Chapter 183 - 180: Still Too Young (Second Update)
After treating the pathetic cat harshly, Yang Zhen, indeed, felt much better.
Ignoring the pitiful cat grooming its fur, Yang Zhen returned directly to the small woods, and said to the puzzled Wang Meiling, “I agree to your proposition…”
Wang Meiling’s face lit up with joy, but before she could speak, she heard Yang Zhen’s slow and leisurely voice came again: “What’s in it for me?”
At these words, Wang Meiling was taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained her composure. She looked at Yang Zhen enigmatically and said, “What do you want?”
Yang Zhen gazed deeply at Wang Meiling and thought to himself how adept this woman was at bargaining. He needed to handle her cautiously lest he fall into her trap – end up being sold without getting any benefits and then happily serve as her good luck charm.
However, Yang Zhen wasn’t one of those men who lose their minds at just a glance of a woman. He had terabytes of women in his computer, and he could look at whoever he pleased. Now, why should he cower before Wang Meiling’s onslaught?
Yang Zhen took a deep breath, smiled unabashed, and slowly said while staring at her chest, “What benefits can you offer me, Miss Wang?”
Wang Meiling’s voice became even more sweetened, as she moved closer to Yang Zhen and looking into his eyes, she said, “What do you want? Just speak up, and I’ll agree!”
As she spoke, she stretched out a finger and touched Yang Zhen’s forehead, lifting his gaze from her chest. She looked at him, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.
Yang Zhen swallowed, and said, “Ten million crystals, two Wanhua feasts, three Shape-changing Fruits, four shops in the busiest area of Wanhua Island, and all the information you have in your head about the Sea Dragon Pool and the Eastern Desolation Emperor!”
Wang Meiling was taken aback. She stared at Yang Zhen in disbelief and then burst out laughing. She managed to steady herself by grabbing onto Yang Zhen’s shoulder and said, “Kid, your appetite seems too large!”
Yang Zhen sneered, “There are only two things big about me, and one of them is my appetite.”
“And the other one?” Wang Meiling curiously asked, instantly regretting it – this bastard!
“Kid, you don’t know what kind of danger I got myself into by coming to see you. Your situation is quite precarious, you might involve me too if you are not careful. You have offended Mountain Hua’s blessed land, and you might need me in the future. How about it, shall we renegotiate terms?”
Yang Zhen chuckled carelessly, “Do you really think I’d be afraid of Mountain Hua’s retaliation after daring to kill that Lu Baichi?”
Wang Meiling was startled, she glared at Yang Zhen, and voiced her exasperation, “I agree to all the other conditions, but ten million crystals and three Shape-changing Fruits are impossible. Also, you’re alone – what do you need so many shops for?”
Yang Zhen sneered, “Who said I can’t want shops just because I’m alone. Can’t I gift them to someone?”
Saying this, Yang Zhen laughingly said, “Besides, considering the Wang Family’s standing on Wanhua Island, five shops wouldn’t cost much. You should be able to agree to this, and also guarantee the safety of these five shops for the next five years.”
Wang Meiling nodded her head, saying, “Alright!”
“Fantastic!” Yang Zhen took a deep breath, and continued, “Ten million crystals are just peanuts for you. If you want this ‘Sao Saint’ to work tirelessly for you, surely you won’t begrudge this little amount?”
Wang Meiling gave Yang Zhen a deep look, “Don’t make yourself sound so pitiful.”
Yang Zhen clapped his hands, “So I’ll take that as a yes then. And about the two Wanhua banquets, it’s not that much of an issue since you’re already hosting one. Besides, you can partake too. Opportunities to dine with ‘Sao Saint’ don’t come very often. In fact, if ‘Sao Saint’ is pleased with the meal, he might agree to some additional requests.”
“Like?”
“Like… we can discuss that later.”
Wang Meiling giggled, and glared at Yang Zhen, asking, “Are you always this frivolous?”
“A guy isn’t bad unless he has a woman to love. You wouldn’t understand,” Yang Zhen spoke with a mysterious expression, “Now, let’s talk about the
Shape-changing Fruits. Your Wang family has an entire Shape-changing Tree. Don’t tell me you can’t spare a few fruits. It would make me sad. And when I get sad, I sleep. And when I sleep, I tend to delay things.”
Wang Meiling stared at Yang Zhen in shock, her mouth agape and at a loss for words, looking for all the world like a flabbergasted little girl.
A man isn’t bad if a woman doesn’t have her legs spread?
What nonsense was this? But coming from Yang Zhen, it sounded like some profound wisdom.
“Alright, I’ll do my best to negotiate for you!” Wang Meiling said with a wry smile at Yang Zhen. Then, she widened her eyes at him with a look of playfully hurt feeling, before bursting into laughter.
“Your wit is a waste if you’re not in business!”
Wang Meiling shot Yang Zhen a flirtatious look and took a deep breath. She gave him a teasing smirk.
Yang Zhen was taken aback and said puzzledly, “I feel like maybe I’m asking for too little?”
Wang Meiling burst into giggles, gave Yang Zhen a gentle push and said, “Don’t play coy after scoring a great deal. You’ve given me enough trouble that I’ll likely get a scolding when I get back. Can you live with that?”
Live with it!
Yang Zhen almost blurted out, but swallowed his words and glared at Wang Meiling.
It was a straightforward tradeoff on both sides, he didn’t believe his demands would put Wang Meiling in a bind.
Well, maybe a little, but what’s the harm in it. Surely a mascot doesn’t come for free?
The limping scoundrel cat, returning to the scene, saw Wang Meiling resting her hand on Yang Zhen’s shoulder and broke into a huge grin, looking utterly dumbfounded.
“Damn, this kid may not have much knack for other things, but his flirting skills are off the charts. Wow, that lady is really something, she’s all over him.”
Having spent so much time with Yang Zhen, the cat had picked up quite the popular lingo, almost always effortlessly dropping jokes.
Watching Wang Meiling sashay away, Yang Zhen smacked his lips and chuckled, “That young lady is still too green. At this rate, she’s going to bankrupt the Wang family soon.”
The cat’s voice rang out:
“Damn you, you crafty little thing! Leaving me behind in the middle of nowhere to chase after girls. How did I end up with such a disloyal companion?”
Yang Zhen cast a quick glance at the cat and responded, “If I hadn’t left you behind, how could your Sao Saint here go on and score a good deal?”
Upon hearing those words, the cat instantly got excited, forgetting all the grudges he had against Yang Zhen, he asked eagerly, “Oh boy, don’t keep me in suspense. What did you get?”
“Ten million crystals, two Wanhua feasts, three Shape-changing Fruits, four storefronts…”
The cat blinked at Yang Zhen, then turned to glance in the direction in which Wang Meiling had disappeared and said, stupefied, “Damn, you’ve got quite a mouth on you. You asked for so much and yet she was smiling like a flower. Boy, tell me truthfully, did you do something indecent to her?”
“Damn you!” Yang Zhen landed a kick on the cat, “It’s called being uniquely charming, the ladies find it irresistible!”
“Pah! You really think I’d buy that?”
“Kid, are you really considering going with them?”
“What else?” Yang Zhen looked dismissive and responded, “Everyone has already set off for the Sea Dragon Pool, even Old Man Gu, but she’s still lagging behind – do you really think they went there just for a stroke of good luck?”
The cat was momentarily stunned, then said excitedly, “You mean… that woman has some knowledge others don’t?”
“Humph, did you really think I achieve things by relying on luck? Without smarts, what’s the point of luck?”
“Hahaha, now this is fun. Kid, are you planning a game of mantis stalks cicada while the oriole is behind?”
“Damn it, if you don’t know what you’re talking about then don’t say anything, ‘behind’, behind your ass!”