Azuki acted a bit tsundere, but she still gave him a straight answer.
She had already suffered the loss, so shouldn’t she at least engage in some timely damage control?
“If you stand me up again, I’m never letting you hear the end of it.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ve eaten your food, so I’m your man now!”
Jiang Suan stood up to see her out.
His face, still slightly puffy from sleep, carried a hint of laziness.
He smiled mischievously, looking every bit the charming villain.
He spoke with such ambiguity that even Azuki, who had spent years navigating the gray areas of the underworld, found it hard to handle.
She had seen shameless men before, but never one quite this shameless.
She nearly tripped over her own feet at the doorway.
“Easy now…”
Jiang Suan pressed a hand onto her shoulder; her skin felt smooth and supple.
“No need to rush.
My home is always open to you.
Treat it like your own and come by to play whenever you’re free.”
*Who’s playing who here?!*
It was truly hard to say.
He had already dared to hug her this morning; Azuki couldn’t help but suspect her virtue was under serious threat.
“Jiang Suan, most people couldn’t emulate your brand of ‘honesty’ if they tried!”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“…”
Azuki was so angry her chest felt tight.
Did he really think she was praising him?
She glared at him, but she had rolled her eyes so many times today that they were starting to hurt.
“I’m leaving.”
“Right, I want pineapple-flavored custard buns tonight.”
“You…
fine, fine!
I’ll have them prepared, alright?
I’m really going now.
There’s business at the shop.
We’ll talk tonight.”
“What business?”
“Men who are too nosy get hated.
You’re a fortune teller—figure it out yourself!”
“Don’t panic.
Let me just pinch my fingers and divine it…
Could it be that the TOPS inspection team is coming to investigate the Huijing Mecha incident, and you’re off to prepare?
Do you need help?
Well, even if you do, I’m busy—but can I crash the dinner later?”
Jiang Suan smiled meaningfully.
He didn’t want to miss out on the major events of the Weifei District.
After all, a certain easily-deceived, adorable little gold mine of a girl was destined to appear at that banquet.
If he missed this chance, Ling and Yuzuha would beat him to the punch.
“!!!”
Azuki was shocked, her footsteps coming to a dead halt.
*Wait, I told you to divine it, and you actually did?*
It was true.
She had recently received a contract from Huijing Mecha to host a multi-day banquet.
Apparently, experts were coming to investigate and handle the major safety accident at the Radiant Ceramic Mine from a few days ago.
Those high-and-mighty lords only bothered to look at the workers of the Weifei District when something catastrophic happened…
If it weren’t for the money, she wouldn’t want to host those people at all.
But who would turn down a payday?
She put her hands on her hips.
“What are you planning?
If you want to eat, I’ll send food to you, but stay away from the event.”
Jiang Suan spread his hands helplessly.
“Let’s have a little more trust between us.
I’m going to rescue a rich young lady who’s about to be kidnapped.
*Sigh*, what can I do?
There is so much suffering in this world, and it always requires a virtuous man like myself to step in.”
“…”
Silence was Azuki’s greatest form of resistance against this man.
*Virtuous?* There were plenty of people suffering; why didn’t she see him saving them?
And “rich young lady” just meant “pretty girl,” didn’t it?
Her gaze was filled with absolute disdain and disgust.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“It’s hard being a charlatan.
Of course, if Miss Azuki is willing to let me live off her, I wouldn’t have to work so hard to find clients and build ‘karmic connections.'”
Jiang Suan’s divine power manifested.
A cool breeze brushed past, and his hand swept through the woman’s hair, carrying away the fine beads of sweat on her forehead.
The distance between them closed in the blink of an eye.
“…”
“Well?”
His fingertips touched her skin, sending a jolt through her like an electric shock.
It made her entire body tremble.
Azuki was supposed to be cool-headed, but her face instantly turned beet red.
It wasn’t just her forehead; steam was practically rising from the top of her head.
“I said, stop messing around!
This proprietress isn’t for sale!”
“I knew it!
You gave me so much money for that last commission because you had designs on me!”
She fled in a panic.
If she stayed any longer, she feared she would be devoured whole.
She hadn’t realized it last night, but this man was far too dangerous.
Jiang Suan, meanwhile, stood at the door with a beaming smile.
He rubbed the heads of the little ones as he watched the lovely proprietress disappear.
“Your Big Sister Azuki will definitely make a great wife and mother one day!”
“Ooh, does Big Brother Jiang Suan like Big Sister Azuki?”
“Haha…
let’s not talk about that.
She brought so much food; why don’t you girls come inside and eat with me?
Consider it an apology for earlier.”
“Ooh, really?”
The three little girls’ eyes lit up.
Although the prices at Yinchaxian were quite affordable, it was still the most famous dining establishment in the Weifei District.
They catered to both high and low ends.
Just looking at the chicken feet and shrimp dumplings Azuki had brought over—the aroma alone was enough to tell them they were crafted with exquisite skill.
They were practically drooling.
“By the way, when is your older sister coming home?”
“Mmm…
Yuzuha-nee’s university summer break is about to start.
When she called last time, she said it would be in the next few days.”
“I see.
Remember to say plenty of good things about your Big Brother when the time comes.”
“Got it, Big Brother!
Leave it to us!”
“You eat too.
Open wide~”
The three little ones ate the tea snacks like hungry wolves, wolfing them down.
However, with Jiang Suan around from now on, things would be different!
Though he was currently penniless himself, didn’t he have a little rich woman like Azuki?
Judging by her reaction just now, living off her was a very viable option.
With food and drink secured, the future looked bright.
But if the System didn’t reward him with money…
He really would have to think of some ways to make a profit.
He needed to get in touch with TOPS and fleece those foolish tycoons—like that silly little rabbit.
Alice or Hikari would work.
If all else failed, even Damian would do!
Calculating the time, those few were about to arrive on the battlefield.
How should he fool—ahem, how should he conduct a “fair trade” with them?
Azuki, Alice, Yuzuha, Hikari, Fufu…
Jiang Suan’s thoughts drifted far.
Before long, Rei Houei came to pick up the three little girls for lunch, but the girls had already fallen asleep leaning against the bed.
“Ahem…
Young Jiang, sorry for the trouble.”
“It’s no trouble.
It’s lively with these girls around.
I’m the lucky one to have a neighbor like Brother Rei.
You’ll have to lend these three to me more often in the future.”
Rei Houei sat down and shared a cup of good tea.
He felt more and more that this neighbor was a man of great ability and a good heart.
When Yuzuha came home, he definitely had to introduce them!
Young people needed to communicate and learn from capable peers.
Otherwise, with that girl’s eccentric personality…
*Sigh!*
As a father, he was always anxious about his daughter.
Growing up, she didn’t have many close friends, and he’d never seen her go through a rebellious phase or date anyone.
Being too obedient was also a cause for concern.
“Brother Rei, you worry too much.
When she returns, I’ll definitely spend some time bonding with her.
Don’t worry, just leave Yuzuha to me.”
“Haha, then I’ll be troubling you, Young Jiang.”
The two men chatted merrily.
…
In the afternoon.
It was time to complete the mission.
[Mission Description: The feisty little Tiger Thiren is planning to teach you a lesson and show you her sandbag-sized fists.
Since she’s being so unreasonable, Host, it’s time to strike first and give her a wake-up call!]
[Please go to the street immediately to read Genkou’s fortune and play matchmaker for him and Orange Fufu.
Make them run toward each other and collect a divination fee from both sides.]
[Rewards: Humanoid Divination Bangboo, Hikari’s Polaroid.]
*Interesting.
Big data fortune-telling?*
But if the System produced it, it had to be a premium product.
It was certainly better than his own charlatan skills.
However, that Polaroid made Jiang Suan a bit curious.
*Chat about life on the first night, and look at legs on the second?*
*This System is truly ‘well-read’…*
Jiang Suan strolled casually onto the street, searching for the Tiger Thiren.
Eventually, realizing that finding her himself was too much of a hassle, he went to Yinchaxian to ask Azuki.
“Long time no see, Miss Azuki.
I’d like to ask a favor.”
“…Long time!?”
“Please, just let me go, okay?”