Collecting Rent From All Realms, Even Empresses Must Pay Tribute
Ch. 119 - Xiao Bai

After organizing his backpack, Ye Chuan left his room.

He had promised to go shopping with Luo Xi and had no intention of breaking that promise. 

She had worked hard this morning, even choking on her soy milk.

And with his improved physique, the potent chaotic spiritual energy within him needed time to be released gradually.

…

"Chuan Chuan, over here!" Luo Xi was already waiting at their meeting spot.

She was wearing a white dress, clearly having put in some effort, her usual ponytail undone, her long hair flowing freely.

A small braid, like an ahoge, stuck up from her head, held in place by a hair tie Ye Chuan had given her in elementary school, a memento she had kept all these years.

Ye Chuan rarely saw Luo Xi dressed up. After all, she was naturally beautiful, and he had seen her in every state imaginable.

Luo Xi had been chubby for a while when she was little, like a little lucky charm, before slimming down through exercise and diet.

"Hee hee, do you notice anything different?" Luo Xi asked with a grin, twirling around in front of Ye Chuan.

"Did you change your underwear?" Ye Chuan asked, looking down.

"How did you… No, that's not it!"

Luo Xi puffed out her cheeks, her cute expression making Ye Chuan pinch them gently.

Ye Chuan chuckled. "Where do you want to go?"

"My dad started working at that company, right? It seems like a big corporation, I want to buy him a suitable outfit for work," Luo Xi said.

This was why she wanted to go shopping today.

"A suitable outfit… a suit?" Ye Chuan asked.

"Mm-hmm," Luo Xi nodded.

"Should we get a custom-made one?" Ye Chuan didn't know much about suits; he had never worn one.

He preferred t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops.

And now, as a landlord, he could even carry a bunch of keys on his waist. (TL: This is likely a humorous self-deprecating comment about stereotypical landlords.)

"Chuan Chuan, there's a tailor shop at the corner, they make custom suits, and they're not too expensive," Luo Xi explained. 

She had already gotten her father's measurements.

Ye Chuan grunted. "Then let's go."

He took Luo Xi's hand, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. She intertwined her fingers with his.

Luo Xi seemed happy, her footsteps light, her eyes curved into crescents.

But as he held her hand, Ye Chuan sensed something and felt a flicker of confusion.

He detected a faint trace of spiritual energy within Luo Xi.

Strange, why did she have spiritual energy?

"Luo Xi, are you feeling unwell?" Ye Chuan suddenly asked.

Luo Xi, surprised by the question, looked at him, tilted her head cutely, and said, "I'm feeling great today?"

After confirming that the trace of spiritual energy wasn't harming her, Ye Chuan thought for a moment.

He hadn't sensed it last night, could it be from this morning…

Oh.

Ye Chuan suddenly realized. Luo Xi had drunk his… essence… so she now had a trace of spiritual energy within her.

If that was the case, could Luo Xi cultivate?

"I need to ask Qianshuang about cultivation introduction techniques," Ye Chuan thought. 

His own cultivation relied on the system; he needed Bai Qianshuang's help for teaching the basics.

If possible, he wanted Luo Xi to cultivate so she could stay with him longer.

He couldn't accept the limitations of a mortal lifespan.

Soon, they arrived at the tailor shop.

The owner was an elderly woman with grey hair, her glasses giving her a sharp, professional look. She was cutting fabric.

Tailor shops like this were becoming rare, as most people preferred buying clothes online or off the rack.

Custom-made clothing seemed to be disappearing from the city.

Of course, there were those high-end "designer" shops, but true artisans didn't need to boast about their skills with exorbitant prices.

"Grandma Wang!" Luo Xi called out, clearly familiar with the owner.

"Oh, it's you, Xiao XiXi," the owner said with a warm smile, looking at Luo Xi over her glasses. "Here to see Xiao Bai (Little White)?"

"Not just that," Luo Xi said with a sweet smile.

"Xiao Bai?" Ye Chuan was puzzled. It sounded like a pet's name.

Just then, he noticed a white cat lying on its back in a cardboard box in the corner of the shop, purring contentedly.

"Is that… the cat from the barbecue stall?" Ye Chuan asked.

Luo Xi nodded. "Yes, I saw it again the next day. Since my mom is allergic to cat fur, I asked around, and Grandma Wang was willing to take it in."

"I see." Ye Chuan could have taken the cat in too; his apartment was spacious now, and with only Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke at home, a cat would be nice.

As Ye Chuan played with the cat, Luo Xi discussed the suit with the owner. After taking the measurements, the owner started working.

"Come back in a week," she said.

"Okay~"

After a while, Ye Chuan and Luo Xi left the tailor shop. Luo Xi was in a good mood, humming a tune as she walked arm in arm with Ye Chuan.

"What's with the good mood?" Ye Chuan asked.

"Hee hee, Chuan Chuan is healthy, my mom is healthy, and my dad has a proper job and doesn't have to work at the stall every night, of course, I'm happy," Luo Xi said. 

She always had a positive outlook on life.

Even when she knew Ye Chuan's health was poor, she had silently saved money, hoping to help him one day.

Just then, Luo Xi hugged Ye Chuan's arm tighter and whispered, "Chuan Chuan, I can stay at your place tonight~"

"I told my mom I'm not coming home."

Ye Chuan understood what she meant. "Oh~"

"Jerk, why are you smirking? I'm not going then," Luo Xi said, her face flushing, and lightly slapped Ye Chuan's arm a few times.

"I'm not smirking, I'm happy," Ye Chuan quickly said.

"Hmph." Luo Xi looked away to hide her shyness, just holding onto his arm tighter.