Chapter 49

The news of Chen Hao waking up quickly spread around.

Half an hour later, Bai Ru was the first to visit him.

The Bai Ru now had regained her lovely youthful appearance—fashionable and pretty. Clad in a suit resembling that of career ladies, she did look like she had the appeal of one.

“Master Chen, are you feeling better?” Bai Ru placed the fresh fruits and flowers she brought down as she inquired with a smile.

Although she was a beauty, the few times he had interacted with her had allowed him to see her true self. Chen Hao did not have a good impression of her. He replied plainly, “I won’t die.”

Bai Ru choked as her expression hardened for a second before returning to normal. She said with a smile, “Master Chen, you look as if you don’t want to see me. When have I offended you?”

Chen Hao replied, “Vice-president Bai must be joking. I don’t seem to recall us being that close. We simply have the relationship of an employer and her employee. Now that the case at Stream Mountain has been resolved, although you did not become the president, you have the same title of ‘vice-president’ as Xue Chuang, so I guess that’s considered as a successful turnover. It’s time for you to fulfill your promise, right?”

Bai Ru was exasperated.

This bastard. In front of a beauty like me, you’re actually thinking about money? Are you trying to stay single for life?

“Master Chen, you can’t just say this. Although we haven’t known each other for long, we’ve been through life and death together, so shouldn’t that count for more than just normal friends?”

Chen Hao smiled. “Let’s not talk about going through life or death together or things like that. This is my job. I just didn’t expect it to be so difficult. If you feel bad for me, you can add a bonus to my payment. I won’t have any complaints about it.”

You will definitely not get a girlfriend.

Bai Ru cursed inwardly. The smile vanished from her face as she looked seriously at him. “Master Chen, since that’s the case, I’ll be direct as well. With Master Chen’s help this time around, although I didn’t get what I wanted, I did get further, so I feel that the two of us have a chance at further cooperation. If Master Chen is willing, I don’t mind progressing further with you as well. By then, we can become an unstoppable force together…”

“Stop there!” Chen Hao couldn’t stand listening more and cut her off directly. He then asked seriously, “You’re thinking too far ahead. We should settle the payment for now before we talk about anything else. Vice-president Bai wouldn’t be just thinking about love and trying to pass up on paying me, right?”

Bai Ru was flabbergasted.

This bastard, how did you understand my words? I’m unwilling to pay? I had a relatively good impression of you, so I was giving you a chance to chase me. Why do you only talk about money? Without it, are you going to die?

Puffing up, Bai Ru glared at Chen Hao before speaking in a cold tone. “Master Chen, rest assured. The promised three million yuan, I will give it to you without missing a single cent. I will transfer it to your account once I get back. Are you satisfied?”

Chen Hao chuckled. “That’s more like it. Like what people always say, even biological siblings should differentiate money matters and feelings. To be talking about love in front of profits is too fake. I can’t take it.”

Bai Ru was furious. “So now, can I continue?”

Chen Hao replied seriously, “You may begin your performance.”

Bai Ru was speechless.

Why did she feel like a monkey performing at a circus?

Bai Ru felt uneasy, but at the same time, she was unwilling to give up like this. After all, her trip to the tomb palace had shown her a fantasy-like world unlike that of the norm. For masters like Chen Hao who truly had the ability, she did have some form of impure thoughts about him. Furthermore, although Chen Hao wasn’t extraordinarily handsome, his features were still above average. Alongside that figure of his, it was worth it for her to try her luck.

“Master Chen, what do you think of me?” Bai Ru probed.

Chen Hao replied, “Very beautiful.”

Bai Ru was elated. At least you have the good taste to admit that I have good looks.

“Then, how do you feel about me?” Bai Ru probed further, her eyes keen.

Chen Hao thought about it for a moment before saying, “Do you want to hear the truth or the lie?”

Bai Ru paused.

There was a truth and a lie?

Seeing his calm expression, Bai Ru had a sudden premonition.

“Say the truth.”

Chen Hao said, “Okay, then I will speak my mind. I, a child of a village farmer, is a nameless nobody. You’re from a noble family, with a background worth millions. This is an indisputable gap between us. It’s to the point that I think that our education and life principles are different. We’re people from two different worlds. If not for the cooperation this time, we were people who would never have crossed paths in our lifetime. Am I right?”

Bai Ru kept quiet and watched him calmly.

Chen Hao then continued, “And this venture allowed vice-president Bai to broaden your perspectives. Was it very magical and did it break the impression you had of this world? There are actually weird things like ghosts and demons in our world—there are even poisonous snakes. You must be thinking, ‘what a strange world we live in, it’s too dangerous…’ So you wish to find someone to protect you.

“For me though, I’m just a new person in the world of cultivation who has my own tricks. During our cooperation, I helped you and gave you a sense of security which confused your heart, right? Nope, I can’t phrase it that way. People like vice-president Bai who seek success through any means have a heart of steel, so it can’t be moved easily. In other words, you saw my capability and many different intentions popped up in your mind. For you, it’s serving, helping, and a form of shortcut. The only thing lacking is… feelings.”

The word at the end was said in a mocking tone.

Bai Ru’s expression shifted and she remained silent.

“That’s why, for you to be asking me directly right now and for you to overlook the fact that we don’t match, you intend for me to woe you? To assist you to the best of my ability and help you to become a strong career lady? Is it like that?”

Bai Ru stayed quiet for a while before sighing. “Master Chen, you’re overthinking it.”

Chen Hao retorted, “Overthinking? Am I thinking that you have feelings for me when you don’t, or is what I’m saying not what you’re thinking? You really did fall for me and hoped to soar to the skies with me? Okay. If it’s the latter, I can date you. But I have a request. Can you fulfill it?”

Bai Ru’s eyes shone.

Chen Hao laughed. “I want you to give up on the Shuanglong Group. From then on, you will assist your husband and raise our children. Be a housewife and not show your face outside, don’t seek to prevail over others. Don’t…”

“You’re too much.” Bai Ru rebuked angrily before he could finish his words.

Chen Hao shrugged and smiled at her. What he wanted to say was evident in his eyes. You also know that it’s impossible since we aren’t each other’s tastes, why is there this need to talk about these false realities? To be moved by any beautiful woman I see, do you really think of me as a geek who has never seen women before?

Through her anger, Bai Ru realized that she had been tricked by this guy. What a bastard. How could he put the relationship between both genders out so bluntly? For them to have completed this task together, they must have some sort of connection.

But Bai Ru couldn’t think of any words to rebuke him.

She questioned herself. Towards Chen Hao, if he didn’t have the capabilities, he wouldn’t have caught her eye and she wouldn’t have such thoughts about him as well.

Her expression grew unsightly. “Master Chen’s words are too hurtful. Unless you say that people from noble families can’t have feelings. If, in the future, a beautiful and rich young lady fall for you, will you reject her as you did to me today?”

Chen Hao chuckled. “That’s not for sure. If there are true feelings involved, I will definitely not reject her. Someone beautiful and rich, even a fool wouldn’t reject.”

Bai Ru was speechless.

So you just don’t like me. You bastard, scum, freakin’ geek, worse than a monster…