The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 67

Jiang He and the others clearly felt the disdainful looks from around them and were confused.

What was going on? Why was everyone looking at them like that? It didn’t seem like envy, did it?

Jiang Momo walked down the steps of the warship. On either side, the squad members snapped to attention and saluted in unison, their expressions solemn.

Jiang Momo subtly touched her nose.

Even though it was arranged back on the ship, wasn’t it a bit over the top?

There hadn’t been enough time for her to change into the battle outfit prepared by Yan Chang or to bring the invitation. She had just come in her regular clothes.

But Little Eight said it didn’t matter as power and status were the best dress.

Jiang Momo glanced around and realized no one seemed to be paying attention to what she was wearing, except the Jiang family.

“You all go back first,” she said to the squad in front of the crowd.

“Yes!” they replied in unison.

The closest squad member gave her a sly wink to curry favor, and then all of them turned and returned to the warship.

The warship departed.

Jiang Xian quickly took two steps forward to confront her about not wearing formal attire, making them look bad as well, but before she could reach her, the Xie family blocked her off.

Xie Jun greeted Jiang Momo with a bright smile, shaking her hand and tactfully avoiding any mention of the fact that he hadn’t actually sent her an invitation. “Hello, hello, I’ve heard so much about you. Your presence truly brings honor to our humble home. Did Major General Lu have another mission to attend to? Why did he leave?”

“They just dropped me off on the way,” Jiang Momo said. “Sorry for arriving late. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

Xie Jun immediately got the hint. On the way? How humble. It was clearly a special trip, made just to bring her there. Otherwise, when has Major General Lu ever chauffeured anyone?

“Haha, your timing is perfect. We were just getting started,” Xie Jun lied with a straight face, secretly signaling the housekeeping robot to bring out a fresh round of food. “Let me introduce you to the other guests. You probably haven’t met them before.”

Jiang Momo nodded.

When the warship left, the other guests had already returned to their proper social groupings, chatting in small clusters. However, their eye kept drifting toward Jiang Momo and sizing her up, intentionally or not.

Everyone in the circle knew the Xie family only bowed to power and looked down on the weak. The moment they saw someone with authority, the Xie family would rush over.

But they were different. They had the pride of nobility. They had standards.

“This is the chairman of the Su Group…”

Xie Jun introduced each person to Jiang Momo. When they neared the Jiang family, he deliberately skipped over them and moved on to the next.

The Jiang family didn’t mind. After all, no one at the event should be more familiar with Jiang Momo than them. Skipping over them made sense. It only proved one thing, the Xie family acknowledged Jiang Momo was their daughter.

After the round of introductions, Xie Jun said, “The guests I just introduced are the full list. I didn’t leave anyone out. They’re all nobles since I usually don’t associate with non-nobles.”

Jiang Momo didn’t comment on his preferences. She just nodded casually.

The Jiang family’s faces turned green. They had funded the banquet, yet that was what they got? Sure, the Xie family had always had that attitude but things were different now. Their long-lost daughter was right here!

“Mr. Xie, Momo isn’t a noble either.” Jiang He stepped forward, pretending to defend Jiang Momo.

Xie Jun looked slightly surprised. “If she’s not, then she’s not. What’s the issue? Her attending is already an honor for me.”

Was Jiang Momo important? No. What’s important is Major General Lu’s attitude toward her. The nouveau riche people just didn’t get it. Who knows where their money even comes from?

“Being noble doesn’t mean anything at all, right?” Xie Jun asked Jiang Momo.

The Jiang family was stunned. Did the man just contradict himself in under two minutes? Wasn’t he the one who brought up nobility?

“I am a noble,” Jiang Momo finally saw an opening and casually slipped in.

“Exactly and what’s more, she’s a noble by birth,” Xie Jun immediately echoed.

“How could you be a noble? Noble status has to be publicly listed on the official site. Just saying it doesn’t make it true.” Jiang He laughed, turning to Xie Jun. “She’s just a child talking nonsense. Let me apologize on her behalf.”

He thought he was playing the caring father role perfectly but Xie Jun’s expression turned disgusted.

“Who are you to apologize for her? Even attention-seeking has limits. Does she even know you?”

“Not really,” Jiang Momo added, delivering the final blow.

Xie Jun spread his hands. “See?”

Jiang He was dumbfounded. “But she really is my daughter. Why would I lie to you?”

Jiang Momo immediately pulled up the official site showing her noble status.

Xie Jun looked at Jiang He. “So, why would you lie to me?”

The guests had clearly been watching the situation unfold and when Xie Jun asked that question, a collective gasp rose from the crowd.

Before, they didn’t care if she was a commoner. But now? It was obvious Jiang He was trying to claim a noble child as his own. That, they couldn’t ignore.

“Mr. Richest Man, you’re overstepping.” Someone finally stepped forward.

Jiang He panicked. “Chairman Su, she really is my daughter!”

He knew just how tightly knitted the noble circle was. That was exactly why he’d been so desperate to get in.

Jiang He noticed something was wrong and quickly reached into his jacket pocket, ready to pull out the household registration booklet he had accidentally brought along to prove himself.

Ever since that livestream, he had been meaning to upload it to StarNet but each attempt was blocked by the system for violating rules. He tried again before leaving home and forgot to put it back. Luckily, he forgot.

Chairman Su was a handsome man with a youthful appearance. He looked at Jiang He’s slightly aged face with a flash of disgust in his eyes. “To put it bluntly, even if she was before, now she definitely wasn’t anymore.”

Rich people nowadays didn’t even look their age, which was also why they didn’t want to be seen with Jiang He. His face clearly showed the wear of life and exuded an aura of poverty from the inside out.

“Don’t make trouble here.” Xie Jun stopped Jiang He who was reaching for his pocket. “Security, see him out.”

Before Jiang He could react, he was thrown out by a security robot.

The rest of the banquet went very smoothly for Jiang Momo. She not only proved her identity and distanced herself from the Jiang family, but she also got to eat some rare ingredients and received a pile of gifts.

Some nobles even used their social accounts to publicly clear Jiang Momo’s name on StarNet, pushing her into trending searches again.

Over the next three days, the Jiang family’s stocks plummeted.

Meanwhile, on Jiang Momo’s side, her students successfully completed their first B-grade mecha.

In the Mecha Arena, the manager held Jiang Momo’s hand and shook it excitedly. “Master, you’re truly a master! It’s only been a week or two and you’ve already produced a B-grade mecha! Amazing, really amazing.”

Shi Qin stood next to Jiang Momo with the other students, head held high in pride.

Before Jiang Momo arrived, they had already contacted the manager and tested the mecha with specialized equipment. It started up fine, so they reported the good news to her.

Jiang Momo looked at the manager gripping both her hands tightly, paused a moment, and asked, “Since it’s so fast… can we get more money for it?”

The manager instantly sobered. “No can do. I don’t have that kind of authority.”

Jiang Momo smoothly pulled her hands back. “Then when will the payment be sent to me?”

“It’s already transferred. I have other matters to attend to, so you carry on.” The manager quickly turned and left, looking a bit like he was escaping.

“Shi Qin.” Jiang Momo turned her head and looked at her eager class monitor. “Have all the contribution points been recorded?”

“Yes.” Shi Qin pulled up a spreadsheet. “They are calculated based on the final assembly data. Right now, everyone’s contribution points are more or less the same.”

That was good. If they were about the same, it meant the day they could each independently build a mecha wasn’t far off.

Jiang Momo was very satisfied.

“To celebrate successfully building our first mecha, your teacher is treating you all to dinner!”

The students burst into cheers.

“Teacher Momo is the best!!!”

The group filed out of the Mecha Arena. Just then, the spaceship Little Eight had brought from the Jiang family landed in front of them.

She had asked Little Eight to bring it from a nearby docking station and it could just barely fit 50 people.

The students boarded the spaceship excitedly, chattering nonstop as they shared stories from their mecha-building experience with Jiang Momo.

She listened to them all the way until they landed again. Rubbing her ears, numb from the noise, she guided them off the ship.

She’d chosen the same restaurant where she had once seen E Mingjun working. She had already reserved ahead of time on the way there, so when they walked in, the dishes were already served.

“I know this place! This high-end restaurant is super expensive!”

“Wow, will I be this rich once I become a manufacturer? No, wait, we’re about to make our first real income!”

“I just got the transfer!”

Cries of surprise came from all directions, attracting the attention of every human staff member in the restaurant.

Jiang Momo scanned the room.

E Mingjun wasn’t there.

Strangely enough, ever since returning from the Border Star System, she hadn’t seen him. He hadn’t replied to messages or answered video calls, like he had vanished. When she asked Yan Chang, he didn’t know either.

“Teacher, all the money has been distributed. Here’s the breakdown.” Shi Qin walked over and shared the light brain’s screen with her.

He had received a transfer from Jiang Momo on the way over and was tasked with distributing it to the students. He had already checked with the manager beforehand to confirm it was the full payment from the Mecha Arena.

Teacher Momo really did as she said, not keeping a single-star coin.

Shi Qin looked at Jiang Momo with deep respect.

“Teacher Momo, we’re probably graduating soon. After I graduate, can I apply to be your assistant?”

The academy usually assigned assistants randomly unless someone applied for a specific mentor and was accepted.

Jiang Momo was startled. “No way! You’re too talented to waste your time as an assistant!”

She herself only had a general idea of how to build an S-grade mecha. At their current pace, they could make an A-grade one soon and start learning S-grade mechas in the Military Research Institute, so there was no need for him to stick with her and waste his youth.

She had chosen not to join the Military Research Institute because of her past dream of piloting mechas, but they were different!

If he gave up the chance to join the research institute now, he would definitely regret it one day!

“I won’t. I can learn so much from you,” Shi Qin said.

Jiang Momo frowned. “That’s a bit impulsive. I suggest you think it over. There’s still time, so don’t pin your hopes on me. Researchers have higher social standing and salaries.”

Little Eight had told her before that researchers earned way more than teachers.

Shi Qin still wanted to say more but Jiang Momo firmly stopped him. “Think it over. Don’t rush. You still have time.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

Shi Qin walked off, looking a little dejected.