Collecting Rent From All Realms, Even Empresses Must Pay Tribute
Ch. 120 - A Strange Feeling

Ye Chuan and Luo Xi spent the rest of the day shopping, mostly eating, drinking, and buying clothes for Luo Xi.

This coastal city didn't have many interesting attractions, and even the seawater was muddy yellow when the weather was bad.

But even so, with its reputation as one of the most livable cities in the country, it still attracted many tourists.

Tourism, after all, was about going from a place you were tired of to a place where other people were tired of living.

And this city had no shortage of shopping malls, practically one every kilometer.

After a round of shopping, Luo Xi's hands were full of shopping bags.

"Chuan Chuan, isn't this a bit too much?" Although Luo Xi was happy that Ye Chuan was buying her new clothes, she still felt that it was a bit extravagant.

"Buy whatever you like, it's fine," Ye Chuan said casually. 

Luo Xi had mostly chosen inexpensive items, 39 yuan each or 3 for 100, but even so, she still felt it was too much.

Sometimes, when you were used to being poor, spending money felt like a sin.

"I have money now, and I'll have even more in the future, so just spend it," Ye Chuan said, then transferred 100,000 yuan to Luo Xi.

"Spend!"

He would spoil his own woman. After all, when he had no money, it was Luo Xi who had lent him her savings.

Of course, it was called a "loan," but she had never asked him to repay it, just to save his pride.

"Wow, one hundred thousand?!" Luo Xi blinked, surprised. She hadn't expected him to transfer such a large sum.

"I don't need it," Luo Xi said. She didn't have anything to spend it on, and it was too much money for her.

"If you don't spend it, I'll give it to another woman," Ye Chuan chuckled.

"N-no way!" Luo Xi immediately protested, seeing his smirk, and pinched his waist. 

"How many other girlfriends do you have? Hmph, I'll take it, so you don't waste it on other women."

But knowing Luo Xi, she would probably save it, in case Ye Chuan needed it someday.

She wasn't materialistic. Having food, clothes, and someone she loved by her side was enough for her to feel happy.

Often, unhappiness stemmed from comparison. Desire was a bottomless pit, the more you chased it, the less satisfied you became.

Contentment was true happiness.

At dinner time, Ye Chuan took Luo Xi to a high-end restaurant on the top floor of a building, a place with a minimum charge.

"Three of your signature dishes and a soup," Ye Chuan said to the waiter, handing him the menu, then looked at Luo Xi.

Luo Xi was looking around the restaurant, taking in the luxurious surroundings. 

In the distance, the Pearl of the Day, the city's landmark, looked like a giant white seashell, gleaming in the night.

She had never been to such a fancy place before, and the prices on the menu made her feel a bit overwhelmed.

"Chuan Chuan, have you planned how to use your money?" Luo Xi asked, returning her attention to Ye Chuan.

"More or less," Ye Chuan said, rinsing the bowls and chopsticks with hot water.

"Buy a car first, then the three golds, after that, focus on investing for returns and saving for betrothal gifts." (TL: The "three golds" 三金 (sānjīn) are traditional gifts a groom gives to the bride's family in China, usually gold jewelry.)

"What are the 'three golds'?" Luo Xi hadn't heard of that before.

"For the wedding," Ye Chuan said, that gold bar from Tian Xiaotian wasn't small, probably around a hundred grams.

At the current gold price, it was worth almost a hundred thousand yuan.

"?!" Luo Xi's jaw dropped, surprised that Ye Chuan was already thinking so far ahead. "Chuan Chuan, i-isn't that a bit too fast?"

"Is it? Just buying them in advance." Just then, the dishes arrived.

"I don't need the three golds or a betrothal gift," Luo Xi whispered.

"I wasn't planning on giving them to you."

Luo Xi's eyes widened.

Then who were they for?

For Miss Bai?

Was Chuan Chuan just playing with her feelings?

A wave of sadness washed over her, and she felt deflated. But then she saw Ye Chuan's mischievous grin and immediately realized he was teasing her. "Chuan Chuan!"

"I'm just kidding, of course, they're for you," Ye Chuan said, amused by her reaction.

Luo Xi puffed out her cheeks. "Jerk, I've decided, you have to give me a million yuan betrothal gift!"

"Fine, I won't consider marriage until I've saved enough," Ye Chuan sighed dramatically.

"W-well, you can… owe me," Luo Xi mumbled, completely flustered.

Ye Chuan chuckled, pulled Luo Xi closer, and kissed her.

After dinner, which cost over two thousand yuan, Ye Chuan took Luo Xi home.

They were both adults now, and with Mother Luo's tacit approval, they didn't have to be too discreet. 

They didn't even bother buying a small umbrella, just enjoying the casual intimacy.(TL: Small umbrella is a term used to talk about Condoms)

"Young man, you're back!" Lan Xiaoke said as they entered the apartment.

She was still in her maid outfit. Seeing Luo Xi, she floated to the side, blinking her eyes since Luo Xi couldn't see her.

Ye Chuan, not wanting to scare Luo Xi, didn't speak to Lan Xiaoke, just gave her a look, and she saluted playfully before phasing through the wall.

"Chuan Chuan, you renovated so quickly, aren't you worried about formaldehyde?" Luo Xi asked, looking at the interior.

The renovation had been so fast that she was concerned about the potential health hazards.

"It's fine, I used good materials, there's not much formaldehyde," Ye Chuan said, naturally not mentioning the system. He took off his shirt.

"Ch-Chuan Chuan, what are you doing?" Luo Xi stammered, seeing his abs.

Wasn't this a bit fast?

"Taking a shower, why?" Ye Chuan chuckled, seeing her reaction. "What's wrong? It's not like you haven't seen it before, why the big reaction?"

"I-I don't know," Luo Xi blushed, her heart racing. 

She didn't understand her own reaction, just seeing Ye Chuan like this made her feel flustered.

She even had a strange urge to lock him up and… have her way with him.

What was wrong with her?

"No, no," Luo Xi quickly dismissed the thought.

But thinking about what was going to happen tonight, she covered her face with her hands and started daydreaming.