Chapter 48

48

It had to be said, no one understood himself better than he did.

A thin layer of sweat covered Bian Xun's temples. His breathing slowly returned to normal, and for a moment, his eyes revealed neither joy nor anger.

Massive wasteful spending, losing business deals, financial deficits...

These were the exact problems that Bian Xun would inevitably pay attention to and persistently try to solve.

He would definitely figure out how to reverse-engineer a way to cash out from the black card, thereby forming a completely closed vicious cycle.

Earning madly on one side, leaking massively on the other.

No wonder...

No wonder he had said that money was the most important thing, yet also the least important.

Because without money, he would be finished.

And even with money, he couldn't keep it.

"..." Bian Xun closed his eyes.

At this very moment, he finally understood the situation they were facing. It turned out that all those unusual occurrences in the past were hints.

His future self must have become aware of the existence of the "plot," which was why he gave the black card to his daughter who was about to travel back five years in time.

If the black card hadn't appeared alongside the child from the very beginning and been handed over to her mother, Bian Xun might never have received this strong stimulus from the start.

His brain and actions might have long been controlled by the power of the plot, turning him into a mere character swept up within it.

Bian Xun's eyes darkened.

The sense of nihilism in fighting an invisible entity was unlike any hurdle he had encountered in his life. He didn't even have a tangible opponent or a clear target. Facing Ning Ye's confused and caring gaze, he couldn't even find a way to bring it up, nor was he allowed to explain.

Losing control over one's autonomy was actually a terrifying thing. At the moment he was forced to passively reach out his hand just now, a ruthless emotion had even surged in Bian Xun's heart.

This kind of emotion shouldn't be felt by her and the child.

Bian Xun clenched his fingers tightly at his sides, using his formidable self-control to calm down.

Since it was a plot...

Since it was an artificially generated story...

Then, there must be an ending.

As long as he held on until after the ending, all of this would stop.

The CEO remained expressionless, trying to comfort himself.

It didn't matter. He had a thick health bar.

The fact that it could be solved with money was, in a sense, good news.

"Daddy, are you okay?"

Ning Zhitao scratched her head. She was still in her Silver Horn King makeup. Compared to her rosy complexion, her dad's face looked as if it was turning pale and green by turns.

Ning Ye also asked worriedly, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Bian Xun took a deep breath, adjusted his collar, and returned to his state of powerful self-restraint. "No."

The most important issue right now was knowing what would happen next in the plot.

And, how long could he stay clear-headed after charging money once?

And the answer to this could only be found through Ning Ye.

"Let's go home first."

Ning Ye nodded.

Just as she was about to take the little girl's hand, she suddenly felt something and caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette flashing by in her peripheral vision.

The figure was still some distance away from her. Outside the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the art center, a woman wearing a floral scarf was leaving hurriedly with her head down, disappearing into the dispersing crowd.

Ning Ye blinked. "Bian Xun, hold Taotao's hand for a moment."

Ning Cuizhen really had followed Wang Xuebing here!

Ning Ye quickly chased in that direction, simultaneously pressing her walkie-talkie. "Please help me stop that person wearing a scarf outside the venue—"

The only maternal responsibility Ning Cuizhen had carried out to the end in her life was ensuring that Wang Xuebing wouldn't drag her daughter down.

But just now, she must have seen the entire process of Ning Ye dealing with Wang Xuebing through the glass window.

She saw how the grown-up Ning Ye calmly handled things without needing to resort to throwing tantrums or hurling insults.

She saw exactly what kind of person Ning Ye, having received higher education and unburdened by her family, had grown into.

She was relieved.

And she was even less likely to appear again.

The security personnel of Wujiang received the order and rushed outside. However, it was the peak time of the crowd dispersing outside the art center. They could check people coming in, but how were they supposed to stop someone who had already left?

By the time the bodyguards rushed out, that ordinary woman had completely vanished into the bustling crowds and traffic.

Ning Ye also squeezed into the crowd, looking around, but ultimately found nothing.

She retreated to the glass window where she had just glimpsed the silhouette and saw a note pressed under the window screen. Ning Ye unfolded it. Three words were written on it, not very neatly:

Don't look for me.

Ning Ye held the note, knowing how stubborn she was.

Ning Cuizhen knew that she could now stand on her own, knew that she might already have family, and knew that she needed her mother even less now.

"I will keep looking, don't worry."

Bian Xun, holding the child's hand, had appeared behind her at some point.

Although his face was still pale, his tone had steadied. "As long as she appears around here, we can gather clues."

With a touch of blankness on her face, Ning Ye nodded.

She looked at Taotao, who was gazing at her mother in innocent confusion, and remembered the hurried, fleeting silhouette of her own mother just now. She suddenly gained a deeper understanding of the role of a "mother."

Some people would treat being a "mother" as a disgrace, only to turn around and use it as a halo. But others had nothing to their name and asked for nothing; as long as you lived well, that was enough.

Ning Ye sighed a puff of white breath into the winter wind, looking down and taking her child's hand.

Being a parent was just like this—taking it one step at a time, learning to mature through the pages of increasing life experience.

Looking at the diverse array of parents at the entrance of the art center, Ning Ye suddenly asked Bian Xun in a low voice, "Can we really do as well as our future selves five years from now?"

The current them hadn't experienced actual childbirth, hadn't learned to raise a child from the moment she was born, and hadn't truly grown step by step from being novice parents. Could they really be like real parents?

Bian Xun held her hand. "We can."

The man's side profile was sharp and cold, his expression resolute.

Because the them from five years in the future firmly believed in the them from five years ago—

That they could do it.

That they could withstand everything they were about to face.

Bian Xun raised his eyes. The thin sweat on his temples had dried in the wind. His expression was calm as he suddenly said, "Let's leave a memento."

He looked at Assistant Zhang, who was walking over with a camera. Their whole family had just taken a photo in front of the choir competition sign.

"Mr. Bian, would you like me to take a photo of your family?"

Ning Ye's mood lightened as well. She looked down at the child, and Taotao jumped up excitedly, "Yay!"

The Silver Horn King makeup must be treasured forever!

Bian Xun and Ning Ye stood at the entrance of the art center where a banner was hung. Standing on either side, they supported the child and lifted her up. Ning Zhitao revealed a warm, golden smile, her round, grape-like eyes curving into slits as she reached out to make a peace sign at the camera.

Behind her, Mom and Dad were standing so close together.

Frozen in the moment the shutter was pressed.

This photo was soon sent to the CEO. He admired it for a moment and set it as the desktop wallpaper for both his phone and computer.

Then, he opened that photo album from the future.

He wrote some code and executed a series of operations.

And put this group photo into it as well.

...

That day, the events that occurred at the art center quickly became a hot topic on the internet.

The news that someone from Xu Lanyi's team had been arrested spread like wildfire, drawing mixed reactions online.

[Is it just me, or does it feel like the Best Actress has had a lot of negative news lately?]

[It's not an illusion. Xu's team is either involved with foreign police or has members breaking the law. They're a complete mess!]

[Can you guys look at the clarification? The person who got caught isn't even a staff member of Sister Xu's team.]

[Then who can explain where he got the uniform? Doesn't the studio never sell their clothes to the public?]

The internet was in an uproar, and the doubts surrounding Xu Lanyi were endless.

However, thanks to the highly prestigious international trophy she held, netizens were generally still in a period of indulgence towards her.

[Are you guys even worthy of questioning a three-time Best Actress?]

[Sister Xu won glory for our country, so I'm just going to dote on her like this.]

[You all better be careful, in case the big shot behind Sister Xu makes a move...]

[Xu's fans are simply a bunch of lunatics.]

But this time, Xu Lanyi, who was at the center of the public opinion storm, did not respond to the negative news. She completely believed in the development of the foreknown plot and began to secretly and sweetly wait for an upcoming storyline.

In the hallway, the scene of Bian Xun protecting Gu Zixun had almost struck straight into her heart.

Bian Xun actually showed a trace of affection for her son.

Reviewing all the recent events, it was not difficult for Xu Lanyi to understand the changes in Bian Xun.

First, she had brought three capital groups into the fray to fight him, which was a true match of equals and mutual respect between the strong. There were barely any women in Beijing who could do this. Bian Xun's subsequent series of counterattacks was exactly a sign of acknowledging her as an opponent.

Furthermore, the appearance of Wang Xuebing was a thorn between Ning Ye and him. Even if others hadn't yet realized what kind of trash Wang Xuebing was, Bian Xun would definitely recognize the man who had scammed him. Would he tolerate his child having a grandfather like that? Tolerate Ning Ye's past betrayal?

He couldn't accept it, nor could he resist his unseen destiny, which was why his behavior had changed, right?

Looking at the various voices on the computer screen, a sense of anticipation welled up in Xu Lanyi's heart.

Retiring at the peak after a final dance would be the perfect curtain call for her identity as Best Actress, cementing her myth in the industry.

And Bian Xun would also make his choice. The thought of him reaching out to her and her son like he did that day made Xu Lanyi's heart race; she couldn't wait to see Ning Ye's expression.

Reaching this point, Xu Lanyi had to admit that Ning Ye, an ordinary person with no family background and not even much financial power, was already quite remarkable to have fought her to this extent.

She was indeed a smart, resilient, and soulful woman.

But from the first day Xu Lanyi stepped into the entertainment industry, she held the script of the female lead.

In this world, she would always be the female lead.

She didn't believe Ning Ye would always have a way to counterattack.

...

On the other side.

Wujiang Group Headquarters.

Ning Ye, who returned to work on Monday, was keeping an eye on the news trends.

She had also sorted out the next stage of the plot. After making a comeback by winning an award for "Mother" at the international film festival, Xu Lanyi made an even more "female lead" decision at this time. She publicly claimed that she was tired of the entertainment industry life and wanted to embrace happiness and heal herself, so she temporarily bid farewell to the public eye and retired from acting.

For this, she would also hold a grand retirement event, and during that event, she would usher in the most glorious plotline of the original novel—a high-profile acknowledgment of her father.

Actually, thinking about it carefully, this was a smart decision to maximize her interests. The various negative news surrounding her were wearing down the public's patience and rose-tinted glasses. By stopping at the moment of ultimate honor and freedom, she could instead become a myth in everyone's hearts, the perfect winner envied by her industry peers.

Ning Ye pondered for a moment, tapped her pen tip, and closed the webpage.

She would discuss detailed countermeasures with her teammates.

It's just that her teammate seemed a bit neurotic lately.

Ning Ye looked up. She had been on a business trip to Europe for a week, and then caught the New Year's holiday upon returning, so she hadn't seen Sister Zhou and the others for a long time. Today, she brought them the souvenirs she had brought back and specially thanked Jiang Xinghe.

Jiang Xinghe always maintained his sense of boundaries and didn't ask too much about Ning Ye's privacy. The handsome young man accepted her gift as calmly as water, but his tone carried a bit of solemnity, "If you need anything else, let me know anytime."

Actually, he was very happy to receive Ning Ye's call for help that day.

"Thank you!"

Ning Ye was grateful to have such good colleagues. Just as she was about to ask if he had any tough tasks on hand, Assistant Zhang suddenly walked over to Ning Ye's desk. "Miss Ning, there's a document that needs your verification. Please come with me."

"Oh, okay."

She followed Assistant Zhang out of the department's office area, only to see Bian Xun's dark silhouette not far away, walking nonchalantly into a conference room.

Ever since the choir competition ended, Bian Xun had been acting neurotic—

Every day, divided into morning, noon, and evening sessions, he made her spend money.

And she couldn't spend too little.

It sounded like a domineering CEO behavior, but the money being spent belonged to the future domineering CEO.

It just had a sort of psychotic aesthetic to it.

Ning Ye walked into the conference room. The door closed, and the blinds were shut.

Bian Xun crossed his arms and looked at her quietly. "Chatting with colleagues during working hours is prohibited. You need to improve your unit time efficiency."

He was still brooding over the fact that Ning Ye had called Jiang Xinghe for help in the early hours of that morning.

She clearly could have woken him up.

"?"

Fine, fine. Back in the company, he was still a black-hearted capitalist daddy.

The CEO scoffed, his usually arrogant and aloof handsome face revealing a hint of bitterness.

No one knew that what the CEO said was not false. He had entered the game himself and was already trying his best to increase his unit time cost.

Over the past few days, Bian Xun had tested out the general pattern.

When there were no official plot points, the plot's constraints on him weren't that strong. The balance draining away every second and minute was enough to keep him awake and autonomous.

But if plot content appeared, he needed to spend a large amount of money to stay awake and buy his free time.

Currently, his unit time cost was roughly in the tens of millions.

A depletion of tens of millions could allow him to break free from the plot.

Bian Xun leaned against the side of the table, crossing his arms. Well, he could still handle it for now.

However, such a pattern was obviously not rigorous enough.

He needed to figure out the overall cost he required more quickly and accurately.

But Ning Ye had only been called over by Assistant Zhang to handle work, and now she looked at him in confusion. "What exactly did you call me over to verify?"

Bian Xun lifted his dark eyes, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her close to him. "...Me."

Ning Ye was made restless by his understated flirtatiousness.

This was the company!

Ever since they started living together... no, ever since the proposal, this person's state had been completely different.

But Ning Ye could understand. The plot hanging over their heads could cause trouble at any time, and the further it went, the more the plot would drag Taotao into it.

Because the arrival of their child was the starting point of all the plots.

They indeed needed to be on alert at all times.

Bian Xun pondered the cost of stimulating himself while stroking the smooth skin of her wrist, sighing helplessly, "That thermos you bought for Taotao was too cheap."

A hundred yuan, it couldn't even be measured.

Ning Ye was completely baffled.

Starting from the past two days, Bian Xun dropped the child off in the mornings while Ning Ye went to work first.

The child adapted well.

The child's father also adapted well.

It was hard to imagine that Bian Xun, who completely loathed children just a few months ago, would now walk straight through the noisy crowd of parents without glancing sideways, watching the child enter the kindergarten.

But this was the most prominent benefit for Ning Ye after they started living together, because it meant she no longer had to rush when eating breakfast at the company cafeteria.

Before leaving the house this morning, Bian Xun told her to swipe his black card to buy a matching set of three thermoses. While eating, Ning Ye casually saw a cute little grape-patterned cup on Taobao and placed an order for it first.

"It was a hundred yuan, that's not cheap for a thermos, is it?"

The CEO, however, looked sorrowful.

A million was already considered very cheap.

Thinking back to the beginning, spending a million on a cup of milk tea was hard for him to accept.

And now, a million was as common as breathing.

The CEO's lips held a bitterness known to no one else. His gaze fell faintly on Ning Ye's slightly parted lips, but suddenly, his expression paused.

Wait.

The stimulating effect of a million had gone from existing to nothing.

That was because it kept repeating, thus losing its novelty.

Bian Xun lowered his eyes, looking at Ning Ye, and suddenly realized a serious problem.

This operating rule of buying lucidity with money wasn't necessarily constant. What if the amount needed to stimulate him into lucidity also changed every time?

This was actually very easy to understand.

Physiologically speaking, the human brain's response mechanism to stimulation also has a threshold.

He could become lucid now from spending ten or twenty million, buying him a certain length of freely controlled time, but what about later? Would ten or twenty million still be enough?

What if, in extreme cases, a hundred million could only buy him a day? An hour? A minute?

Bian Xun's face slowly changed.

He was born noble and had lived a privileged life.

This was the first time in his life, in a true sense, that he worried his money wouldn't be enough to spend.

Ning Ye asked, "What's wrong with you now?"

Bian Xun tightened his grip on her hand, thinking of a temporary solution within a few breaths, and forced himself to remain calm. "...Nothing."

From now on, he had to go to any lengths to make money.

Furthermore, he had to keep himself in a poverty-stricken mindset as much as possible.

He had to repeatedly warn his brain, lower his consumption level, and keep its threshold from getting too high, so he could control the cost of maintaining his lucidity and autonomy.

Otherwise, sooner or later, there would come a day when he couldn't afford himself.

Bian Xun closed his eyes.

Starting right now.

The arrogant world's richest man was beginning to suffer the backlash.

Seeing his pale face, Ning Ye leaned in with some concern, wanting to feel his forehead's temperature. "Are you really sick?"

But as she got closer, she only heard the noble CEO muttering.

"Expensive, truly expensive."

"A hundred-yuan cup is already very expensive."

"A thousand is an even larger fortune."

"Tens of thousands would be unbearable for me."

Of course, all multiplied by 10,000.

Ning Ye froze. "?"

Although she agreed with what he was saying, hearing such words from some people's mouths... why did it sound so hypocritical?

Assistant Zhang happened to knock gently on the door. Ning Ye turned to open it for him, and Assistant Zhang came in carrying two lattes made with freshly ground beans from the coffee machine.

Wujiang had always done well in terms of employee benefits. The pantry and rest area always provided various free drinks and snacks for the staff.

However, when Assistant Zhang looked up with a smile, he met the CEO's blank stare.

There was a kind of determination in that emptiness.

The noble and aloof dark eyes fell on the disposable paper coffee cups. He shook his head and whispered, "Too expensive."

"??"

The CEO pressed the center of his brows, as if inputting some kind of spell.

Too expensive, can't afford it, don't want it, make it cheaper.

Bargaining with the heavens.

Winning by half a move against fate.

Ning Ye fled back to her desk in a panic. "?"

It's over, he's really gone mad.

...

Soon, Ning Ye discovered that Bian Xun had truly downgraded his consumption.

His consumption views had actually dropped to the level of ordinary folks.

This wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Things like those massive diamonds from before were too impractical. Bian Xun's sudden consumption downgrade actually smoothed over their previous issues of misaligned values and spending habits.

Bian Xun finally had a normal pricing system.

Unfortunately, however, even though the CEO had started trying hard to keep himself poor and hungry, the end of the year was approaching, and it was exactly the time for the CEO to spend big money.

First of all, in terms of the plot, there would be a highly prestigious international auction in Beijing. In the original book, this was a very important event.

Because once the lunar month of December began, the Bian family's old mansion would start accepting visiting cards from various families and regions. After verification, those who received a reply could start visiting after the first day of the new year.

In the original book, Xu Lanyi officially visited at this time, not only because of the development between the male and female leads, but also because Xu Lanyi had won a jade Maitreya Buddha statue that Old Master Bian had been searching everywhere for at this pre-new year auction.

This wasn't the most important part. The point was that Bian Xun also participated in this auction. And because it was an anonymous auction, he and Xu Lanyi would bid against each other. In the end, it was him who won the Maitreya Buddha at a high price, but generously gave it to Xu Lanyi, letting her use it as a stepping stone.

"..." Bian Xun listened expressionlessly.

He decided to let Ning Ye spend crazily on that day, while he kept himself completely dry, not spending a single cent.

In addition to this, Bian Xun also made a special trip to the police station and saw the detained and interrogated Wang Xuebing.

Bian Xun had already gotten someone to arrange everything; none of his nonsense could implicate Ning Ye. He came just to see if he was miserable enough, and then to inform him: pay back the money.

"Rehabilitate well inside, and strive to pay back my 500,000 as soon as possible."

The person who had been cowering with his head down suddenly looked up, revealing cloudy eyes. "Big boss, young master, you're already so rich, and you still want my little bit of money?! Aren't you forcing me to die!"

Back then, Wang Xuebing didn't know what kind of family the Bian family was, but now he knew. Even if it was five hundred million, the man in front of him could easily take it out!

For a gambling addict, the feeling of asking for too little money back then was enough to torment him for a lifetime.

"Right, there's no need for you to live too comfortably," Bian Xun stood up, casting a downward glance at him. "Strive to pay it all back before you die, so you can die clean."

This man clearly wasn't just saying it for fun. Wang Xuebing cursed out loud, "You, a dignified big boss, are this desperate for money?!"

"Yes, money is very important to me."

Bian Xun got up and left. Behind him, Wang Xuebing didn't believe it at all, almost getting a stroke from anger.

And so, the CEO worked hard to maintain his impoverished state.

But for his identity as the CEO of Wujiang Group, as the end of the year approached, the money he had to pay out was more than just this.

Besides the social exchanges and gifts with partner companies and major clients.

There was also the final, and most important, massive expense—

The group employees' year-end bonuses.

This was something Ning Ye had been looking forward to ever since she was promoted to the group headquarters, because the year-end bonus ratio at headquarters was much higher than at the branch offices. She heard that the total year-end bonus expenditure for the entire group exceeded three hundred million a year.

Ning Ye's performance the previous year had been quite good. Based on the bonus pool ratio, it would be a very generous sum.

She would be able to have a good New Year with the little one.

If she could find Ning Cuizhen, it would also be enough to cover her medical expenses.

However, the joys and sorrows of human beings are not connected.

The year-end bonus application documents were currently sitting on the CEO's desk.

After work, the CEO's office was still brightly lit.

Ning Ye came up to wait for him so they could pick up the child together. When she pushed the door open, Bian Xun was sitting at his thick sandalwood desk, his hands propped up, resting against the bridge of his nose.

After thinking for a long time, the man spoke softly and faintly, "Should we lower this year's year-end bonuses..."

Ning Ye looked resolute: "? Be a decent human being."

No matter how black-hearted a capitalist might be, if you really touch the workers' pie, do you have a death wish?

Bian Xun: "."

The CEO fell silent. Finally, with a cold and detached expression, he approved the year-end expenditures, put down his fountain pen, and closed his eyes as if his life was incredibly bitter.

Ning Ye nodded in serious approval.

Bian Xun sternly warned his own brain not to casually get used to this kind of multi-hundred-million expenditure.

You don't have that kind of financial power.

...

Leaving the company, the two went to pick up the child together. Bian Xun maintained his usual demeanor the whole time, trying his best not to let her or the child feel the immense pressure.

This matter was, after all, a problem he had to solve alone.

Ning Ye didn't press him on the reasons behind his recent series of spending downgrades. The mother and daughter didn't seem to notice his abnormality.

However, after entering the door, Taotao scurried into the small room. A moment later, a fluffy little grape bounced out.

"Daddy, Mommy, hurry up and change!"

It was the family-of-three winter pajamas Ning Ye had bought earlier. Taotao's was a light green base with grape prints, made of soft milk fleece, complete with a hat that had a little grape stem on top.

Ning Ye's was a set of light pink pajamas with light green leaf prints, implicitly representing her symbol.

Bian Xun opened his package and shook out the clothes. On the white background of the pajamas were—black hearts.

"?"

Ning Ye embarrassedly raised her hand and rubbed the tip of her nose.

She really couldn't think of any other symbol for a black-hearted capitalist.

She couldn't exactly print money on the clothes, could she?

Bian Xun had actually never worn anything in this style before, but facts proved that as long as the body shape was right, anything looked good.

Soon, the family of three had all changed into the matching fluffy pajamas. Standing in front of the mirror, they looked like characters from a cartoon.

Ning Zhitao reached out to her father. Bian Xun bent down and picked her up, finding that the little one wrapped in milk fleece was even softer than usual. She leaned against her father's neck and gently blew on his head.

Children can sense the pressure of adults.

Bian Xun raised his dark eyes and saw Ning Ye also looking at him with a faint smile.

Bian Xun had actually never worn anything made of this kind of material before.

But his anxiety and pressure were indeed mostly smoothed away by the soft touch.

Holding the child in his arms, he gazed at Ning Ye's cheeks and suddenly made a suggestion.

"Let's move into the new house together."

Ning Ye paused slightly and turned her head to look at him.

"New house?"

Before Bian Xun could speak, the little grape in his arms poked her head out from under the hat and pawed at herself.

"Daddy, is it the Happy Home on the 21st floor of Building 5 in Rongtai New City?"

Bian Xun raised an eyebrow, "Yes."

Ning Zhitao let out an excited little howl, tugging at her father's collar, "Going home! Going home!"

Bian Xun's heart felt as if it were wrapped in milk fleece too.

It seemed like they would soon be able to see their future happiness.

The child's anticipation was impossible to refuse, but Ning Ye suddenly remembered something. Her face flushed red as she asked him, "Did you set the anti-theft security password yet?"

"Not yet," Bian Xun raised his eyebrows. "Why?"

"Nothing."

Ning Ye secretly made up her mind that this time, at the very least, she couldn't let him set it as her measurements...!

As the new house was gradually filled up.

Time thus approached the Spring Festival.

The night before the auction, in the middle of the night, Bian Xun suddenly opened his eyes and found himself standing in the middle of the living room.

As the plot point approached, that uncontrollable force suddenly strengthened. For a brief moment just now, he was like a character performing the action of "pacing in the living room," but it wasn't a voluntary movement.

Only when the scripted plot ended did he regain his lucidity, his expression turning thoroughly grim.

For someone with an extremely strong desire for control, this feeling of being out of control was a torment in itself.

If this passivity grew stronger and stronger, he might invest everything he had to fight against it.

"Bian Xun?"

Ning Ye's softened voice suddenly came from behind him.

She walked over with slow, light steps.

She saw his rare tenseness; an unknown pressure enveloped his back like a mountain.

Bian Xun faced out the living room window, watching the moonlight spill across the floor. Hearing her voice, he didn't turn around, but suddenly asked her.

"What if I really become poor?"

Ning Ye paused for a moment, then walked to his side. The two stood shoulder to shoulder, looking at the moon in the night sky.

Then Ning Ye spoke softly, "Then I'll take on an extra job after work, take on a few freelance consulting gigs at the same time, and I can also do two days of tutoring on the weekends. It just means you might have to spend more time with Taotao, but my income could probably triple. Oh, and I can also..."

As she spoke, she actually started calculating it seriously.

She even pulled out an app to check the current market rates. However, just as she typed a few words into her phone, it was taken away from her. Then, her entire body was scooped up and pressed into a cold yet burning hot chest.

His heart was beating rapidly.

"That won't do."

Bian Xun closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, his mind made up.

He would not accept that.

He had to be rich even if it killed him.

Ahhhh it's here

Being twenty minutes early is still early, right!!! Zhao Shijue, go back to updating at midnight!!!