Chapter 3: 003 There is one condition.
"Hello, is this Miss Chu?" A deep and pleasant male voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Miss Chu, your mother has been recovering very well these past few days, but starting from the day before yesterday, your mother's card began to accrue charges. By the day after tomorrow at the latest, you must settle the outstanding fees, otherwise..."
After hanging up the phone, Chu Jin sighed deeply.
Zhao Yan was her predecessor's birth mother, and now that she had taken over Chu Jin's body, she couldn't neglect Zhao Yan.
From the memories of her predecessor, Zhao Yan's medical expenses were a hefty sum. Chu Jin grew worried and couldn't help but rub her temples.
However, soon, the words of Li Ruyu echoed in her ears.
At that thought, Chu Jin curved her lips, habitually lifting her hand to sweep back a lock of hair behind her ear.
Her jade-like slender fingertips slid through her ink-like hair, a clash of black and white connecting with the subtle curve of her lips, creating an arresting beauty.
Midnight arrived on schedule, and to avoid any surprises, Chu Jin first went downstairs to the small kitchen to grab something to eat, then she locked her room from the inside, lay down on the bed fully clothed, and ingested two bottles of blue medicine.
"[Host, it is now the time of Zi, shall we begin the enhancement?]" echoed a mechanical voice, hollow as if from nowhere, in her mind.
At the same time, a transparent screen appeared in the air, displaying two options: 'Yes' and 'No.'
Without any hesitation, Chu Jin clicked 'Yes.'
"[Ding! Enhancement initiated!]"
As soon as the system's notification sounded, a powerful and domineering cold surge flooded into Chu Jin's body in an instant.
At first, she felt her entire body convulsing and unbearably cold. After convulsing for a while, she felt her entire body stiffen as if frozen, unable to move, not even having the strength to open her mouth.
Then, the cold gradually dissipated, followed by a comfortable warmth that made her almost want to moan, but before she could truly enjoy this feeling, she was overtaken by a pain so intense it left her unable to breathe, a sensation of her flesh and bones being torn apart and then healing, only to be torn again.
Pain! Intense pain!
It was far worse than the agony of being burned by a roaring flame.
Every bone and muscle felt as if it was being forcibly dismantled and then reassembled.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Chu Jin sweated profusely from pain, as if all her strength had been drained.
The only thought remaining in her mind was Zi's voice, cheering her on and encouraging her.
"Jin, hang in there! You just have to get through the next 30 minutes, don't fall asleep."
As time trickled by, Chu Jin felt the pain within her body slowly fade away until it vanished completely, and the vitality inside her began to recover. Alongside this, a powerful force filled her entire being.
At that moment, the system's notification sound coincided with this realization.
"[Ding! Enhancement successful!]"
"Jin! Jin! We did it! It's wonderful!" Zi in the Purple Thunder space danced with joy—only heaven knew how many years she had waited for this day!
Listaning to Zi's exhilarated voice, Chu Jin slowly opened her eyes; in the darkness, her crystal-clear eyes shone with an icy edge, and her entire being radiated the aura of a King returning to power.
Chu Jin lay on the bed, feeling light and nimble, a powerful force permeating her through and through.
Not only that, but Chu Jin also found her vision had improved manyfold; she could see every item in the room clearly despite the darkness, as if it were daylight.
By then, her body had undergone a complete and earth-shattering transformation.
**
The next morning.
After freshening up, Chu Jin came downstairs to find Zhao Yiling and Li Ruyu already sitting at the breakfast table.
"Jin is up, come sit here. I had Mrs. Wu make a sandwich especially for you," Zhao Yiling called out politely to invite Chu Jin to join them.
Li Ruyu's face was expressionless as usual, elegantly peeling an egg in her hand.
In her predecessor's memories, Zhao Yiling had never spoken to her so courteously.
In fact, she had never willingly initiated a conversation with her predecessor at all.
Moreover, due to her background, her predecessor had always lacked presence in front of Zhao Yiling.
Moreover, with just a word from Zhao Yiling, her predecessor would become so frightened that they'd be at a loss.
Therefore,
Zhao Yiling had always felt a sense of superiority over Chu Jin, and on this occasion, had it not been for Chu Jin's remaining usefulness to her, Zhao Yiling would never have deigned to speak so calmly and amicably with Chu Jin.
In Zhao Yiling's eyes, Chu Jin was nothing but a pitiable stray, and to have blood relations with such a person was simply beneath her.
Chu Jin slightly lifted her gaze, looking at the enthusiastic Zhao Yiling, and the corners of her mouth curled into a faint smile as she said, "Thank you, cousin."
Her eyes were too deep, too bright, like a clear spring, and like a crescent moon.
They seemed to possess an attraction that made it impossible for others to look away.
For a moment, Zhao Yiling was stunned; this was definitely not the Chu Jin she knew.
The Chu Jin she knew was timid, weak, abjectly humble, someone who wouldn't have such captivating eyes.
Moreover, Chu Jin's entire temperament had changed.
The previously ever-present timidity and submissive air had vanished without a trace.
Now enveloping her was an aura of nobility that could not be ignored.
Was this an illusion?
For a brief moment, Zhao Yiling felt somewhat panicked.
Chu Jin withdrew her gaze with indifference, pulled out a chair, seated herself, and began to eat the sandwich on her plate in a leisurely and methodical manner.
She didn't eat quickly, yet very elegantly. Every motion flowed smoothly like water, and her jade-like, translucent fingertips contrasted with the cold hardness of the cutlery, forming an extremely beautiful scene.
Halfway through her meal, Li Ruyu, who had been silent until then, spoke up, "Jin, about the matter I asked you to consider yesterday, how have you thought about it?"
Right when Li Ruyu's words finished, as if it was perfectly timed, Chu Jin just happened to finish the last piece of her sandwich.
She reached for a napkin and leisurely wiped the corners of her mouth.
After a short pause, she slowly spoke, "I've agreed to the marriage arrangement with the Mo family."
The moment her words fell, both Li Ruyu and Zhao Yiling's eyes lit up.
"However," Chu Jin narrowed her eyes slightly, her words took a turn as she continued, "I have one condition."
The light in Li Ruyu's eyes gradually dimmed, "Speak."
She knew this wouldn't be so straightforward.
Chu Jin's red lips parted lightly, "Give me fifty million."
"What did you say?" Zhao Yiling looked at Chu Jin with incredulous eyes, wide open.
Fifty million?
Had Chu Jin lost her mind? Even though Zhao family was considered wealthy in the Capital City,
fifty million wasn't an amount they could just produce on a whim, as the annual revenue of the combined Zhao and Chu corporations was only about sixty million.
With her demand, Chu Jin was essentially asking for a year's worth of revenue from both corporations! Could she be any more outrageous?
Compared to Zhao Yiling's excitement, Li Ruyu's reaction was still relatively calm. She just looked at Chu Jin with an extremely sharp gaze, as if trying to see right through her.
"Give me fifty million, and I'll agree to the marriage with the Mo family." Chu Jin casually flipped her phone in her hand, saying carelessly, "Such a small sum, I assume Auntie won't refuse?"
Fifty million! An annual revenue of two corporations, and she called it a small sum?
The smile on Li Ruyu's face was close to collapsing.
Zhao Yiling could barely control the surging power within her, almost slamming her hand down in protest several times but was stopped by Li Ruyu's sharp look.
Li Ruyu spoke slowly, "What if I refuse? Fifty million is not a small amount."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone