Lu Xiaochan had been maintaining a forty-five-degree angle looking up at the sky for almost half an hour.
He didn’t know who told him this would make him look more artistic, but now his neck was just hurting.
This time, he didn’t know how he had offended Supreme Lord Yehua, who had thrown him into some “Playing with Dust” world again.
Here, one didn’t need to ride swords to fly because there was something called an airplane, though he couldn’t afford to ride it.
The snacks here were abundant – expensive dishes could cost thousands per small plate, barely enough to fill a tooth gap; cheap ones like spicy pancakes cost just one yuan.
For lunch today, he had eaten a five-yuan pancake with eggs. The vendor had split one pancake into two portions with his spatula, and he had saved half for dinner.
Yes, five yuan to get through the day… He really missed the mountain of gold in his qiankun pouch. Since leaving Lushu Town, he hadn’t experienced such belt-tightening days.
More painfully, he had been in this world for twenty years already, growing from an infant to a college dropout. During these long twenty years, he hadn’t seen Shu Wuxi at all!
This made Lu Xiaochan deeply believe that Shu Wuxi definitely hadn’t entered this “modern” Playing with Dust world. Otherwise, given Shu Wuxi’s personality, he would have not only found him already but also wouldn’t have let him live on half a pancake per meal.
Here, Lu Xiaochan’s parents were both art majors. His mother taught children’s art at a youth painting class, while his father was a graphic poster designer at an advertising company.
They both wanted to become painters, but reality had bent their backs. So they used their dreams to bend their son Lu Xiaochan’s back instead.
Lu Xiaochan had studied Chinese painting for over ten years. He was poor at math and sciences, and had no other skills except ink painting. No, painting couldn’t even be counted as his specialty anymore! At least with sketching, one could draw portraits, but when he painted landscapes and little fish with his brush, passersby thought he was writing Spring Festival couplets!
If he had known earlier, he should have learned calligraphy instead – at least then he might have been able to earn some food money!
Just half a year ago, Lu Xiaochan’s father had acted as a guarantor for someone and ended up with a huge debt. They sold everything they could and mortgaged their house to the bank. But before the debt was cleared, his father and mother had “extinguished” in a car accident while returning from grocery shopping.
Lu Xiaochan had planned to depend on his parents for life, but now he couldn’t even pay his college tuition. With no place to call home, he could only set up a stall writing Spring Festival couplets… no, painting landscapes…
Just as Lu Xiaochan was endlessly reminiscing about the days of spending money like water with Shu Wuxi, his folding stool in front made a creaking sound, seemingly because someone had sat down.
Lu Xiaochan was basking in the sun with his eyes closed and said lazily, “I don’t sell Spring Festival couplets.”
The other person didn’t answer.
“I don’t draw portraits either.”
The other person still didn’t answer.
Probably an elderly person out for a walk who sat down to rest.
“Using my chair costs one yuan per hour, cheap and fair.”
“Here you go.”
Just two words, but when they fell on Lu Xiaochan’s heart, that voice carried the quality of ice cracking in the vast plateau. Lu Xiaochan froze there, wondering if he was dreaming.
He opened his eyes, and because the sunlight was dazzling, he lowered his head. The first thing he saw was a pair of shiny men’s leather shoes that looked handmade.
Looking up, there were powerful long legs wrapped in dark suit pants, making Lu Xiaochan swallow hard.
Further up was an impeccable suit, clearly the type that looked slim when worn but had muscle underneath, and with broad shoulders and a narrow waist!
Lu Xiaochan held his breath and looked further up to see a handsome face without any expression.
The other person calmly placed a one-yuan coin on his folding table.
“Brother… Brother Wuxi!”
Lu Xiaochan’s eyes lit up, and disregarding the folding table between them, he was about to pounce forward, dropping his brushes and ink everywhere.
But Shu Wuxi in front of him didn’t move at all and asked, “You know my name?”
“I’d know you even if you turned to ashes! Ah, no! That’s unlucky!”
Lu Xiaochan couldn’t successfully pounce on Shu Wuxi because of the folding table’s obstruction, but he was overjoyed inside!
The Shu Wuxi before him was just too handsome!
Neat short hair, silver-rimmed glasses, his whole body emanating the aura of a successful elite man!
What kind of person had Shu Wuxi become this time?
A young, wealthy, nation-rivaling domineering CEO?
Lu Xiaochan still remembered the TV drama he watched last year! This type of man was popular in this world.
“Mr. Lu, since you know me, I’ll get straight to the point. Your grandfather’s cousin’s youngest son has passed away.”
Lu Xiaochan squinted his eyes, suddenly feeling his brain wasn’t working properly – could someone tell him what relation his grandfather’s cousin’s youngest son was to him?
“And you are currently the only heir to the inheritance we’ve found.”
Even sitting on a folding stool, Shu Wuxi still carried a rigorous and powerful aura.
“Then… how much inheritance needs to be inherited?”
“Ten billion,” Shu Wuxi answered.
Lu Xiaochan leaned his head closer, his face scrunching up like a dumpling again. “How much?”
In this world, Lu Xiaochan had learned that “money isn’t everything,” but “having no money definitely leads to sadness.”
“Ten billion, US dollars.”
Lu Xiaochan touched the almost stale pancake in his pocket. If he had known, he would have eaten it while it was still hot and fresh!
Because there was no need to save money anymore!
“So, I’m a billionaire now?”
“For you to become a billionaire, you must still meet three conditions set by your grandfather’s cousin’s youngest son.”
Lu Xiaochan slapped his thigh. “I knew it wouldn’t be that easy! What conditions?”
Whatever the conditions are, as long as I can keep seeing you!
Seeing Shu Wuxi’s reaction, Supreme Lord Yehua must have done something to make Shu Wuxi forget about him.
Although internally angry like a pufferfish, Lu Xiaochan believed that no matter where he went or what happened, Shu Wuxi belonged to him, Lu Xiaochan, alone!
“The first condition is that you must complete your education.”
“No problem!”
With money, who would worry about completing their education?
“The second condition is that you must achieve success in your field.”
Lu Xiaochan lowered his head and said very troubledly, “Writing Spring Festival couplets?”
“Since you’ve been practicing Chinese painting, you must at least hold an art exhibition through your own abilities, make it to mainstream media covers, and have industry professionals address you as ‘teacher.'”
This was the standard for “achieving success.”
Lu Xiaochan’s eyebrows were almost twisted into a rope.
–He wasn’t cut out for this! What should he do?
Never mind, never mind, there was still time! As long as he could stick by Shu Wuxi’s side, would Shu Wuxi let him starve even if he, Lu Xiaochan, didn’t achieve success?
“The third condition is that before age twenty-five, you must continue the Lu family line. The number of children doesn’t matter, but you can’t let the Lu family have no successor.”
When Shu Wuxi stated this condition, his expression didn’t change at all.
But Lu Xiaochan was dumbfounded. “Brother Wuxi! Have you lost your mind? You actually want me to have children with someone else!”
Shu Wuxi very calmly asked back. “If not with someone else, are you suggesting with me?”
I wish I could have them with you! But can you even have them!
Lu Xiaochan was so angry he was almost smoking! Like a thin-skinned inflated ball about to burst at the slightest poke!
“Do you agree or not?” Shu Wuxi still maintained that calm expression.
Just looking at him, he was so handsome…
This setup of a standard upright male lead who was abstinent, restrained, and unmoved by anything made Lu Xiaochan really want to tease him until he cried!
Although previously, it had always been Lu Xiaochan himself who ended up crying.
But now in this new world, I remember you, yet you dare not remember me, then don’t blame me for breaking your long legs and making you cry while apologizing to me!
“Agree! Why wouldn’t I agree!”
“Then please sign this inheritance agreement here. As long as you can fulfill the above requirements before age 25, you can inherit the estate. Before then, you can receive a certain amount of living expenses monthly, stay in the residence arranged by our inheritance management committee, and considering your financial situation, your college tuition will also be covered by the committee. However, if you fail the assessment, the above expenses will be calculated with reference to the loan benchmark interest rate, requiring you to repay year by year.”
Lu Xiaochan raised his hand. “If you want me to agree to these conditions, I also have a requirement!”
“What requirement?”
“I want you to stay by my side 24 hours a day! Besides you, I don’t trust anyone else in your management committee!”
“Alright.”
Shu Wuxi actually agreed without any objection!
These were exactly the two words I was waiting for!
Lu Xiaochan grandly signed his name on the contract.
Even if this was a trap set by Supreme Lord Yehua, he had to jump in without hesitation!
Shu Wuxi stood up, stylishly yet modestly adjusted his collar, looked at the stall and said, “Then you continue with your stall, I…”
“Wait! You just said you’d stay by my side 24 hours! Missing an hour, a minute, or a second isn’t 24 hours!”
Lu Xiaochan said very seriously.
“Fine.” Shu Wuxi sat back down.
“I’m not running the stall anymore, let’s go to the place you arranged for me. I need to prepare, school’s starting soon, right?”
Lu Xiaochan squinted his eyes, smiling like he was about to bloom.
Shu Wuxi took out his phone and called someone to pick them up.
Lu Xiaochan excitedly packed up his stall, even putting the small table into the sack.
Then he very carefully and seriously looked at Shu Wuxi.
The short hair made Shu Wuxi’s facial features even more outstanding, any angle was poster-worthy, and the kind that didn’t need photoshopping.
Lu Xiaochan thought to himself about dressing Shu Wuxi in different modern outfits every day, like an awesome long coat, academic plaid shirt, body-hugging riding outfit…
At this moment, Shu Wuxi leaned towards him with one hand on his knee, his sideways face looking like he was about to kiss him.
But he just said flatly, “Mr. Lu, the car is here.”
Lu Xiaochan instantly snapped back to reality.
Damn, you’re not going to kiss me, so getting that close is cheating!
Shu Wuxi stood up again, showing no intention of helping Lu Xiaochan carry the sack. Lu Xiaochan had to carry it himself, huffing and puffing as he put it in the car’s trunk.
Shu Wuxi, when we get back, I’ll make you carry sacks for me every day!
“Is this…the Lu family’s car?”
He had thought a very impressive car would come, but it was quite ordinary!
“No.” Shu Wuxi sat in the back seat, still maintaining his straight posture.
“Huh?” Didn’t the Lu family have a car? What kind of billionaire were they!
“Because you currently have no right to use the Lu family’s cars, so I booked a rideshare. The cost will be included in your settlement details after you turn 25,” Shu Wuxi answered.
Lu Xiaochan almost spat out blood.
You’re even calculating this with me?
Where did that Shu Wuxi who used to say “no amount of money can buy your happiness” go!
When they arrived at the place arranged by the Lu family, it was a small one-bedroom apartment. It was clean, neat, in a good location, and very close to Lu Xiaochan’s school.
He had just put down his sack when he received a text message showing he had received three thousand yuan in living expenses.
Lu Xiaochan was surprised and happy, although this money might need to be repaid in the future.
Shu Wuxi sat on the sofa, wearing Bluetooth earphones while making a phone call, then looked up at him and said, “Your re-enrollment procedures are done. You can go back to class tomorrow.”
“That’s really efficient.”
Lu Xiaochan stared at Shu Wuxi longingly, greatly missing the times when he could sit on his lap and grab his collar to kiss him senseless.
Now he really wanted to yank and make Shu Wuxi’s shirt buttons fly off.
“Please plan your life well before age 25.”
“Mm-hmm, I’m very clear about my life goals!”
That is to pin you down and make you cry while calling my name!
Xiaochan, no more…
Better with tears like pear blossoms!
Ah, just thinking about it made the future seem bright, though the path seemed nonexistent…
Lu Xiaochan opened the refrigerator and found it completely empty. This damn inheritance management committee was really stingy!
“I want to go to the supermarket,” Lu Xiaochan said, looking at Shu Wuxi.
“I’ll go with you.”
The two went to the supermarket, Lu Xiaochan pushed a cart, then glanced at Shu Wuxi, who still maintained his cold as ice expression, showing absolutely no intention of helping Lu Xiaochan push the cart!
Where had that Shu Wuxi gone who used to follow Lu Xiaochan around at markets, paying for things and carrying packages!
