A greedy thought suddenly consumed her: These things wouldn’t belong to her, but could they belong to the child she was carrying? However, the notion merely flashed through her mind before she immediately regained her composure. "Xixi, if you place, you can come here often to enjoy it. That way, you won’t feel too bored," he said. She didn’t respond, her eyes filled with confusion. When they stepped outside, dawn was breaking. The exterior of this old house projected a distinct, rustic grandeur. Merely looking at its façade, no one would suspect the priceless treasures it housed within. A text message alert chimed on Wan Donglin’s phone. He glanced at it and handed it to her. It was a joke: A man tried to drown himself but climbed back out when he found the river dirty. A smile curled her lips. 「By the time Xu Xiaoya received the call and rushed to the nightclub, it was already evening.」 Inside the luxurious private room, the lighting was suggestively dim. She looked across doubtfully at Wan Donglin, who was also looking at her. Xu Xiaoya wore thick makeup. The nightclub’s dim lighting concealed the haggard, gaunt look she usually bore during the day. At first glance, she still managed to retain a measure of her former rich and striking beauty. "Mr. Wan, you wanted to see me?" she asked. He came straight to the point. "Xu Xiaoya, do you want to open a boutique?" He lit a cigarette, his tone remarkably nonchalant. "If you want to open a boutique, you should approach me, not Yan Xixi." Xu Xiaoya was stunned into silence, unsure how to respond. He stared at her. It was the gaze of a man looking at a woman—direct and appraising. "Yan Xixi can’t give you anything," he stated bluntly. "Only I can!" She ventured cautiously, "Mr. Wan, what exactly do you mean?" "Stay with me for a year, and whatever Yan Xixi has, you will have too." Xu Xiaoya’s eyes flew wide open. Her eyeliner was expertly applied, and under the lights, her gaze was intensely alluring, possessing a captivating charm all its own. Wan Donglin lifted his hand. Following his gesture, Xu Xiaoya’s eyes landed on an open suitcase, filled to the brim with stacks of crisp, new, reddish-pink banknotes. "Xu Xiaoya, this is the startup capital for the boutique." Xu Xiaoya’s voice was incredibly hoarse. "This... Mr. Wan... you’re Xixi’s boyfriend... I can’t... Xixi is my best friend, my only friend. In my heart, she’s like a sister to me..." Wan Donglin observed her gleaming eyes, an inscrutable smile playing on his lips. Friends! he sneered inwardly. Do women truly have genuine friends? Especially when a man is involved, all female friendships are as substantial as passing clouds. "Xu Xiaoya, do you want it or not?" She remained silent, unable to answer, her gaze transfixed by the suitcase of banknotes. Thɪs chapter is updated by n0velfire.net Wan Donglin’s smile grew even more peculiar. He casually took out a few more items and placed them on the table: a car key—its brand alone was enough to make one dizzy—and a platinum card with a credit limit of five million. "You should know, Yan Xixi isn’t my only woman. You’d just be one among others. Xu Xiaoya, if you agree, I can take you to your new place tonight..." Xu Xiaoya stared intently at him. This man! He said they would go tonight. Her gaze shifted to the luxurious car key, then to the suitcase brimming with money. She couldn’t help but touch her own face. Was her luck finally about to turn? For the Xu Xiaoya of today, this was far more thrilling than winning the lottery. Her destiny could be completely reversed overnight. Could something this wonderful truly be happening to her? Wan Donglin simply sat there, his gaze sharp and commanding, like an emperor surveying his domain. And what’s more, she suddenly realized, this legendary ’Third Young Master’ is actually incredibly handsome!