100: The suddenly lonely little single room

After hearing his words, Liu Nansheng was momentarily stunned, and then a helpless, bitter smile appeared on her lips as she gently shook her head:

“I really don't need it, Chen Li. Thank you for being so thoughtful toward me.”

[Liu Nansheng]

[Affection Level: +11]

Just as she refused, the system notification rang in Chen Li's mind.

This subtle increase in affection made him realize that Liu Nansheng's refusal didn't stem from a desire to distance herself, but rather from deeper considerations.

She fully believed that Chen Li was sincere in wanting to give her a house, without any pretense.

But it was precisely this sincerity that made it even harder for her to accept.

Regarding that previous one million, she could comfort herself by saying it was earned through her own labor, even though even she found that reason a bit far-fetched.

But giving her a house completely shattered that sense of boundaries; she couldn't find any reason that would allow her to accept it with a clear conscience.

No strings attached was precisely the biggest string of all.

Once she accepted such a generous gift, what grounds would she have to refuse any request Chen Li might make in the future?

The relationship would lose its balance entirely, and she would no longer be able to stand before him as an equal.

Rather than that, she preferred to move at her own pace.

Since Chen Li had promised her one hundred thousand a month, she could rely on that to buy a house of her own in full in the near future.

Originally, she had planned to save enough for a down payment on a small apartment and slowly pay off the mortgage, but now that she had this one million, she could buy a much better house.

Thinking of this, her gaze toward Chen Li held a bit more gratitude.

This former High School classmate had unknowingly made her drop her initial guard and rejection, becoming a friend she could trust.

Chen Li hadn't expected Liu Nansheng to refuse with such gentle words—yes, the kind that carried a certain sense of finality.

There was no affectation, no playing hard to get; she simply expressed her choice gently and firmly.

It wasn't like the scenes some people put on—politely declining with their lips while their words and actions are written all over with expectation, every subtle movement guiding you to keep persuading them.

They insist on you pushing a third time before they finally accept with a 'half-protesting, half-acquiescing' look, acting as if they 'really have no choice' but to take it.

Chen Li couldn't help but feel a headache; this girl was impervious to both soft and hard tactics, leaving him momentarily unsure of how to proceed.

If he bound her, with her ascetic spending habits and her personality that wouldn't even accept a house, who knew how long it would take to finish spending the quota.

And if he didn't bind her, wouldn't the one million he had invested earlier go down the drain?

Although he was now worth billions, deep down he was still the same shrewd and calculating Chen Li; the traditional virtue of 'only in, never out' was etched into his DNA.

His previously ever-successful money offensive had completely failed with Liu Nansheng.

Chen Li wailed in his heart: Nansheng, can't you be a little more greedy like other girls?

To be honest, Chen Li wanted both the person and the money when it came to Liu Nansheng.

But she was just too difficult to handle. Did he have to go back to that initial method of relentless pursuit?

But if she discovered he had so many other women around him, the affection he had worked so hard to build would likely go up in smoke.

Just as his mind was in a mess, Liu Nansheng's soft voice interrupted his thoughts: “Chen Li, I'm finished washing. Do you need me to help massage your hands and feet?”

“No, no, thank you,” Chen Li said, waving his hands hurriedly.

“You're welcome, this is my job.” She gave a faint smile and began tidying up the facial cleanser and towels on the floor.

Watching her busy figure in the cramped room, Chen Li wanted to see what kind of part-time work she did: “Can I see the part-time job you're doing?”

“Of course.”

Liu Nansheng picked up the tablet on the desk and skillfully clicked on a survey website.

She explained that completing one survey took about half an hour and earned eight yuan.

Chen Li was all too familiar with this part-time platform—back then, in order to make some money, he had spent plenty of time on sites like this.

Standing to the side and watching Liu Nansheng slowly fill out the survey, Chen Li couldn't help but speak up and point out several key time-saving tips.

When Liu Nansheng tried his method, the originally tedious process immediately became smooth and effortless.

She suddenly looked up, her face full of disbelief: “These tricks of the trade... how do you know them so well?”

“Because I used to do it too.”

Liu Nansheng's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.

Chen Li gave a bitter smile and shook his head: “Don't look at me like that. Everyone has to start from poor days, right?”

This unexpected answer instantly shattered Liu Nansheng's one-dimensional impression of Chen Li as a rich boy.

She couldn't help but look at Chen Li in a new light, a strong surge of curiosity rising within her—just what had he been through?

“Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll head back first.”

Liu Yu responded softly.

Without even realizing it herself, this response was half a beat slower than usual, and a faint, almost imperceptible sense of reluctance quietly brushed across her heart.

Liu Nansheng walked Chen Li to the door and watched him turn to walk down the stairs.

The sound of footsteps grew distant in the empty hallway, finally disappearing around the corner.

She gently closed the door and stood leaning against it for a while.

The room suddenly became exceptionally quiet.

This small studio she had lived in for three years made her feel a hint of loneliness for the first time.

In the past, her days were always packed with work and part-time jobs; every day she'd return home so exhausted she'd fall asleep immediately, with no time for idle thoughts.

Now, although things were easier, she felt empty instead.

She hadn't felt it while Chen Li was here, but now that he was gone, the room seemed to have suddenly become much colder.

This afternoon's interlude was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples through her heart.

It had been a long time since she had chatted so easily with someone, and she hadn't expected to get along so well with this boy who had once made her so guarded.

Looking at this space that had always belonged only to her, it had, for the first time, clearly retained the traces of another person.

This made her feel a bit flustered and at a loss, yet deep down, a sliver of anticipation was quietly growing—one she wasn't even willing to examine closely.

Chen Li knew nothing of this.

If he knew what Liu Nansheng was thinking right now, he would have turned back without hesitation to bind her.

Even if he couldn't finish the two billion quota, simply winning her over would be enough to satisfy him.

However, he did not know that what Liu Nansheng was about to bring him was a journey that would make his heart nearly stop...