Chapter 851
Taking the First Bone of Sex, Acquiring a Sister
hateful!
Why is this happening? Why would my master, whom I admire and yearn for so much, be like this?
Although she gradually realized during her growth that she had been tricked by the contract, she thought it might be the final test for her, but she never expected it to come knocking on her door.
"It seems that Lady Ningguang's business over the years has indeed been very profitable. So, including the principal and interest..." He tapped his finger lightly on the "total debt" on the contract, which was calculated by a complex formula and was an astronomical figure, "shouldn't it be time to settle accounts?"
That yellowed childish contract, like a delicate key, clicked open the flawless, magnificent shell of Tianquan Star that Ningguang presented to Su Chen.
After her initial embarrassment and failed attempt to bluff her way out, she strangely relaxed.
Since the other party has already obtained the most shameful "dark history," his master is no ordinary person.
Even though she didn't formally become his apprentice, the time they spent together had already fostered a vague affection and an unimaginable admiration in her towards him.
The initial investment alone, or the information I've recently gathered, is enough to prove its extraordinary nature.
To continue putting on airs or using those power tactics that are invincible against ordinary people seems somewhat ridiculous.
snort!
I won't pay it back!
It stirred up Ningguang's arrogance.
Thus, the topic of repaying the money quickly evolved into a tug-of-war filled with witty remarks and banter. In the midst of this tug-of-war, an atmosphere quite different from Su Chen's interactions with other Liyue characters quietly began to emerge.
"If word gets out that Mr. Su is chasing after me for debt, I'm afraid no one will dare to associate with the Hall of Rebirth anymore." Ningguang leaned against the soft couch, playing with a warm jade ring between her fingers. Her purple eyes were no longer flustered, but only a lazy and playful one.
The luxurious black and gold cheongsam she wore clung to her undulating curves with her movements, its silky fabric shimmering alluringly in the warm indoor light.
Su Chen sat opposite, leisurely sipping the top-grade tea that Ningguang had ordered to be served. Hearing this, he looked up and said, "Lord Ningguang is joking. It is only right to pay back debts. Besides, what I am charging is only the principal plus a reasonable 'return on investment,' which is much more generous than the interest on some people's 'commercial loans.'"
He glanced meaningfully at the extremely luxurious room.
Ningguang choked for a moment, then chuckled, her laughter like pearls falling on a jade plate: "Reasonable? Mr. Su's calculation method in the contract would probably give even the most astute abacus master in Liyue a headache. He's clearly taking advantage of my youth and vulnerability."
She leaned slightly forward, her full breasts barely concealed by the neckline of her cheongsam, her breath sweet as orchids. "Or perhaps... Mr. Su had other intentions back then? He thought highly of me, huh?"
His words were laced with sarcasm, and his gaze was bold and direct.
This is completely different from Hu Tao's dependence, Gan Yu's admiration, Ke Qing's worship, and Shen He's ignorance.
This is a kind of ambiguous signal between adult men and women, carrying a sense of testing, teasing, and mutual understanding.
Ningguang's experience and status allowed her to quickly grasp the rhythm of the game after overcoming her initial confusion, and even subtly take the lead.
I'm not the little girl I used to be.
Su Chen's heart stirred slightly.
He could indeed sense that Ningguang was different from those still immature or aloof "little girls".
She is mature, sophisticated, and ambitious, and also possesses the matching wisdom, charm, and desire for control.
In her presence, my detached sense of being a time observer seemed more easily pulled back to the mundane world, to a level imbued with warmth and desire.
"Thoughts?" Su Chen put down his teacup, meeting her gaze. His tone was calm, but his eyes deepened. "Back then, I just thought he was a promising talent, worth investing in. Now it seems..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over her stunning figure and gorgeous face almost imperceptibly. "The return on investment is indeed beyond imagination."
This almost blatant praise made Ningguang's cheeks flush slightly, but a secret sense of pride rose in her heart.
Far from being annoyed, she became even more alluring with her eyes: "Is it just the rate of return? Mr. Su's requirements are far too low."
The implication in their words was almost explicit.
Their conversations often oscillated between serious "debt issues" and ambiguous witty exchanges.
Ningguang complained that Su Chen was a "heartless creditor," while Su Chen jokingly called her a "rich woman trying to renege on her debts."
The conversation occasionally veers to more dangerous angles, interspersed with bawdy jokes that only the two of them can understand.
Ningguang feigned grievance and said, "The creditors are pressing too hard, and I have no way to repay them. It seems I can only..."
Then, drawing out her words, she watched Su Chen's reaction; Su Chen would then calmly reply, "The interest on paying off the debt with one's body will have to be calculated separately," earning Ning Guang a roll of her eyes that seemed both angry and amused.
Su Chen was deliberately tripped by Ning Guang's outstretched leg.
He played along, collapsing to the ground.
They happened to tackle Ningguang, and as a result, the two of them fell onto the soft velvet blanket.
Su Chen braced his arm against Ning Guang's side, almost completely enveloping her beneath him.
The air was filled with the expensive incense emanating from her body, mixed with her uniquely feminine warmth. In my line of sight, I could see her slightly parted lips, painted with alluring nail polish, and her wide, shimmering purple eyes, wide with surprise.
Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Ningguang could feel the warmth and weight emanating from the other person's body, as well as the fleeting, not entirely unexpected, light in those deep eyes.
Her cheeks flushed quickly, and her breathing became slightly erratic, but she did not push him away immediately, nor did she scream.
She just looked at him like that, her eyelashes trembling slightly, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes, which then turned into a shy yet indulgent reproach.
She knew he did it on purpose.
This "accident" was too clumsy; it was impossible for someone with his skills to pull it off.
But she didn't expose it; instead, a subtle sweetness welled up inside her, a feeling of being treated with such "deliberate care."
Su Chen didn't get up immediately, but maintained this ambiguous posture, lingering his gaze on her face for a moment before whispering, "The carpet needs to be changed, Lady Ningguang."
His voice had a slight, barely perceptible hoarseness.
"Hmm..." Ningguang responded softly, her voice barely audible, and looked away, her ears turning bright red.
Su Chen then calmly stood up and helped her up.
Ningguang concealed her racing heartbeat by adjusting the slightly disheveled hem of her cheongsam and her hair.
Neither of them mentioned the scene again, but the romantic atmosphere lingered in the air for a long time.
In this unspoken ambiguity, their relationship quickly intensified, transcending ordinary friendship and even the boundaries of creditor and debtor. An invisible, intense tension flowed between them, waiting only for the right opportunity to ignite it.
One day, Su Chen visited Qunyu Pavilion again.
In the midst of their conversation, he casually mentioned, "Spending all day in this floating pavilion, though overlooking all living beings, lacks a sense of the realities of life. Would Lord Ningguang like to change your environment and see the 'sufferings of the common people'?"
He paused, then added, "For example, the place where I am staying now, the Hall of Rebirth."
Ningguang's eyes flashed.
She had naturally investigated Su Chen's current situation and knew that he was a leisurely guest at the Hall of Rebirth, and that the place was now a hidden place with many people of special status.
Su Chen's invitation at this moment had a self-evident meaning.
It wasn't just an invitation for her to enter his daily life; it was more like a further recognition and...recommendation.
"Oh?" Ningguang raised an eyebrow, regaining some of the composure of Tianquan Star, but the smile in her eyes betrayed her feelings. "Is the creditor taking me to inspect the location of the 'assets' to see if there's anything valuable that can be used to pay off the debt?"
“Perhaps,” Su Chen smiled, “it’s to let the ‘investors’ see what other…interesting ‘industries’ I’m running besides this incredible return.”
Ningguang agreed without hesitation.
She changed into a relatively understated but still undeniably luxurious casual outfit, and followed Su Chen away from the floating Jade Pavilion, stepping into the vibrant streets of Liyue Harbor.
The sensation caused when this couple appeared at the entrance of the Hall of Rebirth was unimaginable.
Hu Tao was the first to jump out, her eyes wide open. She looked at Su Chen, then at the stunningly beautiful woman beside him, who was elegant and had a powerful aura. Her mouth formed an "O" shape: "Brother Su Chen! And who is this...?"
Xingqiu was discussing the artistic conception of a certain poem with Shenhe. He mainly said that Shenhe would occasionally come up with a blunt comment that made people both laugh and cry.
The two looked over at the sound, snapped their folding fans shut, and their faces were full of curiosity that "there's a story behind this."
Zhongli was carrying a teacup as he walked out of the inner hall. When he saw Ningguang, he paused almost imperceptibly, a knowing helplessness flashing in his golden eyes before turning into a calm observer.
Again.
This guest of Su Chen is truly adept at adding "surprises" to his "ordinary" retirement life.
Gan Yu and Ke Qing happened to be there as well. Upon seeing Ning Guang, they were both taken aback and quickly bowed, saying, "Lord Ning Guang!"
Ningguang, however, was poised and graceful, nodding slightly to everyone with elegant manners: "Please, no need for such formalities. I've come with Mr. Su today to take a look around, and I apologize for the inconvenience."
Her gaze swept across everyone's faces, lingering for a moment on Zhong Li, a meaningful smile curving her lips, before quickly looking away.
Su Chen gave a brief introduction, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.
Ningguang, being the person she was, quickly noticed the strange harmony and undercurrents among the various people gathered in the small Rebirth Hall, especially that "Mr. Zhongli"... Her mind raced, but she showed no sign on her face. She chatted with Hu Tao about the business of the Rebirth Hall, leaving Hu Tao stunned.
After discussing the commercial value of poetry with Xingqiu, Xingqiu exclaimed that he was an expert and even expressed his appreciation for Shen He's aloof temperament and Gan Yu's diligence and meticulousness.
After the tour, while enjoying tea in the simple yet charming backyard of the Hall of Rebirth, Ningguang put down her teacup, looked at Su Chen with her purple eyes, and then surveyed the small space around her before suddenly speaking, her voice clear.
“Mr. Su, I think that although the Hall of Rebirth has a profound history and unique business, in some aspects, it could perhaps be more… influential.” She tapped her fingertips lightly on the table. “Liyue Harbor is becoming increasingly prosperous. Birth, aging, illness, and death are major events in life. As a lineage holder, the Hall of Rebirth should not be limited to traditional funerals. I suggest that it expand into high-end services such as ‘life ritual consultation,’ ‘family succession planning,’ and ‘palliative care support,’ and conduct in-depth cooperation with Bubulu, and even establish a dedicated, tranquil farewell garden.”
She spoke eloquently and clearly, demonstrating a keen business sense, instantly sketching out a promising expansion blueprint for Wangshengtang.
"Of course, all of this requires upfront investment. Resources are needed for venues, staff training, brand building, and communication with various stakeholders."
She finally looked at Su Chen, her eyes sparkling, and smiled warmly, "As Mr. Su's 'important investor' and... friend, I, Ningguang, am willing to personally inject funds into Wangshengtang and fully support this plan using my channels and connections."
She paused, then announced a number that nearly made Hu Tao slip off her chair and even made Zhong Li raise his eyes slightly.
"This is the initial investment amount. Further investments will be made depending on the development of the project."
The courtyard was completely silent.
Everyone was stunned by Ningguang's sudden and large-scale "investment".
Hu Tao stammered, "Lord Ningguang... this is too..."
Ningguang simply smiled at Su Chen, the meaning in her eyes quite clear.
This money is not only an investment in Wangshengtang, but also an investment in you, Su Chen. In my own way, I'm stepping into your world and leaving my mark.
As for that "childhood debt"... let's just consider it the beginning of a longer and closer "bond".
Su Chen looked at Ning Guang's purple eyes, which sparkled with wisdom, ambition, and unmistakable affection, and then at the various expressions on the faces of the people around him. He felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, yet for some reason, he also felt that... this might not be so bad.
Anyway, he never thought about making the other party pay back the debt; it was more about the fun of his childhood.
Furthermore, through this opportunity, he felt that the beautiful woman in front of him was better than those debts.
He picked up his teacup, offered a distant toast to Ningguang, and a genuine, indulgent smile curved his lips.
"In that case... thank you very much for your generosity, Lady Ningguang."
What adults~
Ningguang rolled her eyes at him subconsciously.
All kinds of styles.
And those debts from back then weren't meant to benefit my current net worth; they were clearly trying to ruin me too.
Running your own business, all that scheming and calculating, and in the end you've ruined yourself...
Su Chen smiled.
He remained silent, his perception of this stunningly beautiful woman was different from before.
Within a few days, their communication and relationship progressed further, and they became closer.
Having reached this point, it's only natural to go with the flow and for things to fall into place.
He has formed deep bonds in this world, and he has also found a soulmate who knows him inside and out.
Although the relationship between the two of them is a bit complicated, Ningguang likes this kind of thing, and Su Chen likes it too.
Shen He was inexplicably upset, so Su Chen had no choice but to indulge his true nature and drag him along with him. (End of Chapter)