Ding!
Cheng Xiao glanced at her phone, then gaped at Lu Yuan. "Brother Lu, why did you transfer me 100,000 yuan?!"
"Count the zeros again with those big doll eyes of yours," Lu Yuan deadpanned.
"Wait…this is 100,000?!" Her voice squeaked.
"Did you think I'd give you pocket money after dropping 300k on your wardrobe?" He rolled his eyes.
"But this is too much! I'm not worth—"
"I decide your worth." Lu Yuan cut her off sternly. "Take it, or I'll get angry."
Reluctantly, she accepted the transfer.
"Oh!" Cheng Xiao suddenly straightened. "You're meeting Li Ke'er and the others later, right?"
"Jealous?" Lu Yuan teased.
"No!" She shook her head vigorously. "Just…don't give them more than 10k each. That's their usual rate."
Lu Yuan blinked. "You're advising me on pricing?"
"They're professionals," Cheng Xiao said matter-of-factly. "No need to overpay."
Chuckling, Lu Yuan ruffled her hair. "Relax, I'm not an easy mark."
Afternoon Interlude
Post-movie date, Lu Yuan escorted a tired Cheng Xiao back to The Peninsula Hotel.
"Stay here tonight," he murmured, kissing her forehead. "I'll fetch you tomorrow."
"Okay…" She pouted. "Stupid period ruined everything."
"Even without it," he whispered mischievously, "could you handle me after last night's performance?"
Cheng Xiao's cheeks flamed. "I'll…I'll do better next time!"
Return to Waldorf
A black Rolls-Royce whisked Lu Yuan back to his presidential suite. Manager Liu Feiyan greeted him coolly in the lobby.
"How's your ankle?" Lu Yuan asked.
"Fine." Her reply was clipped. Why do I care about his harem? she chided herself.
In the elevator, Lu Yuan shifted gears: "What's Beijing's most exclusive property?"
"Siheyuan courtyards," Liu Feiyan answered automatically. "Wanliu's walls, Xichen's vats, Xiao Eight's roofs…but true siheyuans are unicorns now."
"Find me one." Lu Yuan's eyes gleamed. "Commission's yours."
Liu Feiyan's professionalism warred with curiosity. "Why not a modern mansion?"
"Hotels drain wallets." He grinned. "Besides, courtyards…resonate with certain ancient techniques."