I Contracted Myself - Chapter 20 – The true purpose of the Fire Eater

In Region Three's Nian family, the notorious 'double waste' Nian Shutong and the widely known 'frail beauty' Fu Yunhe got married and were exiled to a toxic, deserted planet to die.'I bet they can live for a month.''I bet half a month.''I bet ten days!'Although the bets continued, unexpectedly this abandoned planet began to produce rice supplying the entire star system, brilliant white fine salt, sweet sugar, and pure meat.Nian Shutong, once despised, soared to become a top-tier planet lord, and started a luxurious, enviable retirement life.As many coveted her success, she encountered trouble today, received flowers tomorrow.The silent big spender Fu Yunhe couldn't sit back any longer. Touching Nian Shutong's back, he said with grievance: 'You are married.''Don't worry, they are not as rich as you; those richer aren't as handsome as you; the handsome ones aren't as obedient as you; those more obedient can't take a beating like you.''?'Fu Yunhe bowed his head and twiddled his fingers, asking again, 'How much more do I need to spend to really deserve it?'Nian Shutong patted his head gently and whispered, 'There, there, spend a bit more.'

In the year 2090, technology has advanced to the point where Simulation Boxes, (Sim Box for short) are common place, allowing for the user to link up their brain's neural network to a full dive Simulation. While initially used for educational purposes, recently a large gaming company, Averon, released a fully fledged immersive MMORPG simulation where users can become anyone they desire, level up, choose their class, and become a hero or a villain. The name of this simulation is The Shattered World Online.

Eli Winters had no interest in playing it. His father, a jobless bum who spent his entire life playing games in the hope of becoming a famous player or streamer, was able to use the release of The Shattered World Online to gain wealth and fame, quickly becoming the number one player and a household name as the game took the world by storm. He immediately abandoned Eli and his mother in favor of being with someone from his guild, despite his mother having worked two jobs to support them and raise Eli by herself. Eli had nothing but spite for his father and the game.

When Eli's best friend convinces him to try out the game, his father's fame begins to interfere, culminating in him being singled out and shunned by his peers, and his father offering to pay for his university tuition in return for Eli hiding their relationship and quitting the game. Instead of complying with his father's wishes, Eli decides to prove to everyone how useless a guy his father is by challenging him that if Eli is able to surpass him in the game world he must delete his account and quit his streaming career. His father accepts the challenge believing his son to be useless at games - but Eli will soon show him just how ambitious a spiteful person can be.

Starting from today, I am retired. But what should I be doing? I neither have the skills, nor the mind to do business, my only advantage is this pair of hands which have taken this world. What a headache…

Note: The usage of the term “retired” here doesn’t mean retiring from old age, work etc. It’s a specific term to refer to not involving oneself in the affairs of a certain society.

“A marriage contract determines fate for a lifetime.As the once well-to-do Sang Wan marries into the wealthiest Shi family of Qingzhou, she faces a suspicious and difficult mother-in-law, a husband who cherishes his childhood sweetheart instead, a harsh eldest sister-in-law, and a cunning younger sister-in-law. The diffident Sang Wan retreats and concedes until she ultimately meets a tragic and desolate end, dying alone in a secluded corner of the Shi Mansion.Reborn in the sedan chair on her wedding day, where should she go? At the starting point of tragedy, with a chance to start anew, can she change her tragic fate and create a life filled with harmonious melodies for herself?In this life, she only desires a leisurely and peaceful existence, to truly live for once.”