183: Money-saving tips - 2

A few minutes later—

[Ding! Detected that the host has received a proactive gift from Su Ning: one Hokkaido Ice Cream. System appraised value: 32 Yuan. Triggered 1000% cashback. Special scenario discount deducted (Cloud QuickPass Saturday Dining 10 off 30) resulting in 220 Yuan.]

Jiang Ye: '...'

'The pineapple buns look pretty good...'

'Alright!'

[Ding! Detected that the host has received a proactive gift from Su Ning: one Taixing Pineapple Bun. System appraised value: 26 Yuan. Triggered 1000% cashback. Special scenario discount deducted ('Yi Dian Wan Xiang' APP first-time registration 10 Yuan no-threshold dining voucher) resulting in 160 Yuan.]

'What the? They even have crawfish toast?'

'Coming right up!'

[Ding! Detected that the host has received a proactive gift from Su Ning: one Sakimoto-no-mise Toast. System appraised value: 22 Yuan. Triggered 1000% cashback. Special scenario discount deducted ('Ant Points' exchange for 5 off 20 voucher) resulting in 170 Yuan.]

... '*Burp*... blegh—'

Jiang Ye looked at the latest snack he had just received; he felt like his stomach was filled right up to his throat.

'Mister...'

Seeing his face turn completely dark, Su Ning asked cautiously, 'Are you still eating? Are you that hungry? How about... taking a break?'

Jiang Ye looked at the pile of packaging bags next to him and felt completely numb—numb from being stuffed.

Seriously, girl!

Are you showing off your little money-saving tricks here? Eating your way through MixC City for two hundred bucks? Ten thousand ways to milk the system?

I wanted you to get a taste of 'spending money like water' beforehand to make 'large-scale consumption' easier later on. But you, for f*ck's sake, you've managed to save money in the most creative ways possible?

He couldn't hold back and gave her a hint. 'Xiao Su, did you... buy all these things at full price? We're out to have fun today, so we don't really need to...'

Before he could finish, Su Ning's eyes lit up, and she interrupted him with a jubilant, proud expression.

'No! I used so many vouchers! As expected of a big mall, there are so many promotions!'

She excitedly pointed at the pile of bags, introducing each one to Jiang Ye and explaining which platform's discount she had used for each. Finally, she concluded with a smile:

'I saved a lot of money! Aren't I amazing~?'

Jiang Ye: '...'

Looking at Su Ning's 'hurry up and praise my cleverness' face, he felt both annoyed and amused. At a loss for words, he could only nod helplessly and say dryly:

'I get it, I get it. Next time I come, I'll definitely stack all those vouchers you mentioned and try to get a hundred bucks' worth of food for ten.'

'Not bad, not bad~!'

Su Ning grinned and gave him a thumbs up. 'Mister, you're already learning by analogy~ You have a real talent for saving money!'

'...'

Just as Jiang Ye was choked up by this 'compliment,' a crisp system notification suddenly rang in his mind.

[Ding! You have learned the 'Little Money-Saving Tricks' series of knowledge and received praise from your 'master.' Monthly quest 'Skill Exchange Apprentice' has been completed.]

[Please select a reward: A: 'Quick Start' (Passive Skill) B: 260,000 Yuan in cash]

Jiang Ye: '???'

His face froze instantly, his expression becoming quite the sight. Caught between laughter and tears, he silently chose 'A' in his mind.

With the selection confirmed, the 'Quick Start' passive skill quietly appeared in his skill bar.

What the hell is this!

I came out to make money today, not to complete quests!

And!!!

What did I even learn? What 'little money-saving tricks'? Are you serious? The system's criteria are way too damn arbitrary!

Su Ning watched his face shift through a kaleidoscope of expressions—sometimes twisted, sometimes speechless—and couldn't help but scratch her head.

Strange... it felt like ever since they entered MixC City, he had been preoccupied, and everything seemed off about him.

She took a sip of her milk tea and asked cautiously, 'Mister, what's wrong? Is your stomach upset? Did you eat too much?'

Jiang Ye's eyelid twitched. Forcing down the urge to complain, he shook his head speechlessly.

'It's nothing... I just... got baptized by some inexplicable knowledge.'

He glanced at the now-empty monthly quest bar on the system interface. After a moment's hesitation, he decided not to refresh it immediately.

If a new quest ended up being related to this girl again, I definitely wouldn't be able to resist doing it. Wouldn't that interfere with my grand plan to make money?

No way!

No matter what, I have to get the cashback today!

Any unexpected factors must be eliminated!

Making up his mind, Jiang Ye gathered all the leftover packaging bags and threw them in the trash. Then, he took a deep breath and pulled himself together.

'Let's go! It's my turn now! I'm buying you milk tea!'

'Huh? More?'

Su Ning was dragged along, her face full of resistance. 'Mister, I really can't drink anymore. My stomach is going to explode!'

'No! You have to!'

Back at the entrance of Nayuki, Jiang Ye let go of her hand, turned around, and pointed two fingers first at Su Ning's eyes and then at his own. His expression was serious.

'Listen, Student Su. Today, we are out to consume! We're here to experience the art of "spending money"! Next, I'll do it, and you watch! Don't talk! Don't ask! Feel it with your heart, understand?'

With that, he pulled the still-confused Su Ning into the store and headed straight for the ordering counter.

The clerk smiled at them. 'Hello, what would you like to order?'

Jiang Ye looked up at the menu board and said calmly, 'Two cups of nong mo xiang coconut milk tea.'

The clerk skillfully operated the ordering screen. 'Alright, sir. We currently have a buy-one-get-the-second-half-off promotion. Two cups will be 37.5 Yuan in total.'

Jiang Ye turned back and gave Su Ning a meaningful raise of his eyebrows, signaling that 'the main event is here':

'Then... I'll take one cup.'

The clerk's hand paused on the screen. She looked up at him in confusion, then at Su Ning, and confirmed again:

'Sir, the second cup is half price. Are you sure you only want one?'

Jiang Ye nodded firmly. 'Yes, just one, at full price.'

Although the clerk felt it was strange, she didn't ask further. 'Alright, one nong mo xiang coconut milk tea, 25 Yuan. Please show your payment code.'

With a 'beep,' the 25 Yuan payment was successful.

Soon, the milk tea was ready, and the clerk handed it over. 'Sir, your milk tea.'

Jiang Ye took it but showed no intention of leaving.

He cleared his throat and waved to the clerk, who was about to serve the next customer.

'Hello, I'd like one nong mo xiang coconut milk tea.'

'...?'

The clerk turned back in confusion. 'Sir, your order has already...'

Jiang Ye waved his hand to interrupt her. He turned back again, his eyes burning as he looked at the stunned Su Ning, emphasizing with his gaze to 'watch closely and learn.' Then he turned back to the clerk and said, one word at a time:

'One. More. Cup! Full price! One cup!'

'???'

The clerk blinked blankly, looking from Jiang Ye to Su Ning, completely unable to understand this maneuver.

Jiang Ye ignored the strange looks from the clerk and the customers queuing behind him.

When the bewildered clerk handed over the second cup of milk tea, he turned around solemnly and held the two identical cups side-by-side in front of Su Ning.

'Student Su, do you understand now?'

He took a deep breath, a solemn expression of 'imparting wisdom' appearing on his face. He spoke to the completely bewildered Su Ning with great earnestness:

'This! Is! Called! Spending! Money! Have you learned?'

Su Ning: '???'

This, this, this... this is called spending money? Isn't this called being a sucker?