7: Host, Xiao Si is a girl!

"Can the Host please not ＼(`Δ’)／ think about living off a woman every day! Xiao Si has never seen a Host as useless as you," Xiao Si said, frustrated.

"Heh! Have you never thought about being kept by a system-sis?"

"Uh... this..." Xiao Si lagged and said weakly, "That would be so embarrassing! Xiao Si's setting is a girl!"

"What! A girl?" Shang Wan Ning sprayed a mouthful of cola onto the face of You Wu, who was cleaning the office.

You Wu wiped the cola off his face and said resentfully, "Big Sis, a girl should still be a bit more reserved." After saying that, he slipped away quickly! "Big Sis has a bad temper, just like what they say online about being a CY Female Tyrannosaurus!"

Black lines appeared on Shang Wan Ning's forehead. "This Old Lady isn't deaf, do you think I can't hear you? You Wu, your bonus for this month is gone!!!"

A wail came from the living room. "Big Sis, no! I just borrowed money from Duobei to buy a Pear 14!"

"Hmph! That's what you get for badmouthing This Old Lady." However, Shang Wan Ning always felt something was strange.

Back to the main topic. "Xiao Si, you're really a girl!" Shang Wan Ning looked disbelieving. "Aren't system-sisters supposed to be the gentle and cute type? How can there be one like you..."

"Host, put away that disdainful look of yours."

"If it weren't for molding a perfect body for you, Xiao Si would have spent all her dowry on it. Don't you think Xiao Si should be irritable? Sob sob sob sob..."

"Alright, stop crying. It's making my ears hurt! When others cry, it's like pear blossoms in the rain; when you cry, it's like 3D surround sound demonic music."

Xiao Si blew her nose in the system space. "You straight man—no! You smelly niece!"

"Alright, alright, I was just a bit surprised." Shang Wan Ning comforted the little ancestor in a soft voice. "But why did you mold a perfect body for me? Is it to make me debut?" Shang Wan Ning joked half-seriously.

Xiao Si stopped crying, her eyes red, and said embarrassedly, "Debuting isn't impossible; humans are all visual-driven!"

"How great is it to transform into a beauty! With the Host's world-toppling looks, just sitting there will make the incense value soar like crazy."

"Heh! I don't believe a word you say. You're just a wicked old man."

"Oh, great host~"

Shang Wan Ning ignored Xiao Si and said directly, "Xiao Si, open the panel~"

"OK!"

Character: Shang Wan Ning

Identity: Underworld Empress (Supreme Ruler of the Underworld)

Cultivation: First Stage, Early Phase (40,000)

Buildings: None

incense value: 5.58m

Shang Wan Ning rubbed her chin, thinking. Her skin felt delicate and smooth to the touch, like a freshly boiled peeled egg. "Sigh! My beard is gone, I'm so not used to it! Forget it, forget it!"

"Xiao Si, should I upgrade my cultivation first, or assemble a team of ghost messengers first?"

"Dear~ Xiao Si suggests you first raise your cultivation to the peak of the Second Stage. Otherwise, you'll be even weaker than your Subordinate. You, the Big Sis, would be quite trashy." Xiao Si gave a somewhat disdainful look.

"Uh... that's a low blow, sister~" Shang Wan Ning clutched her chest. As someone who used to be poor and afraid, she felt quite pained to suddenly spend a large sum of money. But her chest felt soft and surprisingly comfortable! "Cough cough! Xiao Si, upgrade to the peak of the Second Stage."

... "Zzt zzt zzt! That will be 3.08m, please. Remaining balance is 2.5m. Welcome back next time!"

Character: Shang Wan Ning

Identity: Underworld Empress (Supreme Ruler of the Underworld)

Cultivation: Second Stage, Peak (10,000,000)

Buildings: None

incense value: 2.5m

"Xiao Si, are you sure you don't have a problem with me? This number is quite 'lucky'!" Shang Wan Ning looked suspiciously at the cola can she was crushing in her hand.

"Host~ Xiao Si is so cute, how could I have a problem with the Host!"

"How about I give you a few 'heh-hehs' instead!" Shang Wan Ning looked at the remaining "2.5m" incense value on the panel and shook her head helplessly.

"Xiao Si, buy a hundred ghost messengers first," she instructed.

Xiao Si acknowledged and began operating the mall.

Before long, a hundred ghost messengers of various forms appeared before Shang Wan Ning.

"Greetings, Big Sis/BOSS!" the ghost messengers said in unison.

Shang Wan Ning nodded, a flash of satisfaction in her eyes.

"From now on, you will follow my and You Yu's orders. Start by maintaining order in C City."

"Yes!" the ghost messengers replied respectfully.

Shang Wan Ning was secretly delighted. With the help of these ghost messengers, managing C City would definitely be much easier. She couldn't help but think of orders pouring in and incense soaring. Perfect!

"You Yu," Shang Wan Ning transmitted her voice.

A flash of black mist appeared. "Your Subordinate is here! BOSS~" You Yu knelt on one knee.

Shang Wan Ning's mouth twitched. A big male ghost kneeling on one knee before her—so awkward. "You Yu, next time just a slight bow will do."

"Alright, BOSS. I wonder when the Underworld or the company will pay our salaries? The brothers and sisters are quite concerned." You Yu felt a bit guilty, asking for a salary before even starting work.

Shang Wan Ning slumped in her chair. Good grief, she had them study the "Employee Manual," and they all learned the "Labor Law" quite well.

"We'll talk about the salary later. It will be posted on the employee section of the underworld app later." Shang Wan Ning waved her hand. "You all get familiar with the situation in C City first. Work officially starts tomorrow."

"Yes..."

After receiving the order, You Yu left with the ghost messengers. Shang Wan Ning cracked her neck, thinking she could finally relax.

"Host, you're happy too soon. Xiao Si has already created the underworld app and released it on various official websites through the network."

"Oh! Hasn't it already been successfully released?"

Xiao Si said aggrievedly, "Host~ to cover the whole Xia Country, Xiao Si needs network technology acceleration... improved fiber optics... upgraded internet speeds..."

"Speak human," Shang Wan Ning said impatiently. "Sorry, I don't understand the network technology profession."

"Um... actually, the Host needs to pay the internet fee. It's 500k incense value a year." Xiao Si hid far away in the system space, afraid the Host would return to her mind space, take off her high heels, and beat the system senseless.

Shang Wan Ning's eyes widened. "500k? Why don't you just rob someone!"

Xiao Si shrunk her head. "This is already very cheap. You should know that networking is a real money-burner."

Shang Wan Ning gnashed her teeth. "I just recruited a hundred ghost messengers, and now only 500k is left to pay the internet fee!!!"

"Host~ you have to spend money to make money. You only get returns if you invest."

Shang Wan Ning said through gritted teeth, "Fine, I'll pay the internet fee! Upgrade all Underworld personnel to the new network."

"OK then~ Host."

It took Shang Wan Ning two hours to recover. "My heart hurts so much; I've become a pauper." Then she stretched, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked out at the pitch-black darkness, filled with emotions.

She turned back to her desk, opened the computer, and began planning the next Underworld live stream.

"Make money, save money! This time I must plan well, I can't be as rushed as last time," Shang Wan Ning muttered to herself.

She decided to personally write a script and have the ghost messengers act in it to expand the influence of the Underworld live stream. At the same time, she wanted to add some melodramatic elements to attract more viewers.

Wait, I'm a genius!