146: AI fortune-telling goes wrong; milk tea steals Lu You's business.

Early next morning, Xie Hui, clutching his newly printed "Spending List," dragged Xia Zhu straight to the AI Fortune-telling Studio. Just as they reached the door, they heard a commotion inside. Xiao Zhang, with his flashy shamate hairstyle, was bickering with a programmer. Seeing Xie Hui enter, he hurried over: "CEO Xie! You're finally here! The modified System is too ridiculous. Just now, an uncle came to have his wealth luck calculated, and the System said he'd find a dime on the side of the road tomorrow. The uncle cursed us for being scammers and almost smashed the computer!"

Xie Hui walked into the studio, holding back his laughter. The fortune-telling interface was still on the screen. He casually clicked on "Marriage Divination" and entered his information. A few seconds later, a result popped up: "Within the next three months, the subject will have an interstellar flirtation with an alien friend. It is recommended to prepare a spacesuit in advance."

Xia Zhu leaned in to look and immediately laughed until she cried: "This System modification is way too exaggerated. Who would believe this?"

"The point is for no one to believe it!" Xie Hui patted Xiao Zhang on the shoulder. "If no one comes for a reading, we'll hire people! Go to the labor market and hire two hundred people to each get three readings. Pay them fifty bucks each as a 'fortune-telling fee.' Then, launch a 'paid fortune interpretation' service for a hundred bucks a pop. The more ridiculous the interpretation, the better—for example, tell them 'finding a dime is a test from the God of Wealth, you need to donate another two hundred to accumulate merit.'"

Xiao Zhang's eyes lit up: "CEO Xie, you're brilliant! This way, we can spend over a hundred thousand just on fortune-telling and interpretation fees. Plus, we can hype up the reputation of the 'AI Fortune-telling Great Master.' Maybe some curious people will actually come to try it!"

Just as Xie Hui finished his instructions, his mobile phone rang. It was an employee in charge of the Canned Air: "CEO Xie, all ten street promoters are back. We only sold three cans all day, and those were bought by our own people. The remaining nine thousand-plus cans are piled in the warehouse. Not only do they take up space, but I'm also worried about them getting damp!"

"Why worry about them getting damp?" Xie Hui said nonchalantly. "Go rent the largest warehouse right now and hire twenty security guards to watch the cans so no one steals them—oh, and this afternoon, hold a 'Xihong City Air Tasting Event' at the city center plaza. Set up a stage, hire a couple of eighteenth-tier singers to perform, and everyone who comes gets a free can of air. As much as they want!"

After hanging up, Xia Zhu did the math: "Five thousand a month for the warehouse, twenty thousand for the guards, a hundred thousand for the tasting event stage and singers, plus the money for hiring people for fortune-telling... these two items combined will cost nearly three hundred thousand. Finally, we can spend a bit more."

"This is just the beginning." As soon as Xie Hui finished speaking, his mobile phone vibrated again. It was a WeChat message from Wang Duoyu with a poster attached—"Xihong City's First 'Land-swimmer' Launch Event, 3:00 PM today, City Center Gymnasium. Special guest stars will witness the miracle of 'traveling the world without leaving home'!"

Xie Hui raised an eyebrow: "Not bad, Wang Duoyu is making a big move. Let's go join the fun."

At 2:30 PM, Xie Hui and Xia Zhu arrived at the gymnasium. The entrance was already swarming with reporters. Wang Duoyu, wearing a gold suit, was taking photos with celebrities. Seeing Xie Hui, he intentionally raised his voice: "Xie Hui, you're here to join the fun too? This Land-swimmer of mine cost thirty million just for research and development, and another five million for today's launch event. Do you have the guts to start a project more impressive than this?"

Xie Hui didn't respond. He pulled two large boxes out of his car—one was Pearl Milk Tea brought back from his inner universe, and the other contained keychains and stickers printed with funny emojis. He found a spot closest to the launch stage, set up a table, and shouted to the passersby: "Pearl Milk Tea, ten yuan a cup! Buy a milk tea and get a 'Xihong City Limited Edition Emoji' for free! If it's not good, you don't pay!"

When the passing youngsters heard there was milk tea and emojis, they immediately swarmed over. Xia Zhu helped hand out cups while Xie Hui was responsible for pouring the milk tea. Before long, the line was over ten meters long. On the stage, Wang Duoyu was introducing the Land-swimmer: "Look, everyone! Just stand on this machine and put on the goggles, and you can experience the feeling of sunbathing in the Maldives!"

But the people below were too busy watching the milk tea line; not a single person went on stage to try it out. Wang Duoyu's face turned green, and he told Zhuang Qiang to stop the people: "Zhuang Qiang! Go tell Xie Hui he's not allowed to sell things here. He's stealing my spotlight!"

Zhuang Qiang stiffened his neck and walked up to Xie Hui. Just as he was about to speak, a cup of milk tea was thrust to his lips: "Brother Qiang, why not have a cup of milk tea to moisten your throat first? My milk tea has no added sugar. You're fat, so drinking it won't make you gain weight."

Xie Hui's words hit Zhuang Qiang's sore spot. He glared, wanting to lose his temper, but the aroma of the milk tea made him gulp. He hesitated for a moment before taking it: "I'm telling you, Xie Hui, this is the last time. If you dare to..." Before he could finish, he took a sip, and his eyes suddenly lit up: "This stuff is actually pretty good! Is there more?"

The people around them burst into laughter. Xie Hui handed him another cup: "You want more? Tell CEO Wang to come down and buy some. Ten yuan a cup, fair prices for all."

On the stage, Wang Duoyu saw everything clearly and was so angry he slammed his microphone down: "Xie Hui! You're intentionally going against me!"

"CEO Wang, you can't say that." Xie Hui shouted back, holding up a milk tea. "You do your Land-swimmer thing, and I'll sell my milk tea. Both are legitimate ways to spend money. Why shouldn't I be allowed to sell? Besides, your Land-swimmer makes people dizzy; it's not as good as my milk tea for quenching thirst. If people want to buy it, what can I do?"

Just then, someone shouted: "Look! Zhuang Qiang got hit by bird droppings!"

Everyone looked up to see Zhuang Qiang standing there in a daze, his head covered in bird droppings—yesterday, the AI fortune-telling had predicted he would be "hit by bird droppings three times within three days," and he'd already been hit once on the very first day. Xie Hui almost burst out laughing: "Brother Qiang, hurry up and go wash off, watch out for the other two times!"

Fuming and anxious, Zhuang Qiang covered his head and ran off. Wang Duoyu's launch event had become a complete joke. Reporters were all crowded around Xie Hui's milk tea stall taking photos, already thinking of the headlines—"Land-swimmer Receives Cold Reception, Pearl Milk Tea Becomes Xihong City's New Favorite."

Once the crowd dispersed, Xia Zhu tidied the table, unable to stop smiling: "That move was brilliant. Three boxes of milk tea cost less than two thousand yuan, yet they completely overshadowed Wang Duoyu's five-million-yuan launch event."

"That's what you call cost-effectiveness!" Xie Hui handed over a cup of Pearl Milk Tea with no added sugar. "I know you don't like sugar, so I saved this specifically for you."

Xia Zhu took the milk tea, her heart feeling warm—she had only mentioned once yesterday that she didn't like sugar, and she hadn't expected Xie Hui to remember. Just as she was about to say something, her mobile phone suddenly rang. It was the person in charge of the Shared Umbrella project: "Accountant Xia! This is bad! All fifty sample umbrellas we just made have broken handles! The people testing them almost fell, and now nobody dares to try them!"

Xie Hui and Xia Zhu rushed to the Shared Umbrella warehouse. Broken umbrellas were piled on the ground. The person in charge was sweating profusely: "CEO Xie, it's all our fault for trying to save money. We used inferior plastic. Now, remaking them will cost more—the cost per umbrella will rise to three hundred yuan. Fifty umbrellas is fifteen thousand, and we also have to hire people to haul away the broken ones, which is another expense."

"If the price rises, let it! If they need hauling, haul them!" Xie Hui waved his hand grandly. "Contact the best plastic factory right now and use imported Materials for the handles. It doesn't matter if the cost rises to five hundred yuan each! Hire ten more people specifically to recycle the broken umbrellas. Give twenty yuan as a 'recycling fee' for each one. It'll cost money to transport them to the waste treatment plant too, which is perfect for spending more!"

The person in charge was stunned for a moment, then nodded excitedly: "Thank you, CEO Xie! I'll get right on it!"

After dealing with the Shared Umbrella matter, it was already dark. Xie Hui was driving Xia Zhu home. As they passed the alley where they had eaten Jianbing Guozi before, Xia Zhu suddenly said: "Stop for a moment, I want to buy a Jianbing Guozi."

The two stood before the stall, and the owner said with a smile: "Young lady, here again with your boyfriend? Last time, he even said my Jianbing Guozi tastes better than a five-star hotel's."

Xia Zhu's face turned red instantly, but she didn't refute him. Xie Hui was secretly delighted and quickly said: "Boss, give us two with double eggs and double sausage, and extra cilantro."

On the way back, Xia Zhu took a bite of her Jianbing Guozi and said softly: "Thanks for today, when Zhuang Qiang was looking for trouble."

"What's there to thank? You're my person, of course I have to protect you." Xie Hui blurted out. After saying it, he felt it was a bit ambiguous and quickly added, "My accountant! I definitely can't let others bully you!"

Seeing his flustered look, Xia Zhu couldn't help but laugh: "Actually... spending money with you is quite interesting. It's much better than just waiting around with Wang Duoyu."

Xie Hui's heart warmed. Just as he was about to say something more, his mobile phone rang. It was Wang Duoyu, sounding vicious: "Xie Hui! Don't get cocky! Tomorrow I'm starting a massive project. The money I spend will be more than everything you've spent these past few days combined. Just you wait to be humiliated!"

Xie Hui raised an eyebrow and smiled into the phone: "Sure, I'll be waiting! But CEO Wang, make sure you don't make yourself sick with anger before you even get the money spent. That would be a real loss."

After hanging up, Xia Zhu was a bit worried: "Will Wang Duoyu really come up with some impressive project? Like in the original story, inviting the Stock God to dinner or investing in something even more ridiculous?"

"What's there to fear?" Xie Hui patted his chest. "Whatever he does, we'll just be even more ridiculous than him! If he invites the Stock God, we'll invite aliens—oh wait, we can't get aliens, so we'll treat all the elderly folks in the city to a free tour. All expenses paid, including food, lodging, and tickets. We'll definitely spend more than him!"

Xia Zhu was amused by him, and her worries lessened significantly. When they reached Xia Zhu's apartment building, she turned back before getting out of the car: "If Wang Duoyu really tries something tomorrow, we'll figure it out together. I can help you come up with ideas too."

"Deal!" Xie Hui nodded with a smile, watching Xia Zhu enter the building before starting the car to leave.

On the road, Xie Hui pulled out his mobile phone and sent a message to Xiao Zhang: "Tomorrow, upgrade the AI fortune-telling 'Interstellar Marriage' package. Add a 'Space Wedding Photography' reservation service. Charge a one-thousand-yuan deposit. Regardless of whether anyone books it, hire ten photographers to be on standby first."

After sending the message, the corners of Xie Hui's mouth curled up—Wang Duoyu wanted to compete with him in spending money? He was still far off. No matter what project Wang Duoyu came up with tomorrow, Xie Hui was confident he could handle it. Not only would he spend more money, but he would also spend it more beautifully and convincingly.

Moreover, with Xia Zhu by his side helping him, he felt that this 2-billion challenge wasn't just a hassle, but was becoming more and more interesting. There would surely be more laughs and more twists in the days to come, and all he had to do was carry this "spending war" to the end until he won the bet and returned to reality in glory, bringing Xia Zhu and the permissions of this world with him.