Chapter 134: Taking the Initiative
They ended up buying nearly everything they tried on. None of the pieces were thick or heavy; they were all made with high-tech materials, so a single thin layer was incredibly warm.
Even in temperatures of twenty or thirty degrees below zero, there was no need to bundle up like a bear.
She bought several outfits for each of them and also ordered a custom matching set for all six of them. All in all, she spent several million Star Coins.
Whenever Bai Zhi saw something she liked, she couldn’t resist buying a few outfits for herself as well, even though they already had plenty of clothes at home before her own purchases.
But there was no denying that shopping and spending money was truly addictive. The more she bought, the more exhilarating it became. Buying whatever caught her eye without having to worry about having enough money was a wonderfully pleasant experience.
But this was all just small change, after all. To spend the bulk of the money, she would have to buy some big-ticket items.
By the end of the trip, Sang Mo had gone from his initial expressionless state to having droopy, sleepy eyelids. Finally, he just gave up, went to the shop next door with Lang Qiu, and ordered a drink to have while they waited.
Yue Junxiao and Yan Yichen, however, remained enthusiastic. They seemed to genuinely enjoy it whenever Bai Zhi, having changed into a new outfit or tried on some accessories, asked for their opinion.
They would always give their earnest advice. Although their suggestions sometimes left Bai Zhi unsure whether to laugh or cry, their feedback was always positive. They provided amazing emotional support, cheering that everything she wore looked good, which felt quite nice.
As a result, Bai Zhi got a little carried away and bought a lot more.
Luckily, they had upgraded to a larger storage space, so they didn’t need to carry anything. They could just put their purchases directly inside, saving them the trouble of lugging around bags of all sizes.
The Main Star was full of wealthy people, so someone like Bai Zhi buying so much was by no means a rare sight. As such, she didn’t attract much attention.
They shopped until the sun was nearly set before Bai Zhi and the others prepared to head home.
At some point, Hu Yan had left her spirit sea without her noticing. By the time they arrived, he was already home.
When Bai Zhi saw Hu Yan, she immediately ran over to him, asking in pleasant surprise, "Hu Yan, how did you get back so early today?"
’For the past few days, Hu Yan had always gotten home later than them. She never expected to find him already here today.’
With a faint smile, Hu Yan said, "Yes, I finished up most of my work, so I came back a little early. I’ve already made dinner. Go wash your hands so we can eat."
Bai Zhi was a little surprised. "You cooked tonight? But haven’t you been really busy lately? How did you find the time?"
Hu Yan gave a slight nod. "Yes, it was no trouble. It’s all your favorite dishes."
At this moment, the others trickled in behind her.
Yan Yichen walked up to Hu Yan and said, "Hu Yan, thank you for saving me today."
Hu Yan shook his head. "It was the Mistress who first controlled our opponent with her spiritual power for a few seconds, giving me enough time to arrive. If you’re going to thank anyone, you should be thanking her."
Yan Yichen turned to Bai Zhi, his voice taking on a completely different, playful tone. "Thank you, my Mistress~ I have no way to repay you... I can only offer myself to you in return..."
Bai Zhi feigned contemplation. "Or... you could just make me a fan."
Yan Yichen paused, then a mysterious smile spread across his face. "No problem. I’ll make you ten, not just one."
With a bewildered expression, Yue Junxiao poked his head between them. "We’re all family. Why are you guys always thanking each other back and forth? Aren’t we going to eat?"
Yue Junxiao had a real knack for shattering any and all intimate moments.
Hu Yan chimed in, "Let’s go. We should eat before the food gets cold."
Hu Yan had prepared seven or eight dishes, nearly all of them Bai Zhi’s favorites.
After washing her hands and sitting down at the table, Bai Zhi took a bite of the sweet and sour ribs Hu Yan had made. She couldn’t help but narrow her eyes and let out a soft "mmm" of pleasure. "I haven’t had this in a few days. I’ve really missed it."
Upon hearing that, Hu Yan asked, "Is the chef’s food not good?"
Bai Zhi shook her head. "No, that’s not it. The taste is just a little different. I still prefer the way you make it."
Remembering the money she still had to spend, Bai Zhi said, "Oh, right, are there any auction houses on the Main Star? Or somewhere I can buy property?"
Regular stores weren’t suited for that level of spending, but an auction house was a different story. A few hundred million there is just a drop in the bucket; it can be gone after buying just a few items.
Alternatively, she could just buy property. One could never have too much real estate, and on the Main Star, property was a solid asset that could hedge against Star Coin inflation.
This was why ordinary people, even with a lot of money, couldn’t spend it all that quickly. Without buying real estate, the most one could spend in regular shops was a few hundred thousand, a few million, or perhaps tens of millions on luxury goods and extravagant, top-tier meals.
But trying to spend a billion all at once just on those things was no easy task.
Hu Yan mulled it over for a few seconds before asking, "How much do you need to spend?"
Bai Zhi was taken aback for a moment, surprised by his sharp intuition. "A billion. I’ve only spent a little over one hundred million so far."
Hu Yan suggested, "The Zelda family is preparing to open an auction house soon. You could invest in it."
Bai Zhi: "!!!"
’She had just been thinking about buying a few things at an auction, and now Hu Yan was telling her to invest in the entire auction house!’
Bai Zhi pressed her lips together, hesitating. "Wouldn’t that be too little money? Besides, would their family even let us invest in their auction house?"
At her words, Hu Yan let out a soft chuckle, his rosy lips parting slightly. "How much do you think it costs to open an auction house? Even for a major family, coming up with several billion at once is no easy feat. You can invest, bringing both your money and your skills as a Purification Master to the table in exchange for a forty-nine percent stake. Zelda knows you’ve reached SS-level, and he knows you’re a Purification Master. As long as there’s a profit to be made, no family will refuse."
"This way, even if other families learn of your identity in the future, the Sel Family will have your back in situations where I’m not around."
’Upon hearing his words, Bai Zhi suddenly understood Hu Yan’s true meaning.’
’If she were merely seeking their protection, the relationship would be fundamentally unequal, and that would make her uncomfortable.’
’But as partners, their standing would be equal, which would put her much more at ease.’
’Hu Yan was looking out for her, considering her feelings.’
’Bai Zhi had already shown her aversion to the great families; otherwise, she would never have left Blue Star in the first place, even if she did end up on the Main Star eventually.’
But in the short span of a week, Bai Zhi had already advanced from S-Class to SS-level. This wasn’t just a jump in rank; it was a testament to her true capabilities.
’A person could only earn respect by being powerful in their own right. Otherwise, they were nothing but a disposable pawn to others—a pawn that could be traded away or abandoned at any moment if it wasn’t sufficiently obedient.’
’And now, Hu Yan had paved that path for her.’
’He had given her a new path to choose, one where she wouldn’t have to rely on anyone else.’
’A path where she could take control of her own destiny.’