Chapter 2

"Holy moly! That's insane wealth!"

"Those damn kidnappers! These are my real parents!"

"Please switch me back to the rural channel…"

No sooner had they spoken than not only the entire audience erupted, but the show's live chat exploded with 999+ messages.

[OMG, the dirty beggar turned into a real rich missy.]

[Hey, why isn't she moving? This girl must be going crazy with happiness!]

[Then she should just accept! It's making me so anxious!]

[If I were her, I'd be absolutely losing it, after all, these are the world's richest people! The richest!]

…

I slowly scanned the stage. Hundreds of cameras were aimed at me. The live audience held their breath, leaning forward in anticipation.

I met my parents' hopeful gazes and gently pushed away the black card they offered.

"I'm saying this one last time…"

"I! Am! Not! Your! Daughter!"

I declared definitively, then immediately turned away.

The two-hundred-billion-dollar black card clattered to the floor.

My parents were stunned. The audience instantly erupted in angry shouts:

"Oh my god!"

"Her brain must be squashed! Does she even know what she's doing?!"

"Am I crazy or is she crazy?! Two hundred billion! My ancestors eight generations back didn't have this much money!"

I didn't hesitate, lifting my foot to leave.

"Five hundred billion! Five hundred billion!"

Mom's urgent, choked voice came from behind me.

"Lily, please, let me use five hundred billion to make it up to you."

"I am begging you."

I paused. "Five hundred billion?"

Seeing me stop, Mom's eyes instantly lit up.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Just call me Mom… no, just talk to me, and I'll immediately send someone to get the money!"

Hearing that, I grinned. "Fine."

"Give me one hundred million dollars right now, or I'm leaving."

Mom froze. I sneered, asking, "What, regretting it already?"

She quickly shook her head, as if terrified I'd change my mind, and stumbled off. "I'll go make the call right now…"

At that moment, the entire audience buzzed with whispers:

"Tsk, I thought this girl was really stupid, but turns out she's pretty clever."

"Heh, calculating even her own biological parents. Just looking at her, you can tell she's no good."

"Exactly! She's really taking advantage. How does she deserve to get wealth so easily that others couldn't earn in several lifetimes?!"

As the audience's angry murmurs grew louder, the host calmly announced:

"Please, everyone, settle down."

Simultaneously, the large screen on the stage slowly lit up.

"Perhaps after watching this video, everyone can understand Ms. Vance's actions a little better."

I remained silent, looking up. The videographer in the clip seemed to be filming a cave, and outside the cave entrance, mountains of scrap and trash were piled up.

Wait, isn't this…

"What is this? A junkyard?"

"No, a junkyard isn't this dirty and messy. It looks more like a landfill."

"Oh my god, someone's coming out… people actually live here?!"

"My god, isn't that Lily Vance?!"

The screen's image shifted, and all the audience members collectively turned to watch.

And there I was in the video, tiptoeing, rummaging through a trash can.

Losing my balance, the trash can toppled over with a heavy thud, scattering leftover food mixed with greasy slop all over the ground.

I squatted down and began to eat it with my hands.

Everyone gasped, their brows furrowing in disgust and revulsion.

Just then, Mom, panting and out of breath from rushing back with the money, saw this exact scene.