The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 21

Unlike the basic model, the new one had a tiny core, smaller than a fingernail. The chain was adorned with several matching energy crystals. It looked more like jewelry than tech.

“This must be expensive,” Jiang Momo said after staring at it for a while, unsure of how she felt.

“It doesn’t matter. You’re worth it!” Yan Chang blurted.

Jiang Momo lowered her gaze. Her eyes suddenly stung with emotion.

That was the sentence she had most wanted to hear from her mother after returning to the Capital Star.

“Don’t cry, please.” Yan Chang raised a hand nervously. “I still need you to save my ass in the next competition! If you start crying, I’ll lose years of my life!”

Jiang Momo laughed, her dark eyes sparkling. “Isn’t it too late for that? I missed the event. I’ve been regretting it for days.”

“You really wanted to help me win, huh? I’ll give it my all!” Yan Chang was fired up like he’d been injected with energy.

Jiang Momo: “…Yeah.”

Honestly, she just couldn’t let go of that two hundred thousand.

“Actually, I have good news too.” Yan Chang held her hand, looking serious.

“What is it?”

“The competition got delayed. One of the organizers had something come up, so they’ll announce the new date later.” He grinned, teeth gleaming. “I thought, what perfect timing! You might still make it!”

The mecha competition was being broadcast across the entire Federation. If he placed in the top three, he’d be on the Federation’s elite mecha pilot list for a whole year. After that, any mecha pilot on that list would have to accept his challenge!

First up, he’d challenge Tutor E! He had to see for himself how strong the legendary record holder really was!

As Yan Chang daydreamed about his glorious future of battles, he was smiling so wide his face almost split.

Jiang Momo was thrilled too. She gripped Yan Chang’s hand in return. “Really? That’s amazing!”

“It hurts, it hurts, it hurts—” Yan Chang grimaced from the pain of her grip.

Jiang Momo quickly let go. “Sorry, I got too excited.”

“I get it, Master. I’m excited too. My mecha dream is finally in sight!” Yan Chang didn’t dare offer his hand again. Her hands weren’t hands, they were steel clamps! One squeeze and his bones were about to crack!

He never even considered that Jiang Momo might just be excited about the two hundred thousand. After all, a Federal mecha manufacturing master couldn’t possibly lack money. That light brain he gave her was already worth several times that.

“Let’s go, Master. I’ll take you back to rest.” Yan Chang turned to leave.

Jiang Momo didn’t follow. “I’ve got a light brain now, I can stay at a hotel. No need to trouble you.” She gently covered the bracelet-like light brain on her wrist.

“No way. I already bought the place!” Yan Chang blurted, then quickly clamped his hand over his mouth.

In Jiang Momo’s eyes, it was like the words ‘Rich Fool’ lit up across his forehead.

She sighed, smiled helplessly, and rubbed her forehead. “Even if you didn’t give me these things, I’d still help fix your mecha properly.”

“I’m not doing it for the mecha. We’re friends. You’ve got nothing right now and I’ve got everything and don’t need money. So what if I get you some stuff? Pay me back later if you want.” Yan Chang didn’t care, pulling on her jacket sleeve. “Let’s go, let’s go, Master. It’s super late. Aren’t you tired?”

After Yan Chang’s reminder, Jiang Momo started to feel drowsy.

Soon, the two of them arrived at the school gate.

A massive bulletin board stood out conspicuously, not because of anything else but simply because it was so bright that just walking past it made you feel like your eyes were about to be scorched.

However, once Jiang Momo accidentally glanced toward it, the harsh brightness immediately dimmed, softening into a gentle glow. Within that warm light, the image in the center was of a familiar face. Signature blond hair, an arrogant smile, and a disdainful expression.

It was Ling Yelin.

“New visiting professor?” Jiang Momo stopped and read the title beneath his name.

Yan Chang immediately turned his head and also saw the photo of Ling Yelin. “Why does this guy keep haunting me?” he muttered through clenched teeth.

“You know him?” Jiang Momo asked.

“Not well,” Yan Chang replied bluntly, though his expression didn’t match the words at all. “Just avoid him if you see him. He’s no good, greedy, and snobbish.”

“Sounds like you don’t get along very well,” Jiang Momo said.

“Definitely not. My older brother doesn’t like him,” Yan Chang said. “So I don’t like him either.”

Jiang Momo seemed thoughtful.

“You live on Floating Island 76, right?” Yan Chang didn’t give her the chance to keep staring at Ling Yelin’s picture. He strode straight out of the gate, his bright red hair swaying as he moved, full of aggressive energy. But somehow, his tone sounded a bit guilty.

Jiang Momo quickly caught up. “How do you know?”

“When I was inspecting the property, I saw a missing person notice posted under your apartment building,” Yan Chang said, looking like he just remembered something unpleasant.

“Oh, I snuck out,” Jiang Momo admitted without shame.

Yan Chang hesitated. “So, what’s your relationship with your family like?”

Jiang Momo had never seen Yan Chang so hesitant before. She figured he must have something insightful to say and declared decisively, “Terrible!”

“No wonder. They’re unbelievably stingy!” Yan Chang relaxed as soon as she answered and immediately started ranting, “When their friend’s dog went missing last year, they helped put up a notice with a five-hundred-thousand reward. But when looking for you? Only three thousand. Who are they trying to insult?”

He got more and more fired up as he talked.

The Jiang family had no real affection for Jiang Momo at all! Heartless people!

If he had known earlier, he would’ve done more research before buying property on Floating Island 76! Those so-called family members should stay as far away as possible!

“That dog was pretty valuable, huh? Lucky thing,” Jiang Momo said.

She had a very clear understanding of her status in the Jiang family, so she wasn’t surprised by Yan Chang’s rant. It was better that they’re stingy, then it was less likely to find her!

“The dog wasn’t that valuable, it was the owner who was. He’s a distant relative of mine,” Yan Chang explained. “If I had known, I would’ve just bought property on the Capital Star. By the time I found out, it was too late. Transfer procedures take at least 48 hours.”

Jiang Momo turned to him. “You bought a place that early?”

Yan Chang changed the subject. “Don’t feel pressured or anything. It’s just a small apartment, not expensive, only a few hundred square meters.”

He could’ve stayed on another floating island but he had looked into it. Ling Yelin owned property on every high-tier floating island. If he ran into Master again and she got tricked away, Yan Chang wouldn’t even have a place to cry about it.

The two walked one after the other, quickly leaving the school grounds. Yan Chang led Jiang Momo down a small path to the left, into a forest. Eerie green lights glowed upward from below, casting a creepy atmosphere, in sharp contrast to the brightly lit skyscrapers towering nearby.

Jiang Momo looked around with curiosity. She had never seen such a weird blend of nature and technology before.

When they reached a particular tree, Jiang Momo stopped. She leaned one hand on the trunk and saw that Yan Chang was obviously looking around anxiously. She offered a hint, “Looking for the spaceship parking entrance? It should be in this tree.”

Yan Chang looked up, clearly confused. “How did you know I was looking for the spaceship parking spot?”

“What, did you drag me out to this forest in the middle of the night to kill and bury me?” Jiang Momo joked, then patted the tree and explained, “This is the only fake tree in the whole forest.”

“Haha, Master, you’re pretty funny!” Yan Chang laughed and walked over. He placed his wrist against the tree trunk and with a loud rumble, the tree disappeared, revealing a wide hole just big enough for two people.

“So how do we get down? Just jump?” Jiang Momo peered down. It was pitch dark inside, impossible to tell how deep it went.

“Yeah, just jump. You’ll land right in my spaceship’s cabin,” Yan Chang said.

As soon as Jiang Momo heard that, she jumped.

There was a flash before her eyes and when she opened them again, she was in a clean, spacious cabin, bigger than the living room in the Jiang family’s villa.

A massive leather couch sat in the center. Three walls were covered in shelves of alcohol. Behind the couch was a long table, with several types of drinking glasses suspended above it.

“Do you want something to drink?” Yan Chang took a high-proof liquor bottle from the wall, smiling at Jiang Momo. “How’s your alcohol tolerance?”

“No idea, I never drank before,” Jiang Momo replied, glancing briefly at the bottle before looking away.

“Then forget it.” Yan Chang poured himself a glass and poured some juice for Jiang Momo, placing it in front of her. “Buckle up. We’re taking off.”

Right after he spoke, the scenery outside the observation window on the ceiling began to change rapidly. The spaceship lifted off.

“Are you afraid of heights? All the walls in this ship can be switched to one-way visibility. Feels just like flying. It’s super exciting,” Yan Chang said as he slumped lazily onto the couch across from Jiang Momo, drink in hand.

“I’m not afraid of heights.” Jiang Momo leaned back, relaxed, and took a sip of the juice. Her face immediately scrunched up from the sourness.

“Good, right? Freshly squeezed by hand,” Yan Chang said proudly.

Jiang Momo stayed silent. She really couldn’t bring herself to lie and say it tasted good.

As the silence stretched, everything around them suddenly vanished. The walls, the alcohol, and even the sofa were gone.

The two of them were left seemingly floating in midair with no support at all.

Jiang Momo’s eyes widened and she sat up straight. “What’s going on?”

“Cool, right? It’s the latest tech!” Yan Chang looked smug as he showed off his spaceship. “If you like it, I’ll let you play with it for a few days.”

“No thanks,” Jiang Momo declined. Even though she wasn’t afraid of heights, the complete lack of footing still felt deeply unsettling.

“You don’t like it?” Yan Chang looked disappointed. “Should’ve bought something else, then.”

“You bought this just now?” Jiang Momo was shocked.

Yan Chang nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got a bunch of ships but those are all old models from two or three months ago. It’s time to retire them.”

Jiang Momo was still in disbelief.

Yan Chang shrugged it off. “Come on, Master. You don’t need to worry about money around me. I’m not like Tutor E, my family’s rich. I’m happy to spend on whoever I want.”

“I wasn’t thinking about the money,” Jiang Momo replied honestly.

She was just thinking that if she were that rich, what a happy little girl she’d be!

“Oh, right, I forgot. The Jiang family is pretty rich too. They’re the wealthiest after all,” Yan Chang said, leaning back casually. “You must get at least five hundred to six hundred thousand a month in allowance, right? I heard that Jiang Yingying gets a seven-figure allowance every month.”