[Lottery Tickets: 6282.66]
[Lottery Wheel: Purple Quality]
1,000 tickets for a single pull?
It was a tempting offer.
But now wasn't the time for that.
I had to calm the Empress first.
Is this what they call tears of joy?
"Why are you crying?" Shen Xiao asked softly.
"You... you said you went into the bank to try and negotiate a lower interest rate for my debt, right?" Lu Qingyue's voice trembled.
"Yes, that's true."
"We talked about the interest, and I happened to have some extra cash on hand, so I figured I'd just settle the whole thing for you while I was at it."
"You're lying! Didn't I tell you I could pay off that debt myself?"
"Seeing you so broken every day... spending a little money to see you smile, of course I'm willing!" Shen Xiao wiped away her tears, but his words only made her cry harder.
"Stop now, don't cry anymore, or your eyes will get sore. I'm taking you to eat. What do you want?"
"No... you've already spent too much on me. How can I let you spend even more?"
"Money exists to be spent, doesn't it? As long as you're happy, I'm willing to spend any amount." Shen Xiao went through two more tissues.
This girl's water-element affinity was truly extraordinary, her tear production was limitless!
The tissue supply in the car was nearly exhausted.
"Be a good girl, stop crying. Let's go eat."
"No."
"What is it now?"
"I have to go on a mission immediately to earn money and pay you back."
"What are you thinking? I'm in no rush."
"You can pay me back whenever you want, 100 years, 200 years, even 500 years, I don't mind."
"No..."
"Fine, how about we just go home? Your house is close by, we can eat there, right?"
"It's also a good chance to tell your family that the debt is gone."
Shen Xiao paused for a moment, then added with a dead serious face, "Besides, these clothes I'm wearing aren't waterproof!"
"If your tears soak them, I'll have to buy a new set. I might not be able to afford instant noodles after that!"
"No... I won't cry anymore," Qingyue finally stopped, though she was still letting out small, shaky breaths.
Since it was already noon, they stopped at a roadside noodle stall.
Qingyue insisted on saving Shen Xiao's money.
They ordered just one bowl of noodles for 8 yuan and shared it, bite by bite.
Incidentally, that moment of sharing noodles granted him another 100 lottery tickets.
...
Before arriving at the village, Shen Xiao took Qingyue to the market to buy groceries, ribs, vegetables, and other kitchen essentials.
He wanted to leave a good impression at Qingyue's home and secure his "territory" so that no village matchmakers would dare approach her.
Moreover, he wanted to meet Qingyue's younger brother, Lu Han.
In his past life, he had only heard of Lu Han because his death was the catalyst for the Empress's dark transformation.
"This is too much, Shen Xiao. There's only my mom and my brother at home," Qingyue protested, looking at the mountain of shopping bags.
"It won't last long. Lao Jiang is a big eater; if I don't buy enough, she'll complain," Shen Xiao replied.
"True, meong! You promised to feed me until I'm full, meong!" Lao Jiang chimed in from the back seat.
As they moved the groceries to the car, Shen Xiao's hand accidentally brushed against Qingyue's.
She reflexively pulled her hand away, her face flushing crimson.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100!]
...
They arrived at a small village of about two or three hundred houses.
Because the village roads were narrow, Shen Xiao parked the car in an open field near the entrance.
There, they were greeted by the village's "Intelligence Agency", a group of elderly residents sitting around.
"Qingyue, did you bring your boyfriend home?" an old woman asked.
"No, Grandma. He's a school friend," Qingyue answered shyly.
"Qingyue, you sure know how to pick a husband-!"
"No, Grandma! He's just a classmate."
"Wow, Qingyue even has a child already!" Grandma Li exclaimed, pointing at Lao Jiang.
"Grandma Li, that's a cat!"
After passing through the crowd, Qingyue hung her head low, hiding her face behind her scarf.
"Shen Xiao, don't take it to heart. Grandma Li is a bit senile, she often talks nonsense."
"There's even a banner at the front of the village warning people not to believe everything Grandma Li says," Qingyue whispered.
"It's fine, I don't mind," Shen Xiao replied casually.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100!]
At the end of a small path stood Lu Qingyue's house, a modest, single-story home that looked aged compared to the neighbors' two-story buildings.
In the yard was a large yellow dog that immediately barked at Lao Jiang.
The inner door opened, and a thin teenage boy appeared.
"Sister, you're home?"
"Yes, I have a mission nearby and decided to stay over. I bought ribs; eat plenty tonight," Qingyue said.
The boy, Lu Han, ignored his sister's groceries and stared warily at Shen Xiao.
"This is my friend from school, Shen Xiao. We're on a mission together," Qingyue introduced.
"Oh."
"This is my little brother, Lu Han. He's in the sixth grade at the village school."
"Hello," Shen Xiao greeted warmly.
"Hello... Brother-in-Law," Lu Han answered innocently.