Humble to the point of having no dignity

"No, this is too much. I can't possibly wear all these clothes. How about just picking two pieces?" Xu Lele said, excited but hesitant.

"No way, if I said I'd cover everything, then it must be all-inclusive!" Chen Yuan took a dominant stance. His assertive tone made Xu Lele feel unexpectedly moved.

She began to see a different side of him. Despite his messy appearance and casual attire,

Chen Yuan exuded a certain commanding presence that somewhat matched her idealized image of a charming prince.

Xu Lele's feelings for him grew slightly:

Xu Lele: +5Xu Lele: +5Xu Lele: +5

"But... there's no room for so many clothes in my rented apartment," Xu Lele said.

"No problem. How about I buy you a new house?"

Xu Lele was completely stunned. Buying a house wasn't something one casually mentioned.

Even though housing prices in Han City are not as high as in Magic City or Yanjing, they are still quite steep. A decent apartment could easily cost two to five million yuan.

Chen Yuan's offer was so unexpected that it actually made Xu Lele uncomfortable:

Xu Lele: -5

Her feelings dropped slightly from 63 points to 58. Chen Yuan realized that being overly generous, especially when not well-acquainted, could sometimes backfire. He needed to be more gradual with his gestures.

"Never mind, you've already bought me so much. I didn't mean to spend so much of your money. I was just trying to mess with you earlier. I'm sorry for being rude in the school supermarket."

"I understand. Everyone has their off days."

"And really, you don't need to buy more. Just pick a few pieces and that's enough!"

"Alright then."

Chen Yuan turned to the sales staff:

"Do you have a membership card?"

"Yes, we do!"

"Great, I'll get a card and load it with three hundred thousand. From now on, whenever this lady comes here, give her priority access to the latest collections."

"Understood, sir!"

The sales staff were astonished. This kind of extravagant behavior wasn't common, especially with someone who seemed so casual.

Staff members: "This guy really has a unique charm, despite his casual look and unkempt hair. If he dressed up and tidied himself, he'd definitely be considered a top-notch guy."

As Chen Yuan listened to the staff's comments, he was quite amused.

He didn't recognize himself as having this kind of charm or being perceived as a high-status gentleman.

"Here's your card. I noticed you might need a watch. There's a watch store downstairs; Patek Philippe is quite good."

"No, no, you've already bought so much for me. I really don't know how to thank you!"

"How about you offer yourself in return?"

"You're such a tease!"

Xu Lele's feelings for Chen Yuan increased again:

Xu Lele: +5Xu Lele: +5

Chen Yuan was astonished. Apparently, even playful teasing could improve her feelings.

"It seems there's a reason why honest people stay single."

For Xu Lele, it's not that she's afraid of a man having feelings for her, but rather that she's worried if a man shows no interest.

Accepting expensive gifts from someone without reciprocating can feel unsettling.

Chen Yuan's joking suggestion about reciprocation actually made Xu Lele feel more at ease. Of course, she wasn't about to make it easy for him right away. She was a master of the "playing hard to get" tactic.

The problem was, Chen Yuan wasn't serious about those advances; he was just joking around. For him, trying to seduce a woman in a few days, especially a beautiful one, was virtually impossible.

However, Chen Yuan didn't know that women like Xu Lele could be far more proactive in the presence of real wealth than he imagined.

"Brother Yuan, you keep buying me things. Aren't you going to buy anything for yourself?"

"I'm broke," Chen Yuan shrugged, telling the truth. He really had no money of his own; he couldn't spend a penny of the "sucker money" he was using.

"Brother Yuan, you're so funny!"

Later, they went to a men's clothing store, where Xu Lele bought Chen Yuan two sets of clothes and a pair of shoes.

They then visited a barbershop downstairs, where she had 'Tony' design a new hairstyle for him. The total came to around two to three thousand yuan.

Clearly, Xu Lele's attitude had changed once she realized Chen Yuan might be from a wealthy background. She was an emotionally intelligent woman. To toy with a rich playboy, investing a little was essential.

Purely taking without giving anything in return would lead to the man's interest fading quickly. To catch a big fish, sometimes you need to invest a little—buy a few small gifts, say a few flattering words. Men are that superficial.

Xu Lele's approach made Chen Yuan feel a bit touched. He hadn't received a gift from a woman in a long time. Although he had just spent hundreds of thousands on Xu Lele, that money wasn't his—it was "sucker money," so he didn't care much about it.

But the three thousand yuan Xu Lele spent on him was her own money. That meant something.

At that moment, Chen Yuan's mind flashed back to Lin Shitong.

When he first met Lin Shitong during military training in freshman year, she wasn't so hostile. She even seemed to have some interest in him.

They exchanged contact information, and she responded quickly, showing enthusiasm.

One time, when Chen Yuan was sick with a fever, Lin Shitong even bought him medicine. This sudden act of care made him fall for her instantly. He thought love had arrived.

After that "sickness" incident, Chen Yuan began to pursue Lin Shitong passionately. But no matter how hard he tried, she neither agreed nor rejected him.

Whenever Chen Yuan felt discouraged and ready to give up, Lin Shitong would start responding again, giving him hope that he was just a step away from winning her over.

But pursuing a woman doesn't have a progress bar; you never know how far you are from success.

As Chen Yuan invested more, he found he couldn't withdraw. After three years of dedication, letting go wasn't easy. Ultimately, it wasn't Lin Shitong who was moved,

but Chen Yuan himself. He had completely turned into a "sucker" with no shred of dignity.