《I am not just a tycoon》


 Chapter 1 The Perfect Life System

    "Shen Yuan, let''s end it here,"


    "Don''t contact me anymore in the future."


    "I hope you find a more sensible girl."


    In Star City, at the south gate of International Economics University, Shen Yuan''s eyes widened in surprise, "Ting, to break up after three years of love, I didn''t think you would be so heartless."


    "Can you please not talk like you''re some kind of pure love warrior? You know exactly how deep our feelings are."


    "Also, don''t call me ''Ting'' anymore. To be honest, it''s pretty tacky. Please call me by my full name, Zhou Wanting, thank you."


    As they spoke, a black Audi A7 glided over and stopped steadily beside Zhou Wanting.


    Zhou Wanting held her chin up proudly, brushing her bangs behind her ears, "I have to go, a friend is picking me up."


    Shen Yuan stared blankly at his girlfriend of three years as she was about to open the car door and step into the passenger seat of the A7 and couldn''t help but reach out his hand again, "Ting, wait."


    "Didn''t I tell you to stop calling me Ting?!"


    Zhou Wanting paused and frowned slightly, "What else do you want?"


    "Do you remember those brand-name bags I bought for you? They cost quite a bit at the time; can you return them to me?"


    "Shen Yuan, have you no shame?"


    "I slept with you for three years, and you''re fussing over a few lousy bags, even wanting to take them back after breaking up?!"


    "Uh...."


    Shen Yuan was taken aback, paused for a moment, and then suggested, "How about this, when you''re free, let''s relive our past three years together. After all, we''ve been together for so long..."


    "Fuck off!"


    With a loud "bang," Zhou Wanting didn''t look back, closed the car door mercilessly, leaving Shen Yuan standing there stunned.


    "Damn it, I''m a bit of a loss, she wouldn''t even give me a chance to recoup some interest."


    He met Zhou Wanting three years ago, back when Shen Yuan had just become a freshman at International Economics University.


    Being quite good-looking among the freshmen and driving a showy pink BMW Series 4 on registration day, he caught the attention of Zhou Wanting, a sophomore participating in the welcoming activities.


    Under her relentless pursuit, Shen Yuan didn''t hold back.


    Truth be told, faced with a senior like Zhou Wanting, especially one from the flight attendant program with legs both long and white, and a well-proportioned figure, Shen Yuan thought no guy could resist.


    In their three years together, not only did Shen Yuan learn a lot from his senior that wasn''t in textbooks, but he also unlocked quite a bit of new "knowledge."


    Of course, Shen Yuan didn''t let his teacher of sorts go unrewarded.


    His family was well-off; at that time, his parents had opened three overseas travel agencies with booming business making a killing, so Shen Yuan never lacked spending money.


    He would buy Zhou Wanting gifts every month, from skincare to lipstick, from makeup to shoes, always mixing it up.


    And he''d give her a bag each semester, Chanel, LV, Prada¡ªhe''d let Zhou Wanting choose anything under 50,000 yuan.


    Unfortunately, good times don''t last forever. Affected by that catastrophe, all industries were severely impacted; international travel was out of the question, let alone domestic.


    Shen Yuan''s parents thought the situation wouldn''t last too long and struggled to keep the business afloat, but who knew it would turn into such a grueling marathon.


    With airlines, tourist spots, and major company off-sites originally planned for international trips facing wave after wave of cancellations, what was more damning was that Old Shen had just opened the third branch that year.


    Over three years, travel agency rental costs, utilities, employee wages, invested advertisements, online promotions, and extensive breaches of contract...


    Various factors led to three travel agencies shrinking to two, then one, and eventually, the last one didn''t last long either.


    The family sold off two properties, and three cars, from ten million in assets they suddenly were in debt by over a million.


    The Shen family had returned to square one, and Shen Yuan went from a rich second-generation to a debtor second-generation.


    When the Shen family declared bankruptcy, Zhou Wanting had already been interning at an airline for a while, often meeting wealthy people, and with such an incident, she naturally kept her distance from Shen Yuan.


    Zhou Wanting knew how to play it, starting with using her busy work as an excuse to see Shen Yuan less, then gradually reducing the frequency of WeChat and phone contact, and now formally proposing a breakup this return to school.


    Actually, Shen Yuan didn''t care much about this, after all, when they got together, it was a relationship of convenience, and Zhou Wanting leaving for money reasons was quite normal.


    Who believes in pure love these days anyway!


    The only thing he regretted was the money spent.


    In the past, Shen Yuan was quite lavish, giving away designer bags on a whim, and buying high-end cosmetics without hesitating. Now, with the whole family crammed in a 70-square-meter rental, he realized the severity of the situation.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have asked Zhou Wanting for the bags back since one bag he once gave away easily now accounted for several months of his family''s living expenses.


    After becoming a debtor second-generation, his standard of living dropped drastically, trading driving a BMW for taking the bus, no longer visiting KTVs or bars, and daring only to eat fast food.


    His social circle changed too; he used to be surrounded by fair-weather friends who''d dine and drink with him, but now that they knew about the bankruptcy, they all kept their distance.


    Fortunately, Shen Yuan took after his dad''s easygoing nature. He was always taught to be open-minded and optimistic, so he could take such a hit.


    In short, life was tough, but he saw a silver lining in at least recognizing the fair-weather friends from before.


    After mentally cursing a few more times, Shen Yuan pulled his thoughts back, hands still in his pockets, preparing to leave.


    But just then, the driver''s side window of the A7 slowly rolled down, and the smug, greasy, middle-aged man inside wearing glasses eyed Shen Yuan, "Young man, where are you headed? Need a lift?"


    "No need, my home is close by."


    Shen Yuan shook his head. Their current rental was only four bus stops away and could be considered convenient.


    "No worries, Tingting and I aren''t in a hurry, and the car isn''t anything special, as long as you don''t mind." the middle-aged man said with a smile.


    Shen Yuan''s eyelid twitched, thinking this guy really knows how to put on an act, an Audi A7, even the base model after taxes costs upward of 60K+, and here he is telling me not to sneer at it.


    Shen Yuan could imagine with his toes that, once they got in the car, this guy would definitely bombard him with 360-degree spiral-like insults.


    "Big brother, you''re a good man, I appreciate the gesture, but I do live close by and it''s not going to take long to walk."


    A tinge of regret flashed through the middle-aged man''s eyes, but in front of Zhou Wanting, he still maintained his composure, "Alright then, be safe on your way home."


    "Mm, Wanting is a good girl, you must take good care of her."


    The man was about to drive away when he heard this and first was a little startled, then somewhat moved. He hadn''t expected Tingting''s ex-boyfriend to be quite decent.


    This is what you call magnanimity.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll take care of Tingting!"


    The middle-aged man patted his chest, and after giving Shen Yuan a sign, he prepared to raise the car window and leave.


    "Big brother, wait a sec!"


    "What''s up?" The man stopped what he was doing and turned his head towards Shen Yuan.


    "As men, we must provide the best for women. Wanting has many habits you should note down."


    Shen Yuan counted off on his fingers, "First off, she likes to use Okamoto 001. Secondly, she doesn''t like too high of a quality for her stockings. She also has two sets of nurse and police uniforms, which you won''t need to worry about for now..."


    "Hey, hold on, brother, wait, I''m not finished yet!"


    Watching the A7 beat a hasty retreat, Shen Yuan muttered under his breath, "Shoot, I was just getting to the good part!"


    [Ding!]


    [Perfect Life System has finished loading!]


    Host: Shen Yuan


    Age: 21 years old


    Height: 182CM


    Weight: 72KG


    Wealth Points: 87 yuan


    Health Points: 72


    Physical Strength: 75


    Skills: None


    Main Quest Progress: 0%


    [A perfect life doesn''t just require money as a foundation; it also needs the favor of the opposite sex.]


    [Time-limited task: Spend money on a suitable opposite sex with a Feel-good Index over 60 and gain their favor]


    [Task Reward: Any money spent on the opposite sex will be triple returned to the host, and if the opposite sex Feel-good Index increases by 3 points during this spending, an additional double cashback will be provided.]


    [Note: Spending can only be made from savings or cash.]


    A synthetic voice suddenly popped into Shen Yuan''s mind and a panel appeared before his eyes, giving him a fright.


    "I didn''t get so worked up about being dumped that I''m having hallucinations and auditory hallucinations, did I?"


    Shen Yuan closed his eyes, but the technological panel was still vividly hovering before his sight.


    As he turned his head, the panel moved with his line of sight, always remaining directly in front of him.


    Shen Yuan looked at the words "Perfect Life System" on the panel and suddenly something clicked.


    He had a roommate in his dorm who was particularly fond of web novels, and Shen Yuan had heard him mention plenty of far-fetched plots.


    Among them was the System, the mighty benefactor.


    Could it be that this splash of extravagant fortune had fallen on him as well?


    Shen Yuan wanted to confirm again, but the panel had disappeared and there were no other sounds in his head.


    "Shen Yuan!"


    A familiar female voice suddenly came to his ears, crisp and clear, interrupting Shen Yuan''s thoughts. He turned his head and saw it was the young counselor Lih Xiao.


    "Counselor."


    Lih Xiao wasn''t just Shen Yuan''s counselor; she also taught the Business English course. She must have just finished teaching, holding two English textbooks in her hands, her pretty face looking at Shen Yuan with concern.


    "I saw what happened just now, don''t get discouraged, the next one will be better."


    The counselor wasn''t much older than the students, and today she was wearing a beige mini skirt that revealed two-thirds of her lovely legs, and a deep brown sweater with a wide neckline for her upper body.


    Aside from the modern curves, what excited the boys even more was the black choker tied around the base of her white neck.


    But before Shen Yuan could take a few more looks, the synthetic voice in his mind piped up again.


    [Lih Xiao: Feel-good Index towards the host is 65.]


    ...

 Chapter 2 Triple Cashback

    "I''m not bothered, I was mentally prepared for this a long time ago."


    Shen Yuan waved his hand indifferently. He genuinely didn''t care that much. What really pained him was thinking about all the bags he''d given away.


    "That''s good then."


    In Lih Xiao''s eyes, Shen Yuan might have been a bit mischievous at times, but he was essentially a good kid.


    He also had a sense of collective honor and would occasionally contribute to the class, which was why she didn''t dislike him.


    Shen Yuan had not only recently dealt with family issues but was now facing problems in his love life.


    Even though he seemed carefree on the surface, how much could a man in his early twenties truly endure mentally?


    Therefore, Lih Xiao felt it was her duty as his instructor to show some concern.


    "How about the scholarship I mentioned last time? If you have made up your mind, just submit your materials. With what happened to your family, this is one of the few ways I can help you."


    The scholarship had three levels: 2000, 3000, 4000, and each class had several spots. Lih Xiao allocated these based on the financial and debt situation of the families. If there were any extra spots, they''d go to class officers who contributed more to the class.


    Apparently, after Shen Yuan''s family went bankrupt, they were over a million in debt, which met her criteria.


    "Leave it to the students who need it more. To be honest, a few thousand won''t make much difference to my family''s debt," he said, shaking his head. Shen Yuan knew there were impoverished students in his class for whom the money would mean much more than it would for him.


    "Although it''s not a lot, it can still relieve some pressure off your parents," she insisted.


    "Really, it''s okay, Teacher Lih," he reassured her.


    This wasn''t the first time Lih Xiao had spoken with Shen Yuan about this matter. Since the person concerned was unwilling to apply, she could not force him.


    "Then I won''t persuade you further. Remember, if you run into any trouble in the future, you can always come to me, and I''ll find a way to help you solve it," she said.


    Lih Xiao was still a bit worried after the scene she had just witnessed, so she added, "That includes matters of the heart as well."


    "Instructor Lih, you''re really a good person. It''d be great if someone could find a partner like you."


    Staring at Teacher Lih''s sweet and beautiful face, Shen Yuan found it easy to become lost in admiring her, especially during her Business English classes, where he''d often daydream. He adored how this young teacher was so kind-hearted and always considerate of her students.


    It was a shame, though, that their relationship was that of teacher and student.


    "Don''t talk nonsense, there are so many people here," she said with a blush on her cheeks and a warning glare.


    They weren''t the only ones at the school gate. It was between classes, and there was a constant stream of students passing by; they might even run into classmates.


    This guy usually didn''t think before he spoke and was unapologetic about it, even at the school gate.


    However, since he was still able to joke around, it probably meant that he really wasn''t too bothered by the recent incident.


    Thinking this, she felt much more at ease.


    Shen Yuan scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, looking up slightly to see the Feel-good Index above Instructor Lih''s head.


    [Feel-good Index: 65]


    The Feel-good Index was still clearly displayed. According to the recent hint from the System, Instructor Lih''s Feel-good Index for him had surpassed 60, meaning that spending money on her would result in a threefold cashback.


    At the moment, Shen Yuan wasn''t sure about the authenticity of the system, but he thought it could be worth verifying.


    Lih Xiao noticed that Shen Yuan''s gaze still lingered on her, and she felt puzzled, yet in the present situation, she couldn''t quite reprimand him.


    Nevertheless, she didn''t want to maintain this awkwardness in public and spoke up to break it: "I''m going to head back. If you need anything, just look for me."


    "Instructor, wait, let me buy you a drink," he offered.


    "No need to be polite. I''m going to¡ªhey...!"


    Before Lih Xiao could finish, Shen Yuan had already run to the convenience store at the school gate. After a while, he returned with a 6 yuan bottle of Nescafe? and handed it to Lih Xiao.


    Shen Yuan knew her preferences. He had observed that Lih Xiao always brought a bottle of Nescafe? to the podium during her classes.


    "Well, thank you then."


    Lih Xiao was actually feeling thirsty, so she took the coffee, took a small sip, and repeated her advice, "You can''t be careless with money in the future. You have to think about sharing the burden with your parents, all right?"


    "Got it."


    As soon as Shen Yuan finished speaking, he received a text message on his phone. When he opened it, it was surprisingly a bank transfer notification.


    [China Construction Bank]Your card ending in 0098 received an 18 yuan deposit on May 10th at 4:40 PM.


    "It''s actually real!"


    Shen Yuan''s breathing quickened in disbelief as he clicked on the message, which indeed came from the official China Construction Bank.


    He then opened the bank''s app to check his balance. Originally at 87 yuan and having spent 6 yuan, his balance should have been 81 yuan, but now with an 18 yuan transfer, it added up to 99 yuan!


    This was just a trial with a small amount of money!


    Suddenly, Shen Yuan realized that as long as Teacher Lih''s Feel-good Index stayed above 60, he could continuously make purchases for her and keep receiving system cashback!


    The thought of having such a cheat that only existed in novels filled him with uncontrollable excitement.


    Lih Xiao looked at Shen Yuan''s strange expression with concern, "What''s wrong? Is something the matter?"


    "It''s nothing, nothing at all."


    Realizing he had been daydreaming, Shen Yuan closed his phone and smiled apologetically: "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be going now. You should head home too, Instructor. Take care on your way."


    "Yes, sure."


    Watching Shen Yuan hurry away, Lih Xiao was left puzzled, but she didn''t think much of it, assuming it to be one of the students'' inexplicable mood swings.


    Meanwhile, Shen Yuan''s emotions were a mix of complexity and excitement, thinking there was a chance he could clear his family''s debts and return to where he started¡ªor even become wealthier than before.


    After taking a few deep breaths, he thought it was imperative to secure ample capital to spend on the opposite sex.


    With all his belongings and the recent cashback, he had only 99 yuan in total, which was too little to aim for significant cashback.


    The system required spending in cash or from a deposit, but his principal was too meager.


    However, he could possibly cash out through Ant''s Huabei or ask friends for a loan.


    Shen Yuan found a quiet corner on the campus, sat down cross-legged under a tree, and decided to take advantage of Huabei to cash out some of his credit. Just then, a message popped up on WeChat.


    Opening it, he found a message from Zhou Wanting.


    "Shen Yuan, go to hell!"


    "..."

 Chapter 3 Does the Counselor Have a Partner?

    "Mind your manners. I was just reminding that brother to watch his health and know his limits,"


    Shen Yuan typed with both hands, and then he clicked to send, but to his surprise, the next second he received a red exclamation mark in response.


    "Message has been sent, but the recipient has rejected it."


    "Was it necessary to block me? How will you contact me when you miss me in the future?"


    Seeing the bright red exclamation mark, Shen Yuan shook his head and then started the cash extraction process again.


    Shen Yuan had a 20,000 limit on Ant''s Jiebei, a remaining balance of 9,200 on Ant''s Huabei, a 12,000 limit on JD Baitiao, and a credit card with a remaining balance of 11,000, making a total of 52,000 in cash he could extract.


    In his WeChat, he had a friend who specialized in cash extractions, charging a 3% fee, meaning for a 10,000 limit, he would receive 9,700 in hand.


    The fee was a bit high, but Shen Yuan thought about how his principal could generate a 200% return and didn''t care about it anymore.


    He found a friend in his list with the nickname "AAA Dazhe," told him his requirements simply and clearly, and the friend immediately sent over payment codes for Fu Bao and Jing Dong. After scanning 9,200 + 12,000, the friend quickly transferred 19,400 to him.


    "Credit cards need a physical swipe at a POS machine. Do you need cash urgently? You can come to IFC Mall here; my shop is just opposite IFC Mall,"


    Dazhe sent a message along with a location.


    IFC Mall is a well-known shopping mall in Star City, with a rich variety of luxury stores. Upon seeing these four characters, Shen Yuan felt somewhat dazed, thinking back to when he was a regular customer spending at IFC Mall, and now he was going there to extract cash.


    Since he wasn''t in a hurry, Shen Yuan chose a low-carbon mode of travel and took a bus for an hour to arrive at IFC Mall.


    Dazhe''s store was a small cell phone repair shop. When Shen Yuan entered, Dazhe was looking down, disassembling a mobile phone; he looked to be in his thirties and was not particularly striking in appearance.


    After listening to Shen Yuan''s explanation for his visit, Dazhe matched the young man in front of him to the person he had just chatted with on WeChat and, without much fuss, pulled out the POS machine and asked Shen Yuan to start swiping his card.


    "It''s better to do two transactions, and it''s best to leave a few hundred or a thousand on the credit card so it''s not likely to get frozen."


    "Sure."


    Shen Yuan nodded his head, appreciating that it was better to have professionals handle such matters.


    With a limit of 11,000 on the card, he swiped for a total of 10,500 in two transactions, which after the service fee, left him with 10,185. He left a balance of 500 on the card.


    From cash extraction, he got a total of 29,585. Combined with the 20,000 just arrived from Jiebei and 99 from WeChat money collection, Shen Yuan now had altogether 49,684 in hand.


    If he spent all this money, he could instantly get nearly 100,000 in cashback.


    Shen Yuan calculated in his mind what would be appropriate to buy with this money, and while he was thus occupied, Dazhe in the counter added casually, "If you need a loan, you can also ask me."


    Shen Yuan''s mouth twitched, "I shouldn''t need it, thank you."


    Dazhe looked up at the young man and said indifferently, "You never know."


    Having been in this line for seven or eight years, he had dealt with all kinds of people. Youngsters like him had not yet formed a mature spending perspective. Suddenly extracting so much money usually meant no good, and it wouldn''t be surprising if, in a few days, he spent all the money and then returned to ask for a loan.


    For him, the commissions from consumer and small loans were much higher than those from cash extractions.


    Faced with Dazhe''s remarks, Shen Yuan felt somewhat helpless, but he couldn''t disclose the System to him, and even if he did, Dazhe would probably think he was a fool.


    Thinking this, he didn''t argue with Dazhe and continued to contemplate his spending plans.


    Currently, the only known person of the opposite sex with a Feel-good Index over 60 was Teacher Lih Xiao, and Shen Yuan planned to keep focusing his spending power on her.


    Spending 50,000 quickly for Teacher Lih Xiao was not going to be easy; given her character, she definitely wouldn''t accept expensive gifts from a student, especially since Shen Yuan was already seen by her as a poor student from a bankrupt family, which would make her even more resistant.


    However, if he thought about it carefully, there were definitely ways to do it.


    ...


    Half an hour later, Shen Yuan walked out of the IFC Mall''s main entrance, holding an LV shopping bag in his hand.


    Just moments ago, he had swiped away more than half of the money he had on him at the LV counter. Currently, he only had 9,884 yuan left.


    The bag inside the shopping bag was valued at 39,800 yuan and was LV''s spring collection of that year. As for why he purchased the spring collection even though the summer collection was out, Shen Yuan had his reasons.


    Carrying the LV shopping bag, Shen Yuan prepared to go to the bus station to take the bus. Meanwhile, across the street, Dazhe was smoking at the store entrance and just happened to see the LV shopping bag Shen Yuan was carrying. He snorted disdainfully, "Sure enough, he''s a prodigal son!"


    Shen Yuan didn''t notice Dazhe''s scorn at all. First, he took a one-hour bus ride; then he walked through the streets and alleys to arrive at an ordinary residential building.


    This residential building had eight floors and was a self-constructed property; Teacher Lih lived on the sixth floor.


    Logically speaking, Shen Yuan was not likely to know his teacher''s home address, but coincidentally, his family rented an apartment on the fifth floor of the same building.


    One day, when Shen Yuan was going home for a meal and was heading upstairs, he happened to run into Lih Xiao. That''s how he found out she lived just above his place.


    Shen Yuan first tossed the shopping bag into a nearby trash can, then tore off the price tag, and went upstairs carrying the bag.


    "Knock, knock."


    Shen Yuan gently knocked on the door of unit 601. Although there was a door between them, he could faintly smell a light fragrance, unique to the homes of delicate girls.


    "I wonder if Teacher Lih has a partner. If she does, and he''s at home, that would be awkward."


    "A male student visiting alone and bringing a bag as a gift, it all seems quite improper."


    There were clattering sounds of kitchen utensils in the room. Probably having heard the knocking, the person inside walked to the door with footsteps, and opened the door: "I didn''t bring the keys toda..."


    "Shen Yuan, why is it you?"


    Surprised to see Shen Yuan, Lih Xiao stood there wearing a pink apron, still holding a spatula in her right hand, and there were fine beads of sweat on her forehead.


    In the afternoon, Lih Xiao was still an understanding female teacher, but at this moment, cooking, she had a few added traces of domesticity, looking rather like a newlywed bride.


    "Counselor, sorry to disturb you. Are you cooking?"


    Shen Yuan wore an innocent smile on his face, but his mind was actually elsewhere. Just now, Lih Xiao thought someone from her home had come back without keys and spoke in a very casual tone. It was very likely she already had a live-in partner.


    Damn, it''s a pity, wonder which lucky bastard it is!


    Shen Yuan''s mind was filled with unrelated thoughts, even seeing that man as an imaginary rival.


    However, Lih Xiao was a bit puzzled to see Shen Yuan. Although they lived just a floor apart, they had never interacted to avoid gossip; a female teacher and a male student should not have too frequent contact. So, what was he doing here?


    At that moment, she noticed the bag in Shen Yuan''s hand and asked curiously, "Shen Yuan, it''s so late. Is there something you need?"


    "Counselor, you''ve taken good care of me during these three years of university. I used to take it for granted that teachers are supposed to do these things, but in recent times, with so much happening at home, I''ve started to understand the help people around me have provided. So, I should have shown my gratitude much earlier."


    Shen Yuan raised the bag with both hands, sincerely saying, "This is a token of appreciation from a student. You must accept it."


    "No need, no need."


    Seeing the presumably expensive bag, Lih Xiao quickly shook her head:


    "Actually, you weren''t wrong before. As your counselor, as your teacher, doing these things is my duty. It''s part of my responsibilities, and there''s no special attention involved. I treat all other students equally, so there''s no need."


    Over these three years, watching the students under her guidance mature from naive high school graduates to adults about to step into society, Lih Xiao actually felt a great sense of achievement and believed she had done justice to her three years of effort.


    Especially with Shen Yuan, who seemed to have suddenly grown up, she, as his counselor, felt very gratified.


    But that was all there was to it. She absolutely couldn''t accept the gift, especially since the bag looked quite expensive.

 Chapter 4 Sister Flowers

    "Counselor, you know very well about my family situation, I can''t afford to spend recklessly. This bag actually isn''t valuable at all, it''s just a high-quality imitation," Shen Yuan said with a straight face, not showing any sign of lying: "I originally planned to give it to Zhou Wanting, but as you saw today, she broke up with me, so there''s no point in keeping the bag anymore."


    "Hmm...."


    Shen Yuan''s tone sounded very sincere. After pondering for a moment, Lih Xiao replied, "In that case, you could actually give it to another girl. There''s no need to give it to me."


    Shen Yuan added, "I think giving this bag to you would be the most meaningful for me, counselor. You shouldn''t feel burdened by it; it''s really cheap, just over two hundred yuan."


    "In that case...."


    Lih Xiao still hesitated, feeling it was inappropriate to accept it but also inappropriate not to. While she was undecided, Shen Yuan simply placed the bag on the shoe cabinet inside the house: "Stop saying that, counselor. Just take it, consider it a small token of appreciation from a student."


    "Moreover,"


    Shen Yuan''s expression suddenly became serious: "I want to cut off all ties with Zhou Wanting, including all these external objects. I can''t stand to see these things anymore."


    You have to take it! How can I get the cashback if you don''t?


    Lih Xiao was still unaware that Shen Yuan had already started his performance. Thinking of Zhou Wanting, who heartlessly got into a luxury car that afternoon, she suddenly felt a bit sympathetic towards the current Shen Yuan and decided not to be coy anymore.


    "Alright then, I''ll keep this bag for now. Later, when there''s a holiday or it''s your birthday, I''ll give you a return gift."


    Seeing that Lih Xiao finally agreed to take it, Shen Yuan felt relieved. He joked, "If the other guys in class see this, they''d be green with envy."


    Lih Xiao''s face blushed slightly, and upon thinking it over, she realized a return gift indeed wasn''t appropriate...


    Just then, a smell of burnt food drifted from the kitchen. She stomped her foot in alarm and quickly turned to run towards the kitchen: "Oh no, my stir-fried pork!"


    Shen Yuan was amused, accustomed to seeing the competent counselor, and found it quite charming to see her flustered now.


    After watching for a while, Shen Yuan decided it was time to leave. He yelled inside: "Counselor, I''m heading home now!"


    Lih Xiao''s pretty face peeked out from the kitchen doorway: "Don''t go home. Eat here with me."


    "That wouldn''t be appropriate, counselor."


    Shen Yuan was just feigning courtesy; he would prefer to stay for dinner, enjoying a meal with the beautiful counselor would surely be more delicious than eating at home.


    The key was to increase proximity to improve the Feel-good Index and thereby receive more system cashback.


    Moreover, he was curious about what kind of partner Lih Xiao had chosen.


    "What''s the harm in a meal? Plus, there''s enough rice. I cooked extra today."


    "Alright then."


    Shen Yuan walked in confidently, taking a few glances around the room. It was similar to the typical girl''s place but comparatively neat and clean with no unnecessary furniture or clutter, showing that Counselor Lih was someone who favored cleanliness.


    Especially the faint scent in the room, it was particularly refreshing.


    "I''ll use the restroom."


    After taking a quick look around, Shen Yuan excused himself and entered the bathroom.


    He had just noticed some small details: firstly, there were no men''s shoes in the shoe cabinet; secondly, there were no men''s clothes on the balcony.


    Now, entering the bathroom, Shen Yuan grew more puzzled because, although there were two toothbrushes, he didn''t see a razor or men''s face wash.


    Moreover, all the towels were either light pink or white.


    Could it be that they haven''t started living together?


    Shen Yuan deduced this reason as quite possible; maybe her partner just came over for meals, but they weren''t living together.


    But these were all speculations, and Shen Yuan still harbored a slight hope that if the counselor didn''t have a partner, how great that would be.


    Emerging from the bathroom, Lih Xiao had already served the stir-fried pork, steamed pork ribs with taro, hand-torn cabbage, and kelp soup on the table.


    The stir-fried pork used red and green chilies and not only exuded a meaty fragrance but also sizzled with hot oil on the surface. The taro pork ribs were sprinkled with green onions, emitting streams of white steam.


    It was a feast for the eyes, smell, and taste, and Shen Yuan couldn''t help but swallow a few times. Whoever had the luck to marry Teacher Lih home, would truly be living the dream.


    Not only was she perfect in both looks and figure, but also adept in the living room and the kitchen, the most important being her considerateness.


    "Ding!"


    [Bank of Construction]Your card ending in 0098 received an income of 119,400 yuan on May 10 at 18:45, with a current balance of 120,200 yuan.


    The money is here!


    A 39,800 yuan bag, a cashback three times the price is 119,400 yuan, netting him almost 80,000 yuan after deducting costs and fees!


    Shen Yuan had spent 80,000 before, but that was before his family went bankrupt. He had never earned this much on his own, especially since it felt like it was free!


    Shen Yuan was so excited inside that he was practically breathless, but in front of Lih Xiao, he had to suppress his joy and turn it into praise, "I never expected Teacher Lih''s English class to be so good, and her cooking as well!"


    "Just okay, there''s still room for improvement,"


    Lih Xiao humbly said as she prepared to take off her apron. Midway, she suddenly remembered something and gave Shen Yuan a glare, "You have the gall to say that. You flunked my Business English final last year, despite attending my classes every day."


    "I didn''t perform well, I didn''t perform well," Shen Yuan said with an embarrassed smile.


    At that moment, Lih Xiao''s apron seemed to be tied with a tight knot. She tried to untie it with her hands behind her back, slightly leaning forward which accentuated her prominent chest.


    "Let me help you," Shen Yuan saw her struggle.


    "No need..."


    Just as Lih Xiao was about to refuse, Shen Yuan had already stood up and started untying her apron.


    The two were very close, one in front of the other. Lih Xiao could feel Shen Yuan''s breath on her, finding the posture and action uncomfortably intimate, her cheeks instantly turning pink.


    Actually, the knot was not hard to untie, but to close the distance between them and increase his Feel-good Index, Shen Yuan deliberately slowed down.


    "Is it done yet..."


    Lih Xiao whispered faintly, the process felt too long, especially since they maintained the same posture throughout.


    "Almost there,"


    Shen Yuan whispered right behind her ear.


    Lih Xiao felt a tickle in her earlobe, her face growing even hotter.


    About thirty seconds later, Shen Yuan finally untied the knot and helped Lih Xiao remove her apron.


    "I''ll go dish up the rice,"


    Lih Xiao turned away, heading into the kitchen. Being a teacher, she didn''t want her student, Shen Yuan, to see her blush.


    "Are we still waiting for someone?"


    Shen Yuan asked loudly as if nothing had happened.


    "No, let''s eat first,"


    Lih Xiao adjusted her emotions and came out of the kitchen with two bowls of steaming white rice for Shen Yuan. He was already a bit hungry, and hearing Lih Xiao say this, he was ready to dig in.


    But just as Shen Yuan was about to start eating, the sound of the door unlocking with a "click" came from the door, and immediately after, a figure walked in.


    "Why are you so late today?"


    Lih Xiao got up, planning to get another set of chopsticks from the kitchen.


    Shen Yuan instinctively turned his head towards the door, initially thinking it was Lih Xiao''s partner, but to his surprise, it turned out to be a woman.


    She was wearing a pair of exquisite black high heels, her legs sheathed in a pair of thin black stockings, and she was dressed in a professional suit, which looked like a flight attendant''s uniform due to a scarf around her collar, usually only worn by flight attendants.


    She also had a small black rolling suitcase in her hand.


    Is she a roommate?


    This thought only lasted a second in Shen Yuan''s mind and then disappeared because, even though her hairstyle was different, Shen Yuan noticed that her face was somewhat similar to Lih Xiao''s, and their figures were quite similar.


    Both had balanced yet meaty legs, but her upper body was noticeably less endowed than Teacher Lih''s¡ªdefinitely not as voluptuous, even a bit sparse...


    Based on Shen Yuan''s experience, she was probably just filling an A-cup, at most a B.


    Turns out they were sisters.


    As Shen Yuan assessed her, she also noticed Shen Yuan''s presence. She stopped what she was doing, her eyes flashing a hint of wariness.

 Chapter 5 Severe Imbalance in Family Status

    Lih Xiao brought out a small bowl of rice and explained, "This is my student, named Shen Yuan, who lives downstairs."


    After speaking, Lih Xiao looked towards Shen Yuan, "Shen Yuan, this is my younger sister, Lih Meng."


    "Hello."


    Shen Yuan nodded and raised his hand in greeting.


    However, although the two were sisters, their personalities were entirely different.


    Lih Meng let out a faint "oh," and even though she knew he was her sister''s student, her expression remained cold, still maintaining a defensive posture in her eyes.


    The atmosphere had shifted, and Shen Yuan also became more reserved, deliberately waiting for Lih Meng to wash her hands and sit down before he began to pick up food with his chopsticks.


    It was their first meeting and he didn''t want to leave a frivolous impression on his mentor''s sister.


    Unexpectedly, the two sisters really were vastly different in temperament. During the meal, Lih Xiao showed concern a few times about Lih Meng''s work, but she only responded lightly to her sister.


    One was warm and attentive, the other cold and indifferent.


    Crucially, Lih Meng was constantly wary of Shen Yuan, glaring at him a few times while eating, her gaze similar to that of a protective mother animal.


    ?


    "Aside from just now when the apron got a bit close, I don''t think I did anything to your sister, did I?"


    Shen Yuan internally retorted.


    This feeling of being guarded against was not pleasant, and Shen Yuan, despite his thick skin, couldn''t stay any longer.


    Normally eating two bowls, he had only eaten one today and then put down his chopsticks, "Mentor, I''m full, I''m going home now, you guys take your time."


    "Just this little? There''s still plenty of rice in the rice cooker."


    Lih Xiao looked up at him in surprise.


    "I have a small appetite, one bowl is enough for me, so I''ll head off now, see you at school!"


    "Alright, be careful on your way down."


    Lih Xiao stood up to see him off, waited for Shen Yuan to leave the building, then closed the door, sat back at the dining table, and started scolding, "What were you doing just now, why were you looking at my student like that?"


    "He has ill intentions," Lih Meng coldly stated.


    "What nonsense are you talking about, he is just my student."


    "Believe it or not, but him coming alone to our house late at night, he definitely has no good intentions, and the way he looks at you is also suspicious."


    Lih Meng is a flight attendant, encountering various types of men every day on the plane; she trusted her ability to judge men.


    Some men appear completely decent, yet would stealthily stare when she and her colleagues weren''t paying attention.


    Some would even take discreet photos with their phones.


    And some men were even more shameless, directly asking for contact details.


    Thinking of those men''s vulgar expressions, Lih Meng felt disgusted, they were all creatures who thought with their lower halves!


    "There you go again, falling into your old habits. I know you''re very averse to men, but you can''t always view them with the same perspective."


    "I am not wrong about men, you need to learn to discern too at school," Lih Meng firmly stated.


    "Understood."


    Lih Xiao had no way with her younger sister, ever since that incident, she had completely lost her trust in men...


    She sighed quietly to herself and started to clear away the dishes and clean the table.


    Lih Meng stood up to digest her food; as a flight attendant, maintaining her figure was essential, not just through controlling her diet, but also daily posture was very important.


    However, at that moment, she spotted a new handbag on the coffee table inadvertently.


    "Sis, did you buy a new handbag?"


    Lih Meng picked it up casually. It was an exquisite black handbag, soft and comfortable to touch, with perfect stitching, but on turning to the front, she saw the buckle featured the LV logo.


    "No, it was given by the student who came to the house just now."


    Lih Xiao replied while washing the dishes.


    "He gave you an LV?"


    Lih Meng found it hard to believe.


    "He said it''s a high-quality imitation, cost over two hundred bucks."


    "Oh."


    She rarely bought such luxury handbags and couldn''t tell if it was real or an imitation. Besides, Lih Meng thought, since his family lived downstairs, they probably weren''t wealthy enough to afford such an expensive gift.


    But was it appropriate for a student to give a teacher a handbag?


    Combining what she had just witnessed, Lih Meng was even more convinced that this student named Shen Yuan harbored ulterior motives.


    "I told you this student was up to no good, otherwise why would he casually give you a handbag?"


    By this time, Lih Xiao had finished washing the dishes, dried the water droplets from her hands with a towel, and came out to say helplessly, "It''s really not what you think, today..."


    Lih Xiao explained the whole situation to his sister in detail; logically, it seemed to make sense, but Lih Meng still felt something was off¡ªshe firmly believed in her initial instinct.


    This Shen Yuan! So bold and audacious, he must be trying to hit on my sister!


    ...


    By then, Shen Yuan had already returned home, unaware that he had been labeled as a pervert by Lih Meng. If he had known, he would definitely have vehemently argued against it.


    How could I possibly be that kind of person!


    "Dad, Mom, I''m home."


    Just like always, Shen Yuan pushed open the door and shouted loudly.


    "So you''re home. Why do you need to yell?" The middle-aged woman on the sofa, watching TV, scolded him without mincing words.


    "Hehe, just greeting you guys."


    Shen Yuan was used to his mother Li Hongjuan''s attitude; he didn''t make a big deal of it, since he had long accepted being the least regarded at home.


    "Mom, I haven''t eaten yet. Is there any food left at home?"


    Shen Yuan patted his belly; having had only a bowl of rice at Lih Xiao''s place upstairs, he always felt something was missing.


    "It''s in the fridge, heat it up yourself," Li Hongjuan said, pointing her remote towards the kitchen, noticeably impatient.


    "Eating leftovers."


    Shen Yuan was somewhat displeased, "How about frying up something else? Your son hardly ever comes back."


    "Fry it yourself!"


    Faced with his own mother, Ms. Li''s response, Shen Yuan silently sighed. True to form, since his mother wasn''t inclined to comfort her son, he would just have to make do.


    In fact, Ms. Li''s attitude toward him hadn''t started with the family''s bankruptcy; ever since his sister Shen Xuan was born, it had been like this.


    Shen Yuan had poor grades as a child and was mischievous, often causing trouble; Li Hongjuan lost count of how many times the teachers called her to school.


    Each time involved a lecture, demanding she take him home and discipline him, which made her embarrassed to show her face at school.


    In contrast, Shen Xuan was sensible and considerate from a young age, always thinking of her parents, the perfect little caretaker.


    Moreover, her grades were good. Now in her senior year in the experimental class at Star City No. 2 Middle School, she had a chance at Tsinghua University and Peking University. Ms. Li always walked into parent meetings with her head held high.


    With such a set of children, could you blame her for being biased?


    Fortunately, Shen Yuan had gotten used to it. If Ms. Li suddenly started treating him well one day, he probably wouldn''t know how to handle it.


    The door ''creaked'' open again, and a middle-aged man, somewhat resembling Shen Yuan but slightly plump and shorter, entered.


    "I''m back."


    "Oh, Old Shen is back, haven''t eaten yet, right? I heated up your portion too."


    Seeing his father, Shen Heping, Shen Yuan smiled.


    "Why did the boy come back today?"


    Shen Heping was surprised, as their home was a two-bedroom living space without a room for his son; Shen Yuan usually stayed in a dorm.


    Shen Yuan chuckled, "Just missed you guys."


    "Good, good."


    Shen Heping nodded in approval, set down his briefcase aside, and instructed, "Since the son has come back, let your mom fry two dishes. Let''s you and I have a good drink tonight."


    Shen Yuan''s gaze involuntarily fell on Li Hongjuan, thinking if his mother agreed to cook, he wouldn''t have to eat leftovers.


    As expected, Li Hongjuan remained immovable on the sofa, too lazy to even turn her head: "Cook your own meal if you want to drink, spoiling you both!"


    Father and son exchanged an awkward smile, then turned their heads away at the same time.


    Shen Yuan continued heating the meal, thinking his family status hadn''t dropped further only because there was no lower to go. However, his dad''s status at home truly had plummeted to a frightful low.


    Shen Heping was also easy-going. Since his wife wasn''t willing to help, he rolled up his sleeves and walked into the kitchen, busying himself with his son.


    But since he rarely cooked, Old Shen hardly knew where to start, so eventually, Shen Yuan took a potato and a chunk of meat out of the fridge.


    "Let''s just make some simple saute?ed strips of potato and meat."


    Although Li Hongjuan was harsh with her words, she was soft-hearted inside. She slammed down the remote, walked into the kitchen with a look of disdain: "Get out, get out, can''t even cook properly, what use are you two!"


    "Thanks, Mom, appreciate it!"


    Shen Yuan chuckled, set down the potato he was peeling, and dashed out of the kitchen.


    In the living room, Shen Heping handed Shen Yuan a cigarette; while Shen Yuan didn''t usually smoke, he decided he''d have one to accompany his dad this rare time he was home.


    He was about to light it, but Shen Heping shook his head, "Your sister doesn''t like the smell of smoke; let''s go to the balcony."


    Shen Yuan was rendered speechless, feeling disappointed, even during his rare visit home.


    It was bad enough that Ms. Li was biased, but even Old Shen was beholden to his daughter, forgetting it was his son who had battled with him in the kitchen just moments ago.


    ...

 Chapter 6 Whats with that expression? I thought you were a brother.

    Father and son began to puff clouds of smoke on the balcony. Old Shen looked at the traffic on the road, slowly exhaling rings of smoke, "You all have been working hard recently. If our family business had not collapsed, we wouldn''t have to move here."


    "I''ve taken on a foreign trade order with friends recently. It''s a batch of drinking cups ordered by a Dongying factory. The contract manufacturer can deliver the goods next week. The profit is decent. After deducting costs, I should be able to make thirty."


    As he smoked, Shen Heping said, "Once the payment comes through, we''ll move to a bigger three-bedroom place so you''ll have a room when you come back."


    Ever since Old Shen''s travel agency went bankrupt, his hair had turned much grayer, and his vitality had waned significantly, no longer as spirited as before.


    But he still hadn''t given up on his career and continued to struggle outside for his children.


    Shen Yuan felt a pinch in his heart. Old Shen seldom talked about work with the family, and the fact that he brought it up today indicated that the pressure must be really heavy.


    Shen Yuan was aware of the family''s situation. They were now more than a million in debt, and even earning three hundred thousand would only be enough to fill the hole.


    Moreover, since the order was for contract manufacturing, it definitely required advance payment, so Old Shen had likely taken out another loan.


    Thinking of Old Shen nearing fifty still shouldering such burden and having to continue fighting in the business world, Shen Yuan couldn''t help but feel an additional sense of responsibility on his shoulders.


    "From now on, the responsibility of providing for the family will fall to the son."


    Shen Yuan patted Old Shen''s shoulder sincerely. Now that he had the system as his ''big daddy'', he had to accelerate his pace of making money to relieve Old Shen''s burden!


    "For now, focus on your studies. Providing for the family and making money are not your concerns yet. Besides, you can''t make money now." Old Shen shook his head.


    "Old Shen, that''s kind of underestimating us university students." Shen Yuan was somewhat dissatisfied.


    Old Shen fell silent for a moment, then said, "Actually, it''s not that I underestimate university students."


    "So what are you..."


    "Come in and eat!"


    Li Hongjuan''s urging came from inside, interrupting Shen Yuan''s speech. Old Shen stubbed out his cigarette and turned to go, "Let''s eat first."


    Shen Yuan stood stunned on the spot for a long while before he realized, so Old Shen was actually underestimating me!


    "Well, you got me, Old Shen. Is this how you treat your son!"


    ....


    After dinner, Shen Yuan took a bus for about fifteen minutes to get back to school.


    Without a place for him at home, he could only stay at the school.


    It was quite pitiful, really¡ªonly a fifteen-minute drive from home, yet he could only stay on campus.


    Walking on the road, Shen Yuan pondered the consumption tasks given by the system.


    Repeatedly spending money on Li Xiao''s teaching services was definitely not suitable. On one hand, it was just a teacher-student relationship, and on the other, she wasn''t the type of money-worshipping girl like Zhou Wanting.


    If one could develop a relationship from a teacher-student background to...


    But, looking at the current situation, it seemed rather difficult, not to mention that Li Xiao had a sister who was keeping a watchful eye.


    Shen Yuan felt it was necessary to develop relationships with more women, preferably the materialistic and vain type, as they would provide a continuous capacity to consume.


    As Shen Yuan thought about how to develop relationships with female NPCs, he walked along the road. At that moment, his phone suddenly flashed a WeChat message from "Old Huang."


    "Big bro Yuan, when are you coming back?"


    This message was from his roommate Huang Haibao. Shen Yuan originally nicknamed him ''Huang,'' but he complained that the name sounded like a dog''s, so they switched to calling him Old Huang.


    To Shen Yuan, Old Huang and Huang didn''t make much difference, but as the person involved had no objection, he naturally didn''t say much.


    "Just spill it."


    Shen Yuan replied bluntly.


    Normally, this scoundrel was called Old Third, and since he was addressing him as ''bro Yuan'' this time, he definitely needed a favor.


    The nickname Old Third had been changed once as well. The other two roommates originally called him ''Old Shen,'' which to Shen Yuan felt odd since that''s what he called his father. So, as he was the youngest, he became known as Old Third.


    "Bring me two portions of fried rice. One with two extra eggs and more ham, and the other without ham or onions."


    "Not bringing."


    Shen Yuan replied decisively and added, "Unless you call me dad."


    Old Huang was extremely lazy. The canteen was just downstairs and it would only take a few minutes to go down from the fifth floor, but he just didn''t want to make the trip.


    "Old Third, spare me. I''ve had a tough enough day."


    "What''s made it so tough? Share and let me have a laugh." Shen Yuan retorted.


    "Damn! Old Third, you''re really heartless! It''s a long story, full of tears. I''ll tell you when you get back."


    "Alright."


    Next to the entrance of the International campus, there''s an alley where many snack vendors set up stalls in the evening. There are several stalls for stir-fried noodles and rice, as well as ones that sell pancakes, grilled cold noodles, fried skewers...


    Shen Yuan went to their usual fried rice stall, ordered two servings, and carried them back to the dorm.


    As soon as Shen Yuan pushed open the door to room 503, Cao Shunjin was the first to pounce on him, looking truly starving.


    Cao Shunjin was from Liaobei, tall and sturdy with an honest face, and he usually ate a lot.


    "What''s the rush, no one''s fighting you for it," Shen Yuan said, annoyed.


    Huang Haibao was a slender guy from Eastern Guangdong, sitting in his chair wearing glasses, right now looking like a frostbitten eggplant, lacking any energy.


    "Old Cao, what did you do to Old Huang?"


    Old Huang''s expression was as if he had been butt-fucked, which made no sense to Shen Yuan, considering Cao Shunjin was a straight guy.


    Huang Haibao looked up at Shen Yuan, then at Cao Shunjin, who was attacking the food like a starving tiger, and wore an expression as if he had something to say but hesitated.


    "I''m going to take a shower first."


    Shen Yuan guessed he would need more time to brood and wouldn''t start talking anytime soon. The weather was hot today and he felt sticky and uncomfortable.


    After ten minutes, Shen Yuan came out refreshed from his shower, wearing only a pair of boxers, "Can we talk now?"


    Cao Shunjin had almost finished eating, even devoured Huang Haibao''s portion, and said with a naive smile, "Old Huang, do you want to tell him or should I?"


    "You fucking Cao Shunjin, you''re still laughing!"


    Huang Haibao glared at him, resentfully said, "It''s nothing much, just a breakup."


    Shen Yuan was a bit confused. He had been roommates with Huang Haibao for so long, and the guy had never been in a relationship to begin with, so what breakup was he talking about?


    "Be more specific," Shen Yuan was a bit curious to hear the rest.


    "My goddess, Fang Minhui, went to see a movie today with that scumbag Li Zhanpeng!" Old Huang said through clenched teeth.


    "That''s it?"


    Shen Yuan suddenly felt like laughing. He knew about Old Huang''s crush on their classmate, Fang Minhui.


    But Fang Minhui had never shown any interest in Old Huang, they had never been involved in any way and they had barely exchanged a few words on WeChat.


    Besides, Fang Minhui had only gone to see a movie with someone else, they weren''t even dating. What''s Old Huang fussing about?


    Fang Minhui was the class belle of their 2020 International Trade class 2.


    To become the class belle among the beauties of the International campus, especially since their class was famously high-quality when it came to the female students, she definitely had some solid qualities.


    Shen Yuan vaguely remembered, three years ago during military training one night, the instructor was in high spirits and suggested those with talents to perform.


    At first, everyone was shy, because they were not familiar with each other, and also because it was in front of so many people.


    After the instructor called out several times, some boys came up to sing; Li Zhanpeng, that noticeable guy, even specifically ran back to the dorm to grab a guitar to perform.


    But singing didn''t really lift the spirits, and Shen Yuan found it quite boring.


    Until Fang Minhui took the stage.


    She took off her military training jacket and tossed it into the air, which conveniently landed on Huang Haibao''s head, probably getting him all infatuated on the spot.


    Probably then, Old Huang started to have feelings.


    Fang Minhui was wearing a low-cut white tank top underneath her military outfit, revealing a large area of smooth white skin on her chest and back, mesmerizing the male soldiers.


    As the high-energy dance music played, Fang Minhui started moving along to it, her supple waist and impressive bust continually stimulating the senses of the boys.


    However, before the male soldiers could get enough of the view, the dance had to be stopped abruptly.


    It couldn''t be helped, the guys from the neighboring squad couldn''t even stand at attention properly, craning their necks to watch Fang Minhui dance. Not even a kick to the butt from the instructor worked.


    The instructor of Shen Yuan''s squad had to end the dance early.


    That night, Fang Minhui was sensational, unmatched in popularity.


    At that time, not just Huang Haibao, but all the new male freshmen of the 2020 class remembered that irresistibly tempting body.


    Thinking back, Shen Yuan also felt it was a pity. Fang Minhui had been single for three years, and now she''s suddenly connected to Li Zhanpeng.


    "Old Third, I consider you a brother, what''s with that face?"


    ...

 Chapter 7 Feel-good Index 72

    Huang Haibao was somewhat reluctant, there were so many people in the class, yet it was the three of them who were closest. Old Cao could be heartless, fine, but you, Old Third, you dare to laugh at me?


    "No, really, Old Huang, they''re just going out to see a movie, is it really worth getting upset over?"


    "You don''t understand."


    Huang Haibao sighed deeply, "Since Fang Minhui agreed to go watch a movie, she must be willing to accept Li Zhanpeng''s feelings, and my chances are completely gone."


    "You never had a chance to begin with. Without this Li Zhanpeng, there would be another Liu Zhanpeng. In my opinion, you''re just deluding yourself."


    Cao Shunjin ruthlessly added another stab.


    Speaking of Li Zhanpeng, Shen Yuan also always disliked him. This guy always bragged and was two-faced, acting one way in front of others and another behind their backs.


    On the day school started, Li Zhanpeng drove a second-hand Accord to school to register, trying to show off.


    But little did he expect that his car would be overshadowed by Shen Yuan''s BMW 4 Series.


    It was already notable for a college student to drive a personal car to school, but Shen Yuan''s 4 Series made his Accord look like a clown''s car.


    At the time he was sarcastic behind the back.


    "People like Shen Yuan rely on their family''s money, could he drive a 4 Series on his own?"


    "Unlike me, even though my parents plan to buy me a BBA, I declined. Driving a second-hand Accord is enough, just for commuting."


    Later, when Li Zhanpeng heard that Shen Yuan''s family went bankrupt, he couldn''t wait to give his unsolicited advice.


    "I always said, the tourism business won''t last long, the real economy is what''s solid."


    "When the tide goes out, you find out who''s been swimming naked. Some people, after their family goes bankrupt and can''t help at all, are truly failures."


    Of course, Li Zhanpeng never dared to say these words in front of Shen Yuan.


    Shen Yuan, with his height of 182 cm, had an air of casual audacity and wildness, so Li Zhanpeng mostly bad-mouthed him behind his back.


    Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin also really disliked Li Zhanpeng''s behavior, so they were the ones who told all this to Shen Yuan.


    At the time, Shen Yuan verbally retorted a few times, but he didn''t really take it to heart.


    When someone despises you, whatever you do will rub them the wrong way.


    Later, when Li Zhanpeng found out that his roommates Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin were close with Shen Yuan, he and another student applied to transfer to another dorm.


    Subsequently, Shen Yuan''s family sold their house and rented the current two-bedroom apartment, and that was when he moved into room 503.


    This was also why there were only the three of them in dorm room 503.


    "Damn it!"


    Huang Haibao spat at Cao Shunjin, "I treated you to that fried rice just now, and you even ate my portion. Spit it out!"


    "I won that, what do you mean you ''treated'' me to it."


    Old Cao let out a loud burp, "It''s no big deal, Old Third got his heart broken today too, and it didn''t really affect him."


    "Damn, you all knew?"


    The incident at the school gate had just occurred that afternoon, and Shen Yuan hadn''t expected the news to have already spread.


    "It''s different for Old Third."


    Huang Haibao looked up at Shen Yuan, noting his well-proportioned frame and solid abs, it was normal for girls to like him, but when he looked down at his own scrawny body, Old Huang felt even more dejected, "At least he''s been with a senior in the sheets, but me?"


    At this point, even the usually cheerful Cao Shunjin fell silent; in three years at International campus, a school swarming with beauties, having never dated or been with a woman, was indeed too humiliating to admit.


    Seeing their crestfallen expressions, Shen Yuan couldn''t bear to hit them with more bad news. He had planned to mention that, apart from Zhou Wanting, Fang Minhui had also shown her affection towards him at the beginning of school.


    Shen Yuan remembered how during the military training break, Fang Minhui would bring him water, she''d even sit next to him on purpose when they dined in the canteen, and she would message him on WeChat in the evenings.


    On one hand, Shen Yuan''s appearance and height really did make a killing in college, but more importantly, back then, he had the cash to splash.


    But then Zhou Wanting quickly nipped that in the bud; every few days, she would run over to the class to find Shen Yuan, acting overly affectionate.


    It was as if she was announcing to everyone that he was her catch, and no one else should even think about it!


    So, everyone thought the two of them were an item.


    Shen Yuan ended up being tied to Zhou Wanting like that for three years of college, because of her intentional high-profile behavior, other girls didn''t dare to approach Shen Yuan.


    "Looking back now, Zhou Wanting really knew what she was doing, I was clearly manipulated by her at that time."


    Shen Yuan inwardly complained. Just then, Huang Haibao, seeing everyone falling silent, couldn''t restrain himself any longer. "Today is a day worth remembering," he announced. "Old Third and I both got dumped. I suggest we go to the food stall, drink until we can''t drink anymore, and I''ll pay!"


    "Damn it!"


    Cao Shunjin stood up and cursed. "I just finished two servings of fried rice. Why didn''t you say so earlier!"


    "Who told you to eat my share."


    Huang Haibao shot back.


    Cao Shunjin grumbled, "Damn Huang Haibao, I seriously suspect you let me eat those two servings on purpose. You want to save money, but not like this!"


    "I''m really not that kind of person," Old Huang still argued.


    Old Huang and Old Cao were like a pair of comically mismatched friends. Shen Yuan could do nothing with them and intervened. "Alright, alright, let''s go early and come back early or else the dormitory doors will be closed later."


    With youthful fervor, college students moved fast. After a few bottles of beer, Huang Haibao was back to his lively self.


    On their way to the dormitory, he still rambled drunkenly, "Women are like clothes, brothers are like limbs. I could live without women in this life, but not without brothers!"


    Many students from the International campus looked at Huang Haibao as if he were a fool. Even Shen Yuan and Cao Shunjin felt embarrassed standing next to him.


    The next morning, as daylight began to emerge, Cao Shunjin rigorously pulled Shen Yuan and Huang Haibao out of bed, claiming they should go for breakfast together, as roommates should be neat and organized.


    This darned guy from Liaobei, drinking beer like it was water. Last night, the three of them had two crates, and he finished one on his own.


    Huang Haibao and Shen Yuan grudgingly got up, cursing Cao Shunjin''s family all the way.


    The breakfast at International Campus Canteen 1 was rich - besides the staple soy milk, dough sticks, and buns, there were also cakes, noodle soups, sauce-flavored pancakes, and even rice rolls from eastern Guangdong...


    "Hey, look over there."


    The three of them each had a bowl of noodle soup and were sitting in a corner of the canteen. Just a few bites in, Cao Shunjin''s eyes widened like bells.


    Following Old Cao''s gaze unconsciously, Shen Yuan and Huang Haibao were surprised to see Fang Minhui and another classmate, Chen Ling, buying breakfast.


    Fang Minhui was tall, at least 5''6", with fairly pale skin. Today she wore a pair of teal micro shorts, showing off her long, straight legs.


    Her top was a belly-baring white tube top containing her ample bust.


    Her abdomen was flat and toned, her waist slender, clearly a sign of regular exercise.


    Luckily she wore an oversize light-colored shirt over it, covering some of the stark white; otherwise, all the male eyes in the canteen would be focused on her.


    Meanwhile, her companion, Chen Ling, obviously just a sidekick, wore dungarees and a bun, just about passing for cute.


    "Old Huang, there''s some good news," Shen Yuan took his attention away.


    "What?"


    Seeing Fang Minhui again, Huang Haibao wasn''t very excited, even a bit downhearted.


    "Fang Minhui went to the movies with Li Zhanpeng yesterday, but they didn''t go to a hotel afterward," Shen Yuan said.


    "How can you tell?"


    "If they had gone to a hotel, they wouldn''t have come back so early, and they wouldn''t be in the canteen for breakfast. Even if they were, she''d be with Li Zhanpeng, not Chen Ling."


    "Your analysis makes some sense, Old Third."


    Huang Haibao felt a flicker of hope reignite within him.


    "How is this good news?"


    Cao Shunjin retorted, "The way things are developing between them, getting into bed together is only a matter of time."


    "Damn, can''t you just shut up for once?!"


    "..."


    Shen Yuan was also exasperated with the two of them. He couldn''t help but roll his eyes and continued scouting for beauties in the canteen.


    Meanwhile, after Fang Minhui and Chen Ling got their soy milk and buns and sat down, they also noticed the presence of Shen Yuan and his friends.


    Shen Yuan''s gaze drifted around and inadvertently returned to Fang Minhui, just as she was looking at him.


    In that moment of eye contact, Shen Yuan clearly saw the Feel-good Index value above Fang Minhui''s head.


    [Feel-good Index toward the host: 72]


    ...

 Chapter 8 Invitation

    "Minhui, did you hear that Shen Yuan got dumped by the senior?"


    Chen Ling whispered to Fang Minhui.


    "Ah? When did that happen?"


    Fang Minhui was somewhat surprised. In her memory, they had already been together for three years; why would they suddenly break up all of a sudden?


    "It happened just yesterday afternoon, a lot of people at the school saw it, I heard it from someone else."


    Shen Yuan used to drive a BMW 4 series and was quite popular for wooing seniors at the International campus; everyone knew there was such a wealthy second-generation guy.


    The scene at the school gate yesterday where Zhou Wanting dumped Shen Yuan and got into the passenger seat of an A7 was witnessed by many.


    Chen Ling was naturally very gossipy, and she particularly enjoyed such juicy campus gossip, especially since Shen Yuan was a classmate of theirs.


    "I see."


    Fang Minhui nodded thoughtfully; she actually used to have quite a good impression of Shen Yuan. Tall and handsome, he had a frivolous smile that was very appealing to girls.


    Not only was he good-looking, but the key point was that he was also rich. Being able to drive a BMW 4 series to school meant his family must be very wealthy.


    Unfortunately, at that time, Shen Yuan only had eyes for the senior.


    "Shen Yuan just looks like the type to squander his family''s wealth. Driving such a nice car to school before, and now with his family bankrupt, it''s no wonder the senior left him. It''s too insecure."


    "Mm-hmm."


    Fang Minhui nodded again, agreeing with Chen Ling''s point. Now that Shen Yuan''s family had gone bankrupt, the senior was not foolish; she certainly wouldn''t stay with him any longer.


    "It''s good that you didn''t get together with him back then, or you would have really wasted three years for nothing."


    As Fang Minhui''s best friend at the International campus, Chen Ling also knew that Fang Minhui used to like Shen Yuan too.


    Fang Minhui pursed her lips, not knowing how to respond to that.


    In fact, she had always held a place for Shen Yuan in her heart. During her freshman and sophomore years, she had clung to hope that someday Shen Yuan would break up with the senior, giving her a chance to get close to him.


    But now that the day had actually arrived, Fang Minhui found herself feeling indifferent.


    She even thought to herself, ''If the senior herself dumped him, why should I still bother about him?''


    It indicated that aside from his good looks, he truly lacked other merits. Perhaps the senior was attracted to him mainly because of his family''s wealth at the time.


    Moreover, his family didn''t have money anymore. It was said that in order to pay off debts, they even sold their vehicles and houses.


    On the other side, Shen Yuan watched the Feel-good Index value displayed above Fang Minhui''s head, feeling a bit excited inside.


    The counselor Lih Xiao had a Feel-good Index of only 65 towards him, but he hadn''t expected Fang Minhui''s to be 72. It seemed the class belle had been unable to let go of him in her heart.


    But the next second, Shen Yuan was stunned, as the Feel-good Index suddenly started to change!


    The value of 72 was actually slowly dropping: 71... 70... 69...


    At first, Shen Yuan suspected his eyes were blurry from not being sober, but after rubbing his eyes, the number continued to decline.


    What the fuck?


    Shen Yuan instantly became unsettled. If it dropped below 60, that would mean Fang Minhui, this NPC, wouldn''t be able to generate income for him anymore!


    "I can''t just sit here and do nothing."


    Shen Yuan stood up. Although he didn''t know why Fang Minhui''s good impression of him was dropping so fast, if he let it continue, he would truly miss out on this opportunity.


    "Old Third, what are you doing?"


    Huang Haibao was slurping his noodles when he noticed Shen Yuan suddenly standing up. Cao Shunjin lifted his head, equally baffled.


    "Old Huang, let me ask you, if Fang Minhui gets together with me, would you mind?"


    Shen Yuan asked.


    Before Huang Haibao could speak, Cao Shunjin took over: "Old Third, it''s not about whether I mind or not. The key point is, you simply can''t win the class belle now."


    "You really think you''re still the rich second-generation kid who drove a BMW 4 series?"


    Cao Shunjin was unsparing when he started to criticize, leaving Shen Yuan speechless. He simply didn''t bother to explain and instead continued to look at Huang Haibao.


    Huang Haibao declared decisively, "I don''t mind, as long as the class belle isn''t with Li Zhanpeng, I don''t mind whoever she''s with."


    "Okay, I was just waiting for you to say that."


    Shen Yuan laid down his words without any further ado and walked straight over to Fang Minhui and her companion, greeting them: "Good morning."


    Fang Minhui and Chen Ling were both somewhat taken aback because they weren''t really acquainted and had barely communicated with each other.


    In their class, the boys and girls didn''t really hang out together, and even more so, everyone was divided into several small cliques.


    The last time Fang Minhui reached out to chat with Shen Yuan on WeChat was three years ago, and they had barely talked since then.


    "Good morning, is there something you need?"


    Fang Minhui asked quietly. Although she didn''t know why Shen Yuan was looking for them, she knew basic courtesy was necessary.


    "Are you free tonight? I''ve reserved two seats at Star Sushi''s seasonal kaiseki course. Would you join me?"


    ".....?"


    Fang Minhui was stunned for a moment. Is Shen Yuan asking me to accompany him for dinner?


    Star Sushi''s seasonal kaiseki course?


    The Japanese restaurant where the average expense is over a thousand per person?


    Chen Ling was also bewildered. Hadn''t Shen Yuan just broken up with Senior Shi yesterday? And now he''s asking Huihui out for dinner at such a fancy restaurant?


    She knew of Star Sushi''s seasonal kaiseki course. She often saw videos of people checking out the restaurant on social media. It was one of the poshest Japanese restaurants in Star City.


    And besides, didn''t Shen Yuan''s family just go bankrupt? How could he still afford to take Huihui out for dinner?


    Seeing that Fang Minhui hadn''t responded yet, Shen Yuan added, "After dinner, would you join me for a walk on the second floor of the IFC Mall? I also want to pick out a birthday gift for my sister."


    "Tonight?"


    Fang Minhui looked up at Shen Yuan, and after coming back to her senses, she hesitated, aware of the recent events with his family.


    Your family is going through that, and you''re asking me to dine at such an expensive restaurant?


    "Yes, think it over, and if it''s possible, give me an answer by noon," he said.


    Shen Yuan smiled and pointed at her mobile phone on the table: "After all, you have me on WeChat."


    "Hmm...."


    Fang Minhui nodded thoughtfully.


    "Then I''ll be going."


    Watching Shen Yuan''s retreating figure, Chen Ling couldn''t help but whisper: "My goodness, Shen Yuan is inviting you to a top-tier Japanese meal."


    "The question is, does he have the money?"


    "Uh...."


    Fang Minhui also realized the gravity of the issue and pondered: "Shen Yuan''s family went bankrupt a few months ago. Business is always fluctuating¡ªearn today, lose tomorrow. Maybe their situation has improved again."


    "Possible, otherwise he wouldn''t invite you to such an expensive restaurant. It''s at least a thousand per person, which is nearly my whole month''s living expenses!"


    Chen Ling exclaimed with feeling. It really was a display of obscene wealth. Sometimes, the gap between people is even bigger than that between pigs and humans.


    "What about Li Zhanpeng? Didn''t you just go to the movies with him yesterday?"


    Chen Ling turned to look at Huihui. After all, she had just seen a movie with a guy yesterday and now she was going to have Japanese cuisine with another guy from the same class today. Was that really okay?


    The gossip in Chen Ling''s heart was starting to stir, but a love triangle like this was quite exciting!


    And with all three of them in the same class, the thought was somehow thrilling!


    "Minhui, was that Shen Yuan just now? What did he want?"


    At that moment, an unhappy voice came from not far away. Fang Minhui and Chen Ling turned their heads to look and saw it was Li Zhanpeng.


    "Uh... he was asking about today''s classes."


    Fang Minhui brushed her bangs aside unnaturally, making up a random excuse.


    Li Zhanpeng frowned: "Don''t we have the schedule in the group chat? What kind of nonsense is he asking!"


    ...

 Chapter 9 The Young and Vigorous Man

    "Minhui, could it be that he just used asking about the course as an excuse to talk to you?"


    "I''ve heard it all, he got dumped by a senior yesterday afternoon, must have been caught fooling around, it''s best if you all stay away from him."


    Li Zhanpeng sat down next to Fang Minhui, grumbling as he did.


    Fang Minhui''s brows furrowed slightly, displaying a hint of displeasure.


    Li Zhanpeng didn''t notice Fang Minhui''s expression and continued staring in Shen Yuan''s direction, saying dismissively, "And I also heard he turned down the scholarship application, his family is already in that situation, yet he still puts on airs."


    "Such a person doesn''t understand the concept of sharing the burden with his family at all."


    After finishing his rant, Li Zhanpeng realized no one was engaging with him. He then turned around, noticed Fang Minhui''s expression seemed off, and let out an awkward chuckle to change the subject, "Hey, you guys started eating already? Didn''t I tell you I''d buy breakfast?"


    Chen Ling rolled her eyes on the side. They had agreed to meet at the cafeteria at 8 AM, but he dragged it until 8:10 before finally coming down.


    Really, it''s just a few bucks for breakfast.


    She heard it all from Minhui yesterday, the 7:30 movie ticket last night, they could have had dinner outside before watching it.


    But Li Zhanpeng said he needed to go back to the dorm to change clothes and didn''t come down until 6:30, then shamelessly suggested they just make do with the cafeteria today and go outside next time.


    No wonder Minhui came straight back after the movie last night.


    Such a person, clearly rich but still so stingy.


    Look at Shen Yuan, spending in a top-notch Japanese restaurant, one meal worth twenty of your movie tickets.


    Can''t even afford one meal, yet still trying to hit on girls!


    Fang Minhui also felt slightly annoyed inside. She had thought Li Zhanpeng, coming from a well-off family, would be generous.


    Yet on their first date yesterday, Li Zhanpeng still ended up taking her to eat in the cafeteria.


    If you''re going to be stingy, at least don''t act like you''re generous.


    Meanwhile, Shen Yuan returned to his table, planning to finish the remaining half bowl of noodles, when Huang Haibao couldn''t help leaning over and whispered, "Old Third, how did it go?"


    Shen Yuan shook his head, "She hasn''t agreed yet."


    "I just knew it."


    Cao Shunjin looked vindicated, "Old Third is no longer the Old Third from before, and Fang Minhui is no longer the Fang Minhui from before."


    "Old Third, seeing that even you couldn''t manage it, I actually feel quite relieved."


    Huang Haibao patted Shen Yuan''s shoulder.


    "Damn it, you were just supporting me!"


    Although Shen Yuan cursed, he still felt fairly confident inside.


    Star Sushi, thanks to frequent online promotions, is well-known and many celebrities have been there.


    It''s hard for any girl to resist such a high-class Japanese meal.


    ...


    By junior year, the course schedule wasn''t as packed as in freshman and sophomore years; today being Thursday, there was just one class in the morning and one in the afternoon.


    Class time was always boring. Shen Yuan marked attendance and then dozed off at the desk until it was almost time for lunch, when he sent a WeChat to Fang Minhui.


    "Tonight at 6:30, I''ll wait for you."


    He also sent the location of Star Sushi.


    Fang Minhui, who had been attentively listening to the lecture, felt her phone vibrate and saw it was Shen Yuan''s WeChat.


    She turned her head and saw Shen Yuan sitting in the last row, thinking to herself that she hadn''t even agreed yet and he was already taking it for granted.


    She hesitated a bit, wondering if it made her seem too frivolous to go out with a guy so easily, the first time he asked.


    After all, Li Zhanpeng had asked her several times before she reluctantly agreed.


    But on the other hand, the chance to check into such a top-tier Japanese restaurant was indeed rare.


    Fang Minhui was somewhat torn. Chen Ling, sitting beside her, also saw the WeChat, nudged her softly in the waist, and whispered, "Star Sushi, huh? You should totally go, it''s just a meal after all."


    After pondering her friend''s logical point ¡ª that it was just a meal, and besides, Shen Yuan didn''t seem to be making any moves on her ¡ª Fang Minhui straightened her hair at the forehead, picked up her phone, and replied with an "OK" emoji, adding, "Then take me with you, I''ll wait for you at the school gate at 6."


    Shen Yuan, having just sent the message, went back to sleeping, only to check his WeChat while queueing for lunch in the cafeteria.


    "The fish has finally bitten the hook."


    Shen Yuan muttered with a smile, Huang Haibao standing behind him, puzzled, asked, "What hook?"


    "It''s nothing."


    Shen Yuan gave a faint smile, he wasn''t ready to tell Old Huang about this yet, fearing his fragile heart couldn''t withstand such a blow.


    ...


    At 5:50 PM, Shen Yuan appeared at the entrance of the International campus, having scheduled a ride in advance. The app indicated that the pickup would arrive at 6 PM.


    At exactly 6 PM, Fang Minhui arrived, dressed elegantly for the evening''s date. She wore a beige fitted long skirt and a light-colored, form-fitting sweater.


    Compared to her fiery and unrestrained appearance in the morning, she now looked more ladylike, though her outfit still accentuated her graceful figure.


    Especially that waist-to-hip ratio, simply incredible!


    Shen Yuan found himself somewhat distracted, thinking, she really must have studied dance, what a figure!


    Just then, the ride arrived, and Shen Yuan waved to her, "Get in."


    "Okay."


    Fang Minhui''s cheeks flushed slightly as she followed him into the back seat.


    She was feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves. It was partly because it was her first date with Shen Yuan and partly because it was her first time dining at such an upscale restaurant.


    Star Sushi was actually quite small and the decor was modest; at first glance, one might think it was just an ordinary sushi bar.


    Shen Yuan led Fang Minhui out of the car, and they walked through streets and alleys for ten minutes before arriving at the restaurant.


    As they reached the entrance, a waitress in a kimono greeted them warmly, "Hello, do you have a reservation?"


    "Yes, the last digits are 4115."


    "Mr. Shen, right this way, please."


    The waitress gestured for them to follow her.


    Shen Yuan was actually a regular here, often bringing Zhou Wanting and sometimes Old Huang and Old Cao to enhance their meals.


    This led him to get a membership here.


    The restaurant operated on reservation only, serving a limited number of guests each evening, typically requiring a reservation 3-5 days in advance. However, members like Shen Yuan could arrange something on short notice if needed.


    "Please take a seat, Mr. Shen."


    They entered a cozy private dining room, where the waitress considerately laid the cushions for them before handing an iPad to Shen Yuan.


    "Would you like to see the menu or should I make some recommendations?"


    "Make some recommendations, it''s been a while, and I''m not sure if there have been any changes to the menu."


    "Certainly, besides our signature sashimi, we recently introduced a dish featuring long-lived mackerel and goose liver, and also Wagyu fried rice. Would you like to try those?"


    "Sure, that sounds good for two people. Also, add a serving of matsutake seafood soup for each."


    "Alright."


    The waitress crossed her hands respectfully and stepped out, gently sliding the door closed behind her.


    "The service here is really top-notch."


    Fang Minhui remarked, reflecting on the quality one would expect from a Japanese restaurant with an average spend over a thousand. It truly felt like a home away from home.


    It was her first time at such a restaurant, and she felt like it was quite an eye-opener.


    "The service is good, and the flavors are excellent. I used to come here often,"


    said Shen Yuan, though he was not particularly fond of the Japanese-style dining arrangement in the private room, where guests either sat cross-legged or knelt. He wondered why the Japanese preferred eating this way.


    Typically, Shen Yuan enjoyed sitting at the counter, watching the chef work as he ate.


    If he hadn''t wanted to create a more intimate atmosphere, he wouldn''t have booked a private room.


    Shen Yuan sat cross-legged, gesturing to the cushion next to him, "Have a seat."


    Because she was wearing a long skirt, Fang Minhui couldn''t sit cross-legged; she gently lifted her skirt and slowly knelt down.


    From Shen Yuan''s angle, he could perfectly view Fang Minhui''s full hips. The position was really quite provocative...


    Shen Yuan found himself swallowing hard. Truth be told, it had been two months since his last poker game,


    which was when he was still with Zhou Wanting.


    Every man had his physical needs, especially a vigorous young man like himself.


    But the timing wasn''t right, he needed to stay calm, stay calm...

 Chapter 10 Chance Encounter

    The table was set with tea sets and tea leaves, and Shen Yuan, looking to divert attention, simply started making tea.


    "Shen Yuan, why did you suddenly think of inviting me to dinner?"


    Fang Minhui, with her hands on her thighs, asked curiously, as this question had been on her mind and she had been pondering it before coming.


    "I''ve always wanted to invite you to dinner, just never found the right opportunity," he replied.


    Shen Yuan dodged the question, but there was nothing he could do; how could he tell her that he was doing it for the ''System''s cashback?


    "Oh."


    Fang Minhui responded indifferently, clearly not satisfied with the answer.


    Shen Yuan noticed Fang Minhui''s concern and paused for a while before saying unhurriedly, "During military training, you often helped me buy water and drinks, and you chatted with me on weChat in the evenings. I''ve always kept that in mind and just haven''t found the opportunity to thank you."


    "You still remember."


    Fang Minhui''s eyes lit up. She had thought that after three years, Shen Yuan would have forgotten all about it.


    "How could I forget?" Shen Yuan affirmed.


    Fang Minhui''s cheeks turned slightly red; under the dim yellow light, looking at Shen Yuan''s well-defined profile, she felt a warmth in her heart and her body involuntarily leaned a bit towards him.


    Shen Yuan was busy making tea and turned his head inadvertently.


    Gosh, who could withstand this!


    Fang Minhui was already kneeling on the ground, and in this position, with her hands on her thighs, her full chest was even more prominently displayed.


    Shen Yuan turned his head again, took a deep breath, and calmed himself down...


    Fortunately, dishes started arriving one after another, distracting both of them with the delicacies on the table.


    Half an hour later, a semi-full Fang Minhui put down her chopsticks, stood up, and said she needed to go to the restroom; Shen Yuan, having also eaten enough, prepared to go to the front desk to pay the bill.


    "Mr. Shen, your total bill comes to 2920. As you are a member of our restaurant, you only need to pay 2774 after the discount," said the sweet-smiling waitress as she handed him the receipt and pointed to the payment code on the table.


    Shen Yuan took out his phone and, as usual, scanned the code to make the payment.


    Fang Minhui came out of the restroom just in time to see this scene and couldn''t help but click her tongue.


    She had mentally prepared beforehand, assuming this meal would definitely start at 2000, but seeing Shen Yuan casually scan 2774 out as if it were nothing, she was still somewhat astonished.


    To think her monthly allowance was just over two thousand, yet here he was, spending it on a single meal.


    It must be nice to be wealthy!


    Seeing this made her even more displeased with Li Zhanpeng, who had taken her to the movies the day before.


    What kind of person was he? He wasn''t exactly poor, yet so stingy!


    "Let''s go, and make sure to grab your bag," Shen Yuan said after paying, thoughtfully reminding her.


    "Yes, sure," Fang Minhui nodded contentedly.


    "Ding!"


    A notification popped up on the phone, and Shen Yuan opened it to check.


    [China Construction Bank] Your account ending in 0098 received 8322 yuan on May 11 at 19:10, current balance 125778.


    "Wow!"


    Shen Yuan was delighted inside, it really paid off to bring a lady to dine at high-end restaurants, a net profit of over five thousand.


    But just as this message appeared, in the next second, he received another credit alert.


    [China Construction Bank] Your account ending in 0098 received 5578 yuan on May 11 at 19:10, current balance 131356.


    Another transaction!


    [Limited-time mission: Spend on an opposite-sex with a Feel-good Index over 60 and gain their favor.]


    [Mission reward: Expenses incurred on the opposite-sex will be tripled back to the host, and for every 3-point increase in the Feel-good Index of the opposite-sex, an additional doubling of cashback will apply.]


    As the technological panel appeared once more, Shen Yuan read the latter part of the reward, thinking it must be because Fang Minhui''s Feel-good Index towards him had increased by 3 points, hence the additional doubling of the cashback.


    Earning ten thousand from a single meal, what a deal!


    It seems like Fang Minhui, this useful friend, really needed to be developed further.


    Fang Minhui had already come out of the private room with her purse by this time, and Shen Yuan indeed saw an increase in her Feel-good Index.


    [Feel-good Index toward the Host: 76]


    "Let''s go,"


    Fang Minhui said cheerily. After the meal they just had, she found Shen Yuan much more appealing.


    Maybe, that''s the power of financial ability...


    "Yeah, we need to go to IFC Mall to pick a gift for my sister."


    Shen Yuan led Fang Minhui out of Star Sushi, intent on maximizing the benefits of their outing.


    It was peak hour, so there was a bit of a traffic jam; estimating a long wait for a Didi ride, Shen Yuan simply hailed a taxi on the street.


    When they arrived at IFC Mall, Shen Yuan was about to pull out his phone to pay, but Fang Minhui opened her purse and said, "Let me pay this, I''ve got cash."


    She had her own schemes; Shen Yuan had just treated her to an expensive Japanese meal, and she felt it was only right to share some other expenses.


    The taxi fare wasn''t expensive, just over thirty yuan, but it was mainly to leave a good impression on Shen Yuan, especially since she had brought some cash along.


    Shen Yuan had no objections; since Fang Minhui intended to pay, he simply went along with it.


    Meanwhile, nearby in the underground parking lot entrance, the barrier seemed to have malfunctioned, causing a long queue, and the driver of a black Audi A7, unable to stand it, honked his horn impatiently at the car in front.


    "Damn, it''s so congested!"


    Hou Jun, sitting in the driver''s seat, said impatiently. His irritation stemmed partly from the traffic jam and partly from the woman next to him who always wanted to shop at IFC Mall.


    "Just wait a bit, we''re not in a rush anyway."


    Zhou Wanting sat next to him, eyes brimming with anticipation. She felt it had been ages since she last bought a bag, and she was finally here to browse Prada and LV.


    "I have a remote meeting at ten tonight, I don''t have much time to wander around for long,"


    Hou Jun stated flatly.


    He was already laying the groundwork for himself.


    He had been to IFC Mall before, with luxury brand stores filling the first and second floors, where bags started at tens of thousands; they were incredibly expensive.


    He was the marketing director at a foreign company, with a decent income of four to five hundred thousand a year.


    But he couldn''t endure visiting here too often.


    Plus, he was just fooling around with Zhou Wanting and didn''t want to spend too much on her.


    "It''s not often we come here, just linger a bit longer with me."


    Zhou Wanting turned and coyly clung to Hou Jun''s arm.


    Although Hou Jun had bought her an LV bag just last month, Prada had recently released a new handbag model that she absolutely adored.


    Hou Jun had agreed to come here just yesterday, but damn Shen Yuan for messing with his mind yesterday!


    Zhou Wanting had really coaxed for a long time last night to cheer Hou Jun up.


    "We''ll see."


    Seeing Zhou Wanting pulling the same tactic again, Hou Jun had no choice, as women''s coquetry could indeed be deadly.


    As they waited, Hou Jun inadvertently looked out the window and saw a familiar face, that guy who had messed with his mind yesterday!


    "Hey, Wanting, why is that guy here?"


    Hou Jun watched Shen Yuan get out of the backseat of a taxi, somewhat surprised, but then he noticed a girl also getting out of the car.


    He immediately widened his eyes, the girl''s figure and looks were top-notch, especially her full bust, which was particularly eye-catching.


    "Who?"


    Zhou Wanting casually responded, following Hou Jun''s gaze without thinking.


    Shen Yuan?


    Why would he be here?


    Who is that girl beside him...


    Zhou Wanting''s mind was momentarily baffled; her ex-boyfriend had just broken up with her yesterday and here he was today, already shopping with a new girl?


    And that girl, she seemed to have a better figure than hers...

 Chapter 11 What are you doing here?

    "What''s he doing here?"


    Hou Jun couldn''t help but mutter, having heard from Zhou Wanting that Shen Yuan''s family had gone bankrupt and that he also owed a lot of debt outside.


    In theory, without his parents'' protection, Shen Yuan would be just a poor student. Why would he dare to spend money at a place like IFC Mall?


    When Hou Jun saw the girl next to Shen Yuan paying the parking fee, he suddenly felt uneasy inside.


    What kind of crap is this, bankrupt and still spending a woman''s money?


    Meanwhile, Zhou Wanting, in the passenger seat, watched the two pay the parking fee and walk side by side into IFC Mall, her face gradually darkening.


    They had just broken up yesterday, and here he was today, going out on a date with another girl.


    Shen Yuan, you really have some nerve!


    On the other hand, Shen Yuan hadn''t noticed Hou Jun and Zhou Wanting at all. They arrived at the mall''s first floor and happened to see a tea drink shop. Each ordered a milk tea, sitting and slowly finishing their drinks before starting to browse.


    The first floor of IFC Mall primarily housed clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics, while luxury brands were mostly on the second floor.


    Shen Yuan wasn''t interested in those items. He led Fang Minhui directly to the second floor, planning to look at bags.


    He had already bought an LV last time and this time wanted to check out Prada or Chanel.


    However, just as they approached the entrance to Prada, he surprisingly found Zhou Wanting and that sleazy middle-aged man also inside.


    It''s really such a small world!


    Shen Yuan didn''t want to encounter them and turned around, saying, "Let''s check out some other stores first."


    "Hmm."


    Fang Minhui didn''t mind; actually, just being able to go out and eat top-quality Japanese cuisine with Shen Yuan had already made her quite pleased.


    She hadn''t had many opportunities to interact with Shen Yuan before, but through tonight, Fang Minhui''s impression of Shen Yuan had changed somewhat.


    Being with him felt completely different than being with Li Zhanpeng.


    Li Zhanpeng always spoke with a boasting tone, as if he could hardly wait to show off every good quality he thought he had.


    For instance, things like, "My family paid cash for a flat in Tianjiao Haoting in Star City last year. It''s not big, just 120 square meters, but I think it''s enough. Too big and it''s hard to clean."


    Or, "A car is just a mode of transport, it doesn''t have to be too good, it just needs to get you around. My mom is always trying to get me a BMW, but I refused. After all, our parents'' money isn''t easy come, easy go. We need to consider our parents."


    And many more remarks like these, which Fang Minhui found quite off-putting.


    Shen Yuan was different; he exuded an air of composure and calm throughout the evening.


    He didn''t flaunt deliberately, nor did he brag about his family''s financial status. Their conversation topics were all about fun experiences at school or embarrassing moments from childhood.


    Thus, the whole process was enjoyable. Fang Minhui found some joy in it and was already looking forward to their next date.


    "Shen Yuan!"


    A male voice came from behind Shen Yuan, who frowned. He had guessed who it was but was in a good mood that day and didn''t want this couple to ruin it, so he pretended not to hear.


    Fang Minhui subconsciously turned back and saw an unfamiliar middle-aged man, but seeing that Shen Yuan was indifferent, she thought he hadn''t heard and reminded him, "Shen Yuan, someone is calling you."


    "I don''t know him, no need to pay him any mind," Shen Yuan quickened his steps.


    "Shen Yuan, since we''re already at the door, why don''t we browse around? It doesn''t cost anything just to look."


    Hou Jun stepped forward a few paces, watching Shen Yuan''s retreating figure with a sense of superiority.


    Hou Jun had been outmaneuvered by Shen Yuan yesterday and was worried about not having the chance to regain face, thinking to himself that he had never experienced those projects, all enjoyed by this son of a bitch!


    At first, he thought Shen Yuan, being a poor student, would only stroll around the first floor, but to his surprise, Shen dared to come up to the second floor.


    You have the audacity to browse the Prada section when you need a woman to cover your transportation costs?


    Can you even afford it?


    Of course, it was also an opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the beauty beside him.


    To show the girl clearly that there''s no future in following a poor guy like this, what good is it only to look and not buy?


    Zhou Wanting was completely engrossed in looking at bags when she heard Hou Jun''s voice. She instinctively glanced in his direction and immediately came over after putting down the bag.


    "Shen Yuan, what are you doing here?"


    Zhou Wanting''s tone was harsh as she stopped Shen Yuan.


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but curse inwardly. Now that he thought of leaving, he couldn''t, so he turned back and said, "What a coincidence, you guys are here too?"


    Fang Minhui turned to look at the two. He didn''t recognize the middle-aged man, but he had seen Zhou Wanting before, as she used to hang out with Shen Yuan.


    Zhou Wanting was sizing up Fang Minhui, who looked somewhat familiar and was probably from the International campus as well.


    She subconsciously compared herself to Minhui, not only was Minhui''s facial beauty slightly superior, but even in terms of figure...


    Her bust and hips were noticeably fuller than her own.


    Zhou Wanting was even more displeased. Yesterday, Shen Yuan had almost laid bare all her secrets, and now he was out shopping with a girl who was better looking than her. What was he implying?


    If Shen Yuan had found a girl who was inferior to her in every aspect, she wouldn''t have said a thing and might have even felt secretly pleased, but now he had found a pretty girl whose figure was better than hers?


    Zhou Wanting suspected that Shen Yuan had shown up at this time on purpose just to infuriate her!


    "I came to shop for a gift for my sister."


    Shen Yuan replied indifferently.


    "Pfft....."


    Hou Jun couldn''t help it and burst out laughing, "To buy a gift for your sister, you should be at a toy wholesale market or browsing Pinduoduo. What are you doing here?"


    The commotion among the four of them was not small, and the salesladies at Prada also thought, "Wow, what a scene."


    Mr. Shen was a regular, though he hadn''t visited in the past few months, the salesladies remembered him.


    They also knew that Ms. Zhou was Mr. Shen''s girlfriend.


    However, based on the current situation, it seemed that Shen Yuan was shopping with a new love interest whose figure was even better than Ms. Zhou''s. At the same time, they happened upon Ms. Zhou with her "new" love¡ªa man at least forty years old.


    And considering Ms. Zhou''s attitude and tone, it appeared that Mr. Shen had dumped Ms. Zhou?


    Since they had just broken up yesterday, setting aside Mr. Shen''s faults, why had Ms. Zhou so quickly found an older man to buy her bags?


    When Ms. Zhou and the old man entered the store just now, one of the salesladies, Julia, who often served them, thought he was Ms. Zhou''s father.


    After all, it was generally assumed that Ms. Zhou was still Mr. Shen''s girlfriend.


    But based on Julia''s years of experience selling luxury goods, she noticed something unusual in their looks and decided to switch the nearly spoken "Uncle" to "Big Brother."


    Julia was quite relieved with her quick response, especially since such occurrences were no longer unusual nowadays.


    After all, the last time, a man in his seventies had brought a woman in her twenties to shop.


    This pair with merely a twenty-year age gap was nothing in comparison.


    ...

 Chapter 12 Two?

    Zhou Wanting, with her arms crossed, commanded, "This sister, although I don''t know you, I also graduated from the International campus, and I know you''re a student there, so I kindly advise you to keep a distance from this kind of person, and not get deceived."


    Fang Minhui was slightly startled, somewhat slow to react.


    She didn''t understand why Zhou Wanting, as a senior, still cared about these matters even after breaking up with Shen Yuan.


    Moreover, why had Zhou Wanting, after breaking up with Shen Yuan, chosen such a greasy middle-aged man?


    Shen Yuan outclassed him in both looks and physique alright...


    More importantly, Shen Yuan hadn''t deceived her; he had just treated her to Japanese cuisine and was only browsing Prada to pick a gift for his sister.


    "What''s it to you anyway? And what do you mean by deceive? Who have I deceived?"


    Shen Yuan also lost his temper, clearly since they had broken up, they should have moved on. Why was she still meddling so much after the breakup!


    "Shen Yuan, you shouldn''t speak to Wanting like that."


    Hou Jun stepped forward, righteously proclaiming, "She was also thinking of your best interests. We men should be gentlemen, especially since Wanting is your ex-girlfriend."


    "We all know about your family''s situation; there''s no need to pretend to be rich in a luxury store, and no one is laughing at you. Right, Wanting?"


    While speaking, Hou Jun casually turned slightly, making sure the Audi car keys hanging at his waist were more conspicuous.


    His pride, the Audi A7, cost nearly 700,000 on the road; though financed, it was enough to surpass over 99% of the Huaxia people.


    If a guy like Shen Yuan without a car could charm ladies, then what havoc could he, a real "rich man," potentially wreak?


    Fang Minhui, clearly more attractive than Zhou Wanting beside her, he wouldn''t mind keeping another "canary."


    If necessary, he even could kick Zhou Wanting to the curb.


    Shen Yuan''s mouth twitched, these two really disgusted him today, a truly perfect match indeed!


    "Ding!"


    [A perfect life should not be looked down upon by others]


    [Time-limited task: Spend on a person of the opposite sex with a Feel-good Index over 60, and cause the increase of negative perception from others]


    [Task Reward: For every 5-point increase in negative perception from others, the amount spent on the person of opposite sex will be doubled and returned to the host]


    [Note: This task can be stacked with the cashback for spending on the opposite sex]


    The technological panel reappeared before Shen Yuan''s eyes.


    Moved by the System''s suggestion, if he could make Hou Jun and Zhou Wanting increase their negative perception towards him by spending on Fang Minhui, combined with the cashback for spending on a woman, he could gain a fivefold return!


    If he spent 30,000, he could earn 150,000; spending 60,000 could net him 300,000!


    System, you''re awesome!


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    At this moment, negative values appeared above the heads of Hou Jun and Zhou Wanting.


    [Negative perception towards the host: -30]


    [Negative perception towards the host: -35]


    Initially, Shen Yuan had wanted to leave some dignity for both parties and not lose face in such a public place, which is why he had chosen to leave.


    But Hou Jun and Zhou Wanting just had to stir things up.


    Now that the System had issued a task, Shen Yuan had even less reason to leave.


    "Well then, let''s go in and take a look,"


    Shen Yuan said to Fang Minhui.


    "Just looking and not buying? Don''t waste the saleswoman''s time then,"


    Hou Jun couldn''t fathom where Shen Yuan found the courage; he thought, please open your eyes wide, this is Prada!


    For a guy who just had a girl pay his cab fare, he shouldn''t be stirring up trouble here.


    Hou Jun already began picturing the scene where Shen Yuan would be embarrassed soon.


    Zhou Wanting also sneered coldly, enjoying the drama, and continued picking handbags at Prada.


    She had narrowed down her choices online and was at this physical store mainly to try on and see the effect.


    "I''ll take this one," Zhou Wanting pointed at the handbag and said.


    "Alright, please wait a moment, I''ll fetch you a new one from the stockroom," the saleswoman Julia cheerfully responded, turning to head into the back room.


    At stores like Prada with a one-on-one service system, Julia was initially serving Shen Yuan, but having just learned of Shen Yuan''s family going bankrupt, surely he had no money now, so she promptly continued her service for Ms. Zhou and her "new" companion.


    Indeed, reality confirmed her guess!


    After a while, Julia brought out a new bag. Zhou Wanting briefly inspected it, then called out, "Jun, I''ve made my choice; you can pay now!"


    Zhou Wanting intentionally raised her voice, afraid that Shen Yuan wouldn''t hear her.


    "The total is 26,800."


    Hou Jun''s heart sank as he listened from the side, cursing under his breath about the wasteful woman spending over twenty thousand again!


    But he had no choice. In front of Shen Yuan and the beauty, he gritted his teeth and made the payment.


    "Swipe the card."


    Hou Jun took out his wallet from his pocket, handed over his bank card, and as he entered the PIN, he saw 26,800 displayed on the POS machine, feeling immense heartache.


    He silently resolved that no matter what, he couldn''t come here again!


    Even if Zhou Wanting coaxed him, he couldn''t come!


    "Jun, you''re really sweet."


    Zhou Wanting beamed with joy, linking arms with Hou Jun and giving him a peck.


    Shen Yuan and Fang Minhui were picking out bags and didn''t pay much attention to the activity on the other side. Fang Minhui whispered, "Shen Yuan, how old is your sister? Does she want a shoulder bag or a handbag?"


    "Either is fine. Help me choose."


    "Okay, I think both styles are actually nice."


    Fang Minhui pointed at a beige handbag and a pink shoulder bag, "Both styles are great, and both beige and pink match clothes well. I think your sister would like them."


    Although Fang Minhui had never been to a luxury store, she often saw photos of these types of bags on social media, so her aesthetic sense was quite on point.


    Shen Yuan''s sister was still in high school, not quite suitable for dark colors or complex designs. Simple and versatile bags were more appropriate.


    "Do you like it?" asked Shen Yuan with a smile.


    "Me?"


    Fang Minhui was taken aback, her throat suddenly dry. She had a faint premonition and paused before saying, "Of course, I like them. I think girls generally have similar tastes, and your sister would probably like them too."


    "Great, then let''s take both of these," Shen Yuan signaled to a sales associate nearby.


    "Both?"


    The sales associate was surprised; she had thought it was to choose one and not pick both.


    Fang Minhui was even more shocked; her suggestion was for Shen Yuan to pick one from the two, not buy both at once.


    Though she had a premonition that Shen Yuan might gift her one, the actual occurrence left her somewhat incredulous.


    After all, each bag was over twenty thousand!


    Thinking about this, Fang Minhui felt nervous. If Shen Yuan really intended to give her one of them, should she accept it or not?


    "Yes, two," said Shen Yuan affirmatively.


    "Okay, okay."


    The sales associate, Alisa, took a deep breath. Her years of professional experience quickly calmed her down: "I''ll go to the warehouse and get two new ones for you."


    Actually, it was her first time serving Mr. Shen; it was usually Julia who attended to him. This time, Ms. Zhou had arrived first and Julia was too busy, hence Alisa was assigned to serve Mr. Shen.


    However, during the earlier gossip, Alisa heard that Mr. Shen''s family was reportedly bankrupt, and she thought this time it would be a futile effort.


    She had dealt with many customers who just browsed without buying, all talk and no action, really a waste of time!


    Initially, she didn''t have high expectations, but unexpectedly, Mr. Shen immediately chose two bags!


    Alisa secretly rejoiced, wondering if Julia would regret not handling this customer herself.


    By now, Zhou Wanting had already received her Prada packaged by the sales associate. Contentedly holding Hou Jun''s arm, she glanced in Shen Yuan''s direction, ready to leave with a victor''s posture.


    See, my Hou Jun says buy and buys! And you, all talk no action!


    Hou Jun too stood confidently, chest puffed out, as he approached Shen Yuan, "All right, you''ve looked enough, after all, the sales associate has sales targets every day, and hanging out with you guys is delaying her work."


    "What''s it to you?" retorted Shen Yuan.


    Hou Jun choked on the retort, cursing inwardly about the lack of manners!


    "Shen Yuan, I don''t know why you''re still being stubborn."


    Zhou Wanting proudly raised her handbag, "Mainly, I wanted to remind this junior to keep her eyes open when choosing a partner, not to judge merely by looks."


    "Mr. Shen, here are the two new bags. Please check them to see if there are any issues,"


    Alisa smiled brightly, reveling in the joy of the forthcoming transaction, "If there''s no issue, I''ll go and process the paperwork for you."


    Hou Jun was taken aback, hearing something off, and Zhou Wanting''s expression changed as well.


    Two???


    ...

 Chapter 13 Money Tree

    Zhou Wanting stared blankly, full of disbelief, thinking she had heard wrong.


    Buy two bags?


    Shen Yuan''s family had gone bankrupt; even the car and house had been sold to pay off debts. Where did the money come to buy anything?


    Hou Jun found it even more unbelievable, especially since the beauty beside him had just paid for the taxi.


    With a skeptical look, they decided to watch what would happen next, but to their surprise, Shen Yuan casually waved his hand: "No need to check, just issue the invoice."


    "Ah... okay... okay..."


    Alisa hadn''t even recovered, an uncontrollable excitement surged within her, and she hastily agreed.


    Such a big spender! A genuine big spender!


    This was a real sugar daddy¡ªdecisive and efficient!


    Under the shocked gaze of Zhou Wanting and Hou Jun, Shen Yuan swiped his card and completed the payment in one go.


    "Shen Yuan, wasn''t your family bankrupt? Where did you get the money?"


    Zhou Wanting could no longer hold back and sharply questioned.


    "None of your damn business."


    Shen Yuan was signing the receipt and replied indifferently.


    "You didn''t go and take out a loan, did you?"


    Hou Jun had just thought it through; if his family was bankrupt, then that was the only possible explanation.


    No money at home, but to impress a girl and show off, he went to take out a loan.


    Such stories were common in society. Hou Jun had seen plenty of families go bankrupt just to tip livestreamers, and even cases where individuals misused public funds for lavish outings with girls and then got reported.


    Real drama!


    "Ah yes, yes, yes, I took out a loan, think whatever you want."


    Shen Yuan handed the pen back to Alisa, then smiled at Hou Jun: "The boss isn''t short of money, why not buy another for Wanting, it''s just over twenty thousand more."


    "Uh..."


    Hou Jun''s face showed difficulty, he stammered, not knowing what to say. He had just spent twenty-six thousand and was already heartbroken, let alone buying another one.


    Even if rich, it wasn''t the way to spend money.


    "As a man, besides having manners, you should also be generous. Your car alone costs at least six or seven hundred thousand, why care about this little money?"


    Shen Yuan''s smile was teasing, full of mockery. There was no helping it; the System had given him a task, and the more Hou Jun and Zhou Wanting disliked him, the better.


    "Uh... wait, let me take this call first."


    Hou Jun took out his cell phone, turned around and walked away, all the while saying: "I''m outside right now."


    "What? Who gave you the authority to decide that? Didn''t I say that projects worth hundreds of thousands couldn''t proceed without me..."


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but want to laugh; this bastard could really put on an act.


    At that moment, however, Shen Yuan suddenly noticed that their negative values above their heads had changed.


    Hou Jun''s negative value had started at 30 and had now risen to 35.


    And Zhou Wanting''s negative value had increased from 35 to 45.


    "Hou Jun, how could you..."


    Zhou Wanting looked at the departing figure of Hou Jun, utterly disappointed, not expecting him to crumble so easily.


    "Shen Yuan, look after yourself."


    Outnumbered, she could only drop a severe remark and then quickly followed him.


    Meanwhile, Alisa had already finished packing, smiling as she handed over the bags: "Mr. Shen, I''ve packed them for you."


    Julia, standing by, watched the scene, her heart bleeding.


    Mr. Shen was still that Mr. Shen, buying two bags in one fell swoop.


    As for Ms. Zhou and her new flame, what a joke!


    Julia cried without tears, regretting her recent decision deeply, as she had the chance to continue serving Mr. Shen, but she had actually believed the nonsense from Ms. Zhou and that man!


    Madness, whoever told you that they were bankrupt!


    "Okay."


    Shen Yuan politely took the handbag and handed it directly to Minhui Fang, "It''s for you."


    "This....."


    Minhui Fang hesitated internally, knowing the bag was worth twenty-nine thousand, was it really just given to her like that?


    Although she had mentally prepared herself, Minhui Fang felt she still had to refuse, "I can''t accept this, it''s too valuable."


    "What''s the big deal, it''s just a bag. Besides, I do feel a bit embarrassed for showing you these dishonest people today. Just consider the bag as my way of apologizing!"


    Minhui Fang hesitated for a moment and finally accepted it, "Well, thank you, Shen Yuan."


    "Don''t thank me so quickly, there''s also this, for you as well," Shen Yuan then handed over another bag.


    Minhui Fang stared incredulously, "Weren''t you supposed to give one to your sister?"


    Oh goodness, she was already embarrassed accepting one bag, let alone two.


    "I''m not sure if she''ll like it. I''ll bring her here next time to shop; anyway, both were your picks."


    Picking out a birthday gift for his sister was just a pretext, and Shen Xuan, that devilish girl, definitely wouldn''t want it and would scold him for wasting money and then complain to their parents.


    If Old Shen and Ms. Li found out, they would certainly beat him up first and then force him to explain the source of the money.


    Most importantly, the more Minhui Fang accepted, the more cashback he would receive!


    Minhui Fang''s face showed her discomfort, having already struggled mentally just with accepting one gift, how could she face accepting another?


    Besides, she didn''t want to leave an impression of a gold-digger on Shen Yuan.


    "No worries, this is just the beginning, we have a long time ahead of us, just accept it for now."


    Shen Yuan worried she wouldn''t accept and with a serious face warned, "If you refuse again, I might really get angry."


    "Then... okay."


    Minhui Fang sighed in relief and gave up struggling; since Shen Yuan had spoken thusly, persistently refusing might annoy him.


    It was difficult to refuse a Prada, after all.


    However, she suddenly pondered over what Shen Yuan had mentioned earlier.


    "Long days ahead," could he mean....


    Minhui Fang, who occasionally browsed memes, was familiar with such puns, and she and Chen Ling would often joke about them.


    Shen Yuan... could he possibly mean that?


    But, to agree to go out with him the first time, wouldn''t it seem too easygoing?


    Yet he had spent over fifty thousand on her today, if he really had such a request...


    At that thought, Minhui Fang''s cheeks turned slightly red, and she dared not lift her head to look at Shen Yuan.


    Meanwhile, Shen Yuan was patiently waiting for the System''s rewards.


    [Congratulations, Host, for completing the time-limited task]


    [This time-limited task has accumulated 15 points of negative value. With a return of three times the spending amount and additional opposite-sex spending, a total of six times the amount is returned]


    Stable!


    Shen Yuan clenched his fist slightly, overwhelmed with joy, as just now Hou Jun had contributed 5 points of negative value and Zhou Wanting contributed 10 points.


    According to the task issued by the System, every 5 points of negative value would double the earnings, 15 points were equivalent to tripling.


    "Ding!"


    [China Construction Bank]Your card number ending in 0098 received an income of 339,600 on May 11 at 21:10, with a current balance of 414,356.


    The cashback money was also deposited!


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help looking at the girl who had earned him over three hundred thousand, thinking inside: this is indeed his money tree¡ªhe must maintain it well and water it diligently.


    Yes, he could "water" it well.

 Chapter 14 Li Zhanpengs Beautiful Dream

    "Let''s head back to school now."


    Looking at Fang Minhui''s curvaceous figure, Shen Yuan actually felt a bit restless, but playing poker is something you can''t be too eager about; it''s better when things happen naturally.


    The dormitory gates generally close at 10 PM, and it''s now 9 PM, so there''s plenty of time to get back.


    Upon hearing Shen Yuan''s suggestion, Fang Minhui also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If he had really made that kind of proposition at this moment, she wouldn''t have known how to handle it.


    While the two were waiting for a Didi ride at the entrance of IFC Mall, Dazhe across the street had just finished up his business for the day and was preparing to close the shop.


    Having repaired phones all day, he was really damn tired.


    After closing up, he stretched himself and thought about going to the Peach Club to see masseuse No. 18 for some relaxation.


    His gaze inadvertently swept over to the entrance of IFC Mall; Dazhe rubbed his eyes and muttered, "What''s he doing here?"


    He had a deep impression of that spendthrift from yesterday and didn''t expect to see him here again today.


    When he saw there was a graceful beauty next to him, in an instant, Dazhe became unsettled.


    Especially since that beauty was holding two Prada handbags in her hand.


    Holy crap, wasn''t it just yesterday that he came to me to get a freebie when buying an LV? And now he''s gone and bought two Pradas?


    Dazhe felt instantly out of balance. Dammit, a spendthrift at least gets to chase girls, but what about me?


    ...


    Half an hour later, Shen Yuan dropped Fang Minhui off at the International campus''s female dormitory.


    After waving goodbye to Shen Yuan, Fang Minhui went upstairs, feeling completely satisfied; today had really been a fruitful day for her.


    Additionally, she was somewhat impatient to open the shopping bags to see the handbags inside.


    Usually, when buying something online, she could anticipate the delivery for a long time, let alone a bag that cost over twenty thousand!


    "Wow! Prada!"


    Chen Ling, who was binge-watching a drama, heard the door and turned around reflexively, exclaiming when she spotted Fang Minhui''s shopping bags.


    Chen Ling ran up to Fang Minhui, picked up the shopping bags, and exclaimed, "Oh my God, he actually gave you a Prada?"


    But no sooner had she finished speaking, Chen Ling noticed another one in Fang Minhui''s hand, and she became even more unsettled, "Two?"


    "He gave you two?"


    Chen Ling said in disbelief. Those are Pradas, even the cheapest would cost over ten thousand each!


    "Mhm."


    Fang Minhui nodded shyly.


    "There are many fakes of Prada. It''s easy for someone who doesn''t know to be cheated."


    Zhu Qiaofeng, who was listening to music, felt disturbed and said so nonchalantly.


    The two who had been excited were suddenly doused with cold water. Chen Ling looked at Zhu Qiaofeng and said indignantly, "That''s just sour grapes, isn''t it? She bought them at the official store in IFC Mall. How could they be fake?"


    Fang Minhui''s dorm was a four-person one, but she and Chen Ling weren''t so lucky, having been assigned to room with people from Class 1.


    But even with the mixed room assignment, the two girls who lived with them didn''t get along well due to personality and other factors.


    Especially Zhu Qiaofeng, who had just spoken, always acted so self-centered.


    After 10 PM, she wouldn''t let anyone talk because she said she needed to cultivate a mood for sleep. In the morning, no one was allowed to get up before 7 AM because she claimed her nervous breakdown caused poor sleep quality and she couldn''t stand any noise.


    These harsh demands were proposed by Zhu Qiaofeng herself, yet she couldn''t even adhere to them, often still on the phone with her boyfriend after 10 PM, and sometimes getting up to wash and brush her teeth just after 6 AM, causing a racket.


    Such a hypocrite, Chen Ling wondered how she had managed to get by in high school!


    "You weren''t there. How do you know she went to the official store?"


    Zhu Qiaofeng rolled her eyes.


    "You...."


    Chen Ling was stuck for words and started to reorganize her language to continue the argument, but Fang Minhui was in a good mood and stopped her, "It''s okay, don''t bother with her."


    Zhu Qiaofeng scoffed, "Quite the pretense."


    Chen Ling had been tolerating her for a long time, unable to swallow her pride, "So you say it''s fake, and it becomes fake, huh? But then again, some people can''t even get a fake one. It''s a shame having a boyfriend for so many years."


    "You..."


    Chen Ling''s sarcasm had its desired effect; Zhu Qiaofeng''s face turned red in an instant, left speechless and unable to retort.


    "Alright, Lingling, stop it."


    "Okay, okay, let''s open the package. We''ve only seen it in photos before, but now we finally have the chance to touch the real thing!"


    Chen Ling''s attention was immediately diverted; she was somewhat impatient, even more excited than Fang Minhui, the person of the hour.


    Shen Yuan really was generous, going all out with two bags!


    ...


    On the other side, Shen Yuan was also in a good mood. He whistled leisurely as he climbed the stairs, but when he got to the fifth floor, he found Li Zhanpeng chatting and shooting the breeze with some classmates.


    All the dorms for International Business Class 2 were on the fifth floor. Li Zhanpeng''s room was 505, but for some reason, they had practically moved their conversation to the doorstep of 503.


    "Zhanpeng, I''m really envious of you. You quietly snagged the class belle. Us guys have been single throughout the three years of college."


    "It''s a pity. I thought I had a chance before, but I didn''t expect you to beat me to it."


    "Zhanpeng, this calls for a celebration. You''ve got to treat us to a meal, and it better be fancy!"


    The boys surrounded Li Zhanpeng, their words a mixture of envy, jealousy, resentment, and even a bit of flattery.


    "A meal is nothing; KTV is fine too."


    Li Zhanpeng waved his hand nonchalantly, with a carefree expression: "When the time comes, I''ll invite the whole class and have a blast."


    "Brother Peng is mighty!"


    "Brother Peng is generous!"


    "Brother Peng, I''m from Class 1, can I join in too?"


    Amidst the praises of "Brother Peng", Li Zhanpeng slowly lost himself, casting an inadvertent glance at Dorm 503: "Of course, you can. When the time comes, all the comrades from 503 have to come too, not a single one less!"


    When he said this, Li Zhanpeng deliberately raised his voice so the people inside couldn''t miss it.


    Shen Yuan chuckled and replied as he passed by, "No problem, Brother Peng. Everyone from 503 will definitely be there. When do you plan it? We''ll make time in advance."


    Li Zhanpeng was startled, thinking Shen Yuan was still in the dorm, not expecting him to suddenly appear beside him.


    "I''ll let you know when it''s settled."


    Li Zhanpeng had always disapproved of Shen Yuan, and replied unenthusiastically.


    "Okay, I''ll wait for your good news."


    Shen Yuan left behind a meaningful smile, then pushed the door and returned to 503.


    Li Zhanpeng watched Shen Yuan''s back, muttering a curse in his heart, unsure of what he had to be so smug about.


    After family bankruptcy and being cheated on by his girlfriend, if I were him I''d have lost face to attend school and would have dropped out and gone home long ago!


    "Damn it, this Li Zhanpeng, bragging about watching a movie with the class belle as if he wants the whole school to know."


    The moment Shen Yuan entered 503, he heard Huang Haibao complaining, and Old Huang, seeing Shen Yuan return, was even more dissatisfied: "Old Third, you''re back. You heard that, right? It''s obvious they''re targeting us at 503."


    "It''s nothing, he can''t keep this up for long."


    Shen Yuan lazily responded, even though Fang Minhui had already gone to a movie with Li Zhanpeng last night, she had dinner with him this evening at a Japanese restaurant and then strolled around IFC Mall. Plus, he bought her two Prada bags.


    In his opinion, Fang Minhui''s choice was obvious.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Because Fang Minhui won''t end up with him."


    Huang Haibao scoffed: "Old Third, stop blowing smoke. Fang Minhui went to see a movie with him last night, and she didn''t agree to a date with you today. It shows she really intends to be with Li Zhanpeng."


    "Believe it or not, up to you."


    Shen Yuan waved it off carelessly. He had been busy all evening and was somewhat tired, wanting only to return to dreamland as soon as possible.


    ...

 Chapter 15 The Creditor Comes Knocking

    Recreational activities in the dorm were limited, especially after 10 p.m. when the main door closed, leaving us to do activities in our rooms only.


    Huang Haibao, whose family was well off, had his parents buy him an Alienware laptop, under the pretense of needing it for studies.


    Luckily, his parents didn''t understand laptop models; if they had known it was for gaming, they would never have bought it.


    Usually at this time, Huang Haibao was either playing games on his Alienware or organizing an internal tea party in room 503.


    But because of the class belle''s issue added to the recent provocation by Li Zhanpeng, he had no interest and kept sighing deeply.


    "Old Huang, can''t you just shut up?"


    Shen Yuan just wanted to sleep soundly, but Old Huang kept sighing incessantly, anyone unaware would think something had happened in his family.


    "Old Third, I can''t sleep, I bet you can''t either. Let''s chat."


    "Not chatting! I can sleep!" Shen Yuan couldn''t be bothered with him.


    "Old Huang, if you''re not using the computer, lend it to me for a couple of rounds of ''League of Legends,'' I''m up for promotion."


    Cao Shunjin walked up to Huang Haibao, carefree as he spoke.


    "Get lost!"


    Huang Haibao snapped, "I just got dumped, and you still feel like playing games?"


    "Crap, you''re the one who got dumped, not me."


    "....."


    The sleepiness Shen Yuan felt was completely chased away by these two; he sighed, sat up from his bed, and said, "Old Huang, want to chat? Let''s chat."


    Huang Haibao thought for a moment, then meaningfully said, "Actually, I don''t really have anything specific I want to talk about, but these past few days, I can''t stop thinking about women."


    "Your filthy mind, always filled with games and women, can''t you think about something else?"


    Shen Yuan looked down on him somewhat.


    Huang Haibao spat at him, "Cut the act, Old Third, we''re in the same boat."


    The usually silent Cao Shunjin suddenly spoke up, "To be honest, aside from Old Third, both of us haven''t touched a woman. Old Third, you tell us, what does it feel like?"


    The after-light-out tea party was always something Cao Shunjin looked forward to, especially discussing female anatomy.


    He swallowed, somewhat expectant.


    This question suddenly roused Old Huang''s emotions too; he originally wanted to retort, but since he had only been to those foot massage parlors, he couldn''t claim to have truly touched a woman.


    So, he too wanted to hear Shen Yuan''s real feelings, about what the experience was truly like?


    "Hmm...."


    "How to say it....."


    Shen Yuan pondered for a while; it was really difficult to describe this matter.


    "Let''s put it like this....."


    "Old Third, just spit it out!"


    Huang Haibao, his curiosity peeked to the extreme, couldn''t help but urge him.


    "Old Third, just say it, it''s just the three of us who know, won''t tell anyone else."


    Cao Shunjin, feeling itchy with curiosity, added on.


    "Forget it, you wouldn''t understand even if I told you."


    "Damn, you''re asking for divine retribution, believe it or not, Old Cao will bust your ass!"


    Old Huang clearly lost some control of his emotions.


    "Don''t believe."


    Shen Yuan initially thought they were just joking, and didn''t expect Cao Shunjin to actually make a move.


    "Damn, Old Cao, you''re serious?"


    "For leaving us hanging!"


    Of course, things like busting weren''t going to happen; in Shen Yuan''s desperate resistance, neither Old Cao nor Old Huang succeeded.


    After the skirmish subsided, Huang Haibao was still feeling unfulfilled, his eyes sparkling in the dark, "So, Old Cao, didn''t you set up a website last time? Send me the link."


    "Sure, but you have to let me use the computer for a whole day tomorrow."


    "Crap, you really know how to do business!"


    That brief chat ignited the restlessness in Huang Haibao, but as he put on the headphones, his sleazy eyes fixated on the undulating computer screen, room 503 finally returned to tranquility.


    All right, I can finally have a good night''s sleep!


    Shen Yuan''s lips curved into a smile as he slowly drifted into dreamland.


    .....


    It was Friday the next day, and there was a class on "International Business Communication and Negotiation" in the morning.


    However, the teacher for this course was an old man who lectured very dryly, and since going would mean just dozing off in class, Shen Yuan decided to simply sleep through it.


    Initially, Cao Shunjin had planned to attend the class, but when he got up at 8 am and saw that Shen Yuan and Old Huang were still curled up in their blankets, he cursed them as lazy bones and continued to sleep soundly.


    After getting up, Shen Yuan checked his phone and received three WeChat messages.


    There were two from Fang Minhui.


    "Good morning" "Why didn''t you come to class?"


    "Slept through it. Helpless.JPG" Shen Yuan replied.


    There was also one from Zhou Wanting, it seemed she had removed him from her blacklist.


    "Didn''t your family go bankrupt, where did you get the money?"


    Zhou Wanting was still hung up on this, and Shen Yuan didn''t bother to reply, reversing the action by adding her to his blacklist too.


    After brushing his teeth and washing up, Shen Yuan saw that Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin were still deeply asleep; he didn''t have the heart to wake them, especially since they had watched Dongying movies for so long last night and must have been exhausted.


    He planned to go to the cafeteria downstairs himself, but then he thought it was Friday, and since there were no classes in the afternoon, he decided to just go home to eat.


    Half an hour later.


    As usual, Shen Yuan pushed open the door to his home and was just about to greet everyone when he noticed a relative sitting on the sofa.


    It was his uncle, Shen Yaode.


    Shen Yuan had a deep impression of this uncle because he often visited their home during holidays, always bringing lots of gifts.


    It was said that Old Shen had helped this uncle a lot in the past.


    At that time, Shen Yaode had no money but wanted to start a car wash. Old Shen had lent him three hundred thousand yuan.


    Lately, Shen Yaode''s car wash business had been doing fairly well, and over two years, he managed to repay the loan gradually.


    Later, using profits from the car wash, he bought an apartment in Star City and even got a BMW 5 series, which dramatically changed his life.


    Later still, when Old Shen''s travel agency was close to bankruptcy, he borrowed two hundred thousand yuan from Shen Yaode, who lent it to him promptly.


    So, Shen Yuan had a good impression of this uncle, at least he was a relative who remembered kindness and repaid his debts.


    Unlike some other relatives who frequented the house when times were good.


    Now, after the bankruptcy, they all kept their distance, fearing they might be asked for a loan.


    "Yuan is back."


    Shen Yaode greeted him warmly.


    "Hello, Uncle." Shen Yuan responded politely.


    "Shen Yuan, go to your sister''s bedroom for a while, we need to discuss something with your uncle." Shen Heping said.


    "Okay."


    Shen Yuan didn''t know what secretive big issue they needed to discuss that he had to leave the room, but he listened to Old Shen''s words and walked straight to Shen Xuan''s bedroom.


    Just as he was about to enter, he heard his uncle speak earnestly, "Brother, I know you are having difficulties now, but the current economic situation is tough on everyone. If I weren''t having cash flow problems myself, I wouldn''t be asking you for money."


    Shen Yuan turned his head unintentionally and saw Li Hongjuan frowning, her expression looking quite displeased.


    While Old Shen''s expression didn''t show much change, he said cheerfully, "Brother, I understand your difficulties, but give me some more time. I have some stock coming in that will be sold soon, and I''ll repay you part of the money first."


    "Brother, a part definitely isn''t enough, my car wash needs more cash flow now....."


    Shen Yuan realized then that they were talking about a debt. He had thought it was something else; evidently, this uncle had come to collect a debt, and judging by Ms. Li''s temper, it must have been at least the fourth or fifth time.


    Otherwise, his mother''s face wouldn''t look so displeased.


    This Shen Yaode indeed was somewhat unreasonable. When Old Shen had lent him that three hundred thousand, it took him two years to repay, and during that period, Old Shen never once pressed him for payment.


    Now, it had only been a few months since Old Shen had borrowed from him, and he was already impatient to reclaim his money.


    Shen Yuan''s previous good impression was clearly misplaced.


    "Shen Yaode, that''s not how you should behave. When you had no money to start your car wash, who lent you three hundred thousand, do you remember?"


    Li Hongjuan suddenly stood up, reprimanding him angrily, "Now we''ve only borrowed two hundred thousand from you, and here you are repeatedly coming to demand it back. What do you mean by this? After all, it''s not like we aren''t going to repay you."


    Li Hongjuan was emotionally upset and spoke without restraint.


    Normally, facing a creditor, no matter what, they shouldn''t have reacted this way.


    But this Shen Yaode was just an ordinary worker back in the day. If not for Old Shen''s help, how could he have achieved his current success? She simply couldn''t suppress her anger.


    Shen Heping pulled on Li Hongjuan''s arm, trying to calm her, "Alright, alright, say less. Our cousin has his difficulties too."


    "Does he even acknowledge his difficulties!"


    Li Hongjuan turned and walked into the room, slamming the door shut with a "bang".

 Chapter 16 Debt Repayment Rewards

    "Ding!"


    [A perfect life should not bear debts]


    [Limited Time Task: Repay debts for yourself or your family]


    [Task Reward: The repaid debts will be returned double to the host, and repaying the first $200,000 will earn $1,000,000 exclusively for car expenses]


    "Wow!"


    "This task is really freaking timely!"


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but admire aloud.


    Actually, even without the task, Shen Yuan had planned to lighten Old Shen''s load since he already had over $400,000 in his card.


    But now, with the task assigned, he could benefit even more.


    Moreover, according to the system''s reward, repaying debts would double the returns, and he could also gain $1,000,000 for car expenses!


    There was just one problem...


    Shen Yuan frowned, wondering how, as a student, could he explain coming up with $200,000 out of nowhere?


    Moreover...even if he could explain it, his parents would definitely ask why he didn''t come forward with the money sooner.


    Shen Yuan sighed internally, realizing these were the troubles of having money.


    After pondering for a few minutes, Shen Yuan walked out of his room, intending to explain the situation to his parents in their bedroom.


    At that moment, only Shen Yaode was left sitting on the sofa, sipping his hot tea contemplatively.


    Shen Yuan glanced at him and was about to knock on his parents'' bedroom door when he heard voices from inside and slowly halted his moves.


    "I just talked to Shen Yaode again, and it seems like he''s not leaving today unless we pay him some," Old Shen said.


    Then, Li Hongjuan cursed, "All you Shens are ungrateful wretches. How you treated him initially, he''s treating you the same now!"


    "Thirty years in Hexi, thirty years in Dongfang. From his perspective, it''s understandable."


    "You understand him, but does he understand you?"


    Hearing Shen Heping''s tone, Li Hongjuan got even more upset.


    "Fine, talking about this isn''t solving anything. Don''t you still have some gold jewelry? Sell some."


    Li Hongjuan wanted to argue a bit more but ultimately sighed resignedly, "That''s the only choice we have."


    Li Hongjuan opened the drawer and said unwillingly, "All the jewelry you''ve given me over the years is here. I never wanted to sell it, even during tough times."


    These jewelry pieces included rings, bracelets, necklaces, and more, mostly made of gold. Li Hongjuan had a habit of buying gold, believing it would surely appreciate in value.


    But with the creditors pressing them this hard now, she had no choice but to sell.


    "Right, I seem to have lost two gold rings during the move. I don''t know where they ended up," she added.


    Shen Yuan''s heart skipped a beat. During his first year, when he was short on pocket money to buy a handbag for Zhou Wanting, he sneaked into Li Hongjuan''s room and sold two gold rings.


    Back then, the family wasn''t short on money, and since Li Hongjuan had many pieces of jewelry, she didn''t notice. Shen Yuan thought he had gotten away with it.


    But it had now come to light, although Ms. Li didn''t suspect him.


    "Forget about the lost ones, just find a few from what we have and sell them. We''ll buy you new ones when we have money," Shen Heping said.


    "Yeah right, as if. First, let''s clear the family''s debts," she replied.


    "Knock knock."


    Shen Yuan entered, facing his parents'' surprised looks. He chuckled and said, "Dad, Mom."


    "Whatever it is, wait a bit. I''m still discussing something with your father," Li Hongjuan waved her hand.


    "Actually... I have money."


    Both parents were stunned, and after a long pause, Shen Heping reacted first, shaking his head, "This is no time for jokes. Weren''t you asked to wait outside?"


    "I really do have money," Shen Yuan insisted.


    Li Hongjuan, slightly impatient, said, "What time it is now, and you''re still pulling these stunts?"


    "I really do have money, if you don''t believe me, check Old Shen''s card," Shen Yuan stated.


    Old Shen often used a particular card to give Shen Yuan living expenses, so Shen Yuan had just transferred $200,000 into that card.


    Shen Heping looked at his son, exchanged a glance with Li Hongjuan, and with a skeptical mindset, took out his phone.


    Upon opening it, there indeed was a notification of a deposit.


    Shen Heping clicked on the details. It was indeed 200,000!


    Li Hongjuan leaned over for a look, her eyes widening incredulously as she and Old Shen were both stunned.


    After a long silence, they finally looked up. Li Hongjuan couldn''t help but ask, "Shen Yuan, where did you get so much money?"


    "I''d had quite a bit of pocket money before and invested in some Bitcoin with friends. It''s gone up a lot."


    Shen Yuan had thought through his explanation before coming, and this reason should be plausible, especially since he really did have quite a bit of pocket money at the time.


    Moreover, Old Shen and Li Hongjuan both had a habit of financial management. They knew about Bitcoin but had never trusted this virtual currency enough to buy it.


    Li Hongjuan and Shen Heping exchanged glances. After a long silence, she finally said, "Wow!"


    Shen Yuan continued, "Since it was bought with friends, he told me not to touch it, saying there was a lot of room for the value to increase. That''s why I kept it until just recently, when I took it out."


    "Son, you''ve really solved a pressing problem for the family."


    Li Hongjuan couldn''t help but sigh.


    Shen Heping also looked at his son with relieved eyes, then patted Li Hongjuan''s shoulder, "Alright, let''s go pay off the debt first."


    Shen Yuan silently wiped the sweat from his forehead, it seemed he had managed to bluff his way through.


    In the living room, Shen Heping transferred the full 200,000 to Shen Yaode, saying, "Okay, our debt is settled now."


    "Fine, fine, fine."


    Watching the transfer confirmation on his bank card, Shen Yaode was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly.


    Actually, he hadn''t come with high expectations, knowing full well that his cousin''s family had accumulated so much debt elsewhere.


    Shen Yaode was well aware that the more debt his family had, the less money they would have towards the end.


    He figured it was better to come asking for repayment before other creditors acted, grabbing what he could when he could.


    He hadn''t expected to get the full 200,000 back, so this was far beyond his expectations.


    "Let''s minimize our dealings from now on."


    Li Hongjuan, still furious, spoke harshly, directly opening the front door in a gesture to see the guest out.


    "Er... Bro... you see this... your wife is... "


    Shen Yaode pursed his lips, looking embarrassedly at Shen Heping.


    Coming to ask for debt several times did not look good, but Shen Yaode didn''t want their relationship to become too strained.


    After all, initially, his cousin Shen Heping had helped him greatly, and if word got back to their hometown, it would be quite embarrassing.


    If his father knew, he''d probably jump out of his grave to give him a good thrashing.


    Shen Heping smiled, trying to smooth things over, "Your sister-in-law is just upset. Don''t worry, we''re still family."


    "Then I''ll be leaving first."


    Shen Yaode hesitantly walked to the door, wanting to greet Li Hongjuan again to lighten the mood.


    But unexpectedly, Li Hongjuan didn''t even glance at him. Shen Yaode gave an awkward smile, then turned to say goodbye to his young cousin.


    "Yuan, I''m heading back now. Come visit sometime, your cousin keeps asking about you."


    "No problem, Uncle."


    Shen Yuan was in the living room, casually cracking sunflower seeds and smiled in response.


    Perhaps Old Shen still cherished the old affection from their grandfather''s generation, but Shen Yuan didn''t really care.


    Mainly he had to consider Old Shen''s face since he still got along well with those uncles, so if his father maintained a mild attitude, then as a son, he should too.


    Of course, this uncle had indeed lent them money at a critical moment which had helped the family even though frequently asking for it wasn''t a good look, but in the end, it was still a favor.


    Shen Yaode actually had a few more pleasantries he wanted to exchange, but with his sister-in-law''s fiery personality, he could only swallow his words now.


    With a loud "bang," Li Hongjuan slammed the door shut. Shen Yaode stood outside, his chest suddenly feeling an indescribable flutter.


    He actually didn''t lack the 200,000 at all; the moment the transfer was confirmed he did feel a brief thrill, but now, there was no stir in his heart.


    Actually, his cousin''s family were all good people, and had greatly helped him initially. Rightly speaking, he shouldn''t have pushed them so hard.


    Suddenly, Shen Yaode felt he had made a blunder, wondering why he had come to demand the debt...

 Chapter 17 Double Kill

    "Ding!"


    [Host has completed the first debt repayment goal, system will send the reward promptly.]


    [Construction Bank] Your card ending in 0098 received 400000 on May 12th at 11:39, current balance is 614356.


    [Construction Bank] Your card ending in 0098 received 1000000 on May 12th at 11:39, current balance is 1614356.


    Steady!


    Shen Yuan looked at the two deposit notifications, unable to suppress his smile, his lips were harder to restrain than an AK.


    Aside from that exclusive 1 million for buying a car, his net assets had already reached 600,000!


    He never expected that a trip home could yield such a great reward, especially as it also helped solve his parents'' urgent crisis.


    System, as always, you are incredible!


    "Shen Yuan, what are you laughing at?"


    Shen Heping sat on the sofa, looking at his son with a silly smile, somewhat puzzled.


    "Uh... nothing."


    Shen Yuan quickly straightened out his expression, avoiding any hints that might give them away.


    Then he sat down on the sofa and took the initiative to confess, "Actually, I haven''t taken out another part, about 200,000 left, do you need it urgently now?"


    Shen Yuan had 600,000 he could use now, but he wanted to earn more with this capital, so if the family wasn''t in a hurry, he planned to take out 200,000 to pay off part of the debt first.


    As time passed, the snowball would grow bigger, and it wouldn''t be too late to pay off the remaining debt.


    Moreover, even if he gave all 600,000 to his parents, it wouldn''t resolve the debt, let alone improve the family''s life and return it to its previous state. At least several million were needed, so he needed the capital to make more money.


    Li Hongjuan couldn''t help but exclaim, "There''s another 200,000?"


    Actually, her son investing money didn''t surprise Li Hongjuan, as she herself had a habit of financial planning and often instilled the concept of "money begets money" in her children.


    Previously, she mostly bought fixed deposits from banks or financial products from insurance companies, as well as gold.


    She had looked into Bitcoin but felt the risk was too high and never dared to try.


    But from the current perspective, those who bought Bitcoin at that time indeed made a wise move.


    It seemed that her son still had some vision, especially since he had been holding it for several months without any moves, and the pace of its value doubling over these months was much higher than any interest.


    Li Hongjuan thought for a moment, "I think we can keep it for now, the other debts are not urgent."


    "Wait a minute."


    Shen Heping coughed and said, "Shen Yuan, um, give me 50,000 to use first."


    "..."


    After eating lunch at home, Shen Yuan transferred another 50,000 to Shen Heping, then made the excuse that he had classes in the afternoon and needed to return to school. Anyway, Old Shen and Ms. Li weren''t too concerned about such matters.


    As he went downstairs, Shen Yuan thought he still needed a reason to make money; otherwise, with the accumulation of wealth, it would eventually be discovered. It was better to lay the groundwork in advance to legitimize the source of the money.


    Even though he had given his family 200,000 this time, if he needed to repay more debts and help his family buy a house and a car to improve their standard of living, a legitimate business was required for cover.


    As he was pondering, he didn''t expect to run into his advisor, Lih Xiao, who appeared to be off from classes today, holding a handbag.


    "Advisor, you''re back."


    Teacher Lih Xiao was wearing a black tight tank top paired with army green wide-leg pants today.


    Her fair arms and the fullness of her chest were boldly on display, especially from Shen Yuan''s higher vantage point with Lih Xiao below.


    From Shen Yuan''s angle, he could maximally appreciate Teacher Lih Xiao''s snowy cleavage.


    Lih Xiao looked up, recognized Shen Yuan, and smiled, revealing two sweet dimples, "Yeah, I''m done for the afternoon."


    "Do you have time tonight, Advisor? I''d like to thank you for dinner, remember you treated me last time? I should reciprocate."


    Shen Yuan thought to himself that Lih Xiao, like Fang Minhui, was one of the few girls with a Feel-good Index over 60 towards him, such a money tree must be well-cultivated.


    He had figured out the pattern of the system''s Feel-good Index; only those of the opposite sex with an index over 60 would be displayed.


    If a girl''s Feel-good Index wasn''t over 60, it would not show above their head.


    In the past few days, Shen Yuan had only discovered that Fang Minhui and Lih Xiao had a Feel-good Index over 60 towards him.


    Whether there would be more girls in the future with over 60 Feel-good Index towards him was uncertain, so he must maintain the few money trees he had.


    However, just after Shen Yuan finished speaking, he immediately regretted his words as he noticed Lih Xiao''s closely protective younger sister¡ªLih Meng¡ªwas following behind her.


    Lih Meng watched Shen Yuan coldly, silent, but her eyes betrayed her desire to stab someone.


    "Uh... Advisor, I just remembered something urgent at school, I might not be free tonight, maybe next time."


    "I''m going now!"


    Shen Yuan hurriedly made his excuse and fled without waiting for Lih Xiao''s response, running down the stairs.


    "Damn it, I ran into her sister again."


    Once downstairs, Shen Yuan caught his breath and couldn''t help complaining. It seemed his luck wasn''t great, getting caught by Lih Meng both times.


    However, he couldn''t understand why Lih Meng was so hostile towards him, they had only met twice.


    And as someone in her profession, she should exude a sense of warmth in her interactions, yet she was like an iceberg.


    Back on the sixth floor, Lih Xiao opened her door, hung her handbag to one side, and slowly slipped off her sandals from her smooth ankles.


    She was also puzzled; did Shen Yuan just ask me out to dinner, was he really trying to pursue me?


    Based on his recent behavior and various signs, it did seem odd.


    But, they were teacher and student... That would violate ethical norms, wouldn''t it?


    Though love was free nowadays, the education she received since childhood was telling her this was wrong.


    If it weren''t for the teacher-student relationship... I probably wouldn''t consider him either. After all, Shen Yuan didn''t seem very mature, and there wasn''t anything particularly appealing about him to me.


    "Now you believe me? I told you that kid was up to no good."


    Lih Meng said coldly from behind.


    "Maybe it really was just dinner, and even if he pursued me, I wouldn''t agree."


    "I hope so."


    "..."

 Chapter 18 Senior?

    May in Star City was unusually hot, and the sun shining directly overhead made Shen Yuan''s scalp burn.


    It took at least a 10-minute walk from his home to the bus station.


    In the past, he drove a 4 Series, enjoyed the air conditioning, and sipped on cold drinks in the car, all comfortable and refreshing.


    Zhou Wanting would sit beside him on the passenger seat, and he could occasionally touch her smooth, white thighs next to the gearstick.


    Shen Yuan thought about how pleasant those times were.


    It seems like he needed to move up the schedule for buying a car. After all, the specific 1 million in his account was meant only for buying a car. It would be wasteful not to spend it.


    Nowadays, the car market is a motley collection of brands: joint ventures, imports, and domestic, each with their advantages.


    For those who are clueless and haven''t done their homework, it''s actually quite hard to choose.


    When Shen Yuan bought a car back then, he didn''t know much, and Old Shen suggested he buy a BBA.


    At that time, Shen Yuan thought Mercedes was too old-fashioned, Audi too business-oriented, so he ultimately chose the younger and sportier BMW.


    Besides brands, there were also different types of energy sources: fuel, electric, hybrid.


    Lately, many were buying electric cars. Shen Yuan had once rode in a friend''s Tesla Model S¡ªthe acceleration was indeed fast, hitting 0 to 100 km in less than 4 seconds.


    But for some reason, whenever Shen Yuan sat in the car, he always felt dizzy and nauseous.


    At one point, he nearly vomited in his friend''s car.


    Since then, he hadn''t felt much affection for electric cars.


    With these thoughts in mind and nothing on his agenda for the afternoon, Shen Yuan decided to go take a look at some cars.


    But such outings were always best with a beautiful woman accompanying him. Shen Yuan immediately thought of the busty Fang Minhui. So, he sent her a WeChat message: "Are you free this afternoon? Accompany me to look at cars?"


    In the International campus women''s dorm, Fang Minhui was about to take a nap when her phone "dinged." As soon as she saw the WeChat from Shen Yuan,


    her eyes lit up, and the drowsiness vanished. She sat up almost without thinking and replied: "Sure, I''m free this afternoon. Where are you?"


    "I''m at the school''s gate; see you in half an hour."


    "Okay."


    Fang Minhui got out of bed feeling beautiful, dressed in a casual white T-shirt and denim shorts. Since they were going to visit a 4S store, she needed to dress up properly.


    Meanwhile, Chen Ling was idly lying on her bed reading a novel. Hearing Fang Minhui''s movements, she looked over: "Minhui, where are you going?"


    "It wouldn''t be Shen Yuan who asked you out, would it?"


    Chen Ling immediately thought of this possibility. Fang Minhui was her closest friend at school, and they always went everywhere together. Her suddenly getting up without saying a word must mean a guy had asked her out.


    If it had been Li Zhanpeng, Minhui wouldn''t have been this enthusiastic, so it must be Shen Yuan.


    "Hmm," Fang Minhui nodded softly.


    "What are you guys going to do?"


    "He said he''s buying a car and wants me to accompany him."


    "Buying a car?"


    Chen Ling clicked her tongue, reflecting: "Must be nice to have money. Did he say what car he''s buying?"


    "He didn''t say."


    "Since he''s buying a car, it surely won''t be worse than his previous BMW, right?"


    "I don''t know about that."


    "I''m so envious!"


    Chen Ling got up from the bed and walked over to Fang Minhui, who was changing clothes, her face full of admiration: "Our Minhui is so lucky to have found such a wealthy and handsome guy."


    Initially, Chen Ling didn''t think Shen Yuan was particularly handsome¡ªjust the kind of guy who was easy on the eyes.


    But ever since she found out that Shen Yuan had spent over fifty thousand in one night for Fang Minhui, she immediately saw him in a different light, applying an involuntary filter.


    Perhaps... that''s the power of money.


    "We''re not together yet,"


    Fang Minhui said shyly, shaking her head as she took a strappy dress from her closet.


    "So what are you guys going to do after buying the car?"


    Chen Ling looked at Fang Minhui with a mischievous smile.


    They had been best friends living together for three years, already at the point where nothing was off-limits in their conversations, and they joked without reservations.


    Moreover, the other two annoying roommates just happened to be out of the dorm.


    What Chen Ling actually envied most about Fang Minhui was her figure; she had everything where it mattered, especially that voluptuous bust.


    Not to mention the lecherous boys, even she found herself drooling over her!


    "After watching, we should probably head back to the school," Fang Minhui said, sounding somewhat guilty.


    "Still pretending, huh?"


    Chen Ling''s eyes gleamed as she quickly reached out with both hands, cradling that full bust from behind.


    "What are you doing?!"


    Fang Minhui exclaimed in surprise, hurriedly trying to cover herself, but Chen Ling had already conquered the territory.


    "Hmph, taking advantage of you, what else!"


    "Hey, let go!"


    "I''m not letting go, hehe, since Shen Yuan is going to get a bargain on you later, I might as well take my share today."


    "Stop it... don''t mess around... ah..."


    "..."


    Half an hour later, Shen Yuan picked up Fang Minhui at the school gate and they set off for the auto city.


    Today, Fang Minhui dressed even more breezily compared to last night; she wore only a gray tight tank top and a black A-line skirt.


    The two thin straps seemed like they could barely carry the burden, making her full figure even more perilously enticing.


    However, Shen Yuan noticed that Fang Minhui''s expression was somewhat strange today; her cheeks were flushed and she seemed more shy than usual, even her voice was quieter than normal. Shen Yuan thought to himself, I haven''t done anything.


    Not only was Shen Yuan puzzled, but the DiDi driver was also a bit unsettled. Likely, he wasn''t used to seeing a girl both attractive and well-endowed. He kept sneaking glances through the rearview mirror.


    Internally, Shen Yuan couldn''t help but spit at him: Desperate much? Haven''t you seen a woman before? He definitely planned on giving a bad rating once out of the car!


    Star City had several auto cities, the largest in the east of the city and another significant one in the west, not far from the International campus.


    Shen Yuan came here to buy a 4 Series when he graduated from high school.


    This auto city basically had all the mainstream brands, BBA, Land Rover, Lexus, Cadillac, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Haval, Great Wall, Geely, as well as recently popular NIO, Li Auto, and Jidu...


    Back then, Shen Yuan didn''t know much about cars, and Old Shen had told him to only look at BBA, so he didn''t pay much attention to the others.


    After buying the car, he started to pay attention to car brands and models, occasionally browsing Car Home or Autohome.


    For some reason, nearly all boys seemed really interested in cars; Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin, who had never driven, were familiar with all the mainstream models and brands on the market.


    When bragging, they spoke confidently and even knew about various recalls for certain models.


    However, today Shen Yuan had a specific model in mind, the Land Rover Defender.


    Once they got off the DiDi, they walked into the Jaguar Land Rover dealership, and immediately a professionally dressed woman greeted them warmly, "Hello, are you here to view cars, do you have an appointment, or perhaps you know any of our sales consultants?"


    "No appointment, first time here," Shen Yuan said.


    "Alright, then I will arrange a sales consultant for you."


    "Okay."


    Some brands preemptively arranged a front desk to inquire about first-time customers, clearly, this Land Rover dealership did just that.


    This approach not only facilitated the counting of first-time customers but also prevented conflicts among sales staff over potential clients.


    Especially for a brand like Land Rover, which had been declining in the domestic market over the years with sales dropping annually, having 10 groups of customers on a weekday was considered good.


    With fewer customers and harder sales, the corresponding commissions were quite high, sometimes leading sales staff to go to great lengths for their performance.


    After a while, a man in a shirt and tie with impeccably combed hair and a confident smile stepped forward.


    "Hello, which model are you interested in?"


    The male sales consultant deftly pulled out a card from his pocket, about to hand it over, but his movement suddenly paused when he saw Fang Minhui.


    "Minhui, what are you doing here?"


    "Uh... Senior Qin?"

 Chapter 19 The Force of Compulsion, Three Sections

    Fang Minhui didn''t expect to run into an acquaintance here.


    This man named Qin Yang was her senior in high school, two years older than she.


    During high school, Qin Yang had pursued her, but at the time Fang Minhui wasn''t interested in dating and didn''t like Qin Yang''s type, so nothing came of it.


    After graduating from high school, Qin Yang had dropped out and, it was said, had been working in sales in Star City ever since.


    Fang Minhui still remembered that Qin Yang had even come to her university to find her when she was a freshman in Star City.


    However, after entering university, Minhui''s standards had risen, and she definitely wouldn''t consider someone like Qin Yang.


    "And who is this?"


    Qin Yang noticed Minhui was with the young man beside her, so he wanted to clarify their relationship.


    "I''m her classmate, Shen Yuan."


    Shen Yuan responded politely. These kinds of questions were naturally better answered by the males, especially since the two hadn''t established a relationship yet.


    "I see, hello, I''m Qin Yang."


    As soon as Qin Yang heard they were classmates, he felt quite relieved, thinking that Minhui didn''t have a boyfriend yet.


    Even though he had been rejected by Minhui back then, three years had passed, and he was no longer the person he used to be.


    "Are you here to look at cars?"


    Qin Yang gave Shen Yuan a once-over. His pants and T-shirt were very ordinary, the only item of value seemed to be the Nike shoes he wore; other than a good appearance, he really didn''t look like someone wealthy.


    He had seen many of this type, all look and no buy, bringing girls to 4S stores claiming to be interested in buying a car, when in reality they didn''t even have money for a down payment.


    Simply put, just showing off.


    Qin Yang knew the cheapest model they had, the Defender, was nearly three hundred thousand. It was hard for the average person to afford.


    "Yes, I''d like to learn about the Defender."


    Shen Yuan''s gaze rested on a dark green Defender in the showroom.


    The thing that mainly attracted him to this model was its appearance; the Defender wasn''t a rugged off-road vehicle, but rather styled as a sporty off-roader, contemporary in design and more suitable for young people.


    Upon hearing him mention the Defender, Qin Yang smiled and said nothing. The Defender''s base model P300 had a retail price starting at 650,000, and with Land Rover''s substantial discounts, it would still cost over 700,000 on the road.


    And virtually no one bought the base model; most went for the P400, which had a retail price of 768,000 and would cost at least 900,000 to drive off the lot.


    Honestly, he had little respect for these types of people; if they didn''t have money, just admit it, what''s the point of showing off at a 4S store with a girl?


    Of course, he was a professional salesman and didn''t want to publicly expose Shen Yuan''s pretense, so he went and got a spec sheet to hand to Shen Yuan.


    "The display car is over there, you can take a look around freely, and feel free to sit in it as well."


    Shen Yuan was mainly there to see the actual car and for a test drive. He already knew the difference in specs from Autohome, but out of courtesy, he took the spec sheet.


    Shen Yuan walked over to the display car, climbed the step, and got into the driver''s seat.


    The Defender''s body was quite high, necessitating the use of the step to get in. Once inside, Shen Yuan found the seats soft and comfortable with a good amount of support, and notably, the view was much more expansive than in a sedan, offering a completely different experience.


    The only drawback was the plain interior with a strong plastic feel, especially the bulky large screen on the console; one might think it was from a 300,000 Highlander.


    Seeing he was not a serious customer, Qin Yang simply left him to it and turned his attention to Fang Minhui, "Minhui, it''s been a while. Are you free tonight to catch up?"


    He knew that modern girls were very practical, looking first at whether a prospect had a car and a house.


    But now he was no longer the impoverished Qin Yang of before.


    Now he was a sales ace at a 4S store, his monthly salary had passed ten thousand, and he had also bought a nearly 200,000 Accord for commuting.


    Although he hadn''t bought a house yet, by saving till the end of the year and with some help from his parents, he could just about afford one in Star City.


    So now he naturally had the confidence to face Fang Minhui.


    As he thought about this, he involuntarily puffed out his chest a bit.


    "Sorry, senior, I probably won''t be free today. I have other things to do tonight."


    Fang Minhui shook her head; her main purpose today was to accompany Shen Yuan to look at cars, and she still didn''t know if there would be other plans for the evening. Moreover, she didn''t want to get involved with Qin Yang.


    Qin Yang was slightly disappointed, but still pretended to be gracious, "I see, no worries. Maybe next time when you''re free, after all...."


    "Could we arrange a test drive?"


    At that moment, Shen Yuan poked his head out from the driver''s seat of the showroom car.


    Qin Yang had just been brushed off by Fang Minhui, and was already in a bad mood, now having his words interrupted only added to his frustration.


    He cursed silently, damn it, can''t afford it yet still wants a test drive.


    "Sorry, our boss took the Defender out today, so no test drives are available."


    This excuse was his common tactic when dealing with customers he perceived as having no real interest¡ªjust insist that the test drive vehicle was taken by the boss, as these customers wouldn''t know which one was the test car anyway.


    Can''t afford to buy, yet still asking for a test drive, wasting my time?


    "Taken by the boss?"


    Shen Yuan was stunned for a moment, not expecting Qin Yang to use such an excuse.


    He wasn''t new to cars; he had seen the Defender in the test drive parking area right outside the dealership before he even entered the door.


    Test vehicles were usually easy to recognize, typically having a LOGO stickered on the car body.


    But if this dealership didn''t offer test drives, he could simply go to another one.


    Qin Yang casually brushed off Shen Yuan and continued his advances on Fang Minhui, "How about it? You''re a junior now. You must be thinking about internships next semester, right? Have you considered where you might want to intern?"


    "Not yet."


    "You might consider coming here. The environment and compensation are quite good. Finding a job with a salary over ten thousand a month isn''t easy, and I could guide you too."


    Qin Yang said generously, his job was a source of pride for him and also his reassurance.


    Of course, he didn''t actually expect Fang Minhui to come here for an internship.


    The main point was to indirectly tell Fang Minhui that he was now earning over ten thousand a month.


    "Uh... no need."


    "Don''t disregard the recent down market for Land Rovers. By my estimation, there will be a rebound. Currently, all the car companies are making electric cars, but they inherently have shortcomings, unlike fuel cars, which have developed over many years and have a historic depth."


    Seeing that Fang Minhui didn''t catch his previous meaning, Qin Yang promptly switched to discussing the broader situation.


    "Rebound," "shortcomings," and "historic depth" were terms he''d learned from a big V on some social platform¡ªthey sounded really high-end!


    Although he didn''t understand them fully, Qin Yang figured Minhui understood even less.


    This would also better highlight his depth of knowledge.


    "Uh....."


    Fang Minhui was somewhat speechless; her major was International Economics and Trade, so she was actually quite familiar with this kind of professional terminology and completely understood what Qin Yang was saying.


    In her view, Qin Yang was merely trying to show off to her.


    Honestly, Fang Minhui found this approach pretty low; it was no different from Li Zhanpeng''s.


    Except Li Zhanpeng was more direct, while Qin Yang was a bit more roundabout.


    But so what if your salary is over ten thousand a month?


    She didn''t have the heart to tell Qin Yang that the two bags Shen Yuan bought for her last night almost equaled half a year of his salary.

 Chapter 20 I, a 23-year-old who bought my own house, a social elite. And you?

    Qin Yang saw that Fang Minhui still had no reaction, so he decided to throw a big card, "I''ve looked at a few houses recently and am planning to get on the property ladder by the end of the year.


    It''s quite sad to think about it, all the savings I''ve accumulated over the past two years are going to go on a house, and after I get on the property ladder at the end of the year, I''ll have to start paying the mortgage."


    "Ah~ Actually, all our hard work, when you get right down to it, is just working for capitalism."


    Although Qin Yang appeared to be complaining about social injustice, in reality, he was showing off. He even sighed wistfully to make it seem more genuine.


    In his mind, at the age of 23 or 24, having an income of over ten thousand a month already made him an outlier among his peers.


    With the price of housing in Star City being over ten thousand per square meter, buying an apartment of around a hundred square meters would cost over a million, and the down payment would be at least three hundred thousand.


    Even though he had the support of his parents, he also had over a hundred thousand in savings in his pocket, and for the mortgage, he didn''t need to rely on his family; he could pay it himself.


    Ask around, how many 23-year-old men have that kind of ability?


    Perhaps this classmate sitting next to Minhui?


    Don''t make me laugh, this kid is still spending his parents'' money. After he graduates and struggles to find a job for a few years, he''ll be 27 or 28, and by then won''t he just be earning a few thousand a month as a dead salary?


    So Qin Yang was absolutely confident.


    That being said, he felt that this time Minhui must definitely understand the subtext of his words. He waited patiently for her response.


    But what Qin Yang didn''t realize was that he was now facing Fang Minhui, who had already witnessed Shen Yuan''s wealth.


    Fang Minhui admitted that among people of their age, having that income was indeed not bad; after all, her parents'' combined wages were just over ten thousand.


    But that was her opinion before.


    Just last night, she personally witnessed Shen Yuan''s extravagance.


    One meal could eat up one-third of your monthly salary, a casual stroll through a mall could cost you fifty or sixty thousand!


    But you, you still need to save for a down payment and a loan to buy a house, then most of the money you earn each month has to go toward paying the mortgage!


    Therefore, she really didn''t see what Qin Yang had to show off.


    Yet Fang Minhui didn''t want to burst his bubble, as she understood the principle of giving people enough room to step back. So she could only resort to casting a pleading look towards Shen Yuan on the display car.


    Unfortunately, her look was in vain, for at that moment, all of Shen Yuan''s attention was on the Defender.


    Qin Yang noticed that Fang Minhui seemed somewhat distracted when facing him, especially since she kept glancing at Shen Yuan, which irked him.


    He didn''t know whether Minhui liked this kid or not. If that was truly the case, that would be terrible!


    Some things can''t be obtained by having a car and a house, like love. If Fang Minhui only had eyes for her classmate, then no matter what he said, it would be useless.


    Ah~ Qin Yang sighed inwardly. It seemed Minhui, who hadn''t graduated yet, still retained some of that naive student innocence, not realizing the harshness of reality.


    It was obvious, wasn''t it? Following a poor student like that, forget about buying a house or a car in the future; even basic living security would be a problem.


    Feeling somewhat irritated, Qin Yang didn''t want to stay there any longer. Since he wasn''t going to buy and just looking was a waste of time, he simply said goodbye to Fang Minhui, "Well then, if there''s anything else, find me later, you''ve got my WeChat. I have a client coming over for paperwork, so I''m going to head out."


    After speaking, Qin Yang left without waiting for a reply, leaving behind what he thought was a very debonair silhouette.


    He hoped that after Minhui graduated, she would see the reality clearly and move away from those kinds of boys. Then she would realize that the gem of a boy she knew from before was truly worth entrusting her heart to.


    Shen Yuan was finished with his static experience and was eager to take a test drive. After all, you have to try on shoes to know if they fit.


    To know if a car suits you, you definitely have to give it a go.


    His previous 4 Series had good handling, precise steering, and smooth acceleration. Now he was curious to see how this large Defender would drive and whether it would feel like steering a boat.


    Glancing over instinctively, Shen Yuan noticed that only Fang Minhui was present; the salesman from before was nowhere in sight. "Where''s your classmate, did he leave?"


    "Yeah, he said if there''s anything, to look for him later, he had to go," she replied.


    Fang Minhui was speechless for a moment. She hadn''t expected that this senior, two years her elder and having worked for so long, could still have such an immature vibe about him.


    Shen Yuan simply "oh"ed, thinking to himself that there were only two groups of customers in the Range Rover showroom and the salespeople were probably bored out of their minds, scrounging around for something, anything to do.


    "How''s your relationship with this senior?"


    "Just acquaintances, we don''t really keep in touch much."


    Fang Minhui thought for a moment before speaking. Although Qin Yang had pursued her before, she felt there was no need to mention that to Shen Yuan.


    "Alright, got it."


    Shen Yuan thought since their relationship was just so-so, there was no need to give him face. He called over the receptionist from before and said, "Excuse me, could you arrange another salesperson for me? I''d like to take a test drive."


    The receptionist nodded without much surprise and then headed towards the sales office.


    It''s actually quite common for customers to change salespeople.


    Some customers are somewhat peculiar, maybe they took a dislike to a salesperson and wanted a change.


    Others, during the reception process, might have had some disagreements with the salesperson.


    And then there are even more ridiculous reasons, such as some male customers preferring female sales staff, while some female customers like being served by male sales staff, so she wasn''t surprised by much anymore.


    Of course, this time she didn''t think it was the customer''s fault. She knew what Qin Yang was like; he''d be reluctant to serve customers who showed no intention to purchase, and the sales manager had criticized him for this several times.


    However, Qin Yang''s performance wasn''t bad, so at most he''d just get a few words of criticism without any substantial punishment.


    After a short while, the receptionist returned with a new salesperson.


    This time it was a female salesperson. She looked to be in her late twenties, wearing glasses, black tights, a suit skirt, and high heels. She approached gracefully.


    Shen Yuan''s gaze was involuntarily drawn to her, seeing the saleswoman approach with a friendly smile, bowing slightly to him.


    Her white shirt grew taut with her movement, subtly revealing her curves as a gesture of respect to the customer.


    "Hello, my name is Chen Na, and I''m a sales consultant here."


    Shen Yuan nodded slightly in response, "Hello, please arrange a test drive for me."


    "Certainly, do you have your driver''s license with you?" Chen Na asked politely.


    Meanwhile, in the sales office, Qin Yang looked through the glass and saw that they had switched salespeople. He could not help but sneer, "What a joke. Just window shopping without buying, and now switching salespeople. Are they bored or just wasting time?"


    "Qin Yang, what''s up? Weren''t you just with a client?"


    At this moment, another male colleague, who had just finished slacking off, came into the office and casually asked.


    His name was Xiao Yang, and he was a salesperson at the shop as well.


    Qin Yang pointed in that direction: "Look, they switched sales. Now it''s Chen Na taking care of them."


    "What''s the point in changing salespeople all of a sudden?"


    "He wants to take a test drive, but I told him the boss drove the test car away."


    Qin Yang shrugged, with an indifferent expression, "Just a student wanting to buy a Defender and asking for a test drive. Isn''t that just wasting my fucking time?"


    "What if he actually buys it? You might regret it then," Xiao Yang said half-jokingly.


    "Buy my ass. Just a broke loser trying to show off in front of a girl. I''ve seen this type plenty of times."


    "..."

 Chapter 21 Wait, Is This Guy Really Buying It?

    ```


    "Can I use a digital driver''s license or a photo?"


    "Sure, I''ll add you on WeChat and then help you register."


    In the showroom, Chen Na added Shen Yuan as a friend, checked the driver''s license he sent over to confirm it was still valid, and then went to handle the registration procedures.


    Actually, Chen Na had little hope for this customer.


    If he were truly an interested buyer, Qin Yang would not have treated him so coldly.


    Typically, other salespeople are also reluctant to serve customers who have been passed over.


    The main reason Chen Na took on Shen Yuan was that she hadn''t serviced any customers yet today, and this customer could be recorded as in-store traffic, making her daily report look a bit better.


    Otherwise, when the nightly report came out, the leadership would think she hadn''t done anything all day and had just been loafing around.


    Furthermore, she had a good relationship with the receptionist and was willing to help out with this favor.


    Next, Chen Na had Shen Yuan sign the test drive agreement and then took him for a drive outside.


    After getting out of the car, Shen Yuan expressed his satisfaction, "The power is impressive; although the car is large, it doesn''t feel cumbersome to drive."


    "Of course," replied Chen Na with a smile, "This model has a 6-cylinder 3.0T engine with 400 horsepower, and the maximum torque can reach 550."


    Shen Yuan nodded. The Defender was quicker to accelerate than his previous 4-series, which took just over 7 seconds to go from zero to one hundred, while this model needed just over 6 seconds.


    The car was nice, and the saleswoman was pleasing to the eyes. Because the test drive was in the outdoor open air, the car had inevitably been sitting in the sun for a while, leading to a higher temperature inside.


    But Chen Na had thoughtfully started the car''s air conditioning in advance, bringing down the interior temperature.


    Shen Yuan took a moment to appraise the female salesperson. In terms of body and looks, she was on par with Fang Minhui.


    However, with glasses, a skirt suit, and a white shirt, she lacked some of Fang Minhui''s innocence but possessed an added touch of professionalism and intellectuality.


    In the current car industry downturn, 4S shops broadcasting live to grab attention often employ saleswomen with prominent headlights, dressed in black stockings and short skirts.


    There have also been online claims that 4S shop female salespeople, in order to meet their sales targets, engage in "PY transactions" with male customers.


    Yet it was unknown whether the woman before him was like those mentioned online -- aside from making deals, could she also engage in "special" dealings?


    "Alright, let''s talk about the price. If the discount is right, I can make a decision today. Also, do you have any P400XS models in stock?"


    Shen Yuan was well acquainted with the vehicle''s specs and, within his budget, naturally wanted the highest configuration. But he also had to consider the wait time for placing an order.


    Chen Na was taken aback, wondering if she had heard wrong, and couldn''t help but turn to look at Shen Yuan.


    From the sound of it, was Mr. Shen planning on placing an order?


    You have to understand that with customers interested in the Land Rover brand, the sales cycle is usually quite lengthy.


    There''s a classic saying online, "Toyotas won''t break, Land Rovers won''t fix," which has indeed given Land Rover a bad reputation.


    Indeed, Land Rover''s failure rate and complaint rate are among the highest in the luxury brand category, earning it the nickname "gas-guzzler."


    Therefore, the customer conversion rate for store visits is also relatively low; even with interest, it would generally take 3-4 visits to the shop before a sale might happen.


    Often, customers wouldn''t necessarily buy even if the salesperson talked their ear off.


    Yet, Mr. Shen had just mentioned... if the price is right, he could decide today?


    Something didn''t add up. If he really wanted to buy, why would Qin Yang have given up on servicing him?


    "Is there a problem?" asked Shen Yuan, noticing Chen Na''s strange expression.


    Chen Na paused for a moment, then quickly adjusted: "No problem. I''ll give you a quote in a bit, at the most favorable price. We don''t have it in stock at the moment, but there are two on the way, which should arrive at the shop within a week."


    "It''s okay to wait a few days."


    "Uh-huh."


    Chen Na took a deep breath, surprised that happiness had come so unexpectedly.


    Their commission per car was very high; selling just two or three cars a month could make one''s monthly income exceed ten thousand bucks.


    In the shop, a salesperson who could sell five or six cars a month was already overjoyed.


    Not to mention the Defender, whose commission was second only to Range Rover.


    ```


    Although it''s not as expensive as a Range Rover, it still costs nearly a million once it''s on the road.


    It''s really not something just anyone can afford!


    Customers like this, who look around for a bit and then straightaway decide to buy a luxury car worth millions after a test drive, are what they call angel customers to them!


    Qin Yang, oh Qin Yang... you really missed out on a fortune!


    Chen Na''s mood grew more and more delightful, she walked to her office with a smile to get a quotation booklet, and she even couldn''t help but rise onto the balls of her feet with excitement.


    Inside the office, Qin Yang was scrolling through short videos when he saw Chen Na walk in. He was about to make a snide remark, but upon noticing something off about Chen Na''s expression, he held his tongue.


    ??


    Isn''t this kind of action and expression something Chen Na shows only when she''s closing a deal?


    "Chen Na, how''s the customer''s level of interest?"


    Qin Yang asked tentatively, feeling slightly uneasy.


    "Not bad,"


    Chen Na casually replied, thinking to herself that he''d know once she closed the deal.


    Actually, she didn''t have a very high opinion of Qin Yang, who always acted picky with customers because he had stable performance numbers and left the others to clean up his messes.


    And before, Qin Yang had shamelessly pursued her, of course, she didn''t care for someone like Qin Yang.


    "Looking at Chen Na, the customer''s interest seems quite high," Xiao Yang said with a laugh from the side.


    He knew Chen Na was an experienced saleswoman with a good grasp of gauging potential customers, so there was a high possibility that this customer would make a purchase.


    Anyway, he wasn''t on good terms with Qin Yang. A previous order he missed out on because of Qin Yang had cost him the title of Sales Champion for the month, and missing out on the extra five thousand bucks for the monthly top sales award was something he still held onto.


    And whether or not the deal was closed, or with whom it was closed, it didn''t affect him, so he might as well stir the pot.


    "Actually, every customer who comes to the store has some level of interest."


    Chen Na said, smiling, proudly strutted out of the office.


    "Qin Yang, something''s not right,"


    Xiao Yang started to fan the flames on Qin Yang''s side after seeing Chen Na walk out so confidently.


    "Impossible, he won''t buy, it''s just a quote."


    Qin Yang was feeling nervous, but still sounded quite firm.


    "Hope so,"


    Xiao Yang smiled insinuatingly, while Qin Yang was actually thrown into turmoil. He craned his neck, watching the showroom''s every move closely.


    Half an hour later, after getting a quote and some negotiation, Shen Yuan decided, and the car would arrive within a week.


    The timing was acceptable, so Shen Yuan planned to put down a deposit first.


    Chen Na thoughtfully prepared the contract for Shen Yuan and then escorted him to the cashier to place the deposit.


    Meanwhile, Qin Yang in the office kept an eye on the showroom, and when he saw Chen Na leading Shen Yuan to the cashier, the expression on his face suddenly stiffened.


    ???


    No way, is this guy actually buying?


    Based on his experience, aren''t these customers supposed to just leave after a test drive, at most get a simple quote?


    Now he''s going to book the car?


    Qin Yang''s scalp started to tingle; he had sold 3 cars this month and was just one short of the mid-month bonus.


    A total of three thousand bucks, plus the Defender''s commission¡ªthat''s seven thousand bucks!


    Qin Yang''s heart bled. It felt like 7000 bucks that should''ve been in his pocket were now leaping into someone else''s.


    Damn it, Fang Minhui! When you have such a rich customer, why didn''t you give me a heads-up?!


    .....

 Chapter 22 Cold Drink or Hot Drink?

    At the cashier, Shen Yuan casually swiped a 50,000 deposit.


    Luxury car brands typically require a deposit of 30,000 to 50,000, but Shen Yuan didn''t care, as he would have to pay the full amount anyway once the car was delivered.


    In the end, the agreed final price was 888,000, a lucky number. Chen Na even included some premium gifts like an explosion-proof film, headrests, and pillows.


    However, Shen Yuan knew the quality of these gifts from the dealership wasn''t great, so he didn''t take them.


    He planned to spend some money on better quality films and accessories later. After all, he had a shopping budget of 1 million, and even after subtracting the cost of the car, he would have more than enough left.


    Minhui had quietly accompanied Shen Yuan throughout the test drive, price negotiations, and deposit payment today.


    Although she had already seen Shen Yuan''s financial power, she was still slightly shocked to see him completely purchase a luxury car worth nearly 900,000.


    It''s great to be rich, to be able to just buy such an expensive car on a whim.


    Minhui couldn''t help but sigh inwardly, but she also felt somewhat worried because the female salesperson seemed a bit too enthusiastic in her service.


    Especially since she was also good-looking.


    Minhui subconsciously compared herself with the salesperson, only to find she didn''t really have an edge over her.


    The main difference was in their styles; the saleswoman projected a knowledgeable professional woman''s image, highlighted by her tight white shirt and skirt suit, which accentuated her figure.


    Back in the dormitory, Chen Ling had mentioned that guys liked this type of uniform and office lady look.


    Minhui sighed internally, feeling a vague sense of crisis, unsure if Shen Yuan would like this type of woman.


    Meanwhile, Chen Na was dealing with Shen Yuan for the first time, and she still hadn''t fully recovered from the initial shock.


    Seeing the receipt print out from the POS, Chen Na still found it hard to believe.


    After all, she had initially just hoped to log the flow of potential customers and hadn''t really expected him to make a purchase.


    But the outcome was beyond her imagination!


    A Defender, paid in full, deal closed in just half an hour?


    She could never have dreamed of such a scenario¡ªtruly, she hadn''t seen such a straightforward transaction in her three years at the dealership.


    She wondered what profession Mr. Shen was in, considering his young age. She was surprised to see that he was only 21 years old from the driver''s license he provided.


    By this time, Shen Yuan had signed the receipt, and the cashier had issued an official receipt. Chen Na bowed slightly as she handed it over, "All set, Mr. Shen. Here is your receipt. I''ll get the contract stamped now. Please have a seat and enjoy a cup of tea."


    "Okay," Shen Yuan replied.


    After speaking, Chen Na took the contract and headed into the sales office to prepare the stamp.


    In the office, Qin Yang seemed deprived of all energy, slumped in his chair with a blank expression.


    Seeing Chen Na close a deal with a client he had been reluctant to attend to¡ªwho had just easily walked away with 7,000 commission¡ªleft him feeling terrible.


    "Qin Yang, thanks for passing this client to me," Chen Na said while leaning over the desk to stamp the contract.


    From that angle, Qin Yang could see Chen Na''s attractive, well-shaped buttocks distinctly.


    But at the moment, he found it utterly tasteless and felt no urge to admire, only managing a bitter response, "Congratulations, Chen Na."


    "It''s okay, Qin Yang. It''s just one Defender. Maybe you''ll have amazing luck tomorrow and sell two Rangers?"


    Xiao Yang said with a chuckle, enjoying the situation, eager for Qin Yang to feel even worse.


    Qin Yang gave Xiao Yang a cold sideways glance. He knew that although it seemed like encouragement, it was actually meant to needle him.


    "Sell two Rangers my ass. Are Rangers so easy to sell?" He cursed inwardly and couldn''t be bothered to deal with Xiao Yang any further.


    Ten minutes later, Chen Na had completed all the paperwork for Shen Yuan and walked them to the door, "Mr. Shen, if you have any issues, feel free to communicate with us. The dealership will also make a follow-up call, could you kindly give us a perfect satisfaction score?"


    "No problem," Shen Yuan nodded, understanding staff had performance assessments based on customer satisfaction ratings, and knew what to do.


    "Did you drive here today?" she asked.


    "No, I took a taxi,"


    "Where do you live? If it''s not too far, can I drive you home?"


    Chen Na asked tentatively. They didn''t really offer a service to drive customers home, but Chen Na felt that maintaining a good relationship with such a clear-cut and wealthy client was essential. Who knows, perhaps his friends or family might need a car in the future.


    That could really be a jackpot!


    It was just a one-time task, and coincidentally it was also time to leave work. He could go directly home after dropping him off, but most importantly, he could leave a good impression on this Mr. Shen.


    "No need, we can just take a taxi ourselves, thank you."


    Shen Yuan had been about to agree when Fang Minhui suddenly spoke up beside him.


    He paused, only then realizing that he had been chatting so pleasantly with Chen Na that he had neglected this girl.


    "Alright then, I won''t insist on sending you off."


    Chen Na smiled. She didn''t think much of it; it was normal for young girls to be a bit naive and jealous.


    However, she was past that stage, and moreover, she actually had no such feelings toward Mr. Shen, she was simply trying to maintain a good relationship with the client.


    "Shall we go, Huihui, shall we take a taxi to go eat?"


    Shen Yuan nudged Fang Minhui''s shoulder, making a point of using a conjunction when addressing her.


    It''s normal for girls to be a bit temperamental, a little coaxing would do.


    "Oh." Fang Minhui replied expressionlessly.


    "Are you jealous?"


    "No."


    Fang Minhui kept her head down, not wanting Shen Yuan to see her real feelings.


    "Still saying no? Your expression says otherwise."


    Shen Yuan looked at Fang Minhui and laughed, "I am just collaborating with her as a salesperson and client, nothing more."


    "Who knows? You were scrolling through her social media just now, and for quite a while too."


    Fang Minhui pursed her lips, sullen, as Shen Yuan had just joyfully chatted with that seductress right in front of her, completely disregarding her feelings.


    "Uh...."


    Shen Yuan gave an embarrassed chuckle: "Haha, it''s just a habit, I always tend to scroll through new friends'' social media."


    "Well.... no more next time."


    His excuse seemed reasonable, so Fang Minhui decided to give Shen Yuan another chance.


    In reality, Fang Minhui and Shen Yuan had no relationship to speak of, and she didn''t know why she felt jealous.


    Yet, she just felt that Shen Yuan should center his life around her.


    At the same time, she deeply realized that Shen Yuan''s personality, along with his style of spending heavily, tended to attract other women easily.


    Like the seductress just now.


    At this moment, she felt slightly uneasy; if Shen Yuan were really lured away by another seductress, that would be troublesome.


    She should find a way to firmly secure Shen Yuan, the wealthy god, for herself.


    Yes! Secure him well!


    Fang Minhui firmly thought to herself.


    "Mm-hm, won''t happen next time."


    Shen Yuan nodded in assurance, though he thought to himself, not happening next time would be a miracle, I''m not that innocent.


    But he gently said, "Let''s go, we should go have dinner first, how about Western food today? And maybe visit IFC Mall afterward?"


    "Is this time to help pick out a gift for your sister?"


    Thinking of the IFC Mall lightened Fang Minhui''s mood somewhat.


    "This time, it''s for picking something for you."


    "But, you already bought me two bags yesterday."


    Fang Minhui, though somewhat expectant, still felt it was inappropriate to keep having Shen Yuan spend money on her, mainly as it might make him think she was too materialistic.


    "It''s fine, don''t all you girls love bags? Buying a few more won''t hurt, after all, there are seven days in a week, so you won''t have to repeat."


    Shen Yuan thought this was not up to her, spending on women always yielded three times the cashback, better she bought more so he could earn more.


    Fang Minhui attempted to decline further, but ultimately couldn''t convince Shen Yuan.


    That evening, Shen Yuan chose a fancy Western restaurant, emphasizing price over taste mainly for the triple cashback, and while ordering, he pondered before asking, "Huihui, do you want a cold drink or a hot one today?"


    Fang Minhui thought of something, her cheeks suddenly blushing, and after a long silence, she bit her lip and said, "Then... a cold drink..."


    ...

 Chapter 23 No Choice, He Gave Too Much

    Having spoken, Fang Minhui''s eyes were misty, and she bashfully lowered her head, wishing she could bury it completely in her chest.


    She often scrolled through videos and jokes, and Chen Ling would inject these things into her from time to time, so of course, she knew what Shen Yuan meant by his words.


    He just wanted it, didn''t he...


    Meanwhile, the perplexed Shen Yuan on the opposite side was thinking, hold on, sis, I was just asking if you want a hot or cold drink, what''s with that expression?


    After a two-second pause, Shen Yuan realized, oh dear, her mind went there?


    To be honest, facing Fang Minhui who had studied dance and had a graceful figure, especially with her shy demeanor now, Shen Yuan also felt somewhat stirred.


    After all, the last time he had been with Zhou Wanting was, well, the time before the last.


    As a young man brimming with vitality, he had saved up quite a bit, and he really needed to spend it.


    So be it, so be it, Shen Yuan inwardly sighed, let this misunderstanding be more intense then!


    After dinner, Shen Yuan took Fang Minhui to the second floor of IFC Mall.


    This time, Shen Yuan first selected a Longines watch for Fang Minhui, from the La Grande series, a quartz watch priced at 12,800.


    Then, they purchased a COCO silver bracelet from Chanel, costing 20,800.


    Lastly, the handbag chosen was LV''s GO-14, with a price tag of 50,500.


    In total, he had spent 84,000, and the system''s triple cash-back netted him a benefit of 168,000!


    And during this shopping trip, Fang Minhui''s Feel-good Index towards Shen Yuan had actually increased again, from the previous 76 to now 81, a full five-point rise!


    Seeing the change in the Feel-good Index above Fang Minhui''s head, Shen Yuan had a flicker of excitement in his eyes, as though he was not facing the class belle of their class, but a money tree that kept flowering and bearing fruit.


    Because for every three-point increase in the Feel-good Index, the system would also return the spending amount.


    Sure enough, Shen Yuan received another transaction notification on his phone.


    [Construction Bank]Your card ending in 0098 received an income of 84,100 yuan on May 12th at 11:39, with a current balance of 1,782,556.


    Of course, this included the final payment for ordering a car, and even after deducting the last payment of 830,000, the money he could spend had reached 940,000!


    ...


    At 9:30 in the evening, in the penthouse of Dafuhao 808, Fang Minhui was nervously sitting on the bed, fiddling with her phone.


    Chen Ling had just sent her a message on WeChat, asking when she would return to the dorm, and she had no idea how to respond.


    If she simply said she wouldn''t be coming back tonight, Chen Ling would definitely ask why. How could she not tell her?


    But if she told her the real reason... that she was with Shen Yuan...


    How embarrassing...


    Fang Minhui bit her pink lips, staring at the screen, feeling conflicted.


    On the other hand, she was also nervous.


    After Shen Yuan made his request tonight, she could have refused.


    They had only had their first date yesterday, so this development was really too fast.


    But then again, yesterday Shen Yuan had spent over fifty thousand on a bag for her, and today he had spent another eighty thousand, nearly 140,000 in total!


    That''s about as much as Fang Minhui''s parents made in a year.


    Fang Minhui glanced at the bathroom, where the sound of "splash splash" water spraying could be heard; Shen Yuan should be finishing up his shower soon...


    Forget it!


    Fang Minhui gently bit her lower lip and replied: "Lingling, I won''t come back tonight, if someone asks, just say I went to visit relatives."


    I''m sorry, Lingling, he''s given too much...


    Shen Yuan had finished his shower by now, stepping out with only a towel around him, his hair still dripping wet.


    He climbed onto the bed, circled behind Fang Minhui and enveloped her soft body in his arms, whispering softly in her ear, "Huihui, are you ready?"


    Fang Minhui''s body jolted as if electrified, and her face turned red to her ears as she bit her lower lip and said, "I haven''t showered yet..."


    "It doesn''t matter, I want you just the way you are."


    "..."


    ....


    Half an hour later, Fang Minhui curled up in Shen Yuan''s arms.


    Her complexion was rosy, her gaze foggy, as she was still savoring everything that had just happened.


    Indeed, it was not as dreadful as she imagined, aside from the initial 10 minutes, everything else, as Chen Ling said, was comfortable...


    Shen Yuan, on the other hand, was catching his uneven breath, slowly recovering, remembering that the last time he played poker was two months ago, it really took some time to adjust after so long.


    Normally he didn''t exercise enough, otherwise, he wouldn''t be in such a state.


    Both of them stared blankly at the ceiling of the room for about ten minutes, then Fang Minhui suddenly turned over, her pale hand slowly moving downward...


    "Shen Yuan... how about... we?"


    "Let me rest a bit longer."


    "No... I want to now..."


    .....


    .....


    The next morning at 9 o''clock, Shen Yuan got up from the bed, his legs slightly shaky after being completely drained.


    The events of the previous night had left him somewhat unable to muster his strength.


    It wasn''t that he couldn''t handle it, just that he hadn''t expected the inexperienced Fang Minhui to be so fierce.


    Fuck, she really treated me like a goddamn work ox! Even oxen need to rest between work, don''t they?


    Meanwhile, Fang Minhui had just walked out of the bathroom after a shower, her skin wrapped in a towel, her cheeks faintly flushed, looking utterly content.


    "Shen Yuan, let''s get dressed, have breakfast first, and then head back to school," she said.


    Fang Minhui walked over with a smile, linking her arm with Shen Yuan''s.


    "Sure, sure, you drained me of several months'' savings last night, I should indeed replenish," Shen Yuan replied.


    "Is it really that exaggerated? All you guys talk about how you can always use that thing of yours..."


    "..."


    After having a buffet breakfast at the hotel, Shen Yuan and Fang Minhui returned to school. To avoid rumors, they parted at the school gate and went back to their respective dormitories.


    When Shen Yuan pushed open the door to Room 503 it was already 10:30, and as expected, Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin were sound asleep.


    This was the lifestyle of contemporary college students, as if not sleeping until noon meant losing out on a full weekend.


    The ones with partners were better off, at least they could go out for a date or a movie on the weekend, but singletons like Old Cao and Old Huang could only hole up under their blankets, playing with needle and thread.


    Shen Yuan casually pulled out a chair, ready to sort out his debt.


    After all, the System Daddy did offer cashback for repaying debt.


    Between Huabei, white strips, and credit cards, he owed a total of 52,000, which Shen Yuan paid off one by one.


    Additionally, Shen Yuan had a childhood friend who, knowing his family''s bankrupt state, had actively transferred 100,000 to him.


    Of course, Shen Yuan didn''t "line his own pockets" with this money ¡ª it was meant as emergency funds for the family, which he transferred directly to Old Shen once he received it.


    Shen Yuan found "Three-year-old''s Life" in his WeChat contacts and transferred the 100,000 yuan back to him.


    "Three-year-old''s Life" was actually Li Yuhang, a rich second generation like Shen Yuan used to be.


    He was the only brother Shen Yuan still got along well with now; after all, the fair-weather friends from before had kept their distance once they learned about his family''s bankruptcy.


    His dad, Old Li, owned a small factory producing medical equipment. Despite the severe impact on many industries that year, the equipment produced by Li Yuhang''s family was in high demand.


    Old Li seized the opportunity, offering five times the usual wages to bring back his workers over the New Year, working overtime to produce. It was said that in two years, he''d achieved a modest goal in earnings.


    But His son, Li Yuhang, was a wild card, refusing to take over Old Li''s legacy, insisting on making his own way in the world.


    Old Li probably felt relieved to let him bump his way through life and provided him with financial support. Li Yuhang had opened two hotpot restaurants, a KTV, and an escape room that had become an Internet sensation.


    As expected, they all lost money hand over fist.


    Yet, Li Yuhang was still not deterred, wanting to continue with a new bar. A few days earlier, he had messaged Shen Yuan to come to check out the bar''s decor.


    He knew Shen Yuan used to frequent bars and clubs, and might have some useful advice.


    However, Shen Yuan thought play was play, business was business. With different perspectives, he felt it best not to muddle things up, so he had not gone.


    After transferring the money, Li Yuhang didn''t respond; he had probably partied late into the previous night, so Shen Yuan didn''t bother with him and decided to look for some fun.


    Just then, Fang Minhui sent a WeChat message saying she wanted Shen Yuan to join her for duo queue.


    Shen Yuan hadn''t expected this girl to be a League of Legends player too, but as long as she wouldn''t drag him down, it was all good.


    "Which server?"


    "Black Rose."


    "I have an account there, I''ll log in now."


    Shen Yuan was decent at LoL, platinum in one server, mainly playing AD and top lane, although it had been a while and his skills were a bit rusty.


    However, playing in the Black Rose server, which he hadn''t really tackled ranked games on, would be fine for some low-level matches.


    "Old Huang, I''m borrowing your Alienware to play a bit."


    Shen Yuan called out, lacking a computer of his own, he had to borrow Huang Haibao''s Alienware.


    "Go ahead."


    Old Huang turned in bed, muttering a complaint.


    "Damn, feisty now, are we!"


    Shen Yuan muttered under his breath, then booted up the computer.


    .....

 Chapter 24 It鈥檚 not like the stray dog was beaten up like this

    .....


    Before long, Shen Yuan had logged in and started a ranked match with "The Starving Cutie."


    The Cutie... whether cute or not is another matter, but definitely on the heavier side.


    About this, Shen Yuan had profound experience last night.


    Most crucially, she was insatiable¡ªindeed, it was hard to fill her up.


    However, once they entered the valley, Shen Yuan realized how disastrous Fang Minhui was.


    They went bot lane together, Shen Yuan playing Caitlyn and Fang Minhui playing Blitzcrank. Ten minutes into laning, Fang Minhui hadn''t landed a single hook on the opponents.


    "I mean, sister, push forward a bit, don''t just hide behind me all the time."


    "Put an Exhaust on that Kai''Sa over there...."


    "Seriously, aren''t you going to use your ult?"


    Shen Yuan, headphones on, grumbled as the duo laned for twenty minutes, and his kill-death ratio actually plunged to 0-5.


    And The Starving Cutie was even more appalling, her ratio reaching 0-8.


    Their team''s jungler and mid-laner completely lost it, stayed at the fountain, and went all-out keyboard warrior, furiously typing away.


    After their base was destroyed, Shen Yuan helplessly said, "Let''s just play normal games...."


    Shen Yuan talked to Fang Minhui through his headset the whole game, disturbing Huang Haibao''s sleep until he couldn''t take it anymore. He got up cursing, "Old Third, it''s bad enough you didn''t come back to the dorm last night, now you''re deliberately keeping me from sleeping."


    "Dude, it''s practically a public service waking you up at this hour, on behalf of your parents."


    Shen Yuan shot back, not to be outdone.


    "Get lost!"


    Huang Haibao jumped out of bed, stepped into his slippers, went to the restroom to run some water, then came out brushing his teeth, muttering, "Who are you gaming with early in the morning, making all this noise?"


    Shen Yuan ignored him, focusing intently on laning, because now both he and the opposing AD were at half health, with his own Kha''Zix lurking in the bush, about to take down the opposition.


    And The Starving Cutie''s Alistar was full health, with both Flash and Ignite ready. As long as he could control them, they could take out both.


    "Go in now," Shen Yuan advised.


    Unexpectedly, upon receiving the command, The Starving Cutie first W''d forward, but then failed to press Q, directly pushing the opposing AD back under the tower.


    Kha''Zix had just emerged from the bush, fully capable of eliminating the enemy, but upon seeing this scene, he lost it and left a message in the game: "Go to hell!"


    "15."


    Huang Haibao, still brushing his teeth, glanced at the game screen, and couldn''t help himself, almost spraying foam on Shen Yuan: "For fuck''s sake, who the hell is playing that Alistar? So fucking bad, can''t even do the W-Q combo?!"


    Shen Yuan, face full of frustration, couldn''t bear to look and quietly pressed B to recall.


    And on the other end of the internet, Fang Minhui was also blushing with embarrassment, realizing she had messed up Shen Yuan for the third game in a row....


    "Old Third, if it''s not working out, maybe switch your duo, man. With your level of AD, even tying a dog in the support role wouldn''t end up this bad."


    Huang Haibao scoffed from behind.


    "Enough with the bullshit, just focus on brushing your teeth."


    Although slightly displeased, it was important to maintain The Starving Cutie''s morale¡ªI can say things, but others can''t.


    "Shen Yuan, who''s that talking next to you?"


    Fang Minhui asked through the headset.


    "Just some idiot, ignore him."


    "The voice sounds familiar, isn''t that Huang Haibao?"


    "You guessed right, it''s that idiot."


    "Seriously, who is it, Old Third?"


    Huang Haibao sensed something was off. Who are they calling an idiot? That''s no way to talk about a bro.


    In front of his bro, that just wasn''t acceptable!


    He instinctively leaned towards the screen, wanting to check the opponent''s ID, but was stunned once he did.


    "The Starving Cutie?"


    Huang Haibao rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things because he wasn''t wearing glasses, and wanted to take a closer look at that ID.


    After all, he played LoL everyday in the dorm because he knew Fang Minhui loved the game.


    For this reason, he had even specially created an ID called "The Devil Wears Nada" in Black Rose.


    During the second semester of his freshman year, Huang Haibao had the fortune to ask Fang Minhui to play a round, but with his limited skills, he completely couldn''t carry Fang Minhui.


    After a desperate three consecutive losses, Fang Minhui refused to game with Huang Haibao ever again.


    Since then, he had diligently practiced his LOL skills and finally, he advanced from the brave Bronze to the resolute Silver.


    Unfortunately, by that time, things had changed, and he never had the chance to team up with "Big Cutie" again.


    After triple-checking that it indeed was "Hungry Big Cutie," Huang Haibao was totally shocked¡ªwas the class belle actually gaming with Old Third?


    Wait, could it be that Fang Minhui''s account had been hacked?


    The first thing that came to Huang Haibao''s mind was this possibility, but then he thought it didn''t make sense¡ªwhy the hell would someone steal a Silver account?


    More importantly, how was "Big Cutie" teaming up with Old Third?!


    "Old Third, you''re not telling me you''re gaming with the class belle, are you?"


    Shakily asked Huang Haibao, his hand trembling so much that he could hardly hold his toothbrush.


    Old Third, you''re damn well dead!


    "Yeah, what''s up?"


    Shen Yuan replied nonchalantly as he focused on his lane.


    "No, I mean, when did you start playing in this server?"


    Huang Haibao originally wanted to say "hitting on," but realizing that the class belle was still on the line with Shen Yuan, he quickly changed his words.


    "The class belle only has an account in this server, where else could we play?"


    "Uh...why didn''t you tell me earlier that you were teaming up with the class belle? I wouldn''t have said all that stuff just now."


    Unbelievably, the first thing Huang Haibao thought of was to leave a good impression, considering his previous cursing must have been overheard.


    "It''s okay, she doesn''t care about it anyway."


    Shen Yuan responded casually.


    "That''s not right, she must care about it, Old Third."


    Huang Haibao said, wanting to argue further, but suddenly realized that Shen Yuan hadn''t slept in the dorm last night, right?


    He had no place to stay at home and had just broken up with his senior, so where else could he sleep if not in the dorm?


    Huang Haibao paused for a moment, then looked back at the computer screen¡ªwas Shen Yuan gaming with the class belle first thing in the morning?


    Putting everything together...


    It couldn''t be, could it?


    Huang Haibao''s jaw nearly dropped. This was his goddess after all. He stared blankly at Shen Yuan: "Old Third, don''t tell me you got together with the class belle?"


    "Crap, is being with the class belle such a weird thing?!"


    Shen Yuan cursed while still focusing on his lane.


    "It''s impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Huang Haibao was utterly dumbfounded.


    Just then, Shen Yuan''s side was truly losing badly, unanimously voting to surrender, he said into the headset, "Not playing anymore, logging off. Let''s battle another day!"


    Honestly, a spree of defeats could really dampen your mood, probably even affecting his mealtime as he''d still be thinking about the trivial matters from the game.


    After finishing his words, he logged off the game, closed the laptop, and stood up, ready to head to the restroom.


    But turning around and seeing Huang Haibao''s dazed expression, he was taken aback.


    Man, it''s just a game, what the fuck is with that look?


    Oh, he remembered¡ªhe casually mentioned being with the class belle earlier.


    Though he hadn''t anticipated Old Huang''s reaction to be so intense, clearly unable to accept the reality.


    Shen Yuan thought it best not to go public with this news, just having broken up with his senior, now to mess around with the class belle?


    If people at school found out, they would mercilessly gossip about him!


    Of course, Shen Yuan wasn''t too concerned about his own reputation.


    The key was to consider Fang Minhui''s feelings, if such news spread, who knows what type of rumors she could end up facing, especially with some girls being so gossipy.


    "Chill, it was just a game with the class belle."


    Shen Yuan patted Huang Haibao on the shoulder. "It was just a joke; why did you take it seriously?"


    Huang Haibao paused for half a second, then realizing and exploding in anger: "Damn it, Old Third, how could you joke about something like this?"


    "..."

 Chapter 25 Are they going to let him deal damage up close?

    "Let''s go, let''s hit the cafeteria first,"


    Shen Yuan patted his growling stomach, not understanding why he was so hungry; he had just had breakfast around 9 o''clock.


    Could it be that he had expended too much energy last night?


    They say women in their thirties are like wolves and in their forties like tigers, but Fang Minhui was only in her early twenties. How had she unlocked that level already?


    Shen Yuan sighed softly. It seemed he needed to exercise more regularly, or else he wouldn''t be able to handle such a seductress.


    "That damn Old Cao went to bed at the same time as me last night, at three in the morning, and he''s still lying in bed."


    By now, Huang Haibao had finished brushing his teeth, cleaned his face, and was putting on his glasses from the desk.


    "That son of a gun can eat and sleep, and on top of that, he snores like a bear. Seriously deserves to die."


    Shen Yuan looked at Cao Shunjin, who was snoring thunderously, remembered how many times that guy had kept him awake at night, and felt mischievous. He climbed the bunk ladder and yanked off the covers, "Fire! Fire! Get up!"


    Cao Shunjin jerked awake with a start, sitting up immediately, "Where''s the fire? Where is it?"


    He looked around, disoriented, realizing there was no altercation. Only two jerks in the room were laughing at him, and he cursed furiously, "Are you trying to kill me?!"


    Cao Shunjin''s expression was a sight to behold¡ªconfused from being half asleep, panicked from the scare, and a bit of rage for being rudely awakened from a sweet dream.


    "Hurry up and get out of bed. Let''s go downstairs for breakfast," Shen Yuan said with a laugh.


    With such a ruckus, Cao Shunjin was now wide awake and could no longer sleep. Grumbling, he got up, took care of his hygiene in a matter of minutes, and followed Shen Yuan downstairs to the cafeteria.


    Once at the cafeteria and after getting their meals, they sat down when Cao Shunjin suddenly remembered something, "There''s a class dinner tonight. You guys going?"


    Shen Yuan paused, perplexed. What was the point of a dinner when everyone saw each other in class every day? What was there to gather for?


    Huang Haibao''s head shook like a bobblehead, "Nope, not going."


    "Why not?"


    Cao Shunjin asked while eating.


    "Didn''t you see the group chat for our class? Li Zhanpeng, that bastard, went to the 4S shop this morning and booked a BMW. He even posted the booking contract in the group," Huang Haibao said indignantly.


    "I suspect he suggested the class rep schedule the dinner specifically for today," added Huang Haibao.


    Shen Yuan normally didn''t pay attention to the class group chat; he had it muted, and Cao Shunjin had just woken up and hadn''t noticed the messages either.


    Both of them took out their phones simultaneously to check the class chat and indeed found 99+ unread messages.


    They scrolled to the top of the chat history, and sure enough, there was Li Zhanpeng''s smug message, "The weather is nice this weekend, I suggest everyone go out and enjoy it."


    But the real kicker was the picture he attached. At a glance, it was just a clear blue sky, but in the bottom right-hand corner, you could see the stand from a BMW 4S shop with a clear BMW logo.


    After that picture was posted, people started replying immediately, "Damn, Brother Peng is picking up a BMW?"


    "Brother Peng is the man. Which BMW model did you book?"


    "No matter which model, it gotta be at least 300k, right?"


    "Man, even ten years after graduation, I probably won''t be able to afford a BMW."


    "Brother Peng, I only have one question: are the female sales reps at the BMW 4S shop hot?"


    Many more sycophantic messages followed, and Li Zhanpeng, amidst everyone''s shock, coolly dropped another line with a picture of the booking contract.


    "It''s not that expensive; BMW is giving big discounts now."


    Shen Yuan opened the picture: the model was a BMW 3 Series 325Li model, costing 280,000 on the road, and the key detail was the payment method: one-time payment.


    Once that was out, there was another round of shock and awe in the group chat.


    "See? That''s what the dinner will be tonight¡ªprobably just another one-man show by Li Zhanpeng," Huang Haibao muttered contemptuously, thinking that the dinner would only serve as a showcase for Li Zhanpeng to flaunt his wealth. Was he expected to go there and be part of the audience?


    Especially since their dorm room 503 was not on good terms with Li Zhanpeng.


    Now that Old Third had fallen to the status of a debt-burdened generation, there was no one left in the class to put a damper on Li''s arrogance.


    "If we don''t go, wouldn''t our class fees of two hundred per semester be in vain?"


    Cao Shunjin''s eyebrows drooped. Every semester, two hundred in fees were collected, which were mostly spent on these meals that weren''t even filling. But the thought of not attending and letting the others splurge his money on food and drink made him feel even worse.


    "Damn! The class rep and the Youth League secretary never ask our opinions about these dinners," Huang Haibao cursed, realizing this problem.


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but laugh at the lively conversation in the class group chat, finding Li Zhanpeng''s attempts at showing off rather fucking adorable.


    But then again, back when everyone was still in school, getting around by bus or bicycle was the norm, with very few even riding electric scooters.


    Under such circumstances, having a classmate who could already drive a BMW was indeed something worth boasting about.


    Shen Yuan wasn''t exempt from vanity either; when he bought his 4 Series, a bit of show-off was definitely part of the appeal.


    But these were all toys Li Zhanpeng had played and done with, and besides, Shen Yuan didn''t bother with such low-level boasting, let alone fucking posting the car booking contract in the group chat.


    Shen Yuan thought that a get-together with such a backdrop was pointless, and since the classmates saw each other every day, he shook his head, "Go ahead if you like, I''m not going."


    Upon hearing this, Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin exchanged a look as if they had realized something.


    After a long silence, Huang Haibao sighed, patted Shen Yuan on the shoulder, and offered words of comfort, "Old Third, we understand."


    They all knew that Shen Yuan''s family had gone bankrupt and had sold their house and car.


    Furthermore, Li Zhanpeng had always been outshone by Old Third, which is why he had never liked him.


    Now that Li Zhanpeng had booked a car, he was at the peak of his arrogance and might say some sarcastic shit about Old Third in the evening.


    With so many classmates around that night and Old Third being someone who cared about face, it was better not to attend at all.


    "You don''t know shit!" Shen Yuan said irritably.


    After high school graduation, Shen Yuan had attended one get-together, which had been truly boring.


    Their class was an advanced class filled with top students; half of them were admitted to top universities such as those ranked under 985 and 211 project, and there were even two who met the Tsinghua University and Peking University admission scores. Even the ones who fell short were accepted into first-tier universities.


    As for someone like Shen Yuan who only made it into a second-tier university, there were only three or four others, and he really didn''t stand out in that group.


    After all, student life wasn''t like society; once you enter society, people measure you by your annual income or social status.


    In high school, the discussions were all about exam scores and problem-solving methods.


    Plainly put, back then, it was a chance for the top students to show off.


    Of course, they were now juniors in college, which is like stepping halfway into society, and many had already adopted the antics of societal folks, beginning to judge friends based on utilitarian values.


    For instance, some would assess whether a person was worth befriending based on their family background and social status.


    Like the few people who were just kissing Li Zhanpeng''s ass in the group chat, it was clear they were just brown-nosing.


    Everybody wasn''t stupid; actually, not many liked hanging out with someone of Li Zhanpeng''s nature, but they thought his wealthy family background was worth getting on his good side ahead of time.


    So at tonight''s gathering, it was likely to be filled with those "seasoned" classmates kissing Li Zhanpeng''s ass.


    Meanwhile, Shen Yuan''s WeChat "ding-dong" suddenly rang, pulling him out of his thoughts.


    He opened it and saw that it was a voice message from "Three-Year-Old" Li Yuhang.


    Shen Yuan played it, the voice was groggy, almost unclear about what he was saying, probably just after waking up.


    The gist was, "How the hell do you know I''m short on cash lately, you damn timely motherfucker?" followed by an invitation for Shen Yuan to come over for dinner and hit the bars that night, just to chill.


    Shen Yuan wasn''t interested in clubbing or dancing at the moment and was about to send a voice message to politely decline, but then, he suddenly heard the System''s voice in his head.


    [Mission: A perfect life needs not only the favor of the opposite sex, but also a strong career foundation.]


    [Timed Mission: The host will receive an exclusive investment fund of 1 million, and must invest all of it within one week.]


    [Mission Reward: Any income earned from commercial activities will be doubled.]


    Wow!


    Shen Yuan was intrigued; the System''s task had arrived again, and this time it was career-oriented.


    In fact, he had also been worrying about this issue for the last couple of days, considering all the money in his account needed to be spent frequently, there had to be a source, right?


    Otherwise, people might suspect he got the money through improper means.


    So he really needed to invest in a business to cover up his rapidly swelling assets.


    Shen Yuan observed the panel carefully, noting that the System''s rewards were very generous as well. As long as he made a profit, he would receive double the cashback.


    This meant that any business venture he invested in, as long as it was profitable, would see decent returns even if the margins were slim, thanks to this doubling effect.


    Upon more thought, even losing money could turn a profit.


    For example, suppose a store''s daily revenue is 10,000, but the operating costs are 12,000, resulting in a loss of 2,000;


    However, with the System''s double revenue cashback, one could make 20,000, minus the 12,000 operating costs, netting a profit of 8,000. That''s a profit of 66.6%!


    ...

 Chapter 26 Anyone who didn鈥檛 know would think he was the one who treated us to this meal

    Shen Yuan suddenly remembered that Li Yuhang''s speakeasy was in the renovation stage, maybe he could invest in it for fun?


    Li Yuhang''s dad had previously provided him with financial support, opening two hotpot restaurants, one KTV, and one internet-famous escape room store.


    Unfortunately, the guy wasn''t a business prodigy, but rather a business "ghost genius."


    Millions were thrown in without making a splash.


    It''s also fortunate that his dad''s family assets are hefty, enough to withstand his wasteful ways.


    Some people are born with a golden spoon in their mouth, and no matter what they do, they have their parents to fall back on; clearly, Li Yuhang is such a person.


    Back when Old Shen''s business was still doing well, Shen Yuan was also such a person.


    But speaking of which, he just didn''t know what Li Yuhang''s business plan for the speakeasy was, and whether it would be profitable?


    According to Shen Yuan''s analysis, even if the speakeasy had slim profits or even losses, he could still make money.


    As long as Young Master Li''s side wasn''t too outrageous.


    And this kind of investment required Shen Yuan only to provide the capital, while the operation and management could be handed over to Li Yuhang.


    Moreover, the System issued a time-limited task to quickly invest the money to obtain double revenue cashback.


    Shen Yuan wanted to be an absentee landlord and also wanted to invest the exclusive gold quickly, so maybe investing in Li Yuhang''s speakeasy was a good choice.


    The two have been playing together since kindergarten, attended the same school during elementary and middle school, but starting from high school, a watershed, they went to different schools.


    Although Shen Yuan''s grades were average, he managed to keep up with his studies and performed quite well in the exams, barely getting into a key high school, and then Old Shen spent money to put him into the experimental class.


    However, Li Yuhang was a complete mess, ended up in an ordinary high school, and then attended a bottom-tier university.


    Now, he wasn''t attending classes at the university, hanging out outside every day, claiming to be starting a business.


    His dad, Old Li, didn''t care about him much, and the school was even more helpless.


    Mainly because the two have known each other since they were in open-crotch pants, and both sides knew each other''s character thoroughly, his family was also wealthy, so there shouldn''t be any disputes in the future.


    Of course, the current key issue was whether his speakeasy was short on capital and whether he was hoping for a partner to start the business with him.


    Anyway, the guy had just asked him to go out for a meal and hang out in a bar, so he might as well meet up with him tonight.


    Thinking this, Shen Yuan replied with a WeChat message to Li Yuhang, "Send me your location; daddy will come to play hard with you tonight."


    Not long after, Li Yuhang sent back a couple of voice messages. The first long series was clearly cursing, Shen Yuan knew him too well and simply didn''t bother to listen.


    The latter set was about the matter at hand, mentioning to be there at half-past six sharp.


    Then he added a location "Nanjing Restaurant."


    Nanjing in Star City also has a bit of fame for its restaurant, specializing in Hunan cuisine, costing around 300-500 per person not including drinks.


    This guy, just going to such a nice restaurant for a casual meal, is still as extravagant as ever, Shen Yuan silently criticized in his heart.


    Even though Shen Yuan himself had spent tens of thousands on women in the past two days, it seemed even more wasteful.


    But Shen Yuan''s main goal was the cashback, so essentially, he was out to make money.


    At that moment, Shen Yuan and Huang Haibao were almost done eating, quietly waiting for the big-eater Cao Shunjin.


    Finally, after Cao Shunjin devoured his meal like a whirlwind, he let out a loud, satisfied belch, "Let''s go, back to the dorm."


    Back in the dorm, after shooting the breeze with Old Huang and Old Cao for a bit, Shen Yuan started feeling sleepy and as soon as he touched the bed, he fell into a deep sleep.


    But to his surprise, when he woke up, he was the only one left in the dorm, and outside it had already gotten dark!


    Shen Yuan checked his phone; it was already six o''clock!


    Shoot, he had promised Li Yuhang to go to dinner at six-thirty!


    From the International campus to Nanjing Restaurant was at least ten kilometers, which usually took over half an hour without traffic, let alone that today was Saturday and the roads would definitely be congested.


    Shen Yuan quickly got up from the bed, put on his shoes, and while running, used his phone to hail a DiDi.


    Damn it, he usually only slept for an hour at noon, why did he sleep for so long today!


    How much did he overexert himself last night to be so drained now?


    Shen Yuan cursed himself and hurriedly ran towards the campus entrance.


    ...


    Meanwhile, as Shen Yuan sprinted with all his might, Chen Ling and Fang Minhui were arm in arm, about to enter Jinfeng Hotel, not far from the International campus.


    Jinfeng Hotel was one of the nicer choices around the International campus, both for its atmosphere and its food. It was the go-to place for students when they had class dinners.


    "So, what did Shen Yuan say, is he coming or not?" Chen Ling asked on the side.


    "He hasn''t replied to my message yet."


    Fang Minhui furrowed her brow slightly, feeling a bit displeased. Logically, after last night, things had progressed to a certain point between them. Shen Yuan should cherish her more, yet there had been no messages all afternoon!


    Chen Ling tilted her head up thoughtfully before a possible explanation dawned on her. She smirked, "Don''t tell me you drained him dry last night, and he''s still catching up on sleep now?"


    Fang Minhui''s delicate face immediately blushed red as she whispered, "How could that be possible, don''t talk nonsense!"


    "Why couldn''t it be possible, with your figure, even I couldn''t withstand it!"


    Chen Ling said with squinted eyes, as if she could see through one''s heart, "And whether I''m talking nonsense or not, you know yourself."


    Fang Minhui quickly avoided her gaze, and upon thinking about it carefully, it did seem like there might be some truth to what Chen Ling had said.


    Last night, she had indeed been quite... demanding. He... might actually be sleeping.


    As they spoke, they had reached the door of the reserved private dining room and pushed it open to enter.


    Almost the entire class of International Trade Class 2 was there, filling the room.


    The private dining rooms at Jinfeng were specially designed for the international institution, accommodating 4-5 tables each, with no problem seating about ten people at each table.


    Li Zhanpeng, who had been restlessly standing and looking around inside the private dining room, saw Fang Minhui walk in. His eyes lit up and he immediately went up to show his attentiveness.


    "Minhui, I saved a seat for you, sit here," he said.


    Li Zhanpeng pulled out a chair at the main table for Fang Minhui, putting on a gentlemanly air.


    "No need, we''ll sit over here."


    Fang Minhui didn''t look at him and responded indifferently, choosing another table where more girls were sitting.


    Chen Ling, who had been ignored since they entered, silently followed Fang Minhui to their seats, internally grumbling: You don''t even see me, no wonder you can''t win over Minhui, serves you right!


    Coinciding with her impression of Li Zhanpeng''s stinginess during movie watching and breakfasts, her opinion of him fell even further.


    Li Zhanpeng''s face showed a moment of embarrassment before he regained his composure, cleared his throat and announced, "Everyone''s here, so we can start now!"


    "Our lovely counselor couldn''t make it today because she had other commitments, so she asked me, ahem, our class president, to apologize to everyone on her behalf."


    "Shen Yuan hasn''t come yet, has he?"


    Someone from the crowd suddenly mentioned this.


    As soon as the words were out, everyone instinctively started looking for him, only to realize that he indeed hadn''t arrived yet.


    Li Zhanpeng frowned and cursed inwardly, annoyed. Why bring up that guy out of the blue!


    Yet he too subconsciously looked around for Shen Yuan and felt quite regretful when he found him absent.


    This damn guy, he couldn''t have known I was planning to show him up today and decided to skip on purpose, could he?


    "Forget it, let''s not wait for him. Class 2 won''t have one more or one less with him," Li Zhanpeng said with a displeased face. Though inside he felt it was a pity, his monologue had to go on, so after a brief pause, he continued earnestly,


    "The thing is, I proposed this gathering because next semester some of our classmates will start their internships and we will all head in different directions. Opportunities to meet will become scarcer, so I suggested we organize this get-together before this semester comes to an end..."


    While Li Zhanpeng delivered his impassioned speech, Cao Shunjin and Huang Haibao sat in the corner of the private dining room, quietly watching his performance.


    "How on earth can this guy talk so much, isn''t this supposed to be the class president''s speech? And yet he''s said it all himself," Cao Shunjin couldn''t help but mutter under his breath, not aware that the class president, Yan Song, was sitting right at the next table.


    Their relationship was quite good, so with an awkward cough, Yan Song intervened, "He told me earlier that he''d like to give tonight''s toast."


    "Damn! Why are you sitting here, President? Shouldn''t you be sitting at the main table?"


    "Don''t get me started. Li Zhanpeng showed up at the private dining room after 4 p.m., and he arranged for all the attractive girls and his buddies to sit at the main table with him."


    Hearing Yan Song''s explanation, Huang Haibao grew even more incensed, "This heartless creature! If someone didn''t know better, they''d think he was the one treating everyone!"


    "....."

 Chapter 27 No wonder youre in a traffic jam!

    Nanjing Restaurant, inside the opulent and spacious "Riding the Dragon" private dining room.


    A well-dressed group of men and women were sitting on the sofas in the side hall, cracking jokes, boasting, and roughhousing.


    "Young Master Li, who else are we waiting for? I''m practically starving to death!"


    One of the young men, with slicked-back hair and decked out in a POLO shirt, couldn''t help but complain, as it was already getting close to seven o''clock, and everyone was getting hungry.


    "Why the rush, dumbass, aren''t there fruit platters and snacks on the table? Munch on those in the meantime."


    The youth addressed as Young Master Li snapped back at him, then picked up his phone and sent a voice message to the contact saved as "Yuan clown": "You mutt, it''s already half-past six, where the hell are you?"


    He was Li Yuhang, the organizer of tonight''s gathering, and also a childhood friend of Shen Yuan''s.


    But after sending the voice message and waiting for a while without getting a reply, he bluntly said, "Forget it, I''ll ask them to start serving the dishes, who knows when that kid will show up."


    Hearing this, the group of young men and women sighed with relief and got up to take their seats at the main dining area.


    And the young man in the POLO shirt who had spoken earlier strolled over with his hands in his pockets, carefree, "That''s more like it, no need to wait for the unimportant ones, the important people would certainly never be late."


    Li Yuhang shot him a glance but didn''t say much. His name was Lin Guangyao, and they had a pretty good relationship, able to call each other brothers when drunk, though sometimes Lin''s character was indeed questionable.


    "Speaking of whom, who exactly are we waiting for, making us wait so long?"


    Once Lin Guangyao sat down, he casually draped his right hand over the shoulder of a girl sitting next to him and asked.


    "Shen Yuan, don''t you know him?"


    Li Yuhang remembered he had organized a bar gathering before, and that had been the first time Lin Guangyao and Shen Yuan had met.


    However, everyone got really hammered that night, and by the latter half, the two of them were drunkenly hugging each other''s shoulders and calling each other brothers.


    "Why invite him?"


    Upon hearing the name "Shen Yuan," Lin Guangyao''s brow furrowed.


    His family owned two factories that produced automobile accessories, making close to ten million in profit per year. Although that didn''t compare to Li Yuhang''s family wealth, in their circle, his status was significant.


    The world has always had a divide between rich and poor¡ªapart from the gap in wealth, there was also a gap in horizons, thinking, and concepts.


    Shen Yuan''s family had gone bankrupt, and he was no longer part of their circle, even falling to a different social class altogether.


    Therefore, Lin Guangyao felt that it was important to draw clear boundaries and cut ties with such "lower-class people."


    "Bitch, I''m the one treating tonight, it''s not costing you a penny, what''s there to be unhappy about?"


    Li Yuhang couldn''t help but curse, knowing that Lin Guangyao was very snobbish and only liked to befriend those of equal family standing.


    Although there were indeed class differences in reality, Shen Yuan had been his friend for many years, so they could not be considered equal.


    He''d invited Shen Yuan today mainly to relax¡ªhave a meal, some drinks, and then hit the bars to enjoy themselves.


    After going through bankruptcy, Shen Yuan wasn''t in great spirits. He had declined several invitations before, but today, he had finally agreed to come out.


    Li Yuhang suspected it had something to do with Zhou Wanting.


    Shen Yuan used to hang out with Zhou Wanting often, and she would occasionally join them, so Li Yuhang had also added Zhou Wanting as a friend on WeChat.


    But just yesterday, he noticed Zhou Wanting''s social circle had displayed a single line to him, and out of curiosity, he couldn''t resist sending a WeChat message asking about it, only to be greeted with a red exclamation mark in response.


    Li Yuhang figured that bitch Zhou Wanting had dumped Shen Yuan and also decided to remove him from WeChat.


    So Li Yuhang felt even more that he should help Shen Yuan loosen up; after all, facing the double blow of family bankruptcy and getting dumped, anyone would be sad and frustrated.


    As for Lin Guangyao, he felt somewhat displeased inside. Everyone present was a respectable person, with stable family backgrounds. There was no need to bring that harbinger of bad luck over; getting involved with his misfortune would be bad.


    He had more respect for Li Yuhang, after all, Li Yuhang''s family was richer than theirs, so Lin Guangyao thought he wouldn''t quibble with him this time.


    With nothing better to do, he turned to look at his Internet celebrity girlfriend, her face full of tech vibes and even her chest stuffed with plenty of silicone.


    But the feel was still okay. Thinking this, he couldn''t help but let his right hand wander down to the deep part of her cleavage.


    The influencer''s face showed a flash of alarm as she quickly pressed down his salty pig hand, whispering in a clipped tone, "What are you doing, there are so many people here."


    "What''s the big deal? There are no strangers here."


    Lin Guangyao narrowed his eyes to slits, actually reveling in this dynamic. The less willing the girl, the more excited he became.


    Having said that, he didn''t care about the looks from others and continued his unseemly fidgeting.


    However, after several unsuccessful attempts, he felt somewhat deflated and turned to a young man who bore a slight resemblance to him, "Cousin, didn''t your girlfriend say she''d be coming over tonight? Why isn''t she here yet?"


    "She said there''s a traffic jam, and it will take about another fifteen minutes."


    The man next to him responded. He was Xie Haijie, Lin Guangyao''s cousin, probably in his early thirties, dressed in professional attire.


    "Is that so."


    Lin Guangyao smiled faintly, but a wicked thought surged in his heart.


    His cousin had snagged a top-notch car saleswoman, and from the photos he had seen, her legs were plump and long in stockings, her upper half authentic through and through.


    Most importantly, when clothed in a figure-hugging miniskirt and white blouse, it was the epitome of office lady allure¡ªno man could resist!


    The influencer girl next to him didn''t hold a candle to that saleswoman.


    He wondered what kind of luck his cousin had stumbled upon to land such a girlfriend.


    Actually, his cousin came from a very average family background. His parents, Lin Guangyao''s uncle and aunt, ran a small business, and the initial startup capital for their venture was borrowed from Lin Guangyao''s parents.


    Now, his cousin was a sales manager at GAC Honda, a position he got with the help of Lin Guangyao''s parents.


    His cousin''s family were all beneficiaries of his family''s generosity, so Lin Guangyao always looked down on his cousin''s lot.


    To him, his cousin''s family was practically a vassal to theirs.


    Especially this cousin, who didn''t even qualify to be at this kind of gathering. If it weren''t for him bringing him along, how could he even be at the table?


    As for his cousin''s girlfriend, seeing as she was just a girlfriend and not yet married, he was free to try his luck with her, right?


    Who knows, maybe his girlfriend would suddenly take a fancy to him?


    Lin Guangyao was delighting in the thought of that photo, vaguely looking forward to it, his hand again mischievously exploring his influencer girlfriend''s cleavage.


    The dishes were already being served one after another. Seeing that Shen Yuan hadn''t arrived yet, Li Yuhang simply told everyone to start eating.


    But just then, the door to the private dining room was pushed open and Shen Yuan walked in with a smile, saying, "Sorry to keep everyone waiting."


    "Looks like I''ve arrived just at the right time, the dishes have just started to come out."


    "You damn dog, why the hell are you so late?" Li Yuhang couldn''t help but curse.


    Shen Yuan, making himself comfortable next to Li Yuhang, replied with a smile, "Traffic jam on the road, plus I suspect the Didi driver took a detour. The navigation showed 10 kilometers before I hailed the cab, but when I arrived, the Didi settlement page showed 13 kilometers."


    "Damn, there''s even a Didi driver who takes detours? Complain about that son of a bitch!"


    Li Yuhang chimed in with the invective.


    Upon hearing the word "Didi," Lin Guangyao''s annoyance grew.


    Everyone here arrived by car, whether Mercedes or BMW, and you, motherfucker, took a Didi? No wonder you got stuck in traffic!

 Chapter 28 Stirred by What One Sees

    As Xie Haijie heard that the young man had arrived by "DiDi", he suddenly felt superior again.


    He was a sales manager at a 4S store, with an annual salary of four to five hundred thousand, driving a 300,000-yuan Crown, and was considered elite wherever he went.


    But today, he had come with his cousin Lin Guangyao, whose family was very wealthy, with an uncle who was an entrepreneur making tens of millions annually.


    He knew that the backgrounds of the others present were just as affluent as his cousin''s family.


    For him, everyone at the event was a valuable connection to make, forming the basis for his future climb up the social ladder.


    Therefore, facing these dazzling wealthy second generations, he felt that his achievements and income were not worth mentioning, even developing a sense of inferiority.


    However, now that he heard someone had arrived by taxi, he regained his sense of superiority, and his chest involuntarily puffed up a bit.


    "You''re the lucky one, everyone else drove their own car, but I didn''t expect you already had a driver," Lin Guangyao said while picking at his food, his words tinged with sarcasm.


    The remark was passive-aggressive and somewhat grating, but Shen Yuan just smiled and didn''t argue. He was above quibbling over such trivial matters, especially with someone as worthless as Lin Guangyao.


    After his family went bankrupt, the notifications on his WeChat decreased significantly. All his so-called "brothers" started to avoid him, with some even deleting him as a contact as if he would start borrowing money from them.


    It was a sharp demonstration of the saying, "When misfortune strikes, friends become strangers."


    So Shen Yuan had long seen through these people''s true colors.


    Only Li Yuhang didn''t look down on him and continued to maintain their friendship.


    Today, his main reason for coming was to talk to Li Yuhang about investing in his speakeasy, so he couldn''t be bothered to spar with them verbally.


    Seeing his good friend being mocked, Li Yuhang could hardly restrain himself from retorting, but Shen Yuan knew his childhood friend''s character well and patted his thigh under the table, indicating it was alright.


    Just then, the door to the private dining room was pushed open again, and a woman dressed in professional attire and high heels walked in gracefully.


    "Sorry for the delay, there was traffic on the road," she said as she entered, bowing to everyone as an apology, and then walked towards Xie Haijie, who was waving at her.


    With the arrival of this professional OL looker, every man''s eyes in the room immediately lit up, their gazes attracted to her.


    She was wearing a grey jacket over a tight-fitting white U-neck shirt, which clearly accentuated a generous bust.


    Most crucially, those long, meaty legs were wrapped in black stockings.


    As soon as this outstanding woman appeared, the several techy-looks ladies instantly dimmed in comparison, with the men''s eyes involuntarily lingering on her.


    Lin Guangyao, in particular, with a faint smile on his face, kept sizing up the woman, a hint of lewdness flickering in his eyes.


    Shen Yuan was slightly surprised, because this woman was actually Chen Na, the saleswoman who had assisted him at the store yesterday.


    Chen Na was wearing a grey business suit jacket today, which, compared to yesterday''s formal attire, added a hint of casualness, but still highlighted her figure.


    Facing the envious looks from everyone, Xie Haijie''s vanity swelled.


    The things a man can show off, aside from cars and houses, boiled down to women.


    His financial resources and that 300,000-yuan car seemed somewhat humble in this setting.


    But now it was different because his girlfriend had arrived to back him up.


    Xie Haijie''s lips curled into a slight smile, thinking he might not be able to compete with them in terms of money, but his girlfriend was better looking than theirs!


    "Cousin, introduce us to your girlfriend," Lin Guangyao said with a sly smile.


    Xie Haijie couldn''t wait to stand up and said with a smile, "Her name is Chen Na, a salesperson at the Jaguar Land Rover 4S Store, with pretty good performance. If anyone needs to buy a car, you can look for her."


    Chen Na also stood up, nodding to everyone with confidence and ease.


    Honestly, she didn''t really want to come tonight.


    After all, she had just established a relationship with Xie Haijie and meeting his friends so soon didn''t seem appropriate.


    But she couldn''t resist Xie Haijie''s persistent cajoling, and the fact he had bought her a Coach bag worth over four thousand a couple of days ago was why she reluctantly agreed.


    Chen Na nodded to each person in turn, but when her gaze swept over Shen Yuan, she paused¡ªwasn''t he the handsome guy who booked a car yesterday, and what was he doing here?


    She had a deep impression of Shen Yuan, who dashed out 880,000 yuan for a Land Rover Defender in less than half an hour. Generous customers like him were rare.


    One of the reasons for her good mood these past two days was Shen Yuan.


    However, Chen Na saw that Shen Yuan merely nodded at her slightly, without saying hello, and she simply treated it as if it was their first meeting.


    After all, trying to cozy up in this kind of setting wasn''t quite appropriate.


    "A Land Rover, huh? I''ve been thinking of getting a new car recently; I''ll stop by your dealership to have a look."


    Lin Guangyao said with a smile.


    Chen Na responded with a smile, "Sure, if you decide to buy, I''ll make sure you get the best discount."


    "Then let''s add each other on WeChat," Lin Guangyao proposed.


    Xie Haijie was slightly startled, thinking why the rush to add on WeChat.


    His cousin hadn''t mentioned needing a new car recently, right? Wasn''t that Mercedes E just purchased last year, and now there''s talk of changing it again?


    But Xie Haijie then thought, maybe his cousin''s family is so wealthy that there really is a need for a new car. Besides, it''s only adding on WeChat, no big deal.


    "Then I''ll scan your code."


    Just like that, the lecherous Lin Guangyao successfully added Chen Na on WeChat.


    Shen Yuan watched this scene with some disdain.


    He knew what kind of person Lin Guangyao was; clearly, he had his eye on her.


    This cousin of his was truly an idiot, not looking very sharp.


    Someone was making a move on him, and he didn''t even realize it.


    Afterward, the mood at the table returned to what it had been, with those eating returning to their dishes, those drinking to their cups, and the bullshitters to their boasting.


    Once everyone had their fill of food and drink, their faces became flushed.


    And Li Yuhang, seeing that the atmosphere was sufficiently warmed up, finally revealed the real purpose behind organizing today''s gathering.


    "It''s like this, guys, hear me out for a moment," he said.


    Li Yuhang stood up, shedding his usual frivolous demeanor, and said earnestly:


    "You all know I''ve taken over a speakeasy. I have high hopes for this place, so I want to do it up right, whether it''s the renovations or later marketing and promotion, the upfront costs are quite high."


    "Today, everyone here is my good buddy, so I want to ask if anyone is willing to invest. We can all make money and prosper together."


    "The estimated investment cost is about 2.4 million, and I am willing to let go of 30% of the shares, which means I''m open to an investment of around 700,000."


    The crowd, who had been jovially toasting moments ago, almost simultaneously paused, looking at each other with some confusion.


    What is Young Master Li up to?


    Wasn''t it agreed that today was just about dining and going to bars? How did it turn to investment?


    Lin Guangyao was obviously even more stunned. With the wealth of Li Yuhang''s family, did a speakeasy that only required 2.4 million really need outside investors?


    The profits from Li Yuhang''s family factory alone reached tens of millions a year, far outstripping his automotive parts factory.


    Li Yuhang quietly waited for everyone''s feedback, harboring his own unspeakable difficulties. His father''s trust had diminished due to his previous failed investment ventures.


    So when he proposed opening the speakeasy, Old Li was very strict about financial support, providing only 1.7 million and declaring that if this failed, there would be no next time, and he would have to come back home to help out.


    Li Yuhang had little interest in the family business and wanted to make it on his own, so this time, he was putting all his eggs in one basket.


    Speakeasies aren''t like those thumping nightclubs. They''re more like small bars, so the investment should not be particularly large. With renovations, equipment, labor costs, and a reserve fund for three or four months of operation, a little over a million should be enough.


    But Li Yuhang thought, if he was going to take a risk, he needed to make a splash. He couldn''t settle for an ordinary bar; he wanted a high-end speakeasy.


    The target customer base had to be the elite class and above, and the consumption needed to be high.


    If the consumption was going to be high, then the decor had to be impressive, and initial marketing and promotion had to be on point. When necessary, they might even need to hire internet celebrities to hype it up.


    Therefore, the investment couldn''t be low.


    He thought 2.4 million was even an underestimate, but mainly because he could only pull together around 1.7 million and didn''t want his own share to be less than 70%.


    But what Li Yuhang never expected was that after his speech, all these friends who usually called each other "brothers" were now silent as if their fires had gone out.


    One by one, they lowered their heads, deliberately avoiding his gaze.


    Li Yuhang suddenly felt chilled to the bone. These fucking jerks had been freeloading off him, with nearly all their outings on his dime. Whenever they came asking for a loan, he never hesitated, instantly transferring the money.


    Today, when big brother needed their support, they all acted as if they were fucking dead?

 Chapter 29 I Invested in This Project

    Shen Yuan was somewhat surprised at this moment, realizing that when Li Yuhang earlier replied by voice message saying he was short of money, he meant there were difficulties in the capital investment for setting up the speakeasy.


    Shen Yuan had been planning to invest in Li Yuhang''s speakeasy anyway, so this was exactly what he had in mind.


    But with so many people present at the meal, and Shen Yuan not having much fondness for them, he simply decided to wait and talk to Li Yuhang in private later.


    Li Yuhang scanned the crowd, noticing not a single one engaged in conversation, and felt a chill in his heart.


    In the end, he turned his gaze to Lin Guangyao, hoping he would buy a share. If not 700,000, then an investment of 200,000 to 300,000 could also work.


    After all, among those present, aside from himself, Lin Guangyao''s family was in the best situation.


    Everyone''s gaze also followed Li Yuhang''s as it landed on Lin Guangyao, expecting him to say a few words and put an end to Young Master Li''s hope.


    Lin Guangyao, noticing everyone''s eyes were on him, cursed inwardly but felt that he couldn''t lose face with so many people watching, so he plucked up the courage to speak:


    "The thing is, Young Master Li, I feel like it''s not yet time to invest and buy shares. If you''re having cash flow issues, actually, we could all chip in a few tens of thousands to get the shop up and running, and you could repay us when you''ve made some money."


    "After all, it''s definitely unfair to you if we invest midway."


    "In this way, you won''t be at a loss once you start earning money, right, everyone?"


    Lin Guangyao spoke with apparent magnanimity, but in his mind, he thought how could he possibly invest 700,000 when his monthly allowance wasn''t even a hundred thousand.


    Even if he had that kind of money, his family would definitely not agree.


    Moreover, everyone had already seen Young Master Li''s level of investment skills. The previous hot pot restaurant and KTV ended up in a mess, and now he wanted to open a speakeasy? How was that any different from throwing money into the sea?


    Lending tens of thousands had been carefully considered by him; after all, they had hung out together for quite some time, and with Young Master Li''s character, he was sure to repay the loan.


    However, after he spoke, Lin Guangyao started to regret it. His monthly allowance was just a few tens of thousands, and if Li Yuhang truly wanted to borrow, it would really hurt him.


    He had been careless, truly careless.


    Indeed, the few "good brothers" at the table all shot Lin Guangyao looks that could kill.


    If you''re rich enough, you could have loaned him the money privately. Why the hell did you have to get everyone involved?


    For fuck''s sake! We all rely on our families, and our allowances aren''t enough to get by!


    Li Yuhang sighed inwardly. His original intention was to bring people into the partnership. If it was just about borrowing money, there would be no need for it.


    It seemed he had overestimated these so-called "brothers," especially Lin Guangyao, who talked rubbish. Li Yuhang was clearly talking about investing, yet Lin Guangyao insisted on discussing borrowing money to get through a hard time.


    Li Yuhang felt a pang of disappointment. Over the years, he had been maintaining these so-called brotherly relationships, only to find out at the crucial moment that not one of them could help him.


    Shen Yuan watched everyone''s subtle expressions and found it all so ironic. Although he had already seen the true colors of these people, as an onlooker, he still felt that his childhood friend deserved better.


    Li Yuhang was too naive to pin his hopes on them.


    These people were all relying on their parents, living the high life every day; how could they possibly think about investing?


    Lin Guangyao said he would lend the money, but it was obvious that it was due to the presence of so many people and for the sake of his own face.


    Especially with a high-class beauty like Chen Na at the meal, peacocking isn''t just for attracting the opposite sex; men are no exception.


    But when it came to the moment of transferring the money, probably none would lend.


    "Borrowing money is for later, we''re not at that step yet."


    Li Yuhang, feeling somewhat dejected, sat back down, "Since everyone doesn''t have this idea, let''s just forget it."


    Hearing Li Yuhang give up on persuasion, everyone breathed a sigh of relief in unison.


    That''s more like it!


    Eat when it''s time to eat, drink when it''s time to drink, what''s with all this talk about investing?


    Just as everyone thought the matter had been put to rest, Shen Yuan suddenly spoke up, "How about I invest a bit?"


    Shen Yuan had anticipated before coming that he could still make money from the speakeasy even if it operated at a loss, and he needed to invest his money quickly.


    Shen Yuan didn''t care much about the money. After all, it was dedicated investment capital that couldn''t be used elsewhere. Besides, based on the System''s usual behavior, after investing this 1 million, there was a high probability of higher investment funds becoming available.


    Shen Yuan had intended to discuss this privately with Li Yuhang, but seeing these people''s true colors, he just couldn''t hold back anymore.


    If you have no money, just say so, instead of putting it so nicely, talking about "first borrowing money to get through tough times" and "midway investment is definitely unfair to you" and "this way you won''t be at a loss."


    Is this bullshit supposed to be human talk?


    Lin Guangyao, hearing Shen Yuan say he wanted to invest, couldn''t help but scoff, "Shen Yuan, you must be fucking around, right? Young Master Li is talking serious business here."


    You must be joking. This guy was just bargaining over the cab driver taking an extra three kilometers earlier, probably still hurting over those few bucks of cab fare.


    And now he suddenly says he wants to invest in Young Master Li''s speakeasy? Does he have a split personality from his family going bankrupt or what?


    The others present also felt that this boast was a bit too much; that was 700,000 yuan after all.


    If it were Lin Guangyao willing to invest, everyone might believe it, but we all know the situation at your home, Shen Yuan.


    Even Li Yuhang was skeptical, thinking Shen Yuan was just trying to liven up the mood. No one knew better than him whether his childhood friend had money or not.


    "I''m planning to invest about 700,000 yuan, so I''ll own 30%, and you''ll own 70%. After that, I won''t be very involved,"


    Shen Yuan said earnestly, not appearing to be joking at all.


    This damn guy really doesn''t slip up when he starts bragging. Lin Guangyao couldn''t help but laugh, "Are you okay? If you can''t afford it, you''d better back out now. Do you need me to reimburse you for the cab fare?"


    "Shen Yuan, don''t make jokes like this. It''s not like we just met you today."


    "Yeah, bragging is pointless."


    "I think you''re still not awake from your nap. Why don''t you go to the restroom and wash your face to clear your head?"


    "Young Master Li is definitely not feeling great right now, and you''re still saying all this."


    For a time, the previously silent crowd began to speak out, spurning the "bragging" Shen Yuan, with some even taking Li Yuhang''s side to feel indignant for him.


    Chen Na, who was present, watched this scene with her brain nearly short-circuiting.


    She understood when Li Yuhang mentioned attracting investments, but now she was completely lost.


    Why was everyone assuming Shen Yuan was bragging when he said he wanted a 30% stake?


    Just yesterday, Shen Yuan had placed an order for an 880,000 yuan Defender through her and even paid a 50,000 yuan deposit.


    Logically, for someone with the financial capability to do that, investing 700,000 yuan shouldn''t be unusual at all.


    Xie Haijie hadn''t said much all night, but now seeing everyone barrage Shen Yuan, he joined in with a heavy tone, "Bro, I''m a few years older than you, and I should have more life experience, so I understand the importance of knowing one''s limitations."


    "But what you''re doing now isn''t just about knowing your limits; it''s sheer audacity."


    Who would have thought this damned Xie Haijie would start throwing around idioms.


    Others talking about Shen Yuan was one thing, but hearing her boyfriend Xie Haijie also making fun of him, Chen Na felt like her social awkwardness was flaring up.


    The Shen Yuan you''re all mocking ordered a full-payment Defender from me just yesterday.


    Why don''t any of you believe him?


    Unable to hold back, Chen Na nudged Xie Haijie''s arm, trying to hint to him to stop talking.


    But Xie Haijie was on a roll and turned his head, irritated, "Why do you keep pushing me?"


    "....."


    Chen Na suddenly felt disheartened and regretted attending this dinner.


    Shen Yuan quietly watched their performance, not replying but silently opened his phone, found the China Construction Bank app, and transferred 700,000 yuan to Li Yuhang.


    For some reason, ever since the System had appeared, there was no limit to his bank transfers.


    The same had been true when he helped his family repay debts: he had transferred 290,000 yuan in one day, and it was the same now with 700,000 yuan going through without any caps.


    It seems the System really is powerful!


    After transferring the money, Shen Yuan offhandedly said to Li Yuhang, "I''ve transferred 700,000 yuan, check it."


    "Shen Yuan, are you serious..."


    Li Yuhang didn''t know what Shen Yuan was playing at, and he was only halfway through speaking when he noticed his phone screen light up.


    A notification had come in.


    Li Yuhang subconsciously picked up his phone, opened it to read:


    [Industrial and Commercial Bank of China]Your card ending in 5854 received a deposit of 700,000 yuan on May 13 at 19:42, current balance is...


    Li Yuhang was stupefied, his eyes widened as he carefully confirmed the deposited amount.


    One... ten... hundred... thousand... ten thousand...


    There were five zeroes behind it; it really was 700,000 yuan!


    Li Yuhang stared at the screen, his face full of disbelief.


    Noticing the change in Li Yuhang''s expression, Lin Guangyao frowned and asked, "Young Master Li, what happened?"


    Without answering, Li Yuhang just handed over his phone, "You look for yourself....."


    ...

 Chapter 30 Are you still there spoiling him?

    Lin Guangyao furrowed his brow as he took the phone, and at the sight of the seven-figure amount, he thought he was seeing things.


    But when he saw the string of zeroes that followed, Lin Guangyao felt a sense of unease.


    He counted the zeroes carefully.


    One, two, three, four, five...


    What the heck?!


    It''s really seven hundred thousand!


    Lin Guangyao''s expression froze, unable to believe it was real.


    But the transfer information was from an official bank phone number starting with 9, so it couldn''t possibly be fake, right?


    The private dining room fell eerily silent; everyone was still clueless about what had happened, only knowing that the text message on the phone must contain some bombshell news.


    Otherwise, Lin Guangyao wouldn''t have such a devastated expression.


    "Young Master Lin, what does the text say?"


    Finally, someone couldn''t hold back and asked.


    Xie Haijie was also curious about what the text could possibly contain, looking at his cousin Lin Guangyao, hoping to glean some clue from his expression.


    But Lin Guangyao didn''t speak, his face alternating between pale and flushed.


    After a long silence, he gingerly handed the phone back, and then quietly slipped his own phone into his pocket and stood up, "Um, Young Master Li, I have some matters at home, so I''ll have to excuse myself; let''s meet up another day."


    Lin Guangyao pretended to be composed as he prepared to leave, but internally he was panicking.


    This damned Shen Yuan actually has the means, and he took a taxi over to eat?


    What kind of charade is this?


    Forget about finishing this crappy meal, and there''s no point in going to the speakeasy anymore. Coming to this dinner was a mistake!


    "No way, cousin, what''s going on?"


    Xie Haijie grabbed Lin Guangyao''s hand and asked.


    "Stop asking, just go, your uncle and aunt are looking for you."


    Lin Guangyao said impatiently.


    It looked like his cousin''s two years of being a sales manager was all for naught. His parents should never have pulled strings for him; he can''t read the room at all!


    "???"


    Xie Haijie checked his phone suspiciously, finding no WeChat messages or calls, "What the hell is it? They didn''t call me."


    "If you''re not leaving, I am!"


    Lin Guangyao didn''t bother with him anymore and, holding his Internet-celebrity girlfriend''s hand, left the room promptly.


    This really is a stupid cousin. Does he expect me to tell him that Shen just transferred 700,000 to Li Yuhang?


    If we don''t leave now, are we supposed to just sit here and keep them company?


    Seeing Lin Guangyao leave the private dining room, the rest grew restless. Someone with a bit more nerve walked over to Li Yuhang, trying to see what the text message was that had caused such a big change in Young Master Lin''s demeanor.


    However, after they saw the message, they too remained silent, quietly placing the phone back and walking out of the room.


    "Umm, I have something going on at home, too, so I''ll be taking off."


    Xie Haijie grew more confused, what kind of text was it that made your family''s emergency get sent to Li Yuhang''s phone?


    But as people left the room one by one, only Chen Na, who didn''t seem surprised at all, whispered to Xie Haijie, "Let''s go, too."


    "Aren''t you curious about what the text said?"


    "Isn''t it obvious, it must be a transfer record."


    "But still...


    "No more ''buts'', let''s go. I''ll explain it to you later."


    Xie Haijie wanted to ask where Shen got the money from, but Chen Na stood up, cutting him off and leading him out the door.


    Mr. Shen made a full cash payment of 880,000 for a Defender just yesterday, and you people still can''t believe he has 700,000 to spare, seriously brain-dead!


    Once they were outside the private dining room, Xie Haijie couldn''t help but ask, "Wait, how did you know it was a transfer record? You haven''t even seen the text message."


    Chen Na crossed her arms over her chest, propping up her ample bosom, "That Shen Yuan placed an order for a Defender with me yesterday, 880,000, paid in full."


    "No way, really?!"


    Xie Haijie''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "Why would I lie to you? The contract is even in my phone."


    Chen Na felt rather vexed, thinking she should have never come. Considering the way Xie Haijie had spoken earlier, Mr. Shen must now have a poor impression of her, especially since Xie Haijie is her boyfriend.


    It was rare to land an angel client like this, and Chen Na was hoping Mr. Shen would introduce her to more prospective clients in the future.


    But now look at what''s happened!


    And at this moment, Xie Haijie finally grasped the situation, his face showing sudden realization.


    So this guy was financially loaded, after all.


    But had he actually just joined his cousin in mocking the man?


    Xie Haijie immediately felt regretful; it''s not often one gets to meet such wealthy people, who might be able to help one''s future prospects. But after leaving the impression he did, it seemed there was no chance now.


    Realizing the issue, Xie Haijie blamed Chen Na, "Nana, why didn''t you tell me about this sooner?"


    "What?!"


    Chen Na looked at him in disbelief, having pushed him away already, and now he had still spoken out, and was actually accusing her of not warning him!


    Is there really such a man?!


    "Xie Haijie, I sure can pick ''em! Please don''t contact me anymore!"


    Chen Na turned and left, fuming with anger, thinking to herself how on earth she ended up with such a person!


    "Hey, Nana, I didn''t mean that...."


    ...


    Inside the private dining room, only Li Yuhang and Shen Yuan remained.


    Li Yuhang had recovered from his shock, and couldn''t help but ask his childhood friend, "When did you get so rich?"


    "Made it trading coins."


    "Bitcoin?"


    "Yeah, you know how much that''s multiplied by; I''ve been buying it for years, and just cashed out these past few days."


    Shen Yuan had used this story before; he''d told the same to Old Shen and Ms. Li Hongjuan last time, and they hadn''t suspected a thing, so he resorted to the same explanation once more.


    "Awesome!"


    Li Yuhang couldn''t help but give a thumbs up, then added, "If I''d known you were so loaded, you damn dog, I wouldn''t have set up this crap today, waste of money!"


    "Now that you know, that''s fine. Those guys are unreliable; they''re okay for fun, but they won''t be there for the serious stuff."


    Shen Yuan had been through it, so he knew better. They were only fair-weather friends.


    Hoping they''d pull together was just wishful thinking.


    They became cold and indifferent at the first sign of trouble, forget about help when you were down; even adding icing to the cake was asking too much.


    Shen Yuan patted his shoulder as a gesture of consolation, then continued, "Let''s talk about your idea for the speakeasy. Just remember, even though I''m a minor shareholder, you''ll have to listen to me from now on."


    "OJBK!"


    Li Yuhang readily agreed.


    He genuinely felt happy, partly because his old friend Shen Yuan had turned his fortunes around.


    On the other hand, he was thrilled to have a good brother to partner with in opening a store and progressing together; it was the kind of scenario he''d always dreamed of.


    Most crucially, he no longer had to worry about startup capital!


    For the rest of the time, the two of them planned out the future of the speakeasy within the private dining room.


    Li Yuhang had actually scoped out a location half a month ago, and the storefront had been a speakeasy before.


    Therefore, Shen Yuan thought there was no need for major renovations. They could keep the fixtures and make appropriate adjustments to the furnishings as long as the overall style fit, controlling the cost as much as possible.


    Although they had over two million, which seemed a lot, it would run out quickly if spent carelessly, trying to improve this or that without restraint.


    Regarding staff, they would see if any of the previous employees were willing to stay. Naturally, for this kind of work, experienced hands were preferable, and they would hire more staff based on how the business was running later on.


    Furthermore, for attracting customers, especially during the opening phase without regulars, Shen Yuan felt that aggressive promotion was necessary to bring in new customers.


    They could make some deals with Star City''s online influencers to create videos about their visits.


    Of course, for effective promotion, these influencers would need to have a sizable follower base.


    But hiring popular influencers would come at a higher cost, so Shen Yuan thought that focus of the startup fund should be on promotion and attracting customers.


    Last was the matter of the speakeasy''s unique features. With so many similar places already existing, customers would only come back for a second time if the store had its own advantages.


    However, neither of them had figured out what that could be yet; they were still in the renovation phase, and there was no rush to decide.


    After discussing all these aspects for half an hour, Li Yuhang hadn''t expected Shen Yuan to be so knowledgeable, and blurted out, "You damn dog, all that college really paid off."


    Shen Yuan hummed lightly, "It''s called talent; you know what that is, right?"


    ...

 Chapter 31 Are you free tomorrow night?

    On the other side, inside a private dining room at Jinfeng Hotel.


    The dinner party for the International Business Class 2 of the 20th grade had reached its conclusion.


    At the moment when the gathering was about to disperse, Li Zhanpeng, whose face was flushed with the drink of the night, couldn''t contain himself and stood up once more, intending to provide a fitting conclusion to the evening''s festivities.


    "Everyone, it''s hard to believe that it has been three years since we started our school journey back in ''20. I am honored to have spent these delightful three years with all of you, and I hope that there will be another chance to meet up in the future, since opportunities to get together like this will become rarer..."


    "What''s with this son of a bitch, how can he talk so much?"


    Huang Haibao was about to get up and leave, but Li Zhanpeng started up his endless chatter again.


    "This fucker talks as if we''ve graduated when we haven''t even started our internships, which are half a year away. Plus, we need to come back for our diplomas, so it''s not like we''re not going to dine together again!"


    Cao Shunjin was also visibly annoyed on the side.


    "I''m really happy today because, thanks to my parents, I''ve reserved a BMW. The car might not be expensive, but for me, it''s a significant day, so please forgive me if I''m talking a bit much tonight, bear with me..."


    Li Zhanpeng, prideful, waved his glass, spraying spit, his eyes occasionally drifting towards Fang Minhui.


    They were no longer freshmen but third-year students on the verge of internships, about to face society.


    Once they started working, the financial support from their parents would cease, and the pressures of reality would loom ever closer.


    For example, basic expenses such as renting houses, transportation, meals, and buying clothes pose a problem for most classmates.


    And Fang Minhui, the class belle, was merely an ordinary girl from an average family, soon to be an interning student.


    She couldn''t avoid considering her future livelihood and prospects, including matters of marriage.


    And now, what laid before Fang Minhui was him, a man from a wealthy family with a future that seemed boundless.


    Therefore, Li Zhanpeng was very confident, thinking that Fang Minhui would inevitably choose him.


    After all, he had secured a BMW today; doesn''t that demonstrate his capabilities?


    However, Fang Minhui couldn''t have fathomed the depth of Li Zhanpeng''s inner drama. Her expression remained indifferent, barely bothering to lift her head to glance at Li Zhanpeng.


    What she was thinking now was for this guy to hurry up and finish so she could leave quickly.


    Chen Ling, meanwhile, was rolling her eyes at the speech; she really didn''t get what Li Zhanpeng had to show off about.


    This conspicuous douchebag had already sent the car booking contract for a BMW 3 series to the class WeChat group today, and now during dinner, he couldn''t stop talking about it.


    I mean, is that really necessary?


    Does he also need to post it on the school''s Weibo or TikTok account so the entire school faculty and students know that Li Zhanpeng reserved a BMW?


    Shen Yuan, who reserved an 880,000 yuan Range Rover, didn''t even peep, but here''s Li Zhanpeng, making a continuous fuss over his 280,000 yuan BMW.


    Chen Ling really thought Li Zhanpeng was pretty low, and the low-level kind of petty at that!


    Finally, ten minutes later, Li Zhanpeng concluded his lengthy speech, and everyone, ears callused from listening, rose to return to their dorms.


    During Li Zhanpeng''s speech, he noticed that Fang Minhui didn''t seem very interested today, apparently not listening carefully to him.


    Especially during his concluding remarks, Fang Minhui had been looking down the entire time, never meeting his gaze.


    Thus, after the dispersal, Li Zhanpeng wanted to find out the reason, so he caught up with her outside the hotel''s door, "Minhui, you seemed a bit down today, are you feeling unwell?"


    Fang Minhui turned her head to give him a brief glance and then continued walking forward with Chen Ling, "No."


    Li Zhanpeng quickly caught up to walk alongside them, "If there''s anything bothering you, you can tell me. I''ll try to help you sort it out."


    "Really, it''s nothing. Stop following us; we''re heading back to the dorm now."


    Fang Minhui found Li Zhanpeng really annoying. Before today, she simply thought of Li Zhanpeng as a bit stingy and somewhat boastful, nothing serious.


    But the things he said at tonight''s gathering, nearly every sentence was about his family wealth and the new BMW he''d just ordered.


    His vanity was seriously over the top.


    Excessive vanity was one thing, but the key was that his speech lacked substance, purely for show.


    Compared to Shen Yuan, whom she had encountered in the last couple of days, the difference was stark.


    Li Zhanpeng was ignored, panicking instantly, "Minhui, weren''t we just fine? Why are you suddenly treating me like this?"


    After all, they had gone to see a movie together a few days ago, and Li Zhanpeng felt he must have left a good impression on the class belle.


    "Who said we were fine? Stop talking nonsense!"


    "Also, stop following us!"


    Fang Minhui glared at him and strode forward quickly with Chen Ling.


    Li Zhanpeng stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded, watching their figures grow distant, utterly bewildered at heart.


    He couldn''t understand.


    What exactly was not good enough about himself?


    In the whole class, he was the only one who had driven a BMW even before graduating. Could that not prove his capability?


    Is money not influential in society anymore?


    But the two receding figures did not reply, leaving him alone on the spot, lost in confusion.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Shen Yuan was on his way back to school in a DiDi. Li Yuhang had originally called him to go to a bar, but Shen Yuan wasn''t interested in nightclubs anymore and had simply declined.


    The dance music inside was deafeningly loud, and it was too noisy to bear. Going there was just to drink, dance, and nod along with the crowd.


    Shen Yuan also forgot why he used to like going to places like that and wondered how he had tolerated them in the past.


    Sitting in the back seat of the DiDi, Shen Yuan suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to reply to Fang Minhui''s WeChat message. He opened his phone and messaged her back, saying he was out having dinner and drinks with friends and had only just checked his phone.


    Then Shen Yuan discovered that he had also just received a WeChat message from "Chen Na."


    Shen Yuan clicked on it and saw Chen Na had sent a long string of text. In short, she expressed her apologies for the night''s events, hoping Shen Yuan wouldn''t mind.


    Shen Yuan found it amusing, what did it have to do with her? It was none other than her boyfriend who had said a few unpleasant things.


    Shen Yuan wasn''t such a petty person, typing a reply on WeChat to her, "No worries, I didn''t take it to heart."


    Actually, before this evening, Shen Yuan had thought Chen Na had no partner, because when he scrolled through her social moments, there were only routine life updates and work-related marketing posts, never any mention of a boyfriend.


    But unexpectedly, she actually had a boyfriend.


    According to Shen Yuan''s experience, either she had just gotten together with this guy, or she was watching the pot while eating from the bowl, aiming to fish for a bigger catch.


    These days, perhaps only a small number of girls truly believe in love, but most of them make their choices from a practical standpoint.


    At that moment, in a neat little apartment in Hexi Fanghuali.


    Chen Na had just finished washing up, wearing a cool spaghetti strap nightgown that exposed large areas of her snowy white skin at the neckline and back.


    She rented a small apartment alone, with no roommates, so at home she wore whatever was comfortable.


    When she received Shen Yuan''s text, she suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.


    This Mr. Shen was quite a nice person, not taking issue with her.


    "Mm hm."


    "Mr. Shen, the logistic department has reported that your ordered car can be shipped on Wednesday and will arrive at the dealership on Thursday. If it''s fast, you can come over on Friday to make the final payment and pick up the car."


    Chen Na replied with her phone in both hands.


    Land Rovers weren''t easy to sell; showroom visits only accounted for half of the sales, the other half depended on referrals from old customers, so maintaining relationships with them was crucial.


    Especially for a customer like Shen Yuan, who was decisive and wealthy, it was even more important to maintain the relationship.


    So Chen Na didn''t want such a moneyed customer to have a bad impression of her.


    As she thought this, Chen Na couldn''t help but feel a bit troubled by Shen Yuan''s reply.


    "No rush on that. Are you free tomorrow night? I have some specific questions about the car that I''d like to ask you in person."


    ...

 Chapter 32 Are you going to sizzle, or am I?

    Shen Yuan certainly wasn''t interested in asking about the car issues.


    Even if he asked Chen Na, her knowledge as a female saleswoman was probably very limited.


    It wasn''t that he looked down on female salespeople; when he had bought the 4 Series at BMW, the female salesperson who attended to him only knew about prices and discounts. She didn''t understand the differences in configurations as well as he did.


    His question was mainly to test the depth of Chen Na, to see how solid her relationship with her boyfriend was, and whether she could be corroded by money.


    After all, Shen Yuan only had Fang Minhui as a cash tree at the moment, and the cashback she generated was limited, so he could only seek out a few more.


    The best scenario would be to expand further, to bloom in all aspects!


    It would be a waste not to fleece the System.


    Of course, the primary reason was that Chen Na''s appearance and figure were top-notch; spending money on such a woman was worth it.


    If Chen Na also wanted to have some indescribable relationship with him, Shen Yuan wouldn''t mind too much.


    However, he hadn''t expected that Chen Na would reply on WeChat after a short while, "I''m sorry, Mr. Shen, I have plans tomorrow night."


    Shen Yuan stared blankly at the screen, sighing softly in his heart. It was clear that Chen Na was tactfully rejecting him.


    It seemed he had underestimated this female saleswoman.


    Perhaps she wasn''t that materialistic.


    In that case, he would have to look for other female NPCs.


    Inside the apartment, Chen Na''s expression was conflicted and hesitant. She looked at her phone screen, unsure if what she had just sent was the right thing to say.


    She was a saleswoman, dealing with all kinds of customers every day, and she knew men''s thoughts all too well. She naturally understood the implications of her words.


    It was said online that some female salespeople would engage in "PY transactions" with male customers to boost their sales.


    Indeed, such situations did exist, and even happened around Chen Na.


    But she wouldn''t do that; she wasn''t that kind of woman.


    With customers who hinted at such things in the past, Chen Na would casually deal with a few words and move on. But with a customer like Shen Yuan, she didn''t want to offend him.


    But then again, what if Mr. Shen didn''t have any other intentions and really was just asking about the car issues?


    After a struggle within her, Chen Na thought she might as well agree to meet him once, taking it as an apology for tonight.


    "Because tomorrow is Sunday and the dealership will be busy, can we meet the day after tomorrow?"


    After sending the WeChat message, Chen Na felt relieved. It was, at most, just having a meal and chat, nothing more, and she could just put on an act.


    "Ding-dong~"


    "Ding-dong~"


    Almost simultaneously two messages popped up on WeChat. Chen Na picked up her phone, thinking it was a reply from Shen Yuan, but it turned out to be WeChat messages from Xie Haijie and another man.


    Seeing these two unread messages, Chen Na couldn''t help but frown.


    The first was an apologetic message from Xie Haijie, with the usual "I was wrong," "I won''t do it again next time," "I''m sorry, Nana," and so on.


    Chen Na was not moved by this kind of message as she was too disappointed by this man''s behavior today.


    Firstly, while their relationship was still unstable, he rashly took her to meet his friends.


    Chen Na even suspected that Xie Haijie had brought her there just for the sake of appearance, as normally with his social standing, he wouldn''t be able to join such gatherings.


    Moreover, at the dinner, to seem sociable or to please those people, he started to maliciously criticize Shen Yuan.


    If it was just vanity, it would have been forgivable; however, this behavior obviously touched on moral issues.


    What was key was that after coming out of the private dining room, knowing he was at fault, he didn''t look for the reasons within himself but started blaming others!


    Chen Na wondered how she had even started liking such a person.


    But fortunately, they hadn''t been together for long, just over half a month, and their interaction was limited to holding hands.


    It was still not too late for her to extricate herself from the situation.


    So, faced with Xie Haijie''s WeChat message, Chen Na simply chose not to reply.


    The other message was from Zeng Xianyong. Seeing the obscene content inside, Chen Na felt even more disgusted.


    Zeng Xianyong was the general manager of their dealership, a position higher than the sales manager, essentially the top administrator of a 4S shop.


    Zeng Xianyong was in his forties this year, already married with a family, yet he still often flirted around outside.


    Taking advantage of his position as the store''s general manager, he frequently extended his predatory claws toward the sales staff or other female colleagues in different departments.


    The methods were all old tricks, nothing more than a mix of intimidation, enticement, and gentle coaxing.


    Girls who were just starting out in their jobs, with little social experience, were easily ensnared.


    According to Chen Na''s understanding, quite a few good-looking female colleagues had already fallen into his trap.


    Chen Na was no exception and was often harassed by Zeng Xianyong.


    He would always send her sleazy, shameless messages on WeChat.


    Thankfully, her strong attitude and decent sales figures in the store meant that Zeng Xianyong did not dare to force things.


    Now, looking at the messages he sent, her mood soured even more, and she felt like blocking him right away.


    But there wasn''t much she could do; the job paid quite well, and though there were many upsetting matters, it brought her an income of ten to twenty thousand a month.


    Ten to twenty thousand may seem like a lot, but Chen Na''s expenses were also high, from renting an apartment and daily spending to buying clothes and skincare products, the money was quickly depleted.


    That''s why she couldn''t bear to resign; resigning and looking for a new job may not necessarily land her something suitable.


    Ah, if only she didn''t have to work!


    ...


    When Shen Yuan received Chen Na''s WeChat message, he had already arrived at the school.


    It seemed that Chen Na was still not averse to him, which was a good start.


    Spending money on Fang Minhui alone, not to mention whether Fang Minhui would find it suspicious, even Shen Yuan himself couldn''t justify it.


    Anybody would start to have doubts.


    Money was plenty, but not to be wasted like this.


    Shen Yuan thought to himself, and without realizing it, he had walked up to the 5th floor of the dormitory; yet just as he reached the 5th floor, something dark in the corner of the staircase gave him a scare.


    Shen Yuan looked closely at the figure, which seemed somewhat familiar, only to see him squatting in the corner of the corridor, silently smoking.


    At his feet, there were already a dozen cigarette butts.


    Who''s that? Damn scary in the middle of the night.


    Shen Yuan instinctively went closer to have a look, and the more he looked, the more he was taken aback.


    Wasn''t this Li Zhanpeng?


    Shen Yuan''s brain momentarily crashed, wasn''t Li Zhanpeng supposed to be jubilant today because he had booked a BMW? Why did he look like this now?


    Shen Yuan had even received a video especially sent by Huang Haibao that day, showing Li Zhanpeng at a dinner party, speaking with fervent enthusiasm and a joyful countenance.


    How come he turned emo all of a sudden?


    Shen Yuan didn''t understand what had happened but wanted to go pat his shoulder and comfort him, saying, "No matter what happens, everything will get better."


    But considering they weren''t close, he eventually decided not to interfere.


    Pushing open the door to room 503, an inquisitive Shen Yuan asked, "What''s up with Li Zhanpeng? I just saw him smoking alone in the stairwell."


    "Probably got rejected by the class belle, otherwise he wouldn''t be like this."


    Huang Haibao was playing LOL and casually responded upon seeing Shen Yuan come back.


    However, Huang Haibao was actually quite pleased inwardly; if Li Zhanpeng got rejected, it meant that he, Old Huang, still had a chance.


    Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan couldn''t help but laugh, thinking to himself that a rejection was inevitable, considering the class belle already had her heart set on someone.


    Cao Shunjin was reading a novel on his bed and joined in the conversation when he put down his phone, gazing wistfully at the ceiling, "I wonder what kind of guy the class belle likes?"


    Huang Haibao commented with some validity, "To be fair, Li Zhanpeng does have his small flaws, a strong vanity and a penchant for showing off, but he is devoted in relationships, and his family background is indeed not bad; I don''t really understand why she would reject Li Zhanpeng."


    Shen Yuan replied, "Could it be possible that the class belle is into looks and likes someone handsome like me?"


    At those words, both Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin were momentarily stunned, then catching on, Huang Haibao was the first to say, "Old Cao, should you pee on him or should I?"


    "You do it, your pee is yellower."


    "..."

 Chapter 33 Interview

    The next day was Sunday, and in the afternoon, Shen Yuan had arranged to meet Li Yuhang at the speakeasy they had taken over.


    The speakeasy was located on Yudai Street not far from the May 1st Square, which is also a famous speakeasy street in Star City. Shen Yuan had been here a few times before.


    However, he used to come here as a customer, and now that he was the boss coming to inspect, his perspective was inevitably different.


    At half-past two, Shen Yuan took a taxi to Yudai Street and wandered around roughly.


    He noticed that the homogenization of the speakeasies here was quite severe; they were all of the small tavern type with basically the same offerings. There was nothing particularly attractive about their exteriors at first glance.


    At least during the day, there was nothing special to see; he didn''t know what it was like at night.


    Along the street, almost all the shops were doing the same business, naturally, some were doing well, but there were definitely those that were poorly managed.


    It was obvious that Li Yuhang had taken over one of the latter.


    When Shen Yuan walked in, he saw that the decoration style really had nothing special to offer, mostly consisting of wooden tables and chairs and a vintage bar.


    Behind the bar was a large wooden liquor cabinet, but because the previous owner had moved everything out, it was empty.


    But the shop was indeed quite spacious; Shen Yuan looked around and estimated that it was at least two hundred square meters.


    No wonder the previous owner had backed out; such a large store had correspondingly high rent and expenses.


    If there wasn''t enough revenue to support it, the daily costs would flow away like running water.


    Furthermore, if a speakeasy was too large and didn''t have enough customers, it would appear too desolate and lack the atmosphere for drinking.


    Even though there is a "light" in the word speakeasy, it''s not the lightness of tranquility.


    When Shen Yuan arrived, Li Yuhang had already been waiting in the store for about ten minutes and immediately complained, "Why the hell are you so late?"


    Although this guy loved to play around, he was serious when it came to business.


    But seriousness aside, the outcome, as many harrowing examples have shown, was not solely determined by attitude and effort.


    Sometimes, direction and choice are just as important as hard work and dedication.


    However, Shen Yuan wouldn''t be polite to Li Yuhang for this reason and cut off his ranting right away, "Stop whining, I''m only a few minutes late, I was just taking a look outside."


    "By the way, have you contacted the previous manager?"


    Yesterday, when Shen Yuan and Li Yuhang were chatting, he learned that the manager hired by the previous owner was currently job-hunting.


    Moreover, several staff members were also following her, and it would be great if they could be persuaded to join.


    Both he and Li Yuhang were laymen, and Shen Yuan felt they really needed someone with a bit more experience.


    Li Yuhang nodded, "I''ve contacted her, and she should be here soon, just don''t know if she will be willing to work here again."


    Shen Yuan replied, "Let''s talk to her. It''s mainly because she''s familiar with this place and she''s got people under her. If her character and work attitude are good, we could offer her a higher salary."


    "Sure, what do you think about the renovation style?"


    Li Yuhang wanted to make drastic changes but was undecided about what style to go for.


    "What do you think about industrial style?"


    Shen Yuan looked around the speakeasy, "The speakeasies here are either vintage or British style. If ours looks similar, it won''t be attractive. The key is that industrial style can be cheaper to remodel, just paint the walls, and then focus on some decorative touches."


    "Of course, the style is secondary; the main thing is the atmosphere and popularity. Although it''s a speakeasy, there definitely needs to be that drinking vibe, but that involves drawing in a crowd and operation."


    "I think it''s very OK!"


    Li Yuhang listened to Shen Yuan speaking authoritatively, though by the end, he didn''t quite follow along. However, he always trusted his childhood buddy.


    "Can''t you have some ideas of your own?"


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but roll his eyes. In truth, he was also an outsider, completely in the dark.


    All of this was based on his past experience hanging out at bars, combined with what Old Shen had taught him, and his own conclusions.


    But he had never put it into practice, and he was uncertain deep down.


    He just feared that gathering "Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix" in the same place might actually lead to great success!


    Shen Yuan''s expectations weren''t high though; as long as they could break even, and with System''s double cashback, the profit would be substantial for him.


    As for Li Yuhang, if this damned guy managed to keep the business afloat, he would probably be over the moon, which was already a huge improvement compared to his previous painful failures.


    "Hello, is this Mr. Li?"


    At this moment, a listless female voice interrupted their conversation.


    Shen Yuan turned his head to look, and saw a girl who appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, rather petite, probably around 160 centimeters tall.


    However, her outfit was quite bold, resembling that of a nightclub style.


    She wore a black, tight-fitting tank top that hugged her chest, revealing a flat and toned midriff, clearly indicating a regular exercise routine.


    Her lower body was clad in light blue skinny jeans, highlighting her full hips.


    That waist-to-hip ratio was indeed impressive!


    Shen Yuan figured she must be the previous manager, but he hadn''t expected her to be so young.


    "It''s Siao Siyao, right?" Li Yuhang asked.


    "Yes, hello."


    Siao Siyao, emotionless, gave a slight nod to the two men in greeting.


    The former owner had been good to her, and even after the closure had provided severance pay, so when he suggested it, Siao Siyao thought about coming over to have a look.


    However, upon seeing the two men, Siao Siyao felt somewhat disappointed.


    Although she didn''t know which one was the owner, both seemed too young and inexperienced in business matters at first glance.


    They didn''t resemble bosses but rather looked like the young people who came to the place for fun.


    She suspected they might be privileged second-generation rich kids, with their parents funding the bar for them.


    But such people often don''t run a bar for long.


    One reason is the lack of experience, leading to easy money loss, and another is losing interest quickly.


    Nevertheless, Siao Siyao wasn''t going to turn around and leave; she still needed to show basic politeness.


    "Let''s sit down and talk."


    Shen Yuan approached a table, pulled out a chair and sat down, while Li Yuhang made a welcoming gesture.


    "Sure."


    After Siao Siyao sat down, Shen Yuan introduced himself and then got straight to the point:


    "I won''t bother with small talk, as you can see, we are about the same age, so let''s skip the pretentiousness."


    "We''d like to hear your opinion about the former speakeasy. Were there any issues with how your previous boss managed it, or why do you think it failed?"


    Shen Yuan treated this meeting as if it were an interview, wanting to gauge Siao Siyao''s capabilities.


    He didn''t plan on being in the shop every day. After all, he had System, and many more channels to make money; the speakeasy was just a small investment for him.


    Not to mention Li Yuhang ¨C with his temperament, he''d likely prefer to be a hands-off manager.


    Upon hearing this, Siao Siyao was slightly taken aback, not expecting the first interview question to be this.


    She had been to quite a few interviews these past few days, feeling that they all asked pointless questions.


    Questions like "Why did you apply for this position?", "What are your strengths?", "Do you think you are suited to this job?", "Do you foresee any difficulties with this work?"


    To her, these were all bullshit questions, especially "Why did you apply for the position?"


    Of course, it was because she was out of work and needed a job to make ends meet!


    But regarding the question just asked, Siao Siyao was actually quite interested, as she did have some thoughts on the matter.


    She had discussed it with her boss before, but by that time he had already been losing money for a few months and wasn''t invested in the business anymore, not taking it seriously.


    "I''ve been here since the speakeasy first opened and personally, I think there are quite a few problems. First off, the location choice ¡ª there are too many speakeasies around here, offering customers too many options, making it hard for a new place to attract clientele."


    "Secondly, the development and return rate of new customers wasn''t managed well. The consumption here isn''t cheap, and there''s nothing special about it, so after people come once, they don''t really want to return..."


    "...."

 Chapter 34 Making Cows and Horses Even More Outstanding

    Siao Siyao spoke at length, addressing issues like location selection, attracting new customers to return, traffic-driving operations, and establishing a distinctive style.


    Shen Yuan and Li Yuhang had not expected Siao Siyao to have so many ideas and, more importantly, for them to be so on point.


    Since she could identify problems, it indicated that she was not someone who just worked without thinking but someone who reflected during her work.


    Shen Yuan nodded in approval and then asked, "So, if you were the boss and had to restart and open the business, what would you do?"


    "I might not choose such a highly competitive location to start a business."


    Siao Siyao had indeed thought about this question, having started working at the age of 18 after graduating from high school.


    She''d worked in restaurants, fastened screws in factories, served as an office secretary, and then had been working in bars ever since.


    After so many years out in society, she had a basic understanding of it.


    More than that, her dream was to open her own little speakeasy, but she had not yet saved up enough money.


    Even if she had saved enough, she would not choose this place.


    The cake was only so big, and with so many people sharing it, there were bound to be those who got none.


    "But competition brings challenge, right? How can you know if you don''t try?"


    Li Yuhang, on the other hand, had quite the Forrest Gump spirit. He was the more he was frustrated, the more determined he became, his previous fails only making him want to make a comeback even more.


    Siao Siyao offered a faint smile and said nothing more. After all, she was just a worker; as long as the boss paid a decent salary, it was fine.


    In Shen Yuan''s view, this girl named Siao Siyao still met his requirements for a manager. Not to speak of her abilities, she at least had the necessary awareness.


    Moreover, according to Li Yuhang, she had a good reputation with her former boss, who kept praising her work ethic, dedication, and responsibility over the phone.


    As for relocating the store?


    That was simply not possible. Li Yuhang, the fool, had already signed the transfer agreement and paid half a year''s rent to the landlord.


    Feeling he had nothing more to ask, Shen Yuan said, "I''ve finished asking everything I wanted to ask. Do you have any questions?"


    Siao Siyao was slightly startled, only two questions? Was that it?


    But judging from his tone, it seemed like she had already been passed on?


    Actually, based on the questions the young boss had asked, Siao Siyao''s impression of them had changed a bit, as anyone asking such questions surely had their own ideas about managing the speakeasy and its subsequent development.


    So Siao Siyao thought she might as well give it a try here,


    but if the bosses were not satisfied with her, then that was that.


    She promptly stood up and said, "That''s all, I''ll head back now."


    "Hold on, we haven''t talked about your salary yet, and you''re leaving?"


    Li Yuhang was taken aback. Weren''t they just having a good conversation? Why had she decided to leave so suddenly?


    Li Yuhang was quite interested in this manager. She seemed to be the right candidate so far.


    "Oh?"


    "I''m sorry, I thought you had decided not to consider me."


    Siao Siyao sat back down with an embarrassed expression and after a pause, she asked, "Boss, what would the salary package look like?"


    "How about a base salary of 9,000 plus a performance bonus?"


    Shen Yuan offered, knowing that Siao Siyao''s previous boss had given her a basic salary of 7,000 plus performance incentives, so the offered 9,000 seemed very attractive.


    In this industry, barring those high-end clubs, it was virtually impossible to offer a salary as high as 9,000.


    A light flickered in Siao Siyao''s heart, as she had been earning a base of 7,000 with bonuses that could bring it up to around 9,000 at most, and now just the base salary was 9,000.


    At the other bars she had recently interviewed with, the offers were generally between 6,000 and 8,000, nowhere near as high.


    "As for the performance bonus, we are thinking of giving you 1% of the profit,"


    Shen Yuan thought, since this manager appeared rather good, he naturally wanted to keep her.


    Setting aside 1% of the profit might sound like a lot, but Shen Yuan never really expected the bar to make much money. He was simply painting a picture.


    This shop would do well just to break even, and if it''s only breaking even, that''s tantamount to having no profit performance.


    But if it could actually make a profit, then Shen Yuan felt that the 1% was also worth earning.


    Li Yuhang, listening by the side, had no objection, as base salary plus performance incentives are indeed better for motivating employees.


    "A successful business not only requires the entrepreneur''s hard work but also the struggle of loyal subordinates."


    "Task: Have direct subordinates work loyally for the host for 3 months."


    "Task Reward: Will receive 200,000 in dedicated car consumption funds for the corresponding subordinates."


    Suddenly, a panel and alert sounds appeared in Shen Yuan''s mind, he was first startled but then carefully examined the task.


    The reward for this task was targeted at employees, the car consumption funds could only be used by the corresponding employee.


    He hadn''t expected a mere interview to trigger a side quest, even though this task seemed to have no real benefit for him personally.


    But on second thought, he felt it wasn''t right, even though it wasn''t beneficial for him, it could greatly increase employee motivation.


    If employee motivation was increased, and they worked harder, wouldn''t he earn more money?


    So, all things considered, it was actually helpful to him!


    System was impressive, with such side quest triggers, it would be easier to recruit talent.


    Which boss running a company doesn''t think about controlling costs and reducing labor expenses?


    They would even contemplate cutting the already meager salary of employees by half.


    After all, the less employees take, the more the boss earns.


    Conscientious entrepreneurs like Forrest Gump are a rare breed, most bosses are extremely stingy.


    Since everyone is a ruthless entrepreneur, all focused on saving expenses and controlling costs,


    Shen Yuan''s advantage became apparent.


    Spending 200,000 to buy an employee a car, nearly equivalent to two years of their income, which boss could be so generous?


    With the support of the System, Shen Yuan spoke with more confidence, "In addition, if the shop breaks even in the first three months of operation, I can throw in an extra car worth 200,000."


    After Shen Yuan finished speaking, without waiting for Siao Siyao''s response, Li Yuhang''s expression changed.


    He looked at Shen Yuan incredulously, as if saying, "Have you gone mad? Our starting capital is only 2.4 million, and you want to spend 200,000 to buy her a car?"


    Shen Yuan patted Li Yuhang''s shoulder, signaling him to keep calm.


    Meanwhile, Siao Siyao''s heart skipped a beat. A 200,000-worth car indeed gave her quite the shock.


    But regaining her senses, she thought it was just another typical boss''s empty promises.


    Having worked for seven or eight years, she had rarely met a boss who didn''t make empty promises.


    It''s just that this boss''s pie in the sky was exceptionally big.


    A 200,000 car? Given away just for working three months without the shop losing money?


    Do I look like a fool?


    Still, she ultimately decided to accept the offer, not for the enticing pie but for the 9,000 salary plus profit-sharing.


    To her, that was more realistic. Even though she wasn''t certain about the profit, at least the base salary of 9,000 was guaranteed.


    "I don''t have any problems with this, boss."


    "But I do have a small request. I have three people under me who will also start working here. Is it possible to offer them slightly higher compensation?"


    Siao Siyao said, "Their work attitudes are good, definitely better than those recruited from outside."


    "Sure, no problem,"


    Shen Yuan nodded. It seemed that Siao Siyao was loyal and caring, not just looking out for herself but also for her subordinates.


    While they were discussing this issue, Li Yuhang carefully interjected, "Well, about that 200,000 car, we still need to discuss that matter further."


    "..."

 Chapter 35 No Way? The Class Belle Rejected Him Because of Me?

    After discussing the wages of several other employees, the three added each other as friends and created a group chat to communicate directly about the shop''s updates.


    Siao Siyao quickly embraced her role as manager, indicating that although they hadn''t opened yet, she could take charge of some of the preparatory work.


    After all, she had plans to open her own shop in the future, so this was a perfect opportunity to familiarize herself and get a head start.


    Thus, the three divided the tasks: Li Yuhang was responsible for the renovation, Siao Siyao was in charge of investigating and learning from the operational models of popular speakeasies,


    while Shen Yuan took on the task of contacting influencer explorers, inquiring about prices and understanding the market ahead of time.


    However, Li Yuhang was very dissatisfied with this arrangement, grumbling, "You son of a bitch always arrange the easy jobs for yourself, and I''m stuck with the most toiling and exhausting one¡ªrenovation!"


    Thinking about having to spend every day in a dusty construction site, dealing with the workers, while Shen Yuan might be in some cozy place, having tea and chatting with female fans, made Li Yuhang feel even more aggrieved by the unfairness.


    Shen Yuan chuckled and said, "This is called making the best use of people''s talents, after all, you''ve been in charge of renovations when you ran a shop before, so you definitely have more experience than us."


    "Bastard!"


    Unable to win the argument, Li Yuhang could only spit out an insult.


    Watching the two bosses bicker childishly, Minhui silently shook her head.


    It seemed that working here, such occurrences would become the norm.


    And so, the three-member team started taking shape.


    After finalizing some details, it was almost five o''clock, so Shen Yuan suggested they have dinner together.


    After dinner, as dusk descended, when Shen Yuan took a taxi back to the university, it was already seven o''clock.


    As soon as he pushed the door of dorm 503 open, Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin dragged him to the playground for a walk, claiming they needed to digest the takeout they''d just eaten.


    Those two bastards claimed to be walking to digest their food, but Shen Yuan knew all too well what they were really up to.


    It was summer, and the campus was full of young girls in the throes of spring, each dressed coolly. Their pale, bare thighs and pert breasts and butts released hormones into the air.


    The young girls liked to stroll around the playground after dinner, in twos and threes, chirping and chatting, always forming a sight that exhilarated the male students on the International campus''s track.


    Thus, Old Huang and Old Cao were eager to "walk off their meal" at the track every few days.


    Of course, Shen Yuan was no exception.


    No straight man would refuse such a form of "walking."


    "Old Third, why have you been so secretive these past two days, hardly showing your face? What are you up to?"


    As the three of them walked on the track, Huang Haibao asked, his gaze wandering all around.


    "I''m making money," Shen Yuan honestly responded.


    "Have you fallen to the point where you have to take on a part-time job now?"


    Huang Haibao asked incredulously. In his view, a university student earning living expenses generally meant part-time jobs.


    Such as waiting tables at a restaurant, working in the library, handing out flyers, or sorting parcels at a courier station.


    Or even working as a temp security guard at various exhibitions.


    Of course, Huang Haibao didn''t lack money and wouldn''t stoop to part-time work.


    But Old Third''s situation was questionable; with his family bankrupted, even his living expenses might be an issue.


    "Can''t I be my own boss?"


    Shen Yuan thought it was time to lay the groundwork for himself; when the speakeasy opened, he didn''t want its sign to blind Old Cao and Old Huang when he brought them in for a drink.


    Their young and fragile hearts might not be able to handle the shock.


    But before Huang Haibao could even speak, Old Cao scoffed first, "Old Third, stop bullshitting us. We''re all family in dorm 503; even if you''re sneaking around waiting tables somewhere, we wouldn''t laugh at you."


    "Fuck! You don''t believe me?"


    Shen Yuan was just about to give Old Cao a little zapping, but just then, Huang Haibao, who had been silent, suddenly exclaimed, interrupting his casting.


    "No way, look over there!"


    The two instinctively followed Huang Haibao''s gaze and when they saw who was coming, their eyes froze for a moment.


    It was their International Business Class 2''s beautiful class belle.


    The class belle was wearing light blue denim shorts today, showing off her slender, long, and fair legs, while her top was a white cropped tank.


    They say white clothes make you look bigger, and on Fang Minhui, it was especially so.


    Born with exceptional talents, she wore the cropped top as if blessed by the gods, her full chest seeming as though it was ready to burst forth at any moment.


    Her flexible waist, honed by dance practices, created a stark and striking waist-to-hip ratio with her upper body.


    There might be girls at school prettier than Fang Minhui, but very few could rival her explosive figure.


    With Fang Minhui''s arrival, not only did the other girls out for a walk fade in comparison, but even the male "wolf friends" who were also "strolling" on the track cast envious glances her way.


    The class belle''s outfit today reminded the guys from room 503 of a night three years ago during military training. She had worn a white tank top and twisted her snakelike waist to the dance music, relentlessly stimulating these fresh-from-high-school, green first-year college boys.


    What Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin didn''t know, however, was that this perfect white moonlight in their hearts was off-limits to other men.


    After all, Shen Yuan, the rascal, had already picked the peach.


    Huang Haibao''s gaze turned vacant, and he finally forlornly withdrew his eyes. He knew that even Li Zhanpeng stood no chance, let alone himself, so he might as well keep out of sight, out of mind.


    But he noticed that Shen Yuan was still fixedly staring at that graceful figure, so he couldn''t help but advise, "Stop looking, Old Third, even if you keep looking, she''s a woman you can''t have."


    Shen Yuan was about to retort when Cao Shunjin took over the conversation, "Old Huang is right, you''re so down on your luck that you have to take on a part-time job, class belle is out of your league."


    Huang Haibao nodded in agreement, "Exactly, even a man like me can''t capture the class belle''s heart, let alone you."


    "???"


    Shen Yuan was particularly speechless now; he really wanted to unzip his pants, pull out his 18cm "tool" and spray some sense into these damn idiots.


    But if he really told them he''d already gone all the way with the class belle, their eyeballs would probably pop out of their sockets.


    But he didn''t want to make his relationship with Fang Minhui public yet; doing so would mean giving up his right to choose again among the International campus girls.


    After all, now that he had System, he was looking forward to more opportunities to bloom.


    Yet, during the brief silence among the three, they suddenly realized that the figure who sparked endless fantasies was actually holding a bottle of AD calcium milk and walking towards them.


    As Fang Minhui got closer, Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin became noticeably uneasy.


    Usually, they were all talk, but now that she was actually heading their way, they immediately felt nervous.


    The key was, class belle didn''t only have a bottle of AD calcium in hand, but her expression was also full of affection.


    Huang Haibao''s heart rate sped up involuntarily, his throat felt dry, and he suddenly realized something.


    "No way, no way?"


    "Could it be that the class belle turned down Li Zhanpeng last night... for me?"


    "Could it be that she has discovered my interesting soul?"


    Shen Yuan rolled his eyes so hard they almost fell out of his head upon hearing this. Old Huang really never stops with the drama!


    Does he never look in the mirror? Doesn''t he have the slightest clue about his own filthy soul?


    Huang Haibao''s eyes were firmly fixed on Fang Minhui, eagerly following her as she got closer. He instinctively reached out his hand, hoping to receive the "hint of love."


    What Huang Haibao didn''t expect was that the bottle of AD calcium milk would slip right past him and land perfectly in Shen Yuan''s hand.


    ????

 Chapter 36 If You Have Money, You Can Do It!

    "You finally decided to show up. I haven''t seen you in two days."


    Fang Minhui blinked her beautiful eyes, her gaze soft and watery.


    Ever since that wonderful night, Fang Minhui always found herself unintentionally thinking about Shen Yuan.


    But to say she was thinking about him... wasn''t exactly thinking about all of him...


    This feeling was strange because she wasn''t sure if she was thinking about Shen Yuan the person, or Shen Yuan''s body?


    Alas, it''s true what they say on the internet, once you open the gates to such things, they become like a flood of beasts that can''t be closed back up.


    "Yeah, I''ve been a bit busy these two days," Shen Yuan replied.


    "Okay then."


    Fang Minhui pointed at the drink in Shen Yuan''s hand and said, "I just saw you at the convenience store when I was buying stuff with Chen Ling, so I got you a bottle of AD Calcium."


    "Oh right, and here''s a straw too."


    Fang Minhui also handed over the straw she was holding in her other hand.


    "Thank you."


    Shen Yuan took the straw, turned his head to look at his two roommates who were standing dumbstruck, and laughed:


    "Next time if you see the three of us together, just buy three bottles, or I''m afraid they might beat me up later."


    "Haha, sorry, I definitely will next time."


    Fang Minhui''s eyes smiled, "I''ll head off first then, let''s chat on WeChat."


    "Sure."


    Shen Yuan waved his hand, and then Fang Minhui, with a satisfied expression, turned and left.


    Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin were completely dumbfounded, watching her alluring figure slowly disappear from their sight, unable to react for a long time.


    Especially Huang Haibao, his gaze slightly vacant, it took him a while before he managed to turn his head: "Old Third, what''s going on here, why did the class belle suddenly bring you water?"


    Shen Yuan smiled mysteriously: "I told you, the class belle likes handsome guys like me."


    "Impossible! Absolutely not!"


    Huang Haibao vehemently denied, unable to believe that his long-admired class belle would fall for Shen Yuan.


    Shen Yuan was no longer the affluent Shen Yuan, his family had gone bankrupt, and now he was just another guy sharing a cramped dorm room with them.


    But then again, if the class belle wasn''t into Shen Yuan, how would one explain the AD Calcium he was sipping on?


    And the way the class belle had looked at Old Third, as if she was about to melt; how in the world would one explain that?


    Cao Shunjin pursed his lips: "Old Third, what''s the real deal here, explain it to us?"


    Cao Shunjin was feeling uneasy too, Shen Yuan had only just broken up with his senior not long ago, and now he was already hooking up with the class belle?


    They had been single throughout three years of college!


    All having received the same nine-year compulsory education, why was life so unfair?


    It truly was a case of the drought-stricken dying of drought and the flooded dying in floods!


    "If you don''t believe it, forget it!"


    Shen Yuan, with the AD Calcium still in his mouth, was too lazy to explain further.


    Huang Haibao felt an intense imbalance in his heart, a tumultuous feeling he couldn''t put into words; that was his moonlit crush of three years!


    And now she had taken a liking to Shen Yuan?!


    A surge of ire over what felt like the theft of his beloved erupted in Huang Haibao''s heart: "Old Third, I curse your grandpa!"


    Shen Yuan was taken aback: "What the hell, why are you cursing me?"


    "You damn dog, you stole my class belle!"


    "Fair competition, survival of the fittest, you should understand that concept, right?"


    "I understand your mouth!"


    Five minutes later, all of room 503 returned to the dorm, but unlike their sprightly departure, each of them was in a different mood.


    Shen Yuan actually wanted to go for another walk on the campus grounds, but the other two were not in the mood.


    Cao Shunjin had been drenched and was still processing the unevenness of life, his expression listless and sullen.


    And Huang Haibao, his heart was even more bitter, moving like he was sick.


    Shen Yuan, that damn dog, used to have a pretty upperclassman for company, always so carefree.


    But back then Shen Yuan had money, so they just accepted it.


    But now that he was broke and had been dumped by the upperclassman, had he really immediately hooked up with the class belle?


    And she was the woman he dreamed of obtaining!


    This damn world is too unfair!


    Cao Shunjin sat weakly on the stool and sighed, "What a pity, good men like us are out of style now."


    Shen Yuan even had the nerve to smirk and said, "Logically speaking, we''re brothers, shouldn''t you guys be happy for me?"


    Huang Haibao didn''t want to hear him speak at all now, "Old Third, stop talking, don''t sleep in the dorm tonight, I don''t want to see you."


    "If I don''t sleep in the dorm, where should I sleep?"


    "Figure it out yourself!"


    Looking at these two clowns, Shen Yuan couldn''t help but laugh and suggested, "Come on, tonight I''ll treat you two big brothers to drinks, we''ll drink away our sorrows and won''t return unless we''re drunk!"


    Huang Haibao felt a bit better hearing this and stood up, wiping the corner of his eye, "Old Third, I guess you damn dog still have some conscience."


    Cao Shunjin also wanted to slaughter Shen Yuan verbally, "Tonight Snow Beer won''t cut it, we need at least Budweiser!"


    "Alright, alright, alright!"


    Shen Yuan thought, with over a million lying in my account right now, you could empty the beer stock of the barbecue restaurant, and it would not be a problem.


    College students in the throes of adolescence, their passions come quickly and go quickly too.


    When the three sat at a roadside diner and several bottles of beer were downed, Old Huang and Old Cao returned to their usual demeanors.


    But when they looked at Shen Yuan again, their gaze inevitably changed.


    It was no surprise Old Third had the cash to splash on upperclassmen.


    But now Old Third was as poor as a church mouse and yet still managed to snag the class belle, that wasn''t just about the money anymore.


    Maybe, there really were some tricks and unique skills they hadn''t considered.


    Thinking about this, Huang Haibao couldn''t help but ask, "Old Third, how on earth did you hook up with the class belle, can you share some tips?"


    Old Huang might curse, but he knew he had no chance with the class belle.


    After all, the class belle never even looked him straight in the eye.


    The reason he felt it was unfair was because he saw the current Shen Yuan as just like him.


    So why on earth would the class belle like Shen Yuan?


    Shen Yuan disdainfully said, "What do you mean by ''hook up''?"


    "You make it sound so crude, it''s about mutual admiration, mutual attraction!"


    "Quit bullshitting, Old Third, just spill it."


    Cao Shunjin was actually very interested too; they hadn''t dated much and were especially curious about the unknown.


    "There''s not much to say, but you guys will slowly understand in time."


    Shen Yuan expressionlessly filled his glass with beer, offering no further explanation.


    How the hell else could you hook up?


    If you had money, you could do it too!


    But obviously, he couldn''t discuss such reasons with Old Huang and Old Cao.


    On one hand, Shen Yuan wasn''t the type to boast; furthermore, the source and origins of his money still required legitimate business to cover up.


    So Shen Yuan thought it best to speed up the process of cashing in; with more money, he could invest in more businesses and gain more legitimate sources of income.


    Investing was a time-limited task. The System had given him only a week, and of the exclusive investment fund of one million, he had already transferred 700,000 yuan to Li Yuhang, leaving 300,000 yuan needing quick deployment.


    Although he had helped his family pay off a debt of 200,000 yuan last time, he probably still owed over 900,000 yuan. Although the creditor wasn''t an annoying relative like Shen Yaode who would knock on the door demanding repayment, owing money for a long time was always somewhat irritating.


    As Shen Yuan pondered silently, the trio inadvertently finished their drinks, then Shen Yuan settled the bill, and the three, with heavy bellies, happily made their way home.


    ...

 Chapter 37 Is Alisa not here?

    The next afternoon, Shen Yuan, as usual, skipped class and then headed to the eastern gate of the International campus, where he got into a white Fit.


    And in the driver''s seat was Chen Na, whom he had just met two days before.


    Today, she was wearing a dark blue business suit dress, her long beautiful legs still wrapped in black stockings, and her flaxen large wavy hair casually draped over her shoulders, looking quite tempting.


    "Just came from the store?"


    Shen Yuan buckled his seatbelt and asked casually.


    He had originally arranged to meet with Chen Na tonight, but Chen Na had indicated yesterday that she had other things to do in the evening and wanted to reschedule to the afternoon.


    Shen Yuan wanted to meet in the evening because he didn''t want to affect Chen Na''s work during the day, but she seemed to have misunderstood his intention, thinking he might have some inappropriate thoughts.


    In fact, he really just wanted to have a simple dinner and chat with Chen Na.


    "Yeah, I work today but didn''t have much on this afternoon, so I took a half-day off," she replied.


    Chen Na turned her head to look at Shen Yuan, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes, "Isn''t the main gate of the International campus the south gate? Why did you ask me to pick you up at the eastern gate?"


    Chen Na had visited the International campus a few times, always entering and exiting through the south gate, the main gate.


    But this was her first time at this seemingly deserted eastern gate.


    "The building where I had class just now is closer to the east gate."


    Shen Yuan made up an excuse on the spot. There was no other way, there were just too many people going in and out of the south gate, and Shen Yuan was genuinely afraid of being discovered by his classmates and advisor, Lih Xiao.


    Moreover, he now had ties with Fang Minhui.


    Shen Yuan didn''t want to get caught.


    Otherwise, the label of a scumbag might follow him for the rest of his college life.


    "Oh, okay."


    Chen Na nodded, not overthinking it, "So, where are we going now?"


    "Let''s go to IFC Mall."


    "To IFC Center?"


    Chen Na asked subconsciously.


    But they were just going for a meal, was it necessary to go that far?


    Although there are restaurants on the fifth floor of IFC Mall, it''s famous because it has the most complete range of luxury stores in Star City.


    Chen Na had also been there twice because it was a sacred aspiration for girls.


    Which girl doesn''t like designer bags and jewelry?


    Unfortunately, Chen Na''s salary was too meager to support her frequent visits to IFC Mall. Every time she went, the price tags on the bags made her feel both love and hate.


    So now, Chen Na couldn''t help but speculate, thinking about why they were going to IFC Mall out of the blue. Could Shen Yuan, the handsome guy, be planning to buy her a gift?


    Because there was no need to go that far just for a meal when there were decent restaurants nearby.


    Chen Na had witnessed Shen Yuan''s spending behavior. The first time they met, he bought a Defender for 880,000 in full payment, and the second time was at the last gathering, where he directly transferred 700,000 to invest in the bar.


    She had only met him twice, and already had seen him spend over a million!


    What kind of high roller was he?


    So Chen Na found it difficult not to think this way.


    Should she accept it when the time comes, or not?


    Chen Na''s heart was suddenly torn, but seeing her hesitation, Shen Yuan smiled and said, "It''s still early for dinner, so I was thinking of asking you to accompany me around IFC, my sister''s birthday is coming soon, and I wanted to pick out a gift for her."


    Sorry, Shen Xuan, for celebrating your birthday again, but I had no choice, the excuse was just too convenient.


    "I see."


    Chen Na immediately breathed a sigh of relief¡ªit was just helping her sister pick out a gift.


    With that thought, the weight on her heart lightened considerably.


    She then released the handbrake, switched to drive mode, her slender legs pressed the accelerator, and she headed towards IFC Mall.


    In the car, the two chatted happily, mainly because both had outgoing and cheerful personalities. Additionally, their ages weren''t that far apart, separated by only five or six years, so they quickly found common topics of conversation.


    Chen Na also hadn''t expected that Shen Yuan actually knew quite a bit, mainly looking after her. The topics ranged from her car industry to beauty, jewelry, handbags¡ªthe usual interests of girls.


    From time to time, he''d crack a popular internet joke, making her laugh repeatedly, even affecting her driving a little.


    Chen Na found Shen Yuan to be quite interesting. If it weren''t for the fact that he had a girlfriend, Chen Na might actually consider him.


    Age wasn''t really an issue; weren''t May-December romances in fashion now?


    And as they arrived at the IFC Mall''s underground garage, Shen Yuan noticed that Chen Na finally displayed her Feel-good Index towards him.


    [Feel-good Index: 64]


    Seeing the Feel-good Index appear, Shen Yuan also breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that he couldn''t evoke Chen Na''s goodwill towards him during the trip.


    Otherwise, the trip would''ve been in vain.


    After all, the system task required him to spend on an opposite sex with a Feel-good Index above 60 to get cashback; below 60, there''d be none.


    When the two got out of the car, Chen Na locked the doors, and when she looked up, she suddenly noticed many men and women in professional attire at the elevator entrance.


    By the looks of it, they resembled the uniforms of a 4S shop.


    Although she didn''t know these people, they were clearly her peers.


    It was then that Chen Na suddenly remembered that today was the third Monday of May, and that the Star City car dealers'' cooperation meeting was being held at IFC Mall. The general managers of each 4S store in Star City, including sales managers and after-sales managers, would be attending.


    "Is something wrong?" Shen Yuan noticed Chen Na standing still and turned his head to ask.


    "Nothing." Chen Na gave an apologetic smile and followed Shen Yuan''s pace, thinking that it didn''t matter to her if they were having a meeting; after all, she was just going to have a meal and chat with a client.


    Once they reached the second floor, Shen Yuan took Chen Na for a stroll, passing by LV, Herme?s, Chanel...


    Giving gifts was all about catering to the recipient''s taste, so Shen Yuan wanted to see which brand or product Chen Na''s gaze lingered on a bit longer.


    After all, Chen Na was not like Fang Minhui, who had never been to the luxury sections and found everything novel and exciting.


    Having worked for so long, Chen Na had seen some of the world and definitely had her own preferences for brands and styles.


    It wasn''t until they passed by Prada that Shen Yuan noticed Chen Na''s gaze stayed on a single-shoulder bag in the display window for quite some time, even turning back for another look after they had passed Prada.


    It was a matte leather tote with a double drawstring, likely a newly launched style, and the price was steep, or else it wouldn''t have been displayed in the most conspicuous position.


    "Let''s go have a look in Prada." Once he had a target, the task became a lot easier. Shen Yuan paused, then turned to enter Prada.


    Chen Na hesitated briefly before following him in.


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Shen. Welcome back!" The sales associate, Julia, greeted him with an enthusiastic voice and a beaming smile as she immediately stepped forward to welcome them.


    Indeed, Julia had noticed Shen Yuan from afar and had been patiently waiting at the entrance for him to visit.


    This was a major customer who once spent over fifty thousand in a single day!


    However, to Julia''s dismay, she was busy last time serving Miss Zhou and her "new associate," missing the chance to attend to Mr. Shen, like losing a watermelon for a sesame seed and thereby losing a big order.


    This time she had no other customers, so she was determined to make a good impression on Mr. Shen.


    When Shen Yuan saw it was Julia, he recalled being neglected last time and frowned a bit, "Isn''t that Alisa working today?"


    "..."

 Chapter 38 Praise Me Quick!

    ```


    "Uh, Mr. Shen, how about we switch back to me serving you? Last time there were other customers around, so I really didn''t mean to neglect you."


    Julia bowed slightly, her apology sincere.


    Stores like Prada have sales protection policies, meaning that if a customer comes in for the first time, they should also be received by the same sales associate if they return.


    Technically speaking, Julia had always been the one serving Shen Yuan, but due to unforeseen circumstances last time, Alisa had to step in.


    This meant that Julia had every right to "snatch" Shen Yuan back as her client.


    However, the service industry is customer-centric, and ultimately the customer''s own wishes take precedence.


    Shen Yuan waved his hand and said, "No need, let Alisa come over. She did a good job last time."


    "Mr. Shen, you see..."


    "Mr. Shen, hello there, nice to see you again!"


    Julia wanted to fight for it, but before she could say another word, Alisa had already rushed over, effectively cutting off her move.


    Alisa had just taken a moment to go to the restroom and had not expected that her client was almost snatched away by the scheming Julia.


    How shameless of Julia to feel entitled to approach Mr. Shen, after abandoning him for another customer last time!


    Alisa, of course, wouldn''t give Julia this opportunity, she ardently led Shen Yuan and Chen Na into the store.


    Julia bit her lip, feeling frustrated, with no choice but to watch the client follow Alisa into the store.


    Remembering Ms. Zhou''s declaration that Mr. Shen''s family had gone bankrupt, Julia felt like a herd of "fuck you" horses stampeding through her mind.


    Damn, who told you he''s bankrupt?! He''s obviously richer now!


    "Mr. Shen, what are you interested in this time? Let me introduce you to some items."


    Anyone working as a sales associate naturally has keen observational skills. Alisa quietly assessed the lady and sure enough, she had both style and figure, not at all inferior to the Miss Zhou from last time.


    It''s just that their styles were different, the previous Miss Zhou had an innocent yet seductive air, whereas this lady leaned towards a professional look, exuding intellect and efficiency.


    Alisa thought to herself that Mr. Shen had brought a succession of beautiful women to the shop, from Miss Zhou, then to Miss Fang, and now to this lady, one after the other.


    She silently remarked how great it must be to have money, even to change girlfriends this frequently!


    But Alisa also hoped that Shen Yuan would bring even more, as the more he changed, the more he would come to spend.


    "All the staff here seem to know you quite well; looks like you''re a regular, huh?"


    Chen Na teased with a smile, noticing right when they entered the shop that Shen Yuan must be a frequent shopper here, and one that spends big, or why else would two sales associates be competing over him?


    But it wasn''t surprising given his playboy nature, especially after seeing that beautiful girl Shen Yuan took to the Land Rover dealership last time.


    Shen Yuan was internally phrasing an explanation, thinking about how to smooth things over, when Alisa confidently interjected, "Mr. Shen often brings his sister here, that''s why we''re all so familiar with him."


    Having dealt with many such situations, the sales associates knew exactly what to do, and Alisa was looking at Shen Yuan with eyes craving praise.


    Mr. Shen, how did I do? Didn''t make things tough for you, right? Now you don''t have to explain yourself.


    Chen Na just smiled and didn''t expose the fib. She was also in sales, so how could she not understand why Alisa had said that?


    But Shen Yuan rolled his eyes silently, thinking, What the hell is that look? You think she''s an idiot?


    Didn''t you see she''s in professional attire? She''s clearly in sales, how could she not get what you mean?


    There was originally nothing amiss, but Alisa''s little stunt had made it as obvious as the proverbial "silver found here" sign.


    Shen Yuan nearly wished he could kick Alisa away.


    And Alisa, having received Shen Yuan''s eye roll, was somewhat dumbfounded.


    ```


    No, Mr. Shen, I''m trying to help you out here, what''s with that look?


    "What do you want to gift your sister?"


    Chen Na didn''t dwell on this question and, while browsing the shop, asked.


    "How about a bag?" Shen Yuan answered.


    At this moment, Alisa''s face once again displayed a confident expression, thinking to herself that Mr. Shen was indeed repeating his old tricks.


    Last time he came with Miss Fang, he also said it was for his sister''s gift, but in reality, he was buying a bag for Miss Fang¡ªthis time must be the same, a classic misdirection.


    Humph, men, always using the same excuse with two different women.


    Alisa once again gave Shen Yuan a knowing look, and Shen Yuan couldn''t help but roll his eyes thinking, don''t you dare cause any trouble later.


    "So what style does she like?" Chen Na asked.


    Shen Yuan walked straight to the bag that had caught Chen Na''s constant gaze, picked it up, and asked, "What do you think of this one?"


    Chen Na''s gaze faltered, her beautiful eyes flickered: "Hmm... this one looks pretty, but I''m not sure if your sister would like this style?"


    "Why don''t you let this beauty try it on to see the effect? She''s as beautiful as your sister."


    Seizing the opportunity, Alisa offered a beautiful assist and couldn''t resist giving Shen Yuan another pleading look for praise.


    Shen Yuan was so damn speechless but had no choice at this moment but to nod, "She should like it, why don''t you try it on?"


    Chen Na walked forward a few steps, took the bag, and looked it over carefully, clearly smitten, and even couldn''t resist trying it on in front of a full-length mirror.


    Then she glanced at the price tag.


    39,800 yuan, so expensive!


    She had been eyeing this bag for a long time, often seeing it on Xiao Hong''s book, but the price was something she could only long for.


    It was about four months'' salary for her; she dared not buy it.


    With hardly any savings to begin with, buying it would leave her directly facing the northwest wind.


    Last time, Xie Haijie had given her a Coach bag, but it was only one-tenth the price of this one.


    "This Miss is naturally beautiful and has a nice figure, wearing the bag only adds to her charm."


    Alisa praised with a smiling face.


    "But I just don''t know how it would look on your sister, Shen Yuan, do you want to take a picture for her to see?"


    Chen Na asked Shen Yuan, who was beside her. Although she liked it a lot, she ultimately lacked the spending power.


    Shen Yuan waved his hand, looking at Alisa, "No need, just pack it up for me."


    "Okay, I''ll go get a new one from the warehouse right now."


    Alisa was not surprised by this at all; she had seen Shen Yuan casually buy two bags for Miss Fang before.


    Then she turned with a smile and headed to the warehouse.


    And Chen Na wasn''t too surprised either; after all, she had witnessed Shen Yuan''s spending ways. She just thought that when giving gifts, it was also important to consider the recipient''s opinion.


    Alisa quickly brought out the new bag. This time, she smartly sought Shen Yuan''s opinion. Shen Yuan gave her a look, and she immediately understood, walked over to Chen Na with a smile, and held out the bag:


    "Beauty, please take the bag, and feel free to check it."


    Chen Na was slightly startled, first looking at Alisa, then turning to Shen Yuan.


    At the moment their gazes met, Shen Yuan silently nodded, "It''s for you, take it."


    "..."

 Chapter 39 The Meeting of Multiple Parties Approaches

    Chen Na''s heart thudded non-stop, and now she realized that when Shen Yuan spoke of choosing a gift for his sister, it was actually just a pretext.


    This also confirmed her initial guess was correct, Shen Yuan brought her to the IFC Mall, actually wanting to buy a gift for herself.


    Chen Na did indeed like this handbag, but now with Shen Yuan offering it to her outright, she felt somewhat at a loss.


    This was a handbag worth a full 40,000, nearly her four months'' salary, and even if she saved for an entire year, she might not be able to afford it.


    "Shen Yuan... I can''t, it''s too precious."


    Chen Na said, pursing her rosy lips and shaking her head. Although she really coveted this bag, she had no relationship with Shen Yuan other than that of a saleswoman and customer.


    To speak of it, they couldn''t even be considered friends.


    Even if they were friends, she would have to carefully consider whether to accept such an expensive gift.


    "Take it, the first time I saw you at the 4S shop, I felt you were very pleasing to the eye, and your service was also on point. Consider this bag a token of my appreciation."


    "I can''t."


    Chen Na still shook her head.


    "Beautiful lady, this handbag truly suits you well. Its design is simple and generous without losing a sense of fashion, and it''s also very versatile."


    "Of course, the main thing is your figure and temperament¡ªwearing it only enhances your charm."


    Alisa said with a professional smile.


    The moment to seal the deal was upon them, and she must help Mr. Shen give the handbag away.


    "But..."


    "No buts, take it. Don''t feel embarrassed, after all, I will be bothering you with a lot of car-related matters in the future."


    As Shen Yuan spoke, he took the handbag from Alisa''s hands and stuffed it into Chen Na''s.


    Just accept it, sister. With you getting a 40,000 Prada bag, and me earning a clean 80,000, this is a win-win!


    "Shen Yuan..."


    Chen Na looked at the handbag in her hands, hesitating, wanting to decline, but Shen Yuan put on a stern face and said, "Don''t refuse, okay? If you refuse again, I''ll be upset, and even Miss Alisa here will be displeased."


    After much internal struggle, Chen Na eventually couldn''t resist the temptation of the Prada, and nodded, saying, "Okay, then... alright."


    "Good, let''s swipe the card and issue the invoice!"


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but clap.


    "Of course, Mr. Shen!"


    And deep down, Alisa was overjoyed, immediately running to the cashier to grab the POS machine.


    Today was Monday, and there wasn''t much foot traffic. She hadn''t made any sales yet, but thankfully, Mr. Shen, the big spender, came by to patronize their business.


    Julia, not far off, seeing that they had already made the sale so quickly, was almost green with regret. That customer should have been hers...


    Alisa was very efficient, and quickly processed Shen Yuan''s card payment and issued the receipt. In a little while, Shen Yuan''s phone also received a message about the cashback being credited.


    [China Construction Bank]Your card ending with 0098 received an income of 119,400 yuan on May 16 at 16:44, current balance is 2,201,956.


    Looking at the credit alert, Shen Yuan''s lips curled slightly upwards. With these 2.2 million in his account, even subtracting the dedicated funds for the car and that 300,000 investment, he still had about 1 million at his disposal.


    He never expected life could change so fast¡ªin just one week from having only a little over a hundred yuan in living expenses to becoming a small millionaire with savings of a million.


    System is awesome!


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but exclaim internally, thinking that he should continue to execute the "bloom everywhere" strategy.


    Girls like Chen Na and Fang Minhui, who were both beautiful and helped him explode cashback, the more the better!


    Five minutes later, Shen Yuan and Chen Na stepped out of the Prada boutique, and Shen Yuan suggested, "It''s almost lunchtime, shall we go to the fifth floor for a meal?"


    "Alright."


    Chen Na nodded, following Shen Yuan''s lead.


    Although she had accepted the bag, she still felt somewhat uneasy inside.


    In her many years as a saleswoman, she had encountered too many male customers who coveted her, some of whom had given her flowers and gifts.


    So she understood very well that Mr. Shen must have had some thoughts about her. Even though he hadn''t said anything, it definitely couldn''t just be a simple expression of gratitude.


    But the key point was that Mr. Shen had a girlfriend.


    Wasn''t that young beauty who came with him to buy the car his girlfriend?


    If he didn''t have a girlfriend, Chen Na might have seriously considered it, after all, not only was Mr. Shen wealthy, he also met her criteria for a partner in terms of appearance and personality.


    At this moment, she was also somewhat troubled internally. If Mr. Shen made some kind of request later, she wondered how she should refuse.


    Had she not accepted the bag, it would have been fine, but now that she had accepted this 40,000 yuan Prada, she didn''t know how she would even begin to speak later...


    Mr. Shen, at this moment, was immersed in the joy of a small profit and couldn''t imagine the complexities within Chen Na''s mind. After coming to the fifth floor and looking around a bit, they eventually chose a Hong Kong-style tea restaurant.


    Guided enthusiastically by the waiter, Mr. Shen and Chen Na found a window-side seat and sat down. Not long after ordering, Mr. Shen felt a sudden urge to urinate, so he stood up and said, "I''ll go to the restroom first."


    "Sure, go ahead."


    ...


    At this time, outside the tea restaurant, General Manager Zeng Xianyong of the Land Rover dealership was bringing the sales manager and after-sales manager to find a restaurant to eat at.


    This had become a routine for General Manager Zeng; after each meeting at IFC Mall, he would treat these two subordinates to a meal and see if they had grasped any of the meeting''s essence, while also laying out the store''s business strategies and overall direction.


    However, General Manager Zeng was indeed somewhat hungry now; he hadn''t eaten much at noon, and given his rather corpulent figure, he had a bigger appetite than most, causing him to get hungry faster.


    As the three of them were passing the Hong Kong-style tea restaurant, General Manager Zeng''s eyes suddenly stopped because he saw their saleswoman, Chen Na, through the glass.


    Why was she here? And still in her work uniform?


    General Manager Zeng remembered seeing Chen Na in the store that morning, so he was surprised to find her here now.


    When he saw that Chen Na was sitting by herself, a realization seemed to dawn on him. His fleshy face twitched, and he gestured to his subordinates, "You two go find somewhere else to eat today, I''ve got something else to do."


    The two subordinates were initially stunned, failing to grasp what had just happened. But after following General Manager Zeng''s gaze, they suddenly came to an understanding.


    The two exchanged a knowing smile without saying much.


    General Manager Zeng''s notorious escapades in the store were hardly a secret anymore, but there was nothing they could do about it, as he was the boss and the entire store had to listen to him.


    After all, there were no female family members of theirs in the store; it wasn''t their place to manage whatever General Manager Zeng chose to do.


    They still had to make a living under General Manager Zeng, after all.


    "General Manager Zeng, we''ll be taking our leave then."


    After bidding farewell to General Manager Zeng, the two didn''t plan on eating at IFC Mall, since dining here wasn''t cheap. Without General Manager Zeng treating them, it wasn''t worth the expense.


    They simply turned back the way they came, waiting for the elevator at the elevator bank, the sales manager joked, "Do you think Chen Na will say yes to General Manager Zeng?"


    The after-sales manager shook his head, "I don''t think so, Chen Na doesn''t seem like that kind of person."


    The sales manager gave a knowing smirk that all men would understand, "That''s hard to say. Think about it, which girl would come out to eat alone? And she just so happened to choose IFC Mall."


    The after-sales manager''s breath slowed, "You mean...."


    Just then, the elevator doors opened. As the sales manager and after-sales manager stepped inside, the sales manager continued, "Exactly, maybe Chen Na is here to create a chance encounter, intentionally letting General Manager Zeng find her."


    "So that''s how it is, Chen Na always seemed so proper, I didn''t expect that..."


    Meanwhile, Chen Na''s "ex" boyfriend Xie Haijie had also just finished a meeting. He came out to eat with the store''s leadership and happened to walk out of the elevator just as they mentioned "Chen Na''s" name. He instinctively perked up his ears.


    After clearly hearing their conversation, Xie Haijie''s eyelids twitched and he couldn''t help but turn to look. Just as the elevator was about to close, he saw that both men were wearing Land Rover dealership uniforms.


    ????


    Chen Na creating a chance encounter?


    With whom?


    ...

 Chapter 40 What is this famous scene?

    "Chen Na, what a coincidence, you''re also eating here?"


    As Chen Na scrolled through Xiaohongshu, a surprised voice suddenly came from behind her, and it sounded somewhat familiar.


    She instinctively turned her head and, upon seeing the pot-bellied man who had approached, Chen Na couldn''t help but frown.


    This was the restaurant''s general manager who often harassed her, Zeng Xianyong.


    Zeng Xianyong looked at Chen Na with a smile on his face, "Alone? Would you mind if I join you?"


    Although Zeng Xianyong asked politely, he didn''t wait for Chen Na to reply and sat down directly opposite her.


    "Sorry, I''ve made plans. I''m dining with a friend."


    Chen Na replied coldly, her tone filled with distance.


    She knew that the colder she was to men like this, the sooner they would back off.


    But to her surprise, Zeng Xianyong actually seemed to enjoy this kind of treatment.


    Women, don''t they all like playing hard to get?


    Any man with a bit of experience would understand.


    Zeng Xianyong''s smile grew more excited, and his gaze swept unrestrainedly over Chen Na''s shapely figure.


    That figure was simply top-notch. How wonderful it would be to roll around in the sheets with her.


    The women he had been with before couldn''t compare to Chen Na.


    But he also knew that the more beautiful and shapely a woman was, the harder she was to get, and he was willing to spend more time and effort to win her over.


    "Chen Na, don''t be like that. I am, after all, your boss''s boss. Shouldn''t you at least show me the respect I deserve?"


    Chen Na, facing Zeng Xianyong''s lecherous gaze, felt slightly nauseous but tried to keep her tone steady, "Sorry, I have already shown the respect due. Please maintain a proper distance from me."


    "Moreover, you''re married. You shouldn''t be doing this."


    "Oh, so you''re concerned about me being married. That''s easy to deal with. I can just get a divorce if that''s the issue."


    Zeng Xianyong had dealt with this objection many times before. If a girl cared about that, he''d let her know he could divorce for her.


    But when to actually divorce would be his business.


    It wasn''t as if he would really get a divorce; after all, a divorce would mean dividing his properties, which wouldn''t be worth it.


    To keep the home flag flying while playing with new flags outside was his ultimate goal.


    Chen Na was left speechless, underestimating the thickness of Zeng Xianyong''s skin; he could even utter the words about divorcing his wife for her.


    That''s when Zeng Xianyong noticed the Prada shopping bag next to Chen Na''s seat and pointed at it, "This bag wasn''t cheap, was it? Your yearly salary isn''t much. How much could you have left after spending tens of thousands on a bag?"


    "But if you were with me, I wouldn''t mind buying you one every month."


    Zeng Xianyong said confidently.


    He was the general manager of a Land Rover 4S shop, and with his yearly salary plus bonuses, he made nearly seven or eight hundred thousand. Then there were the extra earnings from the shop; making over a million a year wasn''t an issue for him.


    So even spending twenty to thirty thousand a month on a woman wouldn''t be a burden to him.


    Especially for someone as outstanding as Chen Na, he would willingly spend a bit more.


    Meanwhile, outside the tea restaurant, Xie Haijie was feeling uneasy, darting around like a mad dog.


    Yet after searching several restaurants, he couldn''t see her anywhere.


    He had heard clearly earlier; Chen Na was creating a chance encounter with another man.


    He couldn''t figure out what he was lacking. Chen Na had broken up with him to throw herself at another man?


    Looking down on me?


    But at least I am a sales manager, earning an annual salary of four to five hundred thousand and driving a car worth over three hundred thousand. Where am I lacking?!


    And Chen Na, a mere low-level salesperson, barely making ten thousand a month, what right does she have to look down on me?


    Finally, Xie Haijie saw Chen Na through the glass of a tea restaurant, but to his shock, there was a greasy, pot-bellied man sitting across from her?


    Xie Haijie scoffed in his heart. Chen Na was actually throwing herself at this dead fat pig. It was utterly laughable!


    He couldn''t believe he had lost to such a man.


    Holding the intent to expose Chen Na''s true face, Xie Haijie entered the tea restaurant and roared at them, "You two adulterers, so you''ve been cheating behind my back?!"


    The tea restaurant was quite empty and therefore quiet, so the sudden shout drew the curious gazes of diners and waitstaff alike.


    Zeng Xianyong, who was busy seducing, was also startled by this sudden roar.


    He instinctively looked over and saw a man seething with anger.


    "Who are you?"


    Zeng Xianyong was actually so scared that he felt like swearing, but he was also somewhat guilty. Combining this man''s tone and the words he''d just said, he thought that this man couldn''t possibly be Chen Na''s boyfriend, could he?


    But he seemed to have never heard that Chen Na had a partner.


    "I still fucking want to ask who you are!"


    Xie Haijie angrily retorted, then looked towards Chen Na, "You tell me, who is this guy?"


    Chen Na had been startled too, but now that she had come to her senses, she also found it somewhat absurd. She had plainly broken up with Xie Haijie, so why was he still acting so self-righteous?


    It was as if he were catching an adulterer!


    "What does it matter to you who he is?"


    Chen Na had no positive feelings towards Xie Haijie anymore; those words he had said at the last dinner, combined with his subsequent behavior, made her think he was not a man worth entrusting her life to.


    To put it simply, he was just hopeless!


    "No wonder you''re not replying to my messages; turns out you found yourself such a fat pig, huh."


    Xie Haijie burst out laughing in extreme anger, "I don''t get it, don''t you feel disgusted being squashed under this kind of 200-pound fat pig in bed?"


    Zeng Xianyong couldn''t listen anymore and stood up, saying, "Mind your language. What''s all this about a fat pig?"


    "And besides, Nana already said it, it''s none of your business, so what are you barking here for?"


    Zeng Xianyong was also getting irritated, being unexpectedly berated head-on by a person who was meaningless to him.


    Especially since Chen Na had said that it had nothing to do with him.


    Chen Na tried hard to suppress her feelings, speaking in a calm tone, "Xie Haijie, please be rational now. First of all, we are no longer in a relationship, and secondly, even if we were in a relationship, you would have no right to interfere with whom I eat with."


    "Can you please leave now?"


    "I should leave?"


    Xie Haijie was about to continue his tirade when he inadvertently glanced at the Prada shopping bag beside Chen Na''s seat, and he suddenly understood more, sneeringly said:


    "So that''s it, huh? You look down on the Coach I bought you for a few thousand and choose a Prada worth tens of thousands?"


    "I never thought you were the kind of woman who''s greedy for money. I really misjudged you!"


    At this point, Zeng Xianyong felt the need to clarify, "That Prada wasn''t from me."


    "Heh."


    Xie Haijie became even more contemptuous, "Dare to do but not to admit? Are you fucking even a man?"


    Zeng Xianyong thought there was really something wrong with this man''s brain, "No, can you speak properly, without swearing all the time?"


    Xie Haijie, being furious, would have lashed out at anyone, even if it was the emperor of heaven. He pointed at Zeng Xianyong''s nose and cursed, "I''m talking about you, you dead fat pig, you''re not a man!


    "Dare! To! Do! But! Not! To!


    Admit!"


    Zeng Xianyong got sprayed in the face by Xie Haijie, and he wiped off the saliva with a sweep of his hand, "Are you fucking sick or what?"


    "You''re the one who''s sick, your whole family''s sick!"


    Zeng Xianyong started pushing Xie Haijie out, "Get out of here fast, if you don''t leave I''m gonna call the police!"


    "Don''t you touch me!"


    "Who''s touching you, you know you''re preventing us from eating, you''re disturbing the public order here, understand?"


    "You fucking push me again?!"


    The two were arguing and shoving each other when it suddenly escalated into a physical fight.


    Zeng Xianyong grabbed Xie Haijie by the collar and tried to drag him out, while Xie Haijie countered with an elbow, nearly causing the cumbersome Zeng Xianyong to stumble.


    "You''re fucking hitting me, aren''t you?!"


    "It''s your damn fault for starting it!"


    They entangled once more; the fight between adults was unskillful, and after a few punches and kicks, they began wrestling on the floor.


    The waitstaff in the restaurant were all shocked by the scene, even the chefs ran out to watch the commotion, uncertain whether they should call the police.


    Chen Na was dumbfounded, not expecting the two men to actually start fighting, and for a while, she wasn''t sure whether to try and intervene. Yet, as a frail woman, there was not much she could stop.


    And poor Shen Yuan, who was completely unaware of what was happening, having just come back from using the restroom, took a wrong turn as mall restrooms are not usually located inside the restaurant, which delayed him quite a bit.


    But when he saw two men fighting on the ground at the entrance of the restaurant, Shen Yuan was utterly stunned.


    What the hell kind of scene was this?


    ...

 Chapter 41 Go Resign

    Not only that, Shen Yuan also discovered that one of the men fighting on the ground was actually Xie Haijie, who had mocked him at the dinner party.


    That was Chen Na''s boyfriend.


    Chen Na was standing by in a panic, unsure of what to do.


    An involuntary thought appeared in Shen Yuan''s mind, could it be that Xie Haijie had come to catch a cheater?


    Nowadays, society operates under the rule of law, and people are generally rational, not resorting to physical fights easily.


    Such scenes were only seen in videos, and in most videos, it was usually the faithful spouse catching the mistress.


    People generally lost their rationality and resorted to physical violence only if their partner cheated on them.


    The scene looked exactly like Chen Na was fooling around, and after Xie Haijie detected some clues, he followed her here and discovered her dining with another man, which led him to physically confront the man in anger.


    Thinking about all this made Shen Yuan''s back chill, if it weren''t for this obese man acting as a scapegoat, wouldn''t he be the one lying on the ground?


    However, this obese man''s fighting ability was really low, you weigh over two hundred jin, yet you''re evenly matched with someone half your weight?


    Shen Yuan felt embarrassed for him, but then he noticed some passing pedestrians starting to take out their phones and record videos.


    Usually, in such situations, while everyone else enjoys the spectacle, they don''t forget to share it with their relatives and friends for a laugh.


    Shen Yuan didn''t want Chen Na to be filmed, as it could easily lead to cyberbullying.


    Nowadays, the internet is filled with malice, and even without understanding the facts, people could invent a thrilling adultery-catching drama based on what they saw in the videos, and start attacking with their keyboards.


    Therefore, while the two were still fighting on the ground, Shen Yuan quickly took Chen Na''s hand and headed outside, not forgetting to grab the Prada bag as well.


    "Let''s leave this place."


    It was Chen Na''s first time in such a situation, her mind a blank, unsure of how to handle it, so she just followed Shen Yuan out of the restaurant.


    After taking the elevator to the ground floor, Chen Na took a few deep breaths and slowly calmed down, then began explaining the cause of the situation to Shen Yuan.


    After hearing her, Shen Yuan also felt a sense of relief akin to having survived a disaster, if he hadn''t gone to the restroom just in time, he might have been the one caught "in the act of cheating" by Xie Haijie.


    But, in the end, it was Xianyong''s overly libidinous behavior that got him beaten, had he not been oversexed, he wouldn''t have been hit.


    Additionally, Xie Haijie was also not really thinking straight. Even though Chen Na had already broken up with him, he still couldn''t adjust his own status.


    "Actually, I had only been with Xie Haijie for half a month, and I learned about his bad character at that dinner."


    Chen Na added another sentence.


    She didn''t know why, but compared to worrying about those two men fighting over her, she was more concerned that Shen Yuan might think less of her.


    After all, to the uninformed, it might seem like she was the kind of promiscuous woman who played several men at once.


    Shen Yuan gave a faint smile and comforted her, "It''s good that you found out his true colors early. Thankfully you were only with him for half a month."


    "Everything is over now."


    Chen Na hung her head in dejection and shook her head, "It''s not over yet, Xianyong is the general manager of our store, essentially my boss, and now that he has been beaten for no reason, who knows how he will retaliate against me later."


    Thinking of Xianyong''s obese body and sleazy expression, Chen Na felt disgusted, yet, ironically, he was still her boss, and she would have to face Xianyong at work.


    Shen Yuan thought for a moment and said, "A boss like that isn''t worth working for, just change your job."


    "Ah~ it''s not so easy to find a job these days. Starting over at a new place means all the clients I''ve built up over these years at Range Rover would be lost."


    Chen Na sighed softly, feeling an indescribable sense of loss in her heart.


    Sales tend to fatigue people over time, and she had always wanted to switch industries.


    To have more flexible time, a more relaxed job.


    For instance, opening a quaint small coffee shop, operating 6-8 hours per day, serving a fixed number of customers.


    On good days, she might stay open a bit longer, and on bad days, she could close early.


    If something came up, she might not open for the whole day.


    As they chatted, they suddenly passed by a retro-style coffee shop where only a few people were quietly sitting and drinking coffee, and the apron-wearing proprietor was wiping the bar and chairs, her face adorned with a faint smile.


    This was the peaceful life that Chen Na had hoped for, without too many lofty ambitions, not needing to earn too much money, having something to do every day, but not too busy.


    When she felt upset, she could also properly let herself stop.


    But Shen Yuan noticed Chen Na was somewhat lost in thought and followed her gaze, only to find her admiringly looking at that coffee shop.


    "Do you want to open a coffee shop?"


    Instantly, Shen Yuan understood what Chen Na was thinking. Many women actually have a little bourgeois sentiment, and today''s events just furthered this idea.


    Chen Na didn''t deny it, "Yes, but opening a coffee shop costs three to four hundred thousand, and I haven''t saved enough money."


    The dreams were rich, but reality was harsh. Chen Na still distinguished this clearly; her current savings made the thought of opening a coffee shop seem like an impossible dream.


    "What if someone was willing to invest in you opening a coffee shop?"


    Shen Yuan asked.


    He still had three hundred thousand exclusively for investment, worried about not having a place to invest.


    Chen Na thought Shen Yuan was joking to make her happy and laughed, "If someone is willing to invest, I would immediately resign to work for him, without the slightest hesitation."


    "Alright, then resign tomorrow."


    "Huh?"


    Chen Na''s expression froze, and she turned to look at Shen Yuan, her eyes full of confusion.


    Shen Yuan smiled and said, "I said you should resign. I''ll invest 300,000 in your coffee shop, and then you can work for me."


    Actually, businesses like coffee shops or milk tea shops seem to have low barriers to entry, as if anyone could start one.


    But precisely because the barrier is low, the competition is fierce, and it''s easy to lose money.


    The problem is, the market is already saturated, with each brand having formed its own ecosystem with a stable customer base.


    For example, Starbucks, Luckin Coffee, and Cotti, who also wants a slice of the pie.


    Luckin Coffee, to expand its market, slashed its previous thirty-four yuan cup of coffee to just nine yuan, turning what was once a bourgeois coffee into a commoner''s drink.


    And those non-branded small coffee shops simply can''t compete, neither attaining the high-end quality nor the deep-rooted appeal of Starbucks, and definitely unable to compete with the cost and raw materials against firms like Luckin Coffee, which have been financed several rounds.


    So, opening a coffee shop and competing with these giants is, to put it exaggeratedly, a deadly gamble.


    However, all of this was no problem in Shen Yuan''s eyes.


    After all, he was the chosen son of the mighty System!


    Even if Chen Na couldn''t maintain the costs, as long as she kept a certain level of revenue, Shen Yuan could profit with the system''s double cashback.


    "No way, Shen Yuan, are you joking?"


    Chen Na''s expression was astonished, somewhat disbelieving.


    Although she had seen Shen Yuan spend money like water, today he even bought her a bag worth more than 40,000.


    But this was 300,000!


    Without understanding the specifics, to just throw in the money?


    Moreover, they had known each other for how long? After just three meetings, Shen Yuan was ready to spend 300,000 on her?


    Three hundred thousand was close to her three years'' worth of wages from her job.


    "I''m serious. Well, don''t you want to work for me?"


    Shen Yuan said with a smile, "Once the coffee shop is up and running, I''ll pay you a salary of twelve thousand, plus bonuses; if it keeps running for three months, I''ll also gift you a car worth two hundred thousand. Your old Fit is too outdated; it''s time for a new car."


    "This..."

 Chapter 42 Drinking Cold Beverages Tonight?

    Facing the series of conditions presented by Shen Yuan, Chen Na was greatly shocked.


    Having worked at the Land Rover dealership for many years, she would make up to twenty thousand a month when business was good, but only a few thousand during slow months, making her income quite unstable.


    Now, Shen Yuan was offering her a basic salary of twelve thousand.


    Although this was roughly the same as her previous earnings, managing a coffee shop required much less energy compared to sales and had no pressure to meet sales targets.


    This was just the base salary, not including a car, and working for him for three months would even come with a car worth two hundred thousand.


    With this, her annual income would just exceed three hundred thousand...


    The critical point was that Shen Yuan made no specific demands regarding the profitability of the store. Could it be that the world of the wealthy was so simple and unadorned?


    At that moment, Chen Na suddenly thought of a frightening possibility.


    Could Shen Yuan be planning to keep me as a mistress?


    "Shen Yuan, you shouldn''t do this for me. It''s not worth it."


    Enjoy new adventures from empire


    After understanding the reason, Chen Na shook her head. Though the conditions were indeed tempting and required no struggle on her part, she did not want to be someone else''s caged canary.


    Having received more than a decade of education, Chen Na felt this was unethical, especially in the role of a third party.


    "Don''t think too much. I''m planning to open a chain of coffee shops, and this one is intended as a pilot project, so our relationship is purely that of employer and employee."


    Shen Yuan had also guessed what Chen Na was thinking. Although he indeed hoped for some unspeakable encounters with Chen Na, his main goal was still to fulfill the task and earn a double cashback.


    "I see...."


    "Let me think it over."


    Chen Na did not immediately agree. The idea of opening a chain of coffee shops did seem credible, but her instincts told her that it wasn''t that simple.


    After all, Shen Yuan could invest in anyone; why specifically invest in her?


    And even if he did want her to work for him, offering such a salary was one thing, but why also give her a car?


    She planned to go home and ponder carefully on this, and also to share the issue with her best friend to hear her opinion.


    "No problem, please give me an answer as soon as you have considered it."


    Shen Yuan was not in a hurry. If Chen Na was unwilling, he could invest the three hundred thousand elsewhere.


    "Mhm."


    Chen Na nodded, then suggested, "Let me treat you to a meal today. I feel somewhat sorry about how things turned out, plus you bought me a bag today, so I should thank you."


    "Sure, I''ll give you a chance to treat me."


    Shen Yuan had no objections. This sort of mutual dining, where one person treats the other, would give Shen Yuan better pretexts to ask Chen Na out in the future.


    Like, "Last time you treated me to a meal, this time let me treat you in return, so we''re even."


    Or, "Last time I took advantage of you, this time let me give you a chance to get back at me."


    "Haha, sure."


    Chen Na was also amused. Even though she was the one inviting him, his tone and the phrase "I''ll give you a chance" made it sound as though it was she who couldn''t get enough of him.


    .....


    At that moment, on the fifth floor of the IFC Mall in the Hong Kong-style tea restaurant, under the persuasion of the staff, Zeng Xianyong and Xie Haijie were finally separated.


    Compared to their initial urban elite appearance upon entering the restaurant, both men now looked somewhat disheveled.


    Xie Haijie was still cursing and swearing. His face was somewhat swollen, probably from the punches he had just received, and his shirt and trousers were wrinkled from the scuffle.


    Zeng Xianyong, being sturdily built and robust, only had a few bloodstains on his face, but no other visible injuries.


    But his current appearance was far from presentable; his shirt sleeve had been ripped off by Xie Haijie during their fight, making him look like a fat monk in a robe.


    Zeng Xianyong wiped his face and was surprised to find traces of blood on his hand. He wanted to curse some more, but seeing the other guy''s face wasn''t in much better shape, he felt a bit better instantly.


    "Look, brother, I have no quarrel with you, and I just bumped into Chen Na at this restaurant today. Why are you so worked up?"


    Being the older of the two, Zeng Xianyong was the first to regain his composure, regretting having resorted to violence.


    How old are you still fighting? Can fighting solve any problems?!


    "Why am I worked up? You''re hitting on my girl; how can I not be?"


    Xie Haijie was still angry. If it weren''t for the crowd around, he would''ve gladly taken another round with this fatso, except the guy bled too much, which put him at a disadvantage.


    Zeng Xianyong admitted honestly, "To tell you the truth, I did have some designs on her, but she already turned me down just now."


    "Turned you down?"


    Xie Haijie scoffed coldly, "If she rejected you, she wouldn''t have accepted that Prada bag."


    "That Prada really wasn''t from me. I noticed the bag when I entered the restaurant. You don''t believe me, look at my spending today."


    Zeng Xianyong also felt wronged, having been beaten up for no good reason, so he decided to pull out his phone to prove his innocence.


    Seeing that Zeng Xianyong didn''t seem to be joking, Xie Haijie leaned over and saw indeed there were no spending records on WeChat and his card. Though records could be deleted, Zeng Xianyong didn''t look like he was lying.


    Since it had escalated this far, Zeng Xianyong could have just admitted it.


    By now, Xie Haijie had gradually calmed down, and he also noticed that Chen Na was no longer in the restaurant, probably having left straightaway.


    Xie Haijie suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. Damn it, did he really attack the wrong person?


    A cautious waiter approached them and tentatively asked, "Um, gentlemen, all the dishes are served. Would you like to finish your meal before paying, or pay now?"


    Xie Haijie and Zeng Xianyong looked at each other, both remaining silent...


    ...


    ...


    Meanwhile, Chen Na took Shen Yuan to a special Hunan cuisine restaurant. Being a Hunan girl herself, she particularly enjoyed spicy food, and Shen Yuan, hailing from Star City, also preferred his meals spicy.


    During the meal, Chen Na also received a WeChat from Xie Haijie, rambling about whether there had been a misunderstanding. Chen Na didn''t even respond and just blocked him.


    What kind of person was he? She had already nothing to do with him, yet he stormed in the afternoon like it was a raid!


    And to top it off, he had to start a fight like a child!


    After a satisfying meal, Chen Na dropped Shen Yuan at the east gate of the International campus and then headed back to her apartment.


    Just as Shen Yuan got off his Honda, he received a WeChat from Fang Minhui.


    "Shen Yuan, are you free tonight? If you are, can we go out for a cold drink...."


    Seeing this message, Shen Yuan was startled, a cold drink?


    It took him a while to respond.


    Hang on, is class belle that popular all of a sudden? He hadn''t seen her act like this when he was with Zhou Wanting.


    They say men peak between 20-30, and women usually only peak after 30. How did Fang Minhui get to this stage earlier?


    Thinking of the class belle''s smooth and lovely figure, as a man, Shen Yuan couldn''t help but feel a warm surge in his belly.


    Damn, this thing doesn''t obey orders!


    "Well, drinking is fine, but we should control the frequency a bit..."


    "..."

 Chapter 43 Ruthless

    An hour later, Shen Yuan and Fang Minhui appeared once again at the reception desk of the Grand Regal Hotel.


    After handing over his ID card, Shen Yuan couldn''t help but steal a few glances at Fang Minhui.


    Today, she wore a gray suspender tank top, revealing large expanses of her snow-white skin at the chest and back, while the lower half of her body was clad in a pleated mini skirt of the same color palette.


    Which decent man could withstand this?


    Ah~ it seems that today my little brother is going to suffer again.


    Shen Yuan inwardly sighed.


    The receptionist was a middle-aged woman in her forties who quietly sized up the young couple.


    She remembered seeing them two days ago, and here they were again tonight. How come these young guys are so fiery nowadays?


    As she helped them check in, she marveled inwardly, Ah, to be young!


    Alas~~ it''s a pity that my hubby''s an old ox and just doesn''t cut it anymore, let alone twice or thrice in a few days, even once a week is a stretch.


    The room number was still 808. No sooner had Shen Yuan swiped the card to enter the room than Fang Minhui couldn''t resist hugging him from behind, murmuring softly in his ear, "Shen Yuan, I''ve missed you....."


    Ever since experiencing that night, Fang Minhui felt as though she''d unlocked the door to a new world.


    She never imagined this sort of thing could be so wonderful, spending nights tossing and turning in bed reminiscing.


    But reminiscing, after all, can never compare to the real deal, so she took the initiative to invite Shen Yuan over tonight.


    She had some regrets sending that WeChat message at first, worrying it might give Shen Yuan the impression that she was loose.


    But once the two were in the same room, Fang Minhui immediately let go of her worries, because the sensation was simply too marvelous!


    Shen Yuan''s back was suddenly pressed against by two soft spots, resulting in instant transformation in the area below his abdomen.


    Shen Yuan couldn''t stay calm any longer, wanting to turn around and take the offensive, but Fang Minhui loosened her grip at that moment, inspecting Shen Yuan, "Shen Yuan, why do I smell another woman''s perfume on you?"


    "Ah? That can''t be."


    Shen Yuan sniffed himself but couldn''t pick out any particular scent.


    Could it be because he rode in Chen Na''s car to and from the place today, thus catching her perfume scent?


    "It''s definitely there!"


    Fang Minhui stamped her foot dissatisfied, "Tell me, have you been seeing other women behind my back?"


    "How could that be, I only have you."


    Shen Yuan firmly denied it, then paused before adding, "But I did go to the Land Rover dealership today to deal with the car paperwork, so I might have picked up some other girls'' perfume scent."


    "You know, the female sales staff there tend to wear stronger perfume."


    Shen Yuan said this without a blush or a skip of a heartbeat.


    Fang Minhui asked suspiciously, "Really?"


    Shen Yuan with a face full of righteousness, "Why would I lie to you?!"


    "Okay, but next time you go to see other girls, you better tell me first."


    After stating this, Fang Minhui remembered the vixen at the Land Rover dealership that day and still felt somewhat uneasy: "You need to keep your distance from that saleswoman, got it?"


    "Of course."


    At this point, it was out of the question to expect any denial from Shen Yuan.


    It wasn''t about him being fickle.


    Mainly because Shen Yuan relied on earning rebates from spending on behalf of the opposite sex to make money, he certainly couldn''t hedge all his bets on one person.


    Just as his mood was rising, interrupted by Fang Minhui, Shen Yuan actually wanted to head to the shower first, but as soon as he was about to walk into the bathroom, Fang Minhui clung to him like a kitten.


    "Let''s wait a bit to shower...."


    "I need to wash, I smell."


    "I like the natural scent...." Fang Minhui hugged Shen Yuan, coquettishly said.


    Shen Yuan was taken aback, isn''t that line supposed to be mine?


    In the following time, it was like a dry tinder meeting a fierce flame, igniting instantly.


    ......


    Thirty minutes later, after their exercise, Shen Yuan stood up from the bed, ready to take a shower, but as he took his first step, his legs felt light, and he almost lost his balance.


    Looking back, Fang Minhui was curled up under the covers, her delicate face flushed, and her eyes languid and lost.


    Continuing this way, he''d truly be drained dry by this enchantress!


    However, Shen Yuan suddenly noticed that the Feel-good Index above Fang Minhui''s head seemed to have changed.


    [Feel-good Index: 90]


    After that night, the Feel-good Index had risen to 86, and this time, it had shot up directly to 90.


    Damn, does this kind of exercise boost the Feel-good Index so much?


    [Ding!]


    [Detected that the host now has an opposite-sex individual with a Feel-good Index above 90, stage Feel-good Index mission accomplished, award issuance pending.....]


    The panel suddenly appeared before his eyes, and Shen Yuan stared at the text, momentarily stunned¡ªthere''s a reward for raising the Feel-good Index to 90?


    As he pondered, three little red dots appeared in the backpack area at the bottom right corner of the panel.


    Immediately curious, Shen Yuan clicked into the backpack and found three vouchers, clicking on the first one right away.


    [One million prize money lottery ticket*1]


    Wow!


    It was a lottery ticket, and one that could be cashed in for a million in prize money?!


    Shen Yuan didn''t expect the System to give him such a reward.


    If that was the case, he could actually use it to pay off his family''s debts.


    Shen Yuan immediately thought of this possibility.


    He had always been eager to solve his family''s financial problems; although he had money on him, it was tricky to explain where it came from. Now that he had a lottery ticket he could cash, it would make things much easier!


    System rocks!


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but exclaim in admiration, then he clicked on the next voucher.


    [One million spending money*1]


    This should mean that as soon as it''s used, one million would be transferred directly into his account.


    Compared to the lottery ticket, this didn''t cause much of a stir in Shen Yuan''s heart, since he already had quite a bit of money in his account.


    Shen Yuan continued and clicked on the next one.


    [Unfeeling Love-making Ability*1]


    ???


    Seeing this voucher, Shen Yuan was taken aback for a moment. What the heck is this?


    However, as an avid internet surfer, he caught on in the next second.


    Shen Yuan involuntarily swallowed, never having thought this kind of ability could be enhanced.


    With this ability, couldn''t he conquer left and right in the future?


    He couldn''t help but glance back at Fang Minhui lying on the bed.


    Sorry, Minhui, but your lord is about to rise!


    It won''t be you squeezing me in the future, but me squeezing you! Experience exclusive tales on empire


    Shen Yuan decided to try out this voucher first to see how it worked, and so he clicked "Use".


    The next moment, a subtle change occurred in Shen Yuan''s body.


    First, his legs instantly stopped feeling weak, regaining their vigor, and he even felt they were more nimble and agile than before¡ªthe sensation of lightly floating when he stepped on the ground.


    His waist and abdomen also underwent a significant change; not only did the flesh on his stomach tighten up, but the abs became increasingly prominent.


    In summary, Shen Yuan felt that there was not a hint of the exhaustion from the recent passionate encounter left in him; on the contrary, his body was full of strength.


    Awesome!


    This reward for an opposite-sex Feel-good Index higher than 90 was too rich!


    It seems the System really tailors the rewards to what''s needed.


    Shen Yuan suddenly looked forward to the next explosive reward.


    He wondered when the next female with a Feel-good Index above 90 would appear.


    In Shen Yuan''s mind, the image of Lih Xiao, the counselor, involuntarily surfaced. Her Feel-good Index with him had also surpassed 60, but to develop to the extent of Fang Minhui''s, there was a long road ahead.


    Another was Chen Na whom he''d met today, with long legs in black stockings, whose Feel-good Index also exceeded 60. From the looks of it, that also required gradual progress.


    Shen Yuan reviewed the opposite-sex individuals with a Feel-good Index over 60 in his head, and aside from these two, there was only Fang Minhui on the bed.


    The rest would have to be eagerly developed!

 Chapter 44 Stronger!

    On the other hand, Chen Na returned to her own apartment.


    She had worked only half a day today, and in the afternoon, she had gone shopping and dining with Shen Yuan. Then, she encountered the farce involving Zeng Xianyong and Xie Haijie, which left her feeling somewhat exhausted by the end of the day.


    However, there was still something to be happy about, and that was the Prada Shen Yuan had bought for her today.


    Chen Na, filled with anticipation, opened the Prada shopping bag and took out the purse.


    She hadn''t looked closely at it in the store, and she was with Shen Yuan all afternoon, so she felt a bit embarrassed to open it right away.


    But now that she was back in her own cozy home, she didn''t have to worry about others'' opinions.


    After all, this was the handbag she had been coveting for a long time!


    However, before she could admire it for a few minutes, her phone rang, and Chen Na instinctively picked it up, finding that it was her best friend Qianqian calling.


    Qianqian was her long-time best friend; the two had been close since junior high and had more than a decade of friendship between them.


    Furthermore, both were car saleswomen, except Qianqian worked for Ferrari and she for Land Rover.


    "Hello, Nana, what are you up to?"


    A lazy female voice came from the other end of the phone.


    "Just got home. What''s up?"


    "I missed you, so I thought I''d give you a call and chat."


    "Perfect timing¡ªI''ve got some things I want to hear your opinion on too."


    Chen Na thought of what Shen Yuan had proposed to her that afternoon and planned to get some advice from her best friend.


    "What is it?"


    "A guy said he''d invest 300,000 yuan to help me open a store, and he''d even pay me a salary of 12,000 yuan, plus after three months, he''d give me a car worth 200,000 yuan. Do you think he wants to keep me as his mistress? But he has already..."


    "Nana, you haven''t been conned, have you?"


    Qianqian interrupted Chen Na abruptly. Her first thought was of this possibility, considering the amount of fraud out there these days one had to be cautious.


    Moreover, nowadays, scammers'' tactics are very cunning, and people around Qianqian had fallen for them before.


    Nana was so attractive; she might end up getting tricked out of both her money and her looks.


    Chen Na shook her head, "That won''t happen, I''ve met him a few times, and last time he bought a Defender from me. Today, he even bought me a 40,000 yuan Prada."


    "What the hell!"


    Qianqian was jolted awake on the other end, suddenly perking up: "He just went and bought you a 40,000 yuan bag? He''s that rich?"


    "How old is he? I remember the people who buy Land Rovers are usually middle-aged men."


    Qianqian immediately dismissed her previous suspicion, considering that anyone who could buy a Defender, which was close to a million yuan, couldn''t be a scammer. Especially since the man Nana spoke of had also bought her a 40,000 yuan handbag.


    "He''s only twenty-one years old."


    "So young and already driving a Land Rover? Is he handsome?"


    "Kind of cute."


    "What were you saying just now? He wants to spend 300,000 yuan to help you open a store and is also going to give you a car worth 200,000 yuan?"


    "Uh-huh...."


    "Oh my God!"


    Qianqian couldn''t help but exclaim in admiration: "With a guy who''s rich, handsome, and young, what more do you have to think about?"


    Qianqian was nearly dying of envy on the other end of the line. How come she never met such a tycoon in the same sales career? She even sold Ferraris, which were higher-end than the Land Rovers Chen Na sold. Logically, she should have had more chances to meet these types of men!


    "But he''s five years younger than me..."


    "So what? They say a woman three years older than a man is like grasping a gold brick, and in his case rounding up, it''s like grasping two gold bricks."


    "But he has a girlfriend..."


    Chen Na said somewhat sheepishly.


    "Just a girlfriend?"


    "Are you crazy, Nana? With conditions like his, it wouldn''t matter even if he had a wife! Besides, he only has a girlfriend. You can totally snatch him away!"


    Qianqian thought her best friend had lost her senses. If he wasn''t married, wasn''t that even better?


    There would be a chance to become his official partner!


    Qianqian had been working at Ferrari for five or six years, and initially, she just wanted to earn money.


    But gradually, as she interacted with more rich people, her views on choosing a partner changed.


    There used to be a hot topic online: "Is it better to laugh sitting on the back of a bicycle or cry sitting inside a BMW?"


    When Qianqian first started working, she would definitely have chosen the former, but now she wouldn''t hesitate to choose the latter.


    What she thought was, if you''re riding a bicycle, where can you find the laughter?


    In fact, Qianqian''s situation was not an isolated case, as most girls'' thoughts and concepts were influenced by the people and things around them after they started working.


    When you''re in school, there''s no need to consider real-life factors, but once you start working, you''ll encounter various problems, such as the basic necessities of clothing, food, housing, and transportation, not to mention the clothes, brand-name bags, and cosmetics that girls love to buy...


    All of these can only be bought with money.


    How much is a month''s salary?


    If a man is willing to spend tens of thousands a month to support you, would you still want to continue working like a horse or an ox?


    Especially if that person is both young and handsome!


    "Uh..."


    "Nana, are you feeling a bit conflicted?"


    "Yeah."


    Chen Na still had some hesitation in the end, feeling that everything should be based on the foundation of feelings.


    After thinking for a moment, Qianqian said, "How about this, don''t be conflicted anymore, just refer this little tycoon to me, and let me bear all this for you!"


    Chen Na was stunned, "Don''t you have a boyfriend?"


    "What about having a boyfriend? If I had such a sugar daddy to support me, I''d dump him right away."


    "Uh... okay, I''ll think about it some more."


    "Yeah."


    After hanging up the phone with her best friend, Chen Na looked at the bag on the table and at the same time recalled Shen Yuan''s appearance, lost in deep confusion...


    ...


    Within the luxurious room 808, Shen Yuan completed the "game" this time in forty minutes.


    But even after a lengthy game, he didn''t feel exhausted or weak, still as energetic and full of vitality as he was before it started!


    Fang Minhui''s cheeks were a rosy red, and she looked at Shen Yuan with a dazed expression, "How come you feel different tonight compared to last time?"


    Shen Yuan laughed, hugged Fang Minhui into his arms, and looked straight at her, "In what way different?"


    Fang Minhui''s cheeks turned even redder, and she turned her head away, not looking at him, "I won''t say it; you know it yourself."


    "Is it because I got stronger?"


    "Mmm..."


    Fang Minhui nodded shyly, thinking to herself that it wasn''t just stronger but also more forceful.


    Hence, tonight''s experience was better; during the over forty-minute "game," she had reached the peak twice.


    "Do you like it?"


    "..."


    Fang Minhui bit her lip, not speaking, finding it somewhat embarrassing to say out loud.


    With added confidence, Shen Yuan suggested more boldly, "Another round?"


    "Wait a bit..."


    Fang Minhui pouted her lips, feeling like taking a short break.


    "This time, you lead the game."


    Shen Yuan slapped his thigh, signaling her to come on top.


    He had just remembered that Fang Minhui had learned to dance, making her far more flexible than the average girl.


    This kind of waist he hadn''t experienced yet, and he was somewhat eager to try.


    Fang Minhui looked a bit troubled, "But I don''t know how to..."


    "You can learn if you don''t know how to."


    Shen Yuan thought to himself that those girls skilled in the art had all learned through repeated practice, not overnight geniuses.


    Just as Shen Yuan was about to continue persuading her, his phone ''ding-dong'' chimed with a notification.


    He picked it up to see a message from Old Cao on WeChat.


    "Old Third, when are you coming back tonight?"


    Shen Yuan couldn''t be bothered to reply to him, so he just silenced his phone and threw it on the nightstand. If he told him that he wouldn''t come back tonight, he would surely ask where he was staying.


    And then it would never end.


    ...

 Chapter 45 Honey, We Really Won the Lottery!

    At this moment, inside Dormitory 503.


    "Old Third hasn''t returned, has he?"


    Huang Haibao, who was battling in the canyon, turned his head to ask.


    Yesterday, Huang Haibao noticed the class belle''s affection, and today, connecting this with Shen Yuan''s recent frequent overnight absences, he felt somewhat concerned.


    Since moving to the dormitory, Shen Yuan had generally stayed at school and seldom stayed out overnight.


    Even if there were once or twice, it was a couple of months ago, back when his relationship with the upperclassman hadn''t ended.


    "No."


    Cao Shunjin shook his head and muttered, "Old Third wouldn''t have gone to get a room with the class belle, would he?"


    Upon hearing this, Huang Haibao didn''t even feel like playing the game anymore. Just thinking about the class belle and Old Third kissing each other, his heart hurt badly.


    "It''s not impossible. After all, there''s no class tomorrow morning, and they don''t need to get up early."


    Cao Shunjin added another line.


    "Old Cao, shut the fuck up!"


    "..."


    The next morning, Shen Yuan called a Didi for Fang Minhui to return to school, and he took a taxi home himself.


    Last night, he won a million on a lottery ticket on Fang Minhui, and he planned to use it to help his family pay off debts.


    Winning the lottery was a low probability event, but it still had credibility, and at least he didn''t need to explain the source of the funds, unlike other money on him.


    In the back seat of the Didi, Shen Yuan summoned the panel and opened the million lottery ticket in his mind.


    The next second, a double-color ball lottery ticket appeared out of thin air in Shen Yuan''s hand.


    He took a close look, and the ticket displayed the draw date as May 16, which was yesterday.


    Shen Yuan had bought scratch cards before, but had never bought a double-color ball, so he looked up the rules for the double-color ball online.


    Unknown until he checked, he was startled once he did!


    The first prize wouldn''t be less than five million and could even go up to ten million!


    Shen Yuan thought the million lottery was just a million, but he had underestimated System.


    Shen Yuan immediately opened a browser and began querying yesterday''s winning numbers.


    If it were the first prize, the 6 red numbers and 1 blue number on the ticket would all match.


    Shen Yuan, holding the ticket, carefully checked yesterday''s winning numbers.


    "3, 4, 14, 22, 26, 27, the last one is...1!"


    It''s all matched!


    Shen Yuan''s breath suddenly became rapid. Though he knew these were definitely winning numbers, he couldn''t suppress his excitement.


    System is awesome!


    Shen Yuan marveled inwardly, then continued to check the prize money for this first prize.


    "Damn, six million!"


    Shen Yuan, staring at the string of numbers starting with 6 on his phone screen, couldn''t help but exclaim.


    The Didi driver was startled by his yell and asked through the rearview mirror, "Young man, what''s this about six million?"


    "I won six million!"


    The Didi driver was amused by him too and chuckled, "Young man, you must have read the numbers wrong. It''s not that easy to win six million."


    "Ah, right, sorry, I got it wrong."


    Shen Yuan quickly came to his senses and laughed it off.


    He knew the wisdom of not flaunting wealth; his outburst had just been a slip in his excitement.


    In this world, the poor still outnumber the rich. It''s not just strangers who might be envious; even relatives might not wish for you to do better than them.


    After a while, the Didi stopped in front of the apartment building his family rented. Shen Yuan got out of the car while also thinking about how to talk to Old Shen and Ms. Li Hongjuan upstairs.


    After all, it is a six million jackpot!


    Shen Yuan couldn''t even imagine what expressions his parents would have after hearing the news.


    Ever since they went bankrupt, Old Shen and Mrs. Li Hongjuan had been living frugally, having sold their house and moved into a two-bedroom apartment without an elevator.


    Old Shen had also sold his car and now rode a small electric scooter every day.


    As Shen Yuan thought about it, he unconsciously climbed up to the fifth floor, took out his keys, opened the door, and, as usual, yelled, "I''m back!"


    "You''re back, so stop shouting!"


    Li Hongjuan was mopping the floor at the time, and though she was quite pleased by the sight of her vibrant son, she couldn''t help but scold him.


    Shen Yuan was somewhat impatient, "Mom, where''s Old Shen? Hurry up and get him; I have something important to tell him."


    "What important thing?"


    Li Hongjuan noticed some sweat on her son''s forehead. She put down the mop, walked to the fridge, and handed him a slice of cold watermelon, "Your dad went out to run some errands, he should be back soon."


    "Alright, then let''s wait for him to come back to talk."


    Shen Yuan smiled as he took the watermelon and started to devour it.


    Mrs. Li Hongjuan was the typical tough-talker with a soft heart; even though she sounded harsh, she was always caring for her own.


    Finally, at 11:30, Old Shen pushed open the door and came home.


    Old Shen was drenched in sweat, his front and back soaked, and he even held an electric scooter helmet in his hand.


    After all, it was over thirty degrees outside today, plus it was midday. Riding an electric scooter in such weather definitely wasn''t pleasant.


    However, Old Shen wouldn''t have to ride an electric scooter anymore. With this prize money, not only could he pay off debts, but they could also switch to a new house and even buy a good car with the rest of the money.


    Feeling delighted inside, Shen Yuan greeted him, "Old Shen, you''re back."


    "Mmm."


    Shen Heping glanced at Shen Yuan as he changed out of his shoes, "Why did you decide to come home for a meal today?"


    Shen Yuan smiled mysteriously, "I have something important to tell you two today."


    "What is it?"


    "Come, sit on the couch, and I''ll tell you."


    Shen Yuan pulled both of them onto the couch to sit down, his expression one of someone about to announce great news.


    Li Hongjuan and Shen Heping quietly watched Shen Yuan, curious to see what he was actually up to.


    "Mom, Dad, we''re rich now!"


    "I won six million!"


    After Shen Yuan excitedly finished saying this, he awaited their shocked expressions, but to his surprise, Old Shen and Li Hongjuan didn''t react at all and even looked at him as if he were foolish.


    "Shen Yuan, did university mess up your brain?"


    Li Hongjuan rolled her eyes and straightaway walked into the kitchen.


    You won six million? How about you fly to the sky too then!


    Shen Heping''s expression was filled with concern, "Shen Yuan, have you been under too much stress lately? I''ll handle the family debt, you don''t need to worry too much."


    "....."


    With a grimace, Shen Yuan had no choice but to pull out the lottery ticket from his pocket and hand it to Shen Heping, "Old Shen, check yourself if this is the winning number for this lottery draw."


    Shen Heping took the lottery ticket, glanced at it, then looked up at Shen Yuan, realizing he might not be joking, and took out his phone to check the winning numbers.


    Shen Heping used to buy the lottery frequently, so he was very familiar with the rules and how to check the numbers.


    After finding today''s winning number, he instinctively started checking the numbers, muttering, "3...4...14...22..."


    As soon as he realized the first four numbers were correct, Shen Heping''s expression suddenly turned serious.


    "26...27....1...."


    When he saw the last number also matched, Shen Heping sharply inhaled.


    "Wife, we really won!"


    "....."

 Chapter 46 Make sure to give you a good mark in the merit book!

    Shen Heping looked at the lottery ticket and swallowed with difficulty.


    This was a first-place prize!


    Although he had been a boss before, and at his most glorious times owned tens of millions,


    all that money had been earned bit by bit, never just popping out of nowhere like this!


    Thinking about putting an end to his life of braving wind and rain while riding his electric scooter, Shen Heping couldn''t help but feel emotional inside: blue smoke must be rising from the Shen family''s ancestral grave!


    "What''s wrong?"


    Li Hongjuan was washing vegetables, heard some noise and came out with the vegetables in hand.


    "Wife, we won the lottery!"


    Shen Heping excitedly held up the lottery ticket, shaking it in front of Li Hongjuan.


    "Really? Are you joking?"


    "I just checked this issue''s double-color ball first prize, the numbers all match."


    "How much is the first prize?"


    Shen Yuan smiled and said, "I looked it up, this issue''s is 6.8 million."


    "6.8 million!"


    Li Hongjuan couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise, nearly dropping the vegetables, and snatched the lottery ticket from Shen Heping''s hand.


    But she had never bought a lottery ticket before, didn''t know how to read it, turning it over and over without understanding. In the end, Shen Heping had to take out his phone to compare the winning numbers for her and also showed her the prize money for this issue.


    Li Hongjuan, looking at the numbers on the phone, was speechless with her mouth agape, "It''s really... 6.8 million..."


    "Yes!"


    Shen Heping let out a deep breath, even after deducting 20% income tax, they would still take home over 5 million.


    With this money at home, not only could they pay off their debts, but they could also move into a bigger house.


    And with the remaining money, he could even start a new business.


    Li Hongjuan took a deep breath, trying to adjust her breathing rate.


    Jackpot!


    This was 6.8 million!


    With this money, they could not only pay off those debts, but also greatly improve their family life!


    Li Hongjuan couldn''t help but look towards her son, her eyes filled with relief; although Shen Yuan was a bit naughty and mischievous, he really had done a great service for the family this time!


    Li Hongjuan felt guilty thinking about it¡ªthe two-bedroom apartment they rented didn''t have a room for him, and she had also been somewhat more partial to her daughter.


    The old mentality was to raise sons with austerity and daughters with abundance, and they always thought Shen Yuan was tough enough.


    Now the concept needs to change.


    Shen Heping''s face broke into a beaming smile as he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, handing one to Shen Yuan as well. Father and son lit up, and he waved grandly:


    "We''re not cooking for lunch today. Let''s go out for a meal to celebrate our big win!"


    "Yes, yes, yes, we won''t cook anymore, I''ll put the vegetables back in the fridge right away and go call Shen Xuan back. We''re going to have this meal all together as a family...."


    Li Hongjuan''s words were all jumbled as she mumbled non-stop, only to realize she had left the vegetables behind when she entered the kitchen, and she went back to pick them up.


    Shen Heping looked at Shen Yuan with satisfaction: "Son, well done, we need to properly record this in our family''s book of merits!"


    "Absolutely!"


    Shen Yuan chuckled, thinking to himself that with this lottery ticket, his status in the family would definitely rise to an unprecedented level.


    Thirty minutes later, the family of three appeared joyously in a private dining room at Nanjing Restaurant. This was Old Shen''s choice; he felt that since they were celebrating, they definitely had to pick an upscale restaurant''s private dining room.


    After all, after they claimed the prize, the whole family could escape their current situation and move towards a more comfortable life¡ªno need to keep scrimping on money.


    "Shen Yuan, what made you think of buying a lottery ticket?"


    Li Hongjuan''s mood had calmed down a bit now, she was flipping through the menu and asked casually.


    "One of my roommates often buys lottery tickets, and the other day when I went with him to buy them, I bought one on a whim, never expected to actually win."


    Shen Yuan had anticipated they would ask this before coming home and had already thought about how to explain it.


    "Tsk tsk ~"


    Li Hongjuan couldn''t help but marvel, secretly admiring her son''s good fortune.


    Then, the private dining room door was carefully pushed open, and a fair-skinned, pretty girl in a school uniform peeked her head in, then confidently walked in upon seeing she was in the right place.


    "Dad, Mom, what kind of great celebration is this that we''re coming here to eat? I feel like it''s been so many years since I last came here."


    Shen Xuan said as she sat down next to Li Hongjuan.


    Experience tales at empire


    "We can move to a new house now, do you think that''s worth celebrating?"


    Shen Heping said with a chuckle.


    "Really?!"


    Shen Xuan''s eyes lit up; they used to live in a big house with a garden in the community, and she could take the elevator every day. Her own room was also large.


    Compared to their current small two-bedroom rental, it was like heaven and earth.


    "Yes, your brother won six million in the lottery."


    Li Hongjuan added.


    "Holy shit?! Six million!"


    Shen Xuan got so excited she blurted out a curse, then noticed Li Hongjuan glaring at her and quickly covered her mouth.


    "Bro, you won it?"


    Shen Xuan still couldn''t believe it and turned to ask Shen Yuan.


    Shen Yuan said indifferently, "Just luck."


    "Pfft!"


    Shen Xuan couldn''t help rolling her eyes but still felt happy thinking about moving to a big house, and her brother could move back home too!


    "Mom, Dad, I have something to tell you."


    "I''m in my third year of college now and will graduate next year. Recently, I''ve had fewer classes and I''ve been thinking about starting a business on my own, to hone my skills."


    Shen Yuan thought that with System''s cashback continuously coming in, it''s impossible to explain where the money comes from, so he must have a legitimate business to cover it up.


    Although he had already invested 700,000 in the bar, and there was still 300,000 dedicated investment money in his account, all that money was from System.


    If Old Shen and Ms. Li Hongjuan were to find out about these businesses, they would certainly question where the startup funds came from.


    Therefore, Shen Yuan must take out a portion of this prize money, so they would not become suspicious in the future.


    "Bro, starting a business is very difficult, what will you do if you lose money?"


    Shen Xuan, always blunt, was the first to express her doubts, and Li Hongjuan also showed her concern: "But it''s tough to run a business these days. Your dad has been in business for so many years and still fell flat on his face."


    "How do you know if you don''t try? Everyone steps out one footprint at a time. You have to try before you know whether it''s possible, right?"


    "Don''t you think so, Old Shen?"


    Shen Yuan gave Shen Heping a look.


    Shen Heping nodded approvingly and said, "It''s good that you have this idea. Young people do need to go out and make their mark. Anyway, this prize money is yours; you have the right to manage it."


    Li Hongjuan hesitated to speak, visibly worried. If the family hadn''t gone bankrupt, she might have agreed, but the current economic situation was really unstable, and it was better to be cautious.


    On another note, she was also worried that if Shen Yuan failed in his ventures, he might give up on himself and fall into despair.


    Li Hongjuan''s mindset could actually be understood; not everyone can get back up after falling down.


    Especially since they had already experienced bankruptcy once.


    Most people become overly cautious in their actions after such setbacks.


    Despite the many inspiring success stories of those who have climbed back up from failure, that''s only because those who failed have been buried by the dust of history, without a chance to have their voices heard.


    Being each other''s confidant for over twenty years, Shen Heping immediately understood Li Hongjuan''s thoughts and said in a measured tone, "Shen Yuan is stronger mentally than I am; he won''t lose heart no matter what, so don''t worry."


    "Besides, Shen Yuan isn''t young anymore; he is twenty-one. I started to make my way in society at his age. We can''t treat him like a flower in a greenhouse; it''s time to throw him into society to toughen up."


    "Honey, let''s just do it this way."


    Shen Heping turned to Shen Yuan again, "But I do have a suggestion; we''ll keep some of the money for you."


    "That way, if you lose money in your business in the future, we still have something for you to fall back on."


    Shen Heping also felt that if they wanted to develop their child''s tenacity and independence, they had to let him face society on his own.


    Since Shen Yuan wanted to do it, and they had the money now, why not let him try?


    "I''ll only take one million; the rest of you can use it to pay off debts or buy a house."


    Shen Yuan said generously.


    With this one million, it was enough. No matter how much money he would earn in the future or how much System would pay back, he would have a reason to cover it up.


    "That''s fine."


    Shen Heping nodded with satisfaction.


    Li Hongjuan, after hearing Shen Heping''s speech, also expressed her agreement. Moreover, her son was very considerate, offering to take only one million and leave the rest to the family, which moved her.


    "Son, go ahead and do it; your parents support you!"


    ...

 Chapter 47 A Canary is a Canary!

    Meanwhile, inside the Jaguar Land Rover 4S Store.


    Chen Na had just finished attending to a customer when Zeng Xianyong summoned her to his office.


    Looking at the face in front of her, bloated with fat, and recalling the distasteful words he had said the day before, a flicker of disgust passed through Chen Na''s eyes.


    "Chen Na, you should know why I called you up here, right?"


    Zeng Xianyong pointed to the several scratches on his face. "This is your boyfriend''s handiwork."


    "I broke up with him long ago; there is no relationship whatsoever."


    "If you are injured, you should find him."


    Chen Na did not give Zeng Xianyong a chance to push further. She guessed what Zeng Xianyong would do next¡ªit was nothing more than to use this as a threat and then repeat yesterday''s demands.


    He really is a despicable man!


    If Zeng Xianyong were not her direct superior, she would have lashed out at him long ago.


    "Chen Na, what you just said isn''t right. There''s a rightful claimant for every debt; if it weren''t for you, would I have been beaten up for no reason?"


    Zeng Xianyong certainly knew she had already broken up with the other party. Yesterday, after a fight, they befriended each other, and the man had laid out the whole situation.


    Knowing that they had broken up, he saw an opportunity to make his move.


    Zeng Xianyong looked Chen Na up and down. At that moment, she was wearing the store''s uniform: a white shirt on top and a blue pencil skirt paired with black tights below, accentuating her shapely figure perfectly.


    Especially those long legs and that perky rear!


    This woman was indeed attractive!


    Some women expose the flaws in their figures when they wear such clothes, but Chen Na, in this outfit, epitomized what a true professional office lady looked like!


    "What does your fight have to do with me?"


    "Besides, when you sat down yesterday, I had already told you I was waiting for someone, yet you insisted on joining me."


    Chen Na spoke bluntly, finding Zeng Xianyong truly ridiculous. If he hadn''t been driven by lust, yesterday''s incident would never have happened.


    "Still so tough-tongued."


    Zeng Xianyong said with a smile, "Since you deserted your post yesterday afternoon causing a customer to be unattended in the showroom, I am now suspending you from receiving customers for the rest of the month."


    "Come back to me when you''ve thought things through."


    Chen Na was stunned; what a ridiculous reason! She had clearly taken leave yesterday.


    For a 4S store salesperson, being stopped from receiving customers effectively meant stopping her income. Being stopped for a couple of days might not feel significant, but if it continued, without referrals from old customers, it would mean she could only earn a base salary.


    As is well-known, the base salaries in 4S stores are notoriously low; for example, their store was only 1200.


    1200 wasn''t even enough to cover the rent!


    Zeng Xianyong, seeing Chen Na still dazed in place, tapped the desk. "Alright, you can go now. Come back to me when you''ve thought it over."


    "Why should I? I took leave yesterday afternoon," Chen Na protested.


    "Why?"


    Zeng Xianyong chuckled to himself, thinking that Chen Na still didn''t understand the situation: "Simply because I am the general manager of this store, and I have the final say here."


    Zeng Xianyong sat upright with a resolute pose, very satisfied with how he wielded his power.


    Dealing with such a woman, since merely being accommodating had no effect, he could try a combination of hard and soft tactics. Perhaps he might achieve some unexpected results.


    Zeng Xianyong was also quite familiar with the personal circumstances of his subordinates, knowing well their family backgrounds and what cars they drove.


    Perhaps an employee from a privileged background might resign under these circumstances, but most sales staff came from modest backgrounds, including Chen Na from a typical working-class family.


    "You''ve really let being a lousy general manager get to your head!"


    "It''s just a lousy job. I might as well quit!"


    At that moment, Chen Na could no longer contain her patient temperament¡ªit all burst out. The more she endured, the angrier she got, and the more she stepped back, the more she felt at a loss, especially since Zeng Xianyong was being so unreasonable.


    Zeng Xianyong''s pupils suddenly constricted.


    As general manager for so long, it was the first time a subordinate had confronted him like this. He said with a dark face, "Chen Na, I advise you to think this through."


    "I''ve thought it through¡ªI quit!"


    Chen Na slammed the door and left. This crappy job was too stressful, and sometimes she even had to put up with mistreatment.


    Especially with such a sleazy leader!


    It was just a job, after all!


    She could always find another one!


    If it had been before, she might have endured it since she wasn''t new to the workforce and had passed the age of impulsiveness. She would have considered all factors.


    But now it was different. Just yesterday, Shen Yuan had offered to invest 300,000 to help her open a coffee shop, offering her a stable salary each month, free from stress and with easier work.


    Might as well be a canary then!


    At least Shen Yuan was young and handsome¡ªcertainly better than facing this dead fat pig every day!


    After leaving Zeng Xianyong''s office, Chen Na still felt unsatisfied. She also planned to expose the dirty deeds Zeng Xianyong had done. The chat records were all on her phone¡ªshe edited them and was ready to post a short expose?.


    Let''s see how he would explain that!


    Thinking this, Chen Na sent a WeChat message to Shen Yuan: "I''m ready to resign. Does your offer from yesterday still stand?"


    Zeng Xianyong was somewhat dumbfounded; he hadn''t expected Chen Na to be so fiery, to just quit on the spot like that.


    He had thought about tightening his grip on Chen Na.


    Normally, this kind of mix of soft and hard tactics would lead to a compromise in the end.


    But she wasn''t biting at all!


    Now, it was he who was anxious. He wondered what would happen if Chen Na, in her fury, decided to make everything public.


    Continue your journey on empire


    Although the company was still holding onto one month of her salary, a cornered dog would leap over a wall.


    In Star City, there were several large WeChat groups for the auto industry, with sales and management from the main brands all in the group. If Chen Na sent those chat logs to the group, his reputation could be ruined in an instant!


    Now, in the era of short videos, information spread rapidly¡ªnot to mention this kind of gossip about a boss harassing a subordinate. Even his own wife might come across this gossip in the homeowners'' association chat group.


    It was very likely that the corporate executives might fire him due to the negative impact.


    That would really be both his career and family collapsing!


    Thinking of these possibilities, Zeng Xianyong felt a chill down his spine. It seemed he really had pushed her too hard.


    Meanwhile, after having dinner with his family at Nanjing Restaurant, Shen Yuan was about to head back to school. His phone pinged. Opening it, he was surprised to find a WeChat message from Chen Na.


    Seeing the content Chen Na had sent, the corners of Shen Yuan''s mouth unconsciously turned upwards a bit.


    It seems Chen Na made her decision quickly.


    That was good, the remaining 300,000 wouldn''t need to be invested elsewhere.


    Investment was one aspect, but what Shen Yuan valued more now was the reward for a female NPC''s Feel-good Index exceeding 90.


    Just last night, Fang Minhui had exploded with a 90 Feel-good Index reward, so maybe there would be even richer rewards at 95 or 100!


    Therefore, he urgently needed more female NPCs to create rewards for him.


    Shen Yuan had a feeling that since Chen Na had agreed to his investment, she probably also tacitly approved his other intentions.


    Although Chen Na''s Feel-good Index for him was currently only in the 60s, feelings were something that could be cultivated slowly!


    ...

 Chapter 48 Old Third, can you just act like a human being?

    "Congratulations on escaping the bitter sea, and choosing a bright path ahead!"


    "When you''re free, you can check out the store. If we find a suitable one, let''s take it over."


    Chen Na looked at the WeChat message from Shen Yuan on her phone, her heart felt a weight being lifted, and she also sensed a feeling of being needed.


    Before Shen Yuan replied on WeChat, she had been a bit worried that his offer yesterday was just a spur-of-the-moment thing.


    But now that she had received this WeChat message, Chen Na felt completely relieved.


    At the same time, there was this sense of liberation in her heart. She was finally going to leave this place, no longer having to depend on others and look at their faces every day.


    Chen Na silently reflected on this for a moment, and also secretly anticipated the arrival of her new life.


    Then, she walked into the office of the sales manager, Feng Han, and handed in her resignation.


    Unexpectedly, it was as if Feng Han already knew, he didn''t ask much and suggested that she could go to the HR department to handle her resignation procedures whenever she wanted.


    And after leaving Feng Han''s office, Chen Na received another WeChat message from Zeng Xianyong.


    It was lengthy, like a short essay. In summary, it basically said: Let''s part on good terms as if nothing ever happened.


    Chen Na, reflecting on Feng Han''s attitude, slowly came to a realization.


    It turned out that Zeng Xianyong was worried she would expose his misdeeds, which was why he had Feng Han greenlight her resignation so easily.


    It seems this old lecher was also afraid of ruining his reputation.


    However, Chen Na thought, she couldn''t let Zeng Xianyong off so easily.


    Once she got her salary, she would expose this old pervert!


    Chen Na thought to herself and then proceeded to handle the job turnover and resignation formalities.


    She still had a few orders for vehicles that hadn''t been delivered, but she could hand those over to a colleague. As for Shen Yuan''s car, she''d come back on Friday to personally deliver it.


    His car, after all, deserved special treatment.


    At this moment, Shen Yuan had just returned to school when he received a call from the instructor Lih Xiao, asking him to send two boys to help her move things in the office.


    Normally, this kind of task would be coordinated by the class monitor Yan Song, but since Yan Song probably had other matters and wasn''t on campus, they turned to him.


    Shen Yuan didn''t think too much and immediately called Huang Haibao, telling him and Old Cao to go to the instructor''s office.


    After finishing the call, Shen Yuan headed towards the direction of the school''s administrative building.


    In ten minutes, Shen Yuan arrived at the instructor''s office on the third floor.


    Although the instructor''s office normally housed many teachers, most had already moved out, and given that it was lunch break, Shen Yuan only saw Lih Xiao squatting on the floor sorting miscellaneous items.


    Today, the instructor wore a pair of tight dark blue jeans which showcased her long, sensuous legs and full buttocks due to the tight fit.


    And because she was in a semi-squatting position, her protruding buttocks looked even more irresistible!


    Her upper body was covered in a plain white crewneck T-shirt. Although it was not a tight model, her full bust made it appear tight-fitting.


    Lih Xiao was that standard beauty with an oval face. From the side, her straight nose bridge and fair jawline were distinguishable, and due to probably having just moved things around, there was a slight blush on her face.


    (PS: The outfit is like this, but the face is a bit lacking, just take a look.)


    "Instructor, I''m here."


    Shen Yuan greeted her. Lih Xiao turned her head upon hearing him, smiled, and said, "Shen Yuan, sorry to trouble you. I''m moving offices, and there''s too much stuff for one person to move. I wanted to ask Yan Song, but he''s taken leave for some reason."


    In Lih Xiao''s view, although Shen Yuan''s grades were slightly below average, his performance in the class was commendable. She always saw him during voluntary work, so for physical tasks, Lih Xiao thought of Shen Yuan immediately after Yan Song.


    "No problem at all," Shen Yuan reassured.


    He pointed to the desk and file cabinet nearby, "Do all of these need to be moved?"


    "Yes."


    Lih Xiao smiled apologetically, "If it were just those books and materials, I could handle it on my own, but this desk and file cabinet are too heavy."


    "Alright, then let''s wait for Old Huang and Old Cao to come."


    Shen Yuan responded, thinking to himself that the two were just loafing around in the dorm, bored to death; it was better to let them handle this dirty work.


    "It''s fine, I still need to take the books off the top of the file cabinet so they don''t fall off when we move it."


    Lih Xiao stood up and walked towards the file cabinet, reaching for the books on the top shelf, but it was quite high, and she could only stand on her tiptoes to reach them.


    However, she was just a few centimeters short, and despite her efforts, she couldn''t reach them after several tries.


    Seeing this, Shen Yuan, understanding as ever, stepped behind Lih Xiao, pressing against her back, his left hand gently resting on her shoulder, and then reached up with his right hand for the books above.


    Lih Xiao felt a warm, large hand suddenly land on her shoulder; her delicate body shivered, and she dared not move, her heart thumping wildly in her chest.


    Suddenly, she remembered that time Shen Yuan had dinner at her place, when he helped her take off her apron, and they seemed to be at this distance too.


    No, it seemed even closer now...


    Last time they hadn''t been touching, but now they were completely pressed together; Lih Xiao could even feel the breath from Shen Yuan''s breathing on her back.


    Could Shen Yuan actually have feelings for me...


    With that thought, Lih Xiao''s pretty face turned even hotter, and she couldn''t help but gently hurry him, "Is it done yet..."


    "Mmm... it''s done."


    Finally, Shen Yuan took down the two books, moved away from her back, and his hand also left her shoulder.


    Lih Xiao quickly bowed her head, straightening the bangs on her forehead to conceal her embarrassment.


    Just then, Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin entered the office and noticed both Lih Xiao and Shen Yuan were there. They were about to ask what needed moving.


    But as soon as they walked in, both of them were taken aback because they realized the atmosphere was a bit off, particularly the expression on Counselor Lih Xiao seemed unusual.


    The office was air-conditioned, and they hadn''t even started moving anything yet; why was Counselor Lih Xiao''s face so red?


    Continue your journey at empire


    This didn''t make sense!


    Could it be...


    "Hurry up and come over to move stuff, what are you dawdling for!"


    Shen Yuan cut off the two''s wild guesses, pointing at the file cabinet, "First, move this file cabinet to the adjacent office."


    "Oh, okay."


    They then remembered their purpose for coming, and quickly set about doing it.


    Lih Xiao breathed a sigh of relief internally, thankful that these two students had arrived a few seconds late; otherwise, they would''ve directly witnessed what just happened.


    That would have been utterly embarrassing!


    But thinking about it, Shen Yuan''s daring was growing bigger and bigger; it was one thing at home, but now even in the office!


    Yet, why did she find it somewhat exciting just now?


    Lih Xiao''s thoughts suddenly veered in that direction, and she quickly shook her head.


    Impossible, impossible!


    Shen Yuan is my student, absolutely not!


    Shen Yuan directed Old Huang and Old Cao to each take a side, while he took on the role of giving orders, "You need to move that lower corner, and lower your heads a bit when you go through the door so you don''t bump into the threshold."


    Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin crouched to lift the file cabinet, tiptoeing as they moved forward, but noticing Shen Yuan constantly gesturing beside them, couldn''t help teasing, "Old Third, can you act like a person and lend a hand here!"


    "..."

 Chapter 49 Where Exactly Did Laozi Lose?

    "Three of us to move a cabinet? The hallway is too narrow for three, and besides, don''t I need to watch out for bumps and scratches?"


    Shen Yuan snapped back unapologetically.


    "You scoundrel, slacking off is bad enough, but your excuses are high and mighty!"


    Huang Haibao grumbled, wishing he could thrash Shen Yuan if it weren''t for the fact that he was in the middle of moving a filing cabinet.


    Although he wouldn''t win alone, Old Cao was right there!


    After Shen Yuan had directed them to move the filing cabinet out, he went to help Lih Xiao clean up some clutter.


    Just as he was about to squat down, he suddenly noticed that Lih Xiao''s Feel-good Index seemed to have changed.


    [Feel-good Index: 67]


    Shen Yuan clearly remembered that when he had first entered the office, Lih Xiao''s Feel-good Index had been at 65.


    This...


    Just that moment had improved the Feel-good Index?


    Shen Yuan was somewhat stunned.


    Since they had been very close just now, Shen Yuan''s body had indeed slightly touched Lih Xiao.


    Of course, it wasn''t his fault for being too long; it was mainly because Lih Xiao''s buttocks were indeed very perky. If it had been any girl who was a bit flatter, Shen Yuan feared he wouldn''t have reached.


    But thinking about it, this was good news. A higher Feel-good Index was always better for him, since reaching 90 could yield quite a few rewards.


    It looked like he should visit Lih Xiao, the adviser, more often, fostering their relationship for future benefits.


    Fifteen minutes later, Lih Xiao''s desk, filing cabinets, including documents and textbooks, were all moved next door.


    Shen Yuan and Lih Xiao were fine since they moved lighter items, but Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin, who had moved heavier things, were visibly exhausted and drenched in sweat.


    Shen Yuan acted high and mighty, "Look at the state you two are in. You can''t always stay in the dorm; you should exercise more like me."


    Huang Haibao, seeing Shen Yuan''s smug face, really wanted to tear his mouth apart if it weren''t for Lih Xiao being there.


    We''re moving what, and you''re moving what? Don''t you know that in your heart?


    "Thanks for your hard work, all three of you. Let me treat you to some drinks."


    Lih Xiao, seeing how the three had worked hard and were now sweating profusely, felt quite sorry for them and offered to treat them.


    "ojbk!"


    "Then let''s go to the convenience store!"


    Afterwards, Lih Xiao went to the convenience store to buy drinks for the three of them and then returned to the office building, while Shen Yuan and the others went back to the dorm.


    Back at the dorm, Huang Haibao couldn''t resist gossiping, "Old Third, did you feel that the adviser was a bit off today?"


    Huang Haibao recalled that when they had just arrived at the office, Lih Xiao looked somewhat uneasy, even a bit flustered and shy like a young woman.


    This was something they had never seen before.


    Cao Shunjin felt the same and couldn''t help saying, "Yes, I noticed too, but I didn''t dare to ask."


    Cao Shunjin and Huang Haibao''s perceptions were still stuck in high school, where students naturally revered their teachers.


    A student-teacher relationship is just that, and respecting teachers is a given.


    But now they were almost seniors heading into society, and whether it was students or teachers, the relationship wasn''t as rigid as before.


    However, Shen Yuan had always interacted with teachers on an equal footing, never feeling they were superior, so his communication was always harmonious.


    So seeing Shen Yuan joking freely with the adviser and some course teachers, Cao Shunjin and Huang Haibao were quite envious.


    "How come I didn''t notice? I think it''s the same as before, nothing different."


    Shen Yuan casually responded.


    He of course knew what was up, but he obviously couldn''t tell these two dummies that he had accidentally poked the adviser a bit with his stuff!


    Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin started to doubt themselves, "Could it be that we were mistaken?"


    "You guys definitely got it wrong!"


    Shen Yuan exchanged a few more idle words with the two, then climbed onto his bed to take a nap.


    Before sleeping, he checked the recent tasks he needed to do.


    Besides attending classes, there were actually quite a few things.


    First, the renovations at the speakeasy had begun, and he needed to start dealing with the exploration videos and promotions.


    Next, Chen Na was already processing her resignation, and they had to begin managing the cafe?''s premises.


    Moreover, he had ordered a Defender last week and had to pick up the car on Friday.


    As Shen Yuan pondered these, he unwittingly drifted into sleep....


    ...


    ...


    About eight hundred meters from the International campus south gate, there''s a cafe? named "MS."


    Apart from coffee, this spot is also a mini leisure club where one can play cards, chat, and play board games, among other activities.


    Students from well-off families at International usually liked to hang out here.


    For some reason, even though business was good, a "Transfer of Prosperous Business" sign had been posted.


    That Saturday afternoon, Li Zhanpeng drove his newly acquired BMW 3 Series, carrying a roommate and two girls from his class to this cafe?.


    After Fang Minhui had rejected him, he had quickly recovered from that failed relationship and was ready to target other girls.


    The whole world abounds with beautiful grass; why pine for one single flower?


    The two girls with him didn''t match Minhui''s standard, but they were passable.


    They were worth giving a try.


    One of the girls was named Wei Yanyan; she was fairly average-looking but knew how to dress up¡ªwearing heavy makeup and false eyelashes, dressed quite boldly, she could barely pass for a six out of ten.


    As soon as Wei Yanyan sat down, she began fishing for a topic: "Li Zhanpeng, how much did you pay for that car?"


    Li Zhanpeng replied indifferently, "Not much, just 280,000 fully paid."


    "Wow~ 280,000 and that''s not expensive to you!"


    "That''s nothing."


    Li Zhanpeng waved it off; he had gotten over the initial phase of showing off his new car. His vanity threshold had increased, and the usual flattery no longer satisfied him.


    Of course, if it had been Minhui making those remarks, maybe he would have been thrilled, but these two girls didn''t cut it.


    "You''re too modest, driving a BMW before even graduating, surpassing over 99 percent of our classmates already."


    Wei Yanyan said, smiling supportively.


    The other girl, with a cute style and dressed in a Lolita outfit, named Weng Meiyun, chimed in: "Not just 99 percent, at least 99.99 percent."


    "Heh, yet some people still look down on BMWs."


    Li Zhanpeng, still upset, said, recalling Minhui''s indifferent tone during that party.


    I''m only 21 and driving a BMW; what''s lacking?


    Why the disdain?


    "No way, she looks down on BMWs too? Is her family well off?"


    Wei Yanyan was slightly surprised, thinking such guys with a good background should be grabbed early on¡ªafter all, competition only gets tougher outside school.


    Li Zhanpeng shook his head: "Just a ordinary family."


    Wei Yanyan suddenly felt it was kind of funny: "Really? Are there still people living in a fairytale world nowadays?" Stay connected with empire


    "..."

 Chapter 50 *Playing with Years

    "I''ve heard those seniors who''ve graduated say that even if they work for another three to five years, they still might not be able to afford a BMW."


    "Even if they can afford it, they might not be able to maintain it, with maintenance, parking, gas, and the annual insurance, all those are significant expenses."


    "That''s what I''m saying, some people just can''t figure out the situation."


    Wei Yanyan and Weng Meiyun expressed their discontent.


    Li Zhanpeng frowned, "Let''s not talk about this, let''s talk about something else."


    He wasn''t too pleased with their conversation.


    Though he had no chance to be with her, Fang Minhui was ultimately the white moonlight in his heart.


    He could say things, but others couldn''t.


    Li Zhanpeng''s roommate, Ye Zhiyang, picked up the thread of the conversation, "I haven''t seen Shen Yuan around lately; he''s living on campus now, right? He didn''t come to the last gathering either."


    "Are you talking about Shen Yuan from your class who drives a 4 Series?"


    The light in Weng Meiyun''s eyes flickered; she knew there was a rich second generation in Class 2 named Shen Yuan, handsome and wealthy. If only she could get to know him.


    Though they were two guys and two girls, the distribution wasn''t too even.


    Li Zhanpeng evidently favored Yanyan more, and Ye Zhiyang, with his crooked melon, cracked date looks and lack of money, simply couldn''t compare. It would be better to get to know Shen Yuan through Li Zhanpeng and Ye Zhiyang.


    "Meiyun, you''re out of the loop, his family has gone bankrupt."


    "Forget the 4 Series, he doesn''t even have a car now, only takes the bus."


    "I see..."


    Upon hearing what Wei Yanyan said, Weng Meiyun''s interest plummeted.


    She had wanted to get to know them, but if he was bankrupt, there was no point.


    "Shen Yuan is incompetent and loves face; he deliberately didn''t come to the last class gathering because he was afraid of being humiliated."


    As soon as Shen Yuan was mentioned, Li Zhanpeng immediately felt a sense of superiority. He had always been overshadowed by Shen Yuan in class, but now he could finally breathe easy.


    Regrettably, since mentioning the 3 Series, he himself hadn''t encountered Shen Yuan, otherwise, he would have relished giving the guy a hard time.


    "That is a bit embarrassing."


    "Actually, I think whether a guy has money is one thing, but what''s more important is having the ease to face everything."


    Wei Yanyan blinked, "Don''t you think so, Li Zhanpeng?"


    "Of course, naturally!"


    Li Zhanpeng''s lips unconsciously curled up, his fondness for Wei Yanyan growing a bit more.


    He then took out his phone, scanned the table, and prepared to order a few drinks.


    But when he saw the coffee prices, his lips twitched.


    Damn, what is this? The cheapest is 29 a cup?


    He also needed to cover the others, four people at the table, wouldn''t that add up to 116?


    Li Zhanpeng hadn''t expected to fall into a trap. Had he known, he wouldn''t have let Wei Yanyan pick the place.


    How can a coffee shop around the school be so expensive, wouldn''t it be better to drink a cup of coffee at Luckin Coffee for 9.9?


    But he had no choice, he was a rich second generation, he couldn''t lose face, so he had to bite the bullet and place the order.


    After ordering the coffee, Li Zhanpeng subconsciously surveyed the cafe; it was a duplex structure with a small second floor, decorated in a retro style, even the floors were wooden, truly quite tasteful.


    However, when his gaze swept to a small corner of the cafe, Li Zhanpeng''s eyes suddenly stalled.


    Because he noticed a very elegant and sexy woman sitting alone in the corner, sipping her coffee.


    Li Zhanpeng couldn''t help but widen his eyes. The woman appeared to be in her mid-to-late twenties, with delicate features, and light brown, large wavy hair casually falling onto her shoulders.


    Most importantly, she had a particularly nice figure, especially those long, white, straight legs.


    Li Zhanpeng''s throat involuntarily swallowed, thinking those legs were worth playing with for a year even at the cost of shortening his life by ten years.


    ```


    Li Zhanpeng turned his head back and looked at the two girls sitting opposite him once more, but upon comparison, he suddenly felt disinterested.


    The gap was just too wide, they were not even in the same league!


    While Wei Yanyan and Weng Meiyun were waiting for their coffee, they also noticed the beauty in the corner.


    Once they saw her delicate face clearly, both of them were simultaneously taken aback.


    When a woman sees another unfamiliar woman, there''s always an instinctive compulsion to compare herself.


    But when Wei Yanyan and Weng Meiyun looked at this woman, they didn''t even have the courage to compare themselves.


    Because this woman was just too beautiful.


    Not only that, but her figure was also impeccable, and most importantly, she exuded an elegant aura.


    Wei Yanyan''s looks ranked high in her class, with many male students pursuing her, but upon seeing this woman, she immediately felt inferior and ashamed.


    At that moment, a huge SUV suddenly drove past the coffee shop entrance, diverting everyone''s attention away from the beauty.


    The vehicle was rugged by design, and its tall and wide body made Li Zhanpeng''s 3 Series look like a delicate lady when parked next to it.


    "What kind of car is that? It''s so big."


    Wei Yanyan couldn''t help but ask.


    "Oh, it''s probably something like a Zhongtai, not expensive, around one hundred thousand," Li Zhanpeng answered casually. In fact, he often browsed car review sites and knew this was a Defender, which would cost at least eight or nine hundred thousand.


    But in front of the two girls he had just met, he pretended to be a car expert, "This car is quite big, but it also has high fuel consumption, and parking it in the city is very inconvenient."


    "Oh, I see," Wei Yanyan and Weng Meiyun, not knowing much about cars, nodded like pecking hens.


    Hearing it was a car of about one hundred thousand, they quickly lost interest and withdrew their gazes.


    "Hey, isn''t that Shen Yuan?"


    Just then, Ye Zhiyang suddenly spoke up.


    At his words, those who had just looked away followed his gaze once again.


    Indeed, Shen Yuan got out of the driver''s seat and walked towards the coffee shop.


    Seeing the handsome and tall Shen Yuan, Weng Meiyun''s eyes lit up, "Shen Yuan is actually quite handsome."


    Wei Yanyan also nodded in agreement.


    The man did look good; it was just a shame about the car.


    Li Zhanpeng''s eyelids twitched, and he hadn''t expected to encounter Shen Yuan here, especially not driving a Defender. Hadn''t his family gone bankrupt?


    Shen Yuan walked into the coffee shop called "MS," looking around.


    The de?cor was indeed quite stylish.


    Actually, this coffee shop was less than a kilometer away from their school''s gate, and Shen Yuan occasionally passed by, but he had never entered before.


    This place was found by Chen Na, who said the owner was someone who wasn''t short on money; bored of the business, she wanted to transfer ownership, and the price was negotiable.


    So today, Chen Na had arranged to meet him and the owner here to discuss in detail.


    "Shen Yuan, over here!"


    Chen Na, who had been sitting in the corner drinking coffee, waved with a smile when she saw Shen Yuan appear.


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    Shen Yuan responded and walked over, while Ye Zhiyang, originally intending to greet him with a wave, saw that Shen Yuan hadn''t even noticed them. He had to retract his hand in disappointment as Shen Yuan walked past them.


    Seeing this, Li Zhanpeng and Wei Yanyan were simultaneously stunned.


    Could it be that the beautiful woman sitting in the corner had been waiting for Shen Yuan all along?


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 51 Isnt This Just Too Ridiculous?

    "Is it just you here, or is the boss lady coming too?"


    Shen Yuan sat across from Chen Na and asked.


    "The boss lady should be arriving soon; she just sent me a WeChat message."


    Chen Na blinked her beautiful eyes and said, "So, how is the car driving? Did you go for a drive anywhere yesterday?"


    "Not bad, if it wasn''t good to drive, I wouldn''t have bought it."


    Shen Yuan went to pick up the car last Friday, and Chen Na helped him with the delivery paperwork.


    It was only afterward that Shen Yuan found out that Chen Na had already resigned last Tuesday and had come back specifically on Friday to help him with the car. This made Shen Yuan feel a bit moved.


    Chen Na revealed a teasing smile, "Did you buy it just because it''s good to drive?"


    Shen Yuan was quick to respond, with a meaningful smile, "Maybe it''s also the headlights, I quite like them."


    Chen Na was taken aback for a moment, and after she got it, her pretty face instantly blushed red. She had intended to tease Shen Yuan, but it turned out to be a case of the biter being bit.


    However, Chen Na couldn''t be sure that the headlights he was referring to were the same headlights she was thinking of, so she had to give up. She carefully pushed the other cup of coffee on the table towards him, "I ordered you an iced Americano. Not sure if you''ll like it?"


    "..."


    "Brother Peng, this doesn''t seem quite right...."


    Ye Zhiyang couldn''t help but whisper.


    Although they couldn''t hear clearly what the two were saying, from the state of the beautiful woman, it was obvious they were flirting.


    Li Zhanpeng''s mouth twitched, but he said nothing.


    He was feeling rather complicated at the moment. On the one hand, Shen Yuan inexplicably got himself a Defender, a car that''s at least three times more expensive than his BMW.


    On the other hand, the elegant beauty was acting all demure in Shen Yuan''s presence.


    Just moments ago, Li Zhanpeng had been fantasizing about how wonderful it would be to have such a beauty, even willing to trade ten years of his life.


    But now, it seemed like a joke.


    Shen Yuan, that bastard, had clearly beaten him to it.


    Shen Yuan, that damned guy, had just broken up with his senior sister, and now he had hooked up with a beauty from off-campus?


    And here Li Zhanpeng was, still trying hard to find someone.


    It was as if Shen Yuan was dining on delicacies every day, while he couldn''t even gnaw on tree bark.


    Are we even attending the same damn university?


    The contrast in their situations was just too stark, and now Li Zhanpeng was starting to question his life.


    Wei Yanyan and Weng Meiyun''s minds also hadn''t quite caught up. They thought that Shen Yuan''s family had gone bankrupt, and the domestic car he was driving outside was who-knows-where borrowed from. Yet, how could he still find such a pretty girlfriend?


    In their understanding, in this day and age, everyone was after money; pure love didn''t exist, so they couldn''t comprehend the scene before them.


    Just then, the glass door of the cafe was pushed open again, and a woman in her thirties with a mature charm walked in gracefully.


    With a smile, she approached where Chen Na and Shen Yuan were sitting, "Hello, Miss Chen, I was delayed a little because I had to pick up the kids."


    Chen Na stood up and shook hands with the woman, "Hello, Ms. Lin."


    "Shen Yuan, this is Ms. Lin Yuchang, the owner of the MS Cafe."


    "Ms. Lin, this is Shen Yuan, whom I''ve mentioned to you."


    Chen Na smiled as she introduced them.


    "Hello, Ms. Lin."


    Shen Yuan stood up and shook hands lightly with Lin Yuchang.


    Although this beautiful young matron had already had children, she appeared very well maintained.


    Today, she was dressed in a white sleeveless blouse that showed off her fair arms, and she wore a gray woolen skirt below, making her hips look even rounder.


    "Mr. Shen looks quite young."


    Lin Yuchang sized up Shen Yuan from head to toe, surprised by his youth.


    When she first came in, she saw a Defender parked outside. It seemed to belong to this Shen Yuan.


    "Actually, we are all about the same age, in our twenties."


    Shen Yuan laughed and said it offhandedly, not only avoiding mentioning his actual age but also subtly equalizing everyone''s age.


    Lin Yuchang was all smiles when she heard this. She was hardly in her twenties; she had already turned thirty-one this year.


    But what woman doesn''t like to hear sweet nothings?


    "I''ll make a long story short. I''ve pretty much gone over this with Miss Chen last time."


    "To tell you the truth, my shop''s business is so-so, but because we''re close to the school, the foot traffic is decent, so I can just about break even. I started this shop just to kill some time."


    "But now I''ve got a lot on my plate at home, and my parents-in-law have gone back to their hometown. It''s tough to manage everything with a child, so I thought it would be best to transfer the shop."


    Lin Yuchang explained the details to Shen Yuan.


    Since the shop transfer was posted, there had indeed been quite a few inquiries, but those people either complained about the weak business or found the transfer fee too steep.


    After being on the market for a month, she hadn''t managed to transfer the shop.


    If she were to shut it down outright, she couldn''t bear it; she had invested almost four hundred thousand in renovations, equipment, and various materials.


    "So, tell me about the transfer price."


    Shen Yuan was an International campus student. He had occasionally passed by and was aware of how the business was doing.


    Lin Yuchang hadn''t exaggerated; her estimate was probably just enough to balance the books.


    For him, breaking even was sufficient. With the System providing double cashback, he was bound to profit.


    "Initially, we spent nearly 400,000 on renovations and equipment, plus there''s another 10,000 to 20,000 in materials in the shop."


    As Lin Yuchang spoke, she watched for Shen Yuan''s reaction. "But I understand that, having been opened for two years and the usage over time, there will be depreciation, so I''m thinking of transferring it for 300,000."


    "How about this, I won''t bargain with you, a flat rate of 250,000."


    Shen Yuan offered a price he was willing to accept.


    He currently had 300,000 in investment funds. If he used 250,000 for the transfer fee, he would still have 50,000 left over as startup capital for the shop and Chen Na''s first month''s salary.


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    Lin Yuchang hesitated briefly. She had indeed marked up the initial asking price to leave room for bargaining, as it was unlikely for anyone to not negotiate.


    Her real expectation was around 270,000.


    But now the other party had directly cut it down to 250,000.


    Upon further thought, if she didn''t transfer this time, she might not find someone as straightforward and decisive next time. She bit the bullet and said, "Can you sign the agreement and make the transfer payment today?"


    "Sure."


    "After we sign the agreement, we''ll add each other on WeChat. You send me your card number there, and I''ll transfer the 250,000 to you through mobile banking."


    "Mhm, okay."


    Lin Yuchang felt a weight lift off her heart; she stood up to get the agreement and also brought along the only female employee in the shop. "Xiaoqiu, this Mr. Shen will be your new boss. After a while, you show him around and familiarize him with the situation."


    "Hello, boss."


    The girl named Xiaoqiu was quite young, probably just over twenty, with a pretty and demure appearance. She nodded shyly at Shen Yuan.


    Shen Yuan nodded slightly in response and then pointed to Chen Na, saying, "Just show Miss Chen Na around, that''s fine. I won''t be in the shop often. She''ll be in charge of all the big and small matters here in the future."


    "Hello, Miss Chen."


    Chen Na smiled sweetly, finding Xiaoqiu very approachable. "I''m only a few years older than you. You can call me Sister Na or Nana."


    "Okay, Sister Na."


    ...


    "Brother Peng, did you hear that?"


    "Isn''t this just way too outrageous?"


    "..."

 Chapter 52 Unexpected Surprise

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    ```


    The coffee shop was not busy at this time, so it was relatively quiet, which meant even though Shen Yuan''s conversation with the proprietress was not loud, Li Zhanpeng and Wei Yanyan could still clearly hear what they were discussing.


    What surprised them was that Shen Yuan was actually discussing the transfer price of the coffee shop with the proprietress.


    They hadn''t even had time to react when, in just a few minutes, a business deal worth 250,000 was agreed upon.


    The speed at which the money was spent made them feel like Shen Yuan wasn''t spending 250,000 but rather just 25.


    What was even more outrageous was that it was clear from the way they introduced the staff that Shen Yuan took over the shop mainly for the beautiful woman beside him.


    They were all honest university students, without even a partner of their own, and here was Shen Yuan, engaging in the luxurious activity of keeping a mistress?


    Wei Yanyan and Weng Meiyun exchanged glances, unable to help but look at Li Zhanpeng, who was keeping silent. Wasn''t it said that Shen Yuan was too embarrassed to attend gatherings after his family went bankrupt?


    And yet, he could easily spend 250,000¡ªwas this what you called being afraid of a blow to his pride?


    At this point, Wei Yanyan even started to doubt whether what Li Zhanpeng said was true; just now, he claimed that the car parked at the entrance was a domestically produced car worth about 100,000. But based on how Shen Yuan was spending, did he seem like someone who would drive such a car?


    Li Zhanpeng was feeling absolutely terrible at this moment, as if he had swallowed a fly.


    Just ten minutes ago, he was feeling smug about his new 280,000 BMW 3 Series, thinking he could finally hold his head up high and take some pleasure in Shen Yuan''s misfortune.


    Now, that seemed like a complete joke.


    Shen Yuan was simply not on the same level as him.


    Not only did he drive a Defender worth three times more than the 3 Series, but he also cheerfully threw in 250,000 for a lady''s favor.


    That 250,000 was almost as much as the cost of his BMW.


    Yet he himself felt heartache even over spending 29 yuan on a cup of coffee.


    Driving a million-dollar luxury car, keeping a mistress outside school¡ªthese were things Li Zhanpeng didn''t even dare to dream of, yet all these were happening to Shen Yuan.


    Li Zhanpeng was as dejected as a dog; he had always considered Shen Yuan his imagined enemy, but now the latter couldn''t even be bothered to give him a glance.


    ...


    The staff member Xiaoqiu was showing Chen Na around the counter, while Lin Yuchang and Shen Yuan were sitting at a table signing the agreement.


    After receiving Shen Yuan''s ID number on WeChat, Lin Yuchang was slightly surprised, not expecting him to be just 21 years old.


    Yet that Miss Chen appeared to be at least 26 or 27.


    Lin Yuchang, at 31, may not have seen everything, but she had a fair bit of experience and had actually sensed something peculiar between Shen Yuan and Chen Na from the moment she walked in.


    They seemed like a couple, yet not quite.


    But what else is there between men and women, really?


    She just found it curious that nowadays it seemed many young men liked women who were more mature than themselves.


    This thought gave Lin Yuchang a sliver of joy as it meant that even after her divorce, she would still have a market if she went out looking for a partner.


    After getting familiar with the bar counter, Chen Na returned to Shen Yuan''s side, her eyebrows slightly furrowed as she said, "It seems making coffee is more complex than I thought."


    Xiaoqiu had just briefly explained the process to her, and Chen Na realized there were quite a few steps involved in making coffee, and the coffee shop offered a variety of types: Americano, lattes with different flavors, mocha, cappuccino...


    So Chen Na felt a bit overwhelmed for a moment.


    Shen Yuan smiled and said, "No worries, take it slow; we have plenty of time, and Xiaoqiu is here to guide you, after all."


    "Sister Na, I''ll teach you slowly. It took me a month to get the hang of it, but you''re smarter than me, so you definitely won''t need a month," Xiaoqiu said with a smile on the side.


    Just then, Lin Yuchang''s phone, which was on the table, suddenly rang, interrupting the conversation. She picked up the phone and frowned unconsciously upon seeing the name of the caller, then walked outside the coffee shop to take the call.


    At that moment, Shen Yuan noticed that Chen Na also seemed to have a change in expression, so he asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "This Ms. Lin seems to be Zeng Xianyong''s wife."


    ```


    Chen Na whispered a response.


    Just now, when Lin Yuchang''s phone rang on the desk, it drew everyone''s attention, and Chen Na also inadvertently saw the caller''s name---Xianyong.


    "Who is Zeng Xianyong?"


    Shen Yuan didn''t know this person.


    "He''s the guy who fought with Xie Haijie at the IFC Mall that day, and he''s also my immediate superior at Land Rover."


    "What a coincidence, huh?"


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but feel a little surprised.


    Just yesterday, when he was picking up the car, Chen Na had mentioned her store general manager harassing her, so he didn''t have a good impression of this store general manager either.


    It was just unexpected that Zeng Xianyong would have such a beautiful wife at home, and still go out to cheat.


    Although from a man''s point of view it''s understandable, which man doesn''t wish for a life with a steady wife at home and romantic adventures outside?


    But then again, Zeng Xianyong using his position to exploit female employees was simply despicable!


    Shen Yuan was the first to disagree!


    "Actually, I plan to expose Zeng Xianyong after I get my salary, so everyone can see his true face. I still have the chat records with him stored."


    "I just don''t know whether I should tell his wife, because Ms. Lin seems like a nice person, and I''m afraid it might hurt her."


    Chen Na looked up with her beautiful eyes, seeking Shen Yuan''s opinion.


    She had already decided on this matter, planning to post it in the big WeChat group of Star City''s new car circle after getting her salary.


    It was just that she didn''t expect to get to know his wife now.


    Chen Na had interacted with Lin Yuchang twice and felt she was a decent person, so she hesitated whether to tell her as well.


    Shen Yuan''s mind raced, and he then said in a serious tone, "I don''t think it''s appropriate for you to expose him."


    "Why?"


    Chen Na was somewhat puzzled; she felt that if such a person wasn''t exposed, it would only harm more girls.


    "Once the chat records are released, Zeng Xianyong will know who did it, aren''t you afraid of Zeng Xianyong seeking revenge on you after losing his job?"


    "But...."


    Shen Yuan interrupted, "A cornered dog will jump over a wall, let alone Zeng Xianyong, an unemployed man in his forties with a wife and children to support. I really fear he might do something detrimental to you."


    "This matter needs to be approached in the right way. How about this, leave this matter to me, and I guarantee I can make him take a fall without affecting you."


    Shen Yuan''s tone was very sincere, considering Chen Na''s welfare in every aspect, fearing that she might get hurt.


    "Shen Yuan...."


    Hearing the concern in Shen Yuan''s words, Chen Na was slightly touched and felt warmth in her heart.


    She suddenly felt she had made a very correct decision.


    "Don''t worry, this is what I should do."


    Shen Yuan patted Chen Na''s shoulder to comfort her, thinking to himself that he mainly wanted to get to know Ms. Lin, the beautiful young wife; actually, you needn''t be too moved.


    However, when he patted Chen Na''s shoulder, he suddenly noticed that Chen Na''s Feel-good Index had changed.


    The first time they went to the IFC Mall together, Chen Na''s Feel-good Index towards him was 64, and after two days of interaction, it had increased by 2 points to 66.


    And now it had suddenly increased by 5 points, reaching 71 points!


    Embarrassingly enough, Shen Yuan originally just wanted to find a pretext to interact with Lin Yuchang, the beautiful young wife, but he didn''t expect to have such an unexpected surprise.


    ...

 Chapter 53 Really Cant Stand It

    Three minutes later, Lin Yuchang finished her call and returned to the table.


    There was a slight change in her expression, and though she tried to hide it, Shen Yuan could still tell.


    Shen Yuan figured it might be possible that the marital relationship between her and her husband wasn''t very harmonious.


    But that was normal, Zeng Xianyong often indulged in pleasures outside, and Lin Yuchang wasn''t a fool; she certainly could sense it.


    Next, after signing the agreement with Lin Yuchang, he immediately transferred 250,000 to her.


    From then on, MS Coffee became officially his property.


    With 50,000 left in the investment fund, Shen Yuan transferred all of it to Chen Na, with 24,000 for her salary for the previous two months, and the remaining 26,000 as operating funds for the coffee shop.


    Having interacted with her over the past few days, Shen Yuan trusted Chen Na''s character and was confident in leaving the coffee shop entirely in her hands, preferring to be a hands-off owner.


    [Ding!]


    [Monitored that the host has fully invested the 1 million dedicated investment fund, completing the initial investment task, and has been promoted from investment novice to junior investor.]


    [A perfect life should have a richer portfolio.]


    [Task: The host will receive 10 million in dedicated investment funds to continue to expand investments.]


    [Task Reward 1: All business income derived from investments will receive a threefold cashback.]


    [Task Reward 2: After completing the investments, a mysterious asset will be acquired.]


    Wow!


    Shen Yuan''s lips curled into a smile, not expecting the System to have prepared another surprise for him.


    This time the investment fund was increased tenfold, allowing him to invest with 10 million!


    And the bonus was upgraded from twice to three times, plus he would receive a mysterious asset.


    Given the System''s generosity, Shen Yuan thought the mysterious asset must be of considerable value.


    He vividly remembered the reward from the last time on the class belle, which totalled more than seven million ¨C six million from a lottery and one million in consumer funds.


    Not to mention the special abilities; Shen Yuan felt they were beyond monetary measure.


    After all, such abilities couldn''t be bought with money.


    "Mr. Shen, it''s been a pleasure doing business with you."


    Lin Yuchang had finished all the procedures and stood up to shake hands with Shen Yuan, "I need to go back now, hope to see you again sometime."


    "Of course, we''ll meet again."


    Shen Yuan lightly held Lin Yuchang''s hand and noticed that her skin was not only smooth but also pleasantly plump.


    For some reason, ever since he learned she was Zeng Xianyong''s wife, his gaze toward her had changed.


    Although Lin Yuchang had already given birth, she still maintained herself very well, as could be seen from her slender, fair arms that obviously got regular exercise.


    Her bust was tightly wrapped, but from a different angle, one could still perceive there was an impressive landscape within.


    Lin Yuchang was slightly taken aback, not completely grasping the meaning of "we''ll meet again."


    But she realized that young people''s ways of thinking tended to be more flexible, and perhaps this was a new way of saying goodbye.


    "Goodbye."


    After Lin Yuchang left, Shen Yuan checked the time on his phone and saw it was almost 5 o''clock, so he proposed that they leave for dinner. Read exclusive chapters at empire


    Then, after saying goodbye to Xiaoqiu, the two prepared to head out. Before leaving, he took one more look around his new property from top to bottom.


    The coffee shop had a small duplex structure, decorated in a vintage style, mostly with wooden fittings, and there were even two small private dining rooms on the second floor.


    "So this is my coffee shop now."


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but reflect inwardly as he scanned the place. During his scan, he noticed that one of the tables was occupied by a classmate of his.


    Ye Zhiyang and Li Zhanpeng were there, and across from them sat two girls from the same grade.


    Today must really be the day coincidence gave coincidence a helping hand.


    Li Zhanpeng, noticing Shen Yuan''s gaze, immediately looked down, pretending not to see. Unexpectedly, Ye Zhiyang reached out his hand and took the initiative to wave: "Shen Yuan, what a coincidence."


    Dammit, isn''t this guy an idiot?


    Li Zhanpeng complained inwardly, but now that hiding was no longer an option, he could only lift his head and pretend as if nothing was amiss.


    However, he and Shen Yuan never got along, so initiating a greeting was out of the question.


    "Ye Zhiyang, you guys are quite something, bringing beauties from other classes out for coffee."


    Shen Yuan laughed it off, and Chen Na, hearing that these were Shen Yuan''s classmates, also returned a polite smile.


    Ye Zhiyang''s eyelid twitched, thinking to himself, where do you get off being so cocky, when you''re the one keeping a beauty from outside the school.


    "We''re off to have dinner, see you, bye."


    Shen Yuan waved to the group then walked out of the cafe? with Chen Na.


    Li Zhanpeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought that Shen Yuan, having just changed Defenders and recently taken over a cafe?, would show off in front of them.


    After all, everyone has a bit of vanity in them.


    Now it seemed he had underestimated Shen Yuan.


    Wei Yanyan and Weng Meiyun also felt that Shen Yuan was not like what Li Zhanpeng had described; in fact, he seemed quite graceful and didn''t show off or boast.


    What gave them a sense of defeat was that Shen Yuan hardly gave them a second glance just now.


    But then again, when someone has such a top-notch beauty by his side, why would he give them a second look?


    Thirty minutes later, Shen Yuan drove the Defender, taking Chen Na to the private dining room of Star Sushi.


    It was the same place he had brought Fang Minhui before.


    "Shen Yuan, do you come here often? The environment and service are really good."


    Star Sushi was well-known in Star City and quite expensive. Chen Na had seen it on Xiaohongshu and Kuaishou but had never been before, so everything was novel to her.


    The warm amber lighting, the sliding door of the private dining room, and the mats for sitting or kneeling all had their own unique charm.


    "Sort of."


    Shen Yuan felt a little embarrassed thinking about it; he had brought three different girls, from class belle Zhou Wanting to Fang Minhui, and now Chen Na, to the same restaurant.


    Chen Na blinked her beautiful eyes, looking at Shen Yuan: "And who did you come with before?"


    "With my sister."


    Shen Yuan thought to himself that Fang Minhui was a few months younger than him, so she should count as a sister, right?


    "You''re lying!"


    Chen Na remembered that the last time Shen Yuan took her shopping for bags he had said it was for his sister, and now he was using the sister excuse again for dinner. Was he always using his sister as a scapegoat?


    Now Chen Na even doubted whether Shen Yuan really had a sister.


    "....."


    "Let''s have a seat, the food here doesn''t come out that quickly."


    Shen Yuan quickly changed the subject and handed Chen Na a cushion.


    Chen Na was wearing a short skirt today, unable to sit cross-legged like Shen Yuan, so she had to kneel down carefully, holding the back of her dress.


    Her skirt was already short, and kneeling made it ride up even higher. Shen Yuan was sitting directly across from her and from his angle, he could even glimpse the nearly imperceptible shadow between her pristine white thighs.


    This is too much to bear, just too much.


    In the end, Shen Yuan couldn''t resist such a test and finally gave in: "Chen Na, maybe you should sit next to me instead?"


    "..."

 Chapter 54 I Really Just Went Upstairs to Have Some Water

    The soft yellow lighting in the Star Sushi private dining room was dim, casting just enough glow for a hazy ambiance, adding a touch of intimacy when a man and a woman were alone together in the space.


    Chen Na, upon hearing Shen Yuan''s words, didn''t play coy or resist. After standing up, she moved the cushion beside Shen Yuan and knelt down again.


    Today, underneath her short skirt, she wasn''t wearing black stockings, but rather boldly displayed her smooth, fair thighs. Coupled with her kneeling posture, it offered Shen Yuan a visual feast.


    After all, Shen Yuan was no saint. He was just an ordinary man with emotions and desires, and it was normal for him to react to this situation.


    Especially now that he had fulfilled Chen Na''s dream of opening a cafe.


    Although the cafe was officially under his name, the generous salary he offered and the condition that he sought no return made it no different than saying it belonged to Chen Na.


    Shen Yuan felt it was time to collect some interest, so his right hand naturally found its way to Chen Na''s slender waist, savoring the soft touch.


    Chen Na''s body trembled, surprised by Shen Yuan''s boldness. She twisted her waist in reluctant protest, "The waiter will come in later..."


    "The dishes don''t come out that fast here."


    Such a feeble resistance only served to excite a man more. Shen Yuan advanced strategically, his hands gently exploring without giving Chen Na a moment to breathe.


    Chen Na''s face immediately flushed with heat, her heart pounding rapidly. She parted her lips as if to object, but ultimately, she said nothing.


    Having worked in sales for years, Chen Na understood a principle very well: the world is realistic¡ªthere are no loves or hates without reason, nor are there altruistic offerings without expectation of return.


    When a person gives, they certainly expect something in return.


    Of course, the ultimate sycophants excepted.


    Last time, Shen Yuan bought her a 40,000-yuan handbag, and now he had paid 300,000 to acquire a cafe for her.


    Additionally, Shen Yuan was going to pay a 12,000 monthly salary for her.


    What was he after?


    Profits from the cafe?


    That would be a joke.


    Today, Lin Yuchang herself said that the cafe could only break even at best, so it was clearly not about making money.


    So, it was no surprise that all of this happened naturally.


    Of course, this was all she could offer him now...


    Although she was already 26 this year, she was still a virgin.


    She had never considered dating during her school years, and after graduation, she was too busy with work to find a partner.


    Despite encountering some high-quality men, Chen Na always felt something was lacking until Xie Haijie began pursuing her persistently, prompting her to give it a try.


    Half a month into the relationship, they had only held hands, with no further physical contact.


    Therefore, her virginity was essentially the most precious thing she had to offer Shen Yuan.


    Chen Na, thinking this way, decided to close her eyes and quietly enjoy...


    Ten minutes later, just as Shen Yuan was getting to a crucial point, there was a "knock knock" at the door from the waiter.


    Shen Yuan promptly ceased his movements, both with his hands and mouth, while Chen Na''s cheeks burned with a flushed crimson and her eyes were dazed as she fumbled to fasten the buttons at her neckline.


    "Come in."


    After Chen Na had fastened her buttons, Shen Yuan responded.


    "Mr. Shen, your dishes are ready."


    The waitress, dressed in a kimono, entered the room to serve their dishes. After briefly introducing the food, she bowed and left the private dining room.


    She had glanced quickly at the state of the two guests upon entering. The man was calm, while the woman''s cheeks were bright red, intentionally keeping her head low.


    Working here for quite some time, the waitress knew exactly what had transpired.


    But they were accustomed to such happenings and were not surprised.


    That''s why they always knocked before entering a private dining room to avoid witnessing any acts they shouldn''t see.


    People came out to have fun, especially young men and women, seeking some excitement now and then.


    Especially for men who have seen plenty of Dongying films, who wouldn''t enjoy such scenarios?


    It''s completely understandable!


    "Shen Yuan, let''s not do it in such a place next time..."


    Chen Na said, raising her misty eyes.


    When the waitress walked in just now, she dared not look up, for fear that the other woman might notice something amiss.


    "I''ll think about it."


    Shen Yuan said he would consider it, but he had no intention of agreeing in his heart. It was only a sushi restaurant''s private dining room after all¡ªthey hadn''t even tried a cafe''s private dining room yet.


    "What''s there to consider?"


    Chen Na didn''t understand. Her request didn''t seem excessive.


    "Alright, let''s eat something first. I''m a bit hungry."


    Shen Yuan changed the subject.


    "You''re such a jerk..."


    When she heard Shen Yuan deliberately avoiding the topic, Chen Na felt an itch in her gums and really wanted to pinch his annoying face.


    But looking at him, Shen Yuan was actually quite handsome.


    The only drawback was probably that he was a bit of a scoundrel.


    Even with such a beautiful girl by his side, he still sought out other women.


    "Sigh, now that I''m on his ship, it''s no use talking about all this."


    Chen Na sighed helplessly in her heart.


    Afterwards, the two finished their meal and walked out of the private dining room together to the front desk to pay the bill.


    The meal was still expensive, totaling 2652 yuan. Watching Shen Yuan pay, Chen Na secretly marveled. Although she had anticipated the high price, she hadn''t expected it to be this expensive.


    A single meal was almost the same as the commission she earned from selling a car.


    You should know that she sells at most five or six cars a month.


    However, maybe this was just how wealthy people lived. The 2000 yuan they spent was probably the same as her spending 20 yuan.


    But inside, Shen Yuan was unperturbed, even a bit pleased. Although 2652 yuan was spent on this meal, he had a triple cashback, which meant a net gain of 5304 yuan.


    Going out with Fang Minhui or Chen Na, no matter how much they spent, it was profitable. Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    After leaving Star Sushi, Chen Na suggested going back to the coffee shop to learn how to make coffee with Xiaoqiu because she would officially start working at the coffee shop tomorrow, and Chen Na wanted to get familiar with it as soon as possible.


    However, Shen Yuan shook his head and said seriously, "It''s almost eight o''clock now, and it will be at least half past eight by the time you get there. Xiaoqiu gets off work at nine, so if you go now, you''ll be delaying her from getting off work."


    "You should go home and rest early and save your energy for tomorrow."


    In fact, Shen Yuan was talking nonsense; he didn''t know what time the coffee shop closed, nor did he know what time Xiaoqiu got off work.


    However, Chen Na thought Shen Yuan made sense and wasn''t in a hurry at that moment, so she nodded and said, "Okay, then take me home."


    Half an hour later, Shen Yuan drove back to the apartment building where Chen Na rented an apartment. As Chen Na descended from the passenger side to say goodbye to Shen Yuan, she didn''t expect Shen Yuan to jump out of the driver''s side as well.


    "What are you doing coming down?"


    Chen Na asked somewhat uneasily, with a vague premonition inside her.


    "I''m a bit thirsty, going upstairs for a drink of water," Shen Yuan said, unflinchingly.


    Hearing such a cliche? excuse from Shen Yuan, Chen Na didn''t want to expose him, but this was moving too fast. She gently shook her head, "I''m not very convenient tonight..."


    In fact, what had happened in the private dining room that evening was already her limit.


    After all, they had only known each other for how long.


    It was still better to proceed step by step.


    "Is there another man upstairs?"


    Shen Yuan looked up at the apartment building.


    "How could that be!"


    Chen Na glared at him, knowing that Shen Yuan was aware that she was single, as she had told him everything about Xie Haijie.


    "Then what''s the inconvenience of going up for a drink of water?"


    Shen Yuan continued to feign ignorance.


    "..."


    Chen Na was speechless and choked, probably not expecting Shen Yuan to be so thick-skinned.


    "So you really are just going to have a drink of water and leave?"


    Chen Na inquired tentatively.


    She still had a shred of trust in Shen Yuan. What if Shen Yuan really was just going up for a drink of water?


    "Of course, but you can also think about letting me stay over the night if you want," Shen Yuan said with a chuckle.


    "Keep dreaming!"


    At this moment, Chen Na relaxed her vigilance slightly and led Shen Yuan upstairs.


    The apartment she lived in was on the sixth floor, but there was an elevator.


    This was the first time she had brought a man back home, and she was somewhat nervous inside, but also relieved that she had cleaned up at home today, so the room wasn''t too messy.


    After reaching the sixth floor in the elevator, Chen Na turned the key to open the door, and the room was pitch black. She was about to turn on the light when Shen Yuan suddenly embraced her from behind, pinning her against the wall.


    "You said you were just going to..."


    "You said you were just going to drink some water..."


    Chen Na''s voice was tinged with a whimper. It was then she realized she had underestimated Shen Yuan''s boldness. She had indeed let the wolf into the house.


    "Indeed, it is for a drink of water..."


    Shen Yuan was thinking yes, it was for a drink of water, just not the kind of water she was thinking of.


    Especially since the atmosphere had been built up to this point and the private dining room hadn''t been satisfying enough, Shen Yuan, as a hot-blooded young man, was struggling to restrain himself.


    "Hmm..."


    Chen Na''s lips were completely sealed, and she felt like she was suffocating, trying to break free, but how could she, a frail woman, overpower Shen Yuan, a man over one meter eighty.


    "....."


    At this time, Xie Haijie drove his Crown car to the apartment building where Chen Na lived.


    He was planning to apologize today.


    After the fight with Zeng Xianyong, it was a case of no fight, no acquaintance; they sat down together in a tea restaurant for a meal and opened up in their conversation.


    It turned out that Zeng Xianyong was the general manager of Chen Na''s store and happened to bump into Chen Na after finishing a car dealership alliance meeting at IFC Mall, which is why they sat together.


    There was actually nothing improper between them.


    Xie Haijie was filled with regret over his impulsiveness at the time and repeatedly apologized to Zeng Xianyong during the meal.


    But he felt that he owed an even greater apology to Chen Na. After all, he fought with her boss in front of her, which would make it difficult for her to work in the shop in the future.


    Ever since that fight, he couldn''t get in touch with Chen Na; both her phone and WeChat had blocked him, leaving no chance for an apology.


    So he took the time today, prepared a bouquet of flowers, and went to the Land Rover 4S shop after work to apologize to Chen Na in person, but to his surprise, he was told she had resigned.


    After learning this, Xie Haijie felt even guiltier, thinking that Chen Na''s resignation was definitely because of him.


    Therefore, he felt an even greater need to formally and sincerely apologize to Chen Na in person.


    When Xie Haijie was pursuing Chen Na, he once sent her some local specialties while on a business trip, so he knew her address.


    Xie Haijie didn''t expect this to win Chen Na back, but at least he wanted her forgiveness. After such an incident, the harm done to her was certainly great.


    If she forgave him, then at least they could still be friends in the future.


    Of course, getting back together as a couple was also a possibility.


    Xie Haijie was organizing his apology in his heart while getting out of the car, but then he suddenly noticed a Land Rover Defender parked not far from the apartment building.


    Seeing the Defender, Xie Haijie''s mind went blank.


    This...


    Could it be Zeng Xianyong''s car?


    .....

 Chapter 55

    Xie Haijie had an inkling, but he wasn''t sure if it was Zeng Xianyong''s car.


    So, with mixed feelings, he decided to go and investigate.


    Xie Haijie took the elevator to Chen Na''s unit, number 605. Seeing no light through the crack of Chen Na''s door, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Looks like I was overthinking it, that must be someone else''s car, Chen Na isn''t even home."


    Feeling somewhat relieved, Xie Haijie took a few steps forward and crouched down to place the roses he had bought in front of Chen Na''s door.


    "This way, Chen Na will see them as soon as she returns home. She''s so smart, she''ll definitely know who sent them."


    Enjoy more content from empire


    The bouquet contained 19 roses, perfectly conveying his message of "I will love you forever, unchanging." He had gone out of his way to buy them from the flower market after work, guessing no woman could resist such flowers.


    After setting down the roses, Xie Haijie was about to get up when suddenly he heard some rustling noises inside the room. He instinctively frowned, wondering if someone had broken into Chen Na''s apartment?


    Should he call the police?


    Xie Haijie pressed his ear against the door, planning to make sure of the situation before calling the police, lest he cause major embarrassment if it turned out to be Chen Na herself.


    He hadn''t thought it mattered until he listened and was completely dumbfounded.


    Sounds of intense card playing were coming from inside,


    and crucially, there were also faint sounds of a woman gasping.


    Xie Haijie, having good hearing, combined with the poor soundproofing of these rental apartments, was completely certain that the sounds were coming from Chen Na.


    "Zeng Xianyong, fuck your mother!"


    Xie Haijie let out a heart-wrenching scream.


    That son of a bitch Zeng Xianyong had clearly claimed he had nothing going on with Chen Na, yet here they were already showing off their card-playing skills?


    I really fell for your lies!


    At this moment inside the room, Chen Na was leaning against the shoe cabinet.


    Shen Yuan was in the midst of sprinting when the cursing and ranting from Xie Haijie outside startled him.


    Shen Yuan had met Xie Haijie twice before and could recognize his voice.


    Xie Haijie, this idiot, had already broken up with Chen Na, so why come and meddle?


    But Xie Haijie had just seemed to be cursing at Zeng Xianyong, which probably didn''t involve him.


    Shen Yuan couldn''t be bothered with Xie Haijie the fool, and he picked up his pace.


    Xie Haijie, hearing the increased speed and force from inside, clenched his fists even tighter. That son of a bitch Zeng Xianyong was clearly taunting him!


    Hearing the ongoing card playing sounds, Xie Haijie was in agonizing discomfort.


    Zeng Xianyong, fuck your ancestors!


    Xie Haijie paced back and forth at the door, his heart burning with anxiety, somewhat tempted to knock on the door...


    But then...


    Xie Haijie suddenly realized something, Chen Na had been completely taken by someone else, and he no longer had any chance.


    Moreover, Chen Na had already broken up with him and blocked him on WeChat, clearly intending to cut off all contact. What right did he have to meddle in these matters?


    Would it be like last time, end up fighting someone?


    Xie Haijie smiled bitterly, shaking his head. Fortunately, last time Zeng Xianyong didn''t pursue it further. Had it escalated to the police, things might have gotten messy. Fighting was ultimately unreasonable and wouldn''t solve anything.


    With this in mind, Xie Haijie''s expression turned dull, and he listlessly sat on the floor for a long while before slowly letting out, "Nana, make sure he..."


    Shen Yuan inside the room found this quite amusing, as Xie Haijie seemed more romantic than he''d imagined.


    But really, what business was it of yours?


    You really are a nosy one!


    After sitting for a long while, Xie Haijie dejectedly stood up, silently took the elevator downstairs, and entered a convenience store, weakly stating, "Boss, give me a pack of cigarettes and half a dozen Wusu beers."


    A minute later, Xie Haijie left the store holding six bottles of Wusu in his hands and a pack of cigarettes in his pocket, leaving this place of heartache behind.


    The events of tonight wrung his heart like a knife, and he resolved to forget about Chen Na.


    The convenience store owner, a man in his forties, watched Xie Haijie''s departing lonely figure and couldn''t help but sigh, "There goes a man with a story!"


    ...


    Meanwhile, inside Chen Na''s apartment, Shen Yuan and Chen Na had just finished a satisfying round of exercise.


    Chen Na''s cheeks were flushed, and she staggered over to the sofa, sitting down wearily.


    After sitting for a while, she recovered her breath and asked with a hazy look, "I thought I heard something outside just now, was someone knocking?"


    "You heard wrong; it was someone knocking next door."


    Shen Yuan shook his head.


    "So..."


    Chen Na nodded thoughtfully, but she didn''t dwell on it since the apartment had pretty poor sound insulation, and it was easy to mishear things.


    "How about we go again?"


    Shen Yuan suggested; ever since he had acquired the ruthless ability, he had become invincible, sweeping through all challenges.


    He remembered when he had exercised with Fang Minhui; this time it had lasted a full forty minutes, and his legs and core were still vigorous and strong!


    System is awesome!


    "I can''t anymore."


    Chen Na''s flushed face gently shook.....


    "It seems the thing about Xiaoqiu getting off work at nine was false too."


    "This man, he''s really shameless!"


    Chen Na stared at Shen Yuan''s annoying face, really wanting to pinch it hard.


    But remembering the climax just now, Chen Na''s eyes were full of affection, and she felt quite satisfied, just a bit tired....


    "Ah, what are you doing!"


    Chen Na suddenly exclaimed; it turned out that Shen Yuan, that jerk, had just picked her up.


    Shen Yuan carried her to the bedroom and threw her onto the big bed: "It''s not so tiring here, just lie down and relax!"


    "You....."


    Chen Na had no way to deal with him; her limbs were weak, and she had completely lost the ability to resist.


    Actually, Shen Yuan was also a bit surprised by Chen Na''s contrasting demeanor; he had thought that with her extroverted and cheerful personality, she would be more open in such matters, but it turned out she became reserved and conservative when it really came down to it.


    Fang Minhui was the same, seemingly innocent and abstinent on the outside, but once it came to real action, she was even more unrestrained than Shen Yuan, an experienced hand.


    Indeed, it proves the old saying, "Appearances are deceiving!"


    ...


    The next morning, Shen Yuan woke up groggily and glanced at his phone to find it was already past nine.


    The battle last night had continued from just after nine until one in the morning, and even though Shen Yuan had been enhanced, he didn''t feel tired, but Chen Na, after taking a bath due to the great physical exertion, had lain down on the bed and fallen sound asleep.


    Shen Yuan instinctively reached out his hand and found that Chen Na''s soft body was no longer beside him, while savory smells wafted from the living room.


    Shen Yuan had a keen sense of smell, immediately recognizing the scents of toasted bread and fried eggs, and quickly climbed out of bed.


    "Chen Na is really thoughtful!"


    Though he felt no fatigue from the enhancements provided by the System, there was still energy loss inside his body, so Shen Yuan was starving.


    Currently in the kitchen, sunlight streamed through the half-open window onto Chen Na, who was wearing an oversize white T-shirt and diligently frying eggs.


    The oversized T-shirt covered her beautiful body; perhaps she wore it intentionally to prevent Shen Yuan from getting any more ideas.


    However, while it covered the top, a pair of long, shapely legs was still generously exposed.


    It was these smooth, white legs that had cost Shen Yuan a lot of effort last night.


    But now, Shen Yuan didn''t harbor many improper thoughts, instead quietly watching this beautiful scene, feeling warm inside.


    But he thought that such a scene could only happen at home; cooking wasn''t something you could do in a hotel, not to mention hotels lacked this kind of warmth.


    [Ding!]


    [A perfect life should include owning your own property, to create better living conditions for yourself and your women]


    [Limited time mission: Buy a property of no less than 100 square meters for Chen Na within 24 hours]


    [Mission reward 1: The purchase price of the property will receive double cashback]


    [Mission reward 2: After purchasing, the host will receive a mysterious property]


    [Note: Mission reward 1 can be stacked with the basic Feel-good Index cashback]


    This....


    Shen Yuan looked at the display on the panel and his eyes widened.


    He hadn''t expected that just a fleeting thought about buying a house in his mind, System would arrange it directly!


    The money for the house could be doubled on cashback, plus triple cashback from the Feel-good Index; effectively, buying a 1 million dollar house could net a profit of 4 million.


    The key was the second reward, which was the major prize.


    With the System''s generosity, this property was bound to be luxurious!


    .....

 Chapter 56 Convenient for Chen Na, Also Convenient for Shen Yuan

    Housing, before Shen Yuan''s family went bankrupt, he had hardly any concept of it.


    His family used to own two apartments, the one they lived in had an area of over 150 square meters, both its location and amenities were good, and the neighborhood also had a high rate of greenery.


    However, they later moved to a rental apartment that was shabbily furnished and smaller in size. They could only access it by climbing stairs and there was no garden downstairs.


    The living experience was incomparable.


    It was only then that Shen Yuan realized the importance of a good house.


    Living in a nice house even made him feel better.


    Moreover, the mysterious property might just bring him a surprise.


    What if it were a large flat or a big villa?


    If it were a big villa, that would be incredibly exciting, not only would the space and freedom be great, but it would also come with a garden and a swimming pool.


    Imagine bringing Fang Minhui or Chen Na to the villa, watching them swim in the pool in their bikinis while Shen Yuan could sit on a chair and sip red wine, leisurely admiring their swimming.


    He could even throw a pool party from time to time!


    Of course, it all depended on whether System was helpful enough.


    Shen Yuan had figured out a pattern, not only was cash back on spending linked to women, but most of these task triggers also had something to do with women.


    For example, the task of acquiring property happened while he was with Chen Na.


    It seemed he needed to connect with more high-quality women in the future.


    So far, only Fang Minhui and Chen Na had brought him unexpected surprises; if that number increased, the probability of such surprises would greatly increase as well.


    At that moment, Shen Yuan also noticed that Chen Na''s Feel-good Index had changed: yesterday it was 71, and now it had reached 78!


    For Shen Yuan, the increase in Feel-good Index represented not only the warming of his relationship with the opposite sex, but it also meant more rewards could be obtained.


    For instance, the last time with the class belle, he straight away profited over seven million.


    Who knows what reward would come if Chen Na reached a Feel-good Index of 90.


    At that moment, Chen Na, who was intently frying eggs, turned her head inadvertently and saw Shen Yuan standing at the kitchen door, "You''re up? Breakfast will be ready in two minutes."


    "Mmm."


    "But is there only breakfast this morning?"


    Shen Yuan asked with a teasing smile.


    Hearing these provocative words, Chen Na was reminded of last night''s passion and her cheeks flushed unnaturally, "What are you thinking, it''s broad daylight."


    "What about it, who says you can''t play poker during the day?"


    Shen Yuan was quite pleased with Chen Na''s reaction, slowly approached her, and his hands started to wander.


    "Ah..."


    Chen Na couldn''t help but exclaim, "But, but I am still cooking breakfast..."


    "Sure, you do your breakfast, and I''ll have my breakfast..."


    Before having breakfast, Shen Yuan had prepared some appetizers for himself, and Chen Na couldn''t resist Shen Yuan''s advance, succumbing yet again.


    This oversize T-shirt had to be mentioned for its convenience, not just for Chen Na, but for Shen Yuan as well.


    This time Shen Yuan kept the duration to thirty minutes, partly because he was really hungry and wanted to have breakfast soon, and partly because he considered that Chen Na might not be able to withstand a continuous onslaught.


    Chen Na had prepared four slices of toast and two eggs for Shen Yuan that morning, along with a small bag of nuts and a large cup of milk. She knew that men expended more energy in these matters and needed to replenish their strength and nutrition more than women did.


    While eating the toast, Shen Yuan casually mentioned, "You''re not busy this morning, right? Let''s go buy you an apartment."


    "What?"


    Chen Na was startled, nearly choking Shen Yuan with the milk she was sipping.


    Shen Yuan had already spent 300,000 helping her secure a coffee shop yesterday, and had previously bought her a 40,000 purse. Chen Na was already quite content.


    And now he was suggesting buying her an apartment?


    Although the real estate prices in Star City were not as high as in the top-tier cities, the average price was around 14,000, with better properties costing 20,000 to 30,000.


    Even buying a smaller apartment for around 10,000 per square meter, a 90-square-meter unit would cost over a million yuan.


    Chen Na had worked for many years and still hadn''t saved enough for a down payment. Even with developers frequently offering promotions like one-tenth down payments, she dared not think about it. Apart from the down payment, she also had to consider the pressure of subsequent mortgage payments.


    With the unstable economic situation, a sudden decrease in income could mean not being able to pay the mortgage, risking the possibility of foreclosure.


    That said, she had already surrendered everything possible to Shen Yuan.


    What was Shen Yuan aiming for with this?


    From her understanding, men''s attitudes change after they get what they want. It was good enough if they didn''t reduce expenses, but why would they increase them?


    Could it be that last night she had made him happy?


    So...


    This thought unwittingly popped into Chen Na''s mind, and it seemed like the only reasonable explanation.


    "So, you don''t want it?"


    Shen Yuan asked with a faint smile.


    "No, it''s just so sudden."


    "And, apartments are quite expensive, even a small one would cost over a million, right?"


    Chen Na said somewhat embarrassedly, although she didn''t know why Shen Yuan wanted to buy her an apartment, she felt that Shen Yuan''s money wasn''t easily earned. Even if Shen Yuan was willing to buy it for her, she had to consider whether to accept it.


    Shen Yuan guessed what was on Chen Na''s mind and smiled knowingly, "Silly girl, you don''t need to save money for me, and what''s wrong with buying an apartment for my own woman?"


    "Er..."


    Chen Na raised her beautiful eyes, not knowing what to say.


    "Let''s go this morning, not buying a small one either. We should look for something over 120 square meters; I wouldn''t shortchange my own woman."


    Shen Yuan said earnestly.


    After all, with System offering a fivefold reward, the more expensive the better; buying a smaller apartment would mean less return, so the bigger and more expensive, the better.


    A couple of days ago, Old Shen had exchanged a 1-million-yuan award and gave it to Shen Yuan. Additionally, Shen Yuan''s system backpack had another 1 million in spending money, plus he had over 900,000 yuan available in his bank account. So all in all, he had 2.9 million yuan at his disposal to help Chen Na buy a house.


    If he spent all of this 2.9 million, with the fivefold return, his savings could directly reach 14.5 million yuan!


    "Shen Yuan..."


    Shen Yuan spoke with genuine sincerity. Chen Na was moved, tears welling up in her eyes as this was the first time a man had treated her so well.


    Her long eyelashes were laden with teardrops, beautiful like a fresh lotus flower. Shen Yuan saw and felt a pang of heartache, so he wiped her tears away and said,


    "You won''t have to rent a place anymore. Last night, we were so loud, and the soundproofing here is terrible. The neighbors on both sides might have been eavesdropping."


    "That was your fault..."


    Chen Na couldn''t help but snort with laughter, and Shen Yuan''s interruption broke her emotional buildup. Now, she didn''t know whether to laugh or cry.


    "I admit I was partly to blame, but mainly it was because you were too wild."


    "My voice was very quiet!"


    Chen Na couldn''t help but retort, yet Shen Yuan''s teasing instantly lifted her spirits.


    However, she suddenly remembered she had things to do this morning, since two of her best friends were supposed to come see her coffee shop.


    She had been in touch with Qianqian these past few days, discussing her resignation and the coffee shop matters.


    After closing the deal yesterday, Chen Na had messaged Qianqian on WeChat. Qianqian immediately said she would come to see the coffee shop this morning, and after hearing about it, another friend also wanted to join.


    "Shen Yuan, I have something to do this morning, can we go this afternoon?"


    "What''s the matter?"


    Shen Yuan thought that this was a time-sensitive task that had to be completed within 24 hours.


    "I have two best friends coming to see the coffee shop. We''re meeting at 10:30 in the morning."


    Chen Na checked the time on her phone and realized it was almost 10 o''clock.


    "How about rescheduling with your friends? Maybe meet tonight or tomorrow? I might not be free this afternoon or tomorrow."


    Shen Yuan primarily considered that this was a time-limited task. Buying a house is not like purchasing small consumer goods; you have to pick the right one, and the process, including paperwork, might not be settled in just an afternoon or a morning.


    It was better to reserve more time.


    "I see..."


    "Alright, I''ll talk to them then."


    Chen Na felt Shen Yuan''s matter was more important, so she picked up her phone and sent a WeChat to Qianqian.


    "Qianqian, I can''t make it to the coffee shop, got a bit of an issue. How about we meet tonight, does that work for you?"


    "What''s the matter? But Meng Lu and I are almost at the coffee shop!"


    "You''re so early..."


    Chen Na didn''t expect Qianqian and Meng Lu to arrive so soon; it wasn''t the meeting time yet, there was still half an hour left.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere.


    In a Wuling Hongguang car, Hou Qianqian was in the passenger seat, frowning, "Nana said she had something to do today and couldn''t come..."


    "Ah? Why?"


    The driver, Liew Menglu, was a fitness trainer, unable to help but ask.


    They had specifically taken the day off today to see Chen Na''s coffee shop.


    Of course, the main reason was to meet the wealthy benefactor supporting Chen Na.


    After all, 300,000 wasn''t a small amount, and he had spent it just like that for Chen Na.


    The key point was that Liew Menglu had also heard from Hou Qianqian that this benefactor was young and handsome.


    That certainly excited Liew Menglu.


    Liew Menglu''s figure and looks were top-notch at their fitness center, often attracting some wealthy male members.


    Some men indeed had money, and although they wouldn''t spend 300,000 at once, they were willing to occasionally splurge a few tens of thousands.


    But these were mostly greasy middle-aged men, either pot-bellied or showing signs of age.


    Thus, Liew Menglu had always been hopeful for a young, handsome, and rich man. Stay connected with empire


    Unfortunately, despite several years, she had never met one.


    But this time, upon hearing Hou Qianqian mention that Chen Na had snagged such a wealthy man, she suggested they visit under the guise of checking out the coffee shop.


    But what was this sudden change of plans?


    "I think maybe the coffee shop thing was a bluff, and that''s why Nana is too embarrassed to say it."


    "How could men nowadays be so easily fooled to just casually spend 300,000 on her?"


    After thinking it over, Hou Qianqian came to this conclusion.


    She had been selling Ferraris for a long time and had never met such a man, let alone Chen Na who only sold Land Rovers.


    She had felt something was off the last time she heard about it, worrying that Nana might end up swindled both financially and emotionally.


    That would really be laughter-deadly!


    Liew Menglu shook her head, "Nana isn''t the type to brag and show off, and having been in sales for so many years, she surely has a good judgment of men. I don''t think that''s likely."


    "Why don''t you ask her what''s the reason?"


    Although Liew Menglu wasn''t as close to Chen Na as Hou Qianqian, after so many years of friendship, they understood each other fairly well.


    "Alright."


    Feeling it made sense, Hou Qianqian sent a WeChat message, "Nana, what''s the issue this morning?"


    A "ding-dong" sounded, and Chen Na quickly replied. Hou Qianqian opened it and stared incredulously after reading the message.


    Liew Menglu was driving, puzzled why the usually chatty Hou Qianqian had suddenly quieted down. She turned to look at Hou Qianqian and saw her looking as if she had an apple stuck in her mouth.


    "Qianqian, what''s wrong?"


    "Nana says that guy is now taking her to buy a house...."


    "???"


    Now Liew Menglu was unsettled too.


    "....."

 Chapter 57 The Wealthy and Generous Female Coach

    "Meng Lu, do you think this is true?"


    Hou Qianqian still found it unbelievable.


    This wasn''t a bag or cosmetics we''re talking about, this was a house!


    To buy just by mentioning it?


    Not to mention a large property, even for a small apartment of forty to fifty square meters, wouldn''t it still cost five to six hundred thousand?


    Plus that coffee shop, it''s equivalent to spending at least eight to nine hundred thousand.


    A man she hasn''t known for even half a month, and he directly spends eight to nine hundred thousand just for her?


    What''s the idea of eight to nine hundred thousand? She worked in Ferrari sales, and although her performance was not bad, even if she didn''t buy bags or cosmetics for five years, she might not be able to save that much.


    "Umm...."


    Liew Menglu was somewhat speechless, how would I know if it''s true?


    I haven''t even seen the guy, you''re asking me, who am I supposed to ask?


    However, if it really was like this, Liew Menglu felt even more that she had to meet him.


    Although he was currently keeping Nana, such a man certainly wouldn''t just keep one woman; who knows if he has several others outside!


    Compared to Chen Na, Liew Menglu admitted that her legs weren''t as shapely, nor were they as long as hers.


    But I''ve got more capital on top!


    Driving her car, Liew Menglu couldn''t help but proudly thrust out her ample chest.


    Probably since around fifth or sixth grade, her CUP size had been developing better than her peers'', and some annoying boys at school even secretly called her "Milk Cow."


    Because of this, Liew Menglu felt somewhat insecure, always binding them tight before going to school and walking with hunched shoulders and chest tucked in to conceal herself.


    However, as she progressed through school and grew older, Liew Menglu gradually discovered that this was not only nothing to be ashamed of but actually an advantage.


    Not only did the lecherous ones like it, but even her flat-chested dormmates were extremely envious, which helped her regain her self-confidence.


    After graduation, Liew Menglu became a fitness instructor, not only shedding some of the excess fat around her waist but also putting a lot of effort into those headlights above.


    Making them even more perky and full.


    Therefore, Liew Menglu was still very confident in herself.


    Although she and Chen Na were best friends, with this kind of Tang Sanzang clearly keeping other female spirits outside, it was better to give advantages to a sister than to those outside female spirits!


    I''m sorry, Nana...


    "Qianqian, ask them which property they''re visiting,"


    "Just say we''ll go help her to have a look. We''re not busy today, and having two more people to help her choose is better than her picking on her own,"


    Liew Menglu suggested.


    "I think it should be a small apartment, the kind that costs around five to six hundred thousand."


    "Many old men like to buy those kinds of apartments for mistresses they keep outside."


    Hou Qianqian was actually feeling a bit out of balance, thinking that everyone was diligently working in sales and earning some hard-earned money, yet Chen Na just happened to soar up and become the golden phoenix.


    "Ah, why can''t I have such good luck~"


    Hou Qianqian sighed inwardly, then sent a WeChat message to Chen Na.


    On the other side, when Nana received Hou Qianqian''s WeChat message, she subconsciously frowned.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Shen Yuan also noticed the change in Chen Na''s expression.


    "My bestie said she wants to come and help me look at houses."


    Chen Na looked somewhat embarrassedly at Shen Yuan, thinking it was a bit presumptuous.


    Shen Yuan thought it didn''t make any difference to him, and not wanting to put Chen Na in a difficult spot, he immediately said, "It''s fine, let them come take a look, it''s no bother."


    "Mmm."


    Chen Na gratefully nodded her head and then replied to Hou Qianqian''s message.


    "Which property are we going to then?"


    "I just looked it up online, both Songhu Tiandi and Puyue Bay are options, but Songhu Tiandi is closer to us, so let''s go see Songhu Tiandi first,"


    Shen Yuan had just looked it up online. Both properties had an average price of around fifteen thousand, with sizes starting at 112 square meters. Picking a larger size and a good floor, it should be about two million or so."


    "Oh, okay."


    Chen Na wasn''t very familiar with the properties and promptly searched "Songhu Tiandi" in her navigation, then sent the location to Hou Qianqian.


    And when Hou Qianqian received the location sent by Chen Na, her eyes widened even further.


    Because she had some knowledge of this residential complex, she also had plans to buy a house. She had been saving for a down payment for the past few years, so she often looked up property information online.


    The location of Songhu Tiandi was medium range, both the location and the surrounding facilities were quite good, their smallest property size being 112 square meters, with an average price of about fifteen thousand.


    Which meant, even for the smallest property type, it would be over one million six hundred thousand!


    Just now she had even thought it was a small apartment worth five to six hundred thousand. She didn''t expect to be proven wrong so quickly; they were looking at buying a house worth at least one million six hundred thousand!


    Thinking of this, Hou Qianqian felt even more disgruntled.


    "Meng Lu, the location is sent over, navigate to Songhu Tiandi."


    "Alright, is this property an apartment complex, how much is the price?"


    "No, it''s a medium-range property, the average price is fifteen thousand, and the smallest properties are 112 square meters."


    "Holy shit, isn''t that over a million?"


    Liew Menglu couldn''t help but curse after hearing that.


    Fucking rich!


    Keeping a mistress and just giving away a house worth over a million!


    There''s no justice, no justice at all. When will such extravagant wealth fall on my head?


    Liew Menglu was now even more eager, quickly switching the navigation route to head for Songhu Tiandi.


    Thirty minutes later, Shen Yuan and Chen Na, driving the Defender, arrived first at the marketing center of Songhu Tiandi, followed closely by Liew Menglu and Hou Qianqian.


    "Nana!"


    "Long time no see!"


    Upon spotting Chen Na in the lobby, Liew Menglu immediately jogged over.


    Today, Liew Menglu was wearing a white body-hugging T-shirt, which sufficiently accentuated her proud bust and slender waist, and a pink hip-hugging skirt for the bottom.


    Whether deliberately or not, her already impressive headlights bounced as she ran.


    Providing quite a view for everyone.


    Even though Shen Yuan had fought several battles the previous night, he still showed her some respect.


    Even some of the guys looking at the sand table in the lobby couldn''t keep their composure and cast admiring glances her way.


    Look at her, she''s really well-nourished!


    Liew Menglu threw herself into Chen Na''s arms, causing all four headlights to deform to various extents.


    Chen Na hadn''t expected Liew Menglu to be so enthusiastic today; the hug just now nearly knocked her over, but based on the feedback from her own bust,


    This vixen seems to have grown even larger!


    "First, let me introduce to you, these two are my good girlfriends, this is Liew Menglu, currently a fitness instructor."


    "This is Hou Qianqian, currently a salesperson at Ferrari."


    "Meng Lu, Qianqian, this is Shen Yuan, currently..."


    Chen Na didn''t quite know how to describe their current relationship, and her face suddenly became a bit embarrassed, but fortunately, at this time, Liew Menglu helped her out and took over the conversation, "Nice to meet you, Shen Yuan."


    "Hello."


    Shen Yuan politely responded.


    To Liew Menglu, Shen Yuan had a four-word evaluation: wealthy and generous.


    But he wasn''t sure if it was just an illusion; Shen Yuan always felt she was a bit pretentious.


    "Looking at you, you''re on the skinny side, need to bulk up. Come to our gym to train when you have time."


    Liew Menglu teased with her beautiful eyes twinkling, also sizing up this wealthy patron.


    She hadn''t expected him to be so young; she originally thought he''d be at least thirty, but looking at him now, he seemed no more than 25.


    And as Qianqian had said, he had a handsome appearance with clear eyebrows, coupled with a height of at least 6 feet, he looked both tall and handsome.


    It''s just infuriating, being rich is one thing, but also being so handsome!


    Shen Yuan was quick to react, smiling, "Forget it, I''m afraid I won''t be able to focus if I train at your gym."


    "Ha ha~"


    Explore more at empire


    Liew Menglu hadn''t expected Shen Yuan to be so open-minded.


    But she had roughly figured out the two through just a few exchanges.


    First, their relationship wasn''t that of a couple, as could be seen from Nana''s reaction just now; second, Shen Yuan wasn''t averse to her, so she might try to make contact.


    At the same time, Liew Menglu also noticed the obvious red swellings around Nana''s knees.


    Such swelling in that area spoke volumes.


    It seems last night''s battle was intense!


    Humph, the situation has come to light. Clearly, Nana made this rich guy happy last night, which is why he''s brought her here to buy a house.


    Liew Menglu thought to herself, and at this moment, the previously silent Hou Qianqian also seized the opportunity, greeting, "Hello Shen Yuan, when you think about changing cars, you can come to our Ferrari dealership."


    "Sure, I''ll look for you when I consider changing cars."


    Compared to Liew Menglu, Shen Yuan was much less interested in Hou Qianqian.


    Hou Qianqian, regardless of her figure or looks, was not quite up to Liew Menglu and Chen Na.


    Moreover, just before coming here, Shen Yuan had already heard from Chen Na that Hou Qianqian had a boyfriend.


    What puzzled Shen Yuan, though, was that both of Chen Na''s good girlfriends had expressed a certain level of interest in him, not overly obvious, but he could still feel it.


    Could these two women have some kind of incredible filter for him?


    He wanted to ask Chen Na, are you sure they are your good girlfriends?


    Unlike Liew Menglu, Hou Qianqian didn''t have that naturally outgoing ability, but as a salesperson with years of experience, she keenly noticed that Shen Yuan didn''t show much interest in her.


    "Sigh, looks like I don''t stand a chance~"


    Hou Qianqian sighed inwardly, Nana had already got a ride, Meng Lu also stood a chance, only she had to maintain the status quo.


    ...

 Chapter 58 This is indeed difficult to bear!

    ```


    Just then, Shen Yuan suddenly noticed that both Liew Menglu and Hou Qianqian had Feel-good Indexes above their heads.


    Liew Menglu''s was 68, and Hou Qianqian''s was 67.


    At first, Shen Yuan even doubted what he was seeing.


    They''ve only met for less than 5 minutes, and already these two women are interested in him?


    But the system''s numbers don''t make mistakes, and Shen Yuan had personally experienced its accuracy with Chen Na and Fang Minhui; this thing was pretty accurate.


    This was somewhat outrageous!


    However, after another thought, it actually made sense.


    Not only men covet women''s bodies in this world, but women also crave men''s bodies and wallets.


    If a woman takes a liking to a man in a short time, it''s mainly due to two factors: looks and money.


    Shen Yuan did indeed have a decent appearance and figure, but if it was only about looks, that might have given him an edge in school, yet it would be of no use in society after graduation.


    In today''s rapidly changing society, where everyone is pragmatic, influence from people and events at work is inevitable.


    Moreover, with the internet being so advanced and the sheer volume of information available online, who wouldn''t want to boast better economic conditions, better cars, and houses after watching all those short videos?


    Besides, chasing money is not only a trend of the times but also essential for one''s own survival and development.


    So this pragmatism is also socially appropriate.


    Shen Yuan was very clear-headed about this.


    Liew Menglu was obviously a materialistic woman, as evidenced by her deliberate behavior just now.


    But this enchantress had substantial potential, and Shen Yuan was not at all opposed; on the contrary, he was eager to try.


    Moreover, this was all advantageous and harmless for Shen Yuan; after all, one more woman with a Feel-good Index over 60 meant one more money tree for him.


    In the end, it was a win-win situation.


    At this moment, the three most beautiful women in the marketing center''s lobby were all gathered around Shen Yuan, especially since all three were dressed very coolly.


    Apart from Hou Qianqian, both Liew Menglu and Chen Na were wearing short skirts, showing off long, fair, beautiful legs, and there was not much fabric on their upper bodies, making quite an eye-catching display wherever there was fabric.


    Especially Liew Menglu.


    Originally, the men who had come to look at houses now saw this scene and were filled with jealousy towards Shen Yuan in their eyes.


    The bastard, what sort of conditions does he have at home, buying a house and bringing along three top-quality beauties?


    Comparing their own partners next to them, they suddenly felt the disparities in their lives all too acutely.


    "Mr. Shen, can we start now?"


    The sales lady who had been waiting silently on the side asked.


    Shen Yuan and Chen Na had already been there for a few minutes, and it was this sales lady who welcomed them. Shen Yuan had mentioned waiting for friends first, so she patiently waited on the side.


    "Sure, give us an introduction."


    Shen Yuan nodded.


    "We currently have building 3 and building 9 on sale, with the average price around 14000 for building 3 and 15000 for building 9. Let me show you the model first.


    The sales lady, with her dignified looks and a professional smile, guided them to the model area, but Shen Yuan waved his hand and said:


    "No need, I have a budget of 3 million; just recommend a type and floor that fits within this budget."


    Looking at the model didn''t really matter; Shen Yuan thought that choosing a house worth 2.9 million would be sufficient, as he just happened to have 2.9 million available for spending, which would maximize his benefits.


    "Ah... I see..."


    The sales lady was momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered: "Then let''s go to the negotiation room to talk, and I''ll make some recommendations for you."


    But Chen Na''s reaction wasn''t as quick.


    Initially, her expectation was only to buy a small unit, not exceeding 1 million. Then, as Shen Yuan said he wanted to buy a larger unit, Chen Na raised her own expectations, thinking it should be a bit more than 1 million.


    But now, it seemed Shen Yuan intended to buy a house worth 3 million?


    This...


    Not only did Chen Na fail to catch up, both Hou Qianqian and Liew Menglu''s brains practically crashed.


    What kind of wealthy tycoon is this?


    He''s casually prepared to spend 3 million?


    Liew Menglu had initially held the same thought as Hou Qianqian, that at most spending a little over 1 million to buy a moderate unit would be good, but now he had gone straight to doubling the figures.


    Liew Menglu was now even more determined to seize the opportunity with this wealthy patron, to find a way to secure her grip on his coattails!


    The sales lady led the four of them to a negotiation room, and once everyone was seated, she called the tea lady to help serve tea, then she began to formally introduce the house.


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    "With your budget, I would recommend building 9, which is centrally located in the complex, not adjacent to the road, so it''s quieter at night."


    "Additionally, I suggest this 165 square meter unit facing south from the north, it has good lighting and ventilation, plus the living room of this unit faces the complex''s garden."


    "For the floor, I would suggest you choose something between the 10th and 20th floor."


    "For example, the unit price for the 16th floor of building 9 is 17500, totaling up the price before any discounts to 2887500, plus deed tax and the maintenance fund comes to a total of 2984000."


    The sales lady spoke concisely and efficiently while also preliminarily calculating the prices on the computer.


    A 3 million house was the highest-priced in their complex; generally, the units that moved were priced around 1 million.


    So selling one of these 3-million homes was equivalent to earning the commission for two regular sales.


    With the economic climate being poor and the real estate market not so vibrant, the arrival of such a high-intent and financially capable customer was something she was looking forward to internally.


    Shen Yuan nodded, the suite fit his budget perfectly.


    "Shen Yuan..."


    ```


    "It''s too expensive... Let''s get a smaller one..."


    Chen Na sat next to Shen Yuan, gently tugging at his hand.


    The budget had suddenly skyrocketed to 3 million, which was a bit too much for her little heart to handle.


    When she was selling cars, her annual salary wasn''t even 300,000, and even if she lived ten years without eating or drinking, she still wouldn''t be able to save that much money.


    "Don''t worry about the money. "


    Shen Yuan patted Chen Na''s hand, signaling her to relax: "A bigger house is more comfortable to live in."


    Liew Meng Lu and Hou Qianqian were both stunned. Damn it, this was the generous and loyal sugar daddy!


    Look at how he does it.


    Even if the woman wanted to save him money, he insisted on giving her the best!


    Men like him were hard to find even if you searched with a lantern!


    If Shen Yuan knew what Liew Menglu and Hou Qianqian were thinking, he''d probably laugh in exasperation. Although he was rich, he wasn''t foolish with his money.


    The main consideration was still to maximize benefits.


    "Let''s talk about the discount."


    Shen Yuan pointed at the saleswoman''s offer sheet.


    The saleswoman''s heart skipped a beat, sensing that a deal was close at hand. She immediately started typing on the computer:


    "Today we have a promotion. This layout has a 2% discount, which totals to a discount of 57,750. If you make a decision today, including all fees, it will be 2,924,500 in total."


    Shen Yuan nodded thoughtfully, while Chen Na said, "This discount is too little, beauty, see if there''s more room for concessions."


    Chen Na felt that since she couldn''t change Shen Yuan''s mind about buying her a big house, she definitely couldn''t let him lose out in this regard.


    Having sold cars for so many years, she knew all about sales tactics.


    This was just an initial quote, and salespeople always reserved room for negotiation.


    "Mm-hmm."


    "Indeed, there is. If we can make a decision today, I can apply for a larger discount on your behalf," said the saleswoman with a smile.


    Shen Yuan felt a twinge of pain upon hearing this, as Chen Na''s bargaining seemed to be cutting into the saleswoman, but in reality, it was slicing into his own flesh. A few tens of thousands more in discount meant directly losing out on over a hundred thousand in cashbacks.


    Yet on second thought, since Chen Na was trying to save money for him, and her intentions were good, he couldn''t disappoint her goodwill.


    However, if the price dropped too low, he could still buy one or two more parking spaces. So he let Nana do the bargaining for now.


    In the following time, the saleswoman and Chen Na went back and forth several times, making several rounds in the office, appearing sweat-drenched and distressed:


    "Miss Chen, this 4% discount is the maximum we can offer, we really don''t have the space you''re talking about."


    "No way!"


    Chen Na said firmly: "That discount is possible, we are just asking for a 5% discount, which is not a lot. Please apply for it again, and if it''s possible, we''ll make a decision right away."


    In the end, Chen Na got her way and secured a 5% discount, which translated to a cash discount of 160,000.


    This haggling might also be one of the pleasures of shopping.


    Customers always believe that they have the upper hand in price negotiations, thinking the discount is a result of their own efforts.


    But in truth, the merchants are very shrewd; the extent of the discount is there for you to negotiate.


    The happier you are with your bargaining, the more you feel you''ve gotten a deal, and for the merchant, the higher the stability of the order.


    Shen Yuan had been waiting for Chen Na to bargain to her heart''s content before he casually asked, "What''s the parking ratio of this complex? And how much is each parking space?"


    "The ratio is 1 to 0.8, and the parking spaces currently for sale are 85,000 each," replied the saleswoman.


    "Let''s not take that discount, and exchange it for two parking spots instead. The price is about the same. Now we have a 160,000 discount, and two parking spaces together are 170,000. It''s like getting a 10,000 discount on the parking spaces."


    Star City not only had friendly housing prices but its parking spaces were also relatively cheap, ranking as one of the most conscientious among the top 15 "new first-tier cities".


    However, a parking ratio of 1 to 0.8 was not high, and since the units in this complex were selling well, it would be troublesome to park without a dedicated parking space later on.


    Of course, Shen Yuan was mainly considering spending all of the nearly 3 million to maximize benefits.


    "Shen Yuan, we don''t need the parking spaces, do we?"


    Chen Na looked at him for confirmation, knowing that residents could get monthly passes in the complex, which was also quite economical.


    Shen Yuan patted the back of her hand: "Don''t worry about the money; the main thing is future convenience. It''s really bothersome not having a dedicated parking space when you come home late at night."


    "Yes, our parking spaces are also property-owned, and due to the low ratio, it''s also easy to resell later on," advised the saleswoman.


    "Alright..."


    Chen Na eventually agreed under their persuasion.


    During this property-buying negotiation, Shen Yuan also noticed that Liew Menglu was showing a great deal of interest the entire time.


    Although she didn''t interrupt much throughout, she kept peering out with her beautiful face, watching intently as the others haggled.


    Particularly her impressive headlights, which seemed even more prominent due to her leaning forward.


    It was unclear whether this siren was doing it intentionally or not.


    And she just happened to be sitting across from Shen Yuan.


    Damn it, it was indeed hard to endure!


    .....

 Chapter 59 The Awakening of the Canary

    After agreeing on the price, the salesgirl brought out a subscription agreement for Chen Na to sign.


    Even though it was a full payment, a subscription agreement was still required for the purchase of a new home before making the payment.


    After the signing, Shen Yuan directly paid the full amount for Chen Na. There were still some online registration and record-filing procedures to follow, but Chen Na could handle those herself.


    The total cost of the house was 2.98 million yuan, which included the house, maintenance fund, parking space, deed tax, and other expenses.


    Shen Yuan first paid the full amount of 2.89 million yuan, then transferred the 90,000 yuan deed tax to Chen Na, because this tax needed to be paid after the online registration.


    During this process, Liew Menglu and Hou Qianqian were sitting beside them, feeling a tingling sensation in their scalps.


    Although they were mentally prepared, seeing Shen Yuan nonchalantly help Chen Na buy a 3 million yuan house still left them deeply shocked.


    This was a 3 million yuan big house!


    Just bought like that.


    And the key is that it was registered in Chen Na''s name.


    ****, Nana''s family must have their ancestors blessing them with luck!


    When will such extravagant riches land on my own head?


    As for Chen Na herself, her heart was far from calm. After working outside for so many years, this was the first time she had her own house, and importantly, a large 165 square meters house.


    A whole 2.98 million yuan!


    Even with two parking spaces!


    Chen Na couldn''t help but look towards Shen Yuan, who was looking indifferent at that moment. It was this man who had just spent nearly 3 million yuan on her.


    Right now, Chen Na felt both excited and deeply moved; she didn''t even know how she would ever repay Shen Yuan...


    Although Shen Yuan appeared calm and collected on the outside, he was actually overjoyed inside.


    If it weren''t for being in the company of the three beauties, his grin would probably reach his ears.


    Because just now, he received a notification for a cashback reward of five times the amount.


    A total of 14.9 million yuan was deposited into his bank account!


    With his remaining savings, his total wealth reached 14.91 million yuan!


    What did nearly 15 million yuan in cash flow mean?


    Even at Old Shen''s most glorious times, his family didn''t have this amount in savings.


    ****, System''s rewards are awesome!


    Shen Yuan inwardly praised, then glanced at the moved Chen Na. It was this woman who triggered the task that catapulted him from a millionaire to the level of a multimillionaire!


    Sister Na is amazing!


    Indeed, female NPCs needed to be explored more, Shen Yuan had already tasted benefits from both Fang Minhui and Chen Na.


    [Ding!]


    [The host has completed the limited-time mission.]


    [Reward 2 will be issued shortly....]


    [Congratulations to the host for receiving a villa at Greentown Green Bamboo Lake. Please visit the sales center to receive it at 9 o''clock tomorrow morning.]


    Fuck, it''s actually a villa!


    Before coming, Shen Yuan had speculated that it could be a villa, but he didn''t expect it to be true!


    Huaxia people have their own obsession with houses, even young people like Shen Yuan had it, owning one''s own luxury residence is believed to be a dream shared by the majority of people.


    Not to mention those standalone villas by the mountain and water, with large space, high privacy, independent gardens, swimming pools, home theatres, garages...


    And the reward from System is a villa at Greentown Green Bamboo Lake, a well-known community in the whole of Star City, as it had once been selected as one of the top ten luxury houses, and is one of the famous wealthy areas in Star City.


    This community is located near the Green Bamboo Lake scenic area, and the entire villa area is surrounded by Green Bamboo Lake''s golf course. Though its location is slightly remote, it compensates with natural environment and scenery.


    Shen Yuan had even come across this place while browsing videos before.


    Awesome!


    "Mr. Shen, we have finished all the procedures here. For the rest of the online registration and other procedures, I will follow up with Miss Chen later on."


    The salesgirl said with a smile, "Should we add each other on WeChat so that if you have other property needs in the future, you can contact me?"


    With the real estate market in a slump, closing a deal on a house so smoothly was truly no small feat, so the salesgirl was particularly attentive.


    The most crucial point was that Mr. Shen spent 2.98 million yuan on this house, and it was even a gift for the Miss Chen sitting next to him.


    Having worked in real estate sales for so long, she had developed an acute sense for such things. It was clear that this pair wasn''t husband and wife, and they might not even be boyfriend and girlfriend.


    If not for the fact that the salesgirl''s appearance and figure couldn''t compare to the several ladies beside Mr. Shen, she would have wanted to cling to Mr. Shen''s coattails.


    After all, we''re talking about a 3 million yuan house here, who wouldn''t be tempted?


    These few words from the salesgirl brought Shen Yuan back from his euphoric state. He smiled and replied, "Sure."


    "You''ve worked hard too."


    Shen Yuan opened the QR code for the salesgirl to scan.


    Adding WeChat isn''t a big deal anyway.


    However, he probably wouldn''t buy a house in this neighborhood again. On one hand, he already had a villa, and on the other hand, even if he had the opportunity to help other female NPCs buy in the future, he wouldn''t choose here.


    It would be awkward if kings clashed.


    "Beep.."


    "Beep..."


    After the sales lady scanned it, it beeped, but Liew Menglu also scanned it, and after she finished scanning, she said with a smile:


    "Shen Yuan, I''m also planning to buy a small apartment recently, so I''ll have to ask you, an experienced old hand, for advice when the time comes."


    When Liew Menglu said "old hand," she emphasized the words a bit.


    He had already decided to stick close to Shen Yuan''s side, and with the QR code presented, what was he waiting for?


    "Plus, if you have fitness needs later on, you can look for me too~"


    Liew Menglu gave Shen Yuan a sweet smile, and Shen Yuan smiled knowingly in return: "No problem."


    While this siren''s charm is one thing, it''s hard for men to reject such approaches. Adding WeChat is no biggie¡ªit''ll also be convenient for future communication.


    However, by comparison, Hou Qianqian was much more reserved, especially since Shen Yuan hadn''t shown any interest in her just now, so she didn''t dare to take the initiative to scan. In the end, it was Shen Yuan who considerately flashed his QR code her way.


    "We might need to buy a Ferrari in the future, so let''s add each other."


    Although Shen Yuan wasn''t particularly interested in Hou Qianqian, he still had to give face to Chen Na, after all, they were good friends.


    "Ah, sure, sure."


    Hou Qianqian hurriedly took out her phone and scanned the QR code, feeling somewhat flattered and surprised at the same time.


    Indeed, real rich people are always so approachable!


    "Let''s head back then."


    Shen Yuan called out and then led the three beauties majestically out of the Songhu Tiandi sales center.


    The sales lady, watching these attractive men and women leave, couldn''t help but be inwardly amazed as they departed.


    One dragon against three phoenixes¡ªshe wondered if Mr. Shen could handle it?


    Shen Yuan walked up to the Defender, then took out the Land Rover keys to unlock it.


    "Wow~"


    "Shen Yuan, you came in a Defender, they say it''s really nice to drive~"


    Liew Menglu looked at the Defender in front of her and let out a sigh of admiration.


    As a high-level gold digger, Liew Menglu did her homework well, memorizing all the mainstream models of luxury brands, to help her filter which men were truly wealthy and which were faking it.


    Incidents like "Zotye turned into a Porsche, fooled a girl into sleeping with him 17 times" or "Beiqi turned into a Benz G-Class, deceived 19 girlfriends" would never happen to her. Continue your journey on empire


    Upon hearing Liew Menglu''s coquettish voice, Hou Qianqian couldn''t help but roll her eyes, knowing that''s not how she normally acted.


    But perhaps that''s something men fall for anyway.


    That indeed was Liew Menglu''s advantage.


    Chen Na also felt slightly upset by Liew Menglu''s actions today.


    From the moment they entered the sales hall, Liew Menglu seemed too deliberate¡ªfirst sprinting to trigger the dancing car headlights, then deliberately striking poses to get Shen Yuan''s attention during the negotiation, following up by actively scanning WeChat, and now putting on that coquettish tone.


    All these signs showed that this siren definitely had her sights set on Shen Yuan, the young Tang Sanzang.


    Both men and women possess jealousy, naturally hoping that the other would prioritize them above others.


    Yet Chen Na thought to herself that even though she had been intimate with Shen Yuan, they were, after all, without official status, not even qualifying as boyfriend and girlfriend, so she had no grounds to interfere.


    Chen Na had always thought "guard against fire, theft, and friends" was just a meme, but now it was happening to her.


    "It''s just a car for getting around."


    Shen Yuan laughed, then turned to look at Chen Na: "Nana, it''s almost 12 o''clock now. Should we go for a meal now, or head back to the cafe?"


    "Up to you."


    Chen Na left the decision to Shen Yuan. Despite her feelings, she was clear-headed¡ªif Shen Yuan wanted more contact with Liew Menglu, he would certainly suggest having a meal together.


    She felt that if she was to be the canary, she had to be prepared to live like one.


    "I have other things this afternoon, so I won''t join you. It''s also convenient as it won''t disturb your gathering of friends. Whether you go for a meal or to the cafe is fine.


    "After all, you drove here."


    Shen Yuan still knew what mattered most. Showing interest in Liew Menglu because of her deliberate advances would definitely chill Chen Na''s heart.


    This girl had been considerate of him from the beginning and even tried to save him money; he couldn''t let her down at a time like this.


    Of course, those who need to be courted still need courting.


    After all, good things take time. Given Liew Menglu''s caliber, she was likely to seek him out again. There was no need to rush.


    .....

 Chapter 60 International Campus is Truly a Forest

    Chen Na felt an increased sense of security when she sensed how much Shen Yuan cared and valued her, and gently reminded him, "Okay, then you be careful driving."


    "Okay."


    Shen Yuan waved his hand, got into the driver''s seat of the Land Rover, and sped away.


    Meanwhile, Liew Menglu watched Shen Yuan leave and suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of defeat.


    What, he''s just leaving like that?


    Not even staying for lunch together?


    I''ve got so much to offer, how can this be reasonable?


    Do modern men no longer like the big headlights?


    Seeing Liew Menglu looking crestfallen, Hou Qianqian found it somewhat amusing.


    See, you thought you had a chance, but he totally didn''t fall for your tricks!


    Hou Qianqian was already feeling competitive today, and seeing Liew Menglu''s misstep, she couldn''t help but feel a bit of schadenfreude.


    Although they were good girlfriends and shared a good relationship, it''s human nature to compare oneself with others.


    It''s bitter to witness a bestie doing better than oneself.


    It''s the same principle as the male version of "fearing a brother''s hardships, yet envying him driving a Land Rover."


    Now that one girlfriend had already turned from a sparrow into a phoenix, Hou Qianqian did not want to see another one outdo her.


    Well, maintaining the status quo would be best, and it would be even better if they were a little worse off than her, which would make Hou Qianqian feel more balanced. At least she wouldn''t be the worst off amongst the three.


    "Meng Lu, Qianqian, shall we find a place to eat first?"


    Chen Na was in a good mood and suggested, "And then I can take you guys to check out the coffee shop."


    "Okay, Nana, let''s go have a meal first."


    "Today, I''m going to splurge on you. You now have an almost 3 million yuan apartment, and Qianqian and I are so envious!"


    Liew Menglu had a strong ability to adjust herself and quickly regained her energetic demeanor.


    At the same time, she was mentally cheering herself on: I can do this! At least today, I''ve taken the first step by adding him on WeChat!


    "....."


    Shen Yuan drove the Defender back to the International campus, carelessly parked the car by the roadside, then walked to the cafeteria, ready to fill his stomach.


    He had a good relationship with the security guards and would occasionally give them a pack of cigarettes, so he could drive into the school campus if he wanted.


    Before, Shen Yuan might have driven in to show off, but now that he was past that adolescent phase, he simply parked by the roadside.


    Throughout the journey, Shen Yuan couldn''t stop looking around because there were so many beautiful girls at the International campus.


    Especially now that it was summer, the girls here knew how to dress up, each showing off their white, shapely legs and lovely figures.


    In a school like the International campus, even a class belle, if taken to an ordinary university, would undoubtedly be the beauty of the department.


    This explains why Fang Minhui being a class belle at International had its significance.


    However, although the general quality of girls at the International campus was high, the atmosphere and ethos were much poorer; essentially, those who came to study here either had mediocre grades and couldn''t get into better universities or they were there just to pay for a diploma.


    The scene of ''burning the midnight oil'' commonly found in other universities was almost non-existent at International.


    Everyone was either busy dating or skipping classes to play; essentially they were just coasting through their days.


    Of course, there were some diligent students, but they were the exception.


    Before he knew it, Shen Yuan had arrived at the first cafeteria. While getting his food, the cafeteria aunty showed her usual steadiness, prompting Shen Yuan to say, "Aunty, don''t be too conservative, I eat a lot."


    The aunty rolled her eyes but gave Shen Yuan an extra small spoonful.


    After thanking the aunty, Shen Yuan looked for a place to sit down and unexpectedly encountered Lih Xiao, the counselor, eating alone.


    He walked over and sat beside Lih Xiao, "Counselor, what a coincidence, isn''t it?"


    Lih Xiao, who was having her meal, turned to see someone sitting beside her. She turned her pretty face and said, "Shen Yuan, why are you eating alone? Aren''t you guys the three musketeers?"


    "They are dead."


    "What?"


    "Mhm, some people are alive, but they are already dead."


    "Haha~"


    Lih Xiao covered her mouth and chuckled, knowing that Shen Yuan was making a joke, but finding it amusing: "It seems you''ve been visiting the works of the greats quite a bit to be able to make a meme out of it."


    "Of course, we college students still have some literary quality."


    Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow and leaned in quietly to whisper, "Of course, most importantly, it''s thanks to the counselor''s good example in word and deed."


    When Shen Yuan mentioned word and deed, he emphasized the word "deed".


    Lih Xiao was instantly reminded of what happened that day in the office and her cheeks flushed with heat. After a moment of silence, she said formally, "Shen Yuan, you can''t do this, we are teacher and student."


    Shen Yuan acted completely clueless, "What do you mean, counselor? What are you thinking about?"


    "I meant it literally."


    "....."


    Lih Xiao puffed out her cute cheeks, feeling frustrated. She knew she was being teased by Shen Yuan again, but she didn''t have a comeback.


    Just then, Lih Xiao''s phone suddenly rang. She picked it up and saw that it was a call from Secretary Lui at the Youth League Committee of the faculty, and she immediately answered.


    "....."


    "Understood, I''ll start preparing the materials and should be able to submit a report by tomorrow."


    "..."


    "Of course, I''ve inquired about it. Now Tsinghua, Agricultural University, including the Business School, all have this base."


    ```


    "..."


    ```


    "Tomorrow night? I''m not free tomorrow night."


    "..."


    "Sorry, Secretary Lui, I really do have something on."


    "....."


    "Mhm, okay, bye."


    After hanging up the phone, Lih Xiao let out a deep sigh of relief.


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but ask, "What''s the matter, counselor?"


    Lih Xiao sighed softly, "Our International campus is planning to set up a university student entrepreneurship hub. It''s currently in the preparatory stage, and I''m a member of the project team. There''s a lot to do."


    "Entrepreneurship hub?"


    Shen Yuan was somewhat curious.


    Lih Xiao nodded and explained, "Yes, the school plans to support a group of students with entrepreneurial ideas by providing a sum of startup capital, along with free space and business guidance."


    "The difficulty with this project lies in the funding. The university''s subsidy is limited, so we can only cooperate with external enterprises."


    Shen Yuan nodded thoughtfully and then asked, "What kind of deal can our university offer these enterprises?"


    After thinking for a moment, Lih Xiao replied, "All the school can do is to supply talent, signing contracts with enterprises to send them high-quality graduates regularly every year."


    "That''s not much of an advantage, is it? The quality of graduates from the International campus can''t compare to those from top-tier universities."


    Shen Yuan found it somewhat incredible, thinking that no enterprise would be foolish enough to agree to such terms.


    "That''s why it''s the biggest difficulty we face right now; those enterprises won''t invest if they''re not getting favorable conditions."


    Lih Xiao said with a touch of headache.


    However, she also omitted a part: Secretary Lui had repeatedly asked her out to dinner parties, in the name of bolstering relationships with business owners.


    Read the latest on empire


    Lih Xiao was well aware that it amounted to nothing more than drinking and laughing for others, and there was a risk that those bosses might become handsy if they drank too much.


    But regarding such matters, Lih Xiao still had her own bottom line.


    She had already made excuses to avoid Secretary Lui twice.


    The thought of being a university teacher yet having to wine and dine others made her feel deeply indignant on the inside.


    "Is that so...."


    Although Shen Yuan had 10 million in investment-exclusive funds and was considering what projects to invest in, this one was clearly not within his range of consideration.


    According to estimates, a return of 33% or more would be profitable, but the key issue was that the success rate of International campus students was very low. Shen Yuan wasn''t just worried about hitting 33%; he doubted they could even manage 20%.


    So, the matter required further deliberation.


    Shen Yuan was not Wang Duoyu after all, who just spent without worrying about earnings.


    He still needed to consider profitability.


    "Are you interested?"


    Lih Xiao blinked her beautiful eyes; Shen Yuan had asked detailed questions, and he seemed to have his own thoughts, which made her think he might want to start a business.


    Shen Yuan shook his head, "A little, but not much."


    "It''s good that you have that in mind."


    "But the project hasn''t landed yet, so it''s going to be tough."


    Lih Xiao wasn''t very optimistic about the project either, as it hadn''t even secured preliminary intentions from any enterprises.


    Besides, people are savvy nowadays, not to mention business owners; a couple of drinks aren''t going to cut it.


    [Ding!]


    [A perfect life requires not only accumulating wealth but also earning enough Prestige Points to have an influence in various sectors of society.]


    [As the host is currently a university student, your influence should begin expanding from the university.]


    [Task: Gain Prestige Points by investing in campus projects.]


    [Task Reward: For every 500 Prestige Points accumulated, you will get a chance to draw a lottery, with the opportunity to gain attribute points and special abilities.]


    [Note: Prestige Points refer to the reputation of being admired by others, representing their recognition and respect for the host; this time, Prestige Points will only be counted among university teachers and students.]


    Shen Yuan was taken aback; even this could trigger a mission?


    He quickly scanned the mission details and realized it was about gaining the teachers'' and students'' Prestige Points through investment in campus projects.


    The 10 million investment-exclusive funds given by the System didn''t matter much to him.


    What excited Shen Yuan was the task reward; the lottery seemed rich with potential. Although he had not tried the attribute points, he had a deep understanding of special abilities.


    For example, the "Merciless..." ability ¨C one never knows what could happen.


    Since this task was restricted to the school, it could only be used to invest in projects within the campus, and the entrepreneurship hub seemed the most appropriate at the moment.


    It just so happened that the counselor was also facing difficulties, and this would solve her urgent problem.


    However...


    Suddenly, Shen Yuan realized a huge business opportunity; this investment could absolutely capitalize on the advantage of the International campus being filled with beautiful women.


    Since he was the investor, it should be up to him to decide who to invest in and how much. Why not invest in the attractive senior and junior female students to open stores?


    The International campus was truly a forest, especially since the trees in this forest were of exceptionally high quality.


    He could gain Prestige Points while also improving the Feel-good Index.

 Chapter 61 I Report, He Keeps a Lover Off Campus

    "Advisor, if there''s someone or a company willing to invest, is it the investor who assesses the student receiving the investment, or the school?"


    Before making a decision, Shen Yuan wanted to clarify the situation so he wouldn''t end up having his invested money being controlled by the school.


    "Theoretically, the assessment should be by the school, but the current situation is that we are unable to attract investors, so there is considerable room for negotiation."


    Lih Xiao, a member of the project team, understood the situation well but was puzzled why Shen Yuan would ask this:


    "What''s the matter?"


    Shen Yuan no longer had any reservations and smiled faintly, "I want to invest in this project."


    "???"


    Lih Xiao looked up blankly, with a look on her face as if she was seeing someone foolish inside, "Have you been watching ''The Richest Man in Xihong City'' too much, getting too immersed?"


    "I really want to invest, but I have a condition, which is that I want to assess the student receiving the investment."


    "Shen Yuan, this isn''t something to joke about."


    Lih Xiao still couldn''t believe it but Shen Yuan thought it was normal.


    After all, in Lih Xiao''s view, he was just a poor student whose family had gone bankrupt, even the kind that needed to apply for financial aid.


    In the end, Shen Yuan simply pulled up his bank app balance to show her, "Advisor, count how many zeros there are here."


    Shen Yuan now had over twenty million, ten million of which was investment capital, and the rest was his savings.


    He now had this money stored in two cards, one card only held exclusive investment funds, and the other card held the rest of his money.


    What he was showing Lih Xiao was the card that held the ten million investment exclusives.


    Since the System had released a Prestige mission, there was absolutely no need to keep a low profile, but rather to be high-profile to gain more Prestige.


    "Sorry, I''m laying all my cards on the table, I''m actually a millionaire."


    Lih Xiao looked at Shen Yuan skeptically, realizing he didn''t seem to be joking, then leaned over to check the balance.


    When she saw the length of the digits, Lih Xiao''s eyes widened involuntarily, as her bank card had never shown such a long string of numbers.


    She instinctively started counting, 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.....


    There were seven zeros in total!


    Hiss....


    That was actually ten million!


    What does ten million mean? Lih Xiao, a university teacher, earned about 6000-7000 a month, and with various performance bonuses, at most had an annual salary of 100,000.


    Even if she maintained this income without eating or spending on anything until retirement, she would only make at most three million.


    That is to say, even if she worked until she was a hundred years old, she wouldn''t make as much money!


    Lih Xiao took a sharp intake of breath, her face filled with disbelief, "Shen Yuan... how do you have so much money?"


    "The family travel agency was doing poorly, so it closed down; I had too many fair-weather friends, and it was a good time to filter out some friends. Besides, my family has other business ventures, and I also trade in Bitcoin and foreign exchange, all the money I made myself."


    Shen Yuan had thought of these excuses beforehand.


    Trading Bitcoin and foreign exchange were relatively easy ways to make money; this explanation was very reasonable, and Ms. Li and Old Shen hadn''t thought much about it last time.


    The series of digits shook Lih Xiao quite a bit; she hadn''t yet recovered from the shock, finding it unimaginable that her student had turned into a millionaire.


    It was too surreal!


    "Advisor, why don''t you come work with me, ensuring you enjoy a luxurious life~"


    Shen Yuan said teasingly with a grin.


    "Don''t talk nonsense..."


    Lih Xiao playfully scolded, but the joking remark somewhat alleviated her shock. She thought for a moment and asked:


    "Are you sure you want to invest in this project?"


    "From what I understand, the shops in the entrepreneurship bases at other universities rarely make a profit."


    Lih Xiao had done research at several neighboring universities and understood that such projects were not really about making money for students but about enhancing the comprehensive competitiveness of the school.


    Nowadays, universities are very competitive, striving to improve various hardware and software facilities to attract more and better students.


    Lih Xiao was also worried about Shen Yuan losing money.


    "I have a rough idea, but it''s okay, I mainly want to contribute my part to the development of my alma mater."


    Shen Yuan said earnestly.


    He certainly had considered the possibility of losing money, but with the System''s triple cashback, as long as those lovely fellow female students didn''t bring the revenue below 33%, he wouldn''t lose.


    The most important thing, of course, was to gain Prestige. With Prestige, he could participate in lotteries.


    From this mission, Shen Yuan had also figured out a pattern; the "Perfect Life System''s" mission orientation was not only about wealth and property but also included social status, influence, and fame.


    In the future, there might even be more such orientations.


    It seemed that the System''s creator clearly wanted to cultivate him into a top-tier millionaire!


    "I am relieved that you think this way."


    "However, I still suggest you think it over deeply, as this is not a small amount of money. Even though you now have ten million, you could quickly run through it if you spend recklessly."


    Lih Xiao had regained her composure and spoke with earnest concern.


    After all, she was Shen Yuan''s advisor and had the responsibility and obligation to remind and inform him.


    "You don''t need to think about it, Advisor, money is meant to be spent, and investing in my alma mater is a meaningful action."


    Shen Yuan certainly knew it wasn''t a small amount of money, but the key thing was that this ten million could only be used for investment; it would be a waste not to use it.


    Moreover, he could also harvest Prestige Points and Feel-good Index from his fellow female students.


    Thinking of them, Shen Yuan couldn''t help but look forward to it.


    "So, it''s like that..."


    "Okay then."


    Lih Xiao nodded thoughtfully. She had said what needed to be said, and since the student had her own thoughts, Lih Xiao didn''t want to forcefully persuade her.


    The students she was in charge of were all adults, with the youngest being 20 years old; they should be responsible for their own actions.


    "I''ll talk to Secretary Lui about this later."


    "Mm-hmm."


    "Well, I''ll be leaving now. Take your time eating, we''ll chat later."


    Lih Xiao had finished her meal, tidied up her dishes, and was getting up from the dining table, ready to leave the cafeteria.


    Yet, at that moment, Shen Yuan spoke up again, "And consider that other thing too."


    Lih Xiao was momentarily taken aback, "What thing?"


    Shen Yuan responded with a grin, "The thing about eating spicy and rich delicacies."


    "....."


    Lih Xiao''s pretty face flushed, and she hurriedly left the cafeteria.


    Shen Yuan watched her graceful figure and the 67 Feel-good Index above her head, and couldn''t help but click his tongue in awe. What a great counselor~


    Then, Shen Yuan quickly wolfed down his lunch and headed upstairs to his dorm room. Just as he arrived at the door of room 503, he heard a lively buzz of voices inside. It seemed quite heated.


    Shen Yuan pushed the door open and discovered that in 503, besides Old Huang and Old Cao, Ye Zhiyang was also there.


    "Old Third, is what Ye Zhiyang said true?"


    As soon as Huang Haibao saw Shen Yuan coming in, he immediately couldn''t hold back and asked, "He said you drive a Land Rover now, and you even have a mistress on the side?"


    Huang Haibao had planned to play a few rounds in the canyon at noon but didn''t expect Ye Zhiyang to come over for a rare visit and chat today.


    In university, it''s actually quite common for students to hop from one dorm room to another, but Ye Zhiyang rarely did so.


    The shocking content of what Ye Zhiyang said could literally drop their jaws.


    Ye Zhiyang even said he saw Shen Yuan driving a Land Rover yesterday and also spending 300,000 to set up a gorgeous woman with a coffee shop.


    Huang Haibao thought this was ludicrous; he shared a room with Shen Yuan every day along with Old Cao, so how could he not know whether he had money or not?


    Driving a Land Rover and keeping a mistress?


    That was just utterly absurd!


    Shen Yuan retorted, "Ye Zhiyang, stop talking nonsense."


    "I knew it! How could Old Third keep a Land Rover from us," said Huang Haibao confidently, his heart immediately settling.


    Cao Shunjin also disdainfully said, "Ye Zhiyang, you really need to watch your mouth, spouting nonsense all day long!"


    Ye Zhiyang''s face went red in an instant, "No, I really saw it yesterday!"


    "Shen Yuan, explain yourself!"


    "What''s there to explain!"


    Shen Yuan was slightly annoyed. "I did drive a Land Rover, but when did I keep a mistress, don''t talk nonsense!"


    Shen Yuan was somewhat irked by Ye Zhiyang''s big mouth; if this got out, wouldn''t his reputation at the International campus be completely ruined?


    Let''s not even mention whether there would be issues with the class belle, even the entrepreneurial base might not be possible to manage. The university definitely wouldn''t allow a student with such a scandal to invest.


    Even if he could invest, and the project could take off, if those senior girls and junior girls knew there was such a lecherous investor, they wouldn''t dare to come forward to start a business!


    Ye Zhiyang was momentarily stunned, then quickly shot Shen Yuan a "I get it" look.


    Men understand; the matter of keeping a mistress isn''t something you talk about openly, right?


    Huang Haibao suddenly felt uneasy and stood up abruptly, "No way? Old Third, you really drive a Land Rover?"


    Cao Shunjin''s expression changed as well, "The Land Rover Defender, doesn''t that mid-range model cost 900,000 to land?"


    "I''ll come clean now, I''m a multimillionaire now~"


    Shen Yuan decided not to put on a fac?ade anymore, pulled out his car keys, and threw them to Huang Haibao. Anyway, once the entrepreneurial base got going, not just Old Huang and Old Cao but probably the whole university would know.


    There was no need to keep a low profile anymore.


    Huang Haibao was flustered and nearly didn''t catch the car keys; he cupped the keys in his hands and looked at them, utterly incredulous, "Damn, it really is a Land Rover!"


    Cao Shunjin also couldn''t help but come over to take a look. Indeed, there was a Land Rover logo on the back of the key.


    Shen Yuan was slightly worried, "Ye Zhiyang, you haven''t told anyone else about this, have you?"


    "I haven''t, I haven''t. I just told you guys because I really couldn''t keep it in anymore and came to room 503. You know our dorm; Li Zhanpeng can''t stand these kinds of things," Ye Zhiyang said with a smile.


    Actually, he and Li Zhanpeng got along quite well, mainly because of his family background, but now it seemed, clenching onto Shen Yuan was clearly the better choice!


    A 900,000 car bought on a whim, a 300,000 coffee shop snapped up lightly; those were some solid legs to cling on to!


    "There''s no such thing as keeping a mistress; that was my investment in a coffee shop, and our relationship is purely business," Shen Yuan explained.


    This kind of thing had to be kept low-key, otherwise it could seriously affect his re-choosing rights at the International campus.


    Although Li Zhanpeng did see it yesterday, given his face-saving nature, he definitely wouldn''t spread the news of another man''s splendid deeds.


    Ye Zhiyang revealed a mischievous smile, "I get it, I get it."


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but roll his eyes internally, thinking, You don''t get anything at all, if you did, why the hell would you go around blabbering everywhere?

 Chapter 62 Shouldnt this stir up trouble for you?

    "Old Third, where did you get so much money from?"


    Huang Haibao gradually calmed down, slowly coming to terms with the fact that his good brother had become a multimillionaire, and even feeling quite proud.


    Damn, my brother is a multimillionaire!


    "Made a fortune from Bitcoin and foreign exchange before."


    Shen Yuan replied casually.


    This time, Shen Yuan''s explanation was much more succinct.


    He had shown Lih Xiao his account balance to convince her of his investment capabilities, but he didn''t need to go into too much detail with the others.


    "Damn, awesome!"


    Ye Zhiyang couldn''t help but send a look of admiration.


    He often followed the finance and investment sector and knew how many times Bitcoin had multiplied, making those who bought it rich!


    "Old Third, I never expected you to be so damn crafty."


    Cao Shunjin couldn''t help but click his tongue in amazement, while Huang Haibao said, "Old Third, when are you starting your company? Hire me as your CEO when you do!"


    Cao Shunjin puffed out his chest: "I can be your CFO!"


    Shen Yuan replied with irritation, "I think you guys are suited to be UFO instead!"


    "One of you is a smart aleck and the other is Zhuang Qiang; I dare not hire you."


    Huang Haibao somewhat disagreed: "Old Third, that''s not nice to say. Although there''s a bit of gambling in Big Smartie''s actions, he instantly helped Wang Duoyu make a billion. Can you say he''s not capable?"


    "Alright, alright, we''ll see how you two perform then."


    Shen Yuan just finished lunch and felt sleepy, so he replied perfunctorily before climbing into his bed, ready to have a nice nap.


    "Old Third, you''ll be sleeping in the dorm tonight, right? I''m going to chat with Tian Yuping later tonight; you can give me some advice then."


    Huang Haibao looked up and asked.


    Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin had slowly come to accept Shen Yuan frequently not returning at night.


    Even though the thought of the class belle possibly sharing a blanket with him still hurt, he now had a new goal and decided to turn his sorrow into strength.


    Given Shen Yuan''s wealth of dating experience and his quiet conquest of the class belle, Huang Haibao believed that Shen Yuan, this cunning strategist, could definitely help.


    "Should be, I guess."


    Shen Yuan replied from his bed, but he wasn''t sure; Fang Minhui might call him out for a frozen drink again.


    As for Chen Na, probably not, since she''s conservative.


    "But dude, didn''t you like the class belle? Why did you change targets?"


    Tian Yuping was the second prettiest girl in International Trade Class 2, right after Fang Minhui.


    If compared with Fang Minhui, she was just less attractive, with smaller assets and a thicker waist.


    Moreover, Tian Yuping''s style was more mature and seductive than Fang Minhui''s innocent desire.


    Honestly, through three years of college, Shen Yuan hadn''t even memorized all of his classmates'' names. Sometimes, when he encountered a classmate on the street, he recognized the face but couldn''t remember their name to greet them.


    However, Shen Yuan did remember all the pretty girls in the class quite well.


    "Old Third, stop talking about the class belle,"


    Huang Haibao said with a look of melancholy, "The class belle only has eyes for you now. What''s the use of my affection for her?"


    "Well... that''s true..."


    That...


    Ye Zhiyang seemed to have heard some juicy news, instinctively gaping.


    The class belle Fang Minhui got taken by Shen Yuan too?


    My god!


    Shen Yuan was really something. Known girlfriends, one in school and one outside, and who knew if there were more women out there.


    Could this be the power of wealth?


    Ye Zhiyang suddenly realized why the class belle had no interest in Li Zhanpeng.


    You drive a lousy 3 series, how can you compare with someone who has a Defender?


    And he''s generous with women, casually gifting 300,000.


    While you''re just a tightwad, even hesitating over a 29 yuan cup of coffee.


    "With you as my cunning strategist to advise me, I feel pretty confident about my chances!"


    Huang Haibao chuckled "heh heh" twice.


    Thinking about it made him feel wonderful. They could find a scenic place to go out, sit on the grass hand in hand, you leaning on me, and I holding you tight.


    If things go well, maybe something indescribable could happen...


    Heh heh heh~


    Shen Yuan couldn''t stand it any longer: "Old Huang, stop laughing, your mouth is grinning up to your ears."


    Cao Shunjin also snapped him out of his dream: "She only agreed to meet up once, you''re not already planning the kid''s name, are you?"


    "Go away!"


    Huang Haibao spat out, then sauntered over to the full-length mirror in the dorm, wet his hair with saliva, and thought he looked even more handsome than the day before.


    Cao Shunjin felt disgusted watching him, Ye Zhiyang couldn''t stand it either and left Room 503 after a brief word, and Shen Yuan, lying in his bed, thankfully didn''t see, or he might not have been able to sleep.


    .....


    Shen Yuan had no classes in the afternoon and slept until around 3 o''clock. In a daze, he grabbed his phone and saw a WeChat from Chen Na.


    "Picture.JPG"


    ```


    "Photo2.JPG"


    "I made the coffee myself. Come and try it when you''re free~"


    Chen Na sent two photos. The first one showed a cup of cappuccino with latte art that wasn''t very impressive¡ªit could just barely be seen as a heart shape.


    The second photo was of Chen Na wearing the coffee shop''s black apron, holding the coffee high with both hands, her sweet smile on display.


    Shen Yuan smiled knowingly and felt a bit more awake. He replied, "It''s obvious that it''s not done well. I should come over and train you."


    Chen Na replied quickly, "Huh? You know how to make coffee?"


    "I don''t know how to make coffee, but I know how to train."


    "....."


    Since the International Trade class 2 had no lectures in the afternoon, the two lazybones Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin were still sleeping.


    Modern college students are notorious for pulling all-nighters and catching up on sleep during the day, so Shen Yuan was unsurprised. After getting up, he quickly washed his face in the bathroom and headed off campus.


    Just outside the south gate of the International campus, Zhenhua Street was the busiest street in the vicinity.


    The street housed restaurants, hotels, cosmetic shops, clothing stores, including coffee and tea shops, basically catering to the one-stop needs of the International campus students in terms of food, accommodation, and transportation.


    The only drawback was that the two hotels on the street would be packed every Friday, and sometimes there were no rooms available even by six in the evening.


    What can you do? The young blood of college students is fiery.


    At this moment, a few girls from International Trade class 2 were walking out of the supermarket, carrying some household items and chatting as they walked. Due to their overall good looks, they attracted a lot of male attention along the way.


    "Yuping, I heard you agreed to go out with Huang Haibao this weekend?"


    "Don''t even mention it; that guy is so annoying. I''ve refused him several times, but he keeps pestering me. How about we all go together when the time comes?"


    The girl referred to as Tian Yuping rolled her eyes.


    She was wearing heavy makeup that didn''t match her age and had two earrings in her ears. Today, she was dressed in a white tank top that would occasionally reveal a glimpse of her belly button as she walked.


    "You mean we should all go together? But didn''t he only ask you out?"


    The girl who spoke was Cong Xiaoyi. She shared a class and dorm room with Tian Yuping. However, her style of dress was not as bold, and she went without makeup, wearing only a plain T-shirt and jeans, but her appearance was sweet and endearing.


    "Are you stupid? Why would I go on a date with him alone? What if people see us and get the wrong idea?"


    "Besides, I never said I would meet him by myself."


    Tian Yuping said ambivalently. In her mind, since such a man was relentlessly pursuing her, she might as well take advantage of him with her friends. That way, he might think twice before bothering her again.


    Cong Xiaoyi felt that this was inappropriate and suggested, "Actually, I think we could have a dorm gathering. Isn''t he in the same dorm as Shen Yuan?"


    "Shen Yuan actually looks pretty handsome, and he''s over 180 cm tall. Besides, he has already broken up with the senior."


    Cong Xiaoyi added thoughtfully.


    "Xiaoyi, you''re already a junior, how can you still be so impractical? Shen Yuan''s family has gone bankrupt; he''s penniless now."


    "And why would you want to pick up someone''s discarded second-hand goods?"


    The speaker was Kwan Yongzhen. Her style was similar to Tian Yuping''s¡ªbold makeup and revealing clothes¡ªbut her looks were slightly inferior to Tian Yuping''s and Cong Xiaoyi''s.


    "Right? Didn''t you all see? He didn''t attend the class dinner last time, and lately, he hasn''t even been attending lectures."


    Tian Yuping agreed with Kwan Yongzhen''s opinion, "Clearly, he''s fragile and can''t handle the pressure. He''s afraid to come out and be hurt."


    "Plus, now that Shen Yuan is so poor, anyone who gets with him would be totally out of luck. Not to mention wanting to buy handbags and such, I think even buying cosmetics and skincare products would be tough."


    Kwan Yongzhen nodded, "That''s true, he definitely can''t afford your expenses."


    At that moment, Tian Yuping suddenly thought of an interesting point and chuckled, covering her mouth, "Who knows? Maybe he''s working part-time at some corner to make tuition."


    "Haha, actually, that might be the case."


    Thinking about the former rich second-generation possibly washing dishes or waiting tables in the corner of some small diner, Kwan Yongzhen found the idea amusing.


    "Hey, look, it''s Shen Yuan~"


    Just then, Cong Xiaoyi spotted a familiar figure and pointed it out.


    Tian Yuping and Kwan Yongzhen turned to look and indeed saw a tall and slender figure in a simple white T-shirt and baggy jeans, with a pair of white Nikes.


    "It really is Shen Yuan."


    Tian Yuping couldn''t help but say, "He''s not really coming to work a part-time job, is he? It''s just past 3 p.m., which is about the time when restaurants start getting ready."


    "Why don''t you ask him? See which store he''s working part-time at."


    Kwan Yongzhen egged her on with a smile.


    Cong Xiaoyi was somewhat troubled, "Is that appropriate? We''re all classmates; there''s really no need."


    "Xiaoyi, you don''t understand."


    Tian Yuping was also excited, thinking about Shen Yuan once dating the flight attendant senior with his flashy BMW, and comparing it to his current situation working part-time, she felt a distinct thrill.


    "Hey!"


    Tian Yuping called out and raised her head to ask, "Shen Yuan, why didn''t you come to the dinner last time?"


    Kwan Yongzhen crossed her arms and looked Shen Yuan up and down, "Have you been busy working part-time lately? At which store? We should also drop by to support."


    Shen Yuan had been planning to go to the MS coffee shop and didn''t expect to run into several female classmates, one of whom was Old Huang''s new flame, Tian Yuping.


    He had intended to greet them, but their tone was clearly condescending, and their questions were plainly ridiculous.


    A part-time job? As if he needed that.


    What was Old Huang thinking, fancying this kind of person?


    Did he really have to put up with this kind of bullshit?


    Shen Yuan wasn''t the type to engage in conflicts, but since they were stepping on his face, he wouldn''t just let it slide.


    "That''s right, I''m working part-time at the coffee shop. Would you like to come and have a cup of coffee at my workplace?"


    "....."


    ```

 Chapter 63 Turns Out I Am the Clown Myself

    Tian Yuping found it somewhat funny, "Are you really working a part-time job?"


    Kwan Yongzhen also teased, "A coffee shop? How much per hour?"


    Shen Yuan grinned, "Not much, but I can certainly treat you to a cup of coffee."


    "Great, since you''re offering to treat us, let''s go."


    Tian Yuping scoffed inside, what a joke Shen Yuan was, still trying to save face without money. Three cups of coffee for three people would almost equal his daily wage, right?


    "Um... Yuping, Yongzhen, let''s not go, we still have things to do in the afternoon, right?"


    Cong Xiaoyi felt a bit embarrassed. After all, everyone was classmates; there was no need to expose secrets, especially now that Shen Yuan was already working part-time, it would be wrong to make him treat them.


    Kwan Yongzhen crossed her arms in front of her chest and said without a doubt, "It''s fine, Xiaoyi. Shen Yuan offered to treat us, so let''s give him a chance."


    "....."


    Thus, the girls followed Shen Yuan to the MS Coffee Shop. Since MS was also on Zhenhua Street and only about a hundred meters away, they arrived in just a moment.


    But as soon as they entered the coffee shop, the trio''s gazes froze simultaneously.


    At that moment, two beautiful women were chatting and laughing in the coffee shop, and with every smile and frown, they made the already bourgeois coffee shop feel even more atmospheric.


    One of them was probably 170cm tall, with flaxen hair, wearing a short skirt, revealing long, straight, beautiful legs; the other, though slightly shorter, was no less outstanding in her features, especially her proud bust.


    Tian Yuping took an involuntary step back. As a woman, meeting other beautiful women always led to subconscious comparisons.


    If the other women were inferior in every way, there was bound to be a sense of superiority.


    But when faced with women who were superior in every way, a sense of inferiority would inevitably arise within.


    Obviously, the current situation was the latter.


    "Shen Yuan, you''re here~"


    Chen Na spotted Shen Yuan coming over and lifted her lovely eyes, "Take a seat for a moment and try the cappuccino I''ve just learned to make."


    After returning in the afternoon, aside from chatting with Liew Menglu, Chen Na had been making coffee with Xiaoqiu, and her first successful cup was sent to Shen Yuan over WeChat.


    "Shen Yuan, didn''t you say you had things to do this afternoon~"


    Liew Menglu came forward, pretending to be dissatisfied and pouted, "Hmph~ Is it something like taking three female classmates out for fun?"


    Although she looked displeased, Liew Menglu was actually thrilled with waiting like a cat for a mouse. Hou Qianqian had returned after an hour, and she had stayed until now.


    Indeed, as fortune favors the persistent, she had really waited for Shen Yuan to come.


    Shen Yuan sighed silently, "No, I just happened to bump into them on the street, and they wanted to have a cup of coffee."


    "Is that so~"


    Liew Menglu coldly sized up the three women and noticed that they fell short in looks compared to her and Nana, then beamed and said, "Hello, girls, what kind of coffee do you want?" Read new adventures at empire


    Women with work experience are very adept at projecting their charm and presence, especially someone high-caliber like Liew Menglu. In just the instant her gaze swept over them, the three felt speechless.


    What had clearly been a scrutinizing look suddenly transformed into a friendly tone. This sudden switch was too fast.


    In the presence of such a woman, Tian Yuping felt utterly suppressed. How could a college student yet to see the world match up against such a well-practiced siren?


    But what astonished her the most was that these two women, impeccable in figure and looks, seemed to be speaking to Shen Yuan in a tone that bordered on flattery, their gazes toward him almost adoring.


    Yet before Tian Yuping could digest it all, Shen Yuan called out, "Xiaoqiu, come here a moment."


    Xiaoqiu was behind the bar and hurried over upon hearing him, "Boss, what''s up?"


    "Ask these three beauties what they''d like to drink. I''m treating them to these three cups."


    "Alright, boss."


    Xiaoqiu, with a smile, said, "Ladies, why don''t you take a seat first, scan the QR code on the table, check out what you''d like, and then tell me. I''ll go and make it for you."


    Hearing the staff''s address, the trio felt even more baffled. What was going on? Why was she calling Shen Yuan the boss?


    Is Shen Yuan the owner of this coffee shop???


    "Maybe... maybe we shouldn''t drink after all..."


    Cong Xiaoyi tugged at the others and whispered.


    The situation was clear: not only had Shen Yuan''s family not gone bankrupt, but he also owned a coffee shop. Although he had broken up with his senior, he now had a new love interest.


    Cong Xiaoyi felt utterly embarrassed. Her two roommates had actually wanted to see Shen Yuan''s downfall, but instead, they were the ones shown up.


    If only she had known not to come here with them!


    And Tian Yuping''s expression was as uncomfortable as if she had swallowed manure. How could she have not anticipated that Shen Yuan, the allegedly "bankrupt" rich second generation, was faking it?


    He not only hadn''t gone bankrupt, but he also owned a coffee shop and apparently kept several mistresses.


    No, just where did the rumor come from that Shen Yuan''s family was bankrupt?


    Tian Yuping was going a little mad, while also finding herself somewhat ridiculous. She had actually wanted to trample on Shen Yuan, but what right did she have to do so?


    Neither of the two women could be matched by her!


    "Right, right, Xiaoyi is right. We won''t drink..."


    Kwan Yongzhen, in her haste, quickly pulled the others and left MS Coffee Shop.


    As soon as she walked in she sensed something was off and, to her dismay, her suspicions were confirmed.


    Damn it, Shen Yuan was really something!


    So wealthy, owning a coffee shop with such beautiful women around, and still claiming to be working part-time?


    Part-time my foot!


    That was plainly intended to humiliate us!


    It''s laughable that Yuping actually thought about mocking others, and now they ended up looking like clowns.


    I''m dying of laughter!


    "Shen Yuan, are they your classmates?"


    Liew Menglu looked at the backs of the group with curiosity and quietly approached Shen Yuan, "Why did they leave?"


    When the girls had first walked in, she definitely felt a sense of crisis, but after seeing the three women''s figures and appearances, she immediately relaxed.


    Liew Menglu still trusted Shen Yuan''s taste in women and figured he wouldn''t be that desperate.


    "How would I know? They were just saying they wanted me to buy them coffee."


    Shen Yuan thought that Tian Yuping and Kwan Yongzhen didn''t mean well, setting him up for embarrassment¡ªnow that their plans had backfired, he couldn''t be blamed.


    However, Cong Xiaoyi seemed alright; she was accidentally caught in the crossfire just now.


    With these thoughts in his mind, Shen Yuan glanced down at the surging "headlights": "Of course, it could also be because you two beauties are too stunning, they got scared off."


    "It''s true that we''re pretty, but can you not stare at them when you say that?"


    Liew Menglu said somewhat helplessly.


    "....."


    "Alright, Shen Yuan, it''s ready~"


    Chen Na came out from behind the bar carrying a cup of coffee and smilingly handed it to Shen Yuan, "I wasn''t sure which sweetness level you liked, so I made it half-sweet, is that okay?"


    Shen Yuan took the coffee, his smile faint, "As long as it''s made by you, it''s always fully sweet."


    "....."


    Chen Na''s pretty face immediately flushed red, and she quickly changed the subject, "What about your classmates, why did they leave?"


    Shen Yuan shook his head, "No need to worry about them."


    Liew Menglu couldn''t help but roll her eyes. What era was it still for people to use such cheesy lines? Yet, when she thought about it, she found it kind of sweet¡ªwas it because it came from Shen Yuan?


    Rich people''s words turn into flirtation, whereas a broke guy''s are just cringe...


    Hmm... that does make some sense...


    Rough words with a grain of truth...


    While drinking coffee, Liew Menglu asked, "Shen Yuan, can I ask you how tall you are and what you weigh? I can calculate your BMI for you."


    Shen Yuan considered for a moment, "182cm, 72kg, though recently I might have lost 1-2kg."


    Liew Menglu looked puzzled, "Huh? Why did you lose weight recently?"


    Shen Yuan glanced at Chen Na beside him, "Big expenditure."


    Chen Na immediately looked down, embarrassed. This bad guy, how could he say these things in front of her best friend?


    Liew Menglu glanced at the two and, catching on, clicked her tongue in amazement, "No wonder, no wonder..."


    She fiddled with her phone and calculated, "Your body fat is low, BMI''s only 21, normal is 22-23, you need to gain muscle¡ªadd at least 7-10kg."


    "Basically, you just want to convince me to get a gym membership at your place."


    Shen Yuan said helplessly, internally complaining that Liew Menglu was too blunt. Couldn''t these things be dealt with in private? Did she have to bring it up in front of Nana?


    Liew Menglu held her refined face up, "Hmph, so, will you do it or not? Our business needs to hit our targets by the end of the month!"


    "I''ll think about it."


    Shen Yuan didn''t agree right away.


    "You still need to think about it, well, I''ll wait for your good news then."


    Liew Menglu wasn''t discouraged and glanced at the time on her phone, suddenly remembering she had a personal training session at five, "Oh no, it''s almost four, I need to get going~"


    "Nana, I''ll go ahead, let''s get together another time."


    Liew Menglu waved goodbye to Chen Na, threw a flirtatious look at Shen Yuan, then swayed her shapely hips as she left MS.


    Shen Yuan twitched the corner of his mouth, thinking, this seductress, I''ll deal with you sooner or later!


    Watching Liew Menglu leave, Chen Na also heaved a sigh of relief. Her best friend openly showed her fondness for Shen Yuan, but she was unable to stop her.


    "Let''s go, Nana, we have training on the second floor."


    Shen Yuan pointed to the private dining room upstairs.


    Chen Na was puzzled, "Huh? Training what?"


    "You''ll know once you go up."


    Though unsure why, Chen Na still followed him upstairs.


    Shen Yuan pushed open the door to the private dining room, which was small, with two sofas and a table in the middle, plus a mural on the wall.


    Chen Na grew even more curious, "Shen Yuan, what training are we talking about here?"


    "Come here, your business skills aren''t polished enough, you need some appropriate training."


    Shen Yuan sat down on the sofa, a teasing smile on his face, and patted the spot beside him.


    "Shen Yuan...."


    Chen Na suddenly realized something, her cheeks burning, and she gently shook her head, "We can''t do this here, Xiaoqiu is still downstairs."


    Shen Yuan''s face was solemn, "What are you thinking about? This is a training session!"


    Chen Na pointed to below, "Shen Yuan, stop pretending, look, it''s giving you away...."


    "Damn it, why won''t this thing stay under control!"


    "....."

 Chapter 64 Exciting Training Class

    Chen Na was wearing a black mini skirt today, revealing more than two-thirds of her snowy white legs, and a fitted sleeveless blouse above, with her wheat-colored hair falling just right over the curve of her chest.


    Her lips slightly pursed, her pretty face now a light blush as she shook her head and whispered softly, "But we really can''t here...."


    Shen Yuan gave a faint smile, casually pulled the sunshade curtain, and walked over unhurriedly, wrapping his arms around her soft waist, whispering:


    "Today''s class is at a cafe?. Even though it''s the same course, the experience is completely different because of the different location."


    "And do you not know?"


    "Telling a man ''not here'' only speeds up his advances."


    "I had no idea...."


    Chen Na felt a tickle in her ears and her body went slightly limp, speaking now without much strength.


    In such a situation, she could only let Shen Yuan "train" her.


    Shen Yuan had long wanted to try the private dining room at this cafe?.


    Although it''s a public venue, the private dining room is rather secluded, and with the cafe? not being crowded, how could he not spice things up?


    Today, Shen Yuan was frequently teased by the enchantress Liew Menglu, and he was already quite irritable.


    So, even though he had spent billions last night, his fighting spirit was still high.


    .....


    There were no customers in the cafe? now, and Xiaoqiu was playing with her phone at the bar, but for some reason, suddenly there came a loud sound of furniture shaking violently from upstairs.


    Since the private dining room was right above the bar and the cafe? used wooden partitions, the soundproofing was not good.


    "How strange?"


    "Didn''t the boss say he was going to train Sister Na? Why has it gotten noisy?"


    Xiaoqiu, puzzled, decided to listen closely.


    Upon hearing clearly, Xiaoqiu, who had only seen a few Dongying films, her cheeks instantly turned as red as an apple.


    Because the sounds coming from above were those of a heated poker game....


    This....


    It had gotten noisy indeed....


    But, the boss and Sister Na really don''t consider me an outsider....


    Xiaoqiu was at a loss, not knowing whether to stay put or to silently leave, and what if customers were to arrive?


    Thinking this, Xiaoqiu simply walked to the entrance of the cafe? and flipped the "Open for Business" sign to "Closed."


    This kind of training session, it''s better that the customers don''t hear it.


    Liew Menglu, who had driven away not long ago, realized she had left her purse at the cafe? and turned back to retrieve it.


    But as she approached the entrance, she suddenly noticed the "Closed" sign on the glass door.


    "What the heck, wasn''t it just open?"


    Liew Menglu peered inside and didn''t see Shen Yuan and Nana, but Xiaoqiu was there.


    Liew Menglu raised her hand and knocked "thud thud" on the glass door while calling out, "Xiaoqiu, help me open the door, I forgot my purse!"


    In the second-floor private dining room, Chen Na heard the shout from downstairs and got a bit anxious, biting her lip and saying, "Hold on a sec, Shen Yuan, Meng Lu is back...."


    "No worries!"


    Shen Yuan also heard Liew Menglu''s voice, but instead of stopping, he trained even harder.


    Liew Menglu showing up under these circumstances merely increased his critical hit attribute.


    Let the temptress Liew Menglu see just how strong I am!


    Wasn''t there talk about needing to beef up?


    Come on, listen up!


    "Xiaoqiu, why are you alone here, where are Shen Yuan and Nana?"


    Liew Menglu picked up her purse from a chair, giving Xiaoqiu a puzzled look.


    Xiaoqiu wanted to explain, opened her mouth but ultimately closed it again. Continue your journey on empire


    Liew Menglu, seeing Xiaoqiu''s strange expression, was initially puzzled, but as she heard the sounds coming from upstairs, she was dumbfounded.


    Playing such thrilling games in broad daylight?


    Liew Menglu was amazed inwardly, Shen Yuan really knew how to spice things up!


    But why not challenge me instead, what do you mean by playing with my best friend like this!


    Liew Menglu inwardly snorted a couple of times then walked over to the bar.


    "How strange, how can a person so thin be so energetic?" Liew Menglu wondered aloud.


    Xiaoqiu glanced at Liew Menglu, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily twitched.


    What kind of people am I dealing with here....


    Why isn''t there a single normal one?


    Liew Menglu listened for ten minutes, noting the commotion upstairs hadn''t ceased, and sighed inwardly at Shen Yuan''s stamina.


    Thinking about her own personal training session, she couldn''t continue listening much as she felt regretful.


    Liew Menglu carried a bag and walked out of MS. When she reached the door, she shouted upwards, "Xiaoqiu~ I''m leaving now, see you next time!"


    "Uh, bye."


    In the private dining room, Chen Na''s whole body blushed as she shook her head, "I''m dead, she knows everything now."


    "A lively training session is bound to have eavesdroppers."


    Shen Yuan continued with the training while inwardly complaining that Liew Menglu, that sly fox, had been listening below for at least ten minutes.


    Is this kind of premium content supposed to be free?


    Next time, there must be a charge!


    Thirty minutes later, Chen Na leaned on the couch, breathing heavily.


    Today was definitely a unique experience for her.


    Not only was she overheard by Xiaoqiu, but her best friend found out too, really embarrassing!


    Yet, she felt a peculiar thrill, just like last night in Star Sushi''s private dining room, but this time it was clearly even more exhilarating!


    Meanwhile, Shen Yuan''s lips slightly curled up, a look of satisfaction on his face.


    It was mealtime now, and Shen Yuan felt his stomach was empty and needed some carbohydrates.


    After Chen Na tidied up her clothes, they walked down the stairs side by side, and Xiaoqiu, hearing the sound of footsteps, silently went to the front door to flip the sign back to "Open."


    "Xiaoqiu, where do you usually eat?"


    Shen Yuan asked nonchalantly.


    Xiaoqiu tried to hide her embarrassment, pretending she knew nothing, "We usually order meals from a nearby restaurant for lunch and dinner, and have them delivered here."


    "Do you have a menu?"


    "Yes."


    Xiaoqiu searched around the counter and after a while, handed over a menu to Shen Yuan, all the while staring at the floor, not daring to look up.


    "Let me see."


    Shen Yuan took the menu, glanced over it, and then told Xiaoqiu, "Braised loach, chives scrambled eggs, oyster omelet, old pigeon soup, stir-fried spinach, please call and order."


    "Uh, okay."


    Xiaoqiu silently took the menu, thinking to herself that these were all potency-enhancing ingredients, it seems the boss has been using up a lot lately....


    Shen Yuan indeed felt he needed some replenishment, having spent quite a bit of his savings on Fang Minhui in the past few days and having used up a lot at Chen Na''s place too.


    Even though he didn''t feel tired, he still thought it best to nourish himself with some food.


    Since both Chen Na and Xiaoqiu were somewhat shy, neither wanted to speak about the incident; Chen Na felt a bit guilty, while Xiaoqiu found it awkward, it seemed they both needed some time to adjust.


    After all, this could very well become the norm!


    Shen Yuan found it boring to talk to himself and went back to his dorm after eating.


    In dorm 503, Huang Haibao was still wearing headphones and playing games, while Cao Shunjin was lying on the bed reading a novel.


    Shen Yuan, recalling the afternoon''s incident, took off Huang Haibao''s headphones, "Old Huang, why do you like Tian Yuping?"


    "Old Third, you son of a...."


    Huang Haibao was in the middle of a team game and got so angry he wanted to curse, but upon hearing Shen Yuan actually mention Tian Yuping, he immediately paused his game and said with a mischievous grin, "Old Third, you think she''s great too, huh?"


    "How would I know if she''s good, but where did you see she''s good?"


    Shen Yuan was baffled.


    "She''s hot and sexy, the second most beautiful girl in class 2, only next to the class belle, isn''t that great?"


    Huang Haibao said smugly.


    However, thinking about it, Huang Haibao suddenly felt uneasy, "Old Third, why are you bringing her up out of the blue?"


    "Don''t tell me Tian Yuping likes you too?"


    Because of the last incident with the class belle, Huang Haibao still had some trauma.


    Shen Yuan''s mouth twitched, thinking to himself how far Old Huang could stretch the truth.


    "I''m not Donnie Yen, how could everyone love me?"


    "That''s good, that''s good."


    Huang Haibao heaved a sigh of relief.


    "I think...."


    Shen Yuan wanted to explain something, but in the end, he swallowed his words.


    They say a woman in love is blind, but men are just the same. Now Old Huang''s mind is filled with Tian Yuping; would advising him make a difference?


    After speaking, he would definitely disregard it, perhaps even think I was besmirching Tian Yuping.


    But men need to learn from experience. Maybe it''s better to let Old Huang see her true colors. That would certainly leave a deeper impression.


    Looks like Old Huang is in for another heartbreak....


    Huang Haibao was puzzled, "Old Third, what exactly are you trying to say?"


    "Nothing much, just making small talk."


    "....."

 Chapter 65 Does He Have the Strength?

    At the school office building, Lih Xiao arrived at the office of the Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee, Lui Zhaojiang, to report on her work.


    The Youth League Committee department''s role varies across different schools; its power can be substantial or negligible, but it holds significant influence on the International campus.


    Logistical management, student recruitment, and allocation of resources all fall within the scope of the Youth League Committee''s jurisdiction.


    Therefore, the project to establish an entrepreneurship center naturally fell to the Youth League Committee.


    "Are you saying that this student named Shen Yuan wants to invest in the entrepreneurship center?"


    "Yes."


    Lih Xiao had just roughly outlined the situation.


    The project for the International Entrepreneurship Center was led by one of the vice-chancellors, with a preparation team consisting of 5 members. The team leader was Secretary Kong of the Youth League Committee, followed by Deputy Secretary Lui Zhaojiang, with Lih Xiao and two other female teachers as part of the team members.


    Secretary Kong was in charge of only the general direction; the Deputy Secretary, Lui Zhaojiang, drove all the significant tasks, while the other three team members were responsible for the practical implementation.


    However, Lih Xiao had strong aversions to this Lui Zhaojiang.


    Lui Zhaojiang was around 40 years old, wearing a pair of silver-framed glasses, and seemingly lacking in exercise, which resulted in a somewhat stout figure. When he sat down, his belly had several layers of fat.


    This greasy middle-aged man often used the excuse of advancing the project to ask her out for meals; whenever there were meetings with investors, he also wanted her to accompany them for drinks and laughter.


    Lih Xiao declined every time, but with each refusal, her workload increased, evidence of Lui Zhaojiang using his authority to pressure.


    "Does he have the capacity to do so?"


    "Was the capital verified?"


    Upon hearing that a student wanted to invest in the entrepreneurship center, Lui Zhaojiang''s first reaction was undoubtedly one of disbelief. Although some students at the International campus indeed came from wealthy families, this was a project worth several millions.


    Even if some students'' families had the financial capability, it was ultimately parents'' money; the students themselves certainly had no final say.


    Lih Xiao explained, "I didn''t believe it at first either, but after I saw his bank account balance, there were 10 million yuan."


    "How much did you say?"


    Lui Zhaojiang thought he might have heard wrong.


    "10 million."


    "10 million???"


    Lui Zhaojiang drew in a sharp breath.


    That''s a fortune!


    Unexpectedly, the school had produced such a wealthy individual.


    "But are you sure this money isn''t from his parents and that he has control over it?"


    Lui Zhaojiang wanted to make sure once more.


    Lih Xiao nodded: "It''s his own money, and he can dispose of it as he sees fit."


    "That''s excellent!"


    Lui Zhaojiang''s mood suddenly shifted, and a wave of joy surged within him, "In that case, we don''t need to cooperate with a third-party company."


    The entrepreneurship center project had been in preparation for over a month, but due to financial difficulties, the progress was virtually nil.


    The school''s funding was limited; it could only seek external collaboration. However, such large investments weren''t easy to negotiate, not to mention that external enterprises were also profit-driven, and the terms offered by the school were negligible for them.


    But now, with a student willing to invest, the difficulties no longer existed.


    "Let''s do this, ask this Shen Yuan to come to my office; I want to hear his report in person," Lui Zhaojiang suggested, his brow relaxing unconsciously as he silently formulated his strategy. Since it was a personal investment, and by a student on campus, the controlling power must be firmly in his hands.


    A student would likely be easier to deal with due to the lack of social experience.


    Lih Xiao''s brows furrowed slightly: "Although Shen Yuan is a student, he is now an investor; shouldn''t we..."


    "Just do as I say!"


    Lui Zhaojiang interrupted rudely, as the Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee for the International division, he did not appreciate being second-guessed by his subordinates.


    Lih Xiao sighed softly inwardly, took out her mobile phone, and called Shen Yuan.


    "Shen Yuan."


    "I''m here with Secretary Lui of the Youth League Committee. I''ve told him about your intention to invest in the entrepreneurship center, and he wants to hear your report in person. When can you come to Secretary Lui''s office?"


    In dormitory 503, Shen Yuan pressed the mute button and asked, "Is Youth League Committee Secretary Lui the principal or the deputy?"


    "It''s Lui Zhaojiang, the deputy one. The principal one is Old Kong," Cao Shunjin replied offhandedly while reading a novel on his bed.


    "Oh."


    Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, musing to himself whether Lui Zhaojiang was clear on the situation. He, as an investor, was still being asked to give a report in person?


    Although he was indeed a student, things should be kept separate; as an investor, the school should show the proper attitude toward an investor.


    Being restricted wasn''t in Shen Yuan''s nature, nor did he like to be passive, especially since caving in this time would make it easier for Lui Zhaojiang to manipulate him in the future.


    However, Shen Yuan didn''t want to put Lih Xiao, the guidance counselor, in a difficult position since she was just the messenger. So, Shen Yuan raised his voice and said, "Counselor, please turn on the speakerphone. I''d like to have a word with Secretary Lui."


    "Okay."


    Lih Xiao turned on the speakerphone and placed it on the desk. Discover stories with empire


    "Hello, Secretary Lui, can you hear me?"


    "Hello, Shen Yuan, I can hear you."


    "I''ve been quite busy lately. I still have several investment projects to assess. Let''s meet up when I have some free time. I''ll have Teacher Lih Xiao leave my number with you."


    "Hey, Shen Yuan...."


    Lui Zhaojiang wanted to take over the conversation and ask what Shen Yuan meant by several investment projects to assess, but the call had already been disconnected.


    "What??"


    Lui Zhaojiang was caught off guard, and his face turned ugly in an instant.


    He had intended to probe Shen Yuan with the status of the school''s leadership, but Shen Yuan didn''t even give him a chance to speak.


    All those student leaders, which one of them didn''t greet him with a bow? How come this Shen Yuan showed no respect or reverence for authority?


    It''s just some lousy money!


    Lih Xiao couldn''t help but feel amused when she saw Lui Zhaojiang at a loss. She initially worried that Shen Yuan might be at a disadvantage when dealing with such a sly fox as Lui Zhaojiang.


    But now it seemed she had clearly underestimated this student. He handled the conversation well, not only mentioning his other investment projects but also leaving his number without making any final commitments.


    Considering the progress of the project, Lui Zhaojiang had to set aside his preconceptions about students and reassess Shen Yuan. He straightened his expression and asked, "This Shen Yuan, is he running his own business?"


    Lih Xiao shook her head, "I''m not too clear on the specifics. I haven''t seen him much lately."


    After getting hit with a curveball by Shen Yuan, Lui Zhaojiang took out his frustration on Lih Xiao, speaking sternly, "Don''t you have a grip on your own student''s situation?"


    "Those are personal matters of the students, which I have no right to pry into."


    Lih Xiao wasn''t about to indulge him; after all, she had already offended Lui Zhaojiang several times and wasn''t afraid of doing it again.


    Lui Zhaojiang gave Lih Xiao a cold look, then started to silently strategize.


    Getting the entrepreneurial base project moving was urgent; it had made no progress for so long that Secretary Kong would definitely hold him responsible if it continued.


    Since Shen Yuan had the investment capacity, as a school leader, it wouldn''t hurt to lower his posture a bit. Otherwise, if Shen Yuan decided to invest elsewhere, he would really regret it.


    After coming to this realization, Lui Zhaojiang inquired again, "Do you think you could arrange a meal with him?"


    Lih Xiao considered it and replied, "I''ll have to ask. I''m not sure."


    "Well, go ahead and ask. He can choose the time and place, and we''ll cover the meal expenses with the group''s fund."


    "Sure."


    ...


    In dormitory 503, Shen Yuan received a WeChat message from counselor Lih Xiao, saying that Lui Zhaojiang wanted to invite him for a meal to discuss the specifics of the investments and to see when he would be available.


    But he didn''t rush to reply, deciding to leave Lui Zhaojiang in suspense a bit longer.


    Although Shen Yuan was still a university student, he was no rookie in business; he would help in the travel agency during winter and summer breaks, and Old Shen would occasionally share some insights with him.


    Business negotiations are all about who has the weightier chips, who can occupy the advantageous position.


    Shen Yuan''s chip was the 10 million exclusive investment fund, and the school leadership desperately needed this money to construct the entrepreneurial base. So, it was clear that the scales were tipped in Shen Yuan''s favor in the negotiation.


    It was with such leverage that Shen Yuan could achieve his goal: he wanted complete autonomy over the entrepreneurial base without any interference from the school.


    Who to invest in and how much to invest was all up to him to decide.


    Moreover, Lui Zhaojiang was just a vice secretary; someone else would have the final say, so there was no need to be too courteous with him.


    As Shen Yuan mulled over this, his WeChat chimed again¡ªit was a message from Fang Minhui.


    "Shen Yuan, what are you up to? Do you have time to take a walk on the sports field?"


    A walk?


    Shen Yuan was puzzled; didn''t Fang Minhui usually ask him to have a frozen drink?


    Strangely enough, since their first experience together, Minhui had gradually revealed her automatic talents, while Chen Na''s learning progress was slower, requiring Shen Yuan to engage the clutch each time.


    Shen Yuan replied, "I thought you would ask me out for a frozen drink."


    "I can''t, I''ve got my period...."


    Shen Yuan suddenly understood why Fang Minhui had not been in touch recently.


    However, Minhui quickly added another line, "But if you want, we can still do it there."


    Seeing this WeChat message, Shen Yuan''s lips curled into a faint smile.


    "..."

 Chapter 66 Sensible Class Belle

    "I''m at the dorm now, changed my clothes, I can reach the school gate in 20 minutes."


    "OJBK!"


    After replying to the message, Shen Yuan washed up briefly and changed his clothes, since it was hot and feeling sticky all over was quite uncomfortable.


    Another reason was that he needed to go to Green Bamboo Lake to collect the house tomorrow morning. Find adventures at empire


    His clothes were all rather simple, mostly black or white T-shirts for tops, and for bottoms, he mainly wore loose-fitting jeans or casual pants.


    He only frequently wore two pairs of shoes¡ªa pair of Nike Air Force Ones and a pair of Adidas Stan Smiths¡ªboth of which were white sneakers and easy to match with any outfit.


    Because he was tall with good proportions, even the simplest outfit could look refreshing and casual on him.


    Even after he had money now, Shen Yuan had not thought about changing his wardrobe; as far as he was concerned, as long as the clothes were comfortable, they didn''t need to be high-end.


    As for things like luxury watches, Shen Yuan was even less interested. Checking the time on a phone was sufficient for him, and wearing a watch on the wrist wasn''t comfortable.


    "Old Third, are you going out?"


    Huang Haibao, noticing Shen Yuan was changing clothes, asked with curiosity.


    "Going out for training, won''t be back tonight."


    "Training?"


    "Yeah."


    Shen Yuan didn''t explain further, took his Land Rover keys, and left. The "training" was indeed training, it was just that this time he was training the class belle.


    The previous two times he had played the lower route and had not tried the upper and middle routes. Today, Shen Yuan was particularly eager to try them.


    "Old Cao, what does Old Third mean by ''training''?"


    Huang Haibao turned his head and asked Cao Shunjin, who seemed to spend nearly 24 hours a day lying on his bed.


    "I don''t know either."


    Cao Shunjin shook his head.


    "What kind of training lasts all night?"


    "....."


    Ten minutes later, Shen Yuan picked up the class belle at the school gate in his Defender.


    Today, the class belle was wearing a white waist-tie dress with a small bow at the neckline. The dress noticeably accentuated her figure, revealing her fullness and slender waist, especially on Fang Minhui.


    She had also deliberately worn white stockings for Shen Yuan, and because they were quite tight, they created a slight bulge where the skin of her thighs met the stockings.


    (PS: The outfit looks something like this, just glance at the face.)


    "Shen Yuan, you''ve got your car, huh~"


    Fang Minhui surveyed the interior of the car and remarked nostalgically.


    She had accompanied him when he purchased the car, so now that she saw Shen Yuan with the car, there was also a small joy in her heart.


    At the 4S shop, they hadn''t really had the chance to properly experience it, but now sitting in it, she found not only the seats were well-fitted but also the high view was significantly better, and most importantly, the space inside the car was really big!


    "Yeah, I got it last Friday, but I knew you had classes, so I didn''t call you to come along," Shen Yuan replied, preemptively addressing the question Fang Minhui was about to ask. However, to his surprise, she countered, "I didn''t ask when you went to get the car."


    "Shen Yuan, do you feel a bit guilty?"


    "What should I feel guilty about?"


    Shen Yuan asserted firmly, "I really did get the car on Friday."


    "Humph, men!"


    Fang Minhui still remembered the female salesperson at the Land Rover 4S shop, because she was indeed very pretty. Besides that, Fang Minhui had noticed some special meaning in the eye contact between her and Shen Yuan.


    A girl''s sixth sense is usually very accurate!


    "Shen Yuan, do you like that saleswoman?"


    Fang Minhui suddenly asked.


    Shen Yuan was startled inside, had his thing with Chen Na been exposed? Who had leaked it? Li Zhanpeng? Or Ye Zhiyang? Or some of the girls from class?


    In an instant, numerous possibilities flashed through Shen Yuan''s mind, but he kept up an innocent fac?ade: "How could that be!"


    "That''s a joke!"


    "Really?"


    Fang Minhui widened her beautiful eyes, trying to detect something in Shen Yuan''s gaze, but she seemed to find nothing because he wore a look of uprightness.


    "Of course it''s true!"


    "Okay then."


    Fang Minhui stopped dwelling on the issue, fluttering her eyes and said, "Shen Yuan, I want to ask you, what are we right now?"


    Their relationship had progressed to this point, and Fang Minhui had wanted to clear things up for a while, but every time it was brought up, Shen Yuan would evade the question.


    Everything that should have been done was done, and things that shouldn''t have been done were also done.


    As a girl, she just wanted to have a clear status.


    And for Shen Yuan, this was a lethal question.


    The class belle and Nana had completely different personalities.


    Nana didn''t compete or strive aggressively, she had a clear self-perception and would absolutely never ask such a question;


    while the class belle had much stronger possessiveness, and being a college student who has not experienced the harshness of society, she desired more.


    Shen Yuan also suddenly realized a problem, the Feel-good Index not only meant the potential for cashback, but it also meant that this girl really liked him a lot.


    Shen Yuan, driving the car, couldn''t help but turn to glance at her.


    [Feel-good Index: 91]


    The last time they met, it was 90; after two days without seeing each other, Fang Minhui''s Feel-good Index towards him had increased by 1 point.


    "What do you think our relationship is?"


    Shen Yuan threw the question back at her, simply tossing the problem to her.


    "I think, it should be boyfriend and girlfriend, right?"


    Fang Minhui turned to the side, a flicker of uncertainty in her beautiful eyes.


    Shen Yuan had never taken the initiative to admit it, nor had he professed his love for her. She really hoped that this time Shen Yuan would acknowledge it.


    At least it would prove that he liked and cared about her.


    "Of course, we''re boyfriend and girlfriend."


    Shen Yuan stated righteously, "Is that even a question?"


    "Really?"


    Fang Minhui''s smile bloomed instantly.


    "Of course it''s true!"


    Shen Yuan declared firmly, though inwardly he thought, after all, there''s no rule saying there can only be one girlfriend.


    Shen Yuan''s tone was sincere, and Fang Minhui felt moved, tears welling up in her eyes: "Okay, you said it, you can''t leave me."


    Women are naturally emotional creatures, especially Fang Minhui with her unresolved emotional knot, she finally got the answer she wanted.


    "I won''t leave, never!"


    Shen Yuan affirmed confidently.


    "Yay!"


    Fang Minhui raised her fists in excitement. Then, after a while, she suddenly thought of something: "Shen Yuan, you''ll only have me as your girlfriend, right?"


    "Of course, that''s for sure."


    Shen Yuan didn''t hesitate at all, thinking to himself, all the others are sweetheart, baby, darling...


    Fang Minhui nodded with a beaming smile, then suggested, "I want to eat something, let''s go to the hotel afterward."


    "Alright."


    The two of them got out of the car on the spot, as next to them was a snack street. It was just after 8 PM, the peak time for the snack street.


    Shen Yuan and Fang Minhui, the handsome man and beautiful woman, were quite eye-catching. Getting out of the car, they drew many people''s attention, particularly Fang Minhui''s curvaceous figure dressed in white tights, attracting the gaze of many male observers.


    But everyone could only look while casting envious, jealous, and resentful glances at Shen Yuan.


    Shen Yuan had already grown accustomed to this sort of attention the last time he took Chen Na to buy a house, so it didn''t affect him much.


    After eating, Shen Yuan still booked a room at the Richman Hotel. Once inside the room, he wrapped his arm around Fang Minhui''s soft waist: "I''ll take you to buy a big gift this weekend, do you want a car or a house?"


    Shen Yuan actually felt somewhat guilty towards Fang Minhui; he had been treating her as a tool for triggering rewards lately, completely overlooking her feelings.


    To say he had no real feelings, in that moment just now, Shen Yuan''s heart indeed felt a bit shaken.


    Fang Minhui blinked: "Really?"


    "Yeah."


    "Hmm..."


    Fang Minhui thought for a moment: "Choose the car, it''s cheaper."


    Shen Yuan flicked her smooth, fair forehead: "Silly girl, there''s no need to save money for me. We can get both a car and a house, but I think since you''re not working yet and you''re at school every day, you won''t need a car for now. We can buy a house first, and when you need a means of transport later on, I''ll buy you a car, okay?"


    Fang Minhui snuggled into Shen Yuan''s arms: "Mm-hm, I''ll listen to you."


    Then, it was time for another lesson.


    Today, Fang Minhui took paths she had never traveled before, both the upper and middle routes, and even so, aside from a slightly awkward start, her progress became rapid afterward.


    It was the complete opposite of her LOL level.


    Shen Yuan marveled inwardly, perhaps this is what they call a talented player!


    Since there were classes scheduled for Class 2 the next morning, they got up early. Shen Yuan planned to skip it entirely, and besides, he also had to go to Green Bamboo Lake to collect a house.


    But Fang Minhui was a good girl who never missed a class.


    Thus, Shen Yuan drove the Defender, taking Fang Minhui back to school.


    Shen Yuan initially planned to drop her off at the teaching building, but Fang Minhui said she would only wear that outfit when she was with him, so she needed to go back to the dorm to change.


    Shen Yuan''s heart was struck once more, dammit, where could one find such a considerate girl?

 Chapter 67 Skinny Dog, When Are You Coming to Work Out?

    Green Bamboo Lake was about a half-hour drive from the International campus, but considering it was eight o''clock and peak morning rush hour, it would take a bit longer.


    While driving, Shen Yuan received a selfie video from Liew Menglu.


    So, while waiting at a traffic light, Shen Yuan took the opportunity to open the selfie video.


    The video was obviously taken in a gym. Liew Menglu was speed walking on a treadmill, holding her phone high at a 45-degree angle, aiming the camera at the brightly flashing lights above.


    Her pale skin glistened with fine beads of sweat that slowly trickled into the crevices of her fitness vest, as she said, "Today is another day full of vigor~~"


    "Skinny dog, are you up yet? Come over to the gym to exercise~"


    "Damn it, when have I ever been skinny!"


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but retort before replying, "Is this video serious?"


    Liew Menglu quickly sent a WeChat message back, "Humph! Only a lecherous man would think this video isn''t serious. Tell me, are you harboring improper thoughts?"


    Shen Yuan replied with a faint smile, "Sorry, I''m utterly unmoved, I even feel like laughing a bit."


    "I don''t believe you!"


    "Believe it or not, I''m done talking!"


    "What are you doing?"


    By this time, the light had turned green, and Shen Yuan didn''t continue to respond to this green tea, focusing instead on driving.


    "Safety is the priority among thousands of roads," Shen Yuan surely understood this principle.


    Meanwhile, at Lede Fitness Center on the second floor, Liew Menglu, smiling at her chat interface, thought to herself, "Let''s see how long you skinny dog can hold out!"


    "Coach Liew!"


    Just then, a familiar female voice called out from behind her, and Liew Menglu turned around with a smile, "Ms. Zhou, you''re here."


    "Good morning. What''s making you so happy so early in the morning?"


    "Nothing much, just a friend. I find it quite amusing."


    Zhou Wanting had signed up for a membership and purchased thirty lesson packages under her, having already attended more than twenty. As they were close in age, the pair usually chatted quite a bit.


    Zhou Wanting glanced at the time on her sports watch and said, "Tell me about it, we have time before our lesson starts at 8:30."


    "Alright."


    It was perfectly normal for girls to chat and gossip. Liew Menglu also wanted to share: "It''s about a good girlfriend who landed a sugar daddy. He''s very generous. Yesterday, he helped her buy a house worth nearly 3 million."


    "3 million!"


    Zhou Wanting couldn''t help but exclaim, "A house worth 3 million bought on a whim! He must be worth at least tens of millions!"


    "Yeah, so I''m quite envious~"


    "That, may I ask bluntly¡ªno disrespect to your friend¡ªis that sugar daddy very old?"


    Zhou Wanting immediately thought of this. Some old men in their fifties or sixties do indeed have money and like to keep young and beautiful lovers.


    Even for an old man, Zhou Wanting thought it was worth it!


    Hou Jun was definitely unreliable now; that stinky man was quite generous at the beginning, at least willing to buy her bags, but now he''s become stingier and stingier, no matter how hard she begged, he wouldn''t go near the luxury section.


    Expecting to sleep together without spending money, how could such a good deal exist!


    So Zhou Wanting was planning to dump him and start looking for a better man.


    "No, not at all."


    Liew Menglu shook her head: "That man is just over twenty, even younger than my friend."


    "Damn!"


    Zhou Wanting was even more astonished, her mouth wide enough to swallow a fist.


    So young and already so wealthy, this was too much of a catch!


    "What does he look like?"


    Zhou Wanting still couldn''t let it go.


    "Quite handsome, and pretty tall too."


    "This... awesome...."


    Zhou Wanting felt a bit disoriented.


    Thinking of Hou Jun, who took forever to buy a single bag and was already in his forties.


    Compared to him, a handsome, young man who could just drop 3 million on a house was worlds apart!


    "Your friend must be very beautiful, right?" Zhou Wanting paused before asking, probably thinking that to catch such a man, her friend must be an exceptional beauty.


    "Well..."


    Liew Menglu thought carefully, "We''re similar, I guess, each has her own merits."


    "If she''s anything like you, no wonder that man fell for her."


    Zhou Wanting couldn''t help but size up Liew Menglu, who had delicate features and fair skin. Today, she was wearing a white crop top fitness vest, not only was her abdomen flat and toned, but her bust was also voluptuous and majestic.


    Her lower half sported matching tight yoga pants that accentuated her pert buttocks and long, beautiful legs.


    Every time Zhou Wanting came for private lessons, she noticed that as soon as Liew Menglu appeared in the gym, whether they were lifting weights, running, or working on equipment, all the men couldn''t help but cast covetous glances her way.


    Because her figure was simply too provocative.


    Liew Menglu was the most beautiful and best-built female coach at Lede, which is why Zhou Wanting chose to take lessons there, hoping to one day achieve a figure like Liew Menglu''s.


    But some things couldn''t be achieved through training alone, like that pair of big... assets¡ªit was all natural!


    So sometimes Zhou Wanting was quite jealous of Coach Liew''s figure.


    As they chatted, Liew Menglu noticed that Shen Yuan had replied to her message.


    "I''m going to Greentown Green Bamboo Lake to take possession of the house."


    Liew Menglu couldn''t help but widen her eyes, had he just bought a suite yesterday, and he was getting another one today?


    Moreover, Green Bamboo Lake mainly consists of villas!


    Liew Menglu immediately asked, "Greentown Green Bamboo Lake?"


    "Yes."


    It really is!


    Greentown Green Bamboo Lake was highly renowned throughout Star City. Liew Menglu didn''t only focus on luxury cars but also luxury houses.


    Greentown Green Bamboo Lake had once been among the top ten luxury properties and was one of the famous affluent neighborhoods in Star City.


    Moreover, this development was located inside the golf resort of Green Bamboo Lake, boasting stunning scenery, and the price had peaked at over 20 million per suite.


    Although it had dropped quite a bit in the past two years, it was still over 10 million!


    Liew Menglu secretly sighed; this was the life of the wealthy!


    Living in villas, driving luxury cars, keeping lovers¡ªwhat a dreamy life!


    But faced with such an opportunity, Liew Menglu naturally wouldn''t miss it. Picking up her phone, she pressed the voice key and cooed, "Are you going alone? Do you need your sister to accompany you?"


    Shen Yuan, driving the car, felt his whole body tingle upon hearing that coquettish tone.


    You''re at least 26 years old and still talking about "sister"!


    However, Shen Yuan thought, since he was alone, having this green tea flatter him wasn''t bad, so he replied, "I''m alone. If you''re free, you can come along."


    He actually agreed!


    Liew Menglu couldn''t help but tiptoe in excitement; this opportunity was too rare!


    Although it wasn''t exactly a romantic date, it could still foster more intimacy!


    "Then you have to pick me up, I am currently at the fitness center."


    Liew Menglu quickly sent this message to Shen Yuan, and also attached the Lede Fitness Center''s location.


    She actually had a car and could drive herself, but obviously, traveling together in one car was preferable.


    After all, being in such private spaces as a car allowed for closer proximity, and from a physiological standpoint, being alone with the opposite sex in private spaces not only hastened heart rates but also raised hormone levels.


    "Coach Liew, what''s got you so happy?"


    Zhou Wanting was puzzled. Looking at her, one wouldn''t know and might think the sugar daddy had bought the house for her instead of her friend.


    "I''m sorry, Ms. Zhou, I might have to cancel today. How about this¡ªI''ll refund you double the fee for this private training session."


    Liew Menglu decisively gave up Zhou Wanting''s private lesson. With such a good opportunity to board this luxury ship, a personal training session just didn''t compare in earnings.


    She would not mess up her big chance over such a matter.


    "Ah? Something urgent?"


    Zhou Wanting, who normally didn''t have much time either, only managed to attend sessions during her holidays, and every time, she would schedule her sessions with Liew Menglu several days in advance.


    "Yes!"


    "That sugar daddy I just mentioned, he''s going to Greentown Green Bamboo Lake to take possession of a house and asked me to accompany him, so I''m sorry this time Ms. Zhou."


    "This..."


    Zhou Wanting couldn''t wrap her head around it immediately.


    Wasn''t that sugar daddy your friend''s?


    How come he''s taking you to take possession of the house now?


    However, Zhou Wanting swiftly grasped the situation and couldn''t help but click her tongue in secret. Coach Liew was ruthless!


    Stealing her friend''s man!


    But Zhou Wanting thought it over carefully; if she met such a man, she probably wouldn''t hesitate either.


    Young, handsome, wealthy, and generous, spending as much as 300,000 on a house as a gift, where could she find such a man?


    "Meng Lu, where are you going? Don''t you have a personal training session at 8:30?"


    The speaker was Han Lihai, another fitness coach at Lede, who also happened to be one of Liew Menglu''s many suitors. Experience more on empire


    He noticed Liew Menglu hurriedly, couldn''t help but ask.


    "I have some business."


    Liew Menglu was heading to the locker room. Indifferent to such men, she walked past him without a sideways glance.


    "???"


    10 minutes later, through the second-floor floor-to-ceiling glass, Han Lihai saw Liew Menglu, changed into a new outfit, standing at the entrance of the fitness center. A Land Rover Defender slowly pulled up beside her.


    "Driving a Defender seals the deal with Liew Menglu? That member driving the Benz G-Class last time didn''t seem to manage either!"


    Looking at the scene before him, Han Lihai muttered to himself.


    "Don''t be fooled by him driving a Defender; he casually spends 300,000 to buy women apartments."


    Zhou Wanting replied, having witnessed the scene through the same glass, her heart filled with envy.


    Unfortunately, such a man definitely wouldn''t fancy her. She considered herself roughly on par with Liew Menglu in looks, but her figure was in a completely different league.


    "300,000?"


    Exhaling sharply, Han Lihai wondered how many years he would have to work to earn 300,000!


    The two watched as Liew Menglu opened the passenger-side door, but the moment she opened it, Zhou Wanting''s eyes widened in shock because the person in the driver''s seat looked all too familiar.


    Shen Yuan???


    .....

 Chapter 68 Coach, I Want to Play Ball

    Zhou Wanting stared blankly at the Defender, at first thinking she had seen wrongly, but how could she fail to recognize Shen Yuan''s face after three years together.


    Combining that with what Coach Liew had described to her, over twenty years old, tall and handsome, wasn''t that Shen Yuan?


    Zhou Wanting instantly felt terrible all over.


    Damn, my ex-boyfriend actually became a multimillionaire?


    And I actually dumped him half a month ago?


    It was a bit like playing the lottery, where the numbers I had originally picked could have won me ten million, but I changed them at the last minute, and just like that, I threw the ten million into the sea with my own hands.


    Zhou Wanting now regretted it to her guts.


    She suddenly recalled everything about being with Shen Yuan, how humorous and funny he was, good looking, and generous despite being a student, often buying her gifts.


    Damn, what was I thinking, dumping him to be with Hou Jun!?


    Just then, Zhou Wanting''s phone "ding-donged" and she took it out in a daze, to find a message from Hou Jun on WeChat.


    "Ting, you''re off today, right? Come over to my place tonight."


    Zhou Wanting was already feeling awful, and now receiving such a message from Hou Jun, her face sank even more.


    "Go to hell, asshole!"


    Zhou Wanting replied angrily.


    She thought this Hou Jun must be out of his mind; who did he think he was, always trying to skip the preliminaries and get straight to the point? Did he think she was that cheap?


    Hou Jun: "???"


    Hou Jun: "Is this the person I know?"


    Zhou Wanting: "I am your mother!"


    Fuming, Zhou Wanting sent that and immediately blocked Hou Jun.


    After pondering for a long time, Zhou Wanting tried to calm down and started to analyze rationally.


    She wondered if there was still a chance for her and Shen Yuan.


    After three years together, even though it was a relationship of mutual benefit, there must have been some feelings, right?


    The key issue now was, would Shen Yuan be too crowded on his end?


    She already knew about Coach Liew, the junior she had run into at IFC Mall, and Coach Liew''s bestie.


    That''s three known ones, not to mention the unknowns.


    "Adding myself, would that be too many?"


    .....


    "Shen Yuan, this car is so big and spacious~" Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    "And the view is so good, sitting up here feels quite high, see, we''re higher than the other cars~"


    Once Liew Menglu got into Shen Yuan''s Defender, she turned into a flatterer, looking around at the car''s interior and praising it enthusiastically.


    Even though Shen Yuan knew that Liew Menglu was putting on an act, he still enjoyed it, "It''s alright."


    "I''m so envious of you, being able to buy such a nice car."


    "And this type of car is really suitable for outdoor off-roading. Climbing hills and wading through water would be no problem at all."


    Liew Menglu''s beautiful eyes were sparkling as she looked at Shen Yuan.


    For someone like Liew Menglu, who was of a certain level of green tea bitch, praising a man''s big toy was the most basic step, but at the same time, she would set a scene for the man to imagine on his own.


    Of course, she wouldn''t make it explicit, instead letting the man think up the characters and actions in that scene for himself.


    After all, language has its limits, but the human brain is capable of limitless expansion.


    Just imagine, a curvaceous beauty sitting in your passenger seat, hinting at "off-roading" and "outdoors"¡ªhow could you not let your imagination run wild?


    Shen Yuan''s mouth twitched, and he couldn''t help but glance at Liew Menglu.


    She must have changed into a new outfit, a beige waisted dress with pleats at the bottom, and the hem was cinched in on both sides, making her pair of fair, smooth legs appear even longer.


    And needless to say, Coach Liew''s headlights were still glaringly bright; at the last traffic light, Shen Yuan had rolled down a window, and immediately, male drivers on both sides cast envious glances.


    But to tell the truth, Shen Yuan was not inexperienced with green tea bitches. If you approach, they retreat; if you retreat, they pursue, dragging you around clearly and plainly.


    So Shen Yuan just gave a noncommittal "oh," "Outdoor off-roading isn''t bad, I''ll take Nana to try it sometime."


    "You don''t play by the rules, do you?"


    Liew Menglu''s expression turned a little frustrated at once.


    Shen Yuan threw the question back at her, "How should I be saying it according to the rules?"


    "Hmm....."


    Liew Menglu pursed her lips, actually uncertain of the answer herself.


    "How about if I say it like this?"


    Shen Yuan teased with a grin, "Coach Liew, I want to play ball."


    Liew Menglu was initially stunned, then quickly caught on and playfully punched Shen Yuan''s arm, saying coquettishly, "You''re so naughty~"


    .....


    Thirty minutes later, the two arrived at the sales center of Greentown Green Bamboo Lake.


    "Good afternoon, sir. How may I assist you today?"


    As they walked into the sales center, a friendly greeting lady approached them.


    "Hello, I''m here to take possession of a property; my name is Shen Yuan."


    "Hello, Mr. Shen, I see your reservation. I will arrange for a colleague to come over right away."


    "I''ll take you to the VIP room to sit for a moment, okay?"


    The female receptionist''s smile became even more enthusiastic as she guided Shen Yuan and his companion to the VIP room to take a seat. She then quickly walked towards the inside office. Not long after she had left, a staff member soon brought over tea and snacks.


    A moment later, a young woman in a skirt suit walked in gracefully with a stack of documents in her hand. She first gave a slight bow to Shen Yuan, then said:


    "Hello, my name is Guan Shufang, I am your property butler. You can just call me Xiao Guan; would you like to go see the apartment first, or take a look at the contract documents?"


    "Just sign the contract documents, then we can go see the apartment afterward."


    "Okay."


    Guan Shufang took out all the contract documents from the folder and laid them out in front of Shen Yuan, then started to introduce them one by one.


    For Shen Yuan, the apartment was a gift from the System. Anyway, there were no options to choose from, and there was nothing much to see in the contract. These were all standard contracts; the developers all had their own standard templates.


    So after signing the contract hastily, Shen Yuan followed Guan Shufang to his new apartment.


    As it was a detached villa and the formal residential area was large, they could only get there by car.


    The villa area''s security was quite strict, particularly at somewhere high-end like Greentown Green Bamboo Lake. However, with Guan Shufang explaining the situation to the gate security, Shen Yuan, although he hadn''t completed the registration, was still able to drive in smoothly.


    The road from the sales office to the villa sloped slightly uphill. This road ran along the lake. Following it, one could see the entire Green Bamboo Lake and the dense mountains behind it.


    The water of Green Bamboo Lake was clear and tinged with green. When a light breeze came by, it would cause ripples to form on the surface, complemented by the uneven mountains and the large lake in the backdrop.


    Liew Menglu couldn''t help but exclaim as she looked at the scenery outside the window, "Wow~"


    "It''s so beautiful here~"


    Although she had prepared herself mentally on the way there, the stunningly beautiful scenery still evoked many emotions in Liew Menglu.


    It was like a natural oxygen bar. Living in such a place where you could see green mountains and clear waters upon waking up must surely brighten one''s mood a lot.


    The lives of rich people are truly wonderful~ If only I could live here too.


    Liew Menglu thought to herself silently, sneaking a glance at Shen Yuan beside her and psyching herself up inside: I must win over this Shen Yuan!


    "Indeed, it''s beautiful."


    Shen Yuan also gave a fair appraisal.


    It was his first time here as well. Although it was a bit far from the city center, he couldn''t deny that the air and environment were truly good.


    Guan Shufang, seated in the back row, took a discreet few glances at the pair. With her extensive experience, she could tell right away that the two were not in a relationship.


    However, the figure of the woman beside him was simply too hot to handle.


    Guan Shufang couldn''t help but look down at her own modest endowments, feeling quite imbalanced inside. The disparities between women could indeed be vast; the distance from A to E is, in fact, quite far.


    Having worked many years in the real estate industry, Guan Shufang had met with numerous wealthy male clients, many of whom bought houses for their mistresses.


    Those mistresses didn''t need any particular abilities; just with their looks, a sexy body, they could completely bewitch men into willingly buying them houses.


    When she first started in the industry, Guan Shufang still felt it was unfair. Why did she have to work so hard, while those women could easily roll around in the sheets and obtain what she would have to strive for decades to afford?


    But as time passed and she matured, she began to understand those women and even became somewhat envious.


    Houses that cost several millions, a luxury car¡ªthese were things most people could only dream of attaining in a lifetime.


    If there was a better shortcut to get them, why not take it?


    However, it was a pity that she probably wouldn''t have the chance to cling to the powerful and wealthy. With just a pair of A''s, not even men, perhaps even dogs would shake their heads, right?


    After driving for seven or eight minutes, they finally arrived at Shen Yuan''s villa.


    "Mr. Shen, this villa''s property area is 610 square meters, but the garden has 2 acres, which is about 1300 square meters, so our actual usable area can reach nearly 2000 square meters," Guan Shufang explained as she led the two out of the car, walking into the courtyard.


    "Wow~ It''s really big~"


    This time, Liew Menglu''s mouth was agape even more, for the villa''s garden was much larger than she had imagined.


    She didn''t know that for this kind of detached villa, the garden size varied for each property.


    Stepping on the green lawn, looking at the large shade trees on both sides, and the modern-style villa directly ahead, Liew Menglu once again felt the disparities in life.


    Some people have a 600-square-meter house and over a thousand square meters of garden, totaling nearly 2000 square meters, while others struggle to buy even a 100-square-meter house, needing loans for twenty to thirty years to afford one.


    Liew Menglu now envied the lives of the wealthy even more, and her goal of winning over Shen Yuan became even more entrenched in her mind.


    She couldn''t resist taking out her phone to take pictures, wanting to capture the scene before her in her photo album.


    Shen Yuan too was slightly impacted; he was well aware of the swimming pool and separate garage, but the size of the garden was indeed beyond his expectations. Looking around, he realized his villa also had a broad view.


    It was situated on a small hill, slightly higher than the other villas, allowing an unobstructed view.


    Greentown Green Bamboo Lake did not have terraced villas but detached ones, each set at a certain distance from the others, ensuring strong privacy.


    Shen Yuan still maintained a calm and composed demeanor on the outside, slowly walking inside the villa with Guan Shufang. However, since it was unfurnished, there wasn''t much to see.


    Although many homes are now sold fully furnished, villas such as this high-end residence differ. Each owner has their interpretation of the decorative style and hopes to personalize their home''s design.


    [Ding!]


    [Congratulations to the host for acquiring their first property]


    [A perfect life requires not just property ownership but also uniquely styled interior decoration]


    [The host will receive a dedicated 20 million yuan decoration fund for renovations]


    Shen Yuan looked at the panel and blinked in surprise.


    System, are you serious?


    20 million to decorate a villa worth over 10 million?


    .....

 Chapter 69 The Hunter and the Prey

    This villa has three floors and spans over 600 square meters, which means the 20 million budget for renovation averages more than 30,000 per square meter.


    And the property prices in Star City are only over 10,000 per square meter.


    System, you''re really extravagant!


    Shen Yuan inwardly clicked his tongue, finding this budget a bit too lavish for him.


    "Miss Guan, do you have any renovation companies you''d recommend?"


    Shen Yuan planned to hire a renovation company but didn''t have any contacts, so it was a good opportunity to ask the property manager.


    "Yes, Mr. Shen."


    Guan Shufang''s eyes lit up slightly, "There are several high-end renovation companies in Star City with good reputations and designs. I''ll send you their contact details on WeChat later."


    Since the owner hadn''t brought it up himself, she didn''t dare to speak out of turn.


    Renovations for such large villas start at a minimum of one or two million, and owners with larger budgets can spend several million. If a deal goes through her recommendation, Guan Shufang could also earn some referral fees.


    "Okay."


    Shen Yuan nodded his head, took another tour of the shell home, and then said, "Let''s go then, we''ve seen enough."


    Before returning to the sales office, Guan Shufang took them to the property management to register their facial recognition for the entrance, and she handed over the contract documents and room keys to Shen Yuan.


    Shen Yuan left one key with Guan Shufang, as he didn''t want to accompany the renovation company when they came to measure the place and plan it out, so it was perfect to have this property manager run the errands.


    With everything settled, both got into the Defender to head back, when Liew Menglu suddenly asked, "Shen Yuan, I took some photos and videos just now, can I post them on Quick Sound?"


    Shen Yuan had no objections, "Sure, just as long as my face isn''t shown."


    Liew Menglu smiled, "Don''t worry, I wouldn''t dare post such a Tang Sanzang like you online for other demons to covet."


    "How many followers do you have on Quick Sound?"


    Shen Yuan remembered that the speakeasy''s renovation was nearing completion and he needed to start preparing to explore the store through videos.


    Speaking of which, since he had invested 700,000, Shen Yuan hadn''t visited it yet.


    "Over 50,000."


    Liew Menglu was editing the video, head down, and answered casually.


    Since graduating from university, Liew Menglu had been working in a gym, and she had registered on Quick Sound early, managing her account very well. A large portion of her clients came from her Quick Sound followers.


    This was thanks to her fitness photos and videos which, although faceless, showcased her well-endowed behind and full headlights, attracting a lot of attention.


    Every time she posted a video, she would include the location of the Leke Fitness Center, so most of her followers were local lechers along with a small percentage of female fitness enthusiasts.


    Shen Yuan then asked, "Do you have many local followers?"


    "Most of them are local followers."


    Liew Menglu suddenly thought of something, lifted her delicate face teasingly, and said, "What''s up, you sleazy man, are you trying to sneak a peek at my videos on Quick Sound?"


    Shen Yuan smiled, "Over 50,000 men have seen them on Quick Sound, what''s the harm if I look?"


    "You''re different."


    "Just so you know, that video I sent you this morning was meant just for you. It wasn''t even uploaded on Quick Sound, and it''s a lot racier than anything I''d post there."


    Liew Menglu blinked her eyes, a coy smile playing on her lips.


    Shen Yuan smiled knowingly. Coach Liew really knew her stuff; those words were like music to the ears.


    "Send me your Quick Sound username later. I have a speakeasy exploration video coming up. If you''re interested, you could give it a try."


    Regarding the exploration video, Shen Yuan didn''t plan to stick to just one influencer. Recruiting several people would definitely enhance the flow of potential customers.


    "Really~"


    Liew Menglu''s eyes sparkled, "You''ve opened a speakeasy too?"


    Shen Yuan nodded, "It''s just something I''m doing in partnership with a friend, just for fun."


    "Great, I''ll send it to you right now."


    While working on her phone, Liew Menglu continued to murmur, "My ID is Extra Spicy Liew."


    Shen Yuan''s eyelid twitched, and he couldn''t help but turn to look at her.


    Well, she really is spicy!


    "Heading back to the gym now?"


    "Where else?"


    Liew Menglu stared intently at Shen Yuan, her gaze as if piercing through to his soul, "Where did you want to go?"


    Shen Yuan shifted his gaze, "I thought maybe we were going to play ball."


    Liew Menglu quickly protected her sensitive areas with both hands and snorted, "Dream on!"


    "All you men are no good, you bullied my best friend yesterday, and I haven''t even settled the score with you!"


    "Have the nerve to say that, after listening downstairs for so long yesterday, I haven''t even charged you a fee."


    Shen Yuan found it somewhat amusing, "And you care so much about Nana, you might as well take it on her behalf."


    "Don''t even think about it~"


    Liew Menglu said, tilting her cute face.


    She had her own calculations, a woman who gives up her most precious place too soon appears too cheap, and men won''t cherish her.


    "What can''t be had is always causing trouble"¡ªthis lyric aptly described their current situation.


    The more Shen Yuan couldn''t have her, the more he would desire her, and the more he would give to have her, the harder it becomes to give up.


    Given time, after all the hardships to finally gain her, he would cherish what wasn''t easily obtained.


    So, she planned on stringing Shen Yuan along now, offering a little bait every day to keep him hooked.


    Yet, Shen Yuan surely knew her intention to fish, but Liew Menglu completely reversed the roles of hunter and prey.


    Although Liew Menglu had a decent figure and looks, and matched the potential of a third-class NPC, Shen Yuan wasn''t bound to her.


    He was a multimillionaire, worried about not finding a woman?


    Clearly, Liew Menglu''s choices were much more limited. From their interaction over the past two days, including the suggestive video she sent this morning, it was evident she was quite interested in him, likely because her ''pond'' didn''t have bigger ''fish'' such as him, which is why she was so intent.


    Now, Liew Menglu was obviously teasing with her ''two steps forward, one step back'' tactics.


    But, the fact was, yesterday Liew Menglu had seen him spend three million to help Chen Na buy a house, and today, she saw him acquiring a villa worth over ten million. Life showed a vast disparity.


    Deep down, she was secretly longing for such a glitteringly corrupt lifestyle.


    With this contrast, all the small fry in her ''pond'' no longer appealed to her, leaving her hopes pinned on him alone.


    So, who was the hunter and who was the prey was quite obvious.


    By the time they reached Leke Fitness Center, Liew Menglu had already edited the video for TikTok and successfully posted it.


    This kind of villa-highlighting video was very eye-catching; Liew Menglu felt it should boost her following significantly.


    As they got out of the car, she left him with a teasing smile, "Bye-bye, Shen Yuan, stop by our gym to work out sometime~"


    "Bye-bye~ Coach Liew~ Let''s play ball together sometime~"


    "Pah!"


    Liew Menglu spat in disgust, then went back to the second floor of the fitness center to change into her gym clothes, only to be called into the office by the manager, Gong Mingbo.


    "Meng Lu, what are you up to? I heard you missed a member''s class this morning?"


    "Do you realize that''s a breach of contract?"


    Gong Mingbo''s expression was serious, scrutinizing Liew Menglu up and down.


    Liew Menglu arched her eyebrows, "Who told you, wasn''t it that blabbermouth Han Lihai?"


    "Who it was doesn''t matter. What matters is that you indeed skipped a class."


    Liew Menglu explained, "I had some personal matters to deal with, and I''ve already told Miss Zhou that I''d refund her double the fee for the class."


    "What personal matter? Did you request leave? Besides, do you think I don''t use the Internet?"


    Gong Mingbo pulled out his phone, pointing at the screen, "Look at this, I just stumbled upon this video!"


    "Men today are very clever; do you really think someone would buy you a house? They take you house hunting just for fun. Once they tire of the game, they''ll dump you; aren''t incidents like this common?"


    "Remember Lili, who was casually tossed aside after being played? Have you forgotten about that incident?" Gong Mingbo said sternly, then his tone gradually softened, "Though you promised to refund double the private training fee to Miss Zhou, she still had complaints, but I''ve already taken care of it for you."


    "I advise you to be down-to-earth. Why keep dreaming of finding a wealthy husband? Isn''t finding a good husband and teaching your children appealing? We have many fine male trainers here, like Ahai, who makes a decent twenty thousand a month, has bought a car..."


    Listening to him, Liew Menglu''s expression turned slightly sour, as she had already guessed what Gong Mingbo was leading up to, simply laying the groundwork to then bring up her own income and circumstances.


    In the fitness center, not only male members pursued her, but also trainers like Han Lihai, and the current Gong Mingbo in front of her.


    However, Liew Menglu wasn''t interested in him; she always declined delicately, but he was persistent, which was quite a headache for her since he was her superior and it was difficult to handle without causing a scene.


    This time, being caught out by Gong Mingbo, he first took the opportunity to scold her as a manager, then tried to persuade her as someone with more experience.


    Did he really think he could conquer me this way?


    Ridiculous!


    ...

 Chapter 70 Sycophants at the Top are Really Scary

    Seeing that Gong Mingbo was going to keep talking nonstop, Liew Menglu directly interrupted:


    "Alright, Manager Gong, I understand the reasons; is there anything else? If not, I''ll get back to my work."


    "What work could there possibly be at almost twelve o''clock."


    Gong Mingbo glanced at the time on his watch and said, "Let''s go have a meal together. I heard a new hotpot restaurant opened nearby, we should give it a try."


    "Sorry, I brought a fitness meal, and I don''t like to eat food with too many calories."


    "I''m leaving first, Manager Gong."


    Liew Menglu didn''t give him face and walked straight out of the office.


    She was the coach with the best performance in the store, with many members in her hands, and a valued employee by the boss. Even though Gong Mingbo was the manager, he couldn''t do anything to her.


    If it wasn''t for the fact that she had to continue working there, she would not bother listening to Gong Mingbo''s nagging.


    Gong Mingbo watched Liew Menglu''s leaving figure, his face darkening, thinking, "Bitch, what are you pretending to be so high and mighty for! When someone gets tired of you and kicks you to the curb, you''ll understand what reality is!"


    "Still hoping someone would buy you a house? Those rich guys'' money is only for you to look at, not to spend!"


    ...


    ...


    At this moment, at the International campus teaching building, Lui Zhaojiang was reporting his work in Secretary Kong Zongping''s office.


    "Are you saying this student named Shen Yuan is interested in investing in the entrepreneurship base?"


    "Yes."


    Lui Zhaojiang nodded slightly. The entrepreneurship base project had been in preparation for over a month with no progress. Not only did Lui Zhaojiang, as the deputy team leader, need to answer for it, but as the person primarily responsible, Kong Zongping also had to report the progress to higher-ups.


    So today, he took the initiative to visit Kong Zongping''s office to report Shen Yuan''s matter.


    "That''s good news."


    Kong Zongping was around 50 years old, fairly fit, neither fat nor thin, but his temples were already showing some gray hair. He thought for a moment, then asked, "Have you made contact with this Shen Yuan?"


    "Not yet, but I have already asked Teacher Lih to invite him for a meal. However, I haven''t received a reply from his side."


    Kong Zongping pondered for a while, then said, "Since we are the recipients of the funds, we should show the proper attitude. We can''t neglect him just because he is a student."


    "You are right, Secretary Kong, it was my oversight in my work."


    The words of Kong Zongping held a critical meaning, making Lui Zhaojiang smile awkwardly, "How about I personally visit his dormitory and invite him this afternoon? What do you think?"


    "That still wouldn''t reflect the importance our school places on this."


    Kong Zongping shook his head, "How about this, we go together this afternoon, and you bring along Teacher Lih."


    Lui Zhaojiang opened his mouth, wanting to say that this might be making too big a deal out of it, but seeing that Kong Zongping had made up his mind and started reviewing other documents, he didn''t dare to object further.


    ...


    Shen Yuan arrived at the school by twelve o''clock, had lunch at the cafeteria, and then went back to room 503.


    At that time, Huang Haibao was chatting on his phone. Seeing Shen Yuan return, he put down his phone and said, "Old Third, you''re back."


    "Oh, by the way, about the training you mentioned last night, what is it exactly?"


    Huang Haibao had been pondering all night and still couldn''t figure out what kind of training would go on for the entire night.


    "Mind your own business, kid."


    Shen Yuan shrugged his shoulders, not elaborating. If Old Huang knew he had gone to book a room with the class belle, he''d probably cry his pillow wet tonight.


    "Pfft~"


    Huang Haibao scoffed and after a while, with a joking and smirking face, he approached Shen Yuan, "Old Third, can you help me look at this, how should I chat?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "You know, Tian Yuping and I have been chatting on WeChat these past two days. I feel like there''s something lacking. Can you help me strategize a bit?"


    Huang Haibao thought Shen Yuan was experienced in dating and could lend a hand.


    "Let me take a look."


    Shen Yuan took the phone, scrolled through their chat history.


    ''Good morning, should I bring you breakfast?''


    ''No need''


    ''It''s raining today, remember to bring an umbrella to class''


    ''Okay''


    ''Good night, don''t set the dormitory air conditioner too low, remember to cover yourself with the blanket''


    ''Okay''


    ''What do you want to do this weekend? How does Yuelu Mountain sound?''


    ''We''ll see''


    ''You seemed a bit under the weather today, are you feeling unwell? Should I buy you some medicine?''


    ''No need''


    ''....''


    Shen Yuan felt his scalp go numb reading this, and he no longer wanted to scroll up further, thinking that Old Huang was really goddamn caring.


    "Old Third, what do you think?"


    Huang Haibao stroked his chin, answering his own question, "I think it''s not bad. After all, she replied to every message, and compared to before, the class belle hardly ever replied to my messages."


    Huang Haibao even nudged Shen Yuan''s shoulder with a grin, "Doesn''t this mean there''s a chance?"


    Shen Yuan''s mouth twitched, as he passed back the phone, "You''d better ask Old Cao for advice; I really can''t help you with this."


    Huang Haibao didn''t understand, "All Old Cao is is a virgin; what does he know! Right now, you''re the most experienced in room 503."


    Cao Shunjin, who was reading a novel, didn''t expect to catch a bullet while lying down, couldn''t help but retort, "Old Huang, I haven''t offended you today, have I?"


    "You, go aside."


    Huang Haibao ignored him and continued, "Old Third, I really don''t see a problem here. At least she''s willing to reply to my messages, and she even agreed to go out this weekend."


    "Doesn''t that prove that Tian Yuping has a good impression of me?"


    "Ah, right, right, right, she indeed has a good impression of you."


    Shen Yuan was truly speechless.


    Unexpectedly, Huang Haibao''s eyes brightened, "Whoa, Old Third, you think the same, right!?"


    Shen Yuan couldn''t help but roll his eyes furiously, "Damn, those sycophants at the top are terrifying!"


    While they''re fawning over others, they don''t realize what they''re doing, believing this sort of "attention" to be care and importance towards girls, thinking that such considerate attention would eventually move them.


    But the girl in question couldn''t care less, responding to chats with nonchalance.


    So now, Shen Yuan had completely lost hope in Old Huang, and when he saw Huang''s exuberant demeanor, he couldn''t help but sigh internally.


    The happier he is now, the sadder he''ll be later.


    Class 2 originally had a class in the afternoon, but seeing that Shen Yuan was skipping class, Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin decided not to go either.


    At 4 p.m., as Huang Haibao was browsing risque? pictures on his Alienware, a "thud thud" knock at the door suddenly came. Startled, he quickly shut his laptop.


    "Damn it, who is it?"


    After coming to his senses, Huang Haibao was somewhat annoyed and impatiently got up to open the door; but when he did, seeing the three people standing outside, he was stunned.


    "Uh..."


    "Secretary Kong, Secretary Lui, counselor, what brings you here?"


    Huang Haibao said with a bit of guilt.


    Now that they were in their third year, the counselor hardly ever came to check the dorms, let alone having two Secretaries from the Youth League Committee; they would be even less likely to visit the students'' dorms.


    Huang Haibao thought to himself that they hadn''t used any high-powered electrical appliances, and at most, they would skip some classes, browse some spicy pictures on the computer. Apart from Shen Yuan, both he and Old Cao were law-abiding citizens; was such a grand display really necessary?


    Cao Shunjin also got a fright, not knowing what had happened. Suddenly both counselors and the leaders of the Youth League Committee had come to their dorm, so he quickly jumped down from his bunk.


    Lih Xiao peeked in and asked, "Is Shen Yuan here?"


    "Yes, he''s here, he''s sleeping."


    Huang Haibao was still a bit dazed, speaking somewhat inarticulately.


    At the same time, he couldn''t help but wildly speculate in his mind: why would these three come to Room 503 together to look for Shen Yuan? Could it be that he had committed some grave offence?


    Shen Yuan, who had just been woken up by the knocking, now sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes, "What is it, counselor?"


    Kong Zongping walked into Room 503 with a smile and looked up, saying, "Student Shen Yuan, I am Kong Zongping from the Youth League Committee. Do you have time to have dinner together tonight?"


    Lih Xiao timely introduced, "Shen Yuan, these are Secretary Kong and Secretary Lui from the Youth League Committee."


    "Oh, hello there, Secretary Kong."


    Shen Yuan shook his head to clear the grogginess and thought for a moment before replying, "Tonight, sure, I can make it."


    "Good, then I''ll arrange a restaurant booking. Tonight we can have a good talk about the matter of the entrepreneurship base."


    After saying this in a friendly manner, Kong Zongping glanced over at Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin, "How about you two, would you like to join as well?"


    At this time, the students of International Trade Class 2 had just finished their classes and were returning to the dormitory from the teaching buildings. They noticed that Room 503''s door was open, and there were several teachers inside, including leaders from the Youth League Committee. They couldn''t help but gather at the door.


    Curious to see what was happening inside.


    Li Zhanpeng was among them. Standing on his tiptoes in the crowd, he peeked inside and saw that both Secretary Kong and Secretary Lui from the Youth League Committee were there, seemingly talking to Shen Yuan.


    Without a major issue, these two wouldn''t normally come to the student dormitories. Li Zhanpeng''s mind raced as he first thought of how Shen Yuan''s family had apparently gone bankrupt but still had so much money, having purchased a Defender, and supposedly maintaining a mistress on the side.


    It''s very possible that he was involved in something illegal, which is why the Youth League Committee members are coming to take action now.


    Once it all clicked for him, Li Zhanpeng snorted with laughter, "I knew it, where could Shen Yuan get all that money? He must have been up to some shady business on the side."


    "Brother Peng, what exactly happened? Tell us more?"


    Someone couldn''t help but ask in a low voice.


    Li Zhanpeng gave a noncommittal response, "Shen Yuan suddenly came into a fortune, probably through some illicit means, and it''s only normal for the school authorities to be looking for him now."


    "I bet the school is just taking control of Shen Yuan for the time being, and then waiting for the police to arrive."


    Class monitor Yan Song was there, frowning, "We still don''t know the details, so we shouldn''t spread rumors about things that are baseless."


    Li Zhanpeng hummed lightly, "Yan Song, you might not know this, but Shen Yuan bought a Land Rover Defender, and he''s been spending money left and right. Tell me, his family has gone bankrupt, so where did the money come from?"


    Ye Zhiyang tried to explain, "But I heard from Shen Yuan last time that he made his money from buying cryptocurrency, and his family''s situation has improved now."


    Li Zhanpeng''s face was filled with scorn, "You believe that crap!"


    "....."


    "Old Huang, Old Cao, are you guys going as well?"


    Explore stories at empire


    Shen Yuan jumped down from his bed and asked the two.


    This Secretary Kong clearly knew how to handle things better than Lui Zhaojiang. Last time Lui Zhaojiang asked me, an investor, to report, it was really outrageous.


    "I...."


    Cao Shunjin stuttered, feeling uneasy even just sitting at the class dinner, let alone dining with two Youth League leaders at the same table.


    Huang Haibao was smarter; he knew that the two secretaries had come specially to invite Shen Yuan for a meal, and he respectfully said, "Leaders, counselor, we''ll pass. You go ahead."


    "Alright then."


    Kong Zongping glanced at his watch and said with a smile, "It''s already 4:30 PM, let''s go now, Student Shen Yuan."


    Cao Shunjin couldn''t help but glance at Huang Haibao, wanting to know more. Huang Haibao shook his head, indicating that he was also unaware.


    As they were leaving, Lih Xiao noticed many students from their class gathered at the door, "What are you all crowding around here for? Disperse already."


    Yan Song couldn''t resist asking, "Counselor, what exactly happened?"


    Lih Xiao didn''t want to explain in this situation, "Nothing serious, disperse."


    "Alright."


    Yan Song was full of question marks but still performed his duty as a class monitor, dispersing the crowd, "Disperse, everyone disperse!"


    And so it was, that Kong Zongping and the others escorted Shen Yuan out of Room 503.


    But the way the three of them were acting didn''t seem like they were trying to control Shen Yuan, as Li Zhanpeng had suggested. Instead, it looked more like how school leaders would receive visiting delegates from the education department.


    This only made everyone more curious.


    Once the three had left the building, the classmates from International Trade Class 2 swarmed into Room 503. Ye Zhiyang was the first to ask, "Old Huang, Old Cao, what exactly happened?"


    Huang Haibao himself hadn''t quite recovered from the surprise and shook his head, "I don''t know either."


    Yan Song was also puzzled, "But what kind of matter would require the two Youth League Secretaries to come to Room 503 specifically to invite Shen Yuan?"


    Li Zhanpeng was still within the throng, sticking to his intuition, "I bet they''re just giving Shen Yuan some face. After all, everyone has their pride. You see on the news, when they transport criminals, don''t they also wear hoods?"


    "Li Zhanpeng, what nonsense are you spouting!"


    Huang Haibao couldn''t help but retort, then said, "Secretary Kong and Secretary Lui came specially to invite Shen Yuan for dinner, it seems to be about something to do with the entrepreneurship base."


    "What I meant by not knowing was why such a matter would require two secretaries to personally extend the invitation."


    "..."

 Chapter 71 This Guy is Getting Bolder

    "Are the two Secretaries here to invite Shen Yuan to dinner?"


    Ye Zhiyang couldn''t help expressing his surprise.


    The other students were also looking at each other with confusion. Just a moment ago, after Li Zhanpeng''s words, they really believed that Shen Yuan had gotten into some trouble.


    But now, it seemed that wasn''t the case.


    The fact that the two Youth League Secretaries personally came to the dorm to invite a student to dinner was a huge honor, wasn''t it?


    Yan Song also felt his scalp tingle; he noticed Huang Haibao had mentioned the "Entrepreneurship Base," so he asked, "What''s this Entrepreneurship Base thing about?"


    Huang Haibao shook his head: "I don''t know. Secretary Kong just mentioned it in passing."


    "This...."


    Everyone was unclear about the situation now, but it must be that Shen Yuan had done something impressive for the school''s leaders to come and woo him, otherwise they wouldn''t lower themselves to invite him for a meal.


    All present were students at the school, and when they saw teachers and school leaders, even if they did not bow and scrape, they would at least greet those they recognized with respect.


    But Shen Yuan was obviously not on the same level as them now. He didn''t have to greet the school leaders; rather, the school leaders came to his dorm specially to invite him for a meal.


    This was quite absurd because everyone was a decent, honest student, yet you, on the sly, became superior to others?


    At this moment, Li Zhanpeng realized the situation was drifting away from what he had imagined, so he quickly left room 503.


    He also thought of the time when Shen Yuan splashed him with a face-full of drink, thinking to himself, this damned guy is truly bizarre!


    ...


    Meanwhile, the four of them set off in two cars headed to Nanjing Restaurant. Shen Yuan drove the Defender with Lih Xiao, while Lui Zhaojiang served as the driver for Kong Zongping.


    "Shen Yuan, changed cars, eh? This car is really spacious!"


    Lih Xiao let out a sigh as she got into the passenger seat and then buckled up. She was wearing a slightly loose T-shirt today, but as soon as she fastened the seat belt, her impressive cleavage was highlighted by the strap.


    "I was used to sedans before, so I wanted to try out an SUV, but it can be inconvenient for parking at times."


    Shen Yuan had been driving the car for a week and had encountered a few tight parking spots. He could squeeze in with some effort but getting out was tricky¡ªthe door easily scraped the adjacent car''s paint.


    Just then, Lih Xiao suddenly received a phone call, and Shen Yuan inadvertently overheard keywords like "renting," "moving," and "Lalamove" during the conversation.


    After Lih Xiao hung up, Shen Yuan asked, "Counselor, are you changing houses?"


    Lih Xiao nodded: "Yeah, I''m moving in a couple of days. My current house''s lease is up, and I plan to find a new place with my sister."


    Shen Yuan saw this as an opportunity to increase the Feel-good Index: "Do you need my help with moving?"


    "You help me move?"


    Lih Xiao pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "That''s not really appropriate. It''s a new car and it wouldn''t be suitable to move stuff with it. I''ll just call a Lalamove." Experience exclusive tales on empire


    Shen Yuan smiled: "It''s okay. A car is just a tool, a consumable. Besides, it''s only right for a student to help out a teacher."


    Lih Xiao still felt it wouldn''t be right: "I''d rather not trouble you. We two women have quite a lot of stuff."


    "Come on, don''t be like that. I''m your student; what''s the trouble?"


    "Well... okay then."


    Unable to refuse Shen Yuan, Lih Xiao simply agreed. She couldn''t help but glance at Shen Yuan in the driver''s seat, his lean face with defined features. From the perspective of the opposite sex, he was somewhat handsome.


    She thought about how he had given her a bag before and often deliberately created opportunities for close contact. Now, he was offering to help her move.


    Lih Xiao now had enough reasons to be sure that Shen Yuan was quite interested in her.


    Just then, Lih Xiao suddenly remembered the LV bag. He had said it was a high-quality replica, but given Shen Yuan''s current financial ability, it was very likely the real deal.


    "Shen Yuan, do you remember the bag you gave me?"


    "Remember it? What about it?"


    Shen Yuan thought that was his very first bucket of gold; how could he forget.


    "Last time you said it was a high-quality replica...."


    "Actually, it''s the real thing, but it doesn''t matter. After all, your student is not short of money now, and there''s nothing wrong with giving a gift to a teacher he likes...."


    Shen Yuan''s words slipped out, and he quickly corrected himself: "No, what I mean is there''s nothing wrong with giving a bag to a teacher he respects."


    Lih Xiao''s cheeks flushed, and she felt it somehow wasn''t right, considering the age difference and that they were in a teacher-student relationship.


    "Shen Yuan...."


    "Counselor, if you''re going to say no or something, you don''t have to. Anyway, I won''t give up."


    Shen Yuan turned his head and flashed Lih Xiao a grin, showing off his pearly whites.


    Logically speaking, with a Feel-good Index of 67, Lih Xiao''s feelings for him had already surpassed the normal range for a teacher-student relationship, so he was convinced that the counselor did have a slight fondness for him.


    However, the counselor was not like a certain chemistry teacher; she had a strong sense of professional ethics, and it would take some time for her to reverse her position.


    So, it was like simmering an old hen to make soup; you need to stew it gently.


    Lih Xiao couldn''t help but take a few more glances at Shen Yuan, who was driving but said nothing more.


    Forty minutes later, the two arrived at Nanjing Restaurant. Kong Zongping and Lui Zhaojiang had arrived a few minutes earlier and were waiting at the entrance.


    The four entered the reserved private dining room, and Kong Zongping, having ordered the dishes, asked with a smile, "Shen Yuan, can you drink alcohol?"


    "I''ll follow Secretary Kong''s lead."


    Shen Yuan used to frequent nightclubs and had a decent tolerance for liquor.


    "How about baijiu?"


    "Sure."


    After the food was served in stages, aside from Lih Xiao, the three men clinked glasses a few times, and soon, all were flushed.


    Dinner involved casual banter led by Kong Zongping, discussing some trivial matters at school and the mentality and planning for the future of college students. Additionally, he asked Shen Yuan to offer some opinions about the school.

 Chapter 72: 71 This Guy is Getting Bolder_2

    Chapter 72: Chapter 71 This Guy is Getting Bolder_2


    Ordinary college students usually feel uncomfortable in such situations due to their lack of social experience, but this was not the case with Shen Yuan.


    Whether responding to Kong Zongping¡¯s questions or making jokes, he was totally at ease, and he matched the drinking fervor of the two seasoned drinkers. Had it not been in front of Lih Xiao, he would have even considered making a risque? joke.


    At a banquet, nothing livens up the atmosphere better than a risque? joke.


    On one hand, he felt confident because he had money in his pocket; on the other hand, he had often gone drinking with Old Shen, so this situation was no big deal to him.


    Lui Zhaojiang, despite being a deputy secretary of the Youth League, spent the day pouring drinks for students, which he wasn¡¯t happy about, but as he watched Shen Yuan¡¯s performance, he gradually suppressed his dissatisfaction.


    The demeanor displayed by Shen Yuan was not that of a typical college student, but rather that of a seasoned veteran who had struggled in society for many years.


    This demeanor, when displayed by a student, was quite jarring.


    Moreover, the way Lih Xiao looked at Shen Yuan gradually changed.


    She had always regarded Shen Yuan as a student, but now, although he often spoke lightly, he was not annoying and was fundamentally different from some noisy male students.


    Especially in this setting, dining and drinking with two secretaries, he was very calm and composed.


    She now felt that Shen Yuan didn¡¯t seem like a student, but more like a stable, self-sufficient ¡°adult.¡±


    ¡°Shen Yuan, let¡¯s get back to the point and talk about the entrepreneurship base,¡±


    As the atmosphere warmed up, Kong Zongping finally got to the main topic,¡±You can talk about your plan and your requirements. Since you have this idea, I believe you certainly have your own arrangements.¡±


    Kong Zongping had initially underestimated this student, but realizing that Shen Yuan was more astute than he had thought, he now perked up, adopting the demeanor he used when dealing with business executives.


    ¡°Secretary Kong, I won¡¯t bother with platitudes,¡±


    Shen Yuan said with a smile,¡±Currently, the International campus is facing difficulties with investments, and I can offer help to the school; of course, I have my conditions.¡±


    ¡°But my conditions, actually involve no financial losses for the school.¡±


    Kong Zongping shifted slightly in his seat,¡±Shen Yuan, go on.¡±


    ¡°That would be complete autonomy,¡±


    Shen Yuan straightened his expression,¡±This entrepreneurship base should be completely under my direction, who to invest in and how much to invest should be assessed and decided by me without interference from the school.¡±


    Kong Zongping furrowed his brow,¡±The university entrepreneurship base involves multiple parties, not just the school. The Education Bureau will also have inquiries, and if we proceed entirely according to the investor¡¯s wishes, it might not be proper.¡±


    ¡°Besides, the school also has to consider the success rate of students receiving entrepreneurship support.¡±


    ¡°Secretary Kong, if there¡¯s no funding, talking about success rates is just empty talk,¡±


    Shen Yuan laughed,¡±The entrepreneurship base at the International campus is of course in the name of the school, think of me simply as the person in charge of the base, the executor.¡±


    ¡°And as a student of International, we share fortunes together; our interests are aligned.¡±


    ¡°Also, your concern about whether they can make money post-entrepreneurship¡ªI¡¯ve certainly considered that; after all, it¡¯s my money being invested, and I naturally hope they can make money.¡±


    Shen Yuan wanted to establish this entrepreneurship base primarily for two tasks related to the System.


    On one hand, the 10 million in investment funds needed to be fully utilized to unlock a mysterious industry; on the other hand, the accumulation of Prestige Points had to start from the school.


    Shen Yuan had analyzed the pattern of the System¡¯s tasks, which essentially involved accumulating wealth, industries, and prestige step by step.


    Then slowly becoming a tycoon.


    As his own funds and industries gradually grew, he would need people to manage these assets. There was no better way than through this entrepreneurship base to train a batch of people.


    Survival of the fittest, indeed.


    This 10 million investment capital can also withstand some trial and error.


    The most important thing is that female NPCs can also be developed from this, and what women in society are easier to handle than college girls?


    Moreover, the quality of female students on the International campus is famously high in Star City.


    Kong Zongping pondered for a long while before finally saying, ¡°I can¡¯t answer you right now.¡±


    Shen Yuan knew that Kong Zongping also had to consult his superiors and nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    After discussing official business, the three of them began drinking again and continued until 8:30 before the gathering ended.


    On the way back, it was still Shen Yuan and Lih Xiao in the same car. Because Shen Yuan had been drinking, he asked Lih Xiao to help drive back.


    Half an hour later, they arrived downstairs at the apartment, and Lih Xiao asked, ¡°Are you going to sleep at home tonight?¡±


    Shen Yuan shook his head, ¡°No, there¡¯s no room for me upstairs, I¡¯ll go back to the dorm.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll leave the car here and you can come drive it back tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first, be careful on your way back.¡±


    For Lih Xiao, today was also quite fruitful. As a member of the startup base project team, now that the base had some direction, her workload would be much reduced.


    Besides, tonight she had also seen another side of Shen Yuan.


    Lih Xiao picked up her purse, ready to get out of the car, when suddenly, Shen Yuan leaned over and kissed her cheek unexpectedly.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Lih Xiao couldn¡¯t dodge in time and Shen Yuan, the scoundrel, took advantage of her.


    Her cheek immediately turned hot red, and she incredulously looked at Shen Yuan, ¡°Shen Yuan... you...¡±


    Lih Xiao realized that Shen Yuan was becoming bolder; last time it was at home during dinner, another time in the office, and now he even dared to kiss her directly.


    As if still not satisfied, Shen Yuan pretended to lean in again. Not daring to stay in the car any longer, Lih Xiao quickly got out, ¡°Shen Yuan, you scoundrel!¡±


    Shen Yuan watched Lih Xiao stomp up the stairs, a slight smile curling up at the corner of his mouth.


    Having drunk anyway, all he had to do tomorrow was claim he remembered nothing.


    After getting out of the car, Shen Yuan looked up at the 5th floor; the lights in his family¡¯s rental were still on, Old Shen and Ms. Li were probably watching TV, and his sister Shen Xuan was likely reviewing her lessons.


    However, in the last few days, Ms. Li had already started looking at houses. She had even shared photos of a show house in the ¡°Loving Families¡± group, and once they bought the house, they would soon be able to move out of here.


    The lottery ticket they had last time cashed in over five million after taxes. Old Shen transferred one million to Shen Yuan, leaving four million, which, after paying off the remaining debts, was enough to buy a big house, and Old Shen could also buy a car.


    Just then, Shen Yuan suddenly received a call from Chen Na.


    ¡°Shen Yuan, you¡¯re at school, right? Ms. Lin Yuchang left some things at the cafe?. Could you help her open the door if you¡¯re free?¡±


    Chen Na¡¯s gentle voice came from the phone, ¡°Ms. Lin is almost here, and since Xiaoqiu and I live quite far, it would be very late by the time we got there.¡±


    ¡°Okay, can do.¡±


    The cafe? has three keys, one for each person. Shen Yuan initially said he didn¡¯t need a key, but Chen Na insisted as he was the boss and made sure to give him one.


    Shen Yuan walked slowly out of the alley and hailed a taxi on the main street, ¡°Driver, to MS Cafe? at International campus.¡±


    ...

 Chapter 73: 72: The Beautiful Young Wife Lin Yuchang

    Chapter 73: Chapter 72: The Beautiful Young Wife Lin Yuchang


    Ten minutes later, Shen Yuan arrived at MS Cafe?, where a sensual figure was standing at the entrance.


    Lin Yuchang was indeed a beautiful young widow. Her smile had a special kind of allure, and under her sleeveless blouse, her breasts were full and round. Today, she wrapped her legs with black stockings, which were of the type that were evenly proportioned and fleshy.


    ¡°Sorry to trouble you with this, Shen Yuan,¡± she said apologetically with a smile, ¡°I left some of my child¡¯s toys at the cafe? last time and forgot to take them.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, no trouble at all.¡±


    Shen Yuan took out the keys, pushed open the door of the cafe?, and also switched on a lamp.


    Lin Yuchang, after setting her bag down, walked over to the counter and bent over as she searched for something.


    Her slender waist and ample buttocks together formed an enchanting curve, unique to young widows, and Shen Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sneak a few glances with his peripheral vision.


    Lin Yuchang put the toys into a bag, which were all small plastic toys like cars and excavators,


    ¡°How old is your child?¡±


    Shen Yuan casually asked while doing nothing.


    Lin Yuchang looked up and smiled, ¡°3 and a half years old, quite mischievous.¡±


    Lin Yuchang filled a plastic bag with toys, and then pulled out a couple of bottles of wine from beneath the counter into another plastic bag.


    Shen Yuan¡¯s eyelids twitched¡ªcould it be that Lin Yuchang often drank alone in the cafe??


    After packing up, Lin Yuchang carried the bags to the door, then couldn¡¯t help but look back a few times at the cafe? with a complex expression on her face.


    Shen Yuan asked with a smile, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, can¡¯t bear to leave it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not really about not being able to let go.¡±


    Lin Yuchang¡¯s eyes flashed with a tinge of melancholy, ¡°It¡¯s just that I remember the days and nights it has been with me.¡±


    ¡°You can always come back to see it.¡±


    Shen Yuan thought to himself that women were creatures easily moved by their surroundings, but then again, it was probably largely related to her emotional life.


    Most likely to do with Zeng Xianyong.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be drinking alone in the cafe? out of melancholy.


    ¡°I probably won¡¯t be back.¡±


    Lin Yuchang gave a light shake of her head.


    By 9:30 in the evening, most of the students had already gone back to their dorms, and the streets, in contrast to the daytime bustle, now seemed quiet and cold, occasionally swept by a breeze bringing a different kind of loneliness.


    ¡°How about I keep you company for a couple of drinks?¡±


    Shen Yuan pointed at the red wine in her bag.


    Lin Yuchang smoothed her wind-blown hair and smiled seductively, ¡°Would that be appropriate?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate about it?¡±


    Only one chandelier was turned on in the cafe?, and Shen Yuan casually picked a table to sit down at, while Lin Yuchang got two wine glasses from the bar and sat down, smoothing her skirt.


    The warm yellow light shone on the two of them, creating a somewhat romantic atmosphere.


    ¡°Feeling upset?¡±


    Shen Yuan opened a bottle of wine slowly and poured it for Lin Yuchang.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Lin Yuchang sipped the wine, her red lips parting gently.


    ¡°Let me guess, is it related to family?¡±


    Lin Yuchang was slightly startled, looking at Shen Yuan in surprise, ¡°Hmm? How do you know?¡±


    Shen Yuan smiled, ¡°I actually know your husband, Zeng Xianyong. He¡¯s the general manager of the Jaguar Land Rover 4S store, right?¡±


    Lin Yuchang¡¯s mouth opened in mild shock, ¡°How...how do you know him?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve heard about some of the things he¡¯s done. Chen Na was an employee at the Land Rover dealership, and she quit because of Zeng Xianyong.¡±


    A light bulb went off in Lin Yuchang¡¯s head, but thinking of Miss Chen Na, her heart suddenly tightened, ¡°Does Miss Chen Na also...¡±


    Shen Yuan shook his head with a smile, ¡°No, she left because Zeng Xianyong harassed her frequently.¡±


    Lin Yuchang let out a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s good then. If that were the case, it would be another addition to his offenses.¡±


    Under the influence of the alcohol, Lin Yuchang¡¯s pale cheeks began to blush. She sipped her wine slowly and started to speak,


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been preparing to divorce Zeng Xianyong recently. I¡¯ve collected quite a bit of evidence of his infidelity, and I have seen some chat logs where he coerced and enticed subordinates.¡±


    ¡°Married for five years, I never thought he was that kind of man.¡±


    Lin Yuchang¡¯s expression carried an indescribable stir of emotions, ¡°But when I think about the fact that he¡¯s the father of my child, I hesitate, wondering if this will affect the child. After all, children raised in single-parent families inevitably suffer psychologically.¡±


    Thinking of those indecent chat records, Lin Yuchang felt sick to her stomach; he had actually done such conscienceless things.


    And she wondered why on earth she had ever decided to be with him.


    It was these things that made him completely give up on Zeng Xianyong.


    Although divorce is common in modern society, she still worried that her child would be affected, so she hesitated and struggled with her decision.


    Whenever she thought about these distressing issues, she went to MS by herself, drinking wine, trying to numb herself with alcohol.


    But each time after drinking, she did not feel much better; besides having a stomach full of alcohol, her mood was usually even more oppressive than before she started drinking.


    ¡°Make a clean break, I think you will make the right decision,¡± he said.


    Shen Yuan kept pouring Lin Yuchang wine, then continued, ¡°The child is certainly important, but think about it carefully. Facing the child in this state for a long time, won¡¯t the child be affected?¡±


    Lin Yuchang was momentarily stunned and looked at Shen Yuan, ¡°That... is also true...¡±


    Shen Yuan said as a matter of fact, ¡°Although children are young, they can sense their parents¡¯ emotions. So growing up in this kind of atmosphere for a long time, the damage they receive is actually greater.¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    ¡°So, whether for yourself or for the child, you have to make the right decision.¡±


    Lin Yuchang raised her glass, took a big sip, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes, and her look towards Shen Yuan also underwent some subtle changes.


    From the beginning to the end, she had always seen Shen Yuan as a young man who was generous with his money, but tonight it seemed he was more mature than she had imagined.


    Maybe it was the catalytic effect of the alcohol, but beneath the chandelier light shining on her, she always felt Shen Yuan had a unique charm.


    His features were sharp, and he had a mischievous and rascally smile, but it was not annoying at all.


    This was something she never saw in Zeng Xianyong.


    Before, she thought one should not judge a man by his appearance, but now it seemed that being with a good-looking man could indeed lift one¡¯s spirits.


    Thinking this, Lin Yuchang sincerely said, ¡°Thank you, Shen Yuan.¡±


    ¡°No need to be so polite.¡±


    Shen Yuan smiled, candidly meeting Lin Yuchang¡¯s gaze. Looking at her face, which was naturally charming and now, due to the alcohol, flushed with red cheeks and a bewildering gaze, indeed added a few strokes of allure.


    Unlike the purely desirous class belle, and not quite the same as the gentle Chen Na, Lin Yuchang¡¯s eyes and brows had a different kind of charm.


    Facing Shen Yuan¡¯s returned gaze, Lin Yuchang shyly avoided eye contact. Noticing that the bottle of wine was nearly empty, she suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Sure, good idea.¡±


    Shen Yuan nodded and stood up.


    Truthfully, Shen Yuan did indeed harbor thoughts of being a ¡°wife-stealer.¡± On one hand, it was to teach Zeng Xianyong a lesson, and on the other hand, it was to give Nana some vindication.


    There was also the motive of exploring an NPC.


    But such matters depended on mutual consent, and coercion was not an option.


    The two tidied up the table, washed the wine glasses clean and put them back on the bar, then walked out of the cafe shoulder to shoulder.


    While walking, Lin Yuchang suddenly exclaimed ¡°Ah,¡± as if her high heels had slipped, losing her balance and stumbling forward.


    Seeing this, Shen Yuan hurriedly supported her waist. In the next second, he felt the softness in his hands and the pressure against his chest, followed by her unique perfume scent.


    Lin Yuchang, still shaken, clutched Shen Yuan instinctively as her heart thumped wildly.


    Not until Shen Yuan gently patted her on the shoulder did Lin Yuchang come back to her senses and hastily moved out of his embrace.


    She didn¡¯t dare to look up, timidly smoothing out her blouse and skirt. Fortunately, the flush on her cheeks could be passed off as the effect of the alcohol rather than the recent incident.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry~¡±


    Lin Yuchang kept her head down.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    That night, Lin Yuchang had also stirred up a touch of wicked fire in Shen Yuan. He waved his hand nonchalantly, then turned off the light and took out the keys, ready to lock the door.


    However, just at that moment, Lin Yuchang suddenly tiptoed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and planted a fleeting kiss on his face before immediately grabbing her purse and the plastic bag and leaving MS.


    Shen Yuan watched her voluptuous figure walk away, subconsciously touching his face, thinking to himself, what¡¯s the point of just a kiss?


    At the very least, they should have had a real, vigorous encounter!


    Lin Yuchang stepped out of MS, feeling her heart in her throat.


    She didn¡¯t know why but her guts had suddenly grown bolder.


    It must be the alcohol!


    Thinking back, she felt some regret. Next time, she was determined not to drink so much wine!


    For so many years, she had always adhered to proper conduct, never doing anything inappropriate.


    As a wife, she maintained a certain distance from other men, never daring to overstep.


    The only somewhat out-of-line behavior might be taking care of her own needs.


    And this was all because Zeng Xianyong was a useless wimp.


    But what was this exhilarating feeling all about?


    ...

 Chapter 74: 73: A Mans Mouth, A Liars Ghost

    Chapter 74: Chapter 73: A Man¡¯s Mouth, A Liar¡¯s Ghost


    Shen Yuan glanced at the time; it was already 10:40 PM, and the dormitory doors had closed. He pondered for a moment before finally dialing Chen Na¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hey, Nana, we can¡¯t get back to our dorm because the doors are closed. I¡¯ll sleep over at your place tonight.¡±


    ¡°.....¡±


    ¡°No, really, they¡¯re shut. The International campus dorms lock up at 10:30 PM.¡±


    ¡°.....¡±


    ¡°Get a room outside? No need to waste that money.¡±


    ¡°.....¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything tonight, just cuddle.¡±


    ¡°.....¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Shen Yuan prepared to call a Didi. However, he suddenly remembered something and went to the convenience store to buy a can of beer, drinking most of it and sprinkling the rest all over himself.


    Today, he rode in the same car with Lih Xiao, and at night, he had close contact with Lin Yuchang, so his clothes were inevitably laced with a perfume scent.


    Shen Yuan certainly didn¡¯t want to be caught out like that night with Fang Minhui.


    He sniffed his T-shirt to make sure there was no other woman¡¯s scent before he started to call a Didi.


    ¡°Dong dong¡±


    Twenty minutes later, Shen Yuan stood at Chen Na¡¯s front door, knocking twice before a pajama-clad Chen Na hurried out to open it.


    However, as soon as Chen Na opened the door, she was hit by a strong smell of beer, and her brows furrowed unconsciously: ¡°How much did you drink?¡±


    ¡°About six.¡±


    Shen Yuan replied casually.


    After entering, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at Chen Na, who had finished washing up. Although she was dressed in a long-sleeved pajama set, the exposed skin on her neck was pale and smooth, and the soft cotton still outlined her slender figure.


    Chen Na didn¡¯t ask whom he had been drinking with, but seeing Shen Yuan like this made her worry: ¡°Do you feel dizzy?¡±


    ¡°A little.¡±


    Shen Yuan sat on the small sofa, massaging his temples. Earlier in the evening, he had drunk white liquor with Old Kong and Old Lui, then red with Lin Yuchang, and finally half a can of beer. His stomach was churning now.


    Those who drink frequently know that mixing different types of alcohol can get you drunk easily and is also harsh on the stomach.


    ¡°You go and take a shower first. I¡¯ll make you a sobering-up tea.¡±


    Chen Na handed Shen Yuan a clean towel and then took out her phone to check on Xiao Hongshu how to make sobering-up tea.


    She had never made it before.


    Ten minutes later, Shen Yuan walked out of the bedroom bare-chested. When Chen Na saw him, she hurriedly covered her eyes: ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing clothes?¡±


    Shen Yuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh: ¡°My clothes and pants got wet from the beer, and I don¡¯t have anything else to change into.....¡±


    Chen Na, too embarrassed to look, turned off the room light and switched on a small lamp instead, then handed the cooled sobering-up tea to Shen Yuan: ¡°Take a sip first and see if it¡¯s too hot. I just tested it.¡±


    Shen Yuan took it with both hands, finding it was a thick ginger tea.


    In the past, when Old Shen socialized outside, Li Hongjuan would always make him a cup of ginger tea.


    He never expected that one day he, too, would be treated this way.


    Chen Na tilted her head, gazing elsewhere: ¡°I don¡¯t have any clothes you can wear. Do you plan to sleep like that?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem? I won¡¯t catch a cold under the covers.¡±


    ¡°.....¡±


    Chen Na ignored him and went straight back to her bedroom.


    Watching Chen Na¡¯s charming back, Shen Yuan couldn¡¯t help but wonder. They¡¯d been open and honest with each other before, so why so shy all the time?


    After finishing the ginger tea, Shen Yuan turned off the lamp in the living room and tiptoed into the bedroom. Just as he was about to slip under the covers, he didn¡¯t expect Chen Na, vigilant, to wrap herself up in the blanket and point to the other side, saying, ¡°You sleep on that blanket.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Shen Yuan didn¡¯t expect Chen Na¡¯s strong reaction: ¡°Nana, have we lost all that trust between us?¡±


    Chen Na pouted her cute little mouth: ¡°You said it yourself, just cuddles, and you can still cuddle without sharing the same blanket.¡±


    Shen Yuan wasn¡¯t in a hurry. Chen Na was inherently conservative and couldn¡¯t let go when it came to these matters, but during this long night, there was no escaping his grasp.


    The previous two times had been a matter of pushing and pulling, but Shen Yuan didn¡¯t like to always force things. He wanted Chen Na to accept this from the bottom of her heart.


    So Shen Yuan slipped into another quilt, but after half a minute of suffering, he immediately dismissed the foolish idea.


    Damn, what kind of pretense of innocence am I trying to pull off?


    Seeing Chen Na still on her guard, Shen Yuan pretended to sneeze and rubbed his nose, saying, ¡°Nana, the air conditioning is too cold.¡±


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll adjust it.¡±


    Chen Na sat up from under the covers, preparing to look for the air conditioning remote control, but Shen Yuan seized the opportunity, immediately slipping in like an eel.


    ¡°No need to adjust, if we share a quilt, it won¡¯t be cold.¡±


    Chen Na turned her head, her face instantly filled with dismay, ¡°Shen Yuan...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just hold you, won¡¯t do a thing.¡±


    Shen Yuan, hugging Chen Na, said, ¡°Nana, you know my character.¡±


    ¡°Your character... do you even have one...¡±


    Chen Na suddenly remembered the first time he had tricked her saying he came up for a ¡°sip of water¡±, the second time a ¡°training session¡±, and this time the excuse was even more clumsy, claiming a hug without doing anything.


    So infuriating!


    It¡¯s common knowledge that things can easily escalate when sharing a bed.


    Both players were ready, and even though the red team hadn¡¯t warmed up yet, the blue team insisted on starting the game.


    The blue team, with its abundant experience, started by enlivening the atmosphere, getting things stirring before probing the red team¡¯s defenses from the perimeter.


    ...


    It must be said, the red team needs more training, so they can find a better state in the game.


    After the game ended, the blue team was still not satisfied, insisting on an extra match, and despite the red team¡¯s strong protest, they were compelled to start under the blue team¡¯s pressure.


    The overtime match between the two lasted until after one o¡¯clock in the morning...


    At ten in the morning, Shen Yuan struggled out of bed, his head still spinning with a hangover, and instinctively reached out beside him, but the soft body from last night was no longer there.


    Shen Yuan sat up in bed and noticed a new set of clothes on the bedside table, and there was also a message from Chen Na on his phone.


    ¡°I¡¯ve gone to the cafe?, bought you a new set of clothes, your usual T-shirts and jeans, plus a pair of socks, by the shoe cabinet.¡±


    ¡°Dirty clothes washed, but not dry yet.¡±


    ¡°Breakfast¡¯s on the steamer, buns and porridge; if you¡¯re cold when you wake up, heat it up for yourself.¡±


    Shen Yuan felt a warmth in his heart and was nearly moved to tears.


    Damn, where can you find such a good woman?


    A reward, there must be a reward!


    Shen Yuan thought to himself, last time I helped Nana buy a house, this time why not buy her a car?


    Nana¡¯s still driving a Fit, and although that car is good enough for getting around, who doesn¡¯t love a luxury car?


    For Shen Yuan, with the triple cashback, it¡¯s a lucrative deal.


    Aside from Chen Na¡¯s message, Shen Yuan also received a video from Liew Menglu.


    This time Liew Menglu tried something new; last time she was power walking on a treadmill, and this time she was on a spin bike. With the more intense workout, her chest and slender neck glistened with sweat, which, along with her visually impactful ¡°headlights¡±, made it tough for Shen Yuan to handle.


    ¡°Skinny dog, when are you coming to the gym, waiting for you at Leke~¡±


    The video also carried Liew Menglu¡¯s energetic stylized voice.


    Shen Yuan shook his head; he really shouldn¡¯t watch such things so early in the morning, and Shen Yuan even felt a bit sorry for Nana, with a faint sense of guilt in his heart.


    After all, Liew Menglu is Nana¡¯s ¡°good¡± best friend.


    Why do I feel like this?


    It¡¯s bullshit!


    It¡¯s clearly Liew Menglu seducing me!


    Shen Yuan quickly shook his head, trying not to think about things he shouldn¡¯t, thinking to himself that he¡¯s a scumbag, not to be restrained by such moral concepts.


    ...