The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 11

Jiang Momo bought her light brain smoothly, much faster than expected.

The store’s robot scanned her up and down and immediately provided a recommendation.

Seeing a list of light brains with identical specs but vastly different colors and prices, she quickly chose the cheapest black one.

8,000 star coins, gone in an instant.

Jiang Momo held back her heartache, activated the light brain following the robot’s instructions, and sent a friend request to E Mingjun.

The request was accepted in a second.

[Stay Away From Me]: That was fast. You already got a light brain?

[Jiang Momo]: [Transferring 3,000 star coins.]

[Stay Away From Me]: How efficient. I’m off work. Let me treat you to a meal.

[Jiang Momo]: No thanks, I have to go home. Next time, it’s my treat.

[Stay Away From Me]: Your light brain is still showing your real name. You can set a nickname like mine.

[Jiang Momo]: Maybe later. You’re my only contact right now, so it doesn’t matter.

After sending the message, she noticed he was typing for a long while without sending anything. She quickly blinked three times and the screen disappeared.

“I’ve got money now. Time to buy some dry rations, grab some materials, and build a more flexible shell for Little Eight.” Jiang Momo quickly drafted a plan in her head and headed back to the bun shop.

***

With the light brain, she no longer needed to wait for someone to use the sky ladder.

Strangely, while the Jiang family always told her not to go out, they still gave her access permissions.

Standing in the elevator, Jiang Momo felt a bit conflicted.

At the villa, all the lights were on.

Jiang Momo walked to the wall surrounding the villa and climbed over it with practiced ease. She pushed the large package she carried through the window she had opened earlier, then climbed in herself, and quickly stashed the dry rations and parts under the bed.

After finishing, she looked up, only to see her room was clean and Little Eight was gone.

“Almost dinner time,” she noted, checking the time on her light brain. She quickly took it off, tucked it in her pocket, and left the room.

The atmosphere in the living room was tense.

The four members of the Jiang family stared silently at Jiang Momo as she emerged from her room.

The scene she walked into was all four of them seated neatly on the sofa, dressed in lavish clothes, like they’d just returned from a banquet.

In the center sat Jiang Xian, hair tied up neatly, glossy black, adorned with luxurious jewelry, and posture rigid.

“Where did you go?” Jiang Xian asked.

“The mall,” Jiang Momo replied.

“Are you that short on money?” Jiang Xian asked again.

“I am,” Jiang Momo nodded.

“I didn’t know our family genes could produce a thief.” The contempt in Jiang Xian’s eyes was palpable. “What did you steal from the house to sell? Your sister said her account received three deposits this afternoon.”

Jiang Momo suddenly turned toward Jiang Yingying.

Jiang Xian slammed the table. “Why are you glaring at your sister? If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have known you left.”

They had been attending the Xie family’s banquet, a rare opportunity to mingle with nobility. There were even rumors that the Ling family would be attending!

The Ling family was one of the oldest noble families in the Federation!

But to confirm Jiang Momo’s safety, they didn’t even stay for the banquet’s start and were politely escorted out by the Xie family for suspicious behavior; checking their light brains too often, possibly recording video.

“I didn’t steal anything,” Jiang Momo defended herself.

“You’re still talking back! Has our Jiang family treated you poorly? We even gave you three thousand! What more do you want? You’ve been eating and drinking well for days and you repay us like this, stealing from the family!” Jiang Xian was livid. She could still feel the judgmental looks from those nobles.

She suddenly stood and took two steps toward Jiang Momo, raising her hand.

Jiang Momo grabbed her wrist.

“What did I steal? Do you have proof? The law on the Capital Star says whoever makes claims had to provide evidence,” Jiang Momo said. “Besides, I never received that three thousand from the Jiang family.”

“The law? You’re quoting the law to us at home now?” Jiang Xian questioned. “And what do you mean the Jiang family? Don’t you also have the Jiang surname?”

Clearly, the conversation wasn’t going anywhere.

Jiang Momo sighed and turned to Jiang Yingying. “How much were the three deposits today?”

“The first was five thousand, the second three thousand, and the third twenty thousand,” Jiang Yingying said, looking at her transaction history.

“Then how much did I spend?” Jiang Momo asked again.

“First transaction, 2 star coins; second, twenty; third, eight thousand; fourth, three thousand,” Jiang Yingying said, her voice gradually becoming quieter as she sensed something was off.

“How much is left in my account now?” Jiang Momo asked.

Jiang Yingying didn’t respond, her eyes flashing with a hint of guilt.

At that point, Jiang Xian still had her wrist in a grip. She couldn’t see Jiang Yingying’s expression but the evident silence made her realize the truth.

The living room fell silent.

“You still want to hit me?” Jiang Momo asked calmly.

Strangely, she didn’t feel angry at all, only a sense of helplessness.

“Let go first,” Jiang Xian said.

Jiang Momo released her grip.

Jiang Xian rubbed her reddened wrist and took a deep breath.

“Don’t try to change the subject. We’re talking about you stealing something. What’s your attitude? Stand up!” Jiang Xian scolded.

Jiang Momo wasn’t in the mood to listen to her lecture, so she turned and walked toward her room.

Looks like I won’t be having dinner tonight. I should have just finished eating and come back.

“Jiang Momo!” Jiang Xian called in a deep voice.

At that moment, Jiang Yuan’s light brain flashed. He immediately stopped Jiang Xian.

“Second Young Master Ling is here!”

As soon as the words were spoken, a casual voice was heard at the door.

“Bro, I just got to the Xie family and they told me you left early. You didn’t even tell me.” Ling Wenlin, sporting his signature golden hair, walked in. Seeing Jiang Xian, he raised his hand in a greeting. “Oh, Aunt is here too, still as beautiful as ever. Good evening.”

Jiang Xian flashed a gentle smile. “Good evening, Second Young Master Ling. I have some matters with Jiang Zhang, so we’re leaving now. You all enjoy.”

Jiang Momo had never seen such a friendly side of Jiang Xian and she froze for a moment.

Jiang Yuan, seizing the opportunity while Jiang Xian hadn’t left yet, leaned over to Ling Wenlin and whispered, “Second Young Master Ling, is your cousin really going to attend the Xie family’s banquet?”

Jiang Xian’s pace slowed down.

“That nickname is so outdated, stop calling me that,” Ling Wenlin said disdainfully, pushing Jiang Yuan aside and casually waving his hand. “My brother would never attend such a low-level banquet.

“You know my brother, right? He’s the head of the Ling family! What kind of people would be worthy of talking to him?” Ling Wenlin glanced at the robot bringing tea and didn’t take the cup. Instead, he pointed at Jiang Momo who was walking toward the maid’s room and ordered, “You’ve finally hired a maid? You don’t even offer guests water, no manners.”

“She’s not a maid,” Jiang Yingying explained from the side.

“Ah, Yingying is getting prettier! Why stand so far? Come sit over here.” Ling Wenlin acted like he had just noticed Jiang Yingying, casually patting the couch as if calling a pet.

“Momo, pour some water,” Jiang Yuan shoved the water jug into Jiang Momo’s hands.

Jiang Momo refused to take it.

“Fine, I’m begging you!” Jiang Yuan muttered through gritted teeth, then turned to smile at Ling Wenlin.

“Your smile looks ugly, isn’t he your friend?” Jiang Momo said.

“Do you know who he is?” Jiang Yuan gritted his teeth. “He’s the brother of the Ling family head.”

“Half-brother,” Jiang Momo replied.

“Huh?” Jiang Yuan immediately turned to look at her. “How do you know?”

Jiang Momo glanced at him, her smile gone, and her gaze dark.

She took the water jug from Jiang Yuan’s hands, walked over to Ling Wenlin, took the cup from the robot, filled it with water, and casually placed it on the table.

“Your maid has quite the personality,” Ling Wenlin said as he took the cup, smiling, and drank it all in one go. “I’ve been so thirsty, another one, please.”

Jiang Momo refilled his cup.

“Water poured by a human has a soul,” Ling Wenlin said, drinking it down in one go.

Jiang Momo continued to refill it.

After Ling Wenlin was satisfied, he leaned back on the couch and waved at Jiang Yuan, still standing. “What are you standing there for? Come sit.”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot about you.” Ling Wenlin reached out and rubbed Jiang Momo’s wrist as she stood beside him. “Here’s a thousand for your hard work. Off you go.”

“Thanks, boss,” Jiang Momo lazily said, putting the water jug down, and turning around to leave. As she passed Jiang Yuan who was glaring at her, she deliberately bumped his shoulder.

Little Eight followed closely behind as they walked into the bedroom.

The bedroom door closed.

Jiang Momo jumped on the bed excitedly, waving her arms. “One thousand in the bag! Little Eight, your info is spot on! You’re amazing!”

[It’s your good memory. I showed it to you once and you remembered.]

[The Capital Star’s surveillance shows that you met Ling Yelin today.]

“Yes, he’ll come over by tomorrow at the latest,” Jiang Momo said, lying on the bed, hugging a pillow, excitedly swinging her legs.

[The Ling family is the oldest and most powerful aristocracy in the Federation. They are also the best at integrating with modern industries. If you want to make connections with the aristocracy quickly, the Ling family is the best choice. Is that what you’re thinking?] Little Eight prompted her, a hint of pride in its tone.

It always thought that the human it picked up was good at everything except for strategy.

After this experience, it seemed to have grown a bit.

Jiang Momo tilted her head. “That’s not it. Mainly, Ling Yelin is the best-looking among the aristocrats!”

[Jiang! Mo! Mo!]

“Little Eight, you’re cute when you’re mad,” Jiang Momo playfully patted Little Eight’s shoulder, making a thumping sound. “If you were my mom, that would be great.”

[Jiang Momo, human emotions are blind.]

[That’s why I’m a robot. I’m better than your mom.]

“True, I just realized today how interesting human emotions are. They can make people deaf and blind to such an extent.” Jiang Momo rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head.