly tapped her nose with my finger:

“It’s not that I didn’t tell you, it’s that I really don’t have to do any of that.”

Li Shiyu’s eyes widened as she remembered my internet persona:

“Right, right…

“You don’t take care of your kid, you don’t care about your husband’s work… You just eat, drink, play, and have fun…”

Suddenly, she sobered up completely, almost lunging at me to strangle me:

“So why? Why do people richer and higher-status than you have to keep working so hard, but you get to relax and enjoy everything without a care?”

I laughed:

“Yeah, why is that?

“Why does Zhang Yizhi work hard to earn money, only for me to do nothing and enjoy life at home?

“Why did my parents struggle all their lives to buy a house, only to watch me loaf around and squander everything?

“Why do other people plan and strategize for their sons and daughters, while I travel abroad every day and ignore my own daughter?”

I leaned in and whispered in her ear: “Doesn’t it seem contradictory?”

Li Shiyu screamed hysterically:

“Because you’re lucky!

“You were born into the right family and hit the jackpot!”

I stood up and shook my head, bored:

“Absolutely hopeless.

“Think about it-someone like Emperor Qin Shi Huang, standing at the very top of the world, still longed for immortality.

“How could an ordinary person with a bit of money like me possibly live in total comfort, have every desire fulfilled, and never face any setbacks?”

Li Shiyu’s pupils quivered as she looked up at me.

Under the streetlight, I flashed a big smile:

“So foolish. If you’re willing to believe my internet persona, you might as well believe-

“I’m Qin Shi Huang.”