280: Chapter 280: 50,000 Encore

Watching Xie Qing walk away, Jiang Ye couldn't help but roll his eyes hard.

"Big sister, it's one thing to smear my name out of thin air, but how did you fail to explain the situation clearly?"

"I explained it very clearly!"

Ye Cheng was also a bit frustrated. "I just found a few good-looking classmates who wanted to make some quick cash. I briefly mentioned that you have a... well... a rather unique collection hobby. I also said you're quite wealthy but have a difficult personality and don't like explicit transactions, so they should figure it out themselves. In the end, only Xie Qing and another Girl named Wen Ruan said they understood and were willing to give it a try."

"..."

Jiang Ye sighed helplessly.

He could tell that Ye Cheng had indeed done her best to help him complete this god-awful mission.

However, the "unintentional" requirement of this mission was truly anti-human. This "outsourcing" method likely wouldn't work.

If all else failed, he could only initiate his final Plan C—go to some high-end clubs, show a bit of "interest" in socks, and see if he could run into a sharp-eyed technician who would "proactively" leave him a "parting gift" before he left...

Just as Jiang Ye was calculating "Plan C" in his head, the glass door of the Starbucks was pushed open again, and a figure walked in.

Her gaze swept across the store and quickly locked onto Ye Cheng, heading straight toward them.

Jiang Ye subconsciously looked up.

The Girl was wearing a wool coat and carrying a small handbag. She was tall with bright, striking features and a temperament that...

Eh? Why does this face look a bit familiar?

Jiang Ye blinked and looked closer—

Holy crap?!

Isn't this that "fifty thousand a month" Girl from back then?

"Wen Ruan, you're here?"

Seeing her approach, Ye Cheng quickly stood up to introduce them. "This is my cousin, Jiang..."

The Girl named Wen Ruan was about to say hello when her gaze landed on Jiang Ye's face, and she also froze slightly.

She scrutinized him for a moment, seemingly recalling something, and then her slender eyebrows furrowed slightly as she spoke with an uncertain tone:

"It's you?"

Ye Cheng was stunned. She looked at Wen Ruan, then at Jiang Ye, and asked in surprise, "You two... know each other?"

Jiang Ye clicked his tongue, leaned into her ear, and whispered at a very fast pace, "That time I drove the BMW to your school to scout, she's the one who got in the car! At the time, I thought she was too expensive because she asked for fifty thousand a month, so I didn't take her... I told you about it later when we were eating! Did you forget?"

Ye Cheng blinked, trying hard to remember. A few seconds later, she let out a sudden "Oh," clearly having recalled the story.

Jiang Ye turned back and sized up Wen Ruan again.

Having not seen her for over two months, the aura around this Girl had undergone a noticeable change.

Back then, although she had proactively gotten into the car, her expression still carried the aloofness and restraint of an art student; she had even been a bit shy and awkward when discussing the transaction.

But now, that sense of aloofness had almost vanished, replaced by a kind of... maturity and worldliness polished by society.

Yes, worldliness, similar to that Xie Qing from just now.

Though she was still beautiful, it was as if she were covered in an invisible layer of dust.

"Hello, Wen Ruan, right? Long time no see."

"..."

Wen Ruan looked at Jiang Ye but didn't take his bait. Instead, she turned to Ye Cheng with a smile and a certain tone:

"Ye Cheng, he's probably not your cousin, is he? He's your sugar daddy, right?"

She paused and continued, "I thought it was strange the day before yesterday. Why would a cousin ask his older cousin to help contact people for this kind of thing? So that's how it is."

Ye Cheng glanced at Jiang Ye. She didn't feel much about the clearly derogatory term "sugar daddy," and simply gave a faint nod, essentially confirming Wen Ruan's statement.

She was about to explain the nature of the "help," but Wen Ruan seemed to have already lost interest. She casually tossed the small handbag she had been carrying to Jiang Ye.

"I heard some rumors at school that you, Ye Cheng, had found true love and escaped the sea of suffering. I was even happy for you."

Wen Ruan's tone was somewhat mocking. "I didn't expect that you're no different from anyone else. Running around to find new Girls for your own sugar daddy? Heh."

She paused, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Jiang Ye and Ye Cheng. "As for a 'threesome' or whatever, although I don't mind, we are from the same school after all. It would be embarrassing to run into each other later. Forget it, go ask someone else. I'm giving him the stuff."

With that, Wen Ruan didn't give Ye Cheng a chance to speak again. She turned and left the Starbucks, her figure quickly disappearing into the mall's crowd.

Jiang Ye stared at her departing back, stunned for a moment, and subconsciously picked up the handbag she had tossed over.

The bag was very light. He opened it in confusion and looked inside—it contained a folded pair of Bare Leg Artifacts.

The next second—

[Ding! New target's first rebate detected!]

[Wen Ruan, Charm Level 85. Target bound successfully. Calculating rebate...]

[Received a gift from Wen Ruan: One pair of Limer pantyhose. System evaluated value: 178 Yuan. Triggered 1000% rebate, received 1780 Yuan!]

[Rebate successful! 1780 Yuan has been issued to the host's system account! Subsequent rebates for bound targets will no longer be prompted individually.]

[Ding! Monthly Mission 'Personal Treasure' has been completed!]

[Please select your mission reward: A. 'Scent Stalker' (Passive Skill): Slightly increases sensitivity to the body fragrance and scent of target females. Helps you better 'read' them. B. Random Rare Item x1.]

This string of prompts completely dazed Jiang Ye.

It... it's just finished like that?

Happiness came way too suddenly!

He had racked his brains before, using year-end lucky draws and home fitness classes, tossing Ye Cheng and Su Ning around without being able to settle it. Yet this "fifty thousand" Girl, whom he had almost forgotten, just tossed it over and the mission was... finished?!

Eh?!

Didn't it say it had to have left the body within half an hour? Could it be... she just went to the restroom to take them off?!!

A massive wave of regret instantly surged in Jiang Ye's heart.

This Girl named Wen Ruan—did he misjudge her back then? Was his judgment wrong?

Look at her style!

Although it wasn't particularly expensive, the key was this generous "giving it away casually" attitude! This lack of pettiness! This willingness to "invest"!

More importantly, she knew he liked this and specifically prepared the freshest one before meeting him—top-tier awareness!

Maybe... this is another potential top-tier "employee" prospect!

He quickly turned to look at Ye Cheng, who was currently a bit dazed beside him, and pointed in the direction Wen Ruan had left:

"Cheng Cheng, this Wen Ruan... what's her deal? Tell me about her!"