"Sylvia, where are you going?"

Vicky Green noticed her daughter, go to sleep quite early and then sneaking out, and curiously asked.

Sylvia Green, tiptoeing, had originally planned to sneak out while everyone was asleep, but she was caught by her mother. She hastily replied, "I’m going to the restroom."

"You just went before going to bed. You mischievous girl, just be quiet when you come back, don’t disturb your father’s sleep..." Vicky muttered a few words before rolling over and going back to sleep.

Sylvia didn't respond, hunching her back like a cat, sneaking out.

She didn’t go to the restroom; instead, she quietly entered the kitchen.

Listening intently, the house was completely quiet. Now feeling at ease, she opened the group chat.

Without a private room, it was very inconvenient, and she had to make excuses to avoid being seen while doing anything.

Sylvia Green didn’t check the conversation history but opened the red envelope space and took out a loaf of bread first, eating it hungrily like a starving wolf.

For dinner, she had only eaten half a bowl of thin porridge and a loaf of coarse bread the size of a child’s fist.

It wasn’t enough to fill her stomach, and it had been growling for a while.

But when she tried to sneak a bite, her family’s sharp eyes were on her. She had no chance to steal food.

Especially her mother, whose nose was as sensitive as radar. The night before, when Sylvia had eaten an extra cookie, her mother smelled it the next day! She just didn’t know exactly what Sylvia had eaten, and since there was enough food at home, she casually let it go.

So, even when Sylvia accepted food red envelopes from other group members, she had to wait until everyone was asleep to sneak off to eat.

While chewing the bread, Sylvia Green scrolled through the chat history. When she had finished dinner, she had already asked Lucas Han to find the answers for the college entrance exam. He must have found them by now.

They had previously verified that the world she was in was 100 years behind Lucas Han’s Earth. The historical and cultural timeline was the same, but with her appearance, this world had split into a parallel world.

But the fundamentals were still the same—the leaders and historical figures were all present, even the college entrance exam reinstatement was identical.

Lucas Han had even helped her gather resources, and one of the major figures was preparing to move to their village. She had visited, and this event was indeed true.

So, Sylvia had reason to believe that the first exam after the reinstatement would be the same, and that was why she had asked Lucas Han for the answers.

She planned to study the materials herself and then tutor her family’s younger relatives to help them get into university.

In this era, university students held a very high status. The state would provide food and accommodation, and passing the exam meant a lifetime of security.

Sylvia knew she had to make her own way if she didn’t want her family to drag her down, so helping them become self-reliant was the best choice.

Of course, she felt the difference between her family and others—helping her siblings and cousins was fine, but her aunt’s family was entirely dependent on others and should be avoided.

As she thought, she scrolled up to check the conversation history.

She had talked quite a bit today, so it took a while to find where she had left off.

Then, she froze.

Lucas Han - Earth had been banned from the group.

When she logged back in, the first thing she saw was the notification!

Sylvia Green was familiar with this type of notification. Before crossing into this world, she had often seen such notices in chat groups, but she had never been this surprised before.

Not only had the group leader not intervened in their discussions before, but now, as soon as Lucas Han appeared, he was banned.

Had he said something he shouldn’t have?

But apart from discussing the exam answers with her, and earlier when he had taken a few Ballot fruit, both of these things were normal activities within the group. Why would the group leader intentionally ban him?

Could it have something to do with him helping her with the exam answers? Sylvia Green speculated but was unwilling to believe it.

If it was because of her, then Lucas Han would definitely hold a grudge.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Sylvia Green quickly scrolled down:

【Ling Meimei - Cultivation】: Leader?

【Roth, the Three-Legged Beast】: There really is a leader?

【Laxus - Future】: Damn! I thought it was just an AI system.

【Bert the Dwarf】: Hello, leader! I look forward to your guidance!

【Loki the Spirit Elf】: Hello, leader!

...!

【Laxus - Future】: Leader, can I ask why Lucas Han was banned? What did he do wrong? Could you let us know so we can follow the rules?

Then, hundreds of members discussed what exactly Lucas Han had done wrong, and why the leader had suddenly paid attention and banned him.

Some people said it was because he was helping Sylvia Green, others said it was due to inappropriate language, and some thought Linh Hư Tử had been secretly sending red envelopes... There were many theories, but no definitive answer.

Sylvia Green trembled as she read, and most people believed it was because Lucas Han had helped her find the answers, analyzing it in such detail that she almost believed it herself.

The discussion shifted when Linh Hư Tử said something:

【Ling Meimei - Cultivation】: Look, there’s a new rule in the group.

Everyone in the group quickly checked the new rules.

Sylvia Green didn’t miss it and immediately checked the group’s new guidelines.

Red Envelope Group Rules:

1. Civilization, harmony, freedom, equality, honesty, friendliness.

2. Members can claim all red envelopes, but only within the group.

3. Members are prohibited from using the group for illegal activities or to disturb social order.

4. No free handouts, members are encouraged to improve themselves through study. Profiteering is strictly forbidden.

...!

Sylvia Green understood immediately. Lucas Han had been banned because of her.

Since she had wanted to receive without giving, trying to profit by asking him to find the answers for the exam, he was banned.

Sylvia Green cried inwardly, wishing she had been banned instead, but she didn’t want Lucas Han to hate her because of this.

After all, Lucas Han was like her family now, and everything she had depended on him.

Every member in the group had special items unique to their world—Ling Meimei had elixirs and talismans, Ballot had fruits, Bert the Dwarf had crafts, Laxus had technology, and Lucas Han had miscellaneous goods and Chinese delicacies... But Sylvia had nothing to offer them.

In the 1970s rural world, supplies were scarce. She didn’t have anything to give to make the group members interested, so she relied on Lucas Han, who knew her world’s special situation. He would ask her to collect antiques during her free time and send them to him, in exchange for daily necessities.

These antiques were the only valuable things she could offer, but only to Lucas Han, since the two worlds were connected. If she traded them to another world, they would be worthless.

So, everything she had depended on him, and if she offended him, life would become unbearable.

Sylvia Green’s worst fear had come true.

Just from the tone of Lucas Han, she could tell he was angry with her. After all, he was the first person to be punished by the leader. It was no surprise that he was upset.

But for them, the leader was a golden hand, so they wouldn’t resent him, which meant the anger had shifted to Sylvia Green.

Sylvia Green silently complained. Was the leader targeting her? He never warned her before but waited for her to break the rules and then announced it. Wasn’t this a deliberate attempt to make an example of her?

But she could only voice this concern in her heart, too afraid to speak it out loud.

Sylvia Green, frustrated, bit into a piece of bread, wondering how to explain this to Lucas Han when the kitchen door suddenly swung open.

“Well, I knew it! You were stealing!” Sylvia’s mother - Vicky- suddenly appeared, catching Sylvia Green in the act. Without a word, she raised her hand and slapped her.

“You naughty girl! Our family has so little food, and everyone is depending on this little bit to survive. How can you steal it? No one else is eating secretly, and you’re the one doing it!”

“Ah!” Sylvia Green cried out, quickly running away.

“Mom, I didn’t steal anything!”

“You still dare to lie? If you weren’t stealing, why are you sneaking around here? I can smell it. Did you think I couldn’t smell it?”

This commotion woke up the whole house, and everyone rushed out to see what was going on.

Sylvia Green had already hidden the bread in the red envelope space, so they didn’t find any evidence.

But with the sweet scent of bread and crumbs on her mouth, no one was fooled. Sylvia Green was scolded by her mother and punished to not eat dinner tomorrow.

----------------------------------------

Arden Forster, meanwhile, was unaware of this drama in the Green family. After she announced the group’s new rules, she left the red envelope group.

The group now had a clear set of rules, and Arden was confident that Lucas Han wouldn’t intentionally break them. After all, anyone who violated the rules would be kicked out of the group. Having experienced the benefits of the red envelope group, Arden was sure that Lucas Han wouldn’t leave or put himself in danger by challenging the rules.

The reason Arden banned Lucas Han instead of directly banning Sylvia Green was to create a rift between them, causing discord between the two.

The night was quiet. Arden did not sleep, instead sitting cross-legged on her bed, beginning her cultivation.

The system said she couldn’t use her cultivator powers, but it didn’t say she couldn’t practice her skills!

Every time Arden crossed into a new body, she had to start her training from the beginning if she wanted to avoid disturbing others.

Though inconvenient, Arden wasn’t lazy.

If there was ever a need for her martial strength, and she hadn’t practiced, she would regret it.

If she practiced but never had to use it, it wouldn’t matter; she would just be gaining experience.

Like reading a book a hundred times, every read feels different.

Martial arts were the same. Every time she practiced, it felt different. Arden didn’t feel any disadvantage in doing so.

As the workday began, the team leader, Victor Green, came to Arden and told her that her family had sent a package for her to pick up.

Lila May, who worked with Arden, hesitated and asked, “Arden, did your family send you some books?”

Her hopeful eyes didn’t need any explanation. She was more concerned about the books Arden's family sent than anything else.

Arden nodded, not really paying attention to her meaning, “Probably.”

“Then, can I go with you to get them?” Lila May quickly added, “The books are heavy, so I’m worried you won’t be able to carry them by yourself.”

Arden didn’t refuse. People in this era were very earnest, and their thirst for knowledge was evident. Arden didn’t mind Lila’s eagerness for knowledge, and she respected her enthusiasm.

Unlike some people who clearly had the means to study but wanted to profit by directly obtaining answers.

Arden and Lila May went to fetch the package. On their way, they happened to meet Sylvia Green hurrying along. Arden vaguely overheard her conversation with someone beside her, mentioning wanting to buy some study materials for the upcoming college entrance exam.

Arden chose not to comment, not sure whether it was study materials or antiques for a red envelope exchange, only Sylvia knew.