Chapter 50: Embarrassed

Chapter 50: Embarrassed

Not long after Xue Xiao left, Huang Hui returned to the room.

Upon entering, he saw Jiang Tian fiddling with his mobile phone.

"It's a pity that your phone's configuration is too low. Otherwise, it could project a miniature 3D model of the villa, making it easier for you to check the details," Huang Hui commented as he walked over.

In other words, now that Jiang Tian was a little rich man, it was time for him to upgrade his phone.

"Has she left?" Jiang Tian asked, glancing toward the door.

Huang Hui nodded and gestured toward Jiang Tian. "She's gone. Just listen to what she said, but don't take it to heart."

"To be honest, she meant no harm to you. It's just that your situation is too special."

"Also, regarding your conflict with the Bai siblings, someone at her level wouldn't bother paying attention to student disputes unless she deliberately investigated."

"If she had dug a little deeper, she would've known you defeated your opponent in a single move. Then, she wouldn't have called getting into Star City an 'insurmountable obstacle' for you."

At this point, Huang Hui suddenly remembered something and took out his phone to show Jiang Tian. "This is the reward from the Xue family—it's cultivation resources, and they're not easy to transfer."

"Besides, you don't need these high-level cultivation resources just yet, so I'll keep them and convert them into merit points for you at the same value. How does that sound?"

The Xue family believed Huang Hui and his team were the ones who actually eliminated the enemies and saved Xue Ruyan, so their gratitude was generous.

However, Huang Hui knew the truth—all the credit belonged to the junior brother standing before him. He had contributed nothing.

These resources were incredibly valuable, but Huang Hui was no thief.

Besides, Jiang Tian's cooking had helped him break through a bottleneck he had been stuck at for years. Soon, he'd finally step into a higher realm.

That alone was worth more than all these cultivation resources.

---

Fair Exchange

"No problem, let's do it this way," Jiang Tian agreed without hesitation.

He wasn't the type to be pretentious about things that rightfully belonged to him, nor would he covet things that weren't his.

According to market value, the cultivation resources were worth approximately 100,000 merit points.

Huang Hui even added an extra 20,000 points, transferring a total of 120,000 merit points to Jiang Tian's account.

"Merit points are a special currency earned by fighting alien races and contributing to the survival of humanity," Huang Hui explained.

"They can be exchanged for all kinds of resources and privileges within the official system."

"According to market rates, 1 merit point is roughly equivalent to 10,000 Tang coins."

"Of course, most people wouldn't sell their merit points for Tang currency. Many things you can buy with merit points simply can't be purchased with money."

At this point, Huang Hui advised, "It's best not to use your merit points right now. Save them for when you enter Xingcheng's Hongwu University. They'll be useful then."

Jiang Tian nodded. A wise man listens to advice, especially from those with experience.

---

Spending the Night at School

"Although you'll definitely be fine, you still have to stay at school tonight. You can go home tomorrow," Huang Hui said, wrapping an arm around Jiang Tian's shoulder as they walked out together.

Jiang Tian had no objections. It was just one night at school—not a big deal.

Since Jiang Tian was one of their own, Huang Hui arranged for him to stay in a single room, originally used as a teacher's lounge.

The room even had brand new bedding, showing how much Huang Hui cared for him.

Before leaving, Huang Hui chatted with Jiang Tian, sharing some of his experiences dealing with alien races.

However, midway through, he noticed something... off.

Why was Jiang Tian swallowing his saliva as he listened?

---

Meanwhile, in the Xue Family's Car...

On the other side, Xue Xiao, sitting in her special car, had just closed her eyes to rest when her phone buzzed.

She opened it and saw a video call request—it was from her niece, Xue Ruyan.

After connecting the call, the first thing she saw was her niece's anxious face.

"Aunt, what nonsense did you tell Jiang Tian?!"

Xue Xiao smirked and teased, "Oh? What's wrong? Can't wait to check on your little boyfriend?"

"Aunt, stop talking nonsense! What little boyfriend?!" Xue Ruyan's cheeks flushed as she hurriedly denied it. "Grandpa said you went to see Jiang Tian. You didn't say anything crazy, did you?!"

Xue Xiao chuckled. "Of course, I said a lot of good things about you two…"

She glanced at the two elders subtly eavesdropping on the conversation and deliberately raised her voice.

"I kindly encouraged the boy to work hard so he could have a chance to enter Xingcheng's Martial Arts University!"

"After all, there's a big gap between you two. If that boy really wants to chase after our little Ruyan, he has to work much harder."

She continued, righteously stating her case. "If you can overcome all these obstacles together, then we elders will accept your relationship. But if not…"

"Aunt, you—you're really—!!" Xue Ruyan's face turned bright red, her voice rising with frustration. "You don't understand anything!!"

She gritted her teeth and shouted one last thing.

"Just wait! You're going to regret saying that!"

Then—

Bang!

The call ended abruptly.

---

Aunt Xue Xiao's Confusion

Xue Xiao blinked at the black screen, looking dumbfounded.

Did that little girl just yell at me?!

What did she mean by 'you'll regret it'?

All I did was encourage an 'ordinary' boy to be more ambitious.

Isn't that what an open-minded, rational elder should do?!

---

Xue Ruyan's Thoughts

On the other end, after hanging up, Xue Ruyan turned to see her grandparents staring at her in confusion.

Her face was burning, and she immediately rushed back to her room, slamming the door shut.

The two elders, both seasoned and wise, exchanged glances.

"Did we miss something?"

"We listened carefully to what Xiao Xiao said in the video. There was nothing wrong with it."

"Then… why did she get so flustered?"

They pondered for a moment but couldn't figure it out.

The truth, however, was far beyond their understanding.

---

A Different Perspective

In their eyes, Jiang Tian was the one who needed to catch up to their granddaughter.

But in Xue Ruyan's eyes, the situation was completely reversed.

She didn't see Jiang Tian as someone beneath her.

Instead, she saw him as an untouchable figure, towering ahead of her—a goal she feared she'd never reach.

---

A Late-Night Message

Later that night, as Jiang Tian lay in bed, scrolling through his phone, a message notification popped up.

It was from Xue Ruyan.

[Jiang Tian, my aunt didn't know the truth and said some offensive things. I'm really sorry!!!]

(Ծ‸Ծ)

Jiang Tian chuckled at the apologetic message and replied.

[It's fine. After all, this is our secret. She doesn't know.]

As Xue Ruyan read his response, she stared at those five words.

"Our secret."

Her heart pounded, and without realizing it, she began swinging her long white legs on the bed.