The Abusive Novel System Pleads with Me to Resign

"How much money would make you forget this incident?"

Shen Ying's tear stains were still fresh on her face. She looked at Mrs. Zhong's assistant in disbelief. "Forget? How could I possibly forget today? I’ll remember it for the rest of my life."

After all, this was her first real windfall in this world.

The assistant remained composed and serious. "You will."

He took a file handed to him, containing a summary of everything about Shen Ying.

The assistant continued, "Though I apologize for saying this, Miss Shen, you must understand that your life is long, with a bright future ahead of you."

"You’re only 17. You attend one of the nation’s top elite schools. Your family may be ordinary, but if nothing goes wrong, you’ll get into a prestigious university. With an impressive resume, most respectable careers will be open to you."

"If you’re uncertain, the Zhong family can guarantee you a well-paying job after graduation—or if you’d prefer to study abroad, we’ll cover all expenses."

"You can dream freely. You can explore the vastness of the world. Today’s troubles are nothing compared to the wonderful life ahead. You could even elevate your family’s social standing effortlessly."

"Miss Shen, your parents have worked hard for your education and future. You owe it to them to fulfill their expectations and bring them happiness."

"Meaningless persistence will only drag your future—and your family—into ruin. It will exhaust your parents, leaving them overwhelmed."

"Miss Shen, is that what you want?"

A conflicted expression flickered across Shen Ying’s face, as if humiliation and fury were warring with pragmatism.

The assistant pressed on, "Now, it’s up to you to choose the future you’ll step into."

"Rest assured, Miss Shen, Mrs. Zhong is deeply sympathetic to your situation. She won’t be stingy with compensation."

"Name your price. Let me ask again—how much money would make you forget this incident?"

Admittedly, though the Zhong family was arrogant and dismissive of others, their subordinates were undeniably capable and efficient.

Shen Ying watched as the assistant carefully unfolded her bicycle before handing it to her.

Before leaving, he even bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your understanding, Miss Shen. I wish you a bright future."

As she waved him off and turned to head upstairs, she nearly collided with Father Shen, who was taking out the trash.

He frowned. "Who just dropped you off?"

Shen Ying replied, "Let’s talk inside."

Upstairs, she changed into comfortable loungewear before settling on the couch.

Mother Shen immediately pounced. "Were you at a classmate’s place? Which one? What does their family do?"

Instead of answering, Shen Ying slid a check across the table.

Mother Shen hesitated before picking it up. Her eyes widened as she counted the zeros.

"One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand—no, wait… one, ten, hundred… ten million?!"

Her voice cracked as she stared at Shen Ying in horror. "Who gave you this? Why so much money? Is it legal?"

Shen Ying handed her a transfer agreement. "It’s legal. Keep it."

Mother Shen smacked her shoulder twice. "Would it kill you to explain? What happened?"

"Why would anyone give you this much? Did—did someone hurt you?"

Shen Ying shrugged. "I don’t know. A classmate invited me over, tried to give me clothes and jewelry, and asked me to be nice to him."

"But then his mother came home. She didn’t seem thrilled to see me, so her assistant escorted me out."

"On the way back, the assistant told me to forget whatever happened with their young master and name my price."

"Since it wasn’t a big deal, I didn’t ask for much."

Mother Shen instantly pieced together a melodrama—a wealthy young heir smitten with her daughter, showering her with attention, only for his snobbish mother to intervene with a hefty payout to sever the budding romance.

She grumbled, "What’s wrong with my daughter?"

But she didn’t dwell on it. Her daughter clearly had no interest in the young master, so why not take the money?

Mother Shen beamed at the check. "Smart girl. Boys your age can’t stand up to their families anyway. Cold hard cash is better."

Shen Ying nibbled on fruit handed to her by her stepfather and nodded absently.

Mother Shen was the epitome of a shrewd, materialistic woman—but pragmatic, doing her best within her means to secure a better future for her daughter.

Shen Ying said, "Now that we have money, maybe you can close the stall."

"And this apartment—shouldn’t we upgrade?"

Mother ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍Shen swatted the fruit out of her hand. "Don’t get ahead of yourself."

"Don’t worry, we’ll save this for you. Focus on your studies. Once you graduate, you’ll have the education, the looks, and the financial backing. You can pick any job—or man—you want."

Shen Ying: "But the apartment—"

She’d lived in a thousand-acre estate in her last world just two weeks ago.

Mother Shen: "What apartment? Haven’t you heard the housing market’s in a slump?"

Shen Ying: "..."

The next day, Shen Ying kept her word and reported to the quartet’s lounge as soon as she arrived at school.

The four were already there, looking haggard, as if thoroughly worn out.

The moment they spotted her, their gazes turned icy.

Zhong Chen stormed up to her. "Look what you’ve done! I spent hours explaining, and that old woman still wouldn’t believe me."

Shen Ying blinked innocently. "Isn’t the reason Mrs. Zhong didn’t believe you because of your track record—and the fact that you did something highly suspicious?"

Zhong Chen choked. His mother had said the same thing yesterday.

Bringing a female classmate home, pampering her with beauty treatments and styling, after previously bullying her at school—what else could it be but coercion?

According to the bodyguards, she hadn’t even been invited. She’d been kidnapped.

Shen Ying added, "Look on the bright side. You got what you wanted, didn’t you?"

"Your family’s undivided attention—I bet they spent more time and energy on you last night than in the past month combined."

Gong Zhaoxi chimed in, "Correction—if we’re talking sheer focus, it was more like a year’s worth."

Zhong Chen whirled on him. "Who asked you? Weren’t you the one accused of being the mastermind?"

"That old woman ordered the three of us to cut ties with you."

Gong Zhaoxi pouted. "Why me? I’m the gentlest one here! When you guys act out, I’m always the voice of reason."

"How did I end up the villain in Mrs. Zhong’s eyes?"

Xiao Yun scoffed. "You’re a pervert."

"If someone’s corrupting an innocent virgin like Chen, who else would she suspect first?"

Zhong Chen: "Who the hell are you calling—"

Before he could finish speaking, Xing Jiale interrupted, "Alright, alright, isn't the real culprit right here?"

He stepped behind Shen Ying, placing his hands on her shoulders with a smile, though his voice was gritted with frustration. "Thanks a lot, really."

Shen Ying grinned. "No need to thank me. My service standards never disappoint."

"Now that things are settled, can Student Xing Jiale settle the bill?"

Xing Jiale was fuming but couldn’t bring himself to refuse payment.

As he handed over the money, the other three watched him with disdain.

"Some people grow up thinking they’re geniuses, acting all superior—calling Zhong Chen dumb, Xiao Yun slow, and me a freak—as if they’re the only ones awake in this world. And yet, here we are."

"Spending ten million just to get beaten up. So smart."

"No telling what the old lady told his grandfather. He’s probably in for another round when he gets home tonight."

Xing Jiale’s scalp prickled. He loved stirring up trouble, but he never expected to meet his match in Shen Ying.

Watching her beam as she pocketed the money, he finally understood Zhong Chen’s earlier obsession.

This woman was infuriating.

With her diversion, the anger originally directed at her had shifted onto him.

And just like that, she slipped away unscathed.

Zhong Chen stood up and said to Shen Ying, "Let’s go. Time for class."

"Walk behind me. It’ll show everyone you’ve submitted to me."

Shen Ying nodded. "Sure thing. How humble would you like me to be? Should I call you ‘boss’?"

Zhong Chen hadn’t considered that. Usually, people around him were already submissive enough. But for some reason, he didn’t want her acting like them.

He waved it off. "No, just act normal."

With that, the group left the lounge and headed to their classroom floor.

The moment the four of them appeared, all eyes locked onto them. Every time they walked down the hallway, it felt like a grand procession.

Students from every class leaned out of windows and doorways, watching them pass.

The crowd was mostly girls, buzzing excitedly about the group’s latest antics.

Then they spotted Shen Ying trailing behind, and the lively chatter froze.

"Why is she with them?"

"She must’ve forced her way in."

"Wait, Gong Zhaoxi is talking to her?"

Zhong Chen ignored the whispers around him, though his chin and lips were slightly higher than usual, radiating smug satisfaction.

Before parting ways, Zhong Chen reminded Shen Ying, "Report to the second-floor cafeteria at noon."

Shen Ying agreed without hesitation.

But the moment she stepped into her classroom, Shen Zuola and her clique surrounded her.

Shen Zuola’s face was still twisted with shock and anger. "What’s going on? Why were you with Zhong Chen?"

Shen Ying shrugged. "As you saw, we made up."

Shen Zuola scoffed. "Impossible! Just yesterday at lunch, he wanted to smash your bowl!"

Shen Ying sighed. "True. He nearly ruined my lovingly prepared lunch. How could I forgive him so easily?"

"But he offered too much to refuse."

Shen Zuola’s eyes widened. "Zhong Chen paid you to reconcile? What kind of delusion is that? What’s your ‘reconciliation’ even worth?"

"Fifty million."

Shen Zuola choked. Even for someone from her wealthy background, fifty million was an astronomical sum.

And Zhong Chen had spent it just to make peace with this woman?

She shook her head violently. "No way. I don’t believe it."

The girls around them were equally stunned—some jealous, others outright disbelieving.

Shen Ying patted Shen Zuola’s shoulder. "Believe it or not, the bullying campaign is officially over."

"Let’s go back to being normal classmates. No more daily pranks to meet your quota. Doesn’t that sound nice?"

"You all looked exhausted trying to come up with new ideas anyway."

Shen Zuola’s eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.

Shen Ying, worried she’d be blamed, quickly retreated to her seat.

Xia Meng, sitting in front, kept glancing back with a complicated expression.

But no matter how much the others resented it, Zhong Chen’s stance forced them to back off.

Even the boys had already switched to friendly mode. All morning, classmates eagerly greeted Shen Ying—even when she went to the bathroom.

Compared to yesterday’s cold shoulders, the atmosphere was night and day.

At noon, Shen Ying climbed to the second floor under the girls’ watchful glares.

She quickly realized the second-floor dining area operated on a completely different system—exclusively for the four of them.

By the time she arrived, the group was already seated for lunch.

Zhong Chen gestured at his steak. "Cut this for me."

Shen Ying nodded, took the plate, and handed it to the chef nearby. "Cut this, please."

Since it was the chef’s job anyway, he didn’t object.

But Zhong Chen wasn’t having it. "I told you to do it. Why are you passing it off?"

"Did you forget our deal? You have to obey me. You’re under my command now. Understand?"

Shen Ying nodded. "I do."

Zhong Chen: "Then why did you make him do your job?"

Shen Ying: "Workplace bullying."

Zhong Chen: "..."

Xing Jiale: "Is this how you plan to treat your future jobs and bosses?"

Shen Ying: "Yep."

The four: "..."

Shen Ying smiled sheepishly. "Well, I’ll probably pretend at first. I’ve studied labor law—once the contract’s signed, I’ll be the boss’s worst nightmare."

"But don’t worry, I’ll avoid your family companies when job hunting."

Zhong Chen laughed bitterly. "Should I thank you for that?"

"If you won’t do anything, what’s the point of me paying you?"

Shen Ying: "Thirty million was just the signing bonus. Daily orders cost extra."

The sheer audacity left them all speechless.

Xiao Yun, sensing Zhong Chen’s rising competitiveness, changed the subject. "Qingya’s returning tomorrow. There’ll be a party."

He turned to Shen Ying. "You coming?"