The next day.
Ling Qingyu woke up due to Athena's alarm from the spectacle. She had no idea why the same musical tone, Athena's one could lift her heavy head out of the bed.
Ling Qingyu opened her eyes and murmured. "Athena, it seems we gotta play again together. Last night was so great."
"Yes, Mom. It's the first time I played the game with you and I felt great." Athena replied wryly, while she said inwardly a different sentence.
And probably the last time. My mother's participation increased the previous difficulty to another mode.
Ling Qingyu eyed suspiciously at Athena from her lying position. It must be her illusion she heard a protest from Athena.
Her lovely daughter never refused her. It should be her unclear mind from the consequences of playing late.
But why Athena's tone of voice sounded very weak. Ling Qingyu had no idea—did her exhaustion also spread to her. She turned over into a prone posture.
Rubbing her chin, she nodded inwardly—this must be the case. Although she doubted AI would get tired, Athena wasn't a simple AI.
"How about we play for a few minutes before getting up?" Ling Qingyu said softly but it sounded like a thunder in Athena's ears or sensors. "I mean I didn't expect I never die once during the gameplay. Are you sure, you created the game properly?"
She almost got fried by fright from Ling Qingyu's words. Last night during the campaign, Ling Qingyu chose the nightmare mode, confidently expressing that gaming was very simple in front of the talented her.
"Of course, Mom. It must be because Mom has a great hidden talent beyond what everyone has." If Athena was a real person, she might be wiping the cold sweat out of her forehead.
Ling Qingyu's technique was indeed beyond a normal mortal realm. It was terrible. So much so that during the yesterday's gameplay, Athena subtly reduced the difficulty to easy mode.
Even then Athena almost collapsed from saving Ling Qingyu multiple times from death to the point she had to cheat.
Easy mode became a nightmare mode for Athena and that was the reason why her reply became weak.
She swore in the name of the supercomputer, that she would never play with her mother.
"We still have time. Let's play then Athena." Ling Qingyu said while feeling she hadn't played her limit yet.
"Um... Mom. Don't you have work to do? Plus you promise to change your lifestyle to a healthy one. It's workout time now. Aunt Tang might slammed in if you didn't get up on time." Athena spoke in a sweet tone.
Her reminder instantly poured cold water over Ling Qingyu, who patted her cheeks. When did she become obsessed with gaming?
"Alright. We'll talk about this later. And Athena, try yourself out in the market. If you face blockades or any problems, just notify me." Ling Qingyu replied.
"Okay, Mom."
Rubbing her eyes weakly, Ling Qingyu felt out of strength but Athena's persistence from her mobile phone prompted her to clean herself.
Afterward, Ling Qingyu went to the daily morning routine to have a light breakfast and walked toward the gym.
Tang Ziyi, Xiao Yue, Su Ruomei and Jiang Yu were waiting for her as usual. They reckoned it was better to be early since there were other guards who would come in later.
Perhaps the only consolation for Ling Qingyu was to be surrounded by beautiful girls and massaged by them.
Oh! What bliss and pain! ^v^
A few hours later.
Now, the sleepy Ling Qingyu leaned on the window and gazed outside lazily. She wondered how she would fend the work, hoping her secretary would lessen her burden.
Still on the black Cadillac, as her Bentley hadn't completed its modification, Ling Qingyu called her Miss System in her mind.
[What! I thought I had told you not to call me if...]
'Thank goodness, Our omniscient Miss System shows up. Please help this humble one.' Ling Qingyu happily flattered as soon as she heard Miss System's reply.
[...]
'Miss System?'
[Okay, anyway. What do you need?]
'I'm sorry to disturb you but it's related to my mother's disease. Since the current technologies can't solve her problem, I'm requesting if there's a way Miss System can.'
[Can.]
Ling Qingyu's sleepy eyes turned energetic as she inquired more.
[But why should I give you?]
'Because I'm your sweet daughter.' Ling Qingyu wasn't angry with Miss System's reply. Even though the mouth was spicy and hurtful, Miss System's heart was always warm.
[...]
[There's always an equivalent exchange and this is the law. What do you have to give me?]
'What can I do for you?'
[Within six months, I want merits from you helping poorer people and the entire Province N common people respect and admire Ling Qingyu. Can it be done?]
Ling Qingyu was confused about whether this task was released on a whim because of its simplicity. But she still answered: 'Yes'.
[Good! The next monthly sign-in, you'll receive a pill which will cure your mother. As a price, you'll lose six opportunities to signing-in for gifts.]
'That's the price?! Then it's a deal.' Ling Qingyu was amazed. She could afford to lose her chances if it was all it needed to cure her mother. Ling Qingyu had nothing to lose.
[Don't cry afterward because your lottery gifts should be the five most expensive supercars, a super cruise ship, Boeing 787 aircraft, 15% shares of domestic and international airlines, a medium size island property overseas, and 707th Special Force units.
Ling Qingyu:!!! (*Y*)
Her heart instantaneously ached.