Chapter 108 — The New Year Arrives

"..." Yang Xu was speechless, thinking: how can there be such a thick-skinned person in this world? As if I'm afraid you'd steal her—go ahead and try if you've got the guts. But Yang Ce couldn't say that out loud, lest it get back to Chen Shutang's ears.

"Bro, you're not gonna be that stingy, are you?" Seeing that Yang Yongjin wasn't speaking, Li Yixun thought he'd been moved, so he went on, "Just give me a hint, and I guarantee I'll be grateful forever. The Haixian Pavilion in Donghai is my family's—I'll give you a VIP card. Three free meals a year."

With that, Li Yixun pulled a VIP card from his pocket and handed it to Yang Ce.

"Oh." Yang Ce took the VIP card and glanced it over. What the hell was the Haixian Pavilion? He'd never even heard of it. But he was truly worn down by Li Yixun's pestering, so he made something up on the spot. "I can teach you, but first you have to tell me who you're after. Give me the basic rundown on her. You know, everyone's different—the approach has to be different too."

"Of course, of course." Li Yixun thought the VIP card had done the trick and hurried to strike while the iron was hot. "Bro, let me tell you—this girl I'm after, her personality's a bit cold, but she's cute as can be. She's not from around here—she's here on her own for college. I've been chasing her for a whole semester with no results."

"So right now you're pestering her day in and day out," Yang Yanchuan said.

"Yeah, I think she's getting a little annoyed with me. What am I supposed to do? But if I ask her out normally, she won't come out at all," Li Yixun said with a worried frown.

"Is that so." Yang Juehuan's mind was not on this at all; he said offhandedly, "Then does her family have money?"

"Her family?" Li Yixun was startled. "That I don't know. My family has money—whether hers does is not something I care about."

"Who asked whether you care? I'm asking whether her family has money—in other words, how much living expenses does she get each month?" Yang Ce waved his hand.

"Probably a little over a thousand, I guess," Li Yixun said, scratching his scalp.

"Don't give me 'probably.' How much exactly? This is very important," Yang Yanzhou said.

"Huh?" Li Yixun was somewhat at a loss. "This doesn't seem to have much bearing on anything, does it?"

"How does it not? Do you want to learn this or not?" Yang Puqi glared. "If you don't want to learn, then forget it."

"I do, I do. Don't be angry, brother. From what I've seen of her usual spending, it should be around a thousand," Li Yixun said hurriedly.

"Around a thousand, is it?" Yang Yuting nodded. "Then let me teach you a method. Right now it's you pestering her, isn't it? My method can turn the situation completely around."

"Completely around?" Li Yixun said in surprise. "How do you turn it around? You mean make her pester me? Is that even possible?"

"Possible? Of course it's possible. Do exactly as I say and I guarantee you'll succeed at once," Yang Yanzhou said.

"Brother, if you have some brilliant trick, please don't hesitate to enlighten your humble little brother," Li Yixun said, overjoyed, hastening to ask.

"It's like this—my ultimate move is for you to borrow money from her," Yang Ce said, his words shocking the room.

"What?" Li Yixun's mouth fell open; he stared at Yang Ce blankly, and only after a long while managed, "Me, borrow money from her? My family is so rich—why on earth would I borrow money from her?"

"There are plenty of reasons to borrow money. For instance, your family has put you under financial restrictions, or a friend of yours has fallen ill and urgently needs money—it all depends on how you put it," Yang Ce explained. "And when you borrow from her, you must first find out exactly how much her monthly living expenses are, then be sure to borrow the entire sum in one go and not leave her a single cent."

"And then?" Though Li Yixun was utterly bewildered, he dared not question it lightly and could only inquire cautiously.

"And then? Then you disappear and never go looking for her again," Yang Ce said with absolute finality.

"Disappear?" Li Yixun said. "I borrow the money and then vanish—doesn't that make me a swindler? Besides, if I borrow all her money, how is she supposed to live?"

"This is why I say you're dense. I can't even be bothered to teach you," Yang Ce said, twisting his mouth.

"Brother, I admit I'm slow—otherwise I wouldn't be asking you," Li Yixun said. "Just tell me what this is really all about."

"Look, you've borrowed all her living expenses, so she's bound to have trouble eating and getting by, right?" Yang Ce countered.

"Right, that's exactly what worries me," Li Yixun said with a nod.

"You still don't get it? You're an absolute idiot," Yang Ce said, shaking his head. "With no money to spend, naturally she'll have to come to you, her creditor, for it. If you stop going to her, then this time she'll definitely come to you of her own accord. And if you don't pay her back, she'll be hanging around you every day, hounding you for money."

"That's true!" Li Yixun slapped his thigh. "That really is how it works. But isn't this trick a bit too—well, downright scoundrelly?"

"What does chasing girls rely on?" Yang Puqi rolled his eyes and asked sourly.

"A thick skin!" Li Yixun said without a moment's thought.

"There you have it. Winners take all—once you've won the beauty, who cares how you managed to court her?" Yang Yongjin said disdainfully.

"True enough, brother. I admire you—this really is a brilliant move. I've truly learned something today. Thank you so much. Another day when you come to Donghai, I'll play host and treat you to a grand meal!" Li Yixun said excitedly.

"Oh, we'll see about that." Yang Ce waved his hand. That trick had been pure nonsense, improvised on the spot—it would be a real ghost story if it actually worked. Though one couldn't rule out a blind cat stumbling onto a dead mouse. He hadn't expected Li Yixun to treasure it like some priceless gem.

Yang Ce had been spouting nonsense; worn down by Li Yixun's pestering, he had casually tossed out this method. Yet Li Yixun was beside himself with excitement—he was probably already drawing up his battle plans.

"Hey, wait for me!" Li Yixun suddenly stood up and ran toward the door. It turned out the girl he had been waiting for had finished her haircut and was getting ready to pay and leave. She hadn't so much as glanced at Li Yixun.

Yang Ce shook his head. This Li Yixun—his hopes were slim. Even ordinary boyfriends and girlfriends weren't this tense with each other, were they? Hmm, this girl looked rather familiar...

"Wang Yanqiu!" Yang Ce blurted out.

"Yang Ce!" Wang Yanqiu turned toward the voice and saw Yang Ce.

"You two know each other?" Li Yixun asked, looking rather puzzled at Wang Yanqiu and Yan.

"That's none of your business, is it?" Wang Yanqiu gave Li Yixun not the slightest face.

Yang Jiyan smiled bitterly. So she was a little delinquent girl. Li Yixun, you really are pathetic—you can't even handle a little delinquent girl.

"Has that Zhao Ying come back yet?" Yang Ce and Wang Yanqiu had had some misunderstanding before, so meeting now was inevitably a little awkward; he changed the subject.

"Not yet. If there's nothing else, I'll be going," Wang Yanqiu said, looking at Yang Ce and secretly gritting her teeth. Taking advantage of me—if not for Zhao Ying, I'd have settled accounts with him long ago. Hmph, count yourself lucky, kid.

"We'll be going first then, Yang Ce," Li Yixun said. Seeing Wang Yanqiu about to leave, he hurried after her, saying to Yang Ce as he walked, "Tell Chen Shutang for me."

"Mm." Yang Ce waved his hand, thinking, this annoying fellow has finally gone. But this guy really has no class—actually chasing after a little delinquent girl.

Chen Shutang had only been getting a trim, not a full haircut, so it didn't take long—just a touch of New Year's festivity, nothing more.