10: decent

"Ranran... I... give me one more chance, I'll remember next time!" Bai Lu grabbed his arm, ignoring the stares of others, and knelt on the ground, pleading bitterly.

"Alright, I'll give you this chance!"

"Thank you, Ranran!"

Bai Lu tried to hug him directly, but he fended her off.

"Don't rush, there's a second question!"

"Ah? Ranran, tell me!"

Bai Lu felt like she had found a lifeline; she was sure she could get this one right!

"What kind of soup do I like to drink? What kind of beverage do I like to drink?"

'Drinks?! That's easy!'

Bai Lu's heart swelled with joy, and she confidently spoke:

"You like to drink Three Delicacies Soup, Cordyceps Flower Pork Rib Soup, and Tea Tree Mushroom Stewed Chicken Soup!"

Xiao Ran nodded.

Those three were indeed correct; they often ordered them when eating together.

"Then do I like my drinks salty or bland?"

Bai Lu paused, then tentatively said, "Uh... bland?"

"No, I like them just right! Not too salty, not too bland, that's my favorite! Sister Bai Lu, you're wrong again!"

"Ranran, I... could you give me one more chance? I'm sure I can answer it!"

"Then continue, what beverage do I like to drink?"

"Sprite! Original milk tea!" Bai Lu blurted out again.

"How much sugar?" Xiao Ran continued to ask for details.

Bai Lu froze again, "Uh... five points?"

She, who was always so smart, didn't realize he was trying to pick a fight.

Xiao Ran shook his head, the disappointment in his eyes unconcealed:

"Sister Bai Lu, I've told you, you don't understand me at all. We really aren't suited to be together!"

"Ranran! Don't treat me like this, please? You know, you must know, I love you!"

Bai Lu was heartbroken, tears blurring her vision.

Why hadn't she paid more attention to his tastes and preferences in the past?

It seemed... she really wasn't a qualified girlfriend!

Xiao Ran glanced at her, not intending to let her off so easily.

Without more 'talent,' the earnings might be very low!

"Sister Bai Lu, do you know the first thing I do when I wake up? Do you know how much water I drink every day? Do you know what I'm allergic to?

Do you know which hand I usually use to play on my phone? Do you know which hand I usually use to type?

Do you know what color I like? Do you know what style of clothes I like to wear? Do you know I..."

"Stop talking!!!"

Bai Lu suddenly shrieked ferociously, interrupting his 'spell-casting,' tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

Her elegant dress became wet in patches.

Like a dethroned queen.

In fact,

Xiao Ran himself had never paid attention to his own habits.

He ate whatever tasted good, wore whatever looked good, and did whatever felt comfortable; he wasn't picky.

He asked these questions

simply to 'CPU' her, to achieve the goal of breaking up and increasing his reward.

Heh, it's just for fun!

And he still had his ultimate move left!

"Ranran, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It's my negligence; I've never cared about your feelings.

I've always just taken from you, never given anything in return..." Bai Lu seemed to have a realization.

"No, no, no, don't say that! You have contributed financially!"

Xiao Ran raised a hand to interrupt her.

Next, he was going for the kill!

Bai Lu didn't understand what he meant, only looked at him with an apologetic expression in her eyes.

"Sister Bai Lu, for the past month, everything I've eaten, used, worn, and lived in, all the money spent, has been yours.

But haven't you realized that you've been trampling on my dignity?

You tell me what you want me to do, how to do it, what to wear, what hairstyle to have... I have to obey you.

I am a man, I have my own self-respect, and I cannot accept that everything about me is arranged by you!

At first, I thought you would care about my feelings, that you would put yourself in my shoes and think for me.

If only you had paid a little more attention to my eyes and expressions when I accepted your charity, you would have understood.

But you didn't!

Finally, I understood.

You are a rich girl, and I am just a poor boy.

You are a white swan, and I am just a toad.

You are high above, and I flee in disarray!

We are worlds apart, that huge gap is like a chasm, there's no way for us to be together, so..."

Xiao Ran didn't continue; she should have understood very clearly by now.

"Ranran, I won't look down on you, you know. I don't care if you don't have money.

It's fine if I have money; it's fine if I support you. Please don't be like this, okay? I'm very scared!"

Bai Lu clung to his arm, her soft, ample chest rubbing against him, pleading bitterly without stop.

Xiao Ran felt a little fortunate.

He had never made promises like 'forever and always' to any girl.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to even find an excuse when breaking up.

He could be caught out, or even have the tables turned on him.

"Sister Bai Lu, that's why I said you don't understand me. I've told you, I have my own dignity, and I will not accept charity from anyone, not even my significant other, do you understand?"

"I won't listen! I won't listen! I don't care! I want you! Only you!"

Bai Lu seemed to fall into a frenzy, acting like a spoiled child.

Presumably, if it weren't for her inherent pride, she would probably be on her knees or throwing a tantrum by now.

Xiao Ran watched this scene, a slight curve on his lips.

Little lady, don't rush, there's one last point to add!

"Sister Bai Lu, listen to me. Even if you are willing to be with me, will your family truly agree?

From what I understand, your family seems quite influential, doesn't it? And as the sole daughter and young lady of your family, how could they possibly let you marry a young upstart like me?"

That's right,

the family reason Xiao Ran mentioned was the final straw that would break the camel's back.

For a large family like the Bai family, her marriage couldn't be decided so casually; she needed to be responsible for all of the family's assets!

Her background

destined her to either marry a man of equal standing or bring in a capable and easily controlled son-in-law who would live with her family!

Bai Lu collapsed to the ground, as if she had lost a parent.

Why wasn't she just an ordinary person?

The fear in her heart was magnified infinitely, and tears fell like raindrops, patter, patter, patter.

"Darling, quickly tell me, this is a joke, isn't it? This isn't real." Bai Lu tried to make it all a joke.

"Sister Bai Lu, you should understand, I can't hold you back any longer. We... let's just end it here..."

"Ranran! You haven't even gone to college yet! Everything is still unknown! If we both work hard, maybe we can become a well-matched couple, don't you think?"

Xiao Ran sighed inwardly.

'If I told you I now have hundreds of billions in assets, wouldn't you be so happy you'd start dancing on the spot?'

"Sister Bai Lu, let's both maintain some dignity!"

Bai Lu remained silent for a long time.

Finally,

"Ranran, I agree to the breakup!" She seemed to have come to terms with it, saying with a graceful smile.

"Thank you, Sister Bai Lu. You are a good person. Your youth shouldn't be wasted on a poor boy like me. You should have your own more brilliant life."

"Ranran, don't say any more. Let's just finish this meal happily, as we always do, okay?" Bai Lu said slowly, suppressing the turbulent emotions in her heart.

'Ranran, don't get too smug! One day, I will find you again! You can only belong to me!'

Xiao Ran gave her a smile:

"Okay."

The people around stared at the strange couple, their eyes gleaming with intense gossip.

Spectacular!

It was truly spectacular!

"What are you looking at? This old lady owns this place! All of you, get out!" Bai Lu suddenly erupted.

Xiao Ran: '...6'

...After that night,

Xiao Ran immediately left the Demon City.

Afterwards,

for the first few days, he would perfunctorily reply to Bai Lu's messages, but after that, he never contacted her again.

All that remained was

that lonely [99⁺] firmly fixed in the upper right corner of her profile picture...