42
It was over. He knew it was over.
A businessman values profit; this was an instinct carved into his very bones.
And the reality of his wife and child slipping away from him made the CEO tense up all over.
The Maybach sped toward the Capital Airport like a bolt of lightning, playing out a scene straight out of an action movie.
However, with the holidays approaching, an army of ride-hailing cars was jammed up in a massive line on the elevated bridge leading to the international departures terminal.
Bian Xun: ...
Time slipped by minute by minute, and the atmosphere inside the car grew increasingly tense.
Bian Xun's voice was slightly hoarse. How long until the flight takes off?
Boarding closes in about ten minutes. Assistant Zhang looked at his boss from the driver's seat, unable to suppress the trembling in his heart.
Why was President Bian's face so pale?
Assistant Zhang asked tentatively, Ms. Ning's flight is almost done boarding. President Bian, the next flight to the capital of Country S is in five hours. Should I book you a first-class ticket for that one?
Bian Xun's pale forehead was slick with a cold sweat. No need. I have to catch her.
Over the past two minutes, he had forced himself to calm down.
The correlation between the money deducted and the distance wasn't hard to calculate, nor did it require any complex modeling.
The distance from the city center to the wedding venue was about 150 kilometers, resulting in a balance depletion rate of 10 yuan per second.
But if she flew out of Beijing, putting 8,000 kilometers between them, a rough calculation meant his bank card would evaporate 500 yuan every single second.
Five hundred in the blink of an eye; thirty thousand in a minute.
When he went to the bathroom, drank water, sat down—every basic necessity of life, every passing second, had a price tag. The CEO would have to constantly foot the bill for his own exorbitant existence.
For every hour she wasn't by his side, it would cost 1.8 million.
A whole day away from him would be 43.2 million.
This capitalist, whose wealth rivaled nations, was facing fate's reckoning.
But more importantly than the draining balance—why would his future self do this?
Breaking into a cold sweat, Bian Xun scrutinized himself.
He was physically healthy, his family had no history of mental illness, and there were no known genetic defects. Judging from his daughter's condition five years in the future, he should be a normal father.
So, it was impossible that his future self from five years later was simply acting crazy by doing all this.
Having the child bring the black card and creating a strong link of money between him and Ning Ye felt more like a deliberate guidance or some kind of hint.
Otherwise, he didn't think he would be bored enough to insist on bankrupting his past self from five years ago.
There had to be a more obscure reason...
Like some operational law of this world that he was unaware of?
On the surface, these series of accidents were pushing him closer to Ning Ye. But Bian Xun believed it wouldn't be that simple. After all, even without all these external forces, wouldn't he still approach her?
Bian Xun closed his eyes coldly, a sour burning sensation rising in his chest.
He never denied that he was a purely profit-driven businessman. As for the so-called conscience and social responsibility of an entrepreneur, he didn't feel he truly possessed them.
He had known this about himself from the very beginning, and it was precisely this indifferent, profit-oriented nature that had allowed him to truly seize power and rise to the top.
There was nothing wrong with that.
But at this moment, aside from the physical distance between him and Ning Ye, the widening psychological distance also filled him with a wave of panic.
Ning Ye's business trip was scheduled for a week.
In a foreign country, raising a child alone for such a long time, she actually didn't need him at all.
Neither the big one nor the little one needed him.
This experience felt even worse than his time acting as a stepfather.
The CEO's face was pale, his fingertips clenched tight. The only thing he could be certain of right now was that, whether physically or psychologically, he could not bear the consequences of missing this flight.
The army of ride-hailing cars finally began to move again. Assistant Zhang, infected by the tense atmosphere in the car, shouted excitedly, Almost there, almost there!
There were only ten minutes left until boarding closed.
Even though the boss hadn't checked in, hadn't gone through security, and hadn't reached the boarding gate—and even though this particular gate was unfortunately very far from the security checkpoint—relying on President Bian's prestigious VIP status at the airport due to his astronomical annual spending, he should still be able to...
Suddenly, there was a loud bang up ahead!
A taxi behind them, seemingly carrying an anxious passenger as well, accidentally rear-ended the ride-hailing car in front of it, smashing into its bumper.
Both drivers immediately stopped in the middle of the road, threw their doors open, and started arguing.
The already congested traffic situation went from bad to worse.
Bian Xun's jawline tightened, a sharp pain hitting his stomach as he abruptly pulled the car door open.
One kilometer. He would run.
Assistant Zhang realized his intention, his toes curling in anxiety as he clung to the car window and yelled, President Bian, do you absolutely have to be on the same flight as Ms. Ning today?!
Mobilize all resources— His hoarse voice scattered in the wind.
The CEO left behind only a rapidly retreating, solemn back profile. If I miss this flight, I'll just die.
...
Meanwhile.
Ning Ye had already finished checking their luggage, taking the little one through customs, and buying drinks while waiting to board. She was currently navigating the narrow cabin to find their seats.
Little Ning Zhitao clearly had experience flying internationally and was no stranger to the whole process.
Going through security, she thoroughly melted the heart of the customs officer. Standing on her tiptoes, she took off her little backpack and put it in the bin herself. Without waiting for the inspector to remind her, she also took off her little genius smartwatch from her wrist, knowing that electronic devices needed to be placed separately.
Then, she methodically took off her coat. Wearing the little grape-patterned thermal shirt her mom had bought her, she walked through the metal detector with flushed, rosy cheeks and stood on the small platform.
The customs officer crouched down to inspect her, dizzy with how adorable and well-behaved this soft little kid was up close. How did her parents raise her? She was just too cute!
Ning Ye had indeed been slightly worried about taking her child abroad alone, but seeing this, she completely relaxed, a smile dancing in her almond-shaped eyes.
Her kid was worldly and well-traveled; her four years of life were full of experience. There was absolutely no need to worry.
And so, the mother and daughter leisurely passed through the security checkpoint and even strolled around the duty-free shops. Their eyes were full of anticipation for the journey, completely forgetting about the child's father.
After boarding, Ning Ye placed Taotao in front of her, guiding her inside.
The flight was packed to the brim with passengers. The international aircraft had a particularly deep cabin, and the seats were densely arranged. With people standing in the aisles, lifting luggage into the overhead bins, and asking flight attendants for pillows and blankets, it was a chaotic mess. Economy class was just like this, after all. Ning Ye carefully protected the little girl's head.
They finally trekked to their seats. This aircraft model had a three-by-three seating configuration. Ning Ye had originally wanted to choose an aisle seat for easy access in and out. But Taotao wanted to sit by the window, so after thinking about it, Ning Ye checked her in for the window seat. This way, the child only needed to lean against her and wouldn't have to sit next to a stranger.
However, this meant Ning Ye would sit in the middle, and there would be a stranger on her left.
Ning Zhitao nimbly scurried into the innermost seat of the three-seat row, happily touching and looking at everything around her spot.
Mom had said taking the plane this time would be different from before, but didn't they still have little screens and tray tables here? Ning Zhitao adapted very well, and besides, sitting right next to each other like this meant she was closer to her mom!
Watching her, Ning Ye couldn't help but feel a tiny twinge of guilt.
A child wouldn't feel how cramped the seats were here, but for Ning Ye, an adult woman around 1.7 meters tall, sitting here already made her feel like she couldn't stretch her legs. If the seat in front lowered its backrest, even the breathing space would become tight, and movement would be highly restricted.
It was naturally a far cry from the experience of their family of three flying first class last time.
Ning Ye felt a bit embarrassed and whispered to the child, "I'm sorry, Taotao, I could only afford economy class for our round trip this time."
A one-way ticket was six or seven thousand, making a round trip over ten thousand. She truly couldn't afford the first-class seats the little one usually sat in.
But Ning Zhitao lifted her head, her round eyes full of confusion. "But I think it's really nice?"
To her left was her mom, and to her right was a tall window. This was a closed-off little corner just for her, giving Ning Zhitao a special sense of security.
Ning Ye was healed by the child's earnest gaze and decided in her heart that she must make more money in the future. With that thought, she settled into her seat.
This was actually her first time going abroad.
A quiet sense of anticipation rose in her heart, and she suddenly thought of her past self from many years ago.
When she found out which country Bian Xun had left for, Ning Ye had spent many sleepless nights scrolling through flight booking apps.
Even knowing she wouldn't go, and well aware that it was a completely different, distant world for her at the time, she still couldn't help but subscribe to low-fare flight alerts to the United States, thinking that if one day she could afford it...
But by the time she could truly afford it, there were no longer any traces of Bian Xun in her life. Time was the most effective potion for separation; she could barely recall the heartbreak and longing she felt back then.
In the distance, a flight attendant by the cabin door was speaking with the captain, looking slightly serious, and kept glancing outside. The cabin doors were about to close, and the plane would take off soon.
Ning Ye blinked, pulling herself out of her memories. She arranged her carry-on travel items one by one, adjusting herself to the best physical and mental state for the journey.
Only then did she remember that taking the little one abroad on such a long journey warranted at least letting the child's father know.
She took out her phone and started typing without looking up. Just as she finished drafting the message and was about to hit send, someone suddenly walked up to the empty seat beside her.
Ning Ye subconsciously pulled her arm back to prevent her sleeve from accidentally encroaching on the other person's space. However, the other person's hand rested on her armrest with a complete lack of boundaries.
The person leaned over, seemingly catching his breath, and a familiar cold sandalwood scent suddenly wafted over.
Ning Ye looked up and saw a familiar face, but looking more disheveled than she had ever seen him.
Bian Xun's bangs were damp with sweat, his cool, pale skin slightly flushed from intense exertion. The collar of his black shirt clung to the artery on the side of his neck. As his chest heaved with his breathing, his dark eyes stared fixedly at her, and then he let out a long breath.
"Do you need the child's father?"
He sounded like he was praying, or perhaps surrendering.
"Whether you need him or not, could you please need him for a moment?"
He lowered his body and heavily sat down in the seat next to her.
Even though the flight hadn't even started, he looked as if he had just reached the finish line.
...
The plane flew steadily high in the sky.
Bian Xun's tall, slender figure was squeezed into the economy class seat. Beside him, Ning Ye couldn't stop glancing at him.
The scene was so bizarre and uncoordinated. First of all, Bian Xun's temperament and attire were incredibly jarring here; even though he looked a bit disheveled, he still completely clashed with the crowded, noisy surroundings. Secondly, how did he suddenly show up?
It wasn't an exaggeration; the man truly looked like he had appeared out of nowhere—
Carry-on luggage? None.
Destination? Unknown.
His tall frame was wedged into the seat, his long legs bent awkwardly with nowhere to stretch.
His left elbow rested on the aisle armrest, where anyone walking by could bump into the noble, germaphobic CEO at any moment.
He had brought nothing but his ID and himself, yet here he was, sitting right there.
In reality, the CEO didn't even notice the left half of his body.
All his attention was focused on his right side, on the sleeve brushing against hers.
She had packed her luggage the day before and dressed both herself and the little one in soft, comfortable clothes. Her light gray cashmere brushed against his suit, a mingling of warm and cold, hard textures.
Just being close to her, the loss of tens of millions vanished into thin air.
The flow of time, minute by minute, second by second, began to feel normal again.
The CEO, in his suit and leather shoes, had sprinted the whole way and was only now finally catching his breath.
And the thought that for the next ten hours, they would be together...
Bian Xun opened his eyes.
Unexpectedly, a wave of happiness rose in his chest.
He was a greedy man. The adult, the child, the money—he wanted it all.
But the happiness of this single second surpassed anything money could measure, allowing him to almost completely ignore his uncomfortable surroundings and just sit quietly like this for ten hours.
Beside him, Ning Ye suddenly stood up.
By reflex, Bian Xun suddenly grabbed her. "Where are you going?"
Ning Ye looked completely baffled. "To ask for two pillows."
Bian Xun slowly let go, knowing he had overreacted.
He certainly knew where this paranoid panic came from.
The mother of his child sitting before him was excellent and independent. Whether it was attending a Bian family wedding alone or taking the little one on an international business trip by herself, she hadn't needed his help in any way.
The wedding gift was several thousand, the child's flight ticket was another several thousand, but when Ning Ye shoved the black card back at him last time and said she wouldn't use his money, she genuinely meant it.
Bian Xun could only try to make himself more useful.
Only then did he look up, meeting Ning Ye's confused and shocked gaze. "No need, I'll upgrade your seats first."
Since he was here, he had to play his part as the child's father.
It was both an objective and subjective fact that he couldn't leave her. Only if his presence held value would Ning Ye and the child gradually become unable to leave him, thus establishing his presence as a father.
Bian Xun found his footing. First, he could improve their travel comfort. Who could stand sitting in these seats for ten hours?
So the CEO raised his hand and called a flight attendant over.
Of course, this action was clearly out of place in economy class, and many people immediately looked their way.
Bian Xun couldn't be bothered to care about the stares of those around him. He looked down, pulled out his wallet, and said, "Upgrade to first class, for three."
However, this attitude that money could solve anything fell flat. The flight attendant bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry, Mr. Bian, there is only one first-class seat left on this flight."
Bian Xun's brow twitched.
One seat—who would take it?
If the child sat there alone, the adults would be worried.
If Ning Ye took it, she was already shaking her head in refusal.
If he took it himself, he would probably lose all his fatherly rights the moment they got off the plane.
Bian Xun fell silent. The flight attendant smiled and asked, "Would you like to take it?"
Bian Xun closed his eyes. "...Never mind, just bring us two pillows."
After the flight attendant left, Ning Zhitao poked her head out from behind her mom. "Daddy, why are you here too?"
Ning Ye wanted to ask the same thing. One big, one small, two remarkably similar faces looked at him in perfect synchronization.
Bian Xun's eyes were deep, a thousand words swirling in his heart. Suddenly, he discovered the perks of having a child.
Some words that he previously felt were too unreserved to say could now be spoken aloud.
"I can't bear to be apart from you. As a member of this family, it is my responsibility to take care of you."
After listening, Ning Zhitao naturally felt it was only right. "Alright then!"
Ning Ye looked back at the little one. She had to admit, having both mom and dad accompanying her on the trip had really lifted the child's spirits.
Bian Xun's gaze landed on the curve of her lips, and his mood unconsciously improved. It didn't matter; even if they couldn't upgrade their seats, there were still many problems that could be solved with money—
So, in just a few short moments, Bian Xun paid extra to swap for more comfortable pillows, paid extra to upgrade their meals, and a little later, wanted to pay extra again to buy first-class toiletry bags.
Finally.
Ning Zhitao poked her head out from beside her mother, took off her headphones, and puffed out her cheeks.
"Daddy! Why are you so delicate?"
Bian Xun: "..."
Beside her, Ning Ye softly praised the child, "Taotao is the best and most independent!"
Ning Zhitao proudly puffed out her chest and placed her hands on her hips.
Bian Xun: "."
The CEO's series of pay-to-upgrade maneuvers only made him look completely out of place in economy class—
The first-class pillow was too big for the economy seat, forcing him to sit bolt upright when he leaned against it. He paid to upgrade their meal standard, but since there was no à la carte service in economy, the food was just lumped together on a tray and served all at once. As for the toiletry bag he bought, he came back with a livid expression after visiting the economy class restroom.
All of this was quite a shock to the pampered CEO.
Just as Bian Xun was trying to heal from the trauma he endured in the economy class restroom, a pair of slender, pale fingers reached out from beside him, handing him a pack of alcohol sanitizing wipes. To Bian Xun, it was practically worth its weight in gold.
Then, she placed a single-use mouthwash pod in his palm—mint flavored. The one for the child was grape flavored.
Finally, she pulled open the seatback pocket in front of him, took out a disposable paper bag, and placed a moisturizing face mask inside.
After doing all this, Ning Ye quietly leaned back into her seat.
The whole process was incredibly natural, yet a warm, soft feeling suddenly wrapped around Bian Xun layer by layer, making his fingertips pause as a gentle breeze swept through his heart.
...He was being taken care of by her.
Looking at her gentle side profile beneath her tea-brown hair, he suddenly realized something.
In this unfamiliar, lower-end environment, he had, for once, become someone she needed to care for.
Between them, it was always him giving, him demanding, him getting angry, and him approaching again after cooling down. Everything was under his perceived control—but he had forgotten that Ning Ye was always a gentle, kind, and inwardly strong person.
Back in school, she would never fail to leave her notebook behind to reserve a regular seat for her OCD boyfriend for the next class.
After taking in the child, she quickly accepted reality, and then nurtured even more love throughout the process of caring for and raising the little one.
She needed to be "needed."
How could he have forgotten?
Bian Xun's heart skipped a beat as he realized his strategy all along seemed to have been flawed.
A successful businessman knows to change tactics immediately. Bian Xun instantly leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose and his temple with one hand, and spoke in a hoarse voice, "My eardrums and head hurt so much."
Hearing this and seeing his pale face, Ning Ye hurriedly said, "It's caused by the pressure difference from the takeoff. Try holding your breath. Like this..."
Her warm fingertips brushed past the tip of his nose, covering the man's despicable and uncontrollably rising smile at the corners of his lips.
The cabin lights had gradually dimmed as this long-haul flight entered the night. Bian Xun had stayed up for two consecutive nights, but at this moment, he was exceptionally wide awake.
The suit-clad CEO flying economy repeated his trick, slowly moving his knees closer to hers and sighing softly near her ear, "I can't stretch my legs. My lower body is numb."
Upon hearing this, her clear almond eyes predictably showed concern.
It couldn't be helped; long-haul flights in economy class were indeed very uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, Bian Xun was secretly basking in happiness in the dim cabin.
Ning Ye sighed and patted his leg. "There's nothing we can do. We'll both just have to endure it."
She pushed up the armrests between herself, Bian Xun, and Taotao, connecting the three seats completely. Then, she spread a blanket over her and Bian Xun's thighs, forming a rectangular "mattress."
Then, supporting a drowsy Ning Zhitao, she had the child lie on her side in the cramped economy class, sleeping across her parents' laps.
No matter how hard things were, the child shouldn't have to suffer.
Bian Xun was slightly stunned. A moment later, he supported the child's heavier head and upper body, resting them on his own lap.
An hour later, the only sounds in the massive cabin were the roar of the airplane's engines and the snores coming from near and far.
Bian Xun sat there wide awake. After a long while, he lowered his eyes and saw that she had fallen asleep, leaning against his shoulder, her breath brushing against his collar.
After taking care of one, she took care of the other. As she slept, she curled up slightly, clearly just a soft, delicate little bundle herself.
Yet she was able to hold herself up and support others.
Bian Xun watched her quietly for a long time.
He closed his eyes, feeling as though jasmine flowers had bloomed all over his heart.
...
When she woke up, Ning Ye felt that her legs had gone completely numb.
The little one, cushioned by her mom and dad, was sleeping with her mouth slightly open and her cheeks flushed pink. Fortunately, she had slept quite well.
Ning Ye yawned and stretched her body slightly. Turning her head to look at Bian Xun, she found that he was even stiffer than she was, his neck resting rigidly against the seatback.
Going round and round, it's so magical, she suddenly thought.
In the past, the one who first gave her the idea to go out and see the world was Bian Xun.
And years later, the one accompanying her on her first trip abroad was, surprisingly, still Bian Xun.
Just as she was thinking this, the man's sharp brows twitched. The moment he opened his eyes, he let out a low hiss, the bones from his shoulder to his neck making a cracking sound.
Bian Xun glanced at her and said mildly, "My shoulder is fine. You didn't lean on it that heavily yesterday anyway. It's just a little numb."
Ning Ye immediately felt embarrassed. "I brought some pain relief patches in my suitcase. I'll get them for you when we head back."
Bian Xun gave a nonchalant "Mm."
He was about to say something else when a pair of chubby little fists started pounding on his shoulder.
The filial daughter gave her dad's shoulder a random massage. "It's okay, Daddy, it's okay."
Going out to play this time, Daddy's body seems so fragile?
Ning Ye watched with a touched expression.
What a sensible baby!
Bian Xun: "."
Bian Xun, having just been beaten up: "That's enough, kiddo, that's enough."
After a good sleep, the remaining time of the long-haul flight had finally drastically decreased.
When they landed, due to the time difference, it was morning locally.
Ning Ye stepped off the plane and saw that all the signs in front of her had changed from Chinese to foreign languages. She immediately felt the reality of being abroad, feeling both nervous and a bit thrilled.
Meanwhile, when Bian Xun walked out of the airport, he looked completely refreshed. Even though his suit wasn't perfectly ironed, he still exuded a noble and composed aura.
He exchanged a thick stack of foreign currency at the airport and handed it to Ning Ye.
Ning Ye quickly waved her hands in refusal. "No need, no need. I'll just go to a bank in the city to exchange it myself."
The exchange rate at the airport wasn't cost-effective, so she hadn't exchanged any money just yet.
Bian Xun lowered his eyes slightly, sighed through his thin lips, and acted pitiful. "I didn't even bring a bag. I don't even know where to put all this money."
Ning Ye thought about it and realized he had a point. It wasn't as safe here as it was back home, and there were pickpockets everywhere.
She reached out to take the envelope, carefully put it in her own bag for him, and reminded Bian Xun to let her know whenever he needed to use it.
Bian Xun walked behind her with his hands behind his back, the smile on his lips almost impossible to hide.
He had completely figured out the right way to get along with Ning Ye.
She enjoyed this secret satisfaction all the way.
After leaving the airport area and driving into the city scenery, Ning Ye looked out the window in a cheerful mood.
On a roadside billboard, Ning Ye vaguely saw a grand event that was about to be held soon, but the foreign words flashed by too fast for her to read clearly.
The Christmas atmosphere on the streets was already incredibly thick, unconsciously giving people a warm and fuzzy feeling.
It was also Ning Zhitao's first time celebrating Christmas abroad with her parents. Seeing the various Christmas trees, she pressed against the car window in excitement.
Every year her mom and dad would prepare Christmas gifts for her! She could hardly wait!
The car stopped at the entrance of the hotel Ning Ye had booked. Ning Zhitao immediately set her eyes on an exquisitely decorated ice cream shop by the road. The Santa Claus at the door enthusiastically struck an inviting pose, with patches of hexagonal snowflakes scattered under his red boots.
"I want to eat chimney ice cream~"
The child immediately started acting cute towards her parents.
Bian Xun wore a leisurely smile on his lips. He raised his eyes to look at the child's mother, "What about you?"
He needed her, but he also had to let himself be needed by her in moderation.
For example, when it came to spending money, he naturally could not let her spend any more.
Playing the victim also had to be done in moderation.
Bian Xun calmly took out his wallet.
Compared to going abroad all alone many years ago, standing on the streets of a foreign land at this moment with Ning Ye and their child by his side, there was no loss of money, only a dense feeling of happiness.
It felt so good that he slightly closed his eyes.
However, Ning Ye had to go pick up the conference materials and her work badge today. The agenda of this International Artificial Intelligence Conference was very important. There was a bus heading to the venue right at the entrance of the partner hotel. Although the distance was a bit far, it was very convenient.
"I'll skip the ice cream then." She looked down at the time and handed the luggage to Bian Xun. "You take the kid to check in first. There are a lot of attractions around here, why don't you show Taotao around?"
She had to admit, even though the child's father was not in the best physical condition for this trip, having him around made things much more convenient.
Bian Xun nodded, raising a hand to prop up his temple. "It's just that I didn't rest well last night, so my energy might be limited today."
Ning Zhitao tilted her head up, blinking her dark grape-like eyes at her dad. "?"
But when dad took them to geological parks in other countries before, hiking, climbing, and camping, he could even carry mom on his back at the very end!
Taotao didn't understand. Taotao thought this was very strange.
Ning Ye, however, expressed her understanding, her almond eyes softening. "It's okay. If you're tired, just rest in the hotel."
With both sides discussing and co-parenting together, Ning Ye would only be more considerate of him.
Bian Xun's figure was aloof. Standing on the foreign street, he smiled faintly, looking like a melancholic Eastern handsome guy.
"Then come back early."
He couldn't stick to her every second of the day. There had to be an appropriate distance to ensure this tactic remained effective.
Bian Xun asked for the venue's address and looked down at Google Maps to check the distance. It wasn't in the city center, because the downtown area here was all old town, while the conference was located in a modern park dozens of kilometers away.
However, this little distance was nothing. At least the two of them were in the same city. Even if Ning Ye stayed there for a whole day, the rate at which his balance drained would still be within a controllable range.
Holding the child's hand, Bian Xun calmly watched her get on the bus. Then he looked down at the time on his watch, planning to shamelessly count the minutes before urging her to come back.
With this glance, he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Ning Ye sat on the bus, opened the window, looked down at the little girl, and waved with a smile.
"Taotao, you can only eat one ice cream."
"Okay, mom."
The string of balance numbers on Bian Xun's electronic watch was inexplicably draining away at a rapid pace.
Bian Xun lifted his dark eyes. Ning Ye was clearly just one meter in front of him.
Could it be that distance was no longer the sole metric for the drain rate?
No.
Bian Xun looked at the calculated deduction amount per second in the top right corner. He stayed silent for two seconds and suddenly realized something.
Why the hell was the money deduction also calculated based on the foreign exchange rate?!
Bian Xun had just exchanged currency at the airport, so he knew that the exchange rate between the foreign currency here and the RMB was about 1 to 10.
Now, his balance drain rate had multiplied by ten.
After going abroad, under the current distance, it indeed still deducted 1 unit of money per second.
But this 1 unit of money was 1 pound!
Ning Ye: "Then I'll be going now~"
The bus was preparing to depart.
Bian Xun suddenly looked up, slightly raising his arm, his voice restrained. "Wait..."
If calculated at a 10 times exchange rate, with her going dozens of kilometers away, his drain rate per second would become nearly...
100 RMB per second.
6,000 deducted per minute.
360,000 deducted per hour.
"..." Bian Xun's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "I think I should take the kid and go with you."
Ning Zhitao tugged at his sleeve. "Dad, we haven't bought ice cream yet."
Besides, mom was going to work. Why was dad so fond of causing trouble?
Bian Xun's expression was solemn.
Converted to RMB, an ice cream was only 50 each. Your dad was buying two every second.
Ning Ye, however, cared that he hadn't rested well on the plane and waved her hand understandingly. "No need, hurry back and rest."
The CEO took a step forward, his handsome features under his black hair carrying a hint of vulnerability. "The kid and I need you."
Just as Ning Ye was about to say something, Ning Zhitao beside them finally stepped forward.
Looking like a little adult, she blocked her dad and waved her chubby little hand. "Mom, don't worry, I will take good care of dad by myself!"
Ning Ye's heart melted at the cuteness, mentally squishing her baby's little cheeks.
"Alright then."
Bian Xun hesitated to speak, his thin lips parting and closing, before finally looking at her weakly.
"...I need you."
Ning Ye patted his shoulder through the air. "Be strong, just like Taotao."
The bus departed, driving far away.
Taotao:
Mom, leave it to me with peace of mind!
Dad:
I have a great dream, hoping to update around eight o'clock tomorrow
