Ye Cheng looked at Jiang Ye's thunderstruck expression and laughed even more joyfully. She leaned in a bit closer, seductively licking her lips.
"What? Did I hit the mark? If you're interested in me, that's fine. I'll give you a chance—500,000 a month, and I'm yours."
Jiang Ye was so amused he laughed.
500,000? What kind of concept is that?
500,000 divided by 600 equals 833.33!
That's 833 times of fun with Lili! And damn, there's even change left over!
"Heh! Heh!"
He exaggeratedly chuckled twice. "Miss Ye, forgive my bluntness, but your asking price is a bit out of touch with the market. Just yesterday, I met a girl in a white down jacket at your school gate, very pretty, and she only asked for 50,000 a month! How do you have the nerve to ask for 500?"
Ye Cheng was taken aback for a moment, tilting her head as she recalled, then uncertainly asked, "Was she wearing a gray scarf? Tall, with quite a good aura?"
Jiang Ye nodded vigorously. "Yes! That's her! Very! Pretty! And classy!"
"Her... heh, even though I'm short on cash, I definitely wouldn't sell myself for money."
Ye Cheng shook her head with a smile, took a sip of orange juice, and said, "What, do you really want to spend 500,000 a month to woo me?"
Jiang Ye snorted, about to blurt out "woo your sister," when a flash of inspiration struck him, like a lightning bolt in the dark night!
Right!
His perspective was too narrow!
He'd been focusing on how to get cashback, but hadn't thought of this angle?
If you want a girl to willingly spend big money on you, first she needs to have money herself!
If...
If he really spent 500,000 to "secure" her, and then found a way to make her willingly spend 100,000 on him each month, the cashback would be a million!
Subtract the 500,000 given to her, and he'd still net 500,000!
Isn't this the legendary leverage principle?!
With this thought, Jiang Ye swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue, and his expression shifted from "Are you crazy?" to "Let me think about it."
He picked up his chopsticks, fishing around in the pot, and said with feigned profundity:
"This month is probably a no-go, funds are a bit tight. But... if you perform well, maybe we can try next month."
"Watch my performance?"
Now it was Ye Cheng's turn to be stunned. She blinked, not quite understanding the logic in his words. "What do you mean? You want to get something for nothing? Get free?"
"What I mean is, let me try you out... oh no, observe for a month."
Jiang Ye waved his hand, wearing an expression of "you're thinking too small." "Let's see if we get along. If it feels right and our personalities match, then forget 500,000, I'll give you a million a month, no problem!"
Ye Cheng saw he was speaking so earnestly, not like he was joking, and immediately gave him a thorough once-over:
"Buddy, you haven't even been drinking, so why are you talking nonsense? Your BMW is rented, and you can give me 500,000? 100,000? Do you think I'm a three-year-old?"
Jiang Ye impatiently tapped the table with his knuckles. "The car is temporary, doesn't represent my strength. When real money lands in front of you, you'll obediently... hmm, just wait and see."
Ye Cheng clicked her tongue, his confident attitude piquing her curiosity and competitiveness. She picked up a chopstick of greens, smiling slyly: This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
"Alright, then I'll wait for you to shower me with money. When the time comes, forget 500,000, even if you slap 50,000 cash in front of me, I'll respect you as a man."
She paused, her eyes rolling, then switched to a "for your own good" expression:
"But, seeing as you have such 'potential,' do you want me to give you some motivation first? Maybe a discount?"
"Hmm... 300,000! As long as you can give me 300,000 a month, I'll officially be your girlfriend! If you can keep it up for three years, I'll grit my teeth and marry you! How about it, feeling motivated? Go for it, young man!"
Jiang Ye pursed his lips in his mind.
See, this is women, so realistic.
Realizing hard bargaining might not work, she immediately starts painting a big picture, taking a shot in the dark.
If he's not careful, his "potential sugar daddy" status would turn into a "long-term meal ticket" and "marriage candidate," his position slipping from buyer to spare tire.
"You mentioned this 300,000..."
He chuckled, deciding to take back the initiative. "Is it the kind of 'one-on-one,' where it's just you?"
"What else? What are you thinking?"
"Oh, I get it. How about this, don't bother with the discount, I'll raise your price, give you 1 million a month."
Ye Cheng: "..."
She was stunned for two seconds, then laughed in exasperation, tossing a peanut at him:
"Why don't you just give me a billion a month?! I'll humor you for a bit, but are you seriously fantasizing? If you can really give me 1 million a month, sister here will go all out! Three rows, four rows, whatever you want! I'll even help you push!"
Jiang Ye grinned, snapping his fingers in his mind.
See, just a slight shift in thinking, and the power dynamics instantly reverse!
Honestly, 500,000 and 1 million are no different to him. If he can get 500,000, then 1 million is just a matter of time.
He sat up straight, his gaze intense as he stared at Ye Cheng. "You said it! A gentleman's word!"
Ye Cheng, still fuming, was also fired up, glaring at him. "Yes! I said it! A promise is a promise!"
Jiang Ye extended his right pinky, solemnly offering it to her. "Pinky swear."
Ye Cheng snorted, extending her own pinky, wearing a "look at this fool" expression:
"Look at you, so childish. Hurry up and find a job, stop daydreaming all day... come on, pinky swear..."
She hooked his pinky, shook it, then stopped, glaring at him. "Say it! Just hooking pinkies without saying the words doesn't count!"
Jiang Ye: "..."
Who's the childish one here?!
He was speechless, forced to recite, "Pinky swear, a million won't change!"
Only then did Ye Cheng release her grip, snorting heavily. "That's more like it! Remember, 1 million! Not a penny less!"
After the pinky swear, they finally ended this negotiation filled with probing, scheming, and banter, focusing again on demolishing the hotpot in front of them.
However, the atmosphere in the air seemed to subtly change, with less of the initial unfamiliarity and probing, and more of an indescribable sense of familiarity and absurd "contract."
After finishing the hotpot, it was already late at night.
Downstairs, Ye Cheng opened the door and got out, waving her hand. "Thanks, buddy. We ate, we bragged, I'm heading up."
Jiang Ye watched her turn to leave, hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and withdrew all 2,240 from the system account.
"Ye Cheng, wait a moment." He pushed open the car door and quickly caught up with her.
Ye Cheng, about to go upstairs, stopped and turned back in confusion. "What's up? Anything else?"
Jiang Ye waved his phone. "I sent you a red envelope."
Ye Cheng tilted her head, took out her phone, and was slightly surprised to see the transfer she just received on WeChat:
"2,000? Jiang Ye, why are you giving me so much money?"
"Too much?"
Jiang Ye's lips curled up, turning away with a wave of his hand. "This is just the beginning. The rest depends on your performance."
With that, he walked back towards the BMW, intending to leave a mysterious silhouette.
However, just as he took a step, he heard Ye Cheng mutter behind him, her tone a bit complex:
"Alright... um... then consider this money a prepayment for that 1 million. I'll save it for you, and we'll talk when you gather enough!"
Jiang Ye: "..."
He halted abruptly, nearly twisting his ankle.
No, miss!
Don't save it, damn it, I want to save money in the bank, okay? Do I need you to save it for me?
I made it so clear, watch your performance, watch your performance!
Jiang Ye spun around, quickly returning to Ye Cheng, waving his hands earnestly:
"No, no, no! Please don't! Ye Cheng, I appreciate your kindness! But please don't save this money! It's meant for you to spend! You take it..."
Before he could finish, the system's warning sounded in his mind:
[Ding! Detected host's explicit guidance on spending behavior, suspected of indirect solicitation, warning issued! Further violations may result in cashback failure or even system penalties!]
Jiang Ye's words got stuck in his throat.
He looked at Ye Cheng's suspicious gaze, his mind racing through several methods to successfully achieve cashback, but then dismissing them one by one.
It had to be something that made sense to her, so she'd know what to do, but without triggering the system warning...
This...
Jiang Ye struggled for a while, finally sighing helplessly, his gaze falling on her boot-clad feet:
"Ahem... well... your feet... think of something, don't let them get cold... um. I'm off."
"......"
Ye Cheng watched the man in front of her turn and flee, then looked down at her well-wrapped feet, rolling her eyes dramatically, and muttered "Crazy!" before turning and running into the building.