Chapter 16: Chu Yourong, Scold Him!

After hearing Chu Yourong's series of answers, Liu Dongxu completely broke down.

How could there possibly be a woman like this in the world!

With her own conditions already so excellent, she still indulges a man like this.

Is this really not a fairy tale?

Although Liu Dongxu studied abroad for three years, he had always kept tabs on domestic social media and knew full well that the women Chinese men faced today were T0-tier!

Yet Chu Yourong turned out to be such an anomaly.

And even let his childhood friend Zhang Xian reap the benefits!

Wang Jiajia, equally stunned, internally ranted: What an idiotic love-struck fool, beyond saving!

If I had her conditions, I wouldn't even give a second glance to any wealthy family!

The meal was enjoyable.

But when it came time to pay, Liu Dongxu's heart bled.

Still, he had to pretend not to care, unwilling to lose face in front of Chu Yourong.

They left the sushi restaurant.

The two "couples" went their separate ways; Liu Dongxu took Wang Jiajia to a nearby hotel. Though seeing Chu Yourong had stirred his thoughts, Chu Yourong's eyes were entirely filled with Zhang Xian—she had zero interest in him.

He could feel that clearly, so he dared not entertain any further ideas for now.

Wang Jiajia, who had just played cards with him yesterday, was still fresh in his mind; on this "new recruit," he found an unprecedented sense of accomplishment and planned to teach her some new moves today!

After the two left.

Zhang Xian mounted his electric scooter, putting on his helmet as he said to Chu Yourong: "If there's nothing else, I'm heading back."

"You're leaving already?"

"Aren't you supposed to see me off?"

Chu Yourong lightly pouted.

"You're a big star—surely you don't even own a car?"

"I can't drive!"

Chu Yourong snapped back, unaware that Zhang Xian had accidentally touched a sore spot.

Chu Yourong had once taken her driver's license test—but failed the second part seven times!

She was too embarrassed to tell anyone.

Her best friend Han Ziwei teased that not getting a license might actually save lives.

"I can't drive, but you're different—you just can't afford a car!"

Zhang Xian patted the back seat of the electric scooter: "If you don't mind, hop on this!"

"There's a helmet in the box."

Chu Yourong had ridden many luxury cars, but she hadn't sat on an electric scooter in years.

She opened the storage box behind the scooter and pulled out a helmet.

The helmet was pink, adorned with cartoon stickers—adorable.

"Is this your ex-girlfriend's helmet?"

Looking at the pink, girly helmet, Chu Yourong frowned.

"Zhang Zhaodi's."

"Who's Zhang Zhaodi?"

"She's my third sister."

"Oh, third sister—this name..."

Chu Yourong had thought names like "Zhaodi" only existed in the last century.

"My dad desperately wanted a son—my third sister is Zhaodi, fourth is Lai Di, fifth is Pan Di, and only then did I come along," Zhang Xian explained.

Zhang Xian explained.

"Then you should've been named Zhang Yuanmeng!"

Chu Yourong teased with a laugh.

"My mom said Dad really wanted to name me Yuanmeng, but thought it sounded too feminine and changed it!"

"Haha, your dad's naming sense is refreshingly plain!"

Chu Yourong burst out laughing: "I'm curious—what does your dad do for work?"

"He's in the same line of work as me."

"Huh?"

"Same as me? Is he a singer??"

Chu Yourong was stunned—she never imagined the "boyfriend" she'd picked up by the river had a singer for a father.

"Yeah, he's had a bit of a recent surge in popularity."

"The bayan music still echoes through Liu Xing Jie..."

Zhang Xian sang a line outright—but started too high, couldn't hit the next note, and added, "You know this one?"

"Apple Fragrance!"

"Of course I know—it's been huge on TikTok lately!"

Chu Yourong was even more shocked—the "boyfriend" she'd picked up by the river had a famous singer for a father.

If she ever really married into the Zhang Family, she'd have common ground with her future father-in-law and avoid plenty of conflict.

Pfft!

What kind of brain is this? This relationship will end soon.

"Get in the car already, don't waste my time going home to play games!"

Chu Yourong kept asking questions but refused to get on, and Zhang Xian impatiently urged her.

"Straight man, hopeless!"

Chu Yourong rolled her eyes, put on her helmet, then sat on the back of the electric scooter.

Inside, she silently grumbled: I'm a major star, the dream of nine million young men—do you really think games are more fun than me?!

Although it was already past eight at night, the roads were still crowded; Zhang Xian skillfully navigated the electric scooter through traffic.

"Bro, watch where you're walking!"

"Damn it, can you even drive?!"

"Hey, can't you just move out of the way...?"

Having not ridden an electric scooter in ages, Chu Yourong found everything fresh and occasionally took photos with her phone.

Yet, a string of curses floated forward from ahead.

"Zhang Xian, how can you curse like that!"

"They didn't even do anything!"

Chu Yourong defended the person who was cursed.

"You've clearly never ridden an electric scooter."

"I have."

Screech!

Zhang Xian immediately released the throttle and squeezed the brake.

Because he stopped so suddenly, Chu Yourong, sitting behind, was thrown forward by inertia and slammed into Zhang Xian.

Zhang Xian swore he had no intention of taking advantage, but then again, the soft, bouncy sensation was indeed pleasant.

"Zhang Xian, what are you doing!"

Chu Yourong adjusted her tilted helmet and unconsciously rubbed her aching naina.

"You ride!"

Zhang Xian got off, one hand holding the handlebar, gesturing for her to go ahead.

"Me?"

Chu Yourong frowned; she had ridden an electric scooter before, but that must have been years ago.

"You've got two choices: either you ride and carry me, or ride with me and curse!"

Zhang Xian shrugged.

"Fine, I'll ride!"

"Only uncultured people curse!"

Chu Yourong got off the scooter, angry.

"Cursing is wrong, of course—but uncultured people are the ones who get to enjoy the world first."

Zhang Xian shook his head and briefly explained his electric scooter: "This is the horn, this is the throttle—gently turn it for slow acceleration."

"I know how to ride!"

"Don't need your teaching!"

Chu Yourong straddled the electric scooter; Zhang Xian sat behind.

"I'm starting."

Chu Yourong reminded him, then twisted the throttle according to Zhang Xian's instructions.

But she had no sense of what "slow acceleration" meant—she twisted too hard, and the scooter shot forward!

"Damn!"

"Let go!"

"Release the throttle!!"

Zhang Xian leaned back and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Chu Yourong hadn't expected the scooter to be so powerful; she nearly cried. Hearing Zhang Xian's shout, she instinctively released the throttle.

After the power cut, the scooter slowly came to a stop.

"Chu Yourong, if I were really your husband, you'd be trying to murder your own husband!"

Zhang Xian, with his long legs, planted his feet on the ground to steady the scooter.

"Stop talking!"

"Fine, I'll curse with you!"

Chu Yourong's voice trembled with tears—she had been thoroughly frightened.

"Useless, get to the back!"

Zhang Xian complained as he switched places with Chu Yourong again.

The electric scooter set off once more.

Zhang Xian rode while giving orders.

"Chu Yourong, curse him!"

"Chu Yourong, curse that guy in the BMW!"

"Chu Yourong, can you yell louder? Can't you even curse?!"

At first, Chu Yourong couldn't open her mouth—how could a female star possibly curse on a busy street?

But gradually, she realized something: cursing was really just about emotional release, since the people you cursed couldn't hear you anyway.

It was just like how a passenger in the front seat of a car echoes the driver's curses at other vehicles, reckless electric scooters, and pedestrians.

Cursing out loud is a way to vent yourself, not to hurt others.

Chu Yourong found this was surprisingly stress-relieving, so she began trying to speak, her voice growing louder.

"Are you blind?! Don't you see the traffic light?!"

"Can you even drive?! How did you even pass your driving test?!"

"Riding an electric scooter and blasting DJ music—do you even know you're disturbing the neighborhood?!"

"......"

Chu Yourong lived in a luxury residential complex where nearly everyone arriving or leaving drove luxury cars; electric scooters were rare, so she was stopped at the gate by security.

"Just leave the takeout at the gate."

The security guard assumed Zhang Xian was a food delivery person and pointed vaguely toward the takeout storage area.

"Got it!"

Zhang Xian didn't explain; he gestured for Chu Yourong to get off: "You go in yourself!"

"Oh, okay."

Chu Yourong still felt a bit unsatisfied—the electric scooter wasn't comfortable to ride, but the experience was completely different from those luxury cars.

It was fascinating—and incredibly stress-relieving!

"Zhang Xian, slow down..."

Chu Yourong thought she should say something, but before she could finish, Zhang Xian had already ridden off on the electric scooter like a gust of wind.

"Miss Chu, I'm sorry, but how did you..."

The security guard naturally recognized Chu Yourong; he wanted to ask why she'd returned on an electric scooter, but didn't dare speak up.

"That's my boyfriend. He dropped me off."

Chu Yourong was currently promoting her relationship, so she had no qualms telling the guard she had a boyfriend.

Besides, reporters and paparazzi today were incredibly powerful—someone might show up at her complex tomorrow, trying to extract gossip from the security guard.

Chu Yourong entered the compound with facial recognition.

Watching her retreating figure, the young security guard couldn't help muttering under his breath: Are rich people's tastes really this unusual now? Do they like riding electric scooters?

I didn't look closely at that electric scooter just now—it must be one ordinary people can't afford!

The next day.

When Zhang Xian woke up, it was already 9:30 a. m.

The familiar system alert came as scheduled.

Ding!

Number One Lying Flat Assistant: yesterday's income settlement in progress.

Number One Lying Flat Assistant: yesterday's income: 45,000 yuan!

Host received double earnings: 90,000 yuan!

Wow!

Not bad—Dad's income keeps growing!

Waking up to 90,000 yuan in his account, Zhang Xian happily left his bedroom.

Today, Dad Zhang Dongshan was home—and seemed to be waiting for him specifically.

"Xiaoxian, you're finally up. I've got something to tell you."

Seeing Zhang Xian sit at the dining table, Zhang Dongshan, who had already finished eating, immediately pulled over a chair and sat down with a smile.

"What's up?"

Zhang Xian asked casually.

"'Apple Fragrance' officially launches on Sprite Music and Ku Mao Music today at noon. As the original creator, you need to sign an authorization agreement—I've already sent the e-contract to your copyright website account."

"Already online so fast?"

This speed still surprised Zhang Xian greatly.

"If we don't move fast, the song's momentum will fade."

"We're counting on riding the hype to make money!" Zhang Dongshan added enthusiastically: "Xiaoxian, do you know how much I made last night?"

"I'll scare you!"

"45,000!"

"Made 45,000 in one night! At this rate, buying you a house is just around the corner!"

Zhang Dongshan continued talking without waiting for Zhang Xian to respond.

"That's great."

"But I won't accept a house smaller than 200 square meters!"

"200 square meters? Are you crazy?!"

Zhang Dongshan stared wide-eyed—this was Beijing, where property prices ran into the tens of thousands per square meter; a 200-square-meter house meant over twenty million.

"Our family has so many people!"

"Even 200 square meters might not be enough someday!"

Zhang Xian said, sipping warm lamb soup.

"I mean the wedding house I'm buying for you—not us moving houses."

"By the way, when I went out for breakfast this morning, I ran into Uncle Liu—he said you've got a girlfriend. Last night, Dong Xu brought his girlfriend and ate with you—is that true? When did you get a girlfriend?!"

Zhang Dongshan changed the subject.

Naturally, he cared deeply about his son having a girlfriend.

"Uh, yeah, I've got a girlfriend."

"It's just casual dating, you don't need to take it seriously."

Since he had signed the confidentiality agreement, Zhang Xian had no intention of telling his father.

"What do you mean, casual dating!"

Zhang Dongshan frowned: "Did you meet her online through a game? Or on a dating app?"

"Let me tell you, there are no decent people on those dating apps—who in their right mind goes there to find a partner? It's all for that one thing!"

Zhang Xian glanced at his father sideways: "Dad, how do you know that?"

"Have you registered for a dating app too?"

"Uh..."

Zhang Dongshan blinked, then said stiffly: "I read it online!"

"Alright, I get it."

Zhang Xian smiled: "But my girlfriend really wasn't someone I met on a dating app."

"Then how did you meet her?"

"I met her while fishing."

"You met a girlfriend while fishing?"

Zhang Dongshan was utterly speechless—he thought this was even less plausible than meeting someone on a dating app. Who in their right mind would go fishing just to find a girlfriend?

"Dad, we've only just met. If things stabilize, I'll bring her home to meet you. If it doesn't work out, we'll just let it go!"

"In short, don't worry—your son won't get taken advantage of!"

Zhang Xian didn't want to dwell on this matter, but the moment he finished speaking, his phone, resting beside the dining table, suddenly rang—it was Chu Yourong calling.

"Zhang Xian, is your family in Dongliutiao Hutong or Xiliutiao Hutong?"

The call connected, and Chu Yourong's voice came through.

"Dongliutiao. What's up?"

"Oh, then I'll be there soon!"

"Uh… you're coming to my place?"

Zhang Xian was baffled and about to ask what was going on, but the line had already gone dead.