236: Chapter 236 The Essence of Love

"Raising my status?"

"Raising what status?"

"Getting promoted from employee to... girlfriend?"

"Why does this feel like a harem leveling game?"

"Promoting from a common palace maid to a female official, then from a female official to a Da Ying, Chang Zai, Xuan Shi, Cai Ren, Gui Ren, and eventually a noble consort or even an empress?"

"But it seems there can only be one empress, so how are the two of them going to split that?"

Han Jingyang coughed and said solemnly, "What status are you talking about? You two are just my girlfriends."

"Just girlfriends?"

"What else? Wives?"

"It's not like it's impossible, it's just that it would be too easy for you, hmph."

"Yes, yes, yes, I've gotten a huge bargain. I must have saved the world in my past life to be able to have both of you at the same time."

"Then you must promise us that you won't flirt with other women anymore."

"This..."

"Are you not satisfied with having both of us?"

"Satisfied, satisfied, very satisfied..."

Han Jingyang actually felt guilty.

If this were before, let alone two, if even one woman treated him like this, he would have jumped three feet high with excitement and sworn on the spot never to flirt with other women again.

That was how he chased his ex-girlfriend back then, doing his utmost as a simp, making all sorts of promises and oaths, and feeling exceptionally happy every time he made a promise or took an oath.

But now, not only was he not happy, he was actually a bit reluctant.

Why is it like this?

Is it just me?

Or do all men become like this after getting hurt in love?

Becoming more realistic.

No longer believing in love.

Hmm, anyway, there is definitely no love between me, Liu Jing, and Shi Xiaoya. There was no confession, no pursuit, nothing else; we just muddled along and got together, and it's three of us together at that.

Wait, since I don't believe in love, then things like promises... aren't they just words that come easily?

Coaxing people, who doesn't know how to do that?

Verbal promises that don't require true feelings, aren't those just words that come easily?

Thinking of this, Han Jingyang suddenly saw the light.

So, being a scumbag is such a simple thing.

Han Jingyang felt enlightened, wrapped his arms tightly around them, and planted a firm kiss on Shi Xiaoya's rosy lips.

"Mwah—"

"My dear Xiaoya, with both of you by my side, what more could I be dissatisfied with? This is a blessing that countless men would kill for. Walking down the street with the two of you in my arms would make every man jealous to death. Don't worry, from now on, I will never flirt with other women again."

"Really?" Shi Xiaoya looked up.

"Mm, really. From now on, you two are the only ones in my heart."

As he said this, he also kissed Liu Jing's pink lips.

Gotta share the love equally.

Can't favor one over the other.

In just a moment, Han Jingyang had an epiphany. After saying those few words, he felt much more relaxed, as if his life had been elevated, and he could directly see his bright future.

Love?

Love my ass.

It really is true that men go bad once they have money.

It's not that he became a bad person, but that his view on love changed.

When earning five thousand yuan a month, one would be satisfied with finding an ordinary woman to live a life of mutual support with.

Once one suddenly becomes successful, one would definitely think about finding someone younger and prettier.

What's more, once a man has money, he faces many temptations, with many young and beautiful women circling around him. At that point, love or no love really isn't that important.

Just like Han Jingyang now; if he were still that ordinary antique shop owner, earning a few thousand yuan a month or even losing money, would Shi Xiaoya have taken a liking to him? Would Liu Jing have allowed Shi Xiaoya to share him?

Once you understand this principle, you understand the true essence of relationships between men and women.

Money can't buy love, but it can buy many women.

This society is just that realistic.

Of course, more realistically speaking, the relationship between love and money, strength, and status isn't that clearly defined. Even if other factors are mixed in, when two or more people can accompany each other for a lifetime, who dares to say this isn't love?

In this world, there has never been pure love.

Good looks, physique, talent, eloquence, skills, money, power, and even desire—one of these elements must serve as a primer for so-called love to be born.

One can't say that love born from good looks is more noble than love born from money, right?

That makes no sense.

Having seen through the essence of love, Han Jingyang seemed to have opened the door to a new world, holding the two women in his arms and coaxing them well.

If it weren't for Liu Jing being shy and Shi Xiaoya being on her period, Han Jingyang could have unlocked a certain achievement that required three people that very night.

August 8th.

Dongpo Village.

By the reservoir.

Han Jingyang led Liu Jing and Shi Xiaoya to look out into the distance, gazing at the place where the Octagonal Building used to be.

That place had already turned into a large construction site, with machines roaring, voices bustling, and villagers working fervently—it was very lively.

Upon receiving the news, Zhou Jianjun jogged over to Han Jingyang and the other two: "Hey, Little Han is here, you didn't even say hello. It's so hot today, come on, there's a shaded shed over there."

Han Jingyang didn't stand on ceremony and asked as they walked: "Has there been any trouble during the construction process?"

"No, no, everything is going smoothly, everyone is full of energy."

"And no one is blocking it?"

"No. Everyone in the village agreed. Jumping out to block it at this time would be going against the whole village, right?"

"That's good."

"Hehe, Little Han, how do you have time to come over?"

"Went to Xipo Village to take care of some business, and stopped by to take a look on the way."

"Xipo Village?"

"Mm," Han Jingyang glanced at Zhou Jianjun, and seeing that Zhou Jianjun's expression was a bit unnatural, he immediately became alert: "Is there a problem?"

Zhou Jianjun hesitated for a moment: "I heard that Xipo Village hasn't been very peaceful lately."

"What do you mean by 'not very peaceful'?"

"Some say it's haunted, some say it's a Feng Shui Master engaging in a magic battle, others say the country is conducting some secret experiment, and there are also those who say a treasure has been unearthed," Zhou Jianjun whispered: "I don't know which version is true, but it's a fact that there are many strangers appearing in Xipo Village. If you are going there, be careful."

Han Jingyang breathed a sigh of relief.

He thought Zhou Jianjun had some top-secret information.

However, as the village chief of Dongpo Village and having been neighbors with the neighboring Xipo Village for so many years, he should know more gossip, right?

Thinking of this, he tentatively asked: "Old Zhou, is that all?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your village and Xipo Village are so close, haven't you heard any other gossip? Especially gossip related to Huang Jianyong."

"Huang Jianyong?" Zhou Jianjun pondered for a few seconds, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "Huang Jianyong adopted a godmother in our village when he was young."

"A godmother?"

"Yes."

"Is she still alive?"

"She's still alive."

"Is it convenient to meet her?"

"Convenient, very convenient. Come, I'll take you there. Come to think of it, Huang Jianyong adopting a godmother is quite an interesting piece of local folklore, but that happened a long time ago and was slowly forgotten. If you hadn't specifically asked, I wouldn't have remembered it either."