Chapter 17: Pushed Down!

Wake up, work, exercise, sleep, sell potions, buy herbs and ingredients, then go home and work until I’m too tired to continue and sleep.

For the next few days, my life followed this pattern. Aside from working, resting, exercising, and going out to sell potions or buy supplies, I did little else.

Thanks to my relentless potion-making, by the time the ten-day deadline arrived, I not only gathered the hundred silver coins for rent but had an extra two hundred to spare!

This week, I focused on mid-grade potions. They require more complex tools and pricier herbs, but the profit margins are higher.

With more funds, I stopped bothering with low-tier potions—my skills are too advanced for that grind.

So, I earned a decent amount quickly. The once-urgent hundred silver coins for rent now seemed trivial.

“Phew…”

Looking at the prepared coin pouch, I let out a long breath.

The hundred silver coins were ready for the landlord, and I’d tidied the apartment, hiding anything suspicious to avoid questions—going from knowing nothing to making potions would raise eyebrows.

To be safe, I’d just hand over the rent and be done. The landlord shouldn’t care about anything else as long as he gets paid…

I thought, sitting bored on the sofa, swinging my legs, waiting for him to collect.

After days of exercise and better nutrition, I felt much better.

When I first woke up, I was pale as death, practically a zombie. Now, my face had some color, and my scrawny body was less skeletal—still thin, but not painfully so.

“Keep this up, and my body should be back to normal soon.”

I mused. Just then, my door was pounded heavily, the sound echoing.

“Su Mengmeng! Time to pay your overdue rent!”

The fat landlord’s voice startled me, nearly making me jump.

Calming myself, I grabbed the coin pouch and pattered barefoot to the door.

“Coming, coming!”

I called, worried he’d break the door down.

I reached the door, opened it, and, like ten days ago, faced a massive figure.

…The mountain-like, obese landlord loomed over me.

“Su Mengmeng, ten days are up. Pay the rent.”

He looked down, squinting, his breathing heavy—clearly expecting me to fail.

“…O-Okay, here’s the rent… one hundred silver coins.”

I blinked, playing frail and weak as before, handing him the bulging pouch.

When he saw it, he froze.

“One hundred silver coins, all there.”

I blinked again, hinting for him to take it, count it, and leave me alone.

“…”

He stared, then took a deep breath, grabbed the pouch, and started counting.

“…It’s exactly one hundred silver coins.”

After a moment, he confirmed the amount, but his breathing grew harsher, his eyes glaring at me, almost angry.

“What’s with this guy?”

I thought, puzzled—but then he shoved me hard!

“Ugh?!”

Caught off guard, I fell, hitting the floor with a thud, pain shooting through my butt and chest.

“What are you doing?!”

I glared, annoyed, questioning him while quietly preparing my mental energy.

If he tries anything… I’ll make him regret it!

“You little b*tch… you’d rather sell yourself than let me touch you, huh?!”

“All that reluctance, but you went and sold yourself, didn’t you?! How much per time? How much?! I could’ve paid more! But you wouldn’t let me touch you—and now you’re out there selling, aren’t you?!”

The fat landlord was hysterical, scaring me a bit.

…So that’s it? He really had his eye on me—

I thought, stunned.

To outsiders, I’m a useless vase. Suddenly coming up with this much money, they’d naturally assume I sold my body.

And… he pushed me for that?

What the hell!

Anger surged in me—my hard work mistaken for prostitution was infuriating.