Chapter Six: Lu Mengyao's Thoughts, Rapid Progress

In the end, Mengyao Lu chose a crossbody bag priced at 22,400. The design was exquisite—at that price, beauty was a given. After Cheng Yao paid without hesitation, they left, watched by the female sales associate.

“That couple is so decisive—the beauty spent less than three minutes choosing, and the handsome guy paid right away.”
“Boyfriend material, and so rich.”
“They look perfect together, handsome guy and pretty girl.”

Leaving Chanel, Cheng Yao glanced at his balance—he had nineteen hundred left, enough for just one or two more outfits. Thankfully, he still had three thousand in credit. So, he took Mengyao Lu shopping again, maxed out his credit on two sets of clothes, and was left with around eight or nine hundred.

They had wandered for a full hour and a half; it was now nine-thirty. The crowds at Deji had thinned, and the mall would close after ten. Mengyao Lu seemed reluctant to stop, but there was nothing much left to browse. She said, “Should we find a place to rest, or head back?”

“I’m getting hungry—how about Burger King?”

“Sure,” Mengyao Lu smiled, her eyes narrowing like a fox.

Now, she had no doubts about Cheng Yao’s financial strength.

So, the two went to Burger King. Mengyao Lu took the initiative, ordering some food. Cheng Yao didn’t care about the small details; he sat calculating. In total, they’d spent over thirty-six thousand—tenfold cashback meant more than three hundred sixty thousand. The feeling in reality was completely different from in the game; it was like winning the lottery and achieving financial freedom. The excitement he felt when he gained ownership of the dating simulation game now burst forth.

Cheng Yao’s nerves were taut with excitement, his legs shaking unconsciously. But he managed his expression well, keeping himself distracted with his phone, blending in with those around him—except for his strikingly handsome face.

If things went on like this, Cheng Yao felt he’d become an emotionless money-spending machine. Funny how it seemed Mengyao Lu was his golden finger.

He couldn’t help but smile wryly, thinking there was some truth to it.

“It’s pretty crowded,” Mengyao Lu said as she sat beside him, carrying the food. She dipped a fry in ketchup and fed it to him, fully assuming the role of girlfriend.

Cheng Yao naturally opened his mouth and ate it, attracting a few glances.

Once things quieted down, Mengyao Lu sighed, “Honestly, things happened pretty suddenly between us.”

“If you’re not happy, we can end it,” Cheng Yao said quietly.

“No, I don’t dislike it...”

She was flustered! Cheng Yao could almost feel her emotional turbulence. Mengyao Lu hadn’t expected herself to be so easily led—she hadn’t even considered this possibility. Instead, she wondered if she hadn’t behaved well enough?

Cheng Yao offered an out: “Then what’s the problem?”

“Right, that’s true...” Mengyao Lu relaxed, in fact, she loved this feeling—being able to buy whatever she wanted, never worrying about money. And fifty thousand a month!

Heavens, she’d achieve financial freedom right after university!

After their earlier back-and-forth, Mengyao Lu dared not speak carelessly again, and an important question was set aside. She wasn’t clear about her current status—official girlfriend? She wanted to hope, but being the third party seemed more likely. Still, she didn’t dwell on it, instead cautiously asking, “What does your family do?”

“They make games.”

“Oh~~” Mengyao Lu mused, so it was a game development company; no wonder he was so wealthy.

Cheng Yao was genuinely interested in Mengyao Lu—how could he not be? He wasn’t some ascetic sage. “Which college at Jin Arts are you in?”

“I’m in the School of Music.”

“Piano?”

“I know a little piano, but my main instruments are guitar and violin...”

Cheng Yao said, “Actually, I have a grade three in piano myself.”

“Ah...” Mengyao Lu thought for a moment and said, “So you didn’t really study it. Nowadays, elementary school graduates are all grade ten in piano.”

“Yeah, I have a friend at Shanghai Conservatory who specializes in piano. She’s really good and sometimes teaches me a bit.”

“That explains it.”

She knew about the Conservatory—it was one of the top four music academies in the country.

Cheng Yao didn’t know much, just that grade ten in piano wasn’t anything special; some people pass grade ten without really learning much. According to Zhang Ya, at places like the Conservatory, professional grades don’t matter—the levels can’t measure real skill, everyone aims for performance level.

They chatted for a while, and it was nearly ten o’clock.

There was no traffic, so Cheng Yao hailed a cab, “To Jin Arts, please.”

“Jin Arts, huh? Young man, add twenty yuan, okay?”

Normally, Cheng Yao wouldn’t tolerate this, but he didn’t care now, mostly because he was in a hurry. If Mengyao Lu was willing, he’d rather book a room right away. But obviously, she wasn’t ready for that so soon.

Cheng Yao wasn’t impatient, as if possessed by a starving ghost.

The roads were clear, the ride as quick as the subway. They made it before curfew, and the cab stopped at the Jin Arts entrance.

Mengyao Lu leaned close, kissed his cheek, and shyly said, “Bye-bye, text me when you get to school.”

“Bye-bye.”

Back in the cab, Mengyao Lu’s affection had risen to sixty—things were progressing quickly.

The cab headed for South Finance University. Cheng Yao wasn’t sure if he could get into the dorm, curfew had passed. If not, he’d just book a hotel at the campus gate.

In the cab, Cheng Yao’s attention returned to the panel—the foundation for strategy was a beauty score above eighty, with special stats at ninety or higher. Figure wasn’t especially important. Just like in the game, almost nothing had changed.

The issue was, Mengyao Lu alone wouldn’t be enough; he couldn’t spend every day with her. In this situation, he’d have to pursue a harem path.

Cheng Yao was still exhilarated, but his only worry was that real relationships were messier than in the game—hard to sever, impossible to untangle. He couldn’t really expect true love, only someone like Mengyao Lu.

In truth, if Zhang Ya didn’t change, he didn’t want to change himself either—at least that’s what he thought.

Girls like Mengyao Lu were easy to win over—just needed money.

She was materialistic, nothing wrong with that, just personal goals; so the solution was simple: display his wealth, give her some hope.

It wasn’t blind confidence on Cheng Yao’s part—it was just reality.

With enough money, what kind of girl couldn’t be won? Take Prince Wang from Dida Group—his stream of influencer girlfriends never repeat. Is he handsome? Not really.

But he’s a man of millions, rich beyond measure.

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