The Price of Freedom

On our way back, Ling Chen suggested buying a full set of cosmetics and skincare products for me.

“You know nothing about these things, Sis, so I’ll go buy them for you.”

I was touched. “You finally understand how to be considerate of your sister!”

“No, it’s purely because you’re too useless, Sis.”

“…”

After a round of shopping at the commercial street, I saw a message from the bank and fell into deep thought.

Where had all my savings gone?

“What’s wrong, Sis?”

“I’m starting to understand why girls nowadays would sell their souls for money. Indulging in consumerism is as terrifying as becoming addicted to a spiritual opiate.”

Ling Chen nodded. “Actually, it’s the same when you spend money on games, Sis.”

“But is there any hope for me, having already dabbled in gambling, drugs, and prostitution?”

“There’s no hope. Otherwise, why don’t you just become a s*x worker, Sis!”

My face darkened, and my mouth twitched. “What kind of nonsense are you spouting?”

Ling Chen looked satisfied. “It seems Sis won’t debase her own body.”

“You didn’t actually think I was some shameless person, did you?”

“I remember you once lamented how quickly money could be made when you heard the news about a cross-dressing male prostitute getting arrested, Sis.”

I argued vehemently. “A lament is a lament; I would never harbor such thoughts.”

Ling Chen looked at me suspiciously. “If you were truly a person of principle, Sis, you wouldn’t have become an otaku.”

I scoffed. “As a staunch, unyielding tough guy, why would I bother studying finance and programming? Earning money by selling my body or sacrificing my health might seem glamorous, but these are fleeting and unsustainable methods. Take, for instance, uncles who frequently attend drinking parties. They earn a lot of money, but their bodies will be ruined later on. What’s the point of having money if you don’t have the life to spend it?”

“‘Cast a long line to catch a big fish’ was the first lesson I learned while studying finance. The so-called long-term investment lies in investing in oneself, and learning marketable skills is paramount. Studying finance allows me to achieve financial freedom by creating value without labor, provided I have capital. As for programmers, though jokingly called ‘code farmers,’ they can bring me income and accumulate capital before the age of thirty-five.”

“Comparing the two, which method of earning money do you think I should choose?”

Ling Chen agreed with my reasoning but still didn’t trust me. “Since you know all this, Sis, why don’t you study harder?”

“Knowing and doing are two different things. If I had the willpower, would I still be a shut-in? Stares into the distance“

“It seems a poor student like you isn’t without ideals after all, Sis…”

Ling Chen’s fighting spirit ignited. Clenching his fists, he murmured, “It’s decided. I will achieve Sis’s goals! While I can’t make someone with Sis’s lack of talent reach the level of Wall Street professionals, I can certainly help Sis achieve financial freedom.”

I raised my hand to ask, “How exactly do you plan to help me?”

Ling Chen stated matter-of-factly, “By studying, of course. We’ll start with mathematics: mathematical modeling, theoretical analysis, and numerical computation—none can be skipped. Sis, you’ll need to reduce your entertainment time and study hard. Just aim to get into one of the two top finance universities or one top foreign trade university for your goal.”

I vehemently complained, “I’m a poor student whose math scores hover around the passing line, okay? I’d be satisfied just getting into any university! Aiming for those top schools is simply unimaginable.”

He rolled his eyes at me. “Do you think making money in finance is easy, Sis? If you don’t work hard to cross the most basic thresholds and build connections, how can you ever climb the social ladder? Studying hard is just the first step; you still have a long way to go.”

I envisioned my future. For a commoner like me to achieve financial freedom on my own, it felt like a long and arduous path.

But what you’re saying is far too realistic! Your omniscience and omnipotence are my greatest cheat code, so why can’t you just be a versatile Doraemon?

Ling Chen crossed his arms and closed his eyes, indicating he couldn’t help.

As a lazy dog, I decided to back out. I didn’t want to do anything too troublesome! It went against my philosophy of energy conservation.

I cleared my throat and, with the grandiosity of a revolutionary, declared,

“Those who make money through finance are the vampires of society! They suck the blood of the vast majority of the people, making the impoverished proletariat toil to death while they seize most of society’s wealth! I will resolutely draw a clear line against such evil existences!”

“Why are you changing your mind again, Sis…?” Ling Chen looked at me resentfully. “Then just find a good man and marry him. At least then you’ll feel justified when you spend money.”

Marry someone…

I’d rather die…

“Darling, you’ve worked hard. Should we eat dinner first? Or should we eat me first?”

“Of course, I’ll eat you first, my little darling wife.”

“Oh, stop it! You pervert…’

Just imagining that scene made me want to vomit!

Assuming, just assuming. If I used a beautiful girl’s facade to snag a rich husband and become part of the upper class, I would still have to suppress my personality, restrict my freedom, become a virtuous wife, and then worry about affairs after I grew old and lost my looks…

This is still selling my soul! It’s just converting short-term gains into long-term gains!

This is even worse than toiling endlessly only to become a vampire exploiting the people!

Daughters must be strong and self-reliant!

However, it’s incredibly difficult for women to achieve independence and success. Women often face more or less unfair treatment in the workplace.

After all, in a society influenced by male chauvinism, even women themselves unconsciously objectify themselves, falling into a vicious cycle of inequality in the name of equality. To go it alone requires extraordinary perseverance to endure.

I couldn’t help but let out a silent scream against this dark reality:

Wait a minute! Thinking of this makes me tremble with rage. Is it wrong to achieve financial freedom on my own? Tell me, huh?

Sweating all over in the scorching heat, hands and feet icy cold. So that’s it, you’ve all become spokespeople for capitalism, haven’t you? How cruel! Can this society ever get better?

I’m sorry. How do the vast majority of the proletariat have to live for you to be satisfied? I’ve shown you something unpleasant.

Tears flowed uncontrollably. Indeed, it would be better if poor people like me just disappeared. This world is filled with oppression of the proletariat. Perhaps only in this beautiful two-dimensional world can the proletariat truly rise up, truly find beauty, huh? Huh!?

“Ugh…”

Ling Chen seemed to hear my inner monologue and retched. My ultimate death declaration had touched his innocent soul, leaving a deep psychological shadow.

“Hehehe…”

I let out a cold laugh.

This is what you get for opposing me and playing tricks on me.

Oh, my dear little brother, you’re not deep enough into the otaku world yet!

You can’t even handle such a patchwork of cringe-worthy memes. If you accidentally stumbled into even more embarrassing circles, wouldn’t you be so ashamed you’d want to kill yourself?

You’re ten years too early to contend with your sister!

The flames in Ling Chen’s eyes burned brightly. “Sis, I am determined to transform you, an incurable NEET and shut-in, into an excellent person. As long as you don’t give up on yourself, Sis, you can certainly turn over a new leaf. If you become a successful person, Sis, marrying a goddess will no longer just be a fantasy!”

Marrying a goddess…

What a joke. How could a loser like me harbor thoughts of marrying a goddess?

I feel like a simp like me would never be able to hold my head high in front of a goddess.

Seeing an ice cream shop ahead, I clapped my hands, delighted. “Ah… Ling Chen, do you want some ice cream?”

“Be more confident, Sis! Don’t suddenly try to escape, okay?”

“Ling Chen, do you want vanilla?”

“Sis, listen to me…”

“Don’t listen, don’t listen, the tortoise is reciting scriptures…”