Chapter 15: I Just Want to Eat Dumplings

“Li Shuo, do you think 100,000 yuan is a lot?”

Shao Yiying had already prepared her words long before Li Shuo arrived, and she was now ready to launch into a long-winded lecture

“100,000 yuan isn't even enough to buy a house. Just think about that—in four years when you graduate from university, how much more time will you have to spend just trying to buy a home?”

She intended to use the topic of real estate as a starting point to explain the realities of life to him.

Instead, Li Shuo said directly, “That’s exactly why I’ve been working so tirelessly to get that 100,000 from you. If I can't even get my hands on this 100,000, won't I just have to spend my future earning it back?”

Shao Yiying was momentarily speechless.

“Sister Shao, if you want to pull me into your real estate company, you should at least ask for my opinion. Real estate has great development potential in the future, but it’s too broad and too messy. Anyway, as a mere kid, I have no desire to get involved...”

“Besides, Sister Shao, do you really think you can control a real estate company? Setting everything else aside, you are such a beautiful woman—if you go out to build connections and run into a hard nut to crack, what will you do? Don't tell me your background is powerful and you have plenty of confidence... No matter who someone is, even an ancient emperor on an incognito tour would be harassed by a mere low-level official...”

“To take it a step further, real estate might make you a lot of money, but are you sure you can keep it? Looking at the world, wealth is nothing compared to power. Having influence and authority is the true foundation for survival...”

Li Shuo was speaking from the heart. In his past life, his cousin indeed owned a real estate company, but by the time Li Shuo was reborn, her company was buried in debt. Years of massive profits couldn't offset a single moment of collapse. His cousin herself had gone abroad two years prior and hadn't returned even by the time Li Shuo was reborn.

Shao Yiying stared at Li Shuo with a strange look. The more he spoke, the more she found this high schooler incomprehensible: What kind of high schooler could possess such profound insight? And calling himself a "kid"? She thought he was a natural genius!

“I’ll add another 100,000. A total of 200,000. Work with me!”

In an instant, Shao Yiying abandoned her plan of "discussing feelings before money." As she spoke, the bartender at the bar immediately produced a briefcase. With a "snap," it opened, revealing twenty stacks of red banknotes before them.

Shao Yiying pushed the money toward Li Shuo and promised, “You don't have to follow me right now. I'll give you four years. You can play however you want in university. After four years, come to my company, and I will give you an additional 200,000 in annual bonuses.”

Li Shuo was tempted. He thought to himself: *Sister-in-law, if you had said this to me in my last life, I would have followed you and worked myself to death!*

*In this life, I just want to eat some dumplings. Do you really have to tempt me this much?*

Without hesitation, he pushed the money back to Shao Yiying and raised his glass to her. “Sister Shao, our mindsets are different; let's not try to force them together. Come, I'll toast to you. I wish you smooth sailing in your career, and may you become the number one wealthy flower of Songshan, or even Kun City, in the future!”

For the sake of his "sister-in-law," Li Shuo made an exception.

Shao Yiying did not move. She stared straight at him. If it had been anyone else, she would have picked up her glass, splashed it in their face, and cursed, "Who do you think you are? You ungrateful brat!"

Li Shuo didn't move either. He just held his glass, waiting for her...

After an unknown amount of time, Shao Yiying let out a soft sigh. She picked up her drink, clinked glasses with him, and said as if talking to herself, “A few days ago, everything in my life was about avenging my father and finding the inheritance he left me. For that, I wouldn't hesitate to do even the worst things...”

“Now, the revenge is complete, and the notebook containing the inheritance has been found. That notebook contains not only various bank accounts but also hidden connections and favors. Someone helped me find it, so I owe him a great debt. Moreover, although he is young, he is clever. I wanted to keep him by my side, but I didn't expect to be rejected...”

Li Shuo understood. He smiled and said, “Sister, you really are like my mother—clearly trying to forcefully arrange my life while claiming it's for my own good. But have you ever wondered why he helped you, why he proactively approached you, and even why he stays to listen to your rambling?”

Shao Yiying was stunned. “Was it not for the 100,000 yuan?”

Li Shuo curled his lip, took out his phone, and pulled up his ICBC account, displaying the total asset amount

326,710

“Sister, you have great vision. How could someone you've taken an interest in possibly be lacking that little bit of money?”

Under Shao Yiying's stunned gaze, Li Shuo proactively picked up the XO, poured half a glass for her, and then skillfully mixed it with soda, lemon juice, and other ingredients. He performed a dazzling series of shakes, his movements so smooth and natural that they seemed to follow a certain rhythm, making it obvious he was a frequent drinker.

*Clack.*

The shaker stopped and was placed in front of Shao Yiying. The transparent glass first showed a clear liquid, but then, accompanied by a surge of bubbles, it strangely transformed into a beautiful, colorful hue...

“Actually, the reason that person approached you is simply because he was attracted to a woman's beauty...”

Shao Yiying looked up and met Li Shuo's burning gaze. For a moment, she felt as if she were being flirted with!

Shao Yiying panicked slightly and blurted out, “How... how old are you even...”

“Nineteen. Just at the age when hormones are at their peak...”

Li Shuo was very satisfied with the effect he had created. Women are emotional creatures; they are influenced by their environment, and confessing in a romantic atmosphere has a very high success rate.

“Talking about that isn't very interesting. You aren't that old either, Sister. Why do you always speak so old-fashioned? Come, let's help my big sister find her sense of youth. Cheers!”

Facing the drink Li Shuo held to her lips, Shao Yiying hesitated for two seconds before finally opening her mouth and taking a sip. For the past few years, she had lived solely for revenge, so the feeling of being treated like a woman was actually quite foreign to her.

“This time, it's your turn to pour for me, Sister...”

Shao Yiying didn't say a word, but silently poured him a glass.

Li Shuo downed it in one gulp. Just as he was acting cool, his expression suddenly changed. He hadn't expected that although he had adapted to strong liquor in his past life, he had truly never actually drunk it in this life. His body simply couldn't react in time!

“You... did you choke?”

Shao Ying was startled at first and hurriedly stood up to get water. After handing it to him and seeing Li Shuo gulping down water loudly, she realized what happened and couldn't help but burst into laughter

“Hahaha... You high schooler, what are you trying to act mature for? You can't even handle XO, yet you're trying to learn how to pick up girls like a socialite? Give it a rest!”

Li Shuo snapped his fingers at the bartender: “One bottle of red wine, please...”

He then took the red wine, poured it into a new glass for Shao Yiying, and said, “Sister, you're wrong. I'm not a high schooler, I'm a college student...”

Shao Yiying curled her lip. “What's the difference?”

Li Shuo: “College life is better...”